yoursome1-rbwebb

[yoursome1-rbwebb]

Caught In Haze

Previous | Next

Chapter 27

"Where are you taking me?" I asked as Riley took a turn off campus and towards the state park.

We had just finished the campus tour which was a lot easier to get through than I thought it would be.

Riley was surprisingly informational and thorough with her comments, making sure to tell me things like which professors to look out for and which buildings she thought were haunted. 

She also threw in a few things that weren’t necessary like which janitor's closet is spacious enough for sex and places to hide from girls she’s slept with.

"You'll see." Riley grinned at me and continued driving deeper into the forested area.

Getting along with Riley has been easier than I’d like to admit. She has genuinely been pleasant to be around for the last hour or so which is something I never thought would happen. The usual flirting and grandiose attitude have all been replaced by light hearted banter and a casual atmosphere.

About five minutes down the road while being surrounded by trees, she slowed down and took a turn onto a dirt road that led deeper into thicker foliage.

"Are you going to murder me?" I asked playfully, taking in the scenery as we drove farther into the trees.

“I'm not going to murder you.” She responded with an eye roll and a small chuckle.

“I think you might be reading a little too much Lee.” She added while continuing to chuckle though all I was able to process were the words ‘Reading’ and ‘Lee’.

Something in me deflated and there was absolutely nothing I could do to stop it from showing on my face.

All I could think about was my dad and how much I miss him. 

Images of him driving my jeep on a long car ride to one of my out of town games flashed in my head.

“Alright Lee, let's read,” He’d say everytime we hit the road. 

I can almost see him now nodding along while I read him whatever book I was reading at the time. He’d laugh at every punch line and help me process every emotion they made me feel. He’d try to guess the plot and almost always guess wrong.

It was almost like I'd been punched in the gut by the memories of him, sacking their way through my mind. 

Though, for the first time since he died, the images flashing behind my eyes didn’t make me want to cry or put a hole through a wall. It was like something finally broke through the barrier that was holding all that grief inside, letting it all drain out. Now all that’s left is the residual happiness that I did feel during those moments with him. 

What was that something that finally pushed me to the other side of all that sadness and anger?

"Woah. What happened, are you okay? Lily told me you like to read!" Riley said, her voice pulling me from my stupor. 

She stopped the car and put it in park before turning to face me. 

I don’t really know what happened either. My body can’t decide whether it wants to cry, laugh, scream or shut down.

The only thing I do know is my defenses are down and Riley already got inside.

I shook my head, trying to clear the overwhelming surge of emotions before responding.

"Sorry, I just... You called me Lee." I said as a single tear fell from my eye.

"Yeah?” She shifted awkwardly to face me more. “That’s what I’ve always called you?” She said even more confused than she was before.

She looked too scared to move. Frozen in place by my random outburst and scared that it might be her fault. 

I mean it is her fault. But in the best way possible.

I couldn’t help but to smile at her. 

She really looked at me like I was a crazy person now.

"Sorry, I know." I said, waving her off, “You just talked about reading and my nickname and it just…”

I don’t generally talk to people I barely know about my dead dad. That’s not how I want people to know me. But with Riley it just feels different. I just know somehow that it won’t change anything. She’d still be just Riley and I’d still be just Lee.

“My dad used to call me Lee.” I conceded, “He died almost three years ago.” 

Riley sucked in a sharp breath and leaned away from me like I just told her I had the plague.

"Oh shit. Charlie. I am so sorry." She muttered, shaking her head. “Fuck! Why am I so bad at being friends with you?” 

She let her head fall onto her steering wheel in a dramatic fashion. It was kind of cute how concerned she was with our friendship.

“No Riley, it’s fine.” I interrupted her moping. “It’s been nice hearing the name again actually.” I smiled reassuringly.

Riley’s head shot up off the steering wheel and whipped around to look at me.

"Is it really fine?” She asked, eyeing me to make sure I was telling the truth. 

‘Never ever let anyone think it’s fine to push you past your limits Charlie. Not me, not Noah, not anyone.’ 

Her words from earlier replayed in my mind and suddenly this moment was a lot more intense than it had been.

She really does care, doesn't she? That fact alone made every remaining defense I had left standing tumble to the ground leaving me powerless under her golden gaze. I took a moment to really look at her without all those guards and preconceptions holding me back.

The sun bounced off her eyes and highlighted the little green flecks in those warm pools of honey that were scanning my face profusely, waiting for my response.

I let my eyes wander up into her long black hair that was tied up into a ponytail with only a few shorter pieces from her bangs flitting across her forehead. I remember her hair being so soft and all I want to do is run my hands through it to confirm that my memory serves me right.

My eyes shifted back down to her face again, barely glancing at her now widening eyes on their path to her lips. The way her plump bottom lip parted from the top one letting out an inaudible gasp made my head spin.

That kiss we shared all those months ago lived in the back of my head and replayed everytime I saw her in excruciating detail. I have spent all these months trying to forget that it ever happened.

Now here I am staring at the offending lips I have wanted to forget and I can’t remember a single thing. Not how they made me weak in the knees. Not how they felt against mine. Not how they tasted. Exactly like I wanted.

Only now… I want those memories back desperately. 

I want to kiss Riley Haze.

Fuck me. 

“It’s fine.” I finally replied just above a whisper not trusting myself to say any more. My filter is obviously at an all time low at the moment.

Riley continued looking at me though this time a bit more apprehensive than before. She obviously felt the charged atmosphere too. 

"Okay Lee." She responded in the same low and restrained tone that I did. 

Both of us stayed frozen in our seats.

Something in the back of my mind was screaming something about lines and boundaries and I knew that I should listen to it.

Then Riley’s eyes flitted down to my lips and I knew she was experiencing exactly what I was. She wants to kiss me too. And what is stopping me from taking what we want? Why can’t I just let myself have this one thing?

Noah. That’s why.

Lines. Boundaries. Put them all up now.

I shook my head and yanked my eyes from her face, looking out the car windshield instead, causing the overbearing want I have for the other woman to shatter.

It was all a mirage. I don’t want her. I am seeing Noah. I don’t even like girls. I just feel connected to her because she reminds me of him. 

But does she really? Other than looks, they couldn’t be more different. 

One of them is steady, reliable and safe. The other is sporadic and adventurous and risky.

One of them knows exactly what they want. One of them can’t seem to make up their mind.

I need to protect myself from one of them and the other I don’t. 

I took another moment to collect myself before speaking again.

"Okay, take me to wherever you're going to murder me." I said, waving away the tension with my hand.

Riley let out an almost relieved sigh before turning off her car.

"I'm not going to murder you and we are here." She replied, unbuckling her belt and climbing out of the car.

She leaned back in and pushed her seat forward so she could reach into the backseat.

“I didn't see anything about a forest in the campus guide." I shot back before climbing out of the car too.

"You wouldn’t have.” She laughed and continued sifting through the back of her car.

I closed my door and decided to turn away from her and stretch out all of the tension that had built up in my body in the last few minutes. 

I heard Riley’s door finally close and turned back to face her. She now had a black backpack on her back and that signature smirk on her lips.

Don’t look at her lips.

“Follow me.” She nodded toward a small dirt path leading into the trees.

She didn’t wait for me to reply before starting towards the trail in silence. Was she acting differently? More reserved?

Maybe she is trying to collect herself too after that intense exchange in the car.

I need to get this over with before anything else happens that might weaken my resolve. I don’t think I will have any restraint left if another moment like that happens with Riley.

We walked for about 2 minutes on the trail before Riley turned left off of the path and made her way through the trees. The turn clearly wasn’t an official trail but had definitely been walked on enough to have a makeshift trail carved out. 

I followed after her without question through the trees until we made it to a clearing with a small river flowing through it.

Something about this little area was incredibly relaxing. Like a little safe haven where nothing bad could happen. It’s beautiful.

"Here we are." Riley broke the silence before tossing the bag she was carrying to the ground in a patch of grass.

A few birds flew out of a tree nearby from the noise making me jump slightly. Riley just grinned at me and started to dig into her bag.

"And why are we here?" I asked, a tinge of annoyance laced in my voice.

Riley looked up at me from her spot where she was kneeling on the ground still searching her backpack for something.

“Tradition is why we are here Lee.” She grinned and whipped her hand out of the bag, clutching a black Sharpie.

I furrowed my eyebrows together. Why the hell did she drag me out here to the middle of nowhere to show me a marker?

“So you are going to murder me and draw a mustache on my face?” I said sarcastically, folding my arms over my chest awaiting an explanation.

Riley chuckled and stood to her feet with a glint of amusement in her eyes before walking over to me.

“We are going to get you a Lucky Rock my friend.” She replied happily, holding the marker out for me to take.

I hesitated before unfolding my arms and accepting it. When I did, Riley shot me a wink that sent a sharp jolt through my chest before turning towards the flowing water behind her.

I took in a deep breath to help ease the feeling in my chest before following her to the river.

“Okay, first we need to pick out some rocks. You pick a nice one and I’ll pick the other.” She explained before squatting down to look at the rocks.

She looked like a kid on Christmas as she began sifting through rocks on the river's edge. I watched her for a moment before smiling and following her lead.

“So why do I need a lucky rock?” I asked, picking up a rigid white rock from the edge of the water.

“To help you settle in.” Riley answered without any further explanation, continuing to sift through rocks.

A few seconds of silence went by before her voice pierced through that quiet again.

“Coach Yardley is the one who brought me out here my freshman year.” Riley started, picking up a gray rock and inspecting it. I stopped my search for rocks and looked at her, surprised by her willingness to offer up new information.

“I was going through…” She paused and held the river rock up to her face, almost glaring at it. “... A tough time Freshman year and it was affecting my performance.” She sighed, chucking the rock into the river and starting her search over.

I just continued to watch her, hanging on to her every word. Riley has rarely talked about herself in the time that I’ve known her. She and her brother have that in common at the very least.

“Not that that’s why she brought me out here. Coach Yardley didn’t care if I was playing well or not. She just wanted me to feel better.” She smiled like she was picturing a fond memory as she picked up a darker, smooth rock. She looks so pensive and troubled and…

Beautiful.

My god she is so beautiful.

I need to pull it together. I started sifting through rocks again not really knowing what the objective is here but looking for a distraction nonetheless.

She was going through a rough time Freshman year? I wonder what happened. Is she okay now? Did whatever this is help her?

“Anyway, Coach Yardley said I just needed a little luck on my side and brought me out here.” She shrugged as she inspected the little black rock in her hands.

“Perfect.” She said standing up with it. She looked down at me and I quickly grabbed the first rock I reached for then stood up with her  hoping she’d answer some of the questions she had created in my head without being asked.

“Okay. let me see it.” She said holding her hand out expectantly for my rock.

I handed it to her and she scanned it as if she was looking for imperfections. 

It’s kind of cute how much she cares about this whole Luck Rock thing. At the end of the day though, It’s just a dark green rock from the river bank.

“Do you have a thing for rocks?” I asked with a small smirk on my face.

Riley looked at me with a frown, not liking my little joke but continued to flip the rock around in her hand.

“This is a nice one. It’s pretty and matches your eyes.” She finally said then turned towards the water again..

I stood there stunned as she began rinsing off the two little rocks in her hands. Does she think my eyes are pretty or did she just mean the rock? She doesn’t seem phased at all by the possible compliment. Though she wouldn’t be would she? Riley’s always been more than comfortable with complimenting women. She’s probably at a point where she doesn’t even realize she’s doing it. Like right now. Flirting doesn’t mean anything to her.

I am just one little green rock in a sea of river rocks that Riley Haze is seemingly trying to collect.

“Okay, In order to get luck, you have to get rid of something that’s holding you back.” Riley said, holding up the smooth brown rock that she chose 

“On this rock you need to write something that is keeping you from achieving what you want to. Something that is in the way of your dreams.” She said holding the rock out to me.

Holding me back? Nothing is holding me back. I’m on the cusp of achieving my dreams.

“Wha-I-What?” I stuttered, not understanding what she meant.

She grinned and took my free hand in hers, causing another one of those jolts to shoot through my chest. She placed the rock into my hand then inclosed my fingers around it with hers.

“Just think about it.” She smiled softly and it instantly calmed my sudden nerves. “What is weighing on you? What are you afraid of?” She asked.

“Did I come out here for therapy?” I asked, deflecting her question.

“Humor me Charlie.” Riley said, removing her hands from mine. “You don’t have to tell me. Just write it on my rock.” She smiled.

I stared at her a moment longer not really wanting to participate any longer in this game. I want to go back to my dorm room. I want to process everything that has happened in the last hour. Most of all I want to get away from those golden eyes that almost seem to be torturing me now. 

The quickest way to get what I want is to just do what she wants me to.

I know exactly what scares me. What keeps me awake at night. 

Failure.

Failure to be what my dad wanted me to be. 

Failure to make his last name mean something.

That pressure has weighed on me as long as I can remember and after his death it only got heavier.

I sighed and tucked the green rock into my pocket, pulling the Sharpie out of the other side to write the word ‘Failure’ on my rock.

“Okay.” I nodded, furrowing my eyebrows together in annoyance.

It feels almost wrong to think about that pressure with a negative connotation. Would he be disappointed in how weak I sound?

At least I have the opportunity to fail. Dad doesn’t have that chance anymore.

Pressure is a privilege.

“Okay.” Riley smiled reassuringly. “Throw it in the river.”

Was it as simple as that? Just throw the rock in the river and get rid of all that pressure? I’d just be rid of that fear of failure that keeps me up at night?

I paused and stared at the rock for a moment, flipping it over in my hands knowing that this was too good to be true. 

I heard the older girl shift behind me and she spoke so close behind me I could feel her breath on my neck.

“It doesn’t make you better carrying it around with you. All that expectation and pressure, just throw it away.”

Goosebumps formed on my neck from the combination of her warm breath and the words she spoke. I spun around at lightning speed and found her face just a few inches from mine.

“How did you…”

“A guess.” She shrugged with that stupid smirk on her face.

How did she guess that? How is it that she can read me so well? She barely knows me! Even with my guards up she has an open door into my mind that she can use to come and go as she pleases.

“Just throw it away, Lee. It helps.” She spoke. Her golden eyes bore into mine with a reassurance I have never seen before and I couldn’t help but believe her.

This will help. Riley will help.

I closed my eyes and nodded at her before turning back to the water. I heard Riley take a step back, giving me enough space to collect my thoughts.

I let out a long drawn out breath before pulling my hand back to make the throw.

Get rid of the pressure. Get rid of the fear of failure and disappointment. I don’t need it. It doesn’t make me better. It only makes me more scared.

I let my hand shoot forward releasing the rock into the river only opening my eyes the moment I heard a loud splash.

“Yes!” Riley clapped her hands rambunctiously behind me. “How does it feel?”

I couldn’t really decipher how I was feeling. The pressure didn’t just disappear and I was stupid to think that it might have. However I did feel just a little bit lighter.

“I don’t know…” I stared at the water lazily flowing by for a moment. I couldn’t see the brown rock I had just thrown in. The rock that was supposed to make everything better. But I do know that eventually, that word, ‘failure’ would wash away from that rock. The stain would just be a little blip in that rock's lifetime. With a little help from the river it would be a brand new rock.

“Like a clean slate.” I responded in a low voice, barely loud enough for her to hear.

A fresh start. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. A new adventure. One that I get to decide to go on.

I turned around and faced her feeling freer than I have in a long time and it had almost everything to do with the girl in front of me.

Riley stood there with her arms folded and a knowing look on her face.

“Feels good huh?” She asked.

All I could do was nod at the girl that somehow knew me better than anyone else.

“Sometimes you just need a little help to jumpstart your dreams and get rid of those fears.” She grinned. “But with dreams, you also need a small amount of luck.”

“Sometimes getting lucky isn’t easy.” She said, shooting me another playful wink.

I had to stifle the laugh that formed in my throat.

“It seems to me that you get lucky enough for the both of us.” I joked, causing Riley to burst into laughter.

“Shut up and pull out the green rock.” She laughed.

God, she has such a pretty laugh.

Knowing that laugh was caused by me sent an explosion of pride through my veins and tingles of pleasure throughout my whole body.

I pulled the rock from my pocket and held it in my hand with a smirk of my own on my face awaiting further instructions.

Riley’s giggles quietened and she continued. 

“Okay so how it works is you write how you felt after throwing the troubled rock in the water. Then, in order to jumpstart your luck, you have to borrow some from someone else. So write someone’s name down and you will borrow some of their luck.” She smiled then stepped away from me.

“The only rule with the Luck Rock is, you can’t show it to anyone. If you do, the luck goes back to the person whose name is on the rock.” She turned around so she wouldn’t see what I wrote. 

I found it completely adorable how seriously she was taking this whole rock thing. It was a refreshing change from her completely unserious personality around everyone else.

“So I am stealing luck from someone else?” I asked with a smile on my face.

“Borrowing. You’ll give it back eventually. You’re a good person.” She called over her shoulder, still not turning around.

I giggled and moved to write on my rock. This part of this whole little rock adventure has been a lot more relaxed compared to the first part. It’s cute and much more light hearted.

“So I should pick someone that has enough luck to go around? Someone that won’t notice that a little is missing?” I asked in a playful tone.

“That’s the idea.” Riley shrugged and started kicking at the rocks below her feet to pass the time.

I chuckled again and looked down at my green rock that matched my eyes.

The words basically wrote themselves as the marker skimmed across the smooth surface.

I finished writing and looked down at my newly minted Luck Rock.

The words ‘Refreshed’ and ‘Riley’ looked back at me.

Riley drove me home with little to no fuss after that.

I then found myself in my dorm room alone, sitting in my little chair staring out the window, pondering all the newfound possibilities within my reach.

Not that they were necessarily new, just shining in a new light.

I finally find myself feeling hopeful rather than the day to day monotony I feel on a regular basis these days. 

Hopeful for my new friendship, confident in my future and optimistic that I will make my dads name mean something.

And it’s all because of the little rock I hadn’t realized was still in my hand.

Previous | Next

[yoursome1-rbwebb]

Caught In Haze

Previous | Next

Chapter 26

I had done very little to get ready for my outing with Riley, throwing on a T-shirt and denim shorts. I did however run a comb through my curly brown hair, taming the frizziness with some product before plopping down onto my bed and watching the live stream Noah sent me for his club friendly.

He didn’t get the start which I thought was a mistake from his manager but he is young and untested so I understand the hesitation. He was eventually subbed on in the 60th minute and I let out a small cheer paired with a fist into the air when his number was held up on the board.

Noah made an impact immediately. His ability to dictate the flow of the game from his position in the midfield is so underrated. He can somehow see passes that most wouldn’t and play the ball perfectly to his teammates feet.

His ability to move with the ball is incredible too. The way he moves and gets by defenders reminds me of another player I’ve watched play over the last two weeks.

A knock on my door sounded fourteen minutes after one was meant to and I rolled my eyes already expecting the tardiness but still allowing myself to be annoyed by it anyway.

I put my phone down on my bed and walked over to my door, pulling it open to reveal exactly the person I thought it would be. I didn’t so much as glance at the older girl before walking back towards my phone without a word.

“Hey Lee.” Riley chirped, sounding happier than usual as she followed me into my room without an invitation.

I ignored her and grabbed my small black satchel from my desk that held my car keys and wallet. 

“Whatcha watchin’?” She asked me, picking my phone up from my bed to examine it.

I really don’t know how Noah feels about having his estranged sister watch his match so I quickly yanked the phone from her hands before she got a chance to really see anything.

“None of your business.” I replied before moving past her to stand in the open door frame so she’d get the hint that I didn’t want to chat with her.

“Someone seems a little grumpy.” She commented under her breath before walking by me out of the room. 

I huffed and locked my door before whipping around to face the aggravating woman.

“You’d be upset if I woke you up too.” I flung my frustration at the girl with no hesitation.

If she asked me the real reason I was upset, I wouldn’t be able to tell her though. There are so many factors that go into my frustrations and 90% of them have to do with her though. That’s why I don’t feel any remorse whatsoever in being a little cold towards the dark haired girl.

The only thing I do know for sure is that I just want to get this little tour over with. 

The less time I spend with the other Haze the better.

“Depends on what you are waking me up for.” Riley responded cheekily, making my anger flare once again.

“Fuck off Riley.” I spat, pushing past her and made my way down the hall and into the stairwell.

I made it down a flight of stairs before a hand was on my arm pulling me back in a very similar way to the way I pulled her yesterday.

“Hey.” Riley spoke softly, to get my attention.

I turned to face her, ready to let all my annoyance from the last week out on her but stopped the moment I saw her face.

Her golden eyes were flicking back and forth between mine full of concern and confusion. It made my body feel light and heavy at the same time. Like it was trying to decide whether to float away or sink into the ground.

“Why are you so upset? This can’t just be over me waking you up.” She said, stepping closer to me as if that would help her get a better look inside my brain.

“I-I-” Suddenly my words failed me.

Riley moved her hand down my arm to my hand and held it in her own, encouraging me to continue. 

The butterflies that burst into my chest were almost too much to handle. Why does her touch do that to me?

I pulled away from her immediately and turned away from her before I could be sucked into her any farther. I need to focus and Riley has a weird way of making that task impossible. 

I need to give her a real answer that doesn’t reveal too much of my personal dilemmas. Keeping Riley at a distance will help me out in the long run.

“I can’t keep doing this.” I said, letting my shoulders sag in defeat. 

Riley walked around me and stood in front of me, letting the concern in her face wash over me. It had the same effect as last time, only this time it was more comforting than before. 

It’s nice to know she might actually care.

“Doing what?” She asked in a hushed voice, furrowing her eyebrows together in confusion.

I have to tell her something. I have to make all this weird tension stop.

“Doing this.” I gestured between us. “I can’t keep being a joke to you Riley.”

I said the first thing I could think of that wasn't ‘I can’t keep thinking about you in ways I shouldn’t.’

“I need you to stop messing with me. I want to be taken seriously. It’s all just been too much! I don’t know whether you are trying to be my friend, ruin my life or get into my pants and it’s exhausting!” I concluded before letting out a sigh with my frustrations.

Riley stared at me for a moment longer, studying my face for any other clues  she might find to why I am in such a state of unease before dropping her eyes to the floor. 

“You're not a joke to me Charlie.” She said just above a whisper. “I’m sorry I made you feel so uncomfortable.” She added while shaking her head in remorse.

Now this was a turn of events I did not see coming today. I never expected Riley to be the type of girl to own up to her mistakes without a little bit of pushback.

It made me respect the girl even more which is confusing in its own right.

“It’s fine.” I huffed out as a default response and tried to step by her and put some distance between me and my own personal supply of confusion.

Suddenly, she stopped me with two hands on my shoulders and a fire in her eyes.

“No. It’s not fine. Don’t say it is when it isn’t.” She said angrily.

I was too shocked to say anything. What just happened? Where did that come from? Why is she upset now?

“Never ever let anyone think it’s fine to push past your boundaries Charlie. Not me, not Noah, not anyone. It’s not fine.” She said, dropping her hands from my shoulders and turning to walk down the stairs.

What the hell was that? Why does she suddenly care so much about boundaries when she has been pushing mine since the moment we met? 

Is she upset that she got called out or is she truly mad at herself for making me uncomfortable?

Either way I can’t let her walk away when she looks so upset. Something in me can’t stand seeing her usual playful happy self be so torn up.

“Riley. Hey!” I called, grabbing her hand this time, making her stop in her tracks. She didn’t turn to face me though. She just let her head hang, looking down the stairs with her jaw clenched tightly.

“I know how to take care of myself. I promise.” I said, tugging her hand in hopes that she would just look at me.

