[A/N: Song for the chapter:
- One Republic // What You Wanted]

"Come on Blake. Please say yes."

"No way."

"Please?"

"No."

"Please Blake? I'll buy you a DVD to add to your collection."

"As tempting as that sounds, I'll pass. Thanks though."

"Blake," I said in a flat voice.

"Ashley," He used the same tone and rolled his eyes.

We stared at each other, both unyielding as I narrowed my eyes.

"It's not like I'm asking you to jump off the moon and plummet to your death. It's a simple request."

"First of all, if I jump off the moon, I won't fall, I'll just float because I'd be in space stupid. And second of all, this is Tyler we're talking about. Simple doesn't even cover your ridiculous request Ash."

Frustrated, I buried my head into my Physic's textbook and suppressed the urge to scream. I had three choices: to scream, to bite my lip or to strangle my friend's scrawny neck. So to avoid Mr Davies' attention, I bit my lip - hard.

"Blake, you know just how much the soccer team needs him," I pleaded him, sick of how desperate I was beginning to sound. "All I'm asking is for you to talk to Coach Webber. Just get him a try-out and I'll make sure he's there."

One week ago in Tyler's bedroom, I asked him to join the team just as a suggestion and he shot me down. No thought, no consideration, nothing. He straight out gave me a deathly look and his tone was icy enough to chill my bones. But all I could remember was the day of his first appointment with Dr Jillian and his desire to be on the team again. He said so himself: 'It was my escape from reality. Some people like to read, write, play music, dance, y'know...whatever helps them forget about their shitstorm problems. All I had to do was pick up a soccer ball and all my problems would go away.'

I just want Tyler's life to be like it was before Taylor's death, blissful, stress-free and enjoyable.

Blake's green eyes darkened a fraction.

"Sounds like another set up to me."

I turned my head to the side and narrowed my eyes at him.

"This is nothing like the janitor closet shit!"

Blake arched an eyebrow. "Isn't it? Sure sounds similar to me. I mean, you're going to lie to him, lure him to the soccer pitch and then leave him stranded in a place where he'd rather drink acid than be."

Sitting up again, I stretched my arms over my head and sighed deeply. Why wasn't he on the same page as me? I wasn't doing this to spite Tyler. I was doing this to help get his old life back, and the soccer team was part of that equation.

"Seriously Blake, stop acting like I'm orchestrating a freaking assassin. Getting Tyler to try-out for the team won't kill him. As much as you refuse to believe me, he needs the team. He needs his old life back."

I watched his lips straighten into a frown. He raked a hand through his black hair, feathering the locks before they fell back onto his forehead.

"I'm the second captain for the team after Dylan," Blake scowled at me. "Don't you think I'd do anything to get someone like Tyler on our team. He could single-handedly flip our luck around and win us the games we've been losing. I would do anything to get him on our team except–"

"Except risk your newly rekindled friendship," I interjected and pursed my lips.

With a curt nod, he sighed. "Yeah, except that. Tyler means more to me than the damn team. I don't care if we lose our next two games. I don't care if that means we're out for the season. I don't care if I miss out on a damn soccer scholarship. It aint that deep, it really isn't, because I just got my best friend back, and shit like that isn't worth putting on the line. I need him more than two stupid wins. I can make do without a full ride scholarship."

I nodded with understanding but it irritated me that Blake couldn't see just how much a place on the team could change Tyler's life for the better. He needed soccer. The adrenaline, the power, the precision, the teamwork, the glory...all of it. Tyler needed soccer.

"Look, all I'm asking is for you to talk to Coach Webber. I'll do the rest of the dirty work and he won't even suspect that you're in on this. Just...Just get him a slot. Get him the chance and I'll make sure he takes it."

Blake's gnawed on his bottom lip before letting out a slow breath. He chewed on the inside of his cheek and uncertainty flickered behind his pale green orbs.

"I don't know Ash..." He said slowly, licking his lips nervously. "It seems like something that could bite us in the ass later."

