Chapter Fifty Nine : Rosso

A/N I wanted to let you guys know ahead of time but I've been offered a chance to write for another site. And with that offer there might be possibility for the Football Boys to be turned into an official ebook! It's not granted, however if all goes well (I would need your guys support!) it could happen! It's still in the works but it can be done with your help! And I can assure you that the Football Boys will remain FREE to read until the end :) I will make sure of it. Please be on the look out in the next chapter for more information on how you can help me. I will still continue to write on wattpad but will also be writing on this new site that I've come across :)

"Did your mom mention anything about your dad being at the game?" I asked Dakota on the walk to school. The air wasn't as warm as it was in the summer and it was now a light cool breeze.

"No, oddly enough. I mean, she had to have seen him." He replied as he stared at the ground in confusion.

"Do you think he was being honest?" I asked, cautiously.

"Maybe, but right now I just don't care if he was or not."

I couldn't shake the feeling that our parents were already aware that Mr.Moreau would be at the game. And maybe they'd already forgiven him, waiting for Dakota to give the green light. Or I was just jumping to conclusions again.

🏈

Flyers were posted everywhere in the school halls about an upcoming play about a merchant living in Venice. It wasn't anything I was interested but rather Gemma.

She shoved one of the flyers in my face during lunch. "You guys are going to support me, right?" She asked as she stared at me, Dakota, Jane and Michael with glimmer in her eyes.

"Yeah, of course." We agreed in unison.

"Great! Because they need volunteers for the set up."

"Don't forget about finals." Jane said as she opened a pack of sugar free cookies.

"It'll work out perfect! Week days for the play and weekends for studying." Gemma said with sly smile.

"Never mind that, what was with your father on game day?" Michael asked, changing the subject.

"Long story short, he's homophobic, mom kicked him out and now he's asking me to forgive him."

"Whoa, heavy." Michael sipped on his capri sun, his eyes widened in shock.

"Yeah, I-I don't know what to think honestly."

"Whatever you think is right, Kota. If you want to forgive him, you gotta tell him straight up how things are going to be different but if he doesn't agree, you kick him to the curb." Jane said as she kicked the table leg, making it shake and giving everyone a slight scare.

"Kick him to the curb, got it." Dakota nodded firmly.

Lunch period was over and we walked like zombies back to class. The end of the school term was near but time felt slower than ever.

Football season was over and I had no idea what to do with myself for the rest of the year. Other than off season training but it wasn't exactly something to look forward to.

🏈

"Just sign here." Gemma said, pointing at the paper sheet of volunteers that hung on the bulletin board. I couldn't help but notice how empty it was.

I signed my name messily before handing the pen over to Dakota. I scanned the other flyers that were stuck to the board, chess, cheerleading, science club, the list went on but I wasn't so sure of which one to pick. Was it even possible for me to do something other than football?

"Okay, great!" Gemma exclaimed, clapping her hands together with glee.

"Who are you playing as Gemma?" Jane asked as we walked down the hall.

"A beautiful heiress that goes by the name Portia." She replied, swooning with hands clasped together.

"So you're the lead? Wow, Gemma, congrats." Dakota said as we exited the school.

"Yeah, how'd you know Portia's the lead?" Jane asked with an arched and a wicked smile.

"I read too! It's one of my many talents." He replied his a puffed out chest.

"Well, now that it's off season boys, I'm having a Halloween party, anyone want to come?" Michael asked.

"Definitely!"

🏈

"Are you going to drink at the party?" I asked Dakota as we walked hand in hand on the way home.

"No, of course not. Michael asked me before hand if it was okay for alcohol to be there. I don't need it anymore." He replied with a bright eyed smile that made my stomach do a flip.

"Are you sure?" I asked as we came to a stop in front of my house.

"Positive." He replied before kissing my cheek. We waved to each other from across the street before disappearing inside.

"How was school?" My father asked from the couch.

"Dad, you're home early." I said as I kicked off my shoes.

"I'm on a little break." He said with a soft chuckle before turning back to the television.

I retreated to my room, throwing myself on my bed, wondering what to dress up as for the Halloween party. And I couldn't shake the feeling that maybe I was keeping Dakota on a leash. I didn't want it to seem as if I was making decisions for him but I also didn't want him to fall off the wagon.

As I lay there with closed eyes, my computer went off, a familiar dinging sound had alerted me that I received an email.

