Always One More.... [Finished]

Day 12

Karyl snuck up to the stands and chose a seat apart from the players' crazed girlfriends. As usual, they were cheering on their boyfriends, encouraging them to whip Aeron and Louis.

And as usual, her friends were winning the game. Though Louis seemed off.

She frowned at the way he stood hunched over, head down. Like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. It was a feeling she'd been carrying for the past five days as she tried to keep her secret from Louis. Secrets she had never been good at keeping, so she had decided to avoid him for a few days.

It nearly killed her. Day in and day out, her heart had screamed to see him. Just say hi, even in passing. Stop and chat, go out for coffee, stop by his dorm.

She hadn't allowed herself to do any of it. Not until now.

She smiled at the sight of Aeron coming up behind Louis. He stretched, arms going high as he turned to briefly face the stands.

Karyl waved.

He paused and, for a moment, she thought he hadn't seen her. Then he relaxed and tapped Louis on the shoulder. He pointed to the stands, his head close to Louis's like he was speaking to him.

Louis turned so fast, Karyl couldn't help letting a giggle escape her.

She knew the moment he found her. His shoulders straightened, his head lifting. His entire self just seemed to perk up, and he waved at her.

She returned the gesture and got comfortable. Football practice would last for - she checked her phone for the time - another hour. Then they could go hang.

If he had time. And wanted to.

Her heart fluttered as an image of him smiling at her filled her mind. His blue eyes happy while sweat dripped off his chin. His football gear drenched from the workout.

Please don't be mad. I did this for you. Karyl didn't think he'd be mad once she explained a little. Still, she was nervous.

Just be as honest as you can. And don't give anything away! It's a surprise for him, remember? You can't tell him.

Pursing her lips, she watched as the players returned to their practice.

Louis breathed heavily under the weight of his football gear. He was drowning in sweat and stank from the workout. His body ached from the drills and getting slammed into.

But the sight of Karyl sitting in the stands, smiling and waving at him, made it all worth it. Seeing her for the first time in days, he felt like his world had gone from some barren wilderness where everything was dead to the most lively, thriving world of wonder. Everything was bright and beautiful, and it all stemmed from her smile.

Aeron's hand clapped his shoulder, his breathing matching Louis's. "Your game is back: good. Nice to know you're still you." He walked around Louis, heading for the showers. "Tell Karyl if she's going to leave again, make sure she takes you with her, or puts you down. It would be kinder."

Louis rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

Laughter echoed back from Aeron before he disappeared inside.

For a moment, Louis desperately wanted to follow him as he noticed how bad he smelled. Not to mention how bad he must look, dripping sweat and covered in mud and dirt from the field.

It had downpoured the night before, and the coach still forced them to practice. Sometimes, Louis wondered if the old man enjoyed the game that much, or just took pleasure from torturing his players.

Karyl called down to him and he stopped at the corner of the stands instead of following Aeron. He waited for her to join him, unable to stop the sudden increase in his heart rate as it doubled.