THE HERO OF THE TEAM

AUTHOR's POV

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SITTING ON the large bench of the college's gym, Brendan found himself alone thinking repeatedly about the new face he had just met earlier that same day. Who was that girl? How could he possibly not have met her before?

"Hey, that's my locker." A girl yelled behind Brendan, catching his attention. Josh's body became rigid as he recognized the face he had not seen for three years, whereas Brendan was about to lose his mind from the stress.

"I said, that's my freaking locker, so move out."

Is this fucking girl for real? He exhaled, trying to calm himself again, knowing it would be worse for him if he lost his patience.

"And who the fuck are you?" He cursed back, turning his head in her direction.

"Maddox-" Josh interrupted in exasperation, watching the two figures in front of him making eye contact. "She's Maddox."

"Funny you remember me, Josh." She said, a twisted smile covering her features. "You're being beaten up? Something has finally changed for the better around here, uh?"

A laugh escaped her throat while she admired the boy who was close to her, founding interesting that someone had the guts to intimidate Josh, something that did not happen before. But her curious glance revealed what would be an issue she would have to deal sooner or later – this Brendan guy, who was him?

"I don't know you." Commented Brendan, confused but well-composed, confirming her thoughts.

"Why don't you ask around? I'm pretty popular, just a heads up." Evren talked, watching Josh move out of her locker. "Right Josh?"

"I... I have classes to attend." He responded, quickly escaping her. She opened her locker and put her backpack inside.

"Maddox, or whatever your name is. I don't think you know who you're talking to." Brendan interrupted, judging Josh for being a wimp because of a girl.

Evren rolled her eyes, closing the locker. Of course, she forgot he belongs to the Circle; he had to be another pampered guy just like the others.

"Yeah, I know, you're Rhys almighty or whatever, I don't give a crap. Anyway, you're kind of wasting my time, so... sayonara."

The ball on his hands kept touching the floor every two seconds, he was nervous about the fuzzy feeling that was etching, growing in his belly while his eyes remained frozen to the ground.

He couldn't stop thinking about her, those caramel brown rebellious hair locks floating on air and her presumptuous straight posture evidencing what her disobedient eyes already had shown him – she was something else, he could tell.

He wasn't expecting at all for someone to intervene on his intimidating conservation with his teammate Josh, but certainly, he knew for sure he wouldn't find a girl violating his guaranteed right to defeat his opponents with his characteristic calculating talk, challenging him with her bare fire look on those brown eyes.

Maddox, her name was Maddox, said Josh. But why was he so upset when he saw her, as if he looked almost claustrophobic?

Brendan was questioning everything that came up to his mind, from the possibility that that girl could be some of Josh's exes to the remark that she could be nothing but a new student. Well, however, that didn't explain why she knows Josh, or why her name did not ring a bell.

He had been in town since eleventh grade, so something was wrong. Had he never seen her face beneath those walls of Bricklane's High? Hum, no, impossible.

Brendan was very aware of the people that surrounded him to be so blind for his view not to have caught a unique face like that. After all, the first thing he had noticed was that she was captivating, and her curvy body was attractive, even though he did not want to expose his thoughts out loud.

But somehow, at the heat of the moment, his head had been concentrated in something else - she had defied him with her protesting words, not once, but two times. She had not stopped even when he looked at her with cold, insensitive orbs, telling her to get the hell out, as most people would.

He did not know her, nevertheless, he was under the impression that she was already different. She wasn't afraid of him, she did not question his reputation and she definitely had no boundaries.

He had to look for answers the faster he could.

"You're not going to shower?" Asked Travis, after getting out from the locker rooms all cleaned up and fresh, his hair was wet.

Brendan followed his eyes to look at Travis, replying an unsatisfied

"Later" and kept playing with the ball on his hands.

The first football practice had worked perfectly, though the new coach was doubly severe and hard on the players but nothing like he was already used to, to his surprise, his hard work during summer had paid off.

He felt like he was getting stronger, quicker and less tense over the years, getting comfortable into the pitch was everything that he wanted to accomplish, but with all the problems he was facing, maybe he had to focus on other things.

He hadn't forgotten what was his primary purpose now: to get revenge.

Travis analyzed Brendan with his eyes, suspicious of the newfound discredit voice his friend let out. He always knew Brendan as being the most secretive and coldest guy of the team, meaning he never showed off his emotions, as if he was continually restraining himself from expressing his thoughts, calculating every step, every piece of a puzzle.

Brendan was quiet if people did not pay attention to him, but he could be the opposite if things did not go his way – explosive, dark and, mostly, dangerous.

Apart from the one tense situation between the two, Travis Walker never trusted Brendan because of his personality. He thought there was something odd about Rhys that made him act carefully around Rhys. He did not like to be put into a test, but neither did Travis.

"What happened between you and Josh earlier? His workout was shitty today, I think he was stressed out." Said Travis, visibly smirking, getting into Brendan's skin had always given him pleasure.

