My eyes dart around nervously, the vacant seat to my side fueling my anxiety - the crowded bleachers of people an ironically isolating feeling. The players continue warming up, my mind unable to focus on the game - maybe, I'll just go look for Elliot.

I nudge cautiously across the bleacher, awkwardly avoiding the legs of the sitting crowd. Finally liberated, I take one final look at the field before making my way down the steps - en route to the hallway.

Instinctively I pull my phone out of my pocket, the blank screen greeting me like the kiss of death: unwanted.

The dialling intensifies as I pull it closer to my ear, my focus draining away as I unintentionally bite my lip - unconsciously triggered by concern and nervousness.

I sigh loudly, pulling the phone back into my pocket - my eyes scouting all over as I roam the hallway. Maybe he's texted me?

I naively pull my phone out again - jarred by the blank screen; my fingers wrapping around it as I open up the messenger app. Through my distraction, I body slam into something; someone; the wind rapidly departing my lungs as I start falling backwards - time freezing as I slowly plummet towards the ground.

A brawny arm coils under my back, supporting me as I stare up - dazed by the fleeting moment - familiarly alluring green eyes slicing away the stagnated time.

"Watch where you're going. I don't want to muck up my pretty face." Casey winks as he pulls me back onto my feet, mocking my haphazardly thrown compliment from last night. "Are you alright? You look flustered? What are you doing back here?"

"Yeah. Yeah. I'm alright. I was just...looking for you actually. I didn't see you out on the field?" A hint of a blush spreads across his rosy cheeks - taken aback by my statement - his confidence leaping at my words.

"I was giving myself a pep talk...it's going to be game tonight - and that's a promise." His alluding tone is complimented by a mischievous smile. I've missed this Casey; the one who laughs and smiles; his alluringly delicious personality enough to feed a starving Crowd. The one I met when he stole my bed.

"Why? What's gonna happen tonight?" He chuckles in response, my prying question dismissed with the swipe of his hand.

"Don't worry - you'll see. Want me to walk you back to the game?"

"No it's alright. I'll see you out there." I insist - perking up my tone to masquerade my internal worry. He nods cautiously before sauntering off, my eyes falling victim to the his back - scanning over the outline of his body; the tightness of his pants cupping his glutes nicely. Damn he has some good genes.

I snap out of my daze as he walks back onto the field, his effect over me broken. Back to work.

"Elliot?" I call out as I round a corner, a group of girls looking back at me confusion - my yell into nothing making me look crazy. "Um. Sorry. I was looking for my friend. He's tall. Lean. A tad sun kissed."

"Oh the cute guy with the blue eyes?" One of them replies vivaciously - her preppy tone hauntingly annoying. I nod, perplexed by her response. "Yeah. He's around that corner doing stuff." I follow the direction of her bony finger - my view obstructed by a wall.

"Thanks."

The sound of my footsteps are replaced with muffled breathing as I near closer, the closing distance amplifying the sounds - my mind able to connect the dots.

I pause; the floor morphing into quicksand: holding me; halting me. The pounding of my heart flooding through my ears; barricades the noises away. Do it Danté. Rip off the bandaid.

I try and force my eyes to look - my heart resisting as nerves preemptively repel me from peeking - my self-will fighting them off. With adrenalin pumping through my veins, I cast my gaze around the corner; the happiness draining from the world as Elliot manoeuvres his lips against those of a random blond; the heat of the moment keeping me incognito.

She groans as his lips travel down her neck - each kiss an intangible dagger through my heart. His mouth stops at her naval, sucking on her; loving her; enjoying her - his fingers sliding under her shirt.

He pulls off of her, pecking her roughly - his starving lips barely able to survive without the nutrients of her mouth.

"I love you so fucking much Sunshine." Did he just call her Sunshine? I thought I was his Sunshine. Wow.

His confessions kisses her lips as they stare at each other in the eyes, his whisper drowning them both in lust; the hallway a meagre host for their make out session. My eyes merely witness to the epitome of hormonal teenage love.

I watch in horror as he reconnects his lips with hers, my mouth ajar at the sight - the movement of their lips stalling my body; impeding on my ability to do something; anything; helpless as tears begin to stab the corners of my eyes.

