Chapter 24
Evie
Elliot kicks it away, and they catch it and get all the way to the forty-yard line before he’s tackled.
Our defense comes out, and I watch as they line up.
They snap the ball and get a good run for twenty yards.
The next throw doesn’t connect, and they miss the catch.
The next run we shut down. But then on third down, they get a thirty-yard pass.
And just like that, they’re at the ten-yard line.
I squeeze hands with Tessa. Our defense shuts down the first run, but their quarterback finds an open guy in the end zone during the second play.
They score, and we deflate a little. They gain the extra point with a kick and celebrate before they head back to their bench.
Their kicker comes out and kicks the ball away.
We fumble it and don’t make any headway.
The offense comes out, and I'm hoping they can pull it together now. Off the first snap, Zane gets a throw for twenty-five yards. And just like that, we’re back in the game.
They move up the field and set up once again.
Zac gets a run for seven yards. And on second down, Ender gets a pass and runs for fifteen yards.
They set up once again. Owen snaps it, and Zane takes a few steps back, eyes looking towards the end zone.
“Watch out!” I yell, even though he can’t hear me.
I watch as a defender comes up on his blind side, but this time he’s ready for it.
He moves out of his reach, and then he’s running.
His guys block for him, and he runs towards the end zone.
A defender comes for him, but Zane evades him, shoving him off.
I’m jumping up and down and screaming along with the nearly hundred thousand fans.
And then Zane jumps over a defender and rolls into the endzone. Touchdown!
The stadium goes wild, exploding again when they show the replay of Zane’s crazy touchdown.
Elliot kicks and gets the extra point, and just like that, it’s a tie game.
The rest of the first quarter and the second quarter are not nearly as exciting as the explosive beginning of the game, and we head into half time seven to seven.
I stretch, even though I haven’t sat for most of the first half. “I need to go to the bathroom,” Tessa says.
I look at the crowd, uncertain. “We can try.”
“Don’t worry about it; I’ll hold it.”
I eye her skeptically. “The entire second half?”
“I’ve got an iron bladder.”
“Um, okay that was a little TMI.”
“We can try to get through the crowd,” Stephanie offers again.
“Nope. I’m good. I don’t want to miss any of the third quarter, and we will if we have to wait in line for the bathroom.”
The guys take the field, and soon, it’s time for the second half.
The crowd gets loud, gearing up for third quarter.
We’re on defense for the beginning of the third quarter.
They start making their way down the field and get several really good plays, earning lots of yardage.
But on third down, when they’re at their own twenty-yard line, our guy intercepts it and starts to run.
“Go! Go!”
Tessa and I are holding hands, jumping up and down.
We watch as he crosses the fifty, then the forty, the thirty, the twenty, the ten, and runs into the endzone, uncontested.
The crowd loses its mind, and fireworks go off!
They show the replay on the jumbotron, showcasing Amare’s run.
I make a mental note of his name; I’ve been trying to learn all the players’ names.
“Did you see that?!” Tessa screams at me.
“It was pretty good.”
“Pretty good? That was incredible! He ran that for seventy-three yards!”
“I know! I saw!” I grin at her, though.
“What a great start to the second half!”
Elliot kicks the extra point, putting us up by seven.
I look at the jumbo screen and see the defensive line still celebrating on the sidelines.
We set up for defense once again and keep them from scoring.
They kick it away on fourth down and Brock gets it at the thirty-five, setting us up nicely.
Zane and the offensive line take the field and begin a successful drive.
It’s a long drive that ends in a field goal, putting us up by ten points as we head into the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter is not good to us. They kick a field goal early in the fourth quarter and then capitalize on a fumble on our part and get a touchdown.
Their next possession, they get another touchdown.
I look up at the clock. There are less than five minutes left in the game, and we’re down by seven.
Zane takes the field with his O-line. Tessa squeezes my hand. “Here we go.”
We don’t make any headway on first down and lose a few yards on second down.
But on third down, Zane gets a good pass to Ender and a gain of thirteen yards.
They run downfield and get set-up again.
I can tell Zane is trying to keep them moving.
On the next play, he passes it to Zac, who picks up five yards.
They rush to set up again, but in their rush, they get a false start and lose five yards.
The next play ends in a loss of two yards.
And just like that, we’re facing third down.
My hands are clasped beneath my chin, and I’m trying to stay calm.
The refs blow the whistle, and I turn to Tessa. “What’s happening?”
“Two-minute forced time-out,” Tessa says, just as tense as me. The band plays during the time-out, and we join in the chant. I don’t do it for long because I’m too nervous. Our offense comes back out and sets up. “We have to make this down, or we have to kick it away.”
