Ali & the Too Hot, Up-to-No Good, Very Beastly Boy: A Standalone Sweet YA Romance (Jackson High Series Book 1)

by M. L. Collins

  It really was a perfect game. I wasn’t talking about me; I was talking about our team.

  Coach Diamond was ecstatic. “That was some DGB, girls. Darn good bowling. You roll like that in the spring and I’ll be shoving those dusty football and lacrosse trophies aside for our bowling trophy front and center in the display case.”

  DGB.

  Yep… Darn Good Bowling.

  But also… Dangerous Girl Barracudas.

  35

  Level the Playing Field

  Dax

  Friday Night, Jackson vs. Hillcrest, 7 p.m.

  It was finally Friday night. I’d needed the week to slow down so we had more time to work on the new plays, but I wanted it to speed forward to get this game over with. I’d gone into games fired up before. Never like this though. We didn’t simply want to win. We wanted to beat them so badly that they’d always be remembered as the team that cheated and still couldn’t win.

  Our whole team had thrown everything into preparing and learning Coach Frost’s plays. Coach Devlin had been more than happy to use them once he’d been advised by Principal Barstow that there was a high probability his secret plays were no longer secret.

  The rumor was—and I didn’t hear this from Ali since she wasn’t talking to me—that other than the one incriminating photo of Ali, the administration hadn’t dug anything else up.

  Thirty minutes to game time and our team was wrapping up our warm ups, ready to head to the locker room for our pre-game ritual. Tonight, I had a pre-game thing of my own. On our way back to the locker room, TJ gave me a nod and we peeled off onto the path toward the stands.

  The cheerleaders stood around stretching and fixing their hair. People walked by to make their way to their seats. The drum line was getting the crowd juiced up with “Bula, Bula.” I scoped the area, nodded to a friend, before moving next to TJ. We stood at the edge of the tunnel we’d be running out of shortly, our helmets tucked under our arms, taking it all in.

  “Dax!” Paige sent me a bright smile, walking over until she stood right in front of me. Of course, Gwen trailed along too.

  “Dude,” TJ said, frowning at me. “Ali’s here. Do you want her to see you with Paige?”

  “So what? Everyone knows Ali and I are on the outs.” I shrugged and locked eyes with Paige. “After what happened, well, let’s just say we haven’t been talking.”

  “I’m sorry you had to go through that, Dax. I can’t believe she did what she did.” Paige pouted and gave my forearm a squeeze. “I’m still shocked at the lengths she went to. So devious.”

  “I’ll be honest…at one point I thought maybe you did it.”

  “What?” Her eyes went wide.

  “I thought maybe you were trying to get us back together. The idea blew me away.” I smoothed a piece of blond hair off her face. “It’s a powerful thing to think someone likes you that much. It made me remember what we had. What it was like between us… And I got this feeling in my chest.”

  “You did?” She blinked up at me, her lips tilting up in a tentative smile.

  “I did. When I found out it was Ali, the disappointment hit me hard. Part of me wished it had been you. Trying to get me back.”

  “It was her!” Gwen said, her voice bubbling and giggly. “She does want you back!”

  “Shut up, Gwen,” Paige hissed, throwing a quick frown at her friend. “Don’t listen to her. She’s—”

  I placed a finger gently on her lips. “It’s okay, Paige. Like I said, it goes to a guy’s head. It makes me rethink everything.”

  “Everything?”

  “Pretty much. So if stealing the playbook was your idea, you should take credit. I’m not lying when I say no other girl has made me feel the way you do.” I took her hands in mine and looked hard into her eyes. “I’m amazed at the lengths you went to, trying to get us back together.”

  “I—I did do it. It was my idea to steal the playbook. I came up with the whole plan. I missed you so much, Dax. I knew our break up had been a mistake.” Paige flashed me her big cheerleader smile. “You really remembered what we had?”

  “I did. Remembering what we had dug up all the memories… Of how selfish you are. How everything revolves around you. I remembered you can be meaner than a junkyard dog, thinking nothing of ripping someone down to nothing. Yeah, and the feeling in my chest was heartburn.”

  “Wait, what?”

  I turned and looked over my shoulder. “You get all that?”

  “Every word.” TJ lowered his phone, turning to the girl next to him. “Rowena? Did you get the feed?”

  “Uploading it now.” The iPad in Rowena’s hands was connected to TJ’s phone. “It should play in four…three…two…one.”

  Right on cue, Paige’s face filled up the video scoreboard at the end of the field. Since Paige had aired the footage of Ali handing off the playbook to the whole school, it seemed like airing her confession was the best way to stomp the lie out.

  Paige may be the prettiest girl in school on the outside, but she was one of the ugliest inside where it really counted.

  “Oh my God.” Paige gasped. Her face paled and her eyes went wide with shock. “I can’t believe you did this.”

  “I didn’t. You did. You did this to yourself and now everyone knows.” I turned away, not caring what the fallout for Paige would be. She’d earned everything that was coming her way. If the boos in the stands were anything to go by, she’d get an earful. I nodded to Rowena. “Thanks.”

  “Are you kidding? It was my pleasure. No one messes with a bowling teammate and gets away with it.”

  “Hey, hotshot.” TJ lifted his chin to me. “We’ve been gone for over five minutes. Let’s get back to the team.”

  “Absolutely. We’ve got a game to win.”

  Hillcrest won the coin toss and chose to receive first. I stood on the sidelines between TJ and Grady while our defense got things rolling. Our team was extra fired up. No one should be able to cheat their way into the championship game.

  We kicked the ball and their receiver caught it on the twenty-six yard line and took off. Josh brought him down on the thirty-one. Not great, but I’d chalk it up to opening jitters. Sure enough, our defense settled down and held them to a field goal.

  Coach Devlin grabbed my shoulder. “Calm and steady, Dax. Start with blue left, 27 Z-in.”

  I ran onto the field and into the huddle. “Blue left, 27 Z-in, on one, on one. Ready, break.”

  Everyone clapped and we formed up and got down to business. Our teams were evenly matched so the first half was spent trading scores. With five minutes to go in the first half, it was fair to say everyone on the field was tense and anxious.

  With the goal of running into the locker room at halftime with a lead, we tried one of Coach Devlin’s plays, the mad steer. Hillcrest shut it down like they knew it was coming. Because, of course, they did.

  Two of Hillcrest’s defensive backs grinned at me like monkeys on acid.

  Just as the whistle blew signaling half-time, one of them called to me.

  “Hey, DeLeon! Tell your girlfriend thanks…for the book loan.” His smirk spread wider across his face. “Oh, did that shock you? Hahaha.”

  “Yeah.” I pulled off my helmet and walked toward him. “I’m shocked you know how to read.”

  “You calling me stupid?” He strode forward, getting in my face, along with the rest of their defensive line.

  “I guess that depends,” I said, sensing some of my teammates joining me. “See, my girlfriend never revealed your name since she didn’t have proof. But now we do because you just gave it to me. Does that qualify as stupid?”

  Instant scrum on the fifty-yard line. There was pushing, name calling, and maybe even a few punches landed before the referees busted it up and our coaches wrangled us off into the locker rooms.

  “Totally figures it was Turk. The guy’s always been a jerk,” Grady said on our way in. “Should we tell Coach?”

  “Absolutely. After the game,” T
J said. “After we humiliate him on the field.”

  “My thinking exactly.” TJ and I locked gazes. “Let’s make sure Turk feels how much he’s motivated our team.”

  36

  Escaping From Quicksand

  Dax

  Halftime

  “Was that anything I need to know about, Dax?” Coach Devlin asked.

  “No, Coach.”

  He gave me a long look before nodding. “Okay, guys. Grab some water and listen up. Hillcrest is good, but we’re better. They’re overconfident. We’re determined. Dirty tricks won’t help them. We’ll beat them playing a clean game. With our new plays, we’ve got the element of surprise on our side. Defense, keep it up. Railes, awesome job. We’re going to run as much as we can third quarter, then open up our passing game in the fourth. Captains?”

  “Oh, yeah,” TJ said, standing up on a bench. “Anyone who has a chance to tackle number 84 and misses has to buy Josh lunch at the Burger Barn.”

