D A L L A S • P O V

This is the story of how Drayton and Dallas might not have had a future, had things gone a little differently the first day that they met.

"Heads up!"

I glance forward just in time to see a football spiralling towards me. In an attempt to stop it before it smacks me in the face, I lift my hands.

—

"Fuck, that's a lot of blood bro."

"You broke a cheerleaders nose. That entire squad is going to fuck you up Lahey."

"They don't even like her."

"Can you all shut the fuck up! She's waking up."

My entire mouth tastes like blood, the metallic smell is overwhelming and the pounding in the middle of my face is giving me a splitting headache. But the worst part of it all, might be the masculine voices that won't shut up.

"Woah, easy cheer p- . . . what's her name again?"

"I dunno."

"It's Dallas you fucking morons." I groan, fighting against the pair of hands that won't let me sit up.

The sun is shining directly on my face, not allowing me to stare at whoever's hovering above me. Through my lids, I can make out a couple of shadows and one of them must belong to whoever threw that ball at my face.

"Drayton!" Emily's high pitch squawking comes from a short distance. "If you've broken her nose, I'm going to be down a cheerleader and I don't need that right now!"

"Shut the fuck up." A deep voice grumbles from beside me. She wouldn't have heard it, but I kind of wish she did.

"I'm taking her to the nurse." The voice says a little louder before a strong set of arms scoop me up bridal style. My hands instinctively wrap around his damp neck and he starts to walk, being careful not to jostle me too much.

"Alright cheer pear. Just you and me now." He says, sounding as though he's smiling.

"What did you just call me?"

I finally open my eyes and stare up at the face of Drayton Lahey. Shit he is beautiful. The sun shines down on his dirty blonde hair, sweat beads coat his forehead and his broad shoulder muscles look fucking incredible.

"Sorry for knocking you out." He grins down at me. "I think I broke your nose too."

"What an asshole." I groan, letting my head fall back again. He starts to laugh, the feeling of his chuckle reverberating from his chest.

It's almost too painful to keep my eyes open, so I just endure the fact that everyone will be staring at us and let him continue walking me to the nurse. He doesn't even sound like he's tired or having a hard time carrying my weight across the field and through the quad.

"Oi!" His loud voice echoes through me as he shouts and I startle with fright, figuring that I must have dozed off again. "Hold the door open for me!"

I squint through narrow eyes, turning my head to the side just in time to see a freshman scurrying towards us, his face a little nervous as he pulls the door open.

"You could say please." I grumble. "Bossy much."

"Right." He chuckles, almost sounding embarrassed for the rude demand. "Thanks man. Appreciate it."

"You're welcome." The kid murmurs as Drayton steps inside and starts hollering, apparently needing to make his presence known.

"Drayton!" Someone hisses. "Quit all that hollering! The nurse is in, go straight through."

"Can you hol- can you please hold the door open." He gives me a proud smile.

So she does and within a few moments, I'm laid down on the plastic bed, my headache becoming more unbearable by the moment. Drayton explains what happened to the nurse and I can't help but subtly watch him as he uses hand gestures and dramatic expressions to describe the incident. His biceps flex and the veins in his arm are prominent.

"Alright Dallas, we'll get you some pain relief and I think it's best that you head to the hospital for an X-Ray."

"I'll take her." Drayton offers, raising his hand with a noble smirk. "Well.. only if she'll let me drive her car. I don't think my bike would be the best form of transport, huh cheer pear?"

"You two figure that out." The nurse smiles. "I'm going to get the pain relief."

"Why do you keep calling me that?"

"Because you're a cheerleader and you've got a great ass." He shrugs, sitting in the seat beside the bed. "We all do."

"You all call me that?" I stare at him with bewilderment. "Great. That's . . . great."

"Take it as a compliment." He leans back in the seat with folded arms and I suddenly have the urge to lean out and slap him.

"Take this as a compliment." I lift a hand and flip him off.

"I do love a girl with attitude." He stands up and leans over the bed, a hand on either side of my head. "We could make out, but your face is covered in blood."

