ELIJAH

How could a day that had started so perfectly take such a bad turn? I had taken the flowers, I'd been nice and even winked at her when she waved at me. Then she had to go ahead and remind me of the fact that she had a boyfriend. How could I have forgotten that she had a boyfriend? Finn had told me a week ago, even before I met her but that little detail had slipped my mind. Fuck. That ruined everything. She ruined everything.

I had been so willing to give her a chance so we could work things out but she didn't deserve it. For eight years I'd closed my heart off from all girls because I refused to let her go. Sure our relationship had been forged under a sugar rush while we were kids but it meant everything to me. She had betrayed me and actually gotten a boyfriend and for that she could keep her apologies to herself because I was done, for real this time. I wasn't even going to try like I'd promised my sisters. All of them and their false hope in Maya and I rekindling our relationship could go to hell.

We didn't have any classes together in the afternoon which I thanked the heavens for because I didn't want to see Maya or even glimpse at her. For practice the coach had us working out in the gym the whole time which spared me from seeing her running around the field in those tiny tight shorts. I pushed myself harder than usual to the point where every single one of my muscles was screaming in pain and begging me to stop but I didn't, instead I pushed myself further.

"Good job boys, I'll see you tomorrow morning bright and early in the field. We'll start running drills for our first game of the season next weekend."Coach summed up once we were done at the gym.

I grabbed my towel, wrapped it around my neck before heading for the showers.

"Hey Eli, a few of us are hanging out at my house after this, wanna join us?"Wade asked cornering me as I was getting changed after my shower.

"Nope, I'm going home."I replied.

"Come on dude, we haven't hang out in ages."Wade insisted.

"I don't know man, I'm not really in the mood. I won't be the best company either."I explained.

"We aren't going to be talking, just playing on the X-box and gorging on as much junk food as possible before coach starts limiting our diet tomorrow."He added hopefully.

Wade noticed that I still looked skeptical.

"The girls won't be there, it's just us guys if that's what you're worried about."He added.

I hadn't even thought about it but it was nice to know that the girls being there wouldn't be a possibility. Where Violet was Maya definitely would be and I didn't want to see her.

Wade looked determined and as much as I wanted to be alone, I had to admit that some company wouldn't be so bad.

"One hour max then I'm gone."I agreed giving in.

"Awesome, see you there or do you need a ride?"He asked.

"I brought my car, I'll meet you guys there."I replied.

He nodded, clapped my back before leaving me alone.

Looks like I would be spending the rest of my afternoon with the boys. They weren't that bad to hang out with, they just got loud and inappropriate sometimes.

After getting changed back into my clothes, I grabbed my bag and left the gym. I passed by my locker where the bouquet Maya had given me earlier was. I stared at it for a full five minutes before angrily grabbing it and tossing it in the trash without taking the usual single stem. I slammed my locker shut then walked away in a huff. A few moments later I stopped walking and turned around. I stormed towards the trash can, made sure that no one was around and took a single sunflower stem then huffed off to my car. Stupid, stupid guilt.

All I'd wanted was to walk away from all things Maya but even abandoning the flowers she had given me without taking the single stem I was used to turned out to be impossible.

I was last to arrive at Wade's house judging by all the cars parked in the driveway. Wade's dad was insanely rich because he owned a real estate firm so their house screamed wealth from the cobblestone driveway to the overly large three story mansion. My family wasn't poor, we were actually doing quite well for ourselves but Wade's family were on another level of rich.

I rang the door bell and a few seconds later it was opened by Wade's mom. She was wearing a dress that was a little too inappropriate for a woman her age and a glass of wine in hand. Wades mom, Eliza was a stay at home mom and wife who liked to lounge around in the pool and flirt with every male within range.

"There's my favorite tall glass of red wine."She greeted with a flirty smile.

See what I meant. But at least she was nice so everyone liked her. We all knew it was innocent flirting.

"Mom I already told you not to be talking to my friends like that."Wade whined standing behind his mom.

"Why?"Eliza retorted eyeing me up and down.

"Because it's weird and disrespectful."Wade replied.

"Okay I'm sorry, hi Elijah."She corrected herself sending me a subtle wink.

"Hello Mrs Thomas."I replied smiling at her politely.

"Eliza please, how many times do I have to remind you boys?"She asked with a pout.

"Enough, everyone's in the rec room Eli. Mom behave."Wade demanded.

"Don't I always."Eliza retorted with a teasing grin.

