"It's so crowded." Robert noticed when I finally found an empty spot to park my car.

I went to the entrance and enrolled Robert's name under my care at the front desk. It was a procedure the school followed for people who were guests – a weak plan to avoid the next school rivalries.

We went in and I looked around to spot Lily. Just then, I got a call from her. "Where are you, Scarlet?" Lily's voice boomed in my ear. "They are going to start in soon!"

The crowd was going crazy seeing the 'Warriors' running all along the perimeter of the ground. The pop music was loud and at a corner, there were the cheer girls shouting at their favorite players, asking them to win so as to win their hearts.

It was not completely dark yet, but the lights were turned on, creating a mini disco at a three-acre land of green grass. The coaches of both the schools were speaking with the captain and vice-captain of the respective teams, giving them their last piece of advice before the game resumed.

"Hold on to your knickers, Lily." I said, dodging my way to her. I knew that she always sat on the berth next to the ones that were reserved for the players. "I'm in the ground already."

"Fine," She said before she cut the call. "I'm at the usual spot."

"It's Lily." I explained Robert who was following me. I grabbed his hand in mine and we walked further to where Lily was present. It was funny how our roles were reversed. It seemed just yesterday Robert was holding my hand as he took me to his race and today I was leading him. "She's there. I can see her."

Robert followed closely behind me and I wondered if it was because he seemed out of place or because he was actually following the bodyguard duties. I could never tell. 

A few of them muttered obscenities when we had to pass them to get to Lily. One of them got my nerve and I stood in front of him, trying to give him my own piece of mind, but Robert yanked my hand.

"Come on, sweetheart, he's not worth your words." He snorted. I only settled for a dagger glare at the guy for which the guy looked scared and backed away immediately. I gave Robert a satisfying smile and moved further.

Lily and Nick were easy to spot. Lily had the please-make-my-boyfriend-win face on her while Nick was wearing a Warrior hat, screaming to win at the top of his lungs. As soon as they saw us, Lily gave a relieved smile.

"Didn't know you were coming." Nick said, slapping Robert's back in an informal gesture.

"Oh, he's my bodyguard for tonight." I said sweetly, batting eyelashes at him innocently.

Robert laughed and pulled me closer in a half hug. "That's right." He said. "And for all nights, if you please." He whispered it so that I was the only me who heard it.

I pushed him away, my cheeks tainted pink. For some unknown reason, I was mad at myself for blushing at the stupidest things that the great flirt Robert was telling me.

"Hey! They are starting." Lily announced, before I took the matter and fried it over the game. I let go of the two butterflies that were disturbed in my stomach and chose to stand to watch the game. "Look my parents are there." She pointed out at the other end of the arena and I just nodded, not able to place them in such a heavy crowd.

Within minutes, the game started. Royals versus Warriors – a typical game in which the school would proudly announce the names of the winners, no matter who they were.

I wondered if Robert was somehow involved in today's booze ceremony, considering how close Brian was with him. I heaved a sigh and took out my earphones to listen to the songs to pass my time.

"Are you serious right now?" Robert raised his voice to get my attention.

"I'm enjoying my time." I said, shrugging my shoulders.

I had always been left alone during the games and no one had ever noticed me since they were immersed in them. I only lifted my head from the mobile screen only when there were oh-s and ah-s making me wonder what happened.

"Don't tell me you are listening to some guy yapping about his breakup with some random girl that he met on a subway or a mountain hike." He rolled his eyes. "This game is so much better than that."

I ignored him and went about with untangling the earphone wires, barely looking at his face. But with one swift motion, he snatched the plugs from my hand and pocketed them.

"Hey!" I shouted at my interruption.

He smiled sweetly at me. "Let's make a bet. What do you say?" He raised his eyebrow at me quizzically but didn't wait for me to answer him back. "Since your team plays for Warriors, I'll take the other team."

"Cool." I said, putting my dark aviators on. He didn't have to know that it didn't matter who won. "And if you lose, whole week's pizza is on you."

Robert laughed at it. "You got it, babe."

