Chào các bạn! Vì nhiều lý do từ nay Truyen2U chính thức đổi tên là Truyen247.Pro. Mong các bạn tiếp tục ủng hộ truy cập tên miền mới này nhé! Mãi yêu... ♥

Chapter 8 - Liam POV: Collecting Collateral

Since Jude seemed to like to have his way when it came to me and playing my game, I doubted I'd be able to convince him not to do my work for me in the storage room. That's why I set out to complete it before lunchtime this time. As I strode through the gym, I noticed Coach talking with someone in his small box-office. Since it was predominantly all windows, it wasn't hard to see who he was with.

Josh Carter.

I backed up a bit and tried to be as inconspicuous as possible while I eavesdropped on their conversation. "If you want a chance to up your position then that's what I have on offer for you," Coach said. "You can either take it or leave it, Josh. I don't know what else to tell you."

Sounds like Josh'd been harassing him about his current position on the field. It didn't feel like some big secret that he wanted my spot at centre midfield, so my best guess was that he was probably trying to get as close as possible to it. But he definitely didn't look too happy. He grumbled a reply I couldn't hear then started to turn. Guess I'd find out during our next official game this weekend. I buzzed off quickly before he noticed me and headed straight for the storage room.

Ivana came in shortly after with some food and drinks that we shared while working and chatting. She was a great past time and had lots of stories about her home in the Netherlands. It's not often you meet such a fun-buzzed, down to earth, crazy hot chick. And she was nice to some dorky kid she met the first time. Bonus points. But she was due to go back home in a few months, so our time together was going to be pretty short lived.

And I was perfectly okay with that.

After finishing up, we spent the last few minutes of first break making out on top of a stack of boxes. But when the bell rang, we both startled and probably nearly bit each other's tongues. We parted, chuckling at the near miss. I walked Ivana to her class and hugged her before making my way out of the building towards my own. I'd be late, but it was worth it since she was a big help before.

As I was passing a corner, I noticed Josh Caster standing there with someone who at a brief glance, I thought was Jude. But I realised this was a chick who was, upon closer inspection, a reasonable amount taller than him. Josh had her pinned against the wall while her legs wrapped around him, playing the most gruesome game of tonsil hockey I ever saw.

It made me want to barf.

Why was he making out with someone who resembled his brother so much? It was gross no matter what way you looked at it. No wonder they weren't close. Josh probably had some weird brother fetish or something. What else would explain this scene unfolding before my eyes? If I was this repulsed, what would Jesus think? This guy was a pretty absurd acting Christian.

Struck with a genius idea, I pulled out my phone and took a quick snap. Then, realising I had gone unnoticed all this time, I decided to push the limits and flip my phone to video mode. I captured a good minute of their snogging and the next closest thing to bumping uglies I wish I never saw. Just having it on my phone now felt gross. But if anything happened, I needed some collateral. And when it came to someone as vindictive and overbearingly jealous and smallminded as Josh Caster, one could never be too careful.

I pocketed my phone and minded my own business all the way to class.

Jude was in the last class before lunch. I counted the minutes on the clock as the teacher gave us free study time towards the end of the period, waiting until I could let him know the storage room was finished. When the bell rang, everyone stood. Ben and Charlie got up and were rambling on about stuff I didn't pay attention to while my focus homed in completely on Jude. His eyes were already on me, and I watched them widen and look away as I approached him.

"You not going?" Charlie asked as he passed me in front of Jude's desk.

"Soon," I answered, not glancing his way. My eyes stayed focused on a shocked and confused little Jude Caster. "Hi," I said to him.

"Hi," he reluctantly answered, glancing around beside him. His deskmate had already shot off before I reached him, leaving him appearing disgruntled and a little perplexed. It was evident he did not expect me to approach him, and it made me feel a little awesome.

"I've finished the storage room already, so you don't have to worry," I said. "Come watch me play instead."

"Oh," he said, as if struggling to process what I said. "Oh! Ah, yeah, I'll come watch for sure."

"I'm glad," I said. "And ah, what're you up to after school? Or later this arv? I wanna shout you something as thanks for your help."

People kept moving past me and occasionally bumped my bag, so I scooted behind his chair and sat on the empty seat beside him. My fingernails drummed on the wooden desk, waiting for an actual answer from him instead of the deer stuck in the headlights look he gave me. The ego boost I got from this kid was insane. Did he see me like some kind of celebrity when all I'm really good for is kicking a ball around on a field? I wasn't even popular, let alone of celebrity-status. This guy seemed to think way too highly of me.

Either that, or he's gay, which wasn't a vibe I picked up from this quiet little homophobe. If he was just secretly closeted, then maybe it'd be great to gently coax him out and ensure he didn't hurt anybody in the future. Between Charlie and I, we could definitely help him to separate his religion from his brainwashed opinion of right and wrong.

