SURPRISINGLY YOURS

Fumbled

Jagger

I didn't know having her watch me was going to bring about such nervousness, but was also a sense of pride and probably arrogance on my part when I played well.

Moose absolutely loved tormenting me about me.

"You fumbled twice."

I watched him watch Heather and wondered if something was simmering there.

"Throw the fucking skin, Jagger!" Cody was yelling to me.

I suddenly realized I was holding the ball and stepped back, tossing it to Moose who chuckled.

"What a pussy throw."

A whistle blew and Coach Diaz shook his head, "Take a break, Hayes."

"Why?"

"Sides, now!"

I watched Julia's face to see if it had contorted into disappointment, but it hadn't.

She was concerned for me.

Julia

"Are you alright?"

I'd made my way down to the sidelines as he stretched, pretending like he was OK with being pulled off the field.

"Couldn't be better."

"Jagger.."

"Just...stop..you can't do anything about it."

I knew I couldn't, but I hated watching him suffer.

"You're playing like I'm going to run away."

He turned to glare at me as if I'd struck a nerve.

"Why would I care?"

"Don't do that. You don't mean that."

I watched Moose watching him and I knew something unsettling might be closing near.

"I..I need this."

"You need what?"

"To be perfect on the field."

"You need to play well, yes, but it's just practice."

"Just practice," he scoffed, "Easy for you to say."

"It might be, but I'm still saying it and I think you need to focus on the game and not me right now," I told him, "Nothing's going to happen to me."

"Eric happened to you. He could be around."

I sighed, "And that's when you can take care of him. I think I nailed him pretty good the other day."

"Cops didn't do a damn thing."

"Why are you so mad?" I asked, "Is something,-"

"Fuck.." he looked passed me and cringed.

I turned to look at whatever made him upset and shrugged, "What? Is it a void?"

"It's someone I'd like to avoid."

"Who?"

He pulled me closer as if I was in danger, even though I saw no one menacing.

"My father."

Jagger

Why the hell was this old fool here?

Usually if he was going to go so far as to check in on me, he'd do it behind my back.

Now, he had to make an example?

"Why is he here?" Julia whispered, not trying to pull away from me as we watched him talk to my coach, "Is there an emergency?"

"If it was an emergency, my mom would have called."

"Oh.."

"Jagger!" Diaz whistled me over so I did the only thing I knew to do—I dragged Julia along with me.

My father certainly didn't care for that move, but I didn't give a damn what he thought.

"Jagger.."

"Lawrence.."

Calling my father by his first name might have seemed disrespectful, but he wasn't like other fathers. At some point in my life, my father wanted us to call him by his first name as if it distanced himself from being a parental figure.

Diaz nodded to me, knowing I might need backup. He was the only coach I ever had who saw through my father's bullshit.

As Diaz walked away, my father's gaze ping-ponged back and forth between me and Julia, who was still wearing my jacket.

"What the fuck is the meaning of this?"

"What?"

"Don't be fucking stupid," he growled, glaring at Julia, "This..."

"She's...my girlfriend."

Julia didn't budge—nor did she try to say I was a lying sack of shit. She knew what to do.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hayes," she said, "Jagger's told me ALL about you."

She extended her hand and even though my father would have gladly ripped his arm off before touching her, knew that it was in bad form to leave her hanging in front of a crowd.

"Miss, I don't know what game you're playing with my son, but I suggest you finish it."

"Or what?"

I smirked as the sass of Julia filtered through the air so gracefully.

My father straightened out and eyed me instead, "It won't end well for either of you."