AYANNA'S POV:

"So, is your game home or away?" Dad asks me Wednesday night, the night before out big game, when i am sprawled out on the couch and he is sitting in his chair and we are watching 'Tower Hiest'.

"Away,"

"Where at?" He asks and i grin.

"Stinkn' Lincoln," I reply and he raises his eyebrows.

"Really? And how did you come up with that name?" He asks.

"That's the funny part... Coach came up with it not us," I answer and Dad bursts out laughing and i laugh with him.

I mean, you always hear the coaches say that you have to have sportsmanship, but really, who does? And even if the kids and other coaches do, not our coach. He has none.

"What are you two laughing about in here?" Mom asks as she walks into the living room.

"oh nothing," I reply and Mom rolls her eyes.

"Are you excited about tomorrow's game?" Mom askss.

"Um, heck yeah,"

"So, any cute boys i should know about?" Dad asks and i sigh. Of course it comes back to this.

"Dad, you already met Caleb," I say.

"That's not who i meant and you know it. We both know you don't like him that much," Dad explains and i stare at him.

"That's wrong. I do like him," I reply.

"Sure you like him, but i can tell you only like him as a friend," he says and my mouth drops. How does he know that?

"Whatever,Dad. And what makes you think that i only like him like that?" I ask.

"Oh please, i may not notice as much as your mom, but i can tell when you actually like a guy," he replies and Mom grins.

"Do you agree with him?"I ask Mom and she nods.

"Of course i do, dear, everybody can tell that you don't like him like that. I'm just surprised he hasn't figured that out yet,"

"I'm done with this conversation," I say and give my dad a pointed look. He raises his hands in surrender.

"Don't kill the messenger,"

They don't kow what they are talking about.... Right?

~~~~~~

The next day, us football players are released to get on the bus at 1:00 in the afternoon. I sit down in the back and Caleb comes and sits with me. When Max sees Caleb has taken his spot, he raises his eyebrows.

"Oh really, lover boy? Do you think that is your spot?" He asks Caleb and Caleb grins at Max.

"Yup," Caleb says and pops the P at the end of yup.

"I don't really find this amusing, kid," Max says with a straight face and Caleb shrugs his shoulders.

Öh jeez, Max, find a seat before i shove you out of the bus," Jake groans and Max mock glares at him, but sits down in front of me anyway.

When Bryson sits in the seat beside mine, Caleb grabs my hand and scowls in Bryson's direction, but Bryson isn't looking at him so he doesn't notice.

"What are you doing?" I ask him quietly and he shrugs at me.

"Nothing, i just know that he has feelings for you,"' Caleb whispers and barely contains himself from glaring at Bryson again.

"Well, whatever you are doing, stop it. He doesn't have feelings for me and i don't have feelings for him, so you don't need to act so jealous," I snap whish is a total lie, but i can't tell Caleb that, and Bryson looks over at us curiously.

"Trouble in paradise"?"He asks and i know that he heard us talking about him.

"No!"Caleb snaps and Max whistles slowly.

"Then what's going on?" Max asks just to irritate Caleb and it works because Caleb turns and glares at him.

I seriously wonder why he is acting up like this... It confuses me because he was so sweet when we started dating and now he is kind of acting like a possesive jerk.

"Nothing," Caleb snaps again.

"That doesn't sound like nothing," Max says.

"Why don't you just mind your own business?"Caleb snaps at him and Max raiese his hands.

"Woah! Like, woah. That is so, like, uncalled for," Max says in a girly voice and i grin, but quickly hide it when Caleb stares at me.

"You think he's funny?" Caleb asks and i shrug. I won't let him push me around! If he doesn't like my friends then i guess he's not really boyfriend material.

"Yeah i do," I say and Max sticks his tongue out at Caleb.

"I guess you're an idiot then," Caleb mutters under his breath and Max stands up with his fists clenched.

"What was that, Caleb? Did i just hear you call Ayanna an idiot?" Max practically yells and everbody on the bus looks back at us. I look over at Bryson and see him looking equally pissed at Caleb.

"Yeah i did! Because if she thinks you're better than i am than she is an idiot," he snaps and i stare at him. What the?!

"I never said that. I just said that i thought he was funny and he is," I explain even though my chest hurts. Why would he be so mean? What did i ever do to him?

"Sure, but we both know that you don't like me... I mean, heck you slept with Bryson," Caleb shouts and i stare at him.

"I did not sleep with him," I say and Caleb raises his eyebrows.

Öh really? That's not what i was told," he snaps.

"By who? Sharon?"I snap back.

"It doesn't really matter who told me,"Caleb replies, but i can tell that Sharon is the one who told him.

"I guess if you listen to Sharon now, you are the idiot,"Max snaps and Caleb punches Max. But Max is quicker than he looks and ducks easily and shoves Caleb to the ground. "You can't beat me, it's just not going to happen. So why don't you move to the front of the bus with the other kids where you belong and leave us adults alone," Max continues and pushes Caleb in the rright direction.

Caleb glares at all of us, but thankfully walks to the front of the bus.

I look out the window and feel tears prick my eyes. What a jerk....

"Don't worry about him, Jones, just think of the game," Bryson says quietly and i smile at him sadly.

When we get to Lincoln we all hop off the bus and i head to my own locker room. When i finish changing i head into the boys locker room and sit down beside Max. Coach walks in right after i do and he stands in front of us with a grin on his face.

"Normally i wouldn't be this arrogent, but i am so certain that we are going to win. So, with that being said i am going to start Aya instead of Bryson and Caleb instead of Noah. It's nothing against you guys, Noah and Bryson, but i just want to see how these two do out there," Coach says and they both nod in agreement.

I, on the other hand, am forzen with fear. Starting a varsity game? Holy Moly... That's huge. Max squeezes my shoulder and i stare at him, but he just laughs.

"You'll do great and i got your back," Max says and that eases some of the tension from my body.. Some...

We win the coin toss and we chose to recieve the kick off... As we huddle up all the guys look at me i swallow nervously....

"um, i guess play hard..."I say and all the guys laugh.

"No shit sherlock, but what play?" Drew asks with a smrik.

"Oh yeah..." I reply and blush.

"Take a breath, you're fine,"Max says and i smile at him.

"Blud bird..."I reply and they all nod.

I get down behind Drew and i hear hiim chuckle.

"You ready for this?"He asks me.

Ï guess we'll see.."I reply and the game begins...

By half time the score is 14-7 with us leading.. We huddle up with all of us sweating. Holy crap, this is a long game.

"These guys are tough," Coach tells us in the bus. "But just keep up the good work and you should be fine. Nice blocking Max and Caleb, and keep up the good work Aya. Now let's get out there and win a game," he continues.

The clock starts up again and we are out on the field with me lined up behind Drew. "Hike,"I yell and look downfield at Nolan. He is wide open...

Just as the ball leaves my hand someone slams into me...Hard....I hit the ground and the breath goes out of me. When the guy gets off me, i can't move. I roll onto my side and groan in pain. Somethings not right. In the distance i hear Max yelling at someone and then i hear nothing....

~~~~

I open my eyes to see bright white walls around around me and hear a beaping. What in the world....

I look around and see Max, Bryson, Coach, and my family all huddled in the room. the next thing i notice is that i am in a hospital room.

"What happend?"I ask and Max jerks his head towards me and relief shows on his face.

"Thank goodness. Jeez, Jones, you gave us a scare," Coach says.

"What happened?"I ask again.

"Stupid, is what it was. Caleb didn't block.. At all! He stood by and let that 260 pound guy slam into you," Max snaps and i can see he is pissed about it..

"He did?" I asks and my mouth drops open in surprise.

"We don't know that for sure," Coach says, but Max and Bryson glare at him.

"Yes we do!" Max shouts and my mom puts a hand on his arm. Max sighs and looks back at me and shakes his head.

"Ï am going to kill that kid," Bryson mutters.

"Well, the good news is, that you didn't break anything. You just have a concussion. But you'll be able to practice in 7 days," Dad explains and i sigh in relief.

Whatever Caleb's problem is, i am going to beat the heck out of him when i get back to school......

THANKS FOR READING!! DID YOU LIKE IT? WHAT DID YOU THINK OF CALEB'S LITTLE STUNT?

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-becka