Matti Williams

Friends. We were just friends.

I could deal with that.

"So does friends mean that I can't see your boobs?" I ask while laying on my bed with my hands tucked behind my head. Across the room—Naomi sat at my desk doing flashcards with her back to me.

She had been doing everything in her power to focus but I was doing everything in my power to annoy her.

"I'll show you my boobs if you shut up." She chuckled as I groaned.

It had been four days since we made up and we had been inseparable ever since. I just couldn't wrap my mind around the way that I felt for this girl. I had met someone that understood me. I hadn't been looking for Naomi Black and she wasn't looking for me, but we just found each other.

"What are you studying?" I ask while hopping off the bed. I walked up behind her as she sat in my desk chair. I rested my chin on the top of her head. My arms were over her shoulders so I was leaning over her, looking down at the desk.

"Circumcisions." She speaks as if it were the most normal thing ever. I removed one hand off the wooden desk and brushed the hair off of her neck, looking directly at her butterfly tattoos. My fingers started tracing the outlines of the tattoos as goosebumps appeared on top of her skin.

She let out a breath and slammed her book close. "Okay, keep doing that and I won't be practicing circumcision on the test dummy." She turned around as I laughed. "So you wanna touch my pen—" She cuts me off.

"Matti. We're friends." She says as I raise my shoulders. "Friends don't get goosebumps from touching." I point out as she blushes.

"How did you do on your exam today?" I ask as she shrugged. "I think I did well. I didn't have a problem with some numbers." She spoke as I nodded. "That's because you had the best tutor ever." I smiled at her as she giggled.

Last night I stayed at Naomi's and we made Taco's. I stood over Naomi's shoulder and watched how much sodium she added into the ground beef. My only condition was no heavy sodium.

She of course just rolled her eyes the entire time.

The other girls were just observing and watching. They weren't too fond of me and I knew why. I completely understood it too. But, the look Sloane was giving me and the kitchen knives looked very similar.

She stood up from my desk with her book in hand and walked over to my bed before laying down. "Naomi." I called out as I walked towards the closet. She peaked over her reopened anatomy book that was currently resting on her chest. She looked good as fuck on my california king. "Yes?" She answered.

"Be honest—" I said before walking over to her on my side of the bed. I pointed towards my shirtless chest, "Do I have pancake nipples?" I asked as she laughed. "Get away from me," She responded back to me.

"No seriously. Griff said I had them today in the showers." I said as she cocked an eyebrow at me. "You check out the other guy's bodies in the showers?" She giggled. I shrugged, "Got to check out the competition—and there is none by the way." I responded while reaching down and grabbing my junk.

She giggled without answering my question. She moved her eyes back towards her book. I huffed before reaching forward and ripping the book out of her hands.

"I need to study." She stated while reaching for her book—which was quite heavy—back. I held it in one hand and laughed. "You study this shit all the time—" I made fun of her. "Yes. Because my field requires people to know their shit." She replied, I just chuckled again and rolled my eyes at her growing frustration.

I winked at her, "When are you going to wear those sexy scrubs for me?" She laughed. "I'll wear them for you now if you give me back my book." I winked at her and handed it back to her. "Thank you," She smiled at me.

I turned around towards the huge television that was at the bottom of my bed. "So. I was thinking—" She cut me off. "You think? You can think?" She mocked me as I turned around and reached for her ankles, grabbing them, pulling her towards the edge of my bed.

She squealed as I looked down at her. Her shirt had rode up making her navel piercing visible. I studied her body from head to toe as she muttered insults towards me. But to be honest, I couldn't pay attention enough to care.

She was so fucking filthily hot.

"You're a smart ass." I chuckled.

"The smartest." She winked at me. I shook my head, "As I was saying—I was thinking, if you're not busy tonight, would you like to go to the bar? Everyone will be there. The boys and the bunnies..." I scratched the back of my neck.

She laid her open book flat on chest as I stood between her short yet muscular legs at the bottom of the bed.

