A LOT OF BAGGAGE

A/N: Hi everyone! Sorry for not updating the past few days, I've been rly busy and I'm still NOT on vacay from college😩 Embrace yourselves bc the fun part is about to start - don't forget to vote and to comment ❤️ (unedited)

AUTHOR's POV

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GATHERING her three books from the book case inside her locker, Evren looked at her shoes hesitantly, deciding wether she should  lend her specialized art's teacher the painting she had just finished the night before, or simply make up an excuse for a change to restart it all over again.

She had never been a star at writing essays, science related classes gave her headaches, not to mention she hadn't been the fastest girl in school to race for the finish line whenever her sport's teacher prepared a coletive exercise.

So it was pretty evident to her - trying her shot on being an artsy, slightly creative individual was the only sane option she had, even though she doesn't like to mumble about it too much, keeping her hopes low and the heart on a shell.
Maybe this way she won't be too affected when she gets the first big "no" for her dreamy, fabulous upcoming future career.

Through the corner of her eye, she watches as vintage clothed Valerie smiles reacting to something her male, black-skin colored friend said. By the looks of it, she seemed ruffly happy, while exchanging thumbs with the retro guy.

The image of a younger, introvert Valerie pop up right away as Evren remembered the summer meetings they used to take at the town's Starbucks cafe, when Colber joining them usually after his practices. They formed a very uncommon group of friends, although it worked perfectly, a surprisingly balanced teenager trio.

It hurt realizing such memory was long forgotten in her mind up until now, long distanced from the recent reality she found herself in. Her jawline trembled as she gulped- without a doubt, things do change. For worse.

The loud environment around her was immediately replaced by silence, and a strange feeling of hesitance once someone came out from the gym arena, as the person furiously walked away from the doors after stumbling enraged against it. Evren couldn't notice who the person was, taking into account she was lost on her thoughts and her back was turned from any attention.

As soon as the corner of her eye laid on the exact figure, she looked down at her shoes and the force she applied on the lips gave the idea she was cursing to herself. It's not like she was doubting about the nature of her actions, or deliberately trying to put the blame on some else besides her, but maybe a tiny part of her wasn't too keen on being the reason behind somebody else's bad day.

"Get yourself together, Evren" She said to herself, almost surprised by discovering a new feeling growing inside her chest, was it guilt?

Even though he was no longer on the corridor, she hadn't missed how troubled and outraged he seemed to be. Definitely, behind those two gelid orbs and heavenly collected features, the blood was boiling.

Well, on one side, she had got her revenge, for she hadn't forgotten his stupid incoherent actions after calling her out on being "too coquettish", especially because he hadn't had the courage to express it through words, rather preferring to hide his eyes than to look at her face. Cowardice, oh she had witnessed it for so many time she had grown to hate it.

Still, her head was spinning to the mere thought she had totally ruined her last chance at being some kind of reasonable, orthodox human being. The obviously conclusion was that she wasn't never going to be one of those accommodating, awfully decent individuals. Typically of her, she was used to blow things up, that's just her primarily nature.

Adjusting the schoolbag to her left shoulder, her feet started to move in direction to the classroom where she was going to spend the next two hours of her boring life. After a precisely short walk, Evren jumped slightly at the touch of a cold hand reaching for her arm, bringing her body to a tiny empty space of four walls.

"Fuck, what was that for?" She hissed.

Travis was smiling in front of her, probably too much close not to interfere with her attitude. He inhaled, excitement covering his eyes

"How did you do it? How did you convinced the coach?" He whispered, quick to lock the door. His curiousness was mixed with a slight pleasure of what winning finally felt like.

"It was crazy. He basically entered the room, started to give the team a long speech, talked about how Colber's death got into the dynamic of the team, warned Rhys to get his head back in the game and then he... he told him it was better for him to take the sit. Man, I can't believe this."

Hearing the news, Evren confirmed what she thought had happened, a glimpse of indifference could be shown through her bullet eyes. She couldn't just take back it now, what's done is done.

"It was easy, I got something on him from when he used to watch the cheerleaders practice in high school, it was before I quit though."

Travis disagreed, he knew how coach would hardly let his judgment be overshadowed. "Impossible. If you are familiar with coach you know he is very strict and-"

"One day I took to long to prepare myself. After I left the locker room, I saw him cheating on his wife with Mrs. Colman, our science teacher. I think he saw me too, that's why he stopped showing up then."

Dumbfounded, Walker laughed nervously, tapping her shoulder, "I'm impressed. Though you were messing with me for a second."

"Yeah, well, I did it. I keep my word. So, now that he gave you a second chance don't waste it, Walker."

Dickhead. Oh, this was by far the hardest thing Evren had done the past few days. Having to satisfy someone else's wish in hopes to position herself one step ahead of another suspicious guy, was she certain of what she was doing anymore? A cloud on her mind kept taking her to the very moment Valerie told her Brendan's spot on the team had been suggested by Colber, something that was leaving her uneasy.

"I would've said thank you but I know nothing's that simple with you." The brown haired male joked, before lending her an envelope.

"Here. It's what we agreed on. Had it inside my locker for a few months now." He said, a familiar tense voice starting to manifest.

"Whether you decide to use it or not, whatever you do, he can't know I was the one who gave you this information." With seriousness in his eyes hoping to catch hers, Evren looked down at the paper and titled her head in agreement.

"You know why, Evren. It would break the code..."

The code. So it was still on for this long? Even after Colber's death, and the cracking truth that a murderer suspect was part of the circle? Indeed, the great lengths Colber went to just to help people who can't be helped, she thought.

