Filed to story: Lily Bennett and Mason Cooper Book
“What happened?” a freshman asks before slapping his hand over his mouth.
“One hit and he was out cold,” Liam answers, slapping my shoulder.
“Just one,” he repeats, looking around.
“Now, does anyone have a problem?” he asks again, and the junior shakes his head, sitting back down.
“Problem solved.” Liam smiles, sitting back down.
“Britt said things are okay, but she’s had some pretty mean texts, so she confiscated her phone,” Liam tells me as we finish eating.
“This is fucking bullshit,” I grumble, wishing Coach didn’t threaten to kick me off the team.
I need to play so I can get a scholarship so I can get to college and away from my bitch-ass mother.
“I know.” Liam sighs, getting back to his feet seconds before the bell rings. He has this crazy sixth sense and always knows when it’s going to ring. It fucking creeps me out.
After school, I run straight out to my car, but my backpack is grabbed, stopping me.
“Let me go,” I grunt, trying to get free.
“In the gym now, Cooper!” Coach George yells at me.
“I’ll be back in an hour.” I try to protest, but he’s having none of it.
I drag my feet as I make my way to the gym, thinking about making a break for it.
“I’ll text Brittany,” Liam smiles sadly when he sees me come in.
“Thanks,” I mutter, feeling more and more pissed off.
Coach starts going through the plays he wants to run for tonight, and I only half pay attention.
“Cooper, you’re benched,” he states, making my head whip up and all the boys start protesting.
“He’s dating someone from Ridgewood!” Coach barks before leaving.
“Fuck that,” Ryder yells, getting to his feet.
“He can’t fucking bench you,” he says, shaking his head.
“I pissed him off pretty good,” I half-smirk.
“Who leaked the photo?” Liam asks, turning to face the rest of the team.
“I got sent it from Hannah from St. Mary’s and deleted it,” Ricky says, and some of the other boys all agree.
“Hannah,” I mutter, hating that girl more than ever. Hannah is Izzy, my ex-girlfriend’s best friend. She’s always been a meddling bitch.
I end up driving Liam and me over to Ridgewood, where Brittany is standing outside the locker room door with her arms folded, looking pissed.
“Where’s Lily?” I ask Liam, who simply shrugs, looking around.
My heart begins pounding in my chest, thinking she didn’t come. I quickly climb out of my car and go over to Brittany, who throws her hands in the air.
“Finally!” she exclaims.
“Where’s Lily?” I ask, looking over her shoulder.
“She’s off with your sisters.” She waves her hand, and I feel relieved and disappointed at the same time.
“You need to look at these,” she says, handing me Lily’s phone.
“She’s really upset because Harry won’t let her explain,” she orders before giving Liam a kiss on the cheek and walking off.
Liam and I make our way to the locker room, where I sit down and start going through Lily’s texts.
As I read each one, more and more rage builds up inside me.
But when I read the ones from Ava, my whole body begins shaking.
I get up, storming off to find Coach.
“Put me on defense,” I demand, still shaking.
“What the hell are you talking about, Cooper?” he grunts, barely looking at me”Put me on defense. I’m going to drop every single one of those assholes,” I state.
“You’re benched.” He shakes his head, walking off.
By the time we’re all changed and standing on the sidelines, I’m still angry.
I scan the bleachers in front of us, looking for Lily. I finally find her sitting between both my sisters in the front.
She’s wearing a black hoodie, which I’m pretty sure is mine, and has a huge smile on her face as she looks at me.
She lifts her hand up and waves to me, and my anger slowly begins to fade.
I wave back and am about to go over and talk to her, but Coach pulls me by my shoulder pads.
“Can you stop that?” I growl, trying to free myself.
“Shut it, Cooper,” he growls back.
“Take a knee,” he orders, but none of us do.
“I said take a knee!” he yells.
“Not until you unbench Mason,” Ryder states.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” he mutters, pinching his nose.
“I’ll be defense,” I state again, wanting to knock every single one of them out.
“Fine.” He finally agrees, and I smile, ready to let out some of this anger.
“You’re not playing defense.” He shakes his head, and I start frowning again.
“QB,” he states before ordering us to start warm-ups.
“Drop every single one of those bastards as hard as you can,” I say once the boys are all huddled together just before the game is about to start.
“Got it,” Ryder smirks, rubbing his hands together. He’s probably the only guy I wouldn’t try to fight.
As we line up, I’m directly in front of Harry, and it takes all my willpower not to tackle him right then and there.
“Heard you’re sick of Greendale pussy.” The guy to the left of him smirks, looking directly at me.
“I get it though, man-who wouldn’t want to fuck Lily?”
I stand by straight, ready to knock his fucking teeth out.
“The fuck did you just say?” I spit out, ripping my helmet off.
“Cool it, dude,” Liam warns, shoving my shoulders back.
“Get down there,” he orders, shoving me toward where he was standing and taking my place.
I put my helmet back on and get into position, glaring at the guy in front of me.
The second the ball is in play, I shove him to the ground as hard as I can and start running. I tackle a few more players before the whistle blows.
I turn around to see Ryder standing over someone lying flat on their back.
The ref gets down on his knees and checks the guy over as I make my way over.
“What happened?” I ask, looking down at the guy who was talking shit just before.
“Knocked the wind out of him.” He smirks. Both the ref and player stand up, the latter limping off the field clutching his ribs before we all get into position again.
After a few more plays, Ridgewood still hasn’t scored. Ricky gets an intercept, and I sprint like crazy to the end zone, dodging players from all directions.