L • O • W • K • E • Y

EIGHT

MAES POV

"So do you wanna talk about it?" His whole body moves in closer, causing our legs to glide against each other reminding me off yesterday before the party.

"Honestly, no. Can we just sit here in silence?" Without noise, he just responds with a little nod. Comfortable silence. I snuggle in closer, resting my head on his shoulder, feeling his head lightly rest on top off mine.

Being with him made me feel a little bit better. It wasn't even the fact off how close we were, it's just his presence.

He has that type of affect on me. How his eyes make me shiver when he just stares at me for a second. How, even his name being said makes me feel excited. Even how his name popping up on my screen makes my mood lighter in less than a second.

It feels good to be able to feel this again, it's been a while.

I didn't realize how much I've missed us.

I guess after everything I distracted myself with books and basketball.

Basketball...

"Crap! I have training." My body shoots up at the thought of missing, yet another training. Twice in a row. This can't be good, coach will bench me for our first game.

"Oh uh, want me to drive you?"

"No." I quickly spit out without realizing I don't have a ride. "I meant yes, please?"

"Sure beautiful."

I look down remembering my inappropriate wear for training and quickly ask if we can stop by mine to get some clothes, as he replys with a gentle nod leading towards the stairs.

+++

"Be back in 5." I quickly shut the door before running towards the front door reaching in my pocket for my keys.

+++

"Wait!" Tyler quickly blurted before emerging out of his seat to get out off the car. I turned around to reach for the door handle but was stopped when it swung open leaving Tylers hand infront of my face.

"Such a gentleman." I rolled my eyes adding a sarcastic tone to my fake surprised voice.

"Anything for my lady." As he took back his hand and put it behind him while leaning his top half forward.

I rolled my eyes again, but couldn't help but hold back the giggle in my throat.

"Oh hurry up, I'm late idiot." He snickered while helping me out off his car and carrying my black and white gym bag.

"Slow down, your losing so much weight already fat ass." I gasped at the word fat, glaring at him to take it back. "I added ass, that's a good thing Mae. All guys dig fat asses." His gaze turned to look behind me but was stopped with a sharp pain on his arm. "Ow! What was that for?" He gently massaged the area that had been harshly wacked.

"For being a dick."

"Just because I have a big one doesn't mean I am." He pouted while still rubbing at the spot that was going red now.

"You have one? Since when!" I exclaimed while putting my hand over my mouth in 'shock'.

His eyes widened. His jaw dropped and was getting ready to say something but was stopped by Pauline calling across from the carpark.

"Hey girl, coach went to get some papers from the office. You can sneak in quick so you don't have to do suicides."

"Aw thanks girl." I smiled, showing my appreciation. 

Before I could walk away towards the gym, a large muscular hand gripped my wrist. I turned to look at him standing there nervously.

"Yeah?" I questioned while looking back down at his hand around my wrist. He followed my gaze and gently let go.

"Sorry, but uh-"

"Yeah?" I smiled at his awkwardness. Before I could ask again he blurted out.

"Goodbye kiss?" He smirked, losing the awkwardness in his structure.

I giggled, "We will see each other soon".

His eyes dropped towards the hot concrete, and his body slouching causing the awkwardness to come back.

"Uh, yeah about that. I need to tell you something." He looked up but avoiding my hard stare while looking around the car park.

"What?"

"When you went to change, I got a phone call." I nodded letting him continue with a confused expression on my face.

"Uhm-" He finally looked into my eyes and waited a few seconds before leaning in. His eyes flicked between my eyes and lips. His hand slowly reaching up to cup the right side of my jaw.

What was he going to say? I leaned back focusing on the conversation. A fire flamed in his eyes as he opened his mouth to question but was beat to it again.

"Mae hurry, coach will be back soon." Pauline yelled while dropping her bud onto the ground and squashing it while heading towards the gym doors.

I turned my gaze to notice him already staring with fear in his eyes. I opened my mouth to question his fear but was cut off.

"Please, just one kiss." He spoke in a baby voice pouting his lips causing his bottom lip to pop out.

"Why, can you just tell me why!" I was getting frustrated now, I had a feeling what he was going to say but I had to hear it from him.

"Calm down cuti-"

"Don't try to talk your way out of this with nicknames Tyler! Now tell me what the phone call wa-"

"I HAVE TO GO BACK TONIGHT!" Before I can take it in he starts trying to apologize for raising his voice but it won't stop me from feeling let down, again. I lower my gaze to stop him from reading the pain in my eyes.

I'm tired of hearing sorry. I'm tired of complaining and arguing, telling him to stay. I'm tired of fighting for him when he's just going to do the opposite. I'm tired of being the one hurting all the fucking time! I'm tired of talking to him because nothing I say will change his damn mind.

"Mae, plea-" I bring my attention back to the asshole infront of me trying to ask for forgiveness yet again, but cut him off by shoving his hands off me. I notice my gym bag in his hand before I run off and snatch it out of his gentle hands, managing to get a little touch of warmth. I debate if I should stay but decide not to.

"Mae! Don't do this please!" I turn around in confusion. What did I do!

"Me? What the fuck did I do Tyler?" I pause to let him sink in that it's a rhetorical question but he doesn't get it and starts to open his mouth.

"Don't you dare try to fucking pin all of this on me Tyler! None of this is my fault, it never has been. If you want to choose basketball over me, then go ahead, fucking do it again. Honestly I don't give 3 fucks anymore, I'm tired of your bullshit, tired of hearing you apologize when you don't mean it and stop acting like you care about me-"

"I do mean it Mae! And I fucking care about you so-"

"You got a weird way of showing it. But if you fucking cared you wouldn't have left. And if you cared about me now, you would stay but I'm tired of asking you to stay so just fucking go. That's not even the worst part, I would understand you leaving to pursue your dreams, but you have no interest in basketball at all. Am I just a game to you Tyler? Do I mean noth-"

"I'm doing it for Ivy!" Ivy, the way his mouth is so used to saying her name disgusts me. I can't even look at him anymore. He always hurts me either way, he just doesn't know how to stick to one person or one location. "Mae, please just let me expla-"

"Fuck off to your girlfriend who doesn't know the definition off being loyal." I quickly throw back at him avoiding using her name, because I know for a fact I'll stutter.

Before he got the chance to reply, I ran of. Not even in the direction of the gym, but to the local basketball court across from the school.

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