The beaming feeling in my chest didn't delude even as I made the long walk from the office to my locker, get all my stuff and floated all the trek to the football field.

Good news.

At last.

It felt as if I hadn't had any in way too long, the relief in my muscles felt like melting since I'd been on the edge for such an amount of time now I felt weird to just be able to relax.

As soon as I stepped out the main building, I sensed there was something going on when I saw the players separated into small groups. It didn't look like rehearsals at all. Ones were on the field with coach Grey, ones more privately on the side with the nursing team and the rest waiting on the side, looking at the others.

You could sense a thickness in the air, like tension... But why?

Halfway there, I spotted a known black hair in the group watching the others, stretching with a few more guys. As if aware of my attention on him, Oliver head turned to this direction and spotted me getting closer. I waved, still a bit taken aback and he nodded in return, carefully looking at the coach making sure he wasn't paying attention and coming to meet me halfway.

"Hey." I tilted my head when he stopped in front of me, before the bleachers. "What's going on?"

"Apparently Fred was found taking asteroids." he scoffed and my eyes widened.

"What?"

"Yeah, so now they're suspicious about the whole team and they're making all this trials. But not only the analyzing our pee also the coach wants to test our scores and compared them with the ones from the course's start." his eyes rolled but I could tell even with his easy-going attitude he wasn't taking this as well as he was pretending to.

Fred Hooper... wow. I would' never guessed-

Well, now that I think about it, the receiver did have an incredible improvement these past months and a physical change as well. I wouldn't have noticed on a normal basis, but being forced to do the sport's section of the Daily kinda made me pay attention.

Oh my God.

How hadn't I noticed before?

I dropped my heavy bag on the very first row of the bleachers, the bench practically on the very grass that was was usually for the technical staff and coaches during the games. And turned to look up at my friend, rolling my shoulders in relief.

"Are you okay, though?"

"Peachy." he shrugged one shoulder, but I could see right through it. "Can't say I didn't see that coming... and now just patiently waiting for my own tests to begin instead of a normal practice before this Friday's bitch of a match." the fakest grin stretched his lips and I patted his shoulder reassuringly.

"It's gonna be okay. You don't take those things, do you?"

He scoffed, turning offended towards me. "Of course not!"

I held my hands up peacefully. "Fine, then you got nothing to worry about." and smiled reassuringly at him.

Olly nodded absently, diverting his gaze back to where the actions were happening, but then suddenly halted and faced me again, bewildered. "What was that?"

"Uh?"

"There's something..." he left the sentence hanged between us and I bursted out a startled gasp when suddenly his hands shot up to cup my face. His eyes narrowing further at my wide ones as his palms pressed my cheeks, examining me. "You've smiled."

"What? Can't I smile now?" I shrugged innocently but my lips stretched once overwhelming the first shock, my chest bloating as I relived my mother's words over and over again.

"You're, like, glowing... I don't know." he pouted.

"Olly." I tried to scowl, but couldn't when he began tilting my head to the sides as if analyzing different angles and I found myself laughing at his childishness, my hands cupping his. "Stop!"

"Weren't you sulking on lunch? What's changed?"

"I would have told you," I peeled his hold on my face, pointedly looking at him. "If you've given me the chance."

"Well, I'm listening now." he pressed, curious. "Do tell, what is it?"

Once more, the biggest smile threatened to split my face in two. "My father is fine."

"What?"

I nodded, my chest throbbing with emotion again. "My mother called me to her office, about half and hour ago..." I felt even happier saying it out loud as his brows rose encouraging me to keep going. "T-they've finally contacted us. He got caught in no man's land and was forced to hide for a while. They've been rescued and despites small injuries, he's fine."

My eyes stung and I was afraid I'd start crying like in my mother's office. Well, in there I squealed, sobbed and laughed, jumping from one mood to another in no time; but she'd told me it was normal and let me have my moment of crisis calmly so I could take it all out in private. Yet here I felt unbalanced by the heavy relief in my chest all over again.

I want to laugh and cry at once, but I shook my head and took in a quavery breath, getting emotional again and met my friends' eyes. "He's fine."

"That's... Oh my God." next second I was in Olly's arms and part of the apprehension flew, as if finding a way out in his hold. "Why didn't you say it right away?"

"I-I'm still processing it." I stuttered, smiling still I leaned into him. "Also, all this scene kinda took me by surprise."

Oliver chuckled, the sound vibrating since he was still holding me. "All of us, Hails. This is shit." we pulled away slightly and I met his grin. "I'm glad your dad is okay."

"Thank you."

"Mathews!" a rough voice echoed louder than I expected and we turned to see coach Grey angrily tapping his foot, making small yet evident gestures for Olly to go back.

The players that were previously on with the nursing team were heading to the field with the coach and the ones that were testing their past scores there were heading to the hallway between both sets of bleachers, to the changing rooms. Olly's group that had been waiting on the line were now approaching the nurse team and he had to go back as well.

"Fucking awesome." he rolled his eyes finally letting go of me fully. "I'm guessing you're here for Herond and not me, right? Or would you need a ride after?"

