Aaron's POV:

"COME ON, BOYS! HOLD 'EM!"

Coach Hernandez's deep voice rings out over the roar of the crowd of students who are cheering loudly.

Right now, we only have one aim: to stop the Bandits offense team from making it across the field. Right now, we are tied, but if we let them slip through our defense, the game will be over with a touch down.

The ball is snapped, and I fire off the line, chasing after the wide receiver I am covering. I have him, no matter how he tries to break away, and the wild look in his eyes tells me that he knows it too.

And without warning, one of our defenders breaks through the line, lunging at the lone quarterback and bringing him down to the ground like a sack of potatoes.

The crowd goes crazy with screams as we make our way down to the sidelines. As I take in the crowd, I have to forceful restrain myself from looking for Kayla. She had been on my mind throughout the game and it had been a real struggle to keep my mind on the field.

That was odd for me. Football has always been something that occupies my whole thought and consumes me, but ever since Kayla spent the night in my room one week ago, I have been unable to think of anything other than her. No that's a lie – I've been unable to get her off my mind for even longer than that.

And then I spot her at the front of the crowd. Her eyes latch onto mine and I smile at her, a smile that she returns. We've barely seen each other since she slipped out of the window of my room last week, but she has been to all of my practice matches this week, even though it gives her less time for her art. I am about to get lost in a daydream of Kayla painting when Jason catches the ball right in front of me and snaps me back to the present.

Thank goodness his leg seems to have healed.

I take a snap through the defense of the Bandits. It was supposed to be a short run, but I spot a gap in their defense and break through. Jason sees me heading straight for the goal and tosses me the ball at an incredible speed, which I catch easily. By now, all the bandits are hot on my tail, but they are too slow and I am laced with adrenaline.

And just like that, we score a touchdown as the last seconds tick off the clock.

Meadowbrook cheers, the students yelling like crazy as my teammate lift me up above their shoulders chanting my name.

But what makes my day is when I look into the crowd and see Kayla smiling at me, jumping in excitement. She blows me a kiss and grins. That is the cherry on top of the cake.

🏈🏈🏈

"Party at Jason's place", one guy chants, and then another until it's a mantra that everyone is repeating. I know I can't go – my parents have been very strict with me ever since Kayla's visit last week – but I take up the chant with everyone, and soon we are all laughing.

As I stand there, surrounded by teammates and wishing that I could hold this moment forever, a pair of hands come over my eyes. It's easy to do that since I took my glasses off before the game and I haven't put them back on. I smile, ready to whip Kayla around and kiss her the way I've been dying to all week. She'll laugh as her hands come into my hair, and I'll pretend like she hasn't been the only thing on my mind even though I want to tell her that I'm beginning to fall in love with her. Our fake relationship end this week but every day, I feel the urge to ask her to be my girlfriend – for real.

Maybe I'll do it right now.

"Hey handsome"

My smile instantly fades and my body becomes rigid. Because the voice behind me isn't Kayla's voice.

I peel Alicia's hands off my face before turning to her with an irritated expression on my face.

"What do you want?", I ask her, trying to keep the bite out of my voice but failing miserably.

She winces a bit on my tone, but the bright smile on her face doesn't falter.

"I was thinking that we could go out. A successful game like that needs a celebration, right? Besides, we haven't hung out in forever, ever since you started dating... her"

"You stopped hanging out with me before Kayla and I started dating, so don't try to shift the blame on me Alicia", I say, and her smile fades off her face. Usually, I never talk back at her, but now I realize that in a way, she is just like my mother. Snobby and manipulative.

"I know I made a mistake Aaron", she says, looking into my eyes. Her hand come up to my shoulder while the other twines around my neck. "I let my friends pressure me into breaking up with you and I've regretted it everyday since. Won't you give me another chance to make things right?"

I look at her, a million thoughts running through my head. Alicia is the perfect girl. If I get her back, my parents will be happy again, they'll probably allow me to play football till college.

But that wouldn't make me happy.

I remember something that Kayla told me a few days ago when I told her that my parents had threatened to get me banned from the football team if I didn't break up with her, and how I was sad that they were disappointed in me.

"You do a lot to please your parents, Aaron. Maybe for once you should do something to please yourself."

I look in front of me where Alicia is anxiously waiting for an answer, her cute lips pursed in eagerness but with a hint of superiority because she thinks that I am going to rush back to her. I realize, perhaps for the first time, that being with Alicia wont make me happy. I dated Alicia because she is the type of girl my parents want, the kind of girl my mother probably was in her youth. But now, I realixe that I was never really happy with her.

"Maybe you should do something to please yourself"

Kayla's words ring in my ears.

"I don't want to be with you Alicia." I say with a clarity that startles me. Alicia looks at me, her head cocked to the side, her eyes narrowing.

"Look, I understand that you dated her to get my attention but it's over now, Aaron. You have my attention. I know I was stupid, but you were even more stupid to date her. So if you take me back now, I'll forgive you for everything."

I stiffen at her words, so familiar. This is the way she handles all our issues – by guilt tripping me then offering forgiveness. But it won't work this time. Not today.

"I'm not looking for your forgiveness Alicia.", I snap out in frustration, running my fingers through my hair which is damp with sweat. "Can't you see? I've moved on, and it would be healthier for you if you did the same."

Her eyes harden for a moment, but then they ease up.

"You really love her then?", she asks, and I nod, unable to keep the smile off my face as I think of Kayla, her beautiful green eyes, her witty nature, her bad girl personality. I love her.

Alicia is studying me with a strange expression on her face.

And then she leans up, holding my face in her hands, and kisses me.

I push her away.

"What the hell Alicia?", I yell out. Luckily by now, most of the students have already gone off for the party. There are a few cheerleaders around, but none of them seem to have noticed anything.

"I just wanted to say goodbye", Alicia says, her eyes bright with what I assume to be tears. I know I shouldn't feel bad for her, but I do. She's been my friend through childhood and the girl I thought I loved. It must be just as hard for her as it was for me before I fell for Kayla.

I give her a hug. "Don't worry. Alicia. You'll find a guy who will love you. But that guy isn't me."

She looks up at me, and nods, before running away, her hair flying in the wind.

By now it is getting dark and Kayla has probably gone off home, or she is in the arts class, working on a project. I really want to see her, to tell her that I don't want our relationship to end, not yet.

But my conversation with Alicia has really drained me and now all I can hope for is a drama free night.

But before I go, I send her a quick text on Instagram.

Hey. I know that we're supposed to break up soon and I need to talk to you. Meet me tomorrow during lunch.

Then I put my phone in my pocket and I head off home.

I'll confess my feelings tomorrow.

A/N: Hi loves. I was supposed to post on Wednesday, but my laptop crashed so I was unable to. Sorry to everyone I kept waiting, especially faizadreamland. 

Spoiler alert: I hope you all like this chapter because I am about to make Aaron and Kayla break up.

Cannot wait to see you all in the next chapter. See you soon loves💋💋💋