Marcus leaned casually against the fence, watching the students practice. His eyes roamed the field, taking in the intensity of each student as they pushed themselves to the limit. But his attention kept drifting back to three in particular Elena, Gabriel, and Andrew. He couldn’t help but be intrigued by the transformation he’d witnessed in them over the past few months.
He glanced sideways at Adrian, who was standing a few feet away, his gaze fixed on Elena as she sprinted across the field with remarkable speed and grace. Adrian didn’t seem to notice Marcus’s scrutinizing look, but Marcus had learned a thing or two about his friend’s subtle cues. It was clear that Adrian had a vested interest in his students, especially Elena.
“Did you ever wonder,” Marcus began, his voice casual but loaded with meaning, “about how a few months ago, these two” he gestured toward Gabriel and Andrew “were nothing like this?”
Adrian’s sharp eyes flicked to Marcus, and he stayed quiet for a moment before responding, his tone a bit more guarded. “What do you mean?”
Marcus smirked, pushing himself off the fence. “Gabriel and Andrew,” he said slowly, “they were the kings of the university, but for all the wrong reasons. Cold, distant, the biggest troublemakers on campus, always keeping to themselves, always making sure everyone knew they didn’t care about anyone but themselves.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened, his gaze returning to the two young men on the field, who were working seamlessly together. He had seen their transformation, of course, but hearing Marcus spell it out so bluntly made him uneasy. “Yeah, they weren’t exactly… friendly,” he muttered, not sure if he was responding to Marcus’s words or his own thoughts.
“I know,” Marcus replied with a soft chuckle. “But here’s the kicker. Elena walks into the picture, and suddenly-poof-the bullies are gone. They’ve completely changed. There’s a camaraderie between the three of them now, something you could’ve never imagined. And you know what? They’re better for it. Hell, they’re even working together like a well-oiled machine.”
Adrian’s expression remained neutral, but inside, he could feel a strange knot twist in his stomach. He had noticed the changes in Gabriel and Andrew, how they’d softened and begun to rely on each other, how their once-closed-off personalities had opened up. And, of course, he knew exactly who was responsible for it.
“It’s all because of her, isn’t it?” Marcus said, cutting through Adrian’s thoughts. “Elena’s the one who brought them out of their shells. Without her, they’d still be the same old assholes, isolating themselves from everyone. She has this way of drawing people in, making them better. And I can see how that’s affecting you too.”
Adrian’s eyes flicked to Marcus with a look of annoyance, but there was no denying the truth in Marcus’s words. Elena had a way of making everything around her seem brighter, lighter. Even Gabriel and Andrew, two people who had once seemed untouchable, had been transformed in her presence.
“I don’t know what it is about her,” Adrian muttered, more to himself than to Marcus. “But… there’s something different. She changes things. She changed them.”
Marcus smiled knowingly, stepping closer to Adrian. “You’re not just talking about Gabriel and Andrew, are you?”
Adrian shot him a sharp look, but Marcus was too busy studying his reaction. He had been observing the subtle changes in Adrian for a while now. The way he watched Elena, the way his eyes softened when he spoke about her. It wasn’t hard to see what was happening. Adrian was in deep.
“Don’t act like you didn’t notice,” Marcus teased, his voice playful. “There’s a lot more going on with you and Elena than you’re letting on.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed, but he said nothing, his jaw tightening as he glanced back toward the field. Elena had finished her sprint and was now talking with Gabriel and Andrew. They were laughing, a rare sight that made Marcus raise an eyebrow. He’d never seen those two so at ease, so… human.
“I know you’ve got a reputation for keeping things professional, Adrian,” Marcus continued, his voice low and teasing. “But I think we both know Elena has you wrapped around her finger. Don’t pretend like you’re immune.”
Adrian’s gaze flickered back to Marcus, and for a moment, the two locked eyes. Marcus had hit a nerve, but Adrian wasn’t about to show it. He cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably. “I’m not-”
Marcus interrupted, raising a hand. “No need to deny it. We both know what’s going on. And honestly? I think it’s about time you let go of that wall you’ve built around yourself.”
There was a brief pause before Adrian spoke again, his voice quieter this time. “I don’t know what’s going on with me… or with her,” he said, more to himself than Marcus. “She’s different. She brings something out in people, and it scares me.”
Marcus studied him for a long moment, then shrugged nonchalantly. “Scared, huh? Don’t worry, my friend. I’m sure she’ll be worth it. She already seems to have Gabriel and Andrew eating out of the palm of her hand. You should be proud of them. They’ve come a long way.”
Adrian clenched his jaw, forcing himself to keep calm. “They’ve changed. And yeah, it’s because of her. But it’s not just about that. There’s more at play here, Marcus.”
Marcus raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh? Do tell.”
Adrian shot him a quick, irritated look but said nothing, his eyes returning to the students on the field. Elena was now in the middle of a drill with Andrew, both of them laughing as they worked through their passes. Gabriel stood nearby, watching, his arms crossed as he observed the others.
“They’ve come a long way,” Marcus repeated thoughtfully, studying the trio. “But there’s something else, isn’t there? Something between Elena and Andrew, and something else between you and Elena.”
Adrian didn’t respond, his gaze focused on Elena once more, his heart racing just a little faster. He couldn’t deny it-Marcus was right. There was something between them, something he couldn’t quite understand yet. Something that was pulling him in, making him question everything he thought he knew about himself.
“You should just admit it, Adrian,” Marcus said with a smirk. “You’ve got it bad for her. And you don’t even know it yet.”
Adrian remained silent, but his thoughts were loud in his head. What was it about Elena that made everything feel so different? Why did he feel so… protective of her? Why did his heart race when he saw her succeed, when he saw the way the others looked at her?
“I’m not ready to deal with this,” Adrian muttered to himself, though Marcus heard him.
“Of course you’re not,” Marcus said with a grin. “But I have a feeling you will be soon enough.”
As the practice continued, Marcus stayed close by, observing the trio, his smirk never fading. He knew that things were about to change for Adrian and for Elena, Gabriel, and Andrew. The dynamics were shifting, and it was only a matter of time before everything came to a head.
But for now, Marcus was content to watch from the sidelines, knowing that the best was yet to come.