Chapter 25

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Liza

The first two weeks of school surprisingly weren't as bad as I'd thought it'd be, especially after talking to Eli on his way home from practice every day. We only talk when he's in his car alone though. I don't want his sister or parents knowing that we still communicate. If he's home or with his friends, we only text.

Now, it's Friday morning, and I have a bit more pep to my step as I enter the school and head to the teachers' lounge to make a few photocopies before heading to my classroom.

A woman who looks to be in her early thirties stops me with her hand out to shake. "You must be Miss Hernandez."

I place my bag down on the table, then reciprocate the gesture, and we shake hands. "Yes, Liza. Nice to meet you."

"I'm Sarah, or Mrs. Thatcher. I teach Math here. Boy, if you weren't the subject of conversation these past two weeks." She leans in, acting like she's whispering, but not lowering her voice much. "How has it gone?"

I grin, truly believing myself when I respond, "It's been great actually. Just a few minor hiccups, but I'll get the hang of it."

She smiles, and it's so genuine that I instantly feel like we'll be good friends. "I'm glad to hear. Don't let these kids push you around. I'll make a list of the particularly sneaky ones and the Eddie Haskell ones, too, if you know what I mean."

I shake my head, not knowing what she means. "Eddie Haskell?"

She laughs. "I know I'm not that much older than you, but you must have never watched reruns of Leave It to Beaver when you were younger. Eddie Haskell was their friend. He was super polite to the parents, making them think he was this great kid, but really, he was always up to no good. You'll see what I mean here shortly. They think we don't see what happens in the halls or at lunch, but we see everything."

I nod my head with a slight laugh, remembering the Eddie Haskells of my high school. "Oh, yes, I know the exact type you're talking about."

"So, have they hit you up for the football games yet?"

I shake my head as I take the papers I need photocopied out of my bag, my stomach turning at the mention of the football game. I wanted to go to watch Eli, but felt weird doing so by myself. "No. No one's mentioned the football games. Why?"

"We always need teachers there to … help keep things in line, let's say. If you're up for it, we'd love to have you. It's a fun time. You get to watch the game; you just need to stand at a few gates around the field to monitor people going in and out or sometimes work the entrance. Since you're a newbie though, I'll make sure you get to watch the game. We have a pretty good team with Eli as the quarterback. Not sure how well we'll be next year without him. Do you have Eli in your class?" She holds up her hand to show his height. "Really tall kid. You can't miss him."

I'm not sure whether to laugh at her height comment or throw up at the way she called him kid .

I try to act unaffected either way and move on with our conversation. "Yeah. I think he's in my second-period class."

"Good kid. You have nothing to worry about with him. His dad is one of the creators of TimeLand. You'll get to know all of the TimeLand kids this year since they are all seniors. Ben, Dalton, and Maya are the other ones. Maya is as sweet as can be. Dalton has his moments but is still a good kid. Ben is a cocky SOB if you've ever met one, but still decent, considering they basically run this school—this town actually. Eli though, he's quiet, and he minds his own business. Great student, straight A's, so your dream kid to work with really."

If she only knew how much of a dream he is in bed too.

My eyes open wider, and I turn quickly, hoping she didn't just read my thoughts—as if that's possible—but I can't believe I just went there. I know my face is blushing, so I try my hardest to hide it in the photocopier machine, praying she doesn't think I'm a weirdo all of a sudden.

There's an awkward silence between us as I act like I have no clue how to work this thing.

"So, do you think you're up for coming to the game tonight?" she asks.

I feel my face is back to normal so I turn to face her again. "Yes. That sounds like fun actually."

"Great. Let me give you my number just so you have it. The JV game starts at five, so if you could be here, say, around four thirty, that would be wonderful."

We exchange numbers, then say our goodbyes as I finish my task at hand, then grab my stuff and head to my classroom, thanking Earl once again for giving me the closest classroom to the teachers' lounge.

I can't help myself so I pull out my phone and text Eli.

Another teacher was just telling me that you're a dream student, straight A's.

He's quick to reply.

You asking people about me?

I laugh out loud with a huge smile on my face.

No. She asked me to work the football game tonight and mentioned how good you were. Then, she told me about the other TimeLand kids.

Oh, yeah? What's that teacher's dirt on us?