I put my earplugs back into my purse and concentrated on the game.Brian ran and put his arm up in the air, motioning it in circle, probably telling Lorenz to cover him while he does something great or stupid. As captain's orders, Lorenz moved across Brian running almost parallel towards the poor victim. They broached the opposite Royals guy, trying to kick the ball back to their control. But luck was not on their side.

Number 13 kicked the ball up and for a second, everything seemed to be playing in slow motion. The goal was a little too far away to make sure that it went right at it and besides, the goalie from Warriors team was pretty confident to push the ball away. But Number 13 was out of control and started running way faster than he was before.

Before the football made contact with the ground, he was there right below it. He gave a slight nudge from his head. The ball wobbled in the air for a fraction of a second before the gravity acted on it. James was on his side now, trying to veer the ball in the opposite direction, but he was not successful. Number 13 jumped up, made a cartwheel kind of gesture and before we knew it, he kicked the ball right on to the goalie.

"Goal!" Robert shouted, making me realize that we were still on the bet. He leaned closer to me to whisper. "Get ready to lose, Stone."

"No way." I laughed, taking my aviators off. 

"Why are you laughing?" Lily scolded me. "Our team just lost points!"

I looked at Robert who just shrugged with a playful smirk on his face. I only rolled my eyes, my face betraying the fact that I was mad at him. In the next round, Brian had made a goal.

"Goal." I smirked back at Robert, who only put his arms around my shoulder pleased that I was enjoying the game.

"I'm looking forward for pizza." He said as I shoved him away.

"That means you are paying the bill, Hastings." I stuck my tongue out at him.

"Half time!" The umpire announced and the goalie threw the ball randomly, too much in despair as he hadn't avoided it.

"It's forty-five minutes already?" I asked, not able to believe that I had survived more than half hour watching guys running behind the football.

"Hey, I'll check out the men's room and get back." Nick announced, still dazed about the game. His Warrior hat had tilted towards his right, making him look too cute. He took the hat out, scratched his head and then put it right back on. "You guys want anything to drink or eat? They were selling some burritos."

I looked longingly at Nick who still looked way too good. I wanted him by my side, telling me all the things that Robert was saying to me. But I knew I couldn't get it. "I'm good." I smiled.

"James!" Lily shouted before she could answer Nick's question and she was gone.

"I'll join you." Robert said and both the boys were off.

I sat there alone, feeling lost all of a sudden. Lily came back earlier than I had expected and sat next to me, staring at the field where the guys were planning for the next tricks that they would perform on the other team.

"So, how come Robert is here?" She asked, still smiling, perhaps from the kiss that they shared. "You invited over?"

"Yeah," I shrugged. "He was at home when I went there."

"But didn't you tell that you were having a fight few days ago?" She insisted. "You called me late night to tell how much you hated him."

I rolled my eyes. We had been fighting ever since we came to know each other but it had never lasted for more than two hours. It was like everyday routine and suddenly, I realized that we didn't have our share of fights today.

"You know what?" I asked Lily, not exactly expecting her to ask me what it was. But she asked me anyway. "We haven't fought today, like at all. God, that's like a miracle."

Lily only laughed at it. "You guys are like kindergartner kids – bickering all the time. Hey, look, the game started."

"How's the game coming?" Nick came back with a paper bowl of popcorn and a coke bottle. He stood at the edge of the berth and stared at the field like he was submitted to it – mind and soul. "They started already?"

"Do you need some popcorn?" Robert asked, watching me and Nick alternatively. "You are starting to look like a monkey in the zoo ready to snatch the food from his hand."

I only glared at him. I wanted to make a record by not fighting with him for the whole day, but he was making it very difficult. "Shut up."

"So, are the Royals winning?" He asked, changing the topic. "Their cheer girls are giving the best of the cheering that they can."

I looked at the cheer girls who were dressed in red with alphabets of Royals printed in white on them. Their skirts way too short for their own good. They held red and golden stripped pompom in their hands, lifting their legs for much awaited eyes. I was sure Robert was hooked.

"They sure are." I noticed rather sarcastically. Back at the game, the two teams were doing their best to get into the goal.

They ran, they tripped, they cartwheeled, they slid, but they kept on going. The determination in the opposite team brought them two goals and I was not very happy about it, for I was seeing the pizza offer slip through my fingertips.

