pls comment throughout bc this is an intense chapter
Without Nicole's hand to hold in the extreme cold of the soccer game, Michael opts in hiding his hands in Ashton's. Grace looks at them both weirdly, shaking her head with a laugh, Michael can't help it – he's desperate for warmth, and Ashton's like a fucking heater.
"Are they getting warm yet?" Ashton asks, both of his hands over Michael's in attempt to shield them from the cold.
"No." Michael shivers, his cheeks blushing from the freezing weather.
Luke pouts. "Get your own heater, fuckface." He says, forcing Ashton's arm around his shoulders.
"Why do I take you two out in public?" The eldest mumbles under his breath, looking out to the field.
It's a rough game.
The team they're playing against is dirty, and they have the ref on their side. Calum's been kicked fair in the shins twice, and the referee barely bat an eyelash. The Maori is growing progressively angrier by the second, and wants to smash the opposition's teeth in.
He looks into the stand, seeing his best friends and Grace. Sweet, innocent, little Grace. He looks back onto the field, and steals the ball from the defender, only to be kicked just above where the shin-guards stop.
He sees the defender, who's all grin and no teeth as Calum walks up to him. He grabs the guy by the shirt, eyes dark in anger. The defender fights back, saying a few words that Calum can't quite understand before the referee breaks them up.
Calum gets sent off, and he knows what that means, but he hopes that Matty – his coach – will let him off with a warning. But, judging by the look on his face, Calum thinks that asking him to drop it to just one week would be pushing his luck.
The whistle blows, and it's the end of the game. The Ridgemount Roos won, and the defender makes sure Calum knows it as the Maori walks off. Matty walks up to Calum's speed.
"You're off for two games." He says, and it makes Calum's blood pump even more.
Grace stops him, smiling lightly, "You okay?"
Calum shakes his head, continuing on his walk to the change-rooms. By the time he's halfway through changing, none of his team is near the lockers. He sighs in relief, and starts to feel the tears coming as he sits down, hands in his hair.
Warm hands lay on his shoulders, and Calum almost relaxes. "What's wrong?"
It's Michael, no doubt. He could hear Michael's voice from a mile away.
"I'm off for two games." He says, standing up. "I'm so fucking pissed."
Michael – not at all taking this seriously – laughs. "Calm down, Dove. I – "
The Maori pushes him, and traps him in between himself and lockers. "What did you call me?"
The pale boy is too stunned to speak. Calum's never done this before, and it makes his heart race. The uncertainty of what his friend might do scares him.
"C-Calum, what are you doing?" he asks when the Maori's head hangs low, near his own.
Calum bites his lips. "I'm so fucking angry right now, Michael. Don't ask questions."
Michael stays silent, drawing out shaky breaths as Calum leans in. Michael closes his eyes, and it happens. They're kissing. The kiss is electric – Nicole could never do better than this. He puts his hands on Calum's waist, and then he realises.
