Page 34 of Matched Up

I got lost in the football almost as deeply as I got lost in Shane’s blue eyes.I let it seep into my bones and through my veins.So much so that I didn’t notice that Niall had opened my door.I glanced up just as he was turning away, his face tear-stained, the door slamming behind him.

13

Niall wasn’t allowed to do anything all week.No Megan at the house, no going to Hunter’s – just school and football practice, that was it.And if I thought our relationship was bad before, it got even worse.

But I didn’t care.I had Shane.We had another early-morning training session and spent most of it with our tongues down each other’s throats, despite the no-kissing rule that we’d made.It was like it was impossible to keep apart.But we had to at practice; Niall could not find out about us.I heard him on the phone to Hunter having another rant about Shane, how he wasn’t that good and how they were going to make sure he didn’t stay.

Niall didn’t speak to me at all until Thursday, when his car was in the garage, and he needed a lift to school.

‘Can’t believe you told Dad I was drinking.’He’d never spoken to me with such venom.

And that hurt.Because I hadn’t meant to.

‘You know what he’s like,’ I replied.

‘What kind of excuse is that?’he said.

I snapped.‘You know what, Niall?It’s your own fault.Youwere the one who said we had our own lives, that being a twin meant nothing, so you can just deal with it.And that shit you said to Shane?What the hell was that about?’

‘Oh, you on first-name terms?’Niall said.‘What’s got you so defensive?You know you’d do the same if someone came to take your position.Oh wait, you don’t have a position.’

At a red light I hit the brakes harder than I needed to.‘Fuck off, Niall!When did you turn into such an asshole?’

‘Whatever, Lexie.’

Despite Niall being grounded, DadandMum were still going away to Sweden tomorrow.They’d decided not to cancel, because Mum had planned this insanely detailed itinerary.They’d made Niall promise to stay in the house all weekend, except for football, but I hoped to God that he’d actually made plans with Megan so I didn’t have to look at his miserable bake for longer than necessary.And I needed him out of the house, so I could have Shane over.

Niall looked out the window with his earbuds in the whole way.And because he hadn’t been seeing Megan outside school, actual school was hell.I don’t know whether they were doing it to piss me off even more, but they couldn’t keep their hands off each other.It was disgusting.And something else had changed.Megan wasn’t talking tomeany more.There was no more of her chat in my ear, trying to act like things were normal.She completely ignored me.

‘What’s the deal with you and Megan?’Zoe asked me at break time when I was walking across the yard, intending to go for a dander around the pitches.

‘What do you mean?’

‘You’re usually with her all the time.’

‘She’s busy with Niall.’

‘Isn’t that really weird for you?’Zoe was smiling when she asked.I didn’t know if she just couldn’t help it, or she was trying to be extra annoying.

I shrugged.‘I guess.’

‘Well, you can hang out with me and Amina if you want?’She offered me a Tic Tac.

I shook my head to both.‘Thanks.’

‘Did you have fun at the party?I hardly saw you all night.Hunter was looking for you.’She elbowed me and grinned.

‘Yeah, it was great.Shame I had to leave because of Niall,’ I added.

‘Oh I meant to say, I saw you talking to Shane.You never said you were into him.’My stomach lurched and I stopped walking to look at Zoe, who wasn’t smiling any more.As I turned round, she burst into a grin and waited for me to answer.

‘Shane?No, I hardly know him.’I shook my head and looked away, I couldn’t risk her seeing the look on my face that would out me as a liar.‘But I think he’s seeing someone,’ I added.

‘Yeah maybe, but not at this school.’She smirked.‘I think I’m going to ask him out.He’s really hot, don’t you think?’

I shrugged and hoped she wouldn’t notice the flash of heat that was spreading across my cheeks.

‘I’m just going to go for a walk,’ I said, hoping that would make her leave me alone.

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