He's The Man

Chapter 45

-He's The Man-

~Jordan's POV~

I shove my books in my locker with a sigh before slamming it shut. I turn around and lean my head against it, allowing the cold metal to soothe my growing headache.

It's been a couple days since Leila's big confession and even now my mind is still reeling. She hasn't been at school for the last week, her mom insisting that she take it off. I frown, I didn't get to see her yesterday or the day before, me missing school and practice has left me with no spare time as I struggle to catch up again.

"Hey man, you comin'?" Brad slams his hand down on the locker next to my head, bringing me back to reality. He wears a wolffish grin and I'm quickly surrounded by Trent, Michael and Zach, no sign of Damon.

I pull my backpack tighter around my shoulders before letting out an exhausted sigh. "Yeah, I'm coming."

"You good, man?" Trent's forehead creases as he regards me cooly. "You seem a little off these passed few days."

I nod a little too quickly. "Yep. Just-"

"Tired?" Brad cuts in with a mischievous smile. He throws his arm around my shoulder and begins to lead our crew in the direction of the locker rooms. "Yeah, I get your being 'tired'."

I raise an eyebrow at him. He doesn't look at me when he speaks and continues to wear a grin, occasionally waving at the girls who stare at us longingly.

Suddenly, he leans in close to my ear, one would think that he was just looking over her shoulder and I have to strain to catch his words.

"Saving the towns nut case has got to be exhausting."

I instantly shove him away from me, knowing that he's referring to Leila.

"Fuck you." I snarl at him.

His grin quickly fades away and he matches my glare with equal harshness. Everyone in the hallway falls silent as people wait with baited breath for our next move.

"Think I wouldn't find out about your little girlfriend?" Brad offers. "Well guess what, DeVall?! Everyone knows, but is just too chicken shit to ask why you're dating an invisible!"

I rush him, catching him off guard I quickly take a swing for his nose, but am held back by all three of my boys.

"Jordan, he's not worth it!" Trent growls. "Do you want to play in Thursday's big game or not?"

"I don't give a fuck about the game-" My voice is vicious and I'm eager to introduce my fist to Brads face.

"You don't mean that!" He urges. "Your future is riding on this game! Are you going to ruin it because Brads a jerk? We knew that already, Jay. Don't be an idiot right now!"

My breathing is heavy and I'm still seeing red. Brad saunters toward me and grabs the collar of my shirt. "He's right DeVall." He whispers furiously under his breath. "Don't ruin everything we've worked for, for some crazy bitch."

I know his words have a double meaning: don't ruin our lacrosse career, if we fight there's no way Coach will let both of us play in the game. The team could never win without me and Brad knows it. I take a look around at all of our peers watching us, some already have their cellphones out, ready to press record the second a fist flies.

He also doesn't want me to ruin our status, this social hierarchy we've worked our way up for the last four years. I glare at all of the anxious faces watching us and want to shout. I could careless what any of these people think of me now.

I shove Brad off of me again, staying silent, I quickly force my way through the crowd and head for the student parking lot.

"You've been my bro since 2nd grade, DeVall!" Brad shouts at me, though I don't turn around. "Who's it gonna be!?"

I slam the doors of the school open and head for my car.

"Jordan!" I hear Ramona before I see her and I let out a frustrated growl.

"Now isn't a good time." I snap climbing into my car. She quickly hops into the passenger seat and stares at me expectantly. "What are you doing?" I sigh, I really don't have the patience right now.

"Going with you, of course." Romana answers nonchalantly. She inspects her pink nails and mutters, "Frankly, it's about time you rid yourself of those dogs you call 'friends', they're absolutely disgusting."

"Ramona." I call, urging her to shut up. "Let's please, for one moment, acknowledge that I've just pretty much lost all of my friends and social status, okay?"

She frowns and her eyes show the slightest hint of sympathy before she states, "You'll live, Jordan."

I sigh and pull away from the school not really knowing how to feel.

"Where are we going?" I ask her impatiently, thinking this is her way of demanding a ride home.

Ramona rolls her eyes at me as if it's obvious. "Leilas' house, duh."

I sigh, knowing that Leila is who I was going to see anyways. Ramona turns off the radio and crosses her arms, staring at me with a piercing gaze.

"God, what now?"

"Have you...talked to Leila about-the um...the thing?" She suddenly looks uncomfortable and now the atmosphere is tense.

"Well she hasn't screamed in my face and demand that I jump off a bridge yet either, has she?" Sarcasm drops from my words, but a small tinge of fear can easily be detected as well.

Ramona pouts at me. "Leila would never tell you to jump off of a bridge, Jordan." She gives me a truly worried frown. "She might slap you around a bit and call you some string of profanities, but I think you deserve at least that."

I snort. "Geez, thanks I feel so much better. Matter of fact-" I get my phone out and act as if I'm going to call Leila this very second.

"Hey! Knock it off." She glares at me. "Leila will be mad when you tell her, but what did you expect? She has a right to know. I think you should tell her soon, before either of you dig this hole any deeper."

I bite my lip and shake my head feeling defeated. "She's never going to talk to me again, Ramona..." Saying these words aloud hurts more than I thought it would. "She'll hate me."

"You don't know that, Jordan." Ramona suddenly looks uncertain, which is a look that rarely occurs with her. It looks foreign on her face and I know the thought of Leila finding out about the bet and hating me makes her sad too.

"Leila is my best friend. She's like my sister. I know her just about as well as I know myself. She will be mad when you tell her, but she won't hate you."

"How do you know that, Ramona? Leila won't forgive me for this."

Ramona pauses and looks as if she's got some internal battle going on. She finally sighs and gives me the im-only-telling-you-this-because-I-have-too look.

"Because-because even though you're pig and an asshole sometimes. And I mean straight up jerk-"

"I get it Ramona!" I shout. She laughs before sticking her tongue out at me and rushing her last few words.

"Leila is in love with you."