Three months later.

Lainey

"And number 12 scores yet another touchdown for the Oakwood Cougars," The announcer yells over the speakers.

I jump up in the stands and cheer. Beside me, Maize and Lena do the same.

Number 12 looks to the stands and his eyes land on mine. I stick my tongue out and he does the same. "Real mature, " Mazie comments as they take a seat.

As the offense runs off the field Owens holds up his left hand making half a heart. I hold up my right hand making the same gesture to complete the heart.

Once Owen sees my hand he jogs off the field.

The half-heart gesture started right after we started dating.

Every time Owen would drop me off at my house, he would hold up half and heart.

When I asked him what it meant he simply told me that when I'm around his heart is complete and when we're not together, I have half of it.

Today is the school's fundraiser. The guys on the football team came up with the idea of having a mock game against our rival team The Clearbrook Sharks.

Since our town loves high school football, they decided all the money the schools made from ticket sales would go to help them provide breakfast for students next year.

When they proposed the idea to our rival school they jumped at the opportunity.

Now, the football game idea has turned into a huge festival. There are carnival games, photo booths, and tons of baked goods.

The Clearbrook's Sharks defense comes onto the field in an attempt to score before halftime.

Luckily our defense holds them back till the halftime buzzer sounds.

Both teams run off the field and the marching band enters.

Maize quickly jumps up as our friend Trey comes out with the band playing the trumpet. As Maize claps along Lena and I share a look.

Trey looks ridiculous in his marching band outfit, and somehow Maize finds it super-hot.

And I have no idea why.

As the band continues to play, I see Owen's mom and Sadie walking towards us.

I wave and Sadie grins as she runs up the last step.

"Sorry we're late, Ma got stuck in traffic," Sadie yells over all the commotion.

I swipe my hands through the air. "No worries."

Alley gives me a huge smile and pulls me in a hug. "I know I just saw you last night, but I need another hug," she says as she squeezes me.

I laugh and Lena gives them both a smile from the other side of Maize who is too busy fangirling to notice them.

Two days after prom I made Owen introduce me to his family. I thought it would be weird at first since I knew them but they knew nothing about me. Shockingly it wasn't.

We got along as if I had known them my entire life.

Then Owen met my family. My parents and Jeremiah loved him, but it took Jeremy a while to warm up to him.

"How has Owen been playing?" Alley asks once the marching band finishes and the Clearbrook's cheerleaders take over the field.

"He scored a touchdown," I say.

Alley smiles and Sadie snorts. "It was probably all Caleb."

I laugh and Lena leans across Maize to say, "Caleb will be honored to hear that."

Sadie grins and Owen's mom sighs. "I don't understand why she is so mean to her brother."

Lena, Maize, and I shrug, "It's a little sister thing."

Alley looks at all three of us with raised brows. "I thought Maize was an only child."

"I am, but Trey was basically my older brother," Maize says.

"Don't say that," I groan.

Lena laughs. "It's kind of gross considering you're now dating him."

Alley shakes her head, "You're dating your stepbrother?"

"Mom," Sadie snaps.

Lena and I both laugh as Maize's face flushes red. "No, he was my best friend growing up and now we're dating."

"Oh," Alley says and Sadie rolls her eyes.

Maize shoves her elbow into my side when I continue to laugh. "I don't see what's so funny," she says dryly.

