by L A Cotton
She inhaled a harsh breath and my eyes automatically went to her mouth. I closed the distance between us until my lips were hovering right over hers. “Last warning, Sunshine,” I whispered, so close I could almost taste her. “Back down or don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Her palms shot out, slamming against my chest and I staggered back. “Fuck you, Cameron. Fuck all of you.”
“Hailee, come on—”
I hadn’t meant to use her name, it just tumbled off my lips. But she cut me off. “Get out. Get out before I scream, and I will. I’ll do it. You might be a Raider, but I don’t care.” Her eyes were wild, drilling into mine with such hatred my stomach knotted. But it was a good thing. She needed to hate me.
With a smirk, I started backing away. “Don’t come crying to me when he ruins you.”
Her face blanched and I knew she remembered every prank, every time Jase came after her. Before she could ream me out some more, I slipped out of the room and got the hell out of the art studio.
Telling myself I hadn’t almost just kissed her.
“So, what did Miss Hampstead say?” Asher asked as we met up outside class.
“She just wanted to run by my college applications again.”
Jase scoffed. “Like she doesn’t know exactly where you’re headed.”
“Nothing’s a given,” I said quietly as we made our way to the locker room.
“You’ll be at Penn with me.” He spoke the words with no hesitation. None. As if it was already a done deal.
I gave him a hard look. “I’m not the golden boy of Rixon.” The corner of my mouth lifted. “There’s no guarantee the scouts will—”
“They’ll want you,” he said, cutting me off. “You already know they’re interested.”
“I need to have other options though.” Besides, I wasn’t even sure if the call did come, that Penn was what I wanted. It was an Ivy League school and Ivy League meant expensive. So even though it was one of the top football programs in the country, when I had interest from Pittsburg and Michigan State that would most likely come hand-in-hand with athletic scholarships, there was a lot to think about.
“What’s up with you?” Jase shoulder-checked me as he shouldered the door. “You’ve been in a pissy mood all morning.”
“He needs to get laid,” Asher chimed in, slinging his bag onto the bench. “What’s it been, man, like a month?”
“Fuck off.” I yanked off my tee and balled it up, throwing it at him.
“Party at my house tonight?”
“You know it. But don’t invite Khloe or the cheer squad,” Jase said. “It’s only the first week of the semester and I’m about done with her shit already.”
“Maybe we should invite Hailee?” Asher grinned. “Mix it up a bit.”
Jase’s eyes widened, his nostrils flaring. “Seriously, you’re going to talk to me about her. Now? Do you want someone to end up in medical?”
Asher clapped him on the back. “Call it motivation. Coach said you needed to bring your A game this season.”
“I always bring my A game, fucker.”
“Well you can bring your A+ game then.”
“Did I hear someone say party?” Joel stuck his head around the locker cages.
“Yeah, at my place tonight. Spread the word. But no cheerleaders. Invite the gymnastics team though, those girls are as flexible as fuck.” Asher grinned. “Hey, Cam, maybe you can hook up with Miley?”
“Maybe I will.” I smirked. Miley wasn’t a stage five clinger like most of the girls at Rixon.
“You three going to sit around all day bitchin’ like little girls?” Coach appeared in the door. “Or are we going to play some ball?”
We hurried to slip on our shoulder pads and cleats and filed out of the door onto the football field.
“Bring it in,” Coach boomed, and we moved in to form two semi-circles around him, the front row taking a knee. “Okay, quiet down, quiet down.” He waited for the rumble of our chatter to subside. “It’s been a good week. You’ve come into the semester with the dedication and motivation I expect. Jason.” He addressed my best friend, and our captain. “You’re looking good out there, Son. Are you ready to take your team all the way this season?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“I’m sorry.” Coach Hasson twisted his face, cupping his ear. “I didn’t hear you.”
“I said, YES SIR,” Jase yelled, his voice carrying across the field.
