A Spirit Between Us (bxb)

Chapter 10 - Whirlwind.

The winter air was sharp and biting, carrying with it a relentless chill that crept into every exposed inch of skin. The cold breeze swirled through the field, slicing through layers of clothing and stinging the teams cheeks and noses until they burned red. Frost clung stubbornly to the edges of the grass, glistening faintly in the pale afternoon light. Each exhaled breath billowed out in frosty clouds, hanging in the air before dissipating. Overhead, a blanket of gray clouds loomed, heavy and unbroken, hinting at the possibility of snow. The cold seemed to seep into everything, turning even the smallest movements into a battle against the numbness creeping into their limbs.

Finn's nerves were shot, and it showed. Practice was supposed to help him focus, to clear his head before the big game tomorrow, but instead, it was a disaster. Every throw felt off, every play fell apart before it even started, and every word from his teammates felt like a personal attack.

By the time they hit the second hour of practice, Finn was spiraling. His temper was a live wire, crackling just beneath the surface, and he didn't even know why. It wasn't like him. He was usually calm, collected, a natural leader on the field. But now, every incomplete pass, every misstep, every tiny thing felt monumental, like the entire world was out to get him.

His emotions churned like a storm, each wave crashing into the next, overwhelming him in a way he'd never experienced before. Everything hit at once, anger, anxiety, frustration, and something else he couldn't even name, all of it amplified to an unbearable intensity. It was as if every feeling he'd ever suppressed was fighting its way to the surface, leaving his mind clouded and chaotic, making it nearly impossible to think straight, let alone focus.

"Come on, O'Conner! What the hell was that?" Jake barked after Finn overshot a pass to one of the wide receivers. The ball sailed clear over the guy's head and hit the chainlink fence with a hollow clang.

Finn whipped around, his face flushed with frustration. Usually, he'd apologise and laugh it off. But he physically couldn't today. "Maybe if someone actually ran the damn route right, we wouldn't have this problem!"

Jake snorted, shoving his helmet up to rest on his forehead. "Oh, sure, blame everyone else. Typical star quarterback move. Maybe if you weren't so in your head, we'd actually get something done today."

Finn felt his chest tighten, his hands clenching into fists. He wanted to let it go, but the words hit him like a slap. He didn't know why they stung so much, but they did.

"Say that again," Finn growled, his voice low and dangerous. A tone not even he knew he could speak.

Jake raised an eyebrow, clearly unfazed. "I said maybe if you weren't so busy sulking or daydreaming about God-knows-what, you'd—"

Before he could finish, Finn shoved him. Hard.

Jake stumbled back, his eyes widening in shock before narrowing with anger. "What the hell is your problem, O'Conner?" He shoved Finn back, harder, and suddenly the field was electric with tension.

The rest of the team froze, helmets in hand, mouths agape as the two boys squared off. Finn's heart was pounding, a mix of fury and adrenaline. He felt unhinged, like he was watching himself from the outside, unable to stop what was happening.

Jake's eyes narrowed as he stepped closer, his posture tense and challenging. Finn didn't even think—his fist flew before his brain could catch up. The punch landed awkwardly, grazing Jake's jaw but lacking the force Finn had intended.

That was all it took. Jake lunged at him like a spring snapping loose, his shoulder driving into Finn's torso with enough force to knock them both to the ground. Finn hit the dirt with a grunt, the air rushing from his lungs as Jake pinned him down.