"How unhinged are you?!" I recoil, putting a flat palm on his forehead and pushing him away. "Go find Emily. I'm surprised she even let you bring me here."

"Didn't you hear?" He sits back down, allowing me to breathe again. Well, sort of breathe. My nose isn't making that easy at all. "We broke up."

"How unfortunate." I roll my eyes, not at all surprised in the slightest. He's not the most one woman type of man.

"Dallas! I heard that you-" Spencer comes running into the room, her bag swinging from her shoulder. She stops the second she sees Drayton, her entire demeanour becoming stunned and awe struck. She pushes her glasses up the bridge of her nose, letting out a small giggle.

"Hey." Drayton greets from beside me.

"Um, hi." Spencer walks further in, her cheeks a shade darker, her eyes widening when they meet mine. "Someone said that you were here with a blood nose. It looks awful."

"Yeah, she ran into a brick wall. Embarrassing right?" Drayton teases. I swipe out, slapping him on the shoulder which of course doesn't even register with him.

"He threw a ball at my face." I correct the story. Spencer stands at the foot of the bed and winces as she assesses the damage. From the look on her face, I must look awful.

"Girls love balls coming at their face though." He smirks, putting his hands behind his head.

"You're the epitome of douche bag." I scowl, cut off from firing more because the nurse walks in with a paper and a couple of tablets.

"Okay honey, name and date of birth please."

"Dallas Ashley Bryan, second of July, 1999."

"Bryan." Drayton murmurs to himself, while I lean up and throw the pills back, accepting the cup of water that the nurse holds out. "Bryan? Where have I- Nathan!" He sits up, snapping his fingers. "You're related to Nathan Bryan?"

"He's my brother." I lay back down and thank the nurse.

"I'll come in with a warm cloth and clean up that blood in a minute." She smiles and leaves again.

"He was the fucking man back when he was a quarterback here. So I've heard. Coach talks about him all the time. Even has a photo of him on his wall."

"Weird." I mumble, meeting Spencer's elated gaze. Her eyes dart towards Drayton and she does a discreet little dance on the spot, no doubt close to passing out for the simple fact that they're in the same room.

"Spence, can you give me a ride to the hospital?"

"I thought I was going to take you?" Drayton sits up a little straighter.

"You can take her!" Spencer chirps, giving me a subtle pinch on the leg.

"No thanks. Spencer can take me."

It becomes quiet for a moment, the three of us exchanging glances until Drayton throws up his hands with a sigh.

"Eh, that's fine." He stands up and starts towards the door. "I'd rather not leave my bike at school anyway."

I watch him saunter towards the door, stopping and turning around at the threshold. "Dallas, I'm sorry about that by the way."

"Forgiven and forgotten." I shrug.

He gives me a small smile and wave before disappearing from the room.

"What did you do that for?!" Spence takes the spot that he'd been sitting, letting her bag drop to the floor as she stares at me with disbelief. "He wanted to take you!"

"He's kind of a dick. I'd just rather not listen to him talk out of his ass for the next couple of hours." I explain, not feeling the loss as hard as she is. "What are you still doing here anyway?"

"I was studying in the library. I heard a couple of the girls talking about what happened out in the car park, so I came straight here."

"Thanks." I give her an appreciative smile. "Do me a favour and let Nathan know as well?"

"Yeah of course." She pulls out her phone and starts tapping the screen with her lightening fast thumbs.

"I was gonna ask if we could go that club opening in Castle Pines this weekend, but I'm guessing it'd be a no now?"

"I wish I could." I give her an apologetic smile. "But I have a feeling that my nose is broken, so I'll pass this time."

"Fair enough." She smiles. "Quiet night in? Movies and pizza."

"That sounds perfect."

• • •

Drayton is almost certain that they were still meant for each other. So I'll let you guys use your imagination as to how they could have ended up together ! ❤️

I don't know why I wrote this. The idea just came to me so I went with it. Haha.

Much love. Please tap the star to vote. ⭐️❤️