^Gif is of our babe Ezra James. More of him to come :) Does anyone here watch GMW? Or BMW? 

"Pardon me?" Mum raised an eyebrow.

"We'd," Liv gestured between me and her, "like permission to go to the school's rugby game tonight."

"You're grounded," Mum reminded us before going back to doing research on something.

I interrupted her typing, "We know. We'd be staying out after school and coming back straight after the game at nine-thirty. Jeremy said that everyone goes."

"Who's Jeremy?" Mum raised a suggestive eyebrow, causing me to shudder.

"A friend," Liv answered for me, "Please Mum?"

"If you aren't home by nine-forty-five, you're grounded for another week," she frowned, "And, Vi, no... anything with this Jeremy kid."

"He's just a friend, Mum," I smiled, "Thanks."

"Thank you, Mum," Liv grinned. 

And that's how my sister and I found each other sitting in silence on bleachers that afternoon at 3pm. 

***

The game wasn't due to start until 4-30 and actually ended at 7-30, not 9-30. But, Ezra had said it would give us time to talk to Kristy after the game - heaven knows that it would take a while. 

Liv sat, rigid, next to me on the bench in complete silence. She'd been mad at me before, of course, but we'd never gone this long without talking or communicating with our eyes. 

I took a bite of my apple before Liv mumbled something.

I couldn't hear her over my chewing so I swallowed and asked, "What did you say?"

She rolled her eyes, "I'm not saying it again."

"No, I actually didn't hear you," I said with wide eyes, "I was eating my apple."

"I said," she paused for a moment, "I'm sorry."

Liv was watching the boys train on the field but I could feel the emotion in her voice. I shrugged, "It's okay, Liv. I'm sorry too."

"You have nothing to apologise for," she mumbled, "I shouted at you because I was mad at myself... you were right, Vi."

I placed one of my hands on her shoulders, "I love you, Liv. I just... I hate seeing you hurt yourself."

"I can't help-" she began but she was interrupted by another shout.

"Olivia! Violet!" 

We glanced to the one and only Jeremy Asher. He bounded over to us, still in his school uniform, and sat down, "So, Smith sisters, how'd you convince the Smith-Mother?"

I blinked at Jeremy whilst Liv let out a small laugh. 

Liv answered, "We just asked. And did a little convincing."

"So she's letting you come on the road trip?" Jeremy perked up.

Liv and I exchanged a glance. I was thinking maybe she'd brought it up with Mum but her expression read vice versa. I pressed my lips together and she shrugged. I cocked an eyebrow and Liv frowned slightly.

"Okay, because that's not freaky at all..." Jeremy muttered, glancing between the two of us. 

"We haven't actually brought up the topic of it with Mum."

"As in... she hasn't given you a reply yet?" Jeremy asked, hopefully.

"No," I answered, "As in we haven't asked her yet..."

Jeremy sighed, exasperated, "You're kidding, right? It's tomorrow afternoon."

"What's tomorrow afternoon?" a new voice asked. 

We glanced to a tall, brunette. Kayc grinned and sat down, "I repeat, what's tomorrow afternoon?"

"You didn't tell Kaycee?" my eyes widened on Jeremy.

He shrugged, "She doesn't need to come."

"I don't need to come where?" she narrowed her eyes on the two of us before her gaze landed on Liv, "Who are you?"

My younger sister stared at Kaycee for a moment before shaking her hand, "My name's Olivia Smith. Nice to meet you."

Kaycee grinned at my younger sister, "Kaycee Walker. And I'm pleased to meet you too... And now that's settled... where don't I need to come?"

"A road trip."

"But a road trip sounds like so much fun!" she squealed with a grin, "Can I please come?"

Jeremy sighed, "Kayc, we don't even know if we can get a car yet."

"What do you mean?" she narrowed her eyes, "I've got my license?"

"But you don't have a car," Jeremy pointed out, "Kristy Sanders has a car."

Kayc's face fell. Then she straightened up, glaring at her cousin's best friend, "You're telling me that you're going on a road trip without me and with Kristy Sanders?"

"Woah, wait, Kayc," Jeremy raised a hand, "We don't even know if Kristy Sanders has a car to drive."

Kaycee just crossed her arms, "You need to make this up to me, y'know?"

"A burger from Pete's?"

"A burger from Pete's and a sundae from Rosie's," Kaycee pouted.

Jeremy sighed, "Fine. I'll get it now." He walked away muttering, "The things I do for my best friend's cousin."

"You're Ezra's cousin?" Liv raised an eyebrow at Kaycee.

Kaycee nodded with a small smile, "Yep. That's probably the only reason why I know of his condition."

"Right," Liv mumbled, looking at her lap. 

We sat in silence for a moment before I remembered how I knew Kaycee knew. I asked, "Are you still with Drew?"

"I was never with Drew," Kaycee sighed, "We were just caught in the detention room making out after an exam. I'd barely even spoken to the guy."

"Really?" Liv's eyebrows popped up.

Kaycee nodded, "But there's a cute girl in my chem class. I'm going to see if she wants to study next Tuesday."

I cocked my head. Kaycee just... did she?

Jeremy was cackling hysterically and I'm pretty sure it was aimed at me. Liv's eyebrow was arched as she stuttered, "G-girl?"

