3.

A full week had passed by and Conan still hadn't made a single friend. He tried to, but talking wasn't exactly his thing and he always ended up fumbling over his words or getting too nervous to say anything at all. He wasn't thrilled with the new school but at least he wasn't getting bullied every day anymore.

His wish of being invisible was granted, but it didn't feel as good as he thought it would.

Now all he wanted was to go home. It was the day for football tryouts and Duncan wanted to join the team. Since they shared a car, Conan was stuck waiting for him on the bleachers. The air was chilly and managed to seep through his hoodie. He really wanted to leave.

"Keep up, Hill!"

Conan's head shot up when his last name was called but he realized it was directed at his brother who was struggling to keep up with the other boys. Conan didn't know much about sports, but he did know that their old school's team was garbage. Duncan was strong but hotheaded with messy form. His ego was ridiculously large since everyone else sucked, so he looked good despite just being mediocre. Now, being last place in front of all the other boys, he was embarrassed and angry.

"I'm just warming up," he grumbled back to the team captain, Owen. From where Conan was sitting he couldn't see who it was, but he wasn't paying much attention anyway. He was scrolling through his phone in boredom, begging time to pass by faster.

Everyone was doing laps around the field. They were only ten minutes into the session, but the field was much bigger than the one in Texas. At least three times bigger. Duncan was nothing compared to the other guys jogging with ease. His pride couldn't handle it and he ignored the ache in his legs as he ran faster.

"I'd cool it with the attitude, Hill. Unless you don't want a spot on the team."

Duncan clenched his fists in anger at Owen's words. Owen was bigger than the rest of the guys and hadn't even begun sweating yet. Duncan was confident, but Owen was more confident in his abilities. People either looked up to him because of his talent or hated him because of their jealousy. Duncan held back his sharp tongue and kept running. He hated the captain, but he had to make the team. He'd shut up for the next forty-five minutes if that's what it took. Hopefully.

"Stevenson, fix your form! Mitchell, I've ran faster in my sleep!" Owen barked out orders and critical words at the boys. Some people thought he looked like a jerk but being tough on them was what made them a good team. They needed his criticism in order to succeed.

Conan checked the time, only fifteen minutes were left. They were all about to scrimmage and separated into two different teams with yellow over shirts signifying the separation.

He sighed, looking up when his phone battery grew dangerously low, forcing him to watch the boring game for the remaining time to make sure he could still use it in an emergency. He didn't understand the point in throwing around a ball and tackling other people for it. They looked like wild animals and he wanted no part in it.

"Hill, what the are you doing!" Owen shouted at Duncan who was exhausted after running so much. The ball flew right past him and he barely moved an inch toward it.

"I'm tired." He gritted his teeth and resisted punching Owen like his body was begging him to.

"Tired?" Owen laughed bitterly. "You think opponents will care if you're tired?"

Duncan felt shame creep up his spine, but his ego wouldn't let him retreat. "I'll try harder," he spat.

Owen shook his head. "I've seen enough. We've got two more rounds of tryouts before coach and I make our decisions. Come back tomorrow."

"I'm fine," Duncan persisted even though Owen had gone to walk away. "Just let me play, man."

"Come back tomorrow," he repeated, starting to get annoyed. Owen didn't have a cocky personality like his team captain attitude gave off. Everyone knew he was usually an easygoing guy that resembled a puppy, but right then was Captain Wilson, not Owen.

"I'm not leaving." Duncan crossed his arms stubbornly.

"Fine. You're off the team. Try again next year when you learn how to control your anger." Owen abruptly walked away but Duncan panicked, following after him.

"It's my senior year, you can't not recruit me! I'm literally fine, just let me play. Come on, dude!"

In return, Owen ignored Duncan, which only fueled him on. Owen's patience was wearing thin, but he didn't seem to notice.

"Screw you man," he snarled. "I was the best player back home. You're the one making a mistake."

