Don't forget to like and leave a comment, I love to hear from you all!

|| Chapter 2 ||

"Pick up the pace Kendall!" Coach Jamieson yells from the sidelines as we do suicide sprints in the late afternoon sun.

She grumbles from next to me as we sprint from one cone to the next, "This...is...all...your...fault," she pants, accusing Alyssa.

Alyssa looks like she's going to throw up any second, her face dripping with sweat, "My fault?" she asks in disbelief.

"You're the one that showed up to our last practice hungover, idiot," I inform her, lifting my shirt to wipe the sweat off my face as we prepare ourselves for another round of sprints.

Alyssa grabs a water bottle from her bag, taking a few gulps and pouring some on her face. "Exactly! I'm the one that's hungover, I'm pretty sure this is worse for me than any of you," she looks at the rest of the girls.

"You're the one that got sloshed, and we're getting punished for it," Mara points out, stretching her legs. A few girls shout their agreement at Alyssa.

"Girls, can we just forgive and forget?" Alyssa asks sweetly. A chorus of 'No's' follow and someone throws their water bottle at Alyssa.

I laugh loudly, rolling back on the grass. "Okay, as much as I love torturing Lys, let's get back to practice," I say, clapping my hands together, getting us all back on the field in front of Coach.

"Aye, aye, Captain," Jorja salutes me as we all shuffle back onto the field.

After thirty more minutes of drills we are finally released from Coach Jamieson's clutches. Prepped and ready for our last game before summer officially starts.

"Anyone feel like carrying me to my car?" Alyssa asks, sprawled out on the grass.

I throw my stinky sock at her face and she recoils disgusted, getting to her feet to move far away from me. "Oh, would you look at that? You can walk," I exclaim in fake astonishment.

She groans, kicking my sock back to me, "You need a ride?"

I nod my head, slipping on my slides and getting up off the grass. "Drew has training tonight so he couldn't drive me," I tell her, taking off my sweat-soaked shirt, leaving me in my sports bra.

Alyssa lifts up her own shirt, looking at her stomach and glancing back at mine, "Why can't I have abs?" she pouts, pulling her shirt back down. I chuckle rolling my eyes as we walk to her car.

"Good work today girls!" Coach calls to all of us as we make our way to the parking lot. "And Alyssa, don't come to practice next time if you're sick!" she looks at Alyssa knowingly with a disapproving frown on her face.

Someone fake coughs a loud, 'hungover', making us burst into laughter as we walk across the field.

Alyssa salutes Coach, "I'll try my best!"

"No you won't," Kendall comments, walking next to us.

"Well excuse me Miss High and Mighty, some of us have poor self-control. We don't judge, we accept," she states, sneering playfully at Kendall.

"I am not 'high and mighty', I'm just not a lightweight," Kendall smirks, high-fiving me.

"You take that back," Alyssa shouts, in mock shock.

"Make me," Kendall laughs, walking faster towards the parking lot.

"If I weren't tired as fuck you would be catching these hands, bitch!" Alyssa yells, throwing a fist in the air.

A car speeds through the parking lot, screeching to a halt near the sidewalk where we're standing. Liam sticks his head out the window, waving at us.

"Baby!" Kendall squeals, rushing over to his car. "See you later, bitches!" She calls, jumping into the passenger seat, kissing Liam roughly. He peels out of the parking lot and I can hear Kendall's laughter over the noise.

"And here I am, single and alone," Alyssa says into the silence, walking to her car.

I take a few steps to catch up to her, "Hey, I'm single too."

"Yeah, only difference is that you want to be single," Alyssa unlocks her doors, holding open the trunk so we can throw our soccer bags and cleats into it before climbing into her car. "So, what are we doing tonight?"

I shrug, leaning back into the seats, "Sleeping?" She pulls out of the parking lot and we head over to my house.

Alyssa looks at me from the corner of her eye, "Good one," she chuckles, a few minutes later we're driving up the driveway to my house. "The guys are going to the Diner tonight, wanna go?"

