🥺

••

Will

Mason has been avoiding me for the past two days. I don't see him at school, he skips third period and he's been driving himself every morning. Despite finding him and his motorcycle incredibly hot I can't help the way knowing he's riding it to avoid me dampen my mood when I see it.

I sleep alone for what feels like the first time in forever and even though I get sleep it's broken and no where near as satisfying as the sleep I get with Mason. As much as I hate to admit it I was getting used to having him in my bed and I'm more disappointed then I'd care to say.

Jenna however, notices and very quickly gets it out of me.

"Mason stopped coming over" she lifts a brow "why?" I shrug "he just doesn't...I I find it hard to uh.." I shake my head cringing no way I'm admitting to Jenna I can't sleep without him, but she doesn't need me to.

Her eyes roll "I already know your sleep is shit, the bags under your eyes and the double expresso kind of gives it away" I wince, I know I look like shit. Its hard not to notice when I look in the mirror everyday.

Jenna sighs "didn't Kade stop by the other day?" I nod not really looking at her instead watching the birds and focus on the feeling of the cool bleachers touching my back as I lay down.

She groans aware I'm not all in this conversation "so? He likes you"

I scoff "he like me sure, but it's not like he's looking for a boyfriend. He just wants to fuck"

Jenna shakes her head "so what? Neither is Mason" I cringe at that wishing it didn't hurt as much as it did to hear.

I suck in a breath before mumbling my next words "what if..what if I love him?" I let the question hang and even Jenna doesn't fill the silence for a moment.

"you don't." She pauses "do you?" I bite my lip not daring to look away from the clouds.

"I wish I didn't" she starts tapping her fingers on the bleachers next to her "well...you'll get over him eventually right?"

I chuckle humourlessly "I don't..maybe I don't want to" she lets out a breath "what?" I repeat what I said aimlessly not caring anymore. It's Jenna and even if she knows it won't change how I feel.

"I don't want to stop loving him. He makes me feel..giddy and excited. I can't think straight and I'm nervous. Any moment he takes to look at me or talk to me is a moment I cherish. If he didn't look at me ever again I'd only appreciate the days he did" Jenna makes a sound. A sound of pity but it doesn't faze me anymore.

"Is it worth the pain?" I don't hesitate before I respond because there is no question. Mason could sleep in my bed every night or only the nights he has no one better, but each night I'd make room. Because any Mason is better then no Mason.

"yes" I sigh finally sitting up "and I know you don't think so and maybe one day it won't be, but today, today it's worth every second of it"

The bell rings and I don't let Jenna say anything back before I jump up and head inside. She does however give me a bone crushing hug before we go into third period and it reassures me.

Tony spends third period kicking my chair and tugging my hair whenever Gage is preoccupied and Mrs.Heckle is facing the board because Jesse who sits behind me is out sick.

I wish Mrs.Heckle would send him back to his desk, but he claimed it was easier for him to hear and even suggested he should sit here all the time. I was incredibly thankful when Mrs.Heckle told him no and that today was enough.

He kept harassing me all class and I was getting fed up when the door opened and my entire body froze. Mason was back. He was standing in the front of the class apologizing for being late. I couldn't help the way my eyes drank him in like water. Did this mean he was done avoiding me?

He starts his walk to his desk but pauses glaring at Tony "get up."

Tony looks up and gives him a cheeky smile "Mrs.Heckle has allowed me the privilege to sit with my friend Will" his hand lands on my shoulder harder then necessary and Mason's eyes glare daggers at it.

He grits out his next words and I'm impressed by his restraint "I need you to help catch me up" Tony looks like he's ready to give Mason another cheeky comment when Mrs.Heckle calls out "that's a good idea. Tony back to your seat to help Mason!"

Tony glares but gets up slowly giving my hair a hard tug before moving. Mason doesn't look at me once and I can't help the wave of disappointment that hits me.

