More Than A Game

Chapter 24

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for thinking that life will always fix my wounds up for myself. If I hadn't been so secretive, then maybe keeping Chad by my side wouldn't have felt so wrong." I whispered to myself, looking out the window. The large trees outside was the only thing that kept me staring out in the open, wondering where I would be if Chad found about my secret relationship with Ollie.

It had already been an hour since my fight with Brayden and the guilt was starting to eat me alive. I knew that I was partly to be blamed for the fallout between us, but it wasn't all because of what was going on between Ollie and myself.

I could hear soft footstep creaks from behind me as my heart raced. I hoped to myself that it wasn't Chad but couldn't find myself to turn and face the doorway. The footsteps become louder coming towards me and each time, my heart beating faster with fear. When a pair of familiar legs came past me, I was relieved and a little surprised to see Jessica, as she took a seat next me, gently patting me on the back.

"Hey, Carmen. I heard screaming coming from the house on my way here. Is everything alright?"

With Jessica right by my side, I felt embarrassed with the current state I was in, but honestly who could blame me when my life was a large pool of disappointment. Letting out a choke, I leaned my head against Jess' shoulder as more tears started emerging from my eyes.

"Jessica everything is horrible. I'm lying behind my boyfriends' back, I don't understand how my love life seems like a big joke and my brother thinks I'm nothing but a giant scandal. I don't know what to do anymore Jess, I just feel like giving up completely since I'm nothing but a failure."

"Hey. I don't ever want my best friend to say that she's a failure. You're one of the most beautiful, intelligent, funniest and charming people I have met. Just because people say stuff, that doesn't mean you should believe everything they say, even if you know them very well. No please Carmen, dry those tears up and tell me what happened."

"I don't know. Brayden just came up to me and said he heard everything, our whole conversation from the other night and started saying that I was coming home late because of my so call intimate interactions with other football players. I tried telling him that he was overreacting but he thought I was trying to hide a scandal that one of those stupid coaching officials were going to uncover during the upcoming weeks to draft night.

I have no clue how he could come up with such garbage but right now, I don't care. It hurt that girls' said similar things to me when I began dating Chad but now with Brayden saying it, that's the thing that hurts the most. And the most pathetic part was that because of my relationships with footballers, I'm stopping him from getting drafted from a team at the end of the year."

"From what you've told me, Brayden is overreacting. Your relationship with Chad and I guess your friendship with Ollie, isn't going to start any scandals or whatever. Brayden's probably just paranoid, I mean c'mon. I bet he's been binge watching episodes of that football show, which is enough to get anybody's mind imaginative. And to be drafted isn't only about how clean your record is, if you can't play, then it's pretty pointless. Don't worry Carmen, you're not stopping anyone from getting drafted if that's what you're worried about. What you do in your private time is your business, wether that may be right or wrong."

"Thank you Jessica, thank you for being with me through my rough patches. You're an absolutely amazing friend and I'm extremely honoured to have you by my side. You know, I don't even think we'd count as best friends because to me you're like a sister." I said forcing a smile through my emotional state. Wiping my eyes, I gathered in Jessica for a hug that lasted a long while. I was grateful for somebody like, who knows what it would've been like if she wasn't in my life.

Through our heartwarming moment, a creak in the floorboards disrupted us. We both released from the hug and turned around to see an arrogant looking Brayden hanging around the doorway. I noticed Jessica rolling her eyes as she slowly rose to her feet and faced Brayden.

"I don't know why you're looking so smug for somebody who accuses people of sleeping around with others for enjoyment? You should be ashamed Brayden, it's your own sister that we're talking about here, how aren't you getting that?"

"Oh is that what this is about? I'm the bad guy for pointing out her inappropriate behaviour. I'm really surprised that as a friend of hers, you're just letting this behaviour slip away as if it isn't anything to be concerned about."

"Shut up Brayden. You don't know anything about your sisters' life, you shouldn't even be poking your noise in other people's business where it doesn't involve you. I thought at 18 you would know this but looks like I was wrong."

"I know enough to say that what she's doing in life is not fair. It isn't fair to go around breaking hearts for the sake of whatever her plans are..."

"ALRIGHT. I think we all get I've made a mistake but you don't need to be harassing me over something that is my business. Brayden, you're such a princess when it comes to other people's business, for once can't you just mind your own damn business. I always feel like you're so hard to impress others."

Brayden started looking behind my back wide eyed and then back at me. What was up with this kid trying to get himself out of the hole he dug? He was the one that so badly to know my business, now here he was trying to avoid the fact that he was also in the wrong.

"Fine Carmen, be like that because honestly, it's your life and I'm to have nothing to do with. But when your pathetic paradise begins to crumble, don't you dare come crying to me when no one else is around to support you." Brayden screamed as he marched upstairs and let the door slam behind him. As I turned around, it had felt as if my heart had sunk to my feet. No matter how many tears trickled down my cheek, I couldn't seem to lose the image of Chad looking confused, standing rather still.

"Babe, babe what's going on? What's with the screaming? Why is my beautiful girl crying?" Chad asked anxiously as he took a seat next to me and gave me a big hug. With his arms wrapped around me, I felt rather uncomfortable with everything that was going on.

"I'll give you two some space. Carmen, don't stress yourself out and Chad, please look after her." Jessica said with a miserable pout before walking out the door. I turned my attention from the front door to Chad, who seemed to look just as frightened as I was. He slowly wiped the tears from my eyes before looking into my eyes.

"Hey babe, I know that whatever it is that's going on, it must be hard for you but please don't stress yourself out anymore. It's upsetting for me to watch you cry a river of tears and makes me worried."

I took in a deep breath before taking the time to calm myself down. I desperately wanted to talk to Chad and tell him everything that happened, but in doing so that would mean I would have to tell Chad about my relationship with Ollie. I took another sigh before looking up at Chad.

"I'm sorry Chad, I just don't have the energy to talk right now. You can hang around if you want but I assume you'd have more important things to do with your life."

"Carmen, there isn't anything more important in my life than you, don't forget that. I can't imagine what I would do with you being my life, I can assure you that." Chad exclaimed as he placed his hand underneath and we leant in for a kiss. Placing my forehead against his, I suddenly felt a shiver run down my back. It was ironic that I was angry at Ollie for forcing me into a shaky game of love triangles when really, I was doing the same thing with Chad.