TEEN AMONGST THORNS

Chapter Five

“Henshaw! What in the world are you doing?” “Coach.”

“The opposing team’s scored three goals in a row. Three. Goals. Do you think you’re in front of that net just to stand there, looking like an i***t?”

Fredrick looked down at his feet, scowling, breathing hard.

“I gave you a chance to redeem yourself. You flunked it. You’re benched for the semifinals

and the finals.”

“Coach!” Fredrick protested, his head jerking up. “Get on that bench! Danny! On the field!”

“I think Fowler’s having a bad hair day,” Damien sniggered.

“What did you say?” Their coach whipped around, scrutinising the players faces with his small round eyes.

“Nothing, coach.”

“As it should be! Now, get your asses on that field.” The players loped sprinted onto the field.

“Go Kayden!” “Seriously?” “What?”

“You’re aware you have a boyfriend, aren’t you?” Lexi shrugged. “So what?”

“Hello? You’re not supposed to be supporting another guy when you already have a boyfriend.”

“Gordon doesn’t play football. Neither does he attend our school. And he’s too old to worry that I’m cheering on some…bloke…go Kayden!”

Malia shook her head. “He’s twenty-six.”

“Yes. That’s almost ten years older than anyone around here- except our teachers, of course. Now shut up! I’m trying to focus on the game.”

Malia raised her hands in mock surrender. “Don’t mind me.”

As they watched the game, someone came up behind them where they sat on spectator seats.

“Dorothy!” Malia smiled. “Come sit with us.”

Lexi rolled her eyes and continued cheering Kayden. Dorothy sat beside Malia.

“Goal!” Lexi suddenly yelled on top of her voice. “Did you see that, Malia? Kayden scored a goal!”

“Hmm hmm.” Malia grinned fakely.

Lexi rolled her eyes. She looked across at Dorothy. “What’s with you?”

Dorothy played with her short fingernails. Her pudgy, sweaty palms gripped the coaster in her hands tight.

“Dorothy.” Malia frowned.

Dorothy suddenly jumped to her feet. “You!” She pointed a shaky finger at Lexi. “You just sit her and act like nothing happened. I warned you not to bring Tooth into the party but you wouldn’t listen. Our classmates got hurt yesterday, all because of your stupidity.”

Lexi’s eyes widened dramatically. “Seriously? Again, Dorothy? You went on and on about this last night too.”

“Kayden…got hurt.”

“And I apologised.”Lexi replied incredulously. “Besides, what’s it to you? You always treat him like s**t, anyway.”

Dorothy fell quiet, scowling at her sister. Her auburn ponytails whirled furiously in the air as she whipped and stormed out of the stadium.

“What’s with her?”

“Don’t ask me.” Malia shrugged. “You’re her sister.” Lexi shook her head.

“Anyway, the match’s over.”

The boys were trooping off the fiels, their bodies and clothes drenched in sweat. Jake strode over where they sat.

“Heyyy.” Malia stood up and kissed Jake on the lips. “You played fire on the field, baby.”

Lexi scoffed and rose to her feet. She walked over to the bottom row of the seats where Kayden sat, drinking a bottle of water.

“You played well, Kayden.”

“Yeah.” Kayden replied. He chugged the rest of the water and looked up at Lexi. “You done?”

“Don’t tell me you’re still angry about yesterday.”

“Now that I think back to the incident very well, you stood there doing nothing while your boyfriend beat up your classmates.”

“Well, it’s not like I could hold him back.” Lexi folded her arms, pouting.

“Then stay away from me.” Kayden retorted. “Stay away, so you won’t ever have to hold him back. I don’t want anyone around me getting hurt.”

“What…what do you mean?”

“Well, your innocent boyfriend paid me a nice little visit last Saturday. I didn’t exactly like his message.”

“Gordon came to your house?” Lexi stepped closer, her face flushed. “You know what, I need to get to the locker room. See you later.”

Kayden jumped to his feet and grabbed the football from the ground. He started to walk up the stairs when Lexi spoke.

“You always leave.”

Kayden rolled his eyes. “Now what?”

“Whenever I talk to you. You always walk away.”

What was she going on about now? Kayden turned to face her. “What do you care?” Lexi smiled, almost sadly. “More than you think.”

Kayden shook his head and walked away. He didn’t understand her at all. She had a boyfriend, but she flirted with every single guy in their class. She’d taken interest in him during the past few weeks, and now, she was acting like she had feelings for him. Everyone thought of her as a cold-hearted self-centred rich b***h, caring about no one else but herself. Thus, a few deep words from her weren’t enough to make him put in the effort into seeing her in a new light.

“Jake.” He walked up to his friend and they did their special handshake. “Hey.” Malia smiled in reply.

“Nice scoring, mate.” Jake slapped Kayden on the back.

“Thanks. But, I want you to know this is only temporary. You’ll be back to striker position by…”

“Don’t be so bothered about it, Kayden. I already told you I’m fine with it.” Kayden sighed.

Jake looked at Lexi, who stood in the sun, facing the field, her arms crossed. “What’s with her?”

“I told her Tooth threatened me. Then she said something strange.” “What did she say?”

“You know what? Never mind. Let’s go change.”

As Kayden descended the stairs, he caught a dark-haired girl staring at him from where she sat on one of the spectator seats. It was Yvonne.