Who Are The Main Characters In 'Sidebarred'?

My name is Christian Thompson, and once upon a time, I was the best striker in European football. That was until he came along—Ashford Ryder, young and carefree, 10 years my junior and the new shining star. I hate him. At least that's what I tell myself. Not just because he's taken my spot, but because he's everything I've struggled all my life to be, and not to be. He's vibrant, he's happy, and the worst of all, he's openly gay. I'm not homophobic, quite the opposite—I've lived in the closet all my life. All my life, I've had to hide who I am to please the people around me. European football hasn't always been this accepting of gay men, and I'd squeezed myself into a box to fit in with what they wanted of me. It isn’t that hard when you think about my family who'd rather disown me than have an openly gay son. So imagine how I feel when the world decides to be more accommodating to people like Ashford Ryder when they shoved me in a box. It's not so easy to hate the happy-go-lucky striker, when he does everything to get close to me, despite my insistent hatred for him. He's like a thorn in my side—a hot, sexy, blonde, 5ft9 thorn I can't stop thinking about. But when one day I lose my cool around the popular striker and land myself in bad press, I end up needing his help. It's supposed to be easy. Spend some time with Ashford Ryder, and show our fans that we can work together—it's what I need to do to save my career. But no one tells you how hard it is to hate someone you spend every waking hour dreaming about.

'Since when did so much hate become affection, no, NEED' Callum Reyes has spent his entire life earning his place. A scholarship wide receiver at Crestfield University — one of the most elite football programs in the country — he knows exactly what he is to the people here: a charity case with fast legs and a GPA they didn't expect. He keeps his head down, his grades up, and his heart locked behind something no one has ever bothered to pick. Then there's Jaxon Whitfield. Quarterback. Team captain. Golden boy of Crestfield's football dynasty. Jaxon is everything Callum isn't — legacy money, a famous last name, and a jaw that could cut glass. He's also, by every measurable standard, the most infuriating human being Callum has ever been forced to share oxygen with. From the first day Callum stepped onto that field, Jaxon decided he was a problem. Too fast. Too good. Too'there.' He rides Callum harder than any other player, gets under his skin in ways that shouldn't be possible, and looks at him with those dark green eyes like Callum is something he can't figure out — and hates himself for trying. But when a career-threatening injury, a locker room secret, a rivalry that's starting to feel like something else entirely, and one night neither of them planned for collide — Callum and Jaxon have to reckon with something they were never supposed to feel. 'Offside' is a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers MM sports romance about two young men learning that the person who makes your blood boil might just be the person setting you on fire. It's about class and legacy, found family and loneliness, the weight of expectation, and what happens when the one person you want to hate is the only one who actually'sees' you.

My best friend's boyfriend was cheating, so I tagged along to bust him at a hotel. Fifteen hours until go time. Felicity Cook booked a room right next to Jake's, jaw tight. "They'll be here tonight. When the time comes, we'll catch them red-handed." Inside, I could barely keep my eyes open. She'd been a wreck since last night, and I hadn't slept a minute trying to keep her sane. Figured I had time, so I set an alarm and crashed. When I opened my eyes, a guy was lying next to me. Felicity kicked the door in and pointed at me. "Lydia Lloyd! I can't believe you betrayed me! You're my best friend! Why would you sneak around and steal my boyfriend?" I just stared, mind blank, trying to get words out. She snapped, yanked out a kitchen knife, and in front of everyone, drove it into me again and again. I hit the floor, drowning in my own blood, eyes stuck open like my body refused to let me go. I came here to catch a cheater—how did I end up the side chick? Then I blinked... and I was right back at the moment I first walked into that hotel with Felicity.

Harper Quinn has spent years secretly in love with her best friend, Ethan Reid. So when Ethan throws her the perfect birthday party—and finally kisses her—Harper thinks her dreams are finally coming true. Until he introduces her to his new girlfriend. Heartbroken, Harper drinks a little too much and wakes up the next morning in the bed of Ashton Reid—star hockey captain and Ethan’s older brother. Things take a dramatic turn when a video of them kissing goes viral on campus. Harper publicly rejects Ashton and bruises his ego. He offers a deal to help handle her unwanted fame—while hiding his real agenda. But fake relationships have a way of becoming dangerously real. The relationship transforms Harper from nobody to somebody, she finds herself caught between her fading feelings for Ethan, who suddenly wants her back, and her growing attraction to Ashton, whose intentions she can’t quite trust. As the tides turn against them, Harper and Ashton must decide if what they built on lies can become something real.

Finley James never asked for the spotlight—she just kept ending up in it. All she ever wanted was basketball. Nothing else mattered. She grew up with the best coaches she could’ve imagined: her brother and his best friend. They were her whole world, the ones who taught her everything she knew. But after she turned eighteen, one night of giving in to her feelings changed everything. And she paid the price. Colton Reed was already a rising star by his freshman year, but the attention never interested him. His heart belonged to the game—and to his best friend’s sister. He knew that was a line he couldn’t cross. He wouldn’t risk the friendships that meant everything to him. Until one night, he did. With the biggest regret of his life and the happiest day of his life all at the same time, he left. He didn’t have a choice. He couldn’t look his best friend in the eyes anymore. Years later they find themselves playing for the same league in the same city.

At AlphaBeta Academy, only the strongest are meant to lead, but not everyone is meant to be seen. A chubby sixteen-year-old Dawn Clifford, a Beta heir, has spent her entire life hiding,behind books, behind her confidence issues, and behind her best friend, Kiara Clarkson, an Alpha heir. While Kiara is everything Dawn believes she isn’t;beautiful, bold, and effortlessly admired. Dawn has learned to survive on the sidelines. But Fate begins to change,when they both get into their dream school, AlphaBeta Academy, a prestigious place for future pack leaders. A party, a moment of courage, and a single act of defiance from Dawn, and suddenly, Aiden Willow, the untouchable Alpha heir, sees Dawn. Only…Fate comes with a twist, and Aiden ends up with Kiara instead. Caught in a tangled web of friendship,and unspoken feelings, a sudden disaster strikes as truth spirals and Kiara is found dead with the murder weapon belonging to Dawn. With this massive twist of gate,Dawn is forced to confront everything she's ever known.