The crowd was huge today. I had never seen the stadium so packed. Everyone's friends and families seemed to come out just to watch Westshore lose. The last thing I wanted to be doing was cheering at this match. Especially since I knew we were going to lose. To make matters worse, Amy came up with a great idea to have each cheerleader wear one of the player's jerseys at the game. Right as she announced it and brought the jerseys in, Jaiden grabbed Warner's before I could even blink.

I thought of the last soccer game I went to and felt a pang in my chest. The memory of Warner winning the game for me like I asked him. And now he had to lose.

"Here's Adam's jersey; I'm sorry Jaiden took Warner's." Abby handed me the oversized jersey, and I sighed.

"Better than Marko's." I slid the jersey over my uniform and tied it off like a dress.

"Where's Emily?" I ask. She wasn't at the event last night either. I was dreading seeing her after the lovely comments she left on Sierra's post.

"I kicked her off. I don't stand for bullying on my team." Amy smiled at me and scanned the room of girls. "So, think about that next time you guys feel like putting down another woman on the team."

God, I loved my friends.

We stepped out, and the crowd was even bigger than it was before we went into the changerooms. I didn't think we could fit many more people into the stadium. The game wasn't even starting for half an hour, and people were already cheering the guys on as they warmed up. The donation booth had a long line of people buying merch and raffle tickets. It looked to be an all-around success. I hoped the Westshore fans would still be happy even if we lost.

We walked over to the benches to start stretching, and I scanned the crowd. I spotted Maggie, who came to support us and gave her a big wave. I looked over at the benches and saw Warner's dad, who was already staring at me. I felt queasy at the eye contact and dropped my eyes to my shoes instead.

Thankfully Winston walked over to Abby and me, "I can't believe you are wearing some guy's jersey. What if he gets the wrong idea and thinks you want him?" he frowns at Abby.

"Well, they will see this and know I don't" she kisses him, and he shuts right up. I smile at the sight; seeing my friends happy makes me happy.

"Well, I hope Warner gets the right idea." Jaiden grins and then gives me an apologetic look noticing my presence. "Sorry, Juliet, but a man like that doesn't stay single for long. I have to pounce while I can."

I forced a smile, but I am pretty sure it still looked like a scowl. The guys finish their warmup and come over to join us, I'm looking for Warner, and his eyes find mine right away. He sends me a small smile until he sees the number of the jersey I am wearing. The last name on my back. Oh god, first the date and now this. I was digging myself a deep hole.

"Warner, I-" I step towards him, and he ignores me completely; his jaw is clenched, and I think he is holding in some choice words. How was I supposed to explain when he won't even talk to me?

Adam walks up to me instead. "Juliet, as much as I love you in my jersey, I think Warner might actually kill me soon. Is that the plan?" He glances over at Warner, who is now being fussed over by Jaiden. She is wiping his sweat with a towel as if he can't do it himself.

"I did not plan this! Jaiden took his jersey before I could. And Abby gave me this one. I'm sorry I don't- "

"Juliet, it's okay. I am kidding. I know we are just friends; I just don't think Warner is getting that impression." He nods over to him again, but this time he is staring right at us. His hand is holding a water bottle so tightly the water is pouring out the sides. However, my lucky ribbon is still around his wrist, and I feel my chest loosen at the sight of it.

I pull Adam away from where the team is standing, Warner watches me pull him under the bleachers, but he doesn't say anything. I realize I have probably only made the situation look worse, but I needed to talk to Adam somewhere nobody could hear us.

"Adam, I need you to do me a favour," I whisper.

"Okay, now I am unsure of the plan. Why are we under the bleachers?" Adam whispers back.

"You have to lose the game today." I look around to make sure nobody is listening. Adam is one of the best players on the team, and if he scores and helps them win, Warner's dad will do something bad. But I couldn't exactly say that.

"Umm, why would I do that?" he looks very confused.

"I can't tell you. I'm sorry, I know this is random, but I have never asked you for anything like this before. Trust that it's for a good reason, and please just do this for me." I try to give him my best puppy dog eyes, and he sighs.

"Fine. But I'm not doing this again."

"Thank you!" I yell, wrapping him into a tight hug. Maybe I could actually help Warner pull this off for his dad.

"You owe me, Matthews. Your first order of business is tying my cleat laces because I'm too lazy." Adam winks at me, and I look down at his untied laces.

"Such a princess," I snort, bending down to tie his laces. After I am done, he pats my head like a dog. "Thank you. I could get used to this service."

