Chapter Twelve

MONIKA

The first football game of the season is finally here. Everyone is pumped. I’m on the sidelines cheering, feeling the rush of excitement from the crowd with the hope of a victory. I’ve got bruises from falling off the fence yesterday, and my body aches more than usual, but I don’t care. Hearing the fans yell and the excitement of the game takes all my focus.

Between our cheers, I watch the game. My eyes immediately focus on Trey. He’s determined to make himself stand out. He’s so focused I don’t even think he’s looked into the stands once—not even when the defense is on the field and he has a break.

Not even to look at me.

I glance over at Vic, who just got off the field when the offensive line went in. He’s at the water station and when he takes his helmet off his hair falls onto his forehead. I can’t look away and feel goose bumps on my arms when his dark, intense eyes meet mine.

I remember last night, lying with him on the bleachers. I don’t know if he realized his hand was over my hair¸ shielding me. He instinctively protected me.

What am I thinking? What am I feeling?

I’m not even sure myself. Lately I’ve been so confused and my emotions have been a mess.

I smile at Vic, then get back in formation for the next cheer. Cassidy Richards, standing next to me, shakes her head. Her lips are formed in a tight, thin line.

“You okay?” I ask her.

“I’m fine,” she snaps.

“You sure?” She’s not acting like she’s fine.

She rolls her eyes just slightly, as if my questioning is annoying her. “I said I was fine. End of story.”

Whoa. “Okay.”

To say that Cassidy has been moody lately is an understatement. I figure it’s the stress of school starting. Everyone around me seems stressed lately.

Well, except Bree. That girl never gets stressed. She’s so self-absorbed she’s oblivious to the world around her.

“Ready?” Bree calls out with a big, white-toothed smile on her face. She calls it her “cheerleader” smile.

“Ready. Okay!” I call out.

We start our next cheer.

We are the Rebels, we’re number one!

We won’t give up until we’ve won!

Fremont High School, what’s our fate?

Our team will make it all the way to State!

Yeah!

Woo-hoo!

Bree made that cheer up, which was better than her initial cheer about Fremont having the best-looking team and something about looking at the rivals in the mirror makes us scream. Leave it to Bree to make up a ridiculous cheer.

After halftime, Jet runs up to Bree before the refs blow the whistle to start the second half.

“Yo, Bree!” Jet yells above the crowd.

She bites her bottom lip. “Yeah?”

“Go to homecoming with me!”

Bree gives a short laugh and puts a hand on her hip. “Seriously, Jet? Was that even a question or a statement?”

Not to lose a moment where Jet can focus all the attention on himself, he gets down on one knee. He’s still in full football gear and even has his helmet on. To the crowd, it must look like he’s proposing marriage to her.

Everyone goes wild.

He takes her hand in his. “Bree Turner, will you do me the pleasure of going to homecoming with me?”

“Okay,” she says. “I’ll go with you. Now get up. You’re making a scene.”

Everyone who knows Bree knows she loves a scene. This is so perfect for her.

Instead of going back to his teammates, Jet holds his arms out wide like an eagle in flight and yells to the crowd, “She said yes!”

Everyone is screaming in celebration as he picks Bree up and twirls her around before getting yelled at by Coach Dieter to rejoin the team.

“That was embarrassing,” Bree says after Jet is back on the field. “Now half the school probably thinks we’re engaged.”

She’s smiling wide.

“Who cares. You love Jet,” I tell her.

“Yeah. In a friends-with-benefits kind of way. I mean, he’s a model and super hot.” She checks out his butt, then wags her brows. “And he knows his way around a girl’s body, which is a plus. But I don’t want a boyfriend. Blech!”

“Thanks,” I say.

“It works for you and Trey,” she says, backtracking. “Just not me.”

“You and Jet should get married,” I tell her. “You’re both cut from the same mold.”

She looks at me curiously. “Speaking of married life, has Trey asked you to homecoming yet?”