4. Alistair

~ ALISTAIR ~ 

“Ali, did you see the message sent to the main group?” Ray asks as we walk to the field, side by side.

I chew the insides of my mouth as I grip my bag tighter.

“Umm no, what's it about?”

His eyes dart around us at the people passing and he lowers his head, peering up at me as we continue walking. “People are here.” He says in a hushed tone and tilts his chin to my phone which was in my hand. “Be fast and check.”

I glance at my phone's screen, the message notification glaring at me. My thumb hovers over it, but the words are already starting to blur together letters shifting before my eyes.

Fuck. Not now. Not here.

Shaking my head, I drop my hand. “I will check it later. I'm not wearing my glasses.” I lied. “You can tell me when we reach the locker room.” 

“Well…” He shrugs casually as we continue walking.

I have a secret.

One that I can't afford other people knowing so as not to tarnish the Morano name. Father's words not mine.

I adjust my sunglasses as we finally cross the school's field to the locker room where others were already preparing for practice.

The moment my eyes land on him, I grit my teeth in anger.

The latest addition to my already existing banes.

Calvin fucking Rutledge.

He leans against the door frame that leads to the locker room, his gaze on a book. 

“Your new babe is already waiting.” Ray teases as we step over the threshold.

“I love pussy. Fuck you.” I cursed him before passing him my backpack and pulling my sunglasses from my eyes. Then I match forward, ready to walk past Rutledge.

But I didn't get to make it in as he grips my arm, pulling me back.

He smiles at me, the fake easygoing one, different from the smirk and chuckles from the past few days.

“Where are you going?” He asks, his voice dangerously low.

I yank my arm away from his scorching grip and follow Ray who'd entered the locker room. “Where does it look like I'm going?” 

He dips the book in his backpack and hurries after me before crossing me and standing before me, blocking my way.

My eyes dart to the huge wall clock ticking away.

“You better not interfere with my practice, Rutledge. If we lose the match next month, I'm going to break your fucking nose and watch you bleed.” I growl.

“Complete the group project and you can do whatever you want. You've only come for one session in which you did nothing except watch a movie like a dumb kid.”

I clench my fist at my sides. He doesn't know, he can't know. But my throat tightens anyway.

“To hell with the project.” I say as I take a step closer to him. The corridor was empty, everyone had already gone to get dressed. He didn't back off or flinch until I'm standing toe to toe with him. “Or, are you afraid I will ruin your perfect record?”

He chuckles and glances sideways. Then, he turns to me, his pale blue eyes meeting my eyes. “The group project is meant to be collaborative. You have no excuse to back out.”

I step back. “Watch me.”

He folds his arm across his chest and tilts his head, his curly hair covering his forehead.

“You really don't give a shit about this project, do you?” He chuckles, shaking his head. “Guess it doesn't matter since you've got daddy's money to fall back on.”

My jaw tightens.

He leans in, a little space between us. “Shame professor Wilson doesn't give a fuck about your last name anymore. Didn't he say daddy's money won't save you?” He smirks. “We'll see if you are worth anything without it.” 

He leans back. “ Time to visit prof—”

My fist is moving before I can stop it. It lands on his fucking chin, jerking his head to the side. 

I huff and pant, my knuckles throbbing at my side,  my eyes on his face while I hold myself back from outrightly attacking him again.

No one gets to speak to me like that in this school. I've already had enough at home. Not here again!

I smirk when my eyes land on the blood from his busted lip.

That infuriating smirk lifts his lips again as he casually wipes the blood from his busted lip and brings it to his face.

Then, he pops his finger in his mouth, his tongue peeks out to lick the blood before he sucks on it - just for a second, just long enough for heat to coil in my gut in a way I don't fucking like. Then with a soft pop, he pulls free before his eyes meet mine.

“I'm going to get a new partner.” He says, I think completing what he wanted to say.

I hiss and storm off, half expecting him to hold me back so I can strike him again.

Fuck him!