EJ in Love

Connor 

My heavy pants sounded like nothing to the cheering crowds as we stood in our line up. I was playing winged center for this match and coincidentally enough so was Edward. A part of me regretted not putting myself as a fall back. 

For national games Edward and I were always placed as centers. Despite our size we were incredibly fast and even though we hated each other we made a good team on the field. However when we were playing for opposing clubs all cards were off the table. No one in my team could keep up with him and he was incredibly agile. 

It was the damn yoga. 

So far we were neck and neck that the last twenty minutes of the game would determine who would win. 

With a deep breather I watched as the lock's scrum jumped to catch the ball before it was tossed down the line. From the moment it was in my hands I made a run for it. My boots hit the ground with light and quick movements. My body would close up when the opposing team tried to tackle me and I broke through their barrier like a torpedo. 

The touchdown line was just meters away from me and I knew there was no way anyone could catch me, that was until I was no longer on the ground, my body flying through the air until I collided with the grass. Pain spread through my body momentarily but I had to focus on keeping the ball. Until pale hands snatched it away and I saw it hauling through the air to our goal posts. 

I looked up only to be met with bright blue eyes and platinum blonde hair. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?" I violently pushed EJ off me so that he fell on his arse before he quickly jumped up. 

"Playing the game shit head," he scrolled before he tried to make a run for it but I grabbed the back of his jersey and threw him back down on the ground. 

The whistle of the referee pulled me out of my murderous haze as members of my team came to stand in front of me whilst EJ let out a chuckle. 

"Don't be a bitter prick old man," his coy smile made me see red but I knew he was treading me along. If I got involved in his argument I could possibly be carded and that would ruin our chances of ever winning the tournament if I was out for the next six games. 

The referee was quick to give us both a warning before letting us get back into the game. 

Despite every one of our best efforts Edward's team had won by a simple three point difference. 

"It's just a game Andy," Coach Reynold stopped me from my march to the lockers. I glared down at him before shrugging off his hand then continuing on. 

Edward's team screams could be heard throughout the entire stadium and I found it incredibly hard to smile and congratulate his team during the shake off. 

"Better luck next time," he beamed as we shook hands. His clasp was tight on mine squeezing me enough to the point it half hurt. 

I returned the gesture with a bright smile even though I wished my hands were tightly wrapped around his neck and his pale skin could be turning blue, "There won't be a next time."

"I'll believe it when I see it," he laughed and it took everything in me to walk away. Working with Edward was the reason I had to start taking up therapy. He could drive me up the walls so much that I wondered if my heart was even coping with the amount of stress he put me through on a daily basis. 

After the game press conferences and interviews, I was grateful to take a shower in the locker room. 

"Connor," Ted called out as the rest of the men were packing up their bags. They were happy despite the loss which was baffling to me. I felt like going home and burying myself under the blankets to die in my misery. "We are having drinks at Kyle's place, you coming?"

I pressed my lips into a thin line, "No, Lottie is waiting for me."

Kyle, our team's fall back, waved his hand dismissively, "The misses won't even mind. She's probably out herself. It's Friday mate. Let's drink the loss away."

My eyebrows furrowed as I tried to weigh out my options; go home to throw knives at a poster of Edward's face on my wall or have a great time with friends and probably avoid Lottie's whining about how me losing made her look. 

I let out a defeated sigh which made the whole locker room burst into cheers because they probably knew what that meant. 

We all drove over to Kyle's upscale London penthouse. I knew more people were probably going to come over but I preferred the slight quiet atmosphere we had when we had arrived. Caters and bartenders were running around prepping for the coming guests. 

"EJ came like a bat out of hell," Kyle hissed as Ted roughly put a small band aid over the cut I had on my forehead. 

"Centers shouldn't even be on that side of the field," I frowned before taking a large gulp of my beer. 

"He was the only one who could stop you," Ted shrugged, "I guess he decided to take the risk."

I shook my head. Risks were the type of things that could get you hurt and that could possibly end your career. Playing safe but skillful was always my strategy when playing a game. Edward on the other hand just took the rule book, pissed on it then set it on fire. 

There was not a thing he could do that respected the traditional methods. He wanted to invent new methods and most times they worked. Yet I was there to remind him how terrible the idea was every time it failed.