This is a long one so buckle up :)

No one POV
"We are missing one..."
"Andy...he's running late"
"I told everyone to come early"
Kate pinched the bridge of her nose in desperation.
"I'm gonna strangle him as soon as he arrives" she added.
She was way too nervous and anxious to deal with Andy running late.
Eventually, the blonde boy showed up.
He was out of breath and his shirt done wrong but he was there.
"For god's sake, Andy. You're late and look like you just met a tornado"
Kate wasn't mean, she was always like that before a debate.
"Mate...why the fuck are you so late...she was gonna kill me" Tim whispered while fixing Andy's shirt.
"I was checking the speech one more time" Andy explained and Tim nodded looking at his shirt that now looked perfect.

Andy joined the debate team when he was a freshman, he knew it was something for him since day one.
Probably it was the adrenaline of the competition, the feeling of beating someone with just the art of speech or the idea of convincing others about your point that made Andy feel good, invincible.
So he joined the team and even tho Kate sometimes plans his homocide, it was the best decision he ever made.
They didn't believe they were the best team in the world but their tactic never failed and the team was solid so Andy was confident.

The debate was about some weird and complicated topic that involved the LGBT community so Andy was truly excited, he loved whenever he got the chance to talk about something that involved him personally.
So he played with his lucky bracelet to calm down his nerves then went to give his speech.
Words were flowing freely from his mouth, a flux that no one was able to stop.
Till someone dared to ask a question...
"I have a question...what proof do you have regarding gay adoption because we have plenty that state: having gay parents can affect the child...not in a positive way"
Andy just stared at the boy, Rye Beaumont, his name on the table said.
He froze and that never happened in his life, he never struggled...never.
"Andy..." Kate whispered to him.
"Mmm...yes, I apologize..."
Andy tried to regain the line of his speech and continued.

"What happened?" Kate asked in disbelief but Andy ignored her, just picked up all his papers and water bottle.
"I mean I'm just shocked...that never happened and you're always prepared for any question..."
Andy still said nothing, he just wanted to exit the room.
"Hey...nice debate, you guys did well"
Andy turned around, his water bottle and papers held close to his chest.
Rye went to shake hands but Andy stayed still.
"Is this a joke or...?" The boy finally said something.
"No...just wanted to congratulate. You know, sportsmanship..."
Rye tried to sound truthful but Andy knew he was just fucking with him.
"I see that you can't take a defeat...well it was nice debating with you, maybe next time it'll go better" Rye patted his shoulder then left, his letterman jacket over one of his shoulders.
Andy wanted to punch something, maybe Rye Beaumont's face.

"He's an asshole" the boy said through the phone furiously.
"I think he's right. You can't take defeat" Kate said on the other line.
"It's not true"
"Mate, it can happen. Don't stress so much" Tim said this time.
"I'm not stressing, it just makes me mad. Who does he think he is?"
Andy was laying on the bed, exasperated.
"Apparently he's the national champion-"
"What?"
"Yeah...that's what Instagram says" Tim explained.
Andy wasted no time stalking him.
His profile was full of pictures and he had a lot of followers actually but his last post caught Andy's eye.
'Take the defeat next time'
"Oh hell no...he did not!"
Andy wanted to throw his phone against the wall.
"Andy calm down...I mean everyone loses at one point"
Kate thought he was overreacting.
"It's not about losing, it's about him being an asshole and rubbing it in my nose"
Andy wasn't the calmest person on earth but 99% of the time he managed to stay calm, Rye was that 1% that made him want to murder people.
"Ignore him" Tim ended but Andy wasn't sure he was able to.

Rye was his only thought, Andy came up with at least a thousand ways to kill him or just make fun of him as he did.
How can someone be such a pain in the ass?
Andy never came up with an answer.
"Stop thinking about him, for god's sake" Kate rolled her eyes.
"I asked you guys to watch the game with me cause I want to support Nancy. That boy wasn't in consideration"
"Don't argue back...we all know that Nancy can't be touched" Tim said quietly to Andy.
Kate always hated football but she's such a simp that she became a fan of it after she met Nancy.

