Fighting For You (Bragan University Series Book 2) Read online

  Nick stalks over to the kid. “What did you say?” he asks, enunciating each word.

  “I j-j-just… I—” Alex stammers. He looks over at his friend, who has taken a step back.

  “You what?” Zack adds, standing by Nick’s side now. I can see the fear in the freshman’s eyes, and I sit back, doing my best to hold back my laughter.

  Alex’s eyes volley between Zack and Nick. “You…you guys talk about him being absent all the time. I was just…”

  “We earned that right by not only being his teammates, but his family,” Nick replies.

  “You haven’t earned shit,” Zack adds.

  Alex looks down at the floor and then back up at the guys. “I’m sorry,” he says.

  “Alright, that’s enough,” I tell them, and Zack and Nick burst out laughing.

  “Did you see how scared he was?” Zack says, pointing at the poor freshman.

  The other freshman, who’s name I should probably learn, smiles. “You…you guys were only joking?”

  “Sort of. We know you don’t know any better—just don’t do it again,” Nick says, turning around and heading up the stairs. Zack and I follow behind him as the two freshmen stay behind and resume their jobs.

  “Tonight, I’m drinking until I can’t see color,” Zack announces the moment we reach the living room.

  I look at him with concern. “Do you really think that’s a good idea?” I ask, knowing he’s going to ignore me anyway. Zack kind of plays by his own rules.

  “Isn’t that the point of these parties?” he says, heading over to the kitchen to get himself a beer. I don’t respond because he’s right—there really is no other point to these parties. If I weren’t on the team, and if these guys weren’t my brothers, I wouldn’t bother attending.

  Nick walks by me with another lamp in his hand. “Do you think your friends will show up?” I know he’s talking about Zoe and Emma, and I almost tell him to back off, but I realize that may not be the right approach. Nick likes challenges, and if he feels like that’s what this is, it’ll only make him more determined.

  “Who knows? They’re juniors,” I reply. I don’t know if Zoe is up for it, and from what I know about Emma, she’s majoring in something science-related and loves books—parties and football games are not her thing.

  Nick looks like he’s mulling this information over before he replies, “We both know that not just freshmen show up to our parties.”

  “Yeah, but if they don’t regularly attend other parties, why would they come to one of ours?”

  “That’s nonsense,” he retorts. “Everyone wants to come to our parties.”

  “You do know that if everyone in the entire school came to our parties, we would need a bigger house?”

  He rolls his eyes. “Just keep an eye out and let me know if your friend with the red hair shows up.”

  I nod, knowing if she were to show up, I wouldn’t be the one to tell him. Not a chance in the world.

  ZOE

  Hey, are you coming to the welcome party? – Good Doctor.

  What party?

  I stretch out on my bed, feeling the weight of my lethargy like a blanket. Classes haven’t started yet, but I’ve had to meet with a few different administration people to ensure that—as they put it— ‘my transition back into Bragan is smooth.’

  “Do you know of a party happening tonight?” I ask Emma.

  She looks at me from over the top of her paperback. “Me? No. I have no idea.”

  “Huh…” I lick my lips. “Another romance novel?”

  She shrugs, marking her page and closing the book. “You sound surprised.”

  “That’s the third one this week.”

  Her eyes crinkle in the corners as she laughs. “I’m not even close to breaking my weekly record.”

  I look down at my phone—still no reply. “You’ve been here for three years now…”

  Setting her paperback down, she shrugs and says, “And I’ve never gone to a party. Why do you ask?”

  I try to look disinterested. “Oh, just Jesse asked if we were going.”

  “Oh, Jesse,” she says in an ‘I told you so’ kind of way. “Why didn’t you just say you knew him when we saw him and his friends on the quad?

  “I told him I didn’t want any unnecessary attention. He’s a football player. I don’t want to ride his coat tails.”

  She nods. “You don’t seem like the coat-tail-riding type.”

  “Psht, I love the attention,” I respond sarcastically.

  “We’re going to get along just fine.”

  I raise my brows at her. “I thought you’d already figured this out!?”

  “Eh, I was still testing my theory.”

  My phone beeps with an incoming message. “I’m, like, your best friend already,” I tell her as I open the notification.

  The Welcome Party we host every year for freshmen. – Good Doctor

  I was here freshmen year and don’t recall this party. Also, stop calling yourself that.

  I glance over at Emma, who’s already picked up her book again. “Does the Welcome Party for Freshmen ring a bell?” She shakes her head without giving me a second look.

  “Fine, I’ll let you read your smut.”

  Without looking up, she throws a pillow at me.

  She didn’t deny it though.

  The first two years were lame. It’s much better now. Are you coming? Maybe you can bring your roommate? It’s tonight… Also, is Good Intern better?

  Tonight?! I’m gonna pass… You’re not an intern anymore.

  Come on! You know you want to hang out with me. I miss hanging out with you.

  I can’t hold back my smile. Spending time with Jesse sounds heavenly, but I don’t know that a party is where I want to do that.

