The Player's Weakness | ongoing

TPW// chapter six

AFTER THAT DISASTROUS LIBRARY encounter the day before, I decided I didn't want to see him for quite some time. I mean he's just some egotistical pig who can't keep it in his pants. He'd proven that with the countless amount of girls he toys with, manipulating them into bed.

So, I kept low. Every time I saw him, I'd just discretely turn in the opposite direction. I know it's silly because we wouldn't see each other much anyway but for my own benefit, I went to any means necessary to avoid Blake.

He hadn't made a special effort to see or talk to me, so I hoped it would be the end of his insistent flirting.

Luckily, it was Friday and Em had somehow persuaded me to go to Luke Darren's house party. Don't ask.

Actually, it involved promise of free food and we'd only stay for an hour or so.

We have a very understanding friendship.

###

Now sitting at lunch, I was really regretting agreeing to it; I'd overheard the boys exclaiming how huge it was going to be and some of the girls in my science had been fussing over what to wear etc.

Apparently, his last party had ended up with the police being called and everyone had to run. Call me boring but I really didn't feel like spending my Friday night running from the police.

Running isn't my thing on a normal day and I doubt it will have magically become a hobby of mine in the pitch black with alcohol in my system.

"Yeah Westside's going."

Westside was our rival school. In fact, Jay and the other guys would be playing against them in the biggest game of the season. "Kye Greggory—" their captain who Jay had had rivalry with since the beginning of time, "— thinks he can beat us. Ha! Over my dead body!"

This particular game was extremely important too because scouters— people from various professional teams watch games to basically see who is good enough for them— would be in the stands. Also, the winning team's captain would get a scholarship to the most elite college in the country.

"Are you going, Ash?" Blake asked from beside me as he waited for Jay to finish talking to Emily. I sensed a little hopefulness but I must have been mistaken.

Before I could answer, Em had pulled me into a one arm hug. "Yeah she is and I'm going to dress her up real nice," she cut in. I swivelled to face her.

"I did not agree to that," I spoke, actually stopping from eating my chips. I know, crazy, right?

"Well, I am," and with that, I knew she'd won the argument. Once Em had set her mind on something, there was no turning back.

Once, I'd told her how you can't fold paper in half over and over more than 8 times. She'd been positively adamant that she could and that it was a load of "bull." So, she'd tried (and failed) to prove me wrong.

But we don't talk about it.

Blake shot me a questioning look, to which I just shrugged and resumed my eating.

Blake and Jay followed the laughter to their original table where they were also discussing the party.

Everybody made space for them, so they slotted into their seats. It didn't take long for them to also be involved in conversation and everyone's attention on them as they spoke. Some of the teachers need lessons from them. Everyone looked captivated, hanging onto each word that flows out of their mouths.