Playing Games

Worried?

After school she skipped practice, heading straight for Andrew instead. When he opened the door she was shocked, he was bruised and moving slowly. He winced as she hugged him, ‘I’m so so so sorry’ she told him, but he brushed off her apology. ‘Maria, he is just a spoiled brat and he is bored’. They spent the evening together talking, he was reassured that he would only miss a week and was thrilled to be made Captain.  Maria walked home with an uneasy feeling in her stomach, Andrew had accepted that title without thinking about the person who had won it honestly. He wasn’t concerned that someone else would lose out, and Maria hadn’t realised until she left his house how disappointed and surprised, she was. 

She arrived home and Mona was annoyed, she threw her new cheer uniform at her, ‘I picked that up for you, I know it isn’t important to you but I need my place on the team’. Maria felt bad, ‘I’m sorry I went to get it, but I ran into Chase and Ryan and yeah I don’t know. And I know I missed practice after school I went to see Andrew’ she sat down on the bed and Mona softened, ‘how is he?’ she asked.

‘Honestly? He seems happier about being made Captain than anything else. Injury wise he’s fine, he’d probably have been off school for the week anyway, but Mona is it bad that I’m disappointed he’s taken Captain? It’s basically a payoff for everything’ 

Mona smiled sadly and sat next to her, holding her hand she wanted to reassure her, ‘I get it. Listen Tom won fair and square, I don’t know how Andrew will be able to face him after taking his title, but he’s probably trying to find the positive. I mean, breaking it down he got his ass handed to him in front of a load of people from school, nearly got expelled for starting the fight he lost not to mention it happened in front of you. No doubt his ego is severely bruised right now, this will soften the blow. I know you’ll hate me for saying it but it was incredibly stupid of him to pick a fight with Chase’. 

Maria didn’t argue, she thought about her cousins’ words and nodded, ‘will you help me learn the cheer for Friday?’ she asked, her cousin smiled, ‘of course! I know you aren’t thrilled but you’ve always wished you could have joined a sports team and you only did dance because it was close to cheer. Plus, we get to spend practice together, not to mention all the away games! We can even share a room next weekend; we’re staying over and if we win – which no doubt we will there will be a seriously epic party!’ 

That night the girls practiced, Maria was pleased at how quickly she was able to pick everything up, thanking dance. She was even able to do standing back tucks and a multitude of other tricks. 

They walked into school the next morning arm in arm, Mona wasn’t going to let her cousin out of her sight, their only problem was the different free period times they had, Mona was going to ask if she could switch classes, using the excuse of Maria needing training help. Until they were able to switch, Maria went to her locker, gathering her books to head to the library. 

It was as she was taking her things from her locker that he approached her, without speaking she felt him behind her. He was practically pushing her from behind into her locker, she tried to sidestep him, but he slammed his hand against the locker. He friends stood back, all smirking and joking, other students in the hall stopped to watch. 

Steeling herself Maria turned around to face him, he was so close that as she turned, she was forced to brush against him, he leaned in even further, their hips almost touching. She was trapped in between his arms; she cleared her throat waiting for him to speak but he didn’t. He just watched her, his bright blue eyes shining.

Eventually she looked up, meeting his eye, letting him win, he smirked, ‘so I hear your boyfriend is back next Monday, tell me does he know about us?’ his voice was low and deep. ‘there is no us’ she replied, that only made him smile more, ‘I think we both know there is’ she tried to move, ‘stop trying to provoke me. It’s not going to work. Andrew isn’t going to rise to your bait and you’re boring me.’ His eyes flashed with anger. 

He took a step towards her and her back was against the locker, ‘move away Chase’ she said firmly, ‘you know when you say it like that, I almost believe it’ he played with her hair, it was so soft between his fingers. ‘only almost?’ she asked, he smiled, ‘only almost’. 

As the week passed Maria prepared herself to cheer on Friday for the first game of the season. As Maria prepared to go out and meet the rest of her new team she fiddled with her uniform. She felt self-conscious, ‘you look great’ Andrew said from behind her, ‘Andrew! You’re here?!’ she exclaimed. 

‘Couldn’t miss your big debut, besides it’s open to the public I’m not breaking any rules, how are you?’ he hugged her and kissed her cheek softly.  He took a moment to really see her, the last week they had mainly spoken on the phone, her cheer training had seen to that. She hadn't given anything away but had been distant, asking him questions and avoiding talking about herself. She pulled back, ‘but wait aren’t you worried?’

"why would I be worried?" he asked, before she could answer Chase had arrived, Andrew hated everything about him. The way he stood, lurking, the smirk he always had on his face, his eyes, the way he was currently looking at Maria.

If it hadn't been for Ryan and three other massive friends who stood by their leader’s side Andrew probably would have smacked him. "Well maybe Maria" Andrew hated that Chase even said her name, "is worried that when it comes down to it, you just don't aren’t able to fulfil her needs, pretty girl like her must have a lot of needs".

Chase and his flunkies laughed, Maria blushed, Andrew was furious but fought to remain calm, "Well seeing as I have both the title of Captain and the girl, I think my skills shouldn't come into question".

Chase just smirked and walked past, "for now" it was Ryan that had spoken, he smiled at Maria as he passed between her and Andrew.

Maria wanted to say something but didn't, she knew that it would be five on one, and although she would fight for Andrew if it escalated they wouldn't win, they guys were all huge, Andrew wasn’t on top form he was still sore and Mrs Austin’s threats still rang in her ears.