Page 25 of The Surprise Play (Nolan U Football #3)

ELIZABETH

I’m meeting Wily in thirty minutes, and I’m already getting ready. It only takes fifteen minutes to walk to the library, but I want to be there on time and… for some reason… I want to look good.

Why?

Why can’t I just throw something on like I normally would?

Why was I unhappy with my original skirt and sweater combo?

Why is my favorite cardigan suddenly not good enough?

I frown in the mirror, taking in my reflection and the olive-green dress I chose. It has a pretty blue swirl through it. I love this fabric. Mom and I picked it out together last time we went shopping, but?—

My shoulders slump and I unzip my skirt at the side before reaching for the dress I wore yesterday. It’s navy blue with an orange ribbon at the back. I do like this one. And I feel comfortable in it .

Tugging on the fabric, I get it sitting as best as I can, then select my favorite winter coat. I hardly ever wear this one, because it’s white and I have an inability to keep my clothes clean, but I take a risk anyway, sliding it on before adding a touch more lip balm to my mouth.

I don’t really wear makeup.

Mom has never been into it, and I’ve never really had anyone show me how. I could watch YouTube clips, but what if I screw it up?

I seriously don’t need to give people any more reasons to hassle me.

Clearing my throat, I turn away from my reflection before I’m tempted to change again. My fingers shake as I spray two squirts of perfume on. Aunt Shayla gave it to me for my birthday last year, and I’ve only worn it one other time.

Why are you wearing it now? It’s a tutoring session, not a date!

I huff, annoyed with myself for losing my head but not having time to wash the scent off. I’m now running later than I want to be, so I finish tying my boots as fast as I can, then head out the door, double-checking first that I have everything I need.

Wily hasn’t told me much about this finance test he’s doing, so I’ll have to figure out my teaching plan when I get there and I see what he’s specifically studying for.

I’m sure I can throw something together.

I grew up watching Dad do his books for the diner, and I’ve got a pretty good head for numbers.

Whatever class Wily’s taking is bound to be one of the easier ones, and I should be able to pick it up fast enough.

Anything I don’t know, I’ll just research and teach myself before the session after this one. I’ll do everything in my power to get him prepped for his test.

Buttoning up my coat in the elevator, I try to calm the insanity in my stomach. Seriously? What is wrong with me?

I have no idea why my body is reacting this way.

It’s a tutoring session. That’s it.

Just because Wily stood up for me the other day and I haven’t seen him since is no reason to get all tingly and lose my head.

But he stood up for you!

He was sweet and funny, and you like him!

My eyes bulge as the thought dawns on me.

No. No, I can’t do that.

I can’t go liking the guy.

The last time I had a crush on a football player, he used me to do his homework for him, then laughed at the size of my underwear.

I’m not having any kind of mushy feelings toward Wily Wilson.

He just happens to be a nice person who just happens to be a football player.

That’s it.

That is so not it.

He also happens to be a super-hot, super-strong, gorgeous man who literally swept me off my feet, and a sweet older brother who takes his sister to concerts, and a fan of one of my favorite bands, and can strut like a catwalk model in order to make me laugh, and pretends to be King Wily for a two-year-old princess, and?—

Stop it! Stop finding reasons to fall for this guy.

Too late! You like him. You really like him .

I ignore the taunting voice in my head and barrel outside without paying proper attention.

A mistake I’m about to pay a very high price for.

“Hey, hippo,” a sultry voice says, and I jolt to a stop.

Oh shit. No! Not now. Please not now!

I scan the three girls in front of me. All skinny. All beautiful. All mean.

Jade’s hair is in a high ponytail, her green eyes two laser beams ready to cut me in half.

Viper Girl’s to her right, glaring at me like I’m a slug she’s just found in her salad.

And then there’s Kelsey Cartman, her clawlike nails digging into her designer jacket as she looks me up and down and lets out a derisive snicker.

The only reason I know her name is because I was asked to tutor her, and after one painful session, she refused to work with me again, telling Ms. Bigsby lies about how I’d called her stupid and unteachable.

Thankfully, Ms. Bigsby was smart enough to know that was bullshit, but it was still humiliating having to sit in her office and be accused of this stuff by Kelsey.

Her crocodile tears made real tears fall out of my eyes as I begged Ms. Bigsby to believe me.

I don’t know what I would have done if she hadn’t.