I stick my tongue out at him and see that his teammate Sam is lurking at the entrance and is giving us a horrified look. What was his problem? We walk out from under the stands, and Sam moves along back to the team.

Weird.

Warner's dad is leaning against the fence when I come out, but he isn't alone. Warner is stood next to him with his arms crossed. He sees Adam and I walk out, and his dad is whispering something in his ear. I try not to stare and walk back to the cheerleaders, joining their stretches.

This was going to be a long game.

_____

There were only a few minutes left in the game, and Adam had missed every single shot he took. Warner had done the same. The Westshore coach was so angry he threw his clipboard onto the ground. Warner looked very angry on the field, especially when he looked in Adam's direction.

But at least Warner's dad was happy. The game was almost over, and the score was exactly as he wanted it. No goals from Westshore, and they were down 2 goals. Thankfully the crowd wasn't too upset, but that could've been because of all the beer.

I went to sip some water and felt someone come stand next to me. Warner's dad was standing a little too close for comfort.

"Hi Juliet, It's Matt. You look very different these days; no wonder my son is interested now. Although it doesn't look like he's feeding you much."

I pretended his words didn't sting. I knew his dad was a dick; I couldn't let it hurt.

"It seems your son is having an off game. Any idea why that might be?" I smile sweetly at him, and his expression falters for a moment. I was playing a dangerous game, but it was worth it to see the look on his face.

"Maybe he's off his game because you have been whoring yourself out to the rest of his team in front of his face. It must be embarrassing to have your girlfriend wear another man's jersey, the same man you won a date with, correct?" Matt twirls my braid in his hand, and I want to vomit on it.

"I have not whored myself out to anyone. Adam is my friend." I spit out.

"It would be a shame for Warner to hear differently." Matt smiles at me, dropping my braid and walking back to the spot he was watching the game from. Was that a threat?

I was not going to let that man get in my head. There were already too many people in there.

The final whistle blew, and the Westshore's coach looked like he might turn into the hulk at any second. I headed straight for Warner, but he was headed toward his dad instead. Matt gave him an approving nod and dipped his head towards me, saying something I couldn't hear.

Adam stepped into my line of vision. "Well, aren't you going to congratulate me on my loss? That was hard to do, the Laurier goalie was shit-talking me the whole game, and it took everything in me to not try to score and wipe the smile right off his face."

"Thank you, Adam. I'm sorry I asked this of you. I won't ask you to do it again." I felt a pang of guilt for what I asked him to do.

"You know you can tell me what's wrong" Adam tipped my chin up to look at him. I looked past him to Matt, who was walking back to the parking lot but not before looking my way and giving me a wink. As if we had some sort of inside joke.

"I can't but thank you." I give Adam a quick hug and speed walk over to Warner who was standing next to his teammate Sam speaking in hushed whispers and looking our way. Warner looked like he might rip someone's head off. And that anger was directed toward me

I stepped right toward him, and I knew he was already looking my way. I didn't falter or slouch. I must have looked like I was on a mission because people moved for me.

"I need to talk to you." I grabbed his hand before he could say no and brought him under the bleachers where nobody could see or hear us.

"Did Adam not satisfy you under here? You had to get me to finish the job?" his voice was icy. I suddenly understood why he looked angry. He thought I hooked up with Adam.

"I know how it looks, but I just want to explain I'm not-"

"Do not talk to me while you are wearing his jersey." His eyes were blazing as they looked at the number I wore. He looked like he wanted to burn it off of me. "Take it off if you want me to talk to you." Even the voice didn't sound like Warner's – cold, detached, with a thin layer of fury in between.

In a normal situation, I would tell him to stop being an Alpha asshole and relax. But he had every right to be upset; I knew exactly how it looked. If the roles were reversed and he was buying tickets for a date with Abby and wearing her last name, I would be even less calm than him. If anything, I was thankful he kept his cool as much as he had so far.

I untied the jersey and hauled it over my head. He seemed taken back that I actually got rid of it. "It's not what it looks like," I say past the lump of panic in my throat, tossing the jersey to the side.

"Showing up with him at my house, buying tickets for a date with him. You're wearing his jersey, Juliet. His fucking jersey. How do you think it feels to see you wearing his name at my game?" His words falter as he turns to me, eyes too bright, emotion flushing up the planes of his face. "I saw all of those things, and like an idiot, I still believed you wouldn't do that to me. God, even my dad, tried to tell me, and I didn't believe him. I said you would never hurt me like this."

Hearing it all out loud, it seems even worse. I would need to be careful with my words. Before I get the chance even to defend myself, he continues.

