Blake was still laughing from my previous comment, when we both jumped in surprise from the screaming.

"Lexi! GET OVER HERE," I heard Alex yell.

I was on my feet the same second and ran to him, because that was his something's wrong voice.

I ran from the trail and then up to where everyone seemed to be gathered.

My eyes feel on Alex and I caught with him.

"What's wrong?" I asked and Alex pointed to someone sitting on the picnic table.

"Jimmy-Dummy here tried to do a Can Can, but didn't bring his leg back in time so he fell like an idiot and now he's got a deep cut from the rocks."

"Get me the first-aid kit," I answered and ran to the idiot.

The reason why Alex called me was kinda silly. For as long as I could remember, every time someone got hurt, whether it was during recess in elementary school, or here during one of our many trips, every time, it was like a reflex. I would run to go help. There was no specific reason for it, maybe I had a calling for taking care of the sick. Or maybe I just like blood.

Who could know?

"I'm fine, alright! Doesn't even hurt that much," Jimmy was telling everyone gathered around him, still wearing his helmet, the left side of his pants torn and bloody, as was his left arm.

I hastily twisted my still-a-little-damp-from-swimming hair into a bun and stood in front of him.

"Yeah! Nurse Lexi's here," Jimmy said, trying to sound teasing, but I could hear the strain in his voice. He was in pain.

"Call me like that again and I'll pour lemon juice on your cut," I told him and then Alex was there and he gave me the first-aid kit and two bottle of water, to clean the cuts.

There was a lot of dirt in the wounds, but they weren't as deep as Alex had led me to believe. There was a lot of blood too, but it was all mostly dried by now.

"You really should have been more careful. Getting hurt defeats the point of showing off," I told him while pouring water on his wound to clean it.

Everyone had left by then, seeing they were of no use anymore.

"Hey, accidents happen to everyone," Jimmy said and flinched a little.

"Yeah, but the accident could have been avoided if you hadn't tried to show off."

"Look, everyone was doing tricks, so I did, and no I don't need to hear, if everyone jumped off a cliff would you follow."

"You're an idiot," I said shaking my head "Take off your pants."

"What?" Jimmy asked startled.

"Take off your pants," I motioned to them, "I can't clean your cuts and bandage anything with your pants on."

"That ought to make Connor jealous," Jimmy mumbled, while squiggling out of them, leaving him in the shorts he wore when he was swimming.

"Why is everything always about Connor with you? What's wrong with you two? Not everything is a competition."

"You're right, sometimes it's a battle! You gotta fight to get what you want," he told me with a grin.

I frowned. "What the hell does that mean?"

"That means... look Lexi, there's something I've wanted to tell you for a while now. I," Jimmy started to say but I stopped him with my hand.

"Jimmy, whatever this is, I don't want to hear it," I whispered, not able to look at him in the eyes.

I seriously did not need this. 

Because I was not stupid, I knew what he was going to say. I'd been dreading this day.

Not because I thought I was all that and I attracted every guy around. Honestly speaking, I was quite plain. Nothing really made me stand out in a crowd. All my features were average, I had really normal brown hair and brown eyes. Also. I had like no boobs, I was too tall for a few guys, and just generally too thin. I didn't see myself as hot. That was Anna's department, I'd heard it all through my childhood.

No, I knew this was coming because those two guys, Jimmy and Connor, they turned anything into a competition. And for some reason, they decided to put me in the spot of one of these stupid tantrums.

They didn't like me. But I was a girl that was hanging out with them often, and that was enough for them to want to see who could date me first. 

And I hated it, because I liked both of them, but not that way. And I was absolutely sure they didn't really like me that way either. They were just playing a game, trying to win.

I finished patching him up, in silence, avoiding any eye contact.

This would be just great now.

Awkward moments. Like I needed more of those.

When I was finally finished, I put everything back in the first-aid box and without any words from both of us I walked away.

This is great, just great.

Alex walked up to me. "So, is he alright?"

"Yeah fine, just perfect, everything's great," I mumbled, scowling a little.

