Severed

6

TRISTAN'S P.O.V

Concentrating on the space between the goal posts, I figure out what direction I want the ball to go in. Aiming the ball for just slightly left of Brad, I kick as hard as I can, sending the ball flying-straight into the net. Brad looks at the ball in disbelief while I pull the front of my shirt over my head and run around the pitch whilst yelling "GOOOAL". I stop, gasping for breath and tug my shirt back to it's normal state. Looking in the corner of my eye, I spot Tahlie looking at what was my bare stomach. My breath catches in my throat when I notice that she's biting her lip. Because of me. 

"Holy shit" I whisper, barely maintaining my composure. Just as my thoughts begin to turn into those in a wet dream, Brad claps me on the back and makes me shit myself in the process. 

"Aw, did I scare you Trissy? Too busy daydreaming?" he jokes before following the direction I'm looking in. He raises an eyebrow, somewhat suprised at what I was daydreaming about. He turns back to me, smiling slightly and I know that he's figured it all out. Smacking me on the back again, we walk back over to the boys and Tahlie and Aisling. As I get closer towards Tahlie, her laugh becomes audible and my heart thuds in my chest. Aisling whispers something in her ear and causes her to go into a fit of giggles again. 

"What are you laughing at? I want to know" Brad whines, and pouts like a little baby. 

"Oh, Aisling was just telling me about the time you attempted to ask out a girl by using a chat up line and ended getting Malibu and Coke poured over you" Tahlie manages to say before another round of giggles takes over. 

"You smellt like Malibu for a week" Aisling teases, resulting in Brad sticking his middle finger up and sulking off. 

"Tristan" I look down to Tahlie still laying on the floor with her outstretched arms "help me up please." Grabbing her hand, I pull her up quickly. Her body rests lightly against mine, my hand still cradles hers, porcelain skin against sun-kissed skin, not wanting to let go. Her emerald eyes captivate and consume me, and for a minute I forget that we're not the only ones here. Her lips are so close, I only have to lean down a little and I'd finally be able to taste her lips on mine. 

"The o-others are waiting" she stutters and I'm sucked back into reality. Stepping back, I release hand quickly. Hurt flickers in her eyes, and her eyes start to water. Shit, have I made her cry? I'm about to grab her hand again when Connor bounds back towards us. He frowns at us a little, confused at Tahlie near crying and me about to hold her hand again.

"Hurry up, or you won't have time to get ready for Brad's party Tahlie" he teases, already walking off. Following behind him, I glance back at Tahlie with a confused look on her face. Shit, I didn't tell her about the party. 

"What party? How comes I'm invited, I've only just met you guys?" she mutters, catching up with me and Connor. Looking at her, she seems so unsure of herself, unsure of whether she's worthy to even have friends. I wish I could just take away that self-doubt and make her feel happy. 

"That doesn't matter, you're still invited. We love you already." Connor replies, making her smile. Jealousy flares inside me and my fists clench with frustration. Nothing's going on between them, I know that, but I can't help but feel like this.

Reaching the rest of the group by my car, I shake off my uneasiness and force on a smile. Spotting Brad leaning on my car, I push him off and check for any marks from his stupid butt. 

"So what time you coming round mine for the party then?" he asks, rubbing his arm where I pushed him. Shrugging, I look around for Tahlie and see she's already at the passenger door. 

"Pick me up at half nine, so we'll get there for ten." Looking at Tahlie, I can see she's still pissed about me dropping her hand, I acted like she had a disease. Brad saunters off towards the others all waiting by his car and waves goodbye as they all get in. Before he drives off, I spot him sending a quick wink. Chuckling quietly, I climb into the car, surprised to see Tahlie had gotten in already. We sit in silence until we reach her house. Even after we arrive, we're mute. The silence is deathening me. I need to apologise for earlier, for making her feel like shit. 

"Look, I'm sorry for earlier, I was just-" before I can even continue, she's already climbing out of the car. She turns back round to grab her bag, giving me the opportunity to stop her from leaving. Grabbing her wrist, I stop her from being able to walk away. I look up into those beautiful eyes, and can only see sadness. Sadness caused by me. 

"Tahlie please, I am truly sorry." I plead, begging for her to not be sad, to see how much I care for her. A tear spills over the side, but she quickly wipes it away. She smiles, God it's such a sad smile, and finally looks back straight at me.

"It's okay Tristan, I'll see you at half nine" she whispers, and I have no choice but to release my grip on her wrist. The car door slams shut, and the sound rackets through my head. Brad's party may be the last chance I have to tell her how I feel. Yet, even then, I'll lose her before I've even had her.