  Eh, not really. I think I’ll opt for a quiet night in with Emma.

  You’re killing me, Evans. Bring Emma and come have some fun, even if it’s only for an hour. It’ll make my night.

  I bite my lip to keep from smiling. I don’t want Emma to see the way he makes me react, the way just his messages can put a smile on my face.

  I’ll think about it.

  Remember you promised you’d make time for me.

  STOP trying to guilt me into going to your party.

  I won’t stop if it’s working… Is it?

  I smile.

  Maybe.

  You know you have nothing else to do tonight. You’re probably already in your dorm, wearing pajamas and lying in bed.

  I look down at myself to see that he’s right on the money with his prediction.

  You may be right. If I can convince Emma to come with me, I’ll go.

  I’ll send you the address. Tell Emma I’ll buy her ice cream.

  You may need more than ice cream to convince Emma to drop her book and go to a party.

  I look at my roommate, who is frantically flipping back and forth between two pages, her mouth open in shock.

  I’ll give her anything she wants.

  I’ll let you know if she accepts that offer. Oh… and Jesse?

  I tell him and wait anxiously for him to respond.

  Yeah?

  I miss you too.

  I type out the words and send the message as quickly as I can before I lose the courage. The small icon at the bottom of the screen shows me he’s typing, but then it stops. It does that a few more times before it stops again. I set my phone down and turn to my roommate once again, this time looking for a distraction to calm my rapidly beating heart.

  “Hey, Emma?” I use my sweet voice to pry my roommate away from her book once more.

  She looks at me. “Yes...” she answers knowingly, drawing out the word.

  I clear my throat. “Do you want to go to the Welcome Party tonight?”

  “No,” she says without any hesitation.

  “Would anything change your mind?”

  Returning her attention to her book, she says, “Nope.”

  Well, I tried. I
got shut down, and I’m staying in. Maybe next time! Getting up, I head over to my desk and pull out my journal. I started journaling when I was first diagnosed with ALL; I wanted to leave something behind, a legacy of some sort. But since I hadn’t done much with my life yet, I figured I could at least leave some words for others to find.

  Now, I keep writing because you never know when life can end. I write my thoughts, my goals, and my regrets, and if I’m lucky enough to live and see my future children grow up, then maybe I pass this on to them so that they can have a glimpse of my journey. So that they, too, can appreciate each and every day of their lives.

  I lose myself in the sound of the pen moving over the paper, the rustle of the turning pages, only realizing I’ve been writing for almost two hours when my phone pings. I look around the room to find Emma asleep, her book resting on her face.

  Carefully, I take the novel and place it on the shelf above her desk. I pick up my phone to find a text from Jesse. I smile instinctively. I haven’t even read the words, but that’s the way I react at the mere thought of him. I’m old enough to know that I definitely have a crush on him and it’s completely his fault. He’s too sweet, kind, and caring. He’s unbelievably handsome. And, well, clearly out of my league, so I’ll settle for having him as a friend.

  You coming, Evans?

  No, sir. Staying in tonight. Have fun though!

  You’re breaking my heart, Red. I’d have more fun if you were here :(

  I’m sure you’ll survive, Falcon.

  I may not; you never know.

  I may not have gone to the party, but from the speed his replies are coming in, maybe I’m not missing out on much—well, aside from missing out on the opportunity to see him.

  Getting comfortable in bed, we text back and forth until I eventually fall asleep.

  19

  Date

  Zoe

  For the first time in a long time, I take the stairs rather than the elevator out of my dorm. I’m blaming it on nerves; I feel like I have a whole swarm of butterflies in the pit of my stomach, all of them flapping around wildly in an effort to get out. I know I have that feeling for one reason, and one reason only: Jesse.

  “Man, why does it feel like I haven’t seen you in ages?” he says as soon as I open the lobby door.

  I try to hide my smile. “Because you haven’t. You abandoned me weeks ago.” I take a step closer, letting the door shut behind me I take him in—the length of his hair, the exact shade of blue of his eyes. I don’t know how I’m supposed to greet him—it’s been so long since we’ve been alone together.

  “Come here,” he says, making the decision for me. He envelops me in a bear hug, one that reminds me that I miss him so damn much even though I shouldn’t. I hug him back, feeling the strength of his arms and smelling his cologne. Why does he always smell so good?

  “Reacquainting yourself with the way I smell?”

  I pull back right away, feeling my cheeks reddening. “No!”

  He grins. “It’s okay. You haven’t sniffed me in a while. I get that you have to become familiar with me again.”

  My eyes widen. “Are you comparing me to a dog?”

  “Absolutely not. I was recalling your birthday and how you took your time breathing me in.”

  “Can we just forget that ever happened?” I beg.

  “No, ma’am. I’m going to remember that for the rest of our lives.”

  I don’t know why the fact that he says ‘ours’ makes me smile, but it does.

  I roll my eyes to faint annoyance. “Whatever. So, what are we doing today?” I ask. When he messaged me and we finally decided on a time to hang out, he told me all I needed to do was wear comfortable clothes and wait for him at the lobby of my dorm at 5pm.