I blushed at his comment for some reason, already feeling my blood pressure changing at Nate's mention, but I forced out a nonchalant nod. "We're tutoring after."

"Okay." but his look and tone said he didn't believe that was it. I could feel my cheeks heating like crazy, amusing him.

"Just go, will you?" I waved a hand and he chuckled. "Moron."

"Later, Hails." he smirked, playing as if he didn't hear me curse and taking the first step backwards towards the rest of the team. An honest hint lighting his eyes before spinning around. "It's good to have you back."

My chest warmed at his words and if possible I grinned wider.

Back. Everything was finally going back to its place, finally. I felt like I've grown grey hair on those awful couple of weeks without information. Now I was breathing again. Relaxing, allowing myself to calm and finally taking notice on how tired these sleepless nights had a notch on me.

Ever since I let it out and talk about it that night at the viewpoint part of this weight kinda lifted, but that still wasn't enough. As if fate-made, my gaze absently shifted past Olly's back and casually fell on the group going towards the center of the field, instinctively meeting with certain green one. Even across he distance I could feel that tug in my insides that buzzed through my being.

I'd thought the weeping scene I made the other day would have been a hazard in our dynamic, that would have pushed him away and deprived me from one of my few scapes that allowed me to let loose.

But no.

If anything, Nate was more attentive, more open himself -kinda- and that gave me more confidence to do the same. He'd helped a lot this week, being there not just as a distraction but as a support.

And that confused yet charmed me like a sweet balsam. I knew this was dangerous, kinda stepping over the edges of our 'just kissing' deal. I knew this wouldn't last, but I still enjoyed every moment of it none the less. Letting it allured me way more than I should allow.

He smiled across the field when our gazes met, making my stomach do that churning thing I was growing accustomated to and waved shortly, his lips twitching at the corners and tugging at my heartstrings with it, before focusing back to whatever Seth was saying by his side.

I gulped down that weird tingling, grabbing my bag from the bench and climbing up the bleachers to a higher row. Usually the times I wait for him I go to the top section, a little over the middle and get some work done while waiting for the rehearsals to be done - the closer December approached the sooner I'd stop being able to do that.

I nested on one of the almost empty rows, only filled by a couple juniors at the lower section and a small group talking among themselves far enough for them not to bother me.

The benches were old, hadn't been fixed since they were first built up; so instead of those nice plegable plastic seat's like when we went to see Matt play in LA last September, Roosevelt's bleachers were rows of wood and steal lined up one over the other. Not exactly bad, but old and squeaky, too short so when they're full your eyesight was just above the head before you. Awkward at times. And now that the winter was almost here they get cold and it sink through my clothes as I sat down.

The good thing was that the sun was up, spreading heat charmingly everywhere it bathes, so it wasn't that freezing. I crossed my legs, leaning back into the seat and taking out Killing a mockingbird and a pencil. The book was Matt's old one from a couple years when he'd studied it and it had some side notes, allowing me to add my own without messing it.

I send excited text to the girls and Kevin, telling them as well about the good news knowing they were worried about me even if they don't pry that much for my sake. I was still high in my glee.

He was fine.

It felt unreal.

Shaking my head for concentration, I tuned down everything else around me; the muffled sounds of the chatting people, the players on the field... and was quickly engulfed in the story, devouring Harper Lee's words at ease, and unfocusing about what was going on in real life until a shadow projected over the page and I forced my head up.

Nate smiled, adjusting his pullover and I noticed he's changed into his jeans and out the tracksuit from before. My eyes widened as I settle that the sun had moved and the field was already empty. How long had I been here? Well, I read about thirty pages so...

"Hey." he greeted, amused at my awe and dropping his bag beside mine at my feet, using both hands to slide into his jacket as well but leaving it unzipped.

"Are you done already?"

"Yeah," he chuckled, shaking his head. "Those lame trials are over and coach is finally sure only Hooper was on asteroids. We're free to go."

"Oh." but that only got his smirk stretching more, humored at my ramaining confusion at the lost of track of time.

"You've zoned out, uh?"

"Maybe." I admitted awkwardly, smiling shyly and shutting the book carefully. Just like with Oliver earlier, my display of happiness didn't go unnoticed and got him tilting his head.

"You're in a good mood."

"You make me sound like I've been awful lately." I joked with an eye roll, but my guts clenched at the truth behind it. Too closed in my own grief, I'd kinda left unattended the people I care about.

But Nate shook his head, standing in the row under mine, so we were kinda leveled. "It's not that... you just were off." he waved as if it'd been nothing but the guilt tightening inside me either way. Green orbs burned into mine. "So?"

Any bitter regret got overshadowed when I once again explained the news. Like with Olly, like with my other friends. It was like I didn't get tired of saying it over and over again, experimenting all over the delight of knowing my father safe.

My father was fine.

It hadn't been the first time he got problems, but it certainly had been the longest we'd been kept in the dark and that'd been even worse, letting my imagination take charge...

Now it's done.

He's good.

And I couldn't stop smiling over it.

