(Lila's P.O.V)

"So will you come?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"I don't want to."

"Then I'll just kidnap you."

"Caveman style?"

"Sure, anything you want, Kitkat."

"Thanks but I'll pass."

"You can't!"

"I can."

"No."

"Watch me."

"That's mean."

"You're a lunatic but you don't see me pointing it out every two hours." I commented in exasperation.

Derek groaned as we kept walking and he hung around me, hovering like an unwanted weird as hell shadow. The creepy type.

"Don't you attend any games?"

"I do."

"Because of Warren, right? Nora probably drags you out too. Ha."

I rolled my eyes, "Yes, sadly."

"So then what's the big deal? Shouldn't you attend the first game at least?"

I sighed. "I'm not in the mood to attend. You can't force me."

I could feel Derek burning a hole into the back of my head and I had to keep myself from scoffing at his childish antics.

After our heartfelt talk three days back, things had once more fallen into routine. I couldn't understand how we managed it but we did.

With the first game of the season approaching, Derek seemed hell bent on making me attend and cheer for him.

The heavenly smells in the cafeteria were appreciated and my stomach rumbled.

"Hmm. Nora and Michael kinda have a date on game nights, right?"

I grumbled. "Yes and I'm the third wheel."

Derek laughed and I ignored the sound and its weird, weird effects on me.

Nora and Michael went to cheer for Warren of course but Nora would never let me be if Michael would be there too. I barely wiggled out of most game nights or I had to third-wheel. I swear I didn't understand how Michael couldn't know of Nora's crush on him when they vibed so hard and she blushed and blubbered around him.

Done with picking my food and grabbing a cup of litchi juice because yes, Laden High was like that, I turned to find Derek was done too and trailed after me.

"So you'll come." It was a statememt this time and I sighed in exhaustion.

"What's the true reason you want me to come? You know I won't cheer for you, right?" I gave him a side eye and the copper-eyed badboy huffed.

"I'm practicing."

I shot him a confused look as we slowly weaved our way to the end of the cafeteria where our friends were sitting together.

Derek tilted his head and bumped his shoulder with mine. "If you don't come to the game on Friday then you have to promise to come somewhere else with me."

I rose a brow and eyed him suspiciously. He simply smirked at me, wagging his eyebrows.

"Is this 'somewhere' going to be the back of your car or something?"

He mock gasped in horror, "I wouldn't dare!"

"A field in the middle of nowhere?"

"Peaceful but no."

"The movies?"

"You want me to take you out on a date? Aw Sure-"

"Shopping, by any chance?"

"I doubt you'd enjoy that, Kitkat. But if you want-"

I interrupted him with a genuine gasp and gave him a wide eyed look, "A bookstore?"

He stared at me before slowly shaking his head with a cringe, "I'll do that next time though."

Should've know that was too good to be true.

I internally grunted in dissatisfaction.

"There won't even be a first time."

"There will." He sure was confident.

"Then tell me where you'll take me. You don't live a double life as a serial killer/Derek Greyson, right?"

"I'll tell you if I ever decide to live a double life, Kitkat." He grinned at me.

I snickered. "It's a strip club, isn't it?"

"Only if you were the one stripping." His dimple popped up and I swallowed as he shot me a mischievous smile.

I remained silent in response and 'accidentally' crushed his toes under my spiked sneakers.

"Oh, Fuck!" Derek hissed, hopping on one foot and I bit back my grin.

He gave me a dark look, "I'm a soccer player, feet are important to me, woman!"

I mused and realized he was right after all. "Sorry, I'll aim somewhere else next time." I smirked lightly and Derek gave me a pain filled look.

"Or how about aiming nowhere? Doesn't that sound so good?"

"Not to me." I shrugged.

Still limping slightly and temporarily taking the place of a Drama Queen, Derek spoke into my ear, his closeness startling me.

"So what is it gonna be?" His hot breath made goosebumps pebble my skin. "The game or where I take you?"

I kept my heart and breathing under control, feeling like my ribcage couldn't keep my pounding heart in. Strange.

We'd reached the table now and just before we both slid into our respective seats, I replied.

"No to the game."