Andy is not an expert but it wasn't going ok, the other team was really good and theirs was struggling.
"Fuck...is their quarterback taking steroids?" Kate complained when halftime started.
The quarterback wasn't taking steroids but when Andy saw who he was, everything made sense.
"That fucking bastard..." Andy commented when Rye took off his helmet.
Even when he was all sweaty and gross, he managed to look like one of those athletic hot boys.
Obviously, it was an objective consideration, Rye was objectively hot...Andy was just saying facts, nothing was personal...obviously.
"Is he following us?" Tim asked a bit scared.
"I'm gonna see Nancy be right back"
Kate left them and Tim went to get drinks.
Andy looked at Rye, he was talking to everyone, the team, cheerleaders, everyone basically.
Andy hated that kind of people with his whole heart, they just wanted attention.
"Oh hi...didn't know you were coming to watch me"
Rye suddenly was in front of him.
"My school's team is paying and a friend of mine is in it" Andy coldly replied.
"But I noticed you staring at me"
Rye was testing Andy's nerves.
"Don't worry, I would stare at myself too"
"Do you always do that?"
Rye arched a brow.
"Do you always act like a douchebag and think that you're better than everyone while in reality, you're living in fear?"
Rye did say anything.
"Andy...everything ok?" Tim arrived with drinks.
"Yeah sure"
Andy gave Rye one last glance then turned to Tim.

Andy's school ended up winning which made the blonde boy very happy cause that meant that Rye lost.
"Fowler!" Someone called while the group was walking to Tim's car.
It was Rye, again.
"What do you want?"
Rye stood in front of him, hair dumped.
"You must be happy that we lost"
"Actually yeah"
Andy wanted to rip from Rye's face that smirk he always had.
"Well, I guess I'll see you around..." Rye ended, gripping the strap of his bag.
Andy hoped not to see Rye's face again but the universe had other plans.

In fact not even a couple of weeks after, Rye walked into school catching everyone's attention.
"What the fuck is he doing here?" Andy looked at Kate and Tim, who just shrugged.
They found out that Rye changed school so Andy's nightmare became reality and he just wanted to wake up.
"This has to be a joke...is someone pulling a prank on me?"
Andy was acting like a maniac but this whole situation was driving him crazy and it didn't end cause Rye was in the debate room after lunch, talking to the coach.
"Oh perfect. You guys are here" Mrs. Cantwell smiled but Andy just wanted to cry.
"So Rye will be in our team but since only three speakers can debate we have to take turns and I'll let you guys decide"
And with that, she left them to decide and work on the next competition.
Andy stared at Rye with a look that could kill.
"So since I won the last debate against you, I should be one of the speakers" Rye said sitting on one of the desks.
"Then who should give up their spot for you?" Andy cropped his arms.
Who does he think he is?
He couldn't come here and just pretend everything.
"Maybe a competition is the solution for you guys...since Andy last time had some problems maybe you should fight for your place against Rye" Mrs. Cantwell suggested and Andy wanted to say no but she was right.
Andy froze last time and Rye won but it won't happen twice.

So that day Andy stayed until late at school to work on the debate, he had to win.
He couldn't let Rye take his place, he couldn't even imagine it.
The boy was pacing back and forth trying to assemble a speech good enough to beat Rye.
At one point he thought about praying even though he didn't believe in God, he was desperate.
He would give up everything but not his place on the debate team, not that.
"Are you still here?"
"Jesus Christ"
Andy almost had a heart attack.
Rye laughed but it wasn't funny.
"You're an idiot!"
Andy was furious cause he really got scared.
"But what are you doing here this late?"
"Practicing..."
Andy gathered all his papers that were scattered around the class.
"You really want that place uh?"
Andy said nothing cause Rye couldn't understand.
"And you're here cause...?"
"Forgot something"
Andy nodded and went to leave when Rye stopped him.
"You look stressed, maybe you should have a bit of fun..."
"I'm fine"
Andy grabbed his backpack.
"There's a place I know...we can be friends..."
Andy couldn't figure out what sick game Rye was playing but what do they say?
Keep your friends close but your enemies even closer...or some shit like that.

