It was lunchtime the next day and Brody was in the cafeteria at Stonebrook Academy. He was sitting alone on his own table, it felt like ages since he last ate there.

Rumours about the school were still swirling around the cafeteria. Brody could hear murmurs about how the school could potentially be shut down. Brody just ignored it as he ate his BLT.

"Quick, just pretend we're talking."

"What?" Brody turned to the voice and saw Kelsey join him by sitting right next to him up close. "Oh, ok?"

Time passed silently as they both were still sitting patiently. "Well what do we now?"

Kelsey suddenly bursted out laughing as if he said the funniest joke she heard. Brody was slightly scared at how completely random Kelsey was behaving.

Kelsey was still grinning widely. "Some loser keeps trying to talk to me and if a big strong guy like you is around, he would just give up and leave without wasting my time."

This really puzzled Brody as it seemed more effort was being put into the fake plan, rather than her just talking to the guy. "Umm, I'm not interested in playing any of your weird mind games. You could just actually talk to him, like a normal person?"

Kelsey took a quick look around her before placing her hand near Brody's inner thigh.

"Get your hand off my thigh..." Brody warned her.

Kelsey took another look. "Ok loser's gone." Kelsey still had her hand on his thigh as she suggestively squeezed his leg. "You know I don't remember you seeming this muscular and strong when we went out last time. It's a shame we ended so soon, the sex would have been amazing."

Brody physically dragged her hand off him but that didn't stop Kelsey's persistence. "I mean, it could still be..."

"You know, I'm glad the very little thing we had was absolutely nothing. You need to learn how to control yourself Kelsey." Brody was stern as he laid it out. "My boyfriend would really not like any of this, at all."

Sam suddenly stopped walking past them when he overheard Brody talk to Kelsey. "You have a boyfriend?" He joined them at the table, seemingly waiting to hear from Brody.

Kelsey ignored Sam's presence as she continued talking to Brody. "Well I mean that doesn't have to change anything."

Hearing that from Kelsey had repulsed Brody. "Trust me, I want none of this mess." Brody gestured as he waved his hand at Kelsey. "You can keep whatever STIs you have all by yourself."

Kelsey seemed unfazed, as if she hears it a lot and brushed it off her shoulders. "Meh, whatever. I've got to go but we can continue this later. Thanks for the help." Kelsey winked at Brody before she left.

While one ex left, another was left at the table. "So... you have a boyfriend now?"

Brody spoke honestly as he talked to Sam. "Yes I do. And I care about him, a lot."

"My feelings for you are still there Brody, we were great weren't we? I know you feel something between us too." Sam looked plentiful with emotions as he talked.

"Sam... we were platonic friends more than anything."

Sam grabbed Brody's hand and held it within his own. "Remember how we first got together. It was some guy's random party, and we had this growing connection together. And then we kissed and everything was so amazing ever since."

Brody retracted his hand away. "People seriously need to stop touching me."

Sam didn't look apologetic as Brody relived the memory Sam described. "I remember we were both super drunk and we didn't realise who the other guy was until we saw each other again at practice."

Sam just shrugged it off. "Still a good memory, right?"

Brody shook his head. "No, it was just a memory. You NEED to let this go Sam, it's too frustrating dealing with all of this, again and again and again."

"I love you!"

Brody grew tired, as if he was talking to a brick wall. He never felt the relationship he had with Sam was near that level of intensity, passion or affection. He knew he didn't love Sam at all, and for him to say it was just as ridiculous.

"Sam, just stop. I don't know what possessed you to say that nonsense but this obsessive, jealousy and hysterical behaviour is crazy."

Brody looked at Sam and he was looking angry, a vein appearing from his forehead as he grew red.

"While our 'relationship' could have been something, and I mean COULD, we both know it fizzled out. Just accept that, and move on. I don't want you."

Sam banged his fist against the table, rattling the trays filled with food, utensils and drinks. Things were knocked down and several people turned to the commotion as Sam stormed off.

Brody was left surprised at the new light he saw Sam, very uncharacteristic like and more uncomfortable being around him.

~~~~~~~~~

If the interaction Brody had with Sam at the cafeteria wasn't weird, then practice certainly wasn't uncomfortable either.

Today's practice involved everyone completing circuit training exercises at the Craftwood's gym room. Circuit training wasn't anything too vigorous or intense for the players, but it was tiring.

When Brody was at the gym earlier today, Adrian and half of the Ravens were missing since Adrian told him they had a study session for their exam tomorrow.

Sam had showed up late to practice and it seemed like fury was oozing off him as he looked like he was trying to pick a fight with everyone.

As if trying to exert his masculinity and dominance he would constantly grunt and throw the dumbbells around, no one speaking up but sensing tension in the room as he was messing with the equipment.

Brody constantly felt that there were eyes burning a hole through him, and he wasn't sure if Sam intentionally threw the medicine ball at him when he wasn't looking. There could have been a big accident if he didn't back up in time before it crushed his leg.

Sam feigned ignorance at the time but regardless Brody was glad he set more distance between them. He would just have to deal with the tension despite both of them playing as an Eagle.