I saw Brian going nuts as his eyes searched in the crowds. As they landed on me, a small smile broke and he waved his hand in the air at me. A few heads turned to my side to see who that lucky girl was. I smiled at him and showed him a thumbs up awkwardly.

"What's going on, babe?" Robert cooed watching my reaction to Brian's hand wave. "Did you put the bet knowing that I was going to lose?"

"You were the one who brought the bet in the first place." I reminded him. "Why, are you scared to lose?" I teased.

He put his hand behind my shoulders and pulled me closer to him – a gesture that he had been following tonight. "With you, I don't mind losing."

It was almost a whisper, so close to my ear that his breath was tickling the skin beneath it. I dared not to turn and look at his dark eyes, scared about how I was feeling. I looked ahead to clear my head, but I saw Brian frowning at us, as if he couldn't put the puzzle pieces together.

Robert sat next to me analyzing the game just as he had done with my Dad's race. "How do you know all these?" I asked. "The precise knowing of things. Art, movie, games - you know them all."

He only smirked back and held me closer. "Well, I had a lot of time." He explained. "With the race, cars and garage, I never drank to get myself wasted on the pool every now and then, you know."

I pushed him away with a snort. "It was only once."

"So, I did some studying of my own." He shrugged. "You need to ask the right questions and see the minute movements to know things, sweetheart. That's all it takes. Look."

Robert pointed his index finger at the field. James and Lorenz kicked the ball back and forth at each other, until the goalie was confused at who was kicking the ball in. The movements were quick and with cat-like grace.

Lorenz passed the ball to James and before the goalie could understand what was happening, James kicked the ball into the net and it was a goal with one second left to spare.

"We won!" I jumped high up, knocking Robert over, my eyes wide and my cheeks filled with mirth. "I won!" I hugged Robert in a haze, still giddy from excitement. "You owe me Pizza!"

"We won!" Lily interrupted, her happiness rolling off like waves on a full moon night. "Oh my God!"

Nick danced like a maniac after the shock of winning hit his head. He picked Lily up and twirled around, making me jealous of the simple gesture. Noticing my fallen mood, Robert nudged my shoulders.

"The guy has gone nuts, I tell you." Robert muttered making me forget why my mood had travelled south for a second.

Lily ran to her boyfriend, squeezing him to death, not able to control her happiness.

"Let's party!"

---

The party was held in James' house. Since I had been there before, I pretty much knew my way around. It was like a mansion, given how big fancy brokers James' parents were. They had been to his game to support him, but they had to fly back to Norway for some important work, which gave James an opportunity to throw his own party.

In his place, the restrictions were less. Since they came with a bag full of green notes, they afforded a maid who would clean up the house before his parents arrived, which was a week later.

"Wow!" Robert muttered beside me.

Lily travelled with James and since her car was alone, Nick volunteered to bring it to the place. Robert and I took my car and followed the crazy teenagers who were shouting all the way till the house. Lily was one of the reasons why we were invited in the first place. With her position as the girlfriend of the vice-captain, and we, being her best buddies, always got a taste of the best parties ever.

"Hey," I said, as we meet Lily in the house. She was staying with her boyfriend with a bottle in her hand. "How's the party coming?"

"It's great, isn't it?" She beamed like a proud mother. "There's vodka in the basement." She whispered. "My favorite!"

I laughed at her. "Not drinking tonight." I said. "I'm driving."

Robert laughed at that. "Go ahead and enjoy the party, babe." He said, standing closer to me. I thought it was because he knew no one other than us there. "I can drive you home."

"I'm not an alcoholic if that's what you are implying." I said, giving him a look. "I have self-control."

"Sure." He laughed. "Good game, man." Robert turned towards James, shaking his hands formally with him.

"There's my girl!" Nick came from behind and threw himself on me, making me jerk away from Robert's hold. Before I could fall on the stairs of the basement, Nick caught me in time and turned me around to face him. Suddenly, I was transported into the time where Nick had kissed me and everything I knew spun around in circles. "Come, let's party!"

My confidence level shattered in a matter of seconds, and I was a nervous wreck. Though I knew there was nothing I could do about the situation I was having, I had still not given up hope.

