Falling

Chapter 10

Deans POV

I can’t focus. My head is throbbing, my ribs are bruised and my face is beaten to a pulp.

I am playing like s**t.

The coach keeps yelling at me for making stupid f*****g rookie mistakes.

Thank God the whistle blows.

The first half of our game just ended. Glenwood absolutely dominated us out there.

Coach Rory is so f*****g disgusted by our performance he doesn’t say a word during our half time break.

The guys are tired, leaning with their backs against the lockers while griping their water bottles.

Declan plops himself next to me on the bench.

“Hey man, what’s going on?” He asks concerned.

“You’re playing like s**t!” He says with a chuckle trying to tell me exactly what he thinks but keeping it lighthearted.

I can’t help but be annoyed.

Not at Declan.

Not at Glenwood.

Not even at the rookie mistakes.

But -

Annoyed at the fact that Margaux and Noah are probably having coffee right now hashing out last nights events.

Annoyed that Noah thinks he is an absolute f*****g saint.

Annoyed at the fact that Margaux likes Noah.

Annoyed at the fact that I had Margaux in my bed and didn’t do anything…

“Thanks Declan, I haven’t noticed.” I reply in a sarcastic tone.

“Don’t tell me you would rather want to be a poet than captain!” He jokes.

Despite myself a laugh slips out.

“Romeo, Oh, Romeo let down your hair.”

“Romeo is Shakespeare not tangled you f*****g idiot.”

Declan laughs

Then he asks…

Of course he asks.

“So…”

Why did he have to ask!

“Nope!”

“Still not tapping that ass?”

“Still non of your business.”

“Are you struggling with your assist Captain?”

“f**k off!”

Am I struggling with my assist! Pff! Am I though?

Girls normally throw themselves at me but Margaux doesn’t…

Did I lose my f*****g touch?

I groan.

“You motherfuckers better bring your A-game!” Coach warns.

You can basically hear the eyes rolling in the locker room at this point.

Ten minutes later we are back on the field. We are getting absolutely crushed.

I don’t know whats worse, losing this game or getting rammed in my bruised ribs repeatedly.

Probably both.

The final whistle blows.

Thank f**k!

We lost.

Badly.

Coach Rory looks like he’s contemplating murder.

Nobody says a word while we walk off the field.

Not me.

Not Luke.

Not even Declan, which is frankly terrifying.

Because silence from Declan usually means someone died.

We’re in the changeroom when he finally breaks.

“Right!” he announces. “Who wants to discuss our feelings?”

Everyone groans.

“Excellent,” Declan says. “I’ll start. Mine are hurt.”

Imagine if he felt mine!

Luke throws a towel at him.

“Shut up.”

Declan catches it dramatically.

“Violence. I see.”

I know who I’d want to be violent with!

Fucking Noah!

I sit on the bench and wince while pulling off my boots.

Everything hurts.

My face.

My ribs.

My pride.

“Seriously, man,” Declan says quietly, sitting beside me. “What’s up with you?”

“Nothing.”

“Bullshit.”

I shrug.

“It’s just one game.”

“No, captain. One game doesn’t make you stare into the distance like a divorced father paying child support.”

Luke snorts.

I glare at him.

Declan studies me.

Then his eyes widen.

“Oh my God.”

“What?”

“It’s Margaux.”

My chest tightens and my stomach does a flip.

“No.”

“It’s Noah.”

“What - No!”

“You hate Noah!”

Of course I f*****g hate Noah!

“I don’t hate Noah.”

“You absolutely hate Noah.”

Luke grins.

“Everyone hates Noah.”

The only sane thing that Luke has ever said.

“I don’t hate him,” I growl.

Absolutely do!

“You punched Ethan for Margaux, made her pancakes, gave her your hoodie and now you’re playing rugby like a depressed poet.”

I stare.

Luke stares.

Declan stares.

“You really like her.”

“No, I don’t date we’ve established this.”

Declan gasps.

“Our little fuckboy is in love.”

“I’m going home.”

“No, you’re not!” Declan says. “Because tonight we’re doing karaoke.”

Everyone immediately protests.

“No.”

“Absolutely not.”

“I’d rather die.”

Declan ignores all of us.

“Tonight. Eight o’clock. Sing your feelings away.”

I roll my eyes, completely ignoring Declan.

“Be there!” He warns.

Three hours later.

I’m sweaty.

Tired.

And currently regretting every life decision that brought me here.

Rehearsal.

The theatre smells like dust and old curtains.

Which is fitting because my body feels old.

Miss Jacobs is sitting in rehearsal today looking at our progress.

She claps her hands.

“Positions everyone!”

Margaux walks onto stage with her highlighted scrips in her hand.

And just like that…

I forget my bruised ribs.

Forget the loss.

Forget Glenwood.

Forget everything.

She’s wearing jeans that hug her ass perfectly. One of those oversized sweaters in lilac purple.

