Chapter 17

By the time we got to the school, it was fifteen minutes fast five. We had both lost track of time and now we were sprinting back to detention. Finn held the door open and I ran through. He wasted no time in sprinting after me. We messily turned corners and slid on the floor as we ran but we eventually made it to the detention classroom to find the lights off.





I glanced at Finn when he came to a stop to see if he had any idea what to do. Detention was over fifteen minutes ago which means the teacher was long gone, and he must have assumed we were too.



Finn and I had just lost track of time when we went out.



His green eyes met mine and he raked his hand through his dirty blond hair that had gotten messy through out our run. "You know what? We'll probably face the wrath tomorrow. Just go change for practice and meet me on the field."



I nodded in agreement. We turned and walked towards the gym, contemplating if we were trying to prolong the time until we faced coaches furry or if we were trying to get there without wasting any more time. Because of it our pace was inconsistent, but we still made it to the gym.



I held the door open for Finn and he took it before walking beside me. I bumped my hip with his. "Last time I say you have a good idea. It was actually a horrible idea." I joked with him.



"Oh please. You were having the time of your life." He gave me a knowing look and crossed his arms. "Go change, Mason. As much as I would love to argue with you, I know what you're doing and it's not going to save you."



Of course it wouldn't save me. Coach would probably sleep on the fucking field waiting for us. If we didn't show up he would have us for dinner the next day. Practice should be ending in about fifteen minutes but Finn and I knew we would be here until eight o'clock minimum. Looks like tonight was going to be a late homework night. Why do I like sports again?



I reluctantly walked the opposite direction Finn did and entered the men's locker room. I changed my clothes and put on my gear just as slowly as I walked in here. Maybe Finn would get out there first and face the brunt of Wilson's attack in front of everyone. That was a sweet fantasy that I allowed myself to indulge in.



Sadly it was ruined when Finn just walked into the girls locker room while I was tieing my shoes. "What are you doing?" My voice accused and my face was incredulous.



He crossed his padded arms and leaned on one of the lockers. "Waiting for you. Once again, I can read you like a book. You want me to go out there first."



"How would you know that?"



"You're always the first one changed. It doesn't suddenly take you seven minutes." He said in a 'duh' tone.



I rolled my eyes. "And if I was still changing?"



He shrugged. "I doubt you'd still be naked after seven minutes."



"I really don't like you." I muttered and stood up, grabbing my stick and helmet. Finn already had both of his in hand and was holding the door open for me with his foot. I guess he had made up his mind about the whole procrastination situation.



"Keep telling yourself that, Sweetheart. You might just start to believe it."



I didn't bother dignifying that with a response as we made our way outside. Our cleats padded on the pavement as we crossed the athletic parking lot to the field. It was a small strip of single parking spaces with a one way lane to drive through. It looked like practice was over for the rest of the team because they were all laughing and joking at the gates to the field.



They turned to us when we approached and didn't say anything. Their knowing smile was enough to tell me that we were about to be in for it. Sam looked to be the most amused with the situation. They all knew detention ended half hour ago. Sam was already teasing me with his eyes about how I goofed off with Finn, the person I supposedly hate.



Neither one of us said anything to the others because Coach turned around and locked his sight in us. We reluctantly walked side by side across the field until we were a few feet away from him. Wilson walked towards us and stopped directly in front of us. His arms were crossed and he did not look happy.



"Where the hell have you been?" He questioned us both. We both opened our mouths but nothing came out. Lying to Coach was hard. He would see right through us. He held up a hand and we quickly shut them. "I don't even care. Clearly, you two have no regard for the expectations of this team. I know you both had work ethic for the sport because I know how you spend your free period and I've seen you stay after you finished your running to get in some practice. You're my best players but that doesn't make you exempt. Do something like this again and you're both suspended from the next game. So you two better start getting along and getting your asses into shape because you're on thin ice. Ten laps then I want one on one scrimmages for an hour." He said angrily before pushing past us and stalking across the field.



We watched his navy blue windbreaker disappear into his nice little sports car with a slam. Coach was paid more than the principle. That's how much this town values lacrosse.

Our body's stayed tense as we watched him peel out of the parking lot. By now, the team had gotten in their cars or the locker room.



When he was out of sight, Finn and I glanced at each other and exhaled. "I feel like we just got away with it." I muttered.



"No shit." He respond. He threw his stick on the ground gestured for me to do that same. "Let's go, Mason. Sooner we get this down with the sooner we can go home."



I dropped my stick and helmet and started to jog next to Finn. I hated when Coach made us run with pads on. "Do you think we'll get in trouble for detention?" I asked while we ran.



Finn let out a huff of air and muttered, "Just shut the hell up."



I stopped running and he stopped a few feet ahead, turning around to see why I stopped. "What did you just say to me?" Friends tell each other to shut up but his tone was way too aggressive.



Finn rolled his eyes and looked up at the sky while putting his hands on his hips. "Are you serious?" He said before looking down at my eyes. He was at least four feet away but he looked so intense that it felt like he was chest to chest with me. "You always make everything so damn dramatic. Can't we run in peace without you harping on everything at could possibly go wrong."



"Are you on your man period or something? Five minutes ago you were laughing with me now you're saying I'm a whiney bitch."



"Don't put words in my mouth."



"I don't fucking understand you, Finn. We had this argument once already. Don't make it twice." I snapped.



Finn took two large strides towards me so now we were actually chest to chest. Our pads rubbed against each other as he looked down at me with hatred. "You want to know why I'm like this? Because you distract me. Yeah, I've gotten in trouble before but you keep making me more and more side tracked. I can't afford to fuck this up because I let you distract me. I hated you when you showed up but now I hate you for an entirely different reason. I skipped class because of you, got in trouble at practice because of you, twice. Now Gaurino is on our ass and Coach." He growled at me.



"I fucked this up for you?!" I shouted. I was at the end of my rope with Finn. We couldn't go a fucking week without getting into an explosive argument. "I never got in trouble before you. You hated me. You put me in this position. You got me in trouble. Don't turn this on me! Better yet, stay the hell away from me!" I screamed and pushed him away from me with all the force I could muster.



He stumbled back one step and went to push me back but stopped himself. That only egged me on and he knew it because regret flashed across his face. "It's kind of hard when we're in the same friend group!" He said, trying to distract me from his actions. My enemy knew me too much, though. Finn knew it was a fruitless effort.



"Fucking hit me." I said in a voice so calm it was scary. Finn fell silent as he met my eyes.



"I'm not going to hit you. You didn't even hit me."



I clenched my jaw before responding. "I hit you last week. So hit me back. Or at least push me." My eyes were filled with fire. Finn's attitude seemed to disappear all the sudden.聽 Most people were easy to understand; but Griffin Riley was the most complex god damn person I have ever met. "Hit me, damn it! You're being a fucking sexist. That's what pisses me off about you. You like your morals are above everyone else's once we get into an argument when you are the once who started it in the first place."



Finn looked annoyed and unsure before he spoke. "This isn't a sexist thing. This is an 'I won't hit my friend thing'."



"Friends? Since when are we friends? Because last time I checked, you aren't supposed to be a dick to your friends."



Finn's jaw twitched and he crossed his large arms. "Fine. Then let's just 'stay the hell away' from each other." He snapped.



"Deal."



"Deal."



"Fine."



"Fine."



I clenched my jaw at his words and took off running my laps before he could catch me. The faster I could get this done, the better.