Her happiness faded. Zach was playing phenomenally well. His throws were right on point. He was leading the team to victory. Would she be partially at fault if they lost? Guilt forced her to text her brother.
Playing great! And of course I’m sitting on your side … look for me during the second half.
As the teams came out of the locker room and took the field, she saw Zach. His eyes searched the bleachers till they found hers. Maybe things were going to be okay after all.
The second half began with the ball in Edgewood’s possession. Zach was on the field with the rest of the offensive line. Everything was going fine until the ball flew out of bounds on Crosswell’s side — right where Talon was sitting. Keeley’s hands clenched together as she watched her brother jog over to get it.
“Uh-oh,” Nicky muttered, straining her neck. “This is going to be bad.”
“Someone stop him,” she said to no one in particular, running her hands over her forehead and into her hair. “Okay, maybe this won’t be so horrible.” She watched as Zach leaned down, reaching for the ball. “So far, so good.”
Suddenly, her brother stood back up without the ball. Damn. She spoke too soon. Her heart stopped as he slowly straightened, his shoulders squaring off. He pulled off his helmet just as Talon stood. Her fingers sank deeper into her hair. Her focus solely on the two boys advancing toward each other. Zach moved slightly to the right, blocking her view.
“Can you see what’s happening?” she asked Nicky, who had a better view.
Nicky swore just as Keeley saw Zach’s fist move. Horrified, she watched as it swung forward, connecting with Talon’s jaw. For a split second, the crowd was deathly quiet. Talon moved, but not to tackle Zach to the ground like she thought he would. Instead, he walked away.
A referee walked out onto the field with a microphone. Over the loudspeaker, he announced, “Number six, Zachary Brewer, has been suspended from the rest of the game due to disorderly conduct.”
Keeley sought out her brother, who was standing by the sidelines. He threw down his helmet and turned to the stands. Immediately, he found her. The fury in his eyes pinned her to her seat. Cort put a hand on his shoulder, but he brushed it away and kept on walking. She watched as he retreated off the field. His fist swung out and hit the chain-link fence that lined the walkway. The harsh sound of rattling metal reverberated in her ear.
The rest of the game was tense. With Zach gone, Edgewood started to fall apart. They made sloppy passes and poorly timed tackles. Crosswell fed off their mistakes, taking full advantage. With five minutes left, the score was tied.
Talon and his team were trying their best to move down the field, but Edgewood was holding the line. As the end of the game drew closer, Talon became desperate. In one great action-play, he faked the handoff to the running back and instead tucked the ball into his arm. Confused, Edgewood’s defense followed the running back, who pretended to have the ball. Quickly, Talon looked down the field and saw one of his receivers open. A second later, the ball flew right into the player’s open hands. Crosswell fans cheered as the boy sprinted down the field. He was as quick as lightning, dodging the defense while moving closer to the end zone. The crowd rose to their feet, their eyes transfixed on the field. He was at twenty yards, then ten, then five … then …
Crosswell erupted into cheers. Fans started pouring onto the field, running toward the winning team. Talon was hoisted onto someone’s shoulders, his fists raised in the air. She was happy for Talon, she truly was, but a part of her hated that Zach lost. He worked hard for this game. He believed — rightly or wrongly — that his whole future depended on it.
“Are you going to congratulate your boy?” Nicky asked, motioning toward the field.
Her eyes shifted from the crowd of Crosswell fans to the Edgewood locker room. A lone figure exited, his shoulders slumped. She knew who needed her the most.
“Zach,” Keeley pleaded, knocking on his bedroom door, “talk to me.” Her head fell against the door. Ten minutes she’d been standing in front of his room. She’d coaxed, ordered, yelled, even threatened, but no response. “Will you at least let me know if you’re okay?”
More silence. “If the reason you can’t talk is because some psycho is holding you hostage with a knife, then cough once.” A faint sound came from the other side. She knocked harder.
“I’m fine, Keels. I don’t need to talk.” He sighed in exasperation. “I just want to be left alone.”
“You know me better than that. I would never leave you in a time of crisis.”
“You make it sound like I’m on the verge of a mental breakdown.”
“Well, aren’t you?” Whenever he lost a game, he would go out with his teammates and blow off steam by playing arcade games. He’d never holed himself up in his room before.
She slid down to the ground and leaned against the wall next to his room. “I know how much you wanted to win.”
“Winning isn’t everything.”
She almost choked. This coming from a guy who still bragged to the family that he learned to walk before she did. “Then why are you here sulking instead of hanging out with your friends?”
“I just …” Something thumped against the door. “I let my team down.”
He let himself down, not the team. “You know you’re not God, right? The fate of the football team does not rest solely in your hands. They had chances to win but they blew it.”
“They voted me captain. I was supposed to lead them, not get into a fight and mess everything up.”
“Yeah, you messed up, and you got punished for it. But it’s over now. Stop beating yourself up and move on. Don’t let this ruin the rest of the season. And keep your temper in check next time.”
“I tried, but it was him.”
“Did he say something to you?” She almost hoped he did because from where she was sitting, it looked like Zach punched him out of the blue. Hearing about the way he stole Claire, and now this … she didn’t like the person she was seeing.
“He told me you’d been texting him during halftime. That you sent him a picture …” He paused. “A kiss.”
“That’s what set you off? A little extreme, don’t you think?” She didn’t even get why he was so upset with Talon. After all, it was Zach who went after Claire. So why the hostility after all this time?