Chapter Ten
Tyler
I’m heading to Weight Lifting with my friends when I spot the twins. I’m just about to nudge Jared when Layla looks up with red-rimmed eyes, and then she hugs her sister quickly and takes off. Wow, who knew the Ice Queen actually had emotions?
I don’t feel one single ounce of sorry for her since she went all crazy and knocked my phone out of my hand. She’s lucky it’s still intact and the screen isn’t smashed to hell.
I glance over at Jared. He’s staring at something with a confused look on his face. I follow the direction of his gaze and notice Juliet talking to Chase. He’s on the team with us and in all the AP classes with Jared and Juliet. Like Jared, he’s cool for a nerdy type, he just hardly comes to any of our parties after the games. We invite him, but I think his dad’s super strict and doesn’t want him out late or whatever.
“What’s up with her and Chase?” Jared whispers.
“I think they’re best friends.”
“Yeah, right! He can’t just want to be friends with a girl like her,” he snaps.
“If she’s anything like her sister, I’d wonder why he’d want to be friends with her in the first place.”
Jared glares at me. “Layla is actually nice. Not to you, because you’re an ass. But she is nice.”
“That’s bullshit. She just went all psycho and threw my phone because I bumped into her. And yes, I said sorry.”
Jared raises a brow. “All right, well, that’s a little extreme.”
“You think? I mean, shit; I gave her a ride when Adam bailed on her. Then she acts like I’m a jackass. Throwing my phone. Slamming into me without so much as an I’m sorry. She’s a straight-up royal bitch. I’m happy if she’s suffering. She deserves it.”
“Really, man?”
I shrug. “Yeah. I call them like I see them.”
I walk into the locker room and quickly change into my workout clothes then head to the weight room. It’s the only class besides lunch that we all have together. As Jared takes a bench, I go and grab some weights. Adam’s next in line. “Hey man,” he says.
“Hey.”
He steps up and grabs two 45’s from the tree, as I like to call it, then asks, “Hey, do you think Coach put me on second string because of Layla?”
I raise a brow. “Um … no. I think he put you on second string because you’ve been weakening the left side for weeks now.”
“I’ve been distracted.”
Mark comes over and laughs. “Well, that happens when you can’t keep track of your dick, bro. One woman at a time.”
Adam sets the weights down beside his bench. “Screw off, Mark. You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about!”
“Dude, you did confess this morning that you were screwing around on her,” I point out. “But I get it. She’s a total bitch, if you ask me.”
He nods and looks over at Mark, who is walking to the bench in the far corner of the room. “Well I’ve got needs, and she wanted to save herself for marriage or something,” Adam says.
“Wait. You’re telling me she’s saving herself until marriage? I thought after a year you guys were already, you know.” Why am I asking him about this? Why the hell do I even care? Something is seriously wrong with me. But I could have sworn those two hooked up at one of the parties I was at.
Adam shakes his head. “Don’t tell the others though. I don’t want it spreading that I couldn’t go around all the bases with her.”
I nod, grab the weights I need, and head back toward Jared.
“Dude. You know Adam never even hooked up with Layla?”
Jared rolls his eyes. “Why do you care?”
“I don’t. I’m just saying that’s probably why she’s a super prude.”
“Bro, shut up. You’re starting to sound like an asshole.”
I laugh. “Just calling it like it is.”
“Yeah, well. I’m ready to lift whenever you’re done calling it like it is.”
He places weights on one side of the bar and I set mine on the other. He settles on the bench and we take turns doing reps. We have to do three sets of ten. Then we switch and head to the next station, which is called Peck Deck.
Mark and Austin pass us with a nod. I don’t know how Jared can keep his cool the way he does. He’s a better person than me, that’s for sure. Because if Mark was going after someone I liked, you better believe his ass would’ve been thrown into a wall.
“Maysville is getting a beat down this Friday,” I say.
Jared takes a deep breath and says, “Yep.”
