*** New Part for those of you here from Darker Than Sin ***

As I shut my locker door, I turn, to see Jake walking down the main school hallway. His bruise looks even harsher under the lights. People are whispering, watching, eyes flickering between us. Questions as to why we had the fight, wondering what will happen next.

It's as if time slows when he passes me. His eyes connect with mine. I casually roll up my sleeve but don't break my stare. His eyes duck over me once and every inch of my skin feels alight with fire as he does. Damn. How can he make my body ignite with one look, whereas a beautiful girl making out with me doesn't make me feel anything? The corner of his mouth tilts into a smirk. Then, he's gone. Just as fast as he arrived.

Eyes are on me as I shrug my bag onto my shoulder and walk from the hallway. It must look like a testosterone match between us. If only people knew.

Absently, I rub my hand. It feels a little stiff in the cold air this morning.

"Hey bad ass," Katryn greets me with a light punch to the shoulder. "Your fight has gone viral."

"Has not," I roll my eyes.

"Okay, maybe not viral, but it's all everyone is talking about."

"People need to get lives," I point out, not that I really care. "Speaking of gossip, do tell, please."

Her lips slap shut abruptly and she looks down to her dress-code-forbidden Dr Martens. "Not sure what you mean."

"You know exactly what I mean."

Knowing she can't get out of it, she exhales. "Why did you do that, by the way?"

"Dare you to seven minutes in Heaven?" I ask. She nods. "Well, I was drunk so that influenced my decision. But honestly, I just wanted you two to talk and sort out this ridiculous issue. I'm sick of being the one in the middle."

Her face softens. "I'm sorry, Cal. I know that must be hard."

"I was hoping it would go well, didn't expect it to go that well," I grin, nudging her with my elbow.

She lets out a laugh. "It was unexpected, that's for sure."

"I didn't know you still had feelings for him."

"Well, they never really went away. The anger I felt was just the hurt. I miss him all the time, but hate him, too. If that makes sense."

More than ever.

I nod. "And?"

"And, I guess, he kind of felt the same way. We were both just too proud to admit it. Until we were actually alone."

"And?" I probe again.

"And we both apologised and I cried and he comforted me and then he hugged me and he was close and smelled nice and I kissed his cheek, I don't know why, and then we were kissing on the mouth and... it was pretty great," she rambles, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink. "And don't say I told you so or anything, okay?"

"Hey Kat?"

"Yeah?"

"I told you so."

She flicks me on the nose. "Ass."

***

Despite realising that, yes, I definitely and one-hundred percently (not a word but let's go with it) want something with Jake, I have also made the decision that he needs to want it, too. Not just a secret, off-the-record, make out session when we're drunk. Like a proper, actual relationship.

Therefore, when Jake reaches out to me, I respond, but I don't go out of my way to talk to him. I'm giving him space. It's been half-successful. He is reaching out more, yes, but still low key and off-the-grid.

I have football training every Tuesday and Thursday. After my Thursday session, Kat tags along to watch and then we get burgers (not that I inform my coach of this particular routine). It is now my Thursday football practice and we are walking together with Ed, who Katryn has become quite close with.

Currently, it's Ed and I walking together because Katryn is back a few paces with Grant. They've been talking more, which is good. I'm glad that they don't hate each other anymore, although now I'm realising, they never really did hate each other. I should have known that.

"Do you like playing footy?" Ed asks me and I blink back to reality. I hope he hasn't been talking long because I was totally zoned out.

"Sure," I shrug. "It's fun. Good for fitness."

"But it's so... scary," he shudders. "So much tackling and people getting injured all the time."

"Well, yeah, but all sport has risks," I shrug. "You don't play football if you don't expect to get hurt every once in a while."

"Seems like someone is hurt every game."

"Fair call," I agree.

We get to the gym and this is the part where I head inside. I'm glad Katryn has someone to keep her company through the game. She loves explaining the rules, so Ed will be almost completely educated by the time I finish.

Grant walks in beside me and glances my way.

"Shut up," he mutters when I grin at him.

"Didn't say a word," I reply.

It seems Grant and I are the last to arrive. Everyone is already dressed, besides Ralph who is texting. He's always texting. I don't know why he bothers to play; he hates the game and doesn't really do much to help out anyway. He does defend good though, when he participates.

Jack nods to Guy, who whips his head to look at me. His eyes narrow and I stare back, unfazed. Since our encounter when he was picking on Ed, the two have been throwing shade at me. Guy leans in to Jack and whispers something. I smile. I can't help myself. If they're trying to be cliché football jerks, they're succeeding. And it's so overrated.

I turn my back to them and yank my shirt off. I'm rummaging in my bag for my training shirt, when the door to the locker room opens with a loud creak. Someone cheers and a few others clap as the person enters.

I glance up to see what all the fuss is about, to see Jake strolling in, a training shirt draped over his shoulder.

He looks straight at me and grins. "Guess who just joined the team?"

So much for having space.

***

My body is sore as I collapse into the booth at Malibu Burgers. I lean back into the chair and close my eyes. Coach grilled us, since we lost our last game. My stomach hurts. My legs hurt. In fact, everywhere hurts.

"Why you put yourself through that is beyond me," Ed says with a head shake. He purses his lips at me, having the ultimate judging expression, which I have dubbed as the 'Ed Face', considering he does it daily.

"Right now, I'm thinking the same thing," I groan, closing my eyes once more.

"Jake joined the team?" Katryn blurts out. I'm surprised she held it in. "What?"

"Not really surprised, if I'm honest. He's more the football type than me, anyway."

"He only joined for you," she replies and I snap my eyes open quickly.

Ed's eyebrows raise. "Why did he join because of Callum?" His eyebrows crease.

