THE AUTUMN SUN is beaming down on the field extremely hard today. It's like the universe knows we're one game closer to the championship and that Coach Carter is on our asses extra hard now because of that. I swear it feels like from the moment I opened my eyes this morning I was met with weight training and then straight to the field for some more training. Carter had us doing everything in the book. Angled Approach drills, The Beckham Switch, Mirror Moves drills, and whatever else he could pull out of his playbook. It's clear to see he wasn't playing around about this championship game which albeit is tiring me out like hell — I know my legs are gonna be screaming tomorrow but that's all the more motivation to win the championship game.

There's also one other little nugget that gives me an extra boost of serotonin during all of this too, but he's too busy pushing Froy into legs into a split, and judging by the look on the green-eyed boy's face he was struggling miserably. He catches me watching him and for a moment I forget how to use my senses. Even under the scorching sun with sweat dripping from his hair and down to his brown skin I still thought of his beauty all the same, then he cracked his plump lips into a smile, a perfect row beaming at me and I felt my knees go weak and I don't if it's from the workout our the boy across the field.

Froy lets out a loud groan in front of him as his large legs spread a little more causing Cassian to turn his head to him rather quickly breaking out short-lived contact. "You're so tense. You need to start relaxing your muscles and stretching before bed." I can hear him say, shaking his head like he's the coach of the team now.

"S-sorry I'm not fucking flexible like Idris." my best friend lets out a hissing groan as he nods towards Idris a few feet away from them stretching on his own. His tall body pulled into the perfect split as he leaned forward with his torso so it was touching the ground.

Oh, he is FLEXIBLE.

I'm about to make my way over to them when I feel a sudden arm around my neck. Caleb spins me around so I'm facing him, an empty Gatorade chew packet dangling from his lips. "Why are you so smiley all of a sudden?" he asked, a brow raising at me.

I quickly fixed my face, furrowing my brows and pursing my lips. "I'm not smiley? There's nothing to smile about. Do you see these gas prices?"

"Aw c'mon, Jay. What was it? Let me guess . . ." he teases poking me in my side which I hate because he knows I'm easily tickled which just makes the threat of me slapping his hand away more unserious. After all, I squirm under his touch while trying to hold in laughter. "Karina got something waiting for you after practice? Or is the upcoming championship?"

My eyes drift from my best friend over to Cassian who helps a lazy Froy off his feet by practically yanking him off the ground which causes the two to stumble a bit before they erupt into laughter. "Something else has had my attention," I tell him.

Celeb makes a face at me, lips twisting up before he rolls his eyes playfully at me. "Oh wait, is it your grandma coming for the team dinner and the game?"

Oh shit, I forgot about that. Before every championship game Coach Carter gives each of us tickets to invite our family to the championship game for free. Everyone usually invites their whole family while I just only ever invite my halmeoni and she comes through every time and enjoys her time here in the city while also watching her grandson on the field. Besides, she kinda the only family I have left here in the States so her coming to watch me play means more to me than anything.

A lot is going on this upcoming week.

The sudden sound of Coach Carter's whistleblowing and cracking the air makes everyone turn their heads. Carter walked onto the field with his usual clipboard gripped in his hands like the key to a dystopian world and he's the sole keeper. The sun shines off his bald head and his whistle is tucked between his lips. However, he's not alone, and beside him walks some younger-looking man but still a lot older than most of us on the team. He had a smile on his face while Carter did not.

"Everyone gather around!" Carter said.

The team gathers in front of Carter and the man, some taking a seat on the field while I and a few others decide to stand. I knew I sat down I probably wouldn't want to get back up and there's no telling how long it's gonna last. Beside me steps a familiar brown-eyed boy covered in sweat and stained with grass. He wore the dirt and sweat like a hero wears a cape. In that his skin became more beautiful, more glowing, more everything.

"Hi," he said softly, shoulder-bumping my own purposefully.

"Hi," I replied in the same tone, returning the bump. Coach blew the whistle again and I don't know which was louder; the whistle as it pierced the warm air or my heartbeat as Cassian looked at me with a small smile on his face.

"Alright, so you all the championship game is coming up," he started and the team erupted into small cheers of celebration, even I let out a cuffed mouth "woo" and hand clap. "and with that comes the family dinner with the team. I already have the tickets I just need a headcount of who you're inviting so I can hand out the proper number, and remember this is for intimate family only. None of that my sister brother cousin boyfriend bullshit . . ." Coach sends a deathly glare through the crowd. "Froy."

