Boundless Love

Chapter Ten - A Bloody Nose

The whistle blows, launching this gym into a war zone. As soon as I hear that glorious sound I launch my ball straight at Liam. He dodges, being the athletic boy he is and throws one at me. We go back and forth for a while before we both move on to other students. From his place down the center line from me he takes out plenty of people on my team, but I do the same from where I am to his team. 

"Catch a ball!" I hear shouts and hollers from the people already in the out section behind me. "Come on! Catch one!" I look for a ball to catch, hoping to get some of my teammates back in. 

"Yo! Melvin!" I give a shout to one of the guys on my football team. "Bet you can't get me out!" I egg him on, watching as he scoffs and launches the ball he was holding right for me. Unluckily for him, I catch the ball, effectively getting him out and one of my teammates back in. 

"Devin!" I call to one of the guys out on the mat. "You're in."

"Thanks, man," he says, giving me a nod and picking up a ball that rolled past him. 

I focus on catching more balls, getting more and more people back into the game before I start getting the other team out again. I'm on a roll when I notice Liam and a few other guys on his side targeting Lizaveta. I didn't know she was on my team. I barely think anything of it, about to turn back around before I see one of their balls hit her square in the head. 

I don't know why, but seeing her head whip back and her body stumble from the force of the ball upsets me. I see her reach a hand up to the side of her head, most likely sporting a headache, as some blood starts to drip from her nose. The boys are whooping and hollering about them getting her out, finally, and I just grab a ball for each one of them. They don't even see it coming, as one by one, I whip a ball straight for them in anger. They all reach their hands up, grabbing the side of their own head briefly as they look at me, shock written clearly across their faces. 

"Bro," one of them starts. "Come on!"

"Draven, you sneaky bastard!"

The boys make their way to their out section and I return to the game as normal. I know Lizzy is looking at me from the sideline, her eyes burning a hole in the back of my head. I didn't do it for her, I tell myself. I did it because it was a good chance to get them out. It's a lie, but I won't admit that to myself. 

******

"Yeah, no. I didn't even see Liz," I lie, pulling my clean shirt over my head. 

"No, you totally did," Liam argues, putting on some deodorant. "We got her out and you tried to kill us for it."

"I didn't try to kill you. You're being dramatic." I watch his eyes roll. "You gave her a bloody nose with how hard you threw the ball, I was just returning the favor," I say, referring to the headache they've all been complaining about since I got them out. 

"Aha! So you did see her! And I'm not even the one who threw the ball- that was Evan!" he exclaims, gesturing with one arm as he swings his bag over his shoulder with the other. 

Crud. "Still. And I saw her after I'd gotten y'all out," I recover, putting on my own deodorant and swinging my bag over my shoulder. 

We both head out of the locker room, making our way towards the courtyard. I spot Liz talking to some of her friends near the exit doors, and watch with a scowl as her boyfriend sneaks up behind her. I watch him throw his arm around her shoulder, startling her, and making her friends stop their laughter. Lizzy's face morphs into a smile upon seeing Owen and she turns around, wrapping him in a small hug. 

I turn my gaze away from them in passing and exit the building. Liam and I both head for my truck, needing to grab my practice bag that I'd left in it this morning. 

"You're a liar," Liam says to me after I shut my truck door, bag in hand. 

I roll my eyes, knowing where this is going. "Liam," I warn. 

"Come on! I know I said that I wasn't going to say anything more about it, but a blind lady could see how you looked at Lizaveta!" Liam stresses to me, convinced he's right. 

"Li, I can't even stand her, much less do I actually like her."

"Bro, you don't stare at someone you don't like with puppy dog eyes, then look at their boyfriend like you wanna pop their head off," he deadpans, starting pack towards the school. 

"I wasn't staring, and I certainly am not jealous," I deny. 

"Are too."

"Are not."

"Are too."

I growl in frustration. "Seriously?" I ask. 

Liam nods in response as we re-enter the school and I roll my eyes at him. 

I resist the urge to look for Lizzy as I make my way to the locker room. Liam isn't right. He just isn't. I can't stand Liz. She's so annoying, and way too sweet sometimes.