"No you do not."Wade countered.

"Okay fine, have fun boys. I'll be by the pool if anyone needs me."Eliza replied before disappearing from sight.

"I'm sorry about my mom."Wade apologized as we walked towards the rec room.

"It's fine."I shrugged taking off my jacket.

More than half the team was in the recreational room participating in the different games that the it had to offer.

"Snacks over there, drinks in the fridge and please don't hold back."Wade pointed out grinning.

"Thanks."I mumbled heading straight for the fridge to get myself something to drink.

I didn't want to be there but I team bonding demanded I try my best to fit in.

"Hey Eli, wanna team up so we can play doubles?"Jace yelled at me as he stood next to the pool table together with Finn and Leo our Running back.

Time to fit in.

"Sure why not."I shrugged chugging the soda in my hand before tossing the empty can in the trash.

"We'll take solids, you guys can be the stripes. Who wants to break?"Jace asked.

"We'll go first."Finn replied racking up the balls.

The game started off fine, but as it progressed and Jace and I got closer to winning I noticed Finn's attitude change. He was being more prickly than usual even if he was losing. He kept cussing at me, throwing snide remarks my way and trying to make me doubt my skills anytime it was my turn to make a shot. He was getting on my nerves and I was really trying my best to ignore him but he seemed determined to piss me off.

I finally potted the eight ball securing the win for Jace and I.

"Boom and that's how it's done."Jace cheered victoriously.

"You losers wanna go again or do you want time to run some ointment on your sore asses."Jace teased.

"Think you're so good huh, let's go again and we'll beat you this time."Finn proclaimed glaring at us.

It was just a game of pool but he was talking about it like it was a shoot out or something.

"I'm good, we'll take the win."I declined.

"Come on man, one more game."Jace pleaded but I shook my head no.

I didn't want to play against Finn anymore. Whatever was eating him up was none of my business and I didn't want to get in the middle of it. I already had my own problems to deal with.

"Too chicken to play us again Olsen."Finn prodded.

Yeah the dude was just looking for a fight but I was not going to give it to him.

"Nope, I just want to play something else."I replied calmly and turned to walk away.

I was barely three steps away from the pool table when I was hit very hard at the back of my head halting my steps immediately. A billiard ball fell to the floor rolling away and I knew that's what I'd been hit with. I turned around slowly, with a deadly glare on my face and I didn't even have to ask who hit me. Finn had guilt written all over his face but he quickly tried to cover it up.

"I will give you five seconds to apologize Morales or I will smash your pretty boy face in."I growled out loud taking slow predatory steps towards him.

"Apologize for what?"He retorted with a proud smirk on his face.

"Five."

"I'm not apologizing."

"Four."

"You don't scare me Olsen."

"Three."

"Dude just apologize."Jace whispered to him sounding scared.

"Listen to him Morales, apologize. Two."I advised cracking my knuckles.

"No."Finn said but his voice wavered slightly.

Everyone could tell he was scared, I just had no idea why he was trying to be all macho.

"One, times up."I declared with an evil grin.

"What's going on here?"Wade yelled out loud but he was too late.

I moved so fast, Finn didn't even have time to protect himself. In two seconds, I had him pinned to the wall, my hand around his neck, his feet dangling off the floor. He tried prying my arm off but I was too strong and he was chocking for air.

"Put him down Olsen."Wade yelled but I was too angry.

Finn had been looking for a fight from the moment we started playing pool together so I was giving it to him. It wasn't much of a fight anyway since he was nothing compared to me. I was bigger and taller than everyone else on the team so he didn't stand a chance.

"Apologize Morales and I'll let you breath."I seethed squeezing his throat just a little bit tighter.

"N-o."He choked out trying to be macho but he was fading fast.

"Whatever it is apologize Finn, he'll kill you."Wade shouted frantically.

Finn shook his head stubbornly since I was squeezing too hard for him to talk. The dude had a death wish and I was happy to deliver. He was just getting on my nerves for no reason.

"Eli, I apologize on his behalf, put him down before you kill him."Wade demanded.

"No, I want to hear him say it."I gritted out.

Finn was already slipping away so I loosened my grip a little but just to let him breath. I wasn't choking him to kill him, just to knock him unconscious so he could stop running his foul mouth.

"Fuck this. Guys help me get Elijah off Finn."Wade requested the rest of the team.

"Nobody touch me."I bellowed and they all backed away.