"Matti—" She spoke but I cut her off. "Yes I know, just friends. But it doesn't mean that friends can't go out together." I stated as she stared at me. "I wasn't going to say that. I just don't know if I'm ready to go through the entire party crowd again. Not after what happened a week ago." She responds as I sigh.

That shit broke my heart.

I bent down so I was eye level with the tiny brunette. "If another guy ever tries that shit on you again—I will fucking kill them." I stated as I watched her eyes widen. "And if I'm not the one killing him, you have four other guys that will." I winked at her as I moved to lay down right next to her.

I got extremely comfy on my bed as I turned to just stare at her. She has now taken the opportunity to go back to her reading—avoiding my question. She was so beautiful. She just didn't try to look attractive and she still looked attractive. It was like parties and game days were fucking treats because I got to see her dress up.

She had a lot to work with and alot to show off—she just didn't want to.

"Three guys would be there for me, not four." She says while turning a page. I chuckle, "Blake isn't used to sharing with me just yet." I speak as she sighs.

"I won't let anything happen to you, Black." I promise her as she bats her eyelashes at me. "I'm nineteen, remember? I can't get into a bar." She speaks as I let out a good chuckle. "I can get you in, you just need to say yes." I smiled at her as she shrugged.

"Can the girls come?" She batted her eyelashes towards me now. I nodded as she smiled. "Yes. Then I'll come. I'm trusting you." She answered my question as I praised the lord.

I was ready to turn back to some form of normalcy. Everything was changing; losing a football game, committing to a girl, avoiding my dad, fighting with Blake. Whole lot of everything was going on and I needed a reliever.

I groaned and rubbed my face as she set the book to the side of her. She sat up and leaned into my side. "What's wrong?" She asked as I chuckled. I peaked one eye open at the brunette goddess as I inhaled.

She smelled like coconut and fresh linen all of the time and the scent had become intoxicating to me. I was in so deep for her—my new best friend.

Her cold, tiny hands gripped my forearms, pulling them away from my face. "Talk." She demanded as I groaned. "I lost a game." I muttered as she dropped her grip and rested her hands on my chest. "I'm sorry." She spoke as I sighed.

"It's because my goodluck charm wasn't there," I teased and winked at her. She chuckled, "You've always won games, I'm not your good luck charm." She teased back. "You've always been in the stands though." I pointed back towards her as she shook her head.

"Nope. You're a whole class above me." She giggled as I rolled my eyes. "You can't let me have one damn thing." I laugh at her. "Don't act like it's such a shock." She mutters while trying to put all of her hair up on top of her head with a hair tie.

Instead, I reach forward and grab the hair tie from her fingers. She drops all of her hair that was collected in her left hand, it falls messily around her shoulders. "Hey. I was using that." She sasses me. I snap my fingers and motion for her to come closer. I put the type in between my teeth and used my two hands to collect her long, thick, dark locks. I grabbed the hair type from my mouth and put her hair in a ponytail.

She sat up and felt the top of her head. "Smooth. Williams. Almost like you've had too much practice with that." She narrows her eyes at me. I chuckle, "Last time I put your hair up for you—you were about to suck my dick. Exactly in this room, in this bed, the same spot and place as we are right now." I reached my hand up and fixed her butterfly necklace so it was straight. She gulped.

"Matti." She stated as she gave me the eyes. Those fucking eyes. "Quit. Looking at me like that." I said as she laughed. "I'm not giving you the sex eyes." She replied. I nodded, "But, you are. You're doing that thing with your eyes, you bat your lashes, yes you are. You're gonna make me bust like a kid in junior high." I whined as I cupped my junk.

She cackles before hopping off the bed. "So are you going to talk to your dad?" She grills me and the thought of having a boner goes away immediately. I shrugged, "Maybe. He's going to give me a run for my money though. He has the worst way with words." She nods as she turns to walk towards my desk.

