The weather is just too perfect. The sun's already beginning to set, fresh spring air making the grass dewy and the wind isn't too chilly. It would be a sin to pass on the offer to lounge outside and enjoy the evening.

Thankfully, Stacy has field practice today so it gives me just enough reason to sit on the bleachers and watch our athletes train. Of course, I have a particular athlete in mind but no one needs to know that. 

Daphne and I sit towards the back, the front rows already occupied by other students who have come to watch. 

I sip on my coffee and take a bite of the cookie we bought from the Orange Idiot. The barista there has always been obsessed with any concoction involving orange and today his special was Tangerine Cappuccino. It doesn't taste half as bad as I thought it would, unlike the Mandarin Latte he made last week which sent me running to the toilets. 

"I swear you're the only one who buys his weird drinks. Maybe if you stopped, he would stop making them," Daphne complains, taking a sip of hers. 

Ariel, the barista was so enthusiastic when I bought his special that he gave her a complimentary one as well. 

"You know you don't have to drink it, right? The dustbin's over there." I point to the large green dumpster by the end of the first row. 

Daphne gasps like I'd just told her to drop it on someones head. "I can't just waste this. It's almond milk, it's fresh, it's expensive." 

"Then don't complain," I point out, taking another long sip. 

Daphne mutters some profanities under her breath as she forces herself to drink and I stare at the group of cheerleaders practising their routine down by the tracks. The athletes who do track and field have taken up the other side of the field. I see some of them jumping over hurdles and the others sprint from one side to another. 

"Go Stacy!" We both cheer when our friend does a back flip and lands on the floor effortlessly. This is one of the easier moves she does but it still never ceases to amaze us. 

It's hard to resist but my eyes trail slowly towards the centre of the field, like metal to a magnet. The footballers have only just started warming up, a few trickling in slowly. They usually practice last when most of the other practices are over.

I catch Luke Bradshaw walking across the field, a sports bag hung over his shoulder. Is it just me or is his shirt extra tight today. The material sticks to his arms and back like second skin, leaving little to the imagination. 

I catch a few girls by the front pointing at him and giggling and bite down on the edge of my cup. I suddenly want to punch something.  

His light brown hair is soft and wavy as he runs a hand through it. I watch him greet the coach and they exchange a few words, both smiling happily. Coach Randy must be approaching his sixties but the wily man stands tall at six foot five. He played in the NFL and was a celebrated linebacker back in his day. 

He's been coaching Daltech for the past twenty years and we have come so far because of him. I watch him pat Luke on the back and point to a couple of spots on the field, most likely discussing plays with our star player. 

"Do you have some chocolate?" Daphne asks. She's jittery and impatient as she looks around her bag, looking like she wants to tear the thing apart. I sort of dragged her out of her comfort zone today and now she's acting like an addict on withdrawal. 

"Here," I hand her a bar that I keep whenever I need to cram for a paper. 

Daphne grabs the piece of chocolate, unwraps it and all but swallows it down. 

"Damn, one evening out and you're already falling apart. This is bad, Daph." 

"Yeah, yeah. Put a sock in it." She looks down at her phone, her foot tapping the ground incessantly as she replies the flurry of messages she's been receiving. 

"I may have to leave early," She says to me and I give her a pointed look. 

"Come on, you need fresh air like this sometimes. It's not good to be locked in your room every evening after class." 

If it weren't for classes, our occasional outings to the bar, football games and after parties, Daphne would probably never leave her room. 

She only scoffs in response. "Please, we both know you wouldn't be here if it weren't for Zander." 

"I'm not here because of him." I sit up straight, shoulders squared defensively. As if on cue, Zander saunters in slowly and it looks like he's the last one to arrive at practise. His teammates are already done warming up and he simply dumps his gym bag on a bench before stretching his arms. 

Why am I not surprised? 

The rest of the athletes are done by now, some leave the stadium but most stay behind to watch our football team's trial game. We're playing Richmond next week and they've been Daltech's biggest rivals for years. It's safe to say the anticipation for this match has already started to build up among students. 

"Hey girls!" Stacy skips past the first few rows of bleachers to join us. "I know you didn't come out here to support me but thanks anyway."

"I'm here for you, Stacy," Daphne murmurs absentmindedly, all her attention lost to her phone screen. I doubt she'll be paying attention to the match. 

Stacy squeezes her shoulder appreciatively. "You interrupted a game for me. That means a lot." 

"Technically, Danielle dragged me out here. So yeah..." There's no point talking to Daphne once she's started playing one of her many online games. 

"What is it this time?" I ask Stacy. 

"Fortnite," Both Stacy and Daphne answer in unison. 

Stacy leans in and whispers. "She just started Battle Royale. You should see her side of the room." She shakes her head in disappointment.  "It's not pretty." 

The whistle is blown and I look up to see the guys have already started playing. Stacy and I take turns to comment on each pass and then we cheer when Eric scoring a touchdown. My heart thumps in my chest when I watch Luke outmanoeuvre a few cornerbacks, he reaches out and catches the ball effortlessly every time. 

Despite not warming up properly, Zander runs so fast it looks like his feet don't touch the floor as he rushes towards the end zone. 

The evening turns to night quickly and another blow of the whistle signals the game is over. I watch the guys take off their gear. Luke's top is slick with sweat and he pulls it over his torso before taking it off. The lines of his abdomen are so prominent it makes me gulp. 

"So did you come out today to cheer on Zander?" Stacy ask me suddenly, her question breaking my concentration. 

"Wha-- no." I quickly say. 

"You need to keep him interested girl. Trust me this was a good move." 

"Shhh," I place a hand over her mouth making her laugh. "Someone could be listening." 

"Trust me no one's here. Even Daphne isn't bothered." Stacy justifies. 

"Ummph." Daphne grunts, eyes still glued to her phone. 

We turn back to the field and just then Luke looks up, our eyes instantly meeting. His hair is wet and most of it is pushed back, revealing a face so perfect it makes my stomach clench. I clutch the edges of the bench and try to smile but it feels like my body has ceased to function. 

Luke smiles in acknowledgement and I don't know why my heart is suddenly racing, like I could run multiple laps around the field right now. 

I give him a small wave and my movements are so awkward, it makes me want to melt to the ground and disappear. 

We break eye contact and he packs up his stuff, lugging the bag over his shoulder again, only this time he is shirtless, sweaty and infinitely hotter. My phone beeps just as he leaves the field. I look down at my message and fight the grin forming on my lips. 

Seeing you here made my day - Luke. 

"Oh," Stacy notes from my side and I jump, forgetting she was next to me. 

"Oh, what?" I ask, stuffing my phone back into my bag hurriedly. 

"Oh, you weren't here for Zander." She notes but this time her tone is serious and she doesn't look too happy. 

"What's with the change in mood?" I ask after a while. Stacy's been quiet since we left the field and since Daphne's lost to her phone, the silent treatment seems amplified. 

"Nothing." She says and I groan in frustration. Nothing ever means nothing. 

"Look, Luke and I are just friends. This isn't going to affect our plan." I try to reassure her, unsure of why this is bothering her in the first place. 

Once we've reached their room, Daphne rushes to her computer set up and continues her game, chatting loudly into her mouth piece. 

I sit down on Stacy's bed and look up at her, waiting for her to say something. Stacy doesn't get like this often so when she does, it's highly disconcerting. 

"It's not about our revenge. It's Luke." She crosses her arms over each other and leans against the wall. "He's a nice guy, Danielle. Nicer than most." 

I nod slowly, agreeing with her but still not getting her point. "Yes, he clearly is."

"He was pretty messed up during freshman year after Lucy broke up with him. Eric and I were in a serious relationship then and we spent a lot of time together. Luke became a good friend and it was horrible to see him hurting like that." 

My laugh comes out hollow and uncertain when I shrug. "Stacy, we're not dating. I can't break his heart when it's not even mine to break." 

She sighs and then makes her way to me, sitting down by my side. She takes my hands in hers and studies me cautiously. "I saw something today, Danielle and I know I'm not imagining it. So what is it going to be? Revenge or love?" 

What? Stacy sounds way in over her head. There's no love here to refer to. 

Love doesn't exist. It's an illusion that leads to broken hearts and in my mother's case broken bones. 

I pull my hands out of hers and look down at the carpeted floor. "Revenge. Always." 

Stacy nods but the worry on her face is evident. "Then promise me you will leave Luke out of it." 

I lift my head to meet her gaze and try my best to nod. I make that promise but even as I say it, it feels like a lie.