Frequencies of Us Chapter 46: Sweat and a Secret

Mateo POV

I’m back at Lincoln High, my sneakers stomping the track, my chest tight from last night at St. Mark’s gate. Noah’s words, “For you,” echo in my head, soft and warm, making my heart beat fast. I can still feel his lips on mine, his body pressed close, and my gut twists, hot and shaky, thinking about Caleb’s shadow running off. Sofia’s text about paint in his bag burns in my brain, and my hands clench, sweaty and restless, because he’s hiding something big. My throat’s dry, stuck with anger, and my legs itch to move, to figure this out.

It’s after school now, sun dropping low, and I’m heading to St. Mark’s fence again, my heart pounding loud in my ears. I need to see Caleb, need to know why he’s there, and my face burns, hot and mad, because he was my teammate, my friend, and now he’s a traitor. I spot him by the fence, his St. Mark’s uniform wrinkled, and my gut sinks, heavy and fast, because it’s real, he’s here, not missing. I yell, “Why you here?” my voice cracking, loud and rough, and my chest heaves, air stuck, because I’m hurt, yeah, deep down.

Caleb looks at me, eyes small and scared, and he mutters, “Lena’s got me. Don’t tell!” My hands shake, bad now, and I shove him hard, my palms slamming his chest. “You sold me out!” I shout, my face burning hotter, sweat dripping down, because he’s been lying, playing me, and my heart slams, wild and mad. Jocks laugh nearby, “Fairy’s lost!” and my gut twists, sharp and fast, because they’re loud, always loud, and I want to swing, want to shut them up. My breath puffs, quick and rough, and my legs tense, ready to fight, ready to run.

Caleb stumbles back, hands up, and my chest aches, raw and tight, because I trusted him, ran with him, and now he’s nothing. My fists clench, knuckles white, and my throat’s sore, words stuck, because I’m betrayed, yeah, and it stings bad. The jocks keep jeering, voices sharp, and my face burns even more, mad and lost, because it’s too much, all piling up. I step closer, ready to shove again, my heart racing wild, and my gut flips, angry and hot, needing answers, needing truth.

Then Noah shows up, breathless, his sneakers skidding gravel, and my heart jumps, loud and fast, because he’s here, always here. He grabs my hand, soft but fierce, saying, “He’s scared,” and my chest flutters, warm and steamy, because his touch calms me, pulls me back. I pull him close, my arm around his waist, and whisper, “Still us,” my voice shaky, flirty and tight, because it’s him, yeah, keeping me steady. My breath mixes with his, hot and fast, and my gut twists, flirty and warm, because he’s mine, and my rage fades, slow and soft.

We’re pressed together now, my chest against his, and my hands shake less, resting on his hips. My heart skips, wild and loud, because he’s close, so close, and my throat’s tight, needing him more. I lean in, my lips brushing his ear, and my gut flips, steamy and alive, because I want him, bad, right here. He turns, eyes soft, and my breath catches, stuck in my throat, because he knows, feels it too. My hands slide up his back, firm and slow, and my heart slams, pulling him tighter, needing this, needing us.

I kiss him, hard and fast, my lips crashing into his, and he kisses back, hungry, his hands grabbing my shoulders. My skin burns, every touch hot, and I push him against the fence, metal rattling loud. His breath’s quick, warm on my neck, and I groan, low and deep, my body shaking as I press into him, feeling him hard against me. My hands grip his waist, tight and rough, and he moans, soft and needy, making my gut clench, wild and hot. I rock my hips, slow and firm, and he pushes back, steamy and desperate, sending heat straight through me.

My lips slide to his jaw, sucking hard, and he tilts his head, letting me in, his hands tugging my shirt. I bite down, gentle but real, and he shudders, his grip tightening, pulling me closer. My hands move lower, grabbing his hips, and I thrust, slow and deep, feeling him match me, hot and fast. His mouth finds mine again, wet and messy, and I taste him, sharp and sweet, my head spinning wild. My gut’s on fire, every move building tight, and I groan louder, my body trembling, chasing him, chasing us.

We’re locked together, hips grinding hard, the fence shaking with us. His hands dig into my back, nails sharp, and I feel it, big and wild, ready to burst. My breath’s ragged, lost in his moans, and my heart slams, loud and fast, because it’s him, driving me crazy. I kiss him deeper, tongues sliding, and my gut twists, steamy and alive, because we’re here, real, and nothing else matters. My body shakes harder, heat pooling low, and I press closer, needing him, needing this.

A car roars, loud and close, and my heart jumps, slamming hard in my chest. I pull back, my breath heaving, my face burning red, and Noah’s eyes snap to mine, dark and wild, lips wet from me. It’s his dad, tires screeching, and Caleb bolts, yelling, “She’s got pics!” his voice high and scared. My gut twists, tense and fast, because he’s running again, hiding more, and my chest locks, air gone. Sofia’s text pings, “Paint’s fake,” and my hands stay locked with Noah’s, warm and rough, because it’s us, still us, even now.

My head spins, mad and confused, and my heart thumps, loud and wild, because Caleb’s words hit hard, pics and paint mixing up everything. Noah squeezes my hand, his breath fast, and my gut flips, flirty and raw, because he’s here, fighting with me. My phone buzzes again, sharp in my pocket, and my hands shake, fumbling it out quick, my chest fluttering, steamy and alive. It’s Sofia, short and loud: “He’s with her.” My breath catches, stuck in my throat, and I look at Noah, close and sweaty, his eyes wide, needing to know.

I squint into the dark, past the fence, and my gut twists, hot and fast, because Caleb’s out there, with Lena maybe, and my face burns hotter, mad and scared. My hands shake worse, gripping Noah tight, and my throat’s tight, words stuck, because it’s big, pulling us deeper, and my heart slams, wild and loud, needing him to stay, needing us to chase this. A light flickers, soft and close, and my chest jumps, steamy and real, because it’s a phone screen, Caleb’s maybe, glowing in the shadows. My breath puffs, quick and rough, leaving me waiting, tense and shaky, with Noah’s hand warm in mine.