Straight Until You

Chapter 4 — Detention

Nathaniel Anderson had officially lost control of his own life.

That was the only explanation for why he willingly woke up at six in the morning just to watch track practice.

Jordan took one look at him standing beside the field and immediately started laughing.

Loudly.

Disrespectfully.

Jordan: “Oh, this is humiliating.”

Nathaniel ignored him while adjusting the sleeve of his hoodie.

Cold morning air settled over the empty bleachers while athletes stretched across the track below. The sky was still pale from sunrise, and most of campus hadn’t fully woken up yet.

Nathaniel hated mornings.

Actually hated them.

Yet somehow—

here he was.

Watching Asher Reyes jog across the field like this behavior was completely normal.

Dylan arrived carrying coffee a few minutes later.

Then froze dramatically.

Dylan: “No.”

Nathaniel frowned.

Nathaniel: “What?”

Dylan: “You are emotionally attached before sunrise.”

Jordan looked horrified again.

Jordan: “This is worse than we thought.”

Nathaniel rolled his eyes.

Mostly because they were exaggerating.

Probably.

Then his phone buzzed.

Immediately.

A new message appeared in the group chat.

💚 Jordan

You better not be smiling at him already.

🧡 Dylan

Too late.

🧡 Dylan

He definitely is.

💙 Nathaniel

You’re both annoying.

💚 Jordan

You woke up at 5:30 voluntarily.

🧡 Dylan

FOR A MAN.

💙 Nathaniel

Relax.

💚 Jordan

You hate mornings.

🧡 Dylan

You once said sunrise felt disrespectful.

💙 Nathaniel

That opinion still stands.

💚 Jordan

Then explain why you’re here.

💙 Nathaniel

Supporting athletics.

🧡 Dylan

Liar.

Nathaniel locked his phone quickly.

Too late.

Jordan already looked disgusted.

Jordan: “You text like somebody in love.”

Nathaniel nearly choked on air.

Nathaniel: “Absolutely not.”

Dylan looked delighted.

Dylan: “Interesting reaction.”

Nathaniel ignored both of them and looked back toward the field.

Immediately spotting Asher again.

A mistake.

Definitely a mistake.

Because the second Nathaniel looked toward him—

Asher looked back.

Their eyes met across the track.

And suddenly Nathaniel forgot Jordan and Dylan existed.

⸻

Across the field, Asher slowed slightly during warmups.

Because Nathaniel Anderson was somehow sitting in the bleachers before seven in the morning.

With coffee.

And his two i***t friends.

What the hell was wrong with him?

Marcus followed Asher’s stare and immediately gasped dramatically.

A disaster.

An actual disaster.

Marcus: “OH MY GOD.”

Asher closed his eyes briefly.

Asher: “Lower your voice.”

Marcus: “Nathaniel Anderson is literally watching practice.”

Asher: “Unfortunately.”

Marcus looked emotionally invested already.

Terrible.

Absolutely terrible.

Marcus: “This is getting serious.”

Asher scoffed immediately.

Asher: “There is no this.”

Marcus looked unconvinced.

Mostly because Nathaniel was very obviously staring again.

Annoying.

Very annoying.

Asher grabbed his water bottle while trying not to look toward the bleachers anymore.

Unfortunately—

his phone buzzed.

Luca.

Of course.

Perfect timing honestly.

🖤 Luca

Mom says you forgot dinner again yesterday.

❤️ Asher

I had practice.

🖤 Luca

Mom said starvation builds character.

❤️ Asher

That sounds illegal.

🖤 Luca

Mateo agrees with her.

❤️ Asher

That somehow makes it worse.

🖤 Luca

So.

🖤 Luca

How’s your rich boy situation?

❤️ Asher

Not a situation.

🖤 Luca

Then why are you typing aggressively?

❤️ Asher

Nathaniel Anderson is somehow at my track practice.

🖤 Luca

HAHAHAHA.

❤️ Asher

This is not funny.

🖤 Luca

Oh it absolutely is.

🖤 Luca

Did he bring flowers too?

❤️ Asher

Blocked.

🖤 Luca

You like him a little.

❤️ Asher

I’m deleting your number.

Asher locked his phone aggressively.

Marcus immediately looked suspicious.

Marcus: “You smiled.”

