The next day, I joined my favorite 3 out of 4 soccer players for lunch. Duke had called me earlier and asked if I wanted to grab some pizza with him and the guys. We had ordered a large pizza to split between us all, Andrew and Duke sitting on one side and Toby and I on the other.
"Aw, man," Duke muttered. "Look who's here."
Turning around, Toby and I saw Viola walking in as Sebastian. I, of course, already knew what her plan was to try and get some of them all to like her a bit more.
"It's just Bash," I muttered in return, looking at them in confusion. "I should ask him to join us."
"No, no, no," they all rushed, their heads bowed.
"Uh, don't look at him, maybe he won't see us."
"Spread out so it looks like we don't have any room." Duke instructed, the three guys spreading themselves out over the booth. Toby tossed his legs over my lap, as I was sitting on the outside. I laughed and laid my arms over them, gently tickling his calves. He smiled and knocked me gently with his foot, making me smile at him.
"Sup," Viola's 'man' voice chimed.
"Sup," Andrew and Duke replied.
"Hey, Bash." I smiled over my shoulder.
"Spencer," She winked, making me laugh. I felt Toby tense, his hand brushing against my shoulder as he had it laid out over the back of the bench.
"Hey Sebastian!" Kia cooed, looking hot as hell in a mini skirt and cropped top paired with kitten heels. She threw herself all over Viola, making me laugh.
"Kia! Girl, how you doin' baby?"
"Not the same without you!"
"Oh, yeah, I'm sorry, you know, new school, new babe pool."
"Listen Sebastian, I've been thinking about you a lot. Especially that night.."
"Okay, did she just say that to Sebastian?" Toby asked, looking at his boys in confusion. I watched the entire exchange in amusement, trying not to burst into laughter.
"It was really great to see you Sebastian, call me anytime." Kia spoke soulfully. She puckered up for a kiss, but in a 'dude' motion, Viola kissed her fingers and pressed them to Kia's lips. She turned with a dreamy sigh and strutted away.
As she walked away, Viola spoke to herself but we all heard, "I'd tap that." Turning back to us, she shrugged, "Women."
When the three began to express their agreement, I stopped and looked at them all.
"Y'all have lady troubles but none of you have ladies...."
"Damn girl, why you always gotta be so hurtful," Andrew sighed and sniffled.
"Sebastian, is that you?" A new girl asked, walking over to Viola.
"Whats going on Evvan?" She spoke, wrapping the new girl in a sensual hug.
"Okay, who's this one now?" Duke asked.
"I mean, our school lost it's top gun, Sebastian Hastings."
"Well, hmmm, a time comes for a man to move along," Vee leaned against the booth in a suave move, pulling Evvan with her.
"I know Sebastian, in the end I wasn't woman enough for you."
"No you weren't."
"And thats just something I'll always have to live with. It just hurts, that's all."
"Love is pain."
"Just know," Evvan spoke, forcing 'Sebastian' to look at her. "I'll never forget you, Sebastian. Ever! Never!" She turned with a dramatic end, sticking her butt out a little and waiting for Bash to smack it.
She walked away 'in tears', me chuckling lightly at the entire exchange.
Pointing over her shoulder, Viola joked before walking away, "Needy."
"Okay, okay, okay, we might need to do a little reevaluating here." Duke spoke, looking confused.
"Yeah," Toby nodded.
"Well, no shit. It shouldn't take him be a ladies man for you dicks to want to give him a chance. He's a great person, but that's not good enough I take it."
"Spence, it's not like that," Toby tried to explain, going to put his arm around my shoulder before I stopped it, making his boys laugh.
"It is like that. Boys are so dumb, I swear," I shook my head.
"Hey, pretty lady," Andrew smiled at some blonde.
Fuck, it was Monique, Sebastian's actual girlfriend.
"Ew... What-what are you, hitting on me?"
Poor Andrew was stuttering out a response, when Monique interrupted.
"Let me put a stop to that little brain fart right now. Girls with asses like mine do not talk to boys with faces like yours." She paused, looking at us all. "Oh, hey Spence. I'm looking for my boyfriend, Sebastian Hastings. You guys seen him?"
Duke couldn't believe his ears, eyes, or own mind. He just pointed behind him, Monique's gaze locked on Viola now. Oh, fuck, surely she was busted now. Monique would recognize her and all hell would break loose. But watching Viola keep Monique at a distance was rather amusing, her chasing Bash around the shop and 'him' deflecting her.
"And when my eyes are closed, I see you for what you truly are! Which is UGGGLY! We're done!" Bash exclaimed, making his crazy girlfriend drop the stack of pizza boxes in a huff and cry as she ran out of the joint.
The entire restaurant cheered as she bolted, I quickly got out of the way as all three guys jumped up to congratulate their newest team member. When they returned to the table, I allowed Toby to slide in first before he tugged me onto his lap, making room for Bash to sit where I previously had.
"You are officially my idol now, man," Duke exclaimed as they slapped hands in a bro like fashion.
The group remained at the pizza parlor for a little while longer, cracking jokes and getting to know Bash better. I mostly stayed quiet as I knew both Sebastian and Viola for all their lives, knowing every aspect.
Before long we were all returning to the dorms.
"Wait, Toby?" I asked.
"Hm?" He hummed, his arm slung around my shoulders in a casual manner.
"Could I just stay the night in your dorm? I don't feel like walking back to mine at this hour." We had remained at the parlor for longer than expected, it now dark and my body tired.
"Course, but what about your books and school things?"
"I'll just leave early tomorrow morning to go home to change and get my books."
"Sounds good," He smiled gently as we kept walking. We approached the boys dorms, all of them sending me glances but not commenting.
"Okay, well, night dudes.. and lady." Viola spoke, confusion painted over her face.
"Night," I smiled. "I'm too tired to walk home so I'm crashing here and will just go home extra early tomorrow."
Viola nodded her head in understanding as Duke dapped up his bros, the two disappearing into their rooms as Andrew, Toby, and I entered their dorm. Andrew gathered his shower things quickly before leaving, Toby rummaging through his things to find me something to sleep in. He produced a pair of sweat pants and a tee shirt, handing them to me in a sheepish manner.
"I'll just.. turn.." He stuttered, moving over to his desk to distract himself and giving me the privacy to change. I stripped quickly and tugged on the sweats that were too big for me. I tied off the drawstring before slipping his shirt over my head.
"It's safe," I joked, folding my day clothes and leaving them sit with my shoes and other property items. Sitting on the bed, I watched as he smiled and moved to change himself, having no shame if I watched or not.
And how I wanted to, but since he gave me privacy, I returned it by busying myself and turning the bed down. He walked over to the other side and helped me pull back the covers.
"I'll sleep on the floor so if you need to get up, please don't step on me."
"What? No, I'm not kicking you out of your bed. Come on," I gestured, allowing him to get in the bed. Andrew came back in, changed and showered already. He set his stuff down before getting into his own bed, me sliding in next to Toby. Since dorm beds were so small, he and I ended up spooning with me being the little spoon.
With the lights out, we allowed ourselves to drift off, Toby's arm wrapped around me securely.
**
"So how long did you date that girl for anyways?" Duke asked the next morning. We were all gathered in biology class. I had gotten up early and slipped out of the guys' dorms unnoticed, changing out of Toby's clothes and folding them for him. Now, I was dressed in our school's uniform, sitting with 'the guys.'
"Too long. Ball and fricken chain, man!" Viola scuffed as her phone went off, sending 'barbie girl' playing in the air. The guys all laughed, having respect for the odd little man. Showing her phone to Duke, she spoke, "Justine. Chick won't stop dogging me, man."
"Oh my god," Duke swore, looking down and bashful. "Oh, my god, she's in our class."
Olivia Lenox was in our class, having just walked in with a friend and Malcolm.
"Dude, quit blushin'! It's lame!"
"Shut up! I'm not blushing!" Duke hissed, feeling embarrassed. I laughed lightly as the teacher came around, allowing us to randomly chose our lab partners.
"Everyone, please take a slip and read off the name of your lab partner."
After she had walked away, Duke read out, "Eunice Bates."
"Oh, I know her! She's really sweet!" I smiled, waving lightly to Eunice.
"Oh God," Duke muttered.
Slapping his arm, Viola scolded, "Be nice!"
"Spencer, we're lab partners!" Andrew exclaimed, smiling broadly. I didn't see it, but Toby was visibly upset over our match up.
"Olivia Lennox," Viola read, Liv turning and waving at Vee, though she thought she was waving at Sebastian.
"Woah, wait, you know her?" Duke asked.
"Talked to her for like a second."
"About what? She gave you 'the nod'."
"Yeah, she did a good one too!" Toby chimed for his buddy.
"Uh, could everybody please calm down?" Viola asked after Andrew's comment.
"I can't believe you've got her as a lab partner. Hey, switch with me!"
"I can't! I said her name out loud!" Viola explained, as if saying someone's name out loud was like voodoo or meant things were set in stone. Vee collected her things and went to sit with Olivia.
"Some guys just walk in the light, you know?" Andrew muttered, walking to an empty lab table. Pulling away from Toby's slight embrace, I smiled at him gently before following Andrew. Eunice sat with Duke and Toby sat at an adjoining table.
Lab passed by uneventfully, Andrew and I cracking jokes and being completely unserious the entire time. When the bell rang, we all gathered our items and headed out, seeing Duke and Bash talking together, but deciding we'd see them at practice.
"So, want to go to your dorm first, then to mine, then to practice?" Toby asked as we walked out.
"Yeah, you sure?"
"Yeah, lets go." He smiled, slinging his arm over my shoulder.
**
The next few days were intense with practice, the guys using the field, stands, and everything in between as equipment/to practice on. The days that coach made them use the stands to run up and down, and across, I sat in the middle with paperwork for Coach.
The days on the field I spent managing whatever Coach left me in charge of that day, whether it be the Second Stringers, or to be at his side.
It was one day that I was at Coach's side, watching the guys practice in a circle, kicking the ball around with Viola in the middle. Toby accidentally kicked the ball a little too hard, the ball flying and hitting Vee in the groin.
All the guys, Coach included, all flinched and grabbed themselves as if the ball had just gotten them in the goods. Viola forgot she was a guy for a moment before quickly catching up and grimacing in pain. I kept my laughter quiet as Viola 'walked it off' per Coaches' order.
****