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Dedication: SuzieQooh for your nice comment on the story! Thank you!

Recap:

Her face drops for a moment. I turn my back to her and stride down the hallway, my heart beating loudly in my chest, towards at ashy-blond haired boy in a leather jacket.

He is my future. The chapter of mine and Samara's has closed and instead of dwelling on that sad fact, I need to move forward with Miles.

Because honestly, we're only in the beginning of ours.

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The soft feel of Miles' fingers rubbing circles in my shoulders makes me sigh in content.

"Mmm," I encourage with a smile. "Keep going."

"You're tense," he tells me with a frown.

"It's been a stressful week," I sigh.

It's Friday and I could not be happier that this week from hell is almost over. I don't know what was worse, having three assessments all due today, or having Samara continually make snide remarks to me, making me feel worthless. I'm so lucky to have Kiarra and Miles by my side, otherwise, I probably would have had an anxiety attack or an emotional breakdown by now.

I had only just accepted the fact that I've lost my best friend. I didn't expect to gain a bully. I should have expected things to be bad, but I didn't think it would be this bad. It seems like years of friendship means nothing to her.

"You definitely don't want to go to the party?" he asks me.

I lean back into his touch. He removes his hands from my shoulder and wraps them around my waist, planting his chin in the crook of my neck.

"I'd much rather spend the night with you."

He leaves a soft kiss on my skin and tightens his arms around me. "Sounds good to me."

I pivot so that I'm facing him. He keeps his arms secure around me as I peer up at him.

"Do you want me to talk to Finn about having you re-join the football team?"

He blinks in surprise for a few moments. "I don't think he wants me back."

"Things went okay on Monday right?" I ask him. "At Anger Management?"

"Yeah, I guess. We did sit together, but I was also the only other person he knew," he points out.

"But do you want to join the football team?" I ask. "Forget about everything and just think about what you want."

He cocks his head to the side, looking pensive. "Yeah. I would love that."

"Okay," I nod, standing on my tip-toes so that I can run my fingers through his hair. "I'll see what I can do."

"Thanks Is, but I can do it," he assures me. "I should be the one to talk to him about it."

"Okay, just let me know if I can help."

He smiles down at me, before kissing my nose. "We should go get a seat, before the grandstand fills."

I agree and lace my fingers with his. We make our way to the grandstand, my eyes scanning for Kiarra's mop of mouse brown hair. She waves at me. I ignore the piercing gaze from Samara as I walk past her.

"Hey Becs," I greet Becca, who is perched beside K.

She smiles back and offers me a pringle. I thank her and take a few, passing some to Miles.

I grimace when I see the Richmond bus pull up. They weren't meant to verse them for another three weeks, but the other team we were versing tonight had to forfeit, mucking up the entire schedule.

"This will be interesting," Miles murmurs.

"Yep," I agree with a sigh.

I watch Finn and Alec pass the ball together, while Jai chats to the Coach. I smile when they blatantly ignore the arrival of their rivalling team.

"Let's see if that Anger Management class has had much of an impact on Finn," I muse and Miles chuckles.

"Let's hope for the best," Kiarra joins in and Becca playfully rolls her eyes.

The two teams warm up far away from each other. We have all finished off Becca's pringles by the time the game starts.

Soon enough, it is half time and there has been no fight outbreaks, no dirty moves and the score is even. I'm impressed.

"Something's up," Miles says as they all break.

"What do you mean?" I ask him.

"They're playing too clean. They have something planned for the second half," he mutters and I think he's talking more to himself, than me.

"What do you-"

"Hang on, I'll be back."

He jumps to his feet and trots down the steps. I share a look with Kiarra, before we watch him athletically jump over the fence and head towards The Boys. He pulls Finn aside. They talk for a few moments and with Miles' serious expression and hand movements, I assume they're talking about tactics and game play. Finn nods and they do the one-arm-shake-and-hug thing, before Miles heads back towards us.

I raise my eyebrows as he takes a seat. I don't know if I'm more impressed that he went down there to share his view, or he fact that Finn accepted it.

"Football stuff," he answers my unasked question.

"Right," I laugh.

As the warning alarm sounds, alerting everyone that half time is up, Miles leans forward, digging his elbows into his knees.

"What have you got planned?" he asks quietly and I look from him, to the field and back to him, trying to work out what is going through his mind.

"What?" I eventually ask.

"They've swapped Eli's position," he says quietly. "He's marking Finn."

"And what does that mean?"

"Something is about to go down," he says with a frown. "I really don't have a good feeling about this."

I lightly pat his shoulder. "Finn is tough."

"I know, but Eli is a dick."

"Can't argue that," I agree and chew my lip nervously as the game resumes.

Ten minutes go by without much change. Miles is making me feel anxious as his left leg keeps jiggling restlessly.

"Miles, stop it," I whisper. "You're making me nervous."

"Sorry," he apologises, tightly clenching his fingers together.

Finn leaps into the air and the football falls into his arms. He takes off at a run and time begins to slow as my eyes widen. I watch Eli tear towards him, before spear-tackling him to the ground. A spine-chilling screams erupts from Finn and my body goes icy cold. Goosebumps pierce my skin.

Finn collapses to the ground. Eli gets to his feet with a triumphant smirk on his lips.

My body reacts faster than my mind. I am on my feet and running down to the field. I fluently jump the fence and if the circumstance was different, I would have been impressed with my athletic ability.

When I get to him, Jai is holding Alec back from sending a punch to Eli and the Coach is mouthing off to Richmond's Coach.

I drop to my knees and stare down at Finn, who's leg is lying at an unnaturally odd angle. He has tears running down his red-cheeked face. My heart is thudding so fast in my chest that it's almost painful.

"Finn!" I exclaim, gently touching his shoulder.

He doesn't hold back his sob as he reaches for his leg and lets out another cry. I lightly push my fingers through his sweat-drenched hair soothingly.

"It's okay," I whisper to him. "It's okay."

He covers his face with his two hands. I bite my lip as I watch him. My brother doesn't cry. He is the type to fall from a tree, break his arm, get up and want to do it again. He has a very high pain tolerance.

The paramedics arrive, then. I step back and hug my arms around myself as I watch them.

"Who have we got here?" the lady asks me.

"Finn," I quickly reply. "Finn Collins."

"Finn," the girl says to him as she squats beside him. "From one to ten, ten being the most painful, what number are you feeling?"

"Eleven," he croaks out.

"Give me the green whistle," she instructs the man beside her.

He passes her a green, plastic pen-looking thing. Finn sucks on it and I know that the pain relief will kick in shortly. Within a minute or so, a lazy smile is spread across Finn's face and he grins up at me.

"Hey Is, how's it cracking?" he asks and I quirk an eyebrow.

"How's it cracking?" I repeat in amusement.

"Finn, we are going to move you onto a stretcher now, okay?" the lady says him.

"Right on, girlfriend," he grins back and I roll my eyes.

He is high as a kite.

They lift him onto the stretcher as he starts to make a wave motion with his hand.

"I'll meet you at the hospital, Finn," I tell him and squeeze his arm. "You'll be okay."

"Peace, love and happiness," he smiles up at me, giving me the peace sign. "That's what life is about."

I let out a snort of laughter, despite the serious moment, as he gets wheeled into the ambulance.

"Excuse me," I quickly say before they take off. "I'm his sister, is there anything I can tell my mum when I call her? Is it broken?"

"It's definitely broken," the paramedic answers and looks at me impatiently. "I will talk to her at the hospital."

I nod weakly as she jets off towards the ambulance.

As the ambulance exits the field, I turn my attention to Eli. Alec has finally calmed down and Jai has taken him off the field.

Eli smirks at me, looking victorious. "Oops?"

***

I watch mum pace back and forth in the waiting room, her curly hair a mess.

