Irresistible» Bobby Finstock [1]

~SEVEN~

Billie sat at Finstock's desk, her head buried deep in the lesson plans for the upcoming lesson with the Freshman. Her head shot up to see Scott and Finstock walking into the office; a baffled look on Finstock's face.

"What do you mean, you can't play the game tomorrow night?" He asked, Scott glancing over at Billie who stared at him in confusion. This is what he'd been working toward all summer, and now that he finally got it; he wanted to throw it all away?

"What?" Billie interjected, the two staring at the girl, "But mom-"

"I mean," Scott said before pausing briefly. "I can't play the game tomorrow night."

Billie stood up and rounded the desk and came face to face with her little brother, while Finstock sat himself on the edge of the desk.

"What you mean to say," Billie started, "is that you can't wait to play the game tomorrow night." The girls teeth gritted as she spoke, Finstock pointing at the girl with an excited smile.

"Exactly!" He said, jumping up and slapping a hand on the younger McCall's shoulder. The sophomore huffed in frustration and glared down at his older sister.

"No." He said through his own grit teeth, "No, I can't play the game tomorrow night."

"I'm not following." Coach said.

"Me, neither." Billie said.

Both their eyes seating holes through the sophomore's head.

The boy hesitated before continuing, his eyes glancing at his sister almost begging her to go along with his next words.

"I'm having some personal issues."

"Is it a girl?" Billie asked abruptly, Scott staring at his sister in frustration and shock; he just wanted her to help him get out of this. She'd been so angry at him for joining, why now is she asking him to keep playing?

"No."

"Is it a guy?" Finstock asked, the two staring at him in shock, Scott taking a moment to register what Coach was asking.

"You know our goalie, Danny, is gay..." Finstock tried to add, Billie smiling softly at how supportive this man was. It was as if every day she found something new to keep her grounded in this love she'd so stubbornly held onto.

In return to her wandering thoughts Billie's heart began to beat rapidly her hands shaking slightly. Her mind was brining her back to the kiss they'd shared not even a week ago.

"Yeah, I know, Coach." Scott said, his eyes glancing back at Billie worriedly, "But that's not it."

Billie stared at her brother expectantly, awaiting his reasoning for backing out. The sophomore held Finstock's gaze in an attempt to not have to acknowledge his sister's glare.

"You don't think Danny's a good looking guy?" Coach asked, veering the conversation away from Scott's attempts to back out of the game. Billie gave a snort, smiling to herself at his successful diversion.

The older McCall almost grinned at the flustered blush that had risen up onto her brother's cheeks; his thoughts no longer on Lacrosse.

"No! I-I think he's a good looking guy..." Scott said hurriedly, "but I-I like girls."

Scott's eyes widened in realisation and subtle glare settled into his eyes. He glanced at his sister's smug look, confirming his thoughts.

"Anyway, that's not it I-"

"What is it? Drugs?" Billianna blurted out, both Finstock and Scott staring at her for a moment, Finstock taking a moment to realise what she was doing.

"Are you doing meth?" Coach added, a serene look in his eyes, "Because I had a brother that was addicted to meth, should've seen what it did to his teeth!"

Billie's smug snort made its way back onto her face, hoping Scott wouldn't glance down at her this time.

"My god, what happened to him?" Scott asked worriedly, his mind once again successfully diverted away from the original conversation.

"He got veneers!" Finstock said with a chuckle, though it was quickly cut off and a serious expression settled into his features. "Is that what this is about? Are you afraid of getting hurt, McCall?"

Billie's eyes widened, a sad expression settling into her own features. She thought back to her initial worry on the day he tried out; how much fear she held for her baby brother.

"No...I'm just having some aggression issues." The younger McCall stated, his tone suggesting he wasn't entirely confident in his reasoning.

"Well here's the good thing." Finstock said, "That's why you play Lacrosse! Problem solved."

The man seemed proud of himself, as if he'd solved a mystery and cracked a cold case.

"Coach I can't play tomorrow night." Scott said finally, his words certain and unmoving.

"Listen McCall," Coach said, a sinister tone taking hold of his voice, "part of playing first line is taking on the responsibility of first line."

There was a brief pause, Billie looking up at Finstock with confusion. She was unsure where this seriousness had come from, or why she was extremely attracted to it.

"Now, if you can't shoulder that responsibility," Finstock said, "you're back on the bench until you're ready."

A look of shock and fear overtook Scott's confident facade; Billie wishing she could hug him and make him feel better. But she'd been tasked with taking her role as Finstock's Shadow seriously.

"If I don't play, you're taking me off first line?" Scott asked bewilderedly, the boy unable to understand why it was so important to Finstock that he played.

The man in question just stared at the sophomore with an unmoving stern stare; the man not letting any other words be spoken.

"McCall...play the game." Finstock said, his eyes glancing at the door behind Scott; the sophomore taking that as his queue to leave.

Billie sighed and let her head fall, Finstock looking at the girl worriedly. The man went to say something but cut himself off; his mind thought back to Friday night catching him off guard.

"Fuck." He muttered to himself, hoping Billie hadn't heard him, "McCall, you're free for the rest of the day."

The girl's head shot up to stare at Finstock, a fleeting flash of pain showing in her eyes. The man went to comfort her but thought against it and sat down at his desk; diving into the stack of unmarked papers.

"But what about the-"

"I'm perfectly capable of wrangling a bunch of Freshmen, Billianna." Coach said, cutting the girl off. He looked up at her with a soft smile, "you've been shadowing all day; have a free period."

The girl reluctantly nodded and exited his office with a heavy heart.