11. Rocky
eleven
Rocky
August
Practice has been brutal for the last few weeks. We have our first game at the end of this month, and we have been having two-a-days. I’m so tired by the end of each day that I’ve barely been able to see Montana. I’m just finishing up with practice when Addison walks over with a smile on her face.
“Hey, Rocky! I haven’t seen you in a while.”
“Yeah, it's been crazy with practice and getting ready for the season.”
“I have a feeling we’ll go far this year. I think you’ll bring the team victory.”
“Well, it's a team sport. I wouldn’t be able to do it without them.”
“Umm, would you be able to come over tonight and help me put together my bookshelf? My dad was supposed to come but he can’t anymore,” she asks.
“Umm, sure, I can help you out.”
“Great, I’ll see you at my place?”
“Yup. Imma go to the locker room to change, and then I’ll head over.”
“Perfect. See you soon.” And she smiles and takes off to the other cheerleaders.
I don’t notice the guys looking at us while we were talking. I look over, and Talon has his arms folded over his chest. What the fuck did I do?
I walk over to them, and Xander is the first to talk.
“What was that about?” He nods his head towards where Addison went.
“She needs help putting together her bookshelf, so she asked if I could help.” I shrug my shoulders, trying to understand what the big deal is. At this point, Talon still hasn’t said anything and won’t look at me. I’m starting to get pissed because I don’t know what his deal is.
“Yo, Loyal, you got something to say?”
“Nope. I already told you. You hurt my cousin, and I’m beating your ass ten ways to Sunday,” he says nonchalantly, then turns to walk away from us.
“What the fuck was that?”
“Are you that dense or are you playing dumb?” Xander asks.
“Bro, what’s the big fucking deal? I’m going to help a friend out.”
“Yeah, a friend who wants to suck your dick,” he scoffs. “Look, Rocky, we have been friends since we were in high school. I’ve never been one to sugar coat shit for you, so the fact that you can’t see how much that girl likes you is insane to me. Addison has never made it a secret that she wants you, and I just can't believe you don’t see it, when Talon—who just moved here, by the way—can. I’m sure Monti sees it too.”
I’m looking at him like he has two heads. Addison and I are friends. Just friends, so I don’t know what the big deal is. I’ve never hooked up with her. I don’t see her like that at all. She’s nice and doesn’t treat me like most people do because of what I do, or who I am.
I roll my eyes at him and say, “Dude, it's not like that at all. She’s just a friend.”
Talon comes back, and I hear him scoff. “Right, and the sky is red, but what do we know, right, Xander?” he asks while shaking his head.
“Dude, I like Montana. I don’t like Addison in that way. She’s just a friend, and I don’t think she sees me that way.”
Talon, Xander and Kellen all laugh.
“You’re an even bigger idiot than we thought,” Xander says.
“Whatever. You three are crazy if you think I want her.”
“It’s not you that we’re worried about,” Talon says. Then adds, “I haven’t even been here long, and I see that she wants you, bro. If I can see it, Montana can too.”
“She has nothing to worry about.” I’m starting to get pissed the fuck off.
“Okay, whatever you say,” he replies as he walks out of the locker room.
I pull out my phone and see a text from Montana.
Killer: Hey Savage.
Me: Hey Killer, what are you up to?
Killer: I’m just about to eat and maybe watch a documentary on Richard Ramirez. You?
Me: You and your serial killer documentaries lol, and Addison asked if I would go help her build a bookshelf.
Killer: Oh. Ok.
Me: You okay?
Killer: Yep.
Me: She’s just a friend baby.
Killer: Does she know that?
Me: Yes killer, only you.
Killer: You sure?
Me: Pinky Promise.
I park my car in a visitor's spot at Addison’s apartment. After practice and a shower, I changed into black joggers and a football t-shirt with some white Vans. I haven’t been to her apartment before because she just moved in. She had been living in the dorms the past few years.
At the door, I knock and as soon as she opens, she ushers me inside.
“I ordered pizza, I figured you’d be hungry after practice.”
“Awesome, thank you. So, where is the shelf you want me to help put together?” I turn to look at her and see she's wearing tight black shorts and an off the shoulder white shirt. She doesn’t have the curves I crave or the freckles that dust her nose like Montana does. She is pretty in her own way, but I don’t feel anything romantic towards her.
“Oh, it's in the living room. Let me show you.”
We walk over to it, and she turns on Netflix. “What do you want to watch?” she asks.
“Umm, it doesn’t matter. I’m going to start on this.”
“So, how have you been? I feel like I haven’t seen you in a while.”
“I’ve been great. Thanks for asking, Addy. How are you?
“Good. I can’t wait till graduation. Are you excited to see where you go in the NFL?” She asks as she brings over a bottle of water for me.
