14 Distracted

Sean

.

.

.

Utter shock.

That's what I felt when she asked me that question.

I could've said something as simple as "we needed a fresh start," because that technically wouldn't have been lying.

Why did you come to Luna City?

My brain stuttered for a moment and I forgot how to speak. Instead, I just stared into her eyes searching for an escape in my head, simultaneously trying to show no weakness. God damn it, such a simple question that I could've answered so easily.

Thankfully, Royal had opened the door just in time and I no longer needed to speak. I stared at her once, got up, and left.

Not a word to Royal, or Destiny.

Royal has been a real one for as long as I can remember.

He and the rest of the guys know me as much as Kordell and Julianna do.

In our little circle, secrets and promises have always had a huge value. Believe it or not, we got it from Julianna. She was young and naive. She still is. We all are. And every time she came to us with hurt, pain, and drama, there were more secrets kept and more promises made along the way. And as girly as that shit sounds, because it was important to her, it became just as important to the rest of us.

The point is, we bind to this shit willingly. Destiny might ask him a few questions but Royal knows where his loyalty lies. In this case, I'm just going to hope it's with me because even a blind person can see, he'd be just as loyal towards Destiny, then he is to me.

He's a good person, and that just demonstrates another great trait for his position as captain.

Loyalty.

Speaking of, now that tryouts are over, the guys and I made a quick stop to this all-day diner that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner at any time of day. It's pretty convenient considering my indecisive appetite and how close it is to the school. Not to mention how much their food rocks and for fair prices too.

Cheer ends shortly after football so we're waiting on Julianna and Kiara who's apparently trying out.

On another note, the first week of tryouts went by pretty smoothly. Except for the moments, I'd lock eyes with Destiny and completely lose focus. Fucking embarrassing. And for that, coach had me do a bunch of exercises to help me "stay intact," along with some other drills to make sure that his decision of so confidently giving me a spot on the team, wasn't a mistake.

That's the first.

"Sean, are you even listening?" Seth whined.

What?

Where the hell did my mind go?

"Sean, pay attention. He's trying to tell us something," Kordell empathized, clearly wanting Seth to continue with whatever it was he was saying.

Kordell and the guys shift their attention back towards Seth. "Go on Seth, don't mind him," Kordell finishes.

Seth seems to be talking and I try to listen, but it's like everything he says goes through one ear and out the other.

Kordell has always been the younger brother of the group. It could just be the age, I mean, he is the youngest.

Although, it is comforting to know that despite being his older brother, I'm not the only one that "dads" Kordell. And when it comes to it, Jason, Seth, and I have necessary moments where it's pretty much essential to "dad" the rest of them and act like the one year older guys that we are.

Either way, we're protective of Kordell and his lively spirit. We're protective of each other.

"You good bro? You haven't even touched your food," Carter recognizes, lowering his voice in an attempt to not distract the guys.

Well shit, now my foods all cold.

"You weren't doing too hot on the field today either. At least, not as good as you played during lunch," Carter adds. "Still soar by the way." I give him an apologetic look.

"He's been distracted. He couldn't even get his eyes off Destiny Alders during tryouts," Seth mocks, laughing at the comment he just made, and I shake my head in return.

Because of his allegation, I began to receive puzzled expressions from the guys. Trust me, I'm just as lost as the rest of you are. For the past few weeks, it's like everything about her is a need-to-know. Fuck, it feels like my brain cells have been randomized.

And wasn't Seth just reciting an amazing story?

"Aw, man. Do I just never get the memo anymore?" River sulks.

"What happened in the equipment room, Sean?" Royal interrupts, out of the blue.

Thanks, Grant. Now everyone's probably way more confused than they were a few seconds ago.

And just like that, Seth subsides his story and everyone shifts their interest towards me. It was as if they took this as some kind of array and it was my turn to entertain them.

"I don't want to talk about shit," I say, remembering how Alders had blamed me for the situation we had been in.

If it weren't for me, she could've gotten seriously injured. I caught her mid-air, but the stupid door had to trigger a dramatic freakout, causing her to forget my gesture.

Again, it wasn't my fault.