"You don't wanna?" I asked when I still had no answer.

His eyes widened even more. "No, no, I do," he said quickly. "I definitely do. It's just––" He seemed incredibly hesitant about something as he became momentarily lost in thought. "I'm not sure if I'm free tonight. Maybe I am. I want to be, I..."

He looked so uncertain about anything and everything that I actually felt bad about putting him on the spot like this. "Hey, no drama at all," I assured him. "Let me know or we'll switch it to another day. Anyway, walk with me to the field so you can watch me play."

"I will," he answered without hesitation, before looking up at me with surprise. I realised what I'd just said must've sounded pretty weird. "I meant us play," I corrected myself. "Come to watch us play. You really like soccer, right?"

"Of course!" he quickly answered. "I love soccer. It's my favourite sport. There's nothing I love more than–– Oh," he said, looking towards the classroom door as he seemed to chase the Roomba of thoughts bumping around aimlessly in his head. "I usually meet Tristan on the w––" He paused once his eyes glanced up and met mine again. "Never mind, I'll text him," he said. "Let's go."

I broke into a smile and shot up, picking up his bag for him so he'd have no opportunity to dawdle or change his mind. He hurried after me all the way to the field before I gave him back his bag. I brought him all the way to the front of the crowd, as opposed to his usual spot at the back where he'd almost seemed to watch in secret with his friend. I was surprised to see Josh playing with us today since he didn't come for lunch matches very often.

Our lunch time games weren't too highly competitive – at least not in the traditional sense. We'd take a spot on the field on a first in, first served basis and play based on that. What made it so exciting is that we didn't always get to play a position that met our strengths, so every day was something new and challenging. But there walked Josh, smirking at me as he made his way midfield. It's like he thought he one-upped me or something, but I saluted him for his effort. Never fail to praise a child where praise is due, Mum always said, because it's critical for their development and sense of self.

Perks of having a mum who specialised in Child Development.

When I noticed Tristan had rocked up, I couldn't help but glance at Jude as I took to the centre forward position. His expression caught me off guard and almost stopped me in my tracks as I watched his eyes fix on Josh, pale in the face and clinging to Tristan's arm. Jude looked scared and confused. The thought of this made me uncomfortable, especially considering what I'd just witnessed of Josh and that curly hair chick. Did something really happen between them?

When I took a glimpse at Josh, I noticed his eyes were completely trained on Jude, too. He didn't appear to show any sort of emotion, but I could tell this was some sort of moment. Jude eventually pulled Tristan away and they moved back away from the crowd to their normal spot, mostly out of view. It annoyed me that he felt scared off by his own brother, the school's Christian group leader, but I couldn't do anything about it. I had to shift my focus to the game because the whistle went off and we sprang into action.

For whatever reason I could not fathom, Josh targeted me for the entire game. Any time I got near that ball, he'd kick it away and let somebody else do the honours. There was literally no sportsmanship for that absolute twat-waffle. Any time I tried to contribute a goal or a pass, Josh would completely compromise my attempts. Everything I did became fruitless or even detrimental to our team. As a result, we finished the game with me almost legless and ready to deck him straight on the nose.

"Yo, what the fuck was that about, man?" one of the guys asked, shoving Josh on his chest. We'd lost seven-two thanks to his petty games. "You in this to play or not? If you can't play a basic game, get out. That ain't what this game's about."

Looks like I didn't even need to confront him. Our team members were already well and truly on top of it.

Josh didn't even respond to Troy, who still had the collar of his shirt clasped in his fists. Instead, he glared over at me like I was his mortal enemy. I rolled my eyes and sought out Jude at the back of the crowd. He waved at me before walking off with Tristan at a pretty quick pace. Josh looked over too before shoving Troy away from him.

"It was a mistake, man," he said, patting down his shirt. "No hard feelings."

"Whatever," Troy muttered, turning away and heading off with our teammates. "Don't even think of pulling that shit again."

"It's not even an official game," Josh said. "Chill out, would you?"

"Nah?" Troy responded, stopping to turn back. "But we're an official team. Act like it."

Josh was really starting to come out of his shell as the bad guy these days. Pashing some chick behind the school buildings, doing whatever to make his own brother scared of him, manual-handling Charlie in front of crowds at an arcade, including in front of his own best friend; he was really out for blood.

Josh stood staring after Jude as Jude and Tristan dispersed with a disappointed crowd. After grabbing my bag and tossing it over my shoulder, I didn't miss my opportunity to shove him as I chased after the guys. A couple of them threw an arm over my shoulder and walked with me to the gym, and I looked back at Josh victoriously. He could target me all he liked, but I'd make damned sure he'd never have the upper hand.

And for whatever reason, I had to ensure that it'd be the same for Jude. I pulled my phone out and contacted Jude the second I reached the locker room. 

Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: Truyen247.Pro