English class was nearly as painful as my balls. Matt's really, really trying with her. I nearly stabbed my eyes out when I saw him flirting with her, but the worst part was watching her go along with it. The way she'd laugh at his jokes or softly slap his arm.

I really thought it was going good, hell, she kissed me first in that closet. Then the way she acted in the lab... I thought we were doing ok.

I hate the control she has over my emotions. I'm never jealous, I've got no one to be jealous of. It's not jealously, I'm just... protective? Worried. I'm just worried about my friend.

Fuck, no I'm not.

I'm not worried about her because he's a bad person, I'm worried about her because he's a good person. I know I'll barely ever get to see her if she gets a boyfriend, and I'll never get to kiss her again if she does.

I spent the last five minutes of class talking to Katie. That's how desperate I was. She briefly asked me about Cami but I shut it down and asked her about volleyball and soccer, partially because I know she's big into her sports and partially because I wanted to know when Camila has volleyball practice.

Katie and I followed Camila and Matt out of class, and I think she could tell how much seeing them annoyed me.

"Hey Matthew, Camila." She caught up with them and walked alongside Matt.

"Hey."

I sped up so I was beside Camila but she barely reacted.

"Where are you eating lunch?" I asked her, hoping it would separate them if we start different conversations.

"Probably the cafeteria, wanna sit with us?"

Us. No I really don't. "Sure."

*

Sitting down at the table felt like one of the most awkward double dates ever.

We've got Katie and I, the two that messed around all summer, and Camila and Matt, who are going on late night ice cream dates and currently eye fucking each other.

Only problem is, Katie and I never actually liked each other, and Cami is having, or had, I'm not sure, an affair with Matt's friend slash coworker, A.K.A me.

Oh and to top things off Katie thinks I'm in love with Camila and Matt thinks Cami likes him and neither of them know we gave each other oral 24 hours ago.

But apart from that, it isn't awkward at all.

"Cam are you coming to volleyball after school?"

"Yeah I think so."

"Has basketball got a meeting today?" Matt asked me.

"Um yeah, ours is 'til 4 too."

"I was going to look into starting."

Please don't. "You should."

Conversation was dry all lunch break, Katie and Cam must be besties because they rambled on about tv shows and clothes and other things I wasn't listening to while Matt asked me questions about the job were working on and the basketball team.

Not only is he taking my best friend, he's also working for my father and now wanting to join my team. I can't tell if I should be complimented or defensive. It's like he grows a few inches and gets his braces off and then thinks he's good enough for Camila.

Who's gonna tell him?

I almost sighed in relief when the bell rang. My next class is history and then I have a free period which I plan on spending on the basketball court before the meeting.

Cami and I share the class but we may as well be in different classrooms because her seat is so far away from mine. We discussed the French Revolution because that's the next topic we're going to study and I watched the way Cami sheepishly raised her hand when she new the answer. She's quite smart in general but she's not one to brag about it.

Class finished and I snook straight over to her as she was packing her book back into her bag.

"Hey, what class do you have now?"

"Art. You?"

"Free period."

"Are you going home?"

"No I'm going to the court and waiting for the meeting, do you need a ride home later?"

"Yeah if you don't mind."

"I don't."

She placed her bag over her shoulder and we left the classroom. The halls were busy and I placed my hand on her lower back to guide her through the crowd, a simple thing I'd always do yet now we think of it differently. "Sorry."

"Don't worry about it."

I walked her to the art room before heading to the boy's locker room.

I opened my locker that I used all of last year and tossed my bag into it. The school kits were left on the bench. I searched through the navy blue jerseys and found my number '8', taking a pair of the red shorts and getting changed.

I got changed and slipped on my boots before heading to the court. I spotted a couple of the boys on the benches and got another warm welcome from Jake. "Big T!"

He's the year below me and constantly compliments ever shot I'd make and I swear he has a new name for me every time I see him. He had tied his curly black hair in a small man-bun and tossed me a ball.

Though I normally dislike the younger teammates, I have to admit - he's one of our best players, and a pretty decent person.

The three of them came down to the court and we started to toss the ball around. One of the best things about sports is they clear my mind and I almost forget about the whole Camila situation, that was until the other boys poured in, including Matt.

"Welcome back Tigers!" Coach B roared, followed by cheers and whistles. "Gather around."

We jogged over to B, his black hair slicked back and a whistle hung around his neck.

"Big year for some of you, scouts will be coming to the games if you're looking for scholarships."

I need a scholarship if I want to go to college. My father thinks I don't need college because I can just work for him, but I don't want that. I didn't earn that job, it was handed to me, I don't want that.

"Try outs for the team all week."