"Umm..." Katryn looks awkward. "To piss him off, obviously. After the fight on the weekend."

"Really?" Ed asks curiously. "You don't think he just wanted to join already and it's a coincidence?"

"Uh, yeah, could be," she shrugs. "You're probably right."

Ed gives her an odd look, before looking back down at the menu.

She gives me an apologetic look and I just shrug. It's not that I want to hide it from Ed really, I just don't know if I'm ready for everyone to know yet. It's a pretty big thing, especially in a small town like this. My father would roll over in his grave. The parents in this town judge Ed. You can see it on their faces when he walks downtown. It's disgusting.

We order burgers each and chips to share, Ed buying a jug of soft drink for the table as well.

The bell dings and some of the football boys walk in. Jack and Guy are leading the pack and I don't bother to acknowledge their presence. I'm drained enough from today.

"Well, look at this motley crew," Guy announces, obnoxiously striding up to our table. He leans so that his hands are on the table, it groaning underneath his weight. "Here we have a wannabe goth, a fag and..." he looks to me, his beady eyes sizing me up. "I don't even know what the fuck you are. A nerd with a bad ass reputation? A former cool kid?" I actually let out a quiet laugh at that. 'A nerd.' Who even uses that as an insult anymore? "Or..." he continues, grinning. "Maybe you're a fag, too."

The other boys, my 'friends', or people I'm friendly with, really, are shocked as Guy says that.

"So, defending someone who is gay makes me gay by association?" I question calmly, leaning back and propping my elbow onto the seat behind me.

Guy narrows his eyes. He's pretty slow so he might be trying to process what I just said.

"Take your time," I continue with a sarcastic smile. "I know you've taken a few hits to the head. Mind just doesn't keep up like it used to, huh?"

"Fuck you," he growls, leaning down and grabbing the collar of my shirt.

The second his hand touched me; I leap to my feet. My leg bangs the table, sending the cup holding the cutlery sprawling across the surface. My hand reacts so quick that my mind has barely caught up, slamming into his chest. Guy stumbles back, reaching for one of the tables to steady himself.

"Easy now," I say in a steady voice, pushing the sleeves up my hoodie up to my elbows, preparing to throw down if I have to.

"Or what?" Guy asks but he's lost a little of the bravado he had when he first approached me.

I grin. A full-blown, wild grin. The grin is the same one Jake gave me after I hit him. This is it. This is the connection we have. We both have the fire. We have the wild side. It's just more obvious with him, although mine is barely being contained right now.

"Do it and find out," I taunt him, feeling a little crazy. My eyes are wide, my heart pumping. Everyone is staring. "Come on," I breathe, the adrenaline blazing through my veins. "Give me an excuse to wipe you across the floor."

Guy's eye dart to my already blistered hand. I can see the wheels turning behind his eyes. He realises I really will hit him and it's going to be a hard one, too.

Jake, who I hadn't even seen enter, finally walks forward.

"Sit down before you hurt yourself," he glances to Guy, who's face is red with anger. So angry, that he has a vein throbbing in his forehead. "Callum," Jake says, turning to me. "Cool it, yeah? He didn't mean anything by it."

"What the fuck do you mean he didn't 'mean anything by it'?" I snap at him. "He purposely approached us trying to cause shit. He wanted a reaction." The lid has burst. My anger is spilling over the edges. I can't stop now. "You know what, here's your fucking reaction." I lunge at Guy, grabbing him by the neck.

Jake is between us shoving me back.

"Callum," he snaps at me. "Leave it."

"No," I whip back just as angrily, shoving him. "You joked about round two, let's fucking go."

"Callum," he says again and this time, it gets through. I don't know if it's his lowered tone or the eyes. His damn, beautiful eyes.

That word was like a pin to the balloon of anger inside of me. It bursts, leaving me feeling deflated. I exhale, stepping back and letting my hands drop to my sides.

I look to the counter, where a young girl is standing there, looking at me, terrified. Terrified of me.

Jake's eyes are still on me when I look back. I give him a short, sharp nod. He nods back, before turning.

"Boys, let's go."

Guy is leaning on the table, his arms folded, watching me with pure hatred.

"Guy, let's go," Jake demands.

"This isn't finished," Guy says to me, a strong, finality in his voice.

"Yeah, you know it isn't," I agree.

He finally tears his eyes from mine as he turns and follows Jake out, shaking his head and muttering under his breath. I clench my hands together and sit back down, ignoring the stares of everyone else in the shop.

"Jesus Christ," Ed squeaks, looking pale. "Glad I'm on the side of the table."

"Sorry," I mutter.

"No," Katryn shakes her head. "You're amazing, Cal. You standing up for us like that, for Ed, is incredible." She smiles at me. "Thank you."

"Yeah," Ed nods. "Thank you. You're like my guardian angel."

I let out a laugh. "I'm definitely not that."

The girl brings out our jug of soft drink and three cups. She won't make eye contact with me as she slides them across and scuttles away.

"Cheers to having the strongest and bravest best friend in the world," Katryn smiles, raising her glass. "We love you, Cal. Never change."

As we clink our glasses together, I make a vow to myself that I will always, no matter what, stand up for anyone who needs it. No matter what.

------------------

If anyone makes covers/character banners/story art, anything like that, please send them in, let's bring this story to life! Hope you enjoyed the new chapter, more to come soon!

My internet stopped working so this wholeeee afternoon I've been organising this and hot spotting from my phone and my data is gunna go over so much but it's what you guys want and I'm more than happy to oblige so I hope you love this story and continue to enjoy it!

Oh and when I asked if anyone wanted to hear from Jake, a lot of people actually said no because they liked the mystery... so now I'm stuck. I don't know what to do, because I'm still getting people asking for his POV. Help.

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