Alex chuckled. "What happened?"

I shook my head. "Don't wanna talk about it."

"Come on Kitty. Just tell Papa Bear what happen," he teased, elbowing me. 

"Just drop it alright. I don't wanna talk about it, means I don't wanna talk about it."

"Oh god, he made his move didn't he?" Alex asked laughing.

"Shut up," I snarled.

"Oh this is just perfect! What did he say?" Alex chuckled.

"Honestly, Alex, you know how much I love you, but if you don't drop it this instant I'm going to have to strangle you," I threatened him. 

"You're no fun, you know that," Alex kept laughing, and then ruffled my hairs, messing up my bun.

"I hate you," I mumbled, slapping his hand away, and smoothing my hair back in place.

"Will you love me back if I tell you we're going to play football?"

"Orderly football or anything-allowed-to-get-the-ball-to-the-end-zone football?" I asked.

"Orderly football first and knock-the-shit-out-of-everyone football after," Alex answered with a big smile.

We played two kind of football. The guys play the real orderly, follow the rules and the game play kind of football. They all took their usual positions and all.

And then, we all played the other football which was more like rugby to be truthful and probably shouldn't even be called football at all except for the fact that with played it with the football. We'd split in two teams and one started with the ball on their end zone, instead of the middle of the field. And then it was a big free-for-all. We basically had the right to do anything to get to the other side. Didn't matter if your knee touched the ground or if you got knocked down on it. Everything was allowed. Tugging on the shirts, kicking, punching, even biting sometimes. All in all, it was pretty chaotic, but it's fun as hell. 

Usually we ended up all piled up trying to get the ball while someone was holding it under, getting squished by everyone, until someone actually managed to steal it away and then we'd all run after him. There was no end of game or anything. We played until someone got the ball to their end zone. And then the other team started with the ball on their zone, and we repeated it all over again.

And it was awesome! Messing, but awesome. 

"Alright, I might like you a little bit more," I mumbled.

Alex patted the top of my head. "Good Kitty! And you can be on my team on the knock-down game."

"So you'll make me the center and grab my ass at the beginning of the play?"

"You know me girl!"

I rolled my eyes at his answer, but felt a little better nonetheless.

Knocking down people on the ground was always a nice way to ease down your anger and annoyance, right?

We were all in the middle of the meadow. The guys were settling some things, deciding whether they would just stick with always playing defense and offence or if they would both do it. They used the usual trees to mark the two end zones. Fred who was the kicker was nominated as a corner back to even up the teams, because not all the players were here, since a few of them didn't hang out with us.

Catherine, Janna and I brought camping chair to side on the side lines, to watch the boys play, and America's Next Top Models aka Miriam and Stacey had been dead set on doing their cheerleading routine so they stuck in their own corner. 

The boys all took their places on the field and then Alex called out the play.

Clark, the center, threw him the ball, and then Alex backed up a little looking over to Shawn who was running away. Dwayne was running towards Alex to tackle, him but then instead of throwing the ball, Blake ran in front of him, took the ball and sprint away. I had to give it to Blake, he ran fast. Like fast, fast.

Cameron managed to stop him and tackle him to the ground, but Blake had ran almost half of the field.

The guys took their place again, and then Alex called the next play, Clark threw him the ball, and then Alex threw the ball at Peter who had ran a few more yards away.

The game went on and on like that. They didn't change offense and defense, always sticking with their usual spots. I think since the season hadn't start yet, they kinda wanted to practice.

There was something almost eerie about watching them playing all together. They really formed a team.

After eight touchdowns, a few interceptions, a lot of tackling and many cheering screams from Miriam and Stacey, the boys had enough of the orderly way of playing.

Fred, who looked bored as always, didn't stay for that part of the game, and Jimmy, who didn't want to get his bandages ripped off, which they most certainly would if he played, didn't stay. Miriam and Stacey whined long enough so that Clark and Shawn didn't stay to play either.

Catherine decide to stay out, because for one thing we wouldn't have been even, and also because she didn't particularly wanted to be tackle to the ground, so Janna and I were the only girls playing.

Alex, Connor, Cameron, Trevor, Davis and I formed one team, and Dwayne, Janna, Mark, Blake, Peter and Justin the other.

"So, ready to get kicked on the ground Lexi?" Cameron asked me kicking my butt.

"You're lucky we're on the same team otherwise I'd murder you right now," I laughed and then jumped on his back, trying to make him fall on the ground, but he was ready for that.

"I knew I was the favorite twin," he laughed, with me still clinging on his back.

"Wouldn't bet on that," Trevor yelled and then grabbed me around the waist, tearing me from his brother and swung me over his shoulder, my head upside down.

"Put me down," I laughed and punched him on the side.

"No can do!"

"Put me down or I'll pull you pants down," I threatened. I was on my feet seconds later.

"Alright kids, let's play," Alex announced and we all gathered at one end zone taking our shoes off.

Shoes were very dangerous in this game.

"Skin versus shirt?" Blake asked, after drinking from his bottle of water.

"Yeah right," I answered rolling my eyes.

"What? You're scared you're going to be distracted by my breathtaking hotness if I'm shirtless?"

"No, it's just going to be unfair for the other team, you know, grabbing on the shirt to throw on the ground," I explained.

"Well then you can take your shirt off, I have no problem with that Pumpkin," Blake answered and winked.

"No need for anyone to take their shirts off," Mark said, shaking his head.

"Yeah, and how are we supposed to know who's on what team when we'll be all piled up?" Blake asked.

"For Pete's sake, let's just start playing and if we see we have problems we'll let you strip down for everyone Blake," Alex answered rolling his eyes

"And we could butter you up afterwards and let a mob chase you in the forest," I added and then Alex said, "you watch too many Family Guy", at the same time Blake said, "That's all good, as long as you're in the mob Pumpkin."

"Just keep it in your pants Eaton," Connor said and then took the ball and threw it to me "You're our center!"

Of course.

"Okay, so what's our plan?" Davis asked while the other team gathered up too.

"I say, Davis you go after Mark, Connor, you go after Dwayne, and I'll stop Blake. Now, I'm sure Dwayne won't let Janna get the ball or anything, so Lexi could go after Peter, so that just leaves Justin, so the twins you can easily run with the ball," Alex whispered.

"Yeah that's good," Connor nodded.

"So Trevor, I'm giving you the ball? You up for running?" Alex asked.

"No problemo!"

"Okay, and Lexi, you're the center, and then the second she gives me the ball, you all run and tackle whoever I said you have to go after to the ground, alright?"

We all nodded and took our places.

Connor and Davis were beside me, and Cameron and Trevor were beside Alex who was behind me.

I crouched, one hand on the ball, the other supporting me, on the ground.

"Dwayne mom's hairy, that's not hot hot hot," Alex called instead of saying a play and then I threw him the ball muffling a laugh.

I ran straight to Peter, who was standing on the left, but he saw me coming, and dodged. I slipped on the grass but managed to turn around and then grab his shirt, pulling him, and then turning him making him lose his balance.

"The twin got the ball go after him," someone yelled while I kept a strong hold on Peter, my arms around him, while he tried to struggle out of it.

"WHICH ONE?" someone else yelled.

Ha ha.

Using the twins was brilliant. That sure would confuse everyone.

"Oh my god Lexi you've got a bug in your hair," Peter said, probably trying to make me lose my grip, but I wasn't stupid.

Everyone were screaming orders, or laughing, and then, Peter managed to squirm out of my arms. I got back on my feet, trying to see where the ball was and spotted a pile of people that everyone ran to.

I could see one of the twins, under everyone, with the ball in his hand.

"OVER HERE," I yelled, and then he saw me and threw me the ball.

Everyone spotted me at the same time, and then I was running for my life, holding the ball tightly against me, laughing.

Something hit my back, and next thing I knew, I was laying on the ground.

"Got you Pumpkin."

"Oh crap!"