I scooted my chair closer to his and crossed my arms before laying them on his shoulder so that my face was as close to his as possible. I rested my chin upon my arms and peered past his dark stubble he's been growing to impress Mona. When he turned his head to the side, I raised both my eyebrows and let a sombre expression mask my despair ridden features.

"I'll take the fall, whatever happens," I breathed in a sincere voice. "You won't lose him again. I promise you bro, you trust me don't you? I'd never take Tyler away from you."

Sadness fleeted across his eyes as he carefully regarded me.

"But you might Ash. Lose him, I mean. You know how unpredictable he is. He might cut you off like he did with both of us last year. I don't want you to go through that again."

I pushed myself off his and sat straight, turning my face to the whiteboard at the front before releasing a heavy sigh.

"I know, but for Tyler to be happy, I would risk losing him in a heartbeat," I closed my eyes and tried to suppress the possibilities that poisoned my thoughts if my plan failed. "He's worth all of it, he really is."

From my peripheral vision, I noticed Blake stare at me for a long time, studying my side profile and I felt incredibly unnerved by his gaze. But even then, I made no attempts to look his way as he pondered upon my request and made a final decision.

Just when I thought I'd lost him, he spoke up.

"Fine," He breathed. "I'll do it. After practice today, I-I'll talk to Coach Webber."

My head snapped to my left and I gawked at him, ignoring the sharp stab of pain that shot through my neck.

"You will?" I breathed, wide eyed and suddenly excited.

Unease and anxiety flooded his pale eyes but Blake managed to chuckle at me. He slung an arm around my shoulder and pulled me to his chest, ruffling my hair like a puppy.

"Of course," He began to knuckle my scalp and I writhed with discomfort. "I'd do anything for you Ash."

I peered up at him, smacking his hand off away from my curls.

"Really? You'd even shave your horrible beard?"

Blake threw his head back and laughed.

"I don't love you that much. Nobody does."

"Douchebag," I muttered under my breath, peeling his arms from my shoulders. "You really are the greatest pile of turd at Riverdale, you know that right?"

"I'd rather be a turd than smell like one."

"Well at least my breath doesn't smells like something's died in there for years."

His pink lips parted with surprise and I watched him struggle with a comeback as he lifted his palm to his mouth. Blake surreptitiously sniffed his breath and shot me a glare. With a sweet smile, I flashed him a wink and dished gum out of my pocket.

"Want some?" I popped one into my mouth and blew my fresh breath all over his face. "In fact, keep the entire packet. You need more than I ever will."

Blake fake gagged when my peppermint breath fanned his cheeks but took the packet and shoved three gum pieces into his mouth. When he began to chew like a camel, I giggled and focused on Mr Davies' lecture, extremely happy that my friend finally succumbed to my plan.

If all went right, Tyler could be back on Riverdale High's soccer team again by this time tomorrow.

**

It was all set up.

The captain, the team, the coach - they all knew about it. The only person who was oblivious to the try-out was the man himself and somebody had to break the news to him because it was in an hour. I had already put it off for too long. I even lied to Blake that I told Tyler about the try-out as soon as he called me after his practice to tell me that he got Coach Webber to give Tyler another chance.

We were currently sat in Home Ec. and the class was dozing off as Ms Smith rattled on about our next written assignment. Everybody had their heads on their desks, except me. I was sitting upright, struggling to keep my raging thoughts intact as they broke off whenever I glanced at the sleeping guy in front of me.

Man, he was going to murder me and kill my grandchildren.

I nibbled on whatever strip I had remaining of my nails as I tried to come up with a way to break the news to him gently. Should I lay it out gently or just whip it out, faster than a lightning bolt? When the shrill bell rang, everybody jerked upright, lazily rubbing their eyelids and when Tyler turned around in his seat, I gulped nervously. He looked so cute, dazed from his nap and there was a crust of dried drool by the corner of his lip. With a small smirk, I licked my thumb and leaned forward to rub it off.

He flashed me a sheepish grin and pulled away, gathering his books as a black haired guy sloped over to our table with his rucksack slung over one shoulder.

"Well isn't that just cute," Blake chuckled. "Mama Bear looking after Dada Bear."

