Chapter 2

The game came back to Gil in pieces, and each piece sent a fresh wave of rage through his body. They had lost. They had lost because of that stupid boy with the mole and glasses. He had totally charged Lars and hurt him. Lars didn’t have a replacement so he kept playing like a hero but he could not keep up, and he was a key player.

As if that wasn’t bad enough this stupid mid fielder tripped Gil and never got flagged. Antonio got shoved, and the stupid player, what was it, Eldstein never got a penalty, no matter how loud Gil and the team roared at the ref.

They had lost, four to three and their championship run was taken to an abrupt halt. Fuming in the locker room Gil said nothing to the team, but seized his bag and stormed out in his soccer uniform and shoes still. He was heading for the beat up car he and Ludwig shared but a girl with flowing brown hair stopped him.

“Gil.” Eliza said standing in the dark parking lot.

Gil chucked his bag in the back seat and leaned against the car, kicking the wheel while he did so.

“What.” he growled, still angry, and so close to a rage fit.

“Gil it’s…its ok.” she said softly

Her voice had it worse. She had watched him fail, and she had the sweet tone that twisted his heart. He did not answer her, but muttered “Ludwig is coming, we need to get home.”

She looked at him for a long moment before nodding “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He nodded and got in the car, driving off once Ludwig got in. Both were silent for the ride and the rest of the night.

Gil showered and went to bed, but he lay awake for a while, still angry. Ludwig was up doing his homework like a good student. Gil did not fall asleep, even when the light from Ludwig’s room went out.

The next morning the brothers ate breakfast and drove to school again in silence. Ludwig was quiet by nature and Gil had nothing to say. Gil parked in the school’s lot and they walked into the building and went their separate ways.

Gil headed to his locker and was met by Liz, who was calmly leaning against the metal locker blocking his way. He looked at her and muttered “Please move.”

She crossed her arms across her chest and shook her head “Not until you talk to me.”

He growled “I am talking to you.”

She gave him and sharp look and he sighed “After school ok? Come over, we can watch and movie and I’ll…talk.”

Liz seemed pleased enough with that and let him get into his locker. He smiled a little as he pulled out his Chemistry book. She cared about him, she always did. But then he was painfully reminded she only cared about him as a friend would.

He shut his locker with a little more force than needed and together they walked to class. They sat at their lab table and the teacher instructed them to get their homework out.

The homework Gil had chosen not to do yesterday.

Liz gave him a reproachful look as she got hers out, and he sat there with his hands folded on the desk.

The teacher walked over with his clip board. “Where’s your work Mr. Bielschdmit?”

“I didn’t do it.” Gil growled, not in the mood to play this game

“Why not?”

“I just didn’t.” he snapped back, glaring at the Chemistry teacher.

“Oh, so do you think because you are on a sports team you don’t need to do your homework? You think you’re ‘all that’? You need to work harder…on and off the field it seems, after that miserable show yesterday.” The class laughed a little, everyone but Liz, and Lars who shared Gil’s shame. And who was now wearing a knee brace and limping around the school.

Gil nearly lunged out of his seat but Liz grabbed his arm and jerked him down and kept him in the chair. The teacher scribbled something on the board and walked away. Gil was fuming for the rest of the hour and when the bell rang he stormed out without even waiting for Liz.

His mood was not even improved by seeing Antonio and Francis in English. Antonio, being cheerful despite the brutal loss smiled at Gil and patted his shoulder “It’s only a game Gil, people will forget. Think about this weekend that should brighten you up!”

Francis grinned and Gil smiled a little. He had plans to hang out with them, have a bonfire and drink some stolen alcohol from Francis’s house, then probably play some vicious three person video game marathon that would end in much swearing and probably one physical fight.

His mood would have improved if the English teacher did not decided to give Gil extra work to do for missing the work do today. Scowling he sauntered off to gym, where the gym teacher had fun jibing at Gil for the soccer game. By lunch Gil was ready to punch the next person who said anything remotely irritating in the face.