Derek rose a brow, "I'm a bit miffed you won't come to the game but I'd rather take you somewhere myself so I'll take it, Kitkat."

He flashed me a bad-boy grin, one that made me gulp. Why was he good looking? His wavy black-blue hair and metallic copper eyes paired with that left dimple and his tattoo adoring fit physique....

I couldn't even give the excuse of 'There's no spark here. No physical attraction.'

I stopped short, horrified.

Did I just....Did I just say there could be something between us inside my head? Oh, good lords, I need some distance from this asshole.

"Lila?" Nora had a teasing glint in her eyes as she quirked a brow and I rolled my eyes at her before taking my seat between her and Warren.

Right across from me sat the devil himself but for once his copper eyes and his infuriating attention and dimpled grins weren't centered on me.

Rather they were on the short-haired blonde vice cheer captain sitting besides him.

I tilted my head inquisitively and Warren answered from besides me as we all started on our food.

The chestnut haired soccer captain spoke, leaning closer, "Rebecca and Derek here have been getting closer, you know. Don't really know when it happened but it did."

I nodded slowly.

But they would actually make a pretty good couple. As I assessed them together, Rebecca laughing soundly as Derek said something to her I didn't bother catching, I felt kind of...weird.

Like I was outside of a bubble.

I blinked, frowning at myself due to the eerie feelings.

Rebecca was really not bad. Sure we hadn't talked much or something but she was decent.

Warren again informed, "It seems like Rebecca and Veronica haven't been getting along as well these past few days."

Nora chimed in from besides me, "That was long overdue." She kept her voice low but I heard. "I always wondered why Rebecca stayed with Veronica."

They did have similarities but Veronica was a real bitch whileas Rebecca wasn't.

The atmosphere at our table had only slightly changed because of the new additions of Derek and Rebecca but everyone seemingly got along quite well.

I wasn't used to War and Michael just sitting with us everyday and with Derek and Rebecca playing their roles as attention magnets, Nora and I were half in a strange environment.

But I didn't exactly dislike it.

Derek's eyes locked on mine and his lips tipped up.

He winked.

I rolled my eyes.

And just like that, my roiling emotions were back in their assigned places.

•♤•

I went to the game.

I didn't have to but I still went to the game.

No, it's not because something inside me wanted to see my annoying neighbor playing soccer.

More like I was overpowered by a five-foot blonde nerd with her doe eyes and effective pouts and nervous swears.

Thus, here I was sitting in the bleachers while the Tygers - our team name - marched to an easy win.

"They're gonna win! Wohoo!" Nora cheered along with the cheerleaders and some others.

There wasn't much of an audience today since it was 1) The first game of the season and 2) The team they were playing against wasn't that great.

We were bound to win. 

We were down to the last five minutes now and I watched as the ball was passed from one of our team members to Warren and he was confronted by the captain of the opposite team. The ball was dribbled around until he found an opening and the ball went straight towards Derek. 

Derek ran, the ball in his control and kicked hard. The goal was scored just five seconds before the whistle sounded and the referee made the same old gestures that meant the game was over.

We won by a score of 11-2 and everyone - sans the opposite team - were grinning.

Nora screamed happily, "We won!" She side-hugged me and I cringed as my poor ears took the brunt of her screech but I still laughed, glad we'd won. 

Nora turned and almost hugged Michael the same way in her excited state but seemed to realize who he was at just the last second so her arms were mere centimeters from engulfing his body when she froze like a wooden nutcracker.

I snickered. I could almost imagine the panic stricken look on Nora's face.

But I watched, thoroughly amused as Michael chuckled and grabbed hold of her arms, hugging her to him. "Your shyness evaporates in the face of school spirit, hm?"

I think his comment made Nora faint.....

When he let go of her, she was blushing furiously and turned to look at me with wide eyes not responding to his mostly rhetoric question.

Guess she survived.

I rose a brow at Nora as Michael smiled at her, still seemingly...oblivious.

Jesus Christ, were guys like him supposed to be so slow at picking up on how chicks felt about them? I swear Michael is one of a kind if he isn't feigning ignorance - which I mostly, 75%, am sure he isn't.