"Just two bros talking." Answered Brendan, unpreoccupied.

"Talking? That's not what he said."

"Do I look like I give a fuck about what he said?"

Ah, there is it, the fun part about Brendan that Travis loved- he had such few control over himself he could explode at any second.

But he couldn't help but realize that the argument between the two wasn't a pure coincidence, Rhys liked to trigger people once in a while, he knew that perfectly, but he always had a reason behind it.

Could it be because of Colber?, Travis thought. Possibly, he had just lost the friend who would have his back every single time, which was pathetic by the way.

Travis smiled, pleased with Rhys's reaction. Brendan had so much to lose after the death of Colber Foster, especially the reputation, he was always the shadow of the infamous city legend, golden boy Colber.

Having him killed, hum, what would a guy like Brendan, desperate for attention, being incapable of doing? Yeah, sure, the cops found him innocent, but who knows, maybe someone else helped him out on doing the dirty work.

Above all, he was a cold-hearted spoiled dude who wanted nothing else than to take all the fame for himself.

Travis hadn't forgotten when Brendan laughed to his face after occupying the advanced position of the team's formation that had belonged to Travis in the first place, all because of the Foster kid who had convinced the coach to do the switching.

Travis felt betrayed by his long-time partner Colber, whom he had always respected, though eventually they solved things out.

Now, from what he could tell, Brendan was and had been on all occasions shady. Plus, he was good at hiding his secrets from the world, who knows what he had done in the past before coming into the town.

Were the rumors true about him being a part of a massive robbery?

One thing he was right about though, was that, indeed, their argument had to do with Colber – checkmate. Although perhaps, he was still far away from the truth...

Brendan cursed to himself once again, he had to calm down. He wouldn't let these pricks mess with him now that he had found a goal to pursue.

"Whatever, just know he's coming tomorrow, so don't you guys make a scene on our friend's funeral." Commented Walker, before leaving the gym.

Friends? Did he seriously say friends? Brendan thought, an ironic gasp falling out of his mouth.

This guy had to be fucking kidding. The ball stopped in his hands as he prepared himself to run after Travis, his mind being filled with throwback images from earlier that day.

"Cut the bullshit Josh, what the fuck did you guys talk about after the reunion?" Brendan questioned the goalkeeper with penetrating eyes, caging him against the locker.

It was now or never.

After the reunion with the boys about the party, because Josh arrived late he stayed with Colber after Brendan left, but something was off, Colber never rushed things out, he would always accompany Brendan to the practice, and for some reason, it looked like he wanted to talk with Josh privately. Brendan found that weird...

"I'm not a snitch Rhys, so don't expect me to bail on Colber."

"You're sure? 'Cause I can be pretty persuasive when I want to."

Brendan moved his hand and grabbed Josh's t-shirt with his full strength, the rage coming out of his mouth as if he was possessed. Everyone got silent, watching the two stars argue.

"I'm not afraid of you, Rhys. I have nothing to hide. Colber trusted me with something he didn't want people to know, not even you. He might be dead now, but I won't betray him."

Brendan coughed, not convinced, his other hand trembling from the furious state his body was in.

"I was his best friend, I know everything about him, why would he hide something from me, that makes no sense."

"You're sure he trusted you that much?"

"You fucking-" Brendan started to scream, his blood was boiling and he wanted nothing more than his fist to find Josh's head, yet he still controlled himself.

"You're on my list, Josh. You were there at the party too. As far as I know, you could have done it. Colber was the hero of the team, you couldn't stand him doing all the work at the matches, scoring five goals each game while you just stood there doing nothing."

Josh laughed sarcastically, moving his head as if he was disappointed.

He believed Rhys was innocent, after all the police confirmed that information, and Josh also never had a clouded judgment, he was aware of the strong connection between the two best friends so when he found Colber's dead body, there was only one person who Josh had doubts about.

"I don't know what has gone through your head, Rhys, but you're clearly wrong. Who was the one who would argue every time after the practices? Who would be pissed at the coach and fuck up the games, trying to mischief our very own captain? You know his fucking name."

"Travis, Brendan. He hated Colber since the first day he saw him play. I'm sorry to disappoint but I'm not the one you're looking for. Fucking believe me or not, I don't care."

"I never thought the most intelligent person I know would turn out to be this stupid just because he's hurting - I looked up to Colber, as you did too, but that doesn't give you the reason to be a motherfucker. Open your damn eyes and leave me the fuck alone."

Brendan was about to respond, but he suddenly found himself breathless and out of words. He didn't know why but he had a feeling Josh wasn't lying. Maybe he was indeed becoming blind from overthinking.

Coming back into reality, Brendan shivered,

"Friends? You don't know what it was like to be his friend!" He screamed at the top of his lungs, but it wasn't worth it. Travis had escaped the gym before he could even listen.

Lastly, he whispered, almost defeated,

"...neither the meaning of friendship."

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To be Continued

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Is Josh saying the truth? What about Travis and Brendan's thoughts?

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