⚐Revelation⚐
the making known of something that was previously secret or unknown.

-

I watched it fly through the air, my hands out in front of me in a readying position. My knees slightly bent, leaning forward. The mismatched color of red and blue were all I could see as it headed for me.

I got ready for the impact, my wrists facing up as I held my hands together. I hit the volleyball with all my strength, letting it fly over the net. It reached close to a fill-in teammate from the practice team.

She hadn't been paying attention, her hands were adjusting her ponytail. It flew by her, landing at her feet and coming back up. It bounced a couple more times, before rolling on the ground as the crowd went wild.

My teammates came together, congratulating me for the winning point, but hesitating to call me anything but by my last name. I felt a hand clamp around my shoulder, making me wince and turn to see the coach with a proud look on her face,

"Good job, Hayes." I let out a kind smile, looking at the crowd once more. I couldn't catch sight of Louis, biting my lip to keep from growing worried.

He'd promised he'd be here.

I felt arms wrap around my waist, pulling me up in a warm embrace. I let out a yelp, shocked until I realized the holder of the hug had caramel skin, bulky as usual.

"You were great out there, Blondie!" I let out a laugh, feeling him pull me up. He spun me a little, putting me down in front of him and messing my hair up a little. I smiled proudly at him.

"It was easy, I hit towards the weak link." He rolled his eyes, looking up as some girls stared at him in awe, his blue eyes must've been mesmerizing to them. Not to mention how he wasn't that bad-looking. He winked to them, and I gagged. Thankfully, he was distracted as the coach approached us.

"You must be doing something right," My coach began, holding out her hand for a friendly shake, "Hayes is one of the best on the team, but she's the least... passionate, most times." I bit my lip, seeing a look of curiosity on his face,

"Oh really? Tell me more." I sighed, pointing behind me, "I'm gonna go get changed, but some of my things are in my locker. I'll leave you two alone." They nodded, going back to talking as I turned to leave, knowing I wouldn't hear the end of this when we got home.

I pushed open the gym doors, already finding students hanging around as they congratulated me. I smile and thank them, but other than that, I rush towards my locker. I want to leave soon, and honestly hope no one would be heading into the bathrooms.

I knew most were locked, except the one beside the band room. I grabbed my things, putting my bag on my shoulder as I headed to go change. I was often too shy about changing with in the locker rooms, not just because most girls were obviously more curvy.

But my main fear was sparked by an incident of the year before, when I hadn't tried out for the team yet. I'd heard someone had rushed in, taking pictures of almost everyone in only their panties and bra's. They leaked, and instead of being angry or flushed, girls were proud. I could tell some hoped for that to happen again, but I stayed away, the possibilities scaring me to no ends.

As I passed the band room, I heard the soft strum of a guitar, making me stop. No one was supposed to be in there, and my curiosity got the best of me as I checked to make sure the hall was empty, and moved towards the door.

I looked through the crack, seeing the back of someone's head. I assumed it was a guy, his hair a mess on his head, and a little long, but not enough to pass his neck. The strumming was careful and smooth, and I saw that he was wearing earphones, their thin white lines contrasting his black hoodie and jeans.

I realized this was just the introduction, before a familiar voice seemed to travel through the room, reality hitting me as I listened,

"She's in love with concept, as if we're all how she imagined."

That's when I stopped listening, reality hitting me. I knew this guy, I knew this voice. The song continued for a couple more seconds, and I tuned back in.

"And she said, I don't think I love you no more, you never seemed to call me lately."

I winced, knowing what this song was about. He hesitated for a second, as if he knew I was there, before continuing,

"Girl I don't think you know me at all, because I never thought I'd have to say this. I don't love you.."

Suddenly the strumming stopped, and he pulled the head phones off, cursing at himself. I watched his movements, my heart going faster. I knew I should've left, but... I wanted to see his reaction.

"I screwed it up... wrong note." He said aloud, and sighed. Of course, this song was just.. nothing to him. I still wondered if this was even him, I hadn't caught sight of his full face, but was about to as his feet shifted.

I knew his body was going to turn around, and willed myself to move, but my clumsiness came out as I made the door close shut. The sound echoed through the halls, making my presence known as I ran, my legs taking themselves into the girl's bathroom.

I did all I could not to slam the door, hearing him call out outside if anyone was there, but staying still as I listened to the sound of my leaping heart. Once I heard the familiar click of the door closing that gave me away earlier, I let out the breath I was holding.

I pushed off, heading into a stall despite the fact that I was in complete loneliness. Either way, I changed quickly into a t-shirt and leggings, shoving my blue and yellow team uniform into the bag and pulling out an oversized sweater jersey that had been stolen from a certain step-brother of mine.

I applied a new round of deodorant and perfume, knowing I'd take a shower as soon as I got home, but didn't care as my hair was pulled from its ponytail, falling into curls at my chest as I parted it correctly.

Finally, normal.

I slipped on the jersey and grabbed the bag, sighing lightly as I wash my face, glad to have all the sweat gone and then patting my face dry. I pulled open the door, walking out quickly.

The hall was empty, everything going smoothly as I was seconds from passing his door, when it opened. The quick movement made me jump back as I stared at him.

There he stood, dark black hair that fell over his forehead and ended only inches from his eyebrows. They were shadowing the dark grey eyes that landed on me, almost immediately. Now, I wasn't silently watching through a slightly open door. He was right in front of me, and I realized just how long it had been since I had looked into those same breathtaking eyes.

His arms were on display from a short-sleeved shirt, but were hidden behind tattoos that travelled down down his skin, not completely filling it up, but enough that would scare you away if you saw him approaching you on the street. His shoulders had a thick strap over them, and I saw a big bag behind him that probably carried his things.

He was tall, no doubt, but skinny. The shirt was loose, but from his bony wrists, I knew he wasn't... fit. Of course, he looked strong enough to overpower me. The bags under his eyes only made this more apparent as he raised his hand—making me take a step back—before he ran it through his hair, pushing it back, and brushing his thumb over his bottom lip softly.

I noticed a thick gold ring on it, a diamond in the middle as it hid part of a tattooed letter on his slender finger. My mind was too much of a mess to read what it was, and I only managed to snap out of the trance when his lips tilted into a grin.

I noticed that on the corner of his eye, was a small cross, which just took my breath away. That's where it all started, where I lost everything and thought I gained him. And then, he was gone. Like everything else at the time, until all I had was Louis.

Yet here he was, like the lost treasure I found again. Not so precious as it seemed before, but addicting nonetheless.

I figured him to say something—anything that would have some sort of meaning to the both of us. We hadn't looked at each other like this in so long, I wondered if the past even occurred. But instead I heard the words leave his lips effortlessly,

"And here she is, finally out of hiding."

And like a deer in the wild, I ran.

-
Don Benjamin as Louis King