Rosewood School for Boys

Chapter 4 - Rugby

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Noah and Carter have a rugby match that afternoon so I agree to come and watch them as the weather is still pretty nice. We walk across the field to where some spectators are already waiting, the late-September breeze sending a shiver down my spine as my feet crunch on the first autumn leaves. I had finally outgrown my coat last winter so all I'm wearing is a threadbare hoodie and I wrap my arms around myself to try to retain some heat. When we reach the edge of the pitch Noah and Carter jog over to their teammates and Felix and I head over to a relatively empty spot where we have a good view.

"Are they any good?" I ask him.

"The team is okay but Noah and Carter are the stars. Carter is a lot faster than he looks which makes him a perfect winger and Noah is just an absolute tank, no one can tackle him." Felix smirks a little, "Unfortunately he has a bit too much of a conscience and ends up apologising to everyone he knocks down."

I smile, from what I had learned about Noah already he seemed the embodiment of a gentle giant. Big and intimidating on the outside, gentle and sweet on the inside. It's one of the reasons why he was so easy to get along with.

A loud whistle blast makes me jump and I try not to notice Felix looking curiously at me in my peripheral vision as I focus on the game. I watch with amazement as Noah streaks up the pitch, the opposition players bouncing off him left and right. The ball is tucked securely under his arm and no one even gets close to it before he's over the try line and had scored. His teammates slap him heartily on the back while he smiles apologetically at the disgruntled boys he steamrolled.

Felix taps my shoulder gently, "I'm gonna go get some coffee," he points to a tent with some snacks and drinks underneath. "Want anything?"

I shake my head with a smile and turn back to the game, engrossed. I had never been into watching sports, only playing them, but Noah and Carter work so well together it's impossible not to

The moment Felix dissolves into the crowd a group of boys start whispering to each other and pointing at me. One of them, a tall, beefy guy, leads the group over to where I'm standing on the sideline.

He leers at me, exposing teeth that look like they had been knocked around a few too many times. The guy is standing uncomfortably close and towers over me, casting a long, dark shadow. When he speaks his voice is rough and gravelly like he'd been smoking six packs a day since he was ten.

"Hey there sweetheart, I noticed you in the cafeteria this morning sitting with that Noah guy. Lemme guess, he your brother?" Beef cake says.

"No he's just a friend." I try to take a step back but his buddies are in a tight circle around me.

He raises a bushy eyebrow, "A friend? So you're banging." He says confidently.

My cheeks burn scarlet, "What? No!" I try not to think about Noah's muscular biceps and dark eyes.

He winks in way that I suppose he thinks is charming and places a heavy hand on my shoulder, sending a shudder of disgust through me. "You should ditch him and come hang out with us instead." He gestures to the other boys around us and they shuffle closer, trampling the grass under their large feet.

I'm starting to get a little creeped out by these guys and start looking around for Felix. Where was he?

I shrug beef cake's hand off me and scowl in a show of defiance. I'd learnt from experience that most creeps will back down if you show you're not scared, especially in a public place. Unfortunately, everyone around us is too engaged watching the game to pay any attention to us.