Maya is a sweetheart. Dalton has his moments but is a good kid, and Ben, as she said it, is a cocky SOB.

Ha! She nailed that one.

The warning bell rings, and kids start to enter my class, so I put my phone away, only to feel it buzz with one more text.

See your beautiful face soon.

I melt at his words, but don't respond as I slip my phone in my purse and stand to greet the students for the morning.

I show up at the football field at four thirty and am bummed when I don't see Eli anywhere. I walk to where Sarah told me to meet the other teachers who are working the event and am greeted by a few of them. We introduce ourselves just as Sarah arrives.

"Yay, you made it. So, I take it, you met everyone?" she asks me.

"Yep."

"Good. I asked if they were okay with you working the field gate so you can watch the game. We all rotate, so you won't get that spot every time, but they were fine with you taking it this first game. Follow me, and I'll show you around."

I do as she asked, taking in the stadium for the first time. Last time I was here, I was in such shock from seeing Eli that I didn't look around to see just how incredible this place was.

"I can't believe this is a high school field."

"Welcome to TimeLand Stadium. The CEO's son is Dalton. He's one of our best players and already committed to go to Stanford."

"Really? Stanford?"

"All the TimeLand owners graduated from there and moved back here. So, they had that connection. But Dalton is really good, so that spot is earned, for sure."

I point to the field. "Those aren't the varsity players, right?"

"No. They're probably in the locker room, going over plays and preparing. This is the JV team warming up."

She walks me to a gate that leads to the football field. "Your job will be to stay here and monitor this area. People will be coming and going, but they need one of these"—she hands me a lanyard to put around my neck—"to get through, unless they are cheerleaders, drumline, or drill team." She ticks off on her fingers. "But they have to be in uniform. No uniform, no field access."

I give her a firm nod. "Got it."

"You have my number, and I'll be the floater today, just walking around, making sure the crowd stays in line." She covers one side of her mouth, like she's trying to hide what she's saying from anyone around, although it's only the two of us here. "And make sure kids don't sneak under the bleachers to get it on ."

I laugh at the way she says get it on . Oh, high school … I remember doing some things under our bleachers that were probably frowned upon. I guess the same runs for all schools, no matter what state you're in.

"Okay, I have to run, but I'll check in on you throughout the night."

I give her a reassuring smile. "I'll be right here."

"Thank you again," she says, waving over her shoulder as she walks away.

The JV game begins, and I'm actually surprised by just how many people use this gate throughout the entire game, showing me firsthand why they need someone here to monitor it. The stadium is built into the earth with steps going down to the field, so from my higher vantage point, I can actually see the entire game, which is pretty cool.

The fourth-quarter horn signals the end of the game just as drums playing in the distance catch my attention.

I turn around and see the drumline, along with girls twirling flags in the air, approaching me in a parade-like fashion. It takes me a few seconds to realize it's because the varsity football team is behind them. This must be their grand entrance.

My heart starts to race as I realize their only way onto the field is through me.

I didn't tell Eli I'd be here. I knew before baseball games he wanted to, as he said, lock in , so we only spoke after the games, never before, so I felt I'd give him that same respect when it came to football.

It's quite the spectacle, the way they're entering the stadium, and when the first players come into view, my chest tightens at the sight of Eli leading the team.

The closer they get, the harder it is to breathe. He and one other guy are holding hands as the entire team walks in twos, all clasped at the hands.

He's dressed in his full gear, helmet and all, but we're still able to lock eyes. Seeing him like this excites the hell out of me and melts my heart, all at the same time. I've never been so proud to call someone mine, even if I can't tell a single soul that he is.

I open the gate, and the girls enter first, then the drumline. Eli never takes his sight off of me, and I thank the Lord that he has a helmet on so no one can tell. He's walking on the right side of the line, and my heart starts to beat faster because I know he'll walk right by me.

I have my hands clasped low in front of me, trying to calm every aspect of my body down, but nearly fall over when he walks by, running his finger along mine so slyly that I know no one else notices since he has to basically squeeze through the fence I am holding.

That one touch, our first touch since he left my house the last time we were together, sends jolts of electricity through my entire body. If we aren't soulmates, then I don't know what or how he does that to me. I just pray it never goes away.