"Shut the hell up," Tyler laughed, punching him on the shoulder.

Blake yelped, green eyes flickering at me as he pouted.

"Sort your man out Ash. Unnecessary violence like this shouldn't be tolerated. No one deserves to be abused this way."

I laughed and slung my bag over my shoulder.

"That's what I keep telling this dumbass but his brains are in his fists. That head of his is hollow." I reached over and knocked my fist against Tyler's temple. "Yup, did you hear that? It's definitely hollow."

Blake chuckled as Tyler smacked my hand away. "Guess there isn't much we can do for his poor soul. Oh well, that's a shame– Ow! Tyler dude!"

"You'll be eating my fist if you don't shut up, and you woman," He turned to me with a low growl and I held my hands up in a surrendering motion. "I'll bite you if you side with this moron ever again."

I stood beside Blake and wrapped my arms around his waist, grinning when he loped an arm around my shoulders and flipped the bird at Tyler.

"Oops, I guess your girl made her choice bro. Sucks to be second best," He laughed.

Suddenly, before I could join in with Blake's laughter, I was hoisted into the air by my boyfriend's strong arms and strung over his shoulder like a dirty towel. His sharp shoulder winded me as it stabbed my abdomen. Tyler snatched our bags and turned around sharply, almost letting the corner of a desk take out my eye.

"Tyler!" Ms Smith called out as he rushed us out of her classroom. "Put Miss Martin down this instant! Young man! I am talking to you!"

Blake let out a hoot of laughter when Tyler slammed her door shut in response whereas I continued to hammer my fists on his back.

"Tyler! Put me down!"

"Not gonna happen," He drawled slowly. "You made your choice when you picked Blake."

"Tyler!" I squealed when he took a sharp turn after we reached the end on of the corridor. "Put me down or I will crush your balls into a grain of sand."

Blake laughed even louder at my pathetic threat.

"Look, you guys are gonna make me late for practice but I'll see you in about an hour Tyler. Good luck with the try-out bro."

Suddenly my heart lurched to my throat and I stiffened in Tyler's arms.

"Try-out? What try-out?"

Blake patted his best buddy's shoulder and ignored his question.

"Just remember to hold back your attitude and temper and you'll get onto the team."

Blond eyebrows knitted together in confusion.

"Dude, I'm not quite following. What the hell are you talking about?"

Pale green eyes found mine, drinking in my panic-stricken features before they darkened with disappointment.

"Ash!" Blake hissed, leaning forward even though Tyler was within earshot since I was, after all, still in his arms. "You said you told him! I thought the deal was that you'd take care of everything else."

"Tell me what?" Tyler interjected, knitting his eyebrows together.

"I-I was going to tell him right now," I choked, pushing against the strong arms holding me up. "Tyler put me down, please."

Reluctantly, he gingerly planted my feet back onto the floor and I took a step back so that I was standing beside Blake but my friend seemed to notice the storm brewing as I blurted out my next words and backed away slowly.

"We got you a try-out for the soccer team once they finish practice. I packed your kit for you and tossed it into the trunk this morning. And umm, well uh..."

When I trailed off, I looked at Blake for some support but he grimaced and started backing away even faster.

"I'll see you both later," He said quickly before spinning around and hurrying down the hallway.

My stomach literally dropped right out of my ass as sea green eyes roamed my guilt-stricken face. They were confused and in complete disbelief until I gulped nervously.

"What on earth did you do?" Tyler's voice was a hoarse echo, dropping our bags to the floor.

Astounded by the betrayal that flickered behind his gorgeous eyes, I took a step back and stuffed my hands into my jacket pockets.

"I got you a try-out for the team," I replied quietly.

His eyes flashed with anger and I gulped nervously. Uh-oh, this wasn't looking too good for me. It wasn't looking good at all.

"Why Ashley? Why the fuck would you do that?"

"I d-don't know," I stammered, cowering away when his gaze threatened to burn my body. "I thought...I-I thought you'd be pleased."

Lie.

Of course he was going to blow up like a damn volcano. Maybe I was blinded by the thought of his long term happiness that I forgot this entire plan could backfire and burn me into a charred, black Christmas turkey. He began to back me into the wall.

