loosing game | daniel seavey

chapter thirteen

Haley and Luke sat in the front seat, belting out the lyrics to a Harry Styles song. It was Super Bowl Sunday. The most crazed day of the year for football fanatics like these two. I couldn't tell you anything about football, but they insisted I went to our friend's party with them. It was weird, how I had been going to parties more and more since Aedan left, but when he was here I absolutely hated them.

We turned onto a street filled with cars and struggled to find a parking spot. Luckily, we were able to steal one just at then end of the block. Haley and Luke walked hand in hand as I trailed behind. Thankfully, it was a smaller party and I would actually know most people. Rather than being dragged to one of the boys and not knowing anyone besides them.

A group of people sat in the living room, eyes glued to the screen. Some were outside drinking and talking around a fire that was going. And then it was where I resided, a group talking in the kitchen. It ranged from Haley's YouTube friends to some mutual friends.

I was in the middle of talking to my friend Addison when I saw the familiar nose ringed boy walk in. I excused myself quick before walking over.

"Hey, Crawford." I smiled as he poured himself a drink. He turnt and smiled at me.

"Better be careful with this before you spill it on me again." He laughed and out the drink to his lips. I rolled my eyes playfully and tried to keep from smiling. "Kidding. How've you been?"

We sat and aimlessly talked for a while. He talked about his family, then to the YouTube thing, how Aedan was doing, literally everything and anything.

"Hey, have you talked to Daniel lately? He was asking Corbyn about you the last time I saw him." Crawford leaned against the counter and readjusted the hat he was wearing.

It had been about two weeks since I seen or talked to Daniel. Or really any of the boys at that. I talked to Corbyn here and there, but not as much as usual. I was trying to shake away the feelings I thought I had for Daniel, hoping it was just an in the moment kind of thing. But it wasn't. These two weeks away from him killed me.

"Not really. Last time I talked to him he was pretty out of it," I sighed and motioned towards the drink. Crawford shook his head.

"He gets ahead of himself sometimes. He uses drinking and girls as a pain relief and sometimes doesn't realize when too much is too much. He just refuses to talk about his problems, no matter who he's talking to. He's a great guy and has so much ahead of him. I'd hate to see him go downhill like that." Crawford's voice was genuine as he spoke. My chest tightened at his words. Daniel needed help but refused it. And that only made me wanna drop everything and run to him.

"He told me he didn't need my help, so I just kinda gave up." I tried to act like it didn't bother me. I took a sip of my water and hoped the conversation would pass over.

"I think he likes you." Crawford's words almost made me choke on my water. I felt like a middle schooler all over again, the butterflies rising all over my body.

"What makes you think that?" I crossed my arms, acting like I didn't wanna hear everything he had to say.

"For starters, the way he pulled you away at that party. I've never seen him act like that around anyone. And he's never asked about a girl before. And the look on his face when Corbyn said you were fine, he looked hurt almost."

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding onto. Hearing Crawford say all of those things made me feel bad. I've been ignoring him these past two weeks to try and kill my feelings, but they've only grown more.

"You should talk to him, at least. Work things out for the both of you." Crawford put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed it gently.

"Thanks, Crawford." I smiled lightly and gave him a hug. His arms felt so securing and I wish we could've stayed like that longer. We walked out to the living room and sat on the opposite couch of Haley and Luke.

The yelling grew as one of the players sprinted down the field with the ball in hand. Just as he was about to cross the field goal, another player came and tackled him by the legs. Luke stood up and cheered. I sat and laughed at my friend as he ran around like a little kid on Christmas.

We sat there until the end of the game, Luke and Haley's team winning and making their moods raise a lot higher. The night ended well for everyone. It was the first time I felt myself with a group of friends in forever. Crawford offered to drive me home since Haley was a little tipsy and Luke was drunk. See we just drove around a bit and listened to music before actually going home.

"Hey, can I ask you something?" He asked before I got out. I looked over at him with a raised eyebrow. "Call him, okay? He needs someone."

I nodded, telling him I would. We said our goodbyes before I went in my house. I fed Frank, who had gained a lot of weight since I had gotten him, and sat down with him for a while. Should I call him? Is what Crawford said true? What if I'm just a 'pain relief' to him?

I groaned to myself before grabbing my phone. A missed call from him only minutes before was the top notification. I pushed back my smile as I clicked on his name.