Thankfully he was not irritated and the rest of the day went rather smoothly. At the end of the day he got his books planning to actually do his homework tonight and waited there for Liz. Ludwig would probably be by the car. Ludwig didn’t have classes with his brother, and he tried hard to avoid his brother during the day. He loved Gil but he didn’t want all the teachers to hate him like they hated Gil.

When Liz walked over he smiled a bit “So how was your day?”

He listened patiently and walked to the car with her, he listened and he did care. Even if half of her story was about some senseless girl drama that he barely could follow.

Liz smiled and opened the car door and got in. Gil was not the door opening type, and she knew that. Gil wouldn’t open the car door for the Queen of England herself. He was not the gentleman type of guy, she knew it, and she liked it. Her perfect boyfriend would open doors but not her best friend.

She liked how Gil would listen too. Though she felt like he only listened because he had to tell Francis, who was actually interested in the who was dating who thing.

Ludwig got into the car and was not surprised to see Liz there; he waved a bit and was quiet as Gil drove them home.

He parked in the driveway and looked at Liz “So what movie?” he asked as they went for the house.

“Oh hell no, you aren’t weaseling out of telling me what’s bothering you.  You can ask me that question when I’m done.”

Gil sighed and glared “You know me to damn well.”

She just smirked at him. Ditching their school bags, they walked down into the basement where Gil had the entertainment set put up.

Gil and Ludwig lived alone. Aldrich, their father had left them, and Gil since then had taken care of himself and Ludwig. Ludwig had a job and worked most of the year, Gil took summer jobs, otherwise they depended on the life insurance they had from their mother’s death, and the occasional check from their father.

When their father had first left Gil felt alone and overwhelmed, and Liz was the one he had leaned on. She knew things that Antonio and Francis didn’t.

They sat on the couch and she looked at him “What’s bothering you- and don’t you dare tell me is the game because I know it’s not. You have lost big games before, it’s something else.”

Gil stared at her. What was bothering him? It had to be something more…but he hadn’t really thought about it. What she said was true…so what was it? God, how he hated and loved how well she knew him. Sometimes it felt like she knew him better than he knew himself.

Then it hit him. His feelings for her were bothering him, the fact he was hiding something from her too. They had no secrets. And now he was hiding this.

Not that he would be telling her that.

He didn’t want to lie, not to her. So he looked her in the eye and said “One day…I’ll tell you. But that’s…not today.”

Just the slow way he spoke, how carefully he had picked his words, made Liz concede. She nodded “Fine.” And then leaned over and hugged him.

He hugged her back and closed his eyes. He loved how this felt. Her arms around him. The smell of her very faint perfume. His heart sped up but he hoped she wouldn’t notice it.

She pulled away sooner than he would have liked but he smiled a little “I’m ok, I promise.”

She nodded and leaned against the couch. “I’m sure you think so.”

He didn’t answer and just played a movie. They often watched horror movies together, today they watched The Conjuring.

They didn’t cuddle, but that sat close to each other. He watched it, sometimes stealing sideways glances at her face. He couldn’t find a fault in her face. Her hair was soft and fell in tendrils, her cheeks always had a hint of color and her eyes were brilliant, always sparkling. He had to tear his eyes away.

He was her friend. He was nothing more.

When the movie was over he drove her home. He parked in the driveway but didn’t get out. Her father didn’t like him and he wasn’t going to try and change his opinion. Both men just preferred avoiding each other. Gil smiled “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Liz grabbed her bag and got out, nodding “Yes.” and walked in the door.

He sighed and went home, cooking dinner for him and Ludwig and then getting two days’ worth of work done before going to sleep.

One more day until the weekend. He rolled over in bed and closed his eyes. Maybe he would tell Antonio and Francis how he felt about Liz. The two of them might have something to say that would help him get her to like him too even if he wasn’t her dream boy.

Never once did he think he would have to compete with anyone. How very wrong he was.

Chapter 3 should be up Wednesday I think. Maybe Thursday.

But hey thanks for reading, please vote and comment!