It was weird being in Rye's car...Andy felt out of place but if he wanted to play that game then he had to put some effort.
"Why did you change school all of a sudden?"
"My parents decided...I didn't want to"
He didn't go into detail about it.
"So where are we going?"
"You'll see"
"If you want to kill me just say it"
"Shit, you blew my cover"
Rye looked at him quickly with a smile.
Andy, you have to focus.

"Where did you bring me?"
Andy stared at the place once Rye parked the car.
"Come inside and you'll see"
Andy questioned his life choices once he stepped inside.
The place was dark with neon lights all over, the waiters were walking around half-naked and the music was way too loud for Andy's sensible ears.
Rye shoved in his hand a drink and thought 'ok maybe one won't kill me' but Andy didn't stop at one.
His vision was blurry but he was able to distinguish Rye's figure somehow.
His fluffy hair and his broad shoulders but also his annoying smile that pissed off Andy more than anything.
But while he was thinking all of that someone bumped into the boy who fell on Rye.
Like in every enemies-to-lovers story they were extremely close, Andy's light eyes glossy enough to seem like they were sparkling.
And without thinking, he closed the gap...from there things escalated quickly.
Andy's mind was fogged and Rye...well, he couldn't stop himself.

And it was only the start.
Andy knew it was wrong and he should stop everything but it was really like an addiction.
At that point, they were seeing each other every day, only for a hookup or sex...no feelings involved obviously but still, it was a risky thing to do.
If someone found out, it would be the end.
"I think you and Rye should come to an agreement about the debate. It's a two-day competition, you can do one each" Kate suggested.
"Are you out of your mind?"
"Why not? I noticed that you guys don't even look at each other as you're planning the other's death anymore"
At that Andy panicked, they were gonna find out.
"Maybe they are in their Cold War phase" Tim tried to guess.
"No, I'm still planning his death" Andy said hoping to end any rumor.

"Hi..."
Rye dragged Andy closer by the waist as soon as the boy came out from the corner of the old gym but he pulled away.
"What? I thought you called me for that..."
They never defined what 'that' was.
"We have a problem"
Rye stood there waiting for an explanation.
"They suspect"
"No, they don't"
And Rye went to kiss Andy's neck.
"No, I'm serious. We stopped arguing and it's not good"
"Why do you care?"
Andy didn't want to say it.
"They know shit so why worry so much?"
Rye looked at Andy but he was avoiding his gaze.
"We are just hooking up, it's not like you're my boyfriend now"
Andy kept his silence.
"If it's the only reason why you called me then I'll leave"
"No, I'm sorry...I'm being paranoid"
Rye caressed his cheek then went to kiss his neck being careful to not leave marks.
In the meanwhile, Andy couldn't stop thinking about 'them'.

The night before the debate against Rye, Andy couldn't sleep.
He kept tossing in bed, his thoughts were killing him.
How did he end up in that situation?
His life was going great and cause of Rye everything was fucked up.
Not even music was helping.
"Fuck it"
Andy got up and went out of the window.
He stopped in front of Rye's house, the rain still pouring heavily.
He contemplated his decisions for a while then he dialed Rye's number.
"Andy...?" His voice was hoarse.
"It's 4 am"
Andy stared at the house, his clothes sticking to his body.
"Andy? Is everything ok?"
"I'm outside"
Rye opened his curtains to find Andy standing on his front lawn like a lost puppy.
"Jesus..."
And within a few minutes, he was outside with an umbrella above the both of them.
"What the fuck are you doing? It's pouring and it's 4 am!"
Rye didn't know what was going on but Andy was being weird.

