DODGE AND SCORE

“Lily, that’s a really, really bad one. It’s like the worst joke in the history of the worst jokes.”

“Well, it was worth a try. Anyway, I’m going to the bleachers, you coming?”

“No, I got Literature.” She gives me a mock salute with an eye roll before making off to the football field.

I wouldn’t miss literature for the world.

Celia used to say that our love for literature has surpassed our love for people. And the two of us have never agreed more.

I open my locker and put in my algebra notebook. There’s Literature and then there’s this. Math.

Perfect example how there’s both, light and dark in the world.

How I wish I could lock away the subject to the darkest depths of Tartarus so I never have to see it again!

Speaking of things I never want to see again, I don’t understand what’s gotten into Zach.

It’s not like the kiss meant anything to him, no matter how much I wished it to.

And then he wouldn’t even let me forget it. He is just so-

“You can’t just walk off saying something like that, Alanna!” Zach cries out beside me and his sudden appearance takes me by surprise.

“Zach, we’re in a hallway. I don’t want to cause a scene.”

“How can you even compare yourself to those stupid girls? You think that’s just what I’m doing? Whoring around with you?” I’m appalled at the intensity and seriousness of his voice, which happens to be too loud and people stop midway to stare at us.

I take out my book and close my locker silently punching in my code to lock it.

“Zach, everyone’s looking. Just stop thi-“

“I knew what I was doing when I kissed you. I may have been angry but I meant it. I meant every bit of it.” I look at him dumbfounded, at his brown eyes that are the sincerest they’ve ever been.

His words tug at my insides as he continues to look at me with vulnerability and I try to believe. I want to believe.

“That’s what I’ve been meaning to talk abou-“

Zach is thrown off hurling to the ground with a loud unprovoked blow to his jaw and I turn shocked to find the reason facing me.

“You! Everything happened because of you!”

Dan grips my neck roughly and throws me to the lockers fiercely causing my earlier wound to bleed anew.

“Don’t you fucking touch her, Evans!” Zach’s strained shout comes out through his gritted teeth as I clutch my head and look around to find him held back by three other boys, probably with Dan.

I step forward to reach Zach when Dan once again holds me by the neck, more violently this time, stopping me in my tracks. My back hits the lockers with a loud thud and my eyes start watering with pain.

“I lost fucking everything because you, bitch, messed it all up!”

I try to remove his hold as I turn breathless and squint my eyes in pain. But his hold is too firm. My head starts throbbing too bad when suddenly his grip loosens and then is removed.

Dan is pushed onto the floor and I cough desperately as Nathaniel comes into view. I rest my back and take in deep breaths as he stands Dan up only to beat him down again.

“Who said you could touch her? How dare you fucking touch her?” Nathaniel’s blows turned more severe with his every word, and I realise I have to stop him before it’s too late.

I walk up to him and hold his arm tightly, trying to separate the two.

“Nathaniel, that’s enough. Leave him. We’re in campus.”

He lands one more lunch straight onto his already bleeding face and I grip his hand tighter.

"Nathaniel!"

He leaves him with a push and Dan staggers only to take support of the lockers to remain standing.

I look back to find Zach beating up another guy as well, while two others were holding him back.

“Nathaniel – Zach. He’s gonna get in trouble. You have to-“

“Stay.” Nathaniel holds both my arms briefly before striding over to Zach and I’m silently relieved that at least he’ll stop the fight befo-

What the- God, holy- oh no.

The guy hits his head on the concrete with a thud. Nathaniel removes him from Zach and starts beating him up himself.

Tristan and Josh join in and the boys start a complete street brawl.

Josh throws Dan into the group and it’s no more in my capacity to stop this. I rub my head painfully and a crowd gathers all around.

“Well, don’t just stand there staring. Help separate them!”

I shout out to the audience and that’s when few of the boys move down to stop the fight. They barely separate them when a swarm of adults fall in.

Dean Brandon, Ms. Xavier and Professor Collins march down the hallway with two security guards. Zach lands a final kick at Dan as they are separated to a safe distance.

“Stop it! What in the world is going on here?”

I go on to narrate the whole fiasco and the teachers’ look changes from confused anger to understanding and then back to realised anger.

“I will not have any uncivilized violence in my premises for any reasonable cause whatsoever. Evans, you’re up for some big time trouble and it will not be restricted to mere expulsion. As for the others, infirmary and then community service. Now everyone, disperse.”

Dan and his gang is escorted out by security, while I look around at a shocked and disturbed crowd. Sofia being one among it, stands arms crossed and an uninterested expression

She couldn’t have helped, could she? No she’ll just be a complete fish in dress pants who loves ruining library ambiences.

*

Zach and Nathaniel are engaged in a serious conversation as all of our injuries are nursed.

“You okay?” Nathaniel asks stretching his arm, with a frown.

“Obviously.”

“Yeah, so is visible. All of that red, I could paint my living room with it. You’re gonna worry me to death.” Zach’s face twists and he rolls his eyes.

