The Story of D & E

12 YITF, Chapter 24: Whiplash

Trigger warning! Again, this is the discussing of the previous dark topics. Abuse, jail, etc. Not too much but there will be secrets revealed and many POV changes. Note at the bottom of the chap.

Chapter song: Circles by Post Malone

Ev POV -

"What were you thinking!" Stephanie yelled the next day in my soon to be office. Her blonde hair had been pulled back into a ponytail but it was swinging violently as she paced.

"It just happened Steph. I don't know what to tell you." Drew sighed sitting on the desk. I was perched behind it and was holding more ice to my face.

Luckily, my nose had not been broken, but dislocated. I had to go to the hospital the same night to get it reset. My cheek was turning a dark red and would probably be purple that night.

"Excuse me Mr. O'Brian am I boring you? I'm sorry, it's just that, we can't be known as the team who socks their parents in the face!" (Socks - slang for punch)

"Do we have to do this now?" I questioned and rubbed a hand down the uninjured side of my face.

"We have to, now that this new article has dropped." Tara sighed from a chair in front of a half assembled coffee table.

I hadn't been able to read the article with my one good eye. Drew started to read it aloud but then told me it would be better if I didn't read it.

The next game of the playoffs would be that night, and we would probably win this game. We were playing one of the worst teams in the league and even though Drew said not to jinx us, it was obvious.

It was my final day to get back to Rowell or the deal would forever be off the table. I still didn't want to take it. He was Mike Ramos but skinnier, in a fancier suit, and racist. Mike had finally agreed to sign a new contract the next week. I had a week left in limbo and then I could sign on the dotted line.

I was startled at the presence of a hand on my arm. Drew no longer sat on the desk but had come around it while I was lost in my mind.

"Hey, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I just want to deal with this, and have a better time at the game than I did last time."

His gaze instantly heated and I could see where his mind was going. I was tempted to head down that road, but was reminded that my life was blowing up and that I wasn't going to drag him down with me.

"I have to go. Can you draft a new agreement Tara? Drew can tell you the terms Henry made and the papers can tell you the rest. Drew knows what I can compromise on."

Drew grabbed my hand as I walked away, "Wait! You can't leave now we're still discussing-"

"I'm sorry. We'll talk tonight. I promise."

I gave him a quick peck and left him to Steph and Tara.

It was too much to handle too fast. I needed time to think about each thing that had happened without a dozen deadlines pushing in on me.

***

When the game came around I was still working. I was planning to skip the entire game and go to Drew's place as soon as the game ended. Until an unknown number texted me during the fourth quarter.

Unknown number: It's Milford Rowell. We need to talk. It's Important. Meet me in your office before the game is over.

I wanted to ignore it. Had he not taken the hint when I didn't contact him all day? But even if Rowell was a bastard, he wasn't a dumb one. If he wanted to talk, and said it was important, he was probably talking about more than a deal.

That's how I found myself walking the empty back halls of the Giants Stadium.

When I took the final turn to get to my office, I started to get nervous. But why should I be nervous? I thought as my heart tried to beat out of my chest.

Rowell was sitting behind my desk like this was his office and not mine. A power move. He stood and leaned on the desk just as Drew had done that morning. When Rowell did it, it felt wrong. Like I was entering a rat trap and his nonchalant stance was the cheese.

"You called me here." I stated and sat in the small chair, "Tell me what was so important it couldn't wait until tomorrow."

I tried to mimic his careless attitude but it was still a little too tense.

"I know you don't want to partner with me, but there is something you should know about Medina and the Offense Head Coach."

"Drew has nothing to do with what's going on between you, Medina, and I."

He let out a chuckle but it held no humor. "He had everything to do with this. I know part of the reason your going with Medina is because Drew sings his praises like they're ingrained in his mind. I know you two have a close relationship according to Louis Stone, and you listen to what he has to say."

"Get to the point, Rowell." I grunted between clenched teeth. I could feel what was coming next.

"Your boyfriend made a deal with Medina. He whispers sweet nothings into your ear and Medina promotes him to Head Coach when Clinton retires in a year."

My mask of calm fell completely and my mouth fell open.

"Surprised? Me too! I was truly not expecting this turn in events!" He thought this was funny. A fun game to play with my life.

"I don't believe you." We both said at the same time. This time Rowell let out a real laugh.

"Ask your little boyfriend. If you're reconsidering everything, then I can reopen our negotiations. I know you just got dealt a huge blow, so instead of third hand man like I had promised, I can do second."

Rowell patted my shoulder before he left and was still chuckling when he was in the hall.

Drew POV

Ev: we need to talk. I'm in my office at the stadium.

Ominous.

Ominous was never good. Especially when it came to Ev and I.

I got out of the locker rooms as fast as I could and down to Ev's office.

It wasn't well light with only a lamp by the desk illuminating the room.

He was sitting on the floor by the window wall. Hair mussed like he had repeatedly run his hand through it. Jacket on the floor next to him.

"Did you make a deal with Medina to whisper in my ear about him to get Head Coach from Clinton?"

"It's not- I didn't- I-"

He let his head hit the wall behind him. "Answer the fucking question Drew. Is it true? Please tell me it's not true."

"It's true, but it's not like that."

"It doesn't matter if it's not like that. You promised no more secrets. You said you had changed. Changed people don't lie like this."

"I also said I still make mistakes."

"I don't want to hear excuses right now. I don't want to hear anything right now. I'll tell you when I'm ready to sort this out."

"Can I-"

"You lost the right to ask for things when you lied. You took your time away from us so it's my turn now."

I shut my mouth and while I deserved it I still couldn't believe he found out like that.

"I'm sorry. Not because I got caught. I'm sorry about all of this." I said and ran a hand through my own hair.

He didn't respond until he was in the doorway.

"I know you're sorry. That's why it hurts so much."

Soooooo. That was a dramatic ending.

I think I'm going to finish this story soon. I think I might have touched on some options in other a/n but not really. What's probs going to happen is I'm going to hand the story to Valerie and then Ellie. Then I'll come back with a super short story and then take it from there. More details later! (And got eat smth pls!) - Naomi ♥️