The double arrangement

5

Volleyball. Everyone's absolute worst nightmare. Well, the uncoordinated, at least. For my sister, it's absolutely no problem. For me, however... It's like a nightmare except way worse. I'm actually living it. I walk to the locker rooms to get ready for the torture. As I enter I notice the usual mix of jocks. Blonde, blue eyes, way too into makeup. Gotta do something to cover up the acne. While most would resort to skin care products and plastics, others stick with makeup. Who knew that being popular would also cost a fortune? No one looks my way as I head to the back of the locker room. Like a fly on the wall, I am barely noticed, and I prefer it that way. The less attention on me the better.

I change clothes, staring at myself in the mirror. Of course, I got no sleep last night. I'm honestly surprised if I got any sleep at all. All my dreams involved Jonah. My mind really went all out. It was so bad that I had to watch cartoons just to get my mind off it. Off him. I sigh as I take out my shirt, my mind again drifting off to other places. I get dressed and make sure my locker is tightly locked. The last time I left it open my clothes were gone and I had to buy new ones. That was not fun. My sister made fun of me for weeks.

As I turn to leave, I slam against something hard. At first, I thought it was a wall because yes, I admit, I am that stupid. Then I realize it's not a wall. In fact, it's not an object. More like a person. I really hoped it wasn't a random jock. I would totally get beat for that. I open my eyes to see Jonah staring at me. His shirt is in his hand. He helps me up and I can't help but notice the way his muscles flex as he helps me stand. Great. Another thing for me to goddamn dream about. As if his grin wasn't enough for my homosexual ass. I pick up my locker key and Jonah smiles when he watches me.

"Sorry about that Leo. I didn't even think anyone else would be back here"

"Leo? " I ask in confusion

"Yeah. That's your name, isn't it? Jonah asks as he puts on a shirt.

" Yeah. Of course. I mean, why would I lie about my name? Who would do that? "

I force myself to shut up. I was rambling. Not just in front of anyone. In front of Jonah of all people. I don't think he could notice my embarrassment, he was too busy checking the time to notice. I make a mental note that for me to actually have a fake name I need to remember it. I curse as I head out to the Hall.

The hallway is empty, luckily, as I make my way to gym class. Class hasn't even started and I'm sweating like crazy. I can hear the sound of rubber and the squeak of shoes on the wooden floor of the gymnasium. What are dodgeballs even made of? Definitely rubber with an extra dose of ow. Crimson-colored dose of pain. Here we go. Into the school of the uncoordinated.

I make my way into the gymnasium, and people are already lining up to be part of teams. The jocks, of course, huddle up in their own little team. How on earth half of our class can be seen as one team will always be a mystery to me. The rest of us that's left has to make do with our uncoordinated selves. I watch as the rest of the class scrambles like wild animals trying to reach other teams.

Quinn watches as everyone makes way and she ignores them, crossing her arms and joining my side. During these torture fests, we would always team up together. With her athletic build and my...well...whatever it was that I had, we made the perfect dream. Everyone else sort of just blended in behind us, trying to shield the blows from the rubber objects of doom. Great. Things could not get worse. Yet they do.

Quinn points to the other side of the room, at first, I have no idea what she's looking at, but then I see it. Or, more specifically, who she's looking at. Jonah has arrived. It surprises me because I thought he was already here, yet he's a few minutes late. Quinn smiles her grinch-like smile, and I feel like sinking into the floor.

"That's him? He's really really cute. Definitely worth dying for; I'm impressed."

"Quinn seriously? Say that a bit louder I don't think everyone here heard you, I say, my arms crossed over my chest.

"Relax, will you? It's not my first time lying. Besides, I think it's cute. I wonder if he'll come over here if I wave super high"

"Quinn ...don't you dare-

Before I can even register what's happening, my sister is waving frantically. I'm staring at the wooden floor, trying my best not to lose it right there. I made a mental note to never ever tell Quinn anything again. Especially not about my crushes on teenage boys and especially not what they looked like. Jonah looks at me, then at Quinn, before he looks at the jocks. They beckon for him to come closer, obviously adding another piece of muscle to their team. I sigh, already anticipating the headache that's going to be this class. Muscle wins over... Well... Whatever we are.

Jonah turns, and instead of walking to his friends. He.. Oh god... Heads in our direction. It's almost like everything is moving in slow motion. I can hardly believe what's happening. Jonah is voluntarily coming over to the worst side of this room to the obvious rejects. No one voluntarily agrees to be with rejects, especially our team that has no athletic bone in their bodies. There's no point. You only get put with rejects when there's no other choice or if you clearly have an obvious death wish. By that I mean there's literally no other choice. Yet here he is, grinning like he's the happiest man on earth. That stupid crooked grin causes a tightness in my chest.

Quinn smiles as Jonah stands between us. I'm still in disbelief. My sister is smiling so wide it looks like there's a hanger in her mouth and I feel like I'm going to explode. Jonah darts his eyes between us until they finally settle on me. I try so hard not to look at him while he stares at me, but it's nearly impossible to do that. It's like once his gaze is on me, it's impossible to tear myself away for even one second. Ugh.

"Hey there stranger," he says, his biceps flexing slightly.

"You need to stop following me. It's getting pretty stalkerish at this point, I say, my words having no bite in them. For some reason that earns me a smile from him.

" I would call you, but unfortunately I don't have a number to call. And I was afraid asking for it would seem too forward, he says, and I turn away, my face slightly flushed.

Quinn turns to Jonah, smiling sweetly as if she can almost read my thoughts. For once I am glad to be related. Just this once though.

"I can help with that. Excuse my brother's lack of communication.

"I see. And you are? "

Quinn's gaze turns to me for a split second, and I know Jonah barely notices. However, in those couple of seconds, I managed to shake my head. Quinn can't tell him who she really is or he'll definitely know I'm lying. Which means she has to come up with a fake name as well. Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, I was dragging my sister into my mess. Again.

"Lunette. Leo's sister. A pleasure to finally meet you...?

" Jonah. Jonah Newcrest. You didn't happen to know my brother did you? "

Quinn tenses up slightly at the mention of Max. I can't even begin to imagine how hard it must be for her to even talk about him after last year. She manages to keep her face neutral but I know she's going to probably rant about it later. Or it's going to become an 8-hour blasting her music as loud as she can session. Either way, Max keeps making his way into our lives and I could tell it was making an impact on Quinn.

"Haven't even heard of him until you asked. "

Jonah nods slowly, although I can tell he's disappointed with the answer. I wish I could tell him the truth to give him some closure, but I just can't. Too many things could go wrong, and the thought of losing him because of something so stupid. It was something that hurt, even if I didn't want to admit it. The class begins and there's no time to continue talking. The discussion would have to wait. That... And the billions of worries I kept hidden. Keeping this secret would be harder than I thought.