"Sure," I say, thinking of nothing better to do. I take out my phone and text Drew, asking if he's going to show up.

We walk into my house and I drop my bag and cleats on the floor next to the foyer table. Alyssa walks past me and straight to the kitchen.

"I'm home!"

There's no reply so I walk to the garage door and see that dad's car is missing. I walk through the quiet house and to the kitchen to grab a snack. "No one here?" Alyssa asks, eating a slice of pizza.

I shake my head, grabbing a banana from the fruit bowl. "Guess they went out. I know Maddie is at Natasha's house."

"Wasn't she just there?" Alyssa asks through a mouthful of pizza.

"Yeah, I think it's because the house is always so empty nowadays," I reply, looking around the perfectly cleaned living room. There's no schoolbags thrown across the room courtesy of Charlotte and Olivia, no shopping bags from one of Sophie's many shopping trips; or Pop Tart crumbs from Sebastian's so-called 'nutritional'  breakfast. All that's left now is my sports gear and Maddie's drawings scattered around the house.

I hop up onto the kitchen island, letting my legs dangle. My phone beeps and I take it out, seeing a text from Drew.

Hey sorry, stuck at the gym, have fun. -Drew

"Well, Drew is out," I shrug, eating my banana.

"He has been pretty depressing lately," Alyssa points out, throwing the pizza crust in the trash.

"That happens when your girlfriend of a year breaks up with you for no reason whatsoever."

"And what do you have planned for that poor unfortunate girl?" She asks with a smirk, leaning on the counter across from me.

"I'm busy working through the consequences," I answer vaguely, fighting my own smirk.

Alyssa perks up at that, leaning forward slightly, "What kind of consequences are we talking about? Jail time?"

"How mad Drew will be if I follow through with it."

Her mouth opens in excited shock, "Ooo, I am so down. Are we talking like Carrie at Prom kind of mad or like SpongeBob angry?"

"I don't fucking know," I laugh, throwing the banana peel in the trash with perfect aim. The front door unlocks and I hear someone grumble, the sound of high heels stepping further into the house.

"I swear to God I am going to sell her soccer boots online just now," my mother grumbles loudly. Alyssa and I are quiet as my mother walks into the room, letting out a surprised shout when she sees us. "Hello, my loves," she walks over to us, kissing my cheek and hugging Alyssa as she puts the bags of groceries on the kitchen counter. "How was practice?"

"Hey Mrs Hayes," Alyssa says politely, taking a sip of her water bottle.

"Alyssa, honey, you know that you can call me Clara, right?" My mom raises an eyebrow with a little smile. Alyssa nods with a shrug, standing a bit straighter.

"It was great, we've got our first game next Saturday," I say, leaning over the counter to rummage through the grocery packets. I pull out a Fast Food bag, "Really mom?"

Her face is guilty as she snatches the bag out of my hands, "Hey, don't judge me, I can eat what I want. You're the picky one, not me, who even raised you?" she rambles, defending herself as she eats a French fry out of the bag, offering one to Alyssa, who gladly takes it.

"You did," I chuckle, looking over at Alyssa.

Mom is stumped for a few seconds, "Yeah well, get your ass off my counter."

|| ✨ ||

"Hello, ladies," Mateo calls as we walk into the local 24hr Diner later that night.

I nod my head and sit down in the booth next to Kendall and Alyssa sits next to me. A couple of the other guys are sitting at tables next to or behind us, waving and chatting with each other. I look at the random guy sitting in between Benji and Mateo.

"You're new," I say bluntly. He looks at me, not saying a word. All right then.

"And hot," Alyssa states, winking at him.

Mateo slaps the guys back roughly, "This here, is my boy Isaac, from New York, he's my cousin. He just graduated from high school." The guy-now known as Isaac, rolls his eyes at the mention of his relation to Mateo. Yeah, I would feel the same way if I was related to that too.

"You poor thing," Alyssa pouts slightly, "It must be rough being related to that thing." A smile plays on my lips as I open the menu, skimming through it.

