(Jake's pov)

~Sophomore year~

The excitement buzzed through me. My teammates were cheering and congratulating me as we made our way off the field.

I had thrown the game winning pass. That was a big thing for me, last year I'd been the backup to Mateo, our team captain. But at the beginning of this season he injured his shoulder so now I was officially starting. It was only for a few weeks but with a couple more games like this I had hope I'd still be out on that field even when he was fully healthy.

"Should I be worried you're coming for my job?" Mateo smiled as he bumped his good shoulder into my side.

"I think you should be worried I already have it." I joked but part of me hoped the words were true.

"I'm not worried, I'd be happy to hand over my spot to someone who's got talent like you."

That was the thing about Mateo, he was such a nice guy and it made him a great captain. He brought the team together and made everyone feel welcome. I just hoped that when I got to be captain I'd lead just as well.

"I mean I am very talented."

I heard a scoff from behind me. Someone had obviously been listening to what I was saying and didn't agree. I turned to see a few Westerly players making their own way off the field.

But it wasn't them I was paying attention to, it was the blue eyed one that was glaring right at me.

What was his problem?

"You got something to say asshole?" I said crossing my arms over my chest sending a glare right back his way.

"I wouldn't say you're very talented you got lucky with that throw at the end. The only reason it was a completed pass was because of the talent of your receiver."

I clenched my jaw trying to stop the words from spilling out of my mouth. It hadn't taken long for me to put the face to the name. This asshole who apparently thought I was untalented and just lucky was none other than Evan Barrett, the quarterback for our rival team, the team we'd just beaten. I didn't know much about him but when he took over as the starter this year I'd spent lots of time watching tape of his games.

Seeing him up close and in person was much different than watching him on film in all his gear. I hadn't ever seen his face without his helmet on. I'd never gone out of my way to look him up and suddenly I wished I had. If only to have seen those striking blue eyes before I learned what an asshole he was and the whole image was ruined.

"You'll be lucky to out score me in a single game this season." I argued.

He could run his mouth all he wanted but I knew my words were the truth. I was a better player out on that field and it wasn't luck that won me the game today.

"As if I'd waste my time trying to compete against a second string quarterback." He rolled his eyes.

God he was so annoying. I just wanted to-. My mind went blank, I didn't really know what exactly I wanted to do but there was definitely some urge in me.

"Jeez Ev, making friends already?" One of his teammates walked up to him resting a hand on his shoulder.

"Whatever, see you at the rematch. Next time you won't get as lucky." Evan turned and followed his teammate off the field to the locker room.

Westerly was our rivals but I didn't care too much about that. But that guy was an asshole and I was ready to show him at our next game. I'd show him that it wasn't luck and I was the better player. I'd spend the next three years beating him and his team if that's what it took.

I wouldn't let him win.

~Junior Year~

"Do I have to go?" I groaned looking over at my best friend Adam.

"Yes, I can't have you sitting here being all boring. Don't you want to go out and have some fun?" He flashed me a wide smile.

I knew I'd cave but I at least tried to be as difficult as I could until I let Adam drag me out. It wasn't that I didn't party, I went out plenty of times with my teammates. Tonight just wasn't going to be one of those nights. I had scheduled a full night of doing homework and then going to the gym for a late night workout.

I couldn't let myself slack, not if I wanted that captain spot. I'd been working towards being captain of the football team since freshman year, I wasn't going to let that slip out of my hands.

"I'm busy, we can go out another night." I tried one last time for Adam to let it go.

"Please." Adam pouted out his bottom lip trying to use that stupid puppy dog face to get me to agree with him.

"Fine, but I'm not drinking a lot and you better not bother me at all tomorrow." I caved.

"Deal." He nodded a wide smile on his face.

God he was so persistent sometimes.

—

I had expected some frat party or something like that but instead we were piled into a college bar. Adam had gotten most of the guys on the team fake IDs so a lot of my teammates were hanging around drinking. I didn't mind going to the bar but somehow I preferred to have been at some stupid Kingsley party.

At least at the party I wouldn't have run into him.

I didn't see the familiar face of the Westerly Quarterback until after I heard his voice.

"If I don't become captain I'm quitting the team." I heard him say.

I turned to find the blue eyed boy leaning against a table talking to someone who I think was one of his teammates.

"You're not going to quit." His friend just laughed and shook his head.

