13.
Conan hadn't been so nervous in a long, long time. He was wearing his track uniform: blue basketball shorts and a white sleeveless shirt which matched the school colors. The clothing was a little loose on him which made him incredibly embarrassed because it was the smallest size but Owen thought he looked adorable. Though the observation was silent of course.

It was deathly early in the morning and everyone was exhausted. The sun hadn't even risen yet.

"Did you remember to bring a bottle of water?" Owen asked Conan as they walked to the bus together. He had picked him up from his house to drive to the school where the team was meeting on a bus to drive together.

They were competing at their opponent's school which was a little far away from them. The part of Massachusetts they lived in was sparse without many other schools around, so for every sports match the teams always ended up riding a bus together.

"Shit," Conan muttered. "I knew I forgot something."

"Take mine." Owen handed him the water bottle he brought.

"It's fine. It's yours."

"But I want you to have it," he insisted, holding it out for Conan who refused to take it.

Owen secretly wanted him to take it because he had already drunk a portion of it and if Conan took a sip then it would be kind of like kissing him. That was his logic. Extremely intelligent logic.

Gavin practically galloped over to them and snatched it out of Owen's hands before forcing it into Conan's instead. "Stop arguing, lovebirds. Just share it for fuck's sake."

"Oh fuck off would you!" Owen shoved Gavin's shoulder who grumbled with a glare.

"Stop being so mean to me!" he whined with a pout.

Owen shook his head with a huff. "I need to round everyone on the bus. I'll talk to you later. Save a seat for me," he directed to Conan.

Since he was the captain he was in charge of instructing everyone what to do. It was kind of hot to watch the puppy dog boss people around honestly.

"I will," Conan murmured, secretly happy that Owen wanted to sit with him of all people.

"But we always sit together!" Gavin protested though it was too late as Owen was already gone.

Conan watched dreamily as Owen spouted orders for the dozens of teammates to listen to. Everyone immediately paid him attention when he whistled, the chatter dying down. He was well respected and no one would dare defy him.

Not that they would want to - Owen was a great captain. He pushed everyone to do better and took control of situations when need be while still considering his team's feelings. Without him they wouldn't be nearly as successful as they were. They hadn't lost a match all season last year and ended up un-defeated.

Owen ushered everyone onto the bus. Coach watched with a proud smile at his progressing leadership skills. He had faith that he would go big places someday.

Owen stood next to the bus entrance and fist bumped everyone who got on the bus. As Conan went up the steps, he felt Owen's hand on the small of his back to guide him for a split second before it was gone. He hid his giddy smile as he found an empty seat for them both.

"Conan!" Cailey waved from a spot near the front of the bus. "Come sit with me!"

He had been avoiding her ever since the restaurant incident days ago along with Duncan. She knew his secret and he didn't want to deal with the confrontation.

He guiltily pretended not to hear her over the loud chatter on the bus, finding a spot in the far back.

"Hey stranger. Nice to meet you." Owen held out his hand for Conan to shake. "Is this seat taken?"

"I'm actually waiting for my friend. He told me to save him a seat." Conan accepted the handshake, not being able to contain his grin as their touch connected.

"I don't see him." Owen shrugged, plopping down in the seat. "I'll fight him for it if I have to."

Conan laughed. "You want to sit next to me that badly?"

"Yup." Owen declared, "I'm ready to take a fat nap and I need a pillow."

He splayed himself out over the cramped bus seat. His long legs hung off of the edge as he rested his head on Conan's thighs and looked up at him with his shiny teeth on display.

"I don't recall offering to be your pillow." Conan scoffed.

"That's because I didn't ask," he replied as he made himself comfy. At least as comfortable as he could in the uncomfortable chair.

Conan looked down as Owen's eyes fluttered shut. The bus was booming with obnoxiously loud laughter and talking but neither paid any mind. Conan was busy admiring the boy's chiseled features. His fingers were aching to run his fingers through Owen's soft-looking hair that flopped down on his lap.

"It's rude to stare," he murmured suddenly with his eyes still closed.

"I-I'm not." Conan blushed. He didn't know he could feel his gaze on him.

"I don't mind," Owen said in amusement, "I am pretty fun to look at," he teased confidently.

"Whatever you say." Conan rolled his eyes.

Owen looked up at him. "Hey," his bottom lip jutted out. "That's mean. Take it back."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"This is bullying," Owen complained.

"Good." Conan patted his head and Owen playfully swatted his hand away.

He sat up and rest his head on Conan's shoulder instead. "I should report you the school for harassment," he muttered.

Conan gulped as Owen's head laid upon his shoulder. His body was tense as he tried to control his breathing. He had no experience with anything like this before and was at a loss for what to do.

