Tyler
A chuckle escaped me, and I backed away, my fists still in my pockets.
“No,” I said lightly.
“Just making sure everyone on the team is still on track.”
He raised a thumb, even though his expression twitched a bit.
“I’m good, Cap.”
I nodded, then turned toward my locker.
My smile faded.
“Of course you are.”
Practice started the same way it always did.
Sneakers squeaking across the gym, balls bouncing from different angles, the guys talking and chuckling when they could, and coach’s whistle shrieking whenever he barked orders.
But none of it calmed the storm raging inside me, or kept my mind focused.
This time, the cheer squad weren’t even there on the sidelines, forgetting to gossip in low tones.
But because my brain had decided to replay three steady things on a loop.
Sydney’s smile at Dean, her cheeks flushing in class.
And then Dean’s sick ass voice.
“Girl’s too easy.
Trusts easily, too.”
Whistle shrieked across the court.
“Warm up!” Coach yelled.
The guys jogged to their spots, balls thumping across the court.
They stretched, laughed, and ran on the spot.
But for some reason, I dribbled harder, bouncing the ball really hard on the ground.
“Dude,” Michael said, raising a brow, “Your mom planning on changing the floors soon?”
”Shut up.” I muttered as he laughed.
My eyes strayed to Dean, he was cracking his knuckles talking to Aaron, that stupid smirk on his face that seemed permanent at this point.
“Just fooling around.” His voice echoed in my head.
The ball landed with a sharp thump.
“Alright,” coach clapped once.
“Passing drill.
Quick hands, let’s go.”
We split into two lines facing each other.
All we had to do was throw the ball to the person in front of you and catch the one coming back.
Dean stepped into the spot across from me.
Of course.
He wiggled his eyebrows.
‘Ignore him, Tyler.’ I reminded myself, watching the ball move.
It got to me, and I threw it. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
Hard.
“Whoa, slow down,” Dean said, stepping back from the force of it.
I just smirked.
“Too slow.”
”Again!” Coach barked.
The ball began moving again.
Ryan tossed the ball to me and I caught it and fired it right back to Dean.
It hit even harder.
“Dude!” he said, shaking his hand from the impact.
Then he straightened, glaring at me.
“Seriously?”
I shrugged.
“Oops.”
Coach blew the whistle.
“Sinclair, if you want a war ground, you can go back in time.”
The guys chuckled.
I just gritted my teeth, shifting my gaze away.
Micheal bumped my shoulder.
“You good, man?”
”Yeah,” I rubbed my palms together, avoiding his gaze.
Practice continued, more drill, more running, more passing.
And soon we moved into practice game, split into two groups of five each.
But the whole time my mind was split, my legs working their way to cornering Dean.
Then, finally, he got the ball and started moving towards the basket.
I stepped in front of him, blocking his way.
He smirked, bouncing the ball.
“You seem really tense today.”
”It’s just defense.”
”Sure it is.”
He tried to run past me, but I knocked the ball out of his hands.
It bounced across the floor, and Micheal grabbed it and scored.
“Nice!” someone yelled.
Coach blew his whistle one last time.
“Alright,” he called.
“Good work today.
Hit the showers, we’ll continue tomorrow.”
I kicked a loose ball hard and rolled towards coach’s feet.
His eyes shifted to me, giving me that look that read: Get your head together.
“I’m trying.” I muttered under my breath.
I practically rushed out of the locker room the minute I was done so I wouldn’t do something about that smirk on Dean’s face.
Most of the school had already emptied out, and the hallways were quiet with only a few freshmen wandering around. New chapters come out on g.com first.
And a couple of girls sitting on the floor near the vending machine.
All I needed was to get home, soak myself an ice bath and probably spend money on something I knew my mom wouldn’t let me use.
I slung my bag over my shoulder and pushed towards the main doors.
I was just halfway to the door when the library doors opened.
Maeve stepped out first.
She was talking animatedly, her hands moving around like she was performing whatever she was talking about.
Sydney walked out after, laughing beside her.
Her head tipped slightly back, and that musical sound she called laughter, I rarely heard, swarm out from her lungs.
‘What are you doing, Tyler?’ the voice in my head asked.
But even I didn’t know.
All I knew was in that moment, her laughter had twisted something in me, and I hastened my steps towards them.
‘Don’t do it, Tyler,’ the voice warned.
But all I could hear was Dean’s voice in my head.
“Girl’s easy.”
He was planning something, and Sydney was prone to walking right into it.
“That did not happen!” Sydney said, laughing.
“I swear it did!” Meave said.
“And then the groom’s mom started crying and—”
I got to where they were.
Maeve’s brows went up.
“Oh,” she said slowly, nudging Sydney’s arm.
Sydney turned, and I swear I heard her heart jump into her mouth.
Her smile vanished instantly.
‘Great, now you’ve got the girl’s attention, what are you going to say?’
Sydney blinked.
“Tyler.” She muttered.
Meave folded her arms and looked between us, obviously confused by what was going on.
But I just stood there like some dumb bitch staring at Sydney Walker like she was something I hadn’t seen before.
My head had gone completely blank.
She pulled her books tighter, her eyes struggling to remain on mine.
“What do you want?” she asked.
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
“What’s up with you and Dean?”
I felt the pause in her breath.
Then she blinked.
“What?”