I finally calm my laughter down as the guys come back onto the field.

~~~~

We continue watching the game, cheering when our team has a good play and cringing when the other team has a good play or score.

It finally comes down to the last minute and the teams are tied up.

Our team got the ball back with thirty seconds left on the clock. All five of us are standing up as Caleb yells the play.

At the last second Caleb stands up and yells something to the sidelines. We all watch as Owen runs out onto the field taking Waylon's place.

Before the other team can understand what our team just did, the ball is snapped to Caleb and Owen zips off.  He almost goes unnoticed as he runs down the field, but a small guy from the other team takes off after him.

Caleb dodges hits as he waits for Owen to get in position. Lena gasps as a guy comes out of nowhere and hits Caleb just as he throws the ball.

We all hold our breath as it flies towards Owen.

Owen watches the ball as he runs towards the endzone.

He jumps in the air just at the right moment and catches the ball. It all seems to happen so fast. One moment he is in the air and the next his back hits the ground and the other player falls onto him.

We all hold our breath as the guy climbs off Owen.

"Get up," I whisper.

As if Owen heard me, he sits up and the crowd erupts.

The entire team rushes to Owen the announcer calls the win.

As we all cheer, Owen is lifted into the air by the rest of his teammates. He pulls his helmet off and his eyes find mine.

He smirks and I roll my eyes.

Both teams shake hands as they exit the field, and the rest of the crowds slowly leave the field.

We all make our way down the stands and towards the locker rooms where the guys get changed.

It doesn't take Trey long to find us after he is done with the marching band.

After Maize is done telling him how good he was I give him a bright smile. "Ally thought you were Maize's stepbrother."

Sadie snorts and Ally laughs, "I didn't know you were dating, and Maize said something that made it seem like you were siblings."

"It's fine, Maize often speaks without thinking," Trey says as he wraps his arm around Maize.

Maize rolls her eyes, and we all hear a squeal from behind us.

We turn to see Caleb throw Lena over his shoulder. "Hey, Mrs. Huntley," Caleb sings as Lean hits his back.

"Hi, Caleb," Ally says with a smile.

"Your hair looks amazing today," Caleb says as he grabs Lena's foot that she was using to kick him.

"Do not flirt with my mom," Owen yells.

I turn around to see him standing behind us with his arms crossed. I laugh as Sadie hugs him. "I'm shocked you caught the ball," She says.

Owen rolls his eyes as he pulls back and his mom smiles. "You did good."

He smiles as he wraps his arms around her. When Ally pulls away, she gently nods in my direction.

Owen slowly walks towards me with a big smile. "What player does your jersey belong to?" He asks as he stops in front of me.

I look down at the jersey I am wearing. "My boyfriend gave it to me."

His smile grows, "He is one lucky fellow."

I contain my grin as I say, "Yes, he is."

Owen slowly puts his arms around my waist as he lowers his head. "I am one damn lucky fellow," He whispers against my lips.

I hum in response as I push my lips against his. He kisses me slowly as I run my fingers through the damp strands of his hair.

Owen pulls away and tucks a lock of hair behind my ear. "You look unbelievably cute."

I finally let the grin take over my face as I say, "And you look unbelievably gorgeous."

He swings his arm around my shoulder and pulls me towards our friends. "Darling, we talked about this, you can't keep stealing my compliments," Owen says with a fake groan.

I giggle. "I didn't."

"Yes, you did," Owen exclaims.

I sigh. "Fine, you look moderately handsome."

He snorts, "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

I shrug. "You look like any average handsome person."

Owen stops and his arm slips from my shoulders. "You wound me, Lane."

"Get over it," I throw over my shoulder as I approach our friends.

"What are we doing first?" I ask.

Before anyone can answer I feel hands grab my waist and I am lifted in the air. I squeal as Owen sets me on his shoulders.

"I say we should go play darts so I can kick Trey's ass," Owens says as if I'm not on his shoulders.

"Put me down," I snap, but Owen ignores me.

"Good luck with that I am pretty damn good," Trey says.

"Prove it then," Owen responds.

Trey grabs Maize's hand and pulls her towards the darts game with Caleb and Lena behind. "I call dibs on playing the winner," Caleb yells.

As Owen follows, I groan," Huntley, put me down."

He pats my leg, "Nope, you're staying right where you are."

~~~~

Owen did not beat Trey's ass in darts, basketball, or the ring toss. He did however manage to beat everyone in musical chairs.

Which we all played together. It was quite fun till the end when it was just me and Owen left. He lifted me out of the chair and set me on his lap so he would win.

After playing all the games at the festival our group leaves and goes to a small bar to eat and dance.

"Can you believe summer is almost over?" Owens asks.

Lena frowns. "I know, I can't believe we leave for college in three weeks."

"At least we had fun this summer," Waylon says. 

We did have a lot of fun this summer. We went to concerts and the local pool whenever we could. We even drove two hours away to the beach for a weekend.

"It's going to be weird being so far away from each other," Maize says.

I can't seem to meet her eyes as I nod.

Unfortunately, we all will be going to different schools. Maize and Waylon are going to school about four hours away from home. Trey will be just as far, but just at a different school not too far from Maizes.

Caleb and Lena are both going out of state to a school about eight hours away.

Owen raises his cup. "Then we should make the most of the time we have together.

We all cheer and Maize drags Trey up. "I want to dance."

Trey laughs and the rest of us follow.

As a slower song begins Owen wraps his arm around me so we can sway.

"Are you nervous to be away from each other?" I blurt.

Owen tightens his arms around me. "I'm nervous about how much I'm going to miss you, but I'm not nervous about our relationship."

"What do you mean?" I ask.

Owen smiles. "Being an hour away from you is going to be hard, but I know we can do it."

Unlike our friends Owen and I won't be going to the same school or school near each other.

I always planned to go to a certain school about an hour away. while Owen had planned to go to none. That was till he got a full athletic scholarship to one twenty minutes from his home. So, his mom made him go.

"A lot of couples break up once they go to college," I say, voicing my fear.

"Lane, we are not like most couples," Owen says.

He tilts my chin so I am looking into his eyes, "I love you more than anything, Lainey, and nothing will change that." A smile slowly spreads across his face. "And I also know you love me just as much."

"You sure are cocky," I tease.

Owen brushes his nose against mine. "Nothing will come between us."

I let out a long breath. "I am going to miss you a lot."

Owen nods, "Yeah, it will suck, but we always have Facetime."

"And we will visit each other all the time," I add.

Owen's smile grows. "And then we can spend the entire summer together."

I press my lip against his.

"I love you, Lainey," Owen breathes against my lips.

"I love you more," I breathed in response.

Owen gently shakes his head as he pulls me in for another kiss. "Not possible."

I laugh as Owen kisses me like no one is watching.