She finally looked back at me after what felt like forever with a mixture of emotions in her eyes that I couldn’t explain. What I can explain is how vulnerable she looks. Her whole heart is on her sleeve right now and holy fuck she is so breathtakingly beautiful.

Sometimes I forget that fact because it’s overshadowed by her never ending pursuit of aggravating me in one way or another.

“You’ve said that before.” She quipped, letting a small smile break through all those other emotions. The small crack in her shell only amplified the beauty that was already overwhelming me.

I couldn’t even attempt to stop myself from smiling back at her.

“Fuck Riley.” I sighed and moved away from her so I could regain a normal train of thought. “Can we just start over? Just forget everything else and do a do over?” I asked.

“A do over?” Riley repeated with a light chuckle.

I mean I’m not really asking for a lot. We do barely know each other at the end of the day. 

Riley studied me with an apprehensive look though that made me question myself for even asking. Did she not want to forget?

Suddenly, all that vulnerability from her face cleared and was replaced by her usual signature smirking attire. 

She dropped my hand and held her own out between us.

“I’m Riley.” She grinned.

The relief I felt surged through my body and propelled my arm forward to take her hand in mine. Once again another tense unguarded moment with Riley ended abruptly only this time, it didn’t leave me reeling in angst and confusion. 

I quickly shook her hand before letting out a small giggle at the silly idea of reintroducing ourselves to each other after everything that just happened.

“Charlie.” I replied with a grin of my own.

“Right.” She replied, dropping my hand and clapping hers together. “Let’s get this show on the road.” 

She took off down the stairs and I was left alone wallowing in what just happened.

I really hope Riley leaving me flabbergasted in the stairwell doesn’t become the new norm because I don’t think I’ll survive the next time it happens. 

Riley suddenly stopped on the next landing and looked back up at me with her eyebrows furrowed.

“Oh and Lee?”

“Yes?” I asked, beginning my trek down the stairs towards her.

“If I had to choose between being your friend, ruining your life or getting in your pants, I’d choose gett…”

I scoffed loudly, stomping down the stairs past her before she could finish her sentence.

I could hear Riley’s laughter from the stairs before she followed me into the hall. A warmth washed over my body the moment I heard it. It’s a sound that could make the unhappiest person giddy. Her laugh is a new guilty pleasure to add to the collection.

“I was going to say I’d choose getting to know you.” She chuckled as she caught up to me.

I rolled my eyes at her but couldn’t wipe the silly grin from my face. Usually a joke like that from her would leave me with a look of disdain and a vendetta to get her back but now… Now joking with Riley is kind of fun. 

Riley led me out to her sports car that matches her brothers. The grin on my face dropped the moment I saw it.

We shook on forgetting…

But I can’t just forget Noah and his feelings. I can’t just forget that he holds a grudge against her. I can’t forget that I chose him.  I can’t forget that she is off limits.

Previous | Next

[yoursome1-rbwebb]

Caught In Haze

Previous | Next

Chapter 25

Noah’s face crashed into mine in another heated kiss that we had been sharing for what felt like hours.

I can’t remember when but at some point all of our clothes had been flung from our bodies leaving both of us naked and hungrier for each other than ever.

Even though our clothes had been off for I don’t know how long, Noah still continued to be a perfect gentleman. Which was nice until I couldn’t handle it any longer. I want him to take charge. I want him to have his way with me. Yet here we sat with lingering touches, still not going farther than kissing my neck.

My body is screaming for more and that is why I finally resorted to begging. I need him. I’m desperate. I’ll do anything to just be touched at this point.

“Noah please!” I moaned, letting my nails dig into his muscled back as he hovered over me.

I think he finally understood my desperation and shifted from my lips, placing kisses all the way down my jaw to my ear. 

“You are so beautiful.” He whispered when he reached my ear, leaving a chaste kiss just below it. I let out a gentle moan in reply, encouraging him to keep going. So he did. He placed those same light kisses all the way down my neck. I let out a sigh of relief when he placed his first kiss of many on my chest on his journey down my body. My head fell back into the pillow involuntarily as the anticipation of him going exactly where I wanted him started to become a reality. 

My eyes snapped shut as I prepared myself for the pleasure he surely was going to give me until his light trail of kisses came to an abrupt halt just above my belly button.

I let out a frustrated groan at the lack of lips on my body and lifted my head up, opening my eyes to see what the hold up was.

My breath caught in my throat when the person hovering over my abdomen wasn’t Noah at all.

Riley had no business being the one hovering between my legs with her mouth inches from my body. Yet, here she is looking at me with that stupid smirk on her face. I didn’t know whether I was going to pass out from the way it made me feel in this situation or because I genuinely have no clue how she got here.

“Shhh Lee. I’ve got you.” She whispered then placed a teasing kiss just below my belly button.

I know for a fact my eyes are popping out of my head right now. The last time I saw the girl she was storming away from me in clear frustration over something. Now she is between my legs acting like she belongs there.

She placed another kiss a few centimeters lower.

I should stop this. Where did Noah go?

Another kiss just a little lower.

This can’t happen. What am I doing? Why does that feel so good?

An obscenely low kiss was placed this time just above where my underwear would be if I was wearing any. 

I am running out of time to end this before it goes any further.

I didn’t move a muscle. 

I couldn’t object because even all the unholy things I was thinking scattered from my brain. I was left with nothing in my mind but compliance to her every wish. I am once again rendered helpless under her touch just like every other fucking time.

Only this time… I don’t know if I want to be saved.

Another gentle kiss was placed on my pubic bone and I knew that would be the last kiss on this journey. I either had to say something now or beg for forgiveness later. 

Riley hovered over me, letting her warm breath brush over my very wet center. Everything in me was screaming for her to just do it. Put herself exactly where she knows I am desperate to be touched. 

I am painfully confused and turned on and in this situation, Riley might just be the solution to at least one of those things.

Her black hair was tied up into her signature messy bun with a few of her bangs loose and framing her face. Meanwhile her golden eyes never strayed from mine, piercing into my soul as if she didn’t want to miss a single movement or gasp that I made. 

The way she was looking at me was incredibly addicting. Like I was the answer to all her own problems as well. Like she wanted to touch me just as badly as I wanted to be touched.

“Tell me to stop and I’ll stop.” She whispered, looking up at me one more time.

She was clearly in charge here in every way but she was going out of her way to make me feel safe. To give me an out. To stop this before we blasted through that last barrier.

Do I want her to stop? 

On one hand, this is wrong and confusing and I’m not even gay!

But on the other hand, she wants me and is already here ready to touch me the second I say the word. And oh my god, I want to be touched so badly.

But she’s not Noah.

It’s supposed to be him.

Yet, why do I still want her just as badly if not more? 

How can this feel so wrong and good at the same time?

I looked down into her gorgeous face. She seems so sure that she wants this. I’m sure she looks at every girl that way though. The confidence and sexiness she is exuding in this very minute are enough to turn anyone gay for a day I suppose.

“I-I-”

A loud bang had me shooting up out of my bed like the undertaker.

I was so panicked from the noise and everything that happened in my dream that I thought I may be getting attacked for a moment.

I was taking note of the way my heart was thundering in my chest when the thud sounded again. It came from my door.

I looked at my phone for the time and it read 10:30AM. I wasn’t expecting anyone till noon and even then I expected her to be late.

I got up and tip-toed over to my door and just as I reached it, something hit the door again and this time I heard the distinct sound of a woman moaning afterward.

What the fuck?

I swung the door open to reveal two of the last people I wanted to see.

Riley’s mouth was glued to Rachel’s as the latter was being pushed up against my door. They broke apart as soon as my door opened but Rachel didn’t react quickly enough and she stumbled backwards into my room. Just before the blonde battered into me, Riley wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her.

“Woah there.” Riley chuckled as she pulled Rachel’s body back into hers. In turn, Rachel pushed her face into Riley’s neck and let out a few giggles there.

They were almost fucking against my door and neither of them even had the decency to look embarrassed.

My shock and anxiety from the last ten minutes turned to anger in seconds.

“Make out against your own door.” I yelled louder than I meant to.

I couldn’t help it. I’m completely disoriented from that dream and I don’t know if I’m angry because I was woken up from it or angry that it happened. 

And now the main suspect that caused the commotions both inside and outside of my dorm room is making out with my competition against my door. 

It only fueled my anger and only made the relentless bewilderment happening inside my head worse.

“No problem Lee.” Riley shrugged, pulling Rachel in tighter to her side. 

Rachel just grinned at me like she’d won a contest and proceeded to wrap her arms around the other girl's neck as if she was claiming her prize.

I have never wanted to punch her in the face more than I do right now.

Riley turned towards her door and unlocked it before pushing Rachel inside with a mischievous smile. Clearly they were going to finish what they started against my door.

A pang shot through my chest as Riley followed the girl into the room. The farther the door closed the more my chest stung with pain.

God, get it together Charlie.

Just before the door closed completely, Riley poked her head back out the door, prolonging my suffering.

“I’ll see you in an hour-ish right?” She asked, raising her eyebrows up at me in question.

This time my heart stopped. I had totally forgotten all about the tour we had agreed on yesterday. 

Honestly after that dream… I’m having a hard time remembering anything except the way she loo...

“Uh, right. Yeah.” I said nodding my head but refusing eye contact, all of a sudden much more aware of the events that took place in my dream.

Riley’s face split open into a grin in reply, making my heart beat speed up even faster. 

That excited smirk was the same look she gave me earlier but from a very different angle.

I need to get out of this hallway.

“Great. See you in a bit.” She said happily and started to move back into her room completely.

I let out a sigh of relief the moment her head disappeared.

I moved to close my own door, clearly in need of some form of decompression when I was stopped by the golden eyed girl once again calling my name.

“Oh Lee!”

“The smiling sunflower is a nice touch. Very inviting.” She said and nodded towards my lower body.

I looked down and embarrassment flooded through my body. The pair of old underwear that indeed did have a smiling sunflower printed across the front was displayed for the world to see and I hadn’t even noticed this whole time.

I let out a noise that was a mixture of shock and dismay but it came out as more of a squeak before slamming my dorm door closed. 

I leaned against it and let out a long exhale still able to hear Riley cackling at my expense in the hallway.

I think I hate her. 

All she does is infiltrate my thoughts in the worst ways. I don’t know if it’s a tactic she implements on women to get into their pants but it will never work on me.

I should have never kissed her. She was just a stranger at a party. Noah’s party.

God, what would Noah think if he saw what just happened. Fuck, what would he think if he saw what happened in the stairs yesterday?

I could have sworn she was about to do something in those stairs we… Well, I would regret. 

But was I going to stop her before it went too far if she didn’t stop herself? Or would I have stayed frozen like I had in my dream this morning at her complete mercy?

FUCK!

Why can’t I draw a fucking line when it comes to that girl?

I want Noah. I am committed to him. Maybe not officially, but he knows I am his if he wants me. I’ve waited years to be his! I want him.

But on the other hand, I can’t get her out of my head. She is single handedly ruining my life. Whether that be by annoying me beyond belief or stirring up thoughts in my head that have me questioning every inkling of my being.

I just need to remind myself of the facts. 

I am straight. 

Noah is a good man and I want to be with him. 

I am just a game to Riley.

Previous | Next

[yoursome1-rbwebb]

Caught In Haze

Previous | Next Chapter 24

The first week of preseason went by slower than I would have liked it to.

Sitting on the sideline having to watch the whole team do the one thing I care about doing was excruciating.

Every morning I reported to the head trainer, Bill, eager to convince him that I was really okay. 

Sure, the bruising looked bad and it was still very sore, but I have honestly played through worse.

Bill was having none of it. He’d roll his eyes at me and end his argument with lightly patting my side to see if I reacted with pain. I hadn’t managed to keep my face still until Friday morning and even then, it took a lot of effort to do so.

He rewarded me (even though I knew he knew that it still hurt) by allowing me to join the team for a gym session but I had to follow some restrictions. 

I took what I could get and joined my team who welcomed me into the gym with open arms. Though, a half hour into the work out I almost wish I would’ve just made a face at Bill this morning. 

Lily and Karly hovered the whole time, not letting me lift heavier than the trainers told me to and shoving water in my face every twenty seconds. 

Lily even went full mom mode when I tried to sneak a few extra pounds on the bar and scolded me on the importance of rest and recovery while Karly nodded along behind her.

Other than my slight annoyance of people trying to take care of me though, It was nice to be back around the team.

The isolation this week has been extra hard because of the new environment and with the added bonus of not having Casey in my face all day every day; my boredom levels are at an all time high. 

Karly did her best Casey impression and was in my room after practices and meals most days but she could do nothing about me being stuck alone on the sidelines. 

The only good thing that came from preseasons isolation was the ability to watch my competition at work. 

Rachel is decent with the ball at her feet. I can give her that. She can dribble and she keeps up with the rest of the team when it comes to fitness. But her ability to read the field and her work off the ball are her greatest weakness.

There were at least thirteen times where she stopped forward progress in training drills by being out of position.

Not that I was counting.

But where Rachel failed, the golden eyed reprobate flourished. 

I knew Riley was good from her reputation alone. She has been in US youth camps since I can remember following them. And the one day I did get to play with her this preseason she was incredible. 

But there was something different about being able to solely focus on her play without worrying about myself too.

It's like her body knows where it needs to be at all times, all on its own. She doesn’t even look like she is trying when she sends a defender to their ass (which has happened more times than said defenders are willing to admit). 

Her footwork and control surpass my own abilities by miles. The ball just seems to stick to her feet until she decides she doesn’t want it to anymore. 

Losing to Riley in anything is not something I like to do. So my craving to get back onto the field only amplified everytime she did some trick or move that I knew I couldn’t. Yet.

Maybe I can convince Bill on Monday to let me back into full training sessions.

“Ladies! Good work this week!” Coach Ty said as the last gym session for the week came to a close.

The sweaty huddle of women quieted down and turned their attention towards the front where the coaching team and our captain, Paisley stood together.

“Have a good weekend off! Don’t cause any trouble and take care of each other!” Coach Yardley said, waving at us then walked out of the room with Ty on her heels.

“Ladies! The seniors with a freshie are required to take them out and show them around campus. You know the drill.” Paisley called from the front of the room before following after the coaches out of the room.

I almost forgot I had a ‘Mentor’. I’ve achieved my goal of avoiding her all week with only the occasional obscene comment from her in passing.

The team began to filter out of the gym and follow Paisley out when someone cleared their throat behind me, drawing my attention.

A sweaty Riley with a stupid smirk on her face was the culprit.

“So will you go out with me tomorrow?” She questioned with a devious look in her eyes.

I rolled my eyes and turned to follow the crowd out of the gym. Unfortunately Riley joined me in stride.

“I will allow you to show me around campus.” I said with my nose upturned, unwilling to give Riley the satisfaction of having my attention like I knew she wanted.

Riley chuckled beside me “Great, I’ll pick you up at noon.” She said happily then we continued together in silence behind the rest of the team.

The longer we walked the harder not looking at her got. I wanted to see if me not looking at her was bothering her as much as her presence was bothering me. But I kept my eyes forward knowing the moment I caved, she’d win.

“How are your ribs?”

The muscles in my neck keeping my head from looking at her lost all of their resolve and my eyes snapped to the black haired girl.

I wasn’t expecting her to care at all about my injury let alone remember it.

“Uh- fine.” I answered, looking forward, hiding my sudden onset of nerves. My body has never known how to react when someone shows even an inkling of worry for me. I have mostly just taken care of myself so it’s very foreign.

“Well the wincing on your face during your bench press says otherwise.” She remarked nonchalantly then moved ahead of me to hold the door to Allen Hall.

Was she watching me workout?

I felt disoriented for a moment at this new information and gave her a weird look as I passed her into the dorm. Unfortunately she was undeterred and quickly fell back into step with me.

“Why were you creeping on me while I worked out?” I asked defensively.

Was she actually being creepy or was she just being another mother hen, making sure I didn’t overdo it. The first option is more likely when it comes to Riley Haze but if it is the second one; I don’t need another person in my business telling me what I can and can’t handle today.

“Why were you watching me in training all week?” She shrugged in response.

I froze in my tracks completely flabbergasted. She made it another two steps before stopping and facing me with an amused look on her face.

I can’t lie and say my eyes weren’t somewhat attracted to Riley this week. Not for a sexual or romantic reason of course. 

She is good at soccer. That’s the only reason. 

I think.

“I-I was…” I started, not really knowing where to go from here. 

If I tell her she is good she will get all cocky and I just can’t bring myself to compliment her to her face. If I continue to ramble she will think it’s because I am attracted to her, which I am not.

Riley’s grin turned devious as the poignant pause continued. She boldly took a step forward leaving only a few inches between us.

“You were what Lee?” She said just above a whisper, quirking her eyebrow up challengingly.

I have so many thoughts running now through my head and not a single one was on how to answer her question.

My mind was suddenly littered with thoughts of her. Of the way her golden eyes bore into mine. Thoughts of the few loose strands of hair stuck to the sweat on her tanned neck and the way her jaw line looked immaculate under this light… 

No, I wasn’t going to be able to respond for at least a few minutes.

And Riley knew it.

She shuffled forward again, closing the gap ever so slightly before challenging me again.

“Did you like what you saw?” She asked.

I’d be lying to myself if I said I didn’t. At the end of the day, Riley is beautiful.

But I’m not gay. For fucks sake, I’m seeing her brother. I need to get out of here.

I brushed past her without answering, knowing any answer I gave her would only throw gas on this newly kindled fire. My best course of action is to pretend that this interaction never happened. Much like I do with most of our interactions.

Riley snickered as I walked by her knowing she had got to me then quickly followed me into the stairwell not wanting to miss a moment of me making a fool of myself.

“Oh come on Lee.” She laughed and started jogging to catch up to me.

“It was a joke.” She grinned as she joined me on the first floor landing. She tried to get my attention by pulling gently on my left arm. 

Anger coursed through me at her words. I whipped around and glared at her ready to put up a fight again.

I am truly sick and tired of being a joke to Riley Haze.

I will not be another punch line. This time she gets to be one.

I let my face relax and took a step forward into her space, much like she had done to me earlier. It had the desired effect of wiping that smugness right off her face.

Her mouth and eyes widened just enough to let me know I currently had the upper hand. 

“You want to know what’s really funny Riley?” I said in the most inviting tone I could muster.

Riley either couldn’t or didn’t know how to respond so she stood still, surveying me like I was a tiger that could pounce at any moment. 

I have her in the palm of my hand and knowing that sent a giddy feeling down my spine.

I have her just where I want her now so I leaned into her ear, causing her breathing to hitch in her throat and another jolt of pleasure to sear my body. 

This newfound power I have over Riley is something I will definitely have to use carefully. It could become incredibly addicting if I don’t.

“What’s funny is: I know you liked what you saw in the gym today.” I husked into her ear. 

I watched as goosebumps popped up on her neck where my breath met her sweaty skin causing a smug grin to form on my face. Knowing she was reacting to me like this made me feel an energy I’ve never felt before.

“Second place must suck when your brother got here first.” I murmured then pulled away from her abruptly, pushing past her up the stairs, leaving her in shock on the first floor.

I didn’t dare look back though. I know if I did, what I saw might only cause that incredibly addicting feeling of power to wreak more havoc inside me. 

I walked as quickly as I could to the fourth floor trying to put as much distance between me and the tension as I could. As my hands reached for the door to my floor, a hand from behind me shoved the door closed, halting me in my tracks once again. I whipped around and came face to face with a determined Riley. 

Her face was only inches from mine as she leaned over me with her hand still on the door and an almost angry look on her face. 

She looks so…

Fuck I can admit it, she looks fucking hot.

And that is a big problem.

I leaned back into the door just to create a little bit more space between us but all it created was a centimeter at best.

If it was physically possible to melt into a puddle onto the floor, that’s where I'd be at this very moment as Riley’s irate eyes pierced my own.

“Actually Charlie.” She snarled, letting her free hand latch onto my left hip, holding me in place. “I distinctly remember getting here first.”

Oh my god. If I could speak, I wouldn’t even have an argument that would hold any weight against her statement. She did in fact ‘get here first’ technically. I couldn’t change that. I just didn’t think she’d bring it up.

Then astonishing me even further, she leaned into me towards my neck and for a moment I thought her lips were actually going to meet my skin there.

“I also distinctly remember you liking it.” 

Her breath washed over my body making me feel warm and light and… inexcusably turned on.

Before I could even think about reacting, she let out a loud frustrated growl and the hand holding the door slammed against it. The action caused a loud bang that made me jump, pulling me out of whatever half-conscious state she put me into.

She removed her hand from my hip then without so much as a glance at me, jogged back down the stairs and out of sight.

I stayed leaning against the fourth floor door long after her footsteps faded from the stairwell.

Fully processing what just happened is something I don’t think I will ever achieve.

A wide range of emotions stormed through me starting with arousal and ended with regret.

I don’t even know if either of us won whatever battle we just fought in.

Previous | Next

[yoursome1-rbwebb]

Caught in Haze

Previous | Next

Chapter 23

"Okay listen up! Here's the teams!" Coach Yardley shouted as my new teammates crowded around her.

Aside from practice ending, this is the only other thing I have been looking forward to today.

Scrimmages are like a soccer team’s courthouse. The coaches are the judges and my teammates are the jury.

The opposition: Anyone in my way.

And who better to defend my case than me. 

If I can prove that I can make a difference in this team, I may have a real shot at the starting spot. And I fully intend on making a difference here today.

 "Haze left wing. Charlie, At the nine. Julie on the right." 

My breath hitched in my throat, halting all thoughts of my credo.

Suddenly, the confidence I was just exuding stuttered for a moment. 

I honestly hadn’t thought about the possibility of Riley being on my team. She is a juror that could easily tamper with my case. 

Whether that be by intentionally making me look bad or by distracting me (Not that she distracts me)? 

I don’t know. 

I’ll just have to keep an extra close eye on her and adapt accordingly.

I didn’t catch any of the other players called to be on my team because of that minor mental hiccup, but I was able to catch who wasn’t on my team.

Rachel stood in the huddle of people with her arms folded and a dirty look directed right at me. She wasn’t even trying to hide it. She stood in that position for an extra few seconds after we were dismissed to prove her discontent even farther.

Great. Now I have to add her to the growing list of things to worry about for my case.

The two teams took our spots on the field  and my team was directed to kick off. I stood over the ball at the halfway line and a gentle warm breeze blew against me carrying the smell of fresh cut grass. 

All that unease I was feeling disappeared.

This is where I belong. With a ball at my feet and a name to make on my back. Nothing else doesn’t matters here. Not Riley. Not Rachel. Not Noah. All I am worried about is getting that ball into the back of that net.

The game started off pretty slow. No forward progress was really made by either team but that was nothing to worry about. None of us know each other. Us being disjointed at the start is expected. We are all trying to get used to each other. 

It wasn't until 20 minutes into the match that we had our first real moment of cohesion. Hailey Yertz in the center defensive midfield position, intercepted a misplaced pass from the other team and found herself in wide open space.

Karly, who was on her left, reacted immediately and ran forward with her as support. I took off up the field ahead of them, pulling the other team's back line with me. And to my left, Riley was taking off down the sideline, matching my pace. 

The moment one of the defenders finally stepped towards Hailey, she sent a perfect pass for Karly to run onto which she quickly one-touched through the other teams disorganized backline that Riley caught up to easily, leaving her defender in the dust. 

Fuck she is fast.

Riley took it all the way to the baseline and without even looking up sent a cross into the box.  It was like she knew exactly where I was going to be. I don’t even remember her looking back at me once, the second the ball was at her feet. 

With perfect precision the ball found my head without me having to even halt my run and sailed past Louise into the net. 

For a moment complete bliss spread throughout my body. I had done it. What better way is there to prove myself than scoring a goal. 

