10. Deliver Me.

ADAM DAVIS.

Adam walked through the dock. Small vessels bounced in place. Even being this close to the sea made him weak. As he approached Storm Rider, his throat clenched as his breath was caught within. He wondered what he was doing. It had been a heck of a day but the thing with Sam released anger he didn't know he was holding in.

The kind of anger that somehow ended up facing inward. But why was he angry at himself? He'd done nothing wrong. Sam was a good, loyal friend but he had no right to call him selfish. 

He finally arrived at the boat. He hoped that the sea would sail him away. Somewhere far. Somewhere new. He tugged at the rope. Struggling to unravel the expert knot he had woven but it didn't budge. He dropped it and fell to his knees, crying. Even the easiest thing to him was suddenly hard. He released a cry but his throat produced no sound. Would the universe hear?

Within an instant, there was a lot of commotion. A crowd was gathering at the beach a few boats away. He began to walk to them, the air of the sea deceptive against his skin. The people were gathered around a dead body. It had clearly just washed up on the beach. It was cold, lifeless. Fresh. 

Adam's legs carried him fast that afternoon. He was feeling better, physically, than he had in a really long while. He was proving to them once more why he was set to take over from Sam. He hadn't talked to Sam all day. In Fact, he had managed to push away all of the problems of life and book club. He was becoming the Adam he knew.  The Adam he loved. He slid under the last defender and into the end zone. 

"Good job Davis!" coach Webber yelled, running to him with clipboard in hand. "That's my boy."

His team mates cheered. The joy was real because his great performance meant he was ready for the big game. He had successfully caught and touched down 21 passes under thirty minutes. It was a personal best and even better than Sam's 19. 

His team mates lifted him high in their arms. From his perch, he spotted the spy. It had to be the same one. He was in white and Adam still wouldn't have spotted him if he didn't know what to look for. He had to catch him.

Adam struggled out of his team mate's grips. He steadied himself before going on full tilt. He was still in his helmet and gear. He pictured charging the fool to the ground. By now the spy  knew he was the target and he had already made a mad dash. Feet thundered behind Adam and he turned around. It was Sam. 

"What are we after?" Sam asked with a playful smile, no helmet on.

Adam bit down on his mouth guard and charged ahead. This was his kill. Adam knew that Sam was fast. Last everyone checked, only second to Ben. Adam could feel the momentum peak as he thundered down the incline. 

"Follow him directly, I'll circle around!" Sam authorized.

The spy was good. Really good. He flew down the aisle in a bullet frame and jumped the entire thicket once more. The wall posed no challenge. Adam wanted to stop but the momentum was too strong so he came to the end of the building and he went crashing into Sam. Boom!

Two bodies in peak condition came to a sudden stop. All the force of inertia was sent to their muscle and bone. The two tumbled down until they hit the brush. Ouch would have been an understatement.

"Who was that?" Webber asked, the two having returned to the field. 

"A spy." Sam promptly replied.

"Are you sure?" Webber asked seriously.

"Yeah. I saw him yesterday." Adam entered.

"And you didn't tell me?" Webber asked, livid.

"I wanted to…"

"For the hundredth time, Davis, this is a team! Not a one man show." Webber's interrupting words stung now more than ever. Adam could feel a reprimand coming but Adam thankfully stepped in.

"He was too fast."

"For two Stallions?" 

Coach was clearly tense. If the play got out, it would mean they form a new play or risk playing into the falcon's hands. But there was no time left to form a new play. The game was the following weekend.

"You two are clearly washed up." Brad Pains said passively but it didn't escape Sam's ear.

"What?" the quarterback asked.

"You heard me, Sam. I said you're washed up." Pains said, loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Take ten." Sam said. His voice was barely a hum, but it had all the authority it needed.

"What? Come on Sam, he was joking." Brian complained.

"You too."

At Sam's words, the two took to jogging. Brad said something dumb and Sam added another ten laps. Adam soon realised that the guys had stopped looking at the punished pair but at something else instead. He turned his body to view whatever was drawing attention from Webber's speech.

It was Beth. She stood far off outside the field and on the track lanes. Her hair blew long and proud in the early evening breeze. Her frame, however, stood firm. A small black leather jacket hugged her waist. Adam knew she was there for him. All he needed to give the coach was a pathetic look and he let Adam run off. Clearly Webber was too troubled to care. Sadly, more bad news awaited Adam.

"Beth." he said awkwardly when he got to her. He reached out his hand but her arms remained crossed. That's when he realized his hand was filthy. 

"Are your friends umm…" she gilded her head to look at the team. "Always this subtle."

"That's only the half of it." he chuckled. "So, what's up?"

"I had to come immediately." she said seriously.

"Why? What's wrong?"

"Something… strange happened yesterday."

He noticed she was hesitant. Almost unsure of how to say the news that brought her. He stood back a little, readying himself for anything. His mind kept falling back to the strange book. He had never felt so much pain.

"Just say it." he begged, ready to take whatever blow.

"Something happened with Steve." All Adam herd was the name Steve and his brain went into overdrive. His heart pulsed all over his skin. 

"What? What happened to him?" As he spoke, he looked from one green eye to another, hoping to find the answers inside. Or to compel her to tell him but it was clear she didn't know.

"I don't know, exactly." Beth said, her words becoming a whisper. "But apparently Mandy and Steve took the book back and something happened to him. He didn't come to school today."

"Why did they go for the book?" his was pure anger. Beth didn't respond. " I have to go see him."

"No." Beth said fluidly. "Mandy said we'll meet tomorrow to discuss. All of us."

"Well who made her the boss?" he exclaimed.

"You wanna fill the position?" Beth posed, eyebrow arched.

"Well, no."

"Good, tomorrow at the Havana Cabana."

"The beach?" he was confused.

"I needed the tan." she said, prompting him to chuckle.

"I would say." 

"Hey!" she complained. "You don't get to say that." 

The two laughed a bit and Adam sighed. He was sure Steve had specifically asked him not to be allowed to go see him. Adam longed to have his friend back. He hoped that they would put the past behind them. Now a year had passed.

"I have to go." Beth announced.

"Oh, okay." he bumbled, hoping she would stay a second longer.

"Use today to figure out what we'll do with the book. And, take a shower."

She turned and left him to smell his pits. Shit! He smelled like a stallion… 's ass.