by L A Cotton
“I’m not going to play this game with you, not anymore.”
He was drunk, his words crueler than ever, his touch harsher.
“Game? You think this is a game? This isn’t a game; it’s bloodsport, baby. And you… you couldn’t have made it any easier if you’d tried.”
Tearing myself from his hold, I stepped back, my body hitting the wall. “Get out,” I said, coldly. “Now.”
He blinked, confusion clouding his glassy eyes. “Feli—”
“Get. Out. Before I do something we’ll both regret.”
His heavy gaze lingered on me for a second before he staggered out of the bathroom, and I slumped against the wall, releasing the breath caught in my throat. Wondering how the hell I was ever going to survive Jason Ford.
Everything went back to normal after that. Whatever had happened between me and Jason in his car, was filed under ‘epic screw ups’, and I spent the weekend trying my best to forget our middle-of-the-night moment in the Ford-Raine bathroom. Of course, I didn’t breathe a word of it to Hailee.
It had hurt, a sharp pain splintering my chest, that he could go so quickly from kissing me, touching me, to being with Jenna. But it was just another reminder I needed to push all thoughts of Jason Ford out of my head.
At least, that was the plan.
“Felicity?”
“Huh?”
“Are you okay, sweetheart?” Mom frowned. “I was calling you and you were completely zoned out.”
“Late night studying,” I said around a fake yawn. “You know how it is.”
“I know it’s senior year, baby, but I don’t want you making yourself ill. A good night’s sleep—”
“Makes for a healthy mind. Got it, Mom.”
“You know your grandma, God bless her soul, used to drill that into me every day.”
“I know, Mom.” Just the way you drill it into me.
“Senior year.” She slid a plate of pancakes toward me before helping herself to another mug of coffee. Apparently, once you were an adult, a healthy mind ran on a good night’s sleep and two coffees before eight. “It only seems like yesterday you were born.”
Silently groaning, I ate my breakfast while Mom took a trip down memory lane. By the time I was done, she was a little teary-eyed. “We’re so proud of you, Felicity, and to think you’re following in our footsteps.”
“Sure thing, Mom.” I regurgitated the same response whenever she brought up college.
“Although,” she went on, “I’m not sure how your father is going to cope. He barely slept when you were in New York.”
“It was one night,” I reminded her.
“I know, I know. But New York is just so...”
I filled the silence with adjectives. Big. Amazing. Inspiring. Alive. I should have known she would say, “Overwhelming.”
“I don’t know, I kind of liked it.” And it had absolutely nothing to do with giving a certain brooding Raider my v-card.
“Really?” Her nose scrunched up. “I found it to be so gaudy. Anyway, your father and I agreed, no more road trips until after graduation, young lady. I’m not sure his heart could take it, and you know Doctor Garrick said he needs to watch his blood pressure.”
“Mom, I don’t think my one-night stopover set off Dad’s blood pressure, I think his endless late nights at the office did.” He was rarely ever home and if he was, he brought his work with him.
“He just wants to provide for us, baby, for you. A strong work ethic is so important these days.”
“I know,” I murmured the words, suddenly feeling guilty. Dad did work hard for his family.
“One day you’ll understand.” Her eyes held nothing but warmth, as if she was doing me a favor. Protecting me. Keeping me safe from the monsters of the world. But what she failed to realize was, she was stifling me.
I was stifled.
But I couldn’t tell her that.
Not unless I wanted to break her heart.
So I pressed my lips together and smiled, hoping she couldn’t see I was already tainted by a monster.
A monster who wore a blue and white jersey and ate girls like me for breakfast.
“Miss Giles,” the gruff voice startled me. “Just the girl I hoped to find.”
My brows pinched as I gawked at Principal Finnigan, trying to rack my brain for any recent indiscretions he might be here to reprimand me for.
When the silence went on for a second longer than normal, I finally found my voice and said, “I’m sorry, did you want me, Sir?”
