and I've been staring at the clock for the past 45 minutes, willing time to go faster. I'm not even sure what Mrs Ainsbury is talking about at the point, I zoned out about 43 minutes ago. Maths is so not my strong point.

"You'll be sitting an exam next week." she claps, and the whole class groans.

I zone out again, watching the big hand tick. Two minutes left. The longest two minutes of my life. The bell finally rings and I have to refrain myself from audibly cheering. I stand up, shoving my books in my bag before leaving the class.

"Hey," I sigh as I reach Bela's locker.

She turns, smiling and closing it.

"Hey bae." Bel links her arm through mine, guiding me down the hall. "You ready to watch your boyfriend eat them up on the field?"

I nudge her with my shoulder, laughing.

"He's not my boyfriend."

She raises her eyebrows. "You guys literally make out, like, every day."

"He isn't ready for a relationship." I sigh.

"But you like him?"

She takes my silence as a yes.

Bela lays her head on my shoulder as we walk out the back door to the sports field.

"It will work out. I can see how much he likes you. He won't be able to stay away forever." she says.

I sigh. In all honesty I have no idea how Parker feels about me. Or how I feel about him. Okay, that was a lie. I know exactly how I feel, I'm just not willing to let myself be vulnerable knowing there's a chance he doesn't feel the same way.

We take our seats in the bleachers, finding James in the third row. He smiles when he notices us.

"Hey girls." he moves up a little, patting the seat beside him. I smile taking it and dropping my bag on the floor.

I turn to Isabela, but her neck is craned as her eyes scan the bleachers. I narrow my eyes.

"Bel? Who are you looking for?" I ask.

She turns around quickly. Her cheeks are a little flushed, as though she's embarrassed she got caught.

"No one." she says briefly, turning her attention to the field.

I narrow my eyes further and she shifts uncomfortably under my gaze, tucking her hair behind her ear. I grin. I know exactly who she's looking for.

"Bela-"

I'm cut off as the crowd erupts into cheers, and I realise the soccer team is walking out. The same dark blue jersey I saw when I was accidentally-on-purpose trespassing in Parker's room all those weeks ago, paired with black shorts and socks, and blue boots.

My eyes run over the group, uninterested in looking at anyone who isn't him. I'm about to panic and assume he's been kidnapped by a mafia boss when he walks out last, his hands latched behind his head. His shirt is tight around his arms and back, the name 'ASHFORD' printed in bold white. I can't see his face, but I can tell he looks gorgeous.

I sigh, leaning forward and resting my chin on my hand.

"Trouble in paradise?"

Turning to James, I narrow my eyes in confusion.

"Huh?"

"That sounded like the sigh of one in distress." he shrugs. "Could it be to do with a certain Mr Ash?"

My lips turn up snd I bury my face in my hands. James can always tell when something's wrong.

Against my own will, I nod a little.

He takes his eyes away from me, turning back to the crowd. I see a slight crease by his eyes.

"It's not really my place to discuss Parker's feelings." he says, which is a little disappointing and equally understanding.

I turn back to the field as the team members shake hands.

"But if I were you, I most definitely wouldn't stress about it."

I turn back to Janes, but his eyes are fixed on the field. I won't pry, he's probably unwilling to give me any more information. But that was way too vague.

Don't stress about it because it's not worth it, or don't stress because he doesn't like me?

His words are still ringing in my head as the game begins.

I watch, my eyes on Parker the entire time. I watch as he focuses on the ball, as he assess his surroundings. He turns to one of his teammates, exchanging a look that they seem to understand perfectly. The teammate nods, and begins to make a move for the ball. He gets it, dribbling for a moment before Parker silently raises his hand. The guy glances up, before swiftly passing the ball through every other player on the field, directly to Parker.

As soon as it touches his foot, he begins directing it to the opposing goal. He dodges everyone that comes at him. James stands up and cheers , fist bumping the air as Parker passes it through another players legs.

Parker shoots, he scores, and the crowd goes wild.

He jogs away from the goal, a smile on his face as his teammates pat him on the back. His eyes catch mine, making my heart skip. His grin widens and he blows a kiss at me over the field. I roll my eyes, even tho I'm smiling.

The rest of the game pretty much goes like this, and it's obvious that the other team is becoming aggravated that our team is so good. We're on the third quarter now, and our team is far ahead, the other an unredeemable number behind.

