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
The walk to my destination is excruciatingly slow. No matter how fast I walk, it seems farther each time. I slow down my pace, and surprisingly, the destination seems closer. Bundles of nerves dance in my stomach. I decide to pick up my pace but as my eyes catch sight of the house, I almost trip over my foot.
Now or never.
It's now or never.
That is more grammatically correct because it's a sentence.
Crap, is that grammar?
My distraction causes my head to knock forehead first against the wood's flat surface. My brain pounds inside my skull. Before the intrusion subsides, I let my fist knock on the hollow wood.
I hear the creaking metal makes when being lifted from the wood. There is a pause. And something hits the door from the inside. Another pause. Then the metal hits the wood.
I can feel the hesitation.
At first, all I see are her squinted brown eyes adjusting to the sun outside. The door slowly reveals a large oversized sweater, a tilted head, and two long braids. Nikki pushes the many strands covering her face behind her ears as a blush crawls to her ears. She pushes a braid behind her shoulder and pulls at the other, biting her lip in what seems to be an embarrassment.
My heart steadily rises to a faster beat.
"I --" Her eyes close, sighing. "You should be in school." Bit by bit, her eyes unveil reddish stains. And unlike the usual, there is no playfulness and lightness to her voice. It is straight to the point and impatient.
I scratch the back of my head, trying to look elsewhere. "I know. I just..." I turn my head to look at the quiet street. "I couldn't concentrate." I try to look into her eyes for longer than two seconds.
Nikki's fingers tap against the door's flat surface. A dark shadow passes over her eyes as she looks in thought. "Sounds like your girlfriend can help with that." Her voice is hostile.
My shoulders react in a wince.
I imagine Carter pointing a finger at my face and rolling on the floor in laughter.
Her fingers wrap around the knob. "You should go." A fraction of the door covers half her body. "I don't want more trouble." Her eyes narrow a fraction. The door creaks as some of her body disappears behind the door.
I place my hand on the door, leaning forward and trying to catch her downcast eyes. She steps back with wide eyes. "Please," I utter. A heatwave washes over my body.
"I broke up with her."
I force all my emotions into my eyes. All the shame, the ache, and the feelings that will hopefully let her know I care for her.