“Indeed.” He smiled faintly. “This is Mya Hernandez, a transfer student from Philadelphia. I was hoping you could buddy up with her and help her settle in.”
“Me?” I blinked, certain I’d misheard. “You want me to buddy up with her?”
“Well, I don’t know of any other students called Felicity Giles, do you?”
“No, Sir.”
“Well, then,” he said, “I’ll leave you girls to get acquainted. Mya already has her class schedule. If you have any issues, please see Miss Hampstead.”
He smoothed down his blazer and took off down the hall, leaving me and the new girl staring awkwardly at one another.
“Listen, it’s cool,” she said with a hint of a Latina accent. “I don’t need you to babysit me. Just point me in the direction of,” she scanned the paper in her hand, “AP History, and I’ll tell Miss Hampstead you were more than helpful.”
“Mya, right?” I asked, ignoring her brush off. “I’m Felicity. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Yeah, whatever.” She hitched her bag up her shoulders and glanced around.
“I love your hair, is it—”
“Natural?” Mya rolled her eyes.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean—”
“No, I’m sorry.” Her hard expression softened. “That was rude of me. It’s just hard, you know, transferring partway through the semester of senior year.”
“You’re from Philadelphia?”
“Badlands,” her voice lowered significantly.
“Isn’t that like…” The words lodged in my throat.
“The ghetto?” Her brow went up as she gave a strangled laugh.
“That’s not…” My cheeks flamed. “I didn’t…”
“Badlands is not The Hamptons, that’s for sure, but it was still home, you know?”
“You’ve been?” I changed tack. “To the Hamptons, I mean? I always wanted to go, but my mom and dad prefer culture to the beach.” Quiet culture: museums and galleries and historical buildings.
“I went once. Didn’t think it was all that. That whole scene isn’t really my thing.” Mya snorted, pushing her unruly spiral curls from her face. She was beautiful: all caramel skin with dark features, and a slim but curvy frame. She reminded me of Amandla Stenberg.
I smiled to myself. Girls at Rixon fit into two categories: Plastic Barbie jersey chasers and the rest of us. One look at Mya and I knew she was like me and Hailee. Well, pre-Cameron and a certain star quarterback that would remain nameless.
“What?” Mya frowned at me as I studied her.
Slipping my arm through hers, I leaned in close. “Are you a football fan, Mya Hernandez?”
“I prefer basketball.”
My smile grew.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” She frowned.
“Oh nothing, but I think you and I are going to be great friends,” I declared, dragging her down the hall. “Welcome to Rixon High.”
“So this is the cafeteria,” I announced as Mya trailed behind me. She had insisted on doing her own thing at lunch, and I had insisted she come with me to meet Hailee. Apparently, my persistence outweighed hers.
“Aaand it looks just like my old cafeteria except without the drug dealing and fights.”
My head whipped around and I knew my mouth was hanging open like a fish.
“Joke,” Maya said. “I’m joking. Well about the drug dealing, mostly.”
“It was that bad?” I asked as we jo
ined the line.
“Fallowfield High was a jungle. I’m lucky I escaped.”
“How did you?”
“Long story,” was all she said before turning her attention to the lunch items. “Same shit food though.”
“Oh, I don’t know. The tacos are usually good and Friday is spaghetti day.”
“Hmm, sounds delicious,” she replied drolly.
“Just wait, you’ll see.”
“And who might this be?” Asher had impeccable timing. I’d hoped to get Mya situated before introducing her to anyone else. But from the way his gaze drifted down her body and back up, I knew Asher would need no introductions.
“Asher Bennet.” He held out his hand. “You must be the new girl.”
“This is Mya,” I said when she pursed her lips in defiance, staring at his hand like he had an infectious disease.
I was growing to like this girl more by the second.
Asher quickly recovered, running his fingers through his messy blond hair. “You like football, Mya?”
“It’s not usually my scene, no.”
“We’ll have to change that then because you just landed yourself in Rixon.”