"Get out of here before I whoop your ass across the damn field." Owen whipped around so fast that Duncan stumbled back. "You're slow, you're out of shape, your ego is too big to fit inside your tiny brain, and I don't want to put up with an entitled piece of trash all year."

Duncan was fuming by this point, hands curled up into fists at his sides. He went to punch Owen like he had wanted to, but Owen caught his wrist midair, grabbing it to flip him around and kick him onto the ground. The breath was knocked out of his lungs at the impact, feeling lightheaded.

"Wilson-" the coach went to intercept for the first time, afraid that he might beat the life out of the bigheaded newbie, but Owen just laughed, which spurred Duncan on more, though he didn't seem to care.

The rest of the guys trying out were staring with wide eyes, along with Conan. He was watching how effortlessly he knocked his brother onto the grass, silently thanking him for doing what he'd wanted to do himself for years. Though he wasn't looking forward to having to put up with Duncan whining about it for the next month.

"Get off my field within the next ten seconds," Owen ordered, satisfied with the way Duncan scrambled off of the dirt immediately.

Even he knew he was no match for the coach. But this wasn't over, no, Duncan was going to make Owen pay. Now he just had to leave before he did something he'd regret and get his backside handed to him in front of the whole team.

"Back to the game!" Owen shouted and everyone instantly fell back into play.

Conan stood up and slung his backpack over his shoulder. He stepped down the bleachers to follow his brother to their car, but Owen's eyes met with his across the large field. He was smiling at Conan and gave him a wave. Conan looked behind him to make sure he wasn't waving to someone else but no one else was near him. The captain was waving at him.

Conan awkwardly waved back with blushing cheeks, feeling embarrassed when Owen laughed. He couldn't hear him from the distance between them, but he could make out his amused grin. He freaked out inside when Owen made a move to walk toward him. He paused when he saw a car zoom through the parking lot, way too fast for a school zone. It was moving in the direction of Duncan who was fuming and oblivious to his surroundings.

Without hesitating, Conan threw his belongings down onto the grass and bolted across the field to his brother. He caught the attention of everyone on the field who paused their play. Normally Owen would've yelled at them, but he was distracted by the small boy sprinting across the huge field in mere seconds. He was shocked by how fast his short legs were moving. He was going even faster than he could himself.

"Duncan!" Conan shouted but he couldn't hear him. The car was seconds away from hitting him and Conan just ran faster. His muscles ached in protest, but the fear made him numb to the pain.

He had gotten lots of practice running after all the times he was chased by bullies. He hated sports and was out of practice, but adrenaline rushed through his veins, making him zoom through the grass.

Dozens of eyes watched him with their lips parted in shock. Nobody would've guessed someone of his size could move so fast.

The wind rushed through his now messy hair, making it stick up in all sorts of directions as he sprinted to the road.

He leaped in front of the car just as Duncan was in front of it, tackling him and making them both crash into the ground. The force made them both groan in pain, but the car just obliviously swerved right past them. Just a second later and he would've gotten hit.

Conan's breathing was heavy as he rolled off of his brother, laying on the concrete as he hacked up a lung. His entire body was buzzing. The sound of clapping brought him back. He sat up in confusion, blushing heavily when he realized all of the players had been watching him. His face reddened even more when Owen jogged over to him, holding out a hand to pull him up.

"That was impressive," he marveled, not letting go of Conan even after he was steadily on his feet.

"I, um... I just," he panted, not noticing just how fast he went. All he was focusing on was making sure his brother didn't get squished by a huge van.

"I want you on the team."

"What?!" Duncan spluttered, jumping up. He hadn't known how quickly Conan had ran either. He was only focusing on the fact that Conan made the team, and he didn't. Conan.

It was almost funny how jealous the twins were of each other, just in different ways. Conan was envious of Duncan's masculinity and Duncan craved the attention from their mother that seemed reserved only for Conan.

Now, on top of that, he just snatched away his spot on the team. He wasn't even trying out.

"Huh?" Conan choked, equally as shocked.

"I said I want you on the team," he said with a firm nod.

Conan broke contact but before he could respond, Duncan was looming over him with a sinister glare. "You really think he can be on the team? Look how fucking tiny she is!"

All the blood drained from Conan's face at Duncan's slip-up. He just called him 'she'. In front of everyone.

They'd all laugh, he was going to get beaten up and kicked and punched again. His family would have to move again. His breathing was unsteady again but this time it was because of an impending panic attack creeping up his throat.

He almost started crying but not a signal person noticed the error, or at least if they did no one made a comment.

"He still managed to do better in seconds than you have all damn night," Owen sneered.

For some reason, Owen felt protective of Conan. He didn't register it at the time but it showed through the anger he felt. How he didn't hesitate to stick up for him. How much he wanted to knock Duncan's teeth out of his mouth.

"You better watch your fucking mouth!" Duncan growled with his self-esteem plummeting into the ground. How could his tiny brother make the team and not him? Conan didn't even naturally produce testosterone, he had to take injections while Duncan's own body was full of the hormone.

"Me?" Owen snickered. "Good luck with that."

Duncan bounded forward but Conan grabbed his shoulder. "Let's just go," he spoke in a hushed voice and Owen's gaze softened at the sound.

"But-"

"I mean it. Let's go."

Oddly enough Duncan listened to him and stormed into their car with a huff. Owen grabbed Conan's wrist before he could follow him.

"Is that your brother?" he asked.

"Unfortunately."

Owen gave him a lopsided grin that made Conan's knees tremble. "I'm so sorry."

He laughed but was cut off when he realized how tightly Owen was holding his wrist. Owen quickly yanked his hand away, color filling his cheeks as he searched for words.

He wasn't used to feeling the way he was at that moment. It made him confused and his throat went dry. He barely even knew Conan.

"I'm sorry he ruined your practice." Conan frowned, shyly averting his eyes from everyone who was still staring at them. Owen seemed to notice and yelled at them to keep playing again.

"He made it interesting." Owen shrugged and Conan admired how positive he was. "Plus, if he didn't throw a hissy fit then I would've recruited the wrong Hill."

"I can't join the team," Conan deadpanned, bewildered that he would ever consider it. "I'm like an entire foot shorter than everybody else."

"Okay. Then you'll join the track team with me."

Conan gulped, feeling increasingly nervous. He pinned it on feeling intimidated by such a big guy compared to himself.

"Sports aren't really my thing," he admitted despite it being pretty apparent to anyone with eyes. There was barely any muscle on his body. Testosterone injections had helped a little but you couldn't change genetics.

"You just ran across the field in seconds." Owen bent down slightly to force their gazes together. "I've never seen anyone run that fast before. Not even me."

Pride rose up in Conan's chest. He hoped Owen was being truthful because the thought made him feel happier than he had in a long time. Imagining being faster than the giant before him was exhilarating, though he doubted it was possible.

"Please? Just think about it." Owen pouted at him. "It'll be fun. It's a good opportunity to make some new friends too."

"You sound like my mom," Conan giggled and Owen smiled weirdly widely for him.

"She sounds like a very intelligent woman. You should listen."

Conan bit his lip and debated Owen's offer. Maybe this was the universe giving him a chance to have a good senior year.

He could never seem to rid himself of the negativity in the back of his mind that wouldn't shut up about all the things that could go wrong. Like everyone finding out, moving again, getting bullied again. But just talking to Owen made him look on the bright side of things this time. Making friends, having fun, joining a sport.

He couldn't deny that the idea of being on a sports team made him feel incredibly good about himself. It made him feel like a real boy. Moments like that were rare for him.

"Okay," Conan slowly agreed, "I'll think about it."

"Yay!" Owen cheered and ruffled his hair teasingly. "I promise you'll enjoy it."

Conan rolled his eyes with a chuckle. "I'm sure."

They were interrupted when Conan and Duncan's shared car sped out of the parking lot, his brother getting fed up with how long he was taking. And the fact that he was talking to Owen of all people. His new enemy.

The two of them blinked at the car that was now long gone.

"Need a ride home?"