Tangled In The Captains Game (Short Story) The Captain….?

CHAPTER 5

So, there I was, minding my own business in the boys’ locker room (don’t ask—long story), when I got dragged out like I was some kind of hostage. And the culprit? None other than Eric Caddel, the second football captain, who, by the way, looks like he lives at the gym and is captain of the Sarcasm Olympics.

He didn’t just gently nudge me out either—oh no, he basically yanked me into the hallway like I was some deflated football. I was still processing the fact that I, Nova Flynn, was being manhandled out of the locker room when I looked up and my brain short-circuited.

Eric towered over me, standing at a very casual 6’4″, and his eyes were cold—like, dude, are you even capable of feeling human emotions cold. His whole presence screamed “I’m too cool to care,” and then there were those abs, which seemed like they were carved from granite. Honestly, I wouldn’t have been surprised if he spent more time oiling them than, you know, practicing football.

“Why… why did you call me that?” I stammered like I’d forgotten how words worked. Because let’s be real, when a guy like Eric Caddel smirks at you, it’s like your brain files for an early retirement.

Eric leaned down slightly, giving me one of those smirks that could probably melt steel beams, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You haven’t changed,” he said, his voice dripping with enough sarcasm to fill a swimming pool. His eyes scanned over me like I was some kind of lost puppy. “Still getting yourself into weird situations, huh?”

I blinked, trying to figure out what the hell he meant by that when the locker room doors slammed open again. Enter Asher Flynn, Protector of Sisters and Deliverer of Death Stares.

“What exactly do you think you’re doing with my sister?” Asher asked, his tone all business, arms crossed like he was about to start charging rent for being in my personal space.

Eric barely gave him a glance, but his smirk turned even more smug—if that was even possible.

 “Oh, nothing much, just revisiting old times,” he said, with the same nonchalance someone might have when talking about the weather. Then, as if to really hammer in the point that he was in no hurry, he leaned down to my level again—because apparently, this guy loves hovering over me—and added, “You two still don’t look alike, Skylar.”

I stiffened at the mention of that name. Skylar? Really? How did he even know that name? It was like a time bomb from elementary school that I thought had been buried forever.

“How do you know my middle name?” I finally managed to spit out, feeling like I’d just uncovered some massive conspiracy.

Eric straightened up, looking pleased with himself. “You really don’t remember me, do you? Wow, I’m crushed, I’m not surprised though, you were always to focused on your shoe to notice anyone else” he deadpanned, though his smirk told me he wasn’t crushed at all. More like he was enjoying this a little too much. 

“It’s Eric. From primary school?”

My brain tried to connect the dots. Eric? Primary school Eric? The one who always volunteered to hand out worksheets and sat in the front row? The one who used to argue with the teacher about getting bonus points on his tests?

I gawked at him. “That Eric? The goodie-two-shoes who always raised his hand in class and used to remind the teacher to assign homework? That Eric?”

“The very same.” He crossed his arms, looking way too pleased with this transformation from ‘annoying teacher’s pet’ to ‘bad boy with an attitude.’ 

“Except now I don’t ask for extra credit. I just collect it.” He flexed his arm ever so slightly, as if I needed a visual reminder that he had the body of a Marvel superhero.

Before I could figure out if this was real life or some bizarre fever dream, Asher, who had been silently judging Eric the entire time, finally spoke up. “You gonna let go of my sister now, or should I start charging you for being this close to her?”

Eric chuckled, the sound low and a little too arrogant for my liking. “Oh, don’t worry, Flynn. We’re just catching up.” He winked at me, and my brain flatlined again.

“Catching up?!” I echoed, my voice raising an octave. “You dragged me out of the locker room like I was some kind of stray!”

Eric shrugged like it was no big deal. “Could’ve left you in there, but I’m trying to avoid a lawsuit.”

Asher rolled his eyes, stepping forward slightly to get between us. “Look, man. If you’re charging for flirting, let me know. I’ll invoice you later.”

Eric’s smirk widened, which I didn’t even think was possible. “Don’t worry, Flynn. I’ll send you my Venmo. Though your sister’s probably not worth more than a couple bucks.” He shot me a glance, and I swear I saw the devil himself twinkling in those dark eyes.

Okay. Rude.

Asher didn’t even miss a beat. “Make sure you include a discount code. I’ll need it for the line of other jocks flirting with her.”

I groaned internally as Eric gave Asher a mock salute and turned back to me. 

“Seriously, Skylar, you don’t remember anything about me? That hurts. Deeply.” He put a hand on his chest, feigning offense. I was pretty sure he had no actual feelings.

“I don’t remember you being this… this…” I waved my hand up and down at his entire being. 

“Sarcastic.”

Eric chuckled, “Oh, sweetie, this isn’t sarcasm. This is personality evolution.” He raised his eyebrow at me as if daring me to argue.

“You know, I really should charge you for all this attention you’re giving me,” I snapped back, finally finding a scrap of dignity in my pile of confusion.

He just grinned. “If I charge you for staring at my abs, we’d be even.”

Before I could die of embarrassment, Asher sighed dramatically and patted me on the shoulder.

 “Come on, Nova. We’ve got better things to do than be insulted by Captain Abs over here.”

Eric let out a low laugh. “Careful, Flynn. You might actually need my help one of these days.”

“Not if we can avoid it,” Asher muttered under his breath as he walked back into the locker room. But not before giving Eric a pointed glare. 

“If you’re going to flirt, at least send an apology note next time.”

Eric leaned down to my level one last time, smirk fully intact. “By the way, you might want to stop drooling next time, Skylar. It’s getting awkward.”

I wasn’t drooling! At least, I hope I wasn’t. Before I could defend my dignity, he winked at me and sauntered off, probably to go flex in front of a mirror.

Great. Now I had to somehow erase this entire scene from my memory. As I tried to salvage what was left of my pride, I heard a loud rustling from behind the bushes. I turned just in time to see Zuri and Alya pop out like they’d been hiding there for the last hour—which they probably had.
Alya practically bounced over to me, her eyes wide and sparkling. 

“Oh. My. God. Were you just talking to Eric Caddel?!”

I gave her a flat look. “No, Alya. I was having an intense intellectual discussion with a tree. Of course I was talking to Eric.”

Zuri, who was just as wide-eyed as Alya, added, “You mean the Eric Caddel? The one everyone says could smolder his way through a brick wall?”

I groaned, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Yes, that Eric. The same one from primary school who used to bring three sharpened pencils to every test.”

Alya blinked at me in disbelief. “Wait. You mean nerd Eric? The one who used to get stickers for ‘good behavior’?”

I nodded. “Yep. That’s him. Apparently, he went from ‘good boy’ to ‘bad boy’ real quick.”

Zuri snickered. “Sounds like a cheesy high school drama. You know, the kind where the geeky kid transforms into the hot guy and suddenly everyone wants to date him.”

“Right?!” I said, throwing my hands up in the air. “Except now I’m living it, and apparently, I’m the confused side character.”

Alya grinned like she had just won the lottery. “Well, at least he’s giving you attention, right? Skylar has a nice ring to it. Very… sophisticated.”

I shot her a glare. “Please don’t call me that. Ever. I already have him calling me that. I don’t need it from you two, too.”

Zuri smirked, clearly plotting something. “No promises, Skylar.”

And that’s how I knew my life was officially spiraling out of control.

Authors Note:
So errr here it issss , Chapter 5. Sooo rate and comment, i rlly dont have much to say tho except that im rllly rlly rlly sorry for the 6-day delay, just i’ve been rlly busy with school. Love u baii