Page 1 of When Nothing Else Matters

Prologue

Dylan - Twelve Years Old

She’shereagain.Iknow I shouldn’t look. As the quarterback, the coach needs me to focus, to lead this team, but I can’t help myself. I didn’t think she’d show today, considering the weather, but there she is, long blonde hair stuck to her face and clothes soaking wet from rain. For the last three weeks she’s been in the same position—hiding in the tree line, watching my football team practice. Alone. She doesn’t look older than ten, so at first, I thought she was the younger sister of a teammate, but no one else has mentioned her. She always arrives mid session and leaves before it’s over, like she doesn’t want to be seen. But she has to be here for someone, right?

I try to keep my eyes on the play but keep stealing glances her way. She must be more confident today, because for the first time, she’s stepped out from the trees and is standing by the fence. Now that she’s closer, I manage to catch her eye. She’s watching me, not the team.Me.And I gotta say it feels good to know that. Because at twelve years old, I finally understand the appeal of girls. I used to think they were annoying, but now, I get it. And every part of me is now focused on her, practice forgotten.

“Heads!” Someone yells from behind me, but I stupidly ignore it. Big mistake.

Thump. Direct hit.Dang, that hurt. Rubbing my head, I look back at the team before shaking off my thoughts and running to my starting position.

“Head in the game or the laps are on you!” the coach yells, and my team collectively boos as they set up for the next play. For the next twenty minutes, I ignore the girl and play my best, determined to give it my all, even showing off a little.Okay, maybe not completely ignoring the girl then?

I’m in my element, showing everyone how it’s done. Every throw, every move, every second. I’m not going to be the reason for the extra laps today; someone else can deal with that. I’m focused now, or at least, I’m trying to be, until we set up for the fourth run of the same play, a play I know inside and out. Confident in myself, I check out the girl near the trees, and then all focus is lost.

I watch in horror, frozen, as the girl falls to her knees in the slosh as a man towers over her. From what I can see, he’s tall and solid, so while she’s trying to use her strength to pull away, she’s helpless against him. The rain makes it hard to see properly, but it’s impossible to miss when he rips her to her feet and drags her toward a car. She doesn’t scream, doesn’t make a sound. She just lets him drag her without even fighting back.Why isn’t she screaming?

It seems I have a split-second decision to make. I look back at my teammates to see if anyone has noticed and see that they haven’t. I’m just about to alert Coach when I glance back to see the girl cry out in surprise when the man slaps her across the face. That cry finally snaps me out of my shock and kicks my ass into gear.

“Hey!” I yell. “Let her go…Stop! You’re hurting her…”

The man doesn’t react, but his movements become faster and less violent. He can definitely hear me, and yet, no one else is moving.

Without a plan, I take off in a run, knowing I need to reach her.But what am I going to do? I’m a kid.I need backup. Without stopping, I yell over my shoulder.

“Someone help…by the fence…help her!”Why hadn’t anyone else noticed?

I feel like someone has answered my prayers when I see Dad’s car pulling into the parking lot. As soon as he spots me, I wave frantically and point in the girl’s direction.

“Dad, help her. Please!” The panic in my voice is enough to rattle my dad into action.

“Get your hands off her!” he yells as soon as he spots what I’m seeing. “Hey! I’m talking to you!”

He’s running now too. I’m fast, but I got my speed from him. He’ll catch them. He has to. My eyes remain focused in the girl’s direction. The man now has her in the car and is making his way to the driver’s seat.No!Yelling and loud footsteps start up behind me. Finally, others have noticed, but no one will reach them in time. I reach the fence just as the car speeds out of the parking lot, and seconds later, my father follows. I hadn’t even noticed he’d gone back to his car. Relief hits me.

There’s nothing more I can do. Dropping to the ground in a heap, I rest my head in my hands and take a deep breath. It’s only then that my teammates catch up.

“Who was that?”

“What happened?”

“Does anyone know them?”

“Do you think she’s okay?”

The questions are firing, but I have no answers. I have nothing left. When the coach reaches my side, I brace myself for the lecture, but it doesn’t come.

“You did a good thing, kid,” he says as he squats down in front of me, patting me on the back. “Alright boys, show’s over. Off to the locker room. No laps tonight.”

Cheers ring out at his words. The girl is clearly forgotten as everyone heads back across the field, met by their concerned parents.

I look back toward the parking lot and can’t help but think about the questions my teammates had asked.Who was she? Who was he? Is she okay?At least I could answer that one. She will be. Dad will find them. I know it. She’ll be okay. She’s got to be.

With a sigh, I get up and follow the team back to the locker rooms, completely unaware that what I just witnessed would not be the worst thing to happen that day.

Chapter One

Dylan

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