The Jock and the Bad Boy (COMPLETE)

SIX

The first game of the season is the next day. "You ready, bro?" Jackson asks me in History.

I nod. I think I'm ready. Practice has been going well. We're a strong team, and we seem to work well together. It should be fine. Right? I'm scared out of my mind. I know I don't have to be, all I have to do is go out and play.

"You don't look ready," he says. I can't fault him, he's right.

"Fuck you," I say, cracking a smile. He looks confused. I backtrack. "I mean... sorry, I'm just nervous."

He shrugs. "Happens. Try not to be a dick about it, though." Now I'm the one who's confused. He claps me on the back, so I know he's not mad, but I know he meant what he just said.

Not knowing what else to say, I change the subject. "Do you have time to tell me that long story about Thayer now?" I ask.

He sighs and rolls his eyes. "I lied, it's not really a story. We were friends and now we're not. Him and Carter never got along, and Carter has a grudge for some fuckin reason."

"Is that why he hates the soccer team?" I ask.

Jackson shrugs. "That's part of it. It's not like the rest of the team has been particularly kind to him either."

"Why not?" I ask.

He shrugs again. "I don't know, it was middle school. Everyone was miserable and we took it out on each other. We don't tolerate that shit on the team anymore, but what happened happened. All we can do is be better."

"That's deep, man," I tell him, "and what about Carter?"

Jackson rolls his eyes. "Carter just needs to be periodically reminded to get over himself. I can talk to him about it today, if it's really bothering you."

I shake my head. "I'm just trying to figure him out."

~

The sun is still fairly high in the sky when the game starts at four. Most of the other team's players look at least vaguely nervous. That's a good sign, I guess. Their uniforms are white with green detailing. Ours are black with purple. A nice, easy contrast. This game better be easy, too. It's a home game, and we have a decent-ish crowd of people watching. I catch myself looking for someone I shouldn't be looking for. The game starts.

~

We have a fantastic first half. We only let the ball get anywhere close to our goal once, and it's an easy save. During halftime, I go over to the bench to get some water. It's fucking hot out.

"Hey, Rookie," Jackson yells. "Nice work. Keep it up?" He says it as if it's an option.

"You too," I reply.

Carter strolls over and heads straight for a drawstring bag, pulling out a cereal bar. "I'm fucking hungry," he huffs, opening it.

"Did you eat lunch?" Jackson asks.

Carter rolls his eyes. "Yes, loser, I ate lunch. Leave me alone." Jackson obviously doesn't believe him. Carter ignores Jackson and turns to me. "Hey, Rookie, your science project is here," he says with a laugh.

"What the fuck are you saying?" I reply even though I know what the fuck he's saying. He points toward the crowd, where a shock of blue hair makes it impossible to miss who he's pointing at.

We make eye contact when he looks up. He doesn't look away until I do. He must be dying in the black leather jacket he's wearing. Suddenly I'm more nervous than I should be. Thayer actually showed up. 

-

I wrote this while waiting for Cher to come onstage. Hope you enjoyed it! btw the next 3 chapters were originally one. I tried to find the least-weird places to break it up.