Asher froze.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Because apparently he had.

Annoying.

Very annoying.

⸻

Meanwhile, Nathaniel was becoming aware of another issue.

He genuinely liked watching Asher happy.

That realization felt dangerous immediately.

Because the bet was supposed to be fun.

Simple.

Easy.

Now Nathaniel found himself noticing tiny things instead.

The way Asher smiled more around people he trusted.

The way he relaxed while texting his family.

The way his expression sharpened competitively during practice.

Nathaniel liked all of it.

Too much.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

⸻

Practice finally ended an hour later.

Nathaniel stood automatically the second Asher started walking toward the bleachers.

Hopeless behavior honestly.

Asher stopped in front of him looking sweaty, tired, and mildly annoyed already.

Nathaniel smiled immediately.

A mistake.

Definitely a mistake.

Nathaniel: “Good morning.”

Asher stared at him blankly.

Asher: “Why are you here?”

Nathaniel placed one hand against his chest dramatically.

Nathaniel: “Wow.”

Nathaniel: “Not even a hello first.”

Asher looked unimpressed.

Still.

Honestly impressive at this point.

Asher: “Nathaniel.”

Jordan nearly gasped beside him.

Jordan: “Oh my God, he used your first name.”

Nathaniel looked way too pleased about that.

Asher regretted speaking instantly.

⸻

Nathaniel ignored Jordan completely.

Mostly because hearing Asher say his name felt weirdly important.

Concerning.

Very concerning.

Nathaniel: “You’re good.”

Asher blinked once.

Caught off guard.

Then immediately suspicious.

Asher: “At running?”

Nathaniel smiled slightly.

Nathaniel: “At everything probably.”

There it was again.

That tiny almost-smile.

Quick.

Real.

Gone immediately.

Nathaniel noticed anyway.

Of course he did.

⸻

Marcus suddenly appeared behind Asher looking entirely too excited.

Another disaster.

Marcus: “Wait.”

Marcus looked between them dramatically.

Marcus: “You two are actually flirting now?”

Nathaniel nearly laughed.

Asher looked exhausted immediately.

Asher: “Marcus.”

Marcus: “No seriously.”

Marcus pointed toward Nathaniel.

Marcus: “Do you know how many people are terrified of talking to him?”

Nathaniel looked offended.

Nathaniel: “Terrified feels dramatic.”

Jordan: “Emotionally intimidated then.”

Dylan: “Same difference.”

Asher almost smiled again.

Hopeless.

Absolutely hopeless.

⸻

Then Coach Ramirez walked onto the field.

Unfortunately.

A very important unfortunately.

Because the second he spotted several athletes distracted near the bleachers, his expression darkened immediately.

Coach Ramirez: “Reyes.”

Asher closed his eyes briefly.

Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.

Coach Ramirez: “Why are half my runners standing around instead of cooling down?”

Marcus betrayed him instantly.

Psychotic behavior honestly.

Marcus: “Nathaniel Anderson keeps distracting him.”

Silence.

Nathaniel choked on his coffee.

Jordan nearly fell over laughing.

Dylan looked seconds away from death.

Asher considered murder briefly.

⸻

Coach Ramirez looked deeply unimpressed.

Coach Ramirez: “I don’t care if Beyoncé herself appears on this field.”

Nathaniel blinked once.

Interesting comparison honestly.

Coach Ramirez: “If practice gets distracted again tomorrow, everyone runs extra laps.”

Marcus looked devastated immediately.

Asher looked murderous.

Specifically toward Marcus.

Nathaniel found that adorable.

A serious issue.

⸻

After practice finally ended, Asher grabbed his bag aggressively before starting toward campus.

Nathaniel followed beside him naturally.

Of course he did.

Asher: “This is your fault.”

Nathaniel looked genuinely offended.

Nathaniel: “I didn’t even say anything.”

Asher looked at him flatly.

Asher: “Your existence is distracting.”

Nathaniel froze slightly.

Then smiled slowly.

Dangerously.

Nathaniel: “Was that flirting?”

Asher looked horrified immediately.

Asher: “Absolutely not.”

Nathaniel laughed quietly.

Again.

Hopelessly.

Asher hated how much he liked that sound already.

Which was probably the most dangerous part of all.