"How did the two of you lock yourselves in there anyway? I asked you to hold the door didn't I?" Royal supposes.

No actually, you didn't. And if I remember correctly, all I got was a "do not move," before you ran off to the bathroom.

Although, catching her was an instinct. Even if he told me what would've happened if I let go of the door, I would've reacted the same way I did the moment she lost balance.

"Just tell us already," River rushes.

I look to the guys and once I came to terms with the fact that they will not stop until I spill, I tell them what they want to know.

I started by explaining how Destiny was an incautious and unsensible human being. I mean, how mindless and heedless could someone be?

I explained how she was careless enough to climb onto the rungs of the ladder, without unfolding it first. And the uneducated award goes to. Ugh. I then explain how I caught her before she hit the floor, which eventually lead to the door closing and thus, locking us in.

"And I didn't even get one simple thank you," I finish.

Seth and River laugh.

"Come on bro, what's the issue? Besides the non-existent thank you, everyone makes mistakes," Kordell sides. "So she forgot to unfold the ladder. It wasn't like she crossed a busy highway knowing there was a 99% chance she'd get run over. Unless. You care that much."

Wait, what?

I stare at Kordell, all confused.

"Nu-uh. Sean? No way," Seth answers for me, chuckling.

Lil bro really had to play that card.

"Unless, that is the reason which is totally okay," Jason continues, directing his comment to me but eyeing Seth in the process.

I shuffle my gaze over to the rest of the guys. Once again, they seemed befuddled. Well, what the fuck do they want me to say? How the hell am I supposed to defend my side, while I'm being accused of something that I myself don't even understand?

"Okay... it's obviously not that. Which means, Destiny Alders made you feel all butt hurt?" Seth pieces together with amusement in his eyes.

Fuck you, Seth.

Royal rubs the back of his neck in understanding. "I get it now," he chuckles. "I'll talk to her, Sean."

• • • • • •

It was a little later in the day. We just got out of school, and now Kordell and I are sitting in the kitchen, snacking on whatever we can find in the pantry.

Tryouts went by pretty quickly.

Today was the last day of the month and despite my lack of focus, I got on the team. Coach argued that it was just the idea of change and a new setting that caused my minor flaws. I'm not too sure about that. When it came to football I've never been the one to make even the littlest mistake.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

I just need to shake this off and get my head back in the game. I feel like a fucking newbie.

Overall, coach believed that my way of game was strong. He said I knew what I was doing on the field and he'd not seen anything like it. He compared the Knights to my team back in Moonsdale and said bigger cities meant bigger competition, which made Kordell and I a great asset to the team.

We were able to demonstrate great skill that was foreign to the team. Technique that was necessary to have, and use to overpower our rivals. Crescent High had a great team, but it was nothing like my team back in Moonsdale. Maybe this different is good, I just don't know why yet.

"Sean! Kordell! I got accepted into the cheer team!"

Julianna bursts through the kitchen door, hollering in excitement. "And just look at how crazy cute my uniform is!" She adds, swaying her short ass skirt side to side with her hands.

"Awesome," Kordell congratulates, greeting her with their special handshake.

I give him an "are you serious look," trying to address her scandalous of an outfit. He shrugs uncomfortably, leaving the situation for me to handle.

"Sauce me some numbers, yeah?" He adds while Julianna walks over to me.

I give her a fist pump and she stops beside me, resting her elbow on my shoulder. "No way, Kordell. I am not doing that."

"Isn't that skirt a little too short?"

She looks at me, annoyed by my sudden comment.

"There's shorts attached underneath, dad."

"It doesn't matter. Shorts or no shorts, you're gonna have to wear something underneath. Don't you own a pair of stalkings?"

"Oh, so now you've got an opinion?" I question, Kordell.

"I just didn't want to start," he says in a duh tone, throwing a piece of gum into his mouth.

"I can wear what I want," Julianna scoffs, earning back our attention.

There was a moment of silence before Kordell and I burst out laughing.

Funny, Jules.

"So how'd you get in?" I ask, clearing my throat when she throws Kordell and I a death stare. "You can't even do a proper cartwheel," I joke, and she nudges me on the shoulder.

"Not true."

• • • • •

Thanks for reading!