by Sherri Renee
George’s face blanched when I mentioned the police. I prayed I was getting through his thick skull.
“I think it’s wrong to throw the game,” I hurried on since I had his full attention. “You’re team has worked hard for this. But if you don’t throw it I won’t be the only one getting hurt. You know a guy like that won’t take lightly to being cheated. George,” I took a deep breath, “he’ll kill you.”
George ran a hand through his hair and spun away from me, muttering a string of curses.
He ran his tongue over his teeth and shook his head. “Un-uh. He isn’t going to do anything. It’s just a bunch of talk. Marvin acts all big and scary, but he’s just a weasel. It’s not the first time he and Laurie tried to pull this scam.”
His blue eyes landed on me, full of forced confidence. “If you do your research you’ll see the last two schools Laurie went to just happened to win state. That’s not a coincidence.”
I didn’t think it was a coincidence either “All right, let’s say Laurie and her uncle ran this same scam at those schools. How do you know they weren’t supposed to win?”
George gave me a condescending look. “It’s a lot easier to throw a game than it is to win.”
While I didn’t appreciate his snide tone that told me how stupid he thought I was, what he said did make sense. There was only so much to do to win a game when you were up against a stronger opponent. But losing a game, on the other hand, could be done whether you were on the better team or not. “So you think those teams were supposed to lose but didn’t?”
“I don’t just think it, I know it. And no one ended up with broken legs after the games. There weren’t any shootings. Marvin’s not going to do a thing about it when I win tonight.”
I could only stare at him. “You’re taking a huge gamble on that, and it’s not just you who stands to lose. What about me? What if this is the time Marvin decides to stop letting kids cheat him without repercussions?”
George ran a hand over his mouth before stepping closer and lowering his voice. “If we win tonight, and I think we have a real chance of winning, my dad’s friend in admissions let him know I’ll have a full ride scholarship. Full ride,” he repeated, his eyes filled with hope. “Not only that, Dad might have placed a little bet on us winning. He’ll be able to pay off our house free and clear.” He gave me a pleading look. “We have to win tonight. My entire future’s riding on it.”
I looked away, swayed by his argument but not happy. “So I can’t talk you into upholding your end of the deal?”
He looked back towards his teammates. “I’d be letting all of them down too if I didn’t try my hardest tonight.”
I slammed my hands on my hips. “Maybe you should have thought of that before you made a deal with the devil.”
With a sad look, he shook his head. “I’m giving it my all tonight. Win or lose, it won’t be because I didn’t try. It’s going to be fine,” he added, probably thinking his words were reassuring. He ran back to his team before I could say anything else.
Someone slapped him on the back and a couple of the guys leered at me. My guess was they thought I was over here begging George to take me back. From the way he’d been acting lately, I was sure he’d let them believe that. I again wondered how I’d dated him as long as I had.
Opening announcements blared above the noise of the crowd and shook me from my thoughts. I jogged over to my squad to get ready for the breakthrough. Laurie gave me a questioning look, and I shook my head and looked away. I wasn’t able to convince George to go along with her uncle’s scam. I just hoped he was right that Marvin wouldn’t do anything about it.
Laurie placed a foot on my thigh to climb up and sit on my shoulders. “Well?” she said before stepping up. “What’d he say?”
“He said you and your uncle have tried to make other schools throw games and no one got hurt when they didn’t. He’s not going to do it.”
Laurie sat on my shoulders and held the top of the break through sign that we’d decorated with dark green trees and blue swirls and the words “Chop ‘em down, Lumberjacks!” She lowered her head close to mine. “He got some bad information if he thinks no one got hurt. Didn’t you hear about the ‘car accident’ two years ago that tragically took out the quarterback in Silver Springs a couple months after they won state?”
I looked up at her, and she nodded with a grim expression. My legs started to shake. I had to tell George, but just then the team gave a yell and ripped through the sign, running onto the field. I watched George jump up and down and pump his fist in the air. He had no idea what he was getting into.
