Zoë

Anticipation coursed through Zoë's veins as she stared down at the field. Lights lit up the entire stadium and a gentle breeze blew in through the canyon a couple miles away. It was the perfect conditions for a football game.

But to be fair, Zoë had never been to a high school football game. She preferred to be a reading hobo in her room on Friday nights.

Dean trekked up the stairs toward them, two drinks in his hands. "Hey guys."

"Umm, hello," Andrew answered for Zoë, who stood motionless and awkward. "What can we do for you, sir?"

"I just brought Zo here a soda." He flipped back his brown bangs from his eyes. "You like Coke, right?"

"Yeah?" Her answer sounded more like a question. First off, how did he even know that Coke was her favorite? Carden himself didn't even know that. He had tried for awhile to figure it out.

She reluctantly took the Coke from him before turning her attention back to the ongoing game.

"GO CAR! YOU GOT THIS!" she yelled at the top of her lungs. It felt good to feel some form of freedom and be herself, even if people glanced back at her, some girls with hatred in their eyes. She wouldn't admit it out loud but she was grateful Carden had invited her to come tonight.

Carden got the ball, running back and bouncing on his feet. Zoë's breath held as he released it to Cam, who caught it and got tackled. Amber and Zoë burst out screaming, loud cheers coming from their lips.

"Hey guys, quick question," Dean said with a wide smile. When nobody answered his question, he said, "Is it okay if I sit with you guys?"

Zoë and her friends shared a look. On one hand, if they said yes the boys might get super jealous and that might affect their playing but on the other hand, if they said no, Dean would have to sit by himself. And as a new kid, that wouldn't be very good.

Amber smiled, the smile not quite reaching her eyes, and said, "Of course but a little before half, we're gonna go down to concessions when the players walk to the locker room." She nudged Zoë. "This girl can't go an hour without talking to her boyfriend."

"So not true!" Zoë teased. "You can't go thirty minutes without talking to Cam!"

"Lies!"

Zoë rolled her eyes playfully as Dean stepped up onto the bleacher and stood next to her. The offense was on third and inches, according to Andrew who actually liked football, and the entire stupid section's breath was being held.

The ball was snapped and instead of passing or rushing the football, Carden leaped over the defensive and offensive lines, front flipping into the end zone.

The entire student section burst out screaming. Zoë didn't realize she was jumping and cheering until Dean grabbed her arm to keep her from falling forward into the group of Freshman in front of them.

She pulled it away, scowling.

"And the kick is good!" The announcer cheered over the PA system. "Clarkston leads seven to zero with nearly six minutes left in the first quarter! Congrats to Carden Ash for scoring the first touchdown of the game!" That earned more cheers.

"GO CARDEN!" someone yelled from the main group and it took Zoë a moment to recognize Chloe and her minions a couple rows over. Her long blonde hair extensions were curled into a ponytail and her face was caked with makeup, her jeans whitewashed and ripped.

When Carden turned around to face the crowd, Chloe blew a kiss down to him.

Jealousy surged through Zoë's veins. Nobody, not even Queen Chloe, could talk to her Carden like that and get away with it. Nobody could blow kisses to her "boyfriend." Nobody could flirt with him and think it was okay.

She swallowed her nervousness and yelled loudly, loud enough for Chloe to hear and maybe the entire student body, "GOOD JOB BABE! YOU GOT THIS!" She swallowed again, hoping he wouldn't take what she said next too personally. "LOVE YOU!"

Amber and Cal giggled loudly and Amber cackled, "Zarden!" Dean and Andrew's jaws dropped, Chloe sneered and her minions gasped loudly. All the jocks who were in the bleachers whooped, some yelling, "CARDEN DID YOU HEAR THAT?!" Cam pumped his fist, echoing Amber's yell. And Carden, he stared up at her with his jaw ajar and his eyes sparkled underneath the visor on his helmet.

Zoë smiled at him and hoped that her face wasn't as red as she expected it to be. She could feel her cheekbones and they felt like they were on fire.

She glanced at Chloe and made sure she was watching before blowing a kiss down to Carden.

He laughed and "caught it," pressing his hand against his heart. The announcer yelled that Clarkston's offense would be coming back on the field and he rushed quickly onto the field.

She smiled to herself. Tonight was already going great.

*****

Amber dug her nails into Zoë's arm as she dragged her down the bleachers. The clock ticked down to the final two minutes of the second quarter, the announcer announcing the two minute warning.

People were already forming lines at the concessions stand and as Zoë and Amber stepped into the cash line, someone cleared their throat behind them.

Zoë spun around to see Chloe standing there with her arms crossed, her manicured nails tapping against her skin restlessly. Up close, Zoë could see the light blue and white dots she'd painted underneath her eyes and the word Carden with a heart around it on her cheek. "Zoë."

"Chloe," she responded in a cold tone. "Whatever can I do for you, Your Majesty?"

She flashed a bright smile, revealing her pearly white teeth. "I think you know what."

"What would that be?" Zoë already knew the answer.

"Oh I want you to do such a simple task for me. Break up with Carden." Chloe's eyes scanned over Zoë like she was a shirt that wasn't designer. "You dating him is practically ruining his social life so if you want him to be happy," she clucked her tongue, "let him go."

Amber rolled her eyes. "Get lost Beauty Queen."