"Hey, he's lucky to be related to me," Mateo argues back. I let out a loud laugh, leaning towards Alyssa who is laughing just as obnoxiously. "You two are such bitches."

"Takes one to know one," Alyssa sticks her tongue out childishly at him.

"Hi ya Darlings, what can I get you two?" Our waitress stands next to the table, looking at Alyssa and I , waiting for us to order.

"I'll have the grilled chicken salad and a water, please," I hand her the menu with a smile on my face.

Alyssa scoffs at my food choice, something she does every time I order my food. "Can I have a burger, medium, with a slice of American cheese and caramelized onions. Can you throw in a pickle on the side with sweet potato fries and a chocolate milkshake, please?" Alyssa smiles sweetly, handing over her own menu.

"That's why you don't have abs," Kendall comments from next to me.

"Hey, if I have to give up good food for abs, then it's not worth it," Alyssa shrugs, picking up a piece of bacon from Benji's plate and eating it with a smug smile as he stared at her in disbelief.

"Where's Drew at, Tess?" Liam asks, his arm wrapped tightly around Kendall's waist.

"He's stuck at training, he's got a fight in a couple weeks," I shrug, looking around the diner.

"Your boyfriend?" Isaac speaks up for the first time. I bite my lip to stop myself from laughing.

Alyssa and Kendall start laughing, "Shut up, both of you," I roll my eyes. The waitress places our plates down in front of us. She asks if we need anything else before walking away.

"Oh my god, Tess!" Alyssa hisses, grabbing my arm and shaking it violently.

"Ow, fuck, what?" I ask holding my fork up to my face and looking at the direction she's pointing in. The piece of lettuce I was about to eat drops back into my bowl as my eyes go wide. A few of our friends laugh at my facial expression and turn to look at whatever shocked me.

"Oh shit, is that-?" Benji starts, leaning back in the booth to get a good look.

I stand up without another word, putting one foot on the booth seat and climb over it before Alyssa can move to let me out. I jump off the back piece of the booth, heading towards the door without another word. I can hear Alyssa and Kendall shoving each other to catch up with me. I reach into my back pocket, pulling out a few sharpies.

"Ooo," Kendall squeals, skipping as we walk into the parking lot.

I turn around, searching for something bright red. "Uh, Tess, I don't think this is a good idea..." Alyssa comments standing in front of me.

"She fucked over my best friend, Lys, I have to," I reply sternly, my eyes spotting the ridiculous cherry red convertible parked in the back of the lot. "Bingo."

"Okay, but think about Drew. Do you think he would be happy with what you're about to do?" Alyssa tries to reason, rushing to catch up with me as we near the car.

"I don't care," I uncap my sharpie and walk closer to her car, "I can't do major damage since I wasn't expecting to see her but I can do my best."

Kendall giggles in the background, wrapping her arms around Alyssa's shoulders. I lean forward with the tip of the Sharpie about to touch her car.

"What are you doing?" I startle, drawing a crooked line over the cherry red paint. I whirl around and look at the newcomer.

"What's it to you?" I ask Mateo's cousin, Isaac.

He crosses his arms across his chest and leans against Brianna's car. He shrugs, "Nothing, just that Sharpie comes off a car pretty easily, why bother?" He looks around the parking lot.

Kendall and Alyssa eye Isaac quietly. I turn to look at the Diner and notice Benji and Mateo with their faces pressed against the glass, trying to watch us. "Well forgive me for not carrying around spray paint on the go."

He cracks a small grin, "Such a shame, maybe next time you should."

"But sharpies are Tessa's thing, you should see the shit she can do with just a Sharpie," Kendall points out. Her words bring back a couple memories, specifically an incident a couple years ago involving my older brother, Sebastian.

"Then shouldn't you use something other than sharpies, since she'll know its you?" he asks, nodding his head at the Sharpie in my hand.

I look at him quietly, "I want her to know it was me."

He raises an eyebrow, "Respect. But, you might want to hold off from doing anything else," he nods his head in the direction of a group of girls that have just walked out of the Diner.

"Fuck," I whisper, standing up and rushing away from the car. Kendall and Alyssa follow quickly. I look back at the car and see Isaac still standing next to her car, right in front of the line that I had drawn. I stop and gesture for him to follow me but he just waves me off subtly, smirking in Brianna's direction.

I move and duck behind a car with Kendall and Alyssa. "What is he doing?" Kendall hisses, eyeing him over the hood of the car.

"I don't know but shut up or I won't be able to hear what's going on," I whisper back, peeking through the windows.

Brianna and her friends slow down when they see Isaac standing there casually. "Um, can I help you?" Brianna asks with a raised eyebrow.

He shakes his head softly, his smirk still in place, "Nope, just admiring the car, is it yours?"

"Man, he's hot, how is he related to Mateo?" Alyssa whispers, earning a loud smack from Kendall.

Brianna gives him a little smile, "Yup, it was my sixteenth birthday present from my parents for working so hard in school, meanwhile I had almost failed Spanish," Brianna giggles. Meanwhile, Brianna's friends, Amy and Rachel, eye Isaac and subtly fix their appearance.

"Wasn't looking for your life story, was just asking if it was yours," Isaac comments rudely, pushing off the car and brushing past her.

"Oooh," Alyssa whispers with a laugh, high fiving me. "Burn bitch." Brianna looks at her friends in confusion before shrugging and climbing into her car, complaining loudly.

As Isaac walks back to the entrance of the Diner, he looks over in our general direction, catching my eye. He gives me a little playful salute as he opens the door and walks back inside. I roll my eyes and move to stand up from my crouched position.

Suddenly one of the car doors, that we're hiding behind, opens knocking Alyssa onto her ass as she falls backwards in fright, "Jesus Christ!"

"Actually my name is Thomas, but I appreciate the comparison," a guy, with an accent that I can't quite place, steps out of the car, smiling at a red faced Alyssa who is sprawled out on the asphalt. He offers her a hand up but she smacks it away, stumbling to her feet quickly. Kendall has a hand over her mouth to stop herself from laughing and I'm standing next to her, grinning.

"You were in this car the whole time?" Alyssa accuses, brushing the dirt off of her shorts with a scowl.

Thomas raises an eyebrow, looking at the car and then at Alyssa, "It's my car."

"Yeah, no shit Sherlock," Alyssa responds sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "What were you even doing in there?"

"Well, fuck you Watson, can't a guy sit in his own car?" he snaps back at her, grinning.

The comeback catches me off guard and I snort loudly. Kendall leans forward, unable to control her laughter. This is amazing.

"I can't say it was a pleasure to meet you," Alyssa starts before trailing off to think of what else to say, "Yeah, no that's it." She shrugs, pulling my arm as she walks past and I grab Kendall so we make a little train.

"It was a pleasure to meet you, Watson!" Thomas calls to her.

Alyssa scoffs, stopping us to turn back to face him, "My name is Alyssa, not Watson."

"Obviously," he laughs, "I was just trying to get your name."

Alyssa opens her mouth to retort but she's completely stumped. She turns us back around and pulls us back towards the Diner. Kendall waves at him, giggling the whole time.

"He's cute, Lys," Kendall pipes up, stealing a glance over her shoulder.

"Shut up," she mumbles, pushing open the door.

"We just met a hot guy with an accent," Kendall informs the boys as we take our seats. Liam leans back in his seat, shaking his head while grinning. Kendall starts telling everyone the story of what just happened with Alyssa telling her to 'shut up and leave it alone, already'.

Isaac catches my eye, his eyes have a mischievous glint in them but his mouth is set in a frown. He reaches into his pocket and pulls something out, slowly sliding it across the table towards me. I stare at the black sharpie for a few seconds before leaning forward and putting it into my back pocket.

"Thanks," I say quietly.

He nods his head, the corner of his mouth lifting in a smile, "I'll bring the spray paint next time."

|| ✨ ||

Hi Everyone! I hope you enjoyed the second chapter, sorry it took so long, College has been kicking my ass lately!

Have a great weekend!

Until next time,

Sammipott xx