"People still send emails?" I chuckled to myself as I walked to my desktop. I opened up the browser and read the sender's name aloud.

"Anonymous."

Probably just Dakota or Michael up to no good. I chuckled with a smile once more. But that smile quickly turned to confusion as I realized it wasn't from Michael or Dakota, but in fact, truly was an anonymous sender.

Hi Luka,

I'm an old friend of Dakota's. We were quite close back then. Things are different now and I can no longer see him.. because of you. So I decided to send you a little Halloween gift.

It had to be Dakota, I smiled. I hovered my mouse over the attached images before clicking them open. The joke was no longer funny.

Images of Dakota and Eva half naked flashed across my desktop. Their lips locked together in a drunken haze. I couldn't speak or move. I didn't even know what to think. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I closed the images along with the email.

Was Dakota cheating on me?

🏈

The next morning I decided I would ask Dakota about the pictures. I didn't want to jump to conclusions or make any false accusations that would distance us from each other. I was going to be grown about it. I was a big boy after all.

On the walk to school, I had mustered up enough courage to open my mouth.

"Dakota?" My voice as quiet as a church mouse.

"Yeah, babe?" He replied, kicking stones on the ground.

"Last night, I got this email and.." I wasn't so sure I could spit out the words.

"Yeah?"

"It was from Eva. A-and she sent me pictures of you two.. together." I could barely get the sentence out as he stopped in his tracks.

"They have to be old, because I swear to you, I haven't spoken to her since we broke up." He said as he clasped my hands together with his.

"That's what I figured."

"Come here." He said as he pulled my into a tight hug, as if sensing my uneasiness.

"I'd never cheat on you Luka. You mean the world to me." His words made my eyes sting but I wouldn't cry. It was too early in the morning.

🏈

"That little bi-" Gemma whispered harshly.

"Quiet. Mrs.Maple is coming." I said as I pretended to finish the formula on my paper.

"Coming along well?" She asked with her nose pointed upwards, as if she had on an invisible neck brace.

"Yes, Mrs.Maple." Gemma said with a tight smile. She turned away to another student and Gemma turned to me as soon as she did so.

"I can not believe Eva did that." She continued on with a hateful look in her eyes. I could only shrug in response.

"You know why she did it right?" Gemma asked with a low voice. I shook my head yes.

"Good, so don't let the bitch win."

I nodded with my eyes widened, shocked at her defensive response. Gemma was tough but Jane was always the tougher one.

I filled in Jane and Michael during lunch period, assuring them I wouldn't let Eva get to me. I know that's what she was trying to do, get under my skin.

"God, is she really that bored in college." Jane shook her head as she set down her book to eat.

"I guess so." I chuckled before looking around the cafeteria in search of Dakota. I hadn't seen him since that morning and usually he was eating before any of us.

I stared at my food and poked at the cold turkey sandwich that sit on my tray.

"Hey guys, sorry I'm late." Dakota said as he sat down, kissing my cheek and making me smile in an instant.

"Luka told us about Eva. I thinks it's utterly disgusting how she's using your past to taunt Luka." Jane said with such an intense burning fire in her eyes that I thought I'd melt if I stared at her any longer.

"It's fine Jane, it doesn't bother me." I shrugged. I was mostly telling the truth.

"If you say so." She said with a shrug of the shoulder.

"Anyway, costume shopping this Saturday. How about it guys?" Michael asked with a wide smile.

"I don't think I can make it." Dakota said apologetically. I looked at him in confusion but remained silent.

"Why not?" Gemma asked with a pout.

"I have to help my mom with some stuff that day. Sorry guys." He said as he flashed a sheepish smile.

"But you're coming to the party right?" Michael asked, as if the party depended on Dakota being there.

"I think so." He replied just before the school bell rang.

I couldn't shake the anxious feeling that had settled in the pit of my stomach. But then I remembered Dakota's words that morning and felt at ease. I trusted him, even with everything that had happened. At least that's what I was telling myself.

🏈

"Here's the paint cart, along with the paint brushes, all the props are marked which colors you are to use. If you have anymore questions, just let me know." The senior class president, Riley, a blonde blue-eyed bloke, said with a clipboard in hand and a smile on his face.

"Will do." I nodded at him before grabbing a brush and a small can of paint red paint.

"Alright, then." He said from behind me when I'd thought he already left. I nodded with a forced smile, the air turned slightly awkward between us. With a small wave I'd decided to walk away to join Dakota and Michael.