I have no idea who Kelsey is working with now, and part of me wonders if it was all just a setup to discredit me. Maybe Kelsey never needed tutoring at all, but Jade convinced her to put her name forward just so she could ruin my rep and cost me my tutoring job.

I wouldn’t put it past my lifelong tormentor to pull something that low.

Swallowing the hot surge of bile burning the back of my throat, I shuffle to the side, ready to move around them, but they quickly jump in front of me.

“We need to talk,” Jade spits.

“No thank you,” I whisper, trying to dart around her again.

No such luck. Kelsey pushes me back.

I wobble on my feet but don’t fall over. Gripping my bag strap, I stare at the ground and start to count. It’s something that will distract my mind and stop me from spiraling into full panic mode.

One. Two…

I wish it would stop my heart from racing. It’s pounding so hard and fast I feel dizzy.

Three—

“Shut up and listen,” Viper Girl snaps at me.

“Wily Wilson,” Jade continues. “I don’t know what you think you’re doing hanging out with him, but that is not an option for you, okay? He’s off-limits, and this is your one warning to stay away from him.”

The tingles I’ve been fighting all morning fizzle away, replaced with a heavy disappointment.

He’s waiting for me right now.

Am I just supposed to not go?

Leave him hanging?

Glancing up, I look between the girls and feel my insides rebel against that thought. I’m not about to let the guy down. He’s counting on me.

“I’m his tutor,” I murmur. “He needs help with school.”

“I’m his tutor.” Kelsey puts on a voice, openly mocking me before cackling. “We all know what a shit tutor you are. ”

Jade ignores her friend and glares at me. “He can find another tutor.”

“I’m pretty sure he wants to work with me.” I suck in a breath, bracing myself for their reaction.

“You better watch yourself, Fatty Satchwell.” Jade steps forward and I flinch, backing away from her. “You’re playing with things that don’t belong to you.”

“Last I checked, they don’t belong to you either.”

What are you doing? Are you fighting back?

Stay safe, you idiot! Just shut up and run away!

“What did you just say to me?” Jade’s eyes narrow even farther as the other two girls step in line with her. They’re like dragons, about to breathe hellfire all over my short, round self.

I bite my lips together and look back to the safety of the ground.

That’s when Cackles starts to sniff the air and laugh like a hyena again. “Are you wearing perfume?” Her mockery is hot tar, coating me with a burning sensation that makes my cheeks flame. “Oh shit! Are you on your way to see him right now?”

I shake my head, desperate for them not to smell my lie.

“You better not be.” Jade grabs the lapel of my coat, fisting it and dragging me toward her. “Now you listen close. I’m not sure when you’re seeing him again, but you cancel it.”

I try to shake her off me, but she holds on a little tighter, her breath hitting the side of my face.

“Did you hear me? I want you to stay away from him.”

My eyes start to burn, my throat swelling to the point of pain .

“You guys okay over there?” someone calls from the door of Buckley Hall.

“Yes. Just catching up with an old friend.” Kelsey puts on a smile and waves to the curious bystander while Jade starts smoothing down my jacket, then wraps her arms around me.

“It’s so good to see you!” she says way too loudly, her voice irritatingly sweet and sticky.

I try to wriggle out of her embrace, but the other girls jump in on this group hug and don’t let me go until whoever was checking on us has disappeared.

As soon as she’s gone, I’m released, and they wipe off their clothing like it’s now germ-infested.

“We’re really saying this for your own good.” Jade looks over her outfit, checking for marks and blemishes before flashing her green gaze at me. “Wily Wilson is out of your league.”

“We just don’t want to see you get hurt.” Kelsey’s sweet voice is like metal scraping on metal. It makes my spine twitch, which only adds to my already itching skin.

“It’s really important that you know your place.” Viper Girl’s pointed tone does not match the saccharine look on her face. “That’s all we’re trying to say.”

“You see, Wily and I…” Jade smooths a hand down her ponytail. “We have a connection. The two of us… it just makes sense, you know? And I don’t think you tutoring him is the best idea.”

I can’t help a soft scoff. “Are you worried I’m competition?”

Their howling laughter makes me wish I’d just kept my mouth shut .

“No.” Viper Girl’s laughing so hard she can barely talk.

Anger simmers. It does sometimes, although I know better than to let it show.

Except… Wily did the other day.

Maybe it’s okay to let yourself be a little pissed off. It feels better than fear, doesn’t it?

