Cory, Naveed, Riz and I walk into school in a row, each of us holding a coke can that we picked up from the corner shop on the way.

"Last night was fun and all but I have a massive hang over and all I drank was fucking cider." I groan, rubbing my eyes.

"Well, you did have two bottles of cider. Riz's and yours." Cory laughs.

"It's not funny. I'm fucked up."

We walk through the reception doors, only to be stopped by Mr Bell.

"Hello, sir." I mumble, trying to sound enthusiastic.

"The four musketeers." He rolls his eyes at us before looking just at Cory and I, "Why weren't you two at rugby practice this morning?"

I cough awkwardly, rubbing my eyes once again, "Something came up, sir."

Cory nods, "Yeah, what Pey said."

"Something came up, right. Well, I've organised a training session for this Thursday after school. Mate of mine's a scout, he's come to see you."

Cory's face brightens and Riz tilts his head in confusion.

"Is that for all of us, sir?" He questions.

"Yeah.. course. This is a good chance for you all."

"Sure, sir, sure." I roll my eyes and we walk past him, he calls back Cory so I stand at the door, waiting.

After a short chat Cory trudges over, several different emotions displayed on his face.

"You're worried about ya dad, aren't you?" I say, grabbing his hand to stop him come going up the stairs.

He turns slowly, nodding, "Yeah."

"Just focus on the scout. You're the best player on the team, don't tell Riz I said that but you're. I think you're amazing, everyone does." I smile.

He moves his hand up to my face, cupping my cheeks and pulling me into a kiss.

"Oi, lovebirds! Stop snogging and get to class!" Mr Bell shouts.

I smirk and pull away to look at him, "Okay, okay. Calm yourself, sir. We're going."

"I love you." Cory whispers, pecking my head.

"I love you too."

__

"Sir's going for deputy head." I say while Cory grabs something from his locker, "Can you believe that? Mr Bell as fucking deputy."

"He's your favourite teacher and your talking smack about him." Cory rolls his eyes.

"Yeahhhhh. Whatever." I grumble as we make our way over to Jordan.

"You alright?" Cory tilts his head at his brothers

"I'm fine." He hands him a plastic bag.

"Alright, you three, you ready for the game later?" Miss Carter walks over, her heels clicking on the floor.

"Barely ready." I mutter.

"What's in the bag?" She asks, giving each of us her teacher glare.

"Nothing." Jordan answers.

"Won't mind me having a look then, will you?" She takes the bag, pulling it open.

It's just clothes.

"Disappointed, miss?" Jordan says, "What were you expecting? A bloody knife? Bag of drugs?"

"Dad kicked him out." Cory blurts, fiddling with my hand.

"Right, okay. Come with me, the two of you."

"I'm coming." I speak up.

Miss looks at Cory, who quickly nods, allowing me to follow them into the isolation room.

"Where are you staying?" Miss Carter asks once we're sat down.

"I'm here, aren't I?" Jordan shrugs, "I can do what I want now I'm 16 so.."

"Only just! We just want to help you, Jordan. I know you and Mr Qureshi were close..."

"It's my Dad, who kicked me out. It's got nowt to do with Mr Qureshi."

"Well, as a school, we have a duty of care, so I'm gonna have to tell Children's Services."

"Don't." I sit up, "He can stay at mine."

"Peyton, your Mum would never allow that. Plus your house is an unstable as theirs." She gives me a sympathetic look.

"Rude." I snarl, sinking down again.

"Miss, please don't tell 'em. I've got that rugby trial, haven't I?" Cory says, "Well, if I get an academy contract, I'll be earning, get us a flat together or something."

"It's a nice idea, Cory, but we need to sort something out right now.. today so let us worry about Jordan, yeah?"

"Well, you can tell who you want." Jordan stands up, "Can I go now?"

"Well, I can't stop ya, can I?"

He trudges out, not even glancing at Cory on the way passed.

"I'm sorry, Cory. I am gonna have to make that call."

Cory quickly rises, rushing out the door. I jump down off the table to go follow him.

"Cory?"

He turns round at the end of the corridor, still slowly moving backwards, "I'll see you at the game. Just give me a min... alone. Love you."

"Love you too." I roll my eyes as he sprints off.

I want to go help him but I'm gonna respect his request. We all need alone time at some point in life.

I walk out into the quad, not wanting to go to English. My eyes scan around for anyone else to make sure I'm alone and won't get caught skipping lesson but I see Nas on the window sill, typing furiously on her phone.

"Well, if it isn't, Nasreen Paracha." I stroll over, jumping up beside her.

"Hey, Peyton." She shuts her phone off, holding it between her hands on her lap.

"You okay?" I tilt my head, noticing her stressed expression.

"I've been talking to a girl on a dating app... she's pakistani and literally my dream girl but..." She trails off, tapping the back of her phone case anxiously.

"But.." I encourage her.

"But, she'a completely ghosted me and hasn't spoken to me the whole day."

I bite my lip before shrugging, "Maybe she's busy or maybe she's lost her phone."

"That's unlike her. She said she was proper tidy and always kept her phone on her." Nas sighs.

"I wish I could give you advice but y'know.. I can't." I chuckle.

