The worst part of all of this is leaving behind the Wildcats as their starting quarterback and walking onto the Ravens team, the Wildcats biggest rival, as a backup. Me—Jasper Scott, a benchwarmer. What a crock of shit.
I may be a team player, but the Ravens will never be my team. The only reason I’ll be putting on that jersey is to please Dad and atone for my fuck ups. It’s only for one month, though, and then I can toss that purple and black trash where it belongs.
“How was your first day at Redwood?” Val asks, as if she doesn’t have a clue. Val is the owner of my new home, but she’s also the senior English Lit teacher. I’m sure she hears all the gossip from her baby boy.
“As good as a first day can be,” I say, opening the refrigerator and pulling out a jug of milk. Taking the top off, I tip it back and take a swig. I can feel a glare at the back of my head and grin at my success in pissing off the members of this household.
“Don’t put that shit back in there,” Knox says, as he snatches the jug out of my hand and begins dumping it down the drain.
“Language,” Val hisses in his direction.
“Yes, language.” I rip open a nutty bar and stuff half of it in my mouth, tossing the wrapper on the counter.
“Jasper, if you could please use a glass from now on, we’d all appreciate it.” Val says subtly. “Are you boys ready for the big game Friday?”
“No!” “Yes!” We blurt at the same time.
“Should be a good game,” Knox continues, “revenge will be sweet when we take back the bell from the Wildcats.” He looks to me, and I know he’s shooting to get a rise out of me, and it’s working.
“You better hope I don’t get in that game; I’d throw the whole thing just to watch you losers go down in shame... on your homecoming night, nonetheless.”
Val and Knox both look at each other, having what seems to be an unspoken conversation. I know what they’re saying without even hearing it. What an ass.
I walk up to my bedroom that is three times the size of my old one. I’d still give up the luxury of a nice house in a nice neighborhood to be back in Las Verdes with the boys I grew up with. Yet, here we are, Dad lovestruck and me coming along for the ride. Regardless of my hatred for this move, Dad is my number one in life. He’s my only constant, and he’s the one person who always has my back when everyone else would rather watch me fall, laughing their asses off in the process.
I grab some clean clothes and head for the bathroom to clean off the sweat and dirt from today’s practice. I won’t ever admit it to the Ravens, but they have a strong team. And, like the Wildcats, they are loyal as fuck. No one is treated as an outsider; every player is a part of the team. To my surprise, they were pretty welcoming when I switched schools.
As I round the corner to the bathroom, I feel the weight of another body crash into mine. Her warm skin pressed against mine as I extend my arms to brace her.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I look around, wondering if more girls will be popping out into the hallway.
“I happen to be here a lot, so get used to it.” She bends down and picks up the t-shirt I didn’t notice I dropped.
Knox comes trudging down the hallway like a fucking mama bear. “Is he giving you shit, Blakely?”
I look to Blakely with my head cocked to the side and await her response. Even if I wasn’t giving her shit, not yet anyways, it wouldn’t surprise me if she tried to stir the pot with me and her boyfriend.
“Nope, everything is good.” She slams the shirt into my chest. I let out an exaggerated groan and then smirk behind their backs as they walk away.
This girl is going to be trouble.
I step onto the cold tiled floor of the bathroom and crank the hot water. I toss my clothes to the floor and step in, the hot water relaxing my aching bones.
Today wasn’t a total bust. It’s not easy coming to a new school a couple of months into the school year, especially when your dad is the new head coach of the football team and everyone assumes that you only got a spot for that very reason. No one has said anything, but I know that’s how I’d feel if I was on the other end.
Dad started at the beginning of the season when they were desperate for a new head coach. I wasn’t too keen on the idea since the Wildcats and Ravens have always been big rivals. But Val, being a teacher at the school and Dad's girlfriend, convinced him, begged him rather, to take the position.
He’s always been passionate about football, so I’m happy for him. As happy as I can be.
I tilt my head back after washing up and let the water roll off my skin. Closing my eyes and taking in the silence.
When I hear laughter coming from the hallway, I turn the shower off and step out. Looking around the bathroom for a towel.
Damnit, don’t tell me there are no towels in this room.
I open every cabinet door.
Toilet paper, shampoo bottles, air freshener.
All of this shit and not a single towel.
I grab my clean t-shirt, cover up my junk, and with water dripping from my naked ass, I crack open the door. I look both ways down the hallway when I hear a girl’s laugh, Blakely, I assume.
She’s capable of laughter, who’d have thought?
“Knox,” I yell, not having any other options.
He doesn’t answer.
“Knox,” I shout louder, knowing that he’s on this floor.
He and Blakely both poke their heads around the corner. There’s a disturbed look on his face as Blakely bites back a smile.
“Towels?” I raise my brows.
“Closet at the end.” He looks past me at the door at the end of the hallway. Then that little fucker walks away.
And she follows him.
“Damnit, Knox. Could you get me one?” I shout even louder, knowing that he’s gaining distance between us.
That little shit.
I wait until I hear footsteps on the stairs before I sneak out in the hallway and down to the closet.
I grab a towel with my free hand with the other still gripping the shirt that covers my dick. As fast as I went out, I go back in.
These next few months are going to be torture if this guy doesn’t learn to cope with the fact that I’m living here, whether he likes it or not.
I already don’t like him. Not for any particular reason, other than the fact that Dad talks about him like he’s a fucking saint. The golden boy. The son who Dad wants me to be. He’s got it all. Maybe it's envy, but I’ll never tell him that.
Chapter Three
Blakely
The week flew by as quickly as I’d hoped it would. Homecoming weekend is one of my favorite weekends of the year. This year, it’s extra special because it’s my last. It’s also the night that I’ll be crowned homecoming queen. Something I’ve wanted ever since I knew what a homecoming queen was.
Mom used to stick me in pageants when I was a kid, and we were always extremely competitive, it’s sort of our nature. She’s groomed me that way. Leading me to believe that the opinions of others is what is most important.
Knox and I spent more time at my house this week since he’s been trying to steer clear of his delightful new housemate.
Those two guys have it out for each other. Constantly stepping on each other’s toes. Butting heads and cracking jokes at the other’s expense. I sense that it’s a dominance thing. This is Knox’s territory, and Jasper is intruding on it.