Her hair is tied up messily.

No makeup.

And somehow she still looks…

Fuck!

She looks so f*****g hot and all I can think of is her in my hoodie…

In my bed.

On top of me.

Dangerous thought.

Anna appears behind her carrying coffees and interrupts my day dreaming.

“Emergency caffeine delivery!” she announces.

Margaux beams.

“Anna, I love you.”

“Obviously.”

Anna notices me.

“Oh wow.”

“What?” I ask.

“You look horrific.”

“Thank you.”

“No seriously, Dean. Did you get hit by a bus?”

“Ethan.”

“Same difference.”

Margaux turns.

And immediately frowns.

“You okay?”

She looks at me concerned.

Caring.

Gentle.

“Always babydoll.” I wink.

She rolls her eyes.

“How did the game go?”

“Did you win or just added bruises to your collection?”

“We lost terribly and I’m pretty sure they knocked the life out of me a few times.”

She smiles softly.

“Well, at least you’re still pretty.”

I blink.

Declan, who has somehow materialized beside me, chokes dramatically.

Luke coughs.

Anna freezes.

Margaux’s eyes widen.

“Not - that sounded weird - ”

“Too late!” Declan says loudly.

“Margaux called Dean pretty!”

Margaux turns scarlet.

I grin.

“Thanks, sweetheart.”

She glares.

“Shut up.”

I grin while holding eye contact with her.

Miss Jacobs claps.

“Enough flirting! Places!”

“We’re not flirting!” Margaux squeaks.

Declan whispers loudly.

“They’re flirting.”

Two hours later rehearsal finally ends.

Everyone’s exhausted.

Miss Jacobs dismisses us and people start grabbing bags.

“Ladies!”

Anna nearly walks into him.

“Oh my - ”

She blinks.

“Oh. You’re Dean’s friend.”

Declan places a hand over his chest.

“Declan Maxwell. A pleasure.”

“Anna.”

“Beautiful name.”

Anna raises an eyebrow.

“You know me for three seconds and you’re already flirting?”

That’s Declan for you! A heathen!

“Is it working?”

“No.”

“Fantastic. We’re off to a strong start.”

Margaux laughs while I groan.

“Declan, leave the poor girl alone.”

He turns back to Anna.

“Important question. Are you working tonight?”

Anna frowns.

“What?”

“Work. Employment. Capitalism. Are you participating in it this evening?”

“No…”

“Excellent.”

She looks immediately suspicious.

“Why?”

Declan spins dramatically toward Margaux.

“And you, Margs?”

Margaux blinks.

“Uh… no.”

“EXCELLENT!”

“That’s definitely not reassuring,” Margaux says.

Luke appears beside me.

“What’s the i***t planning?”

“Nothing good.”

Declan throws an arm around my shoulders.

“Dean and I have decided we’re all going to karaoke tonight.”

I stare.

“No, we haven’t.”

“Yes, we have.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

Margaux giggles.

Fuck I love her laugh.

Anna looks between us.

“You boys do realize we’re standing right here?”

“No worries,” Declan says. “You are, in fact, invited.”

Anna smirks.

“How generous.”

“I know, I’m a gentleman.”

Margaux laughs.

“Karaoke sounds fun.”

“See!” Declan points triumphantly. “Margaux gets it.”

“I didn’t say yes.”

“You smiled. That’s legally binding.”

Anna folds her arms.

“I don’t know…”

“Oh come on,” Declan says. “You can’t leave poor Dean alone.”

“Why?”

Luke grins.

“Because Captain Heartbreak here had a terrible game and needs emotional support.”

“And because he’s secretly a phenomenal singer.”

“Luke.”

“And because watching him embarrass himself is priceless.”

Margaux’s eyes light up.

“Dean sings?”

I grin.

“Like an angel.”

“Like a goose being strangled,” Luke corrects.

“Jealousy is ugly.”

Margaux laughs.

“Well now I kind of have to see this.”

“Traitor,” I tell her.

“Sweetheart, if you’re making ridiculous claims, I need evidence.”

Declan nods.

“Exactly!”

He turns hopefully toward Anna.

“And you?”

Anna glances at Margaux.

“You want to go?”

Margaux smiles.

“Only if you come. I don’t want to be the only girl.”

Anna sighs dramatically.

“Well, I can’t let you suffer alone.”

Declan pumps his fist.

“YES!”

Anna laughs.

“Relax. You’d think you won the lottery.”

“I don’t know, Anna. Spending an evening in your company sounds like a decent prize.”

She blinks.

Then shakes her head with a laugh.

“Wow.”

“Too much?”

“Definitely.”

“Noted.”

Margaux is practically grinning at the exchange.

And I…

I can’t stop thinking about last night.

She called me.

She stayed the night.

In my bed…

In my hoodie, with nothing but a thong underneath it.

We cuddled.

Didn’t do anything but God knows I wanted to.