The Renegades

Chapter 20

Shortly after Wesley and Sabina leave Jordy Bell's house, the party is still raging. Rae and Sabina are still sitting on the same couch, having barely moved the entire night. Hunter and Marley stand in the crowded living room where people have started dancing and are making out as if their lives depend on it.

Everybody is too caught up in whatever it is that they're doing to even notice him walk into the house. Nobody has the slightest inclination that something is wrong until the music shuts off, causing everyone to stop in their tracks. Marley and Hunter, however, keep kissing, having not noticed the music in the first place.

"We have one more game until playoffs start, and how we perform tomorrow is how we will perform in the playoffs," Coach Dickson announces. Marley and Hunter split apart as soon as they hear his voice, but it's not until after he's already seen them. Coach Dickson's eyes are glued on his daughter and his quarterback as he continues. "I asked one thing of y'all- don't have a Halloween party. Apparently that was too much to ask for! Party's over! Meeting before school tomorrow morning. Anyone who isn't there on time is off the team."

"Do you think he saw us?" Marley asks quietly, trying to not make it obvious to her dad that she's talking to Hunter.

"Definitely," Hunter says. His heart is pounding. He's been wanting Coach Dickson to know about him and Marley. It's basically all he's wanted for the entirety of their relationship. Now that Coach might actually know, though, Hunter is panicking. This could change everything. This could change his relationship and football. The revelation would be a shock no matter how Coach found out, but crashing a party and finding them making out definitely was not the ideal way for them to be found out.

Coach Dickson walks over to where Marley and Hunter are standing. They both feel like their hearts are beating so hard against their ribs that their chests are going to explode.

"Let's go, Mars," Coach Dickson says. That's all he says. Then he just walks out of the house. Marley is still in so much shock that it takes her until he's out the front door to actually realize she's supposed to follow him. He's practically backing out of the driveway by the time she gets in the car.

"How'd you find out about the party?" Marley asks after a few minutes of driving in silence. Coach Dickson doesn't even have the radio on. That's how she knows he's really mad.

"I have you on Find My Friends."

Marley lets out an exasperated, unamused laugh. "So you stalked me? Yet you wonder why I barely have any friends? It's because of you. It's because everyone is scared that anything they do around me is going to get back to you."

"I did not stalk you. I was checking in on you. I like knowing you're okay. Sorry for being concerned about my daughter and strict with my team. If we don't play well, I lose my job," he says. "I don't buy your lack of friends either. You and Vargas seemed to be getting along just fine."

"We are not talking about that."

"Is there anything to talk about?"

Marley rolls her eyes, trying to hide the fact that she's totally freaking out internally. "We were just kissing."

"Well, do you like him? Are you going to be kissing more? Do I need to have a talk with him?"

"No, Dad," she says. "It was just an in-the-moment, party thing. There's nothing more to it."

Coach Dickson sighs. "You know, you can talk to me about these things, right? I know it'd be easier to talk to Mom, but I'm all that's left. I want you to be able to talk to me."

"I know, but there's nothing to talk about."

Marley gets home with just around a dozen texts from Hunter asking if her dad knows about them. She says she thinks she lied her way out of it. On the other end, he can't help but feel disappointed.

The next morning at school, every Renegade makes sure to be in the locker room before Coach Dickson is even at school. Nobody wants to be late to his meeting. Getting kicked off the team is the biggest shame a person can have in Ruby.

Coach Dickson walks into the locker room. "I'm pleased to see y'all can follow at least one of my orders." He goes into his office and drops off his stuff before coming back out to address his team. "This is it, boys. This is the end of our season. We have this game and then two weeks of practice before our playoffs. A team is only as good as their last game, so we are only as good as our game today shows. We need to build up momentum. We need to crush tonight and carry the zeal of this win over to our next game. We can't slack today because we know our playoff position is guaranteed. We can't get cocky. We can't stop listening to our coach when he tells us to do, or not to do, something."

He scans his eyes over the crowd of boys.

"Unfortunately since just all about all of you decided to go to that party, I can't really punish anyone. I can't bench anyone. Since our game is today, I can't make you run for an entire practice," he says. "But hear me loud and clear as I say this- if any of you play like shit tonight, you are out for the rest of the game and will have to spend the next two weeks trying to earn your spot back. Do you understand me?"

"Yessir," the group says in unison.

"Bus leaves when the bell for sixth period rings. Be on time or be left. You're dismissed," Coach says. "Vargas, I need to see you in my office."

Hunter feels his heart stop.

Landon pats Hunter's back. "Good luck with that, bro."

Coach Dickson waits for the team to leave before going into his office, and Hunter follows shortly after, his heart pounding and palms sweating. He sits down across from Coach.

"I don't really know how to start this conversation, and I'm incredibly uncomfortable," Coach says. "I saw you with Marley last night."

Hunter nods his head slowly. "I'm sorry about that, sir. It just kind of happened.

"Do you like her?" Coach asks.

The question shocks Hunter so much that he thinks he heard it wrong. "Excuse me?"

"Do you like Marley?"

He's not sure why Coach is asking him this. It's a really weird thing to be asking. Hunter isn't sure how he should answer either. He's not sure if admitting to not having feelings for Marley and that it was just a meaningless hook up is better or worse than telling his secret girlfriend's dad that he does like her.

"Yessir," Hunter says. "I like her a lot."

Coach Dickson nods. "I can tell that she likes you too, but I think she thinks I don't want her dating, especially not one of my players. There are some of you I'd lock her in her room permanently to keep her away from, but not you. You're a good kid, Vargas. I'd be proud if my daughter brought a boy like you home."

Hunter is more confused now than he thinks he ever has been in his entire life. "Thank you."

"So I guess the whole point of this weird, uncomfortable conversation is that if you want to date Marley, you have my permission," Coach says. "Now get to class. I'll see you on the bus."

Hunter leaves the office with more questions than he's ever had before in his life, but one sticks out in his mind more than the others. If Coach is so openly okay with Hunter dating Marley, why has she been so insistent on keeping it a secret?