Chapter 2

• Rugby had always been an escape for Emerson, a safe haven, where he got away from his thoughts and demons.
• Whenever he played, he felt free, gone were the voices trying to drown him. Emerson had peace, a surreal feeling that didn’t come easy to him. Although Emerson had only joined the sport in freshman year to please his father, he soon came to realize that nothing he ever did would earn his father trust and had found solace in it.
• His father had not always been bitter toward his second son. John shared a special bound with Emerson from a young age, spoiled him more than his other sons, took him to games and showered him with love. John had been Emerson’s best friend, but it all took a turn when Emerson turned twelve and a boy had put his lips on him at a school event.
• John had been livid that his son didn’t push the other boy away but had rather return the gesture.
• Emerson did not remember much of what happened after that, but had found himself at home crying while his father scream at him about how what had transpired was wrong and dirty.
• The days that followed had been the same, smiles turning into sneers, getting shunned and looked down on by his father, Every little thing he did seem to be wrong. His friends had been filtered through and Emerson wasn’t allowed to bring any one home with the exception of Mason and female friends.
• Emerson stood about six feet tall, thick and lustrous midnight hair framed his face. His eyes were the combination of brown, green and gold tones that had a captivating aura, thick dark brows added to his rounded face. Emerson was built was as a giant.
• The atmosphere was electric with the stadium packed with fans cheering on their respective teams. As the game began, Emerson felt adrenaline pumping through his veins. He was fully immersed in the moment with every sense heightened as he took in the sound, sight and smell of the game. The crunching of tackles, the thud of the ball hitting the ground and the roar of the crowd all added to the intensity of the experience.
• This was Emerson’s domain.
• “Good job today.”
• “Yeah.” Emerson nodded “I could say the same for you, nice catch by the way.”
• Mason had been the one to earn their wining point with a touch down.
• “For a second there, I thought you were gonna go down with the ball.” Two members of the opposite team were closing in on Emerson, he knew he could not avoid the tackle so he did what he knew best and delivered a nice throw to Mason.
• Emerson chuckled “Yeah?”
• “Yeah, when that guy tackled you I was sure it was game over, I wasn’t expecting that at all.” he finished and smile up at Emerson. “You’re gonna be at the party at Jeremy, right?” Mason asked taking off his scrum cap as they saunter towards the locker rooms.
• Emerson grimace. “Maso—”
• “Please, Please, please…you need be there, besides you’re my ride.”
• Emerson sigh. “And why would I give you a ride?”
• “Cause I’m your best friend and you love me.” Mason said, blinking seductively up at Emerson.
• “Those...” Emerson said gesturing in a circular manner around Mason’s face. “Are not working.”
• “Oh come on, they work on everyone.”
• “Well,” Emerson said dryly, “I’m not everyone.”
• And as they passed the bleachers, Mason suddenly slowed. His eyes lit up with interest as he nodded toward a group of students lingering near the fence.
• Mason elbowed Emerson lightly. “Look who it is,” he whispered.
• Emerson followed his gaze to where Emma stood a few yards away with a couple of friends, clearly watching the players leave the field.
• “Now would be a good time to talk to her,” Mason pointed out.
• Emerson’s brows pulled together immediately. “Seriously? I thought we’ve already been through this.” He kept walking, hoping Mason would finally drop the subject.
• But Mason wasn't one to take social clues. “So you’re telling me,” he said, leaning closer with a mischievous grin, “Little Emerson down there—” he pointed crudely toward Emerson’s groin “—doesn’t want anything to do with pretty Emma over there?”
• Unfortunately, Mason didn’t notice that Emma and the girls beside her had already seen the gesture.
• “Mason!” Emerson snapped, shoving his hand away. “Stop it. Do you ever only think about sex?”
• “Of course,” Mason replied without shame. “I’m a teenage guy.” He swung his arm over Emerson’s shoulders, dragging him down slightly so they were walking side by side. “Besides,” he added, nodding toward the bleachers, “She came to watch you play.”
• Emerson rolled his eyes. “Why would she be here for me? Half the school’s here, M.”