I looked around trying to find someone to throw the ball to, but Blake's hands were trying to retrieve it, out of my hands, so I curled around it, right after kicking Blake away.

Blake charged again, turned me around, but I kicked him again and then saw Alex running towards me so I threw him the ball.

I tried to get back on my feet, but Blake held me to the ground.

"What the hell?" I yelled and squirmed in his arms.

"I'm not letting you go after that ball," Blake laughed.

"That's a stupid move. You should be going after it!"

"Thanks for the tip Miss I-scream-orders-to-players-on-rerun-games," Blake said at the same time we heard Alex yell "TOUCHDOWN!"

"See, stupid move," I told Blake when he let go of me, and helped me get back on my feet.

"It's all about priorities," Blake said and before I could ask what the hell, Dwayne yelled "TEAM UP EVERYONE," and Blake ran away, smirking.

I ran to where my team was and after short orders from Alex, we all face the other team.

Blake was the center, and Dwayne was behind him.

"Alex's mom sells chicken wings at Hooters and they're hot hot hot," Dwayne screamed and then Blake held his hand with the ball in his back and Peter and Justin went to stand beside him, Dwayne still behind and they all ran together.

"Who has the ball?" Connor screamed beside me, and then the other team all broke apart, running every direction, but no one had the ball in their hands.

"What the hell?" Alex said and then ran to Dwayne, who hand his arm wrapped like he was holding a ball.

But my eyes fell on Blake, and for some reason, I thought his smirk was a little suspicious so I ran after him.

His smirk only widened when he saw me, and then he stopped, stepped left, but I stepped left, and then right, left, left but I stepped with him every time.

This was stupid. He didn't even have the ball in his hands, why was I bothering?

Blake stepped right, and this time I lunged at him, tackling him to the ground.

He was laughing, as I thought of how stupid this move was, but then my eyes fell on his ass.

Not because I was checking him out or anything, but because he had a huge bulged, the ball, in his pants.

"Come and get it Pumpkin," Blake laughed.

"BLAKE HID THE BALL IN HIS PANTS," I yelled so everyone could come squish him and save me from having to retrieve the ball myself.

Seconds later, we were all piled up, everyone squishing us, hands and legs everywhere and I had no idea where the ball was anymore.

"THOSE AREN'T THE RIGHT BALLS," I heard Blake yelled at one point, and then I was laughing like crazy and I was having a hard time getting my breath back, because, well obviously, I was pretty much at the bottom of the pile. At one point, someone even kinda grabbed my ass, and I have no idea who it was.

In the end, the ball wasn't even in the pile anymore and Janna, who had stayed away, grabbed it and ran to the end zone, everyone on her heels but I stayed on the ground still laughing.

"You were so feeling me up Pumpkin," Blake laughed beside me, still lying on the grass.

"Yeah, well I bet you were the one grabbing my ass!"

"No, actually I was aiming for your boobs."

"Good luck with that!"

"So who's boob did I grab then?" he asked thoughtful and I burst laughing.

I sat up and then saw Janna doing a little touchdown dance.

"That's my girl," Dwayne yelled, and then showered her with kiss.

I smiled at them. They were so cute together.

"Come on, on your feet," Blake said, holding out his hand for me.

We played for over an hour like that, the guys doing stupider and stupider things every time.

But at some point everyone was exhausted and getting hungry and hot so we all agreed to end the game and we ran to the Creek.

I dove in, swam a little but I was starving so I got out a few minutes later and ran back to the picnic table, wrapping my beach towel over my bikini.

I took all my candy and junk out and then started to eat my M&M's.

I loved M&M's. M&M's rocked.

When Alex got back from the Creek, him and Mark got the barbecue out of the Jeep and set it up.

We took the camping chairs out of the cars setting them in a circle around the spot where we usually put the fire, while others started to set up their tents.

After we were all set I went to stand beside Alex.

"Yes, Lexi, I know you want hamburgers and hot dogs," he told me before I could say anything.

"And how many do I want?"

"As many as I can make," Alex answered, rolling his eyes.

