Chapter 10

Nates head tilted sideways. "Umm...I..." He nervously smiled with all his teeth and nodded along as he drawled, "You, uh...Uh..."

The Alpha was blank at that moment. He was also aware that it's his only opportunity to get on her good side. Think! Think! Nate thought to himself while staring at her. After all, he was always good with making up things and getting away with them.

"Right." Allie sighed, rolling her eyes. She picked the coffee from the table and started walking out of the cafeteria. "That's what I thought."

Her strides were hard to match up as always. She's a runner alright, but why couldn't she walk normally for once? Nate was able to slide beside her, keeping up with every step for a change. It's surreal and progress on his part.

"Because I heard you speak," Nate suddenly blurted out. The Alpha held his breath as he tried to remember as much as possible. It was something he heard in passing. Let's be real. Debate and speeches were not his things. He doesn't even remember the last time he had been to one of those much less be a part of them. "You talked about the unfair treatment of athletes who aren't footballers."

She didn't look up from her coffee, merely her lips twitching. "That was four months ago. What's your point?"

"And it...I...I started to think about things differently. It made me think about how lucky I am. My family could have paid for me to go anywhere in the world, but I went here because they gave me the best funding. All the football players get that because the university wants a winning team."

The Alpha felt like he was still yelling out whatever thought came to mind to keep her still, but the words popped out of his brain and flew even faster out of his mouth. From the way Allie peered at him, a bit of her bottom lip nibbled between her teeth and entirely focused it was working.

"I, um, didn't know how unbalanced scholarships were for athletes. We all are sportsman," Nate said softer, moving to stand in front of her. "I didn't know that most other sports teams are not even eligible for a full-ride when that's the norm for football players, even the shitty ones. After I heard you talk so passionately about it, I couldn't stop thinking. It was eye-opening."

Allie never broke their stare, even as she took a turn. The runner stood toe to toe with him. That was his chance. Nate couldn't believe that she was listening.

He swallowed, then clasped his hands in front of himself. "That's how I know you are an amazing person. So please let me make it up to you. Everything. That comment. Class. The party. All of my stupid behaviour. I'll make it up to you."

"There's nothing to make up," Allie said on an easy laugh. She took a sip of her now probably cold coffee. "We don't know each other."

Nate clenched his hands into a fist. It felt like he was back to square one. "But I want to. I want to know you."

"Because you heard my speech once? Jeez," The runner laughed as she sat on the bench and threw her coffee in the nearby bin. "Didn't peg you to be the type of man to chase the nerds."

"It's not about that."

Her brows arched as she lifted her head, eyelashes casting a shadow over her cheekbones. She was ethereal. No wonder she's playing hard to get. "Please. No guy puts in as much effort as you if he doesn't want something in return."

"You don't know me at all then."

"Mmh I don't plan to."

Nate sighed. "Oh, come on."

"Why me?" She crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes at him.

"Because of you..." His mouth went fishy and round for a moment. Great! Another question. "Because I think you're interesting."

"Was that a question?"

"No, I think you're interesting."

Allie laughed. "Thanks?"

"Was that a question?" He teasingly asked, his forehead wrinkling.

"You're good. Fine, we can be friends."

Nate held his breath. That's unexpected. Wow. He couldn't believe it at all. Blinking his eyes, he stared at her for a few seconds, waiting for that laugh and her to walk away from him. Neither of those things happened. "Oh for real?"

Allie giggled, standing up. "You're funny. I'll see you later."

***

"The nerve of that beta. Terrible manners. Just terrible," Nate complained as he plopped down. He bit his bottom lip and rubbed his palm up and down once. "But she's kinda hot when she's acting like that. You know?"

Chris stared at him, folding his lips while merely nodding along.

"Go ahead. Laugh all you—"

Loud laughter poured over his face before Nate even finished his statement of permission. The sound echoed around the grunt-filled weight room from nearby athletes. His teary eyes crinkled at him.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," His friend said, still laughing. What's so funny about it? Nate will never understand.

"I swear. It's just...Come on; you've got to admit that it's kind of funny. You are chasing after a girl who doesn't want you at all. Hey! She's you in this scenario."

"It's not that funny."

Chris rolled his eyes. "It is. She's making you sweat for this stupid bet, which I still think is a sign you should drop it."

The Alpha groaned. He will rip his hair off any moment now hearing Chris repeat the same thing. Shouldn't he be supportive of him? "Not this again! I told you I am going to win."

"Well, then, you'd better start running faster, or else you're never going to catch her."

"That's going to be impossible," Nate said, wincing and scrunching his face. "Half of the times I am not sure if she's genuinely uninterested at playing hard to get. I tried being nice. I hit on her the way I hit on everyone else, but she hates it. I'm lost. I've never had this happen to me before."

A weight stack thumped against the floor. Nate looked up only to see Ben walk in. He had a smug smirk on his face. "How's it going player?"

"Get lost" The Alpha spat at him.

"How's the bet coming along?"

Nate didn't reply while Chris was glaring at him. They were not very happy about Bens presence lately, especially after that day in the locker room things changed.

For better or worse, only time will tell.

Ben snickered, throwing his gloves aside. "Fine, don't tell me. Allie will tell me on our date soon."

At that, Nate snapped his head at him. Fury bubbled in his stomach, and at once, he was standing in front. Toe to toe, eyes narrowed at the player. "What did you do?"

The linebacker chuckled, shaking his head. He slid a hand on Nates shoulder and patted it. At his touch, the Alpha flinched, his jaw clenched. "Oh, relax! I'm only making this bet easy for you."

"Then stay the fuck away from her" Nate snarled.

"Ooh possessive already?" Ben was cut off by the footsteps echoing closer. Just before anyone of them could say anything, Ashton walked in the room. They all exchanged looks, and Nate staggered back.

***

On the field, every thought about Allie was forgotten. He was tense as he stood next to Ben, paying attention to every word Coach said and avoiding even looking in Allie's general direction. He wanted to make a good impression today, and that wouldn't happen if his mind were focused on her. Granted she was sitting close by.

After a warm-up and stretching exercises, their coach decided on another practice game to monitor their stamina and endurance throughout. Nate was put in a team with Chris and six other Alphas and Betas. Everyone got positioned on the field. Coach blew his whistle, and they started.

Ben had the ball, so naturally he decided to pass to his teammate. Before he could do that, Nate kicked his calf, making his left leg buckle. He lost his footing and eventually the ground under his feet, fell face-first into the grass, his hands going to his calf instantly.

Nate heard the blow of the whistle.

"What the hell was that?" The coach's voice drifted across the field, exasperation and anger audible in it. "Captain explain yourself. Right now"

"An accident, Coach. I slipped on the grass and lost control of my footing." Nate mumbled, sounding loud, clear and unapologetic.

Sitting up, Ben glared at him, muttering curses under his breath. The Alpha didn't even bother to look at him.

The coach got on the ground next to Ben, scrutinising his injured calf for a moment, feeling across the flesh for any severe harm done to it. "You are out, Ben. Go to the medical room and rest."

Nate could see him scowl as he walked away, so he considered that as a victory.

***