"Oh, look!" Nora distracted me and I followed her eyes as she and Michael started laughing.

I didn't bother hiding my snickers as I saw Veronica practically throw herself at Derek....

Who side-stepped and made sure that the redhead fell on Warren instead. Veronica was straddling his hips and I'm pretty sure War grinned up at her, his hands settling on her hips as the other players chuckled at the little show. Veronica had to be blushing but she looked behind her at Derek forlornly and started glaring daggers because he was—

With Rebecca.

The dagger glares were justified, I suppose.

I shifted my attention too, watching as Derek grinned at her and she gave him a bright smile before kissing his cheek when she leaned close.

"Whoa, Derek and Rebecca seem...serious." Michael's comment wasn't ill-founded. They seemed close and this was a show of...I don't know what but this wasn't the overly excited kiss or something, it feel like an intimate and meaningful movement.

Something unpleasant stirred in my stomach and I swallowed before shaking my head free of such nonsensical thoughts.

"Yeah but I'm sure his favourite girl is still Lila." The blonde shot me a grin and I gave her a bland smile.

"Yeah. Anyways, come on now, let's head down. We'll wait for them both." Michael stood up and Nora and I followed suite, heading down the stands, the blue-grey of the evening sky casting over us.

•♤•

"Can I leave now?"

"No." Nora gave me a look, "This is why you should've worn better clothes when I told you to."

I grumbled, "There's nothing wrong with my clothes." 

Nora rose a sarcastic brow and I gave back a sarcastic smile. My sweatpants and loose t-shirt were comfortable and it wasn't like I was waiting for my boyfriend or something. Unlike Nora who had  Michael - who didn't notice - to impress, I was free of such burdens.

Micahel glanced up from his phone where he'd been typing away for a bit now and flashed us both a golden boy smile. "You both look beautiful, don't worry. You can knock the dudes out with a single look."

"T-thanks, Michael." Shyly smiling and averting her eyes, Nora bit her lip.

I chose to just give him an acknowledging smile.

Nora turned an undeniable shade of crimson red and I watched, incredulous at how Michael went back to his phone after dropping such a bomb on us.

"He's such a playboy." I snickered under my breath and Nora elbowed me. 

He wasn't a playboy, just so you know.

"He's sweet, okay? Appreciate him."

"I will." I gave her a blank look, "When he realizes how smitten with him you are. He may be super sweet but he's also super dense."

This time, Nora could only huff as she looked up at me and I smiled down sweetly, savoring the short lived victory before my mood turned sour once I spotted a few members of our team exiting through the back door.

"Why do I have to wait for them? They won the game, now you can all go have fun. In the meantime, I could be at home finishing off Kingdom Of Ash." I pointed out and tried to move away. I wanted to finish the last book of the Throne of Glass series again and it was eating me alive to not be devouring those words.

Ugh, that lunatic makes my life so difficult!

She glared at me from behind her glasses, "No means no, Lila."

"You suck." 

"I don't care."

"It's not like he's my boyfriend so I have to wait for him. Or Warren." I hissed at her.

"Sure."

I gave her a look. "Where's this sass coming from?"

"You can't go without leting them know you came to support them." Nora explained as if I were a child.

My eyebrow twitched in irritation.

It wasn't like Warren or Derek didn't know I was here.

Warren would've found out some way or the other and as far as Derek the lunatic was concerned, I'm pretty sure we made unfortunate eye-contact at least three times during the duration of the game out of which perhaps only one was an accidental eye met.

The one that let him discover me.

So see? I don't need to let him hold this fact over me at the very moment. I came to the game and I'll have to go somewhere with him later on too.

He got to have the cake and eat it too.

Talk about unfair.

"I'm never coming to another game with you and third-wheeling."

"Of course not, you'll have your boyfriend in the field so you can get lovey-dovey later on." Nora avoided my eyes but she was grinning like an evil little elf.

I glared at her, spouting profanities for the blonde bombshell who was clutching onto my arm like it was her last lifeline. With our arms twined, her nails were digging into my skin hard enough that I gave up on trying to free myself from her evil-but-actually-not-evil clutches. Nora's hold on me was the only reason I was allowing myself to be subjugated to the torture of waiting for when Warren and Derek would come out.

