If Only

Fourteen

Shouyu hasn't said much to anyone for nearly four weeks. Neither has Zhang really. Amari would come over from time to time with Jai to check on Shouyu but he gives her the cold shoulder every time saying, "Dont you have something better to do than to worry about me?" No one knows whats going on except for Riku, Zhang and Jai.

/flashback/

After dropping Kaira off at home, Shouyu drives to his house. When he pulls up, he sees Zhang and Jais cars in front of his house. He walks through the front door and into his room. His friends follow him worriedly.

As soon as they walk into his room and close the door, all hell breaks loose. Shouyu throws at book at Zhang's head. "WHAT THE HELL TAKARI!?"

He then flicks one at Riku too. "BRO HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND!?"

"NO! BUT IM ABOUT TO LOSE MY FRIENDS IF YOU BASTARDS DONT TELL ME WHY THE HELL YOU DIDNT TELL ME THAT AMARI GOT BACK WITH JIN!!!!" Shouyu yells.

Zhang, Riku and Jai spit angrily, "She WHAT?????"

"Dont act like you didnt know. Riku youre her study buddy and Jai your sister knows as well. Surely you guys knew. I know Zhang doesnt because she wouldnt utter a word to either of us." Shouyu spits smugly.

Riku frowns, "I knew something was off. Amari seemed to not hear a word I said during our study session and usually she is all ears. Reina knew but didnt tell anyone? Guess no woman can be trusted."

Shouyu looks at Riku seriously, "Ezra also knew. And I bet she didnt tell you anything. Did she?"

Riku's eyes widen. Ezra acted funny for a while but pretended as if she didnt know a thing. Jai looks at Shouyu and utters, And if Ezra knew, then I know for certain that so did Keiri.

Shouyu calms himself, "Riku. Dont blame Izzy. She's a lose cannon just like you and I guarantee you that before this day is out, she will spill all the beans without you asking. You too Jai."

Riku's phone beeps. He looks down at his phone and reads the message.

"Well, look that. You weren't lying." he says showing Shouyu the message. He still frowns, "I defended her and even got myself hurt for her and she couldnt even tell me about her and that prick. Never again."

Zhang says with his arms folded, "Thats makes two of us."

/flashback end/

Every Friday since, Shouyu and Zhang were to only two star players wearing their own jerseys. Due to his stubbornness, Shouyu's arm has been healing much much quicker and he has had his stitches removed a week ahead of time. He has been in the weight room since and is getting ready for his return soon.

Riku has only communicated with Amari during homeroom and study hall. Amari doesn't know why but she never questions it. Reina caught quite a lashing from Jai and has been trying to apologize to Shouyu and Zhang but the two keep brushing her off.

The guys head to the pep rally together. The pep rally is held a day earlier since they have to travel to the other side of the state to face their next opponents.

On their way, they see Kaira talking to Jin. What catches Shouyus attention is the shirt that Jin is wearing. 'Why does that look so familiar?' he thinks to himself. He shrugs and continues walking into the gym with his friends.

The cheerleaders run out and hype up the crowd as the football team stands front and center. The girls have on  some of the away jerseys of the star players and coincidentally, Amari has on Shouyu's and Reina has on Zhang's. They boys share a look and then look directly at Ezra who is ignoring their gaze. 'Typical Izzy.'

After the pep rally, Kaira walks up to Shouyu who stops her by putting his hand in her face. "I dont want to hear it." he keeps walking and she scoffs. As Shouyu is walking, Jin bumps into his left shoulder purposely making the boy smirk.

"You know Jin. My arms feeling a WHOLE lot better and ten times stronger." with that he jaw jacks Jin extremely hard with his injured arm. He lifts the boy up and delivers a vicious belly to back suplex on the hard concrete. Jin's friends rush Shouyu who stands up and punches one in the nose, breaking it, while kicking another deep in the gut. The one with the broken nose is then roundhouse kicked across the face by Shouyu.

Jin's brother, Ireno, catches Shouyu off guard and punches him in the back of the head. His friends then all gang up on the blonde who is struggling to defend himself against the nine guys.

Riku and Zhang burst through the crowd and tackle the group knocking down seven of them in the process. Jai rushes to Shouyu's side but is pushed away by him. Shouyu stands up and time freezes as his gaze locks in on Ireno. He rushes the boy so fast that no one even saw him get up.

Ireno turns around and Shouyu hits him with a football tackle so hard that everyone thinks he should play defense. He pounces on Ireno and delivers a forearm to the top of his head bursting it open. He then proceeds to constantly bashing the boys face in with hard jabs.

Zhang and Riku grab Shouyu off of the injured boy and attempt to restrain him. He breaks loose and crack Jin in the jaw again. Jin swings back at him wildly and misses. Big mistake. Shouyu, in all of his rage, drops a huge and loud haymaker across Jin's head knocking him unconscious even before he hits the ground. One of Jin's friends hits Shouyu in the back with a flower pot knocking him down to his knees. Another runs and knees him in the jaw hard.

Blood flies from Shouyu's mouth and this is where things get bad.

Zhang blanks out as the sight of his mothers death several years ago flashes through his mind. His eyes turn red and all he wants is to hurt everyone who hurt his friend. The guy that kneed Shouyu is grabbed and slammed to the ground. Zhang repeatedly punches the guy in the face. After the third punch, the guys was out cold, but Zhang didnt stop there. Another guy attempts to kick Zhang in the back of the head but is stopped easily by Riku.

Riku jumps and kicks the guy across the face and grabs him before he falls to slam him to the ground. Riku then grabs Zhang and pulls him off the other guy but not before he delivers a kick to the guys face.

The guys tussling with Jai give up once they see Zhang and Riku standing behind them.

The girls come outside and see Jin and Ireno knocked out in the courtyard. But what scares everyone is the sight of Shouyu laying face down bleeding harshly from his mouth and the back of his head. Amari runs out and the others trying to stop her. Reina sees Zhang and runs to him. Ezra runs to her boyfriend. Keiri runs to Jai.

Amari stops at Shouyu's seemingly lifeless frame and cradles his head. She cries hard. She places his head into her lap and strokes his hair softly. Some of his blood gets on her hands and she panics and cries harder. She screams out, "SOMEBODY HELP ME!!!!!"

The others turn around and the sight before them makes everyone teary eyed. Amari sitting there holding Shouyu who is bleeding very badly. Reina faints and is caught by Zhang who does so without thinking. He lifts her bridal style and runs to get help. His only thoughts are on his best friend who has given so much for everyone and has gained so little in return.