Page 44 of XO

Jacob launches, fist already raised when he’s stopped.

“Jacob Lynch, if you lay a hand on him, I’ll see to it you never play another football game,” Ms. Zagwich spits out in order to stop the room from erupting.

Kevin and Chelsea share a victorious snigger until Jacob says the unexpected.

“Do it,” he says, quietly melancholic. “You’ll be doing me a favor.”

Within a heartbeat, Jacob relaunches his swing, landing his fist into the unsuspecting Kevin. I flinch with the impact, terrified how this is going to end.

“Keep up the name-calling, and I’ll keep up kicking your ass.”

Kevin shoots to his feet, occasionally squinting against the throbbing pain in his eye but too riled up not to go into battle. “You’re choosingherover me, Jacob? After all this fucking time, you’re choosing pussy over five years of friendship?”

“A bruised ego doesn’t give you the right to be derogatory.”

Kevin shoves at Jacob’s chest, but he barely moves. “Fuck you, man. You think I care about your fucking frigid girlfriend?”

Jacob returns the shove, sending Kevin staggering a few steps back before grabbing him by his shirt collar and slamming him against the wall. Chelsea is forced to move out the way, disdain written across her already sullen face.

“You cared enough to try raping her,” Jacob raged.

Kevin laughs mockingly. “Some bitches are worth it, some aren’t. I’ll let you guess where your girlfriend fits.”

“Son of a bitch,” Jacob seethes, hurling Kevin onto a desk. That motion alone is a testament to how furious Jacob must be because Kevin is a solid boy. The desk agrees and breaks beneath him, sending both boys crashing onto the floor. Still in prime position, Jacob delivers more punishing blows to Kevin’s face.

With Ms. Zagwich protesting in the background and Chelsea screeching her hate, the boys continue their verbal spat, their aggression quickly flying out of control.

“This is all your fault, Rosie,” Chelsea accuses. “Look what you’ve done. Does destroying a friendship give you some worth?”

Ignoring her and swiping the tears from my cheeks, I try to reach deaf ears. “Jacob, stop!” I plead. “It’s not worth it.”

“That’s enough!” comes a booming authoritative voice from the door.

Frightened, I jump aside while Coach Carter barrels his way through the mess of desks.

“Jacob Lynch… get up. Now!”

Sitting straight, heaving from exertion, Jacob glances down at his torn shirt and then to Coach Carter.

“Get. Off. Him.” Coach warns again with finality.

Following instruction, Jacob rises to his feet, landing a kick to Kevin’s ribs on the way past. “The asshole needs to learn some manners,” he says, wrapping an arm around my waist.

“You’re both assholes,” Coach states. “And I’ll see you both in my office.Now!”

“No need.” Jacob casts a glance to a shaken Ms. Zagwich like an employee who quits before getting sacked. “I already made my decision. I’m out.”

It takes a moment for Coach to register his star player and captain, who can lead the team to victory in the finals, has sabotaged his chances of college football. Coach gives a grim nod because the strict No-Fight Rule on or off the field applies to all players, including the revered Jacob Lynch. There are no second chances, only instant dismissal, or in Jacob’s case, he already chose his own fate. And that explains why Kevin, despite the lashing he was receiving, never fought back.

“You’re a disappointment, son. I had high hopes for you,” Coach says, cruelly.

Resigned, Jacob gives a small smile that shatters my heart. “Yeah, my father says the same.”

~

“Jacob, wait!” I pick up the pace as he storms down the corridor. “Please, just listen. He set you up. Kevin—”

“Rosie, I don’t care,” Jacob says spinning on his heel. At least he’s stopped, so I can talk some sense into him.

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