After just a few minutes, subtle snores left Owen's parted lips as his cheek nuzzled the material of Conan's shirt. From the position he was in he wasn't able to see Owen's expression so he slowly fished his phone out of his pocket. He opened his camera to see how innocent Owen looked and wanted to coo at how cute he looked. He secretly snapped a picture, wanting to savor the moment forever.

He was falling way too hard for Owen. Maybe almost as hard as Owen had fallen for him.

Some time along the way Conan fell asleep too. His own head rested against Owen's hair. Luckily they were sitting in the back of the bus so no one was looking at them because their position was nowhere near platonic.

After around half an hour the bus reached the destination. Everyone groaned as Coach shook them awake since Owen was still asleep. He noticed him practically cuddling the new boy and was beyond suspicious of their relation to one another.

Though they looked absolutely adorable and didn't want to bother them, so he took the liberty of dragging everyone off the bus.

"Owen," Conan tried to shake him awake. "We're here."

"Mm," he grumbled sleepily, pushing himself closer to the boy in a daze. His nose was right against Conan's neck, one of his arms wrapped around his waist.

Conan's face had never been so red before.

"Get up." He shuffled away from him in embarrassment. He didn't know if Owen would be okay with being so close to another boy, especially in public.

"Nooo," he whined, cracking one of his eyes open. "I'm tired."

"So are the rest of us, Wilson. Get your lazy ass up before I do it for you!" Coach yelled from the front of the now empty bus. He was trying to contain a smile of his own. He and Owen were quite close, being the captain and all, so he knew lots about the jock. Which included Tara who he hated.

And she never made him look even half as happy as Conan was making him in that moment.

"Alright, alright." He stood up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "No need to get aggressive. Jeez."

The bus was cleared and the second the two got off the bus Owen's team captain attitude was back in style as he instructed everyone on what stretches to do.

The team jogged around the parking lot perimeter for a few laps as a warm up. The match was at a big field that had lots of open space for the runners.

Central High School was on the opposite side of them, glaring and readying themselves for a competition. Sports were taken very seriously around their towns and winning was a big deal to everyone. It was shameful to lose a match and they knew Owen- everyone knew Owen. Not only because of his talent but also because of his rich parents that hosted tons of events.

But they knew how good his team was and knew it would be a tough fight.

The sun had risen by then and the sweating had begun even as the students all warmed up. The competition was about to begin any second and Owen brought everyone in for a group huddle.

"Alright guys," he began. "This is our first match of the year and let's start it off a good one."

"Some of you are new," he looked at Conan with a small smile, "while others have been on the team all four years. Those who have been here know we're good. You know what we're made of. You know we're going to win. So let's go show those assholes what Easton High is made of."

Everyone cheered, whooping and hyping each other up right as the game was called to start.

The ref called both teams over and they stood before each other, everyone staring their opponents down. It was intense, the air thick with anticipation. Parents and friends who showed up for support watched as they sat on the edge of their seats.

Conan didn't tell his parents about the meet because he didn't want them coming and embarrassing him. Specifically Lillian who got a little too excited about things. 'A little excited' being an understatement.

Owen didn't bother mentioning it to his parents either but for a completely different reason. He would love them to come and cheer at the top of their lungs the way Conan's parents would. But his wouldn't show even if he asked. They didn't care. Therefore he didn't bother.

"I want ten members from each team lined up on the track." The ref shouted, "We're starting off with sprints and I want your fastest teammates up first!"

The teams parted as the captains directed which people to go up first. "Listen up!" Owen whistled. "I want these people up with me. Gavin, Liam, Ashton, Olivia, Cailey, Mitchell, Abby, Jacob, and Conan!"

Conan's heart dropped. Owen wanted him to be first? He had no idea what he was doing! He was new and couldn't compare to all of the other experienced players.

"Wait, Owen." Conan jogged over to catch his wrist before he could get onto the track. "I'm not good enough to go first- ask Sam or Nathan- they're much better."

"Conan," Owen squeezed his shoulder with a knowing look, "you're better than everyone else I picked. You might not have as much experience as the others, but that doesn't make them any better than you."

He broke eye contact with shaking hands. He wasn't ready to do this. He never should've joined the track team, it was an awful idea. Everything was going to go horribly and he was going to be the laughingstock of the school.

Again.

"Let's go boys!" the ref yelled over at the two holding everyone else up.

"I'm going to be right up there with you, it'll be okay. Promise."

Conan took a deep breath. He was this far in already and there was no going back.

The two jogged over to the track next to each other and lined up with everyone else. Everyone got in their stances, determined to win as they waited for the referee to give the go ahead.

"Ready... set... go!" He blew his whistled loudly and everyone took off.