Hailey

I exited the office of Mrs Glennson with a frown, not knowing if I should be thrilled or worried about the news.

"Hey!" a sudden arm came over my shoulder and I looked up just in time to see Olly pouting. "What's with the sad face?"

I shrugged, walking down the hallway to my locker. "I just have a chat with Glennson and she hasn't been really nice."

"What?" his brows pursed, less mocking now and more concerned. "What did she say?"

"She said I'm getting lazy. And monotonous. That my writting no longer feels 'vibrant'." I rolled my eyes as we reached my locker and I pulled it open as Oliver leaned to the one by my side. "Un-thrilling she said." I struggled with the door but it refused to open an it only flued my anger all the more. "I mean, has it even occurred her I'm bound to get monotonous when she confine me in one stupid section I hate for months."

"Okay okay." he pulled me away form the stubborn thing before I tore it apart and instead opened it with a simple click. "Maybe you need a new point of view?" I glared harder and he rose his hands. "Can you, maybe, not pay your frustration off on me? I'm actually not ready to die yet."

I scoffed. "Drama queen." but got to supress a smile as I begin to empty my backpack. "Never mind. Maybe you're right... I need to focus on something new so it would stop feeling so repetitive."

"There you go." he smiled, streightening his back as if proud he'd suggested something useful and I sighed.

"It would be easier too if my partner didn't hate me, you know?"

"Hates you? Come on, Logan doesn't hate you." he pinched my cheek pouting and made a baby voice. "Who could hate such a cute little-"

"Olly." I smached his hand away, narrowing my eyes as he just laughed. "I don't know how to take that, but yes, he hates me. The only reason he tolerates me is because -sometimes- I get to do a decent work and because I am his closest bridge to Vickie if he ever man up enough to do something about that."

Oliver shook his head, pursing his brows together. "You're being way too blue right now it's messing with my mood. I don't like this bad energy... Aren't you, like, the cheerful one? You got a little critisism, well, boohoo, welcome to my life. She didn't say you're doing it wrong, just to not fall in the boring side of correct."

"How are you this positive? Aren't you usually the -how do you call it? Realistic one?"

"Well, yes, but if you are going to be like this." he gestured towards me. "I'm gonna have to act like this." now gestured towards himself. "So we don't fall out of balance. Now snap out your little trance Miss Cute-Frown and let me go back to being my true self."

I couldn't help but laugh. "You're so weird."

"But you love it."

"Obviously." I bit my lip, taking another second to put out the last book and shifted the bag in my hands, contemplatively. "Do you believe that? That I'm still a good writer?"

He rolled his eyes. "Hails, you're the only person whose articles I actually read. And to me they don't sound monotonous, I tell you that."

"Thanks." I grinned, hanging on that small spark of hope. I wasn't a mess, I just needed to find the motivation in the horrible topic again. I could do that. I will do that. "So," I cleared my throat, eying him up and down and noticing the tracksuit of the varsity. "Are you ready for the game?"

"Honey, I was born ready." I giggled. "Coach has summoned the rest of us in few minutes."

"'The rest' of you?"

Olly nodded and parted his lips, but before he could explained further his eyes slid behind me and rose a brows just when two arms came around my waist and somebody hugged me from behind. I exploded in thousands of melting shudders as he breathed a greeting right into my ear, getting rid of all the remaining bad mood. "Hi."

"Hey." I smiled over my shoudler and pecked Nate's cheek.

"Ewww," cringed Olly making me blush deeply. "I honestly didn't need to see that."

"Get over yourself." I played it cool going back to my locker, very aware of his presence on my back and my face still burning as he released one arm from my waist to take the bag from me so I could move more freely. And I loved this casualness. "Are you ready for the match?"

"Just meet the coach. He gave us some tips for the game and how to sell ourselves to the scouts." Oh, so that was what Olly mean by 'the rest of us', the ones who didn't need to worry about the scouts.