I conjure a dam of self-will to hold back the tsunami of tears welling around my lens; gathering; building; containing.

As he pushes off of her and stalks walking away, my body activates flight mode - exiting around the corner and sprinting off; the energy feeding my pace deriving from hurt and anger - glimpses of Elliot's face turning my vision red.

Slowly I come to a halt as I make it back to the crowd unspotted, my unsteady breathing following me back to my seat. I slump down into the chair, disregarding the fast paced game in front of me: the football game incomparable to the tumultuous hurricane pelting my chest.

"Hey Sunshine. Sorry I took so long! I was talking to my little sister on the phone." Elliot's soft voice snaps me out of my mental cell, the thoughts and memories of him kissing that random girl imprisoning me; trapping me: scattered breaths of air trying to invade my shaky lungs.

In an attempt to maintain my facade, I plaster on a smile - his denim blue eyes unable to pierce through my emotional veil.

"It's okay." I whisper out, unable to convert my internal sorrow into words. He slyly intertwines our fingers, his scaly skin a cold contrast to the inferno blazing in my chest. My attempts to watch the game are disrupted by him: his hand, his breathing, his smiling, his everything - every single aspect of him now grotesque and off-putting.

I let the game go on, Elliot oblivious to my fury - his touch the same sensation of the electrocution: really fucking annoying.

The crowd erupts into cheer as our team scores the final touchdown, wrapping up the game and bringing home the victory.

"YAY! WE FUCKING WON!" Elliot screams into my ear, pulling me up as he starts banging his hands together in applause. Even the way he claps is annoying.

The crowd quietens down as our team lines up on stage to take the trophy, Harvey's golden locks bouncing up and down as he starts twerking in victory - terribly at that. Casey pulls his helmet off as he steps to the front of the stage, the trophy tucked neatly under his armpit.

"WE DID IT! WE WON THE CHAMPIONSHIPS!" He screams into the microphone, reigniting the passionate crowd. "Quiet down, quiet down; I have a few things to say." The crowd adheres to his instructions, everyone returning to their seats - his voice able to calm a whole stadium.

I unwrap my fingers from Elliot's, shoving them into my pocket. His eyes roam over me, my stance indicative of my distress as I shuffle away from him; the armrest preventing me from going any further - trapping me next to him. His attempt at putting his hand on my shoulder is foiled as I nudge it off, focusing my attention on Casey's speech instead.

"I love my teammates. I really do; I couldn't of won this championship without them - they've had my back since day one." His team mates pat him on the back, my brother wrapping his arm around his best friend - standing proudly by his side.

"But love comes in many forms." He continues, holding everybody's attention effortlessly. "Love is love. And like I love my team mats, I love someone else." The breath in my throat pauses - clutching onto every single last words. I nearly fall off my chair as I lean forward, longing to get closer to him.

"And like the love for my team, the love for this person is eternal and infinite. And that's why I wanted to say...I'm Casey...I'm gay...and I'm in love with Danté Evans." My jaw drops as the crowd starts murmuring, their eyes shrewdly scanning around and identifying me.

The tidal wave of emotions obliterates the dam holding back my tears, Elliot's face coming into view as he starts talking to me - his words inaudible through my distress. I cast my gaze at Casey, his eyes looking back at me. Staring at me. Only me. He did it. He really did it. The one thing I wanted him to do, and he did it.

The weight of both of the event's that've happened tonight culminate to this point - overwhelming me.

"Sorry Casey." I whisper as I bolt through the crowd and run out the stadium gate, a glimpse of his heartbroken face plastered in my mind as I run away - my chaotic thoughts silenced by my heavy panting as I continue running.

Elliot cheating. Casey confessing his love in front of the whole fucking town. Don't do this to yourself Danté; just keep going.

Run Danté run.

A/N

Hello! Sorry this chapter took a few more days than usual, I just didn't want to write it because I knew how it was going to end: tragically.

Leave your thoughts about the chapter, and specifically about Casey and Elliot, below in the comments! :)

Thank you for sticking by me and for reading my book; and I hope you have a great day! :D

- YOP