The party was well underway by the time I descended the staircase to the main floor of the house. Lipstick stains littered my neck, and I rubbed at them furiously in the hallway mirror before joining the mass of teenagers congregating in the living areas.
Some girl had thrown the party – Sarah? Sana? – to celebrate Ridgemount's win against Northshore in the final game of the season. Rumours had started circling an hour ago that someone had broken into her parent's liquor cabinet and I wanted in. My parents didn't like me drinking alcohol but this was a special occasion. Endless hours of sweating through long practices had been worth it to see the look on his face.
Loud music reverberated through the house as I made my way into the kitchen and found an open bottle of Vodka on the counter. Mixing myself a drink, I nursed it in my hand as I stepped out the back door onto the patio. The night air was cold but a firepit burned in the centre of the garden where at least six people were making out on rickety benches.
Half the Ridgemount soccer team was gathered in the corner of the backyard, laughing. They were passing around a single cigarette, taking turns to inhale a drag before passing it to the next person. I blended into the group neatly and they welcomed my arrival.
"Dakota!" Easton, a blonde midfielder in his sixth-year, cheered when I made myself comfortable amongst the team. He coughed briefly on the intake of smoke before gripping the cigarette coolly between two fingers. "Hell of a game tonight, huh? Didn't I tell you we had this season in the bag?"
I smirked. "No thanks to you. I told you tripping defence wasn't the way to go. We got three yellow cards in the space of half an hour because of your recklessness."
Easton's eyes narrowed. "Watch yourself, Anderson. I'm the best you've got on this line-up."
"The best?" I scoffed. "I've captained this team for two years now and you've questioned every single one of my decisions and cost us games we should've won with our eyes closed. You're reckless and impulsive. You've been insubordinate and a pain in my ass since day one, Caulkin. Do not make the mistake of thinking you are better than anyone on this team when you are the lowest rung on the ladder."
Easton took a step toward me, eyes blazing but Matt hauled him back.
"Stop it. You're in deep shit as it is." Matt told the blonde. "Coach is already furious that you got us yellow-carded in front of scouts. Dakota is the one who convinced him to let you play second half."
Easton shot a dark look in my direction. "You think you can do a better job without me?"
The midfielder came to a stop before me, seething in my face. "Let's see you prove it, Captain."
Easton checked my shoulder as he stormed past, snarling something uncomplimentary under his breath. The door slammed closed behind him and the team laughed once he was out of sight.
"Man, I hate that guy." Dax sighed, staring after Easton.
Pete nodded. "He charmed his way onto the team. It was never really our choice."
"This was his last season." Brody reminded, "He graduates in November."
"Still," Pete sighed, "that's two months away."
Dax turned to me. "Don't mind him. You know he's been an asshole ever since his girlfriend dumped him outside the locker room that one time after a game."
Brody faced me then, eyes twinkling. "You handled that like a boss, man. Shit, I've never seen him so riled up."
"I'm Captain," I said, not bothering to hide my smug. "He didn't get voted for a reason."
"Pretty sure they burned his ballots." Pete laughed.
"Seriously, Dakota," Brody continued. The kid practically worshipped me. It'd be cute if it wasn't so pathetic. "He's wrong, okay? You're the most talented player we have. I mean, we chose you for Captain for a reason. You can pinpoint the other team's weaknesses in a heartbeat and exploit them in the heat of a game. It's legendary!"
"Legendary?" I raised an eyebrow, chuffed. "You're a real kiss ass tonight, Sanders."
Somewhere on the other side of the house, car doors slammed and tyres squealed on asphalt out in the street. A round of hollers sounded from inside the house a moment later, signalling the arrival of another group. Music was still pounding on the other side of the glass door.
The rest of the team snickered as Brody blushed. He played it off cool. "I'm just glad we won finals. For a while I honestly thought we might not make it past that one team."
The back door slid open. I ignored it in favour of scowling at Brody. "You doubted me? Still, after I racked up the most winnings in a single season for Ridgemount within my first year of Captaincy? What team are you talki-"
"Anderson!"
Mine and Brody's growing argument immediately dissipated as the team turned in unison. Connor Taylor, soccer Captain of Northshore, was marching across the patio, flanked by his team. I recognised the pair on Connor's immediate right and left to be the same duo who Connor had been calling back and forth to across the field during today's game. They'd also been laughing together during the break. The trio must be close friends.