I don’t even look at her. “I know.”
The guys line up for the play, and I squeeze my hands together.
Zane shouts to his team; I watch it on the jumbotron.
I hold my breath as Owen snaps it. Zane grabs it and looks downfield.
One of the defenders comes towards him, and he moves to get away.
Then he leans back and throws it. The entire stadium seems to hold its breath as the ball spirals down the field.
There are two defenders on Quint in the end zone.
The ball spirals towards him. He jumps and collides with another defender as they both fight for the ball and go down in a heap of legs and arms.
“Did he get it?” Tessa screams.
I can’t answer because I can’t find any oxygen.
I just watch the refs. And when collectively, they raise their arms, the entire arena erupts.
Touchdown! I scream with the thousands of fans all around me and watch as Zane runs towards Quint.
Their team huddles in the end zone, celebrating.
I look up at the scoreboard; we’re still one point behind.
I wait for the field goal unit to come out but watch as Zane and the O-line gather.
“They’re going for a two-point conversion,” Tessa hollers over the noise.
“If we miss it,” I start, shaking my head.
“Then the game is over, and we lose.”
It’s a risky move, not one that I would take.
But I’m not a football coach or player. I wait with bated breath as we line up once more.
The stadium quiets just until the ball is snapped, then it comes to life.
Zane takes his regular two or three steps back and looks for an opening.
The crowd seems to hold its breath once again.
There’s nobody open. Zane can see it; I can see it.
The entire stadium can see it. He tucks the ball and runs.
Dejuan runs next to him, shoving off players that come at him; and Zane runs into the endzone. Score!
The fireworks go off, and the stadium explodes. I scream along with everybody else, waving my towel. I can’t keep the smile off my face as they rerun the play over and over again. I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket and pull it out, still grinning. I frown at the number I don’t recognize.
Unknown number- Evie, this is Reid. Zane gave me your number. He wants to know if you want to meet up with him after the game.
I think about it for a moment. “What is it?” Tessa yells. I show her the message. “What’s there to think about? Go!”
I laugh and text Reid.
Me- sure
Reid- okay, I’ll come get you
I pocket my phone. “Reid’s going to come get me and take me...somewhere.”
Tessa’s grinning from ear to ear. “Maybe a kiss for the quarterback?”
I shake my head. “Not yet.” I don’t bother telling her I haven’t exactly broken up with Jace yet, even though I’ve tried. I push those thoughts from my mind as the crowd around us begins to disperse.
“Evie.”
I turn and see Reid standing at the end of our row.
He waves me over and suddenly, a wave of nerves hit me.
“Just go; don’t think about it,” Tessa says.
I walk over to where Reid’s waiting, somber as he always is.
He doesn’t say a word as he starts down the steps, and I follow him and concentrate on not falling and making a fool of myself.
We go down, down, down. I didn’t realize how high up I was.
When we get closer to the field, Reid turns to the left, and I finally catch up to him. “Am I allowed to go back here?”
“Yes,” Reid says without looking back.
I follow him until we come to an exit. He walks out into an area where there’s already a bunch of people gathered.
I relax a little when I see the crowd. I find a place off to the side to wait, and Reid stands next to me, close but not touching.
I glance up at him and take in how tall he is.
I don’t know that I’ve ever stood right next to him.
He just has the look of a basketball player.
The first players come out to a cheer from the gathered crowd, and I watch as they get swallowed up.
I wait as a few more players make their exit, and then suddenly, there he is.
My breath catches as Zane walks out with a duffel bag over his shoulder.
He oozes masculinity with his hair wet from what must have been a really fast shower.
He’s wearing athletic pants and a Barracudas t-shirt that stretches over his muscles and looks like it’s being tested for its endurance.
He doesn’t even scan the crowd; his eyes fall right on me, as if he knew where I was all along.
My heart races in my chest, and I feel like my smile might make my face crack because it’s so wide.
I take a step towards him, but before I can go any further, a hand tugs on my arm.
I turn in surprise, and the smile drops from my face.
“Jace.”
Before I can even take a breath, he tugs me towards him, holding me firmly against his chest. His lips touch mine, and it’s only absolute shock that keeps me immobile a moment.
I try to squirm, but he bites my lip, causing me to cry out.
He’s thrown off of me, and a furious Zane steps in front of me, pushing me behind him.
I lose my balance and grab hold of his shirt.
He reaches one arm behind him to steady me and grabs the front of Jace’s shirt with the other hand.
Other students are starting to take notice of what’s going on, and panic fills me.