  Laughter, groans, and cat-calls filled the room. Everyone knew that wouldn’t be cheap as Josh could put down four burgers in fifteen minutes.

  “Clean hits, guys, but don’t let up,” I added, moving next to TJ and sticking my hand out into the center of the circle. “Let’s do this. Jackalopes on three.”

  Everyone drew in, adding their hands to the pile. “One, two, Jackalopes!”

  Third quarter was all defense with neither team scoring. You can believe our offensive line was sharp. They missed no tackles. Not once did Turk make it through. He might have even eaten dirt a couple of times.

  The tension ramped up heading into the fourth quarter. After a whole season, twelve minutes would decide if we’d make it back to the championship game.

  Twelve minutes. We were running out of time to make something happen. Adrenaline rushed through my body like five energy drinks injected into my veins.

  We huddled. “TJ, they’re all over you. Wing T 69 bootleg right on one.” TJ, Grady, and Jake broke away. “Wing T 69 bootleg right on one. On one.”

  We clapped and took our positions.

  Jake hiked me the ball. I took two steps, faked a handoff to Smith, and rolled right while I checked my receivers. Grady had a defender matching him step for step. Should I throw to TJ instead? Shit, they had him double covered. Throw the dang ball, idiot. I threw a bomb down field to Grady, but my hesitation threw the timing off. Grady hurled himself in the air almost making a spectacular catch. Almost. He managed to get his fingertips on it, tipping it right into the cornerback’s hands.

  Interception.

  Damn it. I tore my helmet off on my way to the sidelines. Grabbing a cup of Gatorade, I paced behind the bench, trying to pull it together. What was I doing?

  Double damn. I had one foot in quicksand. A glance at the field—just in time to see Hillcrest get a first down on our forty-nine—had me slipping more. Tumbling in. It felt like a giant hand clenched around my chest. I grabbed another Gatorade and paced some more.

  “Dax, shake it off, man,’ TJ said. “Get out of your head.”

  I stopped in front of TJ and sucked air into my lungs. Right. Get out of my head. Positive thoughts. I sorted through all my positive mantras for one I could grab onto to pull myself out of the negative spiral.

  “I need to stop second-guessing myself,” I said. It was a stupid throw.

  “It’s just a game.” Was this going to be a repeat of last year’s championship game?

  Nothing was working. I closed my eyes and cleared my mind. That’s when I heard Ali’s voice… “Nana Frost used to say, ‘When you think things are bad and getting worse, ask yourself… What’s the worst that can happen?’”

  “Right. What’s the worst that can happen?” I asked, trying to talk myself through this.

  “You mean other than we lose?”

  “Yeah, what else?”

  “I don’t see how this is helpful.” TJ crushed his empty cup and threw a frown at me. “What else is there? We lose. No chance at the state title.”

  “Work with me here, TJ. We lose. No championship game. I don’t impress the scouts. I don’t get a scholarship. I don’t get into Tech—or any other four-year college… That’s all.” I stared into TJ’s eyes as the hand around my chest relaxed and I took a steady breath.

  “What the hell do you mean ‘that’s all’?”

  “I can go to community college. Or Ali and I can be welders together.” I grinned.

  “Did you take a hit to your head?” he asked, looking confused as heck. “Since when did you want to be a welder?”

  “Since never. Damn, TJ, it’s like you don’t know me.” I looked over TJ’s shoulder to see that Hillcrest was now on our nine. Second and nine. Easily within touchdown or field goal range. “What else if I lose the game?”

  “What else? I don’t know! You’ll be a failed QB and all the girls at school will stop drooling over you.” He leaned in, looking closer into my eyes. “I should tell Coach you’ve got a concussion.”

  “Ali will. She likes me for who I am.” You don’t have to prove yourself out on that field. Not to me. A loss doesn’t dent your armor. You’re smart and nice and funny. Remembering Ali’s words made me smile, but then I remembered how pissed she was at me and that wiped the smile off my face. “I mean, she’s not too thrilled with me right now, but that has nothing to do with losing. What else?”