Froy kissed his teeth, hands raising in difference."What? Coach, you know I have a big family. I leave somebody out and it's just a big mess you do not want to mess with Trini people." Carter rolled his eyes at Froy while a few of the team laughed at his antics. I turned to Cassian to see if he was laughing but his eyes seemed to be lingering elsewhere, the glow in his face suddenly dimming the longer I looked at him.

"After we finish up here just make sure to give me a head count of who you're inviting so I can give them the tickets in advance," Carter explains before looking down at his watch. He then motions over to the man beside him who has yet to speak since he came on the field but he's been all smiles and blue eyes. "Oh and this here is Drew Whitney but you can call him Mr. Drew and he'll be watching you all practice for the new few days leading up to the game."

"That sounds kinda voyeuristic." I hear Idris mumble lowly in front of me and I try not to laugh but I know he is so serious and that's what makes it funnier.

Mr. Drew sends a small wave at the team. "You boys just act like I'm not even here. I won't be much of a bother."

I folded my arms across my chest. "That's suspicious." and Idris turns back to me. "That's weird," he adds after sending me a knowing look that we both shared.

Coach blows the whistle again and dismisses us back on the field to continue practice. We all jogged back and I ran beside a somber-looking Cassian who when he noticed me beside him tried to force a smile on his lips but failed miserably. I waited until we got a little farther from the rest before asking him what was wrong.

"You okay Bergman?" I asked him.

He stops jogging and turns to me, his eyes lingering on my face for a moment before he returns them to the grass on the field. "I'll tell you tomorrow." he tries to jog again but I grab ahold of his writer and hold him in place, quickly letting go when he looks down at my hand around him.

"Tell me now or I'll throw up I swear to God." I hate when people say they'll tell me later like I can't wait I'm nosy.

"You're so dramatic," he shakes his head at me before exhaling a low sigh. "It's just the family dinner thing. I already know my dad is gonna be a pain in the ass."

"Oh . . ." I should've known. "If you make yourself feel better the family dinner only lasts for a like two hours so it won't be forever and everyone's family will be there so you won't have to be stuck with just yours all day. Caleb's dad is fucking hilarious and Idris's family always bring their family photo books and the baby pictures of him in there are insane."

"I know but . . ."

"You can eat with me and my folks," the offer comes out of my mouth on its own, and I feel my cheeks heating the minute they slip from my mouth. Cassian raised a brow at me and my hand instantly found its way behind my neck out of embarrassment. What is this boy doing to me? "It's just me and my halmeoni but she doesn't really like to eat at the fancy restaurant Carter picks so we usually go and get some Korean food down the street after. You don't have to accept the offer I'm just saying if you don't want to be around your folks all night you can—" I found myself rambling sheepishly but before I could finish Cassian pushed me lightly snapping me out of my stutter.

"JaeBeom are you asking me to meet your grandma?" Cassian teased.

My name rolled so casually off its lips I'm surprised he pronounced it the proper way and not with a mishap like most when they try to pronounce it, but it's clean and sweet like a song I've heard in my dreams. "You don't have to but I'm just saying . . ."

Cassian cuts me off with an eye roll. "I'd love to hang out with you and your grandmother are you crazy?"

My nerves relaxed a little after hearing him say that. "I'm sure she'd like to meet you too."

Even under the sun, we both stare at each other with admiration in a way I don't think I could do with anyone else, but I wanted to do more than stare, I wanted to press my lips against his and taste him, tell him to thank you thank you over again until we were in each other arms in one of those hugs were our body just fit so perfectly against each other. It doesn't even have to be in a romantic way just thankful for him being here right now, arms around each other, and my face curls into that place between his shoulder and his neck, and my eyes are closed and I just breathe. When I breathe it just smells overwhelmingly safe and familiar.

But Carter blows his whistle again for us to get into position and the sounds crack in the air like a whip. We both make a face before raising our fists and giving a tiny fist bump that didn't give the same comfort of a hug but it'd had to do for now while I turned on my cleats and ran to my side of my thinking about the gentleness of holding Cassian and being held.

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EXCUSE ANY MISTAKES OR ERRORS