I noticed Lily Ford, his daughter, sitting down a few rows, also watching. She’d just started Rixon High, but from what I could tell, she was a shy little thing, which seemed odd for the coach’s daughter. Usually, girls flaunted their connection to the team. Sister, friend, ex… booty call; girls wore their connection to the team like a badge of honor. But the daughter of one of the Philadelphia Eagles’ best players ever looked like she was trying to disappear.
I contemplated going down there, introducing myself. But something stopped me.
Specifically, Avery hollering my name across the field.
What the hell was he doing?
“Let’s go, Fuller, get down here.” He beckoned me over and reluctantly, I got up and traipsed over to where the team were huddled. Coach Ford gave me a sharp nod.
“We figured if you’re going to be shadowing the team, the least you could do is make yourself useful.” Avery smirked, throwing a ball at me. I fumbled it but managed to snatch it close to my body.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“You’re not going to learn much from up there.” He flicked his head to the bleachers. “You want to know what it’s like to be a football player, don’t you?” His eyes pinned me to the spot, and I felt my cheeks flush.
He thought he was so damn smart embarrassing me in front of the rest of the team.
“What Avery is trying to say,” there was a warning in Coach Ford’s voice, “is that we thought you might like to watch from the sideline.”
“I can do that,” I said, throwing the ball back at Avery without warning. He didn’t see it coming and fumbled the catch. A couple of the guys laughed, but their captain silenced them with a deadly glare.
“Okay, okay. Miss Fuller, you’re with me,” Coach Ford said. “Ladies, let’s show her how we play ball.
I followed Coach to the sideline area. “You good?” he asked me.
“I can handle the likes of Avery Chase,” I scoffed, indignation burning through me.
He wanted to embarrass me, to make me feel stupid in front of his teammates. Part of me didn’t blame him, but I also didn’t expect it from him.
Not the Avery Chase I’d spent last season watching lead the team to the state championship.
Avery was levelheaded, calm, and composed. He didn’t lose his head like Micah Delfine or Ben Chasterly. He was a firm, but fair captain who led by example. He didn’t let his emotions get the better of him… until now.
Coach Ford folded his arms over his broad chest and chuckled. “Oh, I don’t doubt it for a second, Miss Ful—”
“Miley. You can call me Miley.”
“Very well, Miley. He’s a good kid, you know. One of the best players I’ve had the privilege of working with.”
“You think he can go all the way?”
“Oh, I know he can. But the hard work is only just starting. You want to go to college, Miley?”
“Northwestern, sir.” God, I didn’t just want it. I yearned for it.
“And what would you do to get there?”
“Whatever it takes, sir.”
He regarded me for a long second, and I felt my stomach knot under the weight of his stare. “Then I guess you and my players aren’t that different, after all. Something to think about.”
Coach Ford excused himself and left me with my thoughts. I’d been so consumed last year with the article, that maybe I’d been too hasty in my conclusions. I still believed that being an athlete didn’t entitle you to play the system. Because an education was just as important, and the reality was most of these players wouldn’t end up with a professional career in football. But maybe I had first underestimated the power of sportsmanship, teamwork, and dedication.
Maybe.
I spent the next couple of days balancing classes and my responsibilities at the school newspaper, alongside shadowing Avery at practice. Most of the guys ignored me as if I wasn’t there, and Avery barely spoke two words to me. But I wasn’t there to make friends. I was there to write a kickass article and finish my submission for Northwestern.
“Oh look, it’s the snitch.” Kendall and her friends crowded me in class again. I glanced up at her and let out a heavy sigh.
“Very original.”
“I heard you’re sniffing around the team again. I didn’t realize they let traitors hang out at practice.”
“And what do we have here?” Micah strolled up to us, slinging his arm around Kendall’s shoulder.
“Is it true she’s writing another article?”
“Article? No way. We have much better uses for the snitch this year. Isn’t that right, Miley?” He smirked at me. “She’s our new mascot if you will.”
“Yeah,” Ben chuckled, elbowing his friend in the rib. “The team’s very own stress reliever.”
“Gross,” I muttered, trying to ignore the girls’ snickers.
“We’re taking bets on how many Rixon dicks she’ll suck before the season is out.”
“I wouldn’t touch you if you were the last guy on the planet.”
“Ouch, you say that like you have other options. Do you… have other options? Because I don’t think I’ve ever seen you with a friend, let alone a guy.”
I swallowed down the wave of embarrassment crashing inside of me. So I didn’t have many friends. I liked my own company. And between school, my part-time job, and spending time with Mom, there wasn’t exactly time to date.
Not that I had a queue of guys knocking at my door.
“Oh my God, how sad,” Kendall said. “She’s a loner and a snitch. Sucks to be you.”
“Okay, people take your seats.” The teacher finally arrived, ushering everyone into their seats.
It didn’t stop their stares and whispered taunts though. By the time the bell went, I was ready to get the hell out of there. But I traded one hell for another, bumping straight into Avery.
“Watch it,” he sneered.
“Sorry, I was just—”
“Yeah, whatever.” He went to stalk off.
“The pep rally tonight, you’ll be there?” The words spilled out in a desperate attempt
