Chapter 29
Serena
Navy blue banners with SKYLINE HOMECOMING! written in golden lettering decorate the school’s hallways. There’s echoes of chatter about the upcoming game and who would be king and queen filled the hallways, and though I’d tried to be excited, I was mostly uncertain, nervous even. Also, Alli would be on homecoming court, leaving me to co-captain tonight, so, no pressure.
I’ve tried my hardest to ignore the sneaky conversations going around in the locker room and in between water breaks. I have no idea why Coach Miller and Alli chose me out of the others who outrank me. All I know is once news broke that I’m temporarily leading the team today, there were a few senior girls who were mad, annoyed and felt cheated that they were overlooked to fill the position. But I refuse to let their whispers and rumors undermine my confidence.
Then again, I might very well throw up from the nerves .
I find myself glancing at Tyler more often than usual. He’s a constant now, an unexpected yet reassuring presence in my life. I like his laid-back approach, his ease with the current pace of things between us. It’s all summarized in a warmth that spreads within me whenever our eyes meet or I hear his laughter.
In between the chaos of our tutoring sessions, his Boba Republic visits to keep me company at night, driving me home, and walking me to practice, I get lost in the moment. It’s having someone who’s genuinely there for me, not forced to like family. He doesn’t feel obligated to be there, he chooses to be.
There’s a part of me that still wants to be scared. Terrified of letting someone in this close. That’s how it’s always been. Why I’ve turned down the few guys that walk into Boba Republic showing interest in me. But every time Tyler’s around, those fears fade. It’s like he has this magical ability to make vulnerability feel safe.
The doubts in my head make me wonder if this is even real if it’s even happening to a girl like me. A broken girl with a dead father and a deadbeat mother. A perfectionist and anxious teenager who struggles to make friends and is mostly a stranger to fun. A girl who wants a lot from life but is scared to take risks. Then I mentally check myself and remember that meeting him was like listening to a song for the first time and it just clicks–becoming my favorite song that I want to have on repeat forever .
The game charges into the third quarter after the homecoming court announcement. The announcer’s voice echoes through the stands, declaring Alli as homecoming queen. Tyler’s deep blue gaze connects with my brown eyes, each glance feeling like a fleeting touchdown. I revert my eyes back to the field, watching my friend get crowned until Grant catches my attention.
“Alli won! Come on, let’s go see her!” Grant catches my hand and we run over to Alli, who is standing off to the side now with bouquets in hand. We reach her, she beams with joy and she looks so gorgeous in her sparkly black dress, she’s absolutely stunning. The crowd’s cheers seem to crescendo around us, bathing us in a wave of celebration.
“Alli, you look absolutely stunning!” Grant exclaims, his voice full of admiration.
“Yeah, you totally deserved this!” I add, unable to contain my excitement. I crush our bodies together and hug her tight.
Alli blushes, a smile lighting up her face. “Thanks, guys! I couldn’t have done it without you. I owe you both for helping me out tonight.”
“Oh my god, no you don’t owe us anything. I’m so freaking proud of you.”
Priya finds us quickly and joins in on the conversation, “Alli girl! You did it! We need to take a picture of us together! ”
We huddle closely together with Alli in the center while we take a selfie group photo. We break away from Alli, who leaves with the rest of the homecoming court for school pictures. The rest of us begin to make our way off the field, the buzz of excitement from the announcement still lingering in the air. My eyes wander across the crowd, taking in the sea of faces until they lock onto a certain pair of blue eyes.
Tyler sees me, and it’s as if we’re both magnets drawn to each other. He lifts his chin to say hi to me and I return the hello with a simple wink before slamming into Grant’s shoulders.
“You okay, Serena?”
“Yeah, yeah, sorry.” I blink a few times, refocusing. “What are we doing again?”
“Alli has to take more photos, so let’s grab some food. Pizza fatigue, though, right?”
“Oh yeah, I need a break before I morph into a pepperoni.”
We hit the concession stand, aiming straight for the nachos. Priya nudges me, grinning like she figured out a secret recipe for Coca-Cola. “Tea time. Tell me about you and Tyler.”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “Nothing to tell. We’re just taking it slow as friends.”
We’re wayyyy past slow .
“Friends who openly eye-fuck each other,” Grant persists, playfully accusing.
“It’s called comfortable silence,” I offer, trying to brush it off.
“Comfortable silence? That’s very G-rated of you,” he teases, grabbing our nachos as they’re ready.
“Let’s drop it and enjoy these nachos, alright?” I suggest, steering the conversation away.
I think Grant and Alli have been hanging out too much, as he shakes me down for more intel. “Fine, but I’ll be watching. There’s more happening between you two. I know it.”
