Chapter 84 Chapter Eighty Four
“Jay-Jay, wait!”
Allison’s voice grated on my last fucking nerve. I already told her to wait till later and yet she kept fucking following me around.
I kept walking, my cleats echoing off the hallway tiles, trying to process what the fuck I’d just done.
The plan had been simple. Vote against Lena. Humiliate her in front of the entire school and push her right back into my arms when she realised Noah couldn’t actually protect her from everything and online I could give her what she wanted.
Instead, I’d done the exact opposite.
I folded faster than a pack of cards when I saw those big doe eyes looking straight in mine. What bastard could ever hurt a girl like that?
I had to give her exactly what she wanted, so I did. And for what? Because I couldn’t stand watching Noah play hero so I felt I had to do something too?
Because seeing her exhausted and sweating and still refusing to quit despite all those idiots running their mouths and talking shit about her caused an ugly, possessive feeling to take over me.
Fuck. I was losing control.
“Jace, seriously, stop!”
I whirled around, yelling. “WHAT?! WHAT?! WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT?”
Allison flinched like I’d hit her.
I felt a twinge of guilt stab through my anger. I took a deep shaky breath to calm myself, and pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration “What?”
“When you called me yesterday—” Her voice was quieter now, raw with hurt. “You said you needed my help. You said Lena had a crush on you and you hated the bitch, so you needed me to help teach her a lesson she would never forget for the rest of her life, just so she would stay away from you.”
The word "bitch" made my hands curl into fists. I had to actively fight the violent urge to tell her never to call Lena that again.
“What the fuck does that have to do with anything right now?”
“You told me you loved me.” Allison stepped closer, her eyes searching mine anxiously. “Last night on the phone. You told me you loved me, only me. You said that you were over whatever feelings you may have had for her and wanted to make us official, that—”
“Get to the point, Allison. I’ve got places to be.”
“Why didn’t you let me go through with the plan, baby?” She grabbed my hand and pressed it against her chest, biting her lip in that way that used to drive me crazy.
“I thought we were finally on the same page. Or…” Her voice dropped lower, her tone breathy and seductive as she moaned in my ear. “Do you need me to find us an empty classroom so I can convince you again?”
I was just about to tell her to leave when I heard footsteps approaching from down the hall.
I shoved Allison back and turned to see Coach Ellis striding toward us.
“We’ll talk after the game,” I threw over my shoulder at Allison, turning away from her. “You know what hotel to meet me at.”
I jogged to catch up with Coach. “Coach!”
He didn’t slow down. “Shouldn’t you be on the field rallying your teammates?”
I matched his pace, struggling to keep up with how fast he was moving. “The guys told me you’re letting Noah on the team. And not just on the team, they say you put him on the starting lineup?”
Coach Ellis’s jaw tightened. “It was a no-brainer, Dawson. The kid was captain of his former team. He’s in excellent physical condition. And judging by what just happened in that gym, he’s got strong leadership qualities.”
We pushed through the doors leading to the locker rooms.
“His former coach’s recommendation was nothing short of spectacular,” Coach continued. “The kid’s a prodigy. A once-in-a-lifetime talent.” He muttered under his breath, “I don’t even know if I’m fit to coach a player like that. He might be exactly what this team needs.”
Deep, dark rage flared hot in my chest on hearing those words. I was so sick of people gassing this guy up every single fucking second.
“There’s no way in hell you’re prioritizing some transfer over your captain. I’ve been on this team for four years. I’ve won you championships. I’ve—”
“That would’ve been true last year, Jace, or the year before that.” Coach stopped outside his office, turning to face me fully. “But it looks like senior year is putting some strain on your performance. You’re constantly distracted. You’re not winning as many matches as you used to. Your completion rate is down. You’re getting sacked more often.”
“That’s because…”
“And quite frankly?” Coach crossed his arms. “I’m considering making Noah co-captain.”
The words hit me hard as a freight train. “What the fuck?”
“Watch your language with me, young man.” Coach’s voice went hard as steel.
“Your spot as Captain was practically handed to you on account of who your father is. You’ve spent far too long on this team getting your way, doing whatever you want, because frankly, you had no competition. No one to rival your abilities, and push you to improve and to be better.”
He leaned in closer.
“And now, for the first time in years, you finally do. So here’s how this is going to work: I’ll be watching you on that field tonight. If you can prove to me with your performance that you deserve to retain your position, you’ll keep it. Otherwise…”
He trailed off, the unspoken threat ominous as we locked eyes in a challenge.
“Coach, you can’t be serious—”
“Game starts in fifteen minutes, Dawson. I suggest you get your head on straight and your team ready to play.”
He walked into his office and shut the door in my face.
I stood there in the empty hallway, looking stupid as fuck as I glared at the trophy case across the hall, all of them with my name stamped on it in bold fucking font.
Four years of championship wins, MVP awards and newspaper clippings with my name on the front cover, and Noah thought he could take it all away in a single fucking game?
I slammed my helmet on over my head and started toward the locker room.
My hands were shaking; with rage, with fear, with uncertainty. This was supposed to be my year. My team. My fucking spotlight.
Instead, I was forced to watch my cousin steal my girl, charm my school, and now take my position as captain.
I shoved through the locker room doors.
The team looked up—Marcus, Tyler, Donovan, all of them.
“Captain.” Marcus stood. “We ready to do this?”
I looked at my teammates, my brothers. The guys who’d had my back for four years were determined, loyal and hungry for blood.
I had neglected them for far too long, now it was time to remind them who their leader was.
“Fucking right we are,” I growled. “But listen up.”
The room quieted instantly, the guys getting up from their seats to rally around and watch me.
“Tonight isn’t just a game. That transfer thinks he can walk in here and take what’s ours. Our positions, our spotlight.”
I paused, letting the words sink in. “People are saying he’s better than us, faster, stronger, more capable. He thinks he can show up one day, and take away what we’ve spent so long working for.”
A few uneasy glances, but most of them nodded, feeding off the dark energy.
“What do you say? Do you think some new guy deserves to get all the attention? Do you want scouts on that field to be watching him instead of you? To pick him to him drafted in college instead of you?”
I got a resounding “Hell nah.” In response and nodded with satisfaction.
“Good. So here’s what we’re doing,” I continued, stepping closer my eyes fierce and determined as I watched them one by one. “We make Noah’s life hell out there. I want him limping off that field, wondering why he ever transferred to Westbrook to make us look like fools. Break his rhythm. Break his spirit.”
Donovan grinned savagely. “You got it, Cap.”
Marcus cracked his knuckles. “About time someone reminded the new kid who runs this fucking school.”
As the team roared, slamming lockers and pumping fists, heading for the tunnel, one thought burned hotter than anything else:
By the end of tonight, Noah will know exactly what happens to people who try to take what’s mine.
And when Lena sees him for the weak bastard he truly is, she’ll be back in my arms again, begging for another chance.
“Get your asses on the field! Bring the fight to Noah! Fucking crush him!”