Toxic Love

2 - The Game

Tyler Hills

And the big night arrived. I was only a few hours away from what would surely be the most important game of my entire life. The anxiety consumed my body completely, throwing off even the simplest of daily tasks. The game at the beginning of the season used to be one that attracted scouts from the most varied colleges on the east coast of the country, meaning that it demanded my perfection to the extreme. Each wrong step could cost me the scholarship at NYU that I had been fighting for since the beginning of high school.

My brain as a great enemy to keep calm seemed not to be enough, Madison couldn't just change the subject. The entire ride from her house to the school was filled with her not the least bit motivational speeches, just insisting on the idea that I needed to be perfect or all would be lost.

-Kate is already waiting for me, see you at lunch? - Madison interjects, placing a cold kiss on my lips and leaving the car before I have time to answer her.

I throw my head back, sighing heavily as I close my eyes. The end of Madison's whole speech about the game coming to an end was really a reason to celebrate. I sighed for a few seconds, managing to calm down at least enough to be able to leave my car and run to my first class. News: I was late. My bad luck didn't end there, the class I was late for was precisely chemistry. The one I needed to get at least a B to make the team. What are the chances of me actually getting a B in chemistry? Extremely minimal.

I walk down the increasingly empty hallway, finding the class door already slamming my fingers against it. After a few seconds and some complaints about having to receive a late student today, I am greeted by Mr. Brigs with his usual bad mood. The frown joined with frowning eyebrows was the way he loved to give his nice good morning.

-Late on the first day, what a great way to start the year Mr. Hills. - He sneers, looking at me with such disapproval before I give him room to move into the room.

I ignore his grumbling and head for the bench he was signaling with his finger, the only one available. As I sit down, I notice a boy lying on the table. His black hood was hiding his hair so that I could not identify who was there. I place my notebook on the cold granite, bringing my finger to the boy's arm, poking it lightly.

-So, has he passed anything? - I ask before he can react to my touch.

His hands are thrown to the bar of his hoodie, removing it as he lifted his head. He looked back at me, revealing his deep eyes and his completely disheveled hair. It was Nathan. And he looked much worse than I had found him that night.

-Yes, some kind of double assignment due this week. - He answered and then returned the hood to his head and reclined on the counter again. Nathan closed himself off completely whenever I attempted any form of interaction, as if my presence bothered him deeply.

***

The pen slipped between my fingers just as it had done during the whole lesson. It leaves my hand with the spasm my body gave occasioned by the deafening signal. I looked away, noticing that Nathan was already preparing to leave the room.

-Do you already have a team for work? - Finally I asked the boy. I had spent the whole class thinking about how to establish any form of contact with him, just to break the silence that somehow managed to agonize me tremendously.

He denies it, moving his head as he adjusts the sweatshirt on his body. For a few milliseconds I give up trying to approach him. Nathan always remained extremely closed, no matter what I said he simply could not express a minimum of sympathy.

-No, I don't even know if I will. But if you want, come by my place tomorrow at six o'clock," he said, surprising me by appearing a little less unfriendly for the first time.

I nod my head to the boy, confirming his invitation.

-Ok. See you tomorrow then. - I shoot off, smiling at him sympathetically. Nathan ignores my farewell, hurrying his steps so that he can leave Mr. Brigs' class.

Nathan Scott

Luke exuded excitement to the max. Even though he was going to be a reserve for today's game, he was ecstatic. It was gratifying to see his happiness at finally being on the team, and it filled my body with the same joy that he exuded. I say goodbye to the boy as soon as the coach yells for the players to enter the locker room. I watch the boy run to the team bathroom with a broad smile on his face, his happiness was the most graceful thing in the world.

Minutes before the game started, the stands were already packed. A part of me loved that Luke was fulfilling one of his elementary school dreams, but a part of me simply hated having to wade through all the commotion to finally find an empty seat. I spy my eyes across the players' bench, finding Luke trembling. Even with the distance, it was possible to observe how his leg moved insanely, the anxiety that flooded his body managed to be greater than all his happiness.

***

The game was almost over. The experience of watching it was completely tedious. Few moments had a certain emotion that was broken by the scandal of the crowd, which managed to take more and more of my patience.