Jenna notices and puts her hand on my forearm rubbing her thumb along it comfortingly. I shake my head and push her hand off. I don't need her pity, it's not a big deal. Mason can avoid me all he wants. Even if he looks mouthwatering doing it.

The bell rings 15 minutes later and I follow Jenna out of the room trying my best to avoid looking behind me. I don't see Mason again even after fourth period, he must have left early because his bikes gone, but I know I'll see him tonight. It's hard to avoid me at his own football game.

I go back to Jenna's house to get ready for the game. Which mostly means I sit on my bed while she tries on a million outfits. Thankfully it only takes her an hour and a half to decide on the Jean shorts and the crop top.

She turns to me "okay what are you wearing?" I lift a brow and look down at my outfit "this.?"

Jenna shakes her head "oh c'mon Will you have to wear something other then what you wore at school today!"

I shrug "I can wear one of Gages old jerseys?"

She nods "yeah good at least then it'll look like you have some team spirit"

I roll my eyes "your wearing a pink top" she shushes me because she's going for cute not supportive. I do however, text Gage and ask him to bring an old jersey.

Another hour later the doorbell rings and Jenna opens it to reveal Kenny, Nicole, and Danny, who grins "Will! Miss me?"

I force a smile already feeling my cheeks heat. Kenny however claps his hands "okay! Should we get going?" I nod and we all head out to the car piling in.

When we get to the school I nod at Jenna "I gotta go find Gage if I want that jersey" she smiles "sure let's go" she tells Nicole we'll meet the rest of them at the bleachers and to find us good seats.

When we get to the locker room I'm uncomfortable and hope I can find Gage quickly. The door opens and Jack pauses "oh hey baby Jackson you need something?" I nod towards the door "Gage?"

He nods "yeah he's at his locker" he lets the door close and walks away down the hall making my eyes widen. He didn't call Gage.

I turn to Jenna who shrugs "just go in" I shake my head "I don't go in the locker room!" She sighs "you go or I will" I grumble "fine"

I open the door timidly and make a beeline for Gage's locker. Only knowing it because he's had the same one since freshman year. Thankfully only some of the guys are in the locker room and Tony isn't one of them.

"Gage!" I hiss not wanting to draw attention to myself he looks over and makes a face "what are you doing in here?" I bounce on my feet nervously and force myself to avoid looking at Mason who happens to be right next to him at his locker.

"I uh..did you bring your jersey?" He lifts a brow before it dawns on him "oh shit man I forgot"

I sigh and he shrugs sitting down to put on his shoes "why'd you want it anyway?" I roll my eyes "Jenna thought I needed team spirit" he chuckles "well sorry dude, you might get cold if your just in your t-shirt"

I shrug "it's fine" he just shrugs back at me "whatever" I nod "okay uh good luck.." I look at Mason for the first time and bite my lip "both of you good luck" Mason looks up and he stares at me before slowly nodding "t thanks" I force a small smile and turn practically running from the locker room.

Jenna lifts a brow when I swing the door open "where's the jersey?" I shake my head "Gage forgot it" she scrunches up her face "ugh now you look so boring"

I roll my eyes "It's not like I'm trying to impress anyone" she sighs "whatever let's go make sure Kenny and Nicole picked good seats"

We find them and they did indeed pick good seats. We could see the whole field easily and it would probably be easy to see us from the field, not that it mattered, Gage usually paid more attention to the cheerleaders then the people who come to see him play.

Shortly after the game starts and Danny who "coincidentally" sat next to me leans over "so which ones your brother?"

I nod toward the field "number 7" Danny smirks "ah he got the talent, but you got the looks then?" I blush slightly "um uh he would disagree"

Danny chuckles "he'd be wrong" I bite my lip turning back to the game.

Danny thankfully only makes comments about the game for the next little while before nudging me "so Will you involved with anyone yet?"

I cringe "no" he licks his lips "I could change that" I blush furiously "uh um I don't.."

he chuckles loudly "calm down we can talk about it later" I don't want to talk about it later, but I'll take what I can get.

