Can The Player PLAY The Player?

Point 6.

Z. B

"Hey Zaid," I felt an arm intertwine with mine and I looked down to see one Natalia Moore in all her glory smiling at me. "Oh hey, Nat. What's up?" I questioned as we walked past the many females glaring daggers into her soul. "I just came to talk to you really quickly," I went to reply, but a buzz in my pocket startled me and I pulled out my phone to see that I had received a text.

angel eyes: hey bastard, don't show up late to practice

"Was that my brother that just texted you?" I raised a brow, looking at her with a smirk. "How did you know?" Natalia just shook her head, leaning her cheek on my bicep. "I would have to be both blind and stupid to not tell. My twin is the only one you call that," She chuckled and I shrugged, knowing that it was indeed true. 

"You're not wrong..." I surmised with that thought in mind. For some reason, Aaron was the only one out of the many people in my childhood that I chose to give a nickname to. Out of habit, I just stuck with it and I didn't see myself changing it, regardless of what has happened.

"Yikes, these girls look like they're gonna cut my throat with their acrylic nails," Natalia faked a gasp as one of the girls who slid into my DM's narrowed her eyes at her as we walked in the opposite direction away from her. "Lucky being you, huh? Emperor of Northvale. Getting all the girls," She winked, nudging me in the shoulder, continuing. "You should've just stayed in Sydney. I don't think I've ever seen my brother so bent out of shape before."

I frowned at that, knowing that his reaction wasn't my intention at all. Unbeknowst to everyone including myself, I had missed him a lot. If the only way I got his attention was through this bet, damn right was I going to accept it.

"So not that I'm not happy that you're here because I am," I checked my Apple watch to see that it was almost time for practice. "Why did you come find me when you know I got practice and your brother will bust my balls if I'm late," A loud groan resonated from my throat as the idea surged through my mind and I wouldn't lie and say that it made me a little nervous because it did.

"I just wanted to tell you that I'm going on a date after school today," She giggled, shuffling closer to me. "Don't tell Aaron though. You know he'll go into big brother mode and scare him away," With a roll of her eyes and a snort, I hummed in affirmation because we both knew that Aaron would not hesitate. 

"Oh, really?" I blinked, wondering who the lucky dude was. It was no secret that people thought Natalia and I were together. She was the one I always ran to when Aaron was being mean to me when we were kids. If I didn't have my head stuck up Aaron's head, then you count on the fact that I was with Natalia. It didn't really matter to me if people thought what they thought, but I had let Owen know because he was head over heels for her.

"Yeah, okay. Well I'll be free after so just let me know how it goes," She leaned up to kiss me on the cheek as we stood in front of the gym locker room. "I'll text you later. Bye Zaid!" I shook my head as her feet stomped across the linoleum as I entered the locker room.

Right on time just like Aaron wanted.

I didn't know why (I secretly did) but my heart was racing as I quickly got changed into my uniform, heading out to where all of the other players were waiting. "Zaid!" Owen cheered as I nodded in his direction with a smile, putting my hair into a bun. "You're here! Aaron was getting worried!" He teased and said man scowled.

"Stop telling lies, Owen and get in line," Aaron rubbed the back of his neck, looking away from me. Satisfaction pooled at the bottom of my stomach, tasting like the sweetest honey when I realized that he was lying. Perks of being me was that I knew all of his tells and it was quite pleasing to know what no one else did.