Tuesday came quicker than we all expected. Everett sent me the article draft to review. It took me all of five minutes to read it. It was nicely written and eye catching with targeted words. It was everything that University would hate. It spilt all of the secrets it didn't want to share. That was why it needed to be shared. I was happy to be a part of it. This was justice for Everett.

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

I shrugged as I watched Dad work with the team. I had spoken to him very little these past few days. Everything he did was irritating. I found myself exhausted by his presents. Fearing I would mention the article to him, I kept my distance. He would find out at the same time as the university on Sunday. After that maybe Dad would actually be able to do something about Charles.

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

"It's not that clear to me."

Tad sighed as he picked up towel. "I just don't want you to make any move you'll regret." He walked off the field.

As the team filed out, I stared out onto the green turf. I thought I would love to work for my father, but I didn't. The only thing that was convincing me to stay was Everett.

With a sigh, I adjusted my coat then followed the team. As I turned the corner, I saw Everett on the ground with Charles standing over him. A sickening feeling came over me as Everett got up.

Charles laughed as he looked over at Rick. "And coach says he's the star player. Look at him. He's nothing special."

A few people laughed as a crowd gathered around.

Charles pushed Everett however Everett did nothing to fight back. "So, what is the star going to do?"

Everett stumbled back, hitting his back against the wall.

My hands clenched into fists. I had enough watching them. I didn't understand Everett wasn't defending himself. "Knock it off Charles," I said as I stood beside Everett.

Charles stopped as his smile slid 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 chuckled.

Without wasting a moment, I walked up to him and slapped him across the face. "Don't you dare," I growled. "You don't know what storm is coming. But just you wait."

Charles stared at me as his cheek turned red.

"Nora!" Dad shouted at me.

We made eye contact before realizing the whole team had seen me hit him.

A lump formed in my throat as I realized what I did.

"You," he said, pointing to Charles. "You go home." He pointed to Everett. "You wait here." He pointed to me. "And you, get into my office, now."

His gaze was met with my scowl. Silently I made my way into dad's office as the team behind me started to talk. I didn't care if I was the center of attention. Someone needed to stand up to him. He deserved everything that happened.

Dad closed the door behind him and shook his head. "Nora...."

"Don't you dare give me that, Dad. He deserved it. Did you see what he was doing to Everett?"

"I was going to handle it."

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

He ran his hands through his hair and bit his lip in anger. He opened his mouth then closed it as he sorted out his words.

I stared at him silently as I waited.

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

"It's because of him. I was defending Everett!" I said as I thumbed 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 closed my mouth as a glare came to my face. "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. They're looking for guidance but you're not giving it," I said as my voice rose.

He stroked his mustache as he thought about it.

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

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

I nodded. "Good." His simple response caused a fire to light within me. I wasn't good at keeping secrets anyhow. "We're working with the city news to release a story of what Charles did to Everett and how the University has covered it up."

"You're doing what?" he asked with wide eyes.

I paid little attention to his fear as I felt a weight get lifted over me. Everett deserved this. He deserved for his story to be released. "The whole city will know what he had done."

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

"I think I know exactly what I'm doing," I said with a pointed look.

Dad stood up from his seat and shook his head. He walked up to me and placed 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 were like a slap in the face. It caused me to take a step back. There was a reason why Everett was unsure about releasing the article.

My mouth fell open as my hands grew sweaty. What had I done to encourage this?

"Nora, when will the article be released?"

"On Sunday," I choked. A lump formed in my throat as the gravity of the situation weighed on me. I should have dropped it when he was unsure.

"Maybe it's not too late."

I nodded as I looked towards the door. "Maybe not. I need to talk to him."

Before I waited for Dad's approval, I ran out the door.

As I closed the door behind me, I saw Everett resting his back against the wall, looking at his phone, waiting for his turn to talk to my dad. There was no one in the hall now, it was just him waiting in silence. The team probably left knowing there wasn't more of a show.

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

Everett looked up from his phone and frowned. "I know what this paper will mean."

"You knew all along," I said as my eyes welled up with tears. I thought I was doing something good. I thought I was helping Everett, that I was team Everett. But that was never the case.

Everett nodded. "I did."

"Why are you doing this?"

He shrugged as he stuffed his hands into his pockets. "I realized that football isn't worth saving when it was killing me."

"You will lose so much," I choked out.

"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."

"But what about after college, didn't you want to play pro?"

He shook his head. "We both know that is my dad's dream. It's not mine."

Maybe that was true, but I couldn't bring myself to think I was the one that ended his career.

I let out a shaky breath.

He pushed off from the wall and wiped 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 said calmly.

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

He shrugged. "What are they going to do? Kick me off the team? I've hated football for a long time. It was time for me to actually make a move to separate myself from it."

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

"I'll talk to you later," he said as he kissed me before walking into Dad's office, leaving me alone to think about the terrible thing I had done.