Win This Game (Battle of the Captains One-Shot)

Win This Game

I sat on the bench and chug on my almost-empty water bottle. I can sense some of my teammates doing the same but my attention was caught by some freshmen players talking loudly a little behind my back.

"I don't know man, I mean, she's cool and all..."

"Just talk to her already," the other guy nudged him.

"Dang it! What if she rejects me? She's the captain after all."

Are they talking about Taylor? They must be, right? Poor boys. I mean, she's pretty, I give her that, but damn, that girl acts nowhere near one. I don't think she'll ever even entertain these boys.

"Just do it," he pushed his friend towards the direction of the cheerleaders.

I clapped my hands to get everyone's attention, "break time's over."

The team looked at me miserably, "the fuck dude, we just had our break."

"I don't care. Now run wind sprints." I commanded. The perks of being the team captain is that you can take over your team even without your coach. But hey, it's not like I'm always hard on them. Today is just a different day.

The boys grunted in response but still complied. Max and Jimmy snickered and tapped my shoulder, "chill mate."

I turned around and glared at Max, "what the fuck are you saying?"

He shook his head, "nothing," he replied as they joined the drills, still chuckling.

I groaned. Those two are always a pain in the ass. They keep on giving me a headache, always giving off those meaningful looks I couldn't decipher.

Weirdos.

I sighed and turned around at the cheerleading team. Taylor is on top of their pyramid, hands raised in the air. I once again saw the look in her eyes, that same burning passion it has everytime she's cheering. That's the best thing about her, I guess. How she never backs out on anything, how she's always determined to fight for her battles.

I looked away the same time something inside me clicks.

I tried to deny it. I tried to scratch it off and convince it's nothing.

But deep down I know I'm only fooling myself.

*****

I didn't know school can be this fun. The teachers who are passing by are smiling at me and complementing how cute and handsome I look. There are these girls who are giggling at me. School makes me feel like a king. All this time I was grinning from ear to ear.

"Okay. Do you want to be friends, Kody?"

My head snapped to Jake who is now talking to a girl. I felt my mood change. She didn't even introduce herself to me, not even a hi, and now she's talking to Jake? Unbelievable! I'm better than Jake. I mean, c'mon, all the girls love me.

"Jake," I whined. I went to them and scowled at the girl. I hope she gets the idea that I don't want her presence. "Who is she," I asked in annoyance.

"This is Kody. She's my new friend." So the name's Kody, huh?

And friend? I don't like the sound of that. I've seen it in so many movies my mom watched. Girls and guys become a couple, especially if they started out as friends. I want to gag at the thought. I don't want Jake to get a girlfriend. Especially not this girl.

So I racked my mind with an excuse.

"She can't be your friend. You're my friend."

"Why can't we all be friends?" You should ask me to be your friend, not Jake.