My team surrounded me and gave me pats on the top of my head, congratulating me.

“Good job Walker.”

“Nice one Charlie!”

“Nice noggin nerd.” Karly said as she patted my head a little bit more aggressively than anyone else. I shoved her away from me with a grin.

The swarm of compliments faded and I was left with just one last person to applaud me

“Nice shot Lee.” The black haired girl said with that smirk on her face.

Her golden eyes quickly raked down my body and a feeling took over my body that I couldn’t explain. The only thing I do know is it wasn’t necessarily a disgusted feeling like I expected it to be.

"Nice pass.” I said awkwardly. Complimenting Riley is not something I am used to doing out loud.

Riley grinned in delight at my sudden change in confidence. Messing with me is her favorite thing after all. She stepped forward and wrapped one of her arms around my shoulders, pulling me with her towards our half. It was a weird, almost friendly gesture that I wasn’t expecting from her. A gesture I would expect from someone I am actually friends with. It was nice.

Until she leaned into my ear as we reached the halfway line and covered her mouth like she was telling me a secret. To anyone else this just looked like she was telling me a kickoff play or change in formation that she didn’t want the other team to read.

“I can’t wait to see you finish like that more often.” She whispered then disconnected from me and ran off without looking back.

If she did, she would’ve seen the way my legs stuttered and the way I almost face planted onto the field in front of everyone.

I stumbled and caught my footing, quickly making my way to my spot and looked down at the ground to hide my blush from everyone.

That disgust I hadn’t felt earlier quickly flowed through me.

It was only a matter of time.

Why did she have to make everything so dirty?

We were having a nice moment and she ruined it with that mouth.

I’m sure her mouth isn’t used to causing disgust in women.

OH MY GOD!

Why did I just think that?

The whistle blew and the other team caught me flat footed on their kick off, getting past me instantly.

Fucking focus Charlie! Nothing else matters here!

I let out a huff and refocused myself on the game. I’m not letting Riley infiltrate this part of my life too. Not even Noah is allowed here.

The rest of the scrimmage went by pretty smoothly. Karly managed to score another goal in the 60th minute with an assist from yours truly. She jumped on my back in celebration making the whole team laugh at how excited she was to score in a scrimmage. I scored again in the 87th with another assist from Riley and made sure I wasn’t caught in alone with her again.

Rachel was able to score one goal for the other team in the 74th minute. It was a dirty goal if you ask me. She elbowed the center back marking her in the face and was able to score the 1v1 with Lily. 

Some of her team didn’t even go to congratulate her and the ones that did, gave her nothing more than a high five. That was the only good thing about her goal.

I would say that it was a pretty successful match. 

There had to be only seconds left so I found myself at the edge of my team's own box defending, just trying to see this match out. 

The two centre backs on the other team were passing the ball between them trying to find a way past into the box. Finally one of them just decided to play it into the box with a cross but miscalculated the power she needed. I jumped up to block it and the ball flew into my side with full force. I felt the pain immediately but ignored it as I watched the ball ricochet down the field into open space. 

I took off running, ignoring my side that was hollering in pain and beat the defender with a small chop left that sent the ball between her legs as she stumbled trying to keep up with my change of direction. 

I found myself wide open on the sideline and took advantage of my new found freedom.

This would be it, the last play of the game surely. Might as well go all out.

I was all alone surging towards the box surrounded by three defenders hot on my trail. I know that it’s only a matter of time before one of them catches me.

Something in me told me to play it left towards the top of the box. I just knew that if I sent it there Riley would be there. She is fast enough to catch this play. I just know it.

So I sent it, low and hard directly across the top of the box. And there she was, just like I knew she would be.

My small moment of joy was destroyed by someone taking my legs out from behind a good two seconds after the ball left my feet.

My body hit the ground and I landed hard on my side that was already screaming. All the air in my body flushed out of me and my ears began to ring.

For a brief moment, my entire being was just pain. But consciousness found me quickly and I found myself flat on my back with one of the defenders on the other team, crouched over me speaking with a concerned look on her face.

The ringing in my ears faded after another few seconds and I could finally understand what she was saying.

“Walker, are you okay? Can you hear me? Breathe!”

I lifted my left arm shakily and gave her a thumbs up. I couldn’t verbally respond as I was still relearning how to breathe. The defender's face softened and she let out a relieved sigh.

“Thank fuck. That looked gnarly.” She said with a soft smile on her face.

“Felt gnarly too.” I groaned, holding my hand out in a way that signalled I needed to be helped up.

“Nah sit tight kid. Trainers are on their way out here.” She said taking my hand and holding it on her own. “Can’t risk our new scoring machine.” She grinned with a wink.

I let out a small laugh that sent me reeling in pain.

“Fuck.” I groaned, lying flat on my back trying not to move anything on my right side.

“Did we score?” I asked the girl as I saw the trainers approaching out of the corner of my eye.

The defender laughed loudly and patted me on the head.

“Yeah, Riley put it in the bottom right corner.” The girl shrugged as if it was a given that Riley had scored a 1v1 with the keeper. “Though she doesn’t seem as worried about whether it went in or not as you are.” She finished, nodding towards two players I didn’t notice before just a few yards away.

Riley appeared to be towering over Rachel even though only an inch separated them in height. The anger displayed on the golden eyed girl's face was clearly directed at the blonde as she yelled at the girl.

“It was a dirty tackle and you know it, Rae.” Riley gritted out, pointing her finger into Rachel's chest.

Looking at Rachel I could tell that she had just gotten up off the ground by the grass stain along her white socks and shirt.

So it was her that had taken me out from behind.

“It was an accident.” Rachel defended, furrowing her eyebrows and pushing Rileys hand away from her. “It’s not my fault the girl can’t take a little shove.”

Riley was defending me. 

From Rachel of all people! Someone she is clearly sleeping with. Why would she risk a booty call for me?

This only enraged Riley further it would seem and she was about to say something else when Paisley ran between them 

“Stop Riley. She’s not worth it. Charlie is okay.” Paisley said and began to push Riley away from the beautiful blonde.

The moment Riley heard my name her eyes shifted to me from over Paisley’s shoulder as she was being backed away.

They raked over my body for the second time this game but it was completely different this time. Her eyes were filled with concern as she scanned every inch of me clearly looking for something. I guess she found whatever it was because her eyes met mine one last time before she huffed and turned around, letting Paisley guide her towards the locker room.

The pain I was in suddenly came back full force the moment her face left my view. Thank god for that because whatever I was feeling before the pain returned was something I’d rather not dive into.

Pain is familiar. I can handle pain.

The trainers confirmed my suspicion of me having a few bruised ribs basically halting my pre-season in its tracks. They restricted me to non strenuous activities for the rest of the week basically meaning I won’t be allowed on the field until monday. And even then I won’t be cleared for full training.

Karly stayed with me in the locker room the entire assessment, assuring me that I already showed enough skill for a starting spot. I mean I did score twice and assist the two other goals. But that is just one day of training! I have so much more that I can show! 

Now I have to sit here for two weeks and hope that the prosecution doesn’t present a good case.

Previous | Next

[yoursome1-rbwebb]

Caught in Haze

Previous | Next

Chapter 22

After putting on our gear, most of the girls fell into a conversation about how their summer was. I wanted to participate and show interest in what they were saying but my mind would not stop replaying the moment at the fence a few moments ago.

A weird nagging feeling in the back of my head was telling me that I wanted to go back over there and make the lude noises stop. I wanted to give Riley a piece of my mind and make her feel horrible for kissing some girl I’d never met.

Well that led to an internal crisis. 

No one else seemed to care though. 

Even Rachel, who had walked by that fence just after me, didn't seem bothered at all and there is no way she missed that show.

But here I am, more angry and annoyed than I have been all morning because Riley Haze is getting some.

Maybe I am angry because she is ‘getting some’. I haven’t ‘got some’ since I broke up with Rick in March.

Really, five months of having no one touch me shouldn’t be that big of a deal… I am more than capable of handling myself when need be. But there is something so much better about putting your pleasure in someone else's hands. Letting them control the pace of it. 

I have had to dictate and control my entire life for the last three years. Sex became my safe haven. A place to escape all the overbearing pressures of taking care of myself. And Rick took care of my body well.

But he didn’t really take care of my heart. Sappy I know. But still true.

I knew the relationship had to be over when I cared more about losing the sex with him rather than the connection we had.

Five months of not having something that used to be my refuge has been a rather sobering experience.

And I haven’t really been tempted in these last five months. Until now. 

Everything in me is suddenly craving to be touched all because of the jealousy I feel for another woman being able to have that solace whenever she wants.

“-There she is!” Lily’s loud voice broke through my mental spiraling and I looked up to see her with her arms open in welcome and looking towards the entrance we all came through. 

The conversation came to a halt and everyone's eyes including mine followed Lily’s only to find Riley Haze walking towards us grinning like a wolf.

Riley stalked towards us with her training top half tucked into her shorts and her hair untidy from the events that preceded this. 

She joined the group and stood next to Lily, giving her a small shove because of the way the keeper was wagging her eyebrows at her. 

“Well who was it then?” One of the strikers asked as Riley joined the group.

A pit formed in my stomach realizing where this conversation was going. I wanted to excuse myself, go jog, maybe kick a ball (or Riley) but me leaving at this exact moment might bring up some unwanted questions. Especially from a young midfielder whose eyes keep flitting back and forth between Riley and I.

So I’ll just stay and bear it. I really don’t understand why this is bothering me in the first place.

“I don’t kiss and tell.” Riley smirked and her eyes found mine. 

The rest of the girls laughed but I could do nothing as my face paled at what she was inferring.

I really could have saved myself a lot of trouble by not participating in truth or dare all those months ago.

Remind me to punch Casey when I see her.

Riley seemed thrilled with my reaction and I tore my eyes from her so the overwhelming feeling to slap her would go away.

She is going to hold that kiss over my head for the rest of my life and I don’t know if I can handle that.

“It sounded like a certain cheerleader we met at that party in April.” Lily continued, grinning as she pressured Riley further.

“Melanie?” Hailey Yertz all but yelled, joining the conversation.

“The university president's daughter?” Another person added in shock.

Riley just grinned in reply and tucked her shirt in nonchalantly. All the girls broke into laughs. Well everyone except me, from disgust, Karly, from confusion, and Rachel who looked pretty put out by the news which is the only good thing to come from all of this.

The most horrifying moment out of all of this happened when Riley’s hands reached up to pull her hair down. Her eyes connected with mine and stayed there while the others laughed. I stopped breathing as her black hair fell down around her face, framing her beautiful features perfectly.

She is just so simply beautiful, it's astounding sometimes. Usually I forget about it because it gets covered by her obnoxiousness and my dislike towards her. But there are these moments when I look at her and I just can’t… 

“You’re staring again.” Karly whispered in my ear, making me jump slightly. 

I looked around the group of women and no one else seemed to notice. Until my eyes landed on Riley again. Only this time she wasn’t smirking at me at all. She had something like a puzzled look on her face. Like she was trying to figure something out. It was interrupted before anyone else could notice by Lily smacking her on the back in amusement.

“You have got to teach me your ways someday.” Lily laughed but was cut short by something she saw behind me.

“You all should be warming up.” A rather grumpy looking Paisley said to the group. 

Most of the girls stopped laughing and immediately dispersed. Lily, whose face was now pale, stayed in place next to Riley and stared at the other captain looking incredibly nervous.

Paisley glared at Lily for a moment longer before marching past those of us who still stood in the much smaller circle.

Lily let out a strained breath and Riley gave her a small reassuring pat on her back as if to comfort her.

The rest of the girls followed after the captain, Karly and I falling in to step together behind Riley and a very put-out looking Lily.

“You got me in trouble.” Lily said to Riley, just loud enough for me and Karly to hear.

Riley looked at the girl as we walked with what looked like pity written on her face.

“Sorry Lil.” She said sincerely then began tying her hair up into a messy bun.

Karly and I looked at each other after hearing the exchange of words with confused frowns on our faces.

Paisley joining the conversation right as Lily asked Riley to teach her how to get girls probably wasn’t the greatest thing for whatever is going on between the captains. Which after this, all but confirms my suspicion.

Paisley and Lily are something. There is no doubt in my mind about that. But it seems like they are trying to keep whatever that is, to themselves.

Previous | Next

[yoursome1-rbwebb]

Caught in Haze

Previous | Next

Chapter 21

The lunch hall, from what I can remember, looks the exact same as it had last night. The only difference being, it was now filled with all kinds of athletes.

The most rambunctious of the bunch were what I assumed to be the entire football team. 

I recognized a few of them as the ones that tried to get Karly and I to come to the party in passing last night. They took our no’s as no’s and let us go on with our night harmlessly.

Most of the team are just shouting and throwing food around like animals. 

Well that wasn’t really different from what I saw last night honestly.

I also recognize the tall blonde guy I met the other night with Lily. He was in the middle of that pack just grinning at the chaos unfolding around him. I think his name was Zack or Jack or something.

I made my way through the room towards the opposite side, not wanting any part of the football team's antics, though I’m sure soon enough they will be hard to avoid. 

According to a few of my fellow strikers that struck up a conversation with me during a water break this morning, the girls soccer team gets along with the football team pretty well. 

Apparently with their sport being more popular, we keep the relationship close so they will help us sell tickets to games. More tickets sold equals more advertisers and investors which means we get better shit. And in return, the soccer team makes sure there are girls at their parties. 

Win-win it would seem.

“Apparently that party we walked by last night was their initiation night.” Karly said as she followed me towards an empty table.

I raised my eyebrows up at her in question as I set my tray onto the table.

“What? It’s all the defenders would talk about this morning.” She said as she set her tray in the spot next to mine. “Most of them joined in on the festivities last night.”

“Lily did say they threw a lot of parties.” I replied with a thoughtful nod of my head.

“And you thought I was lying Chaz?” A voice said from behind interrupting our reflection on the football players.

There stood Lily with her tray of food in her hands and a smile on her face.

“Hey Phil.” I smiled. 

She came all the way over here to sit with us? Maybe it’s to make sure we don’t feel alone. Or because she genuinely likes our company. Either way it was really nice and I’m liking this goalie more and more.

“Mind if I sit?” She asked, nodding towards the five other empty chairs.

“Of course!” I answered and she sank down into the seat next to me with a thud.

“Chaz and Phil?” Karly asked, pointing a fork with a meatball on it between the two of us.

“Just a nickname. You’ll probably need one too.” Lily said, furrowing her eyebrows together while staring at the other girl.

“Aren’t those both Rugrats charac…”

“She gets it!” Lily interrupted enthusiastically. “God, this batch of freshmen are cool.” She sighed, shoveling a forkful of her own spaghetti into her mouth.

I laughed at the spirited keeper and shook my head.

“Does she strike you as more of a Stu, Tommy or Dil Pickles?” Lily asked me with a mouthful of food while continuing to size up Karly playfully.

“What is happening?” Karly probed with an almost scared look on her face.

Both Lily and I ignored her though, choosing to keep our own conversation going.

“She’s more of a Spike Pickles I think.” I replied, moving my eyes to size Karly up myself.

Lily immediately let out a roar of laughter that rivaled the noise the football players were making while Karly scoffed, clearly affronted on my other side.

“Did you just call me a fucking dog?” She asked, aghast.

“I think she did.” Lily nodded, still laughing.

“You are not calling me Spike.” Karly frowned, folding her arms over her chest defiantly.

“It’s too late, Spike.” I grinned.

“I like Spike! He’s cute!” Lily said, trying to convince Karly to let us use the name.

Karly blushed a little at the word cute and let a bashful squeak. 

Adorable little horse girl.

“Fine.” She said, looking down at her food trying to hide her blush. 

“What was yours again?” She asked, picking up her fork and stabbing it into her pasta.

“Phil.” Lily said, pointing to herself with a grin.

“Chaz.” I introduced holding my hand out playfully for Karly to shake. 

She smacked it away clearly not liking our little game and focused on her pasta making both Lily and I burst into laughter again.

After settling down we fell into a light conversation about training and a few older girls joined us one by one filling out the table.

“You were great out there by the way.” Lily said, nudging my shoulder as she dug into her own pasta.

I mean, I can’t deny that I didn’t play badly… but it is nice for one of the older girls to acknowledge my effort anyway.

“Thanks.” I blushed, apparently still not knowing how to take a compliment.

“No really. You gave Haze a run for her money today. Usually no one can hang with her.” One of the girls that trained with me early added.

My blush involuntarily deepened.

I noticed Karly shift next to me, suddenly looking much more interested in the conversation at hand. 

I ignored her gaze intentionally so that my blush wouldn’t grow darker. 

I really am going to have to explain myself to her later.

“Rachel didn’t seem too happy about that.” Another striker appended with a small amount of delight that she didn’t conceal from her voice.

A few of the girls at the table reacted to her statement one way or another. A few snickering and another obviously covering her laugh with a cough.

I looked at the girl that spoke with a confused look on my face. 

I mean it makes sense that me doing well might feel a little threatening to Rachel. We were both gunning for the same starting spot. But why did they seem happy about that fact? Do they not like her? Maybe my unease towards the gorgeous blonde is warranted?

“Rachel doesn’t like when...” Lily spoke, pausing seemingly to find the right words. “...Other people get attention.”

The rest of the girls reacted again in similar ways to before.

“Especially when it’s Riley’s attention.” Another girl added which sent the whole table into a fit of laughter.

I couldn’t keep the frown from my face as a sick feeling erupted in my stomach.

So Rachel and Riley do have something going on?

Why did that information make me feel so disgusted? 

I could see why Rachel may be a little upset. Riley was following me around all morning, trying to get under my skin. Whether that was by forcing me to be her partner or always being next to me. If my girlfri- I mean my boyfriend did that to another girl I’d be angry too!

I didn’t intentionally try to gain Riley’s attention. Actually, I wanted Riley to give me anything but attention!

“I- D-didn’t Riley come into the meeting last night after… It seemed like she had just got done… Rachel was already… I didn’t know they were girlfriends!” I scrambled not knowing what to say but desperately trying to defend myself.

Karly’s confusion shifted to enthrallment out of the corner of my eye.

“Haze isn’t exclusive.” One of the girls laughed out in reply to my jumbled sentences.

“Rachel is just one girl on her long list of…” Another girl added but was quickly interrupted by Lily hissing at them.

A weird twisting feeling wrenched in my stomach from their revelation. 

What is wrong with me?

“We don’t really need to air out Haze’s business on day one do we?” She said, eyeing the giggling bunch of girls before looking back at Karly and I with an apologetic smile on her face.

I didn’t really mind the interruption of new Riley lore being explained to me seeing as I already knew what was going to be said. It was already confirming what I already knew. That Riley Haze is a womanizer.

“All you need to know about Haze is that she is the best player we’ve got.” Lily said, pulling my attention to her. “Everything off the field doesn’t matter because what she does on the field is… magic.” Lily said, stating her position on Riley’s antics plainly.

There was no hesitation in her voice whatsoever. Like she would stand by that statement in a court of law. 

So Riley is that good? Good enough to be respected by her peers even though she is seemingly sleeping with half of the university's population?

“I saw the way she was annoying you today.” Lily added with a grin. 

So it wasn’t just in my head that she was doing that!

“Riley doesn’t like losing.” She winked.

I stared at her for a moment. Taken aback by her clear observation of the silent contest going on between Riley and I today.

She is an incredibly observant person it would seem. I guess that’s why she’s such a good keeper.

“Well I don’t like losing either.” I shrugged and took a bite of my own food. 

Lily chuckled next to me and shook her head.

“This season is going to be incredibly entertaining, isn’t it?” She asked, leaning back in her chair with an amused grin on her face.

If she was asking if I was going to keep on competing with Riley then yes. It will be entertaining because I fully intend to beat that smirking golden eyed girl with any opportunity I get to do so.

I smiled back at her in a way that would confirm her question before continuing to eat my food.

The rest of the girls laughed again before the conversation moved away from Riley and on to random subjects with the intent to get to know Karly and I. 

Nothing too serious came up thankfully. I get to continue being Charlie Walker without the whole ‘dead dad’ thing attached to the end.

After we finished lunch we realized we had taken up the whole lunch break talking and laughing. We decided to walk back to the training field, seeing as we didn’t have time for much else.

Karly walked ahead of me with another player, lost in a conversation about gaming computers each of them wanted to build. 

I tuned them out the moment the topic was brought up. I’ve never been a video game girl, nor do I have time for them. I have work to do.

But work has nothing to do with the thoughts I decided to get lost in when I chose not to join their conversation.

I knew Riley was a player. I was able to determine as much from the first meeting with her. A meeting in which I remember each excruciating detail flawlessly and I have no clue why.

But why did hearing that information being confirmed by someone close to the source feel the way it did? Like I had just been punched in the gut!

An arm wrapped around my shoulder just before we entered the training field, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Hey Chaz.” Lily spoke gently. “You seem kind of bothered by the Riley stuff.”

Am I just a damn open book to this woman? 

“Don’t worry about her though. I know she can be a bit…” She let out a long sigh, once again looking for the right word. 

“Relentless.” She grinned.

I looked into the other girl's eyes with a look that said ‘You think?’

“I know, I know.” She laughed and waved my look off. “But once you get to know her, she really is a good person.”

My steps stuttered as I looked at the girl incredulously.

If she was a good person, why does the best person I know dislike her so much?

“Just trust me okay.” She smiled back at my shocked expression. “There has never been an instance on or off the field that Riley Haze hasn’t had my back. Don’t let what those girls said influence your opinion of her.”

That is not what I expected her to say.

I respect Lily and she clearly thinks highly of Riley. That complicates things.

“Well maybe you should let it influence you a little.” One of the more vocal girls from lunch said while jogging past us, clearly hearing the tail end of our conversation. 

“Venereal diseases are no joke.” She called back over her shoulder as she jogged towards the sideline.

Lily burst into laughter next to me, completely shattering the weirdly dense atmosphere that surrounded us before. 

I couldn’t help but smile at what just happened too.

“She’s right. Maybe let it influence you just a little.” She laughed, holding up her fingers to indicate a small amount which made me giggle along with her.

We continued walking towards the bench as our laughter faded until something thudded into the chain link fence we were walking next to. Both of us jumped back from the sudden disruption.

I regained my footing and looked towards the fence that had little dividers in it so I couldn’t see what was on the other side but I could tell that it was a person being pushed up against it.

“Fuck! You are so sexy.” A woman said breathlessly. I could hear the sound of lips connecting almost obscenely, like they were putting on a show purposefully. 

I looked at Lily to see if she was seeing the same thing I was. 

“I know.” A low voice grumbled out, pausing the lude noises but only for a second.

My eyes snapped back to the flex in the fence. 

That was a voice I recognized. 

Riley is directly on the other side of the fence doing who knows what with God knows who!

That disgusted feeling flourished in my body again.

“Speak of the devil.” Lily whispered with a wide grin on her face, before continuing her journey towards the field, chuckling and shaking her head clearly delighted with the timing of it all.

I glanced one more time at the fence where the salacious noises were still coming and felt the urge to vomit, so I quickly followed in Lily’s footsteps towards the bench.

Previous | Next

[yoursome1-rbwebb]

Caught in Haze

Previous | Next

Chapter 20

My alarm blaring at the crack of dawn had me shooting out of my sleep and flat onto the floor.

Not having an alarm all summer may have been the cause of my sudden relocation.

“Fuuuuuck.” I groaned, while rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

When I was finally able to climb to my feet I threw the blanket that had cushioned my fall onto the bed and made my way toward my shower bag, grabbing it off the shelf.

The only thing I have been dreading about living in these dorms is the communal bathrooms.

Lily assured me that they are well maintained but that doesn’t change the fact that I have to share with everyone on the floor. 

