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‘Sorry, Mum.’ Dylan’s emotions bubbled up.

‘Into the car.’ Lucy’s voice was firm. ‘You can fall apart in the car but not now. There are people still watching you. Head up, Dylan. Shoulders back. Don’t let them see you down.’

When they got to the car, Dylan covered his face with his hands and wept. Lucy put the car into gear and drove quickly out of the huge black gates. Dylan wishedshe would shout at him. He wanted her to – he deserved to be shouted at.

She patted his leg. ‘Calm down. It’s okay, love. Everyone has a bad day. You just need to come back blazing in the next game and prove yourself. You can do it. You need to focus, though. No more going out with the boys until eleven the night before a game. Early nights, Dylan. One bad game is all right, two won’t be. Youknow what you need to do, and you know how important this is.’

He nodded. ‘I’m sorry, Mum,’ he said again, and he was, he really was.

When Dylan woke up on Monday morning, after a night spent tossing and turning, he had decided what he had to do. He was dreading it. He didn’t want to do it, but he knew he had to.

He smelt her before he saw her. Her perfume was expensive and sexy. He felt herarms around him as she hugged him from behind.

‘Hey, you? Why didn’t you answer my message yesterday?’

‘I was just busy with the match and stuff.’

‘How did it go? Did you win?’ Taylor was examining a chipped nail.

‘Not so good. I played badly.’

‘Oh, well, I’m sure you’ll play well in the next one. You’re a superstar.’ She leant in and kissed his neck.

Oh, God, this was going to be hard.Dylan pulled back from her embrace and walked her over to a bench in the corner of the school yard.

‘Taylor, I played really badly and it’s because I was drinking and all that. The coach went mad with me and told me he’d drop me if I don’t focus properly on football.’

Taylor rolled her eyes. ‘For goodness’ sake, Dylan, it was one match. He’s overreacting. All coaches do that. You’re allowedto have fun. In fact, you’re supposed to have fun. Lighten up.’

Dylan chose his words carefully. ‘I know, but it’s different for me. I can’t get dropped. If I do, they might take away my scholarship. I have to put football first.’

He had her attention now. She was staring at him. ‘What do you mean, put football first?’

Dylan took a deep breath. ‘I mean I can’t go out on Saturdays and Jordansaid I can’t be distracted by anything or anyone.’

Taylor’s face darkened. ‘Excuse me? Are you implying that I’m a distraction?’

Dylan smiled. ‘You’re the biggest distraction I’ve ever had, but I just need you to know that I won’t be around much on the weekends or really during the week. I’m sorry, but I have to put football before anything.’

Two red spots appeared on Taylor’s face. She stoodup. ‘If you’re not going to be around, I guess I’ll have to find someone else to distract.’

Dylan grabbed her arm. ‘Hey, don’t be like that. We can still hang out, just not as much.’

Taylor yanked her arm back. ‘I have guys begging me to go out with them and you’re telling me you might be able to squeeze me in for an hour here and there between football! I don’t think so, Dylan. I thought wehad something pretty great. Obviously I was wrong.’ Taylor’s eyes were wet as she stormed off.

Dylan called after her, but she didn’t look back. What had he done?