"What was that all about?" He asked as he slapped red paint on a prop.

"No idea." I said and dipped my paint brush into the can before slapping some on the plain wood, thinking no more of the weird encounter between me and the senior student body president. That was until he offered to help me every prop I came across. I didn't have the guts to turn down his help, he was student body president after all. He didn't seem half bad and the way I seen it, the more help, the faster the props would be finished for the play. My only complaint was that he and Dakota stuck me in the middle like a sardine. Michael was across the stage, painting the boat props with Jane.

"Maybe he likes you." Dakota said in the lowest of whispers with playful eyes and a flirty grin plastered on his face.

"Shut it." I replied harshly with a glower, nudging him on the side with my elbow.

"Ow!" He grabbed his side, clenching his tooth.

"Oops, sorry." I chuckled with a satisfied grin. Dakota looked up at me with a scowl before swiping his paint brush across the tip of my nose. He broke out into a fit of laughter as I looked at my nose, momentarily cross eyed to find red paint dripping off the tip. I growled at Dakota and by the look in his eyes, I knew he regretted his decision upon seeing me.

"You're dead." I chuckled, dipping my paint brush in the can and smearing it across his cheek.

"Gentlemen, please." Riley said with a smile, holding up his hand in protest between the two of us but amidst the paint war I couldn't see him and splattered paint across his white button up.

"Sorry. Riley." I said apologetically, scratching the back of my neck.

"It's fine." He replied with a laugh.

"Boys, go clean up." Jane said from across the stage, shaking her head like an defeated mother.

I grabbed a handful of paper towel and ran it under the hot water before bringing it up to my face. Paint covered nearly my entire face but Dakota had it worse. Riley cleared his shirt before unbuttoning his shirt, sticking it under the faucet and turning on the hot water.

"Sorry again, Riley. Got a little crazy." I chuckled as I grinned at Dakota. He winked at me with a smirk on his paint splattered face.

"It's fine, boys, really." He replied with a happy go lucky smile whilst rubbing his shirt together in an attempt to get out the paint.

"You should actually use cold water first." I said as I walked over to him, turning the faucet to cold. I couldn't help but notice how fit his body was as I did so.

"Anyway, I'm done." I said after clearing my throat, throwing my red stained paper towels in the trash.

"See you around, Riley." Dakota clicked his tongue whilst waving goodbye. We walked down the hall to get back to the auditorium, playfully shoving each other on the way there. Upon reaching the auditorium, volunteers were exiting the room, leaving Dakota and I in confusion.

"We're going to finish up tomorrow." Jane said as she walked up to us.

"Sweet." I nodded as we walked back down the hall we'd just came from.

🏈

"You're sure you can't come on Saturday?" I asked Dakota as we stood outside my front door.

"I really can't. I'm sorry." He pouted before he grabbed my hand, bringing it up to his lips to leave a gentle kiss.

"It's fine." I said as I pulled him into a hug.

"See you, Sunday, for sure! You, me and a movie." He said with a wink as he walked backward across the street.

"Hi, hun." My mom greeted me from the living room couch.

"Hey, sorry I'm late. I signed up for some volunteering at the school." I said as I kicked off my shoes, sweeping them to the side and out of the way.

"Leftovers are in the fridge." She said without looking at me, too engrossed in her soap opera.

After grabbing a plate of grub I retreated to my room. I sat at my computer desk, stuffing my face with as much food as my mouth could hold. Happily enjoying my dinner, I noticed in the corner of my eye, I had another notification from my email. I sighed, maybe it was Mr.Hugh, reminding me of how I had to keep my grades up for the scholarship.

But it wasn't Mr.Hugh. It was Eva.

I sighed and clicked on the email, continuing to torture myself.

Luka, baby,

I know you got my last email. And by the looks of how chummy you two were today, I take it you're still together. When will you get it through your brain? He's cheating on you! Those pictures I sent, they're from this summer. Can't you tell?

Ciao.

A stinging overcame my eyes as I clicked on my deleted email folder, scanning the old pictures she'd sent me earlier, staring at them for any trace that they'd been from this summer but I couldn't tell. I rubbed the back of my neck, closing the email and shutting off my computer. My mind was scattered all over the place and I no longer felt hungry. I didn't know what to think, I wanted to believe Dakota and I knew Eva only wanted to get under my skin, so why was I letting her? And how did she know me and Dakota were together today?