Chapter 69

***Dayle***

~
“What did he fucking say to you, Chriss?” I ask her firmly but she quivers at first and later mumbles what I can't comprehend on the spot.
“We were just talking...” She looks around and looks back at me. “...I can’t talk about right here but it's... it's nothing serious!”
I know what she's trying to do, she's trying to defend Ken. I saw the way he's been looking at me back there, I'm going to find out either way.
“Alright! Just... Take care of yourself, will you?”
“Of course, Dayle!” she gives me a smile before storming off. Very concerned about her regardless of what that nosy asshole has told her. I don't give a fuck because I'm only worried about Chrissy—she matters to me the most. I hate to see her hurt, it frustrates me.

Steve and I head to the class to meet with Egan, of course, I'm aware that he's with Chrissy. If I want her happiness, I'll let it slide, plus, I don't want any more drama, I don't want to portray the picture she had begun to think of me. I NEED to make a difference.
Before we make out final step to enter the class, I see Ken approaching with Max and Ellen. Great. Perfect timing.
Ken gapes at me halfway whilst chattering with his friends.
“Aye Steve, I'll catch you in a bit! I want to talk with Ken!” I explain to him, he says that I have to promise to tell him about it. I tell him Yes. Max hollers at me before he furthers with Ellen—Ellen dislikes me somehow but I don't care anyway.
Ken holds back like he's on my mind, he crosses his arms giving me a death stare, well, I return the same gesture.
“I see that we got to talk!” Ken starts
“Thought about that too!” I snap. “Do we... Have a problem?” I pocket my hands with a smirk resting on my lips.
“Apparently!” he snaps offhandedly. “We both know what’s up, I don't have to mention a FUCKING thing, do I?” he asks. From what I can gather, he's trying to force words into my mouth or trying to get me furious.
“Your pick, man!” I judge his chest with a finger, yes, it's to get him angry as well. “Whatever you decide!”
“Yeah, I know a lot. I see the way you look at my best friend, it's not ethical! Quit it—”
“No. Ken Salazar. Tell me what's MORE ethical, Are you coming to confront me or thinking what you're thinking? Tell. Me. More. Ken.” I inquire of him very calmly but he purses his lips.
“I already warned you Dayle, QUIT. IT.”
“No Ken, I’m gonna warn you. Whatever it was that gave the balls to say shit to me hates you. I don't like you...” I tell him and then he snaps instantly
“Neither do I!”
“I'm not asking you, I’m telling you! Careful what you say to me Ken and keep my sister out of this!” I warn him but he chuckles sarcastically
“Sister, that you badly wanna fuck? I doubt it if she's one! Don't mention!” he retorts but he's pressing it.
“Oh okay, you know everything!” I chuckle sarcastically. “Don’t. Drag. Her. Into this! Ken!” I tell him with a half smile planting a hand on his shoulder. He takes my hand off angrily, his face is clutching. A professor comes forth and asks if everything is fine and I answer positively.
“Prefects’ update, sir!”
Ken and I exchange mischievous stares before I walk into the classroom.

