***Chapter Thirty-Three***
Days go by and it’s the night of the football game. Everyone and their mother were in attendance and the noise level was out of control. The good thing being we got here just in time to get some good seats. We could see the field beautifully from where we were sitting. It also provided a good view to see Juliana when she performs. Afterwards, we planned to have a small after party of sorts, but first we needed to get through this game.
Sitting sort of in the middle, Dre and Dillon looked adorable in their matching hoodies and beanies. They were so low-key that I forget they’re even talking to each other. On the other side, Cameron looks thrilled to have Kayla with all of us, as they’re sitting pretty close together. All that was left was Drew and me, who sat in between both couples. Awkwardly, might I add? We said nothing about our arrangement and it didn’t feel right to. As tempting as it was to be closer to him, I couldn’t with all the risks involved. Instead, I enjoyed his company without our secret strings attached.
The game got under way as the crowd continued to cheer. We didn’t dare sit close together, but that didn’t stop Drew from sliding over a bit before speaking to me. Learning about him was always thrilling and hearing that he didn’t like football games shocked me. Everyone loved these things!
“How do you people enjoy these?’ He wondered, wincing at all the screaming.
I laughed, keeping my eyes glued to the field. “They’re so fun! How could you not like them?” I smiled at him.
He groaned. “It’s just a bunch of idiots screaming while some kid throws a ball.” There was no interest in this for him. “I only came for Juliana.” He admits.
That was a great reason to come. “That just makes you a great boyfriend.” I say, wishing it was me in that position.
Drew rolled his eyes with a slight chuckle. “I guess so. I don’t feel that great if I’m being honest.”
I can understand why he would feel that way. We were doing something we shouldn’t have been doing . Sneaking around on the side with someone else behind your girlfriend’s back doesn’t make for a great boyfriend. On the flip-side, no one could get hurt if they didn’t find out. I didn’t plan on telling anyone about our secret, meaningless meetings. As long as I could keep my feelings under control, Drew’s secret was safe between my lips. Besides, it’s not like I didn’t have anyone of my own to worry about as well.
Fixing my attention on him, my expression softens, realizing this may have been a bad idea. “Is it because of what we’re doing?” I ask him, hoping he wouldn’t say yes. It only just begun. It couldn’t end now.
Sighing, his fingers rake through his hair as he looks at me somberly. “Annabelle, it’s…”
Before he could finish his sentence, a hand suddenly whacks me across the face and I could see Drew’s face change to that of rage. It was accidental that it happened, but that did not matter to Drew. The guy miscalculated how far back to throw his hands when cheering. Unfortunately, my face got whacked. I understood it wasn’t malicious.
Drew did not take this lightly, however. I thought I’ve seen him angry before, but this was a completely different type of anger that I wouldn’t even understand. The darkness of his eyes and the frown on his face told me, along with everyone else around us, that he was pissed. Dillon and Dre immediately took notice, getting ready to grab Drew in case he lost his shit. Cameron and Kayla checked on me with concern written on both of their faces. I was fine, but not prepared for what Drew would do next.
Standing up, not even 15 minutes into the game, Drew roughly pushed this guy to gain his attention. The words he spoke we were not pleasant. His tone alone would frighten anybody who was to mess with him in this moment.
“Aye, buddy, watch where the fuck you throw your hands next time,” he spat with venom in his voice.
The guy looked back to see me holding my face, while looking at a rage filled Drew. “Oh, please, it was an accident. She’s fine.” He brushed it off like it didn’t matter. Asshole.
Dre, being the sensible guy he is, tries to calm the situation down before it goes any further. “Come on, it’s not even worth it.” Dre try to tell Drew, but he wasn’t listening.
“You have two seconds to apologize before I rearrange your face,” he warned.
The guy didn’t seem phased by his threats, which in hindsight was dumb of him. Drew was not messing around tonight. He was already annoyed that he had to be here. Now this guy accidentally whacked me in the face set him over the edge. It’s safe to say his mood was already on a thin line when we got here. What happened completely snapped it and now Drew was ready to give this guy one good punch to the face. With the amount of rings Drew wears on his fingers, I wouldn’t want to be on the other side of them. Yet, this guy was quite ballsy.
Sticking his middle finger up, the guy dismisses everything Drew said to get one more fuck you in. “Bite my ass!” He yells.
Dillon’s eyes widened as she lungs along with Dre and Cameron to hold Drew back. “Grab him!” She yells as Drew is getting ready to swing.
