Don't count on me, cause I am drowning, please don't drown with me.

Just hold me in your heart, and let the ocean take me.

-The Amity Affliction, Don't Lean On Me   

March 22, 2016: 6:53 p.m.

I focused on my breathing, shutting out the world. As my chest filled with air, my mind began regaining composure.

When I was sure I wasn't going to freak the fuck out in front of the crowd, I stepped back out.

I looked up at the building.

This wasn't a big deal. I would be here for thirty minutes max and then I could leave with or without McKenna.

With my hoodie still covering my head, I approached the boxed office that no longer had a line. My breath was a little ragged but I felt in control.

"Are you a player or watching?" The lady behind the glass asked.

"Watching," I muttered, my voice hoarse.

"That's $8.50," she informed me the boredom in her voice evident.

I took out my wallet and paid her. She stamped my hand and I walked through the door forcing myself to keep it together. It took all my willpower to ignore my initial instinct to leave without a second look back.

Taking a deep breath, I looked around the indoor. There were four different soccer fields, all occupied. People were laughing as they walked past me and toward the stands. I slowly made my way toward one of the fields.

I hadn't been to a field-hell I hadn't even watched a real soccer game ever since the accident.

Making my way through the small crowd of people, I looked at the players until I found McKenna. She was on the field where the players were practicing rather than playing a legitimate game. It was co-ed and they seemed to be in a very intense scrimmage.

Walking over to the bleachers, I gripped the steel handle on the edge. It was freezing, sending shivers down my spine as I took a seat on the opposite end of a group of teenagers that were watching the scrimmage while talking. The were pretty loud and from what I could make out, they knew it was McKenna Ellis down on the field.

Folding in on myself to keep myself from shivering, I grasped my right hand trying to stop my hands from shaking. I looked down at the field trying to find something to focus on. 

There were six players on each team, including the goalie. From my perspective, they all seemed consumed with the same goal: winning. 

McKenna was playing forward, but seemed to be everywhere. She was quick and had definitely slowed down for my sake when we had to go running together. 

I watched, impressed by her skill level. She was easily getting past defenders with the ball, using the wall as her ally. In a matter of seconds, she had managed to come up with an assist and began celebrating with her team.

Jared was right forward when he played and he was damn good at his position too. His sophomore year he had beaten a senior for the position. He'd probably be playing in college by now. There was no doubt that some college would have picked him up.

Unlike McKenna, Jared had a way of showing off when he played. It wasn't intentional, but the way he carried himself on the field screamed that he was good and he wasn't afraid to show it. Sometimes he would give into his ego and tease the defender. The coach couldn't afford to take him out so he would yell at him with empty threats.

And I would watch and cheer when he scored or came up with an assist. I rarely went to the school games, but during the summer I'd travel everywhere with him with my mom as the supportive driver.

I'd travel almost everywhere.

"Reece. Hey, Reece."

I blinked, snapping out of my daze at the sound of my name. Feeling a sting at the back of my eyes, I quickly wiped my face that was thankfully still dry. I looked up to see McKenna looking at me curiously.

I glanced at the field, amazed they were already finished.

"Hey," I said trying to remember what was going on. I knew she saw and I was hoping to God she didn't bring it up. But it was McKenna and she always had the instinct to point things out.

"What're you doing here," she asked her eyebrows furrowed together. She wiped the sweat off her face with a towel. 

"Scottie thought-"

"Say no more," McKenna interrupted me with a small laugh. "It's creepy how he knew where I was."

Stalker was the word.

"I don't question him anymore," I said getting off the bleachers.

Maybe she hadn't seen.

Or maybe she didn't care enough to bring it up.

We walked along side each other toward the exit. I had been there for little over a half an hour, much to my surprise. It didn't feel like more than ten minutes.

"You weren't half bad out there," I said as we walked out. The night had already set in leaving us with a cool breeze. My shoulders relaxed and I felt calmer with every step we took away from the place.

"Half bad?" She questioned. "Here hold this."

"Cocky, much?" I looked over to see her holding out her soccer duffel bag. I took it from her as she put on a hoodie. She motioned for me to give it back to her, but I had just strapped it across my chest. "For the cameras," I explained shrugging even though the idea of the paparazzi had come to me after.

"Got ya'," she said with a small smile, "And not cocky. I'm just honest-in the most modest way possible."

I raised an eyebrow chuckling. "In the most modest way possible?" We were walking down the street in no particular direction. 

We were used to the routine by now. Whenever we were told to hang out, we'd walk around the city and after a while we'd go eat. Then we were able to call for a ride and go home. It was a simple plan but it worked.

"I used to play in high school and travel. There were a lot of girls that made me look foolish. Trust me, these players are no where as brutal," She told me re-adjusting her hair with a hair tie. 

I nodded, understanding. Anybody serious about their sport went to travel and that's where the real competition was. I don't know how many times Jared would be completely pissed after a game because of a loss. He wasn't used to them because his high school team was always in first place.

I snapped out of my thoughts not wanting to think about it.

"Isn't your album about to drop?" I questioned redirecting the subject.