"But then Sam told me what he saw under the bleachers today, and now I know that I am just a fool." Warner's voice is ragged, and he runs a shaky hand across his face. He won't meet my eyes; he steps back and swears under his breath. Pumps his fist against his forehead. "Fuck, I am such an idiot. You must be laughing behind my back at how stupid you made me look."

What was he talking about? What did Sam think he saw? He wasn't letting me speak, and I knew he was angry; I would be too if I was told a lie like this. But he wasn't even giving me a chance to tell him it wasn't true.

"Warner, please just listen. I-"

He cuts me off again, too angry to wait for me to finish. "Here I am going crazy without you, missing you and beating up any guy who hurt you, waiting for you to be ready for me like some lovesick fool. I waited, and I didn't complain because I thought you cared about me deep down. I believed that you would come back to me if I just stayed patient and waited. Meanwhile, here you are continuously hurting me, having a grand old time hooking up with Adam under the bleachers, wearing his jersey. Right in front of my fucking face like I am nothing."

Warner clenched his hands into fists. His knuckles turned white. I thought back to the bleachers and realized what Sam thought he saw; I was tying Adam's shoe, not god damn giving Adam a blow job! There was no getting to him at this point, he had made up his mind, and I understood why he believed them; it didn't look good.

"Please, you have to believe me; whatever Sam says he saw, it isn't true. Adam and I were just talking. We are just friends. I would never do that to you." My voice is shaking. I hated the thought of him being mad at me. Of him thinking I was secretly hooking up with Adam.

His voice is thick when he continues ignoring everything I said. "I'm not boyfriend material, and Adam is right? Is that it? He's the nice guy, and I'm always going to be the asshole from high school that treated you like shit. You can't be with me, but you can be with someone like Adam." His jaw looked ready to shatter, his eyes revealing a hint of misery.

Now I know why he hated when I talked so negatively about myself. Hearing Warner talk about himself like this hurt me. I want to say something steady and reassuring, but I know I fucked up. I wanted to get that devastating look off of his face. I hated seeing him like this. I thought ending things would make things easier for him, not worse. I regretted ever making him leave my house that night; I had made such a mess of everything. I can't do anything right.

"Warner, you need to listen to me. I didn't do anything. I haven't even touched a guy since you. Please just believe me, I-" my voice is shaky, and my heart is racing. A sob escapes me. The temperature dropped another twenty degrees, and a strange roaring filled my ears.

"I loved you, and it wasn't enough. I thought it would be enough, but I was wrong. I thought I could fight for you, but I was wrong." He swallows hard, and his eyes look down like he can't even stand to look at me. "I'm done trying to get you, Jules. I can't do it anymore. I'm done making a fool out of myself trying to get you to love me. I'm done with you."

My ears are roaring. I don't even know what to say. I have already told him it's not true and he doesn't believe me.

"Warner, there you are! You are my ride to the party, come on, you can swap spit with Juliet later!" One of Warner's teammates pops his head out under the bleachers, and I cringe at how wrong his assumption was.

"Coming!" Warner steps around me, and I try to grab his arm to stop him. He frowns at my touch and notices the ribbon still on his wrist, and my heart drops as he grabs it and unties it. "I won't be needing this anymore; all this has brought me is hurt. I can get lucky alone tonight." his words deliver the blow they intended right into my chest as he drops the ribbon onto the ground at my feet. The fist around my heart squeezed, and right as I was about to explode from the pain, it released its grip and shattered everything in its wake.

"Don't say things like that to me. Now you are the one being cruel." My voice cracks, and I cringe. Something flashes in his eyes at the crack in my voice, but it turns back stoic within a second, and he turns his back to me, walking to his teammate.

"No! Warner, please don't leave. Please listen to me. Nothing happened. I don't know what you want me to say. What do I need to do for you to believe me?" My voice cracks again, and I cringe at the desperation in it.

"I don't want anything from you, not anymore. It's funny, yesterday I thought I couldn't live without you, and now I can't stand the sight of you." Those dark eyes glared down at me with more anger than he had ever shown me before, mixed with pure hurt.

He walks out and leaves me under the bleachers trying not to sob like an idiot. Every part of me wanted to give up, let him believe the worst in me and go home to crawl into bed. The voice in my head told me Kenji was right; I didn't deserve him, and maybe this was what I needed for him to realize it. Maybe he was better off hating me.

No. No, I wouldn't give up. Not this time.

Seeing the look in his eyes, the hurt and pain there. That was enough to get my feet moving. I was going to this after-party, and I was going to force him to listen to me.