“Am I supposed to know what that means?”
“You’ll see.” He winked at her before turning his attention to me. “Looking good, Fee, baby.” Then he strolled away as if it was nothing.
“Why is everyone staring at us?” Mya asked.
“Because you just caught the eye of a Raider.” My stomach knotted at the words, which was weird because if Asher turned his attention to the new girl, at least it meant he wouldn’t be looking at me anymore.
Didn’t it?
“So not interested.” Mya loaded her tray with lunch items.
“Boyfriend?” I raised a brow.
“Ex-boyfriend. And I’m not looking to replace him anytime soon.”
“Ah, I see. Bad break up?” We moved along the line.
“The worst.” Pain flashed in her eyes, but it was gone in an instant. Mya was hardened. Aloof. She reminded me a lot of Hailee pre-Cameron.
We paid for our lunch and weaved through the masses to our table. Hailee was already there. She looked up and smiled. “You must be Mya. Welcome to Rixon High. I see Flick already got her claws in you.” My best friend fought a grin.
“She’s persistent, I’ll give her that.”
“Hey,” I protested. “I am sitting right here.”
“We know,” they both said in unison and I gawked at them.
“I’m beginning to think this was a bad idea. Now there are two of you.”
“Strength in numbers, am I right?” Mya held out a fist toward Hailee who stared at her. When she awkwardly bumped it against Mya’s knuckles, it was my turn to snicker.
“Very ghetto,” I mouthed at her.
“Heard that,” Mya flicked her gaze to me and I blushed.
“Sorry.”
“Nah, it’s all good. I like it. Beats everyone else looking at me like they don’t know whether to run the other way or ask me if I know Snoop Dog.”
“Mya, that’s not...” Hailee started but the words died on her lips. “Rixon is small town; there isn’t a lot of diversity around these parts.”
“I can see that.” Mya let her eyes wander around the cafeteria. While I hadn’t blinked twice at her style—the holey boy jeans, shirt tied around her waist, khaki tank top, and military style boots—others were looking.
“So break it down for me.”
“Football team.” I motioned over to where Asher and the rest of the team sat. He gave us a two fingered salute and Mya snorted.
“Is he always so...”
“Annoying?” I asked. “Pretty much. We hated on the team until this year but since Hailee is dating—”
“Hold up,” Mya jerked back. “You’re dating him?”
“Whoa, no. I’m with Cameron. See the one with the dark short hair, cherry blossom tattoo?”
“Nice, very nice. But still a football player? Damn, girl.”
“Tell me about it.” Hailee smiled shyly. “It was never the plan but...”
“You can’t help who you fall for.” Mya finished as if she knew all about complicated relationships. “Got it.”
“Football is a huge deal here,” I went on. “The Raiders have a real shot at State so expect things to get a little crazy around here over the next few weeks.”
Mya grimaced. “Is there anything to do for fun in Rixon that doesn’t involve football?”
“There’s Ice T’s, the ice cream parlor; and The Alley.”
“Let me guess, bowling?”
I nodded. “It has a diner and arcade too. It’s probably one of the only places untouched by football around here.” Well, it had been until recently, but I didn’t tell Mya that. I didn’t want to scare her off for good.
“So we’ve got ice cream and bowling. Anything else?” She smirked.
“Hmm, in the summer we go down to the lake and swim, that’s pretty cool.”
“You’re really living your best life here, huh?”
“Like I said, small town.” Hailee smiled, forking some pasta into her mouth.
Mya’s gaze flicked back over to the football tables. “Guess I’d better readjust my expectations then.” There was something in her eyes, a sadness edged with lust. Mya talked a good game about hating football, just like the rest of us who tried to remain unaffected. But the truth was, when you lived in a place like Rixon, football infiltrated your life even if you didn’t want it to.
When her eyes landed on mine again and she said, “Should I even ask if you have a basketball team?” I realized maybe I’d misjudged her after all.
