“He would have done much worse.” I studied his face and saw something odd hiding in his eyes. I recognized that look.

“Are you afraid of him?”

“No. I’m afraid for him.”

“Why?” He hesitated again and I could tell he didn’t want to answer my question but I wasn’t letting this go.

“We can’t be friends, if I can’t trust you.” I knew it was manipulative to use that against him but these two have done much worse. He looked amused before shaking his head.

“Keiran is going to have his hands full with you,” he chuckled.

“No more than I will with him. Tell me.”

“I’m afraid for him because every day he has to fight the person he is, to be the person he wants to be.”

“What happens if he loses?” I asked while the hairs at the back of my neck stood up.

“People get hurt.” I didn’t miss the sad look that passed over his face before he focused on his poster and began working on the picture.

“Something tells me you aren’t going to elaborate.” I knew Keenan knew more than he let on to Sheldon or anyone else. I can’t imagine living with someone like Keiran and not see more than the rest.

“Not unless you have something else to offer.” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively and I laughed.

“Yeah. You, me, and Sheldon could all have a good time,” I quipped sarcastically.

He turned to me with wide eyes that were glazed over with what looked like hope. “Don’t say that unless you mean it because if Keiran fucks up, I got dibs.” He winked and turned back to his project.

* * *

“I want you at practice with me.” It was just after fifth period when Keiran delivered his latest demand. We were leaving the classroom when I had turned to kiss Keiran goodbye because he wouldn’t let me go otherwise.

“I’ll pass.” I turned to leave, irritated but not wanting it to show. So much for the honeymoon phase. Then again, I didn’t know what this was between us. Keiran had made it known he wasn’t going to leave me alone so it was either be friends or be…I don’t know. I chose to be friends but he was taking so much more.

“I’m not asking,” he gritted while tugging on my arm and pulling me in the opposite direction. I looked back at Willow for help but she was distracted and looking uneasy from Dash’s scrutiny. Yeah, he still had it bad for her.

“Keiran this is ridiculous. What am I supposed to do at your practice? I’ll look like one of those clingy, hoe bag groupies. No thanks.”

He continued to pull me until he got tired of fighting and threw me over his shoulder. I couldn’t fight but I cursed him almost the entire way until he gave me a sharp slap on my rear that had me seeing stars. We got to the gym where he finally released me and I saw Buddy sitting on the sideline, lacing up his sneakers. Willow told me he made the team this year. Everyone was impressed with his skill at the Saturday game.

I unconsciously looked around for Trevor. Even though he was out on bail he was suspended from school until trial. When I didn’t see any sign of him, I walked over to Buddy and felt Keiran’s stare penetrating my back as I walked away. I rolled my eyes because I knew he couldn’t see and sat next to Buddy.

“You’ve become a hot commodity for Bainbridge. To what do you owe your success?” I held out an imaginary microphone for him.

“The endless supply of hot chicks they promised me.”

“Well there you have it folks. Another brain-dead athlete. When will the cycle end?”

“Hi, mom!” He spoke into the fake camera. I hit his shoulder and laughed at him. Buddy was so adorable. “Speaking of hot chicks, when will you quit breaking my heart and run away with me?”

“Never, shit stick and quit hitting on my girl.” We looked up at Keiran standing over us looking aggravated.

“That’s my cue to leave.” He slapped hands with Keiran before sauntering away. “You know she wanted me first anyway!” He yelled when he was a safe distance away. I was laughing hysterically at the look on Keiran’s face from Buddy’s comment. He looked torn between wanting to laugh or kill him.

Buddy has had a crush on me for as long as I could remember but it would never go anywhere. Don’t get me wrong, Buddy is insanely hot. He could even give Keiran a run for his money. Even though he was only a freshman it was obvious Buddy would take over the reins once Keiran left.

By the time I quit laughing Keiran had turned his menacing look on me and for the first time ever I wasn’t afraid. “Hey, don’t look at me. You are the one who insisted I come here. Now all your teammates get to ogle me.”

“Yeah?” Before I could answer he stalked off in the direction of the locker room. Twenty minutes later the team emerged from the locker room and began to warm up. I pulled out my books to pass the time.

Every once in a while I would watch the team, or more specifically, Keiran practice. There was a lot of shit talking between the guys as they practiced and I found myself cracking a smile or two at the crap that came out of Keiran’s mouth. I’ve never seen this easygoing nature from him. It almost made him appear human,

After some intense drills, they had a brief break to grab water but Keiran stayed on the court to make sure everyone got water. I heard him tell the new players that his number one rule was to stay hydrated at all times and he would be watching. Keenan grabbed his water bottle and ran up to me as I was closing my Lit book.