Chapter Thirty Five : The Big Game

A/N thank you so much for 90k reads! i appreciate you all so much!

Dark clouds rolled across the sky, pair that with scattered humid rain, it was sure to make for an exciting game. I couldn't wait for buckets of sweat to pour down my body along with hot sticky rain, I was ecstatic.

I dragged my feet against the wet pavement of the school parking lot with my black duffel bag, weighing down on my shoulder and soaking wet hair as I waited to board the bus with my teammates and we just couldn't forget to bring the cheer leaders that we desperately needed. The bus that would take us to the game we've all been waiting for, the big one.

My eyes scanned the parking lot and darted my eyes to the school's front doors, searching for Dakota who hadn't showed up yet. Everyone else was here and it was almost time to leave, I was getting nervous. If Dakota didn't show, I would have a say in the plays. But we wouldn't win this game without him, maybe I shouldn't had thought so little of the team, of myself but I felt as if I couldn't do anything without Dakota by my side. I wondered when did it become that way, maybe since the beginning of our friendship.

I was more nervous at the thought of having to see him after exchanging the "L" word with each other than him not showing up. We've said it plenty of times but it was different, that was as friends. When I heard those words he'd said time and time again, it had meant more now.

A smile crept to my lips as I remembered that night, the traces of his touch against my skin, trailing along my body that made me shiver to the core and sent tingles through out me, his hot ragged breaths between each embracing tender kiss and hearing his whispers of pleasure in my ear that made me want him all to myself and no one else. I brushed my finger tips over my lips as I closed eyes, thinking back to us that night.

When you're in love, you feel like nothing and no one else matters except for that person, you feel invincible. But at the same time, the person you love, is your kryptonite, your greatest weakness but also the one person that builds you up and makes you strong. That was how Dakota made me feel.

"Guess your boy isn't going to make it today." Alex said as he smirked walking past me, pulling me from my own world. Queenie trailed behind him, stuck to him like the leech she was. Was that too harsh? I meant like the snake she was.

She winked at me with a grin, her lips tainted that devilish tempting red, wearing her cheer leading uniform that matched her hair. Everything about her was red.

I smacked my lips after blowing her a kiss that caught her off guard, quickly wiping that smug grin right off her face. I smirked, satisfied with myself as she scurried on to the bus avoiding my stare, leaving Alex behind who looked like he had a lot to say to me. Maybe that was why Alex had become such an idiot, Queenie was sucking the life out of him and he couldn't think for himself.

"Spit it out dough boy, unless you need your friends to make up words for you." I said as he stepped closer, towering over me. I didn't stand a chance if we fought but I wasn't going to bite my tongue at words he deserved to hear solely to avoid a pummeling.

"You're pretty mouthy for a freshman, twink." He said before shoving my chest, putting distance between us. The rest of the team and cheer leaders watched from inside the bus through the windows with anticipation, waiting for me to make the next move.

"That's no way to treat your co-captain." Dakota said from behind me. My stomach flipped at the sound of his voice, he came. I turned around and to my not so very surprise, he had a smirk spread across his face.

"Get on the bus, Alex." Dakota said with a grim face as he neared closer.

"What are you doing here? You miss practice for a whole week and you think you're still captain? Bullshit." Alex said as he stepped up to Dakota, making him appear small, like a chihuahua standing up against a pitbull. The team's eyes widened from behind the bus windows, as if Alex was a peasant who had just defied a king. Before it could out of hand and potentially ruin the game for us, coach had decided only then that it would be a good time to get involved.

"Zip it Alex, now get on the bus." He said, coming from the back of the bus before blowing his whistle, that familiar sharp ring echoed in my ears, temporarily deafening me.

Alex glowered at me like a lion wanting to attack a baby gazelle as he boarded on, shoving me by the shoulder. Dakota and I smirked at each other in self satisfaction before we hopped on the bus as well, sitting right in the middle of the chaos that was going on inside. I didn't want to think of what coach was doing behind the bus, I wouldn't be surprised if he was checking it was bugged. He was convinced there was a mole but we'd won almost every game so even if there was, it didn't matter.

"He was ready to beat your ass." Dakota said in a hushed whisper as he sat down beside me with that usual trademark grin on his face.

"Right." I said with a chuckle, shoving his arm.

