my brothers best friend

chapter 7: or else

Bryce's point of view
I barely make it to the field but I get there in time. Being quarterback is easy, but the pressure on you is the worst.

I wish I was still wide receiver, because I liked it, I was good at it, and there was not as much pressure as it is being quarterback.

Nick was our quarterback and he was good at it. But coach switched us cause he thought that I was better. When the news got to Nick, I could tell it hurt.

I'm good at quarterback, I would just rather be wide receiver. But heh, being more popular ain't so bad.

We finish off morning practice and I was about to go hit the showers when Nick called me out to the field. What did this kid want?

I go back and he gives me a weak smile. "No hard feelings bro?" He says, lightly punching my shoulder.

"No hard feelings bro" I say, punching his shoulder back. We laugh as we head into the showers to get ready for the rest of the day.

We wave our goodbyes and I watch him walk over to his group of friends, that include Addison. I smile as I think how lucky Addison is to be friends with a guy like that.

"Hey yo B, you coming?" I hear Josh say. That's Josh Richards. He is the school stoner, and even sells drugs at the school, and I have been hanging with him ever since my parents lost the house.

Everyone hates the guy, and even Jaden tells me to stay away from him. And Jaden's my homie, don't get me wrong, but he doesn't control my life. I can hang with whoever I want.

"Yeah dude" I say as I fist bump him and we start walking into home room.

Skip to lunch

I get to the cafeteria and I see Addison, Nick, and two other girls eating. I walk past them cause I saw Josh all the way in the corner smoking.

As I walk by, I feel their stares on me. What happened? I should probably ask Nick, ya know since I guess we were sort of buddies now.

I go over to him and I give him a light punch in the shoulder like he did to me.

But, I guess he ate something bad or something because next thing I know a punch to my face comes to me, and gets my eye.

Ugh, again? Really? I don't hesitate this time as I start to beat him up. It becomes a whole thing and I hear kids in the background chanting.

Then the principal walked in and everyone stopped. I managed to get one more punch in before we went over to him.

He yelled at us and I apologized sincerely but he didn't take that too well.

"Both of you are to clean this school from the basement to the roof, and it better shine so bright I can see my reflection" he yelled.

"Um sir I don't think my father would approve of this" Nick said opening his phone to his father's contact.

His father just happens to be the Michael Austin, who is in the NFL and donated a million dollars to our school. A MILLION FREAKING DOLLARS!

"Don't bother your father in a nonsense matter" the principal said, stressed. "Nick you are free from charge, and Hall I will see you tomorrow morning for the basement cleaning."

The principal rushed off and Nick gave me a smirk as he walked over to his friends. That entitled piece of shit.

I go over to the wall, wallowing silently. I would have to come at like 4 in the morning if I wanted to clean our school basement and make it to football practice at 7:45. These next few weeks are gonna be great.

Then I hear footsteps. I turn to see Addison, and she's checking up on me. Ugh, I am not in the mood for sweet face to shit me down again.

"Maybe I'd rather be here with you" she said, and that honestly made me smile. I needed someone right now, and I guess that someone was Addison.

I hug her and she hugs me back. We split and I see her friend group staring at us.

She rubs her hand up and down my arm, and I shiver from satisfaction. "I think I made your friends mad" I say, and she turns back to look at them.

"We'll talk to JJ. He has always understood you, and he's better at the sentimental stuff than me" she says walking away.

"Look for someone that is not good at the sentimental stuff you made me feel better" I say, holding her hand back.

She looks at me then smiles, and gives my hand a tight squeeze and heads off with her friends.

I head over to Josh and he hands me a cig. I pass, but he insists. "What the hell" I sat and take the cig in my hand. I take a whiff. Whoa was that different.

I cough and pass it back to Josh. He laughs. "Never doing that again" I say and we laugh.

Just then the bell rings and it's time for us to head to AP History. Yes I am somewhat smart, I'm not a dumb jock.

After school I didn't even bother asking Addison if she needed a ride. I had football practice anyways and she would probably rather be with Nick anyways.

I wish I had though. Maybe I should. Then I noticed that Nick wasn't coming. Ugh he is probably taking her home I say as I start getting my gear on.

Addison's point of view
Surprisingly Dixie lives walking distance from school and she offered a hang out at her place. I said I had cheer, so she told me to go after and I agreed.

We could tell Nick didn't wanna go to practice today so Dixie invited him too. I was the only one that was going to be late. Oh how fun.

I get to the gym and I see Mads and the squad. I tell Mads about this new routine and she loves it. She shows it to the rest of the squad and we practiced getting the moves down.

Afterwards I changed and started walking to Dixie's house. I was turning the corner when I felt hands on my shoulders pulling me back.

I was about to scream when a hand covered my mouth. "Don't make a peep" a familiar voice said. I turned and saw Troy smirking at me.

I showed shock and stood in my place. "W-w-what do you want?" I say, shaking uncontrollably.

"You" he says with a wink. "No" I say as I keep walking. He stops me and pushes me against a nearby tree.

"No here's what you're gonna do" he says, and I pant from anxiety. "I'm gonna walk you to Dixie's, you're gonna thank me by kissing my cheek, then you're gonna tell them we're dating" he says.

"Is that i-it?" I say, tears escaping my eyes. "No, baby. You're gonna stay away from Bryce, or else I'm gonna kill him" he says.

"No. You won't do it" I say, gaining some confidence back. "Ever wondered what happened to Lee Donovan?" he says, and I put my hand to my mouth.

Lee was my crush in freshman year, and I was gonna ask him out when we got news that he killed himself. Guess that's not true. I cry.

"Are you gonna listen to me now, baby girl?" He says. I nod in agreement. I was not gonna let Bryce get hurt. No one was gonna get hurt anymore.

He dragged me by my wrists to Dixie's house and when he let go, my wrists were purple. "Hide them with your sweater" he says, and I comply wiping my tears.

He knocks on the door and Dixie opens it. I give Troy a kiss on the cheek and enter the house silently. Dixie shits the door and we head upstairs to her room.
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