"It's five, I should go back to the apartment to get ready for tonight. I have to let the girls know as well." She spoke as I nodded. I got out of bed and walked her down the hallway and to the front door. The house was quiet. Too quiet.

I opened the white front door for her as she walked towards the exit. "I mean it Black, I'm not even drinking. Eyes on you at all times tonight." I promised as she hugged me goodbye. "Call your dad. You got this. I'm proud of you." She muttered in my chest. My heart was thumping so fucking fast and hard she was probably going to get a concussion after this hug.

She released me from the hug and I looked down at her lips the same time she looked up at mine. I stared into her golden pooled eyes and her freckles that fell across her cheeks. Her voluptuous pink lips. I gulped.

"Okay, well. I'll see you later tonight. At MCCutchins." She nodded towards me and walked out of the door. I watched as she got to Sloane's car and pulled out of the driveway. Once she was safely gone, I shut the door and leaned against it inhaling and exhaling.

God.

Fucking. God.

Three loud whistles had me throwing my eyes open. "Oh yeah! Williams is pussy whipped! Another Captain goes down!" Reese calls out from the fuckway.

I chuckle as he jumps and claps.

"Yeah! Putting in that work! I love to see it, MW!" Caden called from the top of the stair banister. He was pointing down at me as I chuckled. A slap on my shoulder made me turn to the right.

Griffin bro-hugged me and patted my back. He then started looking around me frantically. "What?" I ask as he was pulling the hair out of his head.

"I can't find your man card? Seems like Black has your pussy whipped." He threw back the torments in my face. Reese and Caden laughed loudly as I shoved him. He threw up his hands from a high five as I accepted it. "Welcome to the club brotha," I smiled back at him.

"Not yet, I'm still in the friendzone." I responded as he shrugged. "You win some, you lose some." He patted my back as he walked into the kitchen. I called out to the entire house, "We're leaving in two hours for MCCutchins!" They all yelled back in chimes of yes.

I walked back up the stairs to head into my room. I grabbed my phone that was laying on my bedside table, next to my tissues and dialed the number that I had been avoiding.

"There's the offspring that never wants to talk to his father." My father answered his phone. "Hi, Dad. Just been very busy with school." I responded as he chuckled at the speaker. I anxiously started biting my nail bits.

"I'm not mad at you." He speaks the sentence as I nearly drop my phone to the floor. "I'm not mad because it wasn't your fault. It's the damn coaches and Ohio State is just way too damn good." He continues as I blow out a breath.

"You got that right," I chuckle as he hums into the phone. "Are you heading out with Chloe tonight?" He asks with hope in his voice.

Here we go.

We were doing so good.

"No. Dad. For the millionth time—" He cuts me off. "You're missing an opportunity Mattison!" He speaks harshly throughout the speaker. I heard my mom in the background yelling his name.

"Can you give the phone to mom?" I asked as he groaned. "This conversation isn't over. You know that—correct?" He speaks as I sit quietly on the phone waiting for my mom to take over this conversation.

"Oh Colton, such a hardass." She speaks as I hear her grab the phone. "Hey baby." I smiled.

My mom might not have been the most loving but she was the one parent that I enjoyed talking to that wasn't my father. "Hi mom." I responded. "What are you doing tonight?" She asks. "Going to the bar." She groaned. "You don't need to be doing that stuff all the time," She complained.

Here we go, acting like a mom.

"I'm going out with a girl." I spoke as I heard her gasp. "And the boys. But mainly going with a girl." I finished. "Who? Where is she from? What's she like? Who's her parents? What's her major?" Both of them shout out questions as I groan through the speaker.

"One day you can come meet her." Mom squealed, "Is she a girlfriend?" She asks as I laugh. "She's a girl that's a friend at the moment. But you'd love her. Her dad owns a business, she's so sweet. Her name is Naomi." I speak about her with such sparkle in my eyes and tone.

"Mattison, don't let her distract you." My dad says somberly. "Oh Colton, let him have one nice thing!" My mom whines. I heard footsteps walk away from the phone. "Hunny. You had a great game the other night. Even with the loss, I was cheering you on baby," She said as I laid back on my bed.

