Teachers can't send students on errands and expect them to take the most efficient route. Being sent to do something for a teacher is like getting a pass to skip class.

On our way to the errand, Sierra and I visited a couple teachers and crashed a gym class. On our way back, I tugged on Sierra's sleeve. "Let's go that way," I said and pointed down a hallway.

Sierra chuckled, "You're ridiculous. You're explaining why we were gone half the period." I smiled cheekily and rounded the corner. I froze. I saw a group of kids leaned against some lockers. They looked like a gang, all grouped together wearing baggy sweatshirts and jeans. I swallowed.

Sierra came from behind me. She blinked, staring at the smoke bellowing from a kids mouth after he pulled a cigarette from his lips. "Um, nope." She immediately spun on her heels and tried to walk away.

I grabbed her hood and pulled her back. "Look." I pointed at the group. "It's Jade and Sawyer." I must've said it louder than I meant to because a couple of them turned and looked straight at us.

"What're you looking at?" Sawyer snarled, holding a cigarette inches from a lighter.

Ese nudged me. "Come on. Let's go," she hissed.

One of the boys said with a laidback grin, "Sawyer, don't be a bitch. What if they just want a smoke?" A really laidback grin. I felt uncomfortable and leaned closer into Sierra.

Sawyer rolled her eyes. "Sure, they do," she said sarcastically. She brought the cigarette to her mouth. "Do you know who they are?"

A girl said from on top of a locker, "No." She took a swig of a can. I was pretty sure it wasn't soda. "I don't really care."

"Try the overrated Freshman who are supposed to carry us to states." Sawyer laughed bitterly. "At this rate, we won't even make it to districts."

"It's a team game," Sierra murmured.

Sawyer walked towards us and blew a puff of smoke in our faces. I coughed and turned away. Sawyer added, "Plus, their senior buddies would beat their asses."

A boy snorted, "Like the way Hannah used to beat your ass."

Sawyer sent him a death glare. She flipped the lighter and held the flame towards him. "Fight me, Harvey."

Jade spoke up, "Sawyer's right. They won't smoke." She eyed me like she was telling me not to put a cigarette in my math. Excuse me? Who was she to tell me what to do? And telling me not to smoke with a cigarette in her hand. Sure. That makes sense.

"Hey, there's a first time for everything." The boy shrugged.

"Yeah," I stepped forward. "I'll smoke if I want to."

Sierra yanked me back. "Stop it," she said, glancing behind us.

Suddenly, a tall, blond girl pushed through the entourage. "Hey bitch, watch it," one of the boys snapped. I couldn't see the girl's face behind everyone else but her hands were above her head, flipping everyone off. When I saw her face, I cast my eyes down. Shoot! Shoot! Shoot!

"You guys have reached an all time low. Taking advantage of freshman. Really?" Sarah heatedly shamed.

I didn't look up. I knew Sarah was probably pissed. Like really really pissed.

She gripped my bicep and Sierra's sweatshirt, spinning us around. "We're leaving. Don't talk to these girls again are I'll turn your asses in faster than you can light another cigarette," she called over her shoulder. She dragged us back around the corner. I fought against her grip. What was with people and controlling me? I had a brain. I could make my own decisions.

She led us down the hall until we were way past earshot of them. She pushed Sierra and I against a wall and crossed her arms. "What is wrong with you two?" She questioned, looking at me, then Sierra, then back at me.

Sierra bit her lip. "We just bumped into them. We weren't actually, like, you know . . . doing stuff."

I demanded, "We have to get Jade! We can't let her—"

"What have I told you?"

"But she's—"

"Do you ever listen to me?"

"Yes! But you can't just—"

Sarah clamped my mouth and looked up and down the hall. "Shhh." She looked straight into my eyes then at Sierra. "I honestly can't believe you two," she chuckled wryly. I opened my mouth, but she glared at me. "I'll tell Ash and Jay if you guys talk to them again," she warned.

"You won't," I argued. Sierra hit my thigh discretely so Sarah wouldn't see.

Sarah narrowed her eyes. "Bet."

"We didn't even do anything! We just wanted to talk to Jade." I argued. "We had it under control."

Sarah scoffed, "Under control? You were five seconds away from lighting your own cigarette."

"You're so paranoid." I pushed her away. "Don't you trust me?"

"It's not about trust," she said. "Where are you supposed to be?"

I rolled my eyes. "Screw off, Sarah. Like you never ditch."

Sarah furrowed her eyebrows and I could tell she didn't like my response. "Spanish," Sierra quickly cut in. "Our teacher asked us to drop work off at the office."

"Not that it's any of your business." I crossed my arms. "None of this involved you." I poked my finger into Sarah's chest.

