BOOK 1: After moving from his home in Tampa Florida, Devyn Tylers the new kid at Morrison High School in Los Angeles, Devyn goes through the journey of finding out who he is and what he wants to be while also dodging the harsh realities of high scho...
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Chapter 20- Football Star
October 11th/ Friday/ 12:13 PM/ School Cafeteria....
(Devyn's) Omniscient POV:
Devyn couldn't shake the feeling of emptiness as he sat in the group's usual spot under the shaded patio. The sun peeked through the branches of the trees above, casting soft shadows on the table. Zuri, Jennifer, and Aaron were chatting about their classes, but Devyn was only half-listening. His eyes kept drifting toward the cafeteria, where Marty sat surrounded by his football friends.
He missed him—more than he wanted to admit.
Devyn watched as one of Marty's friends told a joke, and Marty's laughter echoed through the glass. That laugh used to be for him. Every time Marty smiled, Devyn had felt like the center of his universe. Now, Marty looked... happy. Happy without him.
Devyn swallowed the lump in his throat. Maybe he is happier without me. The thought twisted in his chest like a knife.
"Hey, Dev, you good?" Jennifer's voice broke through his spiral. She had noticed him zoning out, her eyes following his gaze toward the cafeteria.
"Oh, uh—yeah, I'm fine," Devyn mumbled, forcing a small smile.
Jennifer raised an eyebrow but didn't push. She looked back at Marty for a second and sighed. She knew what was really going on, but it wasn't the time to pry. Instead, she leaned back in her chair, changing the subject.
"Hey, we should go to the football game tonight," Zuri said, popping a chip into her mouth. "I got something to show you guys."
"Oh damn, the football game is tonight," Jennifer said, a flicker of realization crossing her face. "I forgot... sure, I can go."
"I'll go if you guys do," Aaron added as he scrolled through his phone.
Everyone's eyes turned to Devyn.
Jennifer's voice softened. "Are you going to be okay, Devyn?" she asked, her tone careful. Marty would be on the field, and he'd most likely be the highlight of the game now that his injury is gone.
Devyn blinked, caught off guard by the question. He hadn't thought about it yet, but the thought of watching Marty from the stands made his stomach churn. Still, he didn't want to seem weak. "What? Yeah, I'll be fine."
Jennifer studied his face for a moment, then nodded. "Okay. Game starts at 7 tonight, so let's meet at my place."
Aaron grinned. "Yeah, Jennifer's house is perfect. You have a better chef than me. Usually, I'd say Marty's place because of his dad's cooking, but... you know."
Devyn stiffened at the mention of Marty's name. Jennifer quickly shot Aaron a look, silently telling him to drop it.
Zuri, sensing the tension, decided to change the topic. "Hey, Devyn, what ever happened to that Tristan guy you were talking to?"
