50 Shades Of Claire Bear (Andrew's POV)

Chapter 4

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Yay, this was updated after ten days of nothing. Oops, sorry guys. I had a big Personal Finance test that I had nail and study for big time so writing wasn't on my to-do list (as if I even have one).

You guys get some Andrew and Austin in this chapter, which you obviously couldn't get in the other book....:)

I hope you likey ;P

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Chapter 4

"Alright, boys," begins Coach Abler. All our attention drags to him. "It's our first game and all of you playing tonight have experienced a varsity game before. As long as you guys play hard and as best you can," he says slowly as he smiles. "I have no worries. Lets go out and win this, boys!"

"Yeah!" we respond, although it felt like I was the only one responding with excitement.

Claire leans against the wall, staring off into space. I press my lips together tightly to prevent a day-dreamy sigh from escaping them. Looking at Claire makes me feel like a lovesick girl. I mean, I'm lovesick but over a girl.

I just want all of her and nothing else. But to her, I'm nothing. I'm just some man-whore that only cares about himself.

Maybe I do just care about myself. All I ever think about is Claire and how I can get her to notice me. What if I tried being interested in other people's lives for once?

Just as long as I don't have to listen to fucking Collin blab about useless shit all day, it can't be too hard.

Our warm-up continues and I spot Claire talking to Austin, smiling.

That little turd. He better not be telling her anything about my shameful crush on her. Yes, he knows about it; he's known about it since it started. He uses to his advantage when it's useful. That's why he's a turd.

And that's why I kicked him this morning. He threatened to tell Claire if I wouldn't give up first shower this morning, so I nailed him on the shin. I honestly didn't mean for it to bruise like it probably is by now. And, he ended up getting first shower and took all the hot water.

That's important to me. Don't take my hot water or there will be major consequences.

The buzzer sounds and I pull my warm-up shirt off and throw it in the bleachers. I catch my mom trying to communicate with me. She waves my water bottle in the air. I shake my head, leaning over Claire to grab it.

"Is it full?" I ask, finding out that it's not.

"No," she answers, shrugging. "You didn't remember it and I didn't have time to fill it up."

I roll my eyes, holding back a groan. "Thanks, Mom, a lot." I toss the empty, useless bottle into Jessie's lap. "Fill that up, will you?" I ask her, smiling and adding a lip bit because girls seem to like it when us guys bite our lips. I nudge Claire bear's knee and wink at her. "See you later, Claire bear."

She stares at me shortly and then rises. Her whole body appears to be shaking.

My parents roll their eyes and I start laughing. Yes, maybe I'm a bit of a tease sometimes, but honestly, does she not have it coming? Really?

I start out on the court. The ref pushes me to half court to jump for the ball. I get in position, waiting for the exact moment to jump and tap the ball. I barely see Kyle to my left when I throw it into his hands.

Well, so far so good.

I force Jessie to fill up my water again and the game ends up with our victory. First game of the season won: that's starting off on a great note.

I look at Claire as she rises from the bench. I stare at her for several moments, enjoying every single one of them, until she catches my swooning.

"Andrew?" she asks with a tiny laugh. "You okay?"

I nod, smirking widely. "Yeah, just spacing off."

Once I'm changed and I look at my total stats for the awful game I played, I meet up with my parents in the gym. They look back at me, smiling.

"Great game, buddy," my dad says happily, patting my back.

"You played great, honey," says Mom, hugging me. I would normally hug her back, but I'm not in the mood for moral support from anybody. I'm already more upset with my life right now.

My mom's mom, Edith, and her dad, Angus, are smiling equally as widely at me, also. "That was an amazing start to the season, Andrew. I'm excited to see how much you all improve," explains my grandpa.

"Thanks," I say, wearing a fake smile. "Well, I am going to go. I need to shower, fantasize a little bit, play some Lord of the Rings and then sleep."

"Alright, be careful driving," instructs my mother. "Take Austin with you."

Oh, kill me.

I sigh, waiting for Austin to catch up to me. "Come on," I tell him. "Maybe if you don't piss me off we can get some McDonalds."

His eyes widen with satisfaction. "I'll be good, I promise. Just don't kick me again."

I chuckle, though I'm starting to feel bad for him. "Yeah, sorry about that. As you can tell, I'm kind of short with my temper today."

Austin nods, smirking like I do. "It's because of Claire, isn't it? Do you still like her?"

I look behind me and all around. God, if she would have heard that I'd be officially dead. "Yes. And make sure you look around before you say her name. She can never know."

"Never?" he asks, confused. "Then how are you two supposed to fall in love and get married if she never knows how you feel?"

I shake my head in disbelief. "God, Austin, are you a freaking love expert or something?" We walk through the doors and he sticks to my side as we walk around the parking lot. "But, you do have a point....kind of. Not the falling in love and married part, because that's almost impossible."

"Nothing's impossible," he continues, smiling up at me.

Was I a smart-alec like this when I was ten? I sure hope I wasn't.

"Licking your elbow is impossible," I say, turning on the car slowly. "And it has actually been proven impossible, so don't argue."

Even though that is a total lie. It has never been proven impossible, but it might as well have been already.

"Yeah, yeah," he trails.

Kyle and Claire walk in the line of my headlights. I honk my horn a couple times at them. While Kyle flips me off, Claire shakes her head, squinting at the bright light.

God, she's so beautiful.

"Who knows," says Austin from the back. "Maybe she likes you too."

I take a deep breath, inching forward before exiting the parking lot. "Fat chance of that happening. Ever."

Unfortunately, I'm actually believing myself. I've loved her for how long and she doesn't even like me. The chances of Claire changing her mind about her feelings toward me are just about as good as the chances of me licking my freaking elbow: unattainable.

Could Claire ever like or love me?

Yes.

But will she?

Absolutely not.