After coach did one more check, in and around the bus, we were off with a fired up football team. The chanting had already begun before we hit the highway. I stared at Michael across the bus as I chanted along with my teammates but instead of chanting, I found him staring off into the distance, in a trance almost. For a moment I thought of walking over to him, maybe he was nervous about the game. But I turned to Dakota, who'd looked the happiest I had seen him in a long time as we cheered together. I didn't want to take that small amount of happiness from him.

I tuned out the chants of my teammates as I stared out the bus window, following the trees on the hilly landscape with my eyes as we drove by, picking up speed. Strangely it felt like just another game but it wasn't. This one was more important than the others, this would either be our last game or just another win.

It lead me to wonder if Dakota felt as pressured as I did to win. The thought of him having all that weight put onto his shoulders made me want to stay by his side now more than ever, I knew he'd need me especially with staying sober.

If we won, Alex would want to have a huge celebratory party and a party thrown by him, alcohol is a must. I was getting a headache just thinking about having to convince Dakota he'd regret it if he had went.

Dakota reached his hand over to mine, pulling me from my own head, hovering over it for a moment before grasping onto it, interlocking our fingers together. I turned my attention toward him, averting my eyes away from the window to match his as they stared deep into me, his eyes were as beautiful as ever. The light hit them just right, heightening the hazel color of them and making them a warm inviting doe brown with swirls of deep green, pulling me in with every second I stared.

"I love you." He mouthed with a beaming smile and I read it as clear as day. Without realizing it, a smile had crept onto my lips as my body filled with warmth and knots at the sight of his mouth forming those words. I let out a coy laugh as his smile turned into a grin. I leaned into him, resting my head on his shoulder, burying my face in the nape of his neck with not a care if any one was looking. Hell, everyone had already known about Dakota and I's messy relationship. I closed my eyes, feeling completely at ease to have him beside me again. It was in that moment that I knew, I couldn't leave him even if I wanted to. I was in too deep to get out now.

The chanting subsided as we neared the city with no sun in sight as it continued to pour rain. When I woke, Dakota was leaning against my shoulder. I watched him as he slept, looking peaceful with each rise and fall of his chest. I turned my head to look out the window and nerves riddled my body as we pulled up to the school that was home to the Titans, our opponents, who were already waiting for us outside and ready to give us a warm welcome before the game.

I nudged Dakota, nodding towards the window and motioning for him to take a peak outside. He rubbed his eyes before leaning over me.

"Why are they waiting for us?" He asked, seemingly as confused as I was. We'd played plenty of games before but never did we exchanged greetings beforehand. It was always, show up, play, win, the end.

"Up and at 'em boys." Coach said before blowing his whistle and disappearing outside. The rest of the team piled out of the bus with bags full of football gear on their shoulders, lazily making their way out. I stood up with Dakota behind me to find that Michael hadn't moved an inch from his seat.

"Aren't you coming?" I asked with an arched brow.

"Yeah." He said as his darted back and forth from me to the window at the opponents outside.

"Lets go." Dakota said, urging me to the bus door. I nodded and hesitantly took a step forward. I'd never seen Michael so nervous before, it made me wonder what was going through his head.

I could feel the tension in the air as soon as I stepped out as the Titans walked over to us with a menacing stare in their eyes as we huddled together. They're looks matched the name of their team as they towered over Dakota and I.

"Luka, I need to talk to you for a second." Michael whispered behind me, avoiding eye contact with them. He opened his mouth to speak again but before he could, he was cut off.

"So you're Dakota Moreau, the first acclaimed freshman that was scouted." One of the Titan team members spoke, who I assumed was the captain from the big "C" on his purple and black jacket. The second actually, but who was counting?

"What's it to you?" Dakota asked as he crossed his arms.

"I just find it funny." He grinned, provoking Dakota. Either he'd done his research that Dakota was a hot head or he was just another asshole looking for a fight.

"Michael, I almost didn't recognize you." The captain of the Titans said as he stepped closer.

"How's your dad?" He taunted, clearly wanting a rise out of Michael, I just didn't know why. And why did he want to know about Michael's dad?

"Fuck off, Seth." Michael said finally breaking his silence.

"Didn't know it was still such a touchy subject." Seth grinned with a malice look in his eyes.

"See you on the field boys." He continued, that grin plastered on his fast as he walked away with his team.

I turned to Michael, staring at him for an answer but instead of getting one he shoved past me and headed into the school, leaving without a word.

"Alright ladies, gear up." Coach said seemingly coming out of nowhere like he'd always did with his impeccable timing. I rolled my eyes and headed towards the school with my duffel bag in tow.

