[[ This is the SECOND installment in the "Smirk Series" The first part is called "It Began with a Smirk." You don't have to read it in order to read this one, but it is suggested. Things will make a lot more sense! Enjoy! <3 ]]
He stood with the football in his hand, and though I couldn’t see his face I knew how completely relaxed it would look at this very moment. Kale was always in the zone when he was playing football. I smiled brightly, cheering with the rest of the crowd as he threw the ball and I watched as the game continued. It was the last game of the season. The game against our ‘rivals’ the ClayVonttes. Everyone was pumped. Everyone was cheering. All around it was loud and lively.
“I think we’re gunna win!” Skylar had to yell from beside me in order to be heard over the crowd. I laughed as he handed over the can of pop just before getting knocked into and nearly crashing into the person in front of us. The bleachers were crowded now more than ever. Not to mention being with Skylar there as my escort meant I was in the even more crowded senior section. Kale and the rest of the gang were all out on the field.
“We are down by seven right now.” I pointed out, looking to the large score board. “And ClayVontte is really good.” as I said this a few people shot me glares and I laughed loudly with Skylar. I knew better than anyone how good they were. I’d played a game of football with them back when I’d gone to Mike’s party. That seemed like forever ago.
“So are we.” Skylar pointed out and grinned evilly as the crowd around us roared loudly again urging all of the players onwards.
The sweet pop met my tongue and I took a swig before handing it back to Skylar. “Yeah yeah but even good teams lose sometimes.” I pointed out. It was true. I didn’t want to get my hopes up that we’d win. Seeing as I’d be the one Kale would take his anger out on if we lost I had to be prepared for the worst. I was the only one who knew how to calm him down.
“If Kale heard you say that he’d fillet you.” Skylar laughed as he watched the game along with me.
“I bet you’d love that huh? Not having any competition in photography?” I teased back, sticking out my tongue at him.
His reply was interrupted as Jakeson made a hail mary catch on the field and we all jumped up and cheered loudly. I was probably the second loudest one of them all. There were all of my closest friends playing their hearts out on the field. But more than that was the boy I loved and I knew he was playing the hardest of them all.
Screams of support rang out from everyone as Kale bolted down the field, surprising the other team. He was the quarterback, no one had thought to watch for him running, only throwing. I cheered until my throat hurt as he dodged the defense and barreled into the endzone. We were almost tied! All that we needed was a fieldgoal and we’d finally be tied!
The game went on the score always close but ClayVontte kept up a lead. No matter how hard our team pushed onwards Clayvontte pushed back just a little bit harder. Finally the game ended with a disappointing loss for our team. It was close, but a loss nonetheless. Kale’s going to need some cheering up. I should invite the guys over for video games.
Skylar waited with me as he blocked people from bumping into me. He grinned down at me as he acted like my safety guard, taking the shoves from people as they made their way through the bleachers and passed us. I was thankful for his presence. As was our routine, I backed up against his chest the moment the band players made their way down and I had to use his body to shield myself. After he stuck his arms out and swung them like mad people began to take the hint and a small safe circle of space was created for us.
I gave him a thanks as I laughed and pushed myself a safe distance from him. For a bit we stood and debated the game as the crowds started to thin. We never dared to leave when everyone else did. First off I had to wait for Kale either way. Secondly we probably would have been mauled to bits under the stampeding students.
When the crowd finally thinned we bid each other our goodbyes and I climbed out of the stands before leaning against the metal fence, waiting patiently as Kale and the rest of the players went into a huddle to talk about the loss and the next practice. I waited, turning my eyes up to the dark sky. Yes, I’d invite the guys over for video games. It was the only way that I could cheer him up properly. Their lively presence would brighten his dark mood. It always did.
“Hey! Rein!” I looked around as my name was called out by a familiar voice I couldn’t put my fingers on. people were still filing from the stands around me and I was bumped into a few times but didn’t see who had spoken.
“Rein!” the voice called again and this time I turned my eyes from the crowd to the playing field instead. A boy in ClayVontte uniform came running towards me, his helmet tucked under his arm.
A smile flashed across my face the second he got close enough to recognize. “Mike! Hey long time no see.” I greeted him enthusiastically.
“Yeah really.” He muttered with a smile. I could tell he was trying to work out exactly how long it had been. Months at least. Before Kale. Before Jakeson even. Years ago it seemed like. We gave each other bright smiles as he stopped on the opposite side of the fence. People around me booed and jeered at him as he stood and smiled at me. Stupid rivalries. “How have you been?” he finally asked, having to yell to be heard even though he was right in front of me.
“I’ve been doing great lately. You?” I asked, but I wasn’t sure if he could hear me.
“Go home!” someone behind me yelled at Mike as they threw a popcorn bag at him. He dodged it and shook his head, staring at me instead of bothering a glare at them. Behind me a few people started yelling similar things and I was shoved into roughly as someone attempted to move me from the fence so Mike would take the hint and leave.
Instantly his hands shot forward, snapping onto my shoulders and he steadied me as my body teetered, about to fall from the hard push. “Hey want to go get an ice cream with me? It’ll be easier to talk.” He asked having to yell over the obnoxious people behind me as they kept jeering, his front shoved against the metal fence as he had to hold my body put so I wouldn’t be most literally pushed to the ground.
I bit my lip thinking about it. “I probably shouldn’t.” I admitted loudly, my head already starting to pound from the yelling. It wasn’t like the enthusiastic yelling from before, from during the game. Now it was jeers, and they were hurting my head.
“I just won a game and you’re gunna deny a friendly chat?” he asked giving me puppy dog eyes.
I chuckled and sighed. “Okay fine. But I have to be home by midnight.” He was a friendly face and to be honest I wouldn’t mind a distraction as I waited for Kale to finish with whatever he was doing.
“Fair enough.” He moved his hand from my shoulders and offered them towards me. I grabbed hold and let him hoist me upwards.
My legs slung over the metal of the fence and smoothly landed on the playing field beside him. “I have a boyfriend.” I said firmly getting it out right away so there would be no misunderstandings occurring.
Mike nodded and gave me another smile. “Lucky guy, but don’t worry. Just an ice cream and two friends catching up, I promise.” I eyed him for a moment but the look on his face told me that he was being serious.
“All right.” I agreed, nodding again before trudging off with him across the field. The closer we got to the away team parking lot the further the sounds of the angry crowds got. Mike smiled over at me, his shaggy brown hair matted down from sweat and his helmet having only recently being taken off.
We approached his all to familiar car and I climbed into the passenger seat beside him. “I don’t know the area too well.” he admitted and turned his gaze to me as he started up the ignition. “I live a town over. It’s about a half hour or so from here.” he pulled out slowly. “Okay more like forty five minutes one way.”
I laughed and looked out the window as we slowly inched our way from the parking lot full of cars. “That’s all right. He’ll be busy for a good two or three hours anyways. Post game talk.”
He nodded, knowing what I meant. “I’ll do my best to get you back before he’s done then.” He gave me a soft smile and I returned it. “Do you mind ice cream?”
I shook my head. “Not at all.”
“Good because I know a great place that we shouldn’t be bothered at.” I turned to ask him what he meant and as I did we drove in between two walls of kids from my school who were yelling obnoxious things to the ClayVontte fans that drove through. “Yeah.” he nodded as if to say that my suspicions were correct. We had to be a safe distance from these idiots.
The game had been for who’d be in the running for state. It was a big loss. A big loss against our school rivals. Kale’s going to be pissed.
“You mind if I make a call quick?” I asked as I suddenly realized I should let Kale know when I would be back. He’d probably be too busy to even check his voicemail before I got to see him, but it would be better to play it safe. Kale had never been one to stay calm once he had an idea in his mind.
“Not at all.” Mike said with a smile. I pulled my new phone and looked down at it. Kale had gotten it for me after bitching about how cracked my other phone was. I’d wanted to tell him it wasn’t my fault but it was… I’d throw the phone at a wall quite a few times in my history of owning it. But now as I stared down at the fancy new phone in my hand I wished I had my old piece of crap phone back.
I looked over at Mike who was busy with his eyes on the road. “Uhm…” I finally managed to get out feeling a little stupid. He looked over to me, his shaggy hair falling in his eyes. “Do you know how to work this?” I asked and held up the phone with a confused smile.
He laughed and nodded. “Yeah. Wait till I get through the intersection.”
My hair fell into my eyes as I turned to look out the window and I growled angrily. I was going to have to get it cut sooner or later. The small pink streak I’d had in it barely even could be considered a streak anymore. My blue eyes squinted as I stared through my thick lashes at the light brushing of pink in my hair that had once been light brown but was more of a golden blonde with all the California sun I’d been getting. Funny, my hair got lighter but my fair skin stayed exactly the same.
The engine hummed as we pulled forward again and made it through the intersection. “All right hand it over.” he commanded lightly and I kept my eyes out the window as I set my phone in his outstretched hand. “You’re making a call right?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“Aren’t you going to watch so you know what to do?”
I blushed as I slowly turned my attention back to him and gave a bashful smile. Oh god when did I start letting people do things for me? I realized as I pushed my hair out of my eyes and gave a little nod. “Right. That’d be a good idea for next time.” I agreed and peered down as he set the phone on his right thigh which was still covered in the tight deep green material of his football uniform that clung to the pads.
“You just slide this-“ he started to describe how to unlock the phone in words even I could understand. I rose my eyes to his face but his eyes were still on the road. He had one hand on the wheel as he drove and let the other hand move around things on the screen of my phone. “-and now you can make a call.” he finished after giving a few more instructions.
“Well that was a lot easier than when Spencer tried to show me.” I grumbled. For some reason he’d made it seem like it was a magic trick. I’d asked him to explain it and when he tried I ended up getting more confused than before. Maybe it was because he liked always having to make calls for me? Well, he had been until Brendon took over. Luckily Brendon had been the one who’d stumbled on the somewhat sexy pictures of me that Kale had forced me into taking for him.
