Just Good Friends?

Chapter 18 - Having fun

Nate

"Beer?" Joe heads in to the kitchen whilst I'm flicking through the channels. I don't know why I bother, as we always end up with football anyway. Joe doesn't wait for an answer, he gets 4 beers out of the fridge, and heads back in to the den. All the others have gone home, and it's just me and Mike left along with Joe and Bex. Mike has had his own room here for years, and Joe has now given me a key too, and I seem to have just as many clothes here as I do in my own house. I always use the same room when I stay, and Joe said he's got his guy coming over tomorrow to fit a lock on the door for me, just like the others have on theirs. I don't know how often I'll stay, but it's nice to know I've got this place. He passes me a beer, and leaves the other two on the table.

"You found anything yet?" He asks sitting on the sofa.

"Nah, looks like it'll be football again dude" I smile.

"That's cool. So, you good being here, I mean with them, all night"? I knew it was coming, but it was still weird.

"Yeah, it's all good Joe. I've lived with it for years already mate, I'm not going to break down now ok. I'll find myself a girl sooner or later, so don't sweat it" I hold my bottle out to him and we clink them together "dudes forever" I say smirking.

"Dudes forever" he laughs.

When Bex comes in and throws herself down on the sofa next to me, Joe is laughing at my impression of the guy on the TV.

"What's got you so happy?" She says, swinging her legs over my lap. Things like this should make it awkward for me, considering how I feel about her, but I actually like it. It makes me feel like I'm the same as everyone else. Bex treats me exactly like she treats the others in our group, and that makes me happy. She has no idea how I feel about her, and that's the way it will stay forever. The only person who knows, is Joe. Oscar knew I liked her when we were younger, but I told him it was just a passing phase, I lied. Joe is good with it. I put him first, and I always will, nobody, not even his gorgeous sexy sister, will ever come between us.

"Nates impressions, f*****g hell dude, you kill me" Joe is still laughing when Mike comes in. He jumps down in to the seat next to Joe, and grabs a beer.

"So, what we watching fuckers"? Mike isn't bothered by Bex sitting with me, with her legs over my lap, so I have no need to feel tense. I relax and watch the TV.

"Football. I can't find anything else, you look if you like" I throw the remote over to him, and he catches it easily.

"Football sounds good to me dude" he doesn't take his eyes off the screen, so we all settle in to watch the latest game.

....

We've watched 2 games, and half way thorough a comedy, when I decide I've had enough and need sleep. I tap Bex's legs and she drops them down to the floor and looks over at the other sofa. Both Joe and Mike are sleeping soundly.

"Guess only the hard-core are left eh" she chuckles. "Grab a couple of blankets out of the cupboard for me Nate" she grabs the empty bottles and takes them out to the kitchen bins.

I grab the blankets from the hall cupboard, and take them in to her. When I walk in to the den, Bex is moving Mike's arm over Joe's shoulders. I let out a giggle then slap my hand over my mouth as she waves her hand at me to be quiet. She's smiling though as she gently lifts Joe's leg and drapes it over Mike's lap. They look all cuddled up together. I'm really struggling to keep from laughing out loud right now, as she grabs

her phone and takes a few photos of them. The next second, my phone pings and when I check, she's sent me the photos. We are like a couple of little school girls, doubled over holding on to each other, trying our best not to wake them. She points towards the door and pushes me out of the den. We wait till we reach the hallway until we burst out laughing.

"Ah god Bex, how childish are we!" There are tears streaming down my face from laughing so much.

"I know! But it was funny! Hopefully they haven't lost their humour" she giggles "OK Nate, we really need to sleep. Go to bed dude, see you in the morning" she gives me a hug.

"G'night Bex, sleep well" I kiss her cheek, and head off to my room. Even though I'm totally in love with the girl, I'm still happy going to bed despite not being with her. I'm happy we're such good friends,and we can laugh like we have tonight. Those are times I'll treasure.

