The Secret Circle

Nani

"Nani! Go long!"

I immediately flicked my attention to Rob who had a football in his hand, ready to throw it. I started running as the ball went into motion. Small whoops came from who were watching. The familiar grip of the ball in my hand made me smile. 

"That's what I'm talking about Nani! Yes!"

Rob came tumbling into me, causing us to crash to the ground. I pushed him off.

"Next time, give a little warning. I had my hands in my pockets."

"'Go long' was a warning."

He shot up from the ground and extended his arm towards me. I gripped onto it and hoisted myself up.

"Oh, right. It's a "warning"."

Rob threw his arm over my shoulder, "Stop being a b***h Nan. In a few months-we're going to college and we're going to be pro-footballers! Are you ready for that conditioning?"

I sighed. I loved football. I just didn't want to leave her. She was everything to me.

"Come on," Rob scoffed pushing me a little, "you're not pussying out on me. Are you?"

I shook my head, "No. No. I'm just not ready to leave...I'm going to miss it."

"Well good. Because you're not leaving now. You're leaving in seven months. That's enough time for you to do whatever the hell you want to do."

Still. 

"You're right. What am I fretting about anyways?"

Rob playfully punched my face, "Now we're on the same page! Let's go crush this s**t!"

You are the only reason I come to school. I would really be at home sleeping life away if it wasn't for you.

"Why are you still coming anyways? What happened to you 'ditching this b***h'?"

Rob flashed a smile. 

"What kind of best friend would I be if I let you tough it out here all by yourself?"

I chuckled a little. We stepped up the steps of the high school. I would say that we were well respected being that we were on the football team. That was my protection from the system they ran here. But that had it's downfalls. Here, baseball was a favorite. We were basically at war with the baseballers because of the fact that football proved to be more entertaining than not. Especially Josh. He's gotten us in more trouble than I could count. 

"Well....you'd be pretty horrible."

He patted my shoulder, "See? I don't want to be horrible. I want to be great." 

I saw her once we made it to the third step. The queen bee. In the flesh. I did my best not to stare. She was so pretty though.

"Hey, don't look now....but hottie at three o'clock." Rob whispered in my ear.

"Oh I'm looking."

She was fluffing her hair in the glass of the school. Time seemed to slow down when I watched her. 

"Dude, you can give it up. Josh wants her. And that's basically pitting a flower against a laser gun."

I laughed at his simile.

"So? That doesn't mean that I can't think about it. Josh probably isn't going to get her anyways. You know she is very guarded."

Which made sense. She was the leader of the school. If your guards were down, things that shouldn't get out would.

"And what the f**k makes you think that you even have a starting chance? Just because she cheers at our games with that small, little skirt and that tight ass crop top-"

"Shut up Rob. You want her too."

"Yeah, I do."

We walked through the hall almost unscathed. Then YB showed up.

"Oooh, how's the stroll with your boyfriend?!"

I rolled my eyes and ignored him. Robby on the other hand, he did a bad job at ignoring them. He was a hot head. I knew as soon as the weight of his arm was lifted off of my shoulders he was going to go off.

"You don't have to make jokes about us being gay. We know you're gay and we sympathize. I know that it must be hard for you baseballers to come out-but it's okay. No one here is going to judge that you like some dick."

God. Why do they choose to mess with us? Out of the whole football team!

I turned around quickly and gripped Rob's shoulder, making a small smile towards YB. He was redder than a tomato. It must be true then.

"Hey, Rob, this is the wrong place for you to be doing this." I pulled him behind me roughly and widened my smile. "Look, YB, he was just kidding. He didn't mean anything by it. I promise."

"Oh, he meant more than something by it. He tryin' to say I'm a f*****g faggot and I don't go that way at f*****g all. Rob, me and you today afterschool."

I frowned. That wouldn't work for me. I had somewhere important to be.

"Bring it on you d**k-sucker!" Rob snapped from behind me. "I'll f**k you up in more ways than you can f*****g count!"

Where were the f*****g teachers when you needed them?!

"Look, no one's fighting no one! Chill out guys!"

"Oh shut up Nani!" YB growled, stepping close to me. I could now visibly see his tattoo on his neck of a bird. "Just because your dad walked out on you and your mother is stuck raising you, doesn't mean you have to act like a f*****g b***h!"

Deep breaths Nani. You only have three more months. 

"I'm going to pretend that you didn't say that shit." His whole aura shifted when my voice dropped to that low, deep, dangerous octave. The crowd starting to form around us didn't really bother me. It wasn't that many people anyways. "And you're going to pretend that you didn't hear Rob say s**t either. You're also going to call off that fight."

YB chuckled a little, "The last time I fuc-"

"Hey, what's going on over here YB?" 

I wanted to bury my head in a locker somewhere. He would only make it worse off.

"These gay fuckers are trying to call me out my goddamn name!"

Josh looked over me a little, "Woah YB. Today is not the day to be so hostile. You do know what is happening today. Right?"

YB closed his eyes and took a breath through his mouth. When he opened his eyes, they were calm and slick. Not angry and hungry for war.

