"Are you interested in cheer tryouts?" A girl forced a piece of paper into my hands.
With frowned brows, I raised my head and stared at the intimidating blonde in front of me. "I don't cheer—I'm sorry." I politely turned down her offer, but she didn't have it.
"You're Maison's sister, right?" She smiled. "I really think you should come to tryouts."
Of course, it was about Maison, and it wasn't anything new. Many tried to befriend me to get closer to the start of campus, my brother. Perhaps that was why I only had Mitsuki. She wasn't after Maison.
"You know what, I'll think about it." I grabbed the flyer from the girls' hand to get her out of my hair. She walked off with a proud smile on her lips and swayed her hips side to side. I wouldn't be going to those tryouts anyway.
"Hey, ugly!" Mitsuki appeared out of nowhere and slammed her arm around my shoulder. "Hey!" I pushed her off and hid the cheer flyer behind my back. If she would find out, I would never hear the end of it.
"Ready to go?"
I was done with my classes for the day, Mitsuki. She had somehow persuaded me to join her to watch football practice, and I didn't know why I had agreed to it. Was it so I could spend some more time with my brother? Was it so I could see Jayden?
Why was I still thinking about him? Jayden wasn't looking for a relationship, and neither was I. At least, that was what I kept trying to tell myself—but I couldn't stop thinking about him.
Messing with my brother's teammate was already as bad as it could be, and we both knew it. Would that be the reason why he hadn't texted me all day?
Think for a second, Myah. Why would he text you when you barely even know the guy?
"Your brother is looking mighty fine today." Mitsuki pointed out as we made our way to the bleachers.
"Please, anyone but my brother."
"My bad," Mitsuki chuckled, sitting down. "Should we look at Jayden instead?"
I joined her and watched as dad pulled Jayden into a tight hug. The two of them seemed to have gotten close. "What do you think they're talking about?"
Mitsuki nudged my shoulder. "Your dad's the coach, and he's the player." She mocked me. "So you tell me—what do you think they're talking about?"
"Right." I giggled nervously. Worst case scenario Jayden told dad that he's been screwing his daughter and begging him for mercy. I took a deep breath.
Calm down, Myah. That is not the case.
Because if it were, dad would've thrown a tantrum. Especially after what had happened with Noah.
I fixed my expression as dad pointed his finger at me. He gave me a wave while I gave one in return—but all I could look at was Jayden, who shot me a wink.
"Was that meant for you?" Mitsuki pushed my shoulder, but I ignored her. He shouldn't even be staring at me in public, let alone wink.
It wasn't long before dad returned to his business and dragged Jayden along with him. Watching him practice and seeing him take the lead made me realize his kind of person.
Although it wasn't something new because I had experienced it firsthand, I could tell that Jayden was confident and dominant. A naturally born leader.
"Let's say hi to your brother!" Mitsuki forced me down the bleachers after practice ended. "Maison!" She pulled me onto the field as we made our way to my brother.
"Suki, what's up." He gave her a nudge before the two went into deep conversation. My eyes turned to Jayden, who had his arm wrapped around one of the cheerleaders. He knew I was just a few inches away from him, but he didn't seem to care that much.
What was he onto?
Why did I even care? We weren't even together.
"Babe, don't forget we have dinner with my parents tomorrow." The girl brushed her burgundy locks to the side.
I recognized her as the head of the cheer squad, Lydia Gatewood. She was everything I despised and everything I couldn't be.
Lydia was outgoing, popular, a guy magnet—and I would be crazy to compete with her. My heart sank as she wrapped her arms around Jayden's waist and pecked his lips. What was the meaning of this?
At that moment, I knew what I had signed up for. Jayden played me like it was nothing and made himself out to be the perfect guy while he had someone like Lydia Gatewood at his side.
I had to admit, Lydia worked fast—but that wasn't the point here. The point was that Jayden was the same as all the other footballers and maybe even worse than Noah. He was the devil in disguise.
"Damn horse face, who are you going to punch?" Maison woke me from my thoughts. I followed Maison and Mitsuki's eyes until I ended at my bawled fist.
"N-no one." I recovered myself. "It's nothing. Let's go—I'm hungry."
"So am I!" Someone appeared from behind us. I rolled my eyes at my brother's best friend, Adrian Larusso.
They had been best friends since middle school and somehow ended up at the same college, on the same team. If that wasn't fate, what was?
"Oh, I'm sorry, I don't remember inviting you along," I spoke sarcastically. Adrian brushed his hand through his black hair and bore his green eyes into mine.