....

Bex

"Bex! Nate! Which one of you fuckers thought you'd try your hand at comedy last night then!?" I wake up to Joe shouting up the stairs. But I'm pretty sure I also hear Mike laughing, so I can't be in that much trouble. I drag myself out of bed. As I leave my room, I see Nate coming from the opposite direction where his room is. I'm guessing it's now his room anyway, as I think Joe gave him a key the other day and said Tim is coming today to fit a lock on the bedroom door. Anyway, he's rubbing his eyes and going down the split staircase from his end. I head down from my end, and we meet in the middle and look down. Joe and Mike are standing there looking up, Mike is trying to hide a smile but doesn't succeed.

"This has to be a Bex thing right? Nate would of happily gone along with it though, and I can just picture you both giggling like a couple of little girls too, creeping around" Nate bursts out laughing then, he was obviously thinking the same as me, just how close Joe was to the truth.

"You can f*****g laugh asshole! f**k, I think I made a mistake giving you a key and a f*****g lock on your room" Joe mutters and heads towards the kitchen.

"Come on dude, you love me really. Joe, buddy, come on!" Nate runs down the stairs and follows Joe in to the kitchen. He won't have to grovel for long. Joe thinks the world of Nate, he can't stay mad at him for longer than 30 minutes.

I smile down at Mike and shrug my shoulders.

"I'm going for a shower handsome. You coming?" I say suggestively.

"In you Yeah, I'm coming in you babygirl" he races up the stairs after me, and follows me in to the shower.

......

Mike

We arrive at school and there's banners everywhere, and people wearing the school colours. Cheerleaders are jumping around and people are just in a frenzy.

We're playing Trayton tonight, and it usually ends up a blood bath. Even though I haven't been here for a year, I still have major issues with those guys.

Bex leaves me at my locker to go to hers, and I'm surrounded by people within seconds. s**t, I hate this. I spot Joe coming down the hall and push out of the throng of people and head towards him. He's lapping up the attention, bouncing around, giving everyone fist bumps, and f**k me eyes to the girls.

"Dude! We are going to smash them tonight!" He grabs me in a shoulder hug, just as Nate arrives next to us.

"Awww guys, are you ready to come out to the school?" He laughs, and then ducks as Joe's fist flies towards his head.

"I'll deal with you later. Right now, I'm taking my f**k buddy down to see Coach" Joe winks, throws his arm around me and gives me a huge smacking kiss on the cheek. I just laugh, shake my head and start heading down to Coach's office.

"No dark corners guys! People don't need to witness that!" Nate shouts after us laughing.

"You know it was Bex that staged us right"? I say as we arrive at the locker room. Coach's office is in the back, and he's sitting at his desk.

"Yeah I know, I just like f*****g with Nate" he grins.

"Joe, Mike, come in and sit down" Coach pushes his papers away and leans back in his seat.

"What's up Coach"? Joe asks. He knows it won't be anything bad, we've been very well behaved since I've been back, and as far as I know, Joe didn't get in to much trouble over the past year.

"Trayton. I know the troubles between you aren't settled, and there is bound to be tensions running high tonight. Don't let it affect your game. This is important. You're both off to UoA, they don't take kindly to violence. Keep it together, that's a warning." He goes back to his paperwork and we take that as we're dismissed.

"Nice chat coach, invigorating" Joe smirks and says cockily as we leave the room.

"You seen any of them lately?" I turn to Joe as we head to class.

"Yeah, had a run in with them not long before you got back. Harry f****d one of their lot at a party, so they went after his brother. Would of kicked the living s**t out of him if we hadn't caught up with them. We settled things the way we do, and that was the last time. It's going to come back to us at some point. We need to keep an eye on things tonight." Joe is looking serious, and I have a bad feeling.

"What the f**k was Harry thinking?" I can't believe he would be that stupid.

