The Enemy

Chapter 14

The three of them agreed to meet up at lunch, and that's what they did. James was welcomed into the school and the football team with open arms even though he was from an enemy school. Bryn, however, was having a rough time with all the girls at the school. The football players were cool. If she had one in class, they tried to make her feel welcome. The girls just gave her snobby attitudes and looked the other way whenever she tried to talk to them. She was grateful when it became lunch time, and she could finally see her brother and Lias.

"Hey you guys." She said as she sat down with her food. James and Lias were already half way done eating.

"Hey sis." James said with a mouth full of food. Bryn scrunched up her nose.

"You're disgusting." She shook her head then started to eat. One by one, football players began to make their way to the table they were sitting at, and with everyone came a nice 'hey' or an inappropriate joke. Lias just rolled his eyes and smiled. She could see that they were close, and not just as a team. They were more like brothers.

"So James," Mike began "You starting practice today?" They all looked at James and he nodded his head.

"I figure the sooner I start practicing, the sooner I will get used to your team. Plus, I have to learn your plays before Friday." After that, they all just started joking around with each other, and Bryn just sat there awkwardly. Lias was too caught up in the boys that he didn't notice her discomfort.

Bryn was so happy when she got home that afternoon. It takes a lot out of a person to move schools. That night, she just stayed in her room. She didn't even join her family for dinner. James was going to bring her food, but when he got to her room, she was already fast asleep. He got home around six after practice. It was weird being on a different team. He was so used to the way the other team ran. They were like a machine. This team is different. They work together, but not in every way. He needed a way to teach them how.

The next day at school, Bryn barely talked. Lias tried to get her to, but it was like talking to a wall. She just shrugged off everything he said.  It's like she didn't even care if he was there or not.

"What's wrong?  He asked and she just shook her head.

"Nothing. I'm just tired."  He knew she was lying, but he didn't pry.  He just walked by her quietly.  The rest of the day she was just like that.  Lias pulled her to the side as soon as the last bell rang.

"What is going on?"  He asked concerned.  She just shook her head again.  "Bryn come on.  I know something is up. Just please tell me."  She looked up at him and sighed.

"I just feel off here.  Like I don't belong here.  You have your friends, and James is in your group now.  I just sit there by myself while you guys just go off and have fun together.  I don't know what I'm supposed to do."  She looked down and started to play with the hem of her shirt.

"Bryn."  He sighed.  "You could have said something to me earlier."

"I didn't want to make you miserable.  I moved here for you, and to help you.  I don't want you to worry about me."  She still didn't look up.

"I don't care.  I want you to be happy too.  I want you to feel welcome wherever I go.  I want you to be comfortable with me and to be able to tell me anything.  I don't want you to have to sit by yourself and feel alone if I'm there."  She nodded.  Lias put his hand under her chin and lifted it up.  "Can you promise me something?"  She said a quiet 'yeah'.  "Can you just tell me next time when something is wrong?  And if I ignore you, just let me know?  I've never had to think about someone else, and I want to do that for you.  I just need your help."  She agreed.

"Alright."  She whispered.  He gave her a warm smile and pulled her into his chest.  She felt safe when he did that.  He just wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on the top of her head.  Lias drove her home shortly after, and after waving goodbye, he left and Bryn went inside to her room.

When she got to her room, she nearly jumped out of her skin.  There, sitting in the dark, was Jax.  "Hey..."  She said hesitantly.  His head snapped towards her.

"I always thought I could trust you Bryn."  He growled and made her roll her eyes.

"Jax stop-" He cut her off.

"No!  I'm supposed to protect you, but instead you won't even let me talk!"  He boomed and made Bryn flinch.  "He is not good!  Why am I the only one to see that?!"  He started stalking towards her.  "Of all people, I thought you were smart enough to see past someone's act."  He glared right into her eyes.

"Jax grow up."  She snapped, and this made him go crazy.  One second they were standing eye to eye, and the next she was on the ground with a huge hand print on her cheek.  Jax stood over her stunned.

"Bryn I-I didn't mean-It was an accident-I-"  He tried to get close to her, but she flinched and backed away.

"Get out."  She whispered.

"What?"  He croaked.

"Get out Jax!"  She shrieked and made him flinch.  She tried to hold back tears, but as soon as he left, they just started to pour out of her eyes.  After a few minutes, her phone began to ring.  She answered it with shaky hands.

"Hey beautiful."  Lias' angelic voice floated through the speaker and made her cry even harder.  "What's wrong?"  His voice instantly became cold.  "Bryn tell me what happened."  She just continued to sob, and once he realized she wasn't going to stop, he jumped into his car and headed to her house.  "Just stay on the phone.  Tell me what happened."

"Jax-he..he was in-in my room and-"  She cried harder.

"And he what?  What did he do??"  He growled.

"He-he was yelling-yelling at me and...and he smacked me and-"  She was cut off.

"He WHAT???"  Lias slammed his foot down on the gas and drove well around eighty miles per hour.  He was out for blood.  "Bryn, just stay in your room.  I will be there in a minute."  She choked out an okay and hung up.  When Lias got there, he didn't even bother to knock.  Instead, he barged in and found Jax in the living room.  Lias grabbed him by the shirt and threw him to the ground before getting on top of him and slamming him repeatedly on the floor.