"Yes," McKenna's eyes widened in excitement, "Kiara is saying we're waiting for the 'perfect time' but it's happening soon."

"Timing is everything. They never set a date without being completely sure it'd bring you the most attention." I informed her looking back at my own experience.

"That's crazy," McKenna shook her head letting out a laugh in disbelief.

"Crazy but accurate."

"My first music video is debuting at midnight too," she turned towards me, her eyes shining. I could tell this meant a lot to her, as well as it should. 

"That's great!" I exclaimed my excitement catching even me by surprise. Your first music video was a big deal no matter who you were. The work for it is intense and waiting to see what everyone thinks of it is extremely agitating.

"Yea! I'm kind of nervous though. I mean the director was great, but I don't know." McKenna admitted the doubt evident in her voice.

"Nervous is good, it means you care. You did your part, your fan base will do the rest now." I assured her, "And if it really does suck. We'll just have to change your name and launch a whole new career. No big deal."

"Shut up," she laughed.

"I'm serious! With a cool name, no one would even remember this bombshell."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," McKenna drawled.

"You could be Elektra."

"Isn't that a movie?"

"She's originally from comics actually and she's a total badass," I told her. I used to be a comic nerd; it was an intense hobby.

McKenna looked at me from the corner of her eyes, her eyebrow raised. "Does someone have a fictional crush," she accused with a sly smile.

"No," I defended, readjusting the strap of the duffel bag. "She was just a cool assassin that helped out Daredevil."

I mean if I had to have had one in my comic days...she wouldn't have been the worst choice. Especially with whose playing her in the new Netflix series, but I sure as hell wasn't going to tell McKenna that.

"Okay," she mused in an unconvincing tone.

I rolled my eyes knowing she didn't believe me. "You're kind of annoying."

"And you're kind of a comic book geek," McKenna teased with a cheeky smile as we turned another corner.

"Was," I corrected, "Don't judge."

We were on a familiar street now and I vaguely remember an awesome food stand. I ate there the last time I was in this part of town and it tasted like heaven. Granted I was stupid drunk, but I'm sure it still tasted great.

I wasn't hungry now, but I was sure McKenna hadn't tried it before.

McKenna put her hands up in surrender with a laugh, "Wouldn't dream of it."

Her phone suddenly vibrated redirecting her attention. She was really attached to that thing. Looking down at the screen, her eyebrows furrowed together.

"God! I can't handle waiting for the music video," she said looking up at me, "There's like three hours left."

I let out a laugh as I looked out for a familiar food truck. "Oh you definitely don't want to stalk your own video when it comes out. That'll just torment you further."

"What do I do then?" She asked not denying her plan.

"You got to give it a good eighteen hours at least. Let it make some noise," I advised making up the advice as I went. 

When my first music video hit, I made the mistake of staying up to see if it got any views. It didn't get much and it crushed me. It wasn't until a whole day later that Cooper told me it blew up.

McKenna groaned looking up at the sky, "This sucks." She turned toward me, "Were you like this when you started off?"

"Like what?"

"I don't know. Nervous. Excited. Feeling like you're in a sink or swim situation." She went on her words rapid.

For the sake of starting over, I tried to be happy and sometimes even faked it. I was nervous for a while and excited could have described me at some points, but it never felt like a sink or swim situation. At that point I was already drowning and I didn't really care if my actions pushed me down deeper.

"Kind of," I said after a while looking at the street ahead of me. "I was under different circumstances," I chose my words carefully when she didn't answer.

"How so?" she asked allowing a few pedestrians to make there way in between us.

I shrugged not knowing if she was looking at me. "It was just different," I said refusing to elaborate. She didn't need to know. Enough people knew already and I had just gotten used to people not looking at me like I was fragile. I didn't need her to look at me like that.

"You know you do that a lot."

"Do what?" I asked stuffing my hands in my jean pockets.

"Close yourself off every time we're on the topic of-well you," she said.

I stopped, turning toward her, startled by her bluntness. She looked over at me as well, daring me to speak.

"I-," I froze looking around unable to come up with a response.

When she realized I didn't have an answer, she gave me a small smile that seemed oddly laced with what looked like disappointment. "It's fine. You don't owe me any explanations. It's not like we're close friends. We don't have to tell each other things," she said her eyes on mine, waiting expectedly.

"We don't have to tell each other things," I echoed, the words feeling off as they rolled off my tongue.

She nodded and began walking again like nothing happened.

I fell in step with her, unsure of how I felt. "Hey!" my eyes widened at the sight in front of me, "I found it!"

"What?" McKenna questioned, confused. 

I looked at her, grinning, "One of the best food trucks in New York."

A/N: What do you guys think of their relationship so far? What about Reece's internal conflict? I love hearing what you guys have to say!

Also, I did kinda sorta change my update days to Wednesday and Friday. It just works better for multiple reasons. I do have exams coming up next week though, but I'll try to keep to the whole two updates a week thing going. 

I'm already working on the next chapter, and let's just say y'all are in for a treat ;) 

Color in the star if you enjoyed the chapter!