I'm In Love With The Brown-Haired Boy//L.S//

Chapter Seven

It's the start of the game, and the sun is setting in the distance as the players begin to take the field. A few others and I are holding up Regan, one of the cheerleaders, to form a pyramid. The away team begins to take the field, the stands erupting in boos. The boos suddenly change into cheers as our football team starts running between us.

While this is happening, I can't help but glance down, and as soon as I do, my eyes meet Harry's. My stomach fills with butterflies, but I immediately shake off the feeling and look back up, focusing on holding Regan steady.

Once the players finish running through, we set Regan back down and run to the sidelines, taking our positions on the track. I can't help but think to myself: for us to have locked eyes, he had to have been looking at me. I mean, that's how it works, right?

The game starts, and the players are off doing... whatever it is they do. I've never really understood football. Sure, I've picked up a few things since I've been a cheerleader for so long, but the game still doesn't make much sense to me.

The first half of the game flies by. The marching band does their thing, we perform some cheers, and soon the second half begins. As I watch the game (well, more like Harry), I notice a flash of light out of the corner of my eye. Curious, I glance up at the sky and see it again—a storm is forming in the distance. Great, just what we need.

The clouds inch closer as the game continues. Before long, a man's voice comes over the loudspeaker:

"Due to lightning in the area, we ask that you begin to make your way either inside the building or to your cars."

The crowd starts moving toward the exits. Some people head to their cars, while others go into the school as instructed.

I follow the cheer team inside. The girls go into the locker room and let me join since no one's changing. They all agree that because I'm gay, it's fine. We wait and wait, chatting and messing around, and almost an hour passes without any word about the game.

Just as we start complaining, our cheer coach enters the locker room and announces that the game has been canceled and will resume next Wednesday. I grab my things and head across the hall to the boys' locker room.

As soon as I step in, I feel everyone's eyes on me. Like always, I mind my business, avoiding eye contact. I try my hardest not to look for Harry, knowing I'll end up accidentally locking eyes with someone I don't want to.

I gather my belongings and head out of the locker room without bothering to change—I just don't feel comfortable doing so. On my way out, Gigi stops me to ask if I want to hang out tomorrow. I agree, and she compliments me on how well I've been doing on the team. I thank her and leave the school.

It's only sprinkling outside, but the sky is still alive with lightning.

As I approach my car, I hear a familiar voice call my name.

"Louis."

I turn to see Harry jogging toward me.

"Wait for me," he calls again.

He stops in front of my car, standing there with rain-dampened curls sticking to the sides of his neck and face. A couple of water droplets run down his cheeks. God, he looks so good.

"Can you take me home?" he asks softly, almost embarrassed.

"Of course," I reply.

We both get in the car. It's silent as I start it up.

"Thank you for this. I know you didn't have to, so it means a lot," he says, looking a bit down.

"Why do you need a ride? I thought you had a car," I ask, genuinely curious.