Blair and Harry are both going through the trials and tribulations of high school with just a little more baggage to string along with them. Harry is recovering from a leg injury and needs to prove to everyone that he is a better soccer player than...
I forgot how much fun Blair could be. I probably looked like a creep staring at her dancing while standing next to Maya in the corner last night. Maya and I used have been fuck buddies, but right when junior year ended, she told me that she was gay, so the whole fuck buddy thing went entirely out the window.
I was the only person that knew Maya was gay. She was scared of coming out to our friend group in fear that her parents would find out. They are super conservative and religious, and she wasn't sure how they would react. Maya and I have been friends since middle school. She was one of the few teenagers on my block who wasn't a pretentious asshole because their parents had money. I would do anything to protect Maya. She and Gabe were there every day at the hospital when I had my accident. She would show up in my backyard when Gabe and I would practice, just for moral support (even though she didn't know the first thing about soccer). When I had my breakup with Daisy, she would come over with chocolates and pizza so we could watch the Notebook on repeat.
So, when she asked me to cover for her as her boyfriend at family events or tell her Dad that we were dating, I didn't mind at all. She was there for me during the hard times, so I sure as hell was going to be there for her.
"So, you're crushing on Blair Parker now, huh?" Maya said, downing her third beer for the night.
"What? No. I mean, she's cute and nice, but I don't really do relationships." I replied truthfully.
"Daisy still got you at her fingertips, huh?"
I hadn't been in a relationship since Daisy. Not since she left for college with a broken heart because of me.
"Nah, I'm over her." I lied straight through my teeth.
"Yeah, okay, lover boy. Well, maybe Blair Parker can help you get over Daisy. She is hot and single since she broke up with Justin."
I rolled my eyes at Maya. "Don't get me wrong, she is beautiful. Smart too. But I don't want to take advantage. We haven't seen her all summer. I think that break up took a toll on her."
"Well, if you won't go for it, I will."
I wasn't surprised when Maya had tried to hook me up with Blair last night. She has been trying to set me up with a fuck buddy ever since she came out to me. I haven't told her that I have actually been sleeping around quite a bit this summer. I needed something to get my mind off my injury, and sex was the next best thing to weed. I had all this pent up anger from not being able to play, pressure from my parents about college, not to mention Daisy still lingering in my mind I needed something to take the edge off.
I couldn't fuck with Blair if I wanted to. Not only was I gunning for team captain this year, but Coach Parker trusted me, and I didn't want to ruin that trust by fucking his daughter.
So here I was zoning out in class, looking at a string of pictures Gabe had posted on his Instagram.
The one that specifically caught my eye was a picture of Blair and I.
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@Blair_P you better be coming back to get lit with us more often.
"Harry, something interesting on your phone, you want to show the class?" My math teacher Mr.Smith asked me, walking up to my desk.
Before I could come up with a witty remark, the bell rang, and I took that as a cue to remove myself from the situation as fast as possible.
I had tryouts for soccer today, and I tried my best to keep my nerves at bay. I didn't have a choice but to make the team this year. I had to prove to my parents, the scouts, and Coach Parker that I was good as new and even better than the player I used to be.
The worst part was, I had this strange feeling that everyone doubted me. This morning my Dad sat me down and told me it's okay if I don't make the team this year and that he was just really proud of me for going up and giving a second shot. While that was extremely nice of him to say, it's not really what I wanted to hear. I wanted him to tell me, "Son, you are going to do great, and all the sweat and tears you put in for over a year will pay off."
In all honesty, I don't think it is all in my head. Everyone doubted me, and I'm not sure if I can prove them wrong.
I started making my way down the hallway and stopped right before the music room because I heard a voice.
Blair's voice.
She sounded like a sweet symphony. I know she told me she could sing, but wow, this was beautiful.
I walked up to the music room and leaned up against the doorway.
Don't call me "baby" again
You got your reasons
I know that you're tryna be friends.
I know you mean it
But don't call me "baby" again.
It's hard for me to go home.
Be so lonely
She stopped singing abruptly when she turned her head and saw me standing in the doorway.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. You sound amazing."
"Oh, uh, thanks."
"Is it your song?" I ask her, walking up to where she was by the piano.
"Yeah, it's just a verse I wrote, nothing good. Don't you have tryouts soon?"
"Yeah, yeah, I do, I erm... I'm actually nervous, ya' know? I just have to make the team this year, and I have never been so doubtful about myself. My leg is back to normal for the most part, but I don't have the consistency I used to have, and not only do I have to make the team this year, but I have to get team captain, and I have make the scouts realize I'm the same play-, no even better player than I was before and I-"
"Hey." Blair's gentle voice cuts me off, placing her small hands on top of mine.
"All you need to do is play your best. I've seen you practicing with my Dad all summer, and you're still a good player. You're just in your head. Don't play to make the team, don't play to impress scouts or even my Dad. Get out of your head and just play the game." She reassured me.
A moment of silence hit us because I wasn't sure what to say. Blair had told me exactly what I needed to hear. I don't think she realized we were practically holding hands because, when she looked down at our hands practically intertwined, she quickly pulled them away from mine.
"I really needed to hear that," I say, closing my eyes and exhaling.
