Chapter 27
Sadie's POV
I forced myself to meet Vivienne's eyes.
She stood there holding her cupcake tray like some kind of pageant queen, her smile so perfect it could've been painted on. The sun caught her platinum hair just right, making her look like she'd stepped out of a magazine.
"Vivienne," I said evenly.
Brooklyn shifted beside me, her body language screaming don't start.
Vivienne's smile didn't waver. "It’s just weird. I’ve literally never seen you here before, so obviously I got curious."
The way she said it—light and casual—made it sound like an innocent observation. But her eyes told a different story.
"I'm here with my friends," I replied, keeping my voice steady.
"Of course you are." She glanced at Brooklyn, Maya, and Zoe like she was just noticing them. "Girls' day out. How sweet."
Madison appeared beside her, carrying another tray of drinks. Her smile was sharper than Vivienne's.
"Yeah," Madison said, drawing out the word. "I mean... you're not exactly the 'school spirit' type."
A few people nearby turned to look. Phones came out. I could feel the attention shifting toward us like a spotlight.
Vivienne tilted her head, her ponytail swinging. "But I guess living with the Montgomerys does get you access to things, right?"
The air went still.
Whispers rippled through the bleachers. I caught fragments—Montgomery house, is that true, wait what—spreading like wildfire.
My fingers curled around the edge of the bench. My throat felt tight.
For one stupid second, Jake's voice flashed through my head.
She won't bother you again. I'll handle it.
But he was down on the field now, at least fifty yards away, surrounded by helmets and noise and shouting teammates. There was no way he could even see this happening.
Brooklyn stood up before I could respond.
"Wow, Vivienne," she said, her voice cutting through the noise. "Obsessed much? Why do you even care who sits where?"
Vivienne's smile flickered for half a second before she recovered.
Maya adjusted her glasses and spoke calmly. "Pretty sure the bleachers are public property."
Zoe added quietly but firmly, "Sadie has every right to be here."
Vivienne's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. But she was too good at this game to let it show for long.
"Of course she does," Vivienne said sweetly. "I just didn't know she was into football. That's all."
She turned, her ponytail whipping behind her, and started back down the bleachers.
Madison followed, but not before leaning in just close enough for us to hear. "She's probably here for Jake."
My stomach dropped.
Brooklyn's hands balled into fists. "Ugh. I hate her so much."
Maya rolled her eyes. "She's just threatened. Ignore her."
But I couldn't ignore it. I could already feel the stares, hear the whispers growing louder around us.
Living with the Montgomerys.
Jake.
Access.
I looked down at my phone, pretending to scroll through nothing, trying to block it all out.
Don't let her get to you.
You're just here to watch a game.
But the whispers kept coming, sharp and relentless, like tiny needles pricking at my skin.
---
The music started.
Loud, upbeat, impossible to ignore.
The cheerleaders jogged onto the field in perfect formation, their blue and white uniforms catching the sunlight. Vivienne led the way, her movements sharp and precise, every step choreographed.
The crowd erupted.
"LET'S GO LIONS!"
"GO VIVIENNE!"
I watched as they launched into their routine—flips, tosses, synchronized moves that looked effortless. Vivienne was in the center, of course, her smile wide and bright as she hit every mark perfectly.
When they tossed her into the air, the sun framed her like she was the star of her own movie.
The bleachers went wild.
Brooklyn muttered under her breath, "Okay, fine. She's annoying, but she's good."
Maya didn't look impressed. "That's why she's dangerous."
Zoe glanced at me, worry flickering in her eyes.
I kept my face neutral, but my fingers were still gripping my phone so hard my knuckles had gone white.
The routine ended with a flourish. Vivienne landed gracefully, waved to the crowd, and soaked in the applause like it was oxygen.
Then her eyes swept across the bleachers.
And landed on me.
It was quick. Just a flicker of a glance. But it was enough.
I looked away first.
---
Practice resumed after a water break.
I tried to focus on anything else. The clouds drifting across the sky. The girl two rows down recording everything on her phone. The faint buzz of cicadas in the trees beyond the field.
But then Vivienne started walking toward the sidelines, a blue sports drink in her hand.
My stomach sank.
"Oh no," Brooklyn whispered.
The crowd noticed immediately.
"OOOOHHHHH—"
Someone whistled loudly from the student section.
Near the bench, one of the backup quarterbacks—Mason Carter—looked up from where he was adjusting his gloves.
I recognized him vaguely from school. Dark hair, brown eyes, quiet in that intimidating way some boys were. Not as effortlessly magnetic as Jake, but still the kind of handsome that made girls stare a little too long in the hallways.
Everyone knew he liked Vivienne.
Everyone also knew she barely acknowledged him unless it benefited her somehow.
Mason watched her crossing the field, something unreadable tightening in his expression.
"Damn," one of the linebackers muttered beside him. "You got benched emotionally too, Carter?"
A few guys snorted.
Mason shoved the player lightly with his shoulder. "Shut up."
But he didn't laugh.
Vivienne crossed the field with that same perfect smile, her ponytail bouncing with each step. She stopped in front of Jake, who was talking to Liam near the bench.
Jake went still.
The entire field seemed to pause. Every phone turned toward them.
Vivienne held out the drink, her smile soft and practiced. "You looked really good out there."
Her voice carried just enough to reach the bleachers.
Jake didn't move for a second. Then he took the bottle without looking at her.
"Thanks," he said flatly.
But Vivienne didn't seem to notice—or care. She stepped closer, her fingers brushing his arm lightly.
"See you at the party this weekend?"
Jake didn't answer. He just tilted his head back and drank.
Sweat slid down his neck, catching the light.
The bleachers exploded.
"LITERALLY GOALS!"
A girl near the front clasped both hands dramatically against her chest. "They're actually so hot together."
"They look like one of those couples from Netflix shows," someone whispered behind me.
The whispers started immediately.
"They're like, the perfect couple."
"Right? Hottest guy plus hottest girl equals basic math."
"I heard they're basically endgame."
"Dude, if they got married, their kids would be insane."
I looked down at my lap, my chest tight.
Why do you even care?
He's allowed to drink water from whoever he wants.
But the screaming kept going, loud and relentless, and I couldn't make myself stop listening.
Brooklyn leaned over. "Ugh. She acts like she already owns him."
Maya pushed her glasses up. "Jake has never publicly claimed her, though."
Zoe hesitated. "But... he did take the drink."
That made it worse somehow.
I took a shaky breath and forced myself to look at the field again.
Jake had already turned away, his back to Vivienne.
A few feet away, Mason looked down at the grass for a second before yanking his helmet back on harder than necessary.
But Vivienne stood there, smiling like she'd just won something.