26
The training the next day was a lot tougher. Will didn’t get a wink of sleep, and the long drive in the morning had sapped the last of his energy. He knew he was making a bad impression. Sure, he was doing the exercises and keeping up with everyone, but he wasn’t talking to anyone. He couldn’t bring himself to.
He’d held himself back from texting Gabriel, and that had taken more self-control than he knew he had. Instead, he’d spent the night on Google, reading cases where a student and tutor got involved. It always ended up with the tutor fired and barred from a career in teaching. In a case where the student was a minor, it was jail time. Will knew he could get Gabriel into serious trouble, jail-trouble, but he still selfishly wanted him to call and tell Will it was okay. That he’d thought it over and decided not to end things.
“Late night?” Vinny questioned, walking with Will out to the car.
“Yeah. I’m sorry I was quiet. Usually, I talk more than that. I…” Will sighed at himself floundering for an excuse. “I’m tired.”
“As long as you’re able for training, I have no complaints,” Vinny said. “Just keep the nighttime activities to a minimum when the matches are coming up.”
Will paused before opening his car door. Nighttime activities? His confusion must have shown because Vinny raised an eyebrow as his gaze flicked down to Will’s throat.
“Nighttime activities,” Vinny repeated.
Will felt blood rushing to his cheeks. He covered the spot in embarrassment, and that cracked the first smile he’d seen out of Vinny.
“Drink this on your way home,” Vinny offered him a flask. “It’ll give you energy for the drive.”
“Thanks.”
“The rest of the team will be back next week. They’re looking forward to meeting you,” Vinny said. “Drive safe.”
Will examined what was in the flask once he got into the car. He sniffed its contents and took a sip. It was bitter and tasted like leaves. It was one of the healthy smoothies from the cafe. It touched Will that Vinny had thought to get it for him. Will usually didn’t like eating things when he didn’t know the calorie count, but given the amount of work that went into the training, he could honestly eat an entire pizza and not feel guilty about it. He checked his phone before he left, just to see if Gabriel had messaged him. There was nothing.
*
Will surprised himself by not crying. He felt horrible, and he definitely wanted to cry, but it was like he was too hollow for that. He realised just how little he opened up to his friends because he had no one he could talk to. Leah had started texting him again the past few weeks, but he didn’t want to risk pushing her away again. She was being affected by their parents' divorce too. She had to be dealing with it in her own way.
At lunch break, he sat with Jack. They were at one of the picnic benches outside, and Will was picking at the last of his stir-fry. Amanda was busy texting someone on her phone. Jack had finished eating and was talking about the practice match he was arranging for next Friday.
Amanda nudged Jack’s elbow and nodded to Will without looking up.
Will put down his fork. “What’s up?”
“Oh, yeah.” Jack turned to Will. “Are you able to play on Fridays? I don’t know how it works with the national team.”
“Since you didn’t tell us,” Amanda added lowly.
He studied Jack’s expression. There wasn’t anything in it to show that he wasn’t okay with Will making it onto the team. “It’s weekends only. It’s about an hour and a half drive, so I can’t make it to the trainings they have during the week with school and all,” he explained. “Sorry I didn’t mention anything. I wanted to see how it went before I talked about it.”
“And how was it?”
Will thought about what Gabriel had told him about reaching out to someone. If there was anyone who would sit and listen to him, it would be Jack. And since he’d had his crush exposed already, there wasn’t exactly much else he could say that would embarrass him in front of Jack. “There’s a lot to talk about,” Will said. “How about I tell you about it tomorrow at mine?”
At that, Jack twitched. Amanda gave Jack a look, and he turned back to Will with guilt written all over his face. “Sorry, I have to cancel tomorrow. Something came up.”
It wasn’t the fact that Jack wasn’t coming that bothered Will. He’d gotten used to him cancelling the past few weeks. But the look Amanda gave him meant something. It meant that she’d made plans, and Will wasn’t invited. And Jack was going along with it. For the first time in his life, Jack didn’t seem like a perfect angel. Everyone knew what was going on with Will’s parents, including Jack, and he still excluded Will? Amanda didn’t surprise him, but Jack?
First Gabriel, and now Jack?
“It’s no problem,” Will said. Gabriel was wrong about everyone wanting to be there for him. His chest tightened.
“Sorry I’m late.” Birch put his books onto the picnic bench and sat next to Will. Amanda’s phone went away, and she brightened up. No doubt the plans tomorrow were something the three of them had arranged to do together.
“Birch, are you any good at maths?” Will asked.
Birch turned to him surprised. Will rarely took the initiative in their conversations, not since that kiss. He was pretty sure Birch had taken that to mean there wouldn’t be a second one.
“I’m pretty decent,” Birch replied.
“Do you want to revise with me tomorrow after school?” Will slipped his hand onto Birch’s knee. Beneath the picnic table, out of sight of Jack and Amanda. “I’m having trouble getting ready for the Christmas exam.”