“That’s more like it, Son. Last year was tough.” He grimaced. “We knew Rixon East would come at us with everything they had, and they did. It should have been us going to that championship game. But this year, State is ours. Now gather in.” We circled Coach, shoulder to shoulder, until he slipped into the formation, holding his fist in the air. Thirty-five fists followed, then Asher’s, then mine. Finally, Jase threw his fist up and said, “Raiders on three. One… two…”
Our battle cry filled the air, the ripple of energy palpable. There was nothing more electric, more fulfilling, than standing side-by-side with your teammates, your family, ready for a new season. We all felt it: the anticipation, the hint of things to come. We’d been unlucky last year, losing out at a shot at the State Championship to Rixon East. The only silver lining was those motherfuckers took a crushing defeat against Fieldson Hills.
This year though, this year it was ours. Jase was consumed with the idea of winning, of being the best, of getting his Championship ring before we graduated. And nothing and no one would stand in his way. Jason Ford would knock down anyone who dared try and stop him, and I couldn’t help but wonder if that extended to me. His best friend. His brother; maybe not in blood, but in all the ways that counted.
We all knew football meant sacrifice. It meant hard mornings in the gym and long days out on the field. It meant putting everything else second to the game: family, girls, classes, even though Principal Finnigan would have something to say about that. If you wanted to be the best, you had to give your all. Anything less was not an option. You had to live, eat, and breathe it until you bled your team colors. But it would all be worth it in the end. When the call came, it would all be worth it.
Wouldn’t it?
Chapter Five
Hailee
“I can’t believe he said that.” Flick shook her head with incredulity as I told her all about Cameron’s little stunt earlier, as we ate ice-cream over at Ice T’s, a cute little place downtown.
“Believe it. I mean who the hell does he think he is?” Cameron hadn’t uttered a word to me in years, except for the odd insult or veiled threat.
She licked her Oreo and strawberry cone, frowning. “And here I really thought he wanted you.”
“Trust me, Cameron Chase does not want me,” I snorted. “He just wants me to stop messing with his beloved quarterback.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Do?”
“Yeah.” Her eyes darted to mine. “I mean, he threatened you.”
“It’s nothing new, Flick.” I’d been dealing with their shit for years. “If Jason backs down, so will I, but we both know that will never happen.”
“So I guess I know the answer to my next question.” Guilt flashed in her eyes causing me to incline my head as I studied her.
“Something you want to tell me?” My brow rose as I licked the spoon clean.
“Well, I was thinking, since it’s senior year and all, and since we’ll never get these experiences again…” Flick inhaled a deep breath. “That... maybe… weshouldgotothepeprallynextweekend.” The words came out in a blast of strawberry scented breath.
“Hold up a minute. You want to go to that thing? We never go.” We hated those things. Not to mention the fact it was an entire night dedicated to the football team in all their asshole-glory.
“I know, I know.” She hung her head in shame. “It’s just I made this stupid list.”
“List?” That got my attention. “What list?”
Flick slid her purse onto the table
and plucked out a small folded sheet of paper, hesitating. “It’s stupid…” Her fingers clutched it like it was the Holy Grail. But now I was intrigued.
“Give it to me.” I snatched it out of her fingers and unfolded it, smoothing the paper out on the table. “Number one, take up a new hobby.” My eyes lifted to hers. “So that’s why you signed up for book club?”
“I like reading.” Her shoulders lifted in a small shrug as she stirred the straw around her glass. “Now I get to do it with sixteen other people.”
“Okay number two, cut class. But we—”
“Without having a valid excuse.” Flick gave me a pointed look. “Sneaking off to buy chocolate and tampons because you got your period does not count.”
I stuck my tongue out at her. “Moving on. Number three, attend a pep rally. Oh, I know, we could paint our nails Raider blue and make banners too,” I smirked, half-expecting her to laugh along with me. But she didn’t.