"Harry was going through some s**t at the time. His parents split after his older brother died. Then his mum remarried, and she's not in a good place, suffered from bad depression. He didn't know this girl, and he was so drunk he didn't think to ask her where she was from. It's in the past dude, he feels s**t about it, but it wasn't his fault. We've all done stupid s**t because of one thing or another" We had too, me, Joe and Bex more than anyone. But everyone stood by us through it all.

"OK, let's get in there" we head in to the class and head to our seats. Bex, Harry and Nate are in this class, Cal doesn't take Sociology so he's not here.

....

Bex

"Well look who it is. Bex Holden. Was wondering when I'd see you" Tony Gibbs leered at me as him and his suck ups sauntered over. "You're here early Bex, that means you're either still training like f**k, or you're the driver for the girls tonight" he stops directly in front of me, a bit too close for my liking, but I refuse to step back from him.

"I'm guessing you're still training hard due that sexy as f**k body of yours Bex. No girl can compete with that" his band of merry men start laughing and looking at me up and down.

"Can't say it's good to see you Tony, although I will say you've not changed a bit. Still a sleeze bag shithead" I smile sarcastically.

"Ah now now Bex, where's your manners to the visiting team"? He's just about to reach out, when we hear something behind them.

"She's right Gibbs, you haven't changed a bit. Still the same weedy snivelling low life you were a few years ago. And don't even think about touching one hair on her" Mike glares at Tony, and speaks in a low threatening voice. He has the look of death in his eyes, which sends a shiver through my body. I've only seen that look one other time since he's been back. Joe is standing shoulder to shoulder with Mike, and Harry, Nate and Cal are on either side of them.

"Well f**k, if it isn't the f*****g bodyguards. Heard you were back Mike. I must say, you're looking much more protective over the little lady now. You always did want in her knickers didn't you... I think maybe you got your wish eh" Joe makes a move to lunge, but Nate stops him and a look passes between them. Whatever it was, Joe nods once, and holds off.

"Just leave her the f**k alone Gibbs. This s**t is between us. Let's sort it out on the field" I can see Mike is really struggling to hold himself back. Tony Gibbs doesn't scare me. I'm able to look after myself physically, probably more so then most of these guys standing here now. But it's what else he would do that I'm not sure about. He's a dirty player, on and off the field, and he's not bothered whether they are male or female.

"Your boy there crossed a line Torres" now I see the anger cross Tony's face.

"It was a blip, he didn't know she was one of yours, and it's never happened since. Just get over it Gibbs." He turns to me then and silently asks if I'm OK, I nod once "come on Bex, let's go" he holds his hand out to me, pulls me through Gibbs hench men, and moves me over to Joe. Joe pulls me in and puts an arm over my shoulder, and Nate steps over infront of me.

"We'll see you on the field ladies" and with that, Mike, Joe and Nate push me infront of them and start walking towards the lockerroom, and Harry and Cal bring up the rear.

....

"You're sitting right behind the benches ok, I want to keep an eye on you so you need to be where I can see you the whole time. Ems, Jess and Anna will be there too, and a few of the basketball guys" Joe walks me up to the stands, he didn't want Mike to walk me as it seemed to rile Tony Bowers up even more seeing how much more protective Mike has become of me.

"I'll be fine Joe, you know I will. What the hell do I box for if its not to look after myself?" I get why he's shielding me, but he also knows I'm more than capable of handling myself.

"I know Bex, but I get the feeling things are going to get quite heated. And now that he thinks he has ammunition with you and Mike a couple, it's looking worse. It wasn't a big deal when you were with Oscar, but he can see how much Mike loves you. He saw that instantly, anyone can now that it's out in the open" Joe sounds worried for the first time since we were kids. I guess I should just go along with what he wants for now.

"OK, I'll do what you want. But I'm not hiding ok" I hug him, and head to my seat "Go smash their f*****g ugly faces bro" I call over my shoulder. He laughs, salutes with two fingers, then blows me a kiss and runs off to the rest of the team.