Chapter 33

After school, I stood with Amy at our spot on the roof, watching our fellow students, parents, and teachers enter the football field to watch the game. We were working up our courage to join them.

“William invited us to watch him play,” I told Amy. “There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

I handed her one of the sweatshirts I bought with our school’s name and our wolf mascot embroidered on the front. I needed her company to give me enough confidence to walk among all those people.

“He invited you,” Amy argued. She took the sweatshirt and stuffed it under her arm.

“He knows you’re coming with me,” I insisted. “Please, Amy, will you come with me.” I didn’t like pressuring my best friend to do something she didn’t want to do, but I was eager to watch William play.

I squeezed her hand. “Pretty please, come watch the game with me.” Whether she went with me or not, I had to force myself to go down there to watch William play.

But I understood Amy’s reluctance. Although we both enjoyed watching the school football games from this roof, we had never sat with the crowd to watch one of our school’s football games.

It always seemed as if we didn’t belong there. Plus, sitting among so many people would be uncomfortable.

Yet, watching everything from this roof, the game and the players seemed so far away. Many times, we wished we could join the crowd seated in the bleachers. This was our chance.

Victor flashed through my mind, and I turned to check the area by the school gate for the tenth time. The Lamborghini still wasn’t there.

Seeing the empty parking spot made me feel hollow in the pit of my stomach. I hadn’t heard from Victor since our fight, and I was almost sure he would never again be waiting there to pick me up from school.

I didn’t want to think about it now. I pushed thoughts of Victor from my mind and pulled the new sweatshirt over my head.

“Come on, Amy,” l insisted. “Let’s go sit in the bleachers and watch a football game.”

“Oh, all right,” she agreed.

I led the way off the roof and to the football field. It seemed like hundreds of eyes were watching us as we chose a place to sit near the top of the high bleachers. But after a few friendly waves and greetings from other students, we grew comfortable enough to relax and enjoy the game.

I spotted William as soon as our team ran onto the field. He looked terrific in his black and gold uniform. The wide shoulder pads emphasized his lean waist, firm buttocks, and long, muscular legs.

The game began, and I was happy to see Amy loosen up enough to cheer along with everyone else as our team destroyed their competition.

She glanced over at me and laughed. “You were right, Daisy. This is much better than watching the game from the roof.”

I had to agree. I was enjoying myself more than I expected.

William always looked like a different person on the field.

He was such a fierce, talented player that it was a joy to watch him run the ball down the field. He was agile, strong, and wickedly fast. The defensive players on the other team couldn’t catch him or stop him.

I couldn’t move my eyes away from him.

After he scored a touchdown, he looked up into the stands and searched for someone.

While I wondered who he was searching for, his eyes met mine.

William waved to me. I stiffly waved back. He quickly turned his head away and focused on the game again.

I hugged myself and smiled at Amy. I had no experience with men or relationships, but it seemed as if William liked me, at least as his friend. The thought made me grin.

I was glad he knew I was there, and it was incredible to be sitting this close to the game.

It was exciting to watch the rest of the game, but it seemed to go by quickly. William ran in another touchdown while the other team struggled to make a single touchdown, and their kicker made a field goal.

It was amazing to watch the teams battle it out on the field. William was such a masterful player. There was no way he wouldn’t achieve his goal of becoming a professional football player. He was that good!

The fans went wild in the last minute of the game when the other team fumbled the ball. William instantly scooped it up and ran the ball sixty yards, scoring the winning touchdown.

There was no way the other team could catch up with our team now.

When clock ran out, William and his teammates were declared the winners. I couldn’t help but stand up, and I suddenly felt the urge to run to William and maybe …. hug him.

With only one second of hesitation, everyone already rushed to the field, and William was lifted onto the shoulders of the crowd.

Amy and I stood and applauded, with the rest of the fans still on the bleachers. We called William's name and waved, but I knew there was too much noise and confusion for him to hear us.

William grinned as the crowd began to chant his name. He was their hero, but the look on his face was humble. I admired his calm. Most guys his age would revel in the crowd’s praise and admiration.

I wanted to congratulate William too, but there was no way I could get anywhere near him. The excited crowd was still too thick to allow Amy and me to leave our perch on the bleachers yet.

“We may as well sit back down, Amy,” I said. “We can’t go down there until the crowd clears out.”

“But William will be gone by then too,” Amy said. “Don’t you want to talk to him and congratulate him right after the game?”

“Of course, I do,” I said. He played so great. if I could be alone with him right now, I wanted to tell him how wonderful of a player he is.

“But look at that gigantic crowd down there. We won’t get anywhere near him, and we could get crushed trying, ” I sighed.

We were both a little disappointed, but Amy knew I was right. I would have to wait until school tomorrow to congratulate him.

At least William had seen me, and knew I was here to watch him play.

I continued to watch William from high up in the stands as the crowd praised him for his talent and skills. He flashed them an occasional smile, but he seemed more distant to than pleased by their adoration.

It was a total letdown to watch him being carried to the locker room beneath the field house and out of my sight.

I sighed and watched as the crowd began to leave. They climbed down from the long rows of bleachers and meandered out of the two gates.

Most of them were discussing the game. I heard William’s name mentioned many times.

“I still wish I could talk to William,” I said.

“It shouldn’t be long now, and we’ll be able to leave,” Amy said, patting me on the back.

I heard my cell buzzing in my purse. “Who could be calling me?” Usually when my phone rang it was Amy, but she was sitting right next to me.

I dug the phone out of my purse and felt a jolt of excitement rush through me.

It was William calling.