I am not a morning person in general and would prefer to be left alone until after I’ve gotten ready and prepared myself for the day. I don’t want to see anyone before I’ve brushed my teeth or even had my morning pee.

But that’s not an option and I need to just pull myself together and get this day started. Today is about making an impression on the field rather than off it so what am I so worried about?

I groaned loudly, trying to let out my reservations for the trip to the bathroom with it before making my way towards my door. 

I can do this. I have a job to do and I am ready for whatever today will bring me.

“Morning Charlie!” Karly said within a second of me opening the door. She was walking by at that exact moment and seems entirely too chipper for 6 AM.

“Morning.” I grumbled, trying my best to keep the tiredness from my voice. 

“Heading to the bathroom?” She asked, nodding towards the bag in my hand.

“Yeah.” I replied, closing my door behind me.

“Me too! Are you excited for today?” She asked as we began walking down the hall together.

She had a lot more pep in her step than I did to say the least. I could feel her excitement radiating from her and as we moved It was almost like her energy was dragging me down the hall after her.

“Yeah. I’m ready to get started.” I nodded, keeping my answer brief. 

I like Karly a lot and don’t want to accidentally be mean to her within twenty four hours of meeting her.

“Me too, although I am a little nervous.” She said, completely oblivious to my much duller mood.

“Don’t be. If you weren't good you wouldn’t be here.” I shrugged, pushing the bathroom door open.

“Thanks Charlie.” Karly grinned.

I smiled back at my new friend before moving my eyes into the bathroom. 

I froze.

A very wet, almost naked Riley Haze in nothing but a sports bra and underwear was in front of me. Her hair was confined by a towel on top of her head giving me a full view of her long neck that had little water droplets falling down towards her tanned shoulders.

I couldn’t even catch my breath as my eyes traveled farther down her body connecting with her muscled right leg that was up on a bench flexing just enough to see how strong her smooth calf was. The rest of her toned body was bent over it with a razor, fully focused on the task at hand. 

The way the light was bouncing off of her made her look almost angelic in a way. God, she is so pretty.

I felt like I'd just been hit in the face by the sight of her. 

Then I was literally hit from behind as Karly walked straight into me shoving me farther into the room and shifting Riley’s focus from shaving to us.

“Woah.” Karly said, taking a step back from me, started by my sudden stop. 

I looked back at her with an apologetic smile then back at Riley who had that stupid signature smirk now plastered on her face. 

"Good morning Charlie.” She stood up to her full height and crossed her arms over her chest. Her chiseled abs came into full view and my eyes couldn’t help but to drop for just a moment.

“Enjoying the show?" Riley added.

I knew I couldn’t get away with looking. I’m going to throw up.

I felt a warm blush take over my entire face that I knew I couldn’t conceal. Riley’s grin only grew brighter and I knew she had noticed that too.

Another unintentional win for Riley and embarrassment for me.

Instead of responding to her I decided to just take my loss and move farther into the bathroom before she could attempt to win some more.

I kept my head down and walked past her into another section that had a wall between me and Riley before plopping down onto a bench and letting out a deep breath.

Karly shuffled in after me with an amused smile on her face.

“What was that?” She said with a mix of laughter and delight in her voice.

“Nothing.” I grumbled and made myself busy with unzipping my bag, rummaging through it mindlessly to make myself seem busy.

“You two know each other?” She asked, sitting next to me and unzipping her own bag.

“Uh,yeah- I- I mean uh- Kinda.” I stuttered. 

I could feel Karly’s gaze burning into the side of my head but refused to make eye contact. I am thoroughly fucking this up already.

“She is incredibly sexy.” Karly said before standing up with her toothbrush in her hand.

There was no denying that statement. Riley Haze is hot. But the fact that she flaunts it and thinks she can have whatever she wants because of it lit a fire under my ass.

“She’s also incredibly narcissistic.” I countered, standing up with my own toothbrush and following her towards the wall of sinks and mirrors.

“Really?” Karly raised her eyebrows up in surprise, looking back at me through the mirror. I just nodded in confirmation and wet my toothbrush under the sink before putting toothpaste on it.

“You should have seen your face when we walked in the door though.” Karly laughed before starting to brush her teeth.

I rolled my eyes and chose not to respond, brushing my teeth along with her instead.

I don’t know how I would have responded anyway. I am already incredibly embarrassed with the way I unintentionally reacted to seeing Riley. I myself don’t know why I reacted like that.

Maybe I just wasn’t awake enough and I was caught off guard by her being there. My brain was just adjusting to seeing her annoying face this early in the morning. That’s why I froze. That had to be the only explanation.

But in the back of my mind I couldn’t shake the image of her with her leg up on that bench. The entire time I spent getting ready I couldn’t stop seeing her flaunting her flawless body in front of me.

It’s infuriating to say the least. Day one of Riley Haze being a constant in my world and she’s already ruined my morning within minutes of me waking up. 

Karly and I changed into our new training shirt and shorts with little to no conversation between us and made our way to the dining hall. I think Karly caught onto my whole not being a morning person thing and thankfully allowed us to eat our breakfast in silence.

Once we finished we cleared our mess from the table and grabbed our training bags from our rooms.

“Ready?” Karly asked as I closed my dorm room door.

“Ready.” I nodded and we began our walk out to the practice field.

We made it to the field with enough time to put our shin guards and cleats on and still have five minutes to spare. 

We were some of the first players here but as we made it to the bench I noticed someone already out on the field juggling the ball and freestyling every once in a while with some crazy moves, keeping the ball off the grass at all times. When the girl turned back towards us it was the last person I ever thought would be at training early let alone be the first one on the field. But there she was. 

The golden eyed girl’s skills with the ball were whimsical and beautifully hypnotizing. For the second time today, I found myself frozen in place staring at the other Haze.

"Are you gonna be okay now that she has clothes on?" Karly asked from beside me, defrosting me at once.

I felt my cheeks turn red for the second time today before letting out a quick "I'm fine" and tossing my bag onto the bench.

Karly let out a light chuckle and followed my lead, placing her bag on the bench and beginning to don her shin guards and cleats.

I was grateful that she didn’t press any farther on the whole Riley situation but I know that I am going to have to explain eventually. These interactions are far too awkward not to and she might get the wrong idea.

I don’t want her or anyone thinking I have a crush on Riley Haze. I don’t. I have whatever the opposite of a crush is on Riley Haze. She drives me fucking crazy with all her one liners and the way she looks at me like she can see right through me. Like she knows what I am thinking. She doesn’t know me. Not really anyway.

After putting on our gear the sideline was pretty much full with the rest of the team. A few stragglers were filtering in with just enough time to be considered on time as the coaches made their way towards us.

I noticed Coach Yardley veer away from them towards Riley who was still kicking the ball around by herself. When she reached her, the head coach snuck up behind her and quickly stole the ball from under Riley’s feet. The older woman then passed it between the surprised girl's legs effectively nutmegging her.

Riley bent over in laughter as Coach Yardley patted her on the back, chuckling next to her.

A small smile formed in the corner of my mouth at the cute moment shared between them. They must have some sort of special relationship with how at ease they seem with each other. 

I looked around at my new teammates on the sideline expecting them to have been watching what had happened, but none of them seemed to have noticed. They were all still chatting away not even noticing the approaching coaches.

What is my problem? Why am I the only one that saw Riley? Better yet, why am I the only one that see’s Riley for who she is?

An annoying, childish woman with a disregard for boundaries and rules. 

Everyone around here including the coaches seem to absolutely adore the golden eyed girl and I just don’t get it! 

“Morning ladies.” Coach Ty called as he reached the cluster of players.

“Morning.” A few of the girls called back.

We all began to crowd around the tall man, awaiting further instructions. He only smiled and moved out of the way as the much shorter head coach walked up behind him. Her arm was firmly wrapped around Riley’s shoulder who instead of smirking had a small content smile on her lips as they approached. 

“Good Morning.” Coach Yardley said in a sing-song voice as she joined the huddle. She let go of Riley who moved to stand beside the glamorous Rachel who looked absolutely overjoyed at Riley’s choice to be next to her.

Almost all of the girls responded this time with a loud and almost in unison “Morning Coach!”

The gray haired woman adjusted the black hat that sat on her head with a big smile on her face.

“It’s great to see so many familiar faces. And new ones too.” She started, smiling happily at all of us. 

I didn’t realize that I had any nerves for the day before her eyes landed on me but the moment she stopped and winked at me I felt those nerves dissipate.

“I think this season is the season we win it all. The league, the championship and the college cup.” She spoke emphatically. “The first game is in two weeks but that’s not when the season starts. It starts today. I want you all to show us what you got with every pass, every shot, every tackle. Show your teammates why you deserve to be here and show me why you deserve a starting spot.” She paused and scanned the group of girls that were hanging on to every word she spoke. 

Her little pre-season speech was making me antsy to just get out there on the field and kick a ball for the first time in two days; the longest I've gone without in years.

“Now just because you had a starting spot last year does not guarantee you one this year. The work starts now. Who is with me?” She asked with that smile still firmly planted on her face.

Every girl in that group cheered loudly letting me know that her words had affected them just as much.

“Good.” She nodded, “Partner up for warmups!” She clapped her hands together and moved out of the jumble of players who started grabbing onto one another to claim their partners.

I felt an arm loop with mine and knew immediately who it was.

“Partners?” Karly asked, beaming at me with all that energy she stores somewhere in her body almost bursting out of her.

Yeah she is a midfielder alright.

“Yeah.” I chuckled before she pulled me with her following some of the older players.

We started with some stretches before moving on to two touch passes. Karly didn’t misplace a single pass which impressed me and let me know she was committed to the game as much as I am. 

In highschool, most girls on my team were just in it for fun or for exercise. Which is fine and all but it's refreshing to be around people that understand how much the game really means. It’s my whole life. My motivation for everything. The reason I breathe.

“Alright! Captains form two lines! Two laps around the pitch!” Coach Ty yelled, interrupting the two touch passes.

The two lines formed next to each other, behind Paisley and Lily. I got in line behind Karly and It wasn't until we started jogging that I looked to my left and found my crush’s sister jogging alongside me.

"Hey Lee." She winked the moment she caught me staring at her. The smirk on her face inflated like a peacock's feathers.

"Riley." I acknowledged and looked away, not wanting to enlarge her ego any farther.

I heard an amused chuckle leave her mouth but chose to ignore it. That's what she wants afterall, a reaction. She feeds off of them and I know it.

We continued our light jog around the field but I couldn’t shake the now annoyed feeling I had since acknowledging Riley’s presence. When we finished the jog, I separated myself from her as soon as possible and found myself in the back of the pack waiting for instructions from the coaches. I kept tabs on where exactly Riley was so I could put myself as far from her as possible.

She went straight to Rachel again which I was beginning to find weird. Were they best friends? Were they something more? Were the two most gorgeous people I’ve ever seen dating? If so, why did Riley come in looking like she’d just fucked an entire sorority last night? And why did Rachel not seem upset at all?

Why do I care?

I shook my head to clear out all thoughts of Riley and looked towards the front of the group where the coaches had just arrived.

"Okay! I want Keepers and strikers to go with Coach Ty, midfield and defense with me!" Coach Yardley directed before walking towards the right side of the field not waiting for a response.

Everyone separated themselves accordingly with me joining the group of forwards and keepers at the left side goal.

Of course, now avoiding Riley was almost impossible. With a group of only six forwards and two goalies, there was nowhere to hide. Not that I need to hide. I’d just rather not subject myself to her annoying ways this early in the morning.

I stood as far away as I could, noting the way Rachel didn’t shrug off the obvious flirting Riley was laying on thick. Nobody else in the circle of players seemed to mind so I decided that it wasn’t going to bother me either. 

It’s none of my business. 

My business is The Other Haze. 

No. Not The Other Haze. 

The Other Haze is Riley.

Noah is Noah. My Haze.

"We are gonna start with 2 touch shots.” Coach Ty interrupted my mental turmoil. “Lily, you choose if you want to go first or second."

"I wanna see what the youngsters got." Lily smiled, addressing the only other freshman in the group, Louise.

"Great everyone else in line." The Coach said, nodding at a cone he had placed on the 18 yard box.

Now’s my time to shine. Shooting drills are what I live for.

I jogged over to where the other girls formed a line. To my dismay Riley managed to find her place in line right behind me.

Just don’t let her bother you. That’s what she wants! Don’t give Riley Haze anything she wants.

"Let's see what you’ve got." She said playfully behind me and I could almost see the smirk on her face without even turning around.

I rolled my eyes and focused on the drill taking place in front of me with a new much more agitated fire brewing inside me. 

I am going to prove why I belong here. And if while demonstrating my value, I just so happen to score more than Riley does in these drills… Well that would definitely make proving myself a lot more fun.

The three strikers in front of me took their turns and Louise saved all three earning loud shouts of praise from Lily and the coaching staff.

It only added to the pressure I put on myself to score knowing I was going up against a good keeper.

I stood at the front of the line, bouncing on the balls of my feet waiting for the ball to be played to me, feeling adrenal pump through me at the thought of touching a ball again.

And when the ball was finally played to me it seemed to float across the grass in slow motion. I stepped to it and cushioned it with an almost perfect touch setting myself up perfectly for the shot I wanted. I took one step forward and let my right leg swing forward into the ball hearing that crisp sound of my foot connecting with the ball and leaving my cleat. The ball continued in slow motion into the top left corner where Louise had not even the slightest chance of saving it.

As soon as it hit the net time fell back into normal speed and a few girls and coaches applauded me for my goal.

I jogged back towards the 18 yard box with a smile on my face, happy with my first shot. And if I passed Riley with a smug look on my face who would have put me at fault? It was a nice shot after all.

Next it was Riley’s turn and I couldn’t help but feel hopeful that she would miss or Louise would make an immaculate save that took all the attention from Riley and put it on someone who’s ego doesn’t need it.

That’s not what happened. 

Her first touch… Perfect. Probably better than my own. 

And her shot… It was a carbon copy of mine. In the top left corner, completely unsavable by any keeper.

Riley turned around with a smug look that mimicked mine as the girls cheered her on; Rachel cheering the loudest. 

Riley’s eyes locked onto mine as she jogged back and all I wanted was to smack the smirk off her face.

She had done that on purpose. She copied me almost exactly. 

As she reached me she sent me a wink that made me almost sick to my stomach. 

She was challenging me.

This is one that I refuse to let her win.

Before I could think about it longer, it was my turn again. My first touch was perfect this time. I sent my shot into the left side netting with precision knowing this might be a harder shot to mimic.

I jogged back to the line with my eyebrows furrowed, doing my best to ignore the amused smile on Riley’s face.

Like the first round of shots, her first touch was perfect only this time she used her right foot to cushion it. She sent the ball into the left side netting with the outside of her left foot sending Louise in the complete opposite direction. 

It was actually an incredible shot and got a cheer out of the entire group. Well everyone except me. I stood there glaring at the girl with my hands on my hips as she jogged to the back of the line with that stupid smirk on her face.

“Nice shot.” She grinned as she passed by me and took her place right behind me.

I resisted the urge to literally growl in frustration and laid my full focus on the drill at hand.

I have to win this.

“Keepers switch!” Ty called. 

Lily high fived Louise as they switched places and Lily stood between the posts making the goal look even smaller than Louise had. I could already tell I wouldn’t be able to fake her out the way Riley had done to Louise.

“Lily can save almost anything you put on her right side.” Riley said in a hushed voice behind me. 

I turned around and glanced at her, finding her attention directly on me already. Was she trying to get in my head? I studied her for a moment longer trying to see if she was messing with me or not before turning to face the front of the line, determined to show her up one way or another.

Before I knew it, my turn to shoot came around and I already knew exactly where I was going to place it. 

The ball released off of my right foot like a rocket into the top right corner of the goal. Lily didn’t even get close to it.

“Damn Charlie!” Lily praised, picking herself up off the ground that she dove on attempting to stop my shot.

I couldn’t stop the gloating smile that found its way onto my face. It was a nice shot.

I turned around and smirked directly at the person in the front of the line with golden eyes though this time she didn’t look as amused. She didn’t even look at me which kind of dampened my mood. 

Not because I wanted her to look at me though. But because gloating in her face was something I have been dreaming of doing since I met her.

No, she was fully focused now, bouncing on her feet waiting for the ball to come. I got to the back of the line as she took her first touch. It was perfect, again. 

Her second touch sent the ball flying off her foot with more power than I had put into my own shot. The ball soared towards the top right corner of the goal at a phenomenal speed but with all that power, she had less control.

The ball smacked off the top right corner of the goal post and shot past the goal.

She missed. She missed and I won. I won.

I noticed Riley’s shoulders drop slightly as the sound of the ball hitting the post reached her. It only lasted a second though and I don’t think anyone noticed because when she turned around that stupid Riley smirk was back on her face. Like she hadn’t been affected by losing our little game at all.

“Nice shot.” She said in a clipped tone as she passed letting me know that she had in fact been a little upset about losing the little competition only we knew about.

“Thanks.” I chirped back, feeling completely giddy over my win.

Getting a win over Riley gives me an adrenaline rush that rivals scoring a goal in a big game. Something I might add to the list of things to live for because it feels so damn good.

We ended up taking one more turn which Riley and I both scored before the Coaches moved us on to the next drill. 

For the rest of the morning Riley made it her personal mission to be in my face. Whether that be by her being right behind me or choosing me to partner with before anyone else could. But no matter what she did, I didn’t speak to her unless necessary for the drill at hand. I wouldn’t give her the opportunity to annoy me any more than she already was with her presence.

Around 11:30 The coaches had the whole team meet on the sideline where Riley annoyingly chose to stand right beside me. I folded my arms to restrain myself from shoving her away from me.

I’ve worked out that this whole being in my face thing she was doing is probably her petty way of getting back at me for my win earlier this morning. It made it a little easier to stomach being around her knowing I had gotten under her skin enough for her to want to antagonize me.

"Alright great job this morning! Go get lunch, be back here at one for scrimmages." Coach Yardley said before walking towards the parking lot effectively dismissing us.

As if the word “go” had been spoken before a race, I took off towards the bench, changing into my street shoes at record speed then left the field in route to the cafeteria finally gaining my freedom from Riley’s unwanted company.

Previous | Next

[yoursome1-rbwebb]

Caught in Haze

Previous | Next

Chapter 19

I rolled my eyes and walked into my open door before throwing myself on my bed.

Why does the universe hate me?

I mean the dictionary could probably just write the name Riley Haze under the example for the phrase ‘Fuck Girl’.

And that was all fine and dandy when she was just Noah’s sister that I would maybe only have to see at family functions a few times a year (if Noah and I’s relationship made it that far).

But now…

Now she is the person living across the hall that can decide to wake up and make my life hell on any given day for the next year.

I mean come on universe!

Not only is she a terrible person, but she is a terrible person that I kissed!

I rolled over onto my front and yelled into my pillow, trying to let out my frustration. It wasn’t helping whatsoever but I continued trying until my phone started ringing.

I let out one last long drawn out sigh into the pillow before getting up to answer it.

I already knew it could only be one of four people: My mom, Noah, Casey or the Hudson coaching staff calling to tell me they made a mistake when selecting me for their team.

The last option may be a bit outlandish but you never know.

I took the phone out of my clutch and read the name displayed on the screen.

Noah.

I couldn’t help the silly grin that took over my face as I pressed the answer button and brought the phone to my ear.

“Hi Noah.” I answered happily.

“Hi Charlie.”

The anxiety from the day washed away from my body the instant I heard him speak. It’s only been two days, but I’ve gotten so used to being around him everyday for the past few weeks. 

“How was your first training session?” I asked him, sitting down at my desk.

“It was fine. My teammates are pretty chill.” He answered. 

A man of few words. Like usual.

“How was your meeting?” He asked, changing the topic to me rather than talk about himself.

How was my meeting? 

Well it was agitating to say the least. My new coaches and teammates are not the culprits behind the discontent either.

Well, that’s a lie. A specific teammate may have contributed to the distress but she isn’t the only reason I was just screaming into my pillow. Seeing her there was shocking and I don’t really know if I am going to survive the season without punching her. But when I get down to the root cause of that troubled feeling, it has everything to do with the fact that the man I am kind of in a relationship with didn’t tell me she’d be there.

“Uh, yeah. It was good…”

Just rip the bandaid off Charlie.

“Why didn’t you tell me your sister was on the team?” I asked quickly, before he could get a word in.

A pregnant pause formed as I waited for his response. What reason could he have for not telling me in the first place?

“I- uh, I just don’t like talking about her.” He answered without really telling me anything I didn’t already know.

Sometimes him not being the chatty type is incredibly frustrating rather than sexy and mysterious.

“Noah,” I sighed. “This kind of seems like something you would tell the girl you are seeing. Not even that! This is the kind of thing you’d tell your friend.” I argued trying to keep my frustration out of my voice. 

The last thing I need to do is pressure him and make him feel uncomfortable over a subject that he is clearly NOT comfortable with.

“I know. I’m sorry. I should have probably said something.” He said with a long sigh. “I just… She just…”

He’s clearly struggling to communicate how he was feeling to me. Maybe he doesn’t even know why he didn’t say anything himself.

“Noah it’s okay, I just thought…”

“No, I should have told you.” He stopped me abruptly. “It wasn’t okay to keep that from you.” 

That was the most emotion I have ever heard in his voice. Even more than that night in the gazebo a few days ago.

He let out another sigh like he was trying to recompose himself.

“Riley and I don’t get along. It’s been like that for a few years now. I don’t like talking about her. Fuck I don’t even like thinking about her. So I choose not to.”

I could tell talking about this was really painful for him and I wish he would just tell me why? What had Riley done that caused him so much agony?

“When I found out you were going to Hudson my first thought was of how proud I was that you got into one of the best soccer schools in the country. Riley was an afterthought that came so much later, I thought it might be weird to bring up after so much time had passed. And with you only meeting Riley that one time I didn’t think it would be that big of a deal to have not told you. I was wrong.” 

He’s probably right. It might not have been a big deal to tell me after only meeting Riley when she gave us a ride home. He has no idea that my connection with his sister goes farther back than that night. He doesn’t know that his own disdain for his sister is reflected by me but for reasons of my own. So it makes sense why not telling me wouldn’t have been a big deal to him.

“Riley is technically my sister, but she hasn’t been my family for a long time.” He finished in a disquieting tone.

Talking about Riley is not going to go anywhere from here. Now is clearly not the time to tell him that his sister is my mentor for the season. He probably wouldn’t like the idea of me spending any more time with her than I need to even if that time is against my will.

“It’s okay Noah, really. You have your reasons and I can respect that.” I answered, not really knowing where to go from here.

“I’m sorry, I really didn’t mean to make this so awkward. From now on, I will tell you the whereabouts of my sister whenever I know them.” He joked, trying to lighten the mood, which I appreciated.

“That is not necessary. I do not mind not knowing what your sister is up to.” I said in a sarcastic way.

Noah laughed his hearty infectious laugh and I couldn’t help but swoon at the sound. There’s my happy guy that I am used to.

“I miss you.” I sighed.

“I miss you too. But we will see each other this weekend right?” He responded, bringing up the date he wants to take me on in a few days.

“Right. Just waiting on the details.” I smiled just thinking about seeing him and feeling his arms around me.

“It will have to be Sunday. We have a friendly on saturday.” He answered.

“Perfect.” I replied.

“I can’t wait.” He said.

He sounded so much more relaxed than before. It was comforting to know I hadn’t ruined this thing between us by bringing up his sister.

“What are we going to do on said date?” I asked, not wanting to hang up just yet.

“Oh that’s a surprise. But make sure you have a bathing suit.”

“A bathing suit?” I questioned.

