OFF-SIDE

𝖓𝖎𝖓𝖊𝖙𝖊𝖊𝖓

Nash
"This is so weird." Mutters and whispers spread across the training room, it's indeed so weird, "I don't understand, Why are we leaving early?" Someone shouts for the coach to hear, he just shakes his head slightly, he isn't professional in his work, not like Jonathan, or rather Octavia's father if we're being specific.

He said something about why they canceled the last two matches because of some "anonymous" reasons we'll know later about but I didn't really pay attention, something was off today, I fucking knew it, I could feel it in my bones, I just didn't know what it was yet, after taking a quick shower I grabbed my bag searching for my phone and the hotel room card.

When I picked my phone I immediately called her, I know she's alone right now, and since what Adrian said, I'm trying as much as I can to not let her feel like this a lot, lonely, I'm really trying, she doesn't pick up, I call again hoping that she just didn't hear the phone, her answering machine cuts on this time "hey it's Octavia, leave a message I'm probably just asleep....always asleep." It says, "call me or text me that you're okay." I say before the call dies.

My worry doesn't lessen though, no it just increases, so I scroll through the contacts I have and immediately find the one I want, he picks up immediately "Is everything okay?" I ask not waiting for a fucking introduction, he pauses for a second "yes?" It comes out as a confused question so I clarify "Octavia isn't answering her phone, Is she okay?" I ask gripping my hair with one hand, "yeah man, she's asleep right in front of me and her phone is probably silent." He says his tone changing as I relieve a breath,

"what?" I ask wanting him to just say whatever is on his tongue, "what do you mean what?" He asks again, I release a frustrated breath "why are you talking in that tone, Adrian?" I ask, "I just-look" he says then pauses "I honestly didn't think you cared that much." He says, his blunt honesty not being a surprise, he seems to be a one way road kind of person, basically the one who will tell you shit that everybody is scared to say right infront of your face and I respect that, it's way better than being two-faced like most people, I take a while to gather my reply cause I have no idea what to say "Me neither." I just say because that's the truth.

At some point the call ended but I didn't really notice, the only thought that crawled through my mind is that I really did care about her, I cared about what she wanted, I cared about her happiness, i cared about her safety, I even cared about getting her her fucking ice cream, just to see that smile spreading on her face. she meant a lot to me, the only thing that was breaking my heart is that after all this would end, everything would just go back to the way it was.

Boring, empty,suffocating, and most of all Numb, there would be no Octavia, no smiles of her that could bright the whole room, not opening my eyes and seeing her curls the first thing in the morning, not pulling her to me and keeping her close, there'd only be nothing, emptiness, on my way back to the hotel I thought just one thing, there'd be no life If there isn't Octavia, I had to keep her, I will, the whole fake-dating shit isn't gonna be our end, it's just the beginning, love.

***

I searched my bag again for the room card, but couldn't find it, I groaned in frustration, where the fuck did it go? I raised a fist to knock on the door but it was already wide open, I raised an eyebrow at the face infront of me, he raised one back questioningly, "you were here all the time?" I ask surprised, "how'd you think I saw Octavia sleeping right infront of me?" He asks his lips twitching as I storm inside, he holds up a finger to hush me and nodded at her figure under the blanket, "don't raise your voice." He mouthed and I nodded as I slowly dropped the bag on the floor and I noticed Adrian motioning for me to come outside.

I nodded and carefully stepped outside not closing the door cause then we'd be fucking stuck here, I noticed his expression changing, an emotion finally crossing his face rather from the blank face he always wears, he's worried, I open my mouth to ask what's wrong but he stops me "it's her dad."he says scratching his neck, and my blood boils, I still can't understand what really happened but I'm sure as hell my father's smeared bloody shirt being in his house isn't a fucking coincident.

We haven't talked much about what happened so it's a good thing he brought it up although I really wanted it to come from Octavia, but she seemed to just be keeping the thought aside, pretending as though everything is perfect and nothing changed, I know that feeling way too well.

It's when you're happy and you just don't want to see anything else, you want to stay in the moment, cast aside any shit that can ruin it, and just pretend that everything is perfect, because being happy or feeling joy doesn't happen a lot, and she doesn't wanna leave this moment yet, she's in denial, but I'm sure this phase will end faster than it started, and I'm worried about what's going to happen after it does.

"What about him?" I ask stupidly, he shakes his head slightly, his dark black hair moving a little, someone yells something distracting us, me and Adrian's eyes snap to where the sound is coming from, a blonde guy wearing sunglasses in the halls literally, why are people weird? He gets the hint that we didn't hear him so he shouts it louder "ohhh aren't you the guy she's screwing? You too! I mean WOW I'm honestly shocked, love this cheating threesome shit." He says and I take a step in his direction ready to use my fists but Adrian puts a hand on shoulder forcing me back, I look back at him to see him glaring at the guy, and If glares could kill, this dude would be drop dead, he pulls down his glasses and audibly clears his throat then leaves slowly not saying another word.

Adrian looks back at me, his expression changing in a second, I never realized how intimidating he must look to people, always wearing his poker face yet he seems like a new different person with Octavia, he clears his throat before continuing "this shit is getting real, we need to go back so we can understand everything from her brothers, they aren't telling me that much cause they don't want her to stress." He says and a snort slips from me, he raises a brow "they care about her now?" I ask pinching the bridge of my nose.

He sighs heavily, "they care about her Nash, they just-struggle to show it, well except Cole, and Chris always used to care about her." He says and a pained expression crosses his face for a second just as fast as it came, it disappears, he seems like he doesn't even believe the words he just said, "look, a lot of shit happened to make them fall apart like that, I'm not gonna talk about it cause it's simply not my place, If Octavia wants to tell you she'll." He says.

"It's okay, The team is leaving tomorrow's night." I reassure him about his earlier question changing the subject and his nostrils flare as he releases another breath and nods "good." He says and opens his mouth then closes it again, does this several times, and before he can say anything my phone vibrates in my pocket, I grab it and my brows furrow as I see the ID of the caller.

He notices my confusion because he asks "what? Who is it?" He asks, "it's Octavia, come on let's go inside." I reply my lips twitching, he slowly peeks through the door but I stay in my place waiting for him to open it widely, "Nash." He says and I turn to look at him, "yeah?" I reply and my brows furrow as I take in his weird expression, his tone also changing
"Octavia is still asleep in her bed."

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