CHAPTER 31: Remind me to kick the ball at his skull

"Watch the fuck where you're going," I grunt and pick my Adidas bag from the floor before glaring at the random boy I just bumped into.

"Sorry, I wasn't watching. My bad." He smiles and I'm almost fazed by it until my mood becomes bitchy again.

"Next time, do watch." I turn around before widening my eyes and quickly calling out to him.

"Wait! Are you from Silver Crown high?" I look him up and down and judging from the different colored jersey, I deduce he is one of them.

"Yeah. Uh... just a student from there to cheer them on."

"Right. Thought you are playing." I mutter before slinging back my bag on my back.

"Are you?"

"Actually, yes."

"So, you're the unheard girl who's rumored to be playing." He places his hands in his pockets and looks at me with a weird look.

"Nuh-uh. Not a rumor. Fact." I say while crossing my arms in defense.

"See you on the field, fighter girl."

What. The. Actual. Fuck.

Shaking my head at the bizarre conversation I just had with the guy, I continue speed-walking toward the coach's main office which was a few meters away from the field. Apparently, he wanted to give us a motivating speech before going out to play.

I halt in tracks as I spot Caleb walking toward me. He looks up from his phone and also stops walking as he sees me probably staring at him like he's a freaking meal.

In those shorts, he is.

Eliminate those thoughts, stupid person. I won't deny his perfect look that is marked by his shorts and sleeveless jersey which exposed the delicious biceps and broad shoulders. His dark hair was slightly pushed back from the side but the rest of it is messy as if he's been playing around with it for long.

I ignore the tight swelling in my chest as I decide on just walking by him but it seems like he has other plans as he pulls me into him and I gasp at the impact on my nose.

Bloody rock hard chest.

I narrow my eyes at him but I'm immediately captivated by his equally narrowed eyes at him. His fierce and stormy grey eyes penetrate through me and for a moment I almost forget that I'm not talking to him.

"What the hell are you doing here?" He growls and my goodness. Forgive me, heart, because I'm saying it's the most seductive voice I've ever heard in my entire life. Reality hits me like a truck as I realize his unspoken anger at me and I glare back at him.

"Is this your father's hallway?"

Before I can register what the fuck is happening, he slams me into the lockers nearby and corners me with both his hulk-like arms. I grunt at my head slightly been hit and I try to attack him with my hands but he holds them both with his one hand.

How is he stronger than me?!

Right, I forgot. He is way fit than me.

"Caleb, the fuck has gotten into you?!" I try to push him off but he just doesn't budge.

"Why are-

I kick his shinbone with my left leg and he flinches slightly but he loses his balance anyway and drags me down with him. The top half of my body lies on him as we both groan at the hard fall. He looks at me with an unreadable expression and I'm awestruck by the genuine look on his face. It is... real.

Nothing like I've ever seen on anybody else's face.

Then again, this boy has weird control over me that makes me think he is actually incomparable to anyone on this planet.

I get up and walk away from him, not even bothering to tell him anything. I close my eyes and breath heavily, trying to get his disturbing thoughts out of my head. I almost lost control there.

My tight ponytail swishes through the wind and I get goosebumps on my thighs as I practically run since I was already late. Ugh, why does this always happen to me?

In a few minutes, I'm already in the stupid meeting and I'm busy daydreaming alongside Aaron who was ogling at the cheerleaders exercising and stretching their muscles.

Remind me to kick the ball at his skull.

"And remember we've practiced very well and we know how to counter-attack each and every one of their strategies. This is the first game of the season and we need to show who are the real winners, yeah? Play to your very best and play as a team! Go, Knights!" I put my hand forward and take it back while hollering. We all disperse to our positions on the field. I watch Caleb saunter absent-mindedly on his position as if nothing happened in the hallway a few minutes ago.

Really, Caleb?

Okay, fine then. Two can play this game.

As everyone from the other team as well lines up, I spot a familiar face and my eyes slightly widen as I take in his appearance.

See you on the field, fighter girl.

