Destined... | Anthony 'Ant' Vaugn

021 Oh awky...

The Feelings Pit  

Part 1 

"Today, lads, is all about—"

"Burying our feelings!" Voss bellows, his voice ringing out with its signature booming enthusiasm, earning a collective groan from us.

"Burying their feelings," Amerie mutters dryly, rolling her eyes at Voss's dramatic antics.

The four of us—Harper, Missy, Amerie, and I—stand dressed in our footy gear, sweat clinging to our foreheads under the warm sun, watching the Cum Lords a few feet away. They're shovelling dirt into a massive pit with absurd intensity, each of them focused as if this was some sort of sacred ritual.

"They're literally burying their feelings," Amerie says, a mix of disbelief and amusement in her voice.

I snicker. "Why is Voss's voice always so loud? It's like he's constantly constipated." We all burst into laughter, the tension breaking for a moment until I feel my phone buzz against my leg. My laughter fades as I glance down at the screen. Cash's name flashes across it, and a grin immediately stretches across my face. I excuse myself from the group with a quick wave and step a few feet away to answer the call.

"Cash! Oh my god. Are you out? You're not calling me from jail? You're on your actual phone!" I babble excitedly, barely able to contain my relief.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm out," Cash's voice comes through, sounding a bit distant, tinged with frustration. "They dropped the charges."

"That's amazing! But... what's wrong?" I ask, sensing the change in his tone.

He sighs heavily. "Woodsy isn't letting me back at school. Not even on the grounds."

"What the fuck?" I feel my heart sink, my voice sharp with anger.

"Don't tell anyone, okay? I'm only telling you. I just needed someone to know," he says quietly, like he's holding something heavier than just the bad news.

"I won't. I promise. I've got you," I assure him, my mind racing to figure out how to help. "That's just... so shit, wow." I breathe out, trying to wrap my head around it.

"I'm just pissed. Honestly, I miss school sometimes. As crazy as that sounds," Cash admits, his voice softening, almost as if he's ashamed to say it out loud. "I just... I want to go back."

"I get it. I'd feel the same way," I say, my voice dropping into a more sympathetic tone. "I'll swing by later, yeah? We can talk more."

"Yeah, Nan'll be happy to see you. She's been asking about you," he says, sounding a little lighter now, a small smile creeping back into his voice.

"I couldn't bring myself to visit her while you were gone. But I'll see you soon. Bye, Cash."

"Bye, Ang. Talk soon."

I hang up, my mind buzzing with everything he just told me. Woodsy, you absolute bitch. Let him come back. I rejoin the girls, who are now sitting in a loose circle, clearly waiting for gossip.

"Oh wait, Lina's back," Missy announces, her eyes locking onto mine. "You have to tell us what happened."

I smirk, sliding back into the group. "Drama? Oh, do tell," I say, pretending that I hadn't just stepped away from my own personal chaos.

"So, what exactly did he say?" Missy asks, leaning forward, clearly intrigued by Amerie's story.

"'We don't need labels,'" Amerie mimics Malakai's voice, her frustration evident. From what I've gathered, Malakai basically dumped her, but still wants to keep things casual—far from the commitment Amerie was hoping for. Missy and I exchange a knowing glance, fully aware of why Malakai's been pulling away, though Amerie remains clueless.