“Earth to Flynn!” I jump, nearly dropping the weight I was lifting onto my foot. I whip my head around to scowl at Axel, who’s leaning against the doorway to the gym. “Damn. You’ve been really distant. Either you’re thinking about your shit parents, or that cute waiter from the other day.” A few days had passed, but I kept finding myself thinking about Keanu.
I hadn’t seen him or his friend around the school at all. But he knew who I was, so… that had to mean he was at this school, right? I furrow my brows, and hear Axel heave a sigh again.
“Yoo-hoo, lover boy.” I flush, and jolt out of my daze.
“What?” I snap.
“If you’re looking to stare at him, he’s on the pitcher's mound for practice.” I blink, bewildered. “Hey, I notice the people that you notice, man. Because if they pique your interest, you don’t shut up about them. Or you’re always off in some fantasy world where you’re scre-”
“Okay shut up before I throw this at you.” I hiss, feeling my cheeks flush. Axel laughs, his grin growing wider as I grab my towel and water bottle and follow him. “Can we like… run a few laps?”
“To pretend you’re not stalking him like a creeper?” Axel takes off with a cackle, and I drop my towel and water onto the ground and dash after him.
“I’ll choke you on your own entrails!”
“Ooh, sexy but not really my kink.” Axel turns briefly to sticks his tongue out at me. I notice a few of the baseball players glance in our direction, but I’m a little too embarrassed to see who’s actually looking over. I manage to catch up to Axel and take him out with a slide tackle. “Red card, you bitch.”
“Stop teasing me, you fuck.” I breathe, flopping onto my back and laying spread-eagled on the grass.
“But it’s fun to see you flustered. All the rumors of you being a calm and collected asshole are great when you know what the great Flynn Graysen is really like.” Axel flops down next to me. I don’t respond, and tilt my head to the side to watch the baseball players throw back and forth.
There’s only one pair who’s pretty far away from each other. The rest are about a base length away from their partner. But, both people in that one pair must have an incredible arm and aim to be throwing that quickly back and forth.
“I’m pretty sure that’s Andrew.” Axel pipes up, following my gaze to the odd pair out. “He’s been the third baseman for the past four years on the team.” I make a noncommittal noise in my throat. I’d seen Andrew play before. He had a wickedly powerful swing and throw. Whoever was on first base had to always be alert to his quick reflexes.
“Oh damn. I think that’s our waiter-boy throwing with him.”
“What do you mean ‘our waiter-boy’?” I grumble.
“I’m sorry, let me rephrase. Your waiter-boy.” I can hear Axel’s grin.
“Axel, what the hell?” Axel throws a heavy arm around my shoulders as we sit up.
“Nothing.” He sing-songs, and so I roll my eyes and look away. We watch as Mr. Harrison blows his whistle, and his voice carries over even to us, even though we’re pretty far away.
“Alright! Let’s get to the rest of practice before Keanu and Andrew throw their arms out! We’re doing a mini in-game, and I’m testing out the position for new pitchers.” The majority of the baseball players start heading in towards the home plate. “Keanu and Andrew, get your asses BACK TO HOME PLATE in the next FIVE SECONDS or else the ENTIRE TEAM IS RUNNING FOUR LAPS.”
I hear Axel snort as the final pair stop throwing the baseball and race the other back to the group. I can’t help but to feel a little disheartened (though I really have no reason to) to see him so friendly with others when he seemed to shy when he came up to us at the Bear’s Diner.
“Are you thinking about going to the diner later tonight to catch a glimpse of him?” Axel asks.
“Not really.” I reply immediately, much too quickly. Axel has a broad grin on his face.
“Well too bad, I want to go and you’re my ride. So you’re stuck with me, Elloot.”
“Please don’t call me that.”
“Alright, Ellie.”
“Not that either!” Axel rolls his eyes at me at that.
"You gonna do anything about it?" Axel asks, resting his chin on his knee, drawn up to his chest. I shrug, watching as the baseball players take their positions on the field. I'm not exactly sure how my interest in this boy was piqued. Perhaps it was when he'd sprinted onto our field during tryouts.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, a damn miracle it didn't fall out when I was chasing after Axel. I feel my heart fall when I realize who it's from.
Father: We have a ball next week on Friday. Many potential business partners will be there. I expect you and Elijah to show up, and shine a good light on Graysen Corp. I also expect that you and Elijah show up with someone else other than each other. If needed, I will arrange a date for the two of you. Respond promptly.
"Your dad?" Axel asks, reading my expression. I nod, gritting my jaw and shoving my phone back in my pocket.
"Another stupid ball." I grumble, raking a hand through my hair. "This time, he's telling me to bring someone, or else he'll set me up."
'Why not bring Jasmine?" Axel suggests. Jasmine and Elijah are the other two who know that I'm gay. It's a possibility. Jasmine's helped me out in these situations before.
"Maybe." I say, flinching as I feel my phone buzz again. "Okay, let's go. You're hungry, right?" I get to my feet, and hold out a hand to Axel. He stares at me with an unreadable expression.
"Flynn," he starts.
"I don't want to talk about it." I say, my tone shorter than I'd meant it to be. Axel sucks in his lips, but says nothing as he follows me back into the school building.
"Did you see my text message?" That's the first thing past my father's lips when I walk through the door. No greeting, no asking how my day went, just straight to business.
"Yeah." I reply, kicking off my shoes.
"Why didn't you respond?" He demands.
"I was with Axel." I fight back the urge to snap at him. "We were training for soccer." I hear my father sigh heavily, disappointment lacing that exhale. When I look up, he's pinching the bridge of his nose exasperatedly.
"How many times have I told you, that I disprove of your training? If anything, you should be training to be Elijah's assistant for the company."
"How do you train to be an assistant?" I snap, feeling anger build inside of me. "Run back and forth, listening and abiding by his every beck and call?"
"Flynn Elliot Graysen, you will not speak to your father this way." My father's eyes are dark with anger, and I can tell that he's fighting the urge to smack me. Mother comes out from the kitchen, and immediately notices the tension in the air.
"Christian, sweetie. Flynn's just got back from school and I'm sure he's very tired. Come into the living room, and I'll have the maids make you some tea." Christian shoots me one last warning glare, and only when his back is turned do I stick my tongue out, flipping him off. Thankfully, my mother doesn't catch it.
I storm upstairs, and nearly kick my door open. My cat, Tigger, leaps off of my bed where she was napping, fur standing on end along her spine. When she realizes it's me, she hops off the bed, and brushes herself against my leg, purring as she notices my distress.
"Hey girl." I murmur, bending down to scoop her up. Tigger's a Maine Coon cat, about 90% fluff, and 10% cat. I flop backwards on my bed, Tigger curled up on my chest as she purrs. I run my fingers through her fur, and let out a groan of exasperation.
"Flynn?" I glance at my door to see Elijah standing there. I gesture, and he walks in, closing the door behind him. "You got Dad's message?"
"If you're here to hound me about it, then you can leave." I say, my voice cold.
"Not necessarily." Elijah responds, leaning against my desk. He reaches out a hand, and Tigger rubs her cheek against it, before returning to her napping position. "Just remember, that Dad's prejudice thoughts and actions shouldn't influence yours." I smile wryly, but his next words have my cheeks flushing. "You're interested in that kid, aren't you? The Asian one that I saw a couple weeks ago."
"I am not." Elijah's usually stone-faced expression cracks as a smirk crosses his lips. "I am not." I repeat, narrowing my eyes at him. His smirk turns into a wide, Cheshire cat grin. Oh my God, what is he planning?
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