Falling for you was like falling down the stairs. I was in complete control at first, then, without warning I was spinning, tumbling, and had no idea why or how. Then, before I even knew what happened, I lay at the bottom; shocked, stunned and so oddly aware that I still ended up exactly where I was trying to go.
-K. Towne Jr.

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'Fair enough.' He shrugged putting the finishing touches to his painting. 'Hit me. What have you got?'

'Well, I was thinking maybe we could do something that would positively impact someone's life. Maybe that'll earn us more points.' I began.

'Okay, go on. What do you have in mind?'

'I haven't really worked out the details but what happened with Asia this morning got me thinking. I was thinking we could do something to help victims of bullying. What do you think?' I suggested.

'Aye aye captain. Just so you know, by helping you with this crusade, I'm throwing away some of my street cred.'

'Get over yourself, Gavin Connor.' I scoffed.

'So whats the plan?' He asked.

'I have no idea.' I shook my head. 'Is there really a way to stop bullying? I don't think so but I was thinking maybe if we-- you found out what was important to one of them and encouraged or somehow helped them, then that would count for something at least.'

'Okay. Do you have anyone in mind?' He asked.

'Yes actually. I was thinking Louis.'

'Louis? Who's that? No one named Louis goes to school here.' Gavin frowned.

I shot him a flat look. 'Seriously?'

'What?'

'Gavin, you hang out with the popular crowd. In fact you are the popular crowd. Do you honestly think you know anyone outside your circle?'

'Right.' He conceded.

'Exactly. Lucky for us, I know him. Come on.' I gestured for him to follow me.

He sighed and shoved his books into his bag.

'Where is this?' Gavin frowned as I led him through an unfamiliar hallway. 'I've never been here.'

'That's because here is where the dorks, geeks and basically everyone who isn't popular hangs out.' I replied.

'Wow. Why?'

'Because none of you popular people come here so it's like their safe haven.'

'Are we really that bad?' Gavin wondered out loud.

'Do you want me to answer that honestly?' I asked.

He thought about it for a second. 'No. Don't.'

'That's probably for the best.' I nodded.

'Can we hurry this thing up? I have football practice to get to.' He said.

'Well I didn't choose Louis randomly.' I admitted.

'Okay. So why did you pick him?' Gavin asked suspiciously.

'Don't get mad. Hear me out first.' He gestured for me to go on.

'Well, Louis is interested in football. And he's really good.' I began. He shot me a disbelieving look.

'If you think I'm just going to give some kid a spot on the team just to help you, you're delusional.' He scoffed.

'I didn't ask you to give him a spot on the team.' I snapped.

'Okay, then what do you want me to do?' He arched a brow.

'I don't know. Talk to him. Give him a chance. Show him a few tricks.' I threw up my hands in frustration.

'That sounds like something a father would do and last time I checked, I don't have a kid.' He stated.

'I want to punch you right now.' I growled. He shrugged.

'Look, it wouldn't kill you to talk to the kid at least.' I said.

'Fine. Just hurry this up. I'm late for practice.' He rolled his eyes.

'Louis is the one with the curly blonde hair.' I pointed to him.

'Okay.' He shrugged.

'What are you waiting for? Go talk to him!' I said on a exasperated sigh.

'Well, I can't just walk up to him. I don't even know the guy.'

'I would introduce you but I'm a GHOST!'

'What the hell am I supposed to do then? Just walk up to him and start talking about football? That's going to make me look like a stalker.' He declared.

'Fine!' I huffed. 'Then bump into him or something. You'll figure it out. You're smart, aren't you?'

I purposely trapped him with that question. If he says yes, then he has to do what I say and figure out how to approach Louis on his own and if he says no, then he's admitting to not being smart. Either way it's a win-win for me. He glared at me, knowing fully well that I did that on purpose.

'Fine!' He growled.

He closed the space between them. 'Hey dude. Louis right?'

'Yeah.' Louis stammered, taken aback by the fact that Gavin was talking to him.

'Cool.' Gavin nodded. The two of them stood in awkward silence.

'Say something!' I glared at Gavin. He rolled his eyes.

'So...' He cleared his throat. Most awkward conversation ever!

'So...' Louis echoed.  I face-palmed. Are they being serious right now?!

Gavin shot me a helpless look.

'Ask him about football. Say you heard someone mention it.'

'I heard you play... football. Are you any good?'

'What?' Louis gawked at him.

'Football. You any good?' Gavin snapped, irritatedly. It apparently worked because a second later, Louis snapped out of his daze.

'Yeah. Kinda. A little. My dad played. My granddad. His dad. His dad's dad. Even my great grandmother pl---' He trailed off.

'Sorry. That was  me babbling. What I meant to say is that it's a tradition in our family. Everyone plays football. Well except me because I'm not on the team.'

'Did you try out for the team?' Gavin said. His voice took on the tone of an adult lecturing a kid. I almost smiled.

Almost.

'Well....' Louis blushed.

'So you didn't tryout for the team.' He summed. 'And yet you magically expect yourself to be on the team. I've never seen faith quite like yours.' Gavin said sarcastically. I rolled my eyes.

'Yeah. Actually I was going to tryout but because of football camp, I resumed late and tryouts was already over.'

'Football camp?' Gavin questioned. I could tell his patience was already running thin.

'Yeah.' Louis flushed. 'Camp Kawi.'

That caught Gavin's attention. He immediately stood up straighter. 'Camp Kawi? As in the Camp Kawi?'

'Yeah.' Louis said, a little embarrassed.

'Dude! How did you get in? They only take the best footballers.'

'I know.' Louis nodded.

'Come on. You've got to talk to coach. Does he know you were at Camp Kawi?'

'Actually, you're the first person I've told.'

'Come with me.' Gavin shook his head like he couldn't believe what he was hearing. 'That has got to be the dumbest thing I have ever heard.' Gavin mused.

Louis flinched.

'Don't be mean Gavin. Not everyone has your overbearing confidence. Cut him some slack.' I snapped.

'Fine.' He glared at me, forgetting that Louis was there.

'What?' Louis frowned.

'Look Louis, if you want things to happen, you gotta make the effort. You're lucky someone told me about you or else your skills would've been wasted. Next time you want something, you work for it. You set things in motion, got it?'

He didn't wait for a reply before continuing. 'And you gotta toughen up. If coach let's you on team, you work for it. I'm not supposed to introduce new people when the season has started especially not this close to the playoffs but I'm taking a chance on you, got it? Don't let me regret this.'

'And you were worried about me making you look like a dad.' I scoffed. He glared at me.

'Right. Got it. I understand.' Louis nodded emphatically.

'Good. Go change. I'll talk to coach.' Gavin nudged him in the direction of the locker room.

He shot me a pointed look to which I shrugged.

'No one asked you to offer him a spot on the team. That was all you. I only asked you to talk to him.'

'But you knew this would happen.' He shot back.

'No. I didn't. I honestly don't think you're that good a person.'

'Am I supposed to take that as a compliment?' He asked.

'Gavin, it's your life. I really don't care how you take it though I would honestly prefer you took it as an insult. Because I meant it as one.' I said exasperatedly.

He glared at me.

'Now, are you gonna talk to coach or not?' I arched a brow.

'You know,' He said. 'I'm already starting to regret why I actually offered to help you. You know, without the blackmail.'

I smiled. 'Awwwn! Thanks.'

'You're welcome.' He muttered sarcastically.

'You know coach isn't going to like this idea right?'

'Then reason with him.' I shrugged.

'What? Reason with him? As in with coach? Have you met the guy? He's impossible.'

'Well you have to try.'

'I guess.'

'Now go!' I ordered.

He went in and shut the door behind him. Against my better judgement, I went in with him. Convincing coach to give Louis a chance is going to be quite a feat. If Gavin can pull it off.

That man is the most difficult human being to ever walk the face of the earth.

'Coach,' Gavin began.

'Connor, why aren't in your gear yet!' He barked. I winced.

'Well, coach...'

'Go get changed Connor! Or you'll be running laps and doing push ups all day!'

Well, this is certainly going well...

'Coach, I have to talk to you about something first.' Gavin said.

'You're not quitting the team Connor! I won't allow it even if you gotta stay up all night reading to keep your grades up.'

'Coach, my grades are fine. This isn't about that.' Gavin sighed.

'Then what is it about?' Coach glared.

'Well coach there's this guy...'

'You're not gay Gavin. I've seen you with your girlfriends and even if you are, gay guys still play football.' Coach interrupted. I face-palmed. Just let him talk!

'Coach!' Gavin all but threw up his hands in frustration.

'What? Gay guys play too!'

'I'm not gay!' Gavin yelled.

'Then I don't see what the problem is. Go get changed.'

I swear talking to this man is like walking around in circles.

'I found someone who you might be interested in putting on the team!' Gavin yelled.

'Gavin, you know we don't take additions to the team once the football season has started.' Coach rebuked.

'I know but you'll want to check this guy out.'

'You might be team captain but I'm in charge around here and I say no so no! Now go get changed!'

'Coach!' Gavin protested.

'Go! Now!'

'But coach!' He tried again.

'Gavin. Get out!'

'Fine!' Gavin stomped out of the office with me close on his heels.

'Well that went horribly.' Gavin remarked.

'You don't say.' I replied drily.

'Talking to coach is like talking to a rock. He never listens.'

'So what now?' I asked.

'We show him that Louis is an invaluable addition to the team.'

'How?'

'You'll see.' He smirked. I rolled my eyes. Louis came out of the boy's locker room and made a beeline for Gavin.

'So what did coach say?' Louis asked eagerly.

'Eh... He didn't say much.' Gavin hedged.

'Why?' Louis asked.

'Mostly because he didn't let me actually talk to him about you.'

'Oh. So that's it. No football for me then.'

'No. What did I tell you about working for what you want. You don't let every little complication that gets in your way stop you.' Gavin said.

'I don't see how this qualifies as a "little complication".' Louis replied skeptically.

'It is if you're determined.'

'Okay. So what do I do now?' Louis frowned.

'Since he won't listen, we're going to have to show him that you're a great player.' Gavin stated.

'Oh.' Louis beamed.

'You better be a great player.' His voice turned low and vaguely threatening. 'I'm putting my position as team captain on the line by doing this.'

Louis gulped and shakily nodded but I could tell he appreciated what Gavin was doing.

'You're not putting anything on the line.' I stated as soon as Louis was out of earshot. 'Coach likes you and you're the best player on the team.'

'Yes but Louis needed the incentive.'

'That was mean and underhanded.' I noted.

'So?'

'I approve.' I smirked. 'I never thought I would ever say that to you.'

Author's Note:

Sorry for the long wait readers. Its been a crazy few days. I know. I know. This chapter wasn't all that funny. I'll try to make the next one a lot funnier. It's my first time writing humour. I'm still trying to get the hang of it.

I'll be updating this book 2-3 times a week. I haven't figured out what days I'll be updating it yet but you can count on 2-3 updates a week.

Don't forget to vote/comment/share/fan.