Miss Matched // Thomas Sangster Fanfiction

Chapter Twenty-Two - Homecoming

Voices echo off the walls of the gymnasium as your team mates take playful swipes at each other and the guys tackle each other on their mats. You're slowly circling around Connie, who has already seen a lot of improvement in just the first month of her boxing experience. However, she still doesn't hold a flame to you, so you tend to go much easier on her than you would Erica or Ariana.

Connie's eyes are darting around as she assesses your stance. You can see the cogs turning in her brain. Finally, she lunges at you, making an attempt to knock you off your feet. Easily, you side step her. Feeling as though an attack on her right now would be cruel, you simply continue to circle her.

"You were too obvious," you say simply.

"How?" Connie gasps, breathlessly.

You shrug, "The eyes, the hesitation in your movements. You need to be more confident."

Suddenly, Connie swings her fist again, and this time, her hand collides with your ribs. Groaning and surprised, you fall to the ground. After you remain your breath, you giggle, looking up at Connie.

She smirks back at you, "Confident like that?"

"I think you have the idea, yeah," you laugh, holding your hand out to her so she will help you up.

You look back around the gym, spotting Thomas sparring with Randy on a separate mat. It's obvious that Thomas has put on a little more muscle since he arrived here. He was already thin and slightly toned, but the change is still noticeable. Despite how hard you try not to notice it.

For some reasons, Thomas's stony attitude has remained since yesterday. You are completely oblivious to what his problem could be. He seems relatively normal with Randy right now, as they spring back and forth at each other, smiling and speaking to each other every now and then.

"Alright, everyone, wrap it up!" Coach Pollard walks into the center of the room, looking around at her jumping, energetic athletes.

Slowly, everyone makes their way to the center of the room to be dismissed by Pollard. She gives a few tips to everyone, encourages you all to use the gym for your workouts as the weather continues to get cooler, and finally tells you all that you can leave.

With a sigh, you head over to your bag next to the locker room doors. As you begin to take the wraps off your hands, you notice Thomas is only a few feet away, doing the same thing as you. Glancing over at Erica and Ariana to make sure they won't notice your absence first, you slide over to Thomas silently.

When you're standing next to Thomas, you finally speak, still looking down at your wrapped hands, "I've noticed that you've very subtly been avoiding me."

"No, I haven't," Thomas denies without looking up at you.

"No?"

"I'm here, aren't I?" He mutters sarcastically, still refusing to look at you.

With a frown, you retort, "Yeah, but you haven't looked at me at all, and you haven't spoken to me either."

"Sorry, I didn't realize you needed me to look at you all the time. I'll look at you now if it'll help with your ego," Thomas says, meeting your eyes with an expression of mockery.

"That's not what I meant. You know that," You snap, feeling irritated by his attitude.

He looks back down, rolling up his hand wrappings, and grumbling,"Well, sorry, I don't know what you want then."

"Obviously I'm trying to figure out what your problem is right now. I'm not being subtle either. I wasn't made to be subtle," you sigh deeply, glaring at him.