I'm going to get murdered!

I push my legs to their limits. The clearing is in view and all I want to do is get to it before I break a leg or two. My brother's team is coming from every direction and I have no clue where my teammates are. Before one of my opponents can grab me; he's speared by a small blur.

Lily.

Where did she come from?

Not now Emery. You have to run.

More of my brother's team is now surrounding me and all I can do is scream. I toss the flag up into the air and drop down to the ground. Dumb and Dumber collide with each other right beside me. I watch as Damien grabs the flag again and takes off running. I can hear his chuckles as he takes off. Next one to pass me is Lily. She's now on her brother's heels. I jump back to my feet and dust my body off. Once I have collected myself again; I take off after these two. Right before a small blur could get to Damien, my instincts kick in. The first thing that comes to my mind is bring my arm out to the side of me. Parallel to the ground. I closeline who ever it was that had Damien in their eyesight.

"Good lord Emery. I think you decapitated your sister." Damien laughs out.

Allie.

Well shit.

She deserved it anyways.

Damien crosses into the clearing with Lily and I guarding his ass. As soon as I pass the coach, I collapse on the grass.

"I swear I almost shit my pants!" I whine.

"Do what?" Damien chuckles.

"I didn't say that out loud did it?" I question while in horror.

"Sorry my friend. That you did." Lily says while laughing her heart out.

Just grand!

Way to embarrass yourself Em.

Walking back towards the school after flag football was the most awkward, embarrassing, and uncomfortable thing I have done so far. How I just freely spoke my sacred thoughts out loud. Well, more like sacredly embarrassing thoughts out loud. How does one do that?

"I absolutely love her." Lily says behind me. Whom she's talking to is a mystery because my blood red face isn't turning around to see.

"Whatever." Damien scuffs in annoyance.

Should have known he would become annoyed with me. I mean that's the reason everyone always bullied me. Well, that's what Allie says. Rolling my eyes, I enter the locker room and quickly change. In the biggest hurry to exit the premises and get the hell away from everyone. As I exit the locker room, Silas's voice dampens my hasty escape for freedom.

"I have practice in thirty minutes. You aren't walking home today; wait on the bleachers until I finish. We can go home together."

I grumble under my breath and internally groan. Now I have to face the guy I punched in the face, whom I self handily embarrassed myself in front of because Silas now wants to have sibling time afterwards. Why now? Why can't he let me go home and escape to my room where I can wallow in my self pity as I try to lock up what I had said earlier. I march my way up into my usual seat on bleachers as my brother and the rest of the football team comes out onto the field. I used to stay and watch him practice; I haven't in a while because of the teasing and bullying. I see a familiar pair of eyes in the crowd of players.

He plays football?!

Damien sees me on the emptied bleachers and sends his signature smirk. I almost send a smile back when I see them. The cheerleaders are practicing on the sidelines all have turn their heads in my direction. Each one with a glare of their own causing me to shrink back further into myself.

If that's even possible.

Turning my attention back towards my brother on the field. I watch in awe as he throws the perfect spiral into his teammates hands. With their helmets on, only person I can recognize is my brother. He's been the same number, 23, since he was a little boy playing football for the first time. The teammate has all the elements a football player should have. He has the speed because he's quick like greased lightening. He has the agility because he executes his actions with precise accuracy. One minute he's running straight with speed, the next he's running diagonal with a quicker pace. He hurdles the fallen players with ease and grace. Never once losing his balance.

"Someone take him down already!" The coach screams fill the bleachers in frustration.

I watch as 96 makes it to the end zone and scores. I'm already in awe from my brother's perfect throw but I'm truly have amusement playing on my face from number 96. I low cheering for my brother has become a full screaming cheer match with the cheerleaders over the skills 96 has. His back is facing me as he takes his helmet off. His hair is dripping sweat and is disheveled in appearance.

"Damien, go take a cool off period and grab some Gatorade. Good run son." Coach praises 96.

Damien?!

Number 96 turns around and my cheering gets caught in my throat. Staring back into my soul is Damien.

Damien is number 96.

I slink back into my seat and shrink back into a small shell of myself. I can't believe I just cheered like a maniac for Damien Black.

What is this world coming to?

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