Once again, the entire crowd grumbled in unison when a player was thrown by the opponent. The crowd was divided between some who were worried about the disastrous course of the game and some mothers who seemed agonized and worried about the way the boy rolled and roared in pain across the pitch. His identity is soon revealed as he threw his hands through his helmet, throwing it away. It was Tyler. The injury was definitely nothing more than a simple reddening of his leg, but he was roaring desperately for attention, causing the game to be interrupted by the referee's whistle. All his drama was ridiculous.

Soon, the whole team gathered around him, blocking the crowd's view of the brunette, which was only released when some paramedics took him off the field on a stretcher. The situation was really serious, breaking my whole speech of how pathetic his way of clamoring for attention was.

However, the only thing that mattered to me at the moment was knowing that Luke was entering the field. With Tyler's removal from the game, the only viable alternative for the coach was to put him on the field. The boy was gliding across the turf paying attention to his marking before the round could be started. The crowd soon forgot all about Tyler's accident, eagerly leaning in for what seemed to be the hope of a point. And finally, I was joining in the cheering of the crowd. After all, it was Luke who was only a few meters away from crossing the opposing line and scoring the decisive point for the high school team.

The crowd's wait was over, Luke had scored the point. Everyone was roaring for victory, but my spirit was greater than anyone else's. My chest filled with the pride that I felt for the victory. My chest filled with the pride I felt for his victory. This was extremely important to him, and to see him achieve what he had made me hear for nights and nights of slumber parties was exciting.

The game ending seconds after the point scored by the boy, the Asheville High Tigers were clinching their first win of the season. The cheers of Luke hugging and roaring along with his teammates generated instant happiness in me.

***

I hasten my steps as soon as I notice the entire team entering the locker room, making my way through the tumultuous space until I reach the door to the team quarters to wait for Luke. I leaned over the wall, listening to the team's celebration in several shouts that went beyond the doors and echoed throughout the hallway. Gradually, the players came out, expressing all their excitement and happiness in extremely loud and breathless conversations.

-d**k, you were too sensational! - I congratulate the boy, who expresses a huge smile on his face. Luke said nothing, just pulled my body with the strength of his arms, crushing me in an embrace that shared all the sweat from his chest. As disgusting and sticky as it was, it didn't bother me. His touch aroused sensations throughout my body that I had never felt before. It was strange, but f*****g good.

-So, I'm going out with my parents, my mom insists that we go to that restaurant downtown. I'll pick you up tomorrow at 8, okay? - Luke says goodbye, unable to keep the smile off his face for a second. I nod positively to the boy, watching him disappear down the already empty hallway.

Tyler Hills

The pain in my leg was tremendously unbearable. The entire route that the ambulance had taken through the city streets was filled with howls of pain emanating from my lips. My mother brought her hand to my forehead, trying to calm me down. Everything was extremely dramatic, from the moment I entered the hospital on a stretcher while my mother slid beside us with watery eyes, to the moment I was finally in the room just waiting for the doctor with the results of my tests. Madison couldn't leave my side for a second. Her eyes roamed over my face, caressing it softly with the back of her hand. The blonde looked as worried as my mother who passed all the information to my father as if I was really on the verge of death. All her intensification was perfectly audible, even with her presence already in the hospital corridor.

Madison's ringing is interrupted by the insistent vibrating of her phone, taking all her attention away from me.

-Love, I have to go. My dad is already worried. I'll pick you up tomorrow, okay? Let me know. - She says, running over her words with the speed with which she utters them all. Madison reaches for my lips in a kiss before she hurriedly leaves the room.

Replacing her absence, the doctor entered the room accompanied by my mother and some papers on a clipboard he was holding. My mother's face revealed all her concern, which managed to exceed mine excessively.

-So, you had a problem with two bones. - The doctor slides his finger across the x-ray, marking the site of the injury. Fortunately, you will be able to take care of it at home and go on with your life at school as usual, except for the games, obviously. But in a couple of weeks you will be able to go back to your training routine. I will prescribe you some medication that you should take regularly, and every week you should come to the hospital so that I can evaluate your progress.

Desperately, my mother interrupts the doctor's speech, crowding him with questions. I can hardly pay attention to everything she was asking, my only concern was with the game. I had screwed everything up. The very game that could be my passport out of this city and into New York, but everything was completely f****d. I might even get another chance. But what would guarantee it? Simply nothing! All my training for the damn game had been for nothing.

***

Hi guys, I hope you enjoyed the chapter! If you liked it, leave your vote, it really stimulates me in the chapters ❤️

Ps: chapter revised and rewritten