Pic of the sunrise Katie takes. 😝

Katie
I wake up to the glorious time of 5:00 a.m. Beautiful isn't it?

I may or may not have snoozed my alarm three times so now I'm running late.

I got an email last night from Mr.Brent, yes you read that right, an email. He needs to get a cell phone.

Anyway, his grandkids came over last weekend and rode Titan so he wants me to do light exercise this week.

Which is fine with me.

I tack Titan up and ride him down Mr.Brent's driveway. I take Titan on a nice chill walk.

Since I woke up late I didn't get to check my phone. I decide to do it while I ride Titan.

I have a snap from our group chat, It is a video of me singing Since You've been gone in the kitchen. Tyler must have filmed me after Wyatt left.

I take a picture of myself on Titan and send it for Snapchat Streaks.

I text Wyatt good morning and check Instagram.

Wyatt tagged me in a picture he posted. It's us cuddling on the couch last night. He captioned it, "Best lazy Sunday of my life!"

I still can't believe I laid my head on Wyatt's stomach for an hour!

I take a picture of the sunrise to post to my story before I take Titan back.

Pulling up to the school I see the guys on the football field practicing. Tyler and Wyatt are standing together talking. I beep my horn to scare them.

It scares them and they both flip me off.

Tyler may not be the best influence on Wyatt.

I go to the school's bathroom to get ready.

Babe: The cheer squad had practice today😫 I think I'll join you in the bathroom to get ready!

Izzy had dance practice this morning and hated getting ready in the locker rooms with a lot of people in there.

"Hey, Katie."

I glance at Izzy in the mirror, she's already dressed. "Hey, Iz."

She takes her makeup bag and places it on the counter. Knowing she will be in here for a while I hop on the counter to watch her.

"Iz, I don't know why you wear makeup you're beautiful."

She sighs slightly. "I'm not talking about this again Katie." And she says I'm stubborn.

"So, have you stopped lying to yourself yet and admitted you have feelings for Wyatt?"

I slap the counter. "Izzy, could you be any louder?" I whisper yell.

She grins while applying eyeshadow. "What everyone thinks you're dating."

I rub a hand down my face. "Iz, I don't like him." She gives me a look that tells me she doesn't believe me.

We talk about Wyatt as she finishes her makeup.

Wyatt
I smile as I put my phone away for practice. It feels nice when Katie texts me good morning.

I notice Tyler standing by himself on his phone while we wait for the coach. I walk over to him.

"Hey, man."

Tyler looks up at me and smiles. "Sup Cap." Yeah, everyone calls me Cap since I'm the captain of the football team.

Over the weekend I did some digging on Tyler.
He really didn't have any friends besides Katie and Izzy. Last year he had Derek who was the outgoing one and talked to people.

I guess without Derek, Tyler feels alone. I understand, I would see feel the same if I didn't have Ryan.

We get to talking and some of the other guys join us.

After practice, I run to my car to put my gym bag away. I see Stacy coming my way, I run toward the school doors. Unfortunately, I'm not fast enough.

"Wy, I have something to tell you."

Maybe she's moving away.

"What Stacy?" I say without any emotion whatsoever.

"I know this is none of my business but I heard Katie talking with Izzy in the girl's bathroom."

I give her a tired look. "So?"

She looks at her feet. "Well, Katie was telling Izzy that she didn't know how long she could continue dating you."

Where was she going with this?

"She said every time she's with you; you had some problem. If it's not your mom, it's your dad dying or football. She said you're starting to feel like a burden."

I don't believe her. Katie would never think that.

"And Izzy said. Well, Kat just stick it out a little longer. What's the worst that could happen? And besides, he's super popular."
Stacy tells me.

I didn't believe her till she said Izzy called Katie Kat. "Thanks, Stacy for telling me."

She touches my arm. "Yeah, anytime."

I felt like such a loser. I knew I shouldn't have trusted Katie. I barely know her. But something about her made it so easy to open up to.

I turn the corner to my locker and see Katie laughing with Izzy and Tyler. I can't look at her.

"Hey, Just Wyatt," Katie says, reaching for my hand, but I pull away.

"Hey Katie, I've got to get to class." I lie.

I see her frown as I turn to walk to class.
Unfortunately, we have the same first class so I can't get away from her.

"Hey Wyatt, is something wrong?" Katie asks sweetly. It takes everything in me not to ask her about Stacy.

"Nothing, just fine." I snap, which causes Katie's face to harden and she takes a step back.

