Dereck's Pov:

Tonight's the homecoming game and you can feel the buzz of excitement thrumming through the school. As usual the team is in their jerseys and the cheer and pep squads are in their uniforms.

The students and even some teachers are wearing our school colors or t-shirts that have our game stats on them. Everywhere you look people are sporting mums and the male equivalent.

Ariel and Sams made mine and Vin's matching garters and we're both wearing each other's name and numbers. Since the pep rally was extra long our classes have been cut short.

Plus the teachers are just as psyched about our game so it's pretty much free day in classes. Ah I love game days. It's not gonna be an easy game but I know my team will work hard.

As captain and co captain Vin and I had to get up and make a speech and get the assembly pumped up. No trouble there. You could feel the hype radiating off the crowd. No doubt you could hear the cheering from across town.

Vin and I were elected to home coming court as well as Mitch and Jared. Since we couldn't walk together we partnered with Ariel and Lisa. The results will be announced during half time later.

It's not really my thing but whatever. Still it was pretty kick ass that we got elected. Just further proof that our fellow students see us as the same guys we were before we came out.

We're about to make our way onto the field. The announcer starts introductions.

"Babe, hello? Earth calling space cadet Dereck...." Vin whisper yelled causing me to roll my eyes

"Space cadet to Earth. How can I help you?" I whispered back.

"I need a kiss for luck." He hissed from beside me. I smiled and pulled off my helmet and gave him a quick smooch.

"Ah much better. Now I can focus on kicking ass instead of how hot you look in your uniform." He smiled brightly then faced forward again, game face totally on.

I shook off the lovestruck expression that kissing Vin always gives me and got my head back on the upcoming game.

We're called and our team runs on the field to the crowd hollering. The ref flips the coin and the game begin. The game stays tight the first half. We score and they score shortly after.

Vin's scored 3 times but their quarterback is just as good as him and with less then a minute to half time they even the score out.

The crowds stomping their feet and screaming "Defense!" We get in a quick huddle and I call out the play and we break. We have enough time to score a touchdown. Then we'll only need to keep the ball from them for a few seconds.

The opposing team is on Vin like stink on shit. So instead of him running it he passed the ball to me. Flawlessly.

I jumped and caught it twisting mid air to sprint to the end zone. The crowd roared and we got the extra point from the kick. We went into half time 8 points ahead.

Mitch won homecoming king with Lisa as Queen. We exited the platform and Vin stopped me on the field with his hand on my chest.

He leaned closer to me so I could hear him over the chatter of the crowd and the music blaring since the pep squad was mid performance.

"You owe me a few kisses don't you Babe?" He murmured in my ear.

I laughed at his pouty tone. "Not until the game's over. Wouldn't want you to start slacking." I teased. He pulled back and grinned.

Next thing I know he had me pulled into a dramatic low dip and movie worthy kiss. I wrapped my arms around his neck and savored the feeling of the world falling away.

While his lips were on mine we were in our own little bubble.

We straightened and pulled away breathless.

The world came back into focus and the people in the stands we're clapping as the pep squad finished their routine. I shook my head and grinned at a smirking Vin.

"Satisfied?" I asked breathlessly.

He shook his head. "Not even close. But the rest can wait until we get home" He said never losing his wicked grin.

Because I couldn't resist, I gave him another quick kiss. "Half time's just about over. So get your head back in the game baby." I gave his hand a squeeze and we both went back into game mode.

The second half passed by fast. We spent most of the time neck and neck with Mustang Ridges team. Vin scored twice more and I've scored twice. It's getting harder and harder for him to score.

The opposing team wont give him any breathing room. Jared passed the ball to Vin and Mitch and I went to defend him but I got slammed into Mitch and we crashed to the ground with two of their biggest players tackling us.

Sigh. That's gonna leave me a few nasty bruises.

I heard a collective gasp from the stands and jumped up pulling Mitch with me. I scanned the field trying to see what caused that reaction because Mitch and I weren't taken down hard enough to get that sound.

That's the sound that means someone is probably hurt. I looked towards the goal where Vin should be. Shit where is he. My eyes quickly scanned the track he'd have taken and my breath caught.

"Fuck" I yelled running across the width of the field. About 30 yards away he was down and not really moving.

I threw off my helmet and crouched down by him. "Vin! Vincent!" I called removing his helmet and looking him over.

"Where the fuck is the medics?" I yelled.

"Dereck chill man, he'll be okay. He just took a hard hit." Jared said reassuringly squeezing my shoulder. Vin opened his eyes and let out a slow breath wincing when he breathed back in.

"Babe, I'm fine, just got the air knocked out of me" Vin wheezed lowly, grabbing my hand and giving it a little squeeze.

He went to sit up and I gently pushed him back down. "Let the medical team check you out."

Game play was suspended and the coaches and stand by medical team made their way to us. I looked up and narrowed my eyes at a smirking face I knew all too well.

That son of a bitch.

I jumped up ready to charge him.

"YOU!!! Did you fuckin do this?" The smirk got bigger and the two teams surrounding us went silent.

"Hey don't get pissed at me because your boyfriend cant take a hit. 'snot my fault he's a p*ssy." He chirped cockily.

I saw his team flinch away when he said boyfriend and internally rolled my eyes. I would have made a smart ass comment to them but I was too pissed.

I marched over to him and yanked him by the protective strips of his helmet until he was close enough that the tip of my nose could fit though the gaps in the front of his helmet.

"You better hope he just got winded! Or the last beat down I gave you wont even compare to what I'll do to you this time." I growled so only he could hear my threat.

His smirk died but he shrugged. "Chill out, it's all part of the game. If he cant take a little hit, he shouldn't play the game." He pushed me back and my glare intensified.

"Game on fucker." I smiled and got in his face once again. "Not still sore from the broken bones I gave ya are you Robert?" I taunted.

I walked back to my team and Vin was swatting the medics hands away. "I said I was fine! Back off. Damn" He looked at me and narrowed his eyes.

"You benching me Captain? Cause I'm fine, it was just a little tap."

I looked at coach and he had his indulgent smile in place. He's pretty fond of Vin and me. Coach nodded, signaling he was fine.

"You up to playing?" I asked and he rolled his eyes and jumped up.

"Fuck yeah! Lets kick some Mustang ass!"

I pulled Mitch and Jared aside. "Make sure you stay on him. I don't want the other team anywhere close! Robert did that intentionally and he'll do it again if he gets a chance." Their eyes widened when I said Robert.

"What about you? That'll leave you unprotected and you score almost as much as him." Mitch asked and I shrugged.

"Stay on Vin" I hissed

The game restarted and I made it my mission to slam into Robert as often and as hard as possible. I wasn't worried about scoring. My boys and Vin could handle that.

We had three minutes left and were up by a few touchdowns. Robert intercepted a pass and I tackled him. Slamming into him with all my force.

The visitor's side gasped and I smiled. Karma's a bitch.

I rolled off him and jumped up grabbing the ball and sending it sailing to Pete who was in our end zone. I leaned down like I was going to help Robert up. His team was already coming over and the whistle was blown to stop play.

"If you cant take a little hit you shouldn't be playing this game. " I taunted, throwing his earlier words back at him.

I turned and saw Coach glaring at me.

"Smith! Get over here!" He bellowed.

I ran over. "Sup Coach?" I asked innocently.

"You tell me. What the hell was that?" He snapped watching me through narrowed hawk like eyes.

I shrugged. "That was football and the object of the game is to-"

He cut me off. "Don't get smart with me. You know damn well what I'm talking about. You've been on his ass all this half! Don't think I didn't notice who that was. If you cant put your feelings aside then you're benched for the rest of the game." He raised a brow and waited.

I looked up at the score board. We're winning and have less then two minutes left on the game clock. Being benched for behavior is a big no-no especially when you are the captain.

I mentally shrugged. I feel better. He knocked the air out of Vin and I knocked the air out of him. It's all even and I feel vindicated.

I wouldn't have reacted that way if a different player had taken Vin down. There was just too much animosity with Robert. He's been a pain in the ass since we told him about us.

Hmm maybe I can play stupid and play the rest of the game out.

"I didn't notice who that was until I tried to help him up just now. Crazy how small the world is huh?"

Coach rolled his eyes but his lips turned up just a bit. "Keep your head in the game Smith and no more fooling around oh and you owe me 10 laps after the game for unsportsmanlike conduct." He called over his shoulder walking back to the bench.

All things considered that wasn't a bad punishment. Could have been way worse especially since he knew what I'd been doing and half the time I tackled Robert he didn't even have the ball.

A 2 1/2 mile run is totally worth putting Robert in his place.

Evan came running up and slammed into me.

"What the hell?" I yelled ducking when he tried to slam his fist into my face.

"What the hell is your problem Dereck? You dislocated his fuckin shoulder!" He yelled back.

Vin, Mitch and Jared ran up but I held up my hand to stall their interference. I'm not going to fight my own team mate and in all fairness I can understand his anger. That is his twin brother that I just took down. Hard.

Still I'm not gonna back down. His brother started this and he egged it on in our previous fights.

"I don't have a problem. I was playing the game. He had the ball and I wanted it. Your brother knows that's the way the game is played." I said raising my hands to show I wasn't gonna fight back.

He narrowed his eyes and glared at me.

I sighed because in all honesty as pissed off at him as I was I still didn't mean for him to get that hurt. "But I am sorry he got injured and hope he's alright."

Evan rolled his eyes and stormed off.

The game continued and we won. The original plan was to get ready and go to the dance but I just wasn't feeling it. Guilt was kicking in something severe.

I'm not a violent person but that's twice I've lost it with Robert and both times I hurt him. Shit I'm a crap person.

As soon as play ended I threw myself into the 10 laps I owed Coach. I didn't just jog them. I full on ran the entire time. Pushing myself harder and faster. My ribs ached and chest burned but I just pushed myself even harder.

I don't want to be this person. I refuse to be the kind of guy that lashes out and uses violence when he's angry. Sure Robert is a dick and yeah he loves to push my buttons but that's no excuse. I should have kept my cool and acted the way I do when he gets tackled by other players.

Which would have been to not react, because it's just part of the game. Who tackled him shouldn't have mattered.

Mom would be chewing me a new ass right now if she was here. I need to apologize and try to bury the hatchet with him.

I finished my run and braced my hands on my knees while I tried to catch my breath. I was dripping with sweat and my chest felt like it was about to exploded. I was exhausted but unfortunately the run didn't help diminish the building guilt I felt.

"Seriously, you can go but I just want to go home and relax." I told Vin as we got in his truck.

He looked at me and rolled his eyes. "Why would I go without you? Feeling guilty for losing your cool? He asked starting the engine.

I snorted. "Last time I 'lost my cool' I broke a few of his ribs and this time I 'lost my cool' I dislocated his shoulder. I've turned into a violent prick. I need to apologize and see if he's okay. It's the least I could do."

Vin grabbed my hand. "Last time didn't count. You were in a fight and we both know that you never go over board when you fight. We also know that Robert wouldn't have stopped at just a few broken ribs if the situation was reversed. Both times he instigated it. Luckily you got the upper hand both times. You actually did him a favor because if he had hurt you I wouldn't have been as reigned in as you were. That said, that was an epic tackle babe. Seriously you caught him before his feet even touched the ground after he intercepted the ball. Kudos babe! Oh and the answer is NO you are not going to see if he's okay. He's a big boy and he'll be fine once the doc pops his shoulder back in place."

I raised a brow. "Did you just try to tell me what I can and can't do? Because we both know that wont go over so well."

"No, I wasn't dictating. I was making a strong suggestion. Look if you go over there it'll just cause more problems between you two and remember I said if there was another fight my promise to stay out of it is moot. I know you feel bad but going over there wont help anything. Not right now anyway. Besides Evan is still pretty pissed and you showing up is liable to set him off and then you'll be feuding with both assholes."

I thought about it and he's right. I should give them some time to cool off before I try any peace making crap.

"You're not bummed about missing the dance are you? Cause seriously you can go without me." The last thing I wanna do is ruin Vin's night but I'm so not in the mood.

"Dare, shut up." He rolled his eyes at me and leaned over to thump my head. "It's all good babe. We can ice down our bruises and be lazy."