I glanced over to Matt who was stood next to two other boys I don't know the name of, they probably want to be on the team too.

"And now Johnny's gone, I need me a new captain."

My ears pricked up. I really want to be captain, it would just raise my chances of getting a scholarship or into a good college.

"I want you to give me 110% all year round, and we'll see who makes the cut."

"Jerseys on boys, I want to see you shoot." He dropped the bag of jerseys at the boys feet and the disappeared into the locker room.

"DeMarco, Green, warm ups."

"Let's go." We started stretches on the court before jogging around it. The fact that Coach is making me and Scott lead makes me think he's my competition for captain. I forced myself to run slightly faster and pretended not to be out of breath when we finished rounds.

I wouldn't mind being second to Scott. We went to middle school together and he's the one who taught me how to spin the ball on my finger.

But Scott's family has money, like a lot. And I'm sure he'd survive if he didn't get a scholarship.

Matt and his friends came in wearing our kit and I almost laughed. I'm absolutely fucked if he ends up being good at it.

"Drills."

We lined up both sides of the net and started one of our basic drills. Dribble and shoot, then go to the other line. Catch and pass, go to the other line.

I explained it to the new boys, making sure not to look at Matt. I don't want to show him how, I want him to make a fool of himself but that's not what a captain would do, and I know B is watching. "Just follow everyone's lead, you'll get it."

I shot the ball clean into the net and switched sides, watching carefully as Matt attempted it.

His dribble was uneven but he got the shot. Fuck. That was lucky.

Coach was scribbling down on paper as he sat on the benches.

We drilled for five or ten minutes before he blew his whistle. "Teams."

Scott and I took a team each. Mines not bad, Jake attached to my hip and a couple other lads I know are good while Matt's on the other team looking out of place.

We rock-paper-scissored over which net before lining up for the throw in.

The game started and I automatically noticed who was good and who wasn't just by the way they went in for the ball or dribbled. I stopped training like someone who wants to be on the team and started playing like a captain.

Coach is watching and I need to catch his eye, and the only place people look during a game is the ball. So that's what I went for.

But... captains are all about teamwork, "Eleven, bring it to Ten."

I got a couple shots but encouraged the younger or new guys to shoot, giving them the confidence boost like Johnny used to give me. "Good shot."

But my favourite part is the fact that Matt is on the opposing team. Scott must have the same idea because he encouragingly passed the ball to him, which only resulted in me charging towards him.

It wasn't a foul I swear, I accidentally swiped his leg when I was getting the ball. "Sorry mate, you're doing great."

After I shot another basket coach called a break. "Great work boys."

We all had a drink and tried to lose our bright red faces. The smell of sweat could kill a horse, I swear these boys have never heard of deodorant.

"Go back out for ten and we'll call it a day." We all flooded back onto the court.

The sun beaming into the hall made it even hotter and I decided to take off my jersey.

"Looking good 'Marco." I rolled my eyes at Jake's comment as I jogged down the court once again.

"Time. 32 - 28, DeMarco."

We crawled exhaustedly off the court and gathered around Coach.

"I like seeing new faces, but I want to know if they can replace the old ones, keep this up and we'll meet back again Wednesday, same time."

We poured into the changing room and I decided to avoid the showers and quickly changed to meet Camila. I've only got whatever clothes I left in here before summer break or my uniform so I chose the white gym top and black Nike shorts. The shorts fit fine but my chest and arms aren't as small as they were a couple months ago and I look like one of those bodybuilders that purposely wear clothes that are too small.

"See you."

I pulled out my phone to text Cam as I walked out of school just to find her already leaning against my car in her team's hoodie and shorts. "Did you have to borrow a shirt off a freshman?"

"Shut up." I unlocked my car and threw our bags into the trunk, "I forgot my gear and this was all that was in my locker."

"Terrible excuse."

"How was volleyball?"

"Good, there's a few new girls trying out at the moment."

"Same with basketball, boys I mean."

Conversation is dry but I don't want to start asking her about the situation here, so I rolled down my windows and turned the radio on higher as we sped back home.

"Do you want to come to mine?"

"I might go get a shower and get changed first."

"You can shower at mine."

She rolled her eyes, "You can shower at yours, I'll shower at mine and then I'll come over, promise."

"Fine."

I dropped her off in front of her house before pulling into our garage and going unlocking the front door. "Hello? Anyone home?"

The house was empty so I headed straight to my room, switched on the shower and undressed. Steam coated the bathroom and I planned different ways to approach Cami and explain my idea.

I washed and dried, making sure I smelt good before putting on some comfy clothes, laying down on my bed and scrolling on my phone, waiting for her to come over so I can execute my plan.