  “What the hell is your point?” TJ threw his arms in the air. “I have no friggen idea, Dax. You tell me. What else will happen?”

  “Nothing.” I grinned, moving my gaze back to the field.

  Vasquez forced the QB to fumble and Kalvecky recovered and ran it to the thirty-one before someone brought him down. Thanks to our defense, Hillcrest didn’t capitalize on my mistake.

  “Way to go!” I yelled. Sliding my helmet back on, I smiled at TJ. “Let’s go have some fun.”

  “Dax!” Coach called as I fist bumped our defense on their way by me.

  “I’ve got this!” I ran onto the field, a plan forming in my head with every step. “Huddle up!”

  First and ten. “Parker, you’re taking it straight up the middle.”

  “That hasn’t worked all game,” Parker said.

  I gave him a sharp look. “That’s the play. Loose Red 34 zone blast. On one, on one.”

  Jake hiked the ball, I handed it off to Parker and just like he’d said, it didn’t work. One measly yard.

  Second and nine. “Okay, we’re trying the mad steer again.”

  “Dude, Coach D’s play didn’t work. They’re ready for it.”

  “I’m asking you to trust me. Mad steer, on two, on two. Break.”

  There was a bit of grumbling and frustrated looks but we ran the mad steer. Hillcrest shut it down, smirking and smack talking.

  Third and nine. This time there was ugly tension in the huddle.

  “What in the actual hell, Dax?” Grady growled. “Are you trying to throw this game along with your girlfriend?”

  I grabbed Grady by the front of his jersey pulling him close so we stood face mask to face mask. “Ali was set up. I’m trying to win.” I let him go and looked around the huddle at all the doubting and confused faces. “Okay, that was the set-up. Here’s the payoff. Hercules, on one.”

  “One of Coach Frost’s plays.” TJ didn’t smile, but his eyes lit up and he gave me a nod. “Excellent.”

  “Hercules, on one, on one. Break.” We clapped and took our positions.

  Jake hiked the ball, I fell back, faked a hand-off to Parker, lateraled over to TJ who ran five yards, cut left and passed it downfield to Grady who sailed into the end zone.

  Touchdown! Yes! I pointed at my offensive line and then over to TJ while Grady did the sprinkler dance. The extra point had us up 21-14.

  Our defense held Hillcrest to a field goal in the fourth. We added another touchdown with one more of Coach Frost’s plays, got the extra point, and won the game 28-17. Championship bound.

  We celebrated on the sidelines. I tore o
ff my helmet, turning when my dad called my name. He and mom gave me two thumbs up and beaming smiles.

  Coach D clapped me on the shoulder. “Dax, that was some gutsy play calling.”

  “Thanks, Coach.” I hadn’t felt this good after a win since last season. I’d missed this walking-on-air feeling.

  “You did not just do that!” TJ grabbed me in a bear hug, smacking me on the back. “I thought you’d lost it over on the sidelines. Tell Ali to thank her dad for us.”

  “If I can ever get her to talk to me, you bet.” The reminder that Ali and I weren’t together, let alone talking, was like a punch in the gut.

  TJ grinned. “Yeah, I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.”

  “You didn’t see her face the last time we talked,” I said with a grimace.

  “True. But I can see her face right now, and…well, have a look for yourself.” TJ grabbed my shoulders and spun me around to face the bleachers.

  I stood there staring at the most beautiful sight. Maybe I did believe in luck after all. Because Ali stood in the bleachers looking at me with the sweetest smile on her face. She was bundled up in her over-sized, old Army jacket and her red curls were loose, blowing about her face. Just when I thought there couldn’t be anything better—Ali opened her jacket wide.

  Aw, hell yes.

  Ali Frost was wearing my jersey.

  37

  Bowling Boyfriend (Now A Thing!)

  Ali

  If I had dreamed Dax’s reaction to seeing me in his jersey, I couldn’t have dreamed anything better than real life. He stood still and took me in with his intense gaze while his teammates celebrated with body slams and high fives around him. And then the too hot, up-to-no good, very beastly boy grinned. His grin slid into a wide smile as he strode toward me, eating up ground with his long strides.