Lucas Mabry wants it all.
He wants a girl, team captain, and the popularity that comes with it.
Unfortunately, the new girl wants nothing to do with him and he turns to the only person he thinks will help.
Nikki Young.
His worst enemy.
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Lucas
Walking inside the school is a chore. My body hurts. My face hurts. Everything hurts.
My father fainted after the blow I aimed at his face. I can't get his expression out my head. It pops up whenever I close my eyes. To make it worse, the doctor says he has to stay at least a day to make sure there is no neurological damage. My mom has been texting me updates but I don't have the nerve to text back. Her last update was two hours ago and I can't help but worry.
Logan used to say the best way to forget is to get distracted.
So far, not helpful or specific advice.
Once at my locker, I unlock it and stare inside. It has a couple chocolate wrappers, a soda can, and a sandwich bag. When did I eat a sandwich? I eat at school so why is it inside my locker? Now that I think about it, it could have been Carter. He has an obsession with sandwiches.
"Mabry!" Hands grab both my shoulders and shake my body. It's Xavier. "You Sly Dog!"
A group of jocks gather around me, talking excitedly among themselves. Some of them reach over to pat my shoulder or ruffle up my hair.
"Congrats, Man!"
"He's a man, now!"
"What a lucky son of a - "
I shake my head in confusion. "What's going on?" I can't understand them as they are speaking over each other.
Xavier puts me in a headlock. "As if you didn't know!" The jocks laugh. I grunt as his hand rubs the same spot in my head.
"How was it?!" Avan's face appears in my line of sight.
"What - what do you - mean?" I rasp out. I push Xavier away and pull my shirt away from my neck. I wouldn't be surprised if I had a bruise.
"You're a great actor!"
"Are they together now?!"
Avan chortles as his head reaches out to slap my back - hard. "Tell us!" The other jocks agree with him. "We all thought, Naw! Naw! It's just hard to picture you together with her!"
"But he did!"
"How was it?!"
"I did what?!" I'm losing my patience.
Avan reaches over and pulls my hand above my head. "Why sleeping with Nikki, of course!" He exclaims. The jocks cheer, catching the attention of everyone in the hallway.
I fake a smile. "I didn't..." My face falls. "I didn't..." My temperature drops. "Where did you hear that?!"
Avan shrugs. "Some cheerleader. Said she saw you come out a room at the party." Avan ruffles my hair.
"LU - CAS! LU - CAS! LU - CAS! LU - CAS!"
Their voices become increasingly lower. This is for me? My eyes watch the scene. All eyes are on me. I've never seen every type of baseball, basketball, or soccer jock join together to celebrate another. Their hands pull my body forward, back, and than forward in congratulations.