~~~~~~~~~~

Brody had just finished school for the day when he went to work. 'Tammy's Tempting Treats' was not too far from Brody's home, it was a medium sized quaint set up that was very popular.

Even though it was a bakery, they specialised in desserts more which was the main selling items. During the day their bread and meat pies were a popular choice, but during the evening is when cakes, pastries and other delights were a must have for the local residents.

Brody was mainly behind the counter, doing his best and working his charms to sell everything on the shelf. He's been learning to bake recently which is why he would occasionally dabble in the back and learn from Tammy herself.

Working at the bakery for several years, Tammy trusted him as an employee as well as a friend. This was why she felt comfortable in letting Brody close up for the night as she had to go home early to help her husband.

It wasn't too late in the evening as people were still coming in and buying sweet treats. However it was dying down, with it being a Thursday night and everything.

After serving a customer Brody turned to the door as he saw Sam approach the counter, looking sheepishly at Brody. "Hey."

Brody's mood was spoiled as he grew tired all of the sudden. "What do you want Sam?"

Sam laughed off the coldness from Brody. "Geez is that how you greet all of your customers?"

"Depends, are you just a customer or are you going to speak as my ex?" Brody quizzed him as the annoying cycle continued between him and Sam.

Sam appeared to look around at the selection of desserts. "Can I have a slice of the double chocolate cake?"

Brody nodded as he silently served Sam his dessert.

Sam gave Brody the money for the cake, as he was waiting for change, "There was another reason for me coming here tonight."

Brody wasn't surprised. "No kidding..."

"I wanted to apologise about what happened back at the cafeteria earlier today, that wasn't cool of me."

Brody didn't feel the sincerity behind it, however he didn't care as he just wanted to get past all of this.

"Maybe we could hang out again, like we used to after your shift? Just friends." Sam asked Brody.

An uneasy feeling washed over Brody at the idea of hanging around Sam longer than he needed to.

"I don't think that's a good idea Sam, I think we should just remain teammates." Brody told him calmly.

Sam's mood seemed to switch in a flash as the mask wore off. Brody watched again as Sam silently stormed off, leaving his cake at the counter.

~~~~~~~~~~

Now alone inside the shop again, Brody was leaning over the counter when he heard someone was calling him. Wiping his hands on his apron, he picked it up and saw the name pop up, instantly smiling at the name.

"Hey Adrian." Brody greeted him happily.

"Brody, I'm soooo bored over here." Brody could hear Adrian groaning into the phone as he spoke. "All of these case studies are so boring, I could fall asleep just reading about it constantly."

Brody laughed softly at hearing his boyfriend. "Think of it like this, you have less than 24 hours to study and by the time that's over, you don't have to revise again until the week before your next one."

Adrian thought about it from that angle. "You're right, I can make it to 24 hours then I never have to study again."

"Not quite what I meant but close enough I guess..."

"You want to get some breakfast tomorrow? I could do with a cheerleader in the morning." Adrian joked.

"Sounds great, I'll even practice some cheering routines for you while we're there."

Adrian grinned hearing that, knowing that Brody would still be supporting him despite it being in the form of a joke. "If you don't have some sort of cheerleading uniform then I will be slightly disappointed to be fair."

Brody played with the idea. "I'll wear anything you want me to."

The sound of the door chimed so Brody knew he had to go.

"There's a customer in the shop so I have to go alright?" Brody informed Adrian.

"Alright, well I'll see you at the diner tomorrow at around 8?" Adrian asked.

Brody agreed to the breakfast date. "Yeah, I'll see you then. Bye Adrian."

"See you later."

Brody ended the call, happy he got to speak to Adrian. It may be too soon but he's at the point where he feels completely whipped when it comes to Adrian. Just hearing his voice soothed his heart, it was crazy that they only knew each other for 3 weeks yet he cares about Adrian so much already.

~~~~~~~~~~

Brody was finishing closing up as he flipped the sign over. Going into the back room, he made sure all of the stoves were turned off and all of the leftover desserts were placed in the refrigerator.

Using a ladder he was cleaning off the chalkboard above the counter when the bell rang as the door opened and closed.

"Sorry, we're closed now." Brody called out over his shoulder.

Brody was distracted with the cleaning, not noticing how the door didn't open again.

The person who entered the bakery was still there with Brody, as he silently approached him from behind.

With a fast swing, Brody felt his head collide with something strong as he was struck on the side of his head.

Knocked off the step ladder, Brody landed uncomfortably as he collapsed onto the metal tool. Brody felt several blows to his body whilst he was losing consciousness.

The setting around him was being smashed at the same time with the sound of glass cracking. Brody heard the cash register open up before everything turned dark.

=========

Author's note: Forgive me, but I wanted to spice it up with a little drama.

Hope you're enjoying this story so far and continue to upvote this story.