Considering The Possibilities (ON HOLD)

Chapter Three

"Can you stop playing with the frog's intestines? Just because you keep touching, it doesn't mean it's gonna stop looking any weirder" I said to Taylor, my newly assigned lab partner and line backer.

"It's just so... gooey" he replies childishly, playing with it's lungs. I look around the lab to see the guys doing majority of the dissection and most of the girls turning green.

"How about you write the observations and I'll inspect and dissect it's parts?"

"Then you'll be having all the fun"

"Trust me, I rather not but seeing as we'll end up being here all day if I let you inspect it, I suggest you compromise. Deal?"

"Only if you give me your Maria's tuna sandwich" he says expectantly

"It's not like I eat it or anything" I replied sarcastically. "You guys seem to mob me over it every time Maria's makes me one"

"That was only one time, Chel"

"Yeah, one out of a hundred" I scoffed at him "You can have it but you're paying for my lunch"

"Deal" he said and we shook on it

              

*****

"When I find Patterson, I'm gonna have his hide" I say looking at my watch

"You really shouldn't have given him your lunch, Rach" Jacob tells me as he munches on his pizza. He has a sad look on his face and I know he's thinking about Barbara. I ignore the look.

"How was I supposed to know the bastard would run out on me?"

"Anyone would run out on you once Maria's sandwiches are in sight" he says matter-of-factly

"Do you know where I can find him?" I ask him and he just shrugs at me eating his pizza that I now think will look better on his face.

"You are so gullible" Ken, one of the players tells me "How could you have fallen for that?"

"What? We shook in it, I expected him to keep his end of the deal" I answer back glumly

"Well, just because you shook on it, that makes everything better" John says with his mouth full, the sarcasm not missed from his tone. I was already used to his bad manners seeing as they all had it and they are the people I spend most of my time with but still...

"Dude. We did not have to see that" I glared at him and he shrugs before answering, "We all see what we don't have to once in a while"

"When I find that little piece of shit..." I say to myself "He won't know what hit him"

My gaze travelled to the end of the cafeteria to see Tyler staring back at me with a cold expression on his face. What's his problem? I thought before looking away.

He made quite the entrance when he walked into the cafeteria. Everyone stopped what they were doing to watch him while I glared at Patterson's number on my phone not noticing the air around me. I looked up to see what caused the now brooding silence to see an arrogant bad boy with his jacket draped on his shoulders with one hand. He ignored the stares he got from everyone and found a seat at the end of the cafeteria. A few desperate bimbos made their way to him and not so discreetly gave him their numbers when they left.

Scowling at the memory of the desperation of the female population, I couldn't help but hope that he'll at least be discreet on his soon to come conquests. I called Patterson's number and he didn't pick up. The only reason why I was still rooted in place not buying lunch is because I stupidly forgot my wallet on the kitchen's countertop and none of this bozos where offering to buy me lunch.

"Come on Rach, I'll buy you lunch" my overly enthusiastic best friend, Natalie said. Today she's sporting a yellow sundress with four inch wedges and hoop-like earrings. I tower over her 5'3 frame, the heels doing her no justice as I stand.

"At least someone at this table has the decency to buy me lunch" I said before walking behind Natalie

"What do you want to get?" she asks grabbing a strawberry muffin. I scanned through the food items grabbing a tray. I grabbed two blueberry muffins and a peanut-butter and jelly sandwich.

"This will do" I say taking a bottle of water while she took a diet coke. We talked for a while but I zoned out of most of the conversation. My mind kept replaying the events of that evening. The shot, the fall, the person in the hoodie. No one talked about it so I guess that means no one saw what I did.

Lunch was pretty uneventful after that. Jacob and I skipped practice and made our way to the hospital in our different cars.

Barbara was in the same condition we left her. The only difference was that colour returned to her face and she looked less dead. Jake was right by here side immediately we got there. He just stared at her holding her right hand, his eyes brimming with unshed tears. I just stood my the entrance watching their silent exchange. Would he ever look at me like that? With so much love and adoration. I didn't make any move to comfort him. He stayed like that for the next three hours with me standing by the door before I decided to leave without saying goodbye.

*****

"When is she due?" I asked Jacob passing Ken the ball who passed it to Jacob

"Today" he replied excitedly catching it midair. The ball was thrown back to me and the second I caught it, I was tackled. I groaned in pain as I felt the impact. I hate it when they do this.

"You guys can get off now" I yelled at them and they chuckled in response

Practice went on for a few more minutes before coach decided to call it a day. Only Jacob and I were on our way to the locker rooms. I stopped by the door to the girl's locker room. Turning around swiftly, I see him without a shirt in all his sweaty glory.

"C-Can I c-come?" I stuttered suddenly gobsmaked at the sight of Jacob shirtless.

"What kind of question is that? You never had to ask before" he asks raising an eyebrow in question wiping the sweat off his forehead. I stare at his six pack longer than necessary before meeting his eyes. I've seen Jacob shirtless plenty of times but he still has the same effect on me

"See something you like?" He asks jokingly

"You don't know the half of it" I muttered under my breath

"What was that?"

"Not even in your dreams Lawson" I replied cooly swinging my towel on my shoulder.

*****

"I thought you said she'll be awake today" I asked Jacob

"Give it some time, Rach" he continued "Besides, we just got here"

"Well, she should hurry up. I'm starving" I began feeling bored so, i started poking her head. I did that for at least two minutes before I felt her stir under my finger. She started croaking out words and Jacob immediately came to her side.

"Hawckher" she croaked

"What?" Jacob asked confused. She rolled her eyes at him and pointed towards the corner of the room that held a jug of water. Even on her death bed she could still be sassy. Who would have thought? He went for the water while I just stared at her. She looked at me and glared. She took the glass of water from Jacob's hand taking in big gulps. Someone's thirsty

"Why the hell were you poking my head?" she asked while still glaring at me. I shrugged in response

"Hello to you too" I gave her my best sickly-sweet smile "Glad to see you among the living" She ignored my comment and looked over to Jake's side

"Jakie" she says in a high-pitched voice. I cringed at the sound of the nickname and her voice. She reaches over to pull him for a hug but suddenly stops

"What's wrong?" Jacob asks with worry etching his voice. Her eyes started glistening with tears till she broke down in silent sobs. I don't know what's wrong with her but by the way she's crying I can tell It's something serious. Barbara doesn't cry. Not for anything. So, you can imagine my surprise when I see her crying.

"I can't- I can't feel my legs" she says before breaking down completely