Connor skipped the last step and jumped down onto the grass, coming to a stop before me. His team surrounded him in a triangle formation, each wearing a harsh glare on their face as they stared us down.
Connor glared at me. We were close in height, him being only an inch or two shorter, but his expression reminded me too much of a wounded puppy to be any form of intimidating.
I crossed my arms and quirked a brow at him. The smirk hadn't left my face. "This is a victory party, Taylor. Surprised you'd show your face here after the annihilation your team took on the field today."
"Oh, bite me." Connor snapped. "That game was ours and you know it."
"And how do you figure that?"
"You cheated!"
My team tensed around me. Their gleeful expressions were long gone.
My eyebrows furrowed as I stared Connor down. "Ridgemount does not cheat. You're not even a team worth cheating on."
"You hurt out goalie so we'd have to replace him with a first-year sub," Connor growled. "Don't tell me it wasn't your plan all along. We gave you our line-up at the beginning and you took advantage of it!"
"Hm," I said, "I'd call that seizing an opportunity fair-and-square. Not our fault you don't know how to forecast your opposition."
Connor squared his shoulders. "I'm taking this to our coach."
"Yeah?" I laughed, taking a step toward him. Satisfaction ran through me when Connor took a step back. "What are you gonna tell him? It sounds to me like this is just a case of injured pride. Run home and cry to your daddy, Captain."
My insult hit home when Connor dropped his shoulders with a huff. There was nothing his team could do to dispute the game's result and he knew it. They had no ground to walk on.
I shook my now-empty cup. "Well, this was boring as usual. I need a refill."
My team remained behind – likely to lay into Northshore for their heated accusation – as I made my way inside to make another drink. Of course, Connor followed me. The guy just couldn't let things go even when he knew it was a losing battle.
"I'm going to prove it."
I shot a look at him, sniggering. "And how do you plan to do that? I've admitted to nothing."
"Because it's the same thing you did when we were kids."
That got my attention. I turned on Connor, eyeing him dangerously. "What?"
He smirked. "Little League. 2007. The goalie sprained his ankle during the second half when you were down three points. He was replaced by a rookie and suddenly your team was making every shot."
"You know what they say. If you can't play with the team then you shouldn't be on the team."
"And yet I remember very clearly you subbed out your forward just before that incident."
"It's called strategy, Taylor. You'd do well to learn it."
"It's called scheming. I know you did the same thing today."
"Well," I grinned at him, "it's my word against yours. Cheers." I raised my cup in a mock toast but Connor wasn't having it.
Before I could process what was happening, Connor's hand came up and smacked my raised cup. It tumbled from my hand and the contents rained down on me as it fell to the ground, drenching me in ice and sticky alcohol.
My eyes widened as I went completely still. An icy chill set into my bones as my clothes began to absorb the liquid and my teeth chattered.
"You," I seethed, "are going to regret that."
Smug overcame Connor's expression. "Oops, sorry. I thought you said I should learn to strategise." He left the kitchen, wandering down the hallway like he didn't just intentionally spill an entire drink all over me.
I wasn't having it. Snatching the closest bottle on the counter, I stormed after him.
He was at the end of a dark hallway when I reached him, away from the party. No one would hear him over the thunderous bass echoing throughout the house.
Shaking the bottle, I yelled his name. Connor barely had a chance to react before I uncapped the bottle and sprayed it all over him.
Connor yelped in fury as he was met with a face of Cream soda. The bottle exploded, spraying sticky soda all over him and the wall behind. Foam dripped down my hand and I took pleasure in crushing it into his hair, my arm trapping him against the wall so he couldn't escape.
Enraged, Connor's eyes blazed as they met mine in the dark. "You asshole!" he shouted, shoving me away. "This shit stains!"
"You did the same thing to me, jackass!" I shoved him back.
"You are such an ass!" Connor yelled, wiping soda off him in disgust. "Just admit you cheated!"
"Are you kidding? You are such a pathetic loser! It's your fault your team lost and you can't even take responsibility for it!"
"It's not our fault!" Connor's foot came up to kick my lower region and I barely avoided its assault. Jumping to the side, his foot made hard contact with my thigh. I yelped when pain exploded in my leg but grateful his shoe missed its true mark. I probably wouldn't be able to have kids if it didn't.
