Bee stood in front of the mirror in the locker room, looking at herself with more self doubt than she usually had. She wore plain black leggings and a sweatshirt, but there was something that screamed self conscious.

She tightened her ponytail then blew out a sigh, ready to leave. When she bent to grab her bag, she heard a locker slam close, causing her to look up and straight into the eyes of the girl who had been ready to fight her hours prior.

Bee straightened, holding her baseball bag tightly. Fauna crossed her arms, one eyebrow cocked. "What do you have under the sweatshirt? Something skimpy?"

Sure, Bee had worn skimpy things to practice before in a sense of empowerment. A fuck you to the boys who doubted her. But today, she had no plans to take off her hoodie. "Wouldn't you like to know."

"Even if you wear something skimpy, Oak won't like you, you know. You said it best: he bangs chicks and leaves them hanging."

Bee felt her chest tighten unnecessarily. "Fauna, there's nothing between Oakland and I. Honestly."

"But you like him, don't you? I can read it all over your pretty little face. You like him, like all the other girls before you."

Bee's mouth flattened, and she hated that Fauna was right. The difference between her and the others was that Bee wasn't planning on telling Oakland anything about her sick, twisted feelings. "Doesn't matter how I feel. You're right, he bangs chicks and leaves them. I'm not trying to start anything before graduation. We'll all be out of here in what, three months? And then I'll never see either of you again."

Fauna shook her head, still in Bee's way, blocking off the exit. "I want to know why. Why do you like him when he's so mean to you?"

Bee knotted her fingers together and stared at them. "I wish I could tell you, Fauna. But I wasn't lying when I said he wasn't good enough for you. He's not good enough for me, either. We both deserve boys who want to be our boyfriends. We both deserve boys who love us. I hope you find that."

When Bee looked up, she could tell Fauna was close to crying, because she pressed her palms into her eyes, breathing in harshly. "I just don't get why it's you!"

"Why what's me?"

"Why Oak decided to give you his attention! I mean, at the beginning of the year, he was shit talking about you. Constantly. And now, now it's just... different. He hangs out with you, and he picks you up, and I saw your text conversations. He told you that he wanted to get McDonalds with you, and you turned him down! Why is it you and not me?"

Bee forced a shrug then forced herself to squeeze around Fauna, uncomfortable at the conversation. "Fauna, I can't answer that. I'm not Oakland."

Bee didn't like the idea of leaving Fauna there alone, upset and crying in the locker room, but she didn't want to be late to practice. She shot Fauna one last look then left the locker room, feeling like she should have stayed behind.

When she entered the gym, she kept her head down. She set down her bag and grabbed her glove and turned to find Larkin, who was talking with the others. The only thing that made her frown was that Oakland was part of that group, too.

She begrudgingly walked over, standing next to Larkin, pointedly not looking at Oakland as she tried to join the conversation. They were talking about nothing important, something about a test in math, but Larkin smiled when she joined them.

"Hey. I feel like I haven't seen you all day." He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and gave a squeeze.

She leaned into his embrace, laying her head on his shoulder. "Same. What do you say we go to Dairy Queen after practice?" When she met Larkin's eyes, she could see the happiness from that single request. "Fuck yes."

John's eyes lit up. "Hey, if Larkin's going to get ice cream with you, I want to go too!" John turned towards Benji and Stephen. "Don't you guys wanna go too? No fair that Bee only invites Lark."

Larkin let out a loud laugh. "Hey, Bee is my best friend, afterall. The rest of you are like... background characters."

Benji wacked Larkin on the chest in good nature. "You're just lucky you met Bee first. If she'd met me... then we'd be best friends."

Stephen put a hand to his chest, pretending to be hurt. "But I thought I was your forever best friend." The playful hurt in his voice made Benji roll his eyes, then bend down to kiss Stephen quickly.

When coach blew his whistle, Bee straightened and turned towards Larkin, a hopeful look in her eyes that he would throw with her. Larkin too was looking at her, a smile on his face, and she ran to get a ball.

"So, tell me, cause word is getting around. You and Oakland...?"

Bee rolled her eyes, throwing the ball hard at Larkin's glove. "No. Stop falling for petty gossip Lark. Besides, you'd be the first person I'd tell."

Larkin was smirking and he threw back the ball, like he didn't quite believe her. Bee though didn't care; he didn't have to believe her. She kept her chin high as she caught the ball and threw it back, her eyes narrowing at the smirk on his face. "What?"

"Nothing. I just think that if you're spending late nights with the guy..." he shrugged, grinning and then looking to his left. Bee followed his gaze, her cheeks heating when she made direct eye contact with Oakland, who didn't look quite as happy as Larkin did.