I sit down and stare at my phone. I could ask her about what Stacy said but what would that change? Katie said it, then wants to go around acting like nothing was wrong.

Gosh, I'm such a loser. I thought she was different, but boy I was wrong.

Katie tries to talk to me all class but I ignore her. Once class is over I run out of there and away from Katie.

Somehow she catches up with me. "Wyatt, you're being weird what's wrong? You can tell me."

I scoff. Did she just say that? "Nah, I'm fine, wouldn't want to be a burden." I'm being an ass, but I don't care.

I walk away before I hear her response.

Katie
Wyatt walks away from me. Maybe he needs space then he will tell me what's wrong with him.

It's lunchtime and I don't see Wyatt anywhere. I guess he is avoiding me, I walk to lunch alone and sit down at our table.

"What did that sandwich ever do to you?" Tyler asks, sitting down beside Izzy. I must have been glaring at my food.

"Yeah Katie's, what's wrong?" Izzy asks, concerned.

I sigh. "Do you know why Wyatt would be mad at me?"

Izzy looks confused.

"No, he seemed fine at practice," Tyler says, with food falling out of his mouth.

I don't have the energy to tease him about it.

Tyler waves Wyatt over. "Maybe he was just rushing, that's why he seems off," Izzy suggests.

Wyatt sits down beside me with a blank face. "Hey, Wy," Izzy says softly.

"Hey," Wyatt says without looking up from his phone.

I raise my brows and mouth, "See".

Izzy continues to ask Wyatt questions, only getting one-word responses.

My phone vibrates. I see Tyler texted me.

Thorn in thy side: You're right, something is up.

Me: See! He was fine this morning. We texted back and forth and now this.

Thorn in thy side: Did you say something that might have offended him?"

Me: No. I don't think so. He saw me this morning then frowned and now he won't talk to me.

Thorn in thy side: Hmmm 🤔

Me: Could it be my clothes?

I'm wearing low-rise jeans I thrifted (they're probably at least fifteen years old) and a T-shirt that said, "Not my pasture, not my problem."

Thorne in thy side: I don't know. I thought your shirt was funny.

Thorn in thy side: Hold on. let me get the big guns.

*Thorn in thy side added Babe To chat*

Me and Tyler stare at Izzy. She glares at us and mouths, "What?"

I kick her leg and hold up my phone. She picks hers up.

Babe: What?! I'm eating!

Thorn in thy side: Hon, we're trying to figure out what is wrong with Wyatt.

Me: We think my shirt offended him.

Thorn in thy side: What do you think she should do?

I glance up from my phone to see Izzy fighting a smile and slowly shaking her head.

Babe: Y'all are two of the dumbest idiots I have ever met!

Babe: Katie, your shirt didn't offend him! There is probably something bothering him. Just talk to him!

Me: I tried!

Babe: 🙄 Try again!

I turn to Wyatt. "Hey, you sure everything's okay? If you want to we could talk."

He doesn't look up from his phone. "Nope, I'm just fine."

I feel my eyes harden.

Me: SEE!?

Babe: Job well done, Katie. That's really going to get him to open up!

Babe: Figure it out! I'm not going to talk about someone while they're sitting in front of me!

Thorn in thy side: Wait no, sweetheart we need you!!

*Babe Left group chat*

Thorn in thy side: Well

Me: Great girlfriend you have there. Top-notch really.

Thorn in thy side: 🤷🏻‍♀️ I can't control what she does.

When the bell rings, Wyatt jumps up and runs out of the cafeteria. If he doesn't want to talk then fine. Two can play that game.

I'm not going to let him bring me down.

Though out the rest of my classes I thought about Wyatt. I tried not to but I couldn't help it.

Oh, and two girls asked me if we broke up. I told one she could find her answer in the trash can.

I told the other one to stop sticking her nosey ass in other people's business.

Them asking me made me worry more about Wyatt when I shouldn't care if ever talks to me again.

Ugh, why can't I just be mad at him and not care?

After my last class, I get a text from Izzy.

Babe: Put your pride aside and talk to him!

Me: He doesn't want to!

Babe: You and Wyatt are so alike you don't even realize it. Make him talk!

Babe: like I do with you.

Babe: You better do it or I will physically make you talk with him!

Me: Fine! 😡🤬🖕🏻

I wait at Wyatt's jeep. Finally, I see him come out of school. Still frowning but instead of looking pissed off he looks defeated.

When he sees me something flashes in his eyes but before I can read what it is he goes back to scowling.

"Hey, what's up? And don't say nothing, because you've been avoiding me like I'm some sort of disease." I say, trying not to sound pissed. Because Im at my breaking point.