"Ouch, burned." Maison patted his friend on his back. I had no issues with Adrian whatsoever. I really didn't—but I wasn't exactly that fond of him either. Whenever I looked into those eyes, all I could remember was the pained expression after learning about what his former teammate, Noah, had done to me.
Whenever I looked at him, all I could see was the regret he felt for me—and I didn't need anyone feeling sorry for me.
Anyone could tell that he was into me, and so could my brother. Luckily Maison knew that I would not be going after his friends, at least not anymore. Not after the Noah situation.
Adrian chuckled. "Are you going to let your sister talk to me like that, Maison?" He asked my brother. Maison bumped his fist against his chest.
"My sister is allowed to talk to you however she wants to talk to you." He told his friend. "Now, let's eat. I'm starving."
We ended up going to a small but well-known diner in a town called Picklers. It was a place where all the athletes used to go to after practice or an important game.
"What are we eating? I'm paying!" Adrian decided. Mitsuki, Maison, and the random girl on my brother's lap shot Adrian an impressed look while I couldn't hide my dismay. I hated guys like that.
I went along with everyone else and went for a simple coke with fries.
"Pumpkin, I asked your sister to try out for cheer squad today." The girl on my brother's lap smiled. I knew I recognized her from somewhere. It was the girl who gave me the flyer.
My cheeks flushed as not only my brother but also Mitsuki and Adrian laughed at me. "Myah, out of all people?" Mitsuki almost wiped her tears.
"Hey, don't be mean." Maison snickered. "She did figure skating, remember?"
"I'm afraid those are two different things, bro." Adrian took a sip from his drink. The only one who wasn't laughing was the blonde on Maison's lap.
"Well, I think you've got the cheer look." She smiled at me. "I'm Naomi, by the way."
"Thank you, Naomi." I frowned. "And thank you for not making fun of me."
"Hey, we weren't making fun of you!" Adrian spoke. "I just can't imagine you in a cheer outfit, that's all."
The others started another conversation while I looked at Jayden, who walked through the door with Lydia.
As if he had been searching for me, our eyes met, and we could not break our eye contact.
I didn't get him.
We had sex, not once but twice—only for me to find out that he had a girlfriend all this time.
"So what's with Lydia and the new kid?" I whispered in Adrian's ear. He followed my eyes and chuckled while Jayden turned away. I didn't know if I imagined it, but he seemed jealous.
Stop it, Myah. Why would he be?
He had the queen bee wrapped around his fingers.
"He used to date her back in high school," Jayden told me. "That's all I know."
Great, he used me as a toy while he waited to get back with his ex. Perfect.
Adrian cleared his throat. "Are you jealous?" He questioned. I shook my head. "No."
"Good."
Good?
Couldn't he make his crush on me even more apparent?
I touched Adrian's shoulder to create some distance between us but changed my original plan as Jayden had made eye contact again. Did I imagine things, or was he really jealous?
I could only glare as he brought his lips to Lydia's neck without breaking the eye contact. If he really wanted to play this game, we go for it.
I leaned closer to Adrian and rested my hand on his thigh, just enough so Maison wouldn't notice. "M-Myah." Adrian held in his breath. I moved my mouth to Adrian's ear while my eyes were still locked with Jayden's.
"Do you want to get out of here?" I asked Adrian. I felt bad for using him this way, but I needed Jayden to know that he wasn't the only one with options.
Adrian almost choked on his spit. "W-what?" He whispered.
I chuckled. "You want me, don't you?" I caressed his thigh with my nails. "Let's go—follow me."
"Maze, we'll be right back," I said to Maison, who was too busy with Mitsuki and Naomi. As expected, my brother didn't pay any attention to me, allowing me to grab Adrian's hand.
He was still startled, possibly due to me giving him the attention he had always longed for.
We had barely reached the door before Jayden had already excused himself and left behind a startled Lydia.
I smirked. He wanted him just as much as I wanted him—no, he needed me. I was not crazy. I knew I wasn't.
I winked at Jayden and pulled Adrian out the door. "S-so, where are we going?" He asked nervously. "D-do you want to head back to my place?"
Annoyed, I placed my finger on the boy's lips and shook my head. Jayden, who stood right behind us from a distance, grabbed a cigarette and leaned against the wall.
As far as I was concerned, athletes weren't supposed to be smoking.
"No." I pointed to a nearby alley. "I want you…right there."
Adrian's eyes turned big. "W-what?"
"There." I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and pressed my lips against his. Jayden, who was still watching us, shook his head in disbelief, but deep down, I knew the all too curious boy would end up following us.
"You heard me," I repeated. "Let's go there."