Once the blonde boy was in some dry clothes and in front of a cup of tea, Rye had to ask.
"What happened?"
Andy kept staring at the hot steam of his tea.
"Andy..."
Rye made him look into his eyes but the boy looked away.
"Look, I'm not your friend nor our boyfriend but you can't show up here and not tell me what is going on" Rye tried to stay calm.
"I can't do it" Andy finally spoke.
"I can't do it tomorrow...you have to take my place"
Rye was really confused, was this the end of the world?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm not enough..."
Even though they couldn't stand each other sometimes, they spent enough time together and this wasn't Andy...
"I thought I was good but then you arrived and made me realize I was wrong"
"You failed once...it can happen" Rye tried to reason.
"I knew exactly what to reply to that question...I knew but-"
Andy choked on his own tears and honestly it broke Rye's heart.
"I...I was an asshole that day. I was too harsh on you" Rye apologized for the first time and it was weird.
Everything that night was weird.
"I wish I could disappear" Andy confessed and Rye knew the feeling.
"Sometimes I wish I was different..."
Andy looked at him with red eyes.
"Weren't you Mr. Perfect?"
Rye laughed quietly.
"It's the life my parents designed for me...I'm far from perfect"
They realized they were more similar than they thought and they both were aware of where all of that was going.
"I want to give up everything but we all know I can't"
Andy kept silently crying like all the shit inside of him finally found a way out.
Rye stood there awkwardly cause he didn't know what to do, should he give Andy some space or comfort him?
He chose to hug him...he quietly wrapped his arms around him and at the touch, Andy cried more.
"I got you...it's ok now"
"I really wanna hate you right now"
Rye grabbed his face and looked at Andy's wet eyes.
"Then hate me if it'll make you feel better"
"They expect us to kill each other and...and..."
"Shhh...stop thinking about others"
Rye rested his chin on Andy's head and ran his fingers through his golden locks.
Andy ended up clinging like a koala so Rye moved to the couch.
"I'm glad you came" he confessed but Andy was already asleep on his chest, his face red and wet but calm.

The next morning none of them went to school.
Since Rye's parents were out of town, they stayed at home, cuddled with each other.
"Tim and Kate are gonna kill me"
"They'll understand"
Rye kissed his forehead multiple times.
"It was the right decision right?" Andy looked up.
"You were the one scared to lose another debate"
"Fuck you" Andy pouted, Rye was an asshole.
That night changed the dynamics between them, they started to care for each other to the point where they would give up everything if that meant making the other happy but they weren't ready to let everyone know, not even Tim and Kate.

"I'm confused about why you gave up the debate" Kate said while they were looking for some seats to watch the match.
"I didn't give up, we chose to be mature and split the days" Andy defended and she chose to believe him.
The match was going ok, at least that's what Andy believed since he doesn't know shit about sports.

"What happened?" Andy asked worried as soon as he saw Rye who sent him a text to meet during halftime.
"There's a sponsor tonight...to watch me...I'm scared to fucked up"
Andy never saw Rye that nervous.
He wasn't even nervous the first time they had sex.
"You're gonna do great if you keep on playing as you always do. I know nothing but you weren't bad"
"You truly know how to motivate people" Rye laughed but he knew that Andy tried his best.
"I'm being serious...don't think too much about it"
Andy was being sincere, he deserved it.

So Rye gave 200% in the field and Andy couldn't tear his eyes away from him.
If Rye was good as a debater, he was even better as a football player.
They were a couple of minutes away from the end when the worst happened.
Someone from the other team, double the size of Rye, tackled him and there was a snap...somewhere.
Rye fell to the ground and let out the worst agonizing scream.
Everyone and everything stopped, even Andy's heartbeat that saw the scene with shocked eyes.
Then everything moved again and the team's medic ran on the field.
"Rye, you have to stay still"
"No no no...fuck, it hurts..."
The pain was unbearable.
They tried to keep him still but it only made Rye move more.
"How bad is it?"
The medic stayed quiet cause it was bad.
"I-I need Andy...someone calls Andy..." Rye begged.
The boy was still watching the group of people that gathered around Rye when they called him.
He looked at Rye's leg then at his face.
"Andy please tell me how bad is it"
A tear rolled down his cheek and Andy couldn't stop himself.
He kneeled and caressed his cheek resting his forehead against his.
"Andy please"
"Shhh...I got you. It's ok"
"We have to put back in place the bone" the medic said and Rye cried even more squeezing Andy's arm.
"No no no"
"Listen...listen to me. You're gonna be ok. It'll hurt a little but you're gonna be fine" Andy reassured even though the situation was pretty bad.
So Rye buried his face into Andy's chest while the medic did his job.
It hurt like hell and Rye just wanted to die already...that probably would have hurt less.
"It's over..."
Andy was still holding him.
"It hurts"
"I know baby but now the worst is over ok?"
It broke Andy to see him like that cause it really was fucked up, he couldn't even imagine the pain Rye was feeling.