• Mason glanced back toward the group again. “So…? Same shit. You think she gonna be at the party tonight?”
• “I don’t know,” Emerson muttered. “Why?”
• “You’re gonna ask her?”
• “No.” Emerson sighed heavily. “Just drop it.”
• “If you don’t ask her, I will.”
• “Maso—” Emerson’s was cut short when a slow smirk spread across Mason’s face as he lifted his hand and waved toward the bleachers.
• “Hey!” he called out, already striding in their direction.
• Emerson groaned loudly.
• “Emma… right?” he heard Mason asked as he began to jogged over to the group.
• From where he stood, Emerson watched in horror as Mason immediately started talking, gesturing back toward him like an overenthusiastic salesman.
• And then he felt that strange prickling sensation of being watched. Standing near Emma was William, his tall, pale frame unmistakable even in the crowd. The school navy blazer hung open over his shoulders and his was hair tied in a bun. Beside him stood a much smaller guy Emerson vaguely recognized, because William was looking straight at him.
• Emerson had caught William looking before, more times than he could count, really. Their eyes would meet across a classroom or down a hallway, and William would hold the gaze a second longer than necessary.
• This was different.
• William’s eyes were locked onto him with an intensity that made Emerson’s chest tighten. There was something raw in his look, unfiltered, searching and almost confrontational.
• It unsettled him in a way he couldn’t explain.
• For a moment, the noise of the stadium faded. The chatter around the bleachers blurred into the background. All Emerson could see were those amber eyes fixed on him like they were trying to peel something open inside him.
• And Emerson hated how exposed it made him feel.
• His stomach twisted. Unable to hold the gaze any longer, Emerson turned and started walking away.
• His cleats scraped against the pavement as his stride quickened, the distance between him and the bleachers growing with every step.
• He could faintly hear Mason calling after him in the distance. “Emerson! Hey—where are you going?”
• But Emerson didn’t stop.
• The locker room doors slammed open with more force than Emerson intended. A few players still inside jumped at the noise, turning to look, but Emerson barely noticed them. He moved straight to his locker, his hands trembling.
• His gloves hit the floor first and he leaned forward, resting his forehead against the cool metal of his locker.
• It’s wrong, Emerson.
• His father’s voice echoed clearly in his mind.
• You shouldn’t feel anything when you look at him.
• Emerson swallowed hard, his breath coming out uneven as he struggled to steady himself. The last thing he wanted was to lose control in front of the few teammates still lingering in the locker room.
• He squeezed his eyes shut and drew in a long, shaky breath before letting it out slowly.
• “Hey… you okay, man?” Mason’s hand landed on his shoulder, gently pulling him around.
• “I’m fine,” Emerson said quickly. He sat down on the bench before Mason could look too closely at his face and began taking off his mud-stained jersey. He dragged it over his head and threw it onto the bench beside him.
• Then his fingers fumbled with the tape wrapped tightly around his wrists. He tore at it impatiently, the adhesive snapping against his skin before he dropped the crumpled pieces to the floor.
• “You sure?” Mason asked, frowning at him.
• “Yeah.” Emerson didn’t look up. Instead, he reached down and tugged off one cleat, then the other, setting them on the floor beside him. These small, simple actions grounded him as it was the only thing he could control right now. “What did she say?”
• Mason frowned deepened. “What?”
• Emerson paused and slowly lifted his head to meet Mason’s eyes. “Emma,” he muttered. “What did she say?”
• “Oh.” Mason cleared his throat. “She said she’s gonna be at the party.”
• Emerson blinked slowly, his eyes fixed on Mason’s face. “And you’re sure I’ve got a chance with her?”
• The question seemed to relax Mason immediately. A grin spread across his face.
• “Of course, dude,” he said, “The ladies love you.”
• “That’s good then,” Emerson murmured quietly as he placed both hands on his knees.
• But Mason heard him. “It’s more than good,” he said with a laugh, clapping Emerson on the back. “Don’t worry. I’ll teach you everything I know.”
• Emerson only nodded, all he knew was that something inside him was wrong.
• And he needed to fix it.