Page 19 of The List of Things

“Fine,” She agrees and gets out with me.

I know I’m being dramatic. I know that I need to put on a face right now and grow up, at least in front of him. I take another deep breath. Sienna and I get out of the car and meet around the front.

“I’ve got this,” I tell her outwardly, but I know I’m telling myself more than her.

“Confidence is key,” Her reminder goes in one ear and out the other.

For the first time ever I have no thoughts in my head as I walk through the entrance of the stadium, going toward the bleachers. I have no thoughts because I know if I had any they would all be telling me to turn around and go home. So I have no thoughts. None at all as I walk down the steps of the stands, my eyes focusing on a football team that’s warming up, readying themselves for drills.

The cheerleaders are out on the field. I’m assuming tryouts are soon for next semester. I feel a few eyes on me, and I can see eyes on me too. People are probably wondering what the hell I want. Coach is talking to the boys, but slowly all their attention turns to me, and so does the coach's.

“Start your warmups!”

I catch Bellamy’s confused look as he hesitates to move and start his warm up. Coach approaches me, and his eyes flip to Sienna who stands behind me. Now or never.

“Kamryn Hart, right?” Coach asks me, and I nod.

I’ve definitely introduced myself before and expressed my interest in the team. For once, I see he’s listened. From what I’ve seen that’s not a common occurrence with Coach Corbin. He doesn’t like working with sports medicine students; he'd rather stick with professionals.

“Yes, coach,” I smile, and he does too.

“What can I do for you, Hart?”

“I need to talk to Bellamy.”

He narrows his eyes on me.

“You need my star quarterback? Right now?” He looks back at Bellamy, and then me once more.

“I know, I know... I’m sorry, but it will only be a second.”

He doesn’t look amused, but he also doesn’t look pissed so that’s a good sign in my opinion.

“I like you... I’ve been watching you on the sidelines at other games this season, and I promise if this was anyone else, I would say no… You better make it quick, Hart,” He snaps his fingers toward the field, trying to get the attention of his players.

“I will!” I feel a different sense of nerves, knowing the coach has been keeping tabs on me.

The good kind of nerves. The second my eyes land on Bellamy, it’s the bad kind again.

“Archer!” Coach Corbin yells, and I watch as Bellamy’s attention snaps in my direction, and then his coach.

I don’t hear what Coach Corbin says, but I watch as he hikes his hand back at me, and then looks over. He shrugs at Bellamy and walks away onto the field. Bellamy stalks toward me, his helmet removed now, showing messy hair. He takes out his mouthguard as he approaches, his height towering over me.

He’s wearing a Hornets tank top that’s tight fitting to his body as well as the normal football pants and cleats he always wears on the field. He’s got a very thin layer of sweat on his large arms, one of them holding a football, the other holding his helmet. As he gets closer my eyes focus in on his hands, Sienna’s words playing in my head, and my stomach flips at the sight of how fucking big his hands are. The veins of his arms, and the simple way his long fingers curl around the helmet. Quarterback hands are definitely a thing. They make Bellamy’s appeal grow exponentially. Especially now that I have thoughts circling my head of exactly what those hands could do-

“Are you okay?” He asks and my heart warms.

I find it somewhat endearing that his initial instinct is to check on me.

“Not really,” I speak to myself.

“What happened?” His eyes are scanning my features.

“I think I’ve lost my mind but… You’ve got two weeks,” I lay it out on the table.

He questions me with his features, not understanding at first. His brows are furrowed, and his head is turned slightly to the side. I watch as his eyes widen ever so slightly. I watch everything click in his mind.

“Hold on...”

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