Snatching the list back, Flick scowled at me. “You don’t have to be such a bitch about it.” Her expression faltered, and guilt coiled around my heart.
“I’m sorry…” I gave her a half-smile. “That was a shitty thing to say.”
“Yeah, it was. I might not enjoy school spirit as much as everyone else, but it doesn’t mean I don’t want to experience everything just once, Hails. This is senior year. Our last year before we go off to college and…”
“You’re scared?” I saw it now, the cloudiness in her eyes, how strange she’d been acting all week.
“I’m not scared,” she let out a heavy sigh. “I’m just… look.” Flick folded her arms on the table and leaned forward. “We can’t all be like you, Hails. You’re so hardened. Nothing anyone says or does affects you. Most kids our age hide behind a mask, pretending to be strong and untouchable, but not you. You don’t have to pretend because it’s just how you are.”
“I’m not… hardened.”
Was I?
And if I was it was only because my circumstances had made me that way.
“Do you know how many guys from school asked me out last year?” Flick asked, and I frowned, wondering what the hell that had to do with anything. “None, Hails. Not a single one.”
“So? That’s their loss, Flick. You’d be a catch—”
She shook her head, sadness washing over her. “You don’t get it.” Her walls slammed up and I hated it. We didn’t fight, ever. So I didn’t understand what was happening right now. “It doesn’t matter… forget I said anything.”
“No, wait.” I laid my hand on hers. “Tell me. I’m your best friend, I want to know.” I thought I did know everything about her, but obviously I was wrong.
Screwing her eyes tight, Flick sucked in a shaky breath. When she opened them again, fixing her soft green irises on me, my stomach sank, and I knew I wasn’t going to like whatever she was about to say.
“It’s you,” she said flatly.
“Me?” I choked out, feeling like she’d ripped the rug out from under me, my stomach plummeting into my toes.
“Yes… no.” She grimaced. “That came out wrong.”
Me?
I was the reason guys didn’t ask her out? That made no sense because they didn’t ask me either. And it had never mattered before. We hung out with guys all the time at The Alley.
“I don’t know what you… oh.” The truth was written all over her face, I just hadn’t wanted to see it.
“Yeah, oh.” Flick gave me a weak smile. “You’re off-limits, Hails, you know you are. No one will look at you because they’re scared of—”
“Jason.”
She nodded. “And I’m your best friend. Getting close to me would be like getting close to you and that would be too much of a risk.”
“You’re not a fucking risk, Flick,” I said feeling my irritation levels rise. “Do you really want to go out with some douche who lets my step-brother dictate who he can and can’t date?”
“No, I don’t. But that isn’t the point…” She left the words hanging.
“So what is the point?”
“I want to date, goddamn it, Hails. I want to go to Homecoming and Winter Formal. I want to go to Prom.”
“Y- you do?” I sank back in my chair, the weight of her confession winding me.
“I love you; you know I do. But being your best friend isn’t easy sometimes, Hailee, and you’re so... oblivious to that.”
“I’m not...” I pressed my lips together, swallowing the argument lodged in my throat. Because Flick was right. Until now, I had no idea she felt that way.
“I don’t want to be the next Khloe Stemson. I don’t want to join the cheer squad and throw myself at the Raiders feet, that’s not what this is. I just don’t want to graduate and have all these regrets.” She wafted the list in the air with a heavy sigh. “I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings.”
“I’m sorry I’m such a hardened bitch who ruins your life.”
“Hails...”
“Joke.” I held up my hands. “I’m joking.” For the most part anyway. “I need to pee; I’ll be right back. Can I get you anything else? My treat?”
“Hmm, I shouldn’t.” Her gaze flicked to the counter. “But I’d accept one of those rocky road brownies as a peace offering.”
With a weak smile and a heavy heart, I stood up. “Consider it done.” Making my way inside the store, I headed toward the back where the restrooms were.