She smiles, nodding in understand, "I know, I'll probably just have to wait it out."

"If she doesn't text or call you in the next few hours, come speak to me and I'll find her and sort her out." I jump off the window sill, "Shit, I've got a rugby match."

She laughs, "Go on then!"

I start to run off, turning to her the last minute, "Bye, Nas! Don't get too caught up on her!"

"I'll try."

I rush into the hallway where the changing rooms are and shove the girls room door open.

I quickly get changed and walked back out to see the rest of team stomping out onto the field, their boots clicking on the floor.

But I don't see Cory anywhere so I slip through the boys room door to see him pacing back and forth.

"Cory? You okay?"

He stops and looks up at me, shaking his head, "I'm gonna blow this."

I go nearer, cupping his face and bringing us closer together. He grips my waist, resting his forehead on mine.

"I'm so gonna blow this." He repeats, shutting his eyes.

I shrug, "You might, but you most likely won't. Cory, you're an amazing player, everyone thinks it. I guarantee you won't blow it."

His eyes open slowly, staring into mine, "I love you."

A smile tugs on my lips, "I love you too. Now, let's go beat the others and get you into that academy."

"Fuck, yeah!" He laughs, pulling me closer, connecting our lips.

"Cory?" Riz walks in, "Blimey. You're having a full on snog in the boys changing rooms."

I pull away and glance at Riz, "You're just jealous."

"Whatever." He grumbles, "But, can you hurry up please. Mr Bell's asking for ya."

"Okay, okay. We're coming." Cory rolls his eyes, taking my hand and pulling me onto the playing field.

"Oh, here she is, the ungrateful girl who'll loose this game for them." Alya sniggers.

I tense my jaw, releasing my hand from Cory's hand. He stops as well from the loss of touch.

"Pey, don't." He shakes his head, grabbing my waist.

I shake him off, "I won't do anything. Just let me talk to her."

"Fine. Don't start anything though." He sighs and walks over, stretching his arms.

I take a step closer to Alya and she turns, her smirk getting wider when she sees my aggravated face.

"Hi, Nawaz." I smile.

"Hello."

"I would love it if you stopped talking about me."

She throws her head back in laughter, "Why should I? You've done nothing to earn my respect."

"Neither have you." I spit.

"Peyton!" Mr Bell bellows from the other side of the field and my head snaps to him.

"What now?" I yell back, throwing my arms up.

"Stop arguing and warm up!"

"Ugh, fine!" I groan before turning back to Alya, "Just stop talking shit about me, when I did nothing wrong."

"What are you gonna do?" She snorts.

I tilt my head, "Smash you face in? That sounds good to me."

"PEYTON!" Mr Bell shouts.

I roll my eyes, turning and walking away from Alya, "Okay, okay, sir. Chill!"

-𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡-

Cory throws the ball to floor in anger while Riz's side congratulate him in scoring the winning try.

"Cory, calm down." I walk over, rubbing his back.

He pushes me away, "I did shit, Peyton! I blew it, just like I said I would."

"Cory, it's the pressure. You're a banging player, and you know you are. You're letting the pressure get to you. Don't. Believe me, if you don't get into the academy this time, you will next time the opportunity arises."

"What if it never arises again?" He runs his hand through his hair.

"Peyton, get onto the pitch. I need to talk to Cory." Mr Bell trudges over.

I nod, patting Cory's shoulder on the way past, "Just focus."

.

The whistle blows but I catch a glance of Cory's dad, Kevin.

That son of a bitch.

Mr Bell notices where I'm looking and storms over to the man, clearly angry that he's shown up.

If I was in the middle of the game, I would be the one having a go at him.

I turn my attention back to the match, only to see Riz has the ball again, but this time Cory's charging, literally charging, towards him.

There's a crack when he tackles Riz and they both fall to the floor. I rush over, kneeling beside Riz.

"Oh, fuck." I swear under my breath, "Sir! Mr Simpson, it's Riz! He's injured."

Riz wasn't moving and his eyes were barely open. I glance up at Cory to see him just as shocked as me.

"I can't feel anything!" Riz shouts, tears running down his cheeks.

"Call an ambulance!" Mr Bell orders to an adult.

I stand up beside Cory, taking ahold of his hand. His eyes aren't leaving Riz's body.

"What have I done?" He whispers, his lip quivering.

I rub my thumb against the back of his hand. I have nothing to say, Riz is clearly really hurt and Cory did it, even if he didn't mean to injure him badly.

The ambulance arrive and Riz is lifted on a stretcher before being pushed into the van with Mr Nawaz by his side.

"What happened?" Miss Carter ask, looking around at us all.

"It was a high tackle." Mr Bell shrugs.

"But it- it wasn't my fault." Cory release his hand from mine, "He- he told me to do it. He told me to wipe him out."

I squeeze my eyes just for a second, "Cory, stop." I hiss.

He's digging a deeper hole for himself and now Mr Bell as well.

"I didn't mean that, Cory." Mr Bell snaps.

Miss Carter shakes her head, "It doesn't matter. We'll talk about it later. Maybe it's best if you stay here. Alya, you'll come with me. We'll follow them."

Cory walks off, his hands scraping through his hair frantically.

Oh, lord.