"You'll do great." shrugged my friend and I took all the books and finally close the locker, turning to face them as I placed them on the bag, fleetingly focusing on those green orbs shinning back at me. He was in a way better mood than I thought he'd be after moving back to his flat. I'd been uneased the whole night, bitting my nails out, expecting the worst; more bruises, but this morning he got too called for a little chat about the scouts officially coming to see them today and from the moment I saw him he'd been all cheering.

"So, are you okay?" I wondered, carefully just as a couple more guys form the team stopped by Olly and started talking, so this would stay only between us. "Are you nervous?"

"A little." his hum vibrated through me as he leaned to whisper. "Actually, I need a favor."

"A favor?" I repeated, astonished.

"Yep." he nipped my ear alluringly and peppered kissed down my neck creating goosebumps as his hand wandered deliciously from my side to my hips kepping us flush.

"What... what is it?" I faltered slidding in the next book, all fuzzed at the sudden attentions. If I wasn't this overwhelmed by him I would certainly be embarrassed of the curious sneaks this way. He was in a really good mood and it was contagious. "Nate." I giggled wincing but he held me tighter in place until I rose my hand and pulled him away by the hair, successfully peeling his naughty lips form my suddenly needy skin. Wow. "I can't concentrate."

A wolfish grin spread in his lips. "Not my problem."

"Why don't you get a room or something?" grumbled Olly as the guys walked away chuckling to himself and the reminder of others' presence made me blush all the more. "I feel like the third wheel... I don't like it. Should I go?" he frowned almost talking to himself rather than to us.

"Sorry." I whispered back self-consciously but Nate just laughed, not affected at all.

"You want me to kiss you as well?"

"Oh please do." Olly rolled his eyes sarcastically. "Can't you see me jumping in excitement? Nothing I'd want more than steal my friend's annoying boyfriend."

I shook my head at their charade, but lifted one shoulder zipping up the backpack. "My brother says that sharing is caring."

Olly looked at me like I'd gone mad but Nate shrugged his shoulder, dramatically pouting his lips... and that was when my friend jumped away.

"Okay, you're definitely nutts. I'll see you later, okay?" he shook his head at us, muttering more stuff under his breath and Nate chuckled, going back to kiss my neck pushing my back against the closed locker, still shammeless.

At least now one glance around and I could tell there was no unwanted witnesses, everyone more or less had kept going their own path and I could fully enjoy the feeling of his lips on my skin now. I love how happy he seemed to be, the scholarship really meant the world to him, and even 'nervous' he still look radiant. Or maybe this touchy mood was because his admitted nervousness?

"So," he took the backpack's strands, letting the heavy thing land at our feet and out of the way to pulled me closer making my heart beat faster and yet slower at once. "What's your excuse now?"

"N-nothing, I-" he practically ripped an audible gasp out of me as he sucked the spot he'd been working and gently tucked it between his teeth, adding a pleasant ache that shot straight to ever nerve-ending of my body before calming the sting circling the spot with his tongue. My excitement only burned harder as he groaned when I traces his shoulder and nape, overwhelmed. I couldn't think straight, what were we talking about? Oh, right. "What... what is this favor?" I wondered breathlessly pulling at his hair when he moved to kiss a new spot and brought his head up. "Na-" but he groaned and kissed my lips instead, erasing any possible rational thought at he greedy way he delved in my mouth. His soft locks lace in my fingers as thousands of shudders melted my body at his sweet, passionate kiss and my knees went weak.

"Wear my jersey." he whispered against my lips, and I lasted a moment too long before being able to process his words.

"Your... jersey?" That was the 'favor'?

"Wear it in the game?"

As I dived in those burning green orbs I let the bewilderement of the petition sink in me. The jersey... I usually wear Matt's old one. It was kinda a tradition and a way to keep feeling him close. It never occurred me Nate would ask me to wear his; but now that I think of it, it was kinda a cliche thing for us to do now that we were openly together. I would be sitting in'the bench' earning myself enough attention with all that popular crowd, in front of our entire school.

