“Shit, I didn’t—”
“Bring it in,” Coach yelled. “I’m not done yet.”
There was more?
I wasn’t sure Jason could take anymore, volatile energy rippling off him in dark waves. I couldn’t blame him though. If Thatcher had come after my sister and put his hands on my girl, I would’ve wanted blood too.
“There has always been a bitter rivalry between Rixon and Rixon East. It’s older than you or me. But Principal Finnigan, and Principal Castrol over at East, have decided it’s time to lay the past to rest and make an example of what happened this semester. Rivalry on the field is one thing, but when it spills out into the community and starts affecting innocent people that is unacceptable.” His hard gaze found the three of us. “Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, Sir,” everyone grumbled in unison.
Coach continued. “Both Principals have decided that, in a show of good faith, an exhibition game will be held in the new year to raise funds for a local charity that supports young peoples’ mental health and wellbeing.”
“You expect us to play them again?” someone balked but Coach didn’t get a chance to answer because Jason stormed out of the locker room, letting the door slam behind him.
Coach let out a resigned sigh. “Can I trust the two of you to handle that?” he said to me and Cameron, and we nodded. “This isn’t an opt in, opt out scenario. Principal Finnigan made it very clear he expects everyone to play, especially the senior players.”
“Leave it to us, Coach,” Cameron said, going after him. I lingered, confused about what he was saying.
“You too, Bennet. Principal Finnigan agreed you’ve served your punishment.”
“I’m playing?” I didn’t know how I felt about that.
“You’re still a Raider, are you not?
“Yes, Sir.”
“Then you’re playing. Now go, make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid.” With a sharp nod Coach Hasson dismissed me, and I took off after my best friends.
It didn’t take long to find them. I only had to follow the sound of raised voices outside the gym.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Jase ground out, his back to me. “You’re taking his side?”
“I’m not taking anyone’s side,” Cameron shot back. “But you really want to piss Finnigan off when we’re so close to being done with senior year? It’s one game. And maybe they have a point, maybe after everything, this is a good thing. Set a good example for the younger players coming up through the ranks.”
I jammed my hands in my pockets, watching the two of them go at it. Cameron had always been the voice of reason, the person who had talked Jason out of doing something really fucking stupid more times than I could count. Me? I usually acted as the devil on his shoulder, goading him into some stupid prank or fight over the river in Rixon East territory.
Today though, I remained quiet.
“If I ever have to look at one of their players again it will be too soon,” Jase spat, dragging a hand through his hair.
“Come on, man, Thatcher is off the team. Without him, it’ll be different.”
“How can you be so… so fucking calm knowing what they did to Hailee?” He was seething now, his jaw clenched in anger.
Cam let out a heavy sigh, tipping his face into the crisp morning air, his breath like a faint plume of smoke drifting skyward. “It’s over,” he slid his eyes to Jason’s. “Hailee is good. We’re good. And I want to focus on our last few months as seniors. Thatcher is going to get his, I promise.”
I hoped for everyone’s sake, he did. Because from the murderous glint in Jason’s eyes every time someone mentioned his archrival, I suspected our best friend wouldn’t be able to let it go if the law didn’t find Lewis Thatcher guilty.
“What?” Jase finally noticed me standing there. “You got nothing to say?”
“Cameron’s right.” I stepped forward. “Let’s do it, one final play. Go out with a bang.”
“We’re State Champions. It doesn’t get much fucking more bang than that.”
Wincing, my eyes shuttered. Jason didn’t mean it as an insult. But it sure felt like one, when they’d earned it and I hadn’t.
“Jase,” Cam warned, noticing my crestfallen expression.
“Shit, Ash, I didn’t mean it like that.” Jason cussed under his breath. “I just wanted to enjoy the holidays. I didn’t want another game with the Eagles looming over us.”
“One final play,” Cam reiterated. “Ash is right. We do this, together. One last time. Then we walk away with no regrets.”
“Fine,” Jase grunted. “But if it all goes to shit, I’m blaming the two of you.” He said the words to both of us, but his eyes were on me, something passing between us. I wanted to believe it was gratitude, but I wasn’t sure. Jason wasn’t exactly good with his feelings.
“I can take the heat if it all goes wrong, no problem. It’s what I do best.” It was a joke, but neither of them laughed.
Jason groaned and then looked at Cameron. “One condition.”
“Name it,” Cam replied.
“You break it to the girls.”
Laughter spilled out of me and the two of them looked at me like I’d grown a second head. “All I’m going to say is, good luck with that. It was nice knowing you both.” I clapped Jason on the back and left them to argue who was going to tell Hailee and her best friend Felicity, Jason’s girl, about the exhibition game.
Telling myself I wasn’t bitter.
Even if it was a huge fucking lie.
“Hernandez,” I called out, spotting Mya Hernandez, my newest friend courtesy of Hailee and Felicity.
“Go away, Asher,” she replied over her shoulder, but I broke into a jog, cutting her off before she could duck out of the building.
“Why the cold shoulder?”
“Not a cold shoulder, just a… shoulder.” Mya grinned and shit if I didn’t drown in her big brown eyes.
“Asher?” she snapped.
“Uh, yeah?”
“I’m guessing you didn’t just chase me down to stare at me like I’ve got something on my face.” Leaning in, she flushed a little. “I don’t, do I?”
“No,” I laughed. “You’re good.”
A little too good, if the way my body moved in closer was anything to go on. But then, it had been weeks since I’d gotten any.
“So… what do you want?”
“You wound me, Hernandez. I thought we were friends.”
“No, you decided we were friends after you lost Felicity to Jason.”
“I didn’t lose…” She gave me a pointed look and I changed direction. “Fine, I thought Felicity and me were friend goals, sure. But what can I say? She doesn’t know what she’s missing.”
My chest tightened. Not because I wanted Felicity. I didn’t; she was my best friend’s girl. But there had been a time, when Hailee and Flick first started hanging around with our group, that I’d thought maybe… nah, who the fuck was I trying to kid? She only ever had eyes for Jason.