2. North Newson

two

North Newson

"I'm open!" My throat burns with hot breath as I emit a scream that formed from the bottom of my gut. I weave to dodge defensive player #22. Our star running back, Rocco Bella, hurls a long pass at me. I lunge forward, grappling for the football, barely staying upright, if not for the tips of my toes. Once I regain my footing, I'm gone.

Destination: endzone.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the announcer's voice ticks up in tension, running back #47, North Newson, has the ball, and he's heading to the endzone!" The crowd rushes to their feet with fanatical screaming. I pump my legs faster while the announcer echoes over the speakers. "Forty yards, he's going for it!"

I'm lightning, but my immediate goal is to be even faster. I dig in and pull as much speed as I can. This touchdown is all we need to take the lead, and we are down to two minutes on the clock. I don't even want to think about the scout in the stands tonight who made it clear he was watching both Rocco and me. It's both of our goals to play in the NFL, and winning this game could make both our dreams come true. "Thirty yards!" the announcer counts down, his voice on edge. The crowd becomes unhinged.

A linebacker's behind me now. He's so close, his breath puffs out in audible waves, which make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. My chest drums out explosions, as my heart crawls into my throat and I top out my speed. I'm almost there. Twenty more yards.

Cramps snake up my calves, begging me to slow down, but my mind is a tank, and I refuse to cave to any pain.

The linebacker finds a burst of speed, rushing my side, but I'm slick and weave to the side, dodging him. The crowd rumbles with so much noise, it's as if the bleachers are about to collapse, and the ground is going to split open. The linebacker isn't done, and he is back on my side again. There's nowhere for me to go! I'm blazing forward and being run out of bounds.

There's someone here!

A cheerleader in mid-cheer.

I frantically swipe my hand to push her out of the way, but she's not paying attention and wham ! We collide. I tumble over her, taking her with me, and we roll together off the field all the while the crowd is roaring.

When we finally stop turning, I steal my gaze forward. I'm laying smack on top of Gia Bella.

Head cheerleader.

Prettiest girl in school.

Rocco's little sister.

She also just happens to be the woman I've been secretly in love with for years.

Her gaze hooks mine, and our breaths heave out, blending as we freeze together by instant magnetism.

"North! Nice job throwing the game for us," Rocco sarcastically screams as he jogs to the sidelines, anger oozing out of his eyes. "And get off my sister!"

Ice pumps through my veins as my body awakens to the fact that I'm lying on top of Gia Bella ! I quickly roll off her, face fiery with embarrassment, and I pray we can laugh this whole thing off. As I rush to my feet, I reach back to offer Gia a hand up, but her face pinches and she grabs her knee.

The crowd quickly hushes, and it's so quiet you can hear a fly fart. "Are you okay?" I whisper as if the sound will cause her more pain.

Her silky ponytail cascades over her shoulder, shielding her face from me, but it doesn't fully conceal her clenching eyes with a single tear drop below the left one.

I suck in a hard breath.

She's hurt.

I did this to her.

I blink, and Rocco slides in next to her, pushing me to fade to the background before I have a chance to plead sorry. She's quickly surrounded by medics. Her dad flies out of the bleachers, huddling in, and then she's whisked off the field. My team's lining up again, but I'm frozen.

"North!" Coach yells at me. "You're benched."

Of course, I am!

At this point I hardly care about the game, as my heart's slamming against my ribcage, panting Gia's name. I want to run after her, but there's nothing I can do for her.

The game must go on.

I regretfully take my seat on the edge of the bench, while my teammates pound my back. "Wrong kind of touchdown, Bruh," someone snickers.

Rocco returns, glaring at me through narrowed eyes, smeared with his eye black, and he grumbles, "You know, you just ruined everything. We were supposed to win tonight."

"How is she?" I rise to my feet, searching his face for clues.

"Stay away from my sister," he growls while piercing his eyes into mine, sending a chill spiraling through them all the way down to my toes.

"It was clearly an accident," My voice is resolute, and I take a solid step back from Rocco. A switch has been flipped, and Rocco's grin widens as he steps closer, closing the gap I had just created, while invading my personal space.

"You better watch your back," he sneers, his breath hot on my face. But as he raises his fist to strike, coach comes out from behind us, freezing us both in place.

"To the bench, boys. Now !"

She's fine , I reassure myself, as I pivot, and plop down on the bench, hanging my head. I've taken way worse hits than that and walked them off. She'll be right back out in a few moments. I stare down the path that leads to the locker rooms, waiting.

Please come out and be okay.

But she never returns to the field.