Fixing Broken Hearts

4

Warnings:
-Toxic relationship (brief mentions abuse)

Tristan's POV

'Will you be at soccer practice today?' I asked my best friend, Elliot. 'It's at six, they rescheduled it because of the hot weather.'

He nodded. 'Yeah, I'm going home to do some homework for tomorrow because practice will be longer than usual, won't it? It's our first week in this team, I haven't really gotten used to it yet.'

'Yes, I'm pretty sure it'll be three and a half or four, because we've gotten promoted to the next level. I'm still so excited we both got to the top together!' I shouted out from excitement 'We can hang out after school until we have to go to practice? I went to youth camp with my church and had a lot to tell you about.'

I laid my hand on his shoulder for a second and smiled, seeing him raise his gaze. Slowly, I moved my hand down again and cleared my throat.

'I'm down, but are you sure that's okay with Patrick?' Elliot questioned. 'Isn't today the day you always hang out?'

I sighed softly and shrugged. 'We've seen each other earlier this week. I'm really not in the mood to hang out with him again, if I'm honest.'

'What happened last time?' Elliot asked right away, because he knew Patrick wasn't the easiest person to get along with, and definitely not to be in a relationship with.

'I don't know, it was probably an accident,' I replied quietly. 'Don't tell anyone about it, okay? I know he didn't mean to.'

Elliot frowned. 'I won't tell anyone, but I don't like it how you're defending him. I feel like you're about to tell me something that's definitely his fault.'

'It wasn't,' I tried. 'I hugged him from behind after I went to the bathroom and it startled him so he... punched his elbow in my stomach, but it was just a reflex!'

'Tris, that sounds like anything but an accident. Were you home alone together?' Elliot wondered, grabbing my hand from fear.

'Yeah, why?' I sounded clueless, but started to understand what he was hinting at.

'Why would he have gotten so startled? There was no one else in the house and he could have heard the door open if someone else came upstairs, so he knew it was you.'

I swallowed to cover up my dry mouth, but it was fairly obvious to Elliot. He smiled gently and looked me into my eyes, his emerald green eyes making me unable to look away from them.

My stomach started to feel warm and I felt an irresistible urge to touch Elliot, in a non-sexual way, and feel his warmth close to me. I felt my cheeks get red and quickly turned my eyes away from him.

'Tris, behind you,' Elliot whispered out of nowhere, pinching my hip to make me turn around.

I immediately turned around and glanced in front of me, my breath hitching when I saw Patrick walking up to me. He had a smirk on his face and wrapped his arm around me as soon as he approached me.

'Not here,' I stumbled. 'I'm not out at school and don't feel comfortable.'

Patrick scoffed as he moved his arm away and glared at Elliot, who awkwardly stood next to us. I knew he didn't like Patrick, and honestly, I started to feel the same way the longer I had gotten along with the boy I used to love.

'What's he doing here?' Patrick asked. 'I don't know if I can trust you around him anymore, dude. He stole my place on the highest level in the soccer team and it was fairly obvious Elliot was a lot worse than I was.'

'That's rude...' I muttered with an anxious voice. I looked away from him and heard Elliot groan.

'I was picked by a recruiter and you weren't. I think it's obvious you weren't better than I was. Next to that, he is your boyfriend and if you don't trust him, maybe you should figure out your own shit first before dating someone.'

I gave him a thankful look, but suddenly felt Patrick's hand wrap around my wrist, his nails poking my skin. 'Tristan, you need to do some things for me or else I will get you off the team.'

'Dude, what?' Elliot started, but Patrick scoffed and interrupted him right away.

'I don't want you to shower with the other guys. I know you'll just stare at them and I'm really uncomfortable with that. I can tell you're going to cheat on me, dude.'

'First of all, he is not your "dude", he's your boyfriend. Second of all, he showered with the others guys when you were in our team and you were fine with that and third of all, the reason he would want to cheat on you is because of your awfully controlling behaviour,' Elliot stuck up for me.

'Tristan, you need to stay away from him,' Patrick scoffed after Elliot was finished. He pulled me closer to him, but I shook my head and decided to stick up for myself for once too.

'No, I don't want to stay away from him. He's my best friend and I don't always have to listen to you. You're trying to decide my whole life and that's not okay, no matter what I've done. You can't control me and expect me to give up my dream because you're jealous.'

'So soccer is more important than I am?' he asked, a deep frown in his forehead.

'No, but someone who truly loves me would support me and be happy for me because I got this far. I'm very sorry that you didn't get in the team, but you can at least try to be happy for us. We've dreamt about getting into the team for years, we've played soccer for over six years and you just played for two.'

'So you're saying I'm worse than you?' he questioned with a laugh he turned into something mean and threatening.

'Holy crap, he didn't say that. He asked you to be happy for him because he has been trying to get into the team for over five years.'

'Can you shut up and stop getting involved in something you have nothing to do with?' Patrick yelled out, making me step away from him.

'He is my best friend and I was doubting what to do at first, but now I'm sure. I'm hanging out with Elliot today and I don't care whatever you're asking from me. I'm not your slave and you're not speaking to Elliot like this.'

I grabbed Elliot's hand and pulled him with me as I walked off before he would burst out into anger...

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