Two of a kind

Chapter 2

There comes a time in one's life, brandon imagined, when one realizes that nothing from that point on could ever be the same, and you understand that from that moment time would be divided into two parts. Before this and after this. For him that time had been in the confidants of the library, walking in fearfully and nervously, reading jane eyre, writing and reading letters, staring into the icy blue eyes of a girl whose face he could not see. He couldn't help but smile at the irony.

If he was to be truly sincere with himself. That moment had been well before that. Mr henley's literature class a year before. Brandon had actually walked in almost by accident, uncertain of himself- as he'd been in the library, seeking a place to hide from the unforgiving eyes of coach berkley. Walking into that class, that day, that moment, had changed his life. But that in itself was it's own story, a story to be told another day.

Now his thoughts were of her and her letter and maybe his letter also. They were all he could think about. Again he smiled.

"Caprall"

"Sir"

"Something funny to you"

"No sir"

"Then get your head in the game. If you ain't agile your fragile. Are we clear!"

Brandon frowned "yes coach!"It had also been clear the last seven times he'd said it within the hour. There was good cause for alarm though, play offs were within the month and so far, the team had made as much progress as slugs qualifying for a race. The rival team was certain to destroy them, that they all knew to well. Coach berkly was on the warpath for slouchers, any excuse really to have a good yell.

"Caprall!" he turned to face berkly and was immediately struck, his jaw inclined and he found himself on the dirt, his face smeared across grass. He realized quickly it was the ball. He reached up, eyes forward to meet an apologetic team mate and furious coach.

"Sorry bro" Aiden offered a hand. He took it and was lunged up to his feet. Never in Brandon's life had he seen james berkley's eyebrows furrowed so far down his face, his tanned skin bronze red under the heat of the afternoon sun-brandon did not want to think anger, his rough brown hair brushed back underneath his cap. The team Nick named him old hawk. With the glare he flashed him, chin raised, eyes pervaded with fury, brandon found him all too worthy of that name.

He walked towards brandon slowly, his steps were steady and menacing and his fists clenched beside him and for a fraction of a second, the entire football team wondered if he was so frustrated at their ineffectuality he would hit brandon. Berkeley haulted when their feet nearly touched. Brandon towered clearly above him, though at that moment he felt uncomfortable small. Berkeley held his gaze unshifting.

"Is there somewhere you'd rather be Caprall" he said, deeply, slowly, dangerously.

Brandon gaped. "No sir"

"Good" he said dryly. "Wash your face and your attitude and be back on this field in 15"

"Yes sir"

He turned. "Rest of you, were running laps. Move your feet go, go, go"

It wasn't until he reached the locker room, that brandon realized he still hadn't blinked. Damn berkley and damn that girl.

He did have somewhere he'd rather be. At the library, staring at her entire face and not just the dark blue warmth of her eyes. They were as blue as midnight sun brandon thought and suddenly wondered why he'd left with such urgency. Walking head down along the field, he had time to take in today's sun. It was a glistening gold in the afternoon sky. Light Ray's spurting fiercely on the edges of the grass. They returned the embrace with a dark green efflorescent glow. The humidity was merciless but subtle. A cool breeze flew by and traced the lines of his fingers and threw the loose curls of his dark hair across his face. It was a splendid afternoon. The atmosphere felt almost poetic, yearning for romance. He was reminded of her.

Had he been afraid. Perhaps, fear may have been a part of it. And now he felt terribly afraid. He envisioned those eyes belonging to a cheerleader, potential prom queen, the most popular girl's in school and she, whoever she was had seen him reading jane eyre.

Calm down he urged himself. He hadn't seen her face, it was unlikely she'd seen his. And if she was popular and like him had a reputation to protect, he had as much dirt on her as she did him. She'd written on the letter too after all. He sighed. Her handwriting was flawless. Perfect. Her words were perfect. Her eyes were perfect, he hoped her hair was too. And the rest of her. He should not have left her. Why had he left her?

Something had driven him. Whether it was the same thing that drove a gated footballer into a library, into the literature aisle, into jane eyre and into her eyes, he could not tell.

He reached into his pocket.

Can I tell you a secret.

Her words still felt new to him. The letter still neat and warm in his grasp. He stopped himself from smelling them. Reminding himself who he was, he was brandon Caprall, popular, hot, every girl's dream and when he saw this girl again he would be her dream. If he saw her again. The thought of never gazing upon those eyes again left a sour tinge in his throat. He needed water to rinse it urgently.

On that account, he walked towards the bathroom and stopped at the sink. Stashing the note back in his pocket, he turned on the tap and washed the mud of his face, he tried also- as best he could, to clean up his attitude as well. He needed to be at the top of his game and his team needed to make regionals or at least damn well qualify. His future depended on it.

He put a towel over his face to dry it. Rubbing along his cheek bones, the darkness of his eyes, the midnight shade of his glorious black hair. Somehow, he was reminded of her. He needed to see her again. He was thankful at least that he hadn't been too lost and bewildered to give her his name. If she wanted to see him again, she would. Wouldn't she?

"You good here bro. Coach is asking for you" Aiden queried, leaning on the bathroom door, an eyebrow raised, a smile emerging.

"Yeah I'm just about done here" he threw the towel away. "Let's go play ball" he slapped his shoulder.

Aiden couldn't help but laugh.