His Smirk ||

20: Pushing Back

Jakeson's POV

I closed the locker, draping my shirt over my shoulder as I turned to Frankie. "Which field?" I asked, not wanting to make the decision myself.

"The far one," he responded, tying up the laces on his white gym shoes. "I don't feel like having Davy on my ass all period.”

I laughed, shaking my head. How Frankie and Kale, two of the most unreliable people in the world, could wind up being in a position of power on our football team I'd never know. Was it not for the fact the task of picking next year’s players was so tiresome, I may have opted to become team captain myself. Unlike them I could handle the pressure of having prospective players trying to convince me of their worth. 

Instead I smirked as I sauntered from the locker room. Kale had once again found himself being pestered by a JV who wanted on the team next year. Surprisingly I hadn’t directed this one to Kale with questions as I’d often do when I was bored and needed a laugh. No, this one had approached him on his own accord making him ever more persistent in getting Kale’s undivided attention.

With a shake of my head I picked up my pace the second my feet hit the grass of the field outdoors. Ignoring the eyes of the girls I jogged across the field, smoothly jumping over the small row of benches. Jesus you'd think they'd never seen a man shirtless before.

Wondering just how long I’d be alone under their intent gazes I glanced back as I waited for my group to catch up. It turned out to be a bad decision. The moment I did a group of girls waved, erupting into whispers and giggles from across the field. I groaned, forcing a little smile and a wink in response before turning around.

How could I have ever found that attractive?

"I've got the ball!" Mark hollered to the others as he approached me. He slowed his pace to a walk, an excited smile on his face as though he’d hurried out of the locker room just for the opportunity to get me alone.  "Did you hear the news?"

Mark tossed the ball towards me, his face spreading into a grin. "What news?" I asked, catching the kickball being thrown my way. That smile meant either very good news or very bad news, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to know which it’d be.

"The amazing Skylar finally settled down," he laughed, shaking his head, "About fucking time, huh?"

The news caused me to grin and toss the ball up into the air. I watched it as it blacked out the sun before slowly falling back towards earth. So Skylar was taken, huh?

It had to be the best news I'd heard all day. He'd been stepping on my toes way too often this past year. It all began with him waiting for Rein everyday at her locker through hell or high-water. You couldn't pry that boy from his post against her locker if you tried. Every morning that I’d drop her off at her locker to see that goon smirking away. . . it had nearly driven me to violence.

And when he'd started showing up at our football games I'd known there was a big problem. The kid was a soccer star from England. The only football he liked was the white and black one you kicked around a grass field like a pansy. But for Rein he acted interested in my sport. The stupid gloating smirk on his face had always killed me when I looked up from the field. It was like he was staring straight at me saying 'yeah I'm with your girl' whenever he'd offer her his soda.

Granted, she had been dating Kale when that had started going on. It didn't change the fact I'd always watch out for her. And that Skylar freak was on the top of the list of boys who better learn to keep their fucking distance.

The sound of the others approaching got my attention just long enough for me to nod at Frankie as he joined our group. He nodded back, deep in a heated conversation with Kale. I couldn't help but smile, throwing the ball Mark’s way as I asked, "So who is the unfortunate girl?"

Seeing Kale upset used to be the highlight of my day. He deserved more than anyone to be unhappy. After what he'd done to Rein there was no reason to even pretend to be friendly towards him. But this current news was even more important than seeing the loser upset.

That’s when I realized he hadn't answered, and I looked back to Mark only to find him looking sheepishly guilty for some reason. "What?" I urged, wondering what was going on. I hadn't tossed the ball that hard.

"Skylar is dating Rein."

I was too startled to respond. Wait, no . . . He didn't say-

"Shut the fuck up," Frankie snapped, he and Kale no longer in their own little world. "All they did was hold hands,” he added with a pointed finger.

"That's not what everyone is saying," Mark responded, looking startled at Frankie’s angry tone of voice. "Don't kill the messenger man."

He scoffed, shaking his head. "You're an idiot."

"What's going on?" I asked, coming back to reality. "Frankie?"

Frankie peered through his blonde hair at me as he groaned. "All she did was hold his hand this morning. Relax."

"Yeeaaaah right," Kale butted in with a bitter laugh. "I doubt that's all those two have done."

I ignored him, too upset to even roll my eyes at how blatantly stupid he was. What Rein had ever seen in him I'd never know and frankly didn't care to. He was a loudmouthed idiot. What was worse was that I knew why he enjoyed insulting her so much. In his own idiotic way he still felt possessive of her. I should put him in his place already. Show him that she isn’t his and never will be again.

Instead I narrowed my eyes on Frankie. "How do you know this?"

"I saw them this morning."

"And you didn't think to fucking tell me?!" I growled. I'd known the kid was dull but this was ridiculous.

"It's not like she's yours," Kale laughed roughly.

I glared over at him, gritting my teeth. It's not worth it Jakeson. Just let him be an idiot and focus on what's going on instead.

"Where did you hear they were dating?" I asked Mark, letting a slow breath out as I calmed myself to the best of my abilities. There had to be something more to this. Rein wouldn’t just up and start dating Skylar without any word to me.

He shrugged, tossing the ball up and catching it. "Everyone is saying it."

"All they did was hold hands," Frankie assured me, his voice smooth and calm. "You know Rein would tell us if she was dating him."