“Or your underwear. Your choice.” He said and I could almost see him sarcastically shrugging.

“In your dreams, Haze.” I laughed.

“We already established that your underwear is a key part of my dreams.” He responded quickly.

Both of us burst into laughter over the memory.

God, I wish I could kiss him right now.

“I will wear a bathing suit.” I chuckled.

“Okay good because your underwear might've gotten us kicked out but I wouldn’t have objected.”

“I know you wouldn’t have.” I said before chuckling some more.

“I should let you get some sleep. It’s your first day tomorrow and you are going to blow their socks off.” He said.

“Blow their socks off? How old are you grandpa?” I laughed.

“Hey! I was trying to be supportive!” He said in a fake hurt tone.

“Okay, okay.” The grin on my face was becoming almost painful now.

“Goodnight Noah.”

“Goodnight Dream Girl.” He responded, making me chuckle again as I pulled the phone from my ear and ended the call.

The frustration I felt prior to the phone call hadn’t dissipated but it had eased a bit.

Riley Haze is going to be a problem and that isn’t going to change. But what can change is how much I let ‘The Problem’ bother me.

She has done something to Noah in the past that has affected him enough to not even see her as family. Why should I let someone like that dictate how my days are going to go?

Previous | Next

[yoursome1-rbwebb]

Caught in Haze

Previous | Next

Chapter 18

Walking away from Riley as quickly as I did was the best thing I could have done all night.

Firstly, because anytime not spent with Riley Haze is time I thrive in.

Secondly, because the taco truck outside might have had the best street tacos I have ever had. 

Thirdly, because getting to know the very forward Karly Beck has been entertaining to say the least.

Like me, Karly’s whole life revolves around soccer. She eats, sleeps and breathes it maybe even more than I do.

We decimated our tacos together just like Coach Ty wanted us to and fell into a game of twenty questions.

“Favorite Color?” I asked, leaning back in my chair at the empty table we chose in the middle of the room.

Everyone else was either still mingling in larger groups or had already made their way back to the dorms. Karly and I have been enjoying every minute of getting to know each other. I’ve only ever hit it off like this with one other girl before (that being Casey) and now she’s my sister.

“Green. But not like normal green. Like a dark green on the bottom of a forest floor.” She rambled. 

She has a funny way of going into extreme detail about every answer she gives. Some might call it annoying or oversharing but I don’t mind it. It’s pretty adorable actually and it’s nice that she already feels so comfortable around me.

“What’s your favorite movie?” She asked.

“Easy, Pearl Harbor with Ben Afleck.” I shrugged in reply.

“What a weird favorite movie.” Karly laughed at my choice. “Ben Afleck is pretty hot in that one. And don’t even get me started on Kate Beckinsale.” Karly answered happily looking off into space like she was actually seeing both of them.

“Favorite animal?” I asked pulling her out of her reverie. 

“Maybe a Lion. I think they are beautiful and majestic. But if we are talking about a mystical animal…” She paused to think for a moment and I couldn’t hold back my giggles at how adorable she is. “...A unicorn, for obvious ex-horse girl reasons.”

My giggles turned into cackles at her answer.

“Rude.” She scoffed, shoving my shoulder playfully.

“No, no, unicorns are great Karly. Might I ask, how does one become an ex-horse girl?” I asked while trying to stifle my laughter.

“I had to quit riding when I got good at soccer. Also people don’t really like to associate themselves with the girl that has spirit as her phone lock screen. I had to evolve.” She shrugged.

“So he’s your home screen now?” I smirked and she immediately shoved me again with laughter of her own.

“Alright, alright! Tell me about your hobbies, judgy bitch.” She laughed.

My laughter came to an abrupt stop at her question. 

Hobbies?

Hobbies are something someone does in their free time for enjoyment.

What do I do for the sake of enjoyment? 

I play soccer. That’s who I am. It’s what I do.

Enjoyment? That’s not necessarily how I’d explain what soccer is to me.

What did I do for fun before I was just soccer?

“I used to read. And go to Air shows. I guess those count as hobbies. I-I just haven’t done them in a while.”

No, I haven't done either of those in a few years actually.

“You’re nagging on me for being a horse girl when you like airplanes.” Karly said, ignoring the clear shift in my mood.

“At least tell me your favorite one then.” She grinned. 

I couldn’t help but smile back at the girl next to me. Not even Casey talks to me about Airplanes for fear of setting off some pent up grief they think I’m holding onto.

Karly doesn’t know me as Charlie Walker, the kid with the dead dad. To her I am just Charlie Walker, the girl with the blank slate.

“F-22 Raptor.” I answered with a shrug that sent Karly into another fit of giggles that I couldn’t help but join into.

“Well now I have to get you to take me to an air show and tell me about all your nerdy little planes.”

“I think we are going to be a little too busy for air shows.” I nodded at the group of soccer players chatting behind us.

“Do you think we should be socializing with them?” Karly asked.

“Probably.” I nodded but didn’t move to get up.

“Eh, I’m not really a group setting kind of girl, I’ll be honest.” Karly said looking over at the group like they were a swarm of zombies about to attack.

“You play a team sport. That involves being in a group, Karly.” I laughed.

“That’s my job.” She shrugged. “When I’m not working, I’d rather just chill and watch my favorite movie with friends.”

“And your favorite movie is?” I asked in an over exaggerated way that earned me another fit of giggles.

Karly hesitated for a moment before answering.

“Spirit.”

The boisterous laughter that sprang from our mouths earned us a few circumspect looks from our new teammates and when I almost fell out of my chair we only laughed louder.

“You are ridiculous.” I wiped the tears I had unintentionally shed while laughing so hard.

“So are you Miss F-22 Raptor.” She laughed.

“It’s the best air combat fighter ever made.” I said, crossing my arms over my chest pretending to be affronted.

Karly threw her hand onto my crossed arms and bent over in laughter at my little act. I joined in on the laughter shortly after, unable to keep up my performance.

“Do you think we should call it a night? I still need to go buy sheets for my bed.” Karly asked after we finished cackling.

I looked down at my phone and saw that it was close to 8 PM and agreed that it probably is best to call it a night. We have to be up and out on the practice field by 7AM for our first training session tomorrow and it really has been a long day.

“Yeah, let's go.” I nodded towards the exit where a lot of the other girls had already left. “I also have an extra set of sheets if you want to use them instead of going out again tonight.”

We both stood to our feet and started towards the door.

“You really are an over-preparer huh?” Karly asked, looping her arm with mine.

“Yeah yeah yeah. Do you want the sheets or not horse girl?” I chuckled as we made it out into the open summer air.

“Oh yes please. I hate going to the store and if I can put that off till the weekend I will gladly accept your sheets.” She nodded.

When we got to the dorm, we narrowly avoided the apparent party members of the football team were hosting in the rec room and made it up to the third floor.

“Day one here and there is already a rager on the first floor.” Karly pointed out with a grin and a shake of her head.

“College is going to be something else.” I nodded and unlocked my door.

Karly followed me inside and I quickly grabbed my extra pair of sheets to give to her.

“Thanks Charlie, I owe you one.” She smiled, taking the sheets from me.

“You don’t owe me anything really.” I smiled back. I followed her out the door and into the hallway. She walked to the next door down and unlocked it.

“I’ll see you in the morning.” She said then walked out of sight into her room.

Having Karly here is going to be a blessing in disguise. I just know it.

“Goodnight Lee.” That annoyingly familiar voice said behind me, making me spin around to see her standing across the hall.

She was leaning against the door across from mine with a smirk on her face and her arms folded lazily across her chest.

Right. Defenses up.

“Goodnight Riley.” I nodded, keeping my inner turmoil in check.

With that stupidly attractive smirk plastered on her face she spun around and unlocked the door she was leaning against and walked inside the room.

Of course her room was across from mine. Where else would it be?

Previous | Next

[yoursome1-rbwebb]

Caught in Haze

Previous | Next

Chapter 17

"Alright girls go mingle! There’s a Taco truck out front waiting for you to decimate it.” Coach Ty announced at the end of the meeting.

I remember the important bits like what time practice is and who to go to for training gear. But really everything else he said went in one ear and out the other. I couldn’t focus on anything other than the fact that my crush's sister, who nobody knows I kissed, is sitting in the same room being fawned over by a hot blonde girl that I think might hate me.

Not to mention the fact that said crush kept a vital piece of information from me; That Riley goes to the same school as me. Which is weird because it’s not like I wasn’t going to find out she was on the team. If anything he had to have realized I’d probably be spending more time with her than him!

Why didn’t he tell me? Did it just slip his mind? Does he not know she goes here too? 

Fuck! All I want right now are answers and to get as far away from the other Haze as possible. 

“Come on Charlie. Let’s go introduce ourselves to our babysitters.” Karly laughed, making me do the exact opposite of what I want to do. 

I could decline…

But that would look weird. She’d probably ask why I didn’t want to go over there and I really don’t want to get into the weird web of inappropriate revolving around Riley Haze and my relationship.

No I can’t so I let her lead us toward the group of women that conveniently had both of our mentors in it.

I feel sick to my stomach.

As we approached the small group, they let out a collective laugh at something being said. I only caught something being said about “Haze and her hoochies” but it was enough to know that this team knows about her antics as well as I do.

Oh I am definitely going to throw up.

“Freshies!” Rachel acknowledged us first with a cocky grin on her face. “Karly and Charles right?”

Oh that one was definitely on purpose right? She met me like a half hour ago. 

The blonde woman’s smile grew even wider at my sudden hesitation to correct her. 

“Charlie.” Riley corrected, stepping into my field of vision, blocking the smirking blonde completely.

Her happy golden eyes were focused completely on me with that stupid smirk on her plump lips.

At the moment I couldn’t be more grateful for her interference. I can go toe to toe with Riley and her antics and know exactly what her intentions are; to annoy the fuck out of me.

But Rachel… I don’t really know what motivates her yet but I have an idea that it isn’t as light hearted as Riley’s.

Everyone's eyes in the group stopped and shifted their attention to Riley with confused expressions.

“What?” Riley shrugged then smirked at me.  “She went to school with my brother.”

The smirk caused a weird twinge in my throat that I quickly swallowed away. 

“So you two know each other?” Rachel asked, looking at me quickly, like she was sizing me up. Her clear dislike for me was a lot more evident now.

“Not really.” I shifted awkwardly. “We just came over to introduce ourselves to our mentors.” I answered, gesturing to Karly and myself. 

“Oh shit that’s me.” Hailey, Karly’s mentor, stepped forward. She wrapped an arm around Karly and led her away from the group without explanation.

Rachel was still somewhat scowling at me when Riley stepped forward blocking her from my field of view, looking at me with a mischievous grin.

“Walk with me Charlie baby.” She smirked, holding her hand out to direct me away from the group. At least she knew better than to attempt to touch me.

I rolled my eyes at the girl but walked ahead of her, not really wanting to cause a scene with her on day one at my new team over her calling me baby. I’ll just have to get her back at a later date.

“How did I not know you were coming here this year?” Riley asked from behind me when we were a good distance away from the team.

I spun around and glared at her, crossing my arms over my chest in a defiant way. I’m already incredibly uncomfortable in a new environment and now Riley is here. I need to protect myself at least a little bit now. This only made Riley happier it would seem.

“Because you don’t know me.” I snapped.

She didn’t know me. Not really. All she knows is I play soccer, I am seeing her brother in some capacity and what I look like in my underwear. There is no way she can remember much more than that. 

Riley took a small step closer to me and just above a whisper said, “I know you pretty well actually.” 

Her eyes scanned my body the same way they did that night in front of her car. That same dark expression took over her face and she took another small step forward. I found myself once again paralyzed by the way her golden eyes bore into mine.

“I know the way my body feels pressed up against yours.” She whispered, leaning in even closer to me. She was so close I could feel her breath on my neck. 

“And the way your hands feel in my hair. I’d say we know each other pretty well actually.” 

She is the most forward woman I have ever met. Where are her morals? Where are her boundaries? How far is she going to push mine?

The disgust I feel over this whole situation took over my body and unfroze me in an instant. 

I scoffed and pushed her away from me.

“Then you know me well enough to know that I am seeing your brother.” I replied nastily.

I’d much rather direct the anger I have for myself at her.

“I do know that.” She shrugged. “I was just pointing out that we do know each other, Lee.” 

“Don’t you have other girls to bother with this endless…” I waved a hand at her, “...bullshit?” I asked, suddenly wishing I chose a different university to play for. 

“The answer to that question is yes. There are plenty of other girls that would love to play along. But it’s much more fun going off script with you.” She said giving me her best attempt at an innocent smile. She and I both know innocence may not even be a part of her vocabulary.

“Oh fuck off Riley.” I groaned and turned to walk away.

“Unfortunately, no can do Lee.” She stretched her hands behind her back like she was now bored out of her mind. “I have a job to do, you see.” She said quickly, making me turn around to take in her stupidly annoying face. 

“I don’t need a babysitter.” I answered, wishing she’d just take that response as the queue for her to leave me alone. She didn’t.

“But alas, here I am, ready to sit on babies.” She chuckled at her own joke.

I just stared at her, keeping my expression blank waiting for her to get on with it.

“Tough crowd.” She said under her breath then let out a sigh.

“Alright Lee, as the person responsible for you, here's my rules.” 

“Rules?” I asked incredulously. Riley Haze does not seem like the type to follow rules let alone have any she’s created herself. 

Her smirk fell from her face for the first time all evening. 

“Yes there are rules.” She nodded. 

Other than that awkward car ride to my house, this is the first time I have ever seen her with anything but a smirk on her lips. I was starting to think she didn’t have the ability to take anything seriously. 

“No partying or drinking unless you are with a member of the team and you have to go to all your classes or I'll report you to Coach Yardley.” She paused for a moment then grinned at me. “Your actions reflect on me now and I can’t have you ruining my reputation by being a delinquent.” 

She winked and I had to stop myself from throwing hands. She was the only one late to this meeting and the coaches didn’t even seem phased. How can I make her reputation any worse?

Before I could say something rude in reply she kept talking about her stupid rules.

“Lastly, do not walk around campus by yourself. Actually, don’t go anywhere by yourself. Ever." She finished with a nod of her head.

Something in her eyes told me that she was being genuine. Like she wanted me to actually listen to this last rule. Listening to Riley is really the last thing I ever want to do though.

“I’ll be fine.” I rolled my eyes.

Riley suddenly stepped forward and grabbed my forearm effectively pulling my attention back to her. Her golden eyes bore into mine so intensely I couldn’t look away

“I’m serious Charlie. And if you do find yourself alone, call me immediately and I will come get you.” She said, her eyes piercing me with a pleading look.

She was being serious. Me not going anywhere alone actually meant something to her.

Why was it so important? Why did she look so alarmed right now?

“Okay Riley.” I responded softly, suddenly not wanting to spook her.

She let out a little sigh, almost relieved that I agreed with her rule then let go of my arm.

What the hell was that?

“Oh another thing. Everyone here calls me Haze.” She shrugged, aimlessly fixing her almost unfixable attire.

Everyone I know calls Noah ‘Haze’. I call him ‘Haze’. I will not be calling her ‘Haze’.

“I am not everyone.” I thought out loud not realizing that I was actually speaking.

“No, you are not.” Riley chuckled, shaking her head.

A blush took over my face when I realized I had said that out loud. An even darker shade formed when she had agreed with me.

She thinks I’m not like everyone else? Is that a good thing? Or is it a bad thing? 

God, why do I even care?

“I’ll just call you by your name- I mean Riley, i-if that’s okay with you.” I said quickly, trying to recover any self respect I had for myself.

I wish I could disappear until I can get my brain under control. I’m reacting in ways I shouldn’t over this narcissistic woman.

“Only because it’s you Lee.” She smiled a genuine smile. The first one I’ve ever seen on her face. It caused a flurry of butterflies to break free in my stomach and I had to steady myself slightly from how intimidatingly beautiful I found her in that exact moment.

The way she said ‘Only because it’s you’ was so sincere. Like she really was okay if I called her anything as long as it was me saying it. 

What is wrong with me? Someone sedate me!

She is far too practiced in the ways of wooing women. How have I gone from despising her to being flattered by the woman in less than five minutes?

I need to get away from her.

I can’t move though. I can’t stop staring at how gorgeous she is.

Fuck, I have been staring at her for far too long. She had to have noticed. 

Oh God, say something, do something! Anything!

“Charlie! Let's go eat!” Karly called from behind Riley, breaking the weird staring contest I was having with my crush's sister.

Oh thank God for Karly.

“Right. I’m gonna go.” I said, trying to move past the black haired girl as quickly as possible.

“Wait!” She called, grabbing my hand in a way that sent a shockwave through my body. I stopped immediately and looked back at her like a trained dog. 

Oh fuck me, how much more embarrassing can this get.

“Give me your phone.” She requested.

“My phone?” I asked, completely dumbstruck by her words. I don’t know why I was expecting her to do or say something else…

“Yes, your phone.” She giggled, letting go of my hand. “I need to put my number in incase you need me. I told you I’d be there.” 

I won’t need her. 

I don’t need anyone. 

But for the sake of getting away from her quicker, I agreed.

“R-right.” I stuttered, pulling my phone out of my clutch before handing it to her. Riley grinned at my flustered state and took the phone from me seemingly completely unbothered. Girls probably act like this around her all the time. 

I don’t even care if this is another win for Riley. Maybe it was. Maybe she makes every girl feel special, drawing them in with little things only to make them feel like everyone else she’s been with after.

It doesn’t matter. All I know is, I don’t want to be another one of those girls. Another one of her play things. I don’t even like girls. I have Noah.

She handed me my phone back with a smirk on her face and her number displayed on the screen as “Riley (Only for emergencies)”

“There you go Lee. You can also call if you are feeling particularly lonely too.” She winked.

There the real Riley is, killing off the other, sweeter version of herself with a stupid comment. Thank fuck. 

It made it easier to put all those weird little thoughts that only The Other Haze stirs up in me back into a box that I hope I won’t have to force closed anytime soon. Or again really.

I rolled my eyes and walked away from her as her chuckles faded behind me the farther I got. 

That could have gone worse I guess. I mean, being a bumbling mess in front of her wasn’t ideal… I just wasn’t ready for her to actually be so… Real. 

For just a moment she wasn’t her usual self proclaimed ‘God’s gift to women.’ She was just Riley, a girl that actually has feelings for something other than herself. A girl with rules and guidelines.

That version of Riley knocked down every defense I had in milliseconds.

I can’t let that happen again. 

No, she is far too dangerous and I need to keep my distance. There’s a reason her own brother doesn’t talk about her, I just don’t know it yet. 

I will be on Noah’s side always. He’s never given me a reason not to be.

I need to figure out a way to keep my defenses up against that golden eyed girl.

Previous | Next

[yoursome1-rbwebb]

Caught in Haze

Previous | Next

Chapter 16

Setting up my dorm room was simple since I really only brought the essentials. Things like clothes, sheets, pillows, and a blanket were the first things I unpacked and were set up within thirty minutes of being here. 

I moved on to a few non essentials like the pictures of Casey, me, my mom and the last picture I took with my dad at his promotion ceremony shortly before he deployed for the last time.

That was about the only piece of home I brought with me. I don’t really need the comfort of decor on the walls and little frilly things to make this feel like home. It’s not. 

This is a job. I am here for one thing. To make dad proud and become one of the best college players in the country. 

I don’t need anything but a ball at my feet and a position on the team to do that.

After setting up I got ready in business casual attire like the email said, throwing on a navy blue pencil skirt with a white form fitting shirt tucked into it. 

It’s not something I really feel the most comfortable in and could have probably gotten away with a pair of jeans and a nice shirt but I figured the whole ‘dress to impress’ thing might come in handy with the coaches. 

I put on some mascara and just as I finished a knock sounded from my dorm room door. I grabbed my phone and the small black clutch I stuffed my key and wallet into before hurrying over to answer it.

"Chaz! Great, you're ready.” Lily greeted happily.

She did choose a pair of jeans and a nice dark green dress shirt. Her red hair hung down in what looked like natural curls but it didn’t stop my eyes from zeroing in on a purplish mark trying to hide behind them on her neck.

“These are the other freshmen players this year.” She said quickly, pulling my attention from her neck to the four girls flanking her.

They all wore business casual up to the same standard as I am in, whether it be slacks, skirts or dresses. It made me feel a lot better about my choice of attire.

"We will do introductions later." Lily said abruptly before I could open my mouth to respond.

“Right.” I said awkwardly nodding at the other girls before shuffling out of my room and closing the door.

Lily led the five of us out of the building moving quickly as if we were going to be late which is weird because we had at least fifteen minutes before the meeting and the dining hall is only two buildings down.

With her long legs moving so quickly, the five of us trailing behind her were trying not to break out into a full jog to keep up. Maybe she is just excited to be back with her team.

When we finally walked (jogged) into the dining hall, there were about twenty other women dressed up and mingling happily together in various clusters throughout the room.

Nerves sprang throughout my body at the thought of meeting all these women. They all already have a place here. They all belong here. I still have to prove that I do. 

Life as a military brat has made me accustomed to that very thing and this certainly won’t be the last time I have to do so in my hopefully very long career.

“God, I hate meeting new people.” Someone said softly next to me.

I looked to my right and found one of my fellow freshmen leaning closer to me, clearly the person behind the voice I’d just heard. Her dirty blonde hair was tied up into a neat ponytail on her head and she wore a black sleek dress that suited her body perfectly. With a pair of glasses perched on her nose and a smile on her face directed at me I couldn’t deny that she was undeniably pretty.

“Yeah, it never gets any easier.” I said softly back as we made our way towards the clusters of women in the hall.

“Well I’m Karly, midfielder. That’s one less person you have to introduce yourself to.” She grinned happily at me.

“Charlie, striker.” I responded, smiling back at the happy girl next to me.

“Perfect. Now we can take on the rest of these girls together.” She whispered as we came to a halt behind Lily who stopped in front of the girl I recognized as Paisley.

“Long time no see.” Paisley said to Lily with a look on her face that said it hadn’t really been much time at all.

A red blush took over Lily’s face and her hand subconsciously flew up to her neck where the very noticeable hickey was that I noticed earlier.

Are they…

“Uh yeah.” Lily recovered quickly, turning back to face us. “This is P- I mean uh Paisley but we call her P. But call her Paisley if you don’t want to call her...” Lily stumbled through her sentence seemingly flustered. 

She hadn’t seemed like the nervous typer earlier. It was pretty adorable.

Paisley looked absolutely giddy behind Lily. She reached forward and put her hand on Lily’s shoulder and stopped the flustered girl's sentence immediately before leaning around her to look at us.

“I’m P. Team captain this year. If you have any questions or need anything please just come find me.” The brunette said with a welcoming smile on her face. 

Another blonde woman cleared her throat behind Paisley pulling all of our attention to her and honestly, I don’t know how I missed her in the first place. 

The red sequined dress that was cut far to low to be business casual shimmered under the cafeteria lights making her the brightest object in the room. And if her dress didn’t draw my eyes to her, her face would have. She looks like a model. If someone told me her face was crafted by god himself I wouldn’t even argue. Her makeup was done in such a way that it looked almost professional and I couldn’t help but feel suddenly underdressed.

“Right.” Paisley said with a small sigh that she tried to cover up quickly.

“This is Rachel. She’s our number nine.” Paisley said introducing the blindingly beautiful blonde.

So she is not only gorgeous but she is also my direct competition. Her looks are incredibly intimidating and I can’t let that bleed onto the field. Why would Hudson want me here if they didn’t plan on using me. 

Rachel smiled at us and for some reason it felt like she was looking down at me even though we are somewhere around the same height.

It stirred that competitive monster in my stomach and made me stand just a bit taller to show that I wasn’t afraid of her.

