Ride ✿ Scott Mccall

iv. i promise you

            

As much a Rory loved Liam Dunbar and thought of him as a brother, that would never make attending lacrosse games fun nor bearable.

Watching Liam get thrown around and tackled wasn't her idea of a good time, no matter how much the young boy enjoyed it. He was extremely good as well, but even his talent didn't make Rory want to rush out and watch him play.

She did appreciate the game for being something Liam loved, and also a place for him to get out a lot of the anger that raged inside him due to his mental illness. But Rory would never ever enjoy seeing her brother's best friend get tackled over and over again.

"You look uncomfortable."

Rory snapped out of whatever world she was in at the sound of a voice, and once she turned to see who it was she wasn't disappointed.

Scott Mccall had come to stand next to the girl, who looked both uncomfortable and slightly out of place. He followed her gaze to where she watched Mason and Liam talk. He didn't have a sibling, so he didn't get the bond that Rory had with Mason yet it was something he instantly admired about her. She cared so much about him, much like Scott cared about a lot of people.

"I'm not the biggest fan of lacrosse," Rory answered honestly. Her gaze had flicked back to watch Mason and Liam, much like it always did when the boys were around her. She couldn't help but be protective. The girl mentally cursed herself after the words fell out of her mouth as she remembered the maroon colored lacrosse shirt that Scott had worn. He was on the team. Rory turned back to Scott and grimaced. "No offense, of course."

"None taken, it can get pretty brutal."

"Like when you nearly broke Liam's leg at try outs?" Rory asked, her tone light. She hadn't been there that day where Liam had to end up going to hospital but Mason had of course told her all about what he watched.

Scott externally cringed at the mention of this. His face scrunched up in a look of extreme regret, which made Rory want to retract all talk about Liam and his accident. Truthfully, she had been mad at first—Scott and Stiles are seniors and the fact they felt so threatened by a freshman that they brutally tackled him to prove some dominance angered the brunette. But it was the nature of the sport—Rory knew that and realised her anger was most likely misplaced. She also had time to get over it, Rory was never one to hold a grudge. It took up too much energy.

"I'm not actually mad about that," Rory quickly reassured the boy who looked more than sorrowful. Scott had never done her any wrong—in fact she figured it wasn't something the boy did often.

Rory couldn't help but be protective of Liam, she had felt that way ever since he defended Mason in kindergarten when he was getting teased about his slight lisp at the time.

Rory felt like she owed it to Liam Dunbar—he was someone that took care of everyone around him, but had no one to do the same.

"You have every right to be," Scott looked at Rory now with guilt filled eyes. "It was my fault."

Any kind of good feeling that Rory got from subtly mentioning the fall of Liam Dunbar was taken away at the hurt filling Scott's eyes. There was so much regret. Rory was being honest when she said that she wasn't that mad, but now she was almost slightly glad she brought it up.

Scott saying an apology wouldn't have meant nearly as much as what Rory could see on his face. He was so open; his deep eyes spoke volumes as to how he felt.

Rory couldn't help but think the gaze they held felt intimate. She didn't know if Scott was aware, but everything he felt from that day on the lacrosse field was now out in the open—and by just looking at Scott, Rory knew how he felt. Regretful. Angry at himself. Guilty.