The Secret I Will Never Tell (The Secret Series Book 1)

Chapter 19

Evelynn! Are you almost here? Kristi texted me.

Here. I texted her back as I walk through the gates that lead me to the football field, Daisy Mae at my side. Marie was supposed to pick her up, but she got stuck at the hospital.

The boys are already warming up and getting ready for our rival game against the Eagles. I walk by the football players and look for Nathan, but I can't see him anywhere. Something warm and sweaty wraps around my waist and I drop Daisy's hand. I turn around and see Nathan in his football gear, helmet in hand.

"You look beautiful!" He says, while moving a piece of my curled hair out of my face. He leans down and gives me a quick kiss. A brief kiss, but it still takes my breath away. "I'll see you after the game!" He winks at me, tickles Daisy Mae, then runs off to the field.

"Good luck!" Daisy and I shout after him.

"Don't need it!" He shouts back and we giggle together.

We walk to the bleachers and I put Daisy by my coach, who agreed to watch her for me. I walk down the steps and begin to stretch, out of eyesight. I hear a mix of harsh whispers to my right and I peer over the edge of the hill. I see Blake and Kristi talking to each other or whispering. I start to walk away when I hear my name. I walk back and listen to their conversation.

"You have to tell Evelynn!" Blake whispers harshly to Kristi. How does he know my real name?

"I can't!" She says loud enough that Blake glares at her.

"Let's get this game started!" The announcer says over the intercom.

They start to walk up the hill and I run back to the steps and pretend to be coming down them. Kristi appears at the top and walks over to me.

"Hi!" She says super excitedly to me.

"Hi." I smile at her. "Oh yeah.." I pause remembering our earlier conversation. "You were going to tell me why you were acting weird."

"Not now, Lynn." She starts to walk to the field.

"I think now is the best time. And you promised before the game!" I pull her arm back and she walks back to me. She looks towards the field and then back at me.

"Fine. I know." I give her a confused look and wait for her to elaborate. "I've always known."

"Known what.."

"Everything. Your mom isn't your mom, your name isn't yours, Debbie, all of it!"

I step back from her. "How...but.."

"When I was eight, I accidentally walked in on your mom talking to Debbie. She was saying all of these weird things. She made me promise not to tell you!" She walks towards me and I take another step backwards.

"I thought I knew you. I thought you were my friend! I trusted you! How could you nit tell me!?" Tears stream down my face, smearing my makeup. "I'll never make that mistake again!" I brush past her and walk to the field.

"Who is that? What happened?" I hear from the audience behind me. "Who's number thirty-two?"

My eyes grow wide. I jerk my head to the field. In the distance, I see Nathan on the ground. Players on one knee surround him. Referees and coaches are helping him up. I can't move. I'm frozen. A sprinkle of rain hits my face. His coach pulls him up off of the ground. Everyone stands and claps. Nathan walks towards the edge of the field. I regain movement and run to the edge of the field. We reach the same place at the same time. I hug him tightly and he hugs me back.

"It's probably just a sprain but it would be best if you took him to the hospital. Make sure he didn't tear somethin'." I nod and Daisy Mae runs up to us. She doesn't say anything but you could see the fear in her eyes from a block away.

"He'll be okay!" We walk Nathan to my car. And I get him buckled in.

"Were you crying?" He rubs my cheeks. I nod against his hand. "What happened?"

"Kristina." I start to choke up. "She..She knows. She's known all along. Everything. My aunt, my name, everything. She's known all along."

"Evelynn.." I turn and look at him. "You need answers. Before we go to the hospital, maybe we should hit a rest stop in Tenessee."

"What about your arm!?"

"It's fine. Now, how about that road trip?" Nathan says while smiling and putting his feet on the dash. I glare at him and he takes them down and turns on the music.

Answers, here we come..