A loud whistle blew, and I looked up just in time to eat dirt, a bunch of other guys falling with me. I wasn't even sure if I tripped or if someone dropped me because my head wasn't in the game.All of my attention was on Anita.I hadn't told her I had practice today because I didn't have time to, but she should have known, right?The other thing on my mind, though to a lesser degree, was my parents. Was it just me, or did the fights seem to get much worse recently? I wasn't sure, and it wasn't like I could ask, so I kept out of it, but then it had me thinking of spending a night at Anita's place. I knew I couldn't, there was no way her mom would allow it, but the thought was nice.It was that moment of distraction that landed me where I was, on the ground with a lot of weight on top of me that was a little slow to get off."What are you guys doing!" Coach practically screamed at us. "Get up and start the play again! Every-body focus, or we're leaving here after dark!"Ther
Those damn traitors.It was wrong of me to blame the other guys for doing exactly what Coach said, but if there was one thing I didn't need, it was a pep talk, and that was Coach's favorite go to when someone on the team was not pulling their weight right.Still, they cleared away pretty quickly while I was marched into Coach's office and sat down on an old, ratty sofa while he sat comfortably behind his desk."Now, Evan," he started, linking his hands to-gether and leveling me with a stern look. "Are you going to tell me what was going on with you out there, or do I have to ask?"I hesitated. "Um... Coach...""Don't think you're getting out of this easy, kid. I wasn't joking out there when I said I'd bench you. Even if you're a star player, if your head is somewhere else and I let you on that field, not only will our team lose, you can get yourself injured not paying attention. Football is a contact sport, if you head isn't there with you, you get hurt.""I know, Coach," I
It was lunch, and Haley and I were seated at our usual table. My focus wasn't on eating, though, as I kept glancing around the room, looking for someone.Hayley, finally getting fed up with me not paying her any attention, sighed and poked me in the arm."What's going on with you today, Anita? Actual-ly, no. What's been up with you recently because today isn't the only day I caught you acting weird. Is some-thing wrong?" She looked around before leaning closer and whispering. "Is it the baby?"I winced and quickly covered her mouth. We were alone, and there wasn't anyone sitting too close, not to mention the cafeteria was as loud as usual, but it would mean hell for me if people found out. I'd have to do something once it started showing, but I thought I should at least tell people-meaning Mom and Evan-that I was pregnant before focusing on other details."I'm just wondering where Evan is," I admitted.Her eyebrows jumped up. "Wow. You two did grow close, huh? You're even loo
There was a knock on my door, but I ignored it. It wasn't the first time I'd heard it today, and it probably wouldn't be the last."Evan, can you come out for a minute, please?"My dad's voice was muffled by the door and the music I'd put on, and I was tempted to turn the volume up until he complained about it, then decided I was too lazy to be that petty."I'm busy!" I called back.Only, I wasn't. I was locked in my room because I wanted to be alone. I hadn't even gone to school, and Dad hadn't yelled at me about it, because I knew he at least felt guilty.It wasn't enough for me.I waited, but there was no word from the other side of the door, so I figured he must have gone back downstairs. I sighed and threw an arm over my eyes, the past few days still seeming unreal.With no more screaming arguments now, the house was silent, too silent, because Mom was no longer there. She didn't leave home, at least, not voluntarily.She found out Dad had started an affair with an
I just rang the doorbell and got surprised when the door was opened in the next second, and Evan was the one standing there."Um, hi," I murmured.I didn't know what to read in his expression when he just stood there and stared at me, but I figured he was at least surprised to see me there."Sorry-" I started to say, only to cut off when he suddenly grabbed my hand and dragged me into the house.I yelped and hurried behind him as he tugged at me, and we hurried up the stairs. He pushed me into a room and closed the door behind us, and I realized half a second later that it was a bedroom, most likely his. In the next moment, Evan whirled me around so fast I was diz-zy, then he wrapped an arm around my waist, drug my body harshly against his, and slanted his mouth over mine in a hard kiss before I had time to think."Mmh!"I let out a sound of surprise, my hands went up to his shoulders and clutched at him. I wasn't sure whether to push him away or pull him closer. Evan didn'
"Are you ready to go?" I asked.It was an hour later after we'd both showered and gotten dressed. Anita blushed, hugging herself as she shuffled her feet."I can just walk back."Even though I found her sudden shyness a little amusing, I just rolled my eyes at her."My place is further from school, and if you have to walk all the way home after coming here, how long will that take you? It's already this late, just let me drop you off."She pursed her lips, but I didn't miss that she wasn't all that displeased. I took my car keys and opened the door, but she still hesitated."Um, I know it's a little late to ask this, but there isn't anyone else at home, right?"I crooked a corner of my lips up but didn't say anything as I headed out. I heard her scrambling to fol-low me. I could have just told her my dad was home, but if he'd stayed downstairs then he wouldn't have heard us, and it wasn't like I planned to introduce them.After the past couple of hours, I was feeling re
I blinked as it dawned on me that I'd read the same line over and over again. Or rather, I'd stared at that same line for quite a while. I still had no idea what it said. I narrowed my eyes and tried to focus, leaned my head in my hand, but my mind wandered with the first word.Dammit.I rubbed a hand roughly down my face then went back to my attempts to focus. I leaned my head back into my hand, narrowed my eyes and stared at the page, but a few seconds later, my mind wandered again. Of course, it wandered to Anita, and the last time I was at her place.After another long moment of inattention, I growled to myself and leaned back in my seat to close my eyes against it all. I was at home, locked in my room while I tried to study. I didn't want my dad to walk in and bother me, and he couldn't if my door was locked. I knew he was mad at me, but the standard in our house was to ignore each other or argue, and I went for the former. I couldn't seem to get into the process, though.
This was dangerous. It was late already, and her mom could come back home at any moment. It wouldn't be the only time I was with a girl when her parents came home, but in this tiny apartment, I doubted I could find somewhere to hide or a way to escape so she wouldn't see me. I didn't care so much about myself, but I didn't want to get Anita in trouble.I couldn't stop myself, though, and decided it was worth the risk, if I got to find that heaven only Anita had ever given me one more time. Urgent need pushed me over the edge of sanity and I tugged her head back by her hair, gently, and leaned down to kiss her. I deepened the kiss, sliding my tongue into her mouth to taste. When I couldn't stand the wait anymore, when her sighs be-came an urgent, need-filled sound, I rolled her under-neath me, parted her thighs with my knee, and settled into the space between her hips."How does your body feel?" I murmured, kissing her neck.Anita hummed. "Good. So good, Evan..."It wasn't what