Page 100 of Quake

Sunday, May 25, 2025

Isee Lark on the sidelines as I rush onto the field with my team. Her smile is beaming as her eyes meet mine, and my heart revs up, clenching tightly in my chest.

She waves at me and lifts the hem of her shirt, pointing to the device now stuck to the skin just above the waist of her shorts.

I tap a loose fist against my heart, and my throat feels tight as I return her bright smile.

Fuck, she’s beautiful. And in just a few excruciatingly long hours, I’llhave her in my arms.

***

Knowing that Lark now has an insulin pump as an extra measure to keep her safe helps me focus on the game, but regardless, it doesn’t seem to matter today.

We have three minutes to score another goal and win this game. My muscles ache as I rush down the field, holding onto a fucking prayer that I’ll make it there in time.

Chavez kicks the ball in my direction, but the opposing team’s offense toes it in the opposite direction before I can get to it. My fists clench at my sides as I pump my arms quicker, frustration taking hold of me.

Sweat is dripping into my eyes, burning like hell. The salty wetness floods my mouth as I run toward the goal. I see their striker gain speed, his foot making contact with the ball and soaring right past Damien’s outstretched hands.

We lose.

My jaw clenches, anger ripping through me.What the fuck was he doing? He should have caught that.

I fight the overwhelming urge to stomp my feet like a petulant child, but I’m blinded by rage when I notice Damien makes a beeline for Lark. She gives him a small wave, but her expression is visibly uncomfortable as she subconsciously angles her body away from him.

At my approach, Damien eyes me from over his shoulder, placing his hand at the small of her back. Her eyes widen, but before she can move, I’m gripping her waist, shoulder checking him outof my way. I spin us out of his reach, ignoring his existence entirely as I place her back on the ground. Her eyes flare, lips pursing with annoyance.

“What, Gi? Are you gonna lick me and call dibs on me like a child with a piece of candy?” she asks, her head cocked to the side in question. Her lips tip upward, challenging me in that playful way of hers so I know she isn’t actually upset with me.

My lips curve into a smirk. “Lick you?Hell no.I’ll do more than that.” I run my hands up her arms, lowering my mouth to hover beside her ear. “I’ll fucking spit in your mouth if it reminds you and everyone around you what’s happening between us.”

“And what, exactly,ishappening?” She quirks her brow, arms crossed over her chest in defiance, but that tiny grin stays plastered across her face.

“Isn’t it clear?” I ask her, my voice a strange mix of confusion and disbelief. “You,” I say, loosely gripping her chin between my fingers, “aremine. And I’ll be damned if you forget it.”

Tugging her lips to mine, I claim her mouth.

My tongue slips inside, tangling with hers in a mix of salt and the strawberry lollipops she’s always eating. Her hands snake up my chest, wrapping around my neck to pull me closer, and just when I’m ready to drag her up my body, I feel a large hand grip my shoulder, wrenching me out of her grip.

I reluctantly remove myself from Lark’s embrace, and when I turn to find Damien wearing a sadistic smile, my blood runs cold. “Well, isn’t this fucking adorable? Do you think your boyfriend would approve?” He taps his chin, making a show of this entire display of his. “Oh, that’s right.He’s dead.”

My fists clench tightly at my sides as rage overtakes me. Not for the first time, I want to slam my fist into this guy’s face until he no longer resembles a person at all.

“Be the bigger person, Gi. Walk away. He’s baiting you, and you know it.” Alex’s voice comes trickling into my mind, and as my fists begin to loosen, I’m hit with a wave of guilt.No. He’s right. You are dead, and someone’s gotta teach this fucker to keep his goddamn mouth shut.

I straighten my spine, encroaching on his space, and feel when his hot breath invades my lungs. He takes a step back, his eyes turning frantic, almost wild, as I follow him, allowing him no room to escape me withoutliterallyrunning. “This has gone on long enough, Damien. So it’s now or never. Tell me what the fuck your problem is, or deal with it in silence. I don’t care either way, but what youaren’tgoing to do is talk shit about my best friend.My dead best friend,as you’ve just pointed out.”

Instead of a snide remark, he straightens his spine, readying himself for the fight he’s been practically begging for since he got here.

“What, cat’s got your tongue?” I goad him.

“You know exactly what my problem is. You and Alex used to walk around like you were such hot shit, always acting as if he practically walked on fucking water with how goddamn nice you both tricked everyone into thinking he was. And now that he’s gone, you’re out here sucking face with the daughter of the man who owns our fucking team. So maybe ask yourself this, what the fuck isyourproblem?” he says, getting into my face.

I can feel more than see a crowd starting to form around us. Damien turns his head to look around for just a split second, butit’s long enough to allow me to push my palms flat against his chest, knocking him several feet back.

“You think this is a game?” I say. The anger I felt just moments ago is renewed.

“Gianni, please just walk away from him. He’s not worth it.” Those words sound so familiar, and yet they aren’t coming from Alex this time. Lark is standing beside me, her cheeks pink with emotion.

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