“Welcome freshies. Hope you enjoy your stay.” She nodded at us and let her eyes wander over the five of us. I swear her gaze stayed on me just a second longer than it did on everyone else. Good. She is going to learn who I am one way or another. 

“Okay ladies! Everyone find a seat!” A loud male voice said from the other side of the room. It was a man in slacks and a button down shirt at the front of the room. He was standing behind a long table that had members of the coaching staff sitting at it.

I recognized a few of them including the team's manager, Coach Yardley. She is one of the people that came to my highschool matches to recruit me. She was hard to read then and I didn’t really know where I stood with her. She clearly wanted me playing for her though if she made the trip to recruit me herself.

“Let's sit together.” Karly said, wrapping herself around my right arm, tugging me towards a table in the middle of the room. I followed along willingly and we took our seats as everyone else wandered into seats of their own.

“Welcome back!” The man said from his place in front of us. “And welcome to those that are new.” He glanced around the room.

“I’m Coach Ty and I’m looking forward to another great year and another run at the championship.” This earned him a few hollers and whoops from some of the older girls.

"As you older girls know. This meeting is to get to know each other and learn how things are going to work for the year. First, I’d like the freshmen to introduce themselves and tell us what position you play.” He nodded, taking his seat obviously expecting us to sort out who would go first amongst ourselves.

I sat for another moment wondering if one of the other four girls would take the initiative. It was like that feeling when everyone gets to a four way stop and the person with the right of way doesn’t move. Someone had to go first or it would only get more awkward. Might as well get it over with and start us off.

I stood up out of my chair causing every eye in the room to turn to me.

Confidence Charlie. This is your new team.

“I’m Charlie Walker. I play…” 

The doors behind us banged open bringing my sentence to a screeching halt. Everyone's attention including mine shot to where the sound came from leaving my introduction in the dust.

The saying ‘Mind Blown’ did not feel like enough to describe the state of shock I felt when I saw the source of the disruption.

It’s impossible. I refuse to believe it.

Yet there Riley Haze stands, in a pair of black slacks and a white button down shirt that had clearly just been thrown on. The buttons weren’t even put together in the right holes and it was halfway untucked. The creases in the shirt obviously meant that it was as unceremoniously taken off as it was put on. But the disheveled way her black hair fell down her back confirmed what activities I know she participated in to cause such a state of… disorder.

How is it possible for her to be at this school and I never found out about it?

Noah had to know that she went here right? Why did he not say anything?

I was finally regaining my ability to think straight again when her golden eyes landed on the only other person standing in the room. 

Me.

Her eyebrows furrowed together in a clear state of shock of her own before that signature Riley smirk took over her face.

“Haze, nice of you to join us.” Coach Ty said from the front of the room. Riley’s attention left me and shifted over to him. “I hope you enjoyed whatever made you late because you owe me some laps before tomorrow's session.” 

A few of the girls let out little snickers under their breaths.

“I enjoyed it very much, thank you.” She grinned then made her way towards the tables. 

Now most of the girls let out actual laughs at her remark and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes as she passed me, glancing at me only long enough to send me a wink that made me sick to my stomach. 

She is insufferable.

Riley took the empty chair next to the extravagant Rachel who immediately started fussing over her misplaced buttons.

“Sorry about that Charlie. You may continue.” Coach Yardley spoke for the first time with what looked like an amused smile on her face.

I nodded at her and quickly gathered myself before starting my introduction over.

“Uh- Yeah, I’m Charlie Walker and I play center striker.” I said quickly before sitting back in my seat not really wanting the attention on me any longer.

The rest of the freshmen quickly introduced themselves after me. 

Katy Port, defender. Louise Greene a keeper. Olivia Henry and Karly Beck, both midfielders. 

“Thank you for introducing yourselves and once again welcome to the team. We are all incredibly happy to have you here.” Coach Ty addressed us. “Every year a freshman will get paired with a senior to act as your mentor. They will be responsible for you. Kind of like your college chauffeur.”

“Babysitter.” Lily coughed loudly, making everyone laugh.

I don’t need a babysitter or anyone to be responsible for me. I’ve gotten myself this far. But for the sake of team camaraderie and tradition, I will go along with it… for now.

“Seniors, when I say your name, wave your hand so the new girls know who to find after the meeting. Olivia you’ve got Lara Beal.” A blonde polite looking woman waved her hand happily to Olivia from the left side of the room.

“Karly you’ll be with Hailey Yertz.” Another blonde waved her hand in our direction.

“Louise you’ll be with Lily Kole.” Lily stood up and waved emphatically to the more reserved Louise earning a few laughs from the team and a blush on Louise's face.

“Katy Port you're with Kelly Mint.” A brunette waved politely from the front.

“That leaves Charlie with…” Coach Ty paused and looked at his paper then glanced up at the room. “Well I was going to give you to Rachel but seeing as laps don’t seem to bother our talented Riley Haze, maybe some responsibility will do the trick.” He smiled towards the table that housed the golden eyed monster.

The most unserious person I have ever met in my life was supposed to be responsible for me?

This cannot be happening.

Previous | Next

[yoursome1-rbwebb]

Caught in Haze

Previous | Next

Chapter 15

I pulled up to the housing office with my wrangler full of all my essentials and parked in front of the building. The email I received said most student athletes get early dorm access because they need to be on campus early for preseason. Classes start in two weeks so the rest of the student population including Casey will be here then. 

Apparently this school really takes its sports teams very seriously and that's why they are willing to shell out a few extra bucks to house us all early.

That's probably why they are the best in almost every sport they compete in.

I walked inside and the first thing I saw was a desk at which a gray haired woman was sitting with her spectacles perched on her nose and an overall crabby disposition. I moved quietly up to the desk not wanting to bother the woman that already seemed so… bothered.

When she noticed me standing in front of her she let out a gruff noise then leaned forward and started typing on the computer in front of her.

“Name?” She asked, acting like I was inconveniencing her by being there.

“Uh, Charlie Walker.” I answered quickly, not wanting to give the old woman any other reason to be upset with me. She kind of holds all the power here and could assign me a terrible dorm room if she really wants to.

The woman didn’t even acknowledge my answer though as if she hadn’t even heard it. I was about to answer her again but her fingers began to type furiously at her keyboard so I shut my mouth and decided to wait. She kept typing away and when she finally stopped she huffed like doing her job was the biggest inconvenience in the world then stood up and walked towards the back without so much as a glance to me.

I stood there awkwardly shifting on my feet not really liking the uneasy feeling of this angry old woman being so dismissive. Hopefully I won’t have to see her again until I need a dorm next year. 

She came back with a blue key in her hand and a displeased look on her face. 

She held out the key with a loud huff and I took it quickly trying to be as compliant as possible. The key was connected to a paper with my building and the room number 305 listed on it.

“Go take a seat. Your resident assistant will be here in a moment.” The elderly woman said, nodding at the waiting area before plopping back into her chair and pretending that I wasn’t even there in the first place.

I took the key and followed her instructions without responding knowing she’d probably not even acknowledge a response anyway.

When I sat down I took out my phone to make myself feel a little less awkward in the silent office.

A message from Naoh popped up on the lock screen instantly causing a smile to flit across my face.

Noah

Good luck today. You’ll be great.

It’s such a simple message but it didn’t stop my heart from fluttering in my chest. He sent me that text unsolicited and only because he was thinking about me. 

What a wonderful feeling it is to have someone other than my family reach out just because they want to.

Rick never did that. I always had to make the plans or reach out first. It was like I was the only one invested in the relationship. He never even so much as showed up to a game of mine, even while knowing how important soccer is to me unless I begged him to. Usually he would only agree if I did him a ‘favor’ the night before.

It’s crazy how a simple message makes you realize how low my bar really is when it comes to boys. All I want is the bare minimum and Noah has already exceeded that.

I unlocked the screen to reply but stopped abruptly when someone bulldozed into the room, seemingly trying to blast the door off its hinges.

I jumped to my feet on instinct at the sound suddenly on high alert and ready to run if need be. My body relaxed a little bit as I noticed the cause of the interruption was a tall red headed woman not much older than me. She came to a halt in front of the grouchy housing office woman's desk then slouched over immediately, placing her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.

The girl had obviously just been running so I moved my eyes to the gray haired woman’s reaction to the commotion and she hadn’t even looked up from her book that she was now reading.

“Why is it that you insist on trying to break this building every time you come in here?” The woman said, glancing up at the red head over her glasses with annoyance written on her face.

So this was apparently a regular occurrence.

The red head grinned and stood up to her full height which had to be at least a full head taller than me.

“Well I had to get here as fast as possible to see your beautiful face, Grace.” She grinned at the old woman.

Grace scowled at the tall girl then shooed her away with a wave of her hand.

“Help Miss Walker get to her room.” Grace said, rolling her eyes. “And if I find out another one of your players puts a hole in their wall because you are doing something ridiculous, I will hold you personally responsible.”

The red head looked over at me, sending me a quick wink before turning back to Grace.

“As long as it’s you holding me and nobody else.” 

Grace did not like that response one bit. She slammed her book down on the desk and began to climb to her feet.

“That’s our cue.” The red head said, quickly taking me by the arm and pulling me out of the building behind her.

As soon as the door closed she let out a loud laugh and spun around to face me. Her smile was wide and genuine and I immediately was inclined to like her. She is just so bubbly and her carefree attitude is almost infectious.

“Lily Kole.” She said, holding her hand out to me.

I took it and smiled back at the taller girl.

“Charlie Walker.” I replied with a smile of my own.

“Charlie!” She said in a tone of surprise then began shaking my hand even more enthusiastically. 

“I’ve heard about you. Striker right?” She asked, finally letting go of my hand.

“Uh right.” I answered awkwardly, not knowing what I was supposed to do with my hands now that I was being put on the spot.

“I’m Hudson's goalie. We will be seeing a lot of each other.” 

A sense of relief washed over me knowing that this woman would be at the team meeting later. I can tell that I am going to enjoy being around Lily. 

“I was getting goalie vibes from you.” I laughed in response feeling suddenly at ease.

“Oh?” She raised an eyebrow in question with a smirk on her face.

“Yeah, the whole standing in the face of imminent danger with a smile on your face.” I grinned, nodding towards the door we came out of that’s hiding an angry housing office secretary behind it.

“Oh that? That’s just a bit of fun. That old bat secretly loves me.” She shrugged. “The only problem is she is keeping the secret from herself too.”

Both of us broke into a fit of laughter.

“Is this you?” Lily asked, nodding towards my wrangler once we stopped our giggles.

“Yep.” I nodded, looking over at my black wrangler and admiring it.

“Nice. I love jeeps. Mind if I catch a ride? I’ll help you carry your stuff up to your room.”

“Of course. Yeah!” I nodded quickly having zero qualms on this woman I just met getting into my car. I walked around to the driver's side while she moved around to the other before climbing into the passenger seat.

I cranked the Jeep to life and put it in reverse before backing out of my parking spot.

“Make a left out of the parking lot then a left at the stop sign.” Lily instructed from her seat next to me.

I nodded and started making my way out of the lot.

“So what do you like to be called? Charlie? Walker? Chuck? Chucky? Oooo or maybe Chaz?” Lily listed off potential names making me chuckle as I turned left towards the stop sign.

“Most people call me Walker.” I shrugged with an amused smile on my face.

“Oh  I was really hoping Chaz was the winner here.” Lily said with a sigh, feigning disappointment. I laughed and came to a stop at the sign before beginning my left turn.

“If calling me Chaz would make you happy then so be it.” I giggled.

“Fantastic Chaz!” She said animatedly, making me laugh again. “Make a right at this next road.”

“And what do you like to be called?” I asked, making the right turn.

“Well everyone just calls me Lil.” She shrugged. “Left into this lot up here.” She pointed at the only parking lot we’ve passed that was full of cars.

“Aren’t Chaz and Lil Rugrats characters?” I asked, turning into the lot.

“The fact that you just made that reference lets me know that we are going to be good friends.” She grinned. “Oh there's a spot up close right there.” She said pointing to an empty spot right by the front doors of the dorm.

“I preferred Phil though.” I shrugged trying to carry on the banter we had going.

Lily grabbed her chest in fake disbelief and let out a sound of distress. 

I laughed harder than I had all day and pulled into the parking spot then put my Jeep in park.

“Well I guess it’s only fair that you call me Phil if I am going to call you Chaz.” She conceded before climbing out of my wrangler with a chuckle.

I laughed too and followed her out of the car and towards the trunk that was full of my stuff.

I opened the back door and propped up the window before we both reached in and grabbed as much as we could carry. We would only have to make one more trip at this rate.

“Alright this is Allen Hall. It houses all the student athletes.” Lily said, nodding towards the door in front of us. We started walking towards it and she continued telling me about the dorm.

“We don’t have roommates but we do have a communal floor bathroom. Our’s is kept pretty clean because it’s only used by the team and the team captain is a stickler for keeping things neat and in order.” She said then bumped her hip into the handicap sign which automatically opened the doors for us. She moved inside and I followed after her.

“I’ll give you the full tour after we drop your things off in your room. Which one were you assigned?” She asked, turning into an open door that housed the stairwell.

“305.” I answered and followed her up the stairs.

“Nice, you're only two doors down from me.” She said happily as we continued our trek upwards. I will admit to being a bit winded with all this shit in my hands.

“So each floor houses different athletes. The first floor is the football team. Watch out for them, they are incredibly horny. Second floor is basically the baseball and softball teams then all the stuck up people that hate fun. Tennis, fencing, rowing etcetera. The funny thing is most of them don’t even stay in their dorms. They live off campus in condos paid for by their parents. The few that do live here avoid the third floor at all costs.” She laughed as we made it to our floor.

“Third floor.” She announced a little out of breath. “Best floor.” She looked back at me with a smirk. “This floor holds the men’s and women's soccer teams. Our bathroom is this first door on the right and the mens is down at the other end. We don’t really see them much though seeing as they are always partying or practicing.” She shrugged and walked farther down the hall. 

“Fourth floor is the men's and women's basketball teams and both the water polo teams." She finished before stopping in front of the door that had a ‘305’ plaque in the middle of it.

“This is you.” She nodded towards the door. “Do you have your key?” She asked.

“Right.” I said before quickly setting the boxes in my hands onto the floor. I reached my hand into my pocket and pulled out the blue key. I put it in the door and opened it letting Lily walk inside before me.

I grabbed my boxes before following her into my new home. We set all my things onto the floor. 

“So I am the R.A. for this floor so if you have any problems with your room or the bathroom come find me and I will handle the love of my life, Grace for you.”

“I appreciated it, Phil.” I chuckled and we made our way back into the hall.

We walked back towards the stairs to grab the rest of my things.

“I’m in 301, right here.” She said pointing to her door as we passed it. “I’m also the Vice Captain of the team so you can bother me for really anything, not just dorm related shit if you need to.” She said as we made our way into the stairwell.

I felt myself relax even more knowing that I was on good terms already with one of my new team's captains. She seems like a well liked person so being in her favor could only make the transition into the team easier.

We grabbed the last few things in my trunk before dropping them back in my new room, both of us now thoroughly out of breath.

“Let me give you a quick tour of the common areas then I will leave you alone.” She said as we caught our breath from the latest trip up the stairs with my things.

“Okay.” I nodded and followed her once again out of the room and down the stairs. 

Instead of turning towards the doors that led outside she led me a few steps farther into the building and into a large room that I could only assume was a rec room.

There were a few couches scattered around the room. A large TV hanging on the wall with any console you could dream of owning sitting on shelves underneath it. 

There was a massive pool table and air hockey table on one side of the room  and on the other was a wall lined with shelves full of books. Some of the books looked super old and I noticed old textbooks and novels that looked like they had been there for years.

“All those books have been left by past students for others to use.” Lily said, obviously catching me staring at the wall.

“That’s pretty cool.” I said softly, making my way over to the shelves. 

I used to love reading before… before throwing myself into soccer. 

On long traveling trips my dad would ask me to read out loud to him as he drove down the road. It didn’t matter if it was some little romance novel or stupid comic book. He always asked me to read to him.

Lily stayed silent next to me, letting me scan all the titles as the memory of reading to my dad played in the back of my head until a loud noise came from the hallway and a girl laughing pulled me from my head. 

Lily and I turned around just in time to see a beautiful laughing brunette walk in with a very tall and handsome blonde man. They were grinning from ear to ear almost hanging off of each other as they walked into the room.

I noticed I was a lot closer to Lily than I realized because I could almost hear her muscles stiffen as she took in the couple that just walked in.

It took the intruders another moment to notice we were there and when the brunette girl finally did her laughter stopped abruptly as her eyes landed on Lily.

“H-hey.” The girl addressed us and a tension filled the air. Her gaze shifted to me and her eyebrow rose up slightly as she took me in.

“Hello Paisley.” Lily answered the girl rather coldly. It was almost shocking to hear the light almost sucked completely out of her voice. “Jack.” She addressed the blonde man that Paisley was still partially wrapped around.

Paisley cleared her throat then pulled away from Jack completely before fixing the green dress that she wore.

“Jack was just helping me organize that fundraiser coming up for our teams. The one you and I talked about earlier.” Paisley explained taking a step towards Lily.

Oh something weird is going on between these two girls. It really is none of my business but it does seem like it’s bothering Lily pretty bad.

I looked over at Lily whose jaw was clenching and unclenching as she took in the girl and boy in front of her.

“And who is this?” Paisley nodded towards me. It seemed like she was desperately trying to get Lily to talk to her in any way.

“This is Charlie Walker.” She addressed Paisley in an almost formal way. 

“Chaz this is Paisley the team captain.” Lily said, addressing me now.

“Oh! Nice to meet you.” I said quickly, trying not to drown in how awkward this interaction was.

“Nice to meet you too. You can call me P. Most people do.” She smiled at me. 

She really does seem nice. It makes me wonder why the ball of sunshine next to me was suddenly a dark stormy cloud the moment she and Jack walked in.

“You guys sure do have a thing for nicknames huh?” I said looking up at the tall red head next to me.

Lily looked down at me and cracked a small smile, letting some of the dark edges she had taken on fade a little before looking back at Paisley.

“I’m just showing her around. I’ll leave you two to it then.” Lily nodded at them then surprisingly took my hand in hers, leading me towards the exit like the room had just been lit on fire.

I quickly looked at Paisley but she was now staring at mine and Lily’s interlocked hands with her eyebrows furrowed as we moved away.

“Uh I-I’ll see you later P.” I called back to her just before I was pulled out of sight.

I stayed quiet as Lily led me down the hall in silence. She stopped at a large door and pulled it open before pulling me inside. I looked around at the new surroundings and realized this was a fully equipped movie theater with chairs and bean bags for people to relax on. 

“This is the theater. Nobody really comes in here often so most people use it to make out.” Lily said in a softer voice than I’ve heard her use since I met her. She dropped my hand and moved over to a wall turning the lights on.

“Are you okay?” I couldn’t help but ask.

She looked at me with her eyebrows raised in surprise. I quickly realized that I may have overstepped.

“Sorry it’s really none of my business. It just seemed like you and Paisley don’t really get along and now you are sad.” I tried to explain why I asked.

Lily let out a chuckle then moved toward a bean bag before flopping down on it with a sigh.

“It’s not like that.” She began to explain. “P and I actually get along really well. It’s her hanging out with Jack that I have a problem with.”

“Oh. Is he a bad influence?” I asked.

Lily let out a loud laugh at my question.

“Something like that.” She chuckled then stood back up to her feet. “Let’s get you back to your room.” She smiled.

She led me back to my room, pointing out various things like the kitchen and laundry rooms on the way. Just before we made it out of the stairwell and onto our floor her phone dinged loudly in her pocket. She stopped and pulled it out reading the message she received with a frown now plastered on her face.

“Uh, I have to go handle something. Are you okay to set up your room alone?” She asked, looking up at me trying to conceal her emotions. Something in that message clearly bothered her though.

“Uh yeah. All good Phil.” I smiled trying to ease the tension a bit. The nickname did earn me a small smile.

“Great. There are four other freshmen already here. I will swing by to pick you all up for the meeting later around 4:45.”

“Thank you for showing me around and helping me with my things.” I replied.

“No problem. I’ll see you in a bit Chaz.” She smiled then all but sprinted down the stairs, clearly in a hurry to go handle her problem.

Previous | Next

[yoursome1-rbwebb]

Caught in Haze

Previous | Next

Chapter 14

“Is there a reason for the pile of cereal on my counter?” Mom asked as she walked into the kitchen.

I glanced over at the mountain of corn flakes on the counter and shrugged my shoulders before taking a bite of my own cereal.

“Casey got a phone call for some fancy debate thing. Apparently she forgot she had to be there this morning so she left in a hurry.” I said with my mouth full.

“That doesn’t explain the mountain of cereal, Charlie.” My mom said, raising her eyebrow up at me with the hint of a smile on her face.

“She set the box down in a hurry but it was upside down. She ran out of the room and didn’t even notice she had dumped the cereal out.” I grinned and took another bite remembering the comedic scene that played out ten minutes ago.

“That girl.” Mom chuckled while shaking her head.

I watched as she grabbed herself a bowl and scooped a handful of the corn flakes into it from the counter before joining me on the other side.

“Do you have everything packed?” She asked, taking her first bite of cereal in a lot more mannered way than how I was currently shoveling mine into my face.

I hummed in response before taking another large bite of my food.

I spent all of yesterday packing up the things I'd need and putting it all into my wrangler for the drive today. It’s an hour and a half journey to Hudson University from here and our first team meeting is tonight at 5PM. That’s why I am eating so quickly seeing as I’d like to set up my dorm before having to meet my new teammates.

“Charlie, slow down. You are going to choke.” My mom said, rolling her eyes at me.

"Mom...... I'm 18. I know how to not choke on my food." I said with a mouth full of corn flakes.

My mom took another small bite of her food before saying nonchalantly, “Do you also know how to not get pregnant in college?”

I inhaled a small amount of milk at her words and coughed my entire mouthful of food back into the bowl and onto the counter. I saw the small smirk on my moms mouth as I coughed for another ten seconds before gaining back control over my lungs.

"I thought you knew how to not choke on your food?" She said slyly before letting out a loud laugh.

I glared at her then looked down at my ruined bowl of cereal. With a huff I stood up and walked it over towards the sink.

“Yes mom. I know how to not get pregnant.” I said in a much more sour mood than I was in thirty seconds ago. 

"That's what a lot of girls say. I'm not saying you can't have fun. Just have fun... safely." 

I finished rinsing out my bowl then turned around to look at the persistent woman. 

“Mom!” I groaned, not wanting to have ‘The Talk’ at 9AM on a Monday.

“Well, college is a whole new ball game Charlie! You might meet a boy on a night out and things might happen quickly. I just want you to be prepared.” My mom said before taking another bite of food like this was the most normal conversation we have ever had.

Realistically, I have Noah. So this whole conversation is useless. I still don’t really know what we are but I know that he probably would be hurt to find out I was sleeping with other people. And hurting Noah is not on my list of things to do.

“And if I meet a girl?”

Why did I say that? I’m not even into girls. 

My mom looked up at me with her eyebrows furrowed, studying me for a moment before replying.

“Then pregnancy may not be a worry but STDs are still on the table.” She shrugged then went back to her food.

I let out a grateful sigh that she didn’t probe more into my random outburst.

“I don’t plan on sleeping around mom.” I sighed, hoping that would end this conversation. I began to walk around the counter to grab my phone off the counter.

“Is that because of Noah?” She asked.

“Wha-’’ I stopped frozen in place. 

Mom barely knows Noah. How the hell did she decipher what was going on? We only just kissed two days ago.

“I have eyes.” She said while rolling them.

“So you two are going to make the distance work then?” She asked, standing up to take her now empty bowl to the sink.

I watched her closely for any signs of disapproval.

“Uh, yeah. We are going to try.” I said slowly. 

Mom and I never talked about Rick once even though I dated him for years. So her bringing up Noah when we aren’t even technically together is mind boggling.

She turned around and walked over to me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders and pulled me in for a hug.

“That’s wonderful honey.” She said, kissing the side of my head.

“Thanks ma.” I said slowly reciprocating the rare intimate moment with my mom.

“But don’t forget to have fun Char. I want you to have a good experience in college and long distance is hard. I’m not saying you shouldn’t do it. Just promise me you won’t force it if it's not working.” She said softly into my hair.

Having my mom like this is rare. She mostly just lets me live my life and cheers me on. Her giving me advice over anything does not happen often.

“Okay mom. I have to go.” I said softly before pulling away from her just enough to see her face. 

The first thing I noticed was the tears pooling in her eyes. It broke my heart instantly and suddenly everything in me was screaming to just let my mom hold me. 

But I couldn’t bring myself to let her. 

The longer she holds me the closer I am getting to tears of my own.

I need to be strong for the both of us. Like I always am. 

It might make her more upset to realize that I am just as sad about me leaving as she is. I won’t make this harder than it needs to be.

I pulled her back in for a quick hug.

“Love you Ma.” I said covering up my wavering voice quite well.

“I love you too honey.” She sniffled.

It was all I could take. I pulled away from her and gave her a smile, not trusting myself to say anything else. 

I nodded at her and made my way out the front door for the last time this summer with tears in my eyes and dads goal to achieve.

Previous | Next

[yoursome1-rbwebb]

Caught in Haze

Previous | Next

Chapter 13

I could just tell by the tensed muscles in Noah’s back and the way his jaw was set that whatever caused that reaction was no small matter.

I have never seen him so tense and enraged in all the years I’ve known him. 

And I never want to see him like that again.

We finally reached the gazebo and he let go of my hand, choosing to lean against the railing with his instead. 

I couldn’t pull my eyes from him as he stared out at the pond. The moonlight bouncing off the water illuminated those golden eyes I like so much. Only now, there was so much sadness in those eyes.

He looked so lost in his head, pain evident on his expression.

I can’t stand to see him hurt like this. But I really don’t know how to help him.

I reached forward and placed a hand on his shoulder hoping physical contact would help. 

He didn’t move a muscle. It was like he didn’t even realize I was still there.

“Noah,” I said softly.

He closed his eyes and let out a shaky breath before turning to face me.

“I’m sorry, I'm so sorry.” He shook his head and looked down at the ground.

I reached forward and grabbed his chin, making him look at me.

“No. Don’t apologize. Rick is an asshole.” I said, shaking my head.

“I shouldn’t have reacted like that. He just… I just-”

“You don’t have to explain anything. It’s your business not mine.” I said letting go of his chin with a soft reassuring smile on my lips. I don’t want him to feel pressured to tell me something he’s not ready to.

To my surprise he grabbed my hand as it dropped and pulled me closer to him, wrapping his arms around my waist.

It was like the physical contact was working and he didn’t want it to end.

“What if I want it to be your business.” He breathed. 

My own breath caught in my throat.

“Do you want it to be my business?” I asked, wrapping my arms around his neck, pulling him closer to me.

His eyes engulfed mine. The golden brown was the only thing I could see. The only thing I want to see.

That familiar pull started pushing our bodies even closer until our lips were inches apart.

“I want it to be.” He said in the most confident sexy voice I’ve ever heard him use then he leaned in and captured my lips in his.

Everything in my body seemed to melt into the taller boy but he held me against him, strong and sturdy like usual. 

At first the kiss was slow and a bit jumbled. 

Our pace didn’t quite match up, though who could blame us. It’s our first kiss and I know for a fact that I am nervous as hell.

I have wanted this for years and I don’t want to mess it up. 

The awkward phase of the kiss faded and we eventually figured each other out. Our mouths finally synced up and the kiss became effortless and wonderful.

It was soft and sweet and explorative but nothing too hectic. Both of us are just trying to familiarize ourselves with this new part of our friendship or whatever this is.

And don’t get me started on how he’s holding me! It’s like he thinks I’m going to disappear from his arms. He’s holding me so tightly against him I’m sure if someone just glanced over here they’d think we were one person.

When we needed to finally catch our breath I leaned away first, letting my forehead rest on his with my eyes closed. 

“I’ve wanted to kiss you for so long.” Noah said just above a whisper. 

I leaned away from him and smiled softly. 

“I’ve wanted that too. Although, maybe I imagined it under different circumstances.” I chuckled, glancing down at our almost bare bodies.

“Not me.” He shook his head. “I imagined it like this everytime.” 

I laughed and pushed him away from me.

“Perv.” I chuckled then leaned against the railing.

I can’t believe I finally kissed Noah Haze. 

“So…” he said awkwardly, placing his body next to mine. He nudged me with his shoulder, silently asking for my attention.

“So…” I answered, looking at his handsome face.

“I’d like to do that again sometime.” He smiled, taking my hand in his gently lacing our fingers together like it was the most natural thing in the world.

That’s when I realized I don't really know when ‘sometime’ would be.

“I-I leave in two days Noah.” I frowned, turning to face him. “You report to your club then too. We will both be training and have little to no free time. And who knows if that free time will even line up and...” I ranted letting my exhaustion over this situation show.

“Hey. I know.” He said, moving his hands up to cup either side of me, effectively shutting me up.

“But I’d like to try. If that’s okay with you?” He said leaning down so our noses were almost touching.

“I know I’m asking a lot and the timing couldn’t be worse. But you’re my dream girl Charlie. I-I want to try this with you.” He said with his eyebrows furrowed. He seemed unsure about how I’d answer. Honestly I had no clue either.

We stood like that for a while. Noah didn’t push me to answer. He just stood there patiently, waiting for my response.

I’m his dream girl. No one has ever said anything so sweet to me. 

“Okay.” I finally answered above a whisper.

Noah immediately flung himself into action. He wrapped his arms around my waist and picked me up before spinning us in a circle.

“Yes!” He shouted in victory like he had just scored the winning goal, making me giggle.

He placed me back on my feet and stepped away from me with a proud grin on his face.

“You have to promise me something though,” I said, poking his nose with my finger before wrapping my arms back around his shoulders.

“Anything.” He said, placing his hands on my bare hips and pulling me close again.

“If at any point this doesn’t feel right or even if the distance is too hard to navigate, be honest. I’d rather just be friends then nothing at all.” I said.

He smiled in return and leaned down, pecking my lips with his.

“I promise, and you have to promise the same.” 

“I promise.” I smiled at him wanting nothing more than to keep kissing him.

Well I guess now I have no excuse not to.

I leaned in and initiated the kiss this time, taking his top lip between mine. 

He feels so warm and familiar and I can’t wait to be able to do this all the time.

Well, not all the time. I don’t know how often I’ll get to see him between him traveling all over the country with his club and me traveling for college. But we will figure it out.

All I can do is take advantage of this right now.

“COPS!” Someone yelled from the back porch.

Noah and I broke apart and our heads shot in the direction of the house. Sure enough, red and blue lights were coming from the front of the house.

“Fuck.” Noah and I said at the same time.

“I gotta go find Casey. You find our clothes and phones!” I yelled then sprinted away from Noah not waiting for a response.

This is bad. Really bad. 

I’m usually smart enough to leave before the cops show up. I’ve been so caught up in Noah I lost track of time.

I ran through the house of panicking people that were finding any exit they could before the cops got into the house.

I checked every room until I found Casey in the upstairs bathroom, making out with some random drunk girl. 

I grabbed her arm and yanked her away and out of the room leaving the drunk girl baffled.

“Heyyyyy,” Casey grumbled. “We were just getting to the good part.” She slurred, clearly very drunk herself.

“Cops are here. We gotta go.” I answered shortly, pulling her after me through the emptying house.

“Fuck.” Casey replied as she stumbled after me.

The music had stopped and now there was just the sound of nearly naked people freaking out.

We ran through the back door with about 15 other people where we found Noah waiting for us with a few random articles of clothing.

“People were just grabbing shit and running. Our stuff is gone but I got y’all these.” He said, shoving two t-shirts that were clearly someone else’s towards me.

I grabbed both and pulled Casey towards the back gate. She still hadn’t said a word but her face was pale as she was finally understanding the situation. That or she was about to throw up. Maybe both.

People were climbing over the fences into neighboring yards and through any opening they could find to hide from police. Most were still unclothed which would have been a funny sight to see if I wasn’t currently a part of that demographic.

Police were chasing anyone they could see, tackling stragglers and putting them into one of ten cop cars parked out front.

We are so fucked.

Noah grabbed my hand and pulled me and Casey after him, trying to lead us to safety.

We didn’t get far before Noah was suddenly yanked out of my grip and thrown against the ground by an officer we didn’t see coming.

“Hey! Stop!” I yelled, not liking how rough they were being with him.

“Mother fucker.” The officer said, pinning Noah’s hands behind his still bare body. 

“Noah?”

Noah shifted his head so he could look back at the officer.

“Hey, John,” Noah said from his spot on the ground like it was just another day.

“Oh my god, you fucking idiot.” The officer said and pulled him to his feet. 

John looked at Casey and me with a frown.

John couldn’t have been more than five years older than us. He honestly looked like he could have been a participant at this party.

“These two with you?” He asked looking back at Noah. 

Noah nodded his head and the officer let out a huff.

“Fucking hell man. Turn around, face the wall, hands behind your head.” The officer said to Casey and me in a defeated tone.

I am so fucked. I’m going to lose my scholarship. I’m never playing soccer again. I’m going to work at a fast-food restaurant for the rest of my life.

Casey vomited onto the grass making the officer sigh again. He pushed Noah against the wall and placed handcuffs on him before moving on to me.

“Are those clothes on the ground yours?” He asked from behind me.

“Not technically,” I answered honestly, earning another disappointed sigh from the man.

“Put the shirts on you and your friend then turn around so I can cuff you too.”

Oh god. I’m going to prison. My life is over. 

“I have rights!” Casey slurred before I elbowed her in the side.

“Shut up bitch!” I whisper-yelled at her and threw the large shirt over her head. It hung down enough to cover her Hello Kitty underwear.

I threw the shirt provided for me on and realized that it was a bit smaller than the one I put on Casey. It hung down enough to cover my torso but that was it. My black lacy underwear could still be seen as clear as day under the street lights.

I sighed in defeat and faced the wall. My mugshot is going to be fantastic.

What will my mom say? She is going to be so upset. 

I felt sick to my stomach thinking about how disappointed she would be. I’m supposed to be responsible. I’m not supposed to need her to bail me out of jail.

Fuck!

The officer put the three of us in handcuffs and none of us said a word as he led us one by one to the back of a police car. I slid into the middle seat and Noah sat on my left while Casey sat on my right.

John climbed into the front seat and said something on his radio before turning to face us. The man glared at all three of us and then stopped his eyes on Noah.

“Come on man! Imagine if it was another officer that caught you. You’d be so fucked. You could kiss your career goodbye.” John yelled at him.

His tone of voice was like an annoyed father.

“I know. I’m sorry.” Noah said, looking down at the ground.

“You’d think a world-class athlete could have gotten away. Gonna need to work on that speed before the season.” John laughed then faced the front pulling out his phone. He started typing like he was texting someone then pushed it back into his pocket.

“Riley is going to meet us down the street. You owe me box seats for this.” John said then shifted the car into drive.

I looked over at Noah with a confused look on my face. 

What is happening?

Noah glanced up at me like he had sensed my eyes on him.

“John is my sister's friend.” He said simply like that’d explain everything. It explained almost nothing.

Noah seems to have defaulted back to the quiet version of himself that I haven’t seen since graduating.

I nodded anyway, not wanting to ask more questions when he was already clearly bothered. 

I mean he has every right to be. We are sitting in the back of a police car meeting up with his sister that he has some sort of estranged relationship with.

It’s been a long night for Noah Haze.

John parked at a playground a few blocks away where a black car that was identical to Noah’s was waiting for us.

John climbed out of the car first and walked up to the black car where Riley Haze climbed out to meet him.

“Both Haze’s in one place. Nice.” Casey giggled from beside me. I glared at her but turned my attention back to Noah’s sister.

She is just as pretty in this dim lighting as she was in the last. She was laughing with John about something and I had the sudden craving to hear that laugh unmuffled by the car door between us.

“Don’t worry. This’ll be over soon. Like it never happened.” Noah said, nudging my shoulder and effectively pulling my attention away from his sister.

Noah has never wanted to talk about his family. I know he is a quiet guy but to not even bring Riley up once on his own is baffling. She is a terrible person but she’s still his sister. Something had to have happened between the two of them. 

But that’s not my business. Well, maybe it is my business? I don’t know, we didn’t really have time to hammer out the specifics.

John opened the back door and undid Noah’s handcuffs.

“You're free. No more being stupid.” He said and pulled Noah out of the car.

Noah stood there awkwardly massaging his wrists in nothing but his blue boxers as the officer moved on to my cuffs.

“Well hello, little brother.” Riley’s voice filtered into my ears. “Nice drawers.” 

I looked up in time to see Noah glaring at her but the look was quickly replaced by a placid almost indifferent expression. Like he was emotionally shutting down. I didn’t like it at all.

“Riley.” He acknowledged curtly before turning away from her to look at me.

“Jonny boy said you had two naked girls with you when he caught you. Way to go, buddy.” She said, nudging his shoulder playfully.

“You’re free,” John said, distracting me from the Haze’s conversation so I didn’t get to hear Noah’s reply. 

I quickly climbed out of the car to stand next to him. I was hoping she wouldn’t recognize me honestly. I was just some girl she kissed at a party months ago.

The grin that was on Riley’s face morphed into one of shock when she realized she knew who I was. Can tonight get any worse? Hopefully, she stays true to her word and will keep her mouth shut about how we know each other.

Her eyes wandered down the oversized shirt adorning my body and they darkened as they reached the black fabric of my underwear before snapping back to my face. She wiped the shock from her face and let her signature smirk take over instead.

“Well hello there.” She said innocently. “I’m Riley.” 

She grinned mockingly and held her hand out for me to shake.

God,, she is so dislikable. It’s pretty rare for me to not like someone after meeting them only two times. Well, one time according to Noah.

I took her hand with a grimace that I tried to play off as a smile.

“Charlie,” I answered the same way I did last time. This only made Riley’s grin grow wider.

“Shit,” John said from the other side of the car where Casey had flopped onto the ground laughing, clearly still drunk out of her mind.

“I got her,” Noah said before I could even make a move to go get her.

I looked back at Riley who was still eyeing me with those golden eyes, the flecks of green in them were distractingly beautiful as they reflected the moonlight. 

It’s too bad that such a pretty face belongs to such a rude person.

Once Noah was on the other side of the car she took a small step towards me and spoke.

“You know, I like this outfit much better than the last.” She said letting her eyes fall down my body again.

I scoffed and took a step away from her.

Standing here on the side of a road in only a t-shirt with my crush’s sister was not on my bingo card of how this night would go.

It felt like I finally got my happily ever after and now I’m here and this woman is now our knight in shining armor.

From what I’ve witnessed though, she doesn’t fit that bill. Even Noah, the nicest guy I know, doesn’t like her. That has to mean something. 

“So you and my brother are…” she began.

“Are none of your business?” I snapped, interrupting her and finishing her sentence. “That's correct,” I answered.

My reaction only made the girl happier it would seem.

“Damn baby, chill out. You know you still owe me for my bet with Ben.” She laughed. “Here I am once again to save the day and all I get in thanks is attitude.”

“Don’t call me baby.” I frowned, folding my arms over my chest.

She took another step forward and I suddenly couldn’t move, couldn’t react. Everything about this girl is so… I don’t even know. It’s like my brain has no other choice but to study her when she gets close to me.

She leaned in so her mouth was next to my ear in a familiar way that only Noah does. Her breath on my skin sent electric shocks down my body telling me to move away. But I couldn’t.

“That’s okay Lee. I like a girl with a little attitude.” She whispered then walked away from me before I could react.

I stood there a moment longer processing what she said. It was an obvious attempt to piss me off. But I’m not angry. Instead, I am in absolute shock from the nickname she used. 

No one calls me that. No one has called me that since my dad died. 

It felt like the world was concaving and all I could feel was the pain of his death like it had happened yesterday. Everything that was ripped away from me splayed across the forefront of my thoughts. It stung and what's worse is the look on her face when she noticed my sudden change in demeanor.

She was smirking at me.

She didn’t mean to stir that memory and there is no way she would have known that it would cause this much inner turmoil. It’s not her fault.

But that smirk tells me everything I needed to know. She wanted to get a reaction out of me. Whether it was from the pet name or the obvious flirting, she didn’t care.

I gave her exactly what she wanted.

That’s when the anger set in.

I let Riley Haze win again.

Before I could even let that anger unleash onto her, she moved around the police vehicle to help her brother get Casey into her car like nothing happened. Like she hadn’t just opened a wound I didn’t know was still healing. 

The farther she got from me the angrier I got.

I can’t stand her. The arrogance. The rudeness. The boldness. The way she makes me feel. I have never met a more infuriating person.

I wish someone would knock her down a few pegs. I wish that person could be me, just for the pure satisfaction of having something to hold over her head.

But I can’t, because this is our ‘first’ time meeting and I’m not supposed to know her. I’m not supposed to know what she smells like. I’m not supposed to know what my hands feel like in her hair. And I’m sure as hell not supposed to know what her lips feel like against mine. 

The fact that I actually remember all those things two months later is a big fucking problem.

I pulled myself together not wanting to show any visual signs of distress before making my way over to the others. Worrying about my pain is a later Charlie problem. Right now I just need to focus on getting Casey and myself home before anything else can happen tonight.

Officer John was not trying to hide his signs of distress at all. He clearly did not want to have any part of the illegal activity we took part in tonight and the drunk teenagers in front of him were moving much too slowly for his liking.

Casey was now propped up with her arms over both of the Haze siblings' shoulders being walked (dragged) over to Riley’s car.

I decided the best thing I could do was get into the back seat and help pull my very drunk best friend inside.

“In you go Kitty,” Riley said with a chuckle, letting Casey gently flop into my waiting arms. 

“It's Casey.” She slurred with a giggle of her own before flopping her head onto my shoulder.

Riley leaned down into the car grinning at the both of us. Something in my stomach flipped at the sight of her. 

Probably just nausea from how upsetting she is.

“Not according to these fantastic undies you have on.” Riley countered nodding at Casey’s panties.

Casey giggled and turned her head so she was breathing hot alcohol fused breath onto my neck.

“She is incredibly sexy. I understand the appeal.” She tried to whisper but it was barely any lower than her normal speaking voice.

My face went beat red in an instant and my eyes snapped to Riley. She had her eyebrows raised in surprise then looked back toward her brother who was now talking to John. She turned her attention back inside the car with a cocky smirk on her face.

“So you’ve talked about me?” She asked, wiggling her eyebrows at me.

I opened my mouth to respond but somehow Casey’s drunk reactions beat me to it.

“Uhuhhh.” She nodded her head with a massive grin on her face.

Why is she trying to ruin my life?

Riley’s smirk grew wider.

“I do not talk about you,” I interjected, shoving Casey into her seat. She let out a disgruntled huff and began her first attempt at buckling her seatbelt.

“You don’t have to lie Lee. Plenty of girls talk about me. It’s only natural after we…” 

“Shut up!” I whisper-yelled at the annoying woman. I looked out the back window to make sure Noah hadn’t heard.

“I told her about you that night. That’s the last time you’ve ever been brought up.” I glared at the older girl in front of me. 

“Did you tell her how good of a kisser I am?” Riley asked, her voice lower and more sultry with a hint of evil giddiness on her face.

God, she is the worst!

“Even your brother doesn’t talk about you so why would I?” I seethed, pulling Casey’s seatbelt over her shoulder and buckling her in after her third failed attempt. 

Casey seemed to have lost interest in the conversation seeing as her eyes were now closed and she was humming the Hello Kitty theme song.

I looked back at Riley completely enraged that she dared to bring it up again. Only I couldn’t hold onto that anger. Her golden eyes held so much sadness in them that it almost took my breath away. The same type of sadness I saw in Noah’s golden eyes earlier. Only hers lasted a moment before she put on a mask with no emotion written on it at all. But it was too late. I already saw what she was trying to hide.

“Right.” She said standing up straight and leaning against the door. “Let’s get you two home before Kitty pukes in my car.” She nodded and then closed the door.

I had got to her.

I won. 

I should be happy.

Why don’t I feel happy?

I just feel like a mean, awful person.

I shouldn’t have brought up her brother. 

If she’s a sensitive subject with Noah I should have assumed that he would be a sensitive subject with her.

I crossed a line and I feel terrible.

I let my head fall back onto the seat with a groan before Noah and Riley climbed into the front seats.

They didn’t so much as look at each other as Riley cranked the sports car to life. 

My house was only about a mile from here and he could have easily given her directions but instead he typed them into his phone and held it out for her rather than speak to her.

Riley’s cockiness had completely disappeared and a frown sat on her lips rather than her signature smirk.

Thank god Casey’s drunk ass was out of it because she could have made the short trip to our house so much more awkward than it already was with her big mouth.

Riley put her car in park in front of the house and Noah was the first to climb out, not saying a word like usual.

I shoved Casey lightly, jostling her awake. I didn’t really care if I was being rude. She caused enough trouble for tonight and my tolerance gauge is at its literal limit.

“Get up. We’re home.” I said as she opened her eyes. 

Noah opened her door to help her out first knowing she’d need more assistance than I would.

“Thanks for the ride.” She shot groggily at Riley before climbing out. 

“No problem Kitty.” Riley grinned back at her, avoiding looking at me completely. Not that it bothered me or anything.

I opened my door and a rush of relief charged through my body at the aspect of finally being free from the tension filled car. I took one last glance at the front seat and found Riley’s annoyingly gorgeous eyes already on mine through her mirror.

She was staring at me. Truly unabashedly staring. Like she was trying to memorize every detail of my face for some test she had coming up. Even my eyes on hers didn’t dissuade her from doing so. 

The look in her eyes made my heart speed up slightly and I suddenly didn’t know what I was supposed to be doing. What I do know is I need to get out of my car before another one of our ‘competitions’ can begin.

“Thanks for the ride.” I said, tearing my eyes from her and climbing out of the car. 

She just nodded at me and refused to look away. I ignored it and closed the door, moving towards my house. Just before I walked past her open window she spoke.

“We can talk about compensation another time, Lee.” 

I could hear the playfulness in her voice but the words meant more than just a stupid little joke from her. The nickname was more than just a stupid joke to me.

She said those same words when she left her room that night. She really had remembered the night we met.

It’s been months since we kissed. There have probably been more girls in her bed than I could count yet she still remembers the small little blip of time she spent with me?

And the tone in her voice when she called me Lee wasn’t the same one she used earlier. It was softer. More genuine. I didn’t feel any pain when she said it this time. Rather, I felt a rush of endorphins and happiness at the use of my dads nickname.

I paused and stared at the girl who caught me completely off guard.

Was this a rare glimpse of the real Riley Haze? 

Maybe it's another ploy to get under my skin. Some sort of long game. 

I really hope it's not though.

I walked towards my house lost in thought. 

I don't understand Riley Haze and thank god I don’t have to. The only Haze I need is currently at my front door being my real knight in shining armor, unlocking the front door with Casey’s keys while she hangs off of him.

He is predictable. He is steady. He is safe.

I let out a sigh and made my way over to him, doing my best to hold the shirt down over my ass so Riley wouldn’t get a good look at it as I walked away.

