Tuesday comes quicker than we all expect.

Everett sends me the article draft to review. It takes me all of five minutes to read it. It is nicely written and eye catching with targeted words. It is everything that University will hate. It spills all of the secrets it doesn't want to share. That is why this story needs to be shared. I am just happy to be a part of it. I'm honored actually. I am honored that Everett invited me on his journey to get him justice.

"Are you going to make up with your father?" Tad asks as I stand by him in the corner of the weight room.

I shrug as I watch Dad work with the team. I've spoken to him very little these past few days. Everything he does is irritating. I find myself exhausted by his presents so I stay as far as way as I can. It's just hard when we are at home. I clamp my mouth shut while I'm home, fearing I will mention the article. He will find out, but not from me. Soon enough everyone will now what Charles did.

"Come on Nora, you should know he's trying."

"Did he put you up to this?"

Tad sighs as he picks up towel.

I make eye contact with Dad and mouth real mature. I then turn to Tad. "If you are on his side, I don't want to hear it."

He raises his hands over his head. "I just don't want you to make any move you'll regret." He walks off the field.

I am not going to regret this. I am sure of it. The university will regret how they handled last year. Payback is going to be a bitch.

As the team files out, I stare at the ground. I want to go. I don't understand why I'm even hear when I've been dreading coming in. Resignation is on my mind, but the only thing that convinces me to stay is Everett.

I leave the weight room but as I turn the corner, I see Everett on the ground with Charles standing over him. A sickening feeling comes over me as Everett gets up.

Charles laughs as he looks over at his BFF Rick. Fuck Rick. "And coach says he's the star player. Look at him. He's nothing special."

A few people laugh as a crowd gathers around.

Charles pushes Everett. He stumbles back, hitting his back against the brick wall.

Damnit Everett. Stand up for yourself.

"So, what is the star going to do?"

My hands clench into fists. I have had enough watching them. This is not the first time they fought and it won't be the last. Why does Charles always start things? Isn't Charles tired? Everett looks exhausted.

"Knock it off Charles," I say as I stand beside Everett.

Charles stops, his smile slides off his face. "So, I see that you are hiding behind a girl. Having the coach's daughter fight your battles are you now?" Charles chuckles.

Without wasting a moment, I slap him across the face. It is loud enough to echo the hall. There is silence. The crowd around us don't dare say a word.

I make eye contact with him as his cheek turns red. My hand stings. "Don't you dare," I growl. "You don't know what storm is coming. But just you wait."

"Nora!" Dad shouts at me.

My head snaps up to see him approach. The crowd starts to disperse. Dad is scaring them off.

My hands grow sweaty as I realize what I did. I was not a silent spectator any longer.

"You," Dad says, pointing to Charles. "You go home." He points to Everett. "You wait here." He points to me. "And you, get into my office, now."

There is no light and preppy tone in his voice. That vanished as soon as Charles returned. He is not messing around. He means business but so do I.

His gaze meets with my scowl. Silently I make my way into Dad's office. I hear whispers from the team as I close the door behind me. For the first time, I don't care that I am the center of attention. Someone needs to stand up to him.

Dad shakes his head. "Nora...."

"Don't you dare give me that, Dad. He deserved it. Did you see what he was doing to Everett?" My voice is high pitched and screechy. I'm furious. Enough is enough.

"I was going to handle it."

I roll my eyes. "Yeah, that was clear since you have done such a good job at it so far," I say sarcastically.

He runs his hands through his hair and bites his lip in anger. He opens his mouth then closes it as he sorts out his words.

I stare at him silently as I wait for him to speak.

"I expected violence from them but you?" Dad says finally.

"It's because of him. I was defending Everett!" I say as I thumb towards the door.

"Did Everett ask for that?"

"He didn't need to. He needed help and I stepped in."

"But did Everett ask you to slap Charles?"

I close my mouth as a glare. "No."

"Listen, Nora, you don't know all the things at play here. The school, Everett, Charles... you don't understand how much they're intertwined."

"Does that mean I have to submit myself to torture? To a toxic environment? People on the team think the same way as me. They're looking for guidance but you're not giving it," I say as my voice rose.

He strokes his mustache as he thinks.

"This whole place is toxic, and I can't stand it. I can't stand you," I say as I point towards him. I chew my lip before I say what is really on my mind. "I quit. I can't do this anymore. I've had enough."

He stuck his hands in his pocket and gives a tired sigh. "Fine. I accept your resignation."

His simple response causes a fire to light within me. It's like he wants me gone. "It's probably best when we release a story with the Columbus Dispatch about what Charles did to Everett and how the University covered it up."

His eyes widen. He looks nervous. "You're doing what?"

I pay little attention to his fear as I feel a weight lift off me. "You heard me. The whole city will know what Charles has done."

"You don't know what you're doing."

Wait now, he is not going to boss me around when I know what I'm doing is right. "I think I know exactly what I'm doing," I say with a point look.

Dad stands from his seat and shakes his head. He walks up to me and places his hands on my shoulders. "Nora, Everett signed a non-disclosure agreement. He can't say anything about what Charles did to him. He will be kicked off the team, lose his scholarship. This would be career suicide for him."

His words are like a slap in the face. I take a step back. Now it makes sense why Everett was unsure about releasing the article.

My mouth falls open. I pushed Everett to do this. I thought I was helping. What have I done?

"Nora, when will the article be released?"

"On Sunday," I choke. A lump forms in my throat as the gravity of the situation weighs on me. Once again I feel like I messed up. Why do I keep falling short when all I do is try?

"Maybe it's not too late."

I nod as I look towards the door. "Maybe not. I need to talk to him."

I run out and see Everett resting his back against the wall. No one else is here. It's just him, looking at his phone casually as if he isn't bothered with losing everything.

"You can't let the newspaper release the article," I say as I try to keep my voice even.

Everett looks up from his phone and frowns. "I know what this paper will mean."

"You knew all along," I say as my eyes well with tears. I thought I was doing something good. Helping him. Helping the team. Turns out that isn't the case.

Everett nods. "I did."

"Why are you doing this?"

He shrugs as he stuffs his hands into his pockets. "I realized that football isn't worth saving when it is killing me."

"You will lose so much," I choke out. All the brand deals, all the earning potential, and don't even get me started on the stipend and free education.

"So, I will pay for the rest of college out of pocket. It's only two more years. So many people do the same thing. And there are always loans. And we both know that it was never my dream to go pro."

Maybe that is true, but I cannot bring myself to think I am the one to end his career.

I let out a shaky breath.

He pushes off from the wall and wipes a tear from my cheek. "You did nothing wrong, Nora. This is my choice. Charles will not stop abusing teammates. I owe this to my team to stop him," he says calmly.

"But- but-" I stammer. "The non-disclosure."

He shrugs. "What are they going to do? Kick me off the team? I've hated football for a long time. They would be doing me a favor."

"Everett, your turn," Dad's tired voice rings out behind me.

"I'll talk to you later," he says, kisses me then walks into Dad's office, leaving me alone to think about the terrible thing I have done.