Faded Promises

16

Aiden POV

Today I woke up at 5 am, and I have to extra early practice so time to make some sacrifices.

The sky was still dark and the moon was still showing. My body wanted to sleep but my mind was ready for the game.

Good thing the morning air is crisp, the kind that bites at your skin and wakes you up immediately.

The anticipation is already coursing through my veins like a shot of adrenaline.

I meet up with the guys who are already in the fields. Max and Jake are playing with the ball while couch isn't here. Max, always the life of the party, greets me with a wide grin.

"Morning Dude," Max says, tossing me a football. Fuck he has strength. Good thing he's in my team.

"You ready to crush it today?" Jake adds, his grin matching Max's.

"Yeah," I reply, catching the ball and feeling its familiar weight. " you two look happy"

"I'm happy cause I have Lucy to myself after the game" Jake winks

"Your parents are traveling?"

"They both on work trips, I don't mind. I get to have my baby for myself"

"And you?" I ask Max " why so happy?"

"Because Hanna is gonna see us. I need to show her how a real man plays" he flexes his arms and flashes me a wink

I threw the ball to his face but the sucker was quick and defend my attack.

"Good morning ladies! Let's start" the couch called us out the moment he arrived. Silence all over us and it's time to focus.

We start our warm-up routine, running drills and practicing plays.

My thighs are burning and I can't wait for practice to be over, coach said it would be a easy practice but that old man was just straight up lying.

As we're running a passing drill, I overhear Ethan talking to one of his friends nearby. His voice is louder than usual, like he's trying to make sure I hear him.

This fucker has been trying to get to me since Hanna told him yes to his date invitation.

"Yeah, Hanna said she's coming to watch me play today. Should be fun," he says, his tone smug and irritating.

A surge of jealousy and anger wells up inside me. Without thinking, I slam into him during the next play, sending him sprawling to the ground.

"Sorry, man," I say, not even bothering to sound sincere. "Didn't see you there."

Max and Jake burst out laughing. That's my boys.

They walk to me and I sense I whole speech about how I should've done that but it felt so good so I'm good with the consequences.

"Dude, you need to chill," Max says, clapping me on the back. "You can't just take him out because he's with Hanna."

"They're not together," I mutter, clenching my fists.

Jake shakes his head, still chuckling. "Whatever you say, man. Just keep it cool."

We finish practice, and I head to my first class, trying to focus. But it's no use; my mind keeps drifting back to Hanna. I hate that Ethan gets to be around her, that he gets to hear her laugh and see her smile.

During lunch, I see Hanna sitting with Lucy across the cafeteria. They're laughing and talking, and for a moment, I just watch her, feeling a urge to just go there and kiss her.