Jar of Hearts

♡ 4 ♡

Huge floodlights surround the back part of the campus of Lincoln High, illuminating the soccer field.

As soon as Emily steps out of the car, every person in the stand erupt in one loud cheer, consuming her hearing.

"Lincoln High School Panthers have secured a goal with almost no effort, leaving the score at one to zero," a man's deep bass voice announces over the speakers.

Emily and Rory walk to the bleachers and find an open spot in the middle. It's where they usually sit. That is when they actually come to the games. They don't often because Rory and Carlos seem to always be in a fight of some sort. However, this week they weren't, obviously. And thankfully, for Emily who hated being in the middle of it every time.

Emily's eyes search the field for a familiar mop of curly brown hair. She finds Carlos with his back turned them, giving them a clear view of the back of his jersey that reads, Vasquez 11.

Carlos receives a pass and begins to run up the field.

"Yeah! Go, Carlos!" Rory yells next to Emily on the bleachers, cupping her hands around her mouth.

An hour and a half later Emily finds herself outside of the boy's locker room after being dragged there by a certain blonde-haired girl whom she calls her best friend (sometimes).

The boys begin to exit finally and the second to come out is Jack.

Rory perks up immediately. "Hey, Jack, good game tonight."

He smiles brightly at her comment and walks over to the girls. "Hey, thanks. It was close, but we always get the job done." He smirks.

Emily feels a nudge in her side from Rory and she takes that as her cue to say something. "You gave Carlos some great assists tonight. You guys dominated on offense." She hopes that sounds smart. She doesn't know a whole lot about soccer terminology.

Jack's gaze switches to the slightly short girl. His eyes light up in recognition, "Hey, you're the one who ran into me in the hallway today!" He laughs light-heartedly.

If the girls thought his smile was good, his laugh was even better. And if they were in a cartoon, Rory would for sure have heart eyes right now.

Emily's cheeks turn a deep pink color. "Uh, yeah. That was indeed me." She laughs awkwardly. "Sorry, again..." She grimaces playfully.

"Don't sweat it. Really." The smile on his face doesn't waver. His eyes seem to sparkle in the moonlight. "If you hadn't to of bumped into me I probably wouldn't have to deal with Parker messing me with me about it all day." He shrugs. "But he's always annoying me with one thing or the other anyway."

"Wassup!" Carlos yells as he approaches them. He runs up and throws his arms around the two girls' shoulders. He kisses each of them on the side of the head.

Rory rolls her eyes and laughs. "Hey, Carlito." She shrugs his arm off. Rory pushes him away and sticks her tongue out at him.

Carlos uses his now free arm to fully embrace Emily from behind. He lifts her up by the waist off the ground a little, causing a high-pitched noise to escape from her.

"Carlos! Put me down!" She scolds him.

He puts her down and laughs. "You're too fun to mess with." He ruffles her hair, earning a scowl from Emily.

Jack chuckles at their silly encounter. "So, are you guys a thing?"

"Ew." Emily says before he can even finish his sentence and fake gags.

Behind her, Carlos' mouth hangs open and he stumbles backward with his hand over his heart.

This causes Jack to laugh really hard, so much so that he has to put his hands on his knees to keep him from falling over.

Emily's eyebrows furrow until she looks over at Carlos, then she's not so confused. The expression on his face is one of severe offense. 

He scoffs at the girl next to him playfully. "Gee, thanks."

Rory decides to chime in. "You'll survive, Carl."

Carlos cuts his eyes over at Rory before looking back at Jack, trying his best to bite his tongue and not say anything back. Emily notices the tension arising. Carlos hates being called Carl, and Rory knows that. 

Emily wonders why Rory just randomly and deliberately is trying to piss him off.

"You coming to the party tonight?" Jack asks Carlos, giving him a casual head nod.

The curly-haired boy shrugs. "I don't think so. My mother is mad that I won't spend enough time with her. Got to keep her happy or else I can kiss goodbye to my band."

Jack laughs lightly. "That may be a good idea because I think the only thing people are looking forward to at the Halloween dance is you guys. So, do whatever you gotta do." His gaze shifts to the girls. "But you guys should come. If you're up to it?"

"Yeah!" Rory immediately jumps in before Emily can get a word in. "We'll be there. Both of us."
 The blonde doesn't look over at Emily the entire time, knowing good and well that she would get a "look."

"Cool. See you in a couple of hours then." He gives Carlos a head nod. "See you Monday. Don't forget your practice jersey this time. Not everyone likes seeing your non-existent abs."

Carlos laughs jokingly. "Well see this then." He gives him two middle fingers.

Jack laughs heartily and waves one last time before walking away from them.

"Rory, I hate you." Emily crosses her arms and glares at the girl next to her.

Without looking at her, Rory flips her blonde hair over her shoulder. "Oh well." She begins to walk away, towards her car.

"Damn, chica. What's this all about?" Carlos asks the brunette who glared at Rory's retreating figure.

Emily looks up at Carlos. "Trust me, you don't want to know."

A/N

QOTD: Hmmmm, team Carlos anyone?

AOTD:          ;)