Chloe smiled a sickening smile at Zoë. "Just remember what I said. You are ruining his life. You guys are from two different social groups. A jock and a nerd." She hissed the word. "Don't keep him from finding what he really needs."

"Chloe, everything is fine with us. Now, go away." Zoë glared at her.

Chloe rolled her eyes and started to walk away but "tripped," spilling her Dr. Pepper all over Zoë's denim jacket. She screamed, ripping the jacket off before the sticky liquid got on Carden's jersey. "CHLOE!"

"Oops." She covered her mouth and faked a gasp. "I'm so sorry!"

Anger filled Zoë's eyes and she pointed away. "Get out of my sight, RIGHT NOW!"

Chloe cackled and skipped away, obviously giddy about her handiwork.

Amber bought their food, asking for a plastic bag to put the jacket in, and sighed. "The nerve of that girl. No wonder every person with a brain hates her guts."

Tears brimmed in Zoë's eyes as she stuffed her jacket in the bag, shivering as the wind picked up. Why would Chloe do that? What if it had gotten on Carden's jersey? He would kill her if soda got on his white jersey.

"Hey, don't think about it. The players are coming!" Amber shoved her toward the gate that was an exit from the field. "Go see your boyfriend."

Zoë nodded and rubbed her arms as she walked toward the gate the players were exiting through. Players passed her, some high fiving her and glancing at one of the players at the back who rushed up to her.

Carden took her hands in his gloved ones, smiling at her softly. "Hey."

"Hey," Zoë said, forcing some pep into her voice.

Carden must've noticed her faltering voice, or the fact that she was shivering, and asked, "Where's your jacket?"

She looked at the ground, a blush on her cheeks. "Chloe spilled Dr. Pepper on it and I don't want to get your jersey sticky so I'm not going to wear it and I'm so sorry Carden. I feel terrible and I-"

He wiped away a stray tear. "Hey, it's okay. Look at me." She slowly raised her eyes to meet his. "None of this is your fault. Don't think about Chloe. C'mon, let's go get you a jacket."

Carden twined his fingers with hers and dragged her down the brick stairs towards the school.

Zoë sighed in defeat. "Who's jacket are you getting?"

He flashed a smile at her. "Mine."

Her heart skipped a beat and started to pound in her chest. Carden was getting her one of his jackets. It would be like he was with her. She smiled at the thought, Carden laughing when he caught sight of her face. "Excited?"

She snorted a laugh. "Maybe a little."

Carden smiled at her again and disappeared inside of a metal door. The wind picked up again and Zoë shuddered as it ran right through her body. Goosebumps appeared on her arms and she rubbed at them, hoping Carden wouldn't see how cold she was when he got back.

Zoë's teeth started to chatter and she shifted her weight from one foot to the other as the door was pushed open and Carden walked out with a black hoodie draped over his arm and his helmet gone.

The front part of his brown hair was plastered to his forehead with sweat and the rest of it was poofy. She laughed, clamping her hand over her mouth immediately.

"What?" he asked with confusion lacing his tone.

"Your hair," she choked out with a laugh. She reached out a hand and gently pulled back his hair from his forehead, resisting the urge to giggle as she ran her hands through his hair to fix it.

Carden laughed loudly, a blush coating his face. "I probably look really bad right now. But here, arms up."

Zoë rolled her eyes. "I'm not a little kid."

He playfully raised an eyebrow but she obliged with a groan. Carden slipped the soft fabric over her head and slid her arms into the sleeves, laughing when she got her hair stuck in the hood. "A little help?"

He gently pulled the hood back, Zoë shivering when his fingers gently brushed against the back of her neck.

"Cold?"

She smiled at him. "Nope. Thanks Captain Flirt, it means a lot."

Carden returned her grin and glanced at the door behind him. "I um, I need to ask you something real quick." She watched as nervousness etched across his handsome features. "Zoë will you-"

The door slammed open and a heavier set man, the man that ruined their "moment" at the park, yelled, "CARDEN GET IN HERE! STOP TALKING TO YOUR LITTLE GIRLFRIEND!"

Both of them flushed, Carden's face redder than Zoë's. "Guess that's my cue to go. Can we meet after the game, Miss Dedicated? I really need to talk to you."

"Of course. Good luck Car."

He stepped back toward the locker room. "I don't need luck when I got you."

*****

Amber grinned when Zoë finally made her way back to the bleachers. Dean had disappeared to somewhere and she was perfectly fine with that. He would freak if he saw her in Carden's hoodie.

"Car's?" Cal asked, nodding to the black hoodie.

Zoë flipped the hood up over her head, blushing when the smell of his cologne wafted into her nose. "Yep."

"Cool."

They watched the game without a word about the hoodie. Dean never came back and from below them, Chloe looked ticked. Her plan hadn't work. If anything it made the connection between Zoë and Carden stronger.

The student section screamed as the clock ticked down to triple zeroes and the game was over. Clarkston had won, 45-42. It was Carden's last Homecoming game and the entire student body cheered as he and the other seniors stood on the sideline, glancing at each other.

Carden glanced up at Zoë, smirking when he saw his hoodie. She smiled down at him and mouthed, "Great job."

He smiled widely but the nervousness appeared on his face again as the team started walking back toward the school to change. Students started filing out of the bleachers and loud cheers exploded around Zoë and Amber. Cal and Andrew has left during the middle of the fourth quