Page 8 of Perfect Chemistry

“Shut up!” Bradley choked on his soda. “Seriously?!?”

“Dude, I feel….” I paused as my eyes drifted over to see Kat leaving the cafeteria with two of her friends. “so fucking filthy.”

We didn’t talk about it further. Kristen was a psycho. She stalked and harassed me for two months. Left dead animals on our doorstep, and finally destroyed my parents’ car when I shut my phone off that last night.

I had to take time off from school for the hearing at court, and before that there was the behavioral therapist evaluations, social workers, and police statements.

I wanted to tell Kat, but she hadn’t even looked at me since Homecoming. I could only imagine what she thought of me. Bradley and I got quiet as Kat sat down in front of me before chem class started. She was so focused on school this year that we barely talked.

I saw a guy from the baseball team lean over and ask her something. I wanted to interrupt whatever he was trying, but then she passed him her lab book. Thank fuck for that.

I didn’t want to be the ball blocker, but I’d do it if that kid thought for even a second he was going to have a shot with her.

* * *

Preseason started in January. We had selections for the varsity team, and were practicing every day for our first game in February.

The guys were laughing and joking when I entered the locker room. Baseball season had finally started, and I was ready for it. I wasn’t team captain, but I was a Senior who had earned their place on this team.

There were a few freshmen and sophomores who showed promise, but they were not focused on the training this early in the season. Not like the seniors looking for scholarships.

“Way to go, Taylor!”

“Yeah, bro! Bagging a senior!”

“Hell, yeah! That’s what’s up, Tay!”

The underclassmen’s banter slowly filtered in. Good for him, I thought.

“I can’t believe you made a move on Preston, and she went for it!”

I slammed my locker shut and clenched my fists. No. NO. I needed to calm down. I waited until most of the guys had left the locker room before calling out.

“Hey, Taylor, you got a sec?” I asked without moving from my locker.

Taylor was a big guy. Not that I was small, but he was much bigger than me. I wasn’t sure that I could take him in a fight if he went all in, but if it came to it… I’d kick this kid’s ass to keep him away from Kat.

Taylor came around the lockers smiling. His smile dropped as soon as he saw me. So he knew he fucked up.

“I’m not going to tell you what to do,” I started. “But you’re not going there. You might win in a fight with me, but you won’t get what you’re hoping for.”

He stared for second, his jaw clenching and unclenching as I leaned down to grab my gear.

“You cock blocking me, Kai?” he asked, looking surprised.

“Yep,” I replied, popping the p.

“Seriously?”

“Try me,” I responded quietly, taking a step in his direction.

I honestly thought he was going to punch me, but he just tipped his head back and groaned.

“I hate you so much,” he growled, turning to leave.

I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until that second, but I called out to Taylor before he could walk away.

“Hey, Taylor?”

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