Chapter Text
Friday, 30th of September 2022.
[KJ Brandman’s POV]:
Everything was happening too fast.
In the day of our practice, after Tiff, Erin, and Mac went to the locker rooms, Lauren said she wanted to talk to me. First, she said that she ‘didn't want to be just friends’ and then she gave me a quick peck. Which was enough to cause a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions.
Lauren is such kind, sensitive girl...she's amazing, really. We have been friends forever, but I'd never seen her like that. However, now that my eyes were "open", I was somehow interested. I feel comfortable around her, we spend hours talking, she makes me feel better. Lauren is perfect and I seriously couldn't ask for anything better than her. I mean, we've known each other since elementary school, we grew up together and I don't know exactly when she started to develop feelings for me. After all, it was 11 years of friendship. This whole time, she simply respected my space and waited patiently.
My parents also love her, our families always travel together on our vacations. She's definitely the kind of girl they've wanted me to date since I came out. Obviously, it's a hidden topic for the public, since my family is the public type of family. Our name is too important to be related with something so “inappropriate”.
When I came out, my mother was very against it at first, while my father understood and supported me. Over time, she gave up and just accepted it, after all, I'm still her daughter regardless of anything. The only problem is the awkward conversations we have about relationships sometimes.
So yes, it was the right time to Lauren confess and kiss me.
And there's also Mac Coyle.
Mac was doing everything she could to annoy me, I knew that. And it was inevitable not to fall for her provocations. Her and that damn smug smile. I’ve cursed her name so many times in my mind, God forgive me! But since she apologized for being an asshole, I realized that Mac wasn't that stupid and arrogant. Maybe just a little less.
It's just that after me impulsively wiping the blood out her mouth that day, Mac has been acting a little strange. It’s like she gets all shy or embarrassed only in my presence, I can’t really tell for sure. She’s so hard to read. There were still provocations on her part, but they were less usual. She was nice to me when she wanted sometimes.
I snapped out my thoughts as I realized the time. As usual, Mac had already left for class, and I was going to be late if I didn't hurry. Today was Friday, which meant we were having a clandestine sleepover (Mother, forgive me) in Tiff and Erin's room.
"Thank God." Erin said as usual right when the bell for the last class rang. I packed my stuff and got up waiting for Lauren so we could go to the cafeteria. Mac appeared shortly afterwards saying she would come later, because she needed to go to the toilet. We just agreed and went without her.
Tiff and Erin couldn't stop talking about the game they were gonna play tonight, I've never seen them this excited since the Mitski show we went to last year.
“What do you say?” Lauren had a huge smile on her face.
“Sorry, say about what?” I asked confused.
“About us sharing the same mattress tonight.” She repeated.
“Sure.” I smiled, her smile made mine even bigger. I loved that smile so much.
“Can’t wait.” She said, giving me a peck on the cheek. I didn’t even need a mirror to know I was as red as a tomato. Lauren got up saying she needed to do some homework and left.
“Oh KJ, I love you so much..” Tiff imitated Lauren’s voice, it was impossible not to roll my eyes.
“I love you too, Lauren..” This time Erin continued the joke imitating my voice, making kiss noises.
“You guys are so weird” Said Mac when she walked to our table and saw the scene the two clowns were making.
“Just noticed it now?” I asked, making an annoyed face.
After lunch, we asked Mac to come watch our hockey practice again, which became something usual that week. She hadn't missed a single day.
The heat that day was unbearable, which was why my bangs were sticking to my face due to the sweat and my throat was dry. I had already run so much that I could feel my lungs exploding at any moment.
“LET’S GO, KAJE!” I heard Mac yelling when I took down Isabel, our friend from the opposite team.
“Looks like your cheering team is excited today.” Said Tiff.
bleachers“Shut up.”
“Okay girls, five minutes running around the camp and then you can go” Said the coach as the team groaned. When we finally stopped running, we went towards the bleachers where Mac was.
“Wow Erin, I have no idea what you did there but it was incredible” said Mac.
“What about me? Nothing to say about me?” I provoked.
“You were mid.”
“Excuse me?”
“It was good enough.” Mac wrinkled her nose, which I have to admit, was cute. I picked up the bottle of water that was on the floor and tried to throw water at the girl, but her reflexes were very quick for someone apparently unathletic. “You missed, Brandman!” Mac put his hands up to his mouth, teasing like a child. So I did what adults would do and ran after her through the stands.
"Not fair, I ran a lot before. You've been sitting this whole time! It's unfair!" I complained as I gave up running after her.
"Admit you lost, Karina" She provoked once again, giving that damn smug smile she always had.
"I heard you cheering for me from the stands, though." I crossed my arms, raising an eyebrow. She opened her mouth several times to reply, but said nothing.
"Okay kids, enough messing around, let's go to the locker room already ‘cause dinner is gonna be served soon and then we'll have some girl time" Said Tiff.
"Where’ s Lauren?" Erin asked. I could have sworn I saw Mac roll her eyes.
"Probably in her room." I replied. "I'm gonna go take a quick shower and stop by her room before I go eat dinner.
This time, Mac didn't wait for us in the locker room. She just said she needed to do something and left. The girls and I went to the locker room.
"KJ, is something going on between you and Mac?" Tiff asked.
"Of course not, why?"
“I remember you were always cursing her name from the rooftops before, and now you're literally running after her.” Erin said as if it was obvious.
"She's just less annoying now." I shrugged.
"This is gonna end up in a love triangle." Erin said excitedly.
"Shut up." I punched her shoulder. "I'm going after Lauren, I'll talk with you guys later."
"Be careful, don’t get lost in the school bathrooms." Tiff said in a malicious tone, making Erin laugh.
"You guys deserve each other." I walked away showing the middle fingers to the two idiots.
My mind was in finding Lauren now.