Page 107 of Second Down Darling

After a quick shower, I reach for my phone, hoping I can track her down and make plans to see hertonight.

Only there’s a text fromher.

Maybe she saw the press conference. I close my eyes and pray the things I said made a difference. That she knows I’ll always chooseher.

Strangely, the message is addressed to me and her sister, one Charlotte sent around the time we finished ourgame.

Kota, I found an old hard drive the other day. You might be surprised to see what’s on it. Before you even think about pressuring Jake to do your bidding, you might want to watch this highlight reel I put together. If you don’t back the fuck off, I wouldn’t be surprised to find this circulatingonline.

I click on thelink.

It’s a video of Dakota applying gobs of makeup. “They’re all brainless little bitches. Good thing they’re willing to spend twenty bucks a pop to get mybracelets.”

The camera pans across the room to a table overflowing with pink Little Darlingsjewelry.

Oh, shit. She’s talking about herfans.

Segment after segment follows, obviously outtakes, moments when Charlotte kept the camera rolling between shoots. Candid moments where Dakota criticizes her fans or sponsors. Her parents. Her professors. Her friends. It’s an endless stream ofcomplaints.

It’s nothing like the face she showed onThe Hell Housethisseason.

Finally. The true DakotaDarling.

Billy stops at his locker, which is across from mine. “Crashing Coach’s press conference was prettyballsy.”

“Wasn’t trying to challenge Coach. Just needed to set the recordstraight.”

“Hope it gets you yourgirl.”

“Thanks,man.”

He motions to my phone. “Whatchawatching?”

The video is paused on a shot of Dakota sneering atsomething.

I replay the video for him, and his eyes widen as he realizes what he’s seeing. I explain Charlotte’s text with a laugh. “My cupcake is fuckingfierce.”

I was a dumbass to think I needed to keep that stuff Coach said from her. I’ve learned my lesson. She doesn’t need my protection. Just mysupport.

All of a sudden, text after text from Dakota pops up on my phone. She’s obviously freakingout.

I don’t bother looking at them. I’m happy to let her stew in her own mess for awhile.

The only thing I care about right now is Charlotte, who texts that she’ll meet me at the park. I’ll take whatever time I can get with her,frankly.

The second our bus pulls into campus, I’m ready to bolt and find my girl. After I gather my crap, I wait for the doors toopen.

I nod at Billy. “I’m meeting with Charlotte. Wish meluck.”

He slaps me on the back. “I have a feeling you don’t needit.”

45

CHARLOTTE

As I swayin the swing, I scan the park. It’s dusk, and as the sun sets, the breeze gets colder. I shiver and pull my coat tighter. I needed to get some fresh air after I saw Jake’s press conference. Roxy had called me as it was going down and demanded I turn on the local TV affiliate, which covers thegames.

I still can’t believe he did that after knowing how much his coach wanted him to stay quiet and keep his headdown.

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