Page 18 of Broken

I whooped as Jet came up to the podium next, those blue eyes piercing me from below. I missed the first of what he said, I was so lost in his stare.

“...what Coach said couldn’t be more true. I’ve been captain of this team for three years now, and I’ve never been more excited for a season. These guys behind me here are the best team I could ask for, and we are so pumped to represent Breaker Ridge tonight. I hope to see every one of you there. For me, it’s one person in particular.” He looked up at me again. “Annie, come on down.”

What?I must’ve looked confused because Tucker nudged me in the side.

“Go.”

Right. Go.I hurried down the steps as Jet pulled something black and red from behind the podium, and he ran out to meet me on the gym floor. “Wear my jersey tonight?” he called out, placing the silky material in my hands.

“Of course.” I smiled back, my heart pumping madly in my chest. I turned and held up the jersey for the crowd to see, and the gym filled with aweing and whooping as I ran back up, a grin splitting my face in two.

I was so ready for tonight.

ISABEL

Leo: I hate Fridays. You already bailed on me last Monday, and now we don’t get to practice again.

I rolled my eyes at Leo’s play-whining, grinning at his text as I changed out of my red and black swirled leotard after the pep rally. Tucking it and the sequined skirt in my dance bag, I pulled on my school clothes before texting him back.

Me: Sorry about that Monday. You know stuff went down. THANK YOU for covering for me. And we’ve NEVER danced on Fridays. You know there’s games.

Leo: I know. Some of us aren’t on a school dance team, though, lol. See you tomorrow?

Me: Of course.

I slipped my phone in my back pocket just as Casey and Dinah opened their lockers by mine.

“Did I see Zane wink at you?” Casey asked as she unhooked her skirt. “I thought you were with Tucker now?”

“Yes, and yes.” I sighed. “I don’t know what was with that.”

Dinah frowned. “Whatever happened with you and Zane? That was a quick switch.”

“You mean besides the fact that he cheated on me?” They gasped. “I really don’t want to talk about the rest. But I’ve had feelings for Tucker for a long time. It was kind of afinallything for Tucker and I getting together when things went south with Zane.”

“Well,Ilove y’all together. So far, at least. I’ve never seen Tucker look at a girl like he does you.” Casey bumped my hip, and I flushed.

“He told me he loved me last week.”

“What?!” They both shrieked.

“Oh, my God. Tucker Pierce. Who ever thought we’d see the day?” Dinah tossed me a grin, pressing a hand to her heart and pretending to swoon.

“I know, right?”

Smiling, I shook my head, because, honestly, even I was still in disbelief. I felt like I was living in a fairytale.

“Let’s go, let’s go, L-E-T-S-G-O!”

The crowd cheered as halftime came to a close, and the marching band began to playWho Let the Dogs Outby Baha Men. The football players ran back out onto the field, refreshed, pumped, and ready for the rest of the game. We were oh for twenty-eight so far, the Sharks pummeling the other team. I spotted Jet near one of the coaches as I shimmied my pom poms to the beat, giving him a little wave. Right behind him, I caughtmovement, my heart jumping to my throat before dropping to my stomach as I realized Zane was watching me. Again.

He blew me a kiss and tossed me a wink before slapping down his helmet, and I instantly felt sick.

“Are you sure Zane got the message that y’all broke up?” Dinah asked when we sat back down.

I shrugged, grabbing my bottle of water from by my feet and taking a long drink, trying to settle my stomach. “He should,” I finally answered. “But when I ran into him before school started, he pretty much said he was going to win me back.”

“Oooo, a rivalry. I love it.” Casey grinned.

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