Hellfire Legacy

Chapter 2

-Freshman Year 2007-

Dean

The first month of high school has gone by in a blur. I've started basketball season and Eden has been doing great co-leading Hellfire. We have all the same classes this semester and we always do our best to study together every day, though sometimes I have practice and she has Hellfire.

My favorite thing is when I look to the stands during my games and see Eden smiling her perfect smile down at me. And when she invites me to watch her campaign sessions, watching her in her element. I truly believe that we are each others biggest cheerleaders. 

"Earth to Bear. Hello," Eden waves her hand in front of my face. "Did you even hear anything Mr. Henderson said?"

"Gonna admit, I was totally zoned out. I heard nothing. But you'll fill me in, right Angel?" I giver her my best puppy eyes and her whole body eases. 

Of course she'll fill me in, it's what we do.

~

Eden

He knows I can't resist the puppy eyes. I've never been able to. It's okay though, because he's never been able to resist my smile.

"I let you get away with too much." I sigh. "But of course I'll fill you in. It's what we do for each other." I pat his cheek then the bell rings signaling that it's time for lunch.

Today is one of our busier days. We get to have lunch sort of together today because the Hellfire Club and the basketball team's tables are next to each other. Dean and I are seated with our backs to each other, so all I have to do is lean back a little and my back will be against his. He peeks at me over his shoulder and offers me a smile before we both focus in on our respective groups.

~

I'm in the stands watching Dean warm up before his game starts. It isn't until he's face-to-face with the opponent preparing for the jump-ball that he looks up at me. I smile at him and nod, to which he smiles back before he nods to the ref to start the game.

"Go Bear!" I'm standing now, screaming with my heart in my throat as Dean runs down the court with the ball while the clock counts down the last 10 seconds of the tied game.

Dean makes it to the basket, pulls in for the lay-up, and just as the buzzer sounds, the ball sinks into the net. The crowd erupts as the team swarms him. My hands are clasped together against my chest, willing myself to calm down. It isn't until the team pulls me into the center of the group that I realize I've made my way down to the gym floor.

~

Dean

"Hi Angel." My breathing is heavy and ragged from having ran so fast. It seems to me that Eden is straight adrenaline right now, as if she'd been the one who just scored the game-winning basket. "You okay?"

She finally drops her hands and smiles up at me. Her breathing starts leveling out as the team continues to celebrate around us.

It feels like we're the only people in the gym right now. Ugh, how do I tell the girl staring up at me that I fell for her on some random evening in 5th grade while we were hiding from her brothers in our fort?

I can't tell her. I can't ruin our friendship. She's my whole world. As long as she's here, I'll always be the happiest boy in the universe. And I'll always be her biggest cheer leader, no matter what.