I shake my head while taking another bite of cheesy goodness. “Nothing to tell.”
Except for the ping pong game going on in my heart.
Tonight’s game ends as the final whistle echoes through the stadium, marking the end of the game and a victory for the Skyline Vikings. The perfect homecoming night for our school if you want to call it something. Cheers and applause fill the air, mingling with the fading adrenaline of the game.
I say goodbye to my friends who promise to pick me up later for tonight’s party and join the crowd. Walking toward the parking lot, the excitement still buzzes within me. I stare at the sky as I walk, hoping I don’t trip with anything as my full focus is on counting the stars. I bask in the post-game atmosphere as I lean against Jared’s car waiting for him to come out–yes, I’m still hitching rides from him, since my car apparently has a mind of its own and is surely taking its sweet time.
The fall autumn breezes by, sending shivers through my body. I dig through my bag in search of my cardigan since I’m still in my cheer uniform and I’m freaking cold. Lost in the moment, I don’t notice Tyler with his friends, his voice fading in and out of focus.
I catch his attention once he breaks away from his group, that familiar smirk taking over his face. Warmth spreads through me at the sight of him and I feel a hundred butterflies fluttering in my stomach. Feeling suddenly ambitious and super bold, I decide to act on impulse. There’s something about seeing him that makes me feel happy tonight which is why I jump into his arms for a hug.
“There’s my girl.” Tyler says, picking me up off the ground, spinning me around as he hugs me.
I offer him a warm smile as he sets me down on my feet. “Hi.”
His hands disappear into the pockets of his jeans, “You were great out there.”
“Thanks,” I reply, a hint of self-consciousness in my voice. “I was actually pretty nervous.”
“Nervous?” his eyebrows raise in genuine surprise .
I nod, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Yeah, I was temporary captain for the night, filling in for Alli.”
A flicker of understanding flashes across Tyler’s face as he nods in response. “Well, you nailed it. I could hardly take my eyes off you. I-I mean… the team.”
His words catch me off guard, a flush spreading across my cheeks. “Thanks, Ty. That means a lot. I guess being in charge adds more pressure. The senior girls aren’t really happy with me.”
He arches a brow, asking for more context.
“I’m the new girl who just joined the team and climbed my way up to being the top girl.” As if I summoned them, a flock of girls, including Cassie, walk by. Coach Miller revamped the routine and now I’m one of the flyers on top of tumbling. This wasn’t originally my role on the squad, but I have a hard time saying no to my godmother.
“Temporary captain or not, you were amazing out there,” Tyler says, jolting me back to our conversation. “Like always.”
I give him a smile, which he returns, and we spend a few seconds in silence. The wind picks up, causing my cardigan to sway. He steps closer, casually tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear, and our eyes meet naturally.
Tyler’s stare lingers for a moment too long. Suddenly, I’m hyper aware of my appearance. “Do I have something on my face? ”
Tyler blinks, breaking our staring contest. “Sorry, I, uh. My brain just goes blank when I look at you.”
“Serena!” Jared jogs up to us, “Sorry I took so long, Coach needed to talk to me.”
I wave a hand, “It’s fine, I didn’t wait long.”
Jared’s eyes flicker between the two of us, his brows hiking up an inch. “Something going on between you two?”
Tyler gives a half-hearted laugh, shooting me a quick glance that he’s nervous around my stepbrother. “Nah, we’re just talking about the game.”
“Thanks for keeping me company.”
“Anytime,” Tyler sends me a wink before retreating back to his car.
I hop into the car with Jared and stare out in the window on the drive home.
“Are you and Tyler a thing?”
I glance at Jared for his out-of-pocket question, “Why are you asking?”
He lets out a low chuckle, a teasing tone creeping into his voice. “Seemed like you are closer now because of the way he looks at you. ”
My heartbeat quickens. “He doesn’t... look at me in any special way.”
Jared shoots me a knowing glance, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. “You sure about that?”
I stare out of the window, feeling a rush of emotions I can’t quite put into words. “I don’t know, Jared. We’re just friends.”
“Friends don’t look at each other like that.”
“Like what?”
“You both look at each other a little too long to be just friends .”
“Get to the point, Jared.”
“Do you like him?”
I don’t answer, because the minute I say it, it’ll come true and that means it could fall apart at the snap of someone’s fingers.
“Answer the question, Serena.”
“Why are you pushing this?”
“I want you to be happy. I haven’t seen you look so alive since I became your brother.” He gives me a side glance before returning his attention to the road. “Do you like Tyler?”
“I don’t want to,” I mutter softly.
Jared lets out a quiet mix of a snort and chuckle. “But you do like him?”
“I do.”