Bailey's POV

Levi drops a bombshell on me by saying he's quitting football. Why would he quit the one thing he's passionate about? Wasn't it just the other day he boasted about how much he loves to play?

Levi and I can't manage to find the words to say to each other as thunder claps and drenches us with its storm. It's quiet for a while as both of us, without hoods to cover our faces, suffer silent and wet. I pull together a soppy ponytail. Levi's eyes are glued to the pavement as if he's too ashamed to meet mine.

"Why are you quitting football? You love football."

He doesn't respond.

I tug on his jacket and ask again, "Hey, why are you quitting football?"

Just because I dislike the man doesn't mean I don't want him to give up doing what he loves.

He shakes his head, "I can't do it without Jack." His voice, barely a whisper, but I can hear the lump tugging at the back of his throat. He runs his fingers through his hair and clears his throat, "How can I take the quarterback position when he died and I survived?"

Thunder rumbles in the distance.

"It's not right. If he can't play football, then I shouldn't be either." Seeing him crumble before my eyes, stirs something inside me. Lightning once again lights up the sky and the raindrops come down harder. If we continue to stand out here in this storm, we will both get sick.

With little thought, I slip my hand in his and pull him towards the parking lot. He obediently falls in line behind me. Once we're inside the blue Chevy, I throw my sopping coat in the back seat while Levi starts the engine. I use the vents to warm my damp soggy hands, trying anything to not feel like a wet mop.

I look over and Levi is staring out the front windshield, caught in a daze. This whole time he's been beating himself up for the death of my brother. Jack not only destroyed our family, but he destroyed his friend's lives too.

Eventually he sighs and speaks up again, "AnnaMae asked me out after Jack's funeral. Can you believe that? Jack's girlfriend asked me out after his death. It's so messed up! She quickly backtracked after I told her I did not plan on taking the quarterback position away from Jack. That's why she's with Hunter. If I'm not quarterback, he's the next in line."

That is messed up. AnnaMae is so desperate to keep her reputation that she would toss Jack to the side for the next big thing. Poor Hunter probably has no idea and the ironic part of the whole situation is that he doesn't even want the position. While AnnaMae pretends nothing ever happened between her and Jack, Levi is drowning in guilt. Maybe that's why Levi is helping me. "Why did you really enter a fake relationship with me?"

After a few more moments of silence, Levi says, "I'm trying to atone in any way I can for his death. I thought by helping you, I could take care of you, like Jack used to."

"You deserve to be on the football team and to be the quarterback. Jack would have wanted that." That's when Miss Epiphany slaps me in the face.

"This is what we are going to do," I grab Levi's cheeks, forcing him to look at me.

"What?" He murmurs between squished cheeks and wide eyes.

"We'll start dating again, same terms as before. You getting your mom off your back and me getting a seat at the football table. Blah blah blah. However, now you're going back to football practice. When hell week is over, you'll surprise everyone and land the quarterback position."

"Who says I'll even make quarterback?" He asks.

"You will, because I'm going to hold you accountable just like you're going to hold me accountable for making the squad," I affirm.

"Which means?" He asks.

"Which means we will both workout, train and practice to prove everyone wrong," I say.

Levi looks over at me like I'm crazy and I can't blame him but this entire idea was crazy from the start and yet, here we are.

"Yeah, and then AnnaMae will be distraught knowing she's no longer dating the top dog." The plan unravels in my head as I speak and I become more and more excited about it. "That's when Hunter will find out the truth about AnnaMae and dump her. It'll show her not to use people anymore. Plus, we both get what we want."

The thought of taking AnnaMae out makes me laugh. If only there was a way to get back at Haley as well. I leave out the part about me and Hunter dating. If Levi doesn't like Hunter, he'll say no to the plan, but if I work my magic right, I can show him how kind-hearted Hunter is.

"That's kind of dirty," he says.

"AnnaMae deserves it! She uses people and tosses them to the side when she no longer needs them!"

Levi shakes his head but says nothing. This isn't working. I need to take a different approach. "Come on, you even said it yourself. You want to get out of your parent's house. A football scholarship would do that for you."

He chews his bottom lip, and picks at a piece of loose skin dangling from his thumb while staring out the window. I know the gears are turning in his head, but I'm not sure if I'm on the winning end of this argument. "Let me think about it."

