Chapter Twenty Four - Higher Stakes

I was in a good mood.

There was no particular reason besides the fact that things, for once, were working in my favour. Matt was training me and I was certain the idea of me and Sean wasn't very far-fetched anymore.

I made my way towards the bleachers with a bright smile. The practice was about to start.

"Becks!" I heard someone call just as I was about to climb the first step and stopped in my tracks.

Chad caught up with me, a little breathless from the sprint, and offered me a nervous smile. "Hey!"

"Hey, Chad. What's up?"

"I've been meaning to talk to you since Chris's party," he spoke hesitantly. "I'm really sorry about the whole dance floor thing."

"Oh." I'd completely forgotten about it.

"I don't know what I was thinking when I tried to...kiss you. It was stupid. And I was drunk." He scratched the nape of his neck awkwardly.

I recalled Matt pulling me away from him before he could make a move. He said I would be thankful for that when I would be sober and he was right. If Chad and I had actually kissed, it would've been really embarrassing and awkward later.

"It's alright, Chad," I assured him. "Don't worry about it."

A look of relief crossed his face. "Really? Are you sure? We're cool?"

I nodded, then remembered something.

"Wait!" I pointed my index finger at him. "I do have a bone to pick with you."

His brows crinkled. "What?"

"That video of me and Matt. Why would you upload that? Half of my problems started because of that video, you know that?"

"Oh!" He laughed nervously. "I'm sorry?"

"Can you please take it down?"

He hesitated for a moment. "Do you really want me to? I mean I gained more than five hundred followers because of that one video."

I deadpanned.

"Okay okay fine!" He nodded. "I'll take it down. I shouldn't have uploaded it without asking you in the first place."

"Thank you!" I sighed in relief. Now I didn't need Matt to delete his comment because it would be gone for good with the video.

Think of the devil, I thought as I caught a familiar face behind Chad. My enemy was marching down the field like he owned it—embodiment of walking trouble in his #52 black and golden jersey, showing off his broad shoulders and big arms, and with the way he walked, anyone wise enough would get out of his way when he looked as pissed as he did right then.

The sunlight fell perfectly on his dark brown hair, giving it a golden tint as he pushed it back with a scowl. Did I mention that his eyes were locked right on us? And suddenly, I felt like a target.

"This conversation has been a real relief. I'd been trying to talk to you since the party," Chad said, drawing my attention back to him. "The last thing I wanted was you being creeped out by me, Becks."

"We both were drunk. It's fine." I smiled.

Just because my enemy was watching us, it didn't mean he was coming up to us, right? I was expecting him to walk past us but my stomach did a weird flip when he stopped right next to us and turned to Chad.

Chad, on the other hand, was absolutely taken aback. His back straightened up and surprise fell over his face as he offered Matt an edgy smile after recovering. "Hey, buddy."

"Chad." He gave a stern nod.

And silence fell between them. While Chad seemed a little agitated all of a sudden, my enemy looked like the reason for his agitation—his gaze on him held a bit of hostility and I wondered what poor Chad had done to deserve it.

"Practice starts in five minutes," Matt finally said.

"Yes." He nodded quickly. "I'm ready."

"Great. Why don't you start with running two laps then?"

"What? Two laps? Come on..." he started to argue but when my enemy raised a brow, oozing so much authority that it had me amazed, Chad instantly gave in.

"Guess that's what I get for missing practice for two days."

"Yep. That's what you're getting this for." There was a hint of menace in his eyes as he said that.

"Fine." He sighed, and threw me a little smile while slowly pulling away from us. "Catch you later, Becks."

"Good luck, Chad," I called after him, turning to my nemesis who was busy eyeing Chad until he got far enough and then, his eyes fell on me.

"You know..." I started with a tilt of my head. "...I used to think your special conduct was reserved only for me, but I just realized you talk to everyone like you wanna kill them. How do you even have so many friends?"

He shrugged cockily. "I'm good."

"At?"

"A lot of things. People dig that."

"I bet modesty isn't one of those things." I perked a brow.

His eyes narrowed, but to my surprise, they held a bit of humour in them as he took a step back and started to leave.

"Did you have a reason to interrupt our conversation and torment poor Chad like that?"

He lifted one shoulder into another shrug. "Not really."

I scoffed. "He shouldn't have listened to you. I don't get why he did. I was really hoping he wouldn't."

"Unlike you, people take two cents from others when they know the person is better than them at something."