When warm ups were over, Coach had them head to the field to do more outdoor practice, due to nicer field conditions. He was talking on the walk there, telling everyone how proud he was of their game yesterday. "We all did amazing yesterday. Everyone was on fire. I figured we could take it easy with field practice. Maybe start with popflies."

Despite it being early April, the sun was high in the sky and it was hot out. Bee was pulling at her sweatshirt, but she wasn't going to take it off. She probably wouldn't take it off for another few weeks. She stood in line next to John, tightening her ponytail and watching as a parkschool boy went out into the field.

"You and Jane seemed pretty cosy last night," Bee said to John, nudging his shoulder gently, smiling at him. She was happy to see him happy, and when he met her gaze, his cheeks were red.

"Did we?" He scratched the back of his neck, but he was grinning. "I owe it all to you, really."

She laughed at that sentiment. "No, you don't. I did nothing but mention your name to her. She already liked you, big guy."

He tipped his head back and smiled. "The only thing is, we aren't going to the same college in the fall. Is it worth it to start something that'll end so soon?"

Bee's smile fell, but he was right. Was it worth it for them? "Don't say that. Your scenario could go in different directions. You could do long distance... or maybe just see where it goes over the summer. If she makes you happy John, don't write her off."

He shrugged, but there was something in his eyes that told Bee he would be okay. That he would make the right choice. When he ran into the field, he gave her a smile that seemed to say thank you, and then he caught the popfly and threw it back.

The rest of practice was much of the same: she caught popflies, threw them in, ignored Oakland, and laughed with her friends. It was easy enough, and she was thankful that for once, her team felt like hers again. Even with the parkschool boys, things felt like the were settling.

By the end of practice, she was full on sweating. She felt the sweat drip down her face and the back of her neck, racing down her spine. She wiped the sweat on her forehead as she grabbed her water bottle, taking a long drink.

"Aren't you dying in that sweatshirt?" She turned to eye Oakland who was also getting a drink, staring at her with narrowed, suspicious eyes. "You're sweating."

She swatted in his direction, putting her water away. "You're sweating too."

Oakland turned towards her. "Wouldn't it be better if you just pushed up your sleeves?" He reached, like he was going to help her do it, and she flinched from him, pushing his arm away. When she looked back at him, she could see the sudden surprise in his eyes, and then the suspicion.

"Bee." Her name was a command: take off the sweatshirt.

She brushed past him, her baseball bag swinging from her arm, and she nearly ran from Oakland. She caught up with Larkin and Benji, and smiled too big. "Hey. So, we still on for ice cream?"

Larkin grinned. "Yeah. But you look like you need a shower." His nose wrinkled at her, then he grinned at Benji. "Tell Bee she smells."

Benji let out a loud laugh. "Bee, you stink."

She swatted at both of them, but she was laughing right along with them, enjoying how easy this was. "I do not. Stop being meanies."

When they parted ways at the locker room, she was relieved to find it empty. It looked like practice got out a little earlier than usual, causing the other girls to still be at practice. Feeling confident no one was in there to see her, she took off her sweatshirt. She shivered instantly, realizing just how sweaty her torso was, looking drenched. She pulled at her sports bra a little, trying to let it breathe, when the locker room door slammed open.

"What the fuck?"

She spun, mouth gaping at Oakland. "What the fuck to you! Why do you keep coming in here? I could tell the principal, and you could get in serious trouble for sexual harassment."

Oakland was storming towards her, and for a moment, she was too stunned to say anything, until he grabbed her arm and yanked it up, showing off her fresh bruises.

She ducked her head. "Oak-"

"No. When I asked if he hurt you, you said no!"

When she met his eyes, he looked beyond pissed. His mouth was twisted and his eyes were narrowed and his face was red. "You told me no."

"Oakland, it's complicated."

"What's complicated Bee? That your father gets drunk and beats you? Why the fuck are you hiding this?"

She felt her cheeks burn in embarrassment, and she felt the tears suddenly at the back of her throat, threatening to come up and leak from her eyes. She didn't even try to pull out of his grip; she went instantly limp. "It's not that bad."

"Not that bad? Bee, look at yourself. You're covered in bruises! Fuck, they're all over your arms, your stomach, your back. What do you mean it's not that bad?"

When she looked down, she could see the bruises, where her father had grabbed her. Where he had hit her. She closed her eyes, trying to swallow, but she couldn't. She was shaking and she could feel the tears now in her burning eyes, so she refused to open them.

"Bee, I need you to be serious with me right now. How often does he do this to you?"

