HIS UNMATCHED AFFECTION

Chapter 17

Stacy's POV

After class I walk to Eric's desk. I saw him looking shy and guilty throughout the lecture. Maybe I should tell him I feel the same way. I know he has been longing to hear me conquer with him.

"Where to?" I ask.

"Practice am even late, are you coming", He asks me in an inviting tone.

I was going to go Anyway because of Jake but to make him feel better I twist my words.

"Who does not want to see Eric brown in action?" I ask rhetorically.

"Come on, Am less of a star than you friend", He says putting friend in imaginary quotes.

Another reason why I should tell him. But right now he looks more psyched up to go for training. His hormones are so juggled up I guess he is going to outshine Jake and James today. Speaking of James I feel bad about what I did to him but he deserves it though.

"You'll find me there, anything you want to add", He asks zipping his bag.

This your time Stacy tell him. My conscience is shouting in my head.

"Yes but we will talk after the game, it's important", I stress.

"Okay bye, see you there", He kisses me on the forehead and walks away briskly.

Since when does he do that? Forehead kisses always send butterflies in my belly. God he is just an angel I think Clara is the luckiest girl in the world. Now that she has come up, I hope I will find her so that we can go to the field together. As I motivate Jake she should be there to balance the equation. The brown brothers always need to get balanced, together they are like a nuclear reaction.

"We are sorry girl should we wait for you?" Sylvia asks.

Being on a temporary sick leave makes her the leader of the fairest five. I love how they care for me. But for now I have to break their hearts and crawl my way to Clara's class hoping I'd find her.

"I will just slow you down, you girls go ahead save me a spot, two", I say.

"I thought Jake is playing?” Sylvia asks teasingly.

I know what she's talking about and from the look on their faces the board of management wants to vet him. I know he can't go through. There is a snowballs chance in hell. They like a drug test, he can't go past them with his ailing dating track record.

“Not now girls we will do a girls night to discuss that it's been long", I say sounding serious.

"Yeey!" Sharon and Sheila say in unison.

"Okay crawl your ass to the pitch then don't hit no stones eyes down here", Sylvia explains before joining the girls who are almost halfway outside the class room.

"Sure", I say in finality.

Clara's POV

The dead silence reminds me that am actually in class and not on my comfy bed, there is no one around the class. Everyone has gone for various games and activities. I can hear some slow footsteps approaching. I put my book in my bag pack and lock up other remaining stuff.

"Wasn't expecting to find you here", Stacy says standing at the door.

"You all like a baby", I tease walking towards her.

"I miss being a baby, I could be healed by now", she says waiting for me at the door.

"Where to?" I ask stopping.

"The pitch I would actually want you to meet my friends", she says sounding unsure.

She has every right to. For long they have been known as the five. I'd hate to be the sixth one and ruin the group besides my first name doesn't even have an S in it. Unless they use another criteria am not fitting in. Guess I was born to stand out, a lone wolf.

"That's not possible let's just go watch the two play", I say leading the way in a pace she can match.

"Just to meet them not to join the group", she argues.

"It is okay but am not making any promises", I announce.

We are a few meters away from the football pitch when James appears with a pair of socks from the laundry room. His tight football shorts are holding his thighs one can almost count his veins. The moment he sees us he rushes back to the laundry room as though we are carrying the Spanish flu or the dreaded Corona virus Indian strain. From his agility I think it might be both.

"What's the deal with him?" I ask.

"My exe I called Jake to drive him out of our conversation earlier today he has every right to hate me", she says sounding nostalgic.

The kind of emotions in her voice are so clear. She is not over him yet. Maybe Jake is making her feel like she is but truth he said she is still in love with him. How I hope it's just a matter of time before they go back together. If they don't then I might have to be an author of destiny. Delete her from Jake's and take her back on the right lane with James.

"You're the trophy of the game everybody is trying to win you”, I say teasingly.

"No one is winning anything...at least two are losing", She says.

I hope the two, one is a brown brother and the other is James. And not just any it must be Jake. Am no fool. I can tell Eric has if not strong, sparking feelings for her. Am not sure about it yet but if that's the case then... The hunter became the hunted. The moment she says she loves him he will dump me for her. Who knew that experience would also matter in puppy love relationships? I can imagine why Stacy herself has not realized she will always cause war between the two brothers. Her choice must be neither.

"Let me help you", James says coming in with a wheelchair.

Stacy hesitates to look at me for sanction. She needs it though. I don't even want to know where he got it. It looks new.

"Come on ride on it", I say happily helping her, “Thanks James you are such a generous man I will take it from here", I add on offering to push her for the few remaining blocks.

"Thank you", Stacy says in a polite tone.

She is embarrassed. Sometimes the people we treat wrong treat us better than those we actually strive to impress.

"You're welcome, for the record am not doing this to get you back I know no amount of courtesy can get you back but think of it alone when he is not breathing on your neck, you are meant to be with me not him, it’s all I ever wanted", He says.

"Don't push it James get out of here", I say pushing him away lightly.

"Ooh men! Why does everyone around you hate me so much", He complains walking away grumpy.

When he gets far away both of us burst into laughter. Sometimes it's funny to see what boys go through just to have a girl and what is even funnier is how quickly they forget the struggle and let go. Ignore her calls and stop treating her right. He was wrong though. Not everyone around Stacy hates him. I for one doesn't. We both want the same thing. The enemy of my enemy is my friend? Did I get that right? No? Okay we both want Jake and Stacy never to happen. I could see it in his eyes and just like him all I want for now, Forever is overrated...is Jake with me.

"We are here, looks like you won't be needing this anymore", I say when we get to her seating spot.

The girls come to fetch her. The four of them. It's amazing how they handle her with care. One of them walks back.

"Hey am Sylvia, you can join us. Stacy's friend is our friend", she says taking the wheelchair away from me.

Damn it girl I was planning to sit on that. Anyway I have been invited to sit with the five. Sounds like an honor. It's not. One of them is wanted by what I want and that turns me psycho. It makes me not want her.

Eric's POV

What I was afraid of happening is happening. What the hell are they doing together at the pitch? Since I noticed them I have missed almost every pass and the trials are around the corner. I need to be in my A game. Every time they lean on each other to speak in low tones I can't help it but think they are talking about me. I hope not my d**k size you two or showering Jake with praises. The whistle sounds loud enough across the pitch. Am in trouble.

"Eric get your damn head back in the Game!" Coach shouts.

"Yes coach", I say moving away from crowd but not for long it’s my position, I have to be there.

"Give us ten!" The captain says.

I turn to look at coach. He can't see the sympathy in my eyes. After he went against Jake during the friendly I was hoping he would do it again. But Jake laughs last. And as they say, who laughs last laughs the longest.

"Do what your captain says", Coach orders.

I have no option but to go for ten push-ups. Courtesy of my loving big brother. I love you too bro.