[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/180301/a8ac7954c85f22d91da095cc952d457c.png[/img]

[img]http://legacylockers.com/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Sports-Lockers.jpg[/img]

[b]Location:[/b] Boys Locker room
[b]Derek [/b]& [color=6ecff6][b]Jacob[/b][/color][hr][hr][/center]
His body was killing him. Lactic acid was spilling into his legs, a clear signal from his body. It caused such a pain that it would stop most dead in their tracks. Or worse, they would collapse. But Jacob was no stranger to it. Yet still, he was in a world of pain. And despite that, he was laughing at some half-baked joke one of the defenders said as they walked towards the locker room. Jacob was the defensive leader, so he had to keep the group together. He succeeded in that challenge, but he did it through might and force. Making himself the kingpin keeping it all together. Looking over some of the guys in his team, it was obvious as of why. They were animals. He knew that if he showed weakness the people around him, his friends, would get testy.
 
So Jacob laughed as his body was tearing itself apart. As they entered the locker room, on the other side of the room was the Board. On it was a table. The top row was filled with the names of every player on the football team. Damian’s name still stood out like a sore thumb. A reminder he could return. Right now Jacob wanted to do nothing more than erase the name. It would call in a new era. But it would also offend a lot of people. On the first column, girls’ names were written. The Candies’ names were written with special dedication. While other names spat viciousness. One example would be the crossed out name Jenny, written below it: Skater skank with an empty row right of her. On each row, there was a tally written. It was clear what it meant. Everyone knew it. But nobody told the coach the actual meaning. And thus, they couldn’t remove it.
 
Derek, proud like a peacock marched up to the board. As people saw him pass his locker, they realized what was happening. A few were chanting: “New name! New name! New name!” It was the season no less. With new cheerleaders coming in, the hunt was on. Derek, with a certain amount of showmanship took out the pen and threw it in the air. Keeping the entire locker room in anticipation. The chanting and cheering silenced as all eyes were on the cornerbacker as he took off the cap. Without looking, he pushed it down and added a tally to his column and on Brynn’s name. A quick holler filled the room, many congratulating the cornerbacker. Derek put the felt pen back and walked up to his locker. The one next to Jacob. Jacob was just flipping through some stuff on his phone, pretending to be busy as he held a faint smile. He could help but be somewhat impressed by his cornerbacker.
 
[color=6ecff6][b]“Eighteen. Damn man, does it never get old with her?”[/b][/color] Jacob asked. Derek just turned around to face him. [b]“You have no idea. I told you the day you came in here. The girl is a freak! I’m holding it off, even. I want to pop that great 25th cherry on Valentine’s.”[/b] Jacob just chuckled: [color=6ecff6][b]“You’re such a romantic.”[/b][/color] [b]“If anyone’s the romantic it’s you.”[/b] Derek rebounded. A little confused and a lot more annoyed, Jacob looked up: [color=6ecff6][b]“You want to explain that one?”[/b][/color] Derek didn’t look too fussed about it: [b]“You’re lagging behind man. Too much of a nice guy, eh?”[/b] The jock said as he pointed at the board, specifically Jacob’s empty column. [color=6ecff6][b]“Well maybe I just don’t care.”[/b][/color] Jacob tried to act like he didn’t care as he returned his attention to his phone.  Derek laughed and turned to face his locker, trying to open the lock. [b]“Yeah sure. Or maybe you just can’t get a girl to su-“[/b] Derek never got to finish that sentence as Jacob shot up and pushed him. Derek flew back against the lockers. The low, hollow metal clang echoing through the locker room, silencing every conversation. Recovering in an instance, Derek turned around to face Jacob. Neither of them looked all too happy. Jacob knew what this was. And it was Derek who relented,  holding his hands up. [b]“I’m just kidding man, I’m just kidding.”[/b] But Jacob didn’t look like he was kidding. Yet inside, he was relieved that Derek didn’t push it. He wasn’t in shape enough to throw down. He wasn’t in shape for anything. Every muscle was pulling itself together. Like a winch aiming to break his bones. And he couldn’t even show it. It was all kept behind a façade.

[i][b][center]– 15 minutes later –[/center][/b][/i]
Jacob was sitting alone in the locker room. Everyone had left already. Yet Jacob remained, his face soured by the constant pain. He could pretend for only so long. The last hour was pure torture, which he chose to hide. It was nothing short of a nightmare. Worse, one he did to himself. He knew the price for using the pill. Now every movement, no matter how small hurt. Standing itself was exhausting him. He knew he was skating on the edge of literally, physically collapsing. He wanted nothing more than to lay down on something and sleep. Yet, realistically, only thing he could do now was crawl under a showerhead and hope for the best.

The water didn’t make the pain vanish. It only relaxed his muscles enough so he could walk again. At least for a little while. The hot water poured off his back as he rested his head against the wall before him. He had ignored it for too long. He had denied it for too long. The same gnawing feeling. Guilt demanded to be heard. The heart wrenching feeling took him all the way down the rabbit hole. To when he was young. To when he fought and bullied. All the feelings of remorse he had for Sophie. She had deserved better, yet he was a coward that couldn’t answer a question. His mind took him to more recent acts as well. Insulting the journalist, Savannah, was at the very least rude. But wanting to take down Trevor the way he did, that was just wrong. 
 
In frustration he slammed his first into the tiles. Nothing broke, nothing shattered. A different, blunt, pain joined the torn muscles. Why did he do it? Why did he feel happy when he heard Damian was off the team? Why did he buy the pills? Why did he insult the redhead and taunt the ginger? Why? He knew why. Captain, and everything beyond it. A good college, a rich job and a full life. Driving a lambo next to a Spanish coast with not a care in the world. Having a Malibu home and a private jet to take him to the Swiss alps. He couldn’t even ski.

Yet deep within he kept asking: [i]For what?[/i] The question shoved a knife in him. [i]For who?[/i] Twisting it around. [i]Why?[/i] Turning it the other way. Deep down he knew that no money, gold or private jets would ever be enough. He could jump out of a plane, dive in the ocean and it wouldn’t matter. None of it would matter in the end. The self-torture was breaking him. Fissures formed along his life’s plan. Threatening to break it all apart. He casted one glance out of the showers, towards his clothes.

The little plastic bag caught his attention. Filled with two more white pills. No, he had no choice. A normal life was not for him. He could never attain it. He would win the season now. He would do what had to be done. He would always do what had to be done. If that meant living with the guilt, then so be it. What else was there?