I'm not a popular girl | ✔️

Eighteen - L.A.

Carden

The blood screamed loudly in Carden's ears, the noise almost making him cradle his head and scream for it to just shut up. His heart rattled so hard against his rib cage he swore Zoë could hear it, his breathing was shallow, nervousness running throughout his veins.

Please, just stop. You need to calm down. Stop.

Who knew one girl could make him feel like he wanted to vomit?

"Carden?"

Zoë's fingers gently rested on his arm, squeezing gently. Her hand was warm and it sent bursts of sparks up his skin, making him shiver. When he met her eyes, she looked genuinely concerned. "Carden, you okay? You look like you're about to be sick."

He pulled his arm away but she twined their fingers, oblivious to what she was doing to him. "I'm serious Carden. Do I need to get you help?" Her hand twitched in her lap, like she was deciding against an idea. Like maybe running her hand through his hair...maybe? Hopefully?

Carden faked a smile. "Tsk tsk, Miss Dedicated. Do you even know me? I'm totally fine! It's probably just adrenaline."

Zoë raised an eyebrow. "You were nervous earlier at school today and you said it was just nerves. You said you'd be fine after the game but this," she waved her free hand at him, "does not seem normal. What's going on Carden?"

"Nothing!" He smirked. "How was your first football game?"

She frowned at the subject change. "Don't think we aren't talking about whatever is happening with you but I guess it was fun. Dean came around, ditched us when the second half started and of course you know the whole situation with Chloe." She rolled her eyes. "You played great though."

He fought off a smile.

Thank goodness Dean had left Zoë alone. If he had tried to flirt with her, Carden couldn't have done anything to stop him. For all Carden knew, Dean could've kissed her or given her one of his hoodies instead.

It wasn't a secret that Dean liked Zoë. Carden saw the same glimmer in Dean's eye when he looked at her. The sparkling eyes, half smirk, breathless laughs, the hair flips. It was the same things Carden did when he liked a girl but Dean had seemed to give up to easily. Something was coming. Something bad.

Hopefully Zo didn't have any feelings toward him.

"I mean, I always play great but I played even better tonight," Carden said with a playful wink.

Zoë rolled her eyes again and started fingering with one of the draw strings on the hoodie. "I have to admit, shoving stuff in Chloe's face is fun when it comes to cheering for you."

"And saying you love me to almost the entire school is 'shoving it into Chloe's face?'" He grinned at her. "Actually, that was pretty great. It made me play a lot better."

Carden ran his fingers along her cheek and whispered in a teasing tone, "But don't you dare worry, I do too."

I really do.

Zoë giggled softly. "Hey, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!"

He leaned back against the metal behind him, sighing deeply. "Fineeeeee. Whatever you say Miss Dedicated but it was probably one of my favorite moments in the entire game. Believe me. There could've been other dope moments like that first touchdown. I mean, do you know any other quarterbacks can front flip over six foot high schoolers?"

"Dope?" She laughed into the hem of his hoodie, which she pulled up to cover her beaming smile. Why was she always so adorable? "What year do we live in? The 80's?"