"Yeah..." She eyed the paper, confused, and certain anymore of her ultimate choices.

"Oh, and don't be too surprised. Brendan's a lot more problematic that you think he is." Travis warned, lingering his dark chocolate eyes on her face, though his attentiveness was later replaced by a sly smirk, when he whispered, "As far as the other arrangement... I'm available 24/7", winking.

She didn't respond to him, being to fixated on the paper she was holding. Travis unlocked the door and stepped out. Debating wether she should open it right away or leave it for later, she decided for the first one. Ripping the envelope, her gaze was glued to the imprinted words from the start, and her unique first hand reaction was

"This motherfucker..."

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Later that day, Brendan Rhys was laying on his cold yet comfy bed, contemplating the gigantic retangular board behind his computer desk. While in silence, his eyes narrowed at the red lines and green spots he had draw between the photos of his teammates. He had nothing there, no evidences, no precedents, not even a motive. But the board he had planted in his room, still half empty, was just a mere start, at least from his point of view.

His goal was to complete it, discover his secrets, fill in the wholes. But he had to find a new start, playing mind games with Walker wasn't going to pay off, not at all.

Though Brendan had the sudden urge get revenge, to prove he was guilty now that the asshole had replaced his spot on the team. Coach was off his crazy brain to even make such comment, mourning his best friend? Sure he was, but to give his all on the pitch for Colber was where his mindset was, that was his form to cope better. And now he lost it too.

His doorbell had been making noise for two minutes straight, however, he couldn't care less, he wasn't in the mood to talk. It was when his iphone started to ring that he made the effort to stretch his arm and answer it.

"Whoever this is I-"

"Open the fucking door, Rhys!" He heard a voice he had gotten used to calling for his name. Shit, now Maddox's here. Had the thought about how was he going to address her properly after that incident?

He got out of the room, locking his bedroom door. He slightly violently, something told him his day was going to get worse, yet he didn't thought twice once his hands opened the front door to his living room.

Oh, there she was - a high ponytail holding her long brown hair, the lips dry just barely colored from the chopstick, greenish eyes resembling the ones from a lizard, and a highly screaming lack of fashion sense. Though, Brendan found it funny, she had the looks, and yet preferred to wear black clothes all the time, merely finishing her outfit with her own touch: a red flannel shirt.

"What are you doing here?" He was the first to intervene, but replaced it quickly "How do you know where I live?"

"Everybody knows where you live." She commented, but her raspy voice pointed she wasn't going to be patient. Eyeing for the image behind Brendan's body, she found herself inside a tidy neat apartment, much to her amazement.

"That's not entirely true- hey!" He forced his words, startled when he sensed her body shifting. She entered in his house like a lightning, but stopped once she felt him grabbing her arm.

Evren mirrored his confused state, also trying to figure out her next move. It's the second time today I get touched. Physical contact isn't her thing at all.

Deliberately retrieving her arm, she moved it to grab the envelope on her back pocket. "You want a reason to trust me."

"What?" Brendan was bewildered, not to mention he wasn't a fan of touching either...

"This." She gave him the envelope, without taking her gaze from it, "It seems clear to me we won't get this agreement or whatever this is to work. I don't really put up with guys like yourself, and you obviously don't fuck with me either."

Rhys gasped at the sudden burst coming from the girl in front of him, yet wasn't quick enough to prevent her from continuing, "We have different state of minds, ideas and personalities. If it wasn't for Colber, we would've stayed strangers as we were before."

He noted she was right, wether her words came from the good part of her heart or the hateful one. Nevertheless, he wasn't sure the origin of such straightforwardness.

"I don't care about what you think of me, even if you see me as a slut or a killer. That envelope will tell you I don't give a fuck about your life mistakes either. So open it, you'll see where I'm coming from."

Closing her arms, Evren finally closed her mouth, now staring at him in his talented emotionless eyes, waiting for his response. He was serious, battling with his own past demons and dark memories, but if the talk is about mistakes, he can only remember one, a very big, one. For the first time, Evren noticed the man in front of her was vulnerable, unstable and silent.

So he did it, he read the letter, stopping halfway when he predict the rest of its content. He gulped hard, his chin was tense and his gaze was avoiding hers, her judgement.

"I could've easily used it to my benefit."

"Then why didn't you, uh?" Turning his back on her, Brendan found the closest shadow to cover his face, his hands formed fists.

"I just fucking said it, god damn it! I can't get back at being nothing but a stranger to you." Her voice wasn't the usual, now mixed with intensity and annoyance. "He- I don't know how to explain it, I-... I thought about it for hours, how to use it, would I manipulate you, frame you? And, once I had it figured out I... something told me the right thing to do was to come here and to give it you"

"It makes no sense. But if you're the only one who wants to fight for Colber just as much as I want to, then I have no choice but to bet on you. This is me trying to be fair."

What was Evren trying to say was that in the end, she couldn't seek the truth alone, like she did before, or like Brendan fought his ghosts, also alone. Making more enemies wasn't the solution, not this time, perhaps a common ground would be the key for everything. She was done being a bitch all the time, literally.

Building trust wasn't easy, especially when the people are two poles apart, and definitely not on such occasions. This was her way to give Brendan a reason for him to trust her, and for such a long time, she was being honest.

He stayed silent though, analyzing her words, but a feeling of deep doubt imprinted on his chest clouded his judgment:

Was she really ready to bet on a guy with a lot of baggage holding him back?

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SOOOO WHAT MIGHT BE THE SECRET😏
😏😏 am I doing a good job? Lmao

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