Just like the others, Nate shared my relief, confusing me again since the lines of our 'just kissing' were getting blurred once more. But we were friends, right? He gets excited over it because I did, as a friend would. Nothing else. And those weird things my heart had been doing recently every time we were together got nothing to do with it. They were weak moments due to my vulnerable state.

Then why do you feel it again now that he's grinning back at you? "That's amazing Hailey. I'm so glad to hear it."

Vulnerable again?

Shut up.

We were friends. Nothing more.

Well, yeah, maybe a bit more; but only on the physical turf. Nothing emotional. Not like-

"What are you reading?" he wondered nodding to the book forgotten in my hand as I snapped out my stupid quarrel with myself.

"Killing a mockingbird." I lifted it so he could see the cover. "We got a test in a couple weeks and I really need to get it done."

"Right, the..." He nodded, watching it absently, but all of the sudden his eyes lightened up. "Hold on! I wanted to show you something."

"Show me what?" I wondered curiously, placing the book gently on the bench by my side as he fished for said something in his bag.

"You'll see... here." he took out a couple sheets stapled together and waved it my way, like an excited child. "This, look at this."

"What..." but once I took it from his grasp and my eyes settled on it I smiled too. "Wow."

"Last's week Math's test." he stated proudly.

"Oh my-" I gaped at circle mark on top of it, good job written beside it with a red pen.

His knees rested on the wood between my feet, his hands resting beside my hips and suddenly leaning really closer with his head down to look at it as well.

"B+!" he chuckled, taking it back as if to check it hadn't changed. His whole face beaming like I'd never seen it before and it warmed my chest. "I've never had such mark in an exam before. Ever."

I scoffed, sending him a look before going back to scroll through his test. "I'm sure that's not true."

"'Course it is. I suck at this." he said it so casually, as if it was a known fact I had to look back up at him. He shrugged. "No big deal."

"You don't." I stated with a small frown, bothered he thought so low of himself. "You just needed time. I used to hate maths too, you know? Never get them until middle school."

"Really?"

"Yeah," I giggled at the memories. "They had to teach me with small chocolates so I get the basic on resting. As in: if you have five chocolates and I took two..."

"They knew how to spike you." his head tilted, getting even closer as we remained in that position. "Cute."

The butterflies in my stomach going crazy when his breath grazed my cheeks and I had to shake my head teasingly in order to lay down the building anticipation growing inside me. "Whatever. And if I remember correctly, you've always topped the PE tests. Didn't they give you a prize last year for beating the shool's scores or something like that?"

"You remember?"

I gulped, "Well, kinda hard not too, right?" I joked, slightly embarrassed that I just admitted I pay attention to him even before we officially began to talk. But what can I say? Not my fault he was the popular kind and usually a topic of rumors and attention.

"I guess." he admitted finally and I relaxed that he didn't find me creepy. Instead, he looked almost pleased. "But that's different. I never get a high mark on a theory test."

"Now you have." I smiled up at him, getting fed on the gesture I'd been deprived of these past stressful days.

"Yeah." my chest warmed up when he chuckled back, clearly proud of himself and gave me that gut-churning look, still half wrapped around me and close enough for me to sense his body heat. More when he laid the exam on the bench by my side, his palm flat on it to keep it in place while his other casually slid from my other side to my jeans-clad leg. I swear for a moment my heart stopped at the sensation. "Looks like I need to keep you as a tutor 'cause it's really showing off."

I perked a brow, playfully. "So I'm not a shitty teacher after all?"

"Or maybe I'm just a great student." There's it again. His cockiness. Making me giggle at his antics and his smile softened.

Surprising me once more he leaned closer and rested his forehead gently on mine, building up a sudden bubble of thick intimacy that blocked out anything that wasn't him. His breath on my lips, his hand sliding up my thigh and the way his body shifted forward between my legs, but not enough to touch -just to yearn for it.

"Honestly," he breathed out hoarsely. "Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me." it came out weaker than I intended, but I guess you can't blame me by how much this whole softness was getting to me. Making me melt form inside. Focus Hailey. Focus. Hard to when I met his intense gaze as he sought for something in mine. "It was all on you. You study and work and it's all on-"

Nate closed the final gap between us before I could finish the sentence, erasing whatever I was about to say with a soft kiss.

Once more, my mind got stuffed with something dense that only allowed me to feel, not think. He moved carefully at first, but at my instant positive reaction at it, his arm around my waist -I only noticed just now- tightened bringing me to the edge of the seat and he kissed me more intensely.

"Thank you." he repeated heartfully as soon as our lips parted and pressed our foreheads together again, smiling still and his genuine happiness stirred something in me. "I'm just-"

"Nate!"

And like that, our bubble of intimacy shattered and we were back on the bleachers.

My cheeks blushed aggressively at my lack of control and display of PDA. Thank God the place was almost deserted by now, just a few leaving players and the couple juniors from before -that sent us a knowing glance at the sudden attention that voice brought and giggled to themselves.

I wasn't usually like this. It was him! Something about Nate made me forget anything else existed when he was on me like that.