Taming The Player

2

NATHANIEL CREST POV

Nick and I were en route to school in his car, a journey he clearly resented. Due to our parents' insistence, he had no choice but to drive me, a fact that visibly irritated him.

The car screeched to a halt, and I gripped my seat tightly as he growled, "Get out of my car."

I frowned, concerned. "But we're only halfway to school."

He snorted in derision. "Does it look like I care? Get out."

I pleaded, "But if I do, I'll be late for class."

He smirked, unfazed. "Then you'd better start walking."

I gulped, feeling a surge of anxiety. "Nick, please don't do this to me."

His patience wore thin, and he barked, "Don't test me, get out."

Defeated, I unbuckled my seatbelt, grabbed my backpack, and exited the car. He sped off, leaving me stranded. Finding a taxi in this area was challenging, so I resigned myself to walking to school.

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I trudged along, knowing I'd be late. How could Nick be so heartless? I envied Scoot's strength and resilience, wishing I could stand up to my own brother's bullying.

I rushed into class, trying to make as little noise as possible. I took a deep breath before turning the knob and slipping inside. The room fell silent, and the teacher's gaze settled on me, her expression unreadable.

I kept my eyes downcast, avoiding eye contact as I made my way to my seat. Relieved that the teacher didn't call me out, I quickly pulled out my books and began to arrange them on my desk. Just as I was settling in, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to see Scoot, his eyes filled with concern.

"Are you okay?" he whispered.

I forced a smile, trying to brush off his inquiry. "Yes, why wouldn't I be?"

The bell rang, signaling the end of the class, and Scoot and I filed out together. I was grateful when he didn't press me for conversation.

But as we walked, he asked again, "Are you ready to talk now?"

I mumbled, "It's really nothing."

Scoot fell into step beside me, his eyes fixed on me. "Don't bullshit me, Nathan. I can see right through your lies."

I sighed, knowing I couldn't evade him forever. "Scoot..."

"Don't 'Scoot' me," he interrupted. "You're never late to school, and you hate being late. When Nick arrived earlier without you, I knew something was up. So I'm asking again, what happened?"

I knew I couldn't keep the truth from him any longer.

"He left me," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

Scoot's brow furrowed in concern. "What do you mean?"

I hesitated, but the words tumbled out anyway. "He left me, Scoot. He dropped me off halfway and told me to walk."

Scoot's face softened, but I cut him off before he could offer any sympathy. "No, Scoot, it's fine. I don't need anyone's pity."

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes again, and I groaned in frustration, feeling embarrassed and vulnerable. I turned and walked away, not waiting for his response.

I sought refuge in the library during lunch break, sitting at a table far from the crowds. I unpacked my lunch box and set it before me, trying to distract myself from the morning's events. But solitude was short-lived, as Jared appeared beside me.