I reached him and Casey right as the front door opened. Casey cheered and slumped her way inside, basically crawling towards the stairs.

I looked back at Noah with a smile on my face and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him into a hug.

“Thank you Noah. You really saved us tonight.” I said into his shoulder.

“We got lucky.” He chuckled.

I leaned back and looked up at him. He looks absolutely exhausted.

“Listen, I won't see you before you leave on Monday.” He sighed and pulled my body closer to his. “My parents are apparently coming into town in the morning and I leave tomorrow night to meet my agent in the city before pre-season.”

It felt like my stomach dropped out of my body. I knew our time together wouldn't last much longer but hearing it out loud really stung.

“Right.” I said sadly.

I heard a loud thud a few feet away which could only be Casey falling over something. 

“I better go handle that before she wakes up my mom.” I chuckled. 

He glanced over to where his sister's car was, then he took my hand and pulled me inside my house.

“I don’t really want my sister staring at you in your underwear while I’m kissing you.” He said quickly then captured my lips in his before I could even register what he said.

The kiss was fast paced and hungry. Like he was trying to put a summer's worth of kisses into one. It was forced and messy but it wasn’t awful. I could feel how eager he was to kiss me. It’s always nice to feel wanted.

I wrapped my arms back around his neck and pulled him closer to me, deciding to enjoy every second of it rather than critique it.

Kissing Noah is like sitting by a warm fireplace after playing in the snow. It’s comforting and warm and just so simple. 

I really can’t ask for anything more.

After the almost desperate kissing I pulled away from him for air, resting my forehead on his.

“I don’t want to stop doing that.” He whispered.

“Me either.” I sighed, already missing the warmth and familiarity.

“How about we do it again this weekend then? I can come pick you up.” He suggested.

He wants to do this. 

He wants to see me even with the fog of distance looming over us.

And you know what. I want it too.

“O-okay.” I stuttered, surprised by his eagerness to see me again so soon.

“We can go on our first real date.” He grinned. “Or something.”

I laughed and shoved him gently away from me. 

“Or something.” I agreed with a giggle.

He pulled me in for one last quick peck then pulled away from me and made his way towards the door.

“Goodnight dream girl.” He smiled then walked out the door, closing it behind him.

The moment it closed I couldn’t stop the pure glee that filled my body. I hopped around and let out a quiet squeal at my current predicament.

Noah is perfect. He’s everything I want in a boy. He’s kind and thoughtful and willing to make things work. 

How could I not be ecstatic right now.

I hurried upstairs with my newfound energy and helped Casey get ready for bed. As soon as my head hit my pillow though, the exhaustion from tonight’s events took over my body. 

The last thing I remembered before falling asleep was the memory of beautiful golden eyes looking back into mine.

Previous | Next

[yoursome1-rbwebb]

Caught in Haze

Previous | Next

Chapter 12

An hour later Noah, Casey and I met back at my house after he left to get ready for the party. I really am not a fan of parties. There are so many other productive or fun things we could be doing with our time but if it makes Casey and Noah happy I won’t say no. 

This is one of the last times we will all be together this summer too, so I decided to just go all in no matter what Rick's party brings us. I just want to enjoy having Noah and Casey’s company as much as I can until I leave in less than 36 hours.

We walked the few blocks between my home and Rick’s not wanting to drive knowing we would have some drinks. 

Noah took my hand in his without a word and walked with me like that the whole way.

It’s becoming a bit exhausting this whole ‘Not talking about whatever is going on between us’ thing we’ve got going. He holds my hand and occasionally flirts with me then afterwards he goes back to being the stoic quiet boy I’ve known for years.

It’s like he himself isn’t sure what he wants out of this.

“Did you know 7.3 out of 10 times, Rick’s parties end with the cops showing up.” Casey said from my left as the three of us approached the lavish home of Richard Lloyd.

The property was massive and the front gates were wide open. I’ve spent a lot of time at this house over the years for various reasons. Reason number one being sex with Rick. It feels weird to be coming here hand in hand with another man. Almost out of place. I won’t pull away from him though. Noah could be my only chance at something real. What Rick and I had never was. I noticed another thing out of place as we walked were random bits of clothing scattered along the ground in a trail that led up to the front porch.

“Where’d you pull that stat out of?” I asked with a grimace as the three of us walked up the steps.

“I counted up all the parties I have been to personally at this house then put it on top of the number of times the cops showed up. Then I found the common denomina…”

“I really don’t care actually.” I cut her off then knocked on the door.

I grinned over at my best friend who looked like she was a kicked puppy. I didn’t feel bad though. I have to get her back every once in a while for flirting with my mom.

I could hear Noah trying to hold his laugh in on my other side.

“Impudent bitch.” She mumbled as the door swung open.

“Charlie fuckin’ Walker!” The familiar voice said, making my eyes snap to the door.

Ben stood in front of us with a cocky smirk on his face wearing nothing but a pair of tighty-whities with a mustard stain on them. 

His eyes moved quickly to Noah and then our intertwined hands.

“The other Haze? Rick’s gonna love this.” He grinned then let out a sadistic laugh that made me incredibly uncomfortable.

The laugh was immediately cut off and he let out a girlish scream as Casey stepped forward and grabbed his exposed nipple, twisting it roughly.

“Why are you in your underwear, freak?” She asked as she let go of Ben.

He immediately clasped both his hands over his exposed chest to defend his nipples. He scowled at my best friend before answering.

“Well you all will need to be in just your underwear if you want to come inside.” He said, rubbing his now tender nipple with a frown on his face. 

His frown turned into another grin quickly when he took in our reactions.

Ben’s eyes then began to scan my body as if my clothes would magically disappear if he looked hard enough.

“What are you talking about?” Noah said, stepping in front of me and dropping my hand. He shoved Ben back a few steps and he fell into the front door, pushing it open and letting the loud music, scent of alcohol and view of half naked people everywhere fill our senses.

The house was full to the brim with people we knew from school with miles of exposed skin peaking out everywhere you looked. An array of different colors of underwear, bras and boxers were on show for the world to see as they all carried on with their various party activities.

“No Clothes Party,” Ben said simply with a shrug of his shoulders.

“Oh hell yeah.”

“What the fuck.”

Casey and I spoke at the same time.

“There are some ground rules before I can let you in,” Ben said before we could agree or object to participating.

“Number one: Eighteen plus only. You’re eighteen right buddy?” Ben asked Noah specifically who stiffened a little from his spot in front of me.

It was an attempt to rile Noah up. One of the baseball guys favorite pastimes is trying to get Noah Haze to react because he’s always so reserved. I’ve never really seen them succeed though other than the occasional glare from the quiet boy.

“Yeah,” Noah grumbled.

I reached forward and placed my hand back in his to give him some comfort, reminding him that he’s not alone.

“Great! Rule two: No phones.” Ben reached inside the house and grabbed a basket that was next to the door. It was full to the brim with around a hundred phones. “No phones, No leaks.” He shrugged.

“And rule three: No clothes.”

Noah turned around to face me with a worried look in his eyes.

“We don’t have to do this if you are uncomfortable.” He said, watching me attentively for any discomfort.

“Oh come on Char. This looks like a fucking blast.” Casey said, bouncing excitedly on her feet next to me.

Parties are not my thing. But if I am going to go to one, I might as well go big. Anyways, if we go home now, we will just end up on the couch like every other night this summer, cuddled up with Noah with no explanation for why in sight. 

I am in desperate need of a drink after all this tension over the past two weeks with Noah anyway so...

Fuck it.

I rolled my eyes and pulled my shirt over my head leaving all three people in my presence with their mouths open at my willingness to participate.

I have never been more grateful that I wore matching underwear in my life. My black lacy bra was definitely the right choice judging by their reactions.

I grinned up at the gaping golden eyed boy in front of me and shoved his shoulder playfully.

“Strip Haze.” I chuckled.

“Oh fuck yeah,” Casey said and all but ripped her clothes from her body beside me. She was left in nothing but a pair of hello kitty panties and a white sports bra in seconds.

“Nice Kitty,” Ben said with a smirk on his face.

“Sorry buddy, No boys allowed. There's a sign and everything.” She gestured to her groin then placed her phone in the basket.

“Can I see the sign?” Ben grinned. 

Casey flipped him off then shoved past him making her way into the party.

I laughed and pulled the jeans I was wearing down my legs and put them in the pile of clothes Casey had left hers in.

I stood up straight in front of the two boys in my black set of underwear and placed my hands on my hips. 

I am proud of my body. I’ve worked hard for it. I don’t make it a point to show it off normally but I would never object to it.

I don’t think either boy in front of me objected either. Ben stood at the door with his biggest grin of the night, letting his eyes wander down my newly exposed skin. I scoffed and pushed past him, setting my phone in the basket before making my way inside. 

Before I made it too far I looked back at Noah with a smirk on my face. He hadn’t moved an inch towards taking his clothes off. His only movements were to watch me with those golden eyes that looked just a shade darker than usual.

Maybe tonight is finally the night we break through whatever is holding him back. All thanks to the power of tits and ass.

“You coming Haze?” I questioned, cocking my head to the side.

My words broke the ice holding him in place and he basically threw his phone at Ben before pulling his t-shirt and jeans off leaving him in dark blue boxers. 

I let my eyes wander over his chiseled body. Maybe he did get more ripped over the summer. I mean come on! He appeared to be only made of muscle. Maybe he should just always have his shirt off. I think everyone would be okay with that.

Noah pushed past Ben into the loud house and took my hand in his once again.

“I need a drink.” He said like he was out of breath then led me into the kitchen where the drinks usually were at these parties.

I couldn’t help but laugh as he pulled me behind him. He must be as affected as I am over the amount of skin the two of us are now showing.

When we got to the kitchen, Noah poured me a beer from the keg first then began to pour one for himself without a word spoken between us. Talking was really out of the question on the lower level of the house, seeing as the music was almost at a deafening level. It’s almost anxiety inducing when all I really want to do is talk to the boy that never talks back.

I took the cup from him and chugged the whole thing in one go. I am going to need this liquid courage if I am going to survive tonight. 

By the time Noah looked back up at me my cup was empty. I grinned and took the tap line from him, beginning to pour myself another.

Noah laughed and shrugged before he brought his cup to his mouth and chugged all of its contents as well. A few drops fell onto his muscled chest and I couldn’t help but watch them as they moved slowly down his body. It was like watching a cart on a roller coaster drop from its highest point and I couldn’t pull my eyes away from it. 

I was shaken from my trance when my cup overflowed onto my now bare feet.

“Shit.” I said and jumped out of the puddle of beer.

I looked back at my crush with an embarrassed smile on my face hoping he hadn’t noticed the reason I had spilled. He seemed oblivious enough and began to fill his now empty cup back up.

I let out a breath of relief and began to chug my second cup before slamming it onto the counter. 

Noah laughed and leaned down so his mouth was next to my ear.

“Wanna dance?” He asked over the music. It was soothing and sexy the way his breath moved over my neck leaving the little hairs there standing on edge.

I could already feel the alcohol warming my body and dancing suddenly sounded like the best thing in the world.

“Yes!” I nodded and grabbed his hand without warning, tugging him into the livingroom where our old classmates established a dance floor.

I shoved past people into the middle of the crowd before turning to face him with a content smile on my lips. Spending time with him for the last few weeks really has brightened up my life as cliche as it sounds. Him and his golden eyes just calm me in a way I never thought possible. 

I took his hands in mine and we stood for a moment just taking each other in. He really is a beautiful man, inside and out. A warm positive feeling that could just be alcohol washed over me and I just suddenly know that things between us will work out how they are meant to.

Noah grinned at me and for a moment I thought I had said what I was thinking out loud. I hadn’t but maybe he had been just thinking the same thing.

He boldly made the first move and stepped forward, wrapping his hands around my body before pulling me into him. Both of us were just smiling like idiots now as I placed my hands over his shoulders.

We began to sway together to the current song, just enjoying existing in the moment. Who knows how many times I’ll actually get to spend with him like this.

I don’t know how many songs went by with us staying in that exact position. The alcohol had definitely taken its full affect on my body though because my movements were becoming looser and more courageous.

I let my hands wander along the tanned skin on his shoulders, earning me goosebumps wherever they traveled. It was a new power that I reveled in. A power that I longed to take advantage of. I haven’t been touched in so long and now here I am with the boy I like in barely any clothing. 

Fuck! Settle down Charlie.

Noah leaned down into my ear once again, letting his warm breath fan over my ear again making me want to melt.

“You are so beautiful.” He said just loud enough for me to hear over the music.

He leaned back and looked down at me with that same intense look in his eyes that he had on my couch earlier in the day.

It had the same effect as earlier. Well actually maybe it was an even stronger reaction from me this time.

I want him.

I could think of nothing else but kissing him. I don’t care who sees. I don’t care that our first kiss would be in front of a room of people. I don’t care about anything but him.

We found ourselves leaning in, completely focused on each other as the people around us movements continued to be propelled by the loud music. 

Am I finally about to kiss my crush?

“Well I’ll be damned.” Someone yelled right next to us.

I guess not.

Noah and I snapped out of our trance and I looked over to find my ex with a few of his baseball goons behind him.

He was standing in front of us in what could only be described as a red speedo, displaying his junk proudly for the world to see.

I rolled my eyes at him with a scoff before taking Noah’s hand in mine. I want to get out of this room. Really, I want to get out of this party. I want to go somewhere where it can just be him and I for once.

“Noah Haze, always taking people’s scraps,” Rick yelled over the music so we could hear him.

Noah froze in place beside me and I watched as every muscle in his body tensed. He turned slowly to face Rick with what could only be described as rage written on his face.

“Fuck off,” Noah said in a powerfully low voice. The sound of it sent a chill down my body in the best way.

“Oh come on Haze.” Rick grinned. “It’s not my fault you are every girl's second choice.”

And just like that the sweet quiet boy I know turned into something else entirely.

It looked like he grew two feet and his muscles enlarged into mountains. He had Rick pinned against the nearest wall in what seemed like milliseconds. All I could do was stand and watch in horror. 

Why did that make him so mad? Rick says dumb shit all the time. 

‘Every girl's second choice.’ 

I couldn’t tell what was being said between the two of them. Between the loud music and the bodies shifting trying to pull the two boys apart, I couldn’t hear shit. It was a heated exchange though. Noah practically had smoke wafting from his tensed muscles as he held Rick who clearly wasn’t a fan of being pinned to the wall.

It took several baseball guys to tear them apart and even then Noah really didn’t calm down whatsoever. I stood in bewilderment for a moment longer before taking action, pulling Noah out of the room with haste before any punches could be thrown.

I said nothing as we walked into the large back yard, letting the silence of the night surround us as we made our way to the gazebo overlooking a pond.

Previous | Next

[yoursome1-rbwebb]

Caught in Haze

Previous | Next

Chapter 11

Casey, Noah and I spent the next two weeks doing the exact same things. 

Noah and I would go train, come back to my place then watch movies or tv shows with Casey until the sun went down.

Mom was obviously very curious about our newest edition and made sure to embarrass me by basically interrogating the poor guy every night when she came home.

It was kind of funny until she broke out all those embarrassing pictures from when I was a kid.

I think that meant she approved of Noah but that didn’t stop me from basically tackling her in the kitchen when she tried to show him the video of me ripping my shirt off at a talent show when I was 5. I thought showing off my bruises from soccer would suffice as my talent.

Dad always would laugh at that video and tell me I was gonna be like Brandi Chastain who famously ripped her shirt off after scoring the winning goal at the 1999 Women’s World Cup. I would groan and pretend that it annoyed me every time but I secretly loved him comparing me to one of my idols. It was like he was telling me I would reach her level of success one day and he knew it.

But I didn’t really want the boy I liked to see a video with my shirt off and laugh.

Having Noah here all the time hasn’t felt weird or awkward at all. Mine and Casey’s duo became a trio almost overnight. It’s like he’s always just been a part of our little friend group. 

It makes me regret not becoming closer friends with him earlier. 

I mean he’s always been incredibly sweet and attentive but there’s that mysterious side of Noah I have been craving to unlock. 

He is still a man of few words but the boldness that came home with him from camp has made a few appearances over the last week. 

For instance, we hold hands now. Like everywhere. If we are walking anywhere or just near each other, his hand finds mine without fail.

He has also made it a point to tell me how pretty he thinks I am. Everytime he sees me after being away for just thirty minutes he compliments me. 

It turns my face bright red each time and makes my stomach do somersaults. 

Of course we haven’t talked about the compliments or what holding hands could mean.

I’m letting him set the pace of whatever this is because I don’t want to pressure him into something he may regret.

Being in a long distance relationship off the rip is on the list of things he may not want to do.

Now with only two days left before I have to head to university for pre season, the three of us are once again on the couch watching Looney Tunes as the sun is setting outside.

“I am so bored,” Casey complained from her spot on the couch.

“Then go find something to do. You aren’t being held hostage ya know.” I rolled my eyes and looked over at the complaining brunette.

I felt Noah squeeze my hand which were both currently situated in my lap. 

“I can’t sit here one more night with the two of you. I need to be in a woman’s arms and your moms not here.” She said like it was the end of the world.

I heard Noah snicker beside me but I only focused on the gloating smirk resting on my best friend's face.

I used my free hand to pull her ponytail, making her head fly backwards.

“Leave my mom alone.” I groaned before looking back at the TV.

Casey got to her feet rubbing the back of her neck with a frown.

“Come on Charlie, we need to get out of this house. If we stay any longer I may seriously have to marry Molly.”

I moved to grab the couch pillow and Casey took off running towards the kitchen before I could throw it at her.

“I really do think she means that.” Noah chuckled softly beside me.

I rolled my eyes with a frustrated huff and let my head fall onto his shoulder. He chuckled and shifted our hands into his lap before starting to play with my fingers.

“Maybe we could go out tonight.” He said, keeping his voice low so only I’d hear.

I lifted my head off his shoulder and looked at him with my eyebrows raised in question.

“What do you have in mind?” I asked.

He looked down at our hands and I could almost feel how nervous he suddenly was.

“Well, I was thinking just you and I could go out. F-for dinner or something.” He said without looking up at me.

Is this it? Is he finally asking me out?

“Or something?” I said just above a whisper.

He looked up at me and sucked in a breath obviously realizing how close our faces are. His mesmerizing golden eyes searching mine for any reason to back out of this.

“Or something.” He nodded, not once breaking eye contact with me. It was almost like neither of us could look away. We were doomed to be stuck in this trance forever and I wasn’t even mad about it. 

Without even realizing it we both started leaning into each other. My heart is pounding and I can’t help but feel like this is it. Charlie Walker finally is about to get the perfect guy.

“Theres a fucking party tonight! We are so back bitches…” Casey’s voice trailed off at the end as she re entered the living room.

Her voice caused a chain reaction in the room. 

I shot away from Noah like I had just been burned and Noah reacted the same only, he fell over the side of the couch. His shoe caught on the coffee table, flipping it over and sent popcorn everywhere.

All the three of us could do was stay in our now awkward positions too stunned to say or do anything.

“What was that!” My mom yelled from her room upstairs. She came running down them to investigate without waiting for a response.

“Noah fell,” I said almost breathlessly when she entered the room. I think I’m still in shock about how close I just came to kissing Noah Haze.

“What were you doing in here?” Mom asked with a loud laugh as she assessed the flipped over table.

“Yeah, what were you doing in here?” Casey asked smugly and folded her arms over her chest with an evil look in her eyes.

I sent her a look that meant I was going to kick her ass which only made her start chuckling beside my mom.

Noah quickly scrambled to his feet and began fussing over the flipped table. 

“I’m so sorry Mrs. Walker. I fell over the couch and my foot caught on the table.” He said as he moved to pick up all the popcorn he could find on the floor.

“Oh honey, please call me Molly. And no worries. I’m just glad you didn’t hurt yourself before your pre-season.” Mom answered with a small smile on her face. 

She proceeded to help Noah pick up the popcorn on the floor while I sent a death glare at Casey who was very amused by all of this.

Casey chuckled even louder before leaving the room and coming back with a trash bag.

“Here you go Molly.” She said, holding the bag open for my mother and Noah to throw the popcorn in.

My mom smiled at her and squeezed her cheek lovingly.

“You’re just the sweetest.” My mom said.

“Oh stop it Molly or I’ll have to stay home with you tonight.” She grinned and winked at me before looking back at my mom.

That bitch.

I could hear Noah chuckling softly across the room at Casey’s antics.

“Do the three of you have plans tonight?” My mom asked as she placed the last of the popcorn in the bag.

“Yes, a party. One last one before Charlie leaves you and I here all by ourselves.” Casey answered, throwing her free arm over my moms shoulders as they turned to look at us.

I rolled my eyes and stood to my feet, brushing my hands on my pants.

“You are acting like you won’t be at the same university as me in two weeks.” I huffed. I walked over and pulled her away from my mom and shoved her onto the couch.

“Sounds like fun! Be safe, I need to go finish some stuff for work but if you need me my phone is always on.” Mom said to all of us before leaving the room.

She always says that and yet I have never once called my mom and asked for anything. I am more than capable of handling things myself. 

“What party?” I snapped at Casey the second my mom was out of earshot.

Noah timidly took a seat on the arm of the coach next to Casey.

He is back to his normal shy self again and I’m afraid whatever may have happened tonight isn’t going to happen again. At least not here with Casey around.

“Rick’s throwing one last party! Sean said something about a flamethrower.” She said, holding her phone in my face as if I could read the message on the screen while she was waving it as fast as she could.

“I do not want to spend one of my last nights in town at Rick’s house,” I said, folding my arms over my chest.  

Rick is a subject I have avoided all summer, especially in front of Noah.

“Come onnnnnnn.” Casey groaned, pulling my arms away from my body and holding my hands in hers.

“I have been sitting here for two months doing nothing. I need to get some tang before I go to college.” 

Noah tried to suppress his laugh but ended up just coughing loudly next to a grinning Casey.

“Then go to the party then.” I frowned, pulling my hands away from my foul-mouthed friend.

“I don’t want to go without you.” She pouted. “It’s our last chance to party before you check out of that part of life for the season.”

The look on her face made me want to cave. She knows I have a huge soft spot for her stupid pouty face.

But on the other hand, I have Noah sitting right next to her. He literally just asked me on a date and then we almost kissed. What does he think about going to my ex’s party?

As if I was speaking my thoughts out loud, he opened his mouth to speak.

“I’m down to go to a party.” He smiled at me letting me know it was okay.

He’s so fucking great.

“Ugh, fine,” I said, rolling my eyes one last time before stepping away from Casey.

She shot to her feet and wrapped me into a big hug.

“Yes!” She yelled then sprinted up to her room to get ready leaving Noah and I alone, once again.

“Are you sure you want to go?” I questioned him, moving so I was standing in front of the golden eyed boy.

“It’ll be fun to see the guys again.” He shrugged his shoulders and moved his eyes to meet mine.

To my complete surprise he reached both his hands forward and gripped my hips, pulling me between his legs and closer to him from his position on the arm of the couch.

“And if going to Rick’s stupid party means I get to spend more time with you. So be it.” He said softly.

My heart melted and all I wanted to do was lean into him. I have wanted this with him for so long. I just wish I knew what this is to him.

“Okay,” I whispered, not really trusting myself to say much more.

Noah’s smile turned into a happy grin and he released my hips before standing to his feet right in front of me. 

He was once again so close I could smell his cologne and all I wanted was to kiss him.

“Then maybe after, we can talk about that dinner.” He smiled, moving his hand up to brush a hair behind my ear.

His hand grazing across my skin sent a shiver down my spine.

“Or something.” I sighed.

Noah chuckled.

“Yeah, or something.”

Previous | Next