HARRY'S POV

I DON'T KNOW if the rainy weather was to blame or the conversation I had with Matthew minutes before our game, but to the players on the opposing team, it probably looked like it was my first time ever throwing a football. My technique was sloppy, I'd been sacked twice, and the score was 0-19. I couldn't make a solid pass for the life of me and felt like I was doing my teammates a disservice by staying in the game instead of having the second quarterback step in. Call me selfish, but I didn't want to spend this game or any game for that matter sitting on the sidelines.

Near the end of the second quarter, Coach Ford called for a timeout and ordered all of the players to huddle up. "I don't know what's gotten into you boys, but you need to get your shït together. We haven't scored a single point and the Lions are wiping the floor with our asses," Coach said while glaring at every single one of us. "Get in the game and make those stellar plays you did in practice boys. Don't let me down."

I nodded my head and looked around to see most of the boys doing the same except for Matthew. When my eyes connected with his, I couldn't help but frown. He was shaking his head at me, and I hated the fact that I was proving him right instead of wrong.

"All I'm saying is, the girl is a distraction, Harry," Matthew argued, his words sounding like something Robin would say if he were here right now.

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest. "I've got everything under control, so I suggest you don't worry about what it is I do after school," I retorted, my lips pulling together in a frown.

Matthew let out a scoff as he approached me slowly. He narrowed his eyes on mine and swiped his tongue along his bottom lip before saying, "If who you do after school starts getting in the way of how you perform on the field, then we're going to have a problem."

I never had a problem performing well on the field up until this point. Maybe it's because someone knows your secret now, the voice in my subconscious told me. I shook my head with a sigh and joined the players back on the field in our positions. Hell, if Tom Brady could win the Super Bowl with a scoreboard like mine and Donald Trump could be elected president when he lost the popular vote, then I could win this game for the Dolphins. With these thoughts in mind, I grabbed the football when it was handed to me by one of my teammates and launched the ball forward in Andy's direction.

Relief flooded me when he caught the football and began advancing forward. We gained about 20 yards before Andy was tackled to the ground. However, I wasn't going to complain because that's the most activity we've had throughout the game so far. The second quarter eventually came to an end and we were about fifteen yards away from the end zone. I was confident that this game was going to take a turn for the best within the second half.

§

We were down to the final seconds in the game. The Lions had a five point lead over us, and one touchdown was the difference between who wins or loses. I went over the play countless times in my head before I walked back onto the field and took my position behind the rest of the players.

"28, 35, 42, 49. Hut-hut!" I shouted before the ball was handed to me.

I back pedaled a few feet and watched my linebackers go to work. They were doing their best to ward off the other players, so I could have enough time to throw the ball. My eyes darted over to the end zone to see if either Matthew or Andy was close enough.

They both seemed like they were the same distance away, but I trusted Matthew more to be able to avoid the opposing players if I threw him the ball. The end result showed me I shouldn't have. He ended up making it to the end zone but got tackled seconds before he could catch the football in the air.

The groans that escaped our supporters in the audience didn't go unnoticed. For the first time since our season began, we lost. I looked at each of my teammates on the field and saw that they were shaking their heads while some were consoling each other. I spotted Matthew on his knees at the end zone with his helmet in his hands just as I was removing mine.

I didn't know what to say to anyone, so I kept to myself and tried to get over the shock of it all until coach called us over. He instructed everyone to hit the showers and then to meet with him in the locker room afterward for a reflection of the game. This had become somewhat of a ritual of the Dolphins ever since Coach Ford replaced Coach Matthews. He believed a team was more successful if they could identify and communicate the reasons why they've won a game or lost a game in a given season.

After the boys and I finished showering and dressing, we sat around in a circle on the benches while coach leaned against the lockers in the center. The silence that filled the space was deafening. I couldn't bring myself to stare at Coach Ford in the eyes knowing that I would be met with disappointment if I did. Hearing his voice was enough for me at the moment.

"Would anyone like to share their thoughts before I give my remarks?" Coach asked us.

I kept my eyes focused on my feet, shaking my head from side to side to nonverbally communicate my answer. My hair was still slightly damp from the shower, and I could feel the droplets of water soaking through the collar of my shirt. The silence continued to linger in the atmosphere until I heard one of the linebackers clear their throats.

"I think the linebackers and I displayed a lot of unity and good teamwork throughout the game," Henry told the Coach.