As they break off, I keep my eyes on the team captain of the other team. His face is red and he looks as if he's about to combust. He exchanges words with his team, and somewhere along the line, a devilish grin replaces his frown. I narrow my eyes, wishing I had super hearing or something. Their coach appears and they wipe the smiles from their faces, nodding seriously.

The game starts again and I sit forward, a little nervous. Something about the accomplished smiles on their faces was unsettling, considering they were losing, badly.

Not long in to the game, Parker regains the control of the ball. He's moving confidently, quickly toward the goal. He passes to his teammate successfully, making to retreat.

But it happens so quickly.

The opposing captain running toward him. The way he slides beneath Parker, his studs connecting with his leg. Parker can barely react as he crashes to the ground, his hands instantly gripping his knee as he pulls it up to his chest.

I gasp and it brings me to my feet. James stands just as quick as me, his frown deep, angry. The ref appears, blowing his whistle and pulling a red flag and jogging towards him. I turn, looking at James, who reciprocates my worried glance.

The ref says something to Parker, who shakes his head. His teammates are positioned around him now, almost completely blocking our view of him. Ref looks up at them, exchanging words. Two of them bend down, helping him. Parker attempts to walk on the leg, but I see his face screw up and he shakes his head. His teammates bring his arms around their shoulders, supporting him across the field.

James is already making his way down the bleachers when I turn back to him. I stand up, rushing to follow. Bela yells something from behind us, but I can't even make out what she's saying, the thud of my heart beat is too loud.

We finally come to a stop outside the boys locker room. James turns to me.

"I don't think you're allowed to-"

"I don't care." I say, willing for him to push the door open.

He studies my face a moment, before nodding.

The first thing I see when we walk in is Parker. His head in his hands as the coach speaks to him calmly, comfortingly. He isn't responding, no movement aside from the heavy rising and falling of his shoulders, and his uninjured knee bouncing.

Coach turns to look at us when the door shuts. He looks at me, quite obviously confused, but he just shakes his head as if he doesn't have time for it.

"You two can wait with him until his mother gets here and talks some sense in to him." he huffs, before disappearing out of the door we just entered.

Parker glimpses up through his hair, shaking his head.

"What happened man?" James asks softly as he sits beside him.

He's still shaking his head as he answers. "Coach says he thinks I tore my ACL. But he's wrong."

"The fall did look pretty rough dude." James winces.

Parker keeps shaking my head. "I just landed funny. It's a little bruised."

"Why is your mom coming?"

"He says I need to go to get it checked out, but I'm not getting in one of those things."

I look at James, frowning in question.

"Ambulance." he mouthes before turning back to Parker.

"Ash, you probably should get it checked..."

Parker just shakes his head, over and over again.

The door slams open, making me jump. The clicking of heels gets closer until Margot is crouched in front of her son.

"Parky?" she says, her voice frantic and slightly breathless.

"Park, are you okay? What happened?"

"I'm fine, Mom."

Margot looks at James, who simply shakes his head.

"Come on Park, let's just go and make sure it isn't serious." she says softly, rubbing his arm reassuringly.

"I said I'm fine Mom." he repeats.

"I know you did sweetheart, but lets just go. Just to be sure."

Parker finally looks up, studying his moms face. He must notice the panic in her eyes, the pink flush of her cheeks, because he nods slowly.

James moves to help him up at the same time as Margot, and I don't think I've ever felt as useless. I trail behind them silently. It takes at least ten minutes to get from the school to Margot's range rover, even though she's parked right by the entrance.

James gets in the front with Margot, and I get in the back with Parker. It's an ordeal, trying to get him in without hurting him. We result in him sitting with his bad leg propped on my lap.

For a moment, he just looks at me. I smile, trying to make it as reassuring as possible. But when he holds my gaze I feel the butterflies in my stomach and drag my eyes down to his knee. It's swollen, a little pink. I run my fingers along it, trailing them up to his thigh a little, and back down.

Parker flinches, sucking in a breath.

"Sorry, did that hurt?" I wince, taking my finger away from his leg.

He doesn't say anything, shaking his head no, so I bring my fingers back down. His knee is hot, the swelling making it soft. His legs are covered in dark hairs, from the line where his sock starts to the piece of material where his shorts are. Well, I'm guessing it goes further up but I can't see.

I brush my fingers up past his shorts, the curiosity taking control of my actions, but he takes my hand in his to stop me.

"Please, don't Elena." he whispers.

Looking up at him, I tilt my head to the side.

I follow Parker's eyes down to his shorts, which are tightening around his... oh.

My cheeks heat up and I swallow, turning my attention out the window.