When Stars Align

5: Library or Love Field?

EMERY
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The sky seemed low and heavy, and the air felt dense with the promise of rain. My overstuffed backpack, thrown over one shoulder, scraped into my collarbone, but I barely noticed. I had promised to meet Lily in the library to prepare for our midterms, but I was unsure how much we would accomplish. I'd been preoccupied since that moment with Jaxon in the assembly hall.

As I passed by, my focus turned to the practice field, where Jaxon and his squad were going through exercises. His towering body cut through the gray day like a blade, muscles tense beneath his jersey, sweat gleaming on his tanned skin.A ball slipping through Jaxon's hands was followed by the loud whistle of his coach. I could see the frustration on Jaxon's face even from a distance as the ball hit the turf with a dull, sinking thud.

The crunch of gravel beneath my feet caused me to pause at the edge of the field. Jaxon took a long breath, hands clasped behind his knees. He had a tense face and a tight jaw. Wiping away the beads of sweat that had collected on his forehead, he rubbed his palm across it.

It was wrong of me to stop. I should have kept going and gone directly to the library as planned. But something about how he stood there—tense, angry—had me lingering. It was a different side of him than I had seen in the last months. Not since he started drifting away, engrossed in football and everything that involved.

His coach jogged up to him, his whistle dangling from a chain around his neck. He barked something I couldn't hear from where I was, but I noticed Jaxon stiffen and nod without looking up. His back was still to me, his broad shoulders rising and falling with each breath, but I could feel the storm growing inside him. He had a strong dislike for making mistakes. Regardless of the infraction's severity, it tore at him, entangling its claws until he could not free himself.

Once more, the wind picked up speed, scattering my hair all over my face. I should go. I needed to see Lily as I promised. But my feet remained firm, my gaze fixed on Jaxon as his coach smacked him on the shoulder, a gesture halfway between encouragement and frustration. The squad assembled on the sidelines, water bottles in hand, while Jaxon jogged to the edge of the field, his face hard and lost in contemplation.

He hadn't noticed me.

The blast of wind slowed down just as Jaxon's coach approached him after placing his phone in his pocket, his usual piercing look fixated on him, the lines around his eyes deepening. I took a step forward, and the moist grass squished under my sneakers. Jaxon's back was turned, but I could sense the stress pouring from him even from here.

"Jaxon," the coach shouted. "I just saw your past grade report. Are you slipping?

I swallowed, my throat tightening and the lump in my gut getting larger. His stance straightened in an instant. Jaxon's shoulders leveled, and the tiny sag in his posture was gone. He rubbed the back of his neck with his palm, but the action was slower and deliberate.

Coach paused a few steps away, fists on his hips, brows focused. "Football is not everything, child. If your GPA decreases to zero, you will not only be removed from this field, but also from the team."

Jaxon's head lowered slightly, his mouth clenching. I could see he was chewing back a response. His fists were clasped at his sides, knuckles white. He then nodded once before turning and jogging back toward the center of the field, saying nothing.

The wind blew again, brushing chilly air across my skin, and I shivered—but it wasn't from the breeze. Jaxon was always so certain of himself, so darn cocky. But something about his shoulders and straight back drew me in. Concern came in, unwanted and unpleasant, but I dismissed it. This wasn't my problem. Not anymore.