"God, I hate you," I growled lowly, rubbing my leg. "It's been over a decade and you still don't learn from your mistakes!"
"My mistakes?" Connor yelled. "You're the one who uses tricks and plays dirty! God, are you even capable of fighting your own battles or did your daddy issues mess you up so bad you can't express emotion like a normal human being!"
I saw red. "Shut the hell up, Connor! You don't know anything about me or my family!"
"Aw, struck a nerve did I?" he mocked, "Tell me, does daddy ever come watch your games or are you just a piece of ass he pimps out for busi-mmph!"
If you'd asked me later what made me do it, I couldn't tell you. One moment we were standing there, screaming at one another in the dark, and the next I'd launched myself across the hall and caught Connor's mouth with my own.
Connor went still, too shocked to comprehend what was happening. Where I was usually secure in my spirited flame of anger, I felt the fire burning out and realised too late what I was doing.
I was kissing Connor Taylor. Connor Taylor. The very person I'd hated since I was a kid! The very person who was insulting me directly to my face right now!
I'd had fantasies about hurting him. To beat Connor down until he was begging for my mercy and forgiveness. To finally put him and that big mouth of his in place. To decorate his skin in black and purple bruises with my fists. To grip his wrists so tight my fingerprints left marks. To punch that cocky smirk right off his lips and taste the blood-
What the hell was I doing?
My mouth worked over his but the heat was dying. I was trapped, too confident to stop but too nervous to pull away. I'd backed myself into a corner with no escape plan.
So, imagine my surprise when Connor came back to life before me and I felt him reciprocate the kiss.
It lasted less than a minute. Connor seemed to come to his senses and placed both hands on my chest to shove me back. I went sailing back into the opposite hall as Connor stared at me with wide eyes, panting.
"What the hell was that!" he demanded.
"Shut up." I said.
"Dakota, you just kisse-"
"Shut up!"
Grabbing his shoulder with my hand, I slammed him back against the wall. Connor froze, staring at me like I'd grown two heads. It didn't slow me down.
"The very sight of you makes me want to commit murder," I growled. "You'd think with a mouth as big as yours you'd learn when to shut up but since basic comprehension has gone out the window for you, I'll make it clear a different way."
"So, you kiss me? That's disgusting!" Connor cried, "I'm not like this! I'm not-"
He broke off and I smirked. "Into dudes?"
His eyes narrowed as he shoved me again. "Shut up! I am not!"
Truthfully, I didn't have the slightest clue how Connor identified. Like me, he had a promiscuous reputation of his own that echoed all the way to the other side of the town through female gossip. Given his status, kissing him was reckless and based off pure impulse, but something was telling me that Connor wasn't as straight as he thought he was.
"Deny it all you want," I shrugged. "Your body can't lie."
He was semi-hard, even after a single kiss, and I had to wonder if this was his first time kissing a boy. Maybe his head was telling him something different but you couldn't ignore biology.
"This is just another one of your mind games!" Connor pushed me away again, seemingly coming to his senses. "I don't care what you think you felt. I'm not gay!"
I might have been inclined to believe him if his voice didn't waver at the end.
"Wow," I drawled. "That was really profound. I may even believe you if you weren't staring at the ground."
Connor looked back up at me, a rosy blush spreading across his cheeks. He whispered, "What the fuck is going on?"
"I have no idea."
"Why did you kiss me?"
"Why did you kiss me back?"
Connor's mouth snapped shut. He squeezed his eyes closed and said, "I don't know."
"You look hot when you're on a warpath."
He choked. "What?"
I shrugged. "Biology, man. Can't help it."
"I didn't even know you were gay."
"Bi," I corrected him, "but you tend to notice things when you're busy trying to smash someone's kneecaps in on the soccer field."
"You were in my way." Connor growled, refusing to meet my gaze again.
"I'm always going to be in your way, Connor." I crowded him up against the wall again. Music was still shaking the house and it was dark in the hallway. There were too many distractions for prying eyes to notice me backing the Northshore Captain into a corner. "We've been rivals since we were kids. I'm just better at it than you."
"Asshole."
"Dickhead."
***
[Part 2 in next episode]
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