The game is getting close to ending and I shiver being in just my t-shirt the night air is staring to give me a chill. Danny of course notices "you cold?"

I nod lightly without thinking and two seconds later he's wrapping his sweater around me. My mouth drops open but he just smirks leaning down and whispering "don't worry..you keep me hot" my eyes widen and my cheeks flare but his sweater is nice and warm so I thread my arms through it.

The rest of the game is intense and even Danny is absorbed in wether we'll win or loose. My eyes unintentionally shift from Gage to Mason like they have most of the game and I can't help the pride I feel when he passes the ball perfectly to Gage who scores the winning touch down.

We all jump from our seats and cheer manically. Without much thought I turn and let Danny wrap his arms around me before grinning at him and turning back to the game.

I freeze when I notice Mason standing in the field his gaze seemingly on me, but I know that can't be true. There's hundreds of people in this crowd, he's not looking at me.

We start walking back to Kenny's car and Jenna grins "so back to Will's for the afterparty!"

I cringe because she's right and Gage is in fact throwing another party. Our parents went away this weekend so the house is free for Gage to use and since everyone is looking for something to do after the game it will of course be wild.

Thankfully we get to my house before everyone else starts showing up and I'm able to put the stuff I care about in my room and lock my bedroom door. Something I only do when Gage is having a party, but hey I don't need anyone having sex in my bed. That's disgusting.

When I get back downstairs Kenny is putting a case of beer down on the counter and holds one up "pregame?" I shake my head "no I'm okay" Jenna, however, does a shot with Nicole, and grabs herself a cooler.

2 minutes later Gage pushes open the front door grinning "Will!" I turn and smile "good job" he chuckles "we won! And now we party!"

All the guys coming in behind him cheer with him and I nod at Jenna. We head into the kitchen again with Kenny, Nicole, and Danny letting Gage and the other players get shitfaced in the living room.

Slowly the house starts to fill up and I finally have one drink. Of course I nurse that drink for the rest of the hour. The party is now in full swing and Jenna is two drinks and three shots in.

Gage comes stumbling into the kitchen and grins when he sees me pointing "Will! My baby bro! Do a shot with me Will!"

I cringe "I don't.." he shakes his head and pushes a finger against my mouth "shhh yes it's a celebratory shot!"

I reluctantly decide one shot won't hurt and let Gage poor me one. We do the shot and he cheers "yes! Another one!" I sigh and do the second shot Gage grinning at me like a madman.

He pats my back "don't drink too much" I laugh because that's rich coming from him when he's clearly already drunk off his ass.

Danny chuckles next to me before leaning next to my ear and whispering "I was right you know, you got the looks"

I blush and shift away slightly "uh th thanks" he grins and grabs a beer handing it to me "drink something you seem like the only one not having fun" Jenna overhears him and grins "yeah! Will drink!" I roll my eyes but open the beer anyway and gulp down a good amount.

This of course prompts Jenna to begin cheering "oooh chug chug!" And because this is a high school party everyone around us suddenly joins in "chug! chug!" I cringe but bring the bottle to my lips and swallow the last of it in one go.

Jenna grins at me and I roll my eyes "happy?" She nods "gotta get Mason out of your head one way or another" I feel a slight pain at his name but shake it away.

Danny grins coming up next to me "I didn't pick you as a party boy" I chuckle the alcohol relaxing me "I'm not" he lifts a brow "well that was quite the show" I roll my eyes and he chuckles "kind of hot"

I blush and my nerves are back "uh..I need another drink" I rush away from him back to where the drinks are and Jenna comes up next to me "why are you running away from Danny?"

I grumble "you know why" she chuckles "he'd probably be a good fuck you know" my eyes widen "Jenna!" She laughs and I know part of this is the alcohol talking.

"I'm just saying Will he's cute and maybe a bit forward.." I give her a look "a bit?" She chuckles "but he's hot for you that's gotta mean something" I cringe at her words. It does mean something, it means I'm an absolute idiot.

••

🤪