Caught Up

Chapter Eight

Caught Up

Chapter Eight

Plopping down on the cold metal bench, I shoved a handful of popcorn in my mouth before offering some to Kaylin and Johanna who sat on either side of me. "Mmph," I moaned with my mouth full as the buttery taste enveloped my senses. Handing the bag of popcorn over to an eager Johanna, I clapped loudly as the team ran out onto the field, beginning their warm-ups.

The stands were unsurprisingly packed. Hell, I'd stood in line for nearly fifteen minutes just waiting for my popcorn and mountain dew, but it was understandable. This year was supposed to be a good year for the Westgate varsity football team. Their stats were extremely impressive, and from what I heard, Duke was damn good at what he did (they're predicted to go far in the playoffs, maybe even win state).

Needless to say, everyone was pretty excited (especially me, I loved football pants) and the players were confident.

"Ugh, I have to pee," Johanna whined. "I'll be right back."

As soon as she was gone, Kaylin pounced. I groaned. I knew I shouldn't have told her about the kiss (which I only did after I made her swear on her car that she wouldn't tell Dawson about it).

"Has he talked to you?" She interrogated, trapping her deep red bottom lip between her teeth tightly. I sighed because, no, he hadn't. "Well, has he?"

"Not since I texted him last night," I moped pathetically.

She scoffed, "Dick." Yeah, she hadn't exactly been friendly with Duke since I'd told her... However, she 'totally shipped Duana' (her words not mine). I grimaced at the name.

Honestly, I wasn't sure what was going on with Duke, and I was choosing to just forget about the kiss. If it didn't matter to him, I damn sure wouldn't let it matter to me. He hadn't been in second period at all, and he came in halfway through third with a fresh new cut across his cheekbone. He hadn't said a word to anybody besides a quick fist-bump and a "Hell yeah, I'm pumped" to Dawson.

Smiling at Johanna as she slid onto the bench beside me, I began evaluating the boys as they were warming up. I yawned. It was only a little before seven o'clock, but man was I tired. With the volleyball game, I hadn't gotten in bed until late, and even when I had, I hadn't slept well. Tucking my hair behind my ears in an attempt to shield the billowing brown strands from the wind, I let my eyes stray over to where Duke was throwing the football to Dawson.

Ten minutes left on the clock they moved to stretching. Lunges. Right in front of me.

Damn football pants.

Thank God for them.

Laying my head against Johanna's bony shoulder, I nearly fell asleep when I heard the buzzer sound. I cheered loudly along with Kaylin, Johanna, and the rest of the crowd as our offensive line prepared for kick off. Now, I've never understood football too well, and after kick-off I can only really depend on the announcer and Kaylin's loud jabbering to know what's going on.

But even my girly self could understand that by halftime, we had a 22 point lead over Glenwood (which was pretty damn good). Dawson had a nice run-game, and I'd heard his name over the intercom more than a few times. As for Duke, he was laying 'em out that's for sure.

Everything was going perfect. That is until halfway through the third quarter. Kaylin had needed to go pee and had asked me to go with her. Johanna had volunteered to stay and watch our stuff, but Kaylin was determined to hurry back as to miss as little of the game as possible either way.

We had just gotten high enough on the steps leading to the bleachers to see the field at eye level when the thrum of chants for the defense cut off. Kaylin and I, who admittedly hadn't been watching, quickly searched the field as gasps and whispers filled the air. It wasn't hard to tell that someone had been hurt, but coaches and players and even some parents had already crowded near the twenty-yard line making it impossible to see just who it was. Westgate or Glenwood? I couldn't even make out the jersey.

Kaylin's fingers dug into my forearm as the cold silence wore on.

"Well, folks, don't panic, but it seems we have a Glenwood player down. Is he gonna be okay, refs?" The announcer's steady voice rang out through the stadium. As terrible as it was, relief dashed the pitiful fear that had curled deep in my stomach. Wrapping my arms around my stomach worryingly, I made eye contact with Kaylin before moving over and tapping the first familiar person I saw on the shoulder.

Barely able to remove my gaze from the huddle on the field, I whispered, "What happened?"

A girl named Hayley- I wasn't sure about her last name- from my english class answered me quietly, "It was that new boy. The cute one- what's his name?"

"Duke?" I interrupted, my heart jumping as tore my gaze back to the field. What about Duke? They had said that it was a Glenwood player, right?

"Yeah, yeah. That's the one. He tried to tackle one of the Glenwood boys, and he came down really hard on his head," Hayley informed, biting her lower lip. Her sparkling brown eyes betrayed her fear. I felt my heart stop.

Kaylin, whom I'd forgotten was even standing beside me suddenly spoke out urgently. "Who? Who came down on their head?" Her small hand latched onto me again, jaw tightened in worry as her eyes raked the field.

"The Glenwood boy," Hayley said.

Sucking in a deep breath, I nearly collapsed onto the bench just behind me. Where was Johanna? Oh my god, she was probably freaking out up there all by herself. Suddenly, the group dispersed and my eyes caught onto two EMTs who were running across the field with a stretcher. It took about twenty minutes to safely load the injured player onto it after one of the doctors checked his vitals and whatever else it is that they check.

"Look," Kaylin squeaked with a grimace. "I think he's unconscious."

I exhaled loudly as the announcer came back over the intercom.

"I've gotten word that number 28, Brady Hopper, is suspected to have a major concussion, but he's supposed to be okay. If ya'll don't mind, I'd like to pray for him and his loved ones real quick. Let God be with them on this night." The announcer told everyone, his tone calm despite being laced with obvious worry. And so we prayed, and not even ten minutes later the game was back in business.

The third quarter wasn't very exciting what with everyone including the players still a little shaken up. Duke didn't come back in until halfway through the fourth. Glenwood had scored two touchdowns and two two-point conversions, narrowing our lead to only eight points.

The game finished 46-32: a Westgate victory.

*****

The wind had picked up as Kaylin, Johanna, and I sat on one of the many picnic tables outside of the field house, waiting to meet up with a few of the players before we headed over to the after-party at Kaylin's. Wrapping my black "WESTGATE BULLDOGS" windsuit jacket tighter around my torso, I cuddled against Johanna's tall body for warmth as we watched the doors, tiredly hoping that Dawson would come walking through them anytime.

Most of the players had already left. The party wouldn't start until ten-thirty, but Kaylin was in a hurry to get home just in case. The door opened and upon hearing Dawson's slow chuckle, the three of us stood up, rocking on our heels in the biting wind.

Unsurprisingly, he wasn't alone. Dawson was often the go-to for a ride around here after all, and trailing him was not only Connor but a tense and sweaty Duke Whittemore as well. They had all switched their lovely, flattering football pants for blue jeans and their game jersies for the ones the school provided the players to wear around for looks.

Before I could blink, Johanna was right in front of Duke, her doe-brown eyes wide in sly concern. I bit my lip, tearing my eyes away when I heard her ask him if he was okay, only listening long enough to hear his confirmation. Kaylin sent me an understanding look of pity from where she stood with her arms wrapped around Dawson's slim waist. I shook my head at her, turning away.

Let's just get this over with.

*****

AN: Hey, lovelies! Not all that I wanted out of this chapter, but I have school tomorrow so I decided to find a stopping point. I will, however, have another chapter for ya'll tomorrow so be ready! I intend on it to be good... ;)

Love,

Lacey