Chapter 4

Haverport won the game.Of course they did, right? After a moment like that, where the football captain catches the damsel-in-distress cheerleader falling from the sky? If high school were a test, this kind of cliché outcome would earn an A+.

And all the while, Rory was forced to sit in the bleachers and watch.

She kept the facade up throughout the rest of the game, cheering as Tyler immediately scored another touchdown, even after his five-yard penalty for running early to catch Zoe. Haverport was able to hold off Garrison's offense for the rest of the game, almost as if the team had some kind of collective jolt of energy making them downright unbeatable on the field. Then, in the last quarter, with just thirty seconds left, Tyler faked a play as Walker darted from behind the line of scrimmage. Tyler defended his run, blocking any player from getting to Walker so his teammate could score the winning touchdown.

Everyone in the stands went nuts—again—screaming and blowing air horns and dancing to the marching band's songs. Rory clapped her hands and hollered like everyone else, but inside, she didn't feel like celebrating. Especially as she watched Tyler like a hawk as he ran past the cheerleaders. He lifted Zoe around the waist with his right arm, spinning her in a hug before returning back to the team.

High school, she thought bitterly. The story was just writing itself.

She should be happy for him. Wasn't she just moments ago thinking that Tyler deserved this kind of recognition and praise? Yet she couldn't shake the nausea roiling in her stomach and the bitter taste filling her mouth.

It's really not a big deal, she tried telling herself. This will all blow over.

After the teams lined up to shake hands and the marching band blared their final few songs of the evening, everyone in the stands cheered as they watched Penelope Fairweather strut onto the field, clutching a microphone. It was tradition for the senior class president to announce the Homecoming King and Queen—even if she was the one to win herself. Which, if Rory read Penelope's tight and cordial smile correctly, it seemed Madam President wouldn't be taking the crown.

"Haverport High, it's the moment you've all been waiting for!"

Cheers exploded in the stands. Rory clapped as the football team line up behind Penelope. Tyler was laughing at something his teammate just said to him, looking elated after their win.

"It was a tight, tight race this year," Penelope said. "But after an…influx of last-minute votes," she continued, her words blanketed with subtle resentment, "we were able to determine a clear winner for this year's Homecoming Queen and King."

The crowd silenced as they watched Penelope dramatically open a navy-blue envelope like it was an award show. Rory rolled her eyes.

"This year's Homecoming Queen is…" A sigh broke up her speech. "Zoe Clark."

Everyone whooped and howled as Zoe nodded and gave her sweet-like-honey smile. One of her squad mates reached over and removed the white bow in her hair to make room for the tiara a quivering freshman delivered. She graciously let the girl place the tiara on her head, her ponytail bouncing playfully as she stood up and twirled for the crowd.

"And now, our king," Penelope said, her words cutting off the oohing and aahing. "And this year's Homecoming King is…Tyler Chapman!"

Rory didn't think it was possible for everyone in the stands to scream louder than they did when they won the game…but she was wrong. The sound that came from the crowd was like the roar of a beast, their movements just as wild. She screamed along with them, holding so much pride in her heart.

Tyler's jaw dropped slightly at this turn of events. A few of his teammates slapped his back and pushed him forward to receive the gaudy crown now heading his way. On the other side of the line, Walker crossed his arms, his face stony.

But any joyful feelings faded away as she watched Tyler and Zoe in their sparkly crowns join hands and lift them up to the stands. Rory's stomach turned further when Tyler leaned over and whispered something in her ear. She nodded at whatever he said, and in a swift movement, Tyler knelt down so Zoe could get on his shoulders. She raised her arms in triumph as he stood back up, his grin infectious.

They were stunning together.

It made Rory want to vomit.

She felt an elbow dig into her side. "Hey, you okay?" asked her friend.

She turned and grinned. "Oh yeah, so happy. He won!"

"Okayyy," Melanie responded. "Just seemed like you were upset there for a minute."

She scoffed. "Upset? No way! He deserves it."

Melanie furrowed her brow. "Hmm, alright."

She ignored Melanie's curious gaze as they descended from the stands. The Scoopers said their goodbyes to Dan and Jan and waited for Tyler at the side of the field. He kept having to fix his crown from how often he dipped to his new queen's level as they carried on a conversation—oblivious to their rabid fans. At one point, he threw his head back and laughed, the piece of hard plastic falling off his head. A tall middle-aged man with slicked-back gray hair and navy-blue slacks caught it in mid-air. But it was the smile plastered on the man's face that Rory would recognize anywhere.

Zoe's dad, Garner Clark, the first selectman of Haverport, reached his hand out for Tyler to shake. Rory and the Scoopers stood at least thirty yards away, the townies' loud chants drowning out any chance she had at eavesdropping on whatever Mr. Clark was telling Tyler, who stood there listening with a toothy grin, nodding profusely. Zoe stood close enough to Tyler that her arm was grazing his, the small amount of contact causing Rory's head to spin.

"Is Tyler about to get…too popular for us?" Blake joked.

"I'd beat him up before I let that happen," Rory deadpanned.

"I honestly would love to watch you try," Calvin said.

Just then, Tyler said his goodbyes to Zoe and Mr. Clark, Zoe giving him one last smile over her shoulder as she followed her father off the field. Tyler's gaze lingered on her before he turned to the Scoopers and grinned, holding out his arms.

Rory bolted in his direction. She jumped, flinging her arms around his shoulders, Blake and Melanie at her heels as they huddled into a group hug. Calvin stepped to the side and patted Tyler's back.

"Alright, guys, back it up, back it up," Blake said, breaking away from the group. "He's a king now, he can't be seen with us peasants."

Tyler chuckled, placing Rory down gently before reaching to touch the crown on his head. "It's all a little silly," he said, glancing down at her. "Don't you think?"

Yes, she thought to herself. But she couldn't bring herself to say it, not with that innocent boy-like look he was giving her. So she just shook her head. "No, you deserve it."

"That catch, man!" Blake said. "That was crazy. She was just falling out of the sky and BAM, you were there."

Worry lined Tyler's eyes. "She could have been really hurt."

Desperate to change the subject, Rory snatched Tyler's crown off his head and placed it on her own. "Shall we take the king out for pizza?"

Tyler groaned. "Yes, please, I'm starving." Rory saw him shift slightly, trying to steal his crown back, but she was too quick for him as she ducked and weaved.

"Meet us at Penny's when you're done?" Calvin asked.

Tyler nodded, taking a step back like he was going to leave. But quick as lightning, he jumped, throwing an arm around her and snatching the crown off her head.

"Oh my god, Ty, you reek. Get off me!"

He chuckled, tugging on her green bandana before letting her go. "That's what you get for being a menace, Ry."

She shook her head, reluctant to follow the group back to Calvin's truck as she watched Tyler jog up toward the school, holding his helmet in one hand and his sparkly crown in the other.

* * *

Rory was takingthe first bite of her slice when she saw him approaching Penny's Pizzeria, cleaned up and wearing his letterman jacket. When he stepped into the shop, everyone cheered. Tyler grinned, his eyes wide, clearly shocked by the attention people in town were giving him. He waved and shook hands with townies like he was a movie star before approaching their table, tucking in right next to her.

She frowned. "Where's your crown?"

"Locked in the treasury so little menaces can't steal it," he joked, reaching to steal the slice out of her grasp.

She swatted his hand away. "Mine. Get your own."

Tyler frowned. "But the line is so long. And I'm about to eat my hand I'm so hungry."

"If you had your crown they probably would let you skip the line, Mr. Homecoming King," Rory said.

He shook his head. "I would never skip the line."

"Tyler Chapman?"

All the Scoopers looked up from their table at Penny herself, holding a pizza plate in her hand. The diners around them quieted their chatter, eager to listen in.

"That's me," Tyler said, grinning again. He was grinning a lot tonight. Being popular must be exhausting.

"I just wanted to say, on behalf of Haverport, thanks for being so good at football," Penny started. The entire shop cheered again. "And here's a pie, on the house."

Rory snorted as Penny placed the pepperoni pizza down at their table in all its cheesy, greasy glory.

Tyler gave his thanks to Penny as Rory reached in for a slice. Without even glancing at her, he swatted at her hand. "Mine. Get your own."

"You're not going to share one slice?"

Blake frowned. "Yeah, man, share the love."

"Here, you can have my second slice," Melanie said. "Let him have his pizza. I mean, you did say he was a human garbage disposal these days."

Tyler laughed at that before digging in, half of his first slice gone in one bite.

"I still can't believe you guys beat Garrison," Melanie said. "They made it to State every year I lived there. I think this is the first time in decades they've been booted out of the running."

"So you're basically saying you're the good luck charm," Rory said.

"Sure, that's right, you can hang this victory on me. Not the fact that Tyler kicked their ass," she joked. Calvin chuckled softly, sliding an arm around her waist and kissing her temple.

Rory beamed. "I love when my friends swear."

"It was a team effort," Tyler mumbled, a mouthful of pizza. He was already reaching for his third slice.

She rolled her eyes. "Don't be modest. There's no way they would have won that game without you. They'll be back to being absolutely horrible when you're gone next year."

Tyler frowned. "That's depressing. I hope not."

"Who are you playing at State?" Calvin asked.

"Westford," Tyler replied. "They have a much stronger defense than us. It's going to be a tough game."

She elbowed his side softly. "You can do it."

He smiled down at her. "I hope so, Ry."

His phone dinged on the table between them. She glanced down at it without thinking, noticing it was a text from an unsaved number. Tyler reached for it, hiding the phone underneath the table as he swiped on the screen. She watched as he smiled at whatever it was. Her stomach turned at the sight.

"Who is it?" she asked, leaning in to see the text, but Tyler just brushed her off.

"No one," he shrugged. He slid his phone into his pocket before reaching for yet another slice.

He was clearly hiding something from her, and she hated it. But if he was going to act this way…then fine. Two could play at that game.

Rory grabbed for her own phone and opened up her texts. She turned away from the others and started typing.

We both know you lose to my spoon-fighting skills every time

Then, after a deep breath, she sent another one.

And I miss you too