Page 21 of Their Cruel Play
“Everyone knows who you are now, Harper.” The cheerleader glances at me. “You’re solidly on the map. And while most chicks follow those four bitches and hope for scraps, the rest of us have been quietly working in the background to fuck them over.” The cheerleader meets my eyes. “Some of these girls don’t get it. Yes, the horsemen are the cream of the crop, but only of your year. We’ve got our own men coming up, ready to take charge when they leave.”
“Oh-kay.” I don’t know what any of this has to do with me.
Her friend smirks. “You’re changing the game. Those guys have committed to only you for a year. We don’t want your guys’ dicks, Harper. We just want to see them stomp Sidney and her gang into the ground.”
“So wash that bitch’s scent off your man’s jersey and help cheer him on to victory.” The cheerleader lets out a little woo as they head out the door.
I sneeze again as I look down at the now wet jersey that still smells awful. Shit.
I pull out my phone to text Kenz.
Me:
Going to wash and dry jersey in GL
Caden
I didn’t need the Assistant Coach to do that. To come out and walk with me like we’re fucking friends and he’s supporting me. More likely he’s trying to get back on Jack’s good side to slip into his DMs again.
I don’t need that noise. I just need my guys and my girl. My gaze strays back to the lone person on the top of the stands. If that’s MacKenzie, where the fuck is Harper?
“You’re in, Ross,” Coach shouts.
I jog to the huddle, passing Parker who’s coming back to the bench. Luke gives me a look when I join them. He calls out the play, but I’m still half worried about where she is. This is when she’s vulnerable.
When none of us can be there for her. Didn’t I warn her about that? Fuck.
Jack grabs my helmet and smacks his against mine. “Head in the game, War!”
I smack his ass as he passes me and line up in formation. My gaze goes to the defensive tackle that has his eye on Luke. Not today, fucker.
Harper
I didn’t realize how eerie the school is with most of the lights out and the hallways empty. Maybe I should have grabbed Kenz before heading in here. But I know she’s excited to watch Brandon play. That and if the guys look up, they’ll at least see one of us there.
I push open the locker room door. The lights are on, and there’s stuff strewn everywhere. The cheerleaders and the dance team use this area. Even the color guard girls come in to change or fix their uniforms. A few color guard girls glance up at me when I walk in.
“Uh, do you know where the washer and dryer are?” I hold up the jersey as proof I have need of it. Sometimes even I think I’m lame.
“Over next to the coaches’ offices.” Rachel Hayes sweeps her gaze over me before turning to her friends. Ah yes, one of the final hit list of virgins. Pretty sure she was Eli’s conquest over the summer.
“Thanks.” I head toward the offices and open a few supply closets before finding the washers and dryers. I put Luke’s jersey, along with a pod, in the washer and put it on the quick wash cycle.
The door shut behind me when I came in here, but there’s no lock on it. I sit on the old, scraped-up wooden table usedfor folding and pull out my phone. There are dead spots in the school for cell phones. This is apparently one of them.
If Kenz responded to my text, I didn’t get the reply before coming down here.
I open my game I haven’t had time to play in forever and start matching gems. I make it pretty far before the washer buzzes. I pull out his jersey and hold it to my nose.
Oh, thank god! The smell is gone. It’s still a little damp, but I should be good to go. I tug it on over my t-shirt and go to the door.
The knob turns but the door won’t open. Fuck, it’s like something heavy is behind it or blocking it. Okay, not panicking. I get down on my hands and knees to see if there’s something against it.
Besides a slight shadow in the gap, nothing stands out, like a wedge. Maybe it only opens from the outside? That wouldn’t make sense, but nothing in high school makes sense.
I knock on the door. “Hey, is anyone out there?”
A washer and dryer are both working on towels, so someone has to come here, eventually. A chill creeps up my spine. Maybe if this was the only thing that happened to me I could write it off, but I made a stupid decision.
