eighteen

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I was walking with my team to football practice when I realized I'd left my kit in my locker. I'd been spacing out more often than usual. The whole rumour with Grace pissed me off and I couldn't get it out of my head, so it was no surprise I was a bit more forgetful than normal.

"I'll catch up," I told them before jogging back downstairs.

By the time I got back to them, they were already in the locker room getting ready. I reached for the handle, but froze when I heard their conversation through the thin wooden door.

"You don't find him annoying, Blake?" One of them said, but I couldn't make out his voice.

They're talking about me

I waved the thought away and kept listening, my curiosity getting the better of me.

"Who, Elijah?" Blake said. I could recognise his deep voice anywhere, even in a group of testosterone pumped guys.

"Who else?"

They're talking about me

This time, I didn't have the willpower to brush it off and leave. It was 100% true.

I heard Blake sigh. "I mean, I guess I do."

I tried to force my legs to move, but they were cemented to the linoleum. I knew hearing this conversation couldn't do anything but push my mind over the edge, but I couldn't stop myself.

"Yeah," he continued, "he is. It's not like I can do anything about it, though. I kinda have to stick with him."

"Why?" Someone else asked.

He hesitated. "I don't know... it's been that way for a while. Even when he was normal, he was my best mate."

That word made me wince, almost enough to walk away.

normal

"Tell him to piss off."

"Wouldn't that hurt him?"

"Who cares? He won't be able to say anything about it without you telling him to." Someone joked. The locker room erupted in laughter.

"I guess you're right," Blake decided, "I mean he's still got that Adam kid, right?"

"Yeah," someone else snorted, "and his pity girlfriend. How long d'you reckon that'll last before she realises he's a proper head case."

Again, the room was filled with laughter. Each voice felt like an individual kick in the stomach, but when I heard Blake's all-too-familiar chuckle, I couldn't take it anymore.

I couldn't even feel my hand pull the door open, but I could hear the room go dead silent. Everyone busied themselves and acted like they didn't just rip me apart.

Blake reached over and ruffled my hair when I went to open my locker, but I dodged it. His brows knitted together and he stepped in between me and the combination lock before I could even turn it. "What's wrong, mate?"

I don't know where it came from— probably a mix of adrenaline and anger— but a surge of confidence went through my blood and up to my brain, clouding all of my thoughts except one:

why do you care? They already hate you

Usually, that would just tear me down even more, but at that moment, all it did was motivate me. Why would I care if they hated me more than they already do? Standing up for myself would at least salvage a bit of my dignity.

"Nothing, I just feel like you're being a bit clingy, yeah?" I said nonchalantly. If the room wasn't silent before, it was now. Everyone stood dead in there place, waiting to see Blake's reaction. But he wasn't paying any attention to them, he was too busy giving me a stare so heated, I could feel beads of sweat forming on my forehead. I clenched my fists so I wouldn't do anything to hurt myself. For once, I told myself I didn't need any more pain.

"What?" He asked almost sadly, grabbing onto my sleeve.

I shrugged, pulling my shirt off and shoving it in my locker. "Sorry, Blake, I just don't have time for you. I've got a pity girlfriend now, remember?" I snapped, keeping a sickly-sweet smile on my face as I pulled on my uniform and waltzed outside, the comfort of confidence fading quickly as it dawned on me what I just did.

But for a few seconds, I really didn't give a shit, and that felt good.

<><><>

Oh boy it's really kicking off now he'll yeah. What are your opinions on Blake? What a dick, right? Damn, we were all rooting for you Blake.

Thanks soooo much for reading love y'all!

~Teddy

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