Andy followed Rye to the ER cause he couldn't leave him alone and each time he wasn't in Rye's eyesight, the boy would panic.
The fracture was bad, his leg basically twisted the other way and that meant that Rye couldn't play anymore.
When the doctor told him, something else in Rye broke but he felt numb cause if the painkillers.
"How are you doing?" Andy asked sitting on the bed.
Rye threw himself on Andy and cried, he cried non-stop cause his life was over.
Andy just held him, he knew it felt like shit and the worst was that he couldn't do anything to fix it.
"It's over..." Rye sobbed, Andy's shirt stained with his tears.
Andy didn't dare to say anything, scared to make it worse so he just cupped his face and kissed him.
"Andy...stop..." Rye pushed slightly as soon as it turned into a heated kiss.
"I'm sorry...I-I don't know what to do...I better go..."
"Stop"
Rye grabbed his arm and looked at him with eyes that screamed 'stay cause you're the only one that's still here'.
"I don't want you to do anything. Just stay here with me"
Andy nodded and climbed into bed.

"This is odd but feels nice" Rye commented while Andy was playing with his hair.
He barely talked that day and it was worrying the other boy.
"What is going on?" Rye asked with a blank face.
"What are we?"
The bomb had been dropped.
They never talked about feelings cause it wasn't even an idea at the beginning, everything just happened out of nowhere.
"I-I don't know..."
They never found an answer about that topic.
Kate and Tim had a lot of questions but Andy wasn't really keen on talking about it.

But one day while Andy was at Rye's, the team came to visit him.
"Mate, how are you doing?"
"Like shit but I can't do much..."
"We miss you at practice"
The atmosphere was heavy and sad, everyone knew Rye would never go back on the field.
"The guy we saw while coming in is Andy right?"
"Yeah..." Rye replied confused.
"Between us, what's going on with him?"
Rye didn't expect that question.
"We are friends..."
"I heard some girls talk about him-" someone was trying to say but Rye cut him off.
"What did they say?"
"Just that he's sweet and you know that Ryan guy...well, he wants to hook up with Andy"
Rye let that information sink in and he didn't like it, not even one bit.
When the boys left, he decided to talk to Andy.
"Did you do something with Ryan?"
Andy raised a brow cause it was a really specific question.
"Did you talk to him? Or anything?"
"Why are you asking?"
"Just answer..."
"Yeah?"
"That son of a bitch" Rye mumbled under his breath.
"You're acting like a psychopath...what about Ryan?"
"Do you like him?" Rye was dead serious.
"What is this? An interrogation?"
"Answer me, Andy"
"You're pissing me off with all those questions"
Rye tried to get up from the couch but he almost fell when he tried to walk, Andy caught him just in time.
"Andy please...tell me you did nothing with Ryan..."
They were an inch apart and Rye just wanted sincerity.
"No...I did nothing with Ryan"
Rye let out a sigh and rested his forehead against Andy's.
"I need an explanation no?"
Rye looked at him and blushed.
"I...I just don't like him, you deserve better"
"Like who?" Andy was teasing him.
"Fuck you, Fowler"
"So you know what we are?"
"Can you shut up already?"
And before he could add anything else Rye kissed him.
He kissed him hard.

___________________________________

Note*
I edited this while at work but so I hope I didn't leave any mistakes behind.
I also think that I've never wrote a story this long and while writing it I didn't even realise...ops ahahah.
I still hope you enjoy it and if you have ideas don't esitate to share them cause I don't know what to write anymore.🪐