“I’m not hugging you, you know that right?”

“Really? Oh man! Here I was booking tickets to Hawaii for our wedding.” Nathaniel hits him on the head and he flinches a bit because of the wound.

“You’re losing the spark, Hayden. How did you become the one to get beaten up today?” Nathaniel smirks and Zach scoffs arrogantly.

“Bloody fucker caught me off guard. I was uh- thinking about something and I, I just lost it.” He licks his lips nervously and moves a hand through his hair.

“Not paying attention in my class, I see! Do I have to take a few more?”

This time Zach hits him, much more fiercely than Nathaniel, wrapping an arm around his neck.

I see a smile on both their faces and soon enough it turns into a laugh.

I have never seen anything so weirdly beautiful. It’s so oddly satisfying to see them.

Happy, laughing together.

I clearly underestimated the intensity of their friendship. I am aware of my own smile, that reaches the ear. And a giddy happiness in my chest.

Zach is laughing lightly and his dimple rests adorably on his otherwise wounded face. His hair has fallen all over his forehead due to his strangling Nathaniel.

I may have been angry but I meant it. I meant every bit of it.

His words continue to ring inside my head. Zach meant it? The thought is temptingly happy and still, a bit difficult to believe. Yet the look in his face had been genuine. At least that’s what I felt like. Maybe we do need to talk after all.

My gaze drifts to Nathaniel and I notice the precocious amount of blood on his knuckles and on the cotton dressing it.

How dare you fucking hurt her?

I don’t think I’ve ever seen Nathaniel so aggressive. He’s not violent usually and he had accelerated the fight when instead I had sent him to stop it.

I knew what I was doing when I kissed you.

Did Nathaniel hear everything?

*

“The final number of teams has just arrived, Alanna and would you please get a copy over to coach Priestley.”

I shuffle through the papers and find the list of teams with the individual players and separate out a copy.

“And also, confirm the events we’ll be including and bring me back a copy, yes?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Also the field cleaners will be here soon and I want no one in without ID. And just check up on that cheerleading rehearsal if you can.”

“Right, sir.”

“That will be all, Miss Callister.”

I leave Sir Collins’ cabin with a pile of papers and walk over to the basketball court where Coach Priestley would be.

Professor Collins is a professional. He is the VP, the next in command after Dean Brandon and he’s all business when it’s business. Though he has his moments too.

The basketball court is the biggest field on campus, followed by the football one, the hockey one, and the other ‘all purpose’ upper and lower fields.

And right now, the glowing sun falling on it makes it appear even grander. The place is filled with people, players mostly and a group of cheerleaders in one corner.

I reach the court to find a match already going on and it takes me a minute to recognise two faces that I can easily make out anywhere.

Nathaniel played the point guard. I didn’t know much about basketball, but I knew enough to know it was the most important position.

I feel borderline embarrassed, and almost guilty for this, but then I remind my saintly subconscious that I’m an absolutely single, and perfectly eligible young woman which gives me the right to check out boys, within the acceptable decency limits.

I’d never had a chance to look at his arms before and they were perfectly toned which flexed with popping veins as he played. He dribbled the ball and moved around with Godspeed and grace.

You’ve got to say, Nathaniel Alderidge knew his game.

And just below the rim was Zach who dunked as he put the ball through the basket mesh.

The black jersey hung on him loosely and his face was all red and sweaty. His shorts ended at his knees and his calf muscles stood out gloriously with his every move.

It took him not even more than two minutes before he grabbed the ball again and scored another basket. It almost seems like he’s taking out anger on something, the way he always does with basketball.

Someone’s on a roll.

“Alanna, yes?”

“Afternoon, Mr. Priestley. Professor Collins has sent me, he wanted you to have the final copy of the teams.” I hand over the paper to him and he looks down to inspect it. I twiddle my thumbs as his sudden shout makes me jump.

“Slide it through, Hayden! What’s up with you? You know the move. Dodge and score. Take five.”

I turn to find an annoyed Zach bending down to rest his hands on his knees after wiping his face off with his jersey.

I blink ever so slow and I feel a rush through a deep intake of breath. I swallow nervously as his perfect skin shines dazzlingly with sweat and sunshine.

His arms bulge up when he rests them on his thighs and his veins pop all the way out, up to his shoulders.

Our eyes lock for a moment before he looks away angrily and continues his game. He could kill with those eyes. It feels he will one day. Me.

I seriously need to get out of here.

“Alright, I’ll take this list, dear. And just cross check the games, I have it written right over here.” He hands me another one of his papers and I start cross checking them.

You call this handwriting? Is he a coach or a doctor? This is just too bad.

It takes me annoyingly longer to make out his words and I’m almost done when I hear out yet another loud yell.

Though this time, it wasn’t what I expected.

Author's note:

Nothing like a good bromance. Zach and Nate;

Careful me, I might just start shipping them!

Okay. Calm down.

Zach is going to puncture his own basketball someday.

What’s the yell for?!

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