Finally Found You

15: Zuperman

Gavin

Noah Grayson’s scream of pain echoed through the football field.

We were practicing for our last game of the season. It was a little chilly, a dark grey sky on a dark grey day, my kind of weather.

Practice was going so well it made me forget about my feelings for a while. That was until Noah, the co-captain, injured himself. Coach Grayson was by his side immediately. From the looks of it, he had a sprained ankle.

“Gavin,” Coach, called for me. “Take Noah to the clinic,” I couldn’t imagine my father to be my coach. I shuddered at the thought and positioned Noah’s arm across my shoulder to lift his weight off of his foot.

“I can’t not play the final game, Gavin,” Noah whined. We weren’t best friends, but we were closer than friends.

“Focus on your injury, the game is just a game,” I comforted him as we dragged ourselves to the clinic.

He went on explaining how he had to attend the game because he wanted to meet Kent, this boy he liked. I got why he was upset. My sister happened to be in the same school as Kent, and I would’ve been pissed if I couldn’t see her.

“Thanks, Gavin,” He said when we reached the nurse’s. “I owe you one,”

“You don’t owe me anything. I may not be your best friend, but you have me when you need me,”

He leaped over with one foot and gave me a strong hug.

“I’ll wait outside. In you go.”

I thought about Zane as I waited. The time we spent in my room, the fun we had, the kiss we shared. Why was it so complicated? Oh, right, because I was making it too complicated.

It wasn’t easy being attached to the past, yet I had no clue how to let go.

Plus, the fact that Zane was my first boy crush, and I had worked so hard on not getting attached to him, yet yesterday we made out like rabbits. It made me wonder more about the nature of my feelings. Did I like him? Fancy him? Love him?

Noah was out after a few minutes looking defeated. His foot was wrapped.

“Benched for the rest of the season, I guess,” he said before I could ask.

“This sucks, man. I’m sure you’ll see him again soon,” I tried comforting him. “Something I keep wondering about, though,” Zane appeared by my side before I could ask my burning question.

“Need a hand?” Zane asked.

“Need a foot, actually,” Noah whined. “I’m sorry you need to carry me,”

“Oh, shut up,” Zane said.

I missed his sass. I liked his snarky comments and fed up personality.

We reached the field, Zane went his way without saying a word to me, but I couldn’t blame him because I didn’t say anything either.

Noah and I sat side by side on the bleachers. We watched the game progress in comfortable silence, only interrupted by the occasional whistle from his dad.

"How did you know?" I asked out of a sudden. If I didn't just blurt it out, I never would've said anything. "That you... You know, liked Kent?"

I felt a blush take over my face. I wasn't the shy type at all. I usually knew what words to say and when to say them, but this topic specifically had me confused. "I mean, I know how it works," I added. "You like a person, develop feelings, and you see if they like you back. That sort of thing,"

My hand instinctively reached for my clover pendant in the necklace underneath my shirt.

"Go on." He urged me to speak more, which I did. I had to let it out to someone, and my sister, Val, was too far across the country.

"You and Kent didn't seem to even know each other and suddenly you were like long lost lovers. Is that even possible? Am I even making sense?"

Noah's face broke into a thin smile. "Do you have a crush on someone?" he teased.

"Argh, it feels so stupid. I feel so stupid. I'm going to college next year and I can't set my emotions in one place."

He put his hand on my shoulder. "Relax. It's fine,"

"It's just too complicated, and I don't know if I should keep to myself and what I promised myself not to do, or just go for it and see where it leads,"

"Following a dark path doesn't always sound like a bad idea, as long as you have a flashlight,"

"Look at you, spewing wisdom,"

"Blame my grandma for giving the best advice,"

"Thank you, Noah," coach's whistle cut through the field, signaling the end of practice.

"Don't mention it. If you need anyone to talk to, you have me," he said honestly.

"I might take you up on that," I stood and lifted him up. "If you need a walking cane, you have me,"

"Oh no, I'm fine on my own," he stood on both feet, winced in pain, and steadied himself through my shoulder. "I take that back,"

I laughed. "With all what's happening, I believe we'll be okay." I said. I didn't know what came to me but I felt weirdly optimistic.

"Why do you think that?" Noah asked, bewildered by my statement.

We walked across the field. "Because I believe in destiny, and my feelings tell me that even though our paths are taking twists and turns, they're our paths in the end. Part of us. And I know for a fact no one purposely damages themselves, and since our paths are parts of us, we'll be okay, Grayson."

He was baffled.

It made sense, in a way.

"Yeah, maybe we will be."  he said before each of us went our separate ways.

I went home, took a shower, and lay in bed. I didn't feel like eating, so I grabbed my phone and texted Lester.

G: I don't know man
G: But like
G: I kinda dig it

I waited for his reply, which came in seconds:

L: I sure hope it's a grave you're digging

G: funny guy

L: I try
L: Zane agane?

G: will you text normally for once?

L: no

G: yes, him again
G: it's different this time
G: he needs to know I like him

L: woah there
L: for reals?

G: yeah
G: might ask him to prom too

L: WOAH THERE
L: prom?? Like? Senior prom right?
L: whack

Suddenly I get a text from Val. I click on it and a picture loads. Then my jaw drops. It's a picture of a drawing. A superman with a Z instead of an S. The very same picture I was looking for.

V: found your boy *sips tea*

A/N: hey guys, how are you liking the story? Please vote and comment, it helps a lot. More soon x.