It was quiet in the change rooms, a rare occurrence that kept even someone as talkative as Alex in silence as we started to gear up. Dakota hadn't shown any interest in what ties Michael had to the Titans and how they knew him. Was coach right all along and was Michael the mole he'd been talking about for so long? But Michael had joined mid semester, it wouldn't add up.

"I can't stand it, what was that back there?" Alex said, breaking the silence and everyone stopped to stare at Michael, awaiting his answer.

"None of your business." Michael said curtly, averting his eyes.

"Are you kidding me? We're teammates, I want to know who the hell I'm playing with and why that Seth guy knew your name." Alex said and I could tell by the redness in his chubby cheeks, he was getting angry.

"Why does it matter?" Michael said, raising his voice with a scowl.

"Tell us, or you're off the team." Dakota said, interjecting and for a moment I was taken back that he wanted to know about Michael. It was quiet for some time before Michael decided to speak up.

"I used to play here, for them, that's it. Some shit went down between Seth and I and he still hasn't forgiven me for it, okay? You happy? You want us to all hold hands now?" Michael said with a frown. Dakota grinned, along with Alex and it wasn't long before we erupted into laughter that changed into loud chants that filled the small change room, getting psyched for the game. But I couldn't shake the feeling that Michael was hiding more, there was more to the story that he wasn't telling us.

I kneeled down on the wet grass, waiting for the ball to snap, waiting for Dakota to throw the ball to either me or Michael. I could see each breath I took in front of me as I inhaled and exhaled, feeling the rise and fall of my chest as the rain poured down on me. The chants from the cheerleaders screaming out team name were tuned out, along with more half the people in the stands that were there were the Titans. I felt like the enemy in unknown territory.

The ball snapped and Dakota faked the ball to me before throwing it to Michael. I ran dead ahead, keeping an eye on Michael as he ran to the end zone. But he couldn't get far before the Titan's captain Seth, blocked him, grabbing him by the helmet and throwing him down.

"What the fuck was that!?" I yelled out as I ran over to Michael. The whistle blew, stopping the game.

"That one's for your dad, Carina." Seth said before spitting on Michael.

"Fuck off." I said before shoving him. The referee blew his whistle once more before running over and giving Seth a foul but he didn't seem bothered by it as he walked away with a grin.

"You fucking prick!" I yelled out before tackling Seth to ground in one fell swoop. It wasn't long before some one jumped on me, and soon half the teams were piled up on each other. I grabbed Seth's helmet and took it off before sucker punching him in the face, feeling the bone of his cheek against my knuckles.

"Break it up!" Dakota said, looming over me, along with coach and one of the referee's, each of them had disapproving face's as they stared at me. I dropped my fist and stood up, it took some time to pull apart the other teammates from each other. Coach and the Titan's coach exchanged words with the referee. I could tell by his body language that the game was over, we wouldn't be giving a second change. And the game ended, just like that it was done.

"Nice." Queenie said with a smirk as I walked off the field. I ignored her and continued to walk to the change room with my head hung low.

"What the hell was that, De Angelis?" Alex asked me as we were in the change rooms, taking off our gear.

"Hey, you were in there too." I scoffed.

"Yeah, saving your ass!"

"Quiet down now ladies." Coach said as he walked in.

"Now, we can't win 'em all so suck it up and get changed. We roll out in t minus five minutes." He said before blowing his whistle. At least coach wasn't down my neck about costing us the game. Dakota hadn't said a word to me about it either.

As we boarded back on to the bus for the last time, I'd felt more regret than I ever had. The ride was quiet, it was complete and utter silence as we started the drive back home. I shuddered at the thought of having to tell my parents why we were back so early. I don't know what had come over me but seeing Seth spit on Michael that way, all I had seen was red from there on out, completely throwing away all the team's hard work that we put into being able to play this game.

"Don't worry about today." Dakota said before grabbing my hand and pecking the back of it. I nodded, avoiding his gaze as he ruffled my hair, unable to shake the feeling away.

I was thankful to find that my parents weren't home when I arrived. I kicked off my shoes and went straight to my room, throwing my duffel bag on the floor, wanting to throw myself as well. I opted for the bed instead, burying my face into my pillow and letting out a muffled scream of anger.

What was I thinking? Dakota was usually one to start fights, he was the hothead. And why did Seth hate Michael so much?

A/N vote, comment and tell me what you think! :) also after reading some comments, i've decided to change ages of some of the characters, if you have any questions regarding this, let me know :)