"Fine, but let me know before tomorrow." I say.

++++++++

Levi's POV

The steam fogs up the shower glass door, encasing me in my thoughts. Do I want to be quarterback? Of course I do. That's always been my dream. Will it look like I killed Jack to be the quarterback? God, I hope not. Would Jack prefer me over Hunter to be the quarterback? Probably.

After rinsing the shampoo out of my hair, I grab the bar of soap and rag and begin scrubbing my abdomen. The warmth of the water relaxes my muscles, but not my mind. Just a few hours ago, I promised myself I wouldn't date her again. However, seeing Bailey cry earlier triggered emotions I didn't realize I had. Maybe I can be her protector, after all. I tilt my head back and let out a loud groan, water pelting my face. If we are going to do this again, our relationship needs to be stronger. Before we were two total strangers dating.

After I finish showering, I step out, wrapping a towel around my waist. I grab another towel and tussle my hair in it then use it to wipe a part of the foggy mirror. The eyes staring back at me confirm my decision.

High school this year is way more complicated than it should be.

Once I finish my bathroom routine, I shuffle down the quiet hallway into my dark-lit bedroom. On my nightstand, I notice the notification light on my phone, blinking. I collapse onto my bed and grab my phone. They're all from Bailey.

Have you thought about it some more?

Is the deal back on?

Are you ignoring me?

Sheesh, patient much?
I'm not ignoring you.
I was in the shower.

I have new conditions this time.

Like what?

We have to get to know each other so
we'll have weekly date nights.

We are still doing tutoring and
dinners with my family.

You will learn to drive.

No calling me mean names!

You have to act like
you like me!

No hiding our relationship
from people.

OMG you're asking for a lot!

I'm not done.

We will work out together
and eat lunch together.

Any party or large gathering
you go to, I will be there,
and we will not separate
at any time!

Anything else, your highness?

Yes, you have to ask me out.

What? I am not asking you out!

Then no deal.
Good night.

Fine. Will you go out with me, your highness?

That last part was uncalled for.

...I'll pick you up for
school tomorrow morning.

I lock my phone and set it back on my nightstand. A smile escapes my lips. God, she is such a brat.

Hunter's POV

Maybe if I multiply first, then add the two, I'll get the right answer. I do the math problem again and my answer is wrong, again. This is stupid. I slam my hands down on the table. Why do we need to learn this stupid stuff when we have phones with calculators on them?

The door swings open, revealing my drunk father stumbling through it. He's home earlier than normal.

"What are you doing home early?" I ask.

"Where's your mom? I'm hungry," he slurs.

Seeing him come home at all is shocking, but to see him before sundown is worrisome.

"Are you crazy? She left us two years ago!" I say.

"Did you call me crazy?" He growls.

"I didn't mean it. I can cook you something." Jumping to my feet, I rush into the kitchen. Our food options are limited but I see two eggs left in the carton and that's all I need to keep him at bay.

"She left us because of you! You're a disgrace to the family." He shouts from the living room, chucking a shoe into the kitchen, missing me entirely and landing near the fridge.

"There's mail for you on the table." Is my nice way of changing the subject and letting him know the bills are piling up and someone needs to pay them.

The eggs are almost done cooking when I hear the worst cackling out of him. Some people were never meant to laugh because that would mean they're happy and because my dad's never felt joy outside of drinking, he doesn't know how to do it.

"Looks like it finally happened. Damn government wants to take our house. Just like they took my job!"

"Our house? They're taking our house? Where are we going to live?"

"You think you're so smart, go get a job and find us one," is the last thing he says before passing out on the kitchen table, right on top of all the unpaid bills most people slave over paying.

His eggs sit next to him never to be eaten and in the morning I'll pay for that as well.

~~~~~6/18/20 • 1772 words~~~~~

*I apologize if the texting section of this chapter is formatted weird. I tried many times to fix it.*

What did you think of Hunter's part? Feel bad for him at all? Still hate him?

Do you think Levi should give up playing football?

Are you hungry right now? It's taking every ounce of me not to go pop popcorn. 🍿🤤

🌸Thank you for reading. Please vote/comment if you enjoyed the chapter!🌸