Chapter 125 Speech And Chaos

Chapter 125 Speech And Chaos


Then I tried to get a closer view, but people cheered and danced around, so I couldn't even when I craned my neck.

Students were chanting Dylan's name.

Some had climbed onto the lower bleachers.

Others were already rushing onto the edge of the field before security, and teachers started waving them back.

It became louder and more chaotic.

Yet somehow, I couldn't completely share in it.

My smile faded at the sudden realization of Miranda's disappearance.

A cold feeling crept back into my stomach because I had done the complete opposite of what Miranda wanted.

Which meant that my father was still in danger and she'd told me to forget about seeing him again.

I squeezed my eyes shut for a brief moment.

Then I decided to trust that Brian would find another way to find my father.

My eyes drifted back toward the stadium exit, and I saw Miranda again.

What if I followed her?

She had to be going somewhere. Maybe she'd unknowingly lead me to something or someone or at least, a clue.

Before I could think twice, I was already moving towards her.

I slipped away from the celebrating crowd and kept my eyes locked on Miranda's retreating figure.

I didn’t want to lose sight of her again.

She turned one corner, and I hurried after her.

And soon, I picked up my pace just a little faster, and then someone stepped directly into my path.

I almost crashed.

"Whoa." I gasped and stumbled backward.

A familiar laugh greeted me. "Easy there."

I blinked. "Brian?"

He grinned. "Unless you've recently met another incredibly handsome Brian."

Despite everything, I rolled my eyes.

He spread his arms dramatically. "I'll take that as a compliment."

I shook my head. "You nearly gave me a heart attack."

"My bad." He chuckled.

Then tilted his head.

"Now..." He folded his arms. "Where exactly do you think you're going in such a hurry?"

I instinctively glanced over his shoulder.

Miranda had almost disappeared completely now.

Shit.

"I..." I stammered.

Think.

Think.

But I couldn’t think, and I didn’t want to tell him the truth.

"I was just..." My brain scrambled desperately for something believable. "Going home."

Brian looked around theatrically. "Interesting."

I frowned. "What?"

"Because..." He pointed behind me. "Home is the exact opposite direction."

"Oh." I blinked.

Right.

"I..." I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly. "Wanted to buy something first."

"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow. "What?"

I looked around randomly. "Water." I blurted.

He stared. "There's literally a drink stand beside the field."

"Oh." I sighed dramatically. "You are making this difficult."

He burst into laughter. "I knew it."

"Knew what?"

"That excuse was terrible."

"It wasn't that bad."

"It was awful."

I couldn't help but smile.

"A little."

"A little?"

He laughed harder. "It was one of the worst lies I've heard all month."

I sighed. "Fine. I'm just..." I shrugged. "Walking."

"Walking."

"Yes."

"Very aggressively."

"I like aggressive walking." I defended awkwardly.

Brian narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Hmm."

For a moment, I genuinely thought he would keep questioning me.

Instead, he shrugged. "Fair enough."

Phew.

Relief washed through me.

Thank goodness he didn't press.

His grin slowly returned.

"So..." He leaned closer. "What the hell did you do to Dylan?"

I blinked. "What are you talking about?"

He pointed excitedly toward the field behind us. "He looked like a completely different person after halftime. I swear somebody replaced him."

I laughed softly.

"He practically turned Kevin into yesterday's homework." Brian joked.

I covered my mouth to stop laughing.

Brian pointed at me accusingly. "That.” He paused. “That right there is suspicious."

"What is?" I asked.

"You." He narrowed his eyes again. "What did you tell him?"

I shook my head. "I didn't do much."

He snorted loudly. "I don't believe you."

"I'm serious."

"No."

"I just..." I smiled unconsciously when I remembered our kiss. "Talked to him."

Brian threw both hands into the air. "Exactly! You talked to him."

"Whatever you said..." He pointed dramatically toward the celebrating stadium. "Worked."

I looked toward the field and saw that the players were still celebrating.

Some students continued chanting Dylan's name.

A warm feeling spread quietly through my chest. "I just reminded him who he is," I admitted softly.

Brian watched me for a second. Then his expression surprisingly softened.

"You know..." He smiled. "I knew I could trust you."

I looked back at him. "Huh?"

He nodded. "I knew you'd find a way."

"I wasn't sure how."

"But I knew you would."

I lowered my eyes. "I almost didn't come."

"But you did." He smiled. "And that's what matters."

I couldn't stop a small chuckle from escaping.

Brian nudged my shoulder playfully.

"For the record, I was starting to think Brookwood was doomed."

I laughed again. "So dramatic."

"I learned from Dylan."

"That explains a lot."

"It explains everything."

We both laughed quietly together.

The laughter between Brian and me hadn't completely faded when a loud screech burst through the stadium speakers.

The sudden feedback made me flinch.

I instinctively covered one ear. "Agh..."

Students all around the field groaned.

"Turn that thing down!"

"My ears!"

Then the feedback stopped.

The entire stadium gradually quieted as curious murmurs spread through the crowd.

I frowned and instinctively looked toward the center of the field. That's when I saw Dylan with a microphone in his hand.

His teammates stood several feet behind him, all smiling knowingly.

The coach folded his arms with what looked suspiciously like amusement.

The principal stood nearby too.

The moment students realized who was holding the microphone, the cheering started all over again.

"DYLAN!"

"CAPTAIN!"

"MVP!"

"Brookwood!"

The sound rolled through the stadium like thunder, and I couldn't stop smiling.

"There he goes again," I whispered.

Brian followed my gaze. "Oh no..."

"What?"

"I know that face."

"What face?"

Brian sighed dramatically. "That's the face of a guy who's about to do something unbelievably stupid."

