Breaking His Rules

🏈23🏈

Aaron's POV:

I jog off the field, tired and wet as the rain falls in sheets around me.

I hate playing football in the rain, but for the past two weeks, that's all we've been doing. I watch Jason land a thirty-three-yard field goal and do a little celebration while the rest of the team gives him high fives. Even coach gives him a broad grin and takes him aside for a moment for a few words.

It was a good goal, and as team captain, I should probably go over to him and congratulate him. It's something I've had no problem doing before, even though we've always hated each other. But every time I look at Jason, I see him and Kayla in that detention room two weeks ago. I remember how happy Kayla looked, and I couldn't bear to look at them, couldn't let the anger and jealousy show on my face.

Jason has always made me envy him. His parents are supportive of him, always come for his matches and don't push him so hard, allowing him to play towards his strengths.

But now I envy him for a different reason. And it doesn't help that he is always around me now, almost as if he is stalking me. He even made his parents come to my house last weekend, which is something that hasn't happened since middle school.

Meanwhile, I haven't spoken to Kayla since our argument two weeks ago. I see her around the school sometimes, and I often hang around the arts lab to catch a glimpse of her painting. Sometimes after she leaves, I enter the lab to admire her artwork. Most times, her artwork is dark, and it seems to border on sadness. Other times it's loud and violent and makes me feel like she was angry when she painted it. Often, I touch the artwork, imagining that it is her skin that I am touching.

I am brought to reality by the sound of coach's whistle being blown sharply.

We circle around coach, all of us wet and streaming, but everybody looking happy and immensely proud of themselves. I don't blame them though. We've been practicing really hard and I have been really proud of them as a team. Even though I have done nothing as captain to motivate them, they've still pushed on.

"You have been practicing very well lately, and I have some good news for you", Coach starts. His voice is immediately drowned by a babel of whispers and he waits patiently until everyone is quiet again.

"In two weeks' time, you boys will be playing against Glendale High."

There is a collective gasp. Glendale High is one of the best football schools in the area, and they are known for producing the best footballers in the country. Most of their students get football scholarships into the major schools.

I look around to see the doubt on my teammates faces.

Coach continues. "That isn't all. On that day, scouts will be coming to watch you play." Instantly, there are excites mutters from all corners of the field. Everyone knows what it means for scouts to be coming to the school. Some people may get offers for college football; others may get scholarships. Getting scouted gives a big chance at someone going pro.

Coach gives a few more words, but the only thing on everyone's mind is the football game in two weeks. He dismisses us, and we trudge of in the rain back towards the locker rooms. Everyone is excitedly discussing with someone else, but I walk on my own. By now, my teammates are used to my moody behavior, and they give me my space.

I watch Jason walk up to Kayla who has been standing by the sidelines with Quinn and Steph, and whisper something to her.

Jason has been sitting with them every day for the last two weeks, and even though Steph was a bit skeptic at first, he eventually became one of them, always making them laugh (not Kayla though, she barely ever smiles anymore) and often passing around bars of snickers. I know this because I've been watching them from my table, wishing that I was the one there instead of him. Sometimes he catches me staring at them and whispers something, making Steph glare at me, and Kayla to look sad.

I know that I should be happy that Kayla is talking to Jason and that she is happy – because obviously she is happy talking to him – but I can't help the feeling of jealousy and possession I feel anytime I see them together.

I should be the one that Kayla looks at that way. I should be the one meeting her after a tiring practice session. I should be the one hearing her sarcastic replies and beautiful laughter.

Every time I see them together, it reminds me of what I can't have.

"Hey", Alicia's voice jolts me from my thoughts as she appears from behind me. She leans up to kiss me, but I turn my head so her lips end up on my cheek.

"We're still taking things slow?", she asks, almost whining, but I nod.

I made a deal with Alicia that we would take things slow, so no kissing on the lips. However, the real reason I made that rule is because I can't imagine kissing anyone who isn't Kayla. Despite the fact that we aren't together, it feels like a betrayal – like my body belongs to her, and only her.

"Your practice today went great", she says, sliding an arm around my waist in a quick hug. Then she looks up at me. "You aren't wearing your glasses?"

I look up to see Kayla staring at us, her gaze intense. I match her, my eyes hooked on hers, memorizing the details of her the emerald gaze that burned a hole into me, even from a distance.

But Kayla looks away without giving any further emotion to show that she cared. Her friend, Steph turns to glare at me while Quinn ignores me.

You know what I thought your glasses were fake, but maybe you do need them because it's very clear that you can't tell when someone is in love with you.

When she said that, the first thought in my head was that she knew – she knew I wore fake glasses. I don't know if she found out from Jason, or if she is so naturally perceptive that she noticed something that I have managed to keep a secret from everyone else, but somehow she found out.

The second thought in my head was that she liked me – she actually liked me. Which was why I had rushed to the detention hall the instant class ended, only to see her all friendly with Jason.

I drag my eyes back to Alicia who is looking up at me. Did she ask me something? I can't remember.

"I'm cold", I say, shrugging her hand off me. "I'm going to the locker room to take a shower."

I jog off to the locker room, passing Keon on the way. He raises his eyebrows at me, but I shrug.

Keon knows something is wrong, and sometimes I feel tempted to tell him. But he is so judgmental with his straight-laced ideology and I know he would make me report Alicia for what she is doing, which might get Kayla in trouble.

I can't risk telling anyone about Alicia. I'll date her if she wishes, do anything she wants as long as she doesn't hurt Kayla.

Her art competition is next week, and I want to watch her win – and I know she will win. Luckily, our school was chosen as the host school for the competition so it will be easy to slip away from Alicia and watch for a few seconds.

I enter the bathroom and strip off my football gear, then step under the hot shower, allowing the water to soak over my body. Once the water starts getting cold, I turn it off and step out, then dry myself and change back into my school clothes.

My glasses are in my pocket, but I don't put them on. What was it that Kayla once said?

You do a lot to please your parents, Aaron. Maybe for once you should do something to please yourself.

I stare at my glasses for a moment, then I break them into two. The snap of the plastic sounds freeing, almost liberating and despite the whole in my heart, I almost feel happy – like a teenager rebelling against his parents.

As I walk out, I feel a more unrestricted than I have ever been before. And even though Alicia is beside me, even though I want Kayla there, I satisfy myself by knowing that I am taking charge of my life and helping her with hers.

A/N: Hey loves. 

Today I'm doing a double update, so I'll post chapter 24 in a few hours (I'm in a class right now.

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See you soon 💋💋💋