Kiarra is sitting opposite me, her arms folded across her chest as she stares at the ground. Becca has her head in her hands, Jai has his eyes closed as he leans back against the wall and Alec is on his phone, his leg propped up over the arm rest. Miles is beside me, his hand rubbing my back soothingly.

"He'll be fine," Miles assures me for the fifth time. "It will heal."

"But he will miss out on so much. And he's captain!"

"Footballer's get injured all the time. He'll bounce back."

I nod slowly and ring my fingers together. My mind is racing with worst case scenarios, so I'm glad Miles is here, helping me stay sane.

I keep hearing the sound of Finn's scream in my mind. I screw my eyes shut and lean forward, rubbing my face roughly. This is not how I wanted to spend my Friday night.

A grimace forms on my face. I have had a nauseous feeling in my stomach, ever since it happened.

"What's the plan, then?" Alec says after a while, finally lifting his eyes from his phone screen. "How are we getting Eli back?"

I glance over to mum, only to see her still pacing relentlessly, paying no mind to us.

"Corner him, bash him," Miles replies and I elbow him in the side.

"Nah, you need to be smart about it," Jai interjects. "It's the little things that annoy you. Do something to his car, mess with his things like that and make him snap."

We all stare at Jai like he is a criminal mastermind. He shrugs.

Kiarra nods at him, looking impressed. "I like the way you think."

"But I kind of want to smash his head in," Miles confesses and Alec agrees, their own feud clearly being put to the side for the moment.

"Collins family?" a voice says and we all snap our head up.

She smiles when she see's how many of us are here.

"Finn is awake and stable. He's broken his leg in two places and is in a lot of pain, so he is on some very strong pain killers for now. There's only half an hour until visiting hours are over, so you can go and see him for a little bit," she smiles. "Mrs Collins? May I speak with you?"

She takes mum to the side as we all get to our feet and thunder down the hall, towards his room. When I walk in, Finn's leg is elevated on a strap and covered in a bright cast. He is eating chocolate pudding, the evidence spread around his mouth and down his chin.

"Aw, guys," he says with a smile. "I love you all. Come into my office. Anyone want some pudding?"

We all laugh at his words. Not-medicated Finn would never offer to share his food.

"All yours buddy," Jai replies with a smile. "How's the leg?"

"Not too bad," he admits. "Not very sore."

"That's good," Jai replies as Alec mutters, "For now."

"I'm feeling great," Finn assures us.

"Oh really? You were crying like a little bitch when it happened," Alec smirks and Jai slaps him up the side of his head.

"You would cry, too, you dick."

We all laugh at that and Finn smiles with a shrug, before finishing his pudding.

"Finn, the real question is, what do we do about Eli?" Alec asks him, folding his arms across his chest.

"Yeah, tell us what to do," Jai agrees. "And we'll do it."

Finn nods for a second and taps his chin. "Well, he isn't going to get any of my pudding, that's for sure."

We all exchange a look, before bursting out with laughter.

We decide to leave the serious talk for now, as Finn is not making much sense.

We all spend the last remaining visiting hours with Finn, until we're ushered to leave. Mum decides to stay. They fix her with a pillow, blanket and a chair so that she can stay by his side all night.

"Be safe, I love you," she mumbles tiredly, before giving me a hug.

"You too," I reply.

We shuffle out of the room and begin to head towards the exit.

"I don't really want to be alone tonight," Kiarra sighs.

"My house is open to everyone," I tell them.

"I'll stay with you, if you want?" Jai offers and I try to hide my smile.

Alec looks over to me.

"Do you want to stay, Alec?" I ask him quietly.

He glances to Miles briefly, before nodding. "Yes please."

"I'll set up a movie in the lounge room and we can all sleep out there," I suggest and everyone murmurs in agreement.

I look up to Miles, to see him smiling down at me.

"I love you," he mouths and I feel my stomach squirm.

"I love you," I silently say back.

Miles places his arm around my shoulder and as we all head to our cars, I smile at my friends.

Despite the night having taken a bad turn, we're all together and honestly, that's the best I can hope for.

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Poor Finn :'( anyone expect that?