Crush

Run

Oliver

I ... didn't know what to do.

Had everyone seen the photo?

I looked down at the field to where most of the crowd was running out to surround the football team. They were laughing, cheering, shouting, chatting. On a high. Excited.

I wasn't excited. I wanted to get the hell out of here.

I didn't want to wait around to see if the photo had made it to everyone's phone or if everyone had seen it. The stands were packed out tonight. Most of the town was here.

My eyes scanned the field and automatically sought out Asher.

And there he was. Standing near the coach's benches.

With his father. Looking ... petrified.

I saw Zain hold up his phone to Asher. And saw the colour drain from Asher's face. Even from this distance.

He knew.

Zain Williams knew.

My heart stopped. Blood rushed in my ears, drowning out the noise of the excited crowd.

No.

He couldn't know.

He ... couldn't.

But it looked like he did.

We were in trouble.

I ... wanted to cry.

A tug on my arm. I ignored it. Instead, I watched as the man in my life looked at his father with the expression of a rabbit caught in the headlights.

What should I do?

Should I go down there?

Rescue Asher?

Another nudge on my arm.

What do I ...

My heart knocked hard against my chest.

I needed to help.

I needed help.

Should I help Asher?

Maybe I needed to go down there, march up to Zain and tell him that I was in love with his son.

That would be the decent thing to do.

Yes, I should do that.

But ...

Instead, I followed the urge to run.

I pushed past Jenson, who started shouting after me, jumped down the steps and rushed out to the parking lot, knocking a couple of people out of my way as I sped along.

Don't make eye contact.

Keeping my head down, I ran.

Away from the football field.

Away from my friends.

Away from Asher.

I'd just admitted to myself that I was in love with him. And here I was, running away from him. Letting him fend for himself against his father.

Coward.

Fucking wimp.

But I didn't stop.

Just kept running, and running.

Faster.

Reaching my house, I jumped up the porch steps and collapsed into the door. Panting heavily, I opened the door, fell inside and locked it behind me, hoping to keep all the bad thoughts and people out in the cold.