I did my best to smile and cheer like I didn’t have a care in the world besides who won the football game tonight. I guess really, that was true. If the opposing team won, George might not get his scholarship and his family might lose their home but no one would get hurt. When the other team made the first touchdown, I tried to act disappointed but inside I cheered wildly.
As promised, Matt sat front and center, watching every person who walked by. I was thankful he was there, but I knew that unless someone was dumb enough to pull out a weapon in front of everyone there was no way to tell who was working for Laurie’s uncle.
Michelle scooted close to me as our team took offensive positions. “Laurie’s deep in this isn’t she?”
“Majorly,” I told her what I’d learned. “I don’t know what to do.”
The other team gained control of the ball and raced down the field, weaving and dodging our guys. Our team finally took the runner down just shy of the end zone.
“You might not have anything to worry about,” Michelle said as the rival team ended up making their second touchdown in the first few minutes of the game. “If the whole game goes like this, we’re going to get creamed.”
As un-cheerleader like as that sounded, I found myself praying that’s exactly what would happen. The easiest answer would be if the other team outplayed us no matter how hard George tried. Unfortunately, by half-time, Forest Ridge was in the lead by twelve points.
We had to perform during half-time and my stomach churned. What should have been a fun night had turned into my own version of a horror show. Our routine went smoothly, and we ran off the field to the fans cheers. Matt waited for me by the gate.
“You looked great out there.”
Just being near him relaxed me. The other girls headed for the locker room, but Laurie waited beside me. I reached up to kiss Matt’s cheek and whispered in his ear. “I might need to leave early. I’ll text you.”
Worry flooded his eyes, but after a look towards Laurie, he just nodded.
Laurie wrapped her arm around mine as we started walking. “You don’t need to be alone,” she whispered. I wanted to be thankful she was watching out for me, but I felt it was the least she could do since she’d been instrumental in putting me in danger.
“I’m not going back out there,” I said firmly. “Matt will take me home.”
Chapter 35
Laurie’s grip on my arm tightened. I thought she was angry about my plan to leave the game early, but her eyes were locked on a lanky guy with greasy blond hair walking straight towards us. She didn’t have to tell me he was the guy working for her uncle. He had a mean look in his eyes, and those eyes were fixed on me.
We stopped walking. I saw a flash of silver as he pulled his hand out from under his brown coat. I froze. He held what looked like a hunting knife. I couldn’t believe this was happening. I wanted to yell for help or run away, but my entire body felt frozen with fear. Laurie stepped in front of me. “Run!” she yelled, giving me a push.
I tried. I really did, but in my terror, my feet forgot how to work together, and I fell in a heap on the cold concrete. Stinging abrasions covered my palms. I ignored them and pushed myself to my feet determined to get away.
I shot a look over my shoulder just in time to see a fist connect with the greasy haired guy’s jaw. I followed that fist up to a black leather jacket, and I knew b
efore seeing his face it was Matt.
Instead of running away, I ran towards the fight. I had to help Matt. He couldn’t get hurt because of me. Getting closer, I realized Matt needed no help. A couple more hits and the other guy flew through the air landing hard on his back.
A policeman ran our direction with a radio to his mouth. Before I could reach Matt another cop grabbed his arms from behind and slapped handcuffs on him.
“No,” I yelled. I ran up and tried to explain Matt had probably saved my life but was completely ignored until I was finally able to point out the knife on the ground. Things went crazy after that. People screamed. Sirens blared to life.
Somehow in all the commotion, Laurie disappeared.
With one eye on Matt, I did my best to explain what had happened.
It wasn’t too hard to make the connection between my would-be attacker and Marvin. The guy had Marvin’s business card in his jacket pocket and a picture of me on his phone along with saved texts ordering the assault on me if Forest Ridge was in the lead at half-time.