The fire in his eyes was menacing and made me freeze. I never seen such anger erupt on his face like this. It didn’t even compare to when he and Juliana were arguing. This was something different, and I didn’t know how to process my emotions on the matter. The guy was being a dick by taunting him like the jerk he was. Drew wouldn’t let up, though. He was fighting so hard to get to this guy’s face, but Dre was always one step ahead of him. It’s safe to say I didn’t know Drew the way Dillon and Dre seemed to. They read the situation rather quick and responded accordingly. While I sat here perplexed and bewildered all in one. What could I even do to make him calm down?
The two of them continued to scream back and forth at each other before I could think of what to do. Dre was giving all his strength to hold him back, but he wouldn’t be able to for much longer. I had to step in now to let Drew know I was ok. There was no need to cause a scene with everyone already staring at us. Juliana was going to perform soon, and we needed to give her our undivided attention and support.
Stepping up, I pushed by them all to get in front of Drew. I place my hands on his shoulders in order to push him back down in his seat. He looks up at me, furious that I got in his way. I knew he wouldn’t do anything to hurt me, so I wasn’t worried about him giving me this look. Drew would listen to me. I’m confident about that.
Looking him directly in the eyes, I keep my hands on his broad shoulders to make him listen. “Drew, calm down,” I say in a stern tone.
His leg shakes as he looks back at the guy taunting him. “Did he hurt you?” He questions just as angrily.
I shake my head. “No,” I say.
“Are you sure?” He looks for reassurance. I nod my head, though that wasn’t enough for him.
Reluctantly, Drew calms down but not before taking that guy’s phone and slamming it onto the concrete. It’s not what I had in mind for relaxing, but if it made him feel better, it was better than punching him in the face. The guy’s tune changed once he saw what happened to his phone moving away from us after that. He didn’t leave without getting in a few swears here or there, but things settled after that. Everyone who was watching focused back in on the game, almost forgetting what transpired.
Taking a deep breath, I could see Drew’s mind still racing. Though the brightness of his eyes came back. I’m inexperienced in this situation and didn’t exactly know what to do. However, I wasn’t going to just leave him feeling pissy like this. We had a friend, in his case girlfriend, to support. We didn’t need her seeing an angry Drew while she was out there putting on a show. Who knows what she would do if she saw him like this?
“Hey, look at me.” I grabbed his face and turn it towards mine.
Responding to my touch, he stops shaking and looks at me. “What is it?” He says quietly, still seething.
“How about a drink? Will that help?” Anything to help him relax.
Dillon agreed with that notion. “Yeah, you almost killed that guy,” she said, sounding frantic herself.
Drew sighed, removing my hand from his face. I almost forgot it was still there. “Water.” Is all he says.
Nodding my head, Dillon tags along with me to grab everyone a drink while we continue to enjoy the rest of the game. I didn’t even know what to think after all that happened. One minute we were having normal conversation, then the next Drew was going off the handle. It was an accident, but the guy didn’t make things better with the way his attitude toward the situation was. If he had just apologized like any decent human being, it wouldn’t have even got that far. I’m glad it was over and that he moved seats. Only problem is now he’s out of a phone and those things can be expensive. I hope he had good coverage on it.
All that aside, Dillon and I got everyone some water before walking back to the bleachers. We were silent, walking there and back until she wanted to say something. Normally, I’d disagree with her, but she was right. I don’t know why or how, but Drew listened to me when I told him to relax. After making sure I was ok of course. If I told him anything other than that, he would have flown off the handle. It was a football game; we didn’t have to time to be causing scenes.
“I don’t know what voodoo magic you put on Drew, but that was the first time anyone has ever made him calm down just by words alone.” She says, stunned.
I shrug, not seeing the big deal. “There’s no magic. I just didn’t think punching a guy would be ideal.” Honestly, I wasn’t even sure if that would work.
Dillon protested. “In any case, Drew doesn’t just listen to anybody. Not even Dre, half the time, and that’s his best friend.” We made our way up the stairs.
Chuckling, I didn’t understand what she was getting at. “What’s your point, Dill?” I asked.
“My point is, maybe Drew values you a lot more than you think.” Of course, that would be her point.
Even if it were true, we couldn’t say that based on one little interaction. Drew was way too complex for things to be that simple. Besides, if it were Juliana, I’m sure she could do the same thing I did. Only better and a lot quicker than I ever could. We were close friends who did things on the side, but I wouldn’t exactly call that valuing me. More like keeping me close because that’s what he wants to do. He tells everyone that I’m his close friend and that’s what I was going to accept. Unless he said otherwise.
***
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