“Umm, not really. One step at a time. Practices have been going well, so I think we have a chance to win. I just don't want to let the team down.”
She nods in understanding and says, “Well, I can’t wait to cheer for you again this year. You won't let them down. Game days are always so fun.”
“Yeah.”
We fall into a comfortable silence, and I feel my phone buzz in my pocket, so I pull it out and see my girls name on my phone.
Killer: Watching scary shit isn’t as fun when you’re not here yelling at the screen.
Me: Because they don’t make smart choices.
Killer: The documentary was good, next time you will have to watch one with me.
Me: Let's watch one on Ted Bundy.
Killer: So down, baby.
Me: Can’t wait.
I send the text, smile at my phone and put it away.
“Who’s that?” Addison asks, and I notice she's sitting closer to me now.
“Montana,” I reply with a smile.
“So, what’s going on with you two?”
“I like her, Addy. She isn’t like anyone I have ever met before. She makes me want to be a better person. She makes me want things I didn’t think I wanted. She calls me and everyone else out on their shit and isn’t afraid, because she does it out of love. She isn’t mean nor malicious. She is seriously funny, smart, and has a passion for books.”
Addison is sitting there, quietly—she is just frozen.
“I can’t believe this.” She says it so quietly that I almost miss it.
“What?”
“I can’t believe that you would choose her over me. I’ve been here for you. I thought I made my intentions clear. You and I make sense. I just don’t understand why not me?” She exclaims while pacing the floor.
I look at her, and I can honestly say I didn’t see this coming. I guess I was blinded by her, but was everything about our friendship fake? I thought she really wanted to be my friend and nothing more. I don't think I ever gave her the vibe that I wanted more than friends.
“We’re friends, Addy. I don’t see you as more than that. I’m sorry if I came across as wanting more than friendship with you. You’re very nice, but I don't want to be with you like that.”
Before I know what’s happening, she’s straddling my legs and kissing me. I shoot up from the couch fast, dropping her on the floor in the process. I don’t even care at this point. I’m so pissed off. I feel like a fool.
What the fuck?
“What the fuck, Addison?” I ask. “Are you insane?”
“I thought if I kissed you, if you tasted my lips on yours…you’d see that you would be so much better with me.” She scrambles to get up.
“What part of I want Montana did you not understand?” Now, I’m even more pissed off. What is this chick not understanding?
She scoffs. “What the fuck do you see in her? She’s short and fat, she doesn’t fit in your circle. You could do so much better than her. She's been here for what, five minutes? She hasn’t been there for you like I have. She thinks she can transfer here and take what’s mine?”
“What. The. Fuck. Did. You. Just. Say?” I grit out through my teeth as I clench my fists.
“She doesn’t deserve you!” she yells, her voice getting louder. “How can that thing waltz in here and think she can get the one person I’ve always wanted. She has another thing coming if she thinks I’ll go down without a fight.” Her fists are balled up at her sides.
She’s fuming but so am I.
“You are such a shallow bitch. She has more heart in her pinky finger than you could even dream of having. You think just because you’re skinny that you have a better chance with me? You thought playing the best friend card would get me to fall for you?” I shout. If she wants a yelling fight, she’s going to get it. “I love her curves, I fucking love that she has hips and an ass. She is not fat. She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. She’s the one I want. Not you. Get that through your damn head and leave me alone.”
I’m breathing hard now because of how pissed off I am. Who does she think she is? I didn’t come here so she could insult my girl.
“Stay the fuck away from me, and you better stay the fuck away from Montana. If I hear that you even look at her sideways, you will regret it.”
With that, I leave, slamming the door on my way out, and don’t look back. I feel Addison’s eyes burning a hole in my back as I climb into my car and drive to my girl.
I need to tell Montana; she needs to know the truth.
Running up the stairs to her apartment, I knock on the door frantically. She opens the door and looks up at me with those mesmerizing hazel eyes. Her face is shocked but hinted with excitement to see me.
“What are you doing here?” she asks as she opens the door further.
“This.” I close the distance between us because I need her. I need to hold her like I need my next breath for what I’m about to tell her. I kiss the shit out of her, the kiss starts soft, but once I taste her lips on mine, I become feral.
Caressing her face, I run my hand around the back of her neck and into her hair. She moans into my mouth and that gives me the access I need to suck on her tongue. I pull her closer to me. I need to hold her, so I grab her hips and lift her up, her legs wrapping around my waist.
She gasps when she feels how fucking hard, I am for her. I kick the door shut with my foot and turn her around so she's up against the wall.
“I’m so sorry,” I say as I put my forehead on hers holding her face in my hands.
I need to hold onto her. I need her to listen to me. I’m afraid that if I put her down, she’ll never look me in the eyes again.
All I hear next is her breath catch with a little gasp, and then, “Not again.”