"No I will. You think I could handle a year with Justin as captain? I'd rather throw myself off a bridge."

I couldn't help myself as I listened into their conversation. It was different listening to Evan talk when he wasn't throwing insults at me and picking fights. His face was much more relaxed and those blue eyes were light in a way I'd never seen them. I'd only seen them when he was shooting me glares.

"You wouldn't have to deal with Justin at all if you just told him to fuck off or actually told coach about it." His teammate advised him.

I wondered about who this Justin person was. What had he done to get Evan all worked up? Was there problems within the westerly football team?

"Oh yeah that's what I'll do." Evan rolled his eyes. "I'm not going to go to the coach crying because someone said something mean to me."

"He's a jerk and even coach knows that. He's not going to get the captain spot."

I couldn't help but imagine what was going to happen once Evan became captain. We already had this rivalry that he never seemed to let go of. I couldn't imagine that it'd get any better once we were both captains of our teams.

I watched as Evan's eyes left his teammate and scanned the room quickly. They paused when they got to me and I flashed him a sly smile knowing that me being here would get him worked up.

"Speaking of jerks." He glared right at me.

Somehow that glare was almost better than the relaxed face he had only moments earlier. I didn't love being glared at but with Evan it was almost different. I liked it because that fiery glare that took over his face seemed to be reserved just for me.

"Funny running into you here." I grinned walking over to him.

"Surprised you were able to fit your massive ego through the door."

"That's not the only thing that's massive." I teased.

Evans glare turned into a look of disgust. It was so easy to wind him up.

"I'd rather die than see any part of you. Looking at your face is bad enough." Evan spat.

"Your loss." I just shrugged.

"Doubt it." Evan eyed me and if it weren't for the anger and disgust on his face i'd almost think he was checking me out.

I'd seen Evan plenty of times. I'd argued with him after almost every game we faced each other. It was rare that I ever saw him off the field but it'd occasionally happen and it'd always went about the same. Because of the constant fighting I never let myself really look at him.

But I did now. I let myself take a second look. I let myself notice how the ends of his light brown hair started to curl like if he just grew it out his hair would be wavy. I let my eyes roam over his pale rosy skin to where his shirt was stretched tight at his shoulders, his muscles filling out the fabric.

He looked good. I'd even say he was kinda beautiful. My mind filled with possibilities and ideas. I thought about what his skin might feel like under my hands.

Wait- no. I was not going to think about that.

I shook myself out of my thoughts and when I looked back at Evan he was still glaring at me.

"It will be your loss when my team crushes Westerly next week." I steered the conversation back to a safe place for us.

No thinking about Evan like that.

"You fucking wish." Evan's lips pulled up into a wicked grin.

I caught myself looking down at them, staring at that pink smile. God what I'd do to wipe that smile off his face.

I felt an urge in me. One I felt before but never knew exactly what it was. I wanted to do something and usually I'd come up confused on what exactly it was. But right now it was all very clear. The urge to press my lips against his to grip the back of his neck tightly and press into him. I wanted to fight until he gave in and became a quivering mess beneath me.

I blinked.

What the fuck. This was so not happening right now. I wasn't thinking any of this about Evan. Absolutely not. I must have drank more than I thought.

"See you on the field asshole." I didn't wait for him to shoot back an insult I turned around and got the hell out of there.

I needed to clear my head. It took all the way until I was outside the bar for me to realize I hadn't had a drop of alcohol.

I wanted Evan and those were my very sober thoughts.

A/n:

I ended up writing a second bonus chapter yesterday literally because one person asked for it. I just don't quite feel ready to say goodbye to my favorite boys. So if there is anything you would want to see or questions about this book or the boys just let me know I'm happy to answer things or maybe I'll be inspired to write more bonus chapters for you guys to give you some extra content while you wait for The Path To You to start.

I have so many fun canon things that I've just decided are true and then never explicitly wrote them down for you all. It's just so crazy to me like I look back at this story and what I thought it was going to be when I first had the idea and the two are similar but also so different. Things that I had planned to write got scrapped and there are plenty of scenes and chapters that happened in this book that weren't planned or that were written due to inspiration from what I saw you guys enjoyed or wanted more of.

So while I might have written this story a lot of the reason this even happened is thanks to you and for your support and the continued motivation to keep going. I love you all!!

Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
-Cora Leigh