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
It's not easy standing outside the home of the girl you have feelings for.
Especially if you've hurt her.
Will she understand?
Will the girl I like understand that I need this popularity? That I need to feel wanted? That I need this attention?
That I need a win?
I swing my feet in the air, trying to make the bench swing go higher. In my left hand, I clutch a thin piece of Nikki's necklace. I've been attempting to force myself to use it as an excuse to see her. But now that I can see her house, my legs can't move in her direction.
"You look pathetic."
"I feel pathetic," I respond to who I think is Wyatt.
I don't feel anything at this moment. I'm not even embarrassed Wyatt will see my red, tired eyes. That he will smell the sweat stench from a restless sleep. Or see that my hair and clothes are a mess.
Wyatt mutters something and sits on his front steps. "Why are you sitting on my swing? It's my house." He adjusts his position so that he can see Nikki's house.
"I was going to apologize to Nikki but I..." I gulp. "I got scared."
Men shouldn't admit such things to other men. But, what more can I lose?
"You should be." Wyatt's eyes dart to the ground. "You broke my best friend's heart."
"I know." I swing my feet higher.
"Why?"
"What?" I close my eyes.
Maybe if I close my eyes, I can forget Nikki's expression when she saw Victoria hug me at the assembly.
"Nikki said you chose her. But in the gym, we saw you hugging Victoria." His expression turns grim. "We also heard what she said." He sighs, running a hand across his face, saying "She's loud." His eyebrow raises.
I shrug.
"I expected more from you, Mabry." He glances at Nikki's house. "And I don't even like you."
"Me too," I whisper back.
How can I like myself right now?
"Did... did you break up with Victoria?"
"I did." I stop swinging my feet and turn my attention to the porch floor. "But she hugged me and I didn't know what to do." I want him to understand. "And everyone was freakin' staring... it was too much pressure."
Without her, I'm just Logan Mabry's brother.
Wyatt doesn't say anything this time. The silence seems to go on for a while. Oddly enough, his presence is calming. I wonder if it's because he may be the only one who can understand me. His eyes are pinned to the house across.
