𝐈 𝐒𝐀𝐓 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐇.
pepper and sophie were still mad.
"come on guys, think! if we can't get rid of bella by tonight's game, than you guys are going out there without me!" troy said. "all i need is an idea, all right, just one."
"got it! we build a girl trap, and then we lead her in with a trail of lady bait!" sawyer said.
i looked up at the mention of women, heading over to the group.
"what's, uh, lady bait?" newt asked.
"i don't know, stuff cherry likes?" sawyer suggested, looking at me. "glitter, shoe catalogues? oh, those little soaps that look like seashells that my mom says i'm not supposed to use even though they're soap!"
"what's the point if i can't even-" sawyer complained, but was cut off.
"have you ever felt the touch of a woman?" i asked.
sawyer was going to make a comment, but i turned around and left.
i stood over bella, who was frowning as pepper and sophie ignored her.
"bulldogs, bring it in!" coach said, and we gathered together.
"now i don't have to tell you how big tonight's game is. the tigers are tough. but dawson, garcia, you guys showed me something this week. you got the arm, you got the guts!" he told bella.
"you got that cherry spray that really freshens up the locker room." he said to me. "you both earned your spot. let's have a great practice, all right?"
"tonight, we are gonna beat the stripes off those tigers!" coach encouraged.
we played, but bella wasn't focused.
coach took her to his office, and we continued playing.
when practice was over, i looked around for her everywhere.
but she wasn't anywhere, not even in in the locker room.
she was kicked off the team, so i quit too.
until she sent me some weird rushed text message about how much football meant to her, and that she was gonna get back on the team no matter what.
i had to change back into clothes and out of my silk robe, and break into the field were they were playing the game.
they only had a few seconds left, and they were barely losing.
"dawson, garcia, why are you guys here?" coach asked.
"i'm here because i love football more than anything. i almost forgot that. coach, you said i showed you something. you said i earned my spot." bella reminded him.
"the only reason you cut me was because you thought i couldn't give one hundred percent. well i'm standing here telling you i can." bella said.
"give me a chance, and i'll prove it. we'll prove it." bella said.
"look, i'm sorry, i can't deal with this right now, i have a game to win." coach said.
"then put them in, guys, look. she's the best quarter back we've got. they would've both been focused if we hadn't been such jerks." troy said.
"it's true. they were terrible." newt said.
"i never thought i'd say this, but they're our only shot." sawyer said, glaring at me.
i glared back.
"yeah, she is!"
"give them a chance!"
"come on coach, please?"
"don't underestimate them, just like i did." troy said.
"and troy's the fastest guy on the team. he can beat anybody." bella said.
coach contemplated.
"then what are you guys waiting for? get your uniform on!" coach said.
we hurried to change into our uniforms, and back onto the field.
bella's mom screamed and cheered for her. bella wore pink sleeves, and i wore red.
we huddled together.
"like my dad says, it doesn't matter if you win or lose. but winnings a lot more fun." bella said, and we put on our hellenes.
"oh, guys. look, it's girls!" some guy said.
"you get lost on your way to the mall?" he said.
"you know, you could just say you like men." i suggested.
we started playing, and i tackled him.
bella threw to troy, and he caught it. we won.
we cheered for each other, and got food at that weird little cowboy restaurant, which i learned was the starcade.
we spent the rest of the night eating pizza while i argued with sawyer and his weird accent.
the next day, bella was complaining while trying to put on eye black.
"it's like we're on the team, but not a part of the team." bella said.
"trust me, you're not missing much. if they're like my brothers, they're probably in there naming their farts after historical figures." sophie said.
"cool." i nodded, bella following me inside the lockers, loudly announcing our entry.
i love dramatic entrances.
a pop song was playing.
"dawson! garcia! hah, there you are." coach said, the song immediately stopping.
"oh, my phones ringing? i'll get that." coach said, leaving.
"oh my gosh, y'all listen to glitter cheeks too?" bella asked.
"didn't you make fun of me for that, like, last week?" i asked sawyer.
"yeah, but it's not cool when you do it. it's cool when i do it." sawyer said.
"nothings cool when you do it." i scoffed. "you're a loser."
"i'm not a loser!" he defended.
"oh look! it's cherry! let's all laugh at her!" sawyer said.
the group awkwardly laughed.
"this is embarrassing! for you!" sawyer said.
"it's almost more embarrassing than us singing and dancing to a girly pop song." newt said.
"who said that?" he said.
"all right, fine. we listen to glitter cheeks. but it's just got a sick bass line that gets us amped to, you know, go hit some dudes!" troy said.
"are you sure it's not getting you amped to go kid some dudes?" i asked.
"this is awesome. i cannot wait to tell the girls-" bella started.
"oh no, you can't. what happens in the locker room, stays in the locker room." troy said.
"guys, no problem. your secrets safe with us." bella said.
"you're not gonna say anything, right?" tory said.
"hey, i'm a bulldog. i would never say anything." bella said.