"Did I say I wanted to join the fucking school team?" Tyler planted two hands on either side of my head, imprisoning me as he leaned over me, breathing heavily. "Just tell me when and where I mentioned that I wanted to be part of that team again!"

I inhaled sharply, struggling to hold his gaze as my heart leapt to my throat. After locking Tyler in the closet with Blake, he tackled me to the ground and bit my neck, but he wasn't this mad. He was pissed off, but he wasn't angry. Right now, anger didn't even stretch to cover the expanse of fury that swirled behind his scorching eyes. There was a fiery furnace of fury that was ready to burn me alive.

"You said during the first therapy session that you wanted your old life back more than anything. Soccer is part of your old life. I just thought that–"

"Thought what?" He snarled and my eyes snapped up to his in surprise. "That I would get down on one knee and thank you for throwing me into another sea of bullshit? I thought I made it clear that I don't appreciate it when you interfere like this Ashley!"

My throat tightened at the disappointment and betrayal that oozed from his tone and I felt my bottom lip quiver. Maybe I'd overstepped the mark this time. Maybe I'd read in between the lines too much. I knew he'd be mad at the idea of a try-out. I just didn't think he'd be mad at me.

"I-I'm sorry. I really didn't want to go behind your back but I had no other–"

"Then why did you?" Tyler interjected, cutting me off with a sharp tone. "Why are you trying to give me reasons not to trust you?"

My chest caved in and his eyes softened when I rolled my quivering bottom lip into my mouth.

"You don't trust me?" I echoed in a small voice, leaning away from him. "What? Why?"

I closed my eyes and breathed deeply before flinging them open. Pressing my head against the wall, I tilted it to the ceiling, feeling suffocated by the proximity between us.

"Do you really want me to answer that right now?"

In all honesty, I didn't want to hear his answer.

"Yeah actually," I egged him on in a tight voice, eyes still clamped shut. "Go on, because I don't see how helping you suddenly means that I'm not worthy of your damn trust."

My eyes flung open just as Tyler shook his head with disbelief. Blond locks flew from side to side as he pushed himself off the wall and took a few steps away from me. Suddenly able to breathe again, I filled my lungs with air but the act failed to cease the tightness in my chest.

"Just put yourself in my shoes and tell me you wouldn't question your own motives right now. I mean, therapy is going well and I'm coping and you're helping me get through the hardest stuff ever, but when you do things like this Ashley, it honestly feels like you're forcing me to take a step backwards. I'm progressing. I'm doing well for the first time in two years. And then you go and do shit like this and I don't understand why you would want to hold me back like this. It doesn't make any sense."

"I'm holding you back? Me? Jesus Tyler, can you hear yourself right now?" I snapped, finally losing my cool when he was acting like I went and told the entire school about his most embarrassing moment, like the time he bleached his jeans.

I did this because I care, not because I want to hold him back. How could he ever think that? Getting him through his gut-wrenching grief and helping him get his old life back was my number one priority. Sure, I was more than grateful we were dating and that he was helping me cope with my own problems, but Tyler's happiness always came first. Was it so bad for me to strive for that? Was it so bad for me to go behind his back for that?

"I can't believe you right now. Don't you dare try to make me out to be the bad guy!" Tyler raised his voice to match mine. "I don't want to join the school team because I'm happy the way things are right now. Don't you get it? I'm fucking happy right now, with you. I don't need the team and they don't need me!"

"No Tyler. No. You need them as much as they need you," I shook my head wildly, pointing a finger at him. "And you're not happy so don't lie to me! Rosemary tells me that you still punch your bathroom mirror whenever shit gets too deep and that you sneak into Taylor's room when you can't sleep! You're still grieving, you're still in pain Tyler. Playing for the team can make things better for you. Blake says they need you now more than ever."

Tyler pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled sharply. "I don't need the team! I only need you! Why are you making this into such a big deal Ashley?"

"Because," I choked. "I made you a damn promise that day in the cemetery. I promised I'd help you get over Taylor and this is part of my promise. Why can't you see that?"