He is the fucking captain of Silver Crown high who stood proudly at the centre of the field. And he had the audacity to check me out. I'll show this idiot his place. As if timing is everything, his eyes meet mine and he lightly smirks. I roll my eyes and focus on the referee who was right about to blow the whistle.

I take a look at Jason who nods at me reassuringly and suddenly his and Draven's conversation plays out in my head, leaving me to be eaten by the stress and tension on our heads. My mind already wanders to various terrible situations suppose we aren't able to pay for our expenses and I'm already losing my concentration. I groan as one of the other opponents bumps into my shoulder. Pain shoots through it but I've got hurt worse so I ignore it.

"You okay?!" Jason shouts as he runs next to me and I nod at him.

I finally get hold of the ball and I dribble it for a while before passing it to Shawn who then passes it to Caleb. A futile attempt at a goal disappoints us all and I see Caleb tugging his hair. He looks at me but I turn my eyes away from him. His ever angry demeanor always frustrates me to the core and I deem that to be the number one reason as to why we can't be friends. I know for a fact that we fight on the silliest things even if we somehow understand each other.

Besides, I never ever want to get involved with anyone. Trusting him to tell him about dad was a big thing and I'm already doubting all that I did during the little camp trip with him. Veronica, on the other hand, is still with him and I can't brush off the fact that she pushed my deepest buttons and I actually gave her the reaction she wished to see.

Thinking of all this reminds me of how weak I became that week. First, the encounter with Veronica at the party. Then, the trip down memory lane with Caleb.

And dad... let me not even start.

Now, this other problem that has landed on my family's head. My two brothers are ready to sacrifice their happiness just in order to take care of stupid fucking needs to live. Sometimes, I wonder why our parents left us. Was all this too much to handle? Were 4 kids a burden to them?

"Jones! Keep your head in the game!" I turn my head towards Coach who looked like he was about to be trampled by an elephant. I look around and see the scoreboard.

Home – 1. Visitors – 2.

Already?

I gasp at my behavior and I'm left thinking about why all this is happening today. Why are suddenly all problems getting down on me today itself?

Dad won't be proud of me.

Stay strong, my princess.

I will drop out of college and take up my full-time job which will help pay for everything.

It's okay to be vulnerable, Summer Jones.

All the words dance around my head, poking me with sharp pins as if telling me to wake up and start facing my problems instead of sitting around and acting strong. A loud whistle breaks me out of my painful trance and I run to the locker room like a fool as it is half time.

The door hits my arm as I run and I trip, falling next to the bench where my bag of clothes is currently sitting. I pull my legs to my chest and lean on my crossed arms. A tear drops on my bare thighs and glides down and that seems to trigger a whole lot of them. It's like finally all the emotions that I stored in a jar burst out and suddenly flooded me in them. It feels horrible thinking of all the occurrences lately pouring down on me. A tsunami of anger, frustration, sadness with a sharpened hint of fear hits me and I feel myself completely break down.

Something soft brushes my hands and I look up to a blurry view. I wipe my tears and widen my eyes at Caleb staring at me with great concern swimming in his grey eyes. My lips quiver at the sudden coldness I'm feeling and I look down in embarrassment of being caught at such a raw moment. I stand up, turning away from him to hide my tear-struck face.

"What happened out there?" He skeptically asks and I close my eyes, knowing that his inquisitive tone always weakens me and that I will eventually wind up telling him everything.

"Summer..." His hand pulls my arm slightly, making me face him. I still keep my gaze down but I can feel his sharp breaths on my forehead. His chest rises and falls simultaneously as if he is waiting for something.

"You can do this. You'll make your dad proud." I look up at his face, taking in all his handsome glory. His tense expression only indicated concern – even a kid could notice. But why all this concern for me?

"You should go, Caleb." I push myself away and his hands fall limp at his side in a disappointing manner. I hug myself and feel even more exposed to being alone with him in the girls' locker room at such a time.

"Don't run away again, Summer. I don't know what exactly happened to you that's making you act this way. But whatever it is, even if it's toward me, I'm not gonna let you fail at playing this game to your best and then regret everything. Hey, look at me." He inches closer to me and slightly lifts my chin with his index finger. My dry, chapped lips are slightly apart and the only sound I can hear is the loud beating of my heart. I wonder if he can hear it.

"Forget everything. Every single thing on your mind." I close my eyes and I can feel his breath near my earlobe. The warmth emanating from his body calms me down and I do as he says. I forget every single thing that was running around in my head recklessly and all I can feel is Caleb's touch and soothing words.

"Play for your dad. And yourself. For the first time."

I don't know what I'm hearing – his words or his sexy tone.

I feel the gentle brush of his fingers on my cheekbone and my eyes flutter open. I block everything out except the fact that here I am, standing with Caleb, nose to nose, with no one around us. Shamelessly, my eyes drift toward his lips and I almost smack myself for even harboring that stupid thought.

I can't. Can I?

Judging from the way he's currently staring at me, his inching distance doesn't take me far away from the mere thought that he wants to kiss me.

This is Caleb freaking Anderson! What the hell am I doing?

But I still can't move. Mostly because my senses aren't in the right place and also because his hold on me just captivates me in an unexplainable way.

An impatient knock on the door makes us both jump a few feet away from each other.

"Summer, you okay?" Jason's concerned voice cuts through the silence and I place my finger on my lips, signaling to Caleb to keep his mouth shut. He nods and I shout a yes. "I'll be right out."

After Jason leaves, I raise my leg and place it one of the benches, pretending to tie my cleats. I can't deny the sparks of electricity I felt around Caleb but I also can't deny that I'm cross with him due to the whole Veronica thing. And also the fact that I don't like how I behave when I'm around him. It's like a completely different person emerges out upon his slight touch.

"Let's go play?"

I nod and we both get out, still keeping an eye out for any wanderers who might see us and create a scene. Lucky for us, the girls' locker room was well hidden behind the coach's main office and a few trees here and there. I smoothen my jersey and without a word to Caleb, I move toward my position and him to his.

As soon as I hear the shrill sound of the referee's whistle, I move as fast as I could, my only focus being the soccer ball I love. Keeping that in mind, I smirk as I get ahold of it and continue dribbling it until I pass it on to Aaron. My eyes meet Caleb's as we are both running in the same direction and despite the tension we've been having during the past few days, he manages to offer me a small smile and a nod. In a few minutes, the ball is skillfully handled by Caleb and he shoots right at the net. The crowd bursts with cheers and some of the boys hit Caleb on his back happily. I find myself smiling like a doofus until I snap out of it and concentrate on the game.

2-2.

I have to make dad proud. I breathe heavily and run with the ball near my feet every few seconds. Small beads of sweat trickle down my forehead and jawline and I could only hear the crowd cheering for our team and my heart's loud beating.

I can do this.

As if I suddenly got charged with electricity, I dash down the field, dodging all the rough and bulky opponents. Before I could make it towards the net though, one of the defenders appears in front of me and tackles me down. I take him along with me and I lose track of the ball. I grunt and push the captain off me, glaring at him with undeniable fire.

"Easy there, fighter girl."

I ignore him and run forward again. Noel and Caleb are constantly passing each other the ball but they still are far away from the goal post. At this rate, I don't think either of them could make it before one of the opponents snatches the ball from them.

"Caleb!" I shout and gesture at him to pass me the ball. Quickly seeing as I'm open, he kicks the ball sky high and I bounce it off my knee effortlessly. I'm mere inches away from the goal post and thinking of dad, I shoot it. I close my eyes in fear of the goalkeeper managing to save the goal. But after a few seconds, my feet are dangling in the air and all I hear is wild hollers and cheers all around. Jason and Shawn are currently lifting me and tossing me like I'm a damn soccer ball. They soon put me down and I'm surrounded by a whole group of wild, sweaty boys.

And as gross as it is, I still smile at one grey-eyed boy who had nothing but a grin on his face directed at me.