A few other players chimed in with a few "yeahs" to support Henry's statement. I looked up for a brief second and instantly regretted it. Coach Ford maintained his neutral expression and locked his eyes on mine. I swallowed the lump in my throat and brushed my hands against the fabric of my jeans to get rid of the clammyness.

"What about you Harry?" Coach Ford raised his eyebrows, watching me carefully. "Do you have anything to say in regards to the team's performance today?"

I shrugged my shoulders while clasping my hands together and sitting up straighter. My neck felt stiff from when I had my eyes glued to the floor, so I rolled it until I heard that pleasing cracking sound.

"I think we were off to a rough start at first but managed to turn it around in the second half of the game," I responded.

I heard a scoff slip out of someone's mouth at my answer and snapped my eyes in the direction of the sound. I saw Matthew sitting across from me with a smirk on his face and his arms crossed over his chest. He looked like he wanted to say something, and I could Coach thought the same thing based on what he said next.

"Do you disagree Matthew?" Coach Ford inquired, gesturing to the boy with a smug grin on his face.

Matthew nodded his head. "You bet I do. If anyone was off to a rough start, it was Harry. Everyone was doing what they were supposed to except for him," He argued, sitting forward on the bench a bit.

I raised my hand to cut in before coach could comment on what Matthew said. "I mean, you could hardly catch any of my passes, so I don't think I'm the one at fault here entirely," I retorted.

"Alright boys, take it easy," Coach warned us with a certain edge to his tone.

"Oh, come on, Harry. We all know your mind was on something else other than football for the first half of the game," Matthew taunted me. I could feel my blood pressure rise as I saw that stupid smirk on his face widen. "Care to enlighten the team on the poor excuse for why you were so out of it, or shall I?"

"You want to try saying that one more time?" I snarled at him.

I quickly rose to my feet and met Matthew in the middle of the room. He gave my chest a shove, and I shoved him right back twice as hard, making him stumble back. I was prepared to swing at him with my fist, but before I could, someone grabbed onto my arm to restrain me. When I looked over my shoulder, I saw Andy staring at me desperately, begging me not to fight Matthew with his eyes. He distracted me long enough for Coach Ford to move directly between us and hold his arms out, separating us both.

"That's enough!" Coach shouted, making my eyes snapped to his. "I don't know what the hell has gotten into you both, but I don't tolerate this kind of behavior on my team," He reminded us. "As punishment, I'm making you both stay after to wash the football uniforms and towels. The rest of you all are dismissed."

Shït. My date with Florence is tonight at 6pm, and it's 5:30pm.

"But Coach, that all will take at least two hours, and I have someplace important to be," I tried to reason with him as the rest of the players filed out of the room. "Can't you think of another punishment?"

"If that important place you have to be isn't the hospital, then you're out of luck Styles," Coach Ford replied in an uncaring tone.

I groaned and walked back to where I set my gym bag down, grabbing my phone. I planned on texting Florence to explain my current predicament but before I could open our conversation, Coach Ford approached me from behind and snatched my phone from my hand.

"What the hell coach? You can't just take my bloody phone!" I yelled, throwing my arms up into the air in anger.

Coach Ford ignored my protests and walked toward Matthew who had been silent up until that point. Coach opened his free hand and gestured to the phone in Matthew's hand. Matthew sighed as he handed it over.

"I was going to text my parents," Matthew explained as Coach Ford pocketed both of our devices.

I rolled my eyes, thinking that was probably a lie, and crossed both of my arms over my chest, waiting for Coach Ford to say something.

"I'll inform both of your parents and guardians that you'll be staying late," Coach told us with a frown. "Let this be a lesson to you about fighting off the field. The quicker you get to work, the quicker you'll be able to get your phones back." With that, he walked out of the locker room and headed down the hall, most likely to the teacher's lounge.

I sighed and shot a glare at Matthew. This was his fault. If he hadn't approached me before the game or made those snarky comments about Florence, then neither of us would be here right now, and my girl probably wouldn't be questioning whether or not I stood her up. I could only hope she'd be willing to let me explain what happened or make it up to her.

Author's Note:

Hey everyone. I hope you're all enjoying your weekend. I start my internship at the YWCA this Wednesday which I'm super excited and nervous about. I'll get to work with high school girls between the ages of 14-18 in feminist workshops.

Shoutout to @-realfriends for all of her supportive comments throughout my book so far.

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Question for my readers: What show(s) are you currently watching non-stop over the summer?

Mine are Black mirror and Supernatural.

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Kaylandia