Just Good Friends?

Chapter 12 - Game Time

Mike

"OK ladies, get out there and make me proud!" Coach gets us riled up. We shout our chant as we walk out on to the field, the crowd starts cheering. I automatically look around for Bex, and Joe puts his arm over my shoulder and nods towards the stand. There she is, my beautiful Bex. I'm ready for this tonight.

...

Bex

Joe and Mike are killing it out there. They stand out a mile above the rest, and the rest are good. I'm so proud of them both, and I know that there's no worries about Joe going to UoA with me. I wonder where Mike will go, and how far we'd have to travel to meet.

....

Mike

"Ladies, that was the most outstanding performance I've ever seen from you. There are a few college reps here tonight that want to talk to a few of you. Get dressed and go chat."

Joe is ready first and heads out. I take my time as I'm really not sure about college. When I finally leave the changing rooms, there's no sign of Joe. He must of committed already, he seemed really sure of himself out there tonight.

I head down the tunnel and a tall dark haired guy stops me.

"Mike Torres? I'm Hayden Mayers, from UoA" the rest is a bit of a blur, but I am amazed at what he says. UoA are impressed with me, and want me to commit to them. Of course I said yes without a moments hesitation. It's only when I'm heading out of the stadium to find Bex and Joe that I think of Bex, and where she might be going. How far away will we be from each other?

I find Bex standing alone in front of her car.

"Hey handsome, you did good, really good" she reaches up and pecks me on the cheek.

"Thanks babygirl. Think we need to talk. Im pretty sure you've committed to a college now, well, so have I" this is so hard.

"Yeah, that's why I'm alone. Joe has gone on to Patrick's with the rest of the team so we can chat" she's looking sad.

"I've gone with UoA" I blurt it out before I can stop myself.

"Wh...what?" She looks stunned... not sad, stunned.

"Yeah, sorry. That came out too sudden. I wanted to sit and talk"

"So have I" she's still staring at me with her mouth open.

"What? What are you on about?" I'm so confused right now.

"I've gone with UoA too. So has Joe... the three of us will be heading off together" she suddenly jumps in to my arms and I pick her up. I'm so shocked! What the hell!?

"This is f*****g amazing!" I'm so happy I kiss her... on the mouth... properly, not just a peck. I'm still holding her in my arms, and I can't be 100%, but I'm pretty sure she kissed me back. When I put her down on her feet, we just kind of stare at each other, then she breaks away from my hold.

"Uh, we um, we should go.... go find Joe. Get in" she jumps in her car and I walk around to the passenger side. Now it's gone all awkward. I'm going to have to crack some jokes, get back to the easy friend situation for tonight.

....

By the time we arrived at Patrick's bar, things are easy again between us. She parks the car and we jump out. I drape my arm over her shoulder as we walk across the carpark and enter the bar, everyone cheers.... I suppose I did play the very best that I've ever played! I bump fists and shoulder hug the guys as we head to the bar.

"Go sit, I'll get the drinks and bring them over" she smiles and heads over to Joe and the others.

"So, he took it ok then, you both look happy. Wheres he going?" Joe asked as I sat down.

"Yeah, he took it really well. Ask him yourself, he wants to tell you" I laughed. Mike will kill me if I let it slip.

"Yo Mike, you good about me and Bex and the whole UoA?" Joe moved up on the bench so Mike could fit in on the end.

"Yeah, I'm good. Think it's f*****g awesome to be honest" he grinned smuggly, passing my bottle of beer to me and giving me a wink.

"Huh? So where are you going, and what is up with you two?" Joe is looking between us, with a very confused look on his face

"Well dude, you ain't getting rid of me. I've commited to UoA!" He puts his arm over my shoulder, pulls me in and kisses my forehead.

"What!? This is insanely awesome!" Joe jumps up on the bench and steps on to the table and whistles for everyone's attention. "Listen up fuckers! The Triple Threat, me and my 2 bitches, are gonna smash it up at UoA people! Boom!" He punches the air and everyone cheers and shouts. He sits back on the bench and a round of drinks appears infront of us. Patrick, the owner of Patrick's bar, yes, unoriginal name, congratulates us and says it won't be the same around here without us, but that he'll be following our progress.

"Dude, we are gonna rip it up on the field at UoA! I'm so f*****g psyched you are coming too!" Joe is happier than I thought he'd be. He's been acting a bit strange towards Mike lately, and I have no idea why. If he knew about that odd moment between us earlier, I'm sure he'd go nuts. It was just a heat of the moment thing I think, I mean, I'm pretty sure Mike didn't mean to kiss me like that, but I'm surprised at how I felt. It was nice, it felt right.

........

We stumble through the front door, and head for the den.

"Whyve hell jid you guysh let me drink sho much"? Joe slurred as he threw himself down on the sofa face first. We just laughed at him and sat on the other sofa, and Bex threw her legs up over my lap. We were pretty drunk too, but not as bad as Joe. Ems even went home as she said he would just snore and annoy her all night if she came back here with us.

"Yoush can laugh lovebirds. I wish you she's both short dis s**t out between yoush. The shparks are flying" and he passed out. It was so quiet, neither of us said a word, but I suddenly wasn't tired anymore. I can't believe Joe just came out with that. OK he's pissed, but s**t man...

"I think we should head to bed. I'll find a blanket for Joe and leave out some painkillers for him" Bex looks a little sad, I hope what Joe said isn't going to ruin things between us. I need her friendship if I can't have her as mine.

"OK, do you need me to help with anything, or shall I leave you to it?" I'm feeling really awkward now, I hate this feeling with her, it's never been like this with us in 15 years.

"Go to my room, we'll watch a film up there. We could watch one here, but I don't want to disturb Joe. He needs all the sleep he can get, as I plan on taking him for a good surf tomorrow. You coming with us?" OK, so things aren't as awkward as I thought. A film in one of our rooms was always the norm before I left. This hopefully means that what Joe said won't come between us.

"OK, I'll go and find us something to watch. Horror yeah?" No point in me asking, horrors are always Bex's first choice.

"Of course." She grins, "actually make it scary this time though" winking at me, she goes to find a blanket for Joe.

....

"So, found one?" Bex comes in to her bedroom and starts undressing. She's never hidden away from me whilst changing, but I've never blatantly stared at her... out of the corner of my eye, yes, but I've always looked away. I couldn't seem to bring myself to do that now though. She has the most amazing body I've ever seen. She's slim with a strong flat stomach from all the sport and working out she does. Her tanned skin glows in the lamplight, and I can see àll the curves of her body. I just want to reach out and stroke her skin.

She looks over at me then and catches me staring.

"Anyone would think you've never seen the female body before Mike" she says smoothly, but she doesn't cover up.

"Not one as sexy as yours babygirl" it just came out, I couldn't stop myself. s**t! She just looks at me,.

"Huh" she mutters as she walks over to the bed. She climbs on, and gets under the covers and rests her head on my chest, so I pop my arm around her and pull her in closer. This is exactly how it used to be with us, nothing is different... except I can't relax anymore. My feelings seem to have developed quite deeply.

....

I woke up with my arm around Bex, and her body curled around me. I gently disentangled myself from her, and made my way down to the kitchen. I needed coffee, and a dunk in the pool. Joe was still snoring on the sofa, but the painkillers were gone, and the glass empty. I filled it back up for him, and went out of the patio doors and dived in to the pool. Hopefully I could drown out the feelings for Bex, and swim till I forget.