She shook her head but didn't open her eyes. She was terrified of opening her eyes and crying, again, in front of him. In front of this boy who had seen her cry way too many times already.

"Buzz, c'mon. How often?" His voice was suddenly much closer to her face, and she could feel his hands on her shoulders, softly squeezing them. When she finally opened her eyes, they were wet and she felt the first tear race down her cheek.

She shook her head again. "It doesn't matter how often. What matters is that I'm okay."

"You aren't fucking okay!" His voice was loud again, yelling, and she flinched back. "Sorry, I'm sorry, god I'm sorry. And this whole time I've been fucking with you. Play choking you, being rough with you... and I didn't know. Buzz, I swear I didn't know. And you compared me to your father... fuck! No wonder why you compared us."

"I didn't compare you because of that. I knew you weren't going to ever physically hurt me. My dad... I know what he does. What he'll do again. You're not like him in that aspect."

Oakland closed his eyes like he was trying to figure this out, like it was ruining him as much as it was ruining her. "So this is why you stay late at school and do all your extracurriculars."

She wiped at her eyes, trying to find her voice, wishing Oakland Stone wasn't the one finding out about this part of her very secret homelife. "It's easier to stay away than be around him." Her voice was watery. "When I'm busy... it takes my mind off of it all."

"They don't know, do they? The others?"

She shook her head, not quite meeting his gaze. "No. It's easier to keep it a secret. In a few months, I'll be away for good. I'll be free. They'll just worry about me for no reason."

"For no reason? Bee, don't you see how fucked up this is? You could tell someone. Anyone! For fucks sakes, tell the cops or someone!"

She hugged herself, looking away from Oakland, trying to control the way her bottom lip wavered. "I can't just think of myself. I need to think of my mom, too. And without my dad..." Bee swiped at the tears again. "He owns the house, the land, the vehicles. My mom doesn't own any of it. Without him, my mom would be homeless, carless. And then I have to think of my brothers. It's not just his life I'd be ruining if I called the cops."

That answer seemed to anger Oakland all over again. "Your brothers left you behind knowing what your father would do to you?"

"They were escaping, too. They weren't safe there either, Oak."

Oakland shook his head, clearly not having it. "That's not an excuse."

She put her shaky hand on his chest. "Please, drop it. Please. I'm okay, I promise. This is just a part of my life."

"But it doesn't have to be!" Oakland's hands were on her cheeks, wiping the tears away. "Buzz, it doesn't have to be like this. You don't have to stay there."

She liked the feel of his hands on her cheeks more than she wanted to admit. "I do. As long as my mom is there, I do. He'll hurt her to get to me."

"Then both of you will leave. I swear, I'll call my parents right now. We don't have a guest room, but we do have an office, and I can help you smuggle your mattress to my house or something. Or we can find a place for you and your mom to sleep. Please let me help."

Because she liked to torture herself, or perhaps because she didn't trust Oakland, she couldn't stop the words that came out of her mouth next. "Why? Is this a part of your plan to ruin me? Make me fall in love with you because you saved me? That's pretty sick and twisted, now that you know what my life is like."

Oakland immediately let her go and took a stumbling step back, his eyes wide and his mouth open. "I mean, I'm just a little pathetic girl, right? Using my gender to get my way? Trying to make people pity me? You said it, not me." Bee spread her arms wide, trying to suck in her tears. "Tell me, what part of this fits into your master plan for making me fall in love with you so you can dump me to the curb?"

"Bee-" The locker room door opened just as he was reaching for her, and he nearly leapt back when he saw the girls that were standing in the doorway, all eyeing him, and then Bee, and then him again. Acting on impulse, he stepped in front of her, shielding her from the girls, like he was hoping they wouldn't see her bruises.

"What are you doing in here?" One of the girl's asked, then pushed her hair behind her ear nervously. "Uh Fauna, your guy friend is in here?"

Great, Bee thought, trying to shrink herself. She reached for her hoodie, pulling it back on, no matter how hot she felt under the suffocating fabric. Once decent, she stepped away from Oakland, grabbing her bag. She barely even looked at Fauna as she marched out of the locker room, brushing past the girls trying to enter.

Her world was shifted on an axis, and she didn't know how to make it right again. Of all the people to find out about her secrets, it had to be Oakland Stone. She rushed towards the lobby, hiding in the bathroom, heading towards the sinks. She splashed cold water on her face, took a deep breath, and then dug around in her bag until she found her clothes.

"You will go and have ice cream, and you will have fun." Her mirrored expression didn't seem convinced, but it didn't have to be. Bee was great at pretending things were fine, and this was absolutely no different.