*
Molly’s text enters as soon as class is over, it says that we have something to discuss after my practice. Egan and Steve tag along as we walk to the court. We start changing into jerseys for practice.
After an hour, we return to the changing room. Generally, we talk about the game and the progresses. We take a quick shower. The room empties, Steve clears his throat wrapping the towel around his neck.
“I have good news, guys!” Steve starts, Egan and I stare at him suspiciously, anything with Steve could be a blast.
“Good news huh, can't wait!” says Egan, sarcastically. I nod with a light smile. “We got ten minutes more to leave so what's the news all about? That Redhead wants to meet up with us and you know how she works!” he adds and we collectively nod lightly.
“Chill!” Steve snaps gaping at us, I know that he has a lot to say to us. “So officially, I’ve concluded my fucking Fuck-List. Which among you has?” he asks. This question strikes me even harder because I purposefully refused to conclude. Literally, I'm almost there but personally, I don't care about the list anymore.
Chrissy changed everything.
“Fuck, Steve,” Egan looks and skims around just in case we have company. We have none, I've skimmed twice the number of times he has. “You can't fucking talk about this right here! Are you crazy?”
“No, I'm fucking not!” he snaps offhandedly
“Steve, let's talk about it after school hours...” I add subtly
“No way, we'll talk have to talk about it here... and now!” he demands firmly. “For the past three fucking weeks, we've been tossing this topic from one corner to the corner. I'm fucking sick and tired of all this bullshit. Can any of you tell me why we have to ditch tradition—”
“It's never been a tradition, it's just a game that we play, we—I want out. I've always wanted out!” I interrupt him
“That's a NO on my end, Dayle!” Steve says
“Oh fuck me, fucking explain!” I snap dropping onto the bench
“If there's anyone that wanted out from the very beginning then it should be bloody Egan...”
“Fuck you, Steve, I'm not bloody!” Egan scowls at Steve
“Oh, you fucking are!” Steve snaps at him. “You started this entire parody of ditching the fuck-list and there you have Dayle...” he spins to face me. “You decided to back out for no goddamn reason!” Steve scolds. If he keeps pressing the issue here at school, we are going to be doomed.
“I lost interest!” I snap nonchalantly
“Lost interest?” Steve scoffs. “Do you know how absurd you sound? Holy shit! You both are crazy!” he raises his both at us
“Calm down, someone might hear!” Egan warns him but he doesn't listen.
“I'll ask for the last time, why have you both decided to back out? What am I missing?” Steve asks
We both remain silent. Two wrongs can not make a right, can it? Egan and I have the same reason, we share the same interest but how do explain things to Steve? If Egan fell in love with Chrissy then what happened to me?
“No response? Right! I expected that but I'm not stupid, whether or not you like it, this has to be completed or else...”
“Steve? Let's talk when you're calm...” I tell him coolly, a part of our team is beginning to surface since we haven't left the changing room for over thirty minutes now. Fuck. Steve is about to screw this.
“I will do my worse, we'll all go down in Hemsville in the next two weeks. I'm fucking nice enough!” he adds almost yelling, he's furious. He grabs his blazer striding away.
“What's up guys, is everything okay? Dayle?” one of the guys ask doubtfully
“Yeah, why not!?! We. Are. Good.” I form a smile and they nod agreeably, heading away.
Egan and I gape at each other, there's a need to solve this, or else Steve will blow up the whole thing.
“What are we going to do?” Egan asks. “We can't let Steve carry on with the plan.”
“We? There's no We, it's what are you going to do because you fucking backed out first!” I scowl at him, I know that it is somewhat not proper.
“Stop being a dickhead!” Egan snaps walking out of the changing room.
A text enters my phone, it's from Molly.
*Come outside!*
Dammit!
The effrontery alone kills me, what is her goddamn problem. Earlier on we argued, she claims that I give her little or no time. It all started in the cafeteria since I refused to kiss or take photos with her. I threatened to break up with her if she persists but it only got worse.
My fingers ruffle my hair, I can't keep track of the number of times that I have done that.

*
I see Molly and Chrissy chatting, it doesn’t seem like a deep conversation. It's Chrissy who is trying to pacify Molly since a psychopath called a girlfriend is pacing side to side like she lost a multimillion contract deal. Chrissy and I first jam eyes, we are both worried about each other and how things are falling off the cliff but then we have to act very normal.
I'm close to them now and Chrissy opts to leave.
“Chr—”
“Thanks, girl, I'll see you later!” Molly cuts me off, they exchange a hug. Chrissy signals me to know if everything is alright and I nod lightly. Positively. I have to confess to Chrissy about Molly and me, I just have to.
“I'll see you soon, Dayle!” she swiftly rubs my arm before heading away. I wish that I could make her stay anyway.
“Do you still wanna break up with me?” Molly asks, her question brings me back to earth.
“Your threats sound like a bluff these days, fuck off!” I nonchalantly tell her and she scoffs.
“Really? Do you realize that I'd waste no time letting the school know who the fuck you are? Principal Morgan would—”
“Enough, okay?” I interrupt her blustering. “I didn't mean what I said, it slipped out of my mouth!” Lie. I meant every word, I'm fucking tired of her drama.
“Why not, you don't wanna get caught!” she snaps proudly.
“You are making things hard, they are getting worse!” I say to her and she looks away guiltily.
“You made me this way, you ruined my life for an entire semester—I just want to be accepted by everyone—you!” her voice starts to shake. Is the tearing for a real cause or a fake one?
“I'm sorry about everything that happened last semester, how do I fix things?” I ask. At this juncture I'm tight-lipped. I'm basically in the middle of tighter situations. Steve is trying to ruin my life as well as Molly, what do I do?
“Prom comes up in weeks, ask me out to prom! Be the first to do so, Dayle! Prove to me that you love me—”
“Molly,” I call out, I have no intentions to ask her out for prom. Who dances with a dragon that breathes fire? I have plans with Chrissy or no one, how would she feel if I chose Molly over her? I don't want to visualize it.
“Do it by Monday, every student should be present!”
She leans in and drops a kiss on my lips before whisking away. I become more devasted and hopeless.