Episode 2

During break, I didn't see him. I was hanging out with Rafa and Arthur, a friend of ours, when I saw everyone running towards the court. I looked at Rafa, confused, and we got up to see what was going on.

One of the guys I cut from the team was arguing with Marcos. Of course, if there's trouble, this guy has to be in the middle of it. Like the complete idiot I am, I stepped into the argument to try and understand what was going on, and Marcos, who was furious with the other guy, turned completely on me, as if I was the one who had started the fight with him.

Marcos: Stay out of it, captain. My business is with him, but if you want, there's plenty of beating for you too, since you seem to love sticking your nose in fights that aren't yours.

Guy: Yeah, right, go on, keep arguing with the faggot, just to get out of the beating I was about to give you. You two must be in on this together, because there's no way he wouldn't have seen you cheat your way through the last test, otherwise you wouldn't have made the team. You screwed me over.

Luan: Hey, I might be a faggot, but I'm not an idiot, and if Marcos cheated to make the team, I'll be the first to kick him off. Now, instead of resorting to violence, why don't we just look at the damn cameras?

Guy: As long as it proves what an asshole this guy is.

Marcos: It's about time! I didn't do anything, this guy is crazy.

I walked out of there with both of them fuming behind me, and practically the entire school behind us. However, the bell rang then, and everyone went to their classes, complaining that there was no fight. I went with the two of them to the principal's office and explained what was going on, and he said he was on his way out to deal with a problem but let us see the cameras from the court.

There was only one camera on the court that didn't catch everything, but it caught enough for us to see that the guy was crazy, unfortunately, and to my disappointment, Marcos didn't do anything that would get him kicked off the team.

Guy: You and this faggot are in on this together, for sure. I saw this son of a bitch cheating.

Marcos: Son of a bitch, no.

Marcos was already about to go after the other guy again when I threw the guy out of the principal's office. He left grumbling, but he left, leaving just me and Marcos in the room.

Luan: Look, you didn't do anything to be kicked off the team, but in these images, I clearly see that you started running before I blew the whistle for the start, which gave you an advantage, a small one, but an advantage. You're good, and this time it slides, but if you cheat on my team, you're out, understood?

Marcos: Come on, Captain, first of all, the team isn't yours, and second, these images don't show anything. You're the unbearable one. You know I'm good, so why are you trying to kick me off the team? You've had it out for me ever since our disagreement back in the classroom.

Luan: I haven't liked you since I laid eyes on you, and bullying on my team is not tolerated either, so if you keep up your cocky attitude and bullying others, you will be cut from the team, yes.

He came up to me, getting really close, and I felt like he was going to hit me, but I didn't back down. If he wanted to fight, we'd fight, but then the principal walked into the room.

Principal: Is there a problem here?

Luan: No, sir, we were just leaving. The other boy was mistaken, there was no cheating on Mr. Marcos' part.

We left the room in silence until:

Marcos: No, sir, yes, ma'am (he mimicked me in a high-pitched voice). Seriously, dude, you're such a pain in the ass, a total goody-two-shoes. I bet you couldn't get a girl even if you tried, being such a goody-two-shoes.

Luan: Hahaha, getting girls here... not even funny, but if that were the case, I'd get plenty easily, it just so happens that I'm interested in other things.

Marcos: Let me guess, studying and working hard to get into a good college, so mommy and daddy will be proud of you (he said mockingly).

Luan: Hahaha, too bad you didn't get it, you're dumber than I thought (I said, stepping closer and winking at him).

Then I headed for the court.

Damn it, I missed my last classes and I'm still late for the tryouts because I had to deal with something that wasn't even my business, ugh. Although, I would have loved for it to be true so that idiot would be off the team, but even with the head start, he was much better than that other guy.

Marcos

On the very first day, I already had to deal with an asshole like that, and to top it off, he was the captain of the school team. I thought he was going to cut me just because he didn't like me, but there was one thing he had to admit, I was good, and the coach would be furious with him if he cut someone good because of a personal vendetta. I just know he irritates me a lot, and to make matters worse, I can't get what he said out of my head, "it just so happens that I'm interested in other things." What was he talking about? I saw the guys calling him a faggot and all sorts of things, and he didn't seem to care. Could he be gay? God, that would just make me even angrier and more disgusted by that jerk.

But now I'm going to the court, because I'm already late.

Luan

When I got to the court, he arrived right behind me. The coach was super pissed about our lateness, but I explained that we were with the principal, and he let it slide.

The coach immediately started the tryouts and cut one guy right away. Then, he organized a scrimmage between me and those who were left and ended up cutting another one. And of course, Marcos made the team. The jerk was really good.

Coach: Congratulations to those who made it. Practices are every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday before class. But we might have practices on other days as well, even after school and on Saturdays, it will depend on your performance... now you can go.

As everyone was leaving, the coach held me back for a bit and praised my choices, especially Marcos, who, according to him, was sensational, and with a little training, would lead our team to victory. I held back from rolling my eyes, and after all the compliments, he let me go home.

Okay, the kid was good, but was all that really necessary? Seriously.

XXX

When I got home, my stepmom was making dinner.

Paula: Hi, honey. You took a while; I was about to call you to see if everything was okay.

Luan: Everything's fine. I just had tryouts with the new students after class.

Paula: Oh, good, so did anyone actually worthwhile show up?

Luan: Someone did. It's a shame the kid is a total jerk, but he's a really good player.

Paula: Yikes, but I'm sure if he's that good, you'll know how to separate the times when he's on the court from the times when he's not.

Luan: I hope so. Honestly, I wanted to cut him during the tryouts, but I couldn't jeopardize the team because of that jerk.

Paula: Yikes, I can tell this kid is really something else.

Luan: You have no idea.

Just then, the doorbell rang, and I went to answer the door. It was Rafa; she came in all excited.

Rafa: What were you up to?

Luan: Nothing, just talking to her about my day at school.

Rafa: And talking about the gorgeous Marcos, I bet.

Paula: Look, I don't know if his name was Marcos or if he was gorgeous, but from the look on Luan's face right now, I bet that's exactly who we were talking about.

Luan: Ugh, the guy is unbearable.

Rafa: But you can't deny he's cute.

Luan: I can't deny that he's good at soccer, but you're pushing it, girl, saying he's cute.

Okay, fine, he was cute, but I don't have to go around announcing it, do I?

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