Best Friends With Benefits

Chapter Six

Nick

It was the day of homecoming. Everyone was coming. Parents, teachers, students. Even people who didn't like football came for homecoming. I was supposed to be nervous about the game, but I was worried about something else, or should I say somebody else.

Jeremy.

He has been avoiding me since the party. Was it because of kissed him? Or maybe it was because I broke the deal. I didn't think it was that serious. Fuck.

I looked at him. He was sitting on a bench while the coach talked to him. I waited for him to spare me a glance, but he didn't.

Jeremy has been my best friend since we were in diapers. He was so different from me, I was loud and outgoing, and he was quieter and introverted. I guess that is why I grew to like him.

Coach walked over to me with a playbook in his hands. He talked about how we should play and how to secure our victory. I didn't care; I was still staring at Jeremy. His brown locks were slightly covering his dark blue eyes. But he wasn't looking at me, just focusing on the field in front of him.

I want him to look at me.

Alex walked over to him, Jeremy now looking at Alex's face.

But he still wasn't looking at me.

"Are you even listening, Ryder?" I glanced up at Coach Mack who now had a heated expression.

"Yes, Coach." He just nodded and continued rambling on about God knows what.

When Coach finally stopped talking to me, I hurried over to Jeremy. He tried to walk away, but I grabbed his hand, causing him to stop.

"What do you want?" Jeremy said, not even bothering to get out of my grip.

"To talk," I said, Jeremy finally sitting down to look at me. His dark blue eyes almost pierced my soul as he wandered down slightly, looking at my lips before making eye contact again.

"There's nothing to talk about, Nick," Jeremy said, breaking the string of eye contact and looking away, making me feel a little empty.

"Jes, what has been bothering you these last few days? It's like you are not even here anymore." Jeremy just looked at me, trying to find the right words to say, but he kept shut.

"Leave me alone, Nick!" Jes stormed off, leaving me by my side on a lonesome bench.

The game finally started. The opposing team got the ball and scored, leaving it to our offense to return with a score.

"Don't mess up, big boy," Nolan said, causing me to growl.

"Hike!" I called out the ball headed for me. I caught it and gripped it in my hand. I saw Jeremy wide open and slung it towards him. To my surprise, he dropped it.

"What the fuck was that, Jeremy?" Nolan yelled out. "How about you shut the fuck up, Nolan?" Jeremy said, making Nolan mad.

"What the fuck you said, Jeremy?" Nolan barked, causing Jeremy to get heated. "I'm sorry, Nolan, I didn't know you were deaf. Lemme repeat me then,  shut the fuck up."

Nolan was now furious. He walked over to Jeremy and pushed him hard. Jeremy back buckled a little after hitting the ground.

A flag was thrown, and referees started to come and stop the fight. Unfortunately, Jeremy got a punch off, leaving a bruise on Nolan's cheek.

Fuck.

When we got in the locker room coach was furious. "What the hell is wrong with you guys? Fighting each other? On homecoming? You know how many people saw you embarrassed yourself?" Nolan was holding an icepack on his cheekbone. Jeremy just looked at him and smirked.

"Jeremy and Nolan, you guys are lucky I don't kick you off the team for this stunt. But your out for the rest of the game."

Nolan groaned and parted his lips like he was going to say something but decided to keep them shut. I glanced at Jeremy. For some reason, instead of frowning or groaning, he was smiling.

I waited for everybody to leave so I could talk to Jeremy in private. Just before he left, I caught his arm and led him to a back corner of the locker room.

"Nick-"  He stopped talking when I placed my hand on his body. "What are you doing?"

"Hey, Jes, when I said it was a mistake, I wasn't telling the actual truth," I said, causing Jeremy to look at me, stunned in confusion.

"In all honesty, I can't stop thinking about it."

"Nick, we can't-"

"Why not?" I screamed out. Jeremy just looked at me sympathetically.

"You know why Nick, you have a girlfriend, and I can't date you. You're a guy. Imagine if somebody finds out?"

"Nobody will find out. It will be a secret." Jeremy's eyes buckled a little as he locked into mine. He looked down and stared at my lips.

"I promise." Jeremy stepped closer as I tugged his back with my hand.