"Come Scar, let's get you something to drink." Lily was the first one to recognize my mood shifts. I was grateful for the distraction and nodded at her. "A lime soda will do?"

Robert followed closely behind me but was interrupted by Nick. I didn't pay much attention to what they were talking, as I had my wounded heart to nurse.

At the basement, the party was in full swing. The lights were cut off keeping only a set of dim light at every corner and at the food counters.

"You'll be better." She said handing me the juice. "I didn't find the soda."

James soon was at the basement, holding a beer bottle in his hand. "Come Lily, let's dance." He saw me standing silently and his casual demeanor changed and I saw concern in his face. "Scar, what's wrong? Did anyone try something funny with you?"

"No, it's nothing, James." I smiled at him, thankful that he had my back. "Memories." I muttered. "Thank you though, I will come to you if at all that happens."

"Nothing like that is going to happen." Lily rolled her eyes. There was some relief in her posture as she took a sip from my juice. "It's not an opera."

"You want to dance?" James asked me, still not convince about my sayings.

"Nah," I waved my hands in the air. "You go ahead, I'll join you a little later."

"Okay." James smiled, ruffling my hair, making my hair pins stand out like thorns. "By the way, Brian was asking for you." He winked before he pulled Lily with him.

I sighed. It was bound to happen. I was only dragging drama along with me and I didn't know if I could survive it well. I wandered the basement trying to find Robert while avoiding Brian at all costs.

"Looking for me?" A voice interrupted me and I knew who it was. "Thanks for coming."

"Brian." I spelt it out, as I turned around to face him. "Congratulations. Good game."

I wanted to face palm myself. To my own ears, it seemed like I was the coach giving him the back pat as he made the goal.

"Shall I grab a beer for you?" He asked, tilting his head towards my glass of orange juice.

"I'm not drinking today." I smiled at him. "Have to drive back home."

"Oh, I thought you were staying." He said, his eyebrows crunched together in surprise. "Lily is sure staying over, right?"

"Oh, no." I said. "I have plans."

"I thought you were bailing on me." Brian said, taking a sip.

"I was coming anyway." I said, smiling. "Have been supporting James since a long time."

I didn't want to come out as rude, but that was the truth. Though I was sure that we could only be friends, Brian looked like he needed a constant reminder of the same.

"That's great." He said raising his bottle up in recognition. "Wanna dance?"

I looked around, silently wishing if there was someone who could help me out from this situation. But there was none. "Um... okay."

We swayed our hips to the song that was playing. "You need to let lose, Scar. You should have that drink." Brian said, tilting his chin towards the other side.

I shook my head deciding to enjoy myself. After all it was a party. With the next hip hop song, had actually started to dance.

"There you go." He said, smiling at me.

Brian was wearing a light blue button up shirt with a casual jean. He looked well at ease and smiled at anyone who passed his way. He put his hand on my waist and pulled me closer. For someone who was watching us from far, it might have seemed like another step of his dance, but I knew more.

As the song continued, his hands travelled south and rested a litter lower on my hips.

My eyes widened in a fraction, wondering if it was Brian with whom I was dancing or the guy who had too much to drink. I pulled his hand up and shook my head as a no. He only smiled back and yet again, his hands went back to grab my ass.

I leaned forward and he mimicked me. "I want to use the restroom."

Not waiting for his answer, I went up and out of the house, wanting some fresh air. The door to the back garden was open and I went in. What was Brian thinking anyway? He had misbehaved with me. And what was wrong with me to agree to dance with him?

The garden was empty. The air was cool, and I clung to my jacket tighter. I sat on the grass even when I saw a bench placed just in front of the garden. The entrance gate to the garden was shut off and it seemed eerily silent.

But I wasn't left alone for long. There was footsteps behind me and I wondered if Brian had found me here.

"Shit!" Robert muttered, holding his hand on his chest. "Stone! You scared me."

He closed his eyes and took two steady breaths till he seemed okay. He welcomed himself and sat next to me. "With that white tee shirt and open hair, you can fool anyone for a devil."

"Very funny." I said, looking back at the locked gates.