Jason
“Did you see the new girl?” Grady asked me as I got ready for practice.
I shrugged, pulling on my shoulder pads.
“I saw Bennet introducing himself.” Mackey winked over at him. “You thinking of slumming it?”
“Not cool, bro,” Asher’s jaw clenched. “Not cool.”
“What? I’m just saying she looks Straight Outta Compton.” He rapped the words.
“Mackey, do us all a favor and shut the fuck up, yeah?”
“Sorry, Cap, I was only messing around.”
“Fucking idiot,” Asher grumbled, shouldering him and heading out of the locker room.
“I think Bennet’s got a crush on the new girl,” Grady said, and snorts of laughter rang out around the room.
“Maybe you should all quit gossiping and focus on the game we have coming up?” I shot each one of them a harsh look before going after Asher.
I didn’t give a fuck about some new girl, but I’d seen her sitting with Hailee and Felicity at lunch. Of course my step-sister and her best friend would take in the stray.
Rolling my eyes, I made my way over to Asher and Cameron. “Hey, you okay?”
“Who, me?” His brows waggled. “I’m good.” Trust Asher to brush it under the rug.
“Who is she anyway?” I asked.
“I heard she transferred from Philly. Mia or Mya or something,” Cameron offered. “The principal asked Felicity to help her settle in.”
“Sounds about right.”
“Okay, ladies, bring it in,” Coach Hasson yelled. Once we were listening, he said, “Game seven and it’s going to be a tough one. Fenn Hill are the team to beat this season. Their offense have been unstoppable, not to mention, they have eleven division one picks. And we’re playing at their place. I’m not going to sugarcoat it; you’re going to need to bring everything you have to get the win. And we need that win.”
Because this win was our ticket to the play-offs.
“We’ve got this, Coach,” I said with confidence. The Falcons were good, but we were better.
“I’m glad you think so, Son, because after Friday’s game, you need to prove yourselves. I’m not going to rehash what happened because we drew a line under it Friday.” Yeah, after he’d chewed us out like we were kids caught with our hands in the
cookie jar, before issuing Cameron a warning. “But you’d better hope to God you don’t pull that shit again. I don’t care if their players are talking smack about your dead grandmothers out there. Let. It. Go. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Good.” His eyes landed on me. “Warm them up, QB.”
“Let’s go,” I roared, leaping to my feet. After Friday’s game, I was itching to get back on the field; to prove to everyone—and myself—that we were the best.
But then I spotted two familiar faces in the bleachers. Jogging beside Cameron, I grumbled, “What are they doing here?”
“Hailee needs to work on her last couple of raw sketches for the Seniors Night thing.”
Pressing my lips together, I swallowed the reply on my tongue. Hailee I could deal with, but Felicity?
“I didn’t sign up for this shit.”
“Don’t be a dick,” Cam levelled with me with a hard look. “You know how important this project is to Hailee. Besides, she’s been out here almost every practice and you haven’t...” Realization sparked in his eyes. “But you’re not talking about Hailee are you?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
A slow smirk tugged at his mouth. “Sure you don’t.” Cameron clapped me on the back before joining the rest of the guys in formation for warm-ups. “I’m going to enjoy watching you fall”, he called, and I stared blankly at him.
Because what the actual fuck?
Practice was brutal. Coach made us run drills until my muscles burned and my bones ached. He was concerned about the game against Fenn Hill. It was right there in the way he pushed us harder. Demanded more. Insisted we give everything we had to give and then some. By the time we made it back to the locker room, I was ready to fall into bed and sleep for a week. Not that it was ever an option.
“Yo, QB, Thatcher is running his mouth again.”
My spine straightened as Grady came over, handing me his cell.
@ThatcherQB1: Better run, better hide, the Falcons are on the hunt #Falconsforthewin #Raiderscansuckit
“He’s really not giving this thing up, is he?”
“He’s all talk.” I flipped Grady’s cell back to him.