"Are you sure? People will stare...."

"They'll know you're mine."

The corners of my mouth tugged into a fluttered grin. "They'll know you are mine too."

"Mhm, so will you?"

His words pulled a string in my heart. His. Mine. There was something in the way he openly state our relationship status that was just touching. And to think than a month ago he'd freak out to the thought of going together to the ball. And now he was all affectionate, loving, kissing me in a way that thawed me in his arms and made me step on my tiptoes seeking for more...

... and my pulse drummed as his hand slid from my hip under my shirt, "Nate-" the movement so sudden I barely had time to gasp startled, right before the tickling hit me.

I pushed away, letting out a chocked squeal as he applied pressure and brushed my sides, eliciting those awful waves of tickles but he didn't let me go far. Oh my god! I trashed, doubling in laughed but he just chuckle along and kept going, relentless. "Say you'll wear it."

"I will, I will, stop!" Luckily he did and my uncontrolable laughing stopped. I pushed his shoulder as I struggled and spun in his arm, facing him. "Don't do that." but any lecturing hint vanished at my breahtless tone and the warm chills when he laughed one last time. His grin was so big, so true, I couldn't bring myself to anything other than soak in his good vide. I couldn't help it, I pecked him softly.

"Am I being rewarded?"

I shook my head but received his lips as they came down to mine stronger this time. He kissed me once, twice, thrice... I nibbled on his bottom lip as he pulled away; letting it go softly earning a toe-curling groan and then Nate decided he was done foreplaying, so when he leaned again also used the push of the movement to force me to step backwards. The cold surface of the lockers met my spine and he deepened the kiss, teasingly at first but then determined; eliciting all kinds of chills down my arms as they looped around his neck. His roamed pass my waist and everywhere, exploring my body turning everything into jelly as his body pressed mine against the cold wall behind me. My head was spinning.

"I want you." I could only whine at his seductive words. "I..." but cut himself as if remembering we were still in the middle of the hallway, and whether it was deserted at the moment, someone could walk by and saw this little display. "Here, come here."

Nate took my hand and pulled me pass the line of lockers, where the hallway turned left and there was a janitors closet. My heart thumbed as he closed the door behind us, shutting us in that small cubicle and next second he was on me again. Harsher this time and comfortable at the new privacy. It was so passionate, yet Nate keep it somehow sweet as well in way that got my heart pounding crazily against every corner of my being. I loved it.

As always, he woken up thousands of shudders and chills, a hint of franticness in his kiss as his hands closed around my waist holding me closer at the same time he pressed me into the closet's wall.

"We- you have... rehearsals." I muttered between kisses, smiling a this playful mood. "Nate-"

"Just five minutes." he rolled my bottom lip into his mouth, and took my gasp as his chance to deepen it, sucessfully shattering any trace of rational thoughts I could still had on me. "Ten, I have ten minutes left. I'll make it worth it."

My hands slid easily through his hair, fully melting now when he crashed our lips once more. Hot delight running in my veins like liquid fire.

"I want you so bad right now." Nate groaned again as he keep exploring my body. I could literally explode right now feeling him in my lower abdomen.

"I can tell." encouraged I arched my back, pressing us closer and lowered one of my hands down his side and to cautiously rub him over the sweatpants, testing both his and my reaction. Chills of anticipation and excitement erupted in the pit of my stomach and traveled down my spine as he gasped. I grinned, tracing lightly his lower lip with my tongue and relishing in his shudder as I pressed my hand firmer, moving slowly. "You want me to make it worth it?"

Nate chuckled breathlessly, fluing my determination. "You're such a tease."