"What happened?" Robert asked. He brought his knees together and circled it with his arms. He nudged me with his shoulders to make me look at him. "Tired of dancing with the captain?"

I only shrugged back.

Robert looked at me, trying to search answers for his questions – his brown eyes were trying to study my face, his curly hair fell on his forehead while his unbuttoned over-shirt fluttered as wind blew against it.

"Brian tried to touch me." I muttered, embarrassed that I had actually let him be that bold with me. "I said I wanted to use the restroom and came here."

"Hey," Robert's expression became serious. "Scarlet, are you really okay? Do you want me to beat the shit out of him?"

I snorted. "I'm sure you can. But it's okay. I've sworn I'm not going in there again."

"Are you really okay?"

"Yes, Rob." I smiled at him. "Where were you anyway?"

"Nick was being funny." He said, remembering his time with him. "He's so drunk that you can hardly make out what he's telling."

I smiled and looked away. If I was talking about Nick, then I would be needing at least two bottles of beer to start with. I guess Robert understood my silent plea.

"You look classy in this dress." Robert commented after some time. "You should start wearing something like this when you go out, makes people respect you more."

"Didn't you say I looked like a devil when you saw me." I teased and I swear he turned a light shade of pink. "Maybe I should go back to my ripped jeans and polo shirts."

"Ripped, huh?" He asked, raising one eyebrow at me. "Where exactly will it be ripped?"

"Shut up." I playfully pushed him away.

"So, how's Brian?" The way he was skipping topics was giving me headaches. "We have established that you don't like the drunk Brian, how about the sober one?"

I shuddered at the thought. I had never liked him in the first place.

"Cold?" He asked when I was too occupied to reply. Before I could protest, he wrapped his hands around me and pulled me closer. Another pull, I would have been on his lap.

The warmth was welcoming, and I smiled at it. "I don't like Brian like that."

"Like what?" He insisted, squeezing for more information

"He's an okay friend." I explained, snuggling closer, trying to find a warmer spot. "I think he wants more from me."

"Do you?"

"No." I said. It was firmer and I liked the fact that for once in my life, I was sure about it. "I just can't think him like that. I've told him too."

"Then what he did today was wrong, Scar." He said. "Do you really not want me to go and hit him on his head?"

I laughed. "That's alright, I guess."

He pressed his lips on my shoulder and though we were separated by four layers of cloth, two on him and two on me, the warmth was radiating.

I wondered how this, the position we were sitting and these small gestures, especially considering us as a tutor and a student, was okay with me while I rebuked what happened with Brian.

I cleared my throat to clean my head. "Brian had asked me to go to the game."

"Did he now?"

"I didn't want to go though." I answered honestly. "But I had to support James..."

"Things that you school kids go through these days." Robert muttered, half amused by my stories. I swat on his hand that was holding me in place and snorted. "Hey, what was that for?" he asked, withdrawing it and then placing it in the same spot.

I tilted my head to look at him. "That's because I can." I stuck my tongue out at him and for a second, his laughter died down.

Robert stared at me, searching and hunting for something and I wondered what it was. He stroked my cheeks and tucked my hair behind my ears. His scar looked bigger from up close, and it suited him. It made him look stronger and his stubble seemed so soft that it itched me to touch it.

The air around us had changed and there was something that was pulling me to him. No matter what, it seemed impossible to resist that energy.

I leaned closer.

I forgot everything for a moment. The game, Brian and Nick, they all occupied the background as Robert stared right into my eyes.

He leaned closer.

I could feel his hand settling on my waist and another on my cheeks. I dared not to close my eyes, as I wanted to see him; for this time, there were no cover-ups. The mask of flirt and humor that he held was side-tracked and it was only him.

Suddenly, my lips seemed to dry up and I deliberately licked them, biting the bottom lip. His gaze, for that tiny moment, lingered on my lips and then he looked back at me. His pupils had dilated, and I hadn't seen Robert like this ever before.

Ever so softly, our lips touched and I swear I felt a jot up my spine, attenuating all my senses. The worst of my fears had only begun.

But then, I kissed him back.

---

A/N: Oh, my God! It's happening, finally!!