"Good boy," I said and patted his cheek

About an hour later, we were all sitting with our food in our hands, the nice smell of junk food cooked on a barbecue swirling around us.

"How many hamburgers did you eat?" Blake asked as he sat beside me while I squished more ketchup in it.

"That's my third," I answered before drinking from my fourth bottle of Pepsi.

"What she didn't care to mention is that she also ate five hot dogs," Alex said, laughing on my other side.

"I eat a lot. So what?" I answered shrugging.

Blake laughed at that.

Alex got up from his seat, and went back to the barbecue, to make some more food.

As I took a bite from my hamburger, Clark came to sit beside Blake, while he watched Miriam and Stacey walking to god-knows-where, Shawn on his heels.

"So I totally didn't ask but do you mind about Miriam," Clark said.

"You're asking me? I absolutely do not care. Do whatever you want with that girl," Blake said rolling his eyes.

Okay... weird.

And then I thought about before we left for the Creek, Blake had said something about a rule?

"What's the rule?" I asked, without giving context or explanations. 

"Huh?" Blake frowned.

"You know, the rule you talked about when you said you had punched Shawn?"

"And why would I answer that Pumpkin?" Blake smirked.

But Clark answered for him, mischievously. "Blake doesn't want to sleep with girls we've already slept with, and always gets first round."

Alright, gross.

"What's wrong with you? First round? Like girls are some objects? That's disgusting!"

"What can I say, I'm not much for sharing," Blake snorted.

And I was once agin reminded that Blake was just a manwhore. "You're just a pig."

"And why's that?"

Wow, he really was dumb.

"You talk like girls are just objects you use. Like you can pass them around."

"But he does use them? Right Blakey? It's all about his instant gratification, ain't that right?" Clark said laughing at him, but Blake glared at him.

"Look who's talking?" Blake said.

"Well at least I announce it proudly! You play the sad eyed dude and all the girls sleep with you because they want to be the one making you smile," Clark defended himself.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Blake exclaimed.

Yeah, that's exactly what I was going to ask.

Sad eyed dude? Blake never had sad eyes! He was always smirking like a psycho-macho.

"Dude, I banged practically every chick you did. And let me tell you my man, it ain't the greatest feeling, especially when it's recent. You know once this girl just kept saying, I don't get it, why he didn't he like it, why did he keep that blank stare? Let me tell that doesn't help your mojo," Clark ranted.

Okay, way too much info here.

"Yeah, right," Blake snorted.

"It's true. You know it was that girl, what's her name, anyway the one at Shawn's party!"

"We're not talking about my party," Shawn mumbled.

"Because you got punched in the face and cried like a baby?" Clark laughed.

"I didn't cry," Shawn defended himself

"You passed out a little." Blake laughed.

"I fucking didn't!"

"Still wish I had crooked your fucking nose," Blake mumbled.

"Alright, so you punched him, why? Because he slept with a girl you wanted, before you did? A girl you didn't give a crap about? A girl you were just planning to use?" I exclaimed.

"What are you doing? Trying to make me feel bad about myself?" Blake asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Yeah, because I think karma kicked him in the balls already, Clark said laughing.

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"Well, that's the night he got in that car accident," Clark said, like it was the most obvious answer. I had no idea about any car accidents.

"You got in a car accident?" I asked looking at Blake and there was something weird about his eyes.

"Yeah, I got in a car accident, what's it to you anyway, it's not like you care? Or even knew," he snorted.

For one second, one tiny second, I actually felt bad. I should have known that right? But then I thought about the way he treated girls and I didn't feel bad anymore.

He deserved that.

"So you punched Shawn, left and then got into a car crash? That really is karma!" I said laughing.

Blake gray eyes turned almost black.

Ooops.

"You forgot the part where drunk you screamed at him," Clark laughed.

"What?" I asked, confused. 

"Hell yeah babydoll, I didn't see it, but I was told you were pissed and you screamed at him," Clark laughed even more

"Why?" I asked shocked.

"Because when I punched Shawn, I interrupted your nice dancing," Blake said his jaw tight.

Okay. I really didn't remember that.

