NoahBy the time Coach blew the final whistle, I thought my lungs were going to give out.Practice had been brutal — no shortcuts, no mercy, just a nonstop grind that felt personal. And maybe it was.The rest of the team dragged themselves off the field, helmets in hand, cleats kicking up dust. I was about to follow when Coach barked,“Lombardi! Carter! Over here. Now.”Jackson and I exchanged a look — the kind that said we’re screwed — and jogged over.Coach stood near the fifty-yard line, cap pulled low, jaw tight. He didn’t yell. That was worse. When he got quiet, that meant you were in real trouble.He folded his arms, looking between the two of us. “You know, I’ve been coaching a long time,” he started slowly. “Seen good players, great players… and a whole lot of wasted potential. You two? You’re right on the edge of falling into that last group.”Jackson shifted, clearly trying to hold back a smart remark. I stayed still.Coach continued, voice steady but sharp. “You got lucky t
JacksonThe locker room didn’t sound like a locker room.No trash talk. No music. No laughter.Just the sound of metal lockers clanking shut and the low shuffle of cleats on tile.Everyone knew what was coming.Coach had seen the videos. The fight, the party, Daniel running his mouth online.And of course — the one of my sister, Jessa, kneeing him so hard he folded like a lawn chair.It was everywhere. TikTok, school chat threads, even the local gossip pages.And now, we were all about to pay for it.The door slammed open, and Coach Daniels stalked in like a storm cloud in a Ridgeville hoodie. His face was red, jaw tight, the clipboard already in his hand. He didn’t even need to blow his whistle. The entire room froze.“Everybody shut up,” he barked.Not that anyone was talking.He scanned the room, eyes cutting through each of us one by one. “I’ve been coaching this team for fifteen years. Fifteen. And I have never been this disappointed.”Nobody moved. Even the guys who usually acte
NoahBy lunch, the entire school had already seen it.There were at least five different versions of the video floating around.Different angles, different captions — all the same moment.Jessa knees Daniel in the balls.I wasn’t gonna lie — it was satisfying as hell to watch.Especially since Daniel’s pained grunt was now the most replayed sound on everyone’s phones.Even better? No one was laughing at Jessa this time.They were laughing with her.It felt like the world had flipped overnight.For years, Daniel ran his mouth, picking people apart for attention.Now, he couldn’t even walk straight without someone humming “Eye of the Tiger.”⸻I spotted Jackson sitting with Mariah near the back of the cafeteria. They looked… different now. Comfortable. Like they’d found some middle ground between fire and calm. Jackson even looked relaxed, which was weirdly rare for him lately.And then I saw Jessa.She was at the same table, across from Mariah, laughing. Actually laughing — not the pol
JessaFor once, walking into school didn’t feel like stepping onto a battlefield.The air was different — lighter, somehow. Maybe it was because Mariah and I were still laughing about yesterday at Benny’s. Or maybe because for once, the stares didn’t make my stomach twist.People were still whispering, sure. Phones still buzzed. But after everything that had gone down — the drama, the kiss, the online mess — it all just felt… small.I wasn’t hiding anymore.Mariah and I made our way down the hall toward our lockers, coffee cups in hand. She looked amazing, as usual — hair shiny, eyes bright, confidence practically glowing off her. I was proud of her. Proud of both of us, honestly.We’d survived a storm, and somehow, we’d come out the other side stronger.⸻Jackson walked up the hall from the other direction, his backpack slung over one shoulder, his usual swagger in place. A few people glanced at him, then at Mariah, like they were waiting for confirmation of what everyone had seen at
NoahThe door was still swinging shut behind Mariah and Jessa when I turned to look at Jackson.He was frozen in place, staring after her with that half-shocked, half-satisfied look — like his brain hadn’t caught up to what he’d just done.I leaned back in the booth, a grin tugging at my mouth. “Dude. What the hell was that?”Jackson blinked, dragging a hand over his jaw. “What?”“That,” I said, jerking my thumb toward the door. “You just kissed her. In front of everyone. Again.”He gave a quick shrug, trying way too hard to look unfazed. “Yeah, I don’t know, man. It just… happened.”“Yeah, right,” I said, laughing. “You literally called her name, stood up, and went for it. That’s not an accident. That’s commitment.”He gave me a flat look. “You done?”“Not even close,” I said, still grinning. “You realize half the diner was watching, right? You just turned Benny’s into the set of a rom-com.”He smirked, shaking his head. “You’re an idiot.”“Maybe,” I said. “But you’re the one making
JessaThe diner felt different today.Less like a spotlight, more like a bubble — the kind of safe, familiar place that didn’t care about gossip or rumors.The four of us had taken over one of the corner booths at Benny’s, same spot we always used to squeeze into when we were younger. Jackson and Noah on one side, Mariah and me on the other. The sound of plates clattering, the smell of syrup and bacon, and the low hum of conversation filled the air. For once, it felt easy.Mariah was stirring her iced coffee, tapping the straw against the cup. “Okay, so be honest,” she said, glancing at Jackson. “Are people still talking about yesterday?”Jackson groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “Mariah, you kissed me in front of half the school. Of course they’re still talking about it.”“Yeah,” Noah said with a smirk. “You’re kind of trending, man.”Jackson shot him a glare. “Not helping.”Mariah grinned. “I’m just saying… the internet can be brutal, but it can also have a short attention spa