CHAPTER NINE:

Earlier that morning, Sinead had been thrilled that Natalie had a new victim to play dress-up on. But even dressed in plain blue skinny jeans, a black button down and leather boots (she had at least made an effort not to be noticed by the little devil), she felt the stares following her. Though admittedly they could've been staring for another reason.

Sinead allowed herself a small smile. That morning in homeroom, Ethan had sauntered up to her desk, hands in his pockets, and had casually asked her, "So, Starling, got any plans for tomorrow night? I've got a lacrosse scrimmage against the ladies team and could really use some feminine support from the stands."

She'd given him a dangerous smile; out of the corner of her eye, she'd seen Hamilton quickly ask for permission to go get a folder from his locker. "Oh, I'll be there, Dunn, don't worry."

The bell had rung then. Sinead had stood and swung her bag over her shoulder and, as she was passing Ethan on the way out, whispered in his ear, "I'll be the one kicking your butt out on the field."

Not that she'd actually been on the lacrosse team at the time. But the team captain Annalise had already put the offer out there on the first day, and it didn't take long to find her and give her an answer at lunch.

"What're you grinning about?" asked Hamilton as they strolled into eighth period Calculus together.

"Just thinking about the scrimmage tomorrow," she responded cheerfully. She plunked herself down in a seat and took the band out of her hair so that she could fix the ponytail. Hamilton took the seat next to her. "It's quite invigorating to think of all the ways I can show Dunn up."

Hamilton shook his head. "He's determined to get you to go out with him. You're the only girl who's ever turned him down."

"Has he ever dated anyone with a brain?" Sinead asked innocently.

The teacher walked in just as Hamilton was about to reply. Suppressing a smile, Hamilton kicked her beneath the table instead. Oh, it's on, thought Sinead, returning the sharp hit.

It was a good thing that she'd already taken the course back in middle school, because she didn't pay attention at all the entire class. She and Hamilton abused each other's legs, keeping their eyes forward and alert even when they felt their shins begin to ache; the teacher never suspected a thing.

After all, what kind of Cahill would they be if they weren't able to conceal a simple argument?

When Hamilton pulled off his pants in the locker room after school, he wasn't surprised to find his shins splattered in bruises. He made a face. Practice was not going to be fun.

"What the heck did you do to your legs?" Josh said with a laugh, striding over.

"I didn't do anything," Hamilton grumbled. "Sinead and I were fighting about something during English class."

"Looks like she won, mate," said Josh wisely. Hamilton threw a kick and him and he dodged with a grin. "No hard feelings. What were you fighting about anyway?"

"Ethan's intelligence."

"Ah. Now it all makes sense."

"Heard that!" Ethan yelled across the locker room. He looked at Hamilton with a pleased grin on his face, however. "Was she really talking about me?"

"Yeah. As she insulted you. Dude, she's not exactly the type to give in easily, trust me." Really. You're never going to win; even if she does go out with you, it's going to be by her own, carefully thought through decisions. Not because you've managed to charm her.

"Well, it's a good thing I like nothing better than a chase," said Ethan with a grin.

Shaking his head in exasperation, Hamilton put on his shorts and a sleeveless t-shirt. To be perfectly honest, he hadn't exactly told Sinead that he too was on the men's lacrosse team. He was more than a little worried, after looking at the shape of his legs, that she might take personal offense to it.

Oh well. Nothing he could do about it now.

"I. Hate. Skirts," Sinead muttered under her breath as the girls began running their final lap around the football field. The girls had to compete in them, and that was bad enough. But their coach made them practice in them too? "Sexist pieces of fabric."

One of the girls overheard her and giggled. "I agree," the girl said quietly.

Sinead just gave her a tight-lipped smile, increasing the tempo of her running. Thank God she'd been training for that marathon. She was in good shape for the season, despite the fact that she was coming in late.

"Don't strain yourself, Starling," said Annalise as Sinead pulled up to the front with her. "It's a cool-down lap, remember."

This time, Sinead really smiled. "Oh, don't worry. I know."

That's when she picked up the pace.

Being perfectly honest with herself, there was really nothing that she loved more than the feeling of running. She hated short distances, but to her there was nothing better than a good, long, cross-country run, in her opinion. Which was why, when she finished the lap far ahead of everyone else, she actually laughed. "God, I needed that," she said quietly to herself.

"Hey! You!"

Startled, she turned around. Their coach, Russell, was scowling, but waving her over to where he was standing with the boys (he was both the girls and boys lacrosse coach). Wary now, she approached him. "Yes sir?" she asked.

"Starling, I need you to show these imbeciles how to really run." Coach Russell glared at them, and a few of the boys laughed.

"You're sure, Coach? I wouldn't want to hurt their feelings too much when I beat them," Sinead said, smirking a little.

"Take it easy on them. Now, move!"

Sinead saluted him mockingly and then began running. Behind her, she could hear the boys mumbling as they tripped over each other in their hurry to follow her. She smiled. She knew that the coach was hoping that their egos would push them to a whole new level of performance if they were outshone by a girl. Really, it was a clever strategy. And she was up to the challenge.

"We're going to kill you tomorrow, Starling," Ethan said, catching up to her at the halfway mark

"I'm told that's quite a challenge," she replied cheerfully.

"Mm. We'll see." Ethan smirked at her. Then, without breaking his pace, he pulled his shirt off in one smooth motion.

Sinead's mouth went dry. Yes, she despised Ethan. Yes, she would never go out with him. But boy did he have a body. Tanned, slightly sweaty and incredibly muscular... She swallowed and looked away.

Ethan had noticed. "Distracted, Starling?" he said, grinning.

"You wish, Dunn," Sinead scoffed.

"You're right. I do wish." And with another cocky grin, Ethan took off down the last quarter of the lap.

Delighted by the challenge, Sinead sprinted after him. Gaining, gaining...

Ethan stopped suddenly, and, unable to slow herself down in time, she ran into him. Hardly fazed by the impact, Ethan just grabbed her to steady her. "Careful there, Starling; remember, running isn't a contact sport," he chided her teasingly.

Like it was her fault.

"Why'd you stop?" she gasped. He might not have been affected by the crash, but he was a lot bigger than she was. "You jerk!"

"Look down."

Sinead looked down - and recoiled away from the large, black snake lying at their feet. "Oh," she said, her voice a little higher than normal. "I see."

"Er, you can let go now, you know." For once, Ethan's voice had lost it's flirty tone and sounded... well, normal. That's when Sinead realized that she was still griping his arm.

"Oh. Right," she muttered. Embarrassed, she stepped away. "Er, I'll, er, see you later." Had she just stuttered? Sinead Starling never stuttered. Trying to regain some dignity, she added with a smirk, "Good luck tomorrow. You're going to need it."

And she left with a flip of her hair.

Author's Note

A quick update - again? Unbelievable. (: Anyway, what did you think? I had fun with this one. Has anyone seen the movie How To Lose A Guy in Ten Days? Sinead and Ethan are kind of reminding me of that. He wants her. She doesn't want him... right? You'll have to wait and see. Hee hee!

Oh, and thank you to all of my lovely reviewers for once more making my days that much better! (: