"No. I'm good with being a bachelor forever. Can't say the same for my brother." My eyes go to him in the stands. He's got a girl on each side. They're laughing at whatever he's saying but there's no way they'd go out with him. They're juniors, and girls that age don't date younger guys.
Danny laughs. "Look at little Jake, making the moves."
"He wants a girlfriend," I say. "But he doesn't know enough yet to get one."
"Why don't you help him out?" Josh says. "Teach him what to do."
"Not my area of expertise. Never had a girlfriend."
"Hey." Danny nods toward the bleachers. "Isn't that the girl from your class? The one who's always giving you shit?"
My eyes go to where Danny's looking but all I see are a row of guys. "I don't know who you're talking about."
"That girl. The new one. I can't remember her name."
I look again, still only seeing guys. Then one of them sits down and that's when I see her. She actually came to the game. I didn’t think she would.
"Brook," I say. "That's who you're talking about, right?"
"Yeah. She's with JT. When'd they start dating?"
I straighten up, trying to see her better. She's sitting next to JT, but talking to Tate. She wouldn't be going out with Tate. He's gay. And JT wouldn't ask her out. He hates girls like her, all prim and proper looking. Although tonight she doesn't have that look. She's wearing a tight black tank top and jeans, and her hair is down in soft waves, not straight like she wears it to school.
"I told you to hurry up," Danny says. "A new girl who's hot? Guys will be all over that. I told you she'd have someone by the end of the week."
"What the hell do I care? I don't want to date her. And she has a boyfriend. Some rich asshole."
"Then she's either cheating on him or they broke up." Danny nods toward Brook.
I look back at her and see JT rubbing her arm. My chest tightens and my heart thumps harder, my anger building as I watch JT touching Brook. Why am I reacting like this? I don't care if she dates JT. She can date whoever she wants. Even if I liked her, she's a relationship girl. She needs a relationship guy.
JT takes off his hoodie and puts it around her shoulders. She smiles and says something to him.
"Everyone line up!" Coach yells.
I move my head side to side and shrug my shoulders, taking a deep breath to bring my focus back to the game and away from Brook and whatever's going on with her and JT. It's the first game of the season and I can't screw up. Every game from here on out has to be perfect. It's my only chance of getting into college.
The game starts and I'm on fire, plowing down the field, taking down players on the opposing team and stopping them from scoring. By halftime, we're up 14 to nothing. The other team manages to get a touchdown in the third quarter but so do we, along with a field goal. They almost score in the fourth quarter but I stop the guy before he reaches the end zone. We score again and win the game 31 to 7.
"Awesome job tonight," Josh says to me in the locker room. "That might be the best game you've ever played."
"You were fucking on fire," Danny says. "What the hell got into you tonight? You double up on energy shots?"
I shake my head. "Just had a good night. I can't afford to slack off this season. Recruiters could show up at any time and I have to show them what I got."
"You're getting an offer," Danny says. "Probably more than one. I bet you get three or four."
"Yeah, right," I say with a laugh. "Have you seen my grades?"
"Your grades don't matter. If they want you on the team bad enough, they won't care about your grades."
"Maybe, but I'm not counting on it."
"Then get your grades up." Danny opens his locker, which is next to mine. “Get the new girl to tutor you. Wasn't she going to tutor your brother?"
"Yeah. She's already been over."
"To your house?" Danny's brows rise. "Are you serious?"
