Page 191 of Blackwood

“Nope.” Ellie shakes her head and jerks her thumb at Haley. “Hales, you tell her. He’s your boytoy.”

“Ugh, Knox wants us to fly,” Haley grimaces.

Bella freezes. Then slowly stands and looks between them. “Yeah, no. Not happening. Do you remember the last time? That did not…” she cuts the words dramatically, spinning toward the crowd with a hand to her chest. “…did not end well.”

Laughter ripples across the stands.

“Well,” Haley says, “he said we have to.”

Bella tosses her hands up. “And who exactly died and made Mr. DJ the boss of us?”

Hugh’s voice cuts in over the mic, perfectly timed, “I don’t know, Bella I think you should give it a try.”

She gasps like he just committed treason. “Stay out of it, Hughy! These feet?” She points down at her black Nikes. “Stay. On. The. Ground.”

Right on cue, the student section starts chanting: “FLY! FLY! FLY! FLY!”

Bella rolls her eyes and groans. “Ugh, fine. But if I die, I’m haunting all of you.”

She starts walking toward the field, calling back over her shoulder, “I swear to God, if Josh drops me and I have to miss Regionals because I’m in a neck brace, I’m gonna send Lex to kick his ass.”

The crowd explodes with laughter.

“Did she just say my name over the fucking speakers?”

Cade snorts beside me. “Yup.”

Bella turns toward Ellie first. “Alright, El, you’re up.”

Ellie flashes a confident grin, then sprints toward Sam. He launches her like a missile. She spins in the air, legs tucked, arms perfectly aligned, and then lands gracefully in his arms, hair whipping around her as she sticks the pose.

Bella claps, cheering. “Wooo! Okay, girl, look at you with that triple back-spin-tuck-swan-dive or whatever the hell that was! Nice job! Everyone give it up for Ellie Whitmore!”

The crowd roars.

“Alright, Hales. Show ‘em how it’s done.”

Haley takes off and Drake launches her so high it’s like gravity’s optional. She flips midair and lands in his arms with a wink that’s pure hellfire. Front row loses their minds. Can’t blame them.

Bella whistles. “Damn, okay. Little aerial queen over here. Give it up for Haley Rosethorne!”

Then she turns to the crowd with that trademark look. “There ya go, Knox. We flew. Goodnight.” She turns on her heel and starts walking away.

Knox’s voice crackles over the stadium speakers. “Um… Problem Child, aren’t you forgetting something?”

Bella doesn’t even look back. “Nope. You said fly. We flew. End of story.”

I grin, arms crossed. “She’s such a pain in the ass.”

Dad nudges me with his elbow. “Yeah, but she’s your pain in the ass.”

Knox sighs dramatically over the mic. “I meant all of you. That includes you, Bella.”

Bella spins around mid-step, eyes wide. “Ugh!” She storms back over to the guys, stomping like a bratty toddler. She pauses just in front of Josh and the guys, glaring up at them. “If you drop me, I swear to God, I will end you.”

Then she hesitates, half-turning to glance back at the stands. “Do Ireallyhave to?” she says to no one in particular, voice pitched for drama.

Ellie and Haley laugh, in perfect unison, “Just do it, Bella!”