CHAPTER THREE

LIAM

Coach had been hard on us today. As captain, I bore the brunt of it. Our last game against the Taylor High had been though, and even though we won, it wasn’t by much. They had been good but we were better.

Coach was not impressed, he made that clear with the extra practice and mandatory school hours.

I didn’t have time for this.

Practice was already hell. Extra school hours? That was torture.

Things at home weren't great either. Mom had a fight again with Aunt Lexy, and I was once again pulled in as the middle man , Dad was on one of those long business trips.

Fantastic.

Still musing about the recent hell I was about to face, I didn’t see her until it was too late. Someone bumped into me, hard. I instinctively reached out, holding the person upright, only to regret it. My body ached from practice, and the impact sent a sharp pain shooting up my arm.

It was at the top of my tongue to lash out at the person, until I saw who it was.

Ivy.

I knew her. More than I should. Zane never shut up about how pretty she was, and Claire? She was always comparing herself to her constantly.

I pulled Ivy up.

She blinked at me with wide, cute eyes, filled with fear.

I’d seen that look before. People always assumed I was cold, unapproachable, hell, some people even thought I was the devils spawn.

I’ve never had issues with what people thought about me, or their reactions towards me. Never bothered me. But something about the way she avoided my eyes, keeping those clear honey brown eyes from my view, unsettled me.

Before I realized what i was doing, my hands were tucking the loose hairs which she hid under behind her ears. She froze. So did I.

What the hell was I doing?

Before I could apologize for inappropriately touching her, her friend popped out of nowhere and pulled her away.

My eyes briefly accessed her, Maddie? Zoe?… nothing was forthcoming. I could only remember her as ivy’s friend. My eyes was instantly drawn back to Ivy.

If you asked me, I wouldn’t have a reason for still standing there. The girls whispered between themselves, then I sighted Zane.

I made a move to leave, and Ivy tripped, again.

I caught her, again.

“You’re really a walking disaster, aren’t you? I murmured, amazed.

She skittered away from me and hid behind her friend, which I found funny and cute.

She blushed. And my God, what a sight that was.

I barely had time to process that before Claire made her way over.

Hell no.

Claire was a childhood friend, who has the attitude of an insecure child with a serious need for attention. I tolerated her to some extent since I had known her for years.

My eyes went back to Ivy, and our eyes locked. She turned pink again, she was always blushing I noticed, this I think was out of embarrassment at being caught.

Claire noticed, and latched onto my arm.

“Liam”, she whined. “I heard you’re going to Mr Sanchester’s class today. Can you please skip? I need to talk to you”.

Not happening.

My eyes unconsciously returned to Ivy who shyly waved bye.

My stomach, my mood instantly changed.

I think I nodded. I can’t remember.

Claire tugged at my arm again, I quickly pulled my arms off.

“I can’t skip. Coach’s order”, I said , my voice flat. “If you need to talk, do that after the class”.

I stared at Ivy’s figure now walking away from me. Turn around, turn around. I silently willed.

And miraculously, she did.

“Fuck”.

She looked so cute, so red. But then her eyes widened again, not in their usual cute way. This time she seemed shocked.

Her friend pulled her, then, they both hurried away.

What was that?

Confused, I shook my head. Then I walked away.

With Claire trailing behind, I hastened my steps.

She was a Phd manipulator, you give her a chance, she takes a milestone. Not today.

Immediately I got to Zane, I smacked him hard at the back of his head.

“Dude, where were you?”

“What the hell man, he hissed, rubbing the back of his head. “I was going to ask you the same”. Besides, what were you doing with Ivy?

I shrugged. “She bumped into me”.

Zane looked at me, hoping for more. Not happening.

When he realized I wasn’t going to say anything more, he groaned and punched me on my arm.

“Dude, why are you like this?

Before I could answer, he muttered. “And why is Claire stomping over here?”

Nope.

I was gone before she could open her mouth. No more drama today.