chapter 17

Harrison POV:

6:30AM.

I couldn't sleep again. There was no point really since I had to wake up in 30 minutes, by the time I would get into deep sleep, it would be time to wake up again.

Dillon's snoring wasn't helping as well. I got up out of bed as quietly as I could, checking to make sure Dillon was asleep, and left the room with my hotel card and phone.

As expected, the hall was empty, and the stairs seemed too creepy so I went for the elevator option.

If I got kidnapped, hopefully the CCTV would be able to catch my last moments.

I sneaked out to the pool, successfully avoiding the worker at the desk who looked knocked out.

I sat down by the poolside, cross legged and just... relaxed. I guess. The sun bloomed on the horizon as it rose, filling the sky with shades of orange and pink indicating the start of a new day.

Thoughts of Isaac swarmed around my brain; analysing the smallest details I could find, and making them into something I knew wasn't true but denial was my best friend.

"Don't think too hard. I can see your brain frying there."

I jumped a bit at the voice, but relaxed again when I realised it was just Alyssa.

"Well hello Alyssa." I didn't even bother turning around since it was obviously her.

"Why are you up so early?"

"Couldn't sleep." I replied.

She came and sat next to me, "Neither." Then turned to me with a knowing grin. "Bet I know why you can't sleep."

"Hm really, and what's that? Please enlighten me."

"It may be a certain boy who I happen to not like that much."

"No it's- wait how do you know?" I gave in, maybe it would help me better if I had somebody to talk to.

She tapped the side of her head. "I know everything."

Sure.

"Let me guess: he's 'straight'." She carried on, doing air quotes with her fingers.

"No he's not 'straight'." I imitated the hand gestures she had just done. "He's just straight."

"Just ask his sexuality dude. It's not that hard." She put her hand in the pool, moving it up and down.

"He's insinuated he's straight many times. I am not embarrassing myself just for him to confirm what I already know."

She shrugged, "I don't know, he looked pretty hurt at the fact you didn't ask for his help."

I opened my mouth to speak again but she cut me off.

"And when you decided to not go back to the room with him." She added.

"Yeah because we're friends. You are CEO of giving me false hope."

"Yeah but you eat it up." Which was true. Now I would overthink even more about every small actions he does.

"Well how about you? How's your love life? Probably better than mine." I joked, but it was most likely true.

"Well one good thing is that I don't have to deal with boys at all." She smiled.

"You got a girl in mind?" I questioned.

I couldn't believe it, but Alyssa's cheeks were turning a similar colour to her hair.

"No way." I smiled. "Who is this lucky girl?"

"Well you obviously won't know her but-" She started to talk when I noticed someone coming out the door.

Isaac looked like he was sleep walking as he looked intently at me,"Harrison.. the fuck you doing here?" He hadn't taken in the fact Alyssa was next to me yet, but when he did, a frown appeared on his face. "You're with her again?"

"You got a problem with that dipshit?" Alyssa piped up, not helping the situation. It was like they were two negative charges repelling each other.

"When did you become best friends with her? Why? Is it because I was rude to you? Wait how are we all awake at the same time?" He let out many questions, not even stopping between each one for an answer.

He still looked half asleep as he yawned again. Cute.

Wait, no.

I needed to stop doing this.

"First of all, I have no idea and secondly, we're just friends and no it's not your fault. Maybe if you two actually got to know each other, then you'd become friends too."

They both looked at each other, then as if they collectively planned what to say, they both said "Nah."

"Um creepy but anyways, why are you up early?"

"Why are you?" He fired back defensively, folding his arms.

"Alright alright." I put my hands up jokingly. "I just couldn't sleep."

"Can we talk?" He asked, so I waited for him to start. "Privately dumbass." He pulled my arm and glared at Alyssa who was smirking at me.

"What's the deal with you two?" He fired at me.

"What's your problem Isaac?"

"My problem." He scoffed, pointing at himself.

"Yes, your problem. You're being weird." I brought up his sudden mood swings.

"Aren't you meant to be with Gemma?"

Of course. How could I even think he was jealous; or he even cared. He wouldn't ever care in the same way I did.

He noticed my expression, but mistook the reason for me being upset. "I'm sorry, I just... I don't know... It's just weird how you two are like best buddies now. How long have you even known her for?" He pointed out, which was very true, but it wasn't like I was inviting her to my house to have a sleepover or anything like that.

"Yeah I guess you're right." My mood was already ruined by the false hope, and the day hadn't even officially started.

He looked at me concerned, "Are you okay though?"

I nodded, not trusting my words to say the right thing.

I made my way to leave when he grabbed my hand, something he'd done more often in a few days, "Do you like her?" He asked, still not letting go.

"We're friends Isaac. Just friends like you and I are." The words were bitter on my tongue.

Friends. Just friends.

I pulled my hand away from his and walked back to Alyssa. "I'm gonna go back to my room before I get killed by my coach. I'll most likely see you later."

She nodded in response and gave a small wave to me as I walked back inside the hotel. I waited for the elevator, and was just thinking about taking the creepy stairs when it finally made the pinging sound, indicating it being here.

I entered the elevator and clicked the floor number, allowing the doors to shut when a hand stopped it from fully closing.

Isaac stood with a sheepish smile, "Don't forget about me."

Like I could.

I simply smiled back, waiting for the elevator to get to our floor.

"I'll come to your room when I'm ready." We parted ways, and I returned back to my room to get ready.

