Page 8 of Why We Break

I just nod at her and mumble, “Thanks, Mia. Have a good night.”

And without another word, I scramble to my car where I finally bust into a fit of sad, hot tears.

“Blue!! Black!! Let’s go, Saints!”I cheer along with Caroline and our squad as they finish their halftime performance. It’s Friday night, and after what felt like the longest two-hour bus ride of my life, we arrived in Mills Corner. The first half was a brutal mashup between the boys, and it seems like the next hour or two would be the same.

We spend the next few minutes passing out water to the girls before collapsing back into our seats on the front row of the bleachers while the girls build up their stunts for kickoff.

“Let’s GOOOOOO, Saints!” the squad cheers when Wesley catches the ball and sprints toward the end zone. We all groan as he’s taken down on the five-yard line, just shy of a touchdown, but the crowd goes wild as the team gets set to push the ball across the end zone.

The Mills Corner sideline boos loudly, and I can tell a few of their players are mouthing off at our boys, but thankfully our team seems unbothered.

“Are they seriously booing a bunch of teenagers?” I ask, my eyes wide as a few of their fans throw trash toward the field. I can hear their sideline start yelling and cursing at their team until the referee blows his whistle and throws a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Trying to ignore it, Caroline grabs my hand, and we cheer like the duo of crazed fans that we are. I feel the smile I’ve been missing all day creep up on my cheeks. Despite how shitty everything is right now, I think there must be just a little bit of magic in these small town stadiums because as I cheer for my alma mater and the kids I spend almost all of my day with, I feel just a little bit of the weight I’ve been carrying the last few days lift off my shoulders just as the Saints’ player scores a touchdown.

The stands erupt in a chorus of excitement while the squad dances along to “Oh When the Saints Go Marching In.” After the kick goes through the goalposts, Caroline and I collapse back into our seats, both wearing happy expressions.

My best friend looks at me for a moment before saying, “There’s my bestie. What’s been going on, Han? You’ve looked like someone kicked your puppy all week. I’m worried about you.”

I blow out a breath before giving her a small smile. “Oh, I’m fine. There’s just been a lot going on lately, but I’ve got everything under control.”

I feel Caroline’s gaze on me, looking for any sign I’m not telling the truth. I can’t tell if I pass her inspection, or if she just knows there’s no use in arguing with me. “Fine, but I would really hope that if that wasn’t true, you’d know you could come to me. We’re in this together, Han.”

I try not to let the myriad of emotions I’m feeling show on my face, and since I don’t trust myself to speak I just nod at her and give her a quick hug. Thankfully, both of our phones ping a second later, drawing the attention off my current issues.

MARGARET: Ladies, I need an update!

Caroline and I both smile at our phones before she says, “I’ll respond for us.”

Margaret and Theo may have only been in Springside for a few months, but they’ve fit themselves so easily into our lives I don't know what we ever did without them. She decided not to make the two-hour trip since all of us were riding the bus, but because she understood how important tonight’s game was to our chances at the playoffs, I’m sure she’s desperate to hear how it’s going.

CAROLINE: We’re up right now 27-21 going into the fourth quarter. But it’s been a tough game. Hoping we can hold out a little longer

MARGARET: OMG me too. Literally biting my nails here. Keep me updated.

After liking the text, Caroline stands and motions for the girls to get set for their quarter cheer. We cheer along with the girls and holler when all of their stunts hit cleanly at the top. As soon as they dismount, Maggie, the captain of the squad, runs over to us.

“Oh my gosh, you were right about those rippled lib stunts with the signs! The crowd was so loud! Do you think we could work that into our competition routine? I know regionals are coming up, but if we advance, it could be great for state!” she asks with a huge smile on her face.

Caroline and I nod at her before she runs back to the squad to build back up for kickoff. “You were right about the new stunts, Han. I know it’s only our second year competing, but I think we really have a chance of making it past regionals this year!” Caroline says excitedly.

“I hope so! I want to work through a few more tweaks to the—” I start before I look at the field and see one of the Springside defensive players reach out and snag the ball as it hurdles through the air for an interception. “Oh my gosh, run!”

The stadium erupts once again, all of us screaming and yelling as the player runs the ball the remaining thirty yards for a touchdown. We cheer along before Caroline remembers to grab her phone and update Margaret. All the while, the atmosphere in the stadium feels more and more hostile as the players line up for the field goal attempt. Just as the center goes to snap the ball, one of the Mills Corner players charges from the line and tackles one of the Springside offensive guards, hitting him hard enough that his helmet flies across the grass before the play starts. Once he’s down, the Mills Corner player kneels above our guard and punches him hard across the face.

And with that, the stadium dissolves into absolute chaos.

CHAPTER 8

WILL

You have to be fucking kidding me.I know it’s not the most profound thought, but it’s all I can think as I watch the Mills Corner defensive lineman punch my player in the face.

I’m on my feet before I can think, grabbing the boys on the sideline who are ready to charge the field and pointing them back towards Theo, gesturing for him and the other coaches to get the rest of the team the hell out of there.

“Get your asses to the locker room, or you’ll spend the next week doing as many conditioning drills as I can think of, understand?” I bellow.

I know they want to defend their teammates, but shit’s gonna get a lot fucking worse if half our starters are benched a couple weeks before the playoffs.

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