I grinned back at him. "Really?"

"Really," he confirmed with a sexy wink, as he pushed me onto my back and straddled my legs. "Wanna get naked with me and I can show you?"

38 Daryl

As the weeks turned into months, and fall morphed into winter, I felt my feelings grow deeper and my conscience grow heavier.

The more time I spent with Molly, the harder I fell, and the harder I fell, the stronger my fear grew.

Fear of losing state.

Fear of winning state.

Fear of the future.

Fear of the past.

Fear of the unknown.

Fear of the day that I would have to come clean to Molly.

A day that seemed to be drawing closer with every passing minute.

Winter break was right around the corner, along with state, and the pressure that had been steadily mounting on me since freshman year had suddenly reached boiling point.

Win, lose, or draw, I couldn’t wait for the season to be over.

I needed a break.

I needed a minute to breathe.

The secrets I was carrying around felt like a noose around my neck that tightened every time I looked into those brown eyes and omitted another damn truth.

I couldn't do all of it for much longer.

Keep Molly happy while lying to her face every goddamn day.

Keep Wren off my back.

Keep our relationship hidden from my mom.

Keep out of Nick Peterson's way.

Keep my grades up.

Keep my mouth shut.

Keep playing the role of mister fucking perfect.

I couldn't fucking take it anymore, dammit!

"What's wrong, D?" Molly asked, showing that she had an acute ability to read my mind. We were sitting in the back row of the movie theatre, attempting to watch some movie Mercy had recommended, and I couldn't breathe.

I honest to god felt like I was having a heart attack.

"Daryl?" Molly pressed, turning in her seat to look at me, concern laced in her eyes. "Oh my god, you're burning up." She pressed her small hand to my check and sucked in a sharp breath. "You're sweating like crazy."

"I, ah, I'm not sure… But I feel like I have to leave," I managed to choke out, though breathing wasn't coming easy to me, as I snatched up her hand in mine. "I feel like I have to leave right now, Molls!"

"Okay, okay," she encouraged, shooing me out of my seat and quickly hurrying after me. "Let's get some fresh air."

Barreling through the lobby of the movie theatre, I didn’t stop moving until I had burst through the glass doors and the night air greeted me.

"Breathe," Molly coaxed, smoothing her hand over my back, as I leaned against a nearby railing and tried to catch my breath. "That's it," she soothed, tracing soft circles into my skin. "You're okay, D. I'm right here with you."

"Fuck, I –" I blew out another ragged breath, feeling winded and rattled. "I don’t know what's happening to me –"