The Book Girl

Shane: Second Encounters

Shane

Thursday

After School Practice: 4:37 P.M

BRRRR!

Coach blew the whistle loudly, and I jogged over to the bench. My breath was jagged and my chest burned, but I pushed on until I could sit down. After school football practice was always the worst when it came to warm ups. The track seemed to stretch on forever.

I grabbed my green water bottle trying to quench the fire burning in my chest, but it was air my lungs begged for. Taking a few deep breaths, I looked up and grinned, sliding of the bench. Niall, my best friend, came walking toward me.

"Hey Ni, what up?" I said, and rolled my eyes when he vainly ran a hand trough his dark, styled hair.

"I just finished my last lap. Hey, does my hair look okay?" Niall said as he adjusted his quiff, trying to keep it in place.

"Get over yourself dude, it looks fine." I told him, chuckling. I've been friends with this guy since we were kids, and he was still obsessed with appearance.

"Good. Want to come to Starbucks with me? I'm meeting up with May." he asked, a pink rising in his cheeks.

They've only been dating for a few months, but things were serious between them.

"Ah, I don't know. I should probably head home. My . . . parents want me to attend "family dinner", and I have homework to finish before that." I lied shrugging. "Sorry man. Have fun with May."

"I will," he said, "but you need to get out more. I know, I know, 'grades are an important part of our education and we need to blah blah blah . . . '" Niall mocked my words from earlier. "That doesn't mean you can't come out every now and then. Plus, exams aren't for another two months, Shane!"

I sighed, scratching my head. I didn't want to keep lying to him, but I had better plans than hanging out with him and his girlfriend. Don't get me wrong, May is a nice girl. She's pretty and smart, and she makes Niall happy, so I have no problem with her. It's the way they act when they're together I don't enjoy.

"I love you, Ni-Ni," she'd gush, twirling her blonde hair.

"I love you too, May-May," he'd reply, eyeing her with his blue orbs like she was a gourmet meal and he hadn't eaten in weeks.

And so on and so on until they were making out right in front of you. Those two can't seem to find the line between cute pecks and public sex, so I shrugged again and looked away.

Clearly I needed some excuse to get to the library without anyone suspecting. I had a feeling Niall was going to say more, but Coach called my name before he had a chance.

"Hunt! Get over here!" he yelled, pointing to the ground in front if his feet angrily.

I gave a short nod in Niall's direction and crossed the track over to Coach, who was fuming. He was a scary person, Coach had bulging muscles and a cold stare that could freeze over Hell. If he thought I'd done something wrong, then I was in deep trouble.

"Shane Hunt," he huffed, "we need to have a talk." Coach looked me dead in the eye, dramatically cracking his knuckles.

Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop.

I swallowed hard and straightened up, trying not to look scared. "Sir, whatever you think I did, I didn't do it." I tried to argue, but he simply raised an eyebrow.

Coach didn't seem to believe me, but obviously he didn't have any proof that I'd done anything wrong. If he did, he wouldn't be bothering with the whole dramatic 'talk;' he'd be benching me.