After a seemingly awkward lunch of small murmurs and stolen glances, the group of Geoff, Gavin, Michael, Ray, Jack, and Ryan broke off in there respective directions for class. Gavin repeatedly told himself what had happened was nothing. Absolutely nothing. So why had it bothered him so much? And Michael..
Michael looked furious. He picked at his food, but didn't eat too much and he wouldn't even look up from tray.
Gavin's stomach twist up into knots, and he felt ill again like he did this morning. His lunch threatened to make a come-back but he swore to himself that he would not be puking up his guts anymore today. He and Michael had the last class of the day together, and he felt his head start to ache from the tension in his entire being.
He shouldn't care so much. He shouldn't. So why did he?
Gavin kept thinking about why he cared. Why he's been talking about Michael a lot. Why that moment with Ray had turned so.. Intimate. His next class was gym, in which he was stuck with the nagging feeling of uncertainty.
It wasn't until he heard his voice that he remembered who he shared the class with.
"Hey Gav." Spoke an uneasy and timid voice.
"Bollocks." Gavin whispered to himself before turning to Ray with a forced smile. "Hey Ray."
Ray gave the exchange student a half smile, still feeling quite ridiculous for before. He didn't expect that to happen but those damned eyes of his got him. They heard someone clear their throat before a familiar voice spoke.
"Hey Gavin.. Ray." Michael said in a somewhat bitter tone. "You should go get changed Gavin. We're going to play soccer after we stretch."
Gavin looked a bit confused. What the hell was 'soccer'? He glanced over Michael's shorts and worn gray t-shirt before nodding and heading off to the changing rooms.
Michael huffed softly as he watched Gavin walk off. As soon as he was out of earshot, he turned to Ray with a displeased glare.
"Listen Ray, I don't know what happened at lunch, but I'm not letting it get in the way of us kicking the other team's ass." A familiar grin appeared. "And I say we get Gavin on our team and play skins."
Ray laughed. "You just want to see my sexy Puerto Rican body." He smoothed down the front of his 'Kiss Me, I'm Irish' shirt that was accompanied by a leprechaun you'd usually see on cereal boxes with a (badly) photoshopped buff body.
Michael rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure."
Both Ray and Michael started stretching out their legs out of habit. Every time it was warm out, and it usually was, they'd play out on the fields. Usually, it was soccer or football with the occasional basketball game.
Both of them basically froze in place when they heard the Brit return.
"So.. What /is/ soccer?"
Michael felt a small urge to mess with him a bit, but Ray answered before he had the chance to speak.
"It's like your football. It's just a different name."
"Oh, I'm not too bad at it then."
Michael continued to stretch before his gaze moved to Gavin. He was wearing a too-big baby blue shirt that exposed just enough of his collarbone that rendered Michael nearly speechless. Gavin stole a glance at the redhead, catching his stare.
"I, uhm.. Did you need something, Michael?" Gavin mumbled curiously.
Michael shook his head slightly before his usual harsh tone returned. " 'Course not, you dumb Brit. I just wanted to tell you that you're on my and Ray's team, and we're playing skins. Take your shirt off after you've stretched." Michael straightened before pulling off his shirt and slinging it over his shoulder, leaving Ray and Gavin to themselves.