Well it was not like I remembered a lot about that night. When I woke up the next morning, I had no idea how I had gotten back home, and then Vanessa had walked into my room, and told me, Catherine had called her from Shawn's party telling her I was drunk off my ass and I needed a ride home.

After that, people had filled me in my nice evening and I had been told that I had drunk like way too much Sour Puss, all by my stupid self. I had made a fool of myself.  I sang Happy birthday to Shawn like Marylin Monroe for a President, rubbed myself all over Fred, and then Shawn. But no one had ever told me I had screamed after Blake. Heck I didn't even know Blake had been at that party.

But what he just said, that him punching Shawn had interrupted our dancing, kinda made me glad he did. Because I had no idea what would have happened if I hadn't been stopped.

Because that night I was pissed. I had broken up with Alex, because, after like almost nine months, basically nothing had happened between us. We kissed, but that was it. And it was not because I was expecting anything or wanted to pressure him, but it just seemed like there was something missing between us, a spark or something. That night I had gone to his house, to tell him this, to ask him what the hell was wrong between us, and oh boy had I been surprised, and pissed. Mostly pissed.

Who wouldnt be if their boyfriend told them they were gay and had been using you as their beard?

So we had broken up, and I had decided to go for all the worst decisions I could made that evening, and went to Shawn's party, trying to prove something to myself I think, trying to convince myself I wasn't repellent, I wasn't--

Yeah, no, not going there...

Anyway. That was a night I would gladly erase if I could.

"Well, I'm sure you deserve what I told you, but thanks nevertheless," I told Blake and then stared daggers at Shawn, "because I would never rub myself on Shawn with my sane mind."

"Yeah, because me and Shawn we don't use our little sad eyes trick," Clark said faking to be offended.

"What the hell are you talking about? Blake doesn't have sad eyes. He has evil eyes, and smirks."

"Thanks," Blake snorted.

"Wow, are you blind babydoll?" Clark asked.

"No I'm not."

"I'm not kidding, seriously," Clark said and then called out to Stacey and Miriam, who came rushing back like bees to honey.

Blake was shaking his head, drinking one of his beers, and rolling his eyes.

"Just drop it Clark, you're annoying me," he said.

"No, no, no. I'm proving a point here," he said and looked at the two eager girls, "Tell us girls, we're having a little argument here, and we'd like to know, why did you sleep with Mister Eaton here?" Clark asked.

"It's the sad eyes," Stacey stated.

I rolled my eyes, and took my Pepsi.

"I just gave him a blowjob," Miriam said and shrugged.

I chocked on my drink a little.

"Still counts!"

"Sad eyes," she simply stated.

"Thank you girls, you can go back to frolicking in the meadows now," Clark said, whooshing them away and then looked at me evilly. "Told you!"

"Congrats Clark, you just proved us all you really have a lot of time to waste," Blake said, snorting.

"Whatever dude, I was just trying to prove a point. Us players we have to stick together, ain't that right, my wing man," Clark said patting Blake on the shoulder and then he walked away, to where the girls had left, Shawn with him.

Well. That had been interesting.

Blake was still sitting beside me, scowling, and drinking his beer and then something occurred to me.

"So that's your trick?" I told him.

"Huh?" Blake mumbled, and then looked at me.

"Your way to get any girl. Pretend you're all sad and desperate," I explained.

"Who said I was pretending?" Blake answered, and then it was like they hit me, his sad eyes, I could see them, and they didn't feel fake, not for one second. But before I could add anything he got up and walked away.

__________

I am once again under the influence of wine while I finished editing this chapter. I legit ran around the rich bitch apartment with Eve's Christmas trees, to throw them outside. It was a whole thing. I made quite the mess. Tipsy Kay is chaotic. 

Excuse the mistakes that might still be there. I've been working on too many things. I need to stop uploading these so late. XD

Thanks for bearing with me!

If you have any questions for me to answer during the live reading leave them here.

Otherwise, the live reading shall start at 11AM EST on Sunday February 21st. 

See you there! :D