When the guy came to, he was dragged to his feet and handcuffed. Up close he looked young and scared and dirty. My guess was he was a homeless guy Marvin had hired cheap rather than a professional killer which could easily explain why he’d been so sloppy with the texts and stuff.
Whatever the reason, I was so thankful for his carelessness I could have cried. It would have been awfully hard proving our story without it.
Someone unlocked Matt’s handcuffs, and I flew into his arms. He held me tight and stroked my hair. “You’re all right now. It’s going to be all right.”
I couldn’t stop shaking. I pulled back so I could see his face. “Thank you,” I whispered. I wanted to say so much more, but the words wouldn’t come yet. I was freezing cold, and the EMT who came to check me out said I was in shock. I believed it.
They tried to get me to go to the hospital but I knew I wasn’t really hurt. I just needed some time to process everything so I could put it behind me.
After my accusations about the game being rigged, it was called off until everything could be sorted out. Matt and I had to go to the police station so they could officially take our statements, which was pretty scary, but everyone was really nice and they let us leave after a couple of hours. They promised someone would keep an eye on our houses and George’s until Marvin was caught. That did make me feel better, but not great.
Matt and I passed George on our way out of the police station. He sat on a wooden bench with his head in his hands. Even though he’d almost gotten me hurt, I felt sorry for him. I didn’t know if he’d be in any legal trouble or not but he wasn’t getting that full-ride scholarship.
I hesitated as we walked past. Almost as if he sensed me looking at him, he lifted his head. He’d changed out of his uniform and wore jeans and a heavy coat. His blond hair was still messed up from his helmet and his eyes were empty.
My stomach tensed. I didn’t know how he’d react, knowing I told the police about his part in everything. He looked from me and Matt to our joined hands. Giving me a bleak look, he nodded before lowering his head again. I wasn’t sure exactly what the look meant, but I took it as acceptance of the situation. Thankfully he didn’t seem to blame me for anything.
Matt held my door before getting in the driver’s seat and starting the car. Instead of driving, though, he turned and pulled me into his arms. I clung to him. The tears that had been just below the surface sprang out in a torrent. The car was still cold but in his arms I was warm. And safe.
Matt gave me all the time I needed, just holding me and stroking my hair and back until all I had left were a couple of embarrassing hiccups.
“My hero,” I tried to lighten the mood, but my lips trembled. He really was my hero.
“I saw that guy pull his knife, and I knew he was going for you.” He pulled me closer, his voice a harsh whisper. “I didn’t know if I’d get to you in time. There were so many people between us. I might not have if Laurie hadn’t stalled him.”
I pressed my lips together. Laurie had shown a heroic side, but I had trouble fully appreciating it since I never would have been in danger to start with if it wasn’t for her. I hoped she managed to disappear like she wanted to. I didn’t want to think what would happen if her uncle found her.
“I’ve never been that scared,” I said. “And then I saw you hit him, and I was afraid he’d hurt you.”
Matt’s chest rumbled against me as he laughed. “Even now you have no faith in my fighting abilities.” Thankfully he didn’t sound truly offended.
I laughed too, and it felt so good, as much a release as the tears had been. “You laid him out pretty quick. I have a feeling I won’t ever question your ability to hold your own again.”
He gave me a long look. “I better get you home. Your parents will be worried.” I’d texted them, and I was sure he was right. They’d be standing by the door waiting for me to get home so they could see for themselves I was okay before grounding me for life.
“Kristen!” The front door flew open before we made it to the porch. Dad wrapped me in his arms before I could say a word. Tears threatened again, and I sniffed against his soft sweatshirt.
“Come in out of the cold,” Mom directed, ushering us inside. She looked me over from head to toe before pulling me into a hug against her. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” she whispered against my hair.
“And you.” She pulled back so she could see Matt but kept an arm around my waist. “Thank you,” were the only words she got out before she started softly crying. I felt terrible for being responsible for her tears.
