Then: February 3rd

There was someone watching him.

He could feel it, and it made the hairs on the back of his neck rise uncomfortably. Wyatt loved playing basketball but he hated the attention that it brought him. He made his way back to center court, having successfully scored another hoop for his team. He glanced over the crowd sitting on the gymnasium benches as everyone repositioned themselves. There were a few friendly eyes on him, and a lot of clapping and cheering, but nothing that should make him feel this uncomfortable.

The whistle blew, and Wyatt shook off the feeling to concentrate on the game. His sneakers squeaked against the shiny floor as he pivoted around his guard. The feeling didn't abate. If anything, it only grew worse as Wyatt dribbled the ball towards the net. So much so that Wyatt missed the shot that was wide open for him, causing a unified groan across the gym. Wyatt cursed, he never missed a shot like that.

Some jerk in the stands had him off his game.

The whistle blew again, and Wyatt was barely paying attention enough to follow the ball, let alone keep it from the other team.

Coach pulled him out then, telling him to hydrate so he could get his head back in the game.

Wyatt sat down on the bench heavily, grabbing a bottle to squirt into his mouth. The team continued on without him. Wyatt waited for the feeling to ease away now that he wasn’t on the court, but it didn't. If anything, it seemed to be getting worse.

Swiveling around on the bench, Wyatt looked around the stands. The sea of faces looking past him all seemed normal. He could spot the parents and girlfriends of his teammates. There were a few faces of kids who always came to the games, either as friends of the team or just supportive of the school. None of them were looking at Wyatt though. Wyatt searched higher, eyes roaming to the top, at the very back corners where people usually paid more attention to talking to their friends than the game. He spotted his sister, sitting with a few of her friends at the top of the bleachers.

Lauren had her hair pulled back in a high ponytail and had a face full of makeup. Her and her friends were all gesturing with their long, pointed, coloured nails. And they all wore the same leggings and jean jacket combination. They were all talking to each other and not paying attention to the game, or Wyatt, at all. Wyatt felt slightly better knowing she was here, even if she was acting fake, and too cool to be watching a junior’s game.

Just below them though were a few students Wyatt only vaguely recognized. A boy with sandy hair, and a baggy t-shirt, talking animatedly to a girl with curls in a sundress. He thought he recognized them both, from baseball games maybe? But beside them was another boy. He had shoulder length hair, and was wearing a hoodie that swallowed most of his features. Wyatt could see his chocolate brown eyes from here, though. They were the most piercing eyes he had ever seen.

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Mostly because the boy was staring right at him. Even as Wyatt looked at him, the kid didn't look away.

There was something intense behind the gaze, like he was trying to figure something out. Like Wyatt was a puzzle he had just found lying on the ground. Wyatt felt unnerved, but at least now he knew there was no threat.

The kid's eyes widened a bit, like he just realized they had made eye contact. They stared at each other for a few more moments before the boy bit his lip and looked away. Wyatt lingered another second, but the boy didn't turn back.

A few minutes later the couch called him back in. As he walked onto the court, he felt the eyes on him again. They didn't bother him anymore though. He even felt himself grinning as he snagged the ball from the opposing team.

–-

Wyatt walked out of the change room freshly showered and his bag hanging off his shoulder. He could smell Lauren nearby so he headed towards her, knowing she was waiting for him. When he rounded the corner he was surprised to find Lauren was not just with her friends, but the trio who had been sitting in front of them.

“Congrats on the game, brother dear!” Lauren smiled at him. She always called him weird names, he only ever called her Lauren.

“Thanks.”

“We were going to go grab some food. Coming?”

Wyatt nodded absently, glancing at the people he didn't know. The two kids who had been talking during the game were still talking, and now holding hands, so Wyatt went ahead and assumed they were a couple. The boy who had been staring at him was looking at the floor, scuffing his shoes against the ground.

“Great, you can give us a ride,” Lauren said with a grin, walking towards the door.

“I can't drive all of you.” Wyatt complained as they all trailed after her.

“Of course not, Tiffany is driving Justin and Jamie, and you get to drive Taylor, Lisa and me!”

“What an honor,” Wyatt drawled.

He saw the boy, Jamie, smirk at that. But they didn't say anything to each other as they made their way to the parking lot. Wyatt was not sure if he should say anything about the kid’s staring, but it was clear that Jamie wasn't going to bring it up himself.

Wyatt watched Jamie and the other two as they got into a sleek car a few down from Wyatt's own Toyota. Jamie sat in the back. Wyatt wondered how often he had to be third wheel to those two as he threw his bag into his own trunk. Wyatt turned to get into the car and almost ran into one of Lauren's friends.

“Wyatt, can I sit in the front with you?” Taylor asked, twirling her hair.

“Uh,” he blinked, looking in through the window, “I think Lauren's already there.”

“Yeah, but wouldn't it be more fun if I was up there instead?” Taylor brushed a hand down Wyatt’s arm, smiling at him the whole time.

Wyatt didn’t like being touched by strangers. He stepped around her, “try telling Lauren that.”

She didn't say anything else, but Wyatt saw her pouting in the back. What a strange girl.

As they drove downtown, Wyatt ignored the three gossiping about whatever was new at Sage Meadows High. He did learn, though, that Tiffany was Taylor's cousin and the three were a year younger than Wyatt. Justin was her boyfriend, but nothing else was said about the two boys.

Wyatt absently wondered why he cared enough to notice that.