Our Sandbox

eighteen - nolan&piper

N O L A N

Game day. 

I step into the school, letterman jacket slung over my shoulder and Piper at my side. It's the first time she's been back to school in a while, and I can only imagine what she's going through. 

People slap me on the back, cheering me on for tonight's game, and I smile back politely, my mind fixed on something more important: the tiny girl at my side, practically drowning in my old camp t-shirt and some leggings. 

Her hair is still slightly damp from the shower, and the strands are separated into messy curls that I want to delve my fingers into. 

My gaze goes from her to my locker, where Will and Mike stand, shoving each other, rough-housing. 

Mike looks up once he sees me coming, but he quickly diverts his attention to Piper. I have to cool the temperature of my body from overheating. 

"Howard, you're alive!" Will grabs my hand in greeting, and I smile, patting him on the back firmly. 

"Of course, education and all." I joke, my grin wide and coy. 

"Sure, sure, and it wasn't because coach would bury you if you missed the game?"

I smack him on the shoulder and he pretends to wince. 

I look over to Mike, who is talking lowly down at Piper, a blush crossing her cheeks. 

I clench my fists at my sides, breathing deeply. 

"Where've you been? I had to do the scene with Will." He jokes to Piper, and she laughs, looking over at Will and blushing harder. 

"Sorry, I..." She trails off, the smile falling from her face as she scrambles to find an reasonable explanation for her prolonged absence. 

"Her cousin, uh, Alessandra got married." I say, stepping into the conversation. She smiles up at me gratefully, and I wink slightly at her. 

"Damn, that must have been one long wedding. Hopefully they got an even longer honeymoon." Mike winks at Piper and grins slyly at me. I force a smile back. 

"Now that you're finally back-" Mike begins to ask Piper something, when the late bell begins to ring loudly. 

Saved by the fucking bell. 

"Come on, P, I'll walk you to class." Mike puts his arm around Piper's shoulder and before I can say anything, they're walking away. 

I am boiling. 

"Yo, you good?" Will waves a hand in front of my face and I blink quickly, nodding my head out of habit. 

"Yeah. Fine." I lie, and he grabs my arm, turning me to walk to class. 

The sight of my empty jeep in the front parking lot of the school drove concern into my mind. Usually Piper is waiting for me with a hug or a story about how Melissa tried to make her day hell. 

But today, nothing. 

I text her quickly, and open the back seat, grabbing my duffel bag with all my football gear and sling it over my shoulder. 

"Hey, baby." I hear the most annoying voice behind me, and I jump, banging the back of my head against the door frame. 

"Shit. What the hell, Melissa?" I groan, moving back from the car door and slamming it shut, swinging around to face her. 

Or rather, her tits. 

Seriously, does she not have someone to tell her that children's clothes are only appropriate for, you know, children?