"You know what, my bad. The fight's off."

Before Rob could counter his words I cut a glance at him. I was surprised that Josh halfway stood up for me. But why? What was today that he would pass up the chance to f**k over us?

"Th....." I trailed. Josh was pulling YB roughly through the crowd in the opposite direction, whispering harshly in his ear. "...anks?"

Rob's scowl had relaxed a little.

"I hate them."

He started to walk ahead of me. The crowd around us had dispersed. They were no doubt ready to start rumors and gossip. This was going to be on Sofie's front page tomorrow.

"I know that, so do I, but you can't lose your s**t like that. Especially this close to getting into Ohio State."

"You're right. I'm sorry. My bad. He just...he just f*****g gets to me, you know?"

I sighed, "Yeah. I get it. But next time, keep walking. It's not that hard. I promise you."

"Are you okay? He said something about your dad.."

I clenched my jaw together. Remembering how my father walked out on me, my mother, and my newborn sister didn't phase me anymore. I couldn't let it anymore or people would use that to bring me down. For a long time-it did.

"I'm fine. He didn't know what he was talking about anyways." I said.

Rob blew a breath out of his nose, "f*****g idiot."

I laughed. He joined in.

"Did you see the way that Josh stopped him though? That's what I'm curious about." 

Rob shrugged, "So? Maybe they have scholarships to high end colleges too that they can't afford to mess up."

We both glanced at each other and went back to laughing.

"As if. They're all still sucking off of mommy's titties and daddy's money." Rob chuckled.

Everyone who played for the baseball team came from some type of rich family. It could be a menial or large family. It didn't matter. They were rich and we were poor. 

"So...do you think it has something to do with looking good for Kacy?"

My whole body tensed. He said what I didn't want to be spoken into existence. The thought had ran across my mind once, but it didn't seem like he would give up the opportunity to make us suffer for her. Then again...it was Kacy. Who wouldn't give anything up for her? The answer to that was no one. Even thirty years from now, I'm pretty sure half of this school would lay their lives down for her. I know I would.

"No. His parents probably have some type of event this week and him being an asshole at school would defer their image."

"Probably. But my parents having been bitching about his family having anything."

"It's probably for the elites only. You know how they don't tell anything."

Rob sighed, "Can we face reality please. The dude wants Kacy, so, he's going to get Kacy. He's spoiled. He gets everything he wants. And if she doesn't take that walking bank-she's a hot, sexy fool."

I pushed him a little.

"Can you not torment my dreams? Let me live."

"Damn...sorry. It's true though." He shrugged.

I'd be damned. Kacy didn't want him. Kacy could never want him.

"No it's not. Now shut your mouth and get ready for Mrs. Cooper's class."

He pulled his locker open and groaned, "I hate her. I don't see why she doesn't just retire already! She made me walk out of the room to hold the door open for Shelby. Shelby. The weird one who always stares and looks like she's on crack!"

I laughed.

"Did she make you do it for all of the girls?"

He nodded, "And then, she has the nerve so say, 'back in my day'. What the f**k is 'her day' exactly? The dinosaur's age or some s**t? Just because I was the first one in the classroom. Hank is always first, but she never makes him open the door for any of the girls."

"She must've heard how you talk about her at lunch. I heard she got eyes and ears everywhere around this motherfucker."

Rob blew a breath kicked his locker a little.

"I don't see how she hears anything. She's too old to be standing."

I put my finger over my mouth, "She might be listening. Don't be surprised if she makes you do a presentation about how wonderful women are when you get in the class."

He pointed at me. I chuckled.

"Don't you jinx me you idiot."

I raised my hands in surrender.

"I'm sorry."

Suddenly, the buzzed hallway went completely silent. We did our best to look cool somewhat as her heels clacked against the colored floor. I didn't make eye contact with her, but I could see she was with Star. Or hear her more likely. They were both walking really fast while Star was rambling on and on. Whatever Star was saying, Kacy was rejecting it. 

"Damn! She is so fine." Rob muttered.

The hallway was alive again after she turned the corner. It was almost like it was holding it's breath as she passed through.

"Come on. Let's go to class."

Today should be normal. Completely normal.

_____________

Today was not a completely normal. Today was a bummer. It was s**t. 

"Do you see that?"

I wasn't even in the mood to eat my food. I wanted to go to that table and start some crap. He had no right to sit at that table. No one had the right to sit at that table besides her intermediate friend group!

"Oh s**t," Rob gasped, "what do you think is about to happen?"

I wasn't paying all that much attention to what he was saying. Kacy had just approached her table and she just SAT down. Didn't she tell him to get up? They started to converse. It was only Star, her, and Josh sitting at that damn table. Where were all her other friends? This was unbelievable! This was outrageous! How dare he sit at her table like he didn't know what was up?! 

"Nothing? Nothing is happening? What the f**k is going on?"

"Uggh. I'm going to eat outside. I can't stand this shit."

I got my tray and rose up with an attitude.

"So...I'll just tell the boys to come outside."

I did my best to leave without glancing back at their stupid table. I could only hope that she rejected the hell out of him.