Chapter 2 – Brad Intervened.

Nicole’s POV

“Why did you push her, you silly homeless girl?”

I cared less that he had to rub it in my face. The shock of what just happened still hadn’t left me. But the crowd that increasingly gathered around us made the humiliation worse. I still had to defend myself, even if my voice barely made it past my throat.

“Babe, she pushed me first. But… I don’t understand. I thought you were going to propose to me to be your girlfriend like you said. Why did you have to kiss her?”

A part of me still needed an explanation.

“Are you out of your godforsaken mind?” Rowan scoffed, his tone was sharp and loud enough for everyone nearby to hear. “Didn’t you just see us lose the game? What made you think I could ever even mean to ask you to be my girlfriend in the first place? Such a gut!”

The words sank straight through me. It’s one thing to overthink something in your head but when they confirm it out loud, in front of a crowd, it hits differently. Like, it was slowly taking the air out of my lungs.

“So… it’s true,” I whispered, but the tears had already started rolling down my cheeks. Sophia was smirking behind him like my pain was her win.

“Can you just stop this nonsense,” Rowan barked. “Don’t even try to play that victim card on me in public. I won’t take that.”

A victim card? Is that what he thought this was?

“But seriously,” he went on, “did you really think someone like me would be tied down to someone like you? That’d only happen in your wildest dreams, Nicole.”

I couldn’t stop the tears, even if I wanted to. They rolled down my face, hot and humiliating. But none of that softened him. He didn’t even care. He turned away, like I was a piece of nothing he was done talking to.

Then Sophia jumped in, looking me up and down with disgust. “Hey, silly girl. Would you mind picking up our pom-poms and helmets? I’ve got to go enjoy with my sweetheart now.”

I didn’t respond as I couldn’t even lift my head.

Then Rowan's voice came again, twisting the knife deeper through my chest with his words. “When you’re done with that, you can wash my jockstrap too.”

They both laughed as they turned to walk away. People around us snickered. I could feel my heart breaking in front of everyone. But I couldn’t lift my face. Not when even the new guy, Brad, was standing close by and he might hear it all, then realize just how low I really was just like everyone already knew.

He probably didn’t know who I was as he is new here and I rather keep it that way.

Just then, my fear happened as his voice came through.

“Nic.”

I looked up instantly and I was shocked to see him advancing closer.

Without calling the name twice, I knew that he was actually referring to me. Maybe, he chose to shorten the name.

But then, how did he know my name?

The first thing I noticed when he got closer was how ridiculously tall he was. He wasn’t bulky like Rowan, who was all show-off muscle. Brad’s build was… different. Lean but broad in the shoulders, his jersey clinging to his chest and making me think things I had no business thinking right now. My gaze betrayed me, darting down his arms—veins and all—and I hated that my stomach did this stupid flutter thing. Get it together, Nicole. This is literally the worst night of your life.

He had already walked toward me with that easy smile on his lips and had his broad shoulders blocking out the crowd.

His presence made everything else around us fade and I didn’t understand why, but something about him felt oddly familiar—like a memory I couldn’t quite reach.

“I’m sorry, but… do I know you?” I asked.

He just smiled in a warm manner.

“I hope you will,” he said, then added, “I scored that touchdown for you—for being the prettiest girl here.”

I froze.

What?

I didn’t know if he was mocking me or being real. No one’s ever called me that without laughing after. But he wasn’t laughing. He looked dead serious, more calm and confident which says that he meant every word.

My cheeks burned, and I was painfully aware of how close he was standing now. He smelled like sweat and clean soap and something warm I couldn’t place. I had no business even noticing that, but I couldn’t stop. For half a second, the ache Rowan left behind dulled, replaced by this unfamiliar pull toward Brad.

A small part of me, just for a second though let myself believe it. Believe I was worth something. At least, enjoying the moment while it lasts as I can see the crowd’s eyes on me when he said that.

But before I could get lost in that moment fully…

“Hey Brad! What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

That was Rowan’s voice.

I thought he had left, but no. Here he was, back like a damn mosquito that just wouldn’t go away.

“Flirting with my girl when I haven’t even gone far?”

His girl? Now he wanted to claim me?

Rowan stormed over, snatched the hockey ball Brad was holding, and flung slightly away.

“That’s for flirting with my bitch!” he yelled.

Brad didn’t even blink. He only looked at Rowan, then at the ball, and turned back to him like nothing happened.

“First of all,” Brad said slowly, “don’t talk to her like that.”

Rowan clenched his jaw.

“Second,” Brad added with his voice sharper now, “looks like you were pretty busy with your groupie while Nicole stood here alone. And now you wanna act like you care?”

Sophia stepped forward with her lips twisted. “Groupie?” she snapped. “Excuse me? I’m the cheerleading captain. And my dad is the biggest tycoon in town. I’m not some random girl.”

“Cool,” Brad said flatly. “Then act like it.”

That shut her up for a second.

But Rowan's voice took over the silence that wanted to seize the moment.

“Nicole is mine,” he snapped. “So keep your hands and your balls off my bitch.”

He squared up to Brad with his chest puffed like a dog ready to bite.

But Brad didn’t back down as he shoved Rowan back a step. “You touch me again, and I’ll make sure you don’t use those shoulders for a lifetime.”

Rowan lunged.

And just like that, it all escalated.

“Hey, you fucking loser!” Rowan yelled, swinging.

Brad sidestepped him like it was nothing. Grabbed his jersey and shoved him hard.

“Rowan! Brad! Cut it out!”

A coach’s voice thundered from somewhere behind the bleachers, growing louder by the second. Someone must’ve gone to get help before this turned into an all-out brawl. This might not end up so easy like it all started.