She grabbed my wrist tightly and I scowled, trying to pull away. "Ouch. I don't appreciate this attitude," she said. "I'm just trying to be a good friend."

I rolled my eyes. "Good to know."

She pursed her lips. I looked at Sierra and she gave me a look telling me to stop. I scoffed on the inside. Not on the outside. Sarah would've hit me.

Ese dug her nails into her palm. "We'll avoid them."

She smiled at Sierra. "I know you will. It's this one I'm worried about." She gave me a pointed look.

I rolled my eyes and yanked my hand away. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Before she could answer, a voice said, "What do you three think you're doing?"

My head snapped to the left. Knowing my luck, it was going to be one of our captains ready to beat us for skipping class. Instead, it was Claire. Claire was a senior, but she was much more easy going and let us get away with ten times more. I sighed in relief. "Nothing," I said with a forced smile.

She rose her eyebrows and shook her head, but she was smiling. "Mhm. Sure. It's not like you kids are always up to no good."

"Mhm. We were actually just leaving." I said quickly. Before Sarah could argue, I grabbed Sierra and ran towards our classroom.

———

Ash grabbed my arm. "Ow, Ash!" I protested. I tried to twist away, but she wouldn't let go. "You're hurting me." She grit her teeth and didn't answer me. She grabbed Sarah with her other hand and pulled us to the side. Ash was pissed and honestly I was too. "Whatever is going on needs to be solved right now," she ordered. "Because what ever is going on just cost us fourteen opportunities and two goals and I'm not letting that be the second half too."

"There's nothing going on. Sarah's being a bitch and not passing me the ball when I'm wide open. Like even when there's no one for freaking miles around me," I ranted, glaring at the sophomore.

Sarah rolled her eyes. "Don't act innocent. You're the one who's booting the ball 50 yards instead of giving an easy pass to me."

"Nothing's easy with you," I bit back.

She flipped me off.

Ash snapped, "Both of you knock it off. Amily if I hear that language again you can write lines for me all practice long. And Sarah, don't think I won't take care of you. I have many times before and times haven't changed." She had her hands on her hips and she was definitely fed up with our bickering.

The two of us just stood glaring heatedly at each other.

"You two can be spanked right here, right now. I have no issue with that." The senior looked at the clock. "I'm sure Jess, and I could fit a good one in eight minutes."

I looked down feeling my face get hot at the threat. "Yeah, let's not do that."

Ash nodded. She must've been expecting that response. But who the heck would push her buttons after a threat like that? I used to make that mistake a lot, and I don't recommend it. "Then you two can stay here until you figure out your issue. If that runs into the game, fine. But I swear children, if you walk onto that field with the same immature attitudes I've been seeing, you better pray super hard."

I went to argue, but she was obviously not in the mood to debate. "Yes ma'am," I grumbled.

She nodded and walked back to the team. I watched as she talked to coach who glanced at us a couple times. I glared at Sarah who had her hands on her hips and was staring at the ground with sweat dripping down her face.

"Are you still butt hurt about earlier?"

She scoffed and looked at me. "Wow not even an apology."

This time, I scoffed. "Apology? Apology?" I raised my voice. "Apology for what?"

"For being a jerk when I was just trying to be a good friend!"

I laughed dryly. "Good friend my butt. If you wanted to be a good friend you'd've helped me help Jade."

She groaned. "God! You're so thick. I'm a good friend because I'm keeping you away from her."

"You're so freaking full of it," I snarled. I pushed past her and went towards the locker room.

She hollered after me, "Where do you think you're going?"

I spun on my heels and yelled back, "Well I'm obviously not playing since this talk is going nowhere. Especially with your 'I'm trying to protect you' BS."

"But I am!"

"BS!" I shouted.

She closed the space between us and gripped my shirt. I tried to wriggle away but she wasn't letting go. "I didn't want you to get hurt," she said firmly.

I glared at her. "Jade would never hurt me."

She raised her eyebrows. "Are you sure about that?"

"110%."

"Yeah. I thought the same thing until she told me to f**k off and called her drug pals her real friends. So unless you've been doing coke recently, I don't think you're on that real friends list."

I blinked. "She said that?" I asked weakly.

She nodded. "She said some really harsh things, and I didn't want her to say them to you."

I looked at the ground. "Why didn't you tell me?" I asked a little hurt. I thought Sarah told me everything.

She sighed. "I didn't think you needed to know."

I didn't say anything back.

She pulled me into a hug. I wrapped my arms around her and rested my head against her shoulder. "I'm sorry," I murmured into her shoulder.

She just hugged me tighter. "I'm sorry too, buddy."

The buzzer sounded and the teams started to take the field. We pulled away. She smiled at me. "Come on. We've got a game to win."