Finn had long stopped struggling to get my hand off him and was just trying to breath and stay awake. Without warning I dropped him hard and stepped back. He was coughing and wheezing grasping for breath. Finn and Jace rushed to him while I calmly stood aside as they helped him up and gave him some water.

I wouldn't have killed him even if it was so easy to do so, I didn't need a criminal record. I was too young to go to prison because of some rich brat who was probably taking out his daddy issues on me. I just wanted to teach him a lesson so he wouldn't think of messing with me again.

"Will someone please fill me in on why these two are trying to kill each other in my house?"Wade demanded.

I wasn't talking and Finn was still trying to regain use of his throat so Jace stepped up and told him everything.

"You hit Elijah with a billiard ball? Do you have a death with or something?"Wade yelled at Finn who had finally stopped wheezing.

"H-he fre-freaking dese-served i-it."Finn stuttered drinking some more water.

I should have just ruined his vocal cords completely because he was just blabbering nonsense. That wouldn't have been considered murder.

"Please make it make sense. Why would you think that its okay to hit Elijah?"Wade asked Finn.

Finn got up, tossed the water bottle away and squared his shoulders trying to look intimidating but he failed miserably. It was clear that he was still in pain so I had no idea what he was trying to prove. Wade and Jace jumped between us both but it's not like their presence made any difference. If I wanted to get to Finn, I could very easily. It was literally my job to get people out of the way in the field and protect my team.

"He walks around like the king of the world rejecting girls and prancing all over like we all should bow at his feet or something."Finn explained venomously struggling to get each word out.

All pieces clicked into place and it made sense why Finn was behaving like a stupid prick with a death wish.

"A girl? You picked a fight with Eli over a girl?"Wade asked figuring it out too.

"Not just any girl, Maya. She rejected me because of him and he treats her like trash. How is that fair?"Finn cried.

"Finn it's none of your business what goes on between Eli and Maya. Now apologize so we can forget all of this ever happened."Wade demanded.

"No, I am not apologizing."Finn gritted out.

I didn't need his apology anymore because I understood why he was acting like a stupid middle school boy.

"You're stupid dude, just stay out of my way and keep your apology to yourself."I scoffed turning to go get my jacket.

I'd overstayed my welcome and just wanted to leave. Finn had just reminded me of one of the reasons why I didn't like hanging out with the guys so much. I would rather spend all day baking with my Oma rather than spend two hours with a bunch of hormonal high school boys.

"Yeah run, just like you do to Maya. I have no idea what she sees in you anyway. You're just a brute who likes brooding and boxing."Finn yelled at me.

He wasn't wrong so I kept walking but apparently he wasn't done because the idiot kept running his mouth. Unfortunately, he took his next statement too far pissing me off all over again.

"You're a fool for letting her go and once she gets over you, I'll be there waiting for her with open arms."He laughed.

I whipped my head so fast towards him that I got a whiplash but I ignored the pain. I stalked back towards him with my jacket fisted tightly in my hand. He was lucky Wade was standing between us otherwise I would have snapped his neck in full tubs time.

"Then you'll be a fool because she will break your heart too. But if you're really that desperate then go for it, just don't say I didn't warn you."I spat and with that stormed out of there.

I could hear someone running after me but I didn't need to turn around to see who it was. I didn't slow down either, I was done for the day.

"Elijah come back. Don't leave like this. We need to fix things, we're a team."Wade yelled after me but I was done.

I got into my car and peeled out of their driveway fast. I saw Wade throw his hands up in surrender from my rearview mirror. He huffed then got back into the house.

As our captain it was his responsibility to take charge of the team and make sure we all got along. He had probably intended for that with the hangout but that hadn't worked out so well.

I called Jessica and connected the call to the car's bluetooth system.

"What's up loser?"She asked immediately she picked up.

"Where are you?"I replied.

"Gym, why?"

"Is dad there?"

"No, he just left, what's going on?"

"I'll be there in five minutes."I replied then hung up.

After my stupid interaction with Finn and him trying to stick his nose in my business I needed to let off some steam and only Jessica could help with that.

Finn was clearly going to be a problem since he seemed to have feelings for Maya. I didn't like the sound of that but I found comfort in the fact that Maya didn't return his feelings. She also had a boyfriend which wasn't any better. Her presence was ruining everything from my relationship with my family and that of my teammates. It only made me hate her more.

My day was cursed but I was taking back control starting with a sparring match with my sister. Maya and Finn could both go to hell for ruining my day.