His Only Savior | #Wattys2019

~5~

            I sat on the burning track, my body radiating its own scorching heat. We had run through our routines at the beginning of practice and Becca thought it would be smart to finish with an intense training circuit. Consisting of: burpees, slammers, wall crawls, stairs and to top it off a two-mile run. I was emotionally and physically drained to say the least. I buried my head between my knees, as I took deep breaths. Trying to calm my erratic breathing.

"Hey babe," Sean's voice shattered the peace in my body and mind I had just worked so hard to create.

"What do you want?" I asked with venom on my tongue, making my annoyance with his presence clear.

"Don't tell me you're still mad," it wasn't a question. He really had the nerve to stand there and tell me not to be angry.

I shot to my feet and shoved him hard, causing him to take a step back. "I have every right to be mad, you had the audacity to pretty much tell me we need to have sex. What part of I'm not ready do you not understand?" I spotted Isaac over Sean's shoulder. My eyes lingered a little longer than they should have, causing Sean to transform into nothing but a blur.

"Is this seriously still because of that fucker?" His words brought my attention back to him, I couldn't have hidden my reaction if I wanted to.

I furrowed my brow and spat, "So what if it is?" I wasn't sure what response I expected, but it was as if time skipped. One second Sean was in front of me and the next he had tackled Isaac to the piping hot track, pummeling his face as hard as he could. It took Isaac a few seconds to react but when he did, he flipped them over. Sean's back connectrd with a thud onto the hard surface below. The air that once filled his lungs expelled with a groan, as he pined for the leverage to throw another blow. Everyone watched in utter curiosity at the scuffle unfolding. However, what everyone found most peculiar was Isaac didn't seek retaliation. Once he obtained the upper-hand he simply climbed off of his attacker and held up his hands in surrender.

Sean laid there dumbfounded, Isaac did not give him the satisfaction he had been looking for. I'm sure he had wanted to prove he was the better man, but Isaac proved him wrong. I released a breathy laugh as I looked at him with a smirk, "He isn't the reason I'm not ready, you are. We're done."

"Babe," he called after me as I walked away, "Emily!"

I couldn't look back, I adored Sean, but he would never be the person I would want to share that part of myself with. I grabbed my cheer bag from the pile and headed for my jeep. I was trying so hard to keep the emotions I was feeling contained, it seemed the closer I got to my vehicle the more the tears demanded freedom. As I rounded the back of my jeep, a single one escaped rolling down my cheek.

"Hey," his soothing voice whispered pulling my attention from the adventure I was having in my bag for the keys.

"Oh, hey," I wiped away the wetness on my cheek hoping he hadn't noticed.

"Do you want to tell me what that was about?" I couldn't find the words I just stood there staring at the fresh wounds on his face, I hadn't realized the track burn he received at the time. He must have skidded across the tracks surface, tearing up the delicate skin of his face. "Emily?"

"What? Sorry, I was—"

"Staring? I noticed, I'll be fine. I just want to know what the hell that was about," his eyes showed no emotion which only made me feel more timid around him.

"I-I just it was nothing," I shrugged, "call it male pride if you want. He thinks you're the reason I won't sleep with him."

"Am I?"

"Are you what?" My heart raced, I knew I couldn't tell him the truth.

"Am I the reason you won't sleep with him?"

I studied his face but still he gave nothing away. I wasn't sure if he wanted me to be honest or if he wanted reassurance that my answer would be no. "I don't know, I think I'm just not ready." I paused trying to gage a reaction from him, but none came. "I just think if I'm going to share that part of myself with someone, I don't want any doubt in my mind about it. You know?" I scuffed, "I suppose not, you share that part of yourself with everyone." I hadn't meant for the words to escape my mouth but once they started to roll out there was no stopping them. My hands flew to my mouth, "I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have said that."

He smirked, "It's fine, you're just stating facts."

"Maybe, but it doesn't make it right. I shouldn't judge your choices, as you said this weekend, we aren't friends. I lost the right to judge your actions a long time ago."

His lips parted as shock consumed his face, and there it was a reaction. I clenched my jaw and walked around him to climb into my jeep, but he stopped me. His left arm snaking around my waist and pulling me in until his lips pressed against my ear. "I know it hurts, but I promise it's for the best."

He took a large breath in, inhaling my scent before walking off. I wanted to say something, anything, but nothing came out. I was frozen, what did he mean by that? I finally defrosted enough to turn around as he was mounting his bike. His eyes were glued to me, wearing what appeared to be a look of longing. Could this distance be eating him alive as much as it was me?

Okay, we are officially a Prologue and 5 Chapters in! What are your thoughts so far I would love to hear them, so drop them in the comments below! <3 -Megan