Chasing You

31

BRADEN

Tensions are high around the upcoming Duke game. Our big rival and the traitor, Michael Burke. Coach is on our asses even more so now than ever before. This is not any of us starters first time playing Duke but this is the first time playing Duke with someone who used to be our teammate.

None of us really know how to act. If we let it get to our heads we are fucked. If we don't let it bother us, we could lose the game because he used to be our teammate. Thinking about it makes me want to put a fist through the wall. It's not even just because Michael Burke and Lacey happened but because Duke accepted Michael Burke. After everything that happened with Carter and everything that he did, it's fucked up.

I stumble to the side as someone shoves me. I whip around to look at who it is and Asher is shooting me a glare.

"Can you get your head out of your ass and not make us run, again?" Asher snaps at me. I resist the urge to roll my eyes and focus back on the court. We are conditioning today and we have classes right after this. Thanksgiving break went by pretty quickly considering we were here. Although once all of our families left, it was weird. Carter and Lacey did end up staying. Lacey and I went to her apartment since it was vacant. We just stayed in bed Friday and Saturday. Sunday, we finally decided to partake in a Mario Kart competition with everyone. The rest of the girls were back at that point and we thought we should see them.

Actually Lacey said we should see them.

Tyler is staying until he goes back for Christmas because my mom thinks it's for the best. Which I agree with. If I could hold him hostage here for the rest of the year I would. Tyler is currently being babysat by the girls since they all have class at different times and someone is always home.

He is pissed about that one.

Asher shoves me again making me shake my head.

"It's not in my ass, jackass," I tell him. He rolls his eyes at me turning back to our coaches standing in the middle of the gym holding stopwatches. Coach blows the whistle signaling for us to start running. I think he honestly made this drill up just to put us in pain.

Walking out of practice I can feel the aching in my muscles. I only have two classes back to back and they both are ones I can just sit in. Take notes later. Robbie walks beside me texting on his phone.

"Rae is with Tyler right now," Robbie comments. I nod my head at him grabbing my phone from my pocket.

"Thank God it's not Carter," I mutter. She is a horrible morning person and I just know Tyler and her would chew each other out. At least Rae is pleasant with each other.

Robbie releases a loud laugh, "Yeah, Rae is pretty perky in the morning."

"Tyler probably hates me for it," I chuckle to myself as I climb into my car. Robbie gets into the passenger side of the car tossing his bag in the back. I throw mine in the back after his.  I drive us to the building where our classes are.

The classes go by pretty quickly and before I know it I am laying across Lacey's bed. She's typing away on her laptop, doing some type of homework, while I am playing Candy Crush. I have homework to do but I would much rather be playing this game than doing anything else. Tyler is on the couch with Tori, Julie, and Asher. Asher is waiting for Carter to get home from the gym while Tori and Julie are trying to rope my brother in to doing their homework.

"Are you nervous for the Duke game?" Lacey asks me. I look away from my phone and raise my eyebrows at her.

"No." I'm really not.

I don't have anything to worry about. I know what this team is capable of and I know what I am capable of. We don't have anything to worry about.

"Are you?" I ask her. I sit up leaning against her wall.