Only a tease?, I hummed, really enjoying his low concealed moans as I pushed back so his back was against the door -making sure it'd stay shut and prevent unwanted sudden visitors. The new arrangement allowed me more room to move, kissing down his neck as I slowly rubbed like he'd taught me the other times, glad I was learning the right way to please him too. Cheered by that I decided to take the next step and slowly slid inside the band of his trousers, attentive to see if he would stop me for this bluntness. Only he didn't. Nate moaned at the skin to skin contact and threw his head backwards, resting on the door as his hands come down my spine and rest on my bottom, pulling me to stand closer between his parted feet.

"Fuck."

I didn't know why I was being more bolt lately, maybe I was really getting comfortable with him, maybe his patience was wooing me in... or maybe knowing he was holding back for me made me more eager to make him happy as well. Whatever it was, it felt like we keep crossing barriers. A few months ago I would had been horrified if I knew there was a couple getting off in a janitor's closet, in plain daylight, but now? The thrill of being secretive only seemed to excite me more.

It started carefully, unsure of how to proceed in this new enviroment, but soon everything start fitting right into place just naturally. It was easy to adjust to his reactions, knowing what he was liking or needed most and loving every snatched moan I managed. Nate allowed me fully control and I made sure to make good use of every ounce of it, driving us both insane. Ten minutes later he was sweaty, and disheveled, but had that cute content grin that made my chest swell knowing I brought him there.

"Have I already told you how much I like you?" he panted and I couldn't help but smile proudly as he chuckled at my reaction and pressed his forehead against mine. "So this is what I get, uh?" he smiled too looking down and watching me fix his clothes and all back in place, my insides still buzzing. "I tickle you and you do that?"

"Oh no." I giggled reaching for the paper tissue in my pocket and cleaned my hand too. "No no. You tickle me and I'm never doing that again."

He bursted out another low laugh that sink deep under my skin, tugging me close into his arms as if he needed me there. "Can't risk that, now can I?" his phone beeped before I could manage a decent response, making him groan, unimpressed. "Must be the guys. I need to get there before the coach notice me being late."

"Late?" I rose one brow. "Didn't you say you have 'ten minutes'?" I quoted but he shrugged leaning down for a sweet last, short kiss.

"I'm not even sorry."

I rolled my eyes as his phone started ringing again. "Let's go before they miss you too much."

Once out the janitor's closet I realized only then my backpack had been forgotten in the middle of the hallway, thank God no one took it. Nate guided us to his locker and make sure I get the huge varsity jersey, the green a shade darker than my borhter's old one and with a '9' in the sleeve and back. As much as I didn't feel like it, we needed to part already, but at least I could relish in his bright, good mood marching down the hallway as I made it towards the nearest bathroom in the opposite direction, almost feeling like floating in my own skin.

What on earth was I turning into? Was it even legal to feel this right?

"Kimberly!" I fastened my steps locking the car after me and she looked at me, startled at first and then narrowing her eyes at me.

"Oh, you." it almost felt like going back to all this months ago, when her harsh words would felt like knives thrown straight to me, pass the hint of insecurity barely noticeable I wasn't even that sure she likes me anymore.

"Yeah, mh, hi."

"Hi." she folded her arms, not exactly pleased with my presence and her eyes narrowed as Shane stepped beside me, eying us warily as if wondering what our deal was. "Aren't you adorable? Matching siblings and all."

"Uh, thanks?" but for her tone it didn't sound like we were anything adorable and I blushed looking down and self-consciously tugging at Nate's jersey's fist. Since I was wearing his, Shane was more than glad to take Matt's and so I guess we were in a way 'matching siblings'.

"Are you babysitting, then?" Kimberly perked her brow glancing carefully at my brother. "Didn't know you could do that, play the girlfriend part and write. Please tell me he won't be sitting with us."

"Of course he will." I scowled, again uneased at her coldness. I knew she'd been distant lately, avoiding me and all, and now that I finally get to be remotedly close I could tell she was still looking... thin. Her make up was spotless, and her hair perfectly done in a high ponytail. Even her pullover looked stylish on her, and if there was one thing about Kimmy is that she could make a loincloth looks fashion.