The Enemy

Chapter 3

It's been two weeks since Bryn has heard from Lias. He not once tried texting or calling her.  She had a feeling it was because of who her brothers were. She was upset that she couldn't even talk to a guy without her brothers getting between them.

Bryn sat sulking in her history class as she watched the time slowly tick by. The football game tonight was going to be very interesting. They were playing a catholic school from across the state. Knowing Bryn's brothers, they're going to make her go and watch.  At least it was a home game.

The bell soon rang, and she was out of her seat as soon as possible. Before she made it to her locker though, on of her brothers' friends stopped her.

"How's it going Bryn?" He asked leaning against the wall.

"What do you want Chris?  I just want to go home."  He chuckled and gave her a cocky grin.

"Oh come on Bryn. You know you like me.  Just let me take you out."

"No Chris. Just leave me alone." Bryn shoved by him and went straight to her car, not even caring to go to her locker.

At the game, Bryn sat with Natalie and told her all about Chris.

"What a douchebag."  Her best friend scoffed. "He's such a pig.  Makes me sick."

Near the middle of the football game, Bryn got a text from an unknown number.

Meet me in the parking lot behind the football stadium -Unknown

She looked around confused and slowly stood up. "I'll be right back..." Natalie nodded at her and focused back on the game.

When she made it there, she looked around but didn't see anyone. Suddenly, someone came out from the shadows with a hood covering their face. He was a tall, well built guy; that she could tell. Finally, he removed the hood and showed who he was. Lias.

"Lias? What are you doing here? And dressed like that?" He just kept his straight face and stared right at her.

"Bryn, I feel terrible. I freaked out. I just want to apologize. I shouldn't have run out on you." Bryn stood frozen and processed his words. She knows her brothers are enemies with him, but for some reason she already felt a connection with Lias that she hasn't felt in a long time.

"Lias, I can't say it's okay, because it isn't. The way you left me there and just disappeared like that really hurt me. I can't choose my brothers." He lowered his head and kicked the rocks by his feet.

"I know and I'm sorry. I didn't think you would want me to talk to you after what I did. I know I'm risking a lot being here right now and possibly being seen by your team, but I just had to apologize."

"Lias, I..." Bryn was at a loss for words. She didn't know what to say to him. "You say you're risking a lot being here, but I don't want it to be like that. I want you to be able to talk to me in public without you worrying about being seen. It's not fair for me to have to go through that."

"I understand, but right now isn't the best time for me to get into a fight with anyone let alone my biggest rivals. I want to be seen with you and eventually be with you for real, but-" he paused and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Lias I-I can't. If you can't be proud to be with me, then I don't think we can even talk anymore." Bryn had tears pooling in her eyes at Lias' expression. He looked hurt and miserable. "I'm sorry. I have to go." She sobbed and ran in the opposite direction before Lias could say anything else that would make her change her mind in a heartbeat. She really did think she liked him, but if he doesn't want to actually be with her and be proud of her, then she couldn't do it.

Lias stood in the same spot before he threw his hood back over his head and dragged himself away from their stadium. That whole night he wouldn't leave his room, and neither would Bryn. Her brothers stood outside her door and tried to get her to talk, but she just kept telling them to go away. She couldn't face them right now. She knew they didn't deserve the cold shoulder, but honestly she was embarrassed. She couldn't believe she would risk so much for someone just to stop talking to them.

A month went by. Lias and Bryn were still not talking. She was miserable, but nowhere near as bad as him. He barely talked, and when he did, it was short one or two word remarks. His friends thought it was very strange of him, because he's usually a really loud and obnoxious person. Even his football was in jeopardy. He didn't play as good as he used to. He constantly dropped the ball, and lost focus every time he saw a girl that looked close to Bryn. He couldn't get her out of his head. He had a plan to get her to talk to him no matter the cost.

Bryn sat at lunch like any other normal day. Natalie talked her ear off as she didn't even pay attention. Suddenly, a hush fell over the lunch room as everyone stared at the double doors. There stood Lias with his whole football team. At first everyone thought it was some football thing, so all the boys stood up and formed a crowd in front of them.

"What are you doing here Hamilton?" Jase snapped from the front of the group.  One of the bigger guys stepped out from behind Lias.

"None of your business. We are here strictly for business. Now step aside." He growled and bumped shoulders with Jase.

The whole group of boys made their way to Bryn's table and sat down.  All except Lias.  He remained still and had his gaze glued to her.  Then he looked at her three brothers.  "We need to talk."  The three of them looked at each other and then nodded at him.  They made their way out the door, and the room remained silent except for the crowd of obnoxious rivals who just barged into our school.  When the four of them came back, Lias nodded their way and they all stood up and left.  Bryn's brothers didn't say anything the rest of the day to anyone.  They looked like they were in the zone like they are during football games.

The rest of the day went by uneventful, and Bryn was grateful for that.  She just couldn't wait to get home and sleep the night away.  Unfortunately, that was not the case.  As soon as she got home, she noticed her parents standing in the living room with her brothers waiting for her.  When she walked in, they all looked at her with disappointed looks.

"We figured out who you were talking to and why you're so gloomy all the time."