Challenge :A.C.M:

20.

:austin:

Walking from the locker room towards my car, a yawn escapes my throat. I hadn't gotten any sleep and Championships are tomorrow. My mind just keeps running of all the possibilities as to why Griffin continues to push me away. I've given 110% with her and I just don't understand why it's so easy for her to give me nothing in return.

I know she lied about her and Dean. I can read her like a book and I can tell when she's telling the truth and when she's lying. Though I don't know her entire life story, that's one of the things I do know. 

Pulling into my driveway I see Griffin is just leaving, her mom waving to her from the door. I watch as Griffin drives away, and biting my lip I walk to her front door, knocking lightly on it. Her mom opens the door and looks at me in confusion "Hi, Griffin just left" 

"I know, I came here to talk to you actually" I clear my throat, and she opens the door wider, letting me walk inside. 

"So, what'd you need me for?" She asks, leaning against the kitchen counter. 

"I need to know why Griffin is the way she is. I don't know why she doesn't like to be touched, or why she keeps pushing me away and it's driving me crazy" 

"I can't tell you everything" She shakes her head "That's something I'll leave up to Griffin, all I can say is, her father is a terrible man, and she can't risk losing another friend" She says, and I furrow my eyebrows in confusion. 

"I don't get it"

"That's for Griffin to clarify, I'm sorry" She shakes her head "But even though I want Griffin to be happy, I can't spill her secrets" She sighs. 

"Okay, I understand" I nod "I'll see you around Ms. Stone" I smile politely before walking out of her house and towards my own. I walk in through the front door, sighing when I see my mom passed out on the couch. I pick up the empty bottle from around her and throw them all away before picking up her thin body and carrying her to her room. 

She groans when I lay her down on her bed, pulling the covers over her body. I walk to her bathroom and pull out a bottle of aspirin and sit it beside the bottle of water on her bedside table. I shake my head and walk towards my room, grabbing a pair of boxers and walking to the bathroom to take a quick shower. When I'm done, I lay down in my bed, just staring at the ceiling. 

Some of the guys from the team call, trying to get me to hang out, but I refused every offer, just wanting to be alone. A car door slams and I walk towards my window seeing Griffin storming into her house. When she gets into her room, she starts smashing things onto the ground, sobbing heavily. 

An internal battle is fought to go and help her, talk to her, do something. But I don't, she doesn't want my help, she doesn't want my friendship, my affection. She's made that clear to me. So instead, I just go back to my bed, repeating to myself that she doesn't want me, until I eventually fall asleep, dreaming of how things used to be. 

***

We sing the national anthem, our helmets off and against our chest, the final moment before the Championship game starts. I look out along the crowd, winking at a group of girls waving in my direction. I continue to look, trying to find my mother after she told me she'd be here. I frown when I don't find her and the national anthem ends, our team huddling. 

"Alright Boys, this is it, this is everything we've been waiting for. I know we can do this, we're undefeated" Coach says "Mahone, I need you focused understand"

"Yes sir" I nod.

"Good, now let's kick some ass"

We break and get into our starting line up, and the play starts. By the time I look up to see how much time is left on the clock, it's half time. We walk towards the locker room, my eyes looking to my left, the air seeming to be knocked out of me as I see Griffin seated in the corner of the bleachers, my jacket hanging loosely on her as she hugs her knees tightly into her chest. 

My jaw clenches as a warm feeling spreads inside of me, one that I don't want. We get into the locker room, the coach preaching about how he's proud of how we're doing so far, but urging us to not get too cocky just because we're in the lead, because it can change at any moment. 

Soon, our time is over and we're walking back towards the field, AC nudging my shoulder "Looks like your girl is here" He smirks.

"She's not my girl" I shake my head, looking back over at her seeing her looking extremely uncomfortable, but in no desire to leave. 

"But she's here even though you're pissed at her. She's your girl" He says and walks away, leaving me to breathe out a heavy sigh. We start the second quarter, the other team having the ball so I'm sat on the bench, Alex beside me. 

"Listen, I get the two of you are not on good terms, but she's still here" 

"That doesn't mean shit to me" I shrug "She can't keep pushing me away and then show up here like it's going to make everything better" 

"No one said she's trying to 'make everything better', maybe she's here just because she wants to see you" He shrugs "I'm guessing she knows about your mom"

"Not exactly" I shake my head "She thinks my mom is a nurse that works nights, so she sleeps all day to make up for it" 

"Oh" He nods.

"But she does know that she doesn't show up to my games" I sigh. 

"So, she's here because she knows your mom isn't. She cares, she just doesn't know how to show it" He says, and before I can respond, coach is pulling me up from the bench.

"Get this touchdown" He demands.

"You got it" I run out to the line up.

*** 

Our entire team cheers as we're announced as this years champions. The crowd goes wild, and I grab AC's arm when a see a familiar figure leaving "I'll be right back" I tell him and he nods as he sees Griffin too. I run after her, and run to stand in front of her, but she looks away and keeps walking "Griffin, stop" I place my hands on her shoulders but she shakes them off. 

"Don't touch me" She growls. 

"What's going on with you?" 

"Haven't you gotten that I want you to leave me alone? Stop trying! I came to your stupid game, now I'm leaving, just leave me alone" She pushes past me, and I turn around to watch her walk away.

"Why are you doing this to me?" I ask as she grabs the handle to her mom's car door.

"Because it's all I know" She shrugs "I'm fine on my own" She gets into her moms car. Her mom gives me a sympathetic smile, and I give her a sad smile before walking back towards the field. 

"You did great Austin" Lacey, a girl from my math class, smiles.

"Thanks" I chuckle "I didn't think you'd actually be here"

"Well, I'm not one to let a boy kiss me, and never call me again" She teases.

"I'll remember that the next time I kiss you" I wrap an arm around her shoulder, and she walks with me to the team. 

"The assembly is Monday during school, the whole school will be there, and you'll get your awards" Coach says "Now go have fun, and be safe" 

"Let's go fucking party!" Our Quarterback yells, and we all cheer in agreement. 

"You coming?" I ask Lacey, and she shrugs. 

"Sure"