Isaac POV:

I still didn't like Alyssa. Weren't him and Gemma nearly a thing?

But him and Alyssa were just friends.

Or so he claimed...

"Where'd you go?" Zavier quizzed as soon as I walked in the room.

"Nowhere." I bluntly responded, getting my clothes.

He lay in bed and didn't even bother to get up. Just stayed on his phone.

"Aren't you gonna get changed?" I asked, making him look up. "Meh, I will." He looked back down to his phone, still not moving.

I sighed- he wasn't my problem anyways. I decided to change in the room; it didn't seem like Zavier was paying attention anyways. I took off my shirt and brought out my soccer jersey.

Click.

I at once whizzed around to see Zavier with his phone up, the camera facing me.

"Did you just take a fucking photo of me you pedo?"

"We're the same age dumbass." He replied with no shame.

"No- Okay that's not even relevant. Why'd you take that photo? Delete it now." I moved towards him. Why the fuck was he taking a photo of me without even asking?

Not that I'd even say yes if he asked.

He shrugged, "It's a dare."

"What kind of fucking dare is that? Taking photos of people while they're changing; such a good dare."

"Well I do get $5 so I'm fine."

"Who dared?"

"My friend. Gonna keep them anonymous."

"Well delete it." I got closer to try and take the phone off of him since he was incapable of deleting a photo.

"You're still shirtless though." He completely switched the subject.

I ignored him,"You've done weird things but this..." I pointed up. "This is just the weirdest."

"Basically..." He started to explain." Someone bets if I can do something and they betted I wouldn't be able to get a shirtless photo of you. I know, weird, and trust me, I didn't want to do it either, but sometimes you gotta hustle. You get me?"

"No." I grabbed the phone off him and moved to the other side to give myself some time.

"Isaac give that back." He stood up off his bed, making his way to me.

I deleted the photo quickly, and made sure to delete it from recently deleted. I went off camera roll, and went to snapchat; he might've sent it there.

Instead I found some chats between Bella and him.

"Wait.. why are you talking about Harrison?" I trailed off, but I didn't have time to read the full conversations.

"Give..It..." Zavier tried to grab the phone off me, but that only made me hold onto it harder. I attempted to hold it higher but he didn't let go of it.

"Stop pushing against me." I grunted.

He didn't listen, only pushed harder. "I'll only stop if you give me back my phone."

"Fuck okay okay." I let go of my grip, catching him by surprise as it fell to the floor. "Just get off me." I pushed him off of me now that I had control of both of my hands.

He bent down quickly and picked it up, polishing it like a priceless antique.

"So not only do you take a photo of me, but now you're also talking about Harrison with Bella. What's going on?" I put on my jersey now, the room feeling a bit colder.

"Just forget about it yeah." He tried to dismiss it but I was not prepared to let this go- it was borderline creepy.

"You tell me what's going on or..." I tried to think of something but no blackmail came to mind. Zavier snickered at me. "Or I... uh- Or I tell coach." I winced hearing how pathetic I sounded.

"Oh really?"

"Yeah really."

"And why would Coach believe that?

"Because- Because it's true. I saw it."

"Hm. And Coach will definitely believe you and won't think you're making this up. I mean, it sounds quite absurd to me. Almost like some bullshit."

"But it's true." I weakly repeated again trying to defend myself, but we both knew he was right.

"Are you sure about that?

I needed some dirt on him... now. I racked my brains on anything he had done but nothing came to mind.

"I'll find out myself. Just you wait." I grabbed my stuff and left to go to Harrison's room.

I knocked on the door urgently.

Dillon opened the door at first but upon seeing me, he slammed the door on me.

I knocked again more harshly.

This time, Harrison came to the door with an apologetic smile, "Sorry about that. I just need to do something quick in the bathroom but I'll be out in a second."

I nodded in response and stepped in. I decided I wouldn't mention the chats to him, since I didn't even have time to read the full conversations myself.

Dillon sat changed on what I presumed to be his bed with a frown on his face as he used his phone.

I may have slightly peeked over to see what he was doing, but his sixth sense was intact as he immediately looked up at me. I quickly leaned away and looked back up.

"Why are you looking on my phone?"

"Ehh no reason in particular." I kept my eyes on the wall which looked incredible. The colour, the design wow... the pattern-

"Well don't."

Woah so scary Dillon. I'm terrified.

I tapped my feet against the ground, urging Harrison to hurry up.

Finally, Harrison came out smiling.

"Let's go."

I gladly followed him out, the energy feeling really uncomfortable in the room. We met with a few fellow teammates who were also going down to breakfast though I was happy to see one of them wasn't Zavier.

10 minutes later, nearly all of us were sat at the table for breakfast... emphasis on nearly.

"Where's Zavier?" Coach asked to which many shrugged. He looked at me expectantly, but I shook my head. He was still alive since I had seen him about 15 minutes ago.

A few minutes later, a disgruntled Zavier showed up with guilt written across his face. Coach looked at him disappointingly, shaking his head as Zavier apologised.

I caught Zavier's eye and smirked, his embarrassed look now one of anger.

Oh well, should've listened when I reminded him.

A/N: that's how Alyssa from the last chapter looks and enjoy harrison's POV! :0 also idk whether to make him shower or just change cuz personally i shower every morning and some nights but it depends. what do y'all do? written 28/08/20

it's 07/09/20 when i'm posting and i'm starting school tomorrow UGH :/