  “It’s a surprise,” he replies. He runs his hands through his hair and adds, “Are you ready to go?”

  I nod.

  “So, how’s the first, what week, week and a half now, going?” he asks as we walk shoulder-to-shoulder.

  I shrug. “Kind of tiring, to be honest. I don’t love my classes, and I’m probably the oldest student in all of them.” I wanted to come back to school, to study, but taking classes has reminded me of how much I hated it.

  “First of all, no one likes classes. Well, maybe Emma,” he jokes. “Second,” he says, counting with his fingers, “It’s not your fault you had to miss a year. Plus, I think students are taking longer to graduate high school, so you’re probably just about the same age as they are.”

  We keep walking until we reach the student lot. “Are we going off campus?”

  “Not really, but it’s better if we drive there,” he says. Jesse leads me to his car, and I’m about to open the passenger door when he stops me.

  “Here, let me,” he says, opening the door. Smiling widely, I get inside, putting on my seatbelt as I watch him walk around and get in.

  “So, we’re not going off campus, but we’re driving there? Could I have some clues as to what we’re doing?”

  He shakes his head at me. “You’re just going to have to wait.”

  “Next time, I’ll just have to say no when you ask to hang out,” I tease.

  He grips his chest. “You wouldn’t dare.”

  “So, tell me what we’re doing!” I whine.

  “Good things come to those who wait,” he says, pulling out of the parking spot. I roll my eyes and turn on the radio.

  By the time the second random pop song is coming to an end, the car slows to a stop. I look out the windshield to find us parking in one of the football field designated parking lots.

  “Are you kidding me?”

  “Nope,” he says with a chuckle as he shuts off the car and gets out. I follow him.

  “We are NOT watching a football game right now!”

  He gives me a long look. “Not this time, but maybe the next.”

  Why are we here if we aren’t watching a football game?

  He opens the back door of his car, grabbing a backpack. “Are you ready?”

  My eyes narrow. “I don’t know. How can I tell you I’m ready if I don’t know what we’re doing?”

  He shuts the car door and locks it. “Let’s go,” he says, finding my hand. It feels so foreign, yet so familiar—like a missing part of me I haven’t felt in a long time. He pulls me closer to the football field, but I don’t try to catch up because I’m afraid the moment I do, he’ll let go.

  “Is there something going on here?” I ask the moment we reach the side doors.

  He uses his ID to get inside. “Just the two of us hanging out,” he says casually.

  I point at the facility. “Inside there?”

  “Oh, Evans, it’s killing you not knowing what’s happening, isn’t it?”

  “Yes!”

  He clicks his tongue at me. “I thought you were going to let lose; enjoy life!”

  “I’m pretty sure that doesn’t include breaking into the stadium!”

  He gives me an incredulous look. “Zoe, did my ID card open the door?”

  I nod.

  “Do you think if I were breaking in, I’d be able to do that with my student ID?”

  He’s got a point.

  “But maybe I’m not supposed to be here!” I try and reason.

  “You’re supposed to be with me.” Those words—his words... I’m supposed to be with him. And while I know he means here, right now, I can’t help but think about more. I haven’t forgotten the fact that he still hasn’t let go of my hand.

  He opens the door, and we walk through. A few seconds later, I’m met by an enormous field, numbers drawn on the green grass. I look around to see all the empty benches, and right now, in this moment, this place feels so surreal.

  I haven’t seen a football game in person—only on TV—but I can envision the fans seated on the benches, cheering for their teams. To see this place empty just seems odd. Out of place. Kind of like me.

  “Isn’t it amazing?” he asks, looking at me with a contagious s
mile.

  I take it all in. “It is,” I find myself saying out loud.

  Jesse starts walking towards the ten-yard line, pulling me behind him. He drops his bag. “Let’s settle down here.”

  “Watcha got in there?” I ask, curious. He pulls out a football. “So, we’re here for you to practice?”

  He brings his arm around my shoulders. “No. I’m going to teach you how to play football. That way, when you finally come to the game, you’ll know what’s going on!”

  “Who said I was going to come to your football games?” I ask, knowing I’ll be there cheering him on.

  “You have no choice. It’s a requirement of our friendship.”

  “Since when?”

  “Since we’re going to be friends forever.”

  “Forever?” I ask in a horrified voice.

  “Don’t act like you don’t want to be stuck with me forever,” he says jokingly. He has no idea how right he is. I wouldn’t mind forever with him.

  He pulls me toward the center of the field. “You better have brought some food with you too,” I tell him.

  “I did, but you only get it if you earn it.”

  “And how do I do that?”

  He smiles. “Just stand here. I’ll stand about ten yards away. I’ll throw the football, and you’ll catch it. That’s step one.”

  “Aren’t you a kicker? I thought I was learning the rules of the game.”

  “To learn the rules, you have to play. I may be a kicker, but football is football.” He says this like it explains everything. Nevertheless, I follow his instructions and stand in my place.