"How, in god's name, is going behind my back part of your promise? What does soccer have to do with Taylor?"

"If you weren't such a stubborn ass, I wouldn't have had to go behind your back. And don't play dumb, this has everything to do with Taylor! You'd still be the captain if she hadn't gotten leukaemia. You'd still be on your way to getting a scholarship and you wouldn't feel worthless about having no ambition. I'm pushing you to chase your dream again!"

Tyler looked at me like I was stupid and I felt the urge to strangle him.

"Really now, so this is about me chasing my dreams?" He drawled viciously and I had to clench my fists to keep them at my side.

"Yes," I spat. "It is."

We glared at each other, shoulders heaving with fury from both parties and my nails dug into my palms, imprinting half moons into my skin. I held his gaze for an entire minute, burning a hole into his head before all anger rushed out of my fingertips, fiery and scalding; leaving me empty and drained by our argument. With a defeated sigh, I averted my gaze and pursed my lips, willing my stinging eyes not to betray me.

Why did he think I was doing this to make him miserable? It was for the opposite reason. I valued his happiness more than mine, more than our relationship. I guess I'd known what I was getting myself into when I begged Blake to help me out. I just wish he wasn't so blinded by his fear to face his old teammates again. Maybe then, he could understand.

I broke the suffocating silence.

"Look, if you don't want to go to the try-out, then it's not my place to pressure you into doing something you don't want to do. I just wanted to give you the choice to make a decision so you'll always know that at the very least, you tried. So that you'll never regret trying to chase your dream again, even if it doesn't work out. Everybody needs a choice, even if they've already made their decision."

"No, I'll do it," Tyler surprised me as he slowly closed the distance between us. "I'll...I'll give it a shot."

"You will?" I looked up from the floor, startled to find him standing right in front of me.

"God, I am so pissed off at you right now. I could punch a fucking wall right now," Tyler lifted a trembling hand, tracing his calloused knuckles against my cheek. "But you went to all that trouble to get me that try-out."

"Please don't do that," I choked, flicking my gaze to his hand that was cupping my cheek. "I hate it when you hurt yourself like that."

He breathed in deeply, struggling to put a lid on his bubbling fury and I watched as he closed his eyes and carried out Dr Jillian's breathing techniques. A small smile made it's way onto my lips as I ran my gaze all over his features, watching them slacken as the anger seeped out of him.

"Don't be mad at me," I whispered when he slowly cracked his eyelids open. "I'll give you an endless supply of KitKat and a million bucks if we can just skip the silent treatment, kiss and make up. I hate it when you're mad at me."

Tyler chuckled, bringing his other hand to cup my cheek and my breath hitched when his thumbs stroked my scalding skin.

"You'd really give me all that?" A ghost of a smirk tugged his lips up. "Just so we can kiss?"

"Kiss and make up," I corrected him, shaking my head softly as I laughed. Was that all he picked up from my apology?

Tyler breathed a shaky laugh.

"A kiss will work just fine."

He tilted my head up and I arched an eyebrow.

"Really? You better not be lying this time because last time you bit me, ignored me for about two days and then threw me into your damn pool."

"I'm not," He murmured quietly, pressing his mouth against mine and I sucked in a breath as liquid heat pooled inside my stomach, raging through my limbs like a wildfire.

"Good, otherwise I'll bite your fucking ear again," I laughed into the kiss before responding, moving my lips in sync with his as my arms snaked around neck.

When he pulled back, we stared at each other for a long moment, lost in each other's eyes.

"I'm still pissed off at you," Tyler pressed his forehead against mine. "But just because we don't see eye to eye all the time, doesn't mean you can't talk to me first before you go ahead and do something stupid."

"Hey, you said you wouldn't stay mad at me," I protested, closing my eyes as he rubbed his lips against mine.

"Well, I lied. You still owe me a shitload of KitKat."

"But you don't even like KitKat that much. You always used to give me yours when we were kids."

Tyler pulled away so I was forced to open my eyes and drink in his goofy grin.

"I only gave it to you because I wanted you to like me back."