Flick’s admission had caught me completely off-guard. There was no denying Jason had made things difficult since I moved to Rixon, but it wasn’t like he’d ruined my life. I still went to class, enjoyed art, and Flick and I participated in non-football-related school events all the time. Granted, we didn’t have a huge group of friends and we didn’t get invited to any parties, but we were fine. Content in doing our own thing.
Or, at least, I’d thought we were.
After washing my hands, I went to the counter to get Flick’s brownie and a strawberry shake for myself. I didn’t want her to resent me. We were best friends. Ever since I’d walked into seventh grade math and been seated next to the girl with eyes the color of sage, it had been the two of us against the rest of the world. But she was right, this was senior year. Our final year together. Flick had plans to go off to UPenn next year, and I was hoping to go out of state to Michigan. They had a great art program at their Stamps School of Art and Design. Come this time next year, there would be miles between us, so I guess the least I could do was support her with completing her stupid list.
Not totally on board with the idea, but willing to give it a shot for my very best friend, I paid the server and grabbed my items before heading back outside. But when my eyes landed on our table, I froze. I’d left Flick alone for all of ten minutes, but she wasn’t alone now. Jason, Asher, and Cameron were sitting with her, and they were… laughing.
All of them.
Gingerly, I stepped outside and stood at the end of the table. “Did I miss something?”
Flick’s face paled at the sound of my voice and I narrowed my eyes at her, silently asking what the hell was going on. “Hmm,” she cleared her throat. “Jase and the guys were just going to the store to get supplies for the party.”
Jase and the guys? She made it sound like they were old friends.
“And I care why?”
Flick sucked in a sharp breath but didn’t get chance to answer because my step-brother rose from the table, his hard eyes fixed on me. “Asher thought you guys might want to come. I told him it was stupid idea.”
“Let me get this straight, you’re inviting us to a party?” It had set up written all over it.
Asher shrugged, shoving his hands into his pockets. “It’s no big deal.”
My eyes skirted to Cameron who was silent. I wanted to know what he thought about this after he’d warned me explicitly to back down. Was this a test? Some messed up way of seeing if I’d bite?
He was going to be sorely disappointed. Or depending on which way you looked at it,
maybe he’d be impressed.
“Gee, thanks for the invitation but I’m busy washing my hair.” I dropped Flick’s plate in front of her and sat down. “Now unless you want something else you should—”
“What about you, Felicity?” Jase drawled, a wicked glint in his eyes. “You want to come party with us?”
My gaze widened and she lowered her head, heat flaming her cheeks.
“Shit, man, I think she wants to come.” Asher’s eyes lit up as if the idea of making Flick defect to their side was just too tempting. “Come on, Felicity, we’ll look after you.”
My head whipped up to where Jase was standing, and I glowered at him. “Mess with me, play your silly little pranks, fine, but leave her out of this, okay? She doesn’t deserve your—”
“Hails,” Flick said quietly. “It’s fine, I know they’re only joking.”
“Naw, don’t be like that, baby.” Asher grinned at her. “You’re right, Hails isn’t welcome, but we’d make an exception for you. Right, Jase?”
His eyes lingered on my best friend, dark and searching, and too fucking long. He reminded me of the Big Bad Wolf ready to pounce on Red Riding Hood. The flush to Flick’s cheeks deepened under Jason’s intense regard. And before I knew what I was doing, I leaped up and slammed my palms into his chest. “Back off,” I snapped, shoving hard.
“Jesus, woman, are you fucking mental? We were just having a little fun.”
“Well, don’t. She’s never done anything to you.”
Our eyes locked on one another, simmering with anger and hate.
“Not that I don’t enjoy watching the two of you tear into each other…” Cameron’s voice startled me, and I blinked, breaking my stalemate with Jason. His lip curved in a smug smile as if he knew he’d won this round.
Bastard.
“Yeah, yeah,” Jason said, rubbing his jaw. “Well this has been entertaining, but we have more interesting places to be, little sister.”
