head over heels

49 ~ theo

[A/N - *whips out a baseball bat* squad roll out, we've got another idiot to beat the shit out of]

Evan stared in horror.

"Hello," Theo drawled in that silky, devilish voice of his.

Evan felt frozen. If he moved, he'd lose the fragile grip he had on himself.

Theo's uncaring eyes dragged over the team sprawled around the courtside. "Aren't you all looking a bit disheveled this year?" He murmured, gaze shifting to land squarely on Evan. "Replacing Amir was tough I suppose."

He had a volleyball in his hands, rotating it between his fingers in one extended movement.

Ethan stood, his shoulders tight. "Why are you here?" He questioned stiffly.

Theo shrugged calmly, "Saying hi to an old friend." At that, he promptly sidestepped Ethan, and grinned at Evan. "Why hello there, long time no see Evan."

Oh god. Now? Really? 

"What do you want," Evan muttered, trying so hard to keep the shake from his voice, feeling all too much like he was going to throw up.

He was barely keeping a lid on his panic. His chest felt so tight he could barely breathe. He could only grit his teeth and hope he didn't lose his shit. Kei looked nervous, seemingly the only one that had clocked just how much Evan was panicking.

Theo shrugged, "To talk, c'mon," he nodded at the door.

"I don't want to," he managed.

"You rather we talk here then?" Theo said dryly. It was a familiar threat.

He'd been so petrified of people finding out what was happening when he was younger that he'd always just gone with him. But now— no way. No way was he going off with Theo to somewhere he would undoubtedly get the shit kicked out of him.

As horrible as he felt, he wasn't fourteen anymore.

He was ever the manipulative piece of shit wasn't he.

"Please leave Theo," Evan uttered, hating the desperation in his voice.

Theo grinned, seemingly overjoyed that he was getting under Evans' skin. He let out a sleazy laugh, tipping his head to the side.

"Oh come on, don't be like that, I just wanted to catch up." He snickered, "Four years is a long time after all."

The rest of the team seemed to clock that something wasn't quite right. He watched Oliver's eyes narrow, and his gaze shot between Evan and Theo. Kei looked stressed out from the floor next to him, looking ready to smack Theo at a moment's notice.

Evan was getting frustrated. His horrid anxiety switching up on him, rolling resolutely into anger. It wasn't any better, but at least now he didn't think he was going to cry.

"Oh stop it," he snapped, "I'm not fourteen still, I don't give a shit about you Theo, I haven't in years—"

He shut his mouth abruptly, realising all too late that he shouldn't have said a thing.

Theo smiled, and Evan could see the fire of having a challenge light in his icy blue eyes.

Instantly, he was reminded of why he never fought back.

It was always worse.

Theo took a step forward, knocking Evan off balance. He stumbled ever so slightly, but it was enough to send a bolt of panic through his chest.

He felt dizzy. He could barely see through the black stars erupting in his vision.

Then, in one swift movement, Theo flicked the volleyball in his hands at Evan, but at the last second, he held it back, clutching the ball just in front of Evan's face.