I blushed just remembering it. Kale had complained so often how he had no photos of me. So I’d taken to sending him random ones. Of course Spencer had always been the one to unlock my phone for me to do it. Then one day Brendon had snapped one of Kale in the locker room after football. His wonderful six pack abs glistening with sweat. His face relaxed. The white drawstring on the tight football uniform he wore undone. It couldn’t have been any closer to perfect if he’d known the picture was being taken.
Kale had been furious! Having his picture taken without permission wasn’t the issue; it was more the fact that Brendon had taken it. I really wonder if he is gay. I found myself thinking again as Mike describe some more things about my phone for me but I zoned out completely.
When Kale went to go through my texts like he always did, the paranoid bugger was just as intrusive as he’d always been, he’d ended up finding out that I hadn’t deleted the picture. Oh he had quite an entertaining time getting me to admit that I indeed loved the picture. It had lead to an afternoon of smirks that had almost made me die of embarrassment. For some reason it was more embarrassing than ogling him in person. So naturally, being the devious ass that he is, he’d made an agreement. If he got swimming suit pictures of me then I could keep it. I knew I didn’t really have a choice. He’d be able to delete the picture If I disagreed.
Of course I couldn’t have Spencer unlock the phone for me and set it up for pictures while I was in a bikini. PDA around the guys was one thing but taking pictures for Kale was something entirely different. So I’d enlisted the help of Sarah. It’d ended with me looking much sexier than I’d intended. Needless to say Kale was thoroughly pleased.
Then Brendon had ended up finding them on my phone… oh I had almost died! Luckily the blow was softened since it had been Brendon and not one of the other guys. He’d ruffled my hair and teased my mortified look. For some reason my embarrassment seemed to please him and he insisted on being allowed to take the next set of pictures for Kale. I’d agreed. But only because I knew there’d be no second set.
By the time Mike had finished all his explanations I felt like I’d actually be able to use the phone I’d once considered a torture device. Having to always rely on other people really had sucked. Especially for me. I liked to depend on myself; not other people. Even if they were my closest friends.
“Let’s see what you learned.” Mike teased as he handed me back the phone.
“I can do it.” I urged myself on as he chuckled and shook his head, watching me gaze down at the screen. Just get it over with. I moved some things on the stupid touch screen and sure enough the contact list was opened. For a few moments I tried scanning through them but I failed. Miserably. Every time I’d try to drag down through the list it ended up selecting a name instead. I turned to face Mike as he pulled the car to a park, an embarrassed smile on my lips. “I lied.” I stated and moved the phone back towards him. “I can’t do it.”
He chuckled and, to my great relief, didn’t mock me. “That’s a tricky part.” he accepted the phone without hesitation. “What’s the name you’re trying to call?”
Again my cheeks blushed crimson. I’d never been a girl to get embarrassed. Not before Kale had come along. “It’s uhm…” I muttered, not really wanting to say it. The guys all found it obnoxiously Kale, but telling Mike it seemed suddenly stupid of me. “It’s My Master.” I finally got out and looked away from him.
For a moment there was silence before he gave a little laugh. “That’s what you get for not being able to work your own phone.” I turned back towards him, happy to see his attractive features were bright in a friendly manner and not a teasing one. “Here, just flick it. You were dragging more than flicking.” he explained.
I mumbled a ‘thanks’ and accepted the phone. On my first try I got it right and held the phone up to my ear. As I’d expected it rang until answering machine. “I’m busy doing shit so ladies leave your number and fellas leave your ladies numbers.”
As always I rolled my eyes at Kale’s answering machine. “I’m out with a friend.” I said, feeling awkward as I talked into his answering machine. Leaving messages always seemed so uncomfortable. “It shouldn’t be long. Uhm… well I’ll see you when I get back? Or you. Whoever gets back last I guess. Yeah well…. don’t be too down on yourself. I love you.”
Having Mike’s eyes on me only made leaving the message all the more terrible. Finally I tapped the end call button and was done with the entire ordeal. I pushed the phone back into my pocket and turned to Mike. “The boyfriend?” he asked looking a little amused.
I nodded. “Yeah. The boyfriend.”
Without any further ado we climbed from his car and into the small corner ice cream store. The boyfriend. I smiled like I always did when I found myself thinking about Kale. I’d have to find a great way to cheer him up when I got back.
[[ Well hey there ~ So.... it's begun! I can only say that this season is going to have a lot more drama. A lot more! Uhm last time I did a song at the end of every chapter. I'm debating doing either a:
a) Picture Link
b) Quote from a song
c) Quote from the chapter
d) Thought from someone who wasn't the POV for the chapter
or something else along those lines! Have any input? Lemme know! Also... I'd love some wort of cowriter for this season! Need someone hands on willing to throw ideas around with me! If you're interested shoot me a message and let me know why you'd like to so I can pick someone. Anywho... loves again! <3 ~ Jade ]]