Chapter Seventeen
Layla
Out on the field, I toss my cheer bag and my book bag against the fence along with the rest of the girls’ bags. We each decorate our eyes with little blue and gold stars in the outer corners. Rachel’s shrill-fake laugh reaches me.
I quirk a brow as I stare at my friend acting ridiculous. “Tyler Richardson! That’s who you want to score with tonight at the after party?” she bellows at Selena. Yes, the very same girl who was making out with Adam, practically humping him, on my car the other day.
Unbelievable. I can’t stand Tyler. He’s a jerkwad, but even I wouldn’t wish this train wreck on him. Causally walking over to the silly girl, I say, “You can’t have him. I hear he’s taken.”
“Who?” Rachel asks.
Selena blinks up at me. “Is he? He looks pretty single to me.”
“Well, he’s not. He’s dating some girl from Fairview. Go ask him if you don’t believe me.”
She smiles at me then walks over to her group of friends. Rachel shoves me. “What was that?”
“Nothing. I just … Oh, come on. That one there is just working her way up a ladder.”
“Yeah, and? She wants on Tyler’s pole. Who cares?”
“She’s only using him for popularity.”
She puts her pom-poms on her hips. “So? It’s Tyler. You hate him.”
I cast my eyes down. “I know. I guess. I don’t know.” Okay. I can’t admit this to anyone, but when I bumped into Tyler today he made me feel small. Unwanted. He also made me feel like I’m nothing but a total bitch. I’m not. If I could save him from a girl looking to boost her popularity, then okay. He can see I’m not as bad as he makes me out to be.
The stands begin filling up and Coach Mallard screams at us, “In line ladies. Shake your fear.”
Ugh. I hate this cheer. It’s the stupidest one we have. But we all get to make up one defensive cheer, one offensive, and one peppy one to get the crowds going. There are twelve of us on the squad, so we literally have thirty-six different cheers to choose from during the forty-eight minutes of each game.
“Get ‘em up, Get ‘em up, Tigers. Shake out your fear, and roar!”
Rachel makes her roar face, fangs out, mouth open and her nose wrinkled. I stifle a laugh as I shake my pom-poms to the left and right while going through another round of the cheer.
Once we’re done I giggle. Rachel joins me and our coach gives us the stink eye. I glance back at the game, which is about to start. The guys are all lined up for kick-off. “Nick wants to hang out tonight,” Rachel says.
“Aren’t you with Austin?”
She shrugs. “I like Austin, but we’re not serious.”
“Did you talk to him about that?”
“Ladies!” Coach Mallard yells as she claps to get our attention. “Crush it.”
Rachel nudges me with her elbow. I can’t help smiling so big my mouth hurts at the corners. This is my cheer.
“Tigers, here we go. Here we go. Crush it like you want it more. Crush it, we need to score. Tigers crush it.”
I spot my sister in the stands, wearing her “Want pie? 3.14 right here” shirt. She waves at me. I smile and wave a pom-pom at her. She looks so out of place.
“Wow, she even came to the game in her geek gear,” Rachel says.
“Leave her alone. She’s just being herself. If Mark doesn’t like her geeky side then he can suck it!”
“Whoa. Chill. I’m just saying I’m surprised she didn’t try to put in a little more effort. I mean he is Mark Whalan. He’s not some librarian.”
“Knock it off. I think it’s cute. He likes her dorkiness.”
Rach must see my mood, because she drops ragging on my sister and her choice of clothes.
We do another round of cheers.
We all seem to stop as the crowd erupts in cheers. I turn and watch Tyler pumping his legs, carrying the ball from the forty-yard line past the thirty-yard marker. He dodges a few guys from the backfield trying to tackle him. He spins around one and stiff arms another, and then bolts into the end zone.
I shake the blue and gold pom-poms in my hands and squeal out a “Wooo!” His eyes land on me and there is something in his gaze that makes me stop cheering for him.
He hands the ball off to the ref and pats his teammates who come running in to congratulate him.
“Good job, Tyler!” Selena shouts as he jogs past her.
He tips his head in her direction then runs to the sidelines. Wow, he’s got a nice body. Too bad he’s a jackass. And what was that look he gave me?
I’d like to say the rest of the game went differently. It didn’t. Adam stood along the sidelines the entire game. He glared at me whenever our eyes locked. Mark kept throwing winks toward the stands when he caught something in the end zone. Jared looked like he was going to murder anyone who got in his way. And when Tyler would score he’d give me the coldest stare I’ve ever encountered.
By the time game was over I was exhausted, needed a shower, and did not want to go to anyone’s house to drink or act stupid. Dragging myself and my bags out to my car, I check my phone. There are two unanswered messages waiting for me.
R: If ur team plays 2night, good luck.
R: We won. How did ur team do?
Me: We won.
R: Headin 2 any parties?
Me: No. Car, home, shower, and my bed.
R: That doesn’t sound fun. I get it though. Have a good night.
Me: You too.
“Layla! Where are you going?” Rachel asks.
“Home.”
She makes an ugly face at me. “Seriously? Fine. I’ll get a ride from one of the boys. Call me tomorrow.”
I smile. “Okay.” I tuck my phone into my bag then unlock my car. As I’m putting my bags into the backseat a shadow falls over me. I turn and squeak.
“Jesus! Adam! What the heck?”
“Take me back, Layla. Please. I’ll do whatever you want. I miss you.”
I shove him away. “You don’t miss me! You certainly don’t care. The only thing you’re mad about is not getting my virginity! You’re not getting it. I’m not going back out with you. And you can try to win me back with every pathetic, sleazy attempt you want but it won’t work. You cheated on me. I’ll never forget that. I’ll never forget how you texted her the entire time we were on a date.”
“Baby, please!” he reaches for me and I smack him.
“No! Don’t call me Baby! That name is reserved for someone who gave a shit about me. It’s meant to be an endearment from someone who adores me. The only person you adore is yourself!”
Adam starts to say something but a voice interrupts us. “Layla, you alright?” Jared asks.
“I’m good,” I say with a smile. “Good game tonight.”
He watches Adam for a bit. Tyler comes up next to him. I can’t help but stare as his hand runs through his hair, pushing damp strands out of his eyes. “What’s the … Are you taking him back?” Tyler asks.
“Yes,” Adam says while I growl, “No!”