Chapter Eighteen
Kelley looked into Arlo's eyes and he saw the sincerity in them. Kelley chuckled then as Arlo punched him lightly on the shoulder. They made their way back to the locker rooms and everyone turned to look at them, the sudden hush too quiet. “What? Get dressed, we’ve got Elite ass to kick!”
The boys cheered loudly and Lee Munroe almost smiled. Mason nodded his head in approval at Arlo as the cheers reverberated through the locker rooms. Coach Maxwell and Coach Daris both grinned as the boys made a circle and the crowds cheered loudly outside on the stadium.
"You boys have trained hard for this! Taste the victory! It's the first one for the year! Show Private how we play football in the real world!" Coach Maxwell's voice reverberated through the locker rooms and the cheering got even louder.
They were ready and they could taste the victory because nothing was as good as kicking Private ass on the field. They lived a different life, in a different world and bringing Private down was a victory in itself.
Smith’s College was already on the field doing warm-ups when Public High announced their team’s arrival. The stands quaked as fans jumped up and down, cheering and clapping loudly as the boys ran onto the field. For Kelley it felt like something had shifted in his life and for the first time he was exactly where he wanted to be.
“Welcome to the first match in this year’s series here at Public High! This year sees the team starting with a new quarterback, Kelley Alexander!”
A few heads snapped towards them from Private’s side and Kelley met their gazes. It hadn’t been a secret that he’d transferred but it also wasn’t public knowledge. Public had the psychological advantage now, they had one of Private's own.
Coaches gave last-minute speeches and pep talks and called the first few runs as Private took the ball for kick-off. Peterson caught the ball and ran the play. He ran twenty-five yards before Private took him down.
Arlo and Jason had switched places and Kirk was taken down every single time the line ran. Kelley could sense Private’s confusion and it just made his grin wider. By the third quarter, Public led thirty to twelve and Mason ran the last fifty yards with Lee blocking Private and scored the last touchdown.
The crowds went wild as the players shook hands and Kelley got glares from each and every player. “Traitor.” It was a harsh whisper from Hanson Chadney, Lewis Blackwell and Marcus Holt. Kelley didn't care though, Private hadn't been able to get near him and he'd never felt part of a team as much as he did at that moment.
Inside the locker rooms, they celebrated with slaps on the back and lots of laughter as they showered and got dressed. “Kelley! Some girl is asking for you by the parking lot. She's hot too!”
“Thanks!”
Kelley left the locker room as his teammates made kissing noises and lewd comments. Kelley laughed as he headed outside and stopped in his tracks. She turned to face him with a careful smile on her face.
“Hi, Kelley.”
“Marella? How are you?”
“I’m good, how are you?" He moved closer to her and she gasped. "What happened to your eye?”
Kelley shifted uncomfortably. “A gift from my dad. What are you doing on Public side?”
“I wanted to see how you were and I wanted to warn you. They’re planning something. The guys are so pissed off that you’re with Public now, they’re talking retaliation and whatnot.”
“Thanks, but I’ll be okay, Marella. I’ve gotten used to not having friends anymore and the quiet’s given me perspective. Now that you’re here, I need to tell you something …”
“Well, well, if it isn’t Kelley, the traitor, with his whore, Marella.” Hanson, Kirk and Marcus came walking out of the shadows followed by Petey and Lewis.
“Find me when you need help, Marella. Now run.” Kelley pushed her behind him and she took off towards the football field.
“Get her.” They had circled Kelley now and Petey and Lewis took off after Marella.
“If you hurt her you’ll regret it, Hanson.” Kelley’s fists were balled against his sides and Hanson laughed at him.
“I’ll regret it? You’re going to regret turning on us, Kelley. Marella’s one of us, we’re merely going to let her see the error of her ways.”
All three of them came at Kelley simultaneously and he grabbed Hanson by his shirt. “I beat the shit out of you once, I’ll do it again.”
They traded punches and blows were hitting him from behind as Marcus and Kirk hit him repeatedly on his kidneys. He turned once and he felt the bones in his wrist crack when his fist made contact with Marcus's jaw. Kelley fought with everything in him as Marcus and Kirk each grabbed an arm. Hanson sneered maniacally at him and produced a baseball bat.
The doors opened and a shaft of light spilled out onto the parking lot and Hanson didn’t even turn around. “What the hell!” It was Arlo’s voice.
“Come on, Hanson, let’s get out of here.” Marcus’s voice was stilted and ragged with pain as Mason and Arlo ran towards them.
"Kelley!" It was Mason's voice and for a split second, Kelley grinned.
“One for the team, Kelley.” Hanson struck him hard against the side of his head with the baseball bat and Kelley went down like a sack of potatoes, unconscious before his head even hit the tarmac.
Hanson, Marcus and Kirk bolted away from Kelley just as Mason and Arlo reached him. “Shit …”
“Bastards!”
“Arlo, help me get him up and in his car.”
The doors opened again and Mason looked back towards his other teammates and spotted Lee right in front, now running towards them. “Shit.”
“Bastards waited for him, hit him with a baseball bat.” Arlo was angry.
“Calm down, O’Neill. Keys, Mason.”
Mason handed Lee the keys to his truck and picked Kelley up over his shoulder. Kelley went onto the backseat of his own Escalade and Mason slid into the driver's seat. It was the fastest he'd ever driven and he noticed Lee was following him in his truck. He had told the rest of the team to go home, that he’d call and that they’d get their revenge for Kelley.