Wyatt runs a hand through his hair. "I wouldn't want to burden you with my problems." What the hell is he talking about?

Wyatt tries to move around me to open his car.
He is not getting away that easily.

I grab his arm to pull him away and I stand in front of his door.

I fold my arms across my chest. "Nope, not getting away that easy." That must have pissed him off because his nose flares and his eyes narrow.

"Why do you want to know, Katie?"

"What, so you can go to your little friend and talk about me behind my back." Wyatt spats.

That's it, I snapped. I was no Izzy, when it comes to fights she is like a freaking Buddhist. No matter what I do or say she always stays calm.

"What the hell does that mean?"

"I would never talk about you behind your back. I'm not that shallow!" I spit back.

"Stop the lying, Katie, I already know," Wyatt says as if he's bored.

I throw my arms up. "Know what, Wyatt? Did you hit your head this morning because you're not making sense?"

Wyatt
I can't believe she's going to make me tell her.
"Stacy told me everything. I know what you told Izzy this morning."

Katie's nose scrunches up. "And you're mad about what I said?"

Seriously? "Well yeah, Katie, it's not nice to talk about someone behind their backs," I say like I'm talking to a five-year-old.

"I thought you were different. Boy, I was wrong." That really did it. Katie's whole face changes.

"I never thought you would listen to Stacy either, but here we are."

"What did she tell you?"

I sigh. "She said that you were telling Izzy that you didn't know how long you can continue dating me. Every time you're with me I have some problem. If it's not my mom it's about my dad or football. She said I'm starting to feel like a burden to you." I can feel the hurt showing on my face.

"And she heard Izzy say, Well Kat, just stick it out a little longer. What's the worst that can happen? And besides, he's super popular."

Katie's face is blank, I can't tell what she's thinking. Then her eyes light up. "Izzy, come here!"

Izzy stops and walks over to us. "Iz, what did I tell you this morning?"

Izzy looks confused. "You told me that you misjudged Wyatt when you first met. You thought he was an arrogant, cocky jock that didn't care about anyone. But after getting to know you she learned that you're kind, caring, and one of the most selfless guys she's ever met." Katie smiles, signaling to Izzy she can leave.

"See Wyatt, I would never say that, none of my friends would ever do that either. Stacy must have heard and decided to turn what I said around."

I nod my head. "I didn't believe her till she said Izzy called you Kat."

Katie giggles. "Just Wyatt, one thing you should know by now is Tyler's the only one who calls me that."

Oh? Well, now I feel like a complete ass. Before I can apologize Katie walks off toward Stacy.

Katie
When I see Stacy all I see is red. "Look here, Bitch!"

Stacy's head whips around. "Trouble in paradise?"

"You know you really shouldn't gossip."

It takes everything in me not to strangle her.
"Keep your nose out of my business and stay out of my relationship," I yell.

"I don't know what you mean?" Stacy says innocently.

"It's pathetic you try to screw up someone else's relationship just because you don't have one! Get your own life. Wyatt doesn't want you, so move on!" I say coldly.

Stacy's eyes harden as she scoffs.

"Mess with me again Stacy and you'll regret it!" I snap as turn on my heel to walk away.

"Hey Katie 2005  called, they want their jeans back!" Stacy yells.

Im shocked she came up with that so quickly.

I stop and turn around. "Hey Stacy, Ulta Beauty called, they wanted to tell you that the foundation you bought doesn't make you look tan. You look like an Oompa Loompa."

Stacy's whole face hardens and her hands clench her purse strap.

I walk back to Wyatt with a huge grin. Before I can say anything Wyatt pulls me in for a tight hug.

"I'm so sorry, Kate I don't know why I believed her."

All the rage and anger I felt slowly melted away.

I pull back slightly to look into his eyes. "It's okay, next time just come to me, don't shut me out."

I understand why he acted that way. I would have done the same thing. Throw all my walls up and shut everyone out.

Wyatt tucks hair behind my ear. "Do you forgive me for being a complete ass?"

I smile. "I guess I can."

Wyatt's whole face lights up and he pulls me to his chest.

After a few minutes of us standing there hugging each other Wyatt asks, "So you think I'm charming, kind, and caring?"

I roll my eyes even though he can't see me. "I'm so going to regret saying that."

Wyatt chuckles. "Well, I think you're pretty perfect." I'm glad he can't see how red my checks are.

Thoughts??

It was so hard to write this! Fighting scenes are so hard because you don't want your characters to fight.