A/N: It's been a while, whoops. I was struggling to find good ways to slowly introduce their past, and well it's been over a week XD Sorry it's short, but here's a quick flashback moment.  Enjoy, and thanks for reading <3

Ollie's POV

Five years ago

It was also a Friday, the day Mason had entered me and Benjamin's lives.

I remembered it so clearly, the way he strolled into the hallways, looking like a lost puppy. He had a paper schedule in his hand, sticking out like a sore thumb as everyone should have figured out where their classes were, it was already three weeks into the school year.

But it wasn't just the schedule in his hand that made him stick out as the new kid. A dark, gruesome shade of purple surrounded his swollen left eye. It looked fresh, possibly even from yesterday. Either he had gotten into a fight, or someone had tried to beat him up, and judging from the lack of bandages or blemishes on his hands, it was most likely the latter. Which seemed odd, given he was built like a tank. No doubt that he was probably on the wrestling, football, or maybe even baseball team from whatever school he had transferred from.

Maybe that was why Benji had been drawn to him since the beginning. From one sporty jock to another sporty jock. But who had the balls to punch him in the face?

I walked past the new kid with Benji and his football buddies, intrigued like the rest of students. He had glanced at our clique, before reaching out and grabbing my forearm. Immediately, Benjamin and the team's kicker, Connor glared, stepping beside me like they were my bodyguards or something. It wouldn't have been the first time some idiot had tried to pick on me, after all I looked like a short twig compared to the rest of them, all at least five inches taller than me. But the new kid didn't seem at all intimidating, despite being as bulked up as the rest of the football boys.

"Sorry, man," he replied in a huskier voice than I imagined it to be, before releasing my arm. "You know where the honors chemistry class is at? With Humphreys?"

Connor blinked before pointing down the hall. "Oh yeah, that's me, Benji's and Ollie's first period."

Connor went back to talking about his new video games with Justin and Aaron, as Benji stared the kid down. Benji had a habit of scaring people off like that, especially when they interacted with me in even the slightest negative way. Even as toddlers, Benji insisted on acting as my own personal bodyguard, even if it was a simple prank or joke. It had been embarrassing a couple of times, but in a way the attention was nice.

"Cool, thanks. I'm Mason by the way. Mason Collins." He stuck out his hand just as the bell rang. "Care if I walk with you?"

As the rest of the team headed to their respected classes, Connor led the way to Humphrey's. Mason followed us, looking around at the other class numbers before Benji finally asked, "where'd you get that shiner from?"

"Ah." He rubbed the back of his neck. "One of my teammates back at my old school. Said I messed up the play, costing us the game."

"Team? What sport?" Connor turned to look at him before walking into the chemistry class.

"Football."

The two of them looked at him curiously before heading towards our seats. Luckily the empty seat Mrs. Humphreys gestured him towards was close enough to our table as she passed around the papers for today's work load.

"What position?" Benji asked after she headed towards the teacher's desk.

"Mostly running back. But I've subbed with our wide receiver occasionally." I wasn't too familiar with all the terms in football, or the other sports the team played, but that was a pretty bold position. And judging from Benji and Connor's reaction, they were just as shocked as me.

"I mean we could use a good receiver. Zane's been out since last season with that collarbone injury. He's acting as the holder now." Connor ranted on, earning himself a stare from Benji. "What? If he's good, maybe he can try out. We could use another receiver, after all coach's JV star receiver isn't cutting it on the varsity team, you know that. Justin will probably murder him if he misses another clear pass during practice."

"That's only if he was on the varsity team to begin with, Connor."

Mason blinked. "I started varsity in sophomore year. It would've been freshman year but there were some issues with the school board my parents were sorting out, insisting we were trying to get a district exception. Yeah, apparently we don't look rich enough to be in the Arcadia area."

Benji hummed, his face twitching at Mason's accolade. Most schools hardly ever allowed sophomores onto the varsity teams, meaning if he had been a freshman varsity player, he was an ace player. It would be a mistake if Mason didn't join the team, especially with our star receiver, Zane out. The gears in Benji's mind were turning, the crinkle of his nose as he glanced at Mason.

"Well, it doesn't hurt to try out, Collins." Benji smirked. "Join us for practice if you dare."

"Sure thing, uh..."

"Benjamin. Benjamin Adams." He held out a fist, Mason bumping it back. "This school's quarterback. You can call me Benji."

I turned to look at him, knowing that he hardly ever let people call him that, unless they were on the team or his close friends. Before I could question him, Mason turned towards me. "And you are? A kicker?"

I held out my hand, shaking my head. "No, Connor is. I don't do sports, not with this short and weak asthmatic body. I'm Oliver, or Ollie as they call me."

"Ollie?"

"Yeah," I replied, gesturing to the camera bag. "I'm a part of the journalism team, photographer, graphics, yearbook, you name it. I'm just this oaf's friend, or as I like to joke, I've got the entire football team as my body guards. It's like having my own secret service. But no, I'm not the sporty one, but you'll see me at their events and stuff."

Mason smiled before extending his fist out toward me. Benji smirked beside me, knowing that I never liked these kinds of greetings, but I obliged meeting my fist to his. "Nice to meet you, Ollie."

"Likewise," I responded.

If only I had been aware this seemingly harmless first impression of Mason would have catapulted into a ruined friendship and an emotionally exhausting calamity.