People milled about and I sighed in resignation.

"Stay here." Giving me a mom look that said I'll-give-you-hell-if-you-disobey-me, Nora let me free. "I'm gonna try talking to Michael, okay?"

I gave her an encouraging smile while rubbing my tender arm, "Go ahead." 

Once she walked the few steps to where Michael was leaning against the wall and started conversing with him and turning all shades of red, I too decided to entertain myself.

Sliding out my phone, I unlocked it before opening my messages and texting Cam out of boredom.

Me: Have I told you how annoying my neighbor is?

Cam: So much so that I feel like I personally know him. Fr.

I snickered.

Me: True. Anyways, when will you be coming?

Cam: I'll try to come around your birthday but probably not. So August it is.

I frowned.

Me: Imy tho.

Cam: Imy2. How's the progress by the way?

Me: Good. Diego said we'll start soon. With Mayor Walsh first on the list.

I knew he wouldn't like it but that was the way things were going to be.

Cam: And Veronica?

Me: What about her? 

Cam: Nothing.

I could imagine him sighing, aware I was right. I still don't get his infatuation with her.

Cam: Any new developments?

Me: Nah, just instead of two letters a month, it's escalated to a letter each week. Seems like he's gonna up his game soon so we should too.

Cam: Good call. Stay safe though.

Me: Always. 

Cam: By the way, I forgot to ask you last time but have you met with my cousin? You should've, I heard my Uncle moved to the same vicinity as you guys.

I furrowed my brows in confusion.

Me: Eric, was it? Idk, you always use weird spellings for his name.

Cam: Noooo, it's easy to spell and it's fun to tease him like that.

I rolled my eyes as the dots appeared besides his name signaling that Cam was typing. The message arrived but before I could properly read it, someone tapped my shoulder.

I instantly looked up and locked my phone.

"Who....?" I kept a blank face as I rose a brow at the guy standing in front of me. I did a quick sweep of his appearance and realized he was one of the opponent team's players.

In fact I think judging by his jersey number, he was the captain. He hadn't played bad at all, the team was just not that good.

He smiled and he wasn't that bad looking either. "I'm Abe, nice to meet you." He rubbed a hand behind his neck awkwardly.

"Actually, I saw you and your friend a few minutes ago and you're both really pretty. But you seem like a person I'd like to get to know more." 

"I'm wearing sweatpants and overly baggy clothes in general." I point blank stated, curious to know what his response would be.

He chuckled, "Yes and that may be why you caught my eye...."

"Lila." I supplied.

"....Lila." He finished with a charismatic smile. "So I thank your overly baggy clothes."

I smirked in response involuntarily.

Hmm, he's smooth.

He held out his phone towards me with a cheeky grin and a raised brow, "Could I get your number please?"

I slid my eyes to the side and met Nora's. She gave me a super enthusiastic thumbs up and I swallowed my snicker.

I felt the corners of my lips turn up in amusement. "Sure." I turned my attend back to Abe and took the phone from his hands.

I have nothing to lose and it's not like I can't go out or speak to other guys.

Just as I typed two digits, the phone suddenly slid out of my grasp.

"Cheating on me so soon?" The familiar octopus arm wrapped around my shoulder and I gritted my teeth as the phone dangled from Derek's hands.

Copper eyes met mine and the scent of his cologne filled me, he showered so his hair was damp and sticking to his forehead and he looked really good—

"I'm not your girlfriend."

"Of course, because you're mine." 

I feel like death would be better than this situation.

Abe looked from Derek to Warren on each of my sides and then his puzzled eyes met mine.

I smiled tightly.

Now how should I hide the bodies of these two.....?

•♤•

A/N

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.

What are your thoughts on Derek and Rebecca's budding relationship now? And how about Nora and Michael or this Cam character? I'd love to hear!

Anyways, don't forget to vote and comment please! I really appreciate it, you guys! And I've been pretty busy overall so sorry for the late update, I have to get started on the next chapter instantly ugh.

Till next time then, take care everyone!

~Skyler