It was nearly two in the morning by the time I got home myself. I parked my car in the garage before heading inside and up the stairs to my bedroom.

My bedroom was at the end of the hall. This part of the house was mostly mine seeing as my parent’s bedroom was downstairs in a section of its own.

I was nearly at my door when I walked past the upstairs lounge room. A soft glow illuminated the carpet and I came to a stop in the doorway. “Mum?”

To my surprise, my mother was sitting in an armchair with a reading light on and a book in her lap. Her mocha hair fell loose around her shoulders and her skin was makeup free. She wore only a pink robe and slippers on her feet. She looked up at the sound of my voice, closing her book, “Oh, Dakota. You’re home.”

I stepped further into the room. "What are you doing up this late?"

"Oh, I just wasn't tired." She smiled. "How was the party?"

Taking a seat on the couch opposite her, I shrugged. “It was alright. Keegan will have a raging hangover tomorrow.” I snickered at the thought.

Mum didn’t share my amusement. She shot me a perturbed look. "Dakota, were you drinking? You know I don't like you doing so."

It didn’t matter that I was of legal drinking age. My mum’s concern for me would never change, which is why I chuckled. “I wasn’t drinking, Mum. Just Keegan. Quinton only had a couple of beers, too.”

She nodded, believing me easily. That was the thing I loved about my mum. She believed me no matter what because that was just the kind of relationship we had, even if it tended to be a blessing and a curse sometimes.

After a moment of silence, I asked, "Where's Dad?"

"Working late," she responded. "He won't be coming home tonight but you'll see him tomorrow afternoon."

I knew what that meant. The delicateness in her tone was her way of telling me that it would be an easy night.

My father had never been completely accepting of my sexuality. The first time I brought up the fact that I was also attracted to boys he’d brushed it off. Either he didn’t believe me or he didn’t want to.

The second time had been when I was fourteen. My dad often liked to get through to his clients with a little motivation in the form of me. If there was one thing heterosexual white men loved more than business, it was keeping their family happy. Apparently a bumbling and blushing daughter coming home from a date with the boss’ charming teenage son was the tipping point for men entering into business with my father.

It was also the reason I suspected my dad didn’t acknowledge my bisexuality. How could someone who made pretty girls blush ever be attracted to the same sex? Pimp me out for an edge in business but God forbid I charm someone with the same genitals as me.

Since me telling him again at fourteen, Dad had only ignored any implication of my being attracted to guys, and so it became an unspoken taboo between us. Mum telling me he was working late was her way of saying that I didn’t have to conceal part of myself in my own home for his sake.

My father would never lay a hand on me physically, but at least this way I could be spared from yet another ignorant and disappointing conversation about my sexuality.

And Father of the Year award went to...

I nodded and stood up. "I'm going to go to bed. See you tomorrow."

“I have an early brunch with the Women’s Society Fundraiser but Dana will be here if you need anything.” Mum replied, referring to one of the housekeeper’s my parents employed. Dana was a sweet woman in her early forties. She was the one who often kept me company after school when I was a kid until Mum got home.

Swooping down, I kissed Mum’s cheek and wished her goodnight before leaving the room. The walk down the hall to my room was short and I stepped inside, immediately heading for the bathroom. As I showered the lingering scent of sex and cologne off my skin, I replayed tonight's events in my mind.

The win against Northshore felt great. It was always made worthwhile when I got to see that stupid look on Connor’s face every time he read the final score on the board. The season was only at the beginning and I’d already been blessed with the sight twice already when stealing the ball and winning the game. That was the fun part of having a rivalry with someone.

Was it petty? Probably. Did I care? Not one bit. Connor was arrogant and a complete snob. I couldn’t believe people actually thought he was a good person.

Then again, he was the so-called ‘king’ of Northshore. Being Captain of the soccer team only enhanced that title.

“Well,” I smirked to myself in the shower mirror, “no king is safe as long as he sits on that throne.” Today had been a great success.

I got out of the shower and towelled myself dry before brushing my teeth and completing my nightly routine.

As I climbed into bed, I grabbed my phone off the bedside table and thumbed a message to Connor. God only knows that guy would be overthinking everything as usual, even after I told him I had no intentions of revealing our hook ups to anyone.

The thing about Connor was that he was always a little paranoid. Many people claimed that he was relaxed and easy going all the time, the coolest guy you could ever meet, but they clearly didn’t see the worry in his eyes whenever someone brought up his love life or relationships. When I first found out about his paranoia I thought about exploiting it as his weakness but didn't seeing as it would bring me down too.

All things considered, I didn’t wish harm upon anyone. Even Connor. I simply wanted to tear his castle down and watch it burn to ruins at his feet.  

There was just something about him that had always got on my nerves. His arrogant personality or maybe that face he wore when he looked at you, as though he was criticising your every move. I hated it and him.

This year would be different though.

It wouldn't be like last year when we were completely concerned with hating each other. This was our senior year. Our final showdown where we finally learn who was the better Captain once and for all. Spoiler alert: it was me.

For a long time, Connor and I had gone head-to-head in everything but now it all came down to this.

Our secret relationship aside, this was the year everything would finish and I was planning on going out with a bang.

With dreams of defeating Northshore in the season championship this year and finally beating Connor in the long run, I went to sleep with a smile on my face.