Dad clapped Matt on the shoulder before pulling him in for a hug. “We heard you saved our baby’s life. We can never repay you for your bravery.”
Matt shuffled his feet, and his ears turned pink. “I’m glad I was there,” he said modestly.
“Come sit down.” Mom started walking towards the living room.
“I should go,” Matt said. “My parents will want the full story too.” His eyes locked on mine. I could tell there were so many things he wanted to say but not in front of my parents.
“Call me tomorrow?” I asked.
He nodded. “Good night,” he said. Dad closed and locked the door behind him.
“He seems like a nice young man,” Mom said. I just smiled. He was so much more than that, but now wasn’t the time to go into it.
My parent’s wanted to hear the whole story from A to Z. Then they went back through and spent at least another hour questioning things. Once they were satisfied they understood the situation, and again told me how thankful they were I was safe, they started lecturing.
I don’t think they said anything I hadn’t already thought myself, but I didn’t blame them for rehashing everything. I knew they were terrified and had good reason to be. I sat on the couch with my legs tucked under me and patiently listened as they went on and on. And on. I might have tuned them out a couple of times as my mind drifted back to everything that had happened. But I did try to pay attention.
It was close to two in the morning when they finally ran out of steam. I hugged them both extra tight and told them I loved them then ran up to my room, ready to have a few minutes alone with my thoughts.
Chapter 36
After the night I’d had, I think it was perfectly forgivable that I screamed when something knocked against my window. I spun towards it with both hands pressed against my mouth certain Marvin or the blond guy from the game would be there staring at me.
Instead, I saw Matt’s face. He squinted his eye and grimaced just before Dad burst through my door holding a golf club over his head like a weapon. Mom was right behind him, her choice of weapon was a phone.
“It’s okay,” I held up my hands and tried to reassure them before Mom had the entire police force at our front door. I snuck a glance at the window, thankful to see Matt had vanished. “I’m okay. I. . .”
I looked around the room for an excuse and saw my makeup bag
on the floor by the dresser. One of the girls had probably dropped it before the game. I pointed to it. “My bag fell, and the noise scared me. I guess I’m a little jumpy.”
“Oh, honey.” Mom hugged me to her side. She smelled of her favorite face cream and toothpaste, and I knew she’d been getting ready for bed.
Dad poked his golf club under my bed and looked in the closet. He even checked to make sure my window was locked. I held my breath while he did, hoping he wouldn’t spot Matt.
“Easy there, Dad.” I tried to joke. “You could put someone’s eye out with that thing.” I was pretty sure he held a driver and could brain someone much easier than poking an eye out, but I was going for light.
His eyes flitted across every space in my room again before he lowered the club. The corner of his mouth twitched in a half smile at my comment.
“Do you want to sleep in our room tonight,” Mom asked with a worried look.
I remembered a time when there was nowhere I felt safer when I’d had a bad dream or didn’t feel well, but I guess I’d finally grown up.
I shook my head but smiled. “I’m fine here. The noise just scared me.”
“Of course it did,” Mom said. “After everything you’ve been through.” She cupped my cheek with her hand and looked into my eyes. “I know I didn’t say it earlier, but I’m very proud of you.” Dad moved to stand beside her. “We both are,” she added with a glance at him.
I didn’t feel like I’d done anything to be proud of, but by now I was worried Matt was either freezing outside my window or had given up and gone home. I just wanted Mom and Dad to go to bed so I could find out.
“Thanks.” I let out a big yawn. “I think I’ll go to bed now.”
“All right, dear. We’re just down the hall. Yell if you need anything.”
Dad left the door open a crack behind him. I waited until I heard their bedroom door close and eased mine shut the rest of the way. I ran to the window and pushed it up, sticking my head out into the cold to search for Matt. I hoped he hadn’t given up on me and gone home. I looked down and there he sat on the roof right under my window. He grinned up at me.