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"You need help with that?" Abby grins, a cock in her eyebrow as she watches me struggle with the giant plastic container, trying to balance it the weight of it on my thigh.

"Are you sure it's not too heavy for you?" I bite back, feeling proud of myself for the witty response, an obvious smirk on my lips.

"Gimme that."

She takes it, relieving me of the strain before placing it down inside, along with the other two that sat outside of the door. If I didn't know any better, I'd think she was showing off.

I lay down in a dramatic sigh, the muscles in my shoulders already feeling the consequences from the heavy lifting.

Abby shuts the door, taking a seat on the edge of her bed. "So... how'd it go?" She leans forward, placing her elbows on her slightly spread legs.

My head turns to look at her and fuck. Why are women who manspread so hot?

"Uh- could've been better but also worse, I guess." I shrug from my horizontal position, folding my fingers over my torso.

Abby didn't know what to say, she wanted to ask questions and understand the situation better, but she also didn't feel like it was her place to pry. She wanted Skyler to feel comfortable enough to talk to her without her asking, but curiosity got the better of her.

"Was she there?"

I sat up, my hands holding into the mattress on the sides of my thighs, my head looking down before meeting her gaze. "Yeah... she must've gotten out of class early or something- I dunno." I said, giving my best attempt at a smile, not wanting her to know that it bothered me.

"Did she do anything to upset you?" Abbys eyebrows raise as she hung onto my next words.

Sure, Abby knew little to nothing about me, or all the details of why I switched rooms, but something about it felt like she was just trying to protect me.

I was trying to avoid this conversation all together with her, not because I didn't want to tell her, but it would feel selfish of me to talk about my breakup when she just went through one herself.

"Uhh... not really? I mean she asked me to stay, and at first she was angry and then she wasn't? I don't know... plus she hugged me twice, which kinda hurt you know?" I rambled, voicing my thoughts as they came to me, still processing the whole thing.

Abby took a second to comprehend, silently analyzing my words. "She sounds... complicated."

I can't help but laugh at that response, she truly had no idea how spot on she was.

My laugh dies down, the room filling with a mutual silence as I fidgeted with my fingers in my lap. "Yeah, you could say that." I said weakly, a sadness hinted in my tone that I didn't catch, but Abby did.

She stood, taking a few steps until she was at my bed before sitting next to me, leaving a few inches of space between our legs.

I feel my face flush from the sudden closeness, the size difference in our thighs made my thoughts race.

"Hey- you did the right thing, don't let her weasel her way back into your life. You're better off without her." Abby coaxes, her hand resting on top of my shoulder. Although her hands were massive and undeniably strong, it felt gentle.

I hum in response, slightly leaning into her touch. "I don't get it- " I start to speak, a furrow in my brow as I felt a frustration build inside me. "When I finally leave- finally make a decision for the sake of my own sanity... all I can think about it the good moments."

Abby retreats her hand, her eyes dazing into the room at nothing in particular. "I get that... when you love someone, you're willing to look past the bad and tend to focus on the happy times but trust me, that will change with time."

Abby speaks from her prior knowledge, she has been through this before, and if I were smart, I'd listen to her wisdom.

I nod in agreement, starting to feel bad for her. To think she has been hurt by someone when she's this kind and understanding, I don't get it.

"It's like you can read my mind." I said, slightly in a chuckle to lighten to mood.

She rubs the crease of her trap muscle, displaying a toothy smile as she shifted on the bed, almost as if she was flustered.

"I- um-" Abby clears her throat as she straightens in posture. "I have a game this Friday if you wanna come? You don't have to- I totally get if it's not your thing-"

"I'll go." I cut her off, my voice piquing in interest. Seriously, why the fuck would I miss out on seeing her in action.

Abbys eyes go wide, clearly shocked that her invitation was accepted. "Oh- okay! Cool... sounds good." -Friday "Are you sure you don't want to ride with me?" Abby diverted her attention away from the gym bag, looking at where I was sprawled on my bed, trying my best to act like I wasn't freaking the fuck out.

"No- no.. seriously, it's fine, liv is gonna drive me; she practically jumped at the idea of going to a place where- in her words, "all the hotties would be." I use my fingers, signaling air quotes as I roll my eyes.

Abby coughs up a laugh, the strands of hair that framed her face swooshed as she did so. "Alright, fine, but I better see you out there. You're going to be my good luck charm for tonight."

Good luck charm. I mentally want to scoff, clearly, she hasn't caught on that I'm anything but that- still, it didn't stop the way my stomach fluttered at her choice of words.

Abby was in a rush to get out the door, clothes flying as she searched for her gear, tight spandex that hugged her ass so fucking good-

"Bye~ I better hear your voice screaming my name." She teased, but not in a weird way, more like how friends banter with each other, right?

"Fuuuck-" I sigh into my hands, trying to stop myself from backing out completely. I was nervous, like beyond nervous. It was a familiar sensation to when I first went out with Ellie to the club when we barely knew each other, but somehow it was different.

My phone vibrated the mattress beside me, screen lighting up with a new text message.

'R u ready??'

I jump from the bed, running over to the mirror. I look over myself one last time, smoothing out the pleated skirt over my thighs and adjusting the hoodie at the corners- cute, but not obvious I was trying to be.