My eyes narrowed at his back as he walked away arrogantly, the big golden 52 on the back of his jersey mocking me over the shade he'd just thrown at me.

He had absolutely no motive for showing up and interrupting mine and Chad's conversation. I really didn't get his problem sometimes.

"Don't be any later than 6 p.m. in the evening," he finally called over his shoulder.

"I'll be there at 6:05," I hollered back.

He didn't say anything.

*****

I showed up at his house at 6:15 in the evening.

He answered the door with narrowed eyes and I side stepped him with a sweet smile to enter his house. My message was clear. Take that.

But he didn't react. We simply started training, and it went as usual: exhausting and very little fruitful. Or at least I thought it was very little fruitful. I didn't know what Matt thought.

Normally, he didn't mind training me for as long as two hours even though we'd initially decided on one, but that day, I had plans with my friends. We were going to Meera's house to hang out. So, after an hour, I told him I was going to leave.

I had just gotten a text from Cheryl, telling me that her and Mack were right around the block. So, I got up to walk out.

It must've been abrupt because he looked up, annoyed. "Will you drop the attitude?"

"Excuse me?" I frowned.

"You can't just leave in the middle of the training just because I'm asking you to take it from the top."

"I'm not leaving because I'm angry. I've got plans. I just got a text. My friend's a few blocks away."

His eyes averted to my phone, then back to my face.

"I honestly thought we were done with this song when you put your guitar down," I said in my defense.

Once again, his eyes fell down to my phone, which was followed by very subtle clenching of his jaw before he finally nodded. "Fine."

"I'll see you tomorrow," I said weirdly, eyeing his face while wanting to ask 'are you okay?' but we weren't there yet.

So, I started heading towards the door, but not before petting the kittens and saying goodbye to them. Once I was out of his house, I started walking down the street until I saw Mack's car and got in.

We made it to Meera's house in twenty minutes and spent the next hour chatting and eating chips with a random movie playing in the background.

And when Cheryl yawned, making the three of us yawn right after her, we knew it was time to go home.

Right before we got up to leave, Meera stopped us. "Um...do you guys have five more minutes? I have something to share."

"Sure." We settled back in our spots.

"So yesterday, Chad called and asked if I was okay. He must have heard about my foot from someone at school. And you will not believe this but...we talked for like an hour. I had nothing to do, neither did he. So, you know? I may be reading between the lines here, but I think there's something."

Cheryl and I gasped at the realization and said in unison, "Wow!"

But Meera didn't seem too excited. In fact, I realized she was a little nervous as she looked at me. "Are you okay with this, Becks? I mean, I know you don't like him like that but he's still probably got a thing for you."

"Meera, of course, I'm okay. You know I only have eyes for Sean," I said with a smile, but it felt like only half the truth all of a sudden. And I didn't even know why. "This is really amazing, Mee. If this works out, I'll be truly happy for you."

"That's all I wanted to know," she said gratefully and now I could see the smile fully reaching her eyes. "Now go. You guys are late already."

"Get better soon." I gave her a giant hug and ruffled her hair in excitement.

Meera and Chad, I'd never seen that coming.

*****

Mack drove off after dropping me in front of my house and I lazily started to walk up to the front door until a rustle in the bushes caught my attention. I carefully stepped closer to inspect and right then, something jumped out, making me gasp loudly.

For a second, I thought I was done for.

I fell on my back and almost crawled back on my elbows in fear until I saw the little kitten in front of me and let out a laugh in relief.

"Cheeto." I gathered him in my arms, still steadying my racing breath. "Did you just intentionally scare me? You little troublemaker."

He nibbled on my finger desperately, and I chuckled. "Are you hungry? Let's head inside, and I'll get you something."

I got up and patted the back of my jeans.

"You little bastard."

I snapped around at the familiar voice and found Matt marching up to me—no, to Cheeto angrily.

"What is it? Do you not get enough food at my house? What is it?" he snapped, and I bit down on my lip to hold back a laugh. It was downright hilarious watching him shout at his cat.

"Stop!" I chuckled, wrapping the kitten in my arms protectively. "Maybe he likes my house more. You should let him stay with me."

His eyes lifted to my face and narrowed. "Yeah, right."

He started to reach for him, but as if he realized something, he stopped and glared at the cat. "On second thought, fine. If you wanna go, go. You can keep him, Andrews. I'm not coming to get him back this time."

"Really?" I blinked.

"Yes."