Kaycee blushed faintly but still nodded, "I came out last year. Anyway, the road trip. I remembered something."

"What?" Jeremy asked, a large grin still on his face.

Kayc grinned maniacally, "Mum's going with Deputy Sheriff Jackson to East Point tomorrow morning and they're using the cop car. Which means... I have the car all weekend."

"As in...?" Jeremy asked for her to continue but I understood. 

I interrupted, "It means she can drive us. You're seventeen right?"

"Yeah, I got my Ps two weeks ago," Kayc smiled, "So I can drive Mum's car - a seven-seater - and you all get a lift without telling another soul about the lycanthropy."

"Yes!" we all shouted in sync. 

We leapt on Kayc in a hug before Liv leant back and dulled our moods.

She said, "We still need to get permission from Mum."

***

In short, Crestview smashed London Academy 42 - 34. London Academy was filled with big, burly players who could 'tackle' but Crestview High had the lithe, speedy, muscular ones that could intercept and dodge. Each time London Academy tried to tackle, it either ended up with a penalty for being too violent or our boys just dodged and they face-planted into the ground. 

At half-time we had been up 19 - 15 and Mark had looked like he was going to hit someone. Someone was mainly Ezra. Each time Mark had made a score, Ezra had taken away his thunder - I suppose - by making a shockingly difficult conversion. 

After the game, as we were all putting rubbish in the bin from the concession stand, Kristy ranted, "Did you see Mark's face? I would kill to get a photo of it! He looked so angry but he had no right to be angry. That's why it's so funny, right?" 

Kayc let out a soft sigh and Jeremy nodded, "I agree. But I wonder who's gonna get hurt in return for Ezra's brilliance."

We reached the carpark beside the school and Kayc grabbed my hand, "Look."

The others continued on without us but stopped when Liv saw we weren't with them anymore. Kayc directed my attention to a figure slumped against the wall of the boy's locker rooms. I narrowed my eyes at the scrawny boy in the Crestview Rugby jersey.

Kayc whispered, "I think it's Ezra."

My eyes raked him up from the tufts of his messy brown hair down to his bright green footy boots and saw it was indeed him. 

His gaze was focused on his boots and his entire body was thrown forward slightly. 

"Kayc, should you be speaking to him?" I whispered.

She shook her head, "No way. Ezra looks furious about something."

The trio reached back to us and Jeremy murmured, "Should I go to him?"

"No," Kaycee said adamantly before turning her chocolate brown eyes on me, "You go."

"What?" I squeaked and jumped.

Kaycee nodded, "He's my cousin, Violet. I reckon Ezra would do better to speak to someone who isn't always attached at his hip."

I gulped but, processing her logic, moved slowly over to the lone boy by the locker room. I stopped a foot away from him but didn't say a word. He didn't so much a move a muscle, however, I knew he'd heard me approach.

I whispered, "Ezra?"

He mumbled, "Violet."

"Are you okay?"

"Fine," he said stoutly. 

"You played really well," I soothed and complimented, "Like really well."

"Too well," Ezra corrected, "Mark thinks I upstaged him."

"You did," I shrugged, "I'm sure even the coach noticed."

There was a long moment of silence. 

I sighed, "Can you please look at me, at least?"

His shoulders slumped forward even more, "No. I'm going to the locker room now."

"Ezra," I narrowed my eyes, "What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing, Violet," he snapped, "I'm just freaking tired, okay?"

"Right," I rolled my eyes, "Tell me the truth."

"I don't have to."

He stepped forward, to get to the locker room but I moved so I was only a few feet away from him and placed a hand on his chest, silently ordering him not to move further. I never knew he was this tall... Had he always been six-foot-one? 

I placed my other hand on his chin and tilted it up so he was looking at me and not the ground between us. 

I faint gasp left my mouth. His eyes were cold and dangerous, his mouth was drawn into a tight line and his jaw was gritted. A blue-purple mark the size of a rock was etched into his skin on his right cheek. I examined it before looking to his eyes full of pain.

I whispered, "Mark punched you?"

Ezra stared down at me with obvious annoyance in his eyes before nodding, "I could have protected myself back there, y'know? I could have... I could have killed him with my bare hands if I wanted to. I really could have and I wanted to. More than ever. What scares me isn't not knowing why I am a freaking lycanthrope but this whole week leading up to the full moon. I-I... I want to do things that I definitely shouldn't."

"Like kill people?" I rephrased, using his words.

Ezra stared into my eyes for a long moment before nodding, "Sure. Like kill people..."

I smiled gently, "Ezra... It'll be okay. Remember, you have a whole team of people rooting for you plus your own little werewolf cub to look after."

"You're right," Ezra sighed and after another painful pause he said, "I'm going to get changed now and then we can talk to Kristy."

"Scratch that," I grinned, "We've got a ride from someone on the inside."

***

Song: Toothbrush - DNCE.

Ooh, and the squad is beginning :)

- *drumroll please* we have your Smith sisters, your Asher brothers, your queen-bee Kristy and your beautiful Kaycee Walker and not to mention the cutest shy/bad boy alive, Ezra James. 

xx Sharky.