I elbowed him lightly. "Be nice."

"I'm serious." He pointed toward the field.

"Look at him; he looks nervous."

I blinked.

Now that Brian mentioned it, he really did.

Despite everything he'd just accomplished, his fingers tightened around the microphone.

My heart softened immediately.

The cheering slowly died down.

Dylan lifted the microphone.

"First..." His voice echoed through every corner of the stadium. "...thank you."

Another wave of applause interrupted him.

He smiled sheepishly. "I honestly..." He rubbed the back of his neck. "...didn't think today would end like this."

Students laughed.

"I should probably start by thanking every single person here."

He slowly turned, looking around the stadium.

"Our coach."

"My teammates."

"Our teachers."

"The students."

"The entire school."

He inhaled deeply. "This victory..." He glanced toward the scoreboard. "...belongs to Brookwood."

Thunderous applause erupted again.

He waited patiently until everyone settled.

Then, his eyes searched the crowd.

I didn't realize he was looking for me until his gaze stopped right where I stood at the back.

My breath caught in my throat.

His smile changed as he continued. "This victory..." He said quietly into the microphone. "...also belongs to one other person."

I frowned slightly. "Who?"

A tiny smile spread across his face. "Reet Cole."

Everything around me disappeared.

"What?" I breathed.

Had I heard him correctly?

The stadium suddenly buzzed.

Students immediately began whispering.

"Did he just say Reet?"

"He did."

"The nerd?"

"No way."

Every pair of eyes began searching the crowd.

Beside me, Brian burst into laughter.

"I knew it."

I stared at him. "You knew what?"

He grinned. "I had a feeling."

"Oh sweet cookies." He pointed toward Dylan. "He really did it."

I was still too stunned to react.

Brian leaned closer. "Congratulations."

I looked at him helplessly. "I don't even know what's happening."

He chuckled. "You'll find out."

Then he added sarcastically, "Try not to faint."

I playfully slapped his arm. "Oh, shut up."

"Ouch." He dramatically rubbed the spot. "Violence."

I scoffed. "I barely touched you."

"I'm emotionally wounded."

I couldn't help laughing through my nerves.

On the field, Dylan took another slow breath.

"I've spent a long time pretending to be someone I wasn't." His voice became steadier. "I thought being feared made me strong."

"I thought hurting people meant nobody could hurt me first."

The stadium had become completely silent; not even whispers remained.

He lowered his head briefly. "Especially..."

His voice softened. "...toward one person."

My chest tightened.

"I bullied her." He admitted without hesitation.

I swallowed the lump at the back of my throat.

"I embarrassed her."

"I treated her horribly."

He swallowed. "I called her names."

"I made school miserable for her."

His grip around the microphone tightened.

"And..." His voice cracked. "...I treated her like she was my toy."

A lump formed in my throat again.

I watched him struggle to continue. "I regret every single second of it."

Silence fell everywhere.

"I wish I could erase every tear she cried because of me."

"I can't."

"But I can spend the rest of my life trying to become someone she never has to cry because of again."

My eyes immediately burned with tears, but I blinked rapidly.

He looked directly toward me again, and the entire stadium unknowingly followed his gaze.

My heart began pounding painfully.

"I love you, Reet Cole." He said.

His words echoed across the field without hesitation. "I love you more than I ever knew was possible."

A tear escaped before I could stop it.

He smiled gently.

"You believed in me today..."

"When I couldn't believe in myself."

"You reminded me who I was."

"I don't think I'll ever forget that."

I wiped another tear away.

My hands were trembling now.

"I know..." He continued. "...that I hurt you."

"I know we broke up."

"I know I don't deserve another chance." A small laugh escaped him. "But..."

He shrugged helplessly. "I'm still going to ask."

He took one careful step forward, but he knew he couldn't reach where I was at the moment.

"Reet Cole..." His smile became impossibly soft. "Will you be my girlfriend again?"

The stadium suddenly exploded.

Students screamed.

Whistled and cheered.

Some even started chanting my name.

But I stood frozen, unable to move or think.

A teacher suddenly appeared beside me holding another microphone.

"I think..." She smiled kindly. "...this belongs to you."

Before I even realized it, the microphone had been placed into my hands for my response.

I stared at it and slowly looked up.

Every single face in the stadium had turned toward me.

About hundreds of students, mixed with teachers…

My breathing became uneven.

Brian leaned closer. "No pressure."

I shot him an incredulous look through my watery eyes. "You're the worst."

"I know." He smiled. "But he's waiting."

I looked back toward Dylan.

He wasn't smiling confidently anymore because he looked terrified awaiting my response.

I wiped another tear from my cheek and snifled quietly.

Then I lifted the microphone with trembling hands to my lips.

Our eyes met across the field, and I noticed he tried to smile.

I opened my mouth. "Dyl—"

CRACK!

A sharp sound split through the air and for one impossible second, my brain refused to understand it.

Everything stopped, even my own breathing.

My head turned toward where the sound had come from, only to see Kevin holding a gun and had pulled the trigger.

My eyes widened.

No…

No.

Please no.

I looked back toward Dylan, and time seemed to slow.

His expression shifted from confusion to shock, and then his body gave way.

The microphone slipped from his fingers and hit the grass with a dull thud as he crumpled toward the ground.

My own heart seemed to stop beating.

"No..." I whispered.

Then the stadium erupted into chaos.

People screamed.

Students scattered in every direction.

Teachers shouted frantically.

Someone cried.

Someone else yelled for help.

The sounds blurred into one overwhelming wave of panic, but I couldn't hear any of it anymore.

I couldn't see anyone else but him falling to the ground.

"DYLAN!!" The scream tore out of my throat before I even realized I was running.