Breaking His Rules

🏈18🏈

Aaron's POV:

"COME ON, BOYS! HOLD 'EM!"

Coach Hernandez's deep voice rings out over the roar of the crowd of students who are cheering loudly.

Right now, we only have one aim: to stop the Bandits offense team from making it across the field. Right now, we are tied, but if we let them slip through our defense, the game will be over with a touch down.

The ball is snapped, and I fire off the line, chasing after the wide receiver I am covering. I have him, no matter how he tries to break away, and the wild look in his eyes tells me that he knows it too.

And without warning, one of our defenders breaks through the line, lunging at the lone quarterback and bringing him down to the ground like a sack of potatoes.

The crowd goes crazy with screams as we make our way down to the sidelines. As I take in the crowd, I have to forceful restrain myself from looking for Kayla. She had been on my mind throughout the game and it had been a real struggle to keep my mind on the field.

That was odd for me. Football has always been something that occupies my whole thought and consumes me, but ever since Kayla spent the night in my room one week ago, I have been unable to think of anything other than her. No that's a lie – I've been unable to get her off my mind for even longer than that.

And then I spot her at the front of the crowd. Her eyes latch onto mine and I smile at her, a smile that she returns. We've barely seen each other since she slipped out of the window of my room last week, but she has been to all of my practice matches this week, even though it gives her less time for her art. I am about to get lost in a daydream of Kayla painting when Jason catches the ball right in front of me and snaps me back to the present.

Thank goodness his leg seems to have healed.

I take a snap through the defense of the Bandits. It was supposed to be a short run, but I spot a gap in their defense and break through. Jason sees me heading straight for the goal and tosses me the ball at an incredible speed, which I catch easily. By now, all the bandits are hot on my tail, but they are too slow and I am laced with adrenaline.

And just like that, we score a touchdown as the last seconds tick off the clock.

Meadowbrook cheers, the students yelling like crazy as my teammate lift me up above their shoulders chanting my name.

But what makes my day is when I look into the crowd and see Kayla smiling at me, jumping in excitement. She blows me a kiss and grins. That is the cherry on top of the cake.

🏈🏈🏈

"Party at Jason's place", one guy chants, and then another until it's a mantra that everyone is repeating. I know I can't go – my parents have been very strict with me ever since Kayla's visit last week – but I take up the chant with everyone, and soon we are all laughing.

As I stand there, surrounded by teammates and wishing that I could hold this moment forever, a pair of hands come over my eyes. It's easy to do that since I took my glasses off before the game and I haven't put them back on. I smile, ready to whip Kayla around and kiss her the way I've been dying to all week. She'll laugh as her hands come into my hair, and I'll pretend like she hasn't been the only thing on my mind even though I want to tell her that I'm beginning to fall in love with her. Our fake relationship end this week but every day, I feel the urge to ask her to be my girlfriend – for real.

Maybe I'll do it right now.

"Hey handsome"

My smile instantly fades and my body becomes rigid. Because the voice behind me isn't Kayla's voice.