CHAPTER 11:
I AIN'T WORRIED 'BOUT IT.
Leah

“Is that our Rampage?”

“Either that or she’s got a smokin’ twin!”

I playfully rolled my eyes at Coyote as I descended myself down to the beach. I wore black spandex with a black sports bra. I had gotten the memo this morning for some bonding training, and came a little late.

“Think we should make her do 200 for being late?” Phoenix asked Maverick with a smug grin, croosing her arms as I set down my towel and jogged over.

“I think we can let her off the hook this time,” Maverick smiled.

“We all woke up at the same time. Did something keep you?” Bob asked, only curiosity in his voice. Phoenix had woken me up, yes, but she interrupted a particularly good dream that I had to finish off in the bathroom.

My eyes wandered to Bradley, who was the main person in said dream, but they quickly fluttered back to the ground.

“Didn’t get a good night's rest. That’s all.”

We quickly picked up a game of football, to which Phoenix and I were mercilessly outnumbered in the height department. Sure, she was still taller than me, but with men that are 6’2 and above - it was pure torture.

Finally, after a few rounds, I had gotten the ball when Bob had thrown it out of a panic and sprinted to the other side. I dodged and weaved through the muscular crowd, finally ahead until I felt some arms around my bare waist and squealed as I was tossed over someone's shoulder.

“This never happened in high school football! You’re so cheating!” I shouted while laughing, lifting myself up to see the face of my captor.

“Says the girl who only ever watched from the sidelines,” He mused.

“Says the boy who was cut for being too short,” I shot back, trying to wriggle myself from his grip.

“And yet, here I am and here you are. Five foot four?”

“Can we have the ball back or you gonna makeout with that too, Rooster?” Hangman asked with his signature smirk, staring us down. I was about to throw it back to them until I felt a large hand on my ass, and side eyed Bradley. His expression was unmoving but I could see a look lingering in his eyes.

You little shit.

“Everything okay?” Maverick called out.

“Y-yeah, here!” I cursed myself for stuttering as I launched the football and the squaggle of Aviators running after it made me giggle.

“You’re insufferable,” I sighed, looking at him. I didn’t even notice but now he was just full on grabbing my ass with both hands while my hands were on his shoulder, trying to keep myself steady.

“Hm? Why would you ever think that, Miss. Kazansky?” He questioned, “would it have anything to do with your dream last night?”

Despite the heat I felt in my cheeks, I told myself that he was just teasing. That it was probably him just hearing about me talking in my sleep and not that Phoenix heard way more than I thought, and taddled on me to the one person she knew would break me from my shell.

“A nightmare more like it,” I smirked.

“A nightmare?” He acted surprised as he let me down.

“Oh yeah, terrifying.”

“What were we doing in this nightmare?"

Things that best friends shouldn’t do.

I stayed quiet as I let the cool saltwater touch my feet, but knew that I was no liar. I was raised to be a good person, and to always tell the truth. But humans need to lie to survive and keep themselves protected.

To shield themselves from harm.

I looked up at Bradley, my entire body completely terrified at the mere thought of letting Bradley in at the risk of hurting myself again. Or the risk of me trying to let him in but him walking away.

Either way, I’m fucked.

“Things that best friends shouldn’t be doing,” I said, my voice smaller as Bradley moved himself closer to me.

“Like what?”

“Like this,” And I kissed him.

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