I responded to Olivia, making it obvious I was hesitant about going with the obnoxious use of frowning faces, but Olivia lived to make my life difficult. -"So?? How's it going? Are you two getting along? Wait- oh my god, have you guys kissed?" Olivia turned down the music in her car, her eyes leaving the road- well, the word road is strong, you barely have to leave the parking lot to get to the football fields.

I give her an unamused glare before rolling my eyes. "It's going fine- and no, we haven't kissed."

"Bummer."

She turns into a parking space in the back, the front rows already packed even though the game didn't start for another 20 minutes.

Olivia turns the car off, leaving us in the dim glow of the small overhead light.

"Do you want to kiss her?" She turns her whole body in my direction, making it feel like more of an interrogation and I'm the prime suspect.

"Wh-? No.. no. I don't know?!" I throw my hands up before slamming them down against my thighs. I don't know why I was so flustered by the question- having known Olivia for more than half my life- I should've know she has no concept of boundaries.

"Oh c'mon sky.. I'm literally straight and I think she's hot. You don't have to hold back because of her."

Her. She said it with such contempt like she was talking about a pest and not a person who I loved- or still love. It didn't feel fair. She didn't know the good to Ellie, only ever hearing about the issues that I came to her with.

"M' not holding back, I barely know her is all." I avoided eye contact, sulking against the car door, and prayed that this night wouldn't be the complete nightmare I envisioned it'd be; not like I had any reason to think that- just anxiety taking over my life.-

"Holy shit.. I didn't realize how serious this school was when it came to football." Olivia observed the bleachers, packed to the brim with students waving around hand made-posters, face paint of the school colors on their cheeks and noses.

"Yeah you're not fucking kidding.."

We found a decent spot towards the middle, not too far from the field, just barely squeezing between two other parties.

We got comfortable- well as much as we could on the freezing metal seats before Olivia pulls out a water bottle out of her bag and offered me the mysterious pink liquid.

Without much thought, I take it, sipping, and my face immediately scrunched in disgust. "What the fuck is that?" I cough between words, which Olivia finds amusing, giving me a mischievous smile. "Vodka with crystal light."

I shove the bottle into her chest, my facial expression giving her a firm warning. I was already on edge, and her antics weren't helping like they usually would.

The team started flooding onto the field, catching my eye. I scan and look for the signature blond braid, growing more anxious by the second, and I don't know why. I felt uneasy like I wasn't supposed to be there. I chalked it up to guilt- guilty that I'm here for a girl after just leaving Ellie.

"What number is she?" Liv leans into my ear, practically yelling to compensate for the noisy crowd.

"Uh- 7, I think."

Olivia looks some more, eyebrows furrowing in concentration before she taps me excitedly on the shoulder. "There! That's her right?"

I followed her finger to where she was pointing, my eyes landing on Abby. Once you find her, it's hard to lose her. I mean, she was the only female on the team, so it makes sense why she would stand out.

"O-oh.." I stutter under my breath when I see her. Damn.. if thought she was hot before, this is a whole new level. I immediately felt nauseous again. I mean, fuck, how could I not? Helmet tucked under her arm, the shoulder pads exaggerating the broadness of her shoulders, and the tight pants hugging her muscular thighs and ass- okay, enough.

I watch her as she's looking around with a slightly worried expression on her face. She's looking into the crowd, scanning until her eyes find mine, a bright smile and a wave of her hand before the whistle blows, signaling the game is about it start. She puts on her helmet, immediately going into focus mode and runs over to her position. Maybe she thought I wouldn't come. -

Okay, not going to lie; I was surprisingly more invested in the game than I thought I'd be. I knew very little about football, but I could tell based on Abby and the crowds' reactions when something good or bad happened.

The score was close, with only one point difference with our team in the lead, and the time was running out. The crowd was tense- you could feel the stress in the air as Abby caught the ball. She was a force to be reckoned with, using her size to her advantage and shielding the ball with her life.

She was running, no, full-on sprinting towards the touchdown line, moving faster than I could ever imagine with enemy teammates hot on her heels.

I stood up from the bleachers, hands folded tightly to my chest as I fucking screamed. I screamed her name louder than I'd ever screamed before. In my mind, she heard me, using it to push her to go faster and throw herself over the line.

The crowd from our side of the field erupted into cheers, clapping and beaming with pride. The rest of Abby's team lifted her and patted her on the back to show appreciation for her success. I hadn't noticed how hard I was smiling. 

"Go down there." Olivia ushered, pushing me in the direction of the stairs.

"What-?"

"Oh c'mon, you know you want to. Seriously, just go!" Olivia pressured with a smirk on her face, still pushing me in the direction of the stairs.

I gave up on fighting back, knowing damn well she wouldn't let up, plus I wasn't completely against the idea.

I waited awkwardly behind the chain link fence, Abby almost immediately taking notice before saying something to her teammates and turning back to walk towards me.

"Hey-"

"Hi"

Abby grinned from ear to ear, and I did the same- even when she was sweaty, she was still annoyingly hot.

"Will you let me drive you back? I just have to get my stuff then we can head out, if that's okay?" She diverts her eyes away, implying that she's feeling insecure about the question or, maybe, the answer.

I didn't mean to make her wait for a response- too busy admiring how beautiful she looked. Her usual flawless skin was now red with exhaustion, and the baby hairs were damp against her skin from the sweat.

"Of course I'll ride with you."