"Are you serious, Matt? He's just a baby. He could be curious about his surroundings."

He threw me a pensive frown, probably considering my words.

"Or he just likes me more." I shrugged, adding weight to the odds of him letting me keep Cheeto. Yes, it was selfish, but I really loved that cat.

He finally took him from me and lifted him up to his eye level. It was kind of adorable how Cheeto simply fit in his one hand. "Do that one more time, and you can go to hell."

I scoffed. "What have you done to deserve them?"

He lowered Cheeto and fixed his eyes on me. Then he glanced down the street briefly before his brown eyes shifted back to my face. "Did you just get home?"

I was caught off guard. "Yes, dad. Is there a problem?"

He rolled his eyes. "Of course not, as long as I'm not the one who has to make sure you get home safe."

There he was. Ticking me off again.

My brows pulled together in irritation. "You've literally done that once."

"Thrice," he corrected with a smirk and added, "at least you weren't stupid enough to get drunk today, on a school night, considering how well you handle your liquor."

I crossed my arms. "Is that concern for me, Williams?"

He scoffed. "Try pity for the poor guy who'd have to take care of your drunken self."

As he said that, his eyes appeared to be searching mine for something.

"You don't have to worry about me or how my company handles me." I sneered at him and finally turned around to walk up to my house.

As I unlocked the door, I couldn't help but wonder if he was still there. So, I took a sneak over my shoulder, expecting him to be there for some deranged reason, but he was walking up his driveway.

Whatever

I walked into my house.

Mrs. Brooke was setting up the dinner table when she looked up at me, offering a smile.

"You will not believe what just happened out there!" I laughed, then it immediately died down in surprise at the sight of my parents in the living room, watching me.

"Mom! Dad! You guys are home early." I blinked in shock, immediately recovered and grinned widely at them.

Mom set her coffee down on the table and crossed her legs. "Look who's home. I didn't know my daughter was old enough to go out with a boy at night."

"M-mom." I faltered. "It's not even 9, and I'm back. And I didn't go out with him."

She narrowed her eyes slightly. "I know. I'm just kidding." She burst out laughing and got up from the couch. "Come here!"

Letting out a laugh of relief, I sprinted across the room and wrapped my arms around her. She patted my back and pulled away after a moment.

"I haven't looked at you properly in days." She stroked my hair gently, guilt flashing in her eyes. "How are you doing? How's school?"

"It's good. How's work?" I asked, looking behind her at dad, who was smiling at us. He patted the empty spot on the couch next to him for me. I settled down and gave him a hug.

"Work's fine," mom answered behind me.

"What boy was your mother talking about?" Dad enquired.

"It was Matt. And I didn't go out with him. I went with Mack and Cheryl to Meera's house."

"On a school night? Why?"

"She hasn't been at school for a while because of a foot injury. So much has happened since junior year started. We haven't caught up at all."

"I know." My dad smiled apologetically. "It's been so busy at work lately. But it's better now. We'll catch up—wait." He blinked in thought. "Matt. Was that Matt Williams? From across the street? You've never been friends with him."

I suddenly realized that this information could be passed on to my brother by my parents. I didn't want him to feel like I betrayed him by befriending his enemy, so I lied.

"Oh no, we're not friends—Matt and I. We've been hanging out because... we're partnered for a project."

"Isn't he a senior?" Dad frowned.

"Yes. Yes, he is." I nodded fiercely. "It's...a community project. What grade we're in doesn't matter. Partners are chosen at random. One of my classmates was partnered with a freshman. Lucky me." I flapped my lips.

"Community project." Mom settled next to me so I was sitting between both of them. "That sounds really good for your college application. What is it about?"

"Animals," I said the first thing that came to my mind. "We find animals that are not happy...like abused animals, abandoned pets and we give them... we find them a perfect home."

God! That sounded like I was promoting an organization I worked for or something.

"Really? Just you two, doing all that by yourself?" Dad asked, and I nodded with uncertainty. He was a clever businessman for God's sake. Why was I even trying?

"Is that cat a part of it?" Mom's eyes lit up. "The one who sneaked into our house earlier? We were getting late for work, or I would've definitely fetched a yarn. I've always wanted to see cats playing with yarn."

"That's not ideal to have around them. They could swallow—" I started but was cut off.

"There was a cat in this house?" Dad pursed his lips in disapproval.