"Thanks mom," I spoke as she sighed. "Now, don't you listen to your father. He doesn't know what's good for you. Neither do I. Only you know what's good for you. If you think she's good—then go with her. Plus, I didn't want a snotty daughter in law anyways." She whispered the last part on the phone as I chuckled.

"Alright, I have to go get ready. I love and miss you." I said as she sighed. "Miss you and love you too MJ." I chuckled at her stupid nickname and then hung up.

I ran my hands throughout my hair. I was going to have such a good night with Naomi—nobody was going to ruin it. We were doing it the right way this time, starting off as friends. Best of friends.

Naomi Black

I was hesitant.

"Elizabeth! Naomi is on the phone again! Come look!" Grandpa called out from the phone speakers. I chuckled as I saw only his glasses covering his eyes and brows. "Merl—pull the damn phone back!" Grandma spoke as he huffed.

"If you would give a damn second. Don't lose your damn dentures at me woman," He groaned as she giggled. "Hi peanut!" They called out to me through facetime as I waved. "Hi! I miss you guys!" I spoke.

"We miss you too! What's going on?" Grandma asked as I smiled. "I've been studying all day—" I got cut off. "With a boy I've heard." Grandma spoke as I laughed. "Who told you?" I demanded as she zipped her lips. "I have eyes and ears everywhere." She winks.

Those damn roommates of mine.

"Who's the boy?" Grandpa asks as I sigh. "His name is Matti Williams," I said. "Is he nice? What's his major?" Grandpa asked as I sucked in breath. "The nicest. And football." I didn't know how to answer that question.

"Football? Is this his major?" Grandma restates as I nod. They turn to make a face at each other as I pull on the bottoms of my hair. "Like mother, like daughter, like granddaughter. Isn't that how the saying goes?" Grandpa teased as grandma slapped his walker.

"Merl, apologize." She demanded. "No. No, it's fine. Yes he's the quarterback." I spoke as grandpa nodded. "Following in the family footsteps. Keep the tradition alive, peanut." I laughed. "Well he better be treating our girl right," Grandma said as I smiled.

"He is." Sometimes.

"Well that's good—" Grandma was cut off by the door opening of their house. "Mom—" I heard my dad's voice. I gasped as I hung up the facetime call with no goodbye. I didn't want to see, talk, or hear his voice. That would trigger me.

I threw my phone by the foot of my white comforter. These past four days went so well. We had Taco Tuesday, we had starbucks every morning, class was fun, ice cream dates, pizza, I even brought Matti a smoothie during practice.

We were friends. It was better this way, I didn't feel pressured although I was definitely feeling my heartache every time I looked into his eyes. I wanted him so badly but my wants and needs had to be set aside. I would only ruin the future he had worked so hard for and vice versa.

"Naomi! Are you there?" Sloane's voice called out as I yelled back. "Come in!"

My door opened as she walked in wearing comfy clothes. She came over to my bed and laid on top of me. We both giggled as she finally rolled off. "Okay spill. You obviously have tea if you're acting this slap happily." I pressured her as she rolled her eyes and blushed.

"Caden and I are back on." She whispered as I whispered back. "Yes! Yes! Yes!" I chanted. We both silently laughed trying to not make too much noise. If we did, we would have an audience and this was confidential business.

Risky business.

Friendship ending business.

"So what? He just apologized and you let him back it?" I teased as she gasped.

"No. I'm not you." She sassily said back as my mouth dropped open in a chuckle.

"Okay, okay, harsh. Claws away. What happened?" I asked as she giggled. "Well. I made him show me he was sorry." I raised my eyebrows, what did that mean? "We had nonstop sex for three hours." I gasped.

"I know. I know. And—" She cut herself off and pointed towards her neck where a diamond 'C' sat. "Sloane is that—" She cut me off again, "Yes it's real. I could've bought my own, but he got it." She boasted as I