Max was helping the coach ran practice. Ever since the game with Xave's school, the coach has been asking him to help with the game plan. Landon doesn't seem to have a problem with it. Even though they are co-captains he admitted Max was good and he really wanted to lead the team to victory at least once against Xave's team before he graduates. I turn back to practice going on as Nina focuses on her work. One would think I would be into sports with me coming from a sports-crazed family but not really. After a few minutes, I give up then start playing games on my phone.

"That looks fun." A voice commentedfrom beside me. I raised my head from my phone to come face to face with Mark who is now sitting  in Nina's seat. I look around for her and spot her at the entrance of the field. She smiles widely and does the "call me" sign then runs toward the car park. I smile while shaking my head at her then turn back to Mark. He was dressed casually in a white t-shirt with a cardigan and blue jeans.

"Not really. It's either this or I watch a bunch of guys causing each other pain over a ball." He laughs at my comment.

"I thought you'll be more appreciative of the sport considering you come from a family mostly filled with guys who are into it." He responds.

"That's the mistake people make. The dominance of male species in my life has no influence on my interests." I tsked. He nods. " Why aren't you out there?" I nod towards the field. "I didn't see you the whole day today. I thought you were mad at me for blowing you off the other day."

"Nah. I had a problem," He pulls his cardigan back to show his bandaged hand. " Had a bit of an accident while exercising." Wow, that might have been some exercise.

"You really thought I was mad at you?" He asked with a smile and I nodded.

"I admit I thought you didn't really like me. I've tried being friends with before but you really kept me at arm's length," He added with a serious face.

"Really?" I don't remember having any conversations with him. Except for the random times he asked me about our assignments, even though he was right in the class with us, and I always told him to ask Nina instead. Oh, I see now. I just thought he just didn't pay attention in class.

"In my defense, Nina is the type of girl you try to befriend using academics." I defended.

"True." He paused. " So is our movie uh outing still on?" He sounded like he purposely avoided the use of the word 'date'. Movie outing just sounds weird too. I grinned. Did he think I thought this as a date?

"You got it." I affirmed. He smiles at that. He kinda looks cute. Not sure if it's because of the side of his face I'm facing but he kind of look like Zave. Not full on doppelganger but they have similar features.  We chat for some time before my phone dings indicating a received message,

From Xavey.

It was a selfie of him pouting with the words 'Save me.' written on it. Looks like he took it by hiding his phone under the table. I laugh at his silly picture. I notice Mark look towards my phone. For a second there I thought I saw anger flash in his eyes but it was gone before I can be sure.

'I take it  dinner is going as you imagined,' I reply.

'Worse. The man is making 'family vacation' plans.' He replies almost instantly. 'Good thing. My mom is totally not buying his reformed behavior but is just playing along'

I cannot even imagine what he going through. He plays it off most times but I know how much his family's situation hurts him.

***********************************************************************************************

The rest of the week wasn't really eventful. Mark started sitting with us at lunch, Nina and Aiden both got into AP World History. World history is Nina's worst course. Not worst like she fails it but worst as in she doesn't ace it easily as she does with the other courses. Chloe is still the meanie that she is but she seems to have moved on from me and found another target. Kyle hasn't been to  school the whole week and I doubt my brothers scared education out of him. I'm kind of worried about him. Xave has just been his 'charming' self and has been hating on Mark for no apparent reason. Him and Ely. But by Friday Ely had stopped totally ignoring his presence and stared acknowledging him a bit. Nina has been over the moon because she feels her 'ship' is sailing. Her words.

I had a shift on Friday at the café so Aiden dropped me off there. Xave was at his usual spot in the corner. He smiled and walked to me when he saw me. He hasn't been coming here that much this week. He was failing a course and he had to make up for it so it doesn't affect his team. 

Speaking of people failing courses, Elliot has been having the same issue with math which sent me back to what  happened today at school. He just walked up to me all serious face like he was about to make  a life and death request and asked, "You love me right?" I stared at him for some time waiting for the next stage of his prank.

"Well, I don't hate you," I answered a bit skeptical because he was being weird and I'm not going to declare my love when I knew the follow up request is something I might most definitely not agree to. 

He paused for some time as if contemplating. Then said, "I'll take that." He nodded and added " Then be my math tutor."

"No." I answered quickly. Not because I am a heartless being who doesn't want to help her twin but because Elliot is one of the most frustrating being to tutor. I tried in middle school and I nearly killed him.

"Please." He pleaded and held my hands. "Coach said he'd bench me if I don't get my grade up. Do you really want to see the brother you shared a womb with lose a chance at his dream because you were being a heartless soul?" He guilted. And since I've had years of practice and immunity to his little mind games. I was not phased at all.

"El last time we tried this I almost poked your eyes with my pencil. Do you really want to try that again?" I asked calmly, softly holding his face in my hands and making him understand it was not happening. So the story of when I almost committed fratricide. There I was trying to be a good sister and help a brother out and all this guy did was nitpick about everything I taught him, kept bouncing his ball against my ceiling and when he didn't ace his test he told me I wasted his time with no results. So I did what any matured 11 year old will do. Charge towards him with my pencil in hand. God ended up being on his side because our mum entered my room when I was going for his eyes.

"We were young and immature," He defended.

"You were an annoying and ungrateful brat," I retorted.

"So you would watch your brother get kicked off the team?" He sighed and asked sadly. I knew that face really well. Works on our mum all the time.

"Yes. Cause then at least you'll be alive. Who knows, if we do this I might just push you out a window." I slammed my locker shut and left him standing there.

 Found out at lunch he moved to another sibling to torture; Aiden. And this time he learned not to ask him first. Imagine Aiden's shock when coach walked by us said to him, "Nice of you to volunteer to help your brother out."

"I know coach. He practically begged me to let him do it." The annoying brat, Elliot, shamelessly said. He shut up when he saw Aiden practically murdering him with his eyes. This is going to be fun. I laughed at him as he sprinted away from Aiden to class.

"Sup Denver," Xave said bringing  me back to the present and I just shrugged and walked away from him towards the employee room. He followed.

"Wow is this a way to treat your bestie you haven't seen in days," He complained.

"Allen, you message me every other minute. Leaves no room for missing you, don't you think?" I hanged my bag and turned to him. His eyes looked tired and his hair a bit messy.

"Well, I missed you." He smiled and just hugged me. Why is he all touchy today? I pushed him off me and he pouted. I chuckled. Seriously sometimes he is just like a kid.