Never Just Friends

Kicking Too Hard

(Third-Person POV - Finn)

The ball soared wide, smashing against the fence with a deafening clang. Finn groaned, running a frustrated hand through his hair as he jogged to retrieve the ball. Coach’s whistle pierced the air, followed by a sharp, impatient yell.

“Focus, Finn! What are you doing out there?”

Finn muttered something under his breath, setting the ball back at his feet and lining it up for another shot. The guys on the field were watching him—probably wondering what was going on. Finn was always on point, always the player everyone could count on to deliver. But lately, his mind had been all over the place, and it showed.

His foot connected with the ball again, sending it in a perfect arc this time. The ball flew toward the goal, but it didn’t bring the satisfaction it normally did. His head was still buzzing with everything that had happened with Hanna the day before.

Elordi. She had said it so casually, like it wasn’t supposed to affect him. But it did. More than he wanted to admit.

Jacob jogged over, wiping sweat from his forehead. “Alright, man, what’s going on? You’re playing like you’ve never touched a ball in your life.”

Finn rolled his shoulders, trying to shake off the tension. “Just distracted. I’ll get it together.”

Jacob studied him for a second, his eyes narrowing. “You don’t look like you have it together. Is this about Hanna?”

Finn’s body tensed instinctively at the mention of her name, but he forced a casual shrug. “What about her?”

“I don’t know. You tell me,” Jacob said, crossing his arms. “You’ve been weird ever since that party. Something’s off.”

Finn stayed silent, keeping his eyes fixed on the field ahead. What was he supposed to say? That Hanna had thrown him off completely? That hearing her say she liked Elordi had done something to him he couldn’t even explain?

Jacob let out a long sigh, his tone softening. “Look, whatever’s going on with you two, just... don’t make it worse.”

Finn shot him a confused glance. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Jacob shrugged. “Hanna’s strong, but she’s been through a lot. Just don’t mess with her feelings, alright? If you’re not serious, leave it alone.”

Finn frowned, feeling the words hit harder than they should have. He wasn’t messing with her feelings. Was he?

He pushed the thought away, grabbing the ball again. “Yeah. Sure.”

But even as he said it, the uncertainty gnawed at him. Hanna’s confession—about liking Elordi—had rattled him in a way he hadn’t been prepared for. He had always thought of her as just Jacob’s sister. A little annoying sometimes, sure, but... just Hanna. He wasn’t supposed to care if she liked someone else.

So why couldn’t he shake the feeling that everything was changing?