Level the Playing Field

Leverage.

"Maybe but that's not the point! The point is, I really want to go." She sighs at her friend's pouting face.

"Why? It's not like either of you will actually talk to them anyway! We'll all just stand in a corner where I'll be subjected to your silent squeals and yearning." She mutters bitterly.

Mikayla rolls her eyes, "you don't understand because you don't have a crush, Sadé." If only she knew...

Mikayla pauses to stare at nothing before continuing. "My skin tingles every time I even think about him, and that feeling in my tummy, it's not butterflies, can't be. Butterflies are light, dainty. It's heavier, so much more... urgent. I swear he glanced at me in class when I answered a question and I instantly got w-"

"Alright, I get it. You told me in great detail how wet you got." Mikayla giggles at her fake gagging, then sighs.

"I really want to go, but it works off invitations, at least that's what Celine heard, and we don't know anybody who could get our names on that list." Mikayla whispers pitifully.

Sadé sits, contemplating. Could she really do it? One look at the pout of Mikayla's small mouth and round, brown eyes answers her question. She's never done anything like this before but for Mikayla? She's going to try.

************

The spring chill forces her to fold her hands into fists in the pockets of her hoodie. Shivers race up and down her body and she hugs herself in an attempt to warm up. It's cold outside and the light drizzle doesn't help. She curls herself further into the shadows, watching as the players leave in small groups at a time. She's hoping that isn't the case with Jude, she needs to see him alone. Sadé has never blackmailed anyone in her entire 21 years of living and her conscience is already beginning to eat her up, but this is for Mikayla and Celine. Or so she tells herself. She'll never admit she'd love to see what he's like in a party setting. Does he dance? Does he dance with other women? He probably does. Suddenly, she's not so fond of this idea. However, Sadé has no time to contemplate backing out, Jude steps out of the locker room with a bag slung across his shoulders and a gray sweatsuit. Alone. She takes a deep inhale to calm the wild fluttering of her heart in her chest and steps out from underneath the bleachers just as he's within distance.

"I need to talk to you." If he's startled he doesn't show it.

Jude cocks his right brow but doesn't respond, he crosses his arms over his chest and widens his stance.

"That party after the game, me and my friends need to get in." She's meant to sound authoritative but her tone comes off as meek. Pathetic.

"And how is that my problem?" It doesn't even come off as rude, he asks as if he's genuinely puzzled by her statement.

"Get us in."

Jude chuckles but it's without a hint of humor.

"I'm not the one throwi-"

"Don't play stupid with me." She cuts him off, eyes narrowed to slits. "It's one of your teammates and you're captain of the team- that means you're going, so get us in too."

His eyebrows furrow. "Or what?"

Sadé looks off to the side and hesitates for a second. Does she really want to do this?

"Or..." she swallows around the lump in her throat, "you know what."

"No, I don't. I want you to say it." He holds eye contact, daring her to.

Sadé steels her spine, feigning confidence. "Or, I'll- I'll tell people what I saw."

He smirks in lieu of responding.

"I'm serious, I'll tell what happened between you and Ms. Summers."

"Alright, is this the game you really want to play?" Not really! Instead, she gives a subtle nod of her head.

"Fair enough," he pulls his phone from his pocket and hands it to her after unlocking it.

"Uh..?"

"Put your number in." Oh. Makes sense. She tries to hide the shake in her fingers as she puts her number in and saves it under 'Sadé.'

"Sadé, huh?" He asks when she hands it back to him.

"Oh, yeah. That's my name." She mentally face-palms at how awkward she is.

"Remember what you've started, Sadé. I'll see you around."

Sadé stands, watching his back as he leaves. Even his gait is attractive- he walks as if the lawns of Erlhedge were paved just for him. But his words still echo in the back of her mind, and Sadé is no fool, she knows a threat when she hears it.

Shit. She might've just bitten more than she can chew.