“Dude, you better focus or your dad is going to be riding you like a cowboy does a bull.”
He stops shooting glares at Mark while clenching his teeth together. “I want to hit him in the face. What he’s doing is straight-up bullshit!”
“I agree. But dude, come on. In all fairness, you did have a billion chances to make a move.”
“No, I really didn’t. And you know it.”
I shake my head. “Look man, all I’m saying is you need to put it behind you for now. Find a distraction.”
“I’m not using a girl to forget about Juliet.”
“Well, you should probably think about it.”
He stops and gets off of the machine. “Maybe.”
We switch positions and I start my reps. This continues until it’s time to change and head to the football field for practice.
A whistle blows loudly. “Again!” Coach Black screams.
Sweat is dripping off me and running into my eyes. I want to rip off my helmet and wipe it away but there isn’t time. I get into my spot and glance over at Jared as he settles behind the center. He signals off the count. When Dan, our center, snaps the ball, I take off down the right-hand side of the field. I continue full speed on my route and then dart over to the left when I reach the twenty-yard marker. I’m almost lined with the center of the goal post when the ball is fired at me. I catch the ball with ease and sprint into the end zone.
Coach is not thrilled though; he throws down his clipboard and screams, “No!” He sets off across the field, heading directly to Jared. “You practically waited until he stopped! He’s supposed to get the ball right as he gets there. That means you fire before, not after!”
I don’t hear Jared’s response but I bet it’s nothing but, “Yes, sir.” Jared has never mouthed back. Not like the rest of us. And yeah, we had to run like you wouldn’t believe. Then after the running were the push-ups because Coach Black doesn’t tolerate backtalk. If you talk back and don’t do the punishment he dishes out then you can take a walk off the field.
One time some cocky kid named Garth tested Coach, said something ridiculous like he was going to sue the school for abuse. Coach is still here, but Garth had to transfer. He plays for Anchor Shore, a fancy prep school we play at the end of the season.
As Jared is getting laid into by his old man, I take this moment to wipe the sweat from my face. The team’s water boy sprints out to us, and a few of the defensive guys take some waters.
Mark walks over to me and says, “Juliet said she’s coming to the game.”
“Fantastic. Is she coming dressed as a wizard?”
“What? Why would she dress like a wizard?”
I place my helmet back on my head. “Because her bitchy sister said she likes to dress up like one.” I look over at Jared then back at Mark. “Why are you even doing this shit man?”
“I told you; I like her.”
“Really? What do you even know about her?”
“She’s hot. Drives a Jeep. So that’s cool. She’s like in all the smart classes. She’s best friends with Chase Bromwell and Adaline Frost.”
I shake my head. “Real freaking deep, man. I could have told you that shit. What did you talk about with her? For real, because I’m trying to wrap my head around this.”
“What is your problem, Tyler? I know she likes to read, and she likes art, and she’s really cool. Why does it matter?”
I shove him. “Jared knows more things about her than that. I bet if you asked him what kind of books she reads he could tell you. Jared’s right; you’re just trying to get with her to piss him off. You don’t really like her. Just lay off, man.”
“You’re wrong. I do like her.” He shoves me back. “We talk mostly about the things I like, not what she does. She likes it. She’d tell me if she didn’t.” He shoves me harder. “Mind your business.”
Someone grips my arm then yanks me back. I turn and see Coach breathing hard, ready to lay into me. “What the hell are you two doing?”
“I was just … ”
“Not a damn thing. Now run the route again. No stopping this time, Richardson!”
“Yes, Coach.”
He quickly releases me, and I hurry back to my position. Jared waits until Mark is on his side then he counts it down. As the ball is snapped, I take off and this time, there is no stopping. I get there right as the ball does. I reach out, catch it, and hurry into the end zone.
Coach starts clapping. “That’s what I want to see. Do it again.”
We ran the play three more times before we were finally dismissed to the showers.