“I’m meant to…” Birch’s cheeks went red under Will’s gaze. He could feel the tension in Birch’s body.
Will felt more than saw the glare Amanda was shooting in his direction.
“You’re busy already?” Will fake sighed and dropped his hand away.
“No! Well, yes, but it’s fine, I can come over,” Birch said quickly.
“Great.” Will smiled. “Meet me by the lockers after the bell goes. I’ll drive us.”
He turned back to the other two. Jack’s lips were parted, and he looked as though he was about to remind Birch about their plans. But he closed his mouth, saying nothing. Will knew he couldn’t remind Birch, because then he’d be admitting to Will that they’d all made plans and purposely left him out. He flicked his eyes to Amanda, expecting to find her glaring at him.
Instead, she was staring at Birch. She didn’t look angry at all. There was a shine to her eyes as if she was holding back tears. She looked more upset than Will had ever seen before. Jack’s head turned down, so he was looking at the table. Will stared at the two of them, and he felt horrible about himself. The tightness in his chest got worse. Just because he was miserable didn’t mean he had the right to try to bring them down with him.
*
“For the last week, I’m going to do a little change-up,” Gabriel explained.
Will sat at the front with his copy open, his homework half-done, and his textbook absent. He’d forgotten it. He was afraid to look at Gabriel, in case their eyes met and Will broke down. So he waited until Gabriel was addressing the other half of the class to sneak a peek.
His hair was in half damp waves. There was a dark shadow around his jaw of a few days’ overgrown stubble. The dark circles under his eyes stood out against his pale skin. Even his outfit was out of character. He‘d replaced his usual work shirt with a plain jersey.
Will had a feeling he was the reason Gabriel wasn’t put together today. It made him feel both good and guilty.
“Since we have everything that Mrs Gray wanted us to revise covered, this last week will just be free study. Feel free to work on your homework from other classes too if you need to.” Gabriel picked up a sheet of paper from his desk. “Everyone will be split up into pairs. I have some practice questions prepared in case you don’t have work already. Now,” he turned his head suddenly, meeting Will’s eyes, “would you rather pick your own partners?”
The sudden attention startled Will, and he froze.
The rest of the class gave an affirmative.
Gabriel waited a moment, his eyes still on Will, before turning to the class. “Well, that’s too bad because I have a plan done out already.”
“Why would you even ask us?” Michael was the most vocal of the complainers, and his tone was a lot sharper than anyone else’s. Will remembered what Dune had told him about none of the football players liking Gabriel. But as far as Will knew, Michael had good grades, so maybe he disliked Gabriel just because his friends did?
“You and Amanda can sit up here, please.” Gabriel tapped Will’s desk. “Will,” his voice softened, “you can join Cassie at her desk.”
Will packed up his things and made his way back to Cassie. She leaned over to him. “I missed you,” she whispered.
“I was next to you for one class,” Will said back with a small smile.
Cassie waited until Gabriel was at the front of the classroom before leaning over. “What do you think is up with him?” she asked quietly. “He didn’t shave. I’ve never seen him dress like that before, and he’s being grumpy a-f.”
Will tensed up. Everyone noticed Gabriel’s state? It wasn’t just Will that paid close attention to him…although with how Gabriel was now, it was probably obvious to everyone that something was up with him. “He probably overslept.” He shrugged. “It happens now and then.”
“Or…” Cassie narrowed her eyes at Gabriel’s back. “He had a fight with his girlfriend.”
“He doesn’t have a girlfriend.”
Cassie looked surprised by his quick response.
Will bit the inside of his cheek and forced his voice to come out casual. “He brings his niece to volleyball. I’ve had a few conversations with him.”
Before Cassie could jump down his throat with more questions, Gabriel drew their attention to the front of the classroom. “Work together on the handouts, and I’ll make the rounds to give help where it’s needed.” He checked the clock. “You’ve got about thirty minutes. I don’t mind if you talk, but I’d prefer if you kept it work-related.”
“He doesn’t mind us talking?” Cassie shook her head. “Something’s going on with him.”
Will had a feeling that Gabriel had set up the class like this just for his benefit. He knew Will needed help to do maths questions, and if he’d just given them worksheets to revise, he wouldn’t have been able to do anything on his own. And putting him next to Cassie was very purposeful. Will got along with her.
Gabriel was trying to look out for him. After cutting ties with Will again, calling it quit on him again , he was still trying to help him? Will knew he cared, at least he thought Gabriel did, but this was worse than having him go cold turkey on him. How was he not meant to hope they’d somehow get back together when he was still being nice to him?
“Hey.” Cassie put her hand on his shoulder. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” Will blinked, pulling himself out of his own head. “I forgot my book. Can I?” He nodded to hers.
Cassie offered him a worried smile and placed the textbook in the middle of the table. “We can share.”