"Stop it. You hate them for no reason. You know what? I want a cat. Do you have any cats who need a home, Rebekah?" Mom seemed excited. "What about the one Matt brought?"

"Um, that's his cat."

"Let me stop you right there," Dad cut in. "I'm not ever letting a cat be adopted in this house."

Mrs. Brooke and I exchanged a look as she set a bowl on the table, and I bit back a laugh. Thank God it never came to the point where I had to ask my parents to keep Cheeto.

Mom sighed and got up, soothing out the creases of her black pencil skirt. Maybe they'd just gotten back home.

"What were you gonna tell Mrs. Brooke when you walked in?" she asked me.

"Oh, nothing much. Just something that happened outside with Matt's cat. It was nothing." I waved my hand dismissively and got up.

"Okay. Your father and I will go freshen up, and the three of us can have dinner together."

"Great!" I grinned.

As they headed up, I decided to go to my room and change into pajamas before dinner. Pulling my hair up into a bun, I washed my face and rinsed my mouth before I left my room. While passing my parents' room on the way, I realized they were still inside.

I lifted my hand to knock but their words stopped me.

"She's a big girl," Dad said. "You need to stop worrying about her."

"I'm not worried," Mom argued. "I know she's got this. I'm just happy she's finally doing something with her life. Finding home for pets isn't exactly a hobby, but it's a start. She could have her own startup someday."

"She's sixteen for God's sake. Leave her alone."

"When Blake was sixteen, he was this perfect son—responsible, smart, he had good grades and many, many hobbies. It's why he's doing so well at college right now. I've always been worried about Rebekah. What if she ends up in some community college? She doesn't have anything for her college application, and it's not like she's the brightest kid in her class."

"Not again," Dad groaned. "She's just a child."

"No, she's not. You just said she's a big girl. She's sixteen and a junior. Kids her age or less are achieving so much already. You remember that article I showed you about this kid in Boston—"

"I don't care about other kids. She's gonna be fine. We're not having this conversation again. Now let's go have dinner. She must be waiting downstairs."

I took a step back in panic and before I could run away, dad swung the door open, saw me and his eyes grew wide.

"Hey, dad!" My voice came out slightly croaky from being silent for so long and I cleared my throat. "I-I was just heading downstairs and thought I'd check up on you guys. I just came here and was about to knock when you opened the door. Let's go downstairs?"

His eyes scanned my face and his expression said it all. He knew I'd heard them. He opened his mouth to say something but mom stepped up beside him, smiling at me. "Rebekah, we were just coming downstairs. Give us a minute."

"I... okay! I'll go and wait." With a nod, I stepped back and started walking away, saying over my shoulder, "don't take too long. I'm famished."

I sat at the dinner table and played with my fork while waiting for them, trying my best to cheer up before they could come downstairs.

"What's up with you?" Mrs. Brooke frowned.

My lip quivered and I wanted to hug her and cry like I used to in my early teens whenever I was sad about something but I'd outgrown that phase so I shook my head and gave an oblivious shrug, smiling. "Nothing. Why?"

Her brows pulled together and she would've asked more if my parents didn't appear in that exact moment thankfully.

We started eating in silence and I caught my dad throwing glares at my mom every now and then. Did they have a fight over me?

I cleared my throat. "Mom, Dad, I have to tell you guys something."

I instantly had their attention. Mom was the first to ask, "Sure! What is it?"

"I meant to keep this a secret for a while, but I don't know when we're going to have a meal together again, so I figured I should just tell you."

They exchanged looks; mom slightly terrified for some reason while dad just seemed curious. What did mom think I was going to say?

"I've been into singing lately and—"

"What?" Mom's eyes lit up. "You have? When did that happen?"

"Let her finish." Dad sounded slightly miffed at her, but when he turned to me, I had his full attention.

I passed him a little smile. "About two weeks ago, during an assembly, I ended up on the stage because of some misunderstanding, and everyone loved my voice. Now I'm participating in a competition about four weeks from now which, if I win, will allow me to perform at the annual music event and that event is a huge deal."

I was careful not to mention anything about Matt.

"Oh my God!" Mom put her hands over her mouth in surprise. "That is excellent for your college application."

"It is." I nodded.

Dad patted my back. "I'm really proud of you, Becks."

"Thanks, dad!" I grinned.

"This is such a great news. I can already feel you're going to win that competition. My little girl." Mom stroked my hair, smiling softly.

I hope so. I really hope so.

The stakes were now higher than before.

Hello loves!

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