Like You Mean It

Epilogue. Hayden

"Oh my god." Jace groaned, "Why is there always so much freaking traffic for a home football game?"

"Because some of us went to schools with football teams that actually won games." Tom chuckled.

"Babe, shut the fuck up." Jace glared.

"I still don't see why we had to come too," Max complained.

"Uh, because Goose wants to show off his new stick tricks and talk snare with you. Cam's no good with snare tips and Goose thinks you're like a walking snare god," I explained, "Plus, Nick needs to see their emotional support snare friend."

Max rolled their eyes, "Yeah I guess."

"You love Goose and Nick, stop complaining." David rolled his eyes.

We finally got into the parking lot, "Alright, we need to hide Tom." Jace grinned as we all got out of the car.

"And you too, Cam will suspect something if you're here without Tom," I pointed out.

"See, Hay thinks ahead, that's why he's a drum major. It's a miracle you ever got it." Tom teased and Jace gently shoved him.

"Aw thanks, Tom, that's the nicest thing you've ever said about me." I grinned.

"You're welcome." He grinned.

"I hate you, you're so mean to me." Jace groaned.

"Yeah, you totally hate me. It's not like we live together in an on-campus apartment with a mega bed." Tom grinned.

"They're lining up now, we have to be fast guys. People can spot Millers from far away," Max pointed out.

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Tom asked.

"Your hair is a dead giveaway, babe." Jace shrugged, pulling Tom's hood on. It was technically Jace's hood, as Tom was wearing an old Lovell hoodie, but still.

We bought our tickets and sat near the student section until the band marched down. Then we moved next to the bandstand. I could remember being here last year, worried out of my mind that Valley would be ridiculously good and blow us out of the water. I wasn't as worried this year. Obviously, I wanted to beat Valley to rub it in Cam's face because it would be funny, but it didn't really matter as much as it did last year. It wouldn't be the end of the world if we didn't win anymore because it really didn't matter as much as I thought it did. What mattered was that we all worked for it, putting our minds and hearts together into making something bigger than ourselves. The scores and trophies were just byproducts, they weren't the real goal.

Valley played the National Anthem and then their ripped-off victory song. I watched Cam from the sidelines as he and Nick corralled their drumline over to the stands. Tom and Jace hid behind the student bleachers, both laughing like idiots as the band began to come over. Abbie, Jamie, and Addy took to their respective podiums.

"'Sup Hayden!" Jamie called.

"Hey Jamie, how was band camp?" I asked.

"Less miserable without an instrument, am I right dude?" He asked.

"Definitely." I laughed.

"Hey babe." Cam came over, pulling me into a kiss.

"Hey." I grinned.

"I missed you." He leaned onto my shoulder.

"You literally saw me on Monday." I laughed.

"Yeah, but there was like so much rehearsal time in between that the days got longer." He groaned, "It was like going a whole month without seeing you. It was miserable."

"Do you wanna know what might make you feel better?" I asked.

"What?" He looked up.

"I have a surprise for you." I grinned, taking a step back.

And then Tom tackled him onto the grass, "Dude, what the hell?" He exclaimed, "Tom?"

"What's up, man?" Tom grinned.

"Tom!" Gabby shouted.

"No way!" Reese exclaimed.

"Dude, how did you get here? I thought you were still stuck in rehearsals and stuff until next week!" Cam exclaimed.

"I kind of lied so I could come surprise you at your first game." Tom grinned, helping Cam up.

Gabby and Reese both hugged him, attacking him from either side, "Dude Logan has basically inhabited the house all summer. You were like Logan repellent, but we literally couldn't get rid of him until he and Kay went to college." Reese groaned.

"Which is precisely why I took the immersive music camp opportunity." Tom grinned, "To get far, far, far away from Logan."

Jace hit his shoulder, "And to work with world-renowned conductors in New York City."

"Sure." Tom nodded, "That was a reason, but Logan was the biggest reason."

"You tolerated him well enough at the family reunion," Jace pointed out.

"Yeah, because he spent half of it hooking up with you." Gabby rolled her eyes.

"Gabrielle Leigh!" Tom's face was about as red as his hair.

Cam turned to me, "Did you know about this?"

"What? Tom and Jace sneaking off every other minute during your family reunion?" I asked, feigning ignorance.

"No idiot." He laughed, "Tom coming home."

"Tom and I planned it." I grinned, "And your parents too because they're having all of us over for a family dinner and game night tomorrow."

Cam rolled his eyes, "I love you, idiot."

"I love you too." I grinned, "Now go get back to your drum. You guys are on the 15-yard line now, might need to prep TD Victors soon."

Cam turned around to get a look at the football game, "Shit yeah." He kissed my cheek, "Third?"

"Third." I grinned.

"Simp!" Tom called as Cam hurried back, Cam flipped him off.

"So, do we have to sit through this entire football game?" Max asked.

"Just enjoy rooting for a team that's actually going to win for once," David chimed.

"Fair enough." Max nodded.

"We also have to see them perform," I pointed out.

"Only you have to see them perform this year," Jace pointed out, "We're all mature college students who don't spy on other schools."

I turned to Jace, "It was your idea to spy in the first place!"

"No, it was Max's!"

"Does it really matter whose idea it was? You all did it, so you're all immature." Tom shrugged.

"You literally did the same thing the week after us," Jace pointed out.

"Because you started it." Tom grinned.

"We're all immature, there problem solved." I laughed, "Now, who wants hot chocolate?"

"Fucking finally!" David exclaimed, "Only reason I came."

Valley did have some damn good snack shack hot chocolate.