Page 35 of One Shot

My jaw drops open. I can’t believe he just smacked my ass. I can’t believe those words came out of his despicable mouth. Before I’m able to say anything, a figure lunges for Mitchell. Chaotic shouts echo through the gym. McAllister pushes Mitchell to the opposite side of the gym. My jaw almost drops open again when my eyes fall to Lucas. His chest rises and falls quickly, with sharp angry breaths as Liam forcibly holds him back. Lucas, who just a few days ago said he is never the guy to get in fights, almost punched Blaine Mitchell.

“Outside. NOW,” I shout at Lucas.

Bren and Liam follow. I didn’t expect them to. I need to talk to Lucas alone. I pull him away from them, giving Bren and Liam both a warning glare not to follow.

“What the hell was that, Lucas?”

I’m yelling. I meant to keep my voice down, but I am furious. First, he gives off a possessive vibe, oozing jealousy, and now he almost punches a douchebag for hitting on me. Sure, Mitchell deserved it, butat the expense of Lucas going against his moral code? I would rather punch Mitchell myself. Hell, I still might, but that doesn’t mean Lucas needs to act like an overprotective boyfriend. We are just friends; do I need to remind him? Would he still act this way if it was anyone else besides me was filling in for the photographer today?

“Well? I’m waiting, Lucas. Any time would be a good time for an explanation.” I manage to keep my voice level this time.

“What do you mean an explanation? Did you hear what he—"

I cut Lucas off. “Obviously I heard what he said, Lucas I was standing not even a foot away from him. But you and I are just friends, I don’t need you coming to my defense. You also just told me the other day that you’re not one to get in fights. That you lead by example. I even compared you to my brother and hi—”

He cuts me off this time. “Nick would have had Mitchell bleeding already for that comment he made. Are you kidding me?”

He’s right. Nick almost got into a fight when I told him about my first boyfriend. I was ten. But that doesn’t give Lucas the right to pretend he knows anything about my relationship with my brother. I’m now even more heated.

“You are not my brother,” I say through clenched teeth. “You are not my boyfriend. Yes, I saw that jealousy when I was taking photos of Tyler, who, by the way,isvery much like a brother to me. Not that I owe you any explanation. You are my friend. And if you keep acting like a possessive prick, then we won’t even be that.”

I walk away and grab Bren, telling Liam to stay out of the gym with Lucas until we are done with Mitchell.

About fifteen minutes later, Bren and I come out of the gym laughing hysterically. Lucas and Liam exchange a look. I sigh.

“Liam, you’re next. Locker room for you, buddy.”

We walk to the locker room, with Lucas sheepishly following a few steps behind. I glance back at him, seeing hurt in his eyes. I can’t bring myself to try to make eye contact with him. I’m embarrassed by what I said to him. I was furious with the situation, furious with men likeBlaine Mitchell thinking they can do whatever they want and get away with it, furious with myself for swooning over him earlier. Lucas was trying to protect me, and he was right: Nick would have . . . I’m not even sure what he would have done. Did I want Lucas to protect me?

We get into the locker room to start Liam’s session. There is clearly tension between Lucas and me, but I don’t want to be the one to break the ice. I only have Lucas left to take photos after Liam. I’m going to have to talk to him at some point.

“I’ll get you all good and oiled up,” Bren says to Liam with a wink. “Where do you want him, Laur?”

I need to get back into my element. Liam and Lucas are going to be some of the most important photos I take today. They’ll probably each have their own month in the calendar. I’ve been crushing this so far, so I can’t let me losing it at Lucas ruin that. Right on cue, an idea comes to me. It will be perfect for Liam.

“Lucas, can you find me something to stand on? Actually, two things, one for either side of the bench in the middle.”

He doesn’t say a word but disappears somewhere else in the locker room.

“Liam, lay down on the bench close to the end. I have two ideas. Bren, can you grab some hockey sticks and just arrange them under the bench? Make them scattered but not messy.”

I can see the vision perfectly in my mind, but I’m not the best at articulating to others how I want it to look. Lucas still isn’t back yet, so I decide to go find him. I find him instantly, crashing into him as I turn the corner.

“Sorry!” I blurt out instinctively.

“Lauren.” He puts down two chairs he must have grabbed from Coach’s office. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

“I know. Me too. Can we talk about it after Liam’s done? I have an idea and want to keep this energy instead of getting all apologetic.”

He doesn’t say anything but instead nods and follows me with the chairs.

“Wait, are there two more chairs?”

Lucas and I come back with four chairs to find Bren is straddling Liam on the bench, just casually sitting on top of him. Lucas clears his throat.

“What? I just wanted to make sure the hockey sticks didn’t look too out of place! I was following Laur’s artsy vision,” Bren claims.

“I don’t think straddling Liam gives you the best vantage point Bren, you’d have to be standing. But nice try.”

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