A shaky smile tugged my lips up a fraction. "Really?"

He flicked my nose lightly.

"Really."

**

Leaning against the hood of his scarlet Camaro, I cautiously eyed the soccer pitch, waiting for the man of the hour to turn up. My back was beginning to ache and I was bored of playing Flappy Bird non-stop for the past hour. After giving Tyler a quick pep talk, I shooed him away and promised to wait for him in his car. He handed me his car keys and told me to get us both food to which I nodded. Little did he know, I couldn't drive, so I ended up walking to the nearest Starbucks and got him his favourite sandwich and a drink. I was too nervous to stomach anything myself.

My ears were still ringing from the lecture he gave me on how to drive his precious car although I'll admit I was pretty chuffed to be the only person he's ever given permission to drive his baby. Even Taylor wasn't allowed that privilege.

When Tyler's blond head entered my line of vision, I pushed myself off the hood of his car and shoved my phone into my back pocket. He held up two red jerseys: his game shirt and the one he was supposed to lend to his biggest supporter. It was a neat tradition at Riverdale to give your jersey to a girlfriend or friend, and suddenly my nerves prickled with excitement.

"You got in?" My eyes almost bulged out of their sockets when he gave me a heartwarming grin that stretched from ear to ear. "Oh my god! You got in!"

Before Tyler could blink, I sprinted over to him and attacked him, sending us both flying into the ground. My heart leapt to my throat when his back slammed into the grass but he seemed dazed rather than hurt.

"I'm only in second string," He wheezed, chuckling as I buried my face into his neck and squeezed the living daylights out of his body. "Gee Ash, you're acting like one of those hotshot European teams are letting me play in the Champions League."

I rolled my eyes at his exaggeration, tucking my curls behind my ears and eyeing the flash of red that had been discarded on the grass when Tyler grabbed me to prevent our inevitable fall.

"I wonder what that is," I sang excitedly with a knowing smirk, jerking my chin at the two jerseys on the grass, even though we both knew what they stood for.

Tyler flashed me a toothy grin and lifted a hand to my face, gently tracing a thumb along my bottom lip before cupping a cheek. I leaned into his touch, reaching over to grab the jersey that his sister used to wear to every game. Sea green eyes warily watched my expression as I held it over to my chest, sizing up the crimson material with a feigned unimpressed smirk.

"Yup," I giggled. "It's still large enough to fit a whale and have room for me."

"You'll wear it to every game right?" Tyler dropped his hand from my face and raked it through his hair.

He sounded strangely nervous and at first I was confused before the realisation struck the cords of my heart.

Oh.

Nobody had worn that very same jersey since his sister so actually, yes, this was a very big deal for him. I sighed and dropped the jersey. I cupped his cheeks between my palms and brought his face to mine. Scalding heat fanned my mouth before I dived forward and pressed my lips against his, passionately moving them in sync with his as heated ripples shot up and down my spine, fast and pleasant. For once, I took control and swiped my tongue across his bottom lip, coaxing him to deepen the kiss as I ran my hands over his muscular chest.

My senses were numbed when he gripped my hips, trailing one of his hands upwards until it was pressed behind my neck, forcing my head closer to his. Our mouths were fast, pressing faster until the only thing that could separate us was air. Gasping, I pulled back and gazed at him, panting heavily but I wasn't done just yet. I wasn't finished with the message I was trying to convey.

"I'll be at each and every game wearing your jersey Ty," I kissed him languidly and sucked on his bottom lip, grazing my teeth along it as Tyler moaned into my mouth. Before he could yank me into another toe-curling kiss, I landed a swift peck on his mouth and leaned back. "Every damn game, got it?"

He gave me a salute and I giggled at his cheeky grin.

"Aye aye captain."

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[A/N: Hey, two of my maths exams clashed today was I was stuck in the exam hall for almost four hours and I literally wrote this chapter with zero brain cells. Sorry if it sucks :(

Chapter 54: Please, Please Don't Be Mad At Me

Please vote, comment and fan, and I'll see you tomorrow.
P.S. I have my last exam tomorrow and then S U M M E R is here <3

- Kaddy]