The New Boy

Chapter 15

"Today is a big day! We have never ever won against these Whittemore kids, ever!" Coach shouted, giving his pre-game speech I'd heard so much about, "Now I know about those two mystery kids who always beat us are gonna be on their A-game tonight, but I also know the rumours you've been spreading that the best player on their team left the school. I don't want you guys getting cocky on the field though!"

Dylan looked over at me, "Is he talking about you a-"

"Derek... Yeah..." I whispered, "what's the plan?"

"Keep your helmet on, your head low and move fast" he shrugged.

"Sounds stupid"

"If you want to keep away then that's the best we've got"

"Yeah, okay I got it" I nodded.

"We've seen great new talent from a new member of first line" he clapped, gesturing to me, "now get on that pitch and show me what you got!"

The whole team roared as we ran out of the locker room and onto the cheering field. I could see the Whittemore team in the same blue kit I used to wear, they were all laughing at each other and shoving each other around.

"Your helmet" Dylan hissed, "put on you helmet!"

I did at he said and pulled it over me, looking down as I jogged past their team quietly. Dylan took his place on the bench.

"Adams!" Toby called over from the other end of the pitch. "Don't screw up!"

"Adams?" I heard a couple of voices from behind me. Please shut up Toby. Please. I saw a younger player I hadn't met step in front of me, he must be a freshman on the team but he obviously recognised me from the awe struck look on his face. Don't you dare. I turned to watch the cheerleaders for both teams run on either side of the pitch, Katherine strutted out at the front, wearing her short blue cheer uniform that had me reeling every day a year ago. She was standing along side her best friend and notorious slut Rebekah Miles, I think I was probably the one guy in our year that hadn't slept with her. Katherine had made it very clear that I was off limits to Rebekah or any other girl, I guess that rule still applied. She ran over to a one of the players getting ready on the side. He had the familiar number 1 on his jersey and when he turned around I was sure who it was. Derek. He was scanning the field, he said he liked to pick out the weakest before he even played but it was just a pent up way of him choosing who to smash into the hardest.

"Moore!" the Whittemore Coach shouted, "Get on the field"

"Yes Coach!" barked Derek, running past Toby and pushing him out of the way with his shoulder. This night is gonna be rough.

"Ready..." the coach said, placing the ball between Derek and Toby who were glaring at each other.

The whistle blew and the players charged around the field in a frenzy in an attempt to gain the ball. Derek instantly pulled the ball away from Toby and charged down the field towards me. People were turning their attention towards me, awaiting to see if Derek would get past me and score or if I could, just maybe, stop him. I saw Dylan shake his head quickly, as if he was trying to tell me to run the other way but my body had already clicked into action. I slammed my whole body weight into Derek before he even realised I was coming for him, the whole crowd gasped and stood up on the bleachers to get a better look as I pushed my once best friend into the ground with one smash. The ball dropped out of his stick as he stared up at me.

"Scott? What the..."

I pushed away from him quickly and scooped up the ball, running down the field and away from him as fast as I've ever moved. It was near impossible for the opposition to keep up with me, let alone tackle.

"Shoot!" I heard Coach practically scream over the chanting of the crowd. I pulled my stick back and threw the ball as accurately and hard as I could in the current, stressful situation. The whistle blew again and the Coach signalled that a point had been scored. The crowd of students went into uproar as my team mates surrounded me, slapping me on the back and whooping like animals. I saw Derek, jog off the pitch and pull aside Katherine and Rebekah quickly. No. No, no, no! I tried to manoeuvre through the crowd but it was too late, my eyes made contact with Katherine's dark brown ones.

3-0 to us and everyone was freaking out (on both sides). Every time Derek got anywhere near me I would dodge him. I could tell it was putting him on edge by the way he shouted at the other players to grow a pair and hit me. Katherine was watching me constantly, clocking my every move.

"Okay, last two minutes guys, there's no way they can beat us now... And as much I hate to say it... Keep passing to Adams" Toby sighed, nodding at me, "Moore looks beyond pissed and no doubt he'll try something to throw us off, so be careful"

The team dispersed again and I walked opposite the young boy from before, he shook his head and sucked in a breath, as if he was trying to warn me"

"Ready!" The whistle blew for the game to continue and Toby just managed to flick the ball into my stick. I started running down the pitch alongside the freshman, desperately searching for Derek, but I couldn't see him.

Suddenly I was thrown off guard by a light push into my shoulder and I veered to the left slightly. I could here someone charging up behind me but I didn't have time to clock it before Derek slammed his whole body weight into me, I guess it was karma, although, he rammed me a lot harder then I did to him.

The crowd went silent as I fell onto the ground and rolled over onto my back. I felt a burn on my arm, and when I looked down I could make out that there was blood covering most of the visible skin on my left side.

"That was for shoving me" Derek panted, leaning down before people could start to make their way over .

"And this..." He smirked, digging his fingers into where my wound obviously was, "is for leaving us"

I let out a painful groan as he backed away into the group of players.

"Scott!" Allison shouted, pushing through the crowd and kneeling next to me.

"I'm fine..." I sat up, scowling in the direction Derek left in.

"You're bleeding" she started.

"I'm fine..." I repeated, as Dylan crawled next to me.

"I didn't think about that happening" he said, helping me off the ground.

"Wasn't part of the plan?" I sighed.

"Nope, definitely wasn't" he nodded, "but you're okay and tha-"

"Scotty?" a familiar female voice made me turn as I pulled off my helmet.

Katherine was standing, obviously trying to fake surprise as she strutted towards me. Dylan tried to hiss something at me but it was too late.

"H-hey Ka-"

She cut me off by pulling me into a rough, deep kiss.