I frown, curling my fingers into fists and blurting, “You worried I’m going to tell him about all the horrible things you’ve done to me over the years? You worried I might tell him the truth and put him off you for good?”

Jade gasps, her hand firing out and cracking me across the face.

I bite back my whimper, knowing that crying in front of her will only make it worse.

“Jade,” Viper Girl softly whispers, darting her eyes to her irate friend before looking to Kelsey.

All three of them seem surprised by Jade’s outburst. Jade included.

Her voice shakes as she straightens my jacket collar and pastes on a smile. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I give her a confused frown. “You just slapped me.” I brush trembling fingertips over the burning sting on my cheek. I’m kind of reeling. She’s never gotten physical before. Her weapons are her words.

The thought of her treatment of me escalating into physical torment makes my eyes start to water.

“Don’t be so emotional.” She crosses her arms, her nostrils flaring. “I just had to get your attention somehow. You really need to understand this, Libs, and I don’t think you’re getting it. ”

“Oh, I get it.” My voice is so soft and shaky I’m not sure they can hear me. “You’re worried I’ll tell Wily the truth.”

“Like he’s going to believe you,” Kelsey sneers.

Jade steps forward, stamping her heeled boot right next to my foot, her seething anger making me shrink back.

“If you even try to say something to him, you’ll regret it, you understand me?

Stay away from Wily Wilson.” Her eyes flash, and I shuffle back out of slapping range.

Tucking my chin down, I cross my arms around myself and pray they’ll let me walk past.

They do, and I pick up my pace as soon as I’m clear of them.

“Stay away, hippo!” Viper Girl calls after me.

I hunch my shoulders and mumble, “Shut the fuck up,” before scampering to the library.

I’m not even sure I want to go anymore.

My face hurts.

My skin is no doubt red if the sting is anything to go by.

Rubbing my tender cheek, I contemplate bailing and heading back to my room. But what if they’re still standing there, waiting to pounce on me again?

It’s so unlike Jade to slap me that way. Her assaults are always verbal or prank-like, something that can be laughed off.

I really must haven’t gotten to her.

She’s probably not used to me arguing back. I usually just stand there and take it. And she must have told her new posse that, because they were dishing it out like I’m a zero threat.

Because you are .

Aw, man. How much has she told them? Probably everything. I can just picture them huddled together in her dorm room, laughing their heads off while Jade regales them with stories about all the cruel pranks Team Evil played on me in high school.

I never once stood up for myself then. Touching my cheek again, I remind myself why I quietly take it.

But…

It did feel a little bit good arguing back.

I got under Jade’s skin for once.

Me.

Insignificant, unimportant me.

Walking through the library doors, I grip my bag straps and head to the stairs. It’s always so quiet and peaceful in here. It’s one of my favorite places to hang out.

It’s why I tend to hold my tutoring sessions here. It’s usually a haven.

Climbing the stairs, I pause at the top and scan the tables and shelves around me. They’re littered with various students working on assignments or having whispered conversations.

Wily’s no doubt waiting for me around the corner.

Should I go?

I’m late now, thanks to Team Evil 2.0.

Their warnings flicker through me again, and I hesitate.

Maybe I shouldn’t go.

What if they catch me with Wily?

What if they find out that I’ve broken their rules?

I hate to think what their retribution will look like.

But …

Creeping forward, I work my way down the aisle of books and peek my head around the corner.

There he is.

All tall and beautiful, sitting in his chair… waiting for me.

He’s got headphones on, his head bopping along to whatever music he’s listening to, and I can’t help watching him for a second.

My lips twitch, then grow into a smile when he mouths the words, then plays a little air guitar.

He’s adorable.

And funny.

And I really want to tutor him right now.

But I probably shouldn’t.

Sadness sweeps through me as I rub my cheek again and go to turn away.

“Satch!” Wily calls, his voice booming across the quiet space.

I wince, hunching my shoulders as the woman at the table nearby gives him a marked frown and hisses, “Shhh!”

“Sorry.” Wily’s voice is still way too loud as he pulls his headphones off and waves me over.

Crap. What am I supposed to do now?

His head tips, his eyebrows puckering in obvious confusion when I still haven’t made a move. He waves me over once more, and I can’t just bail on him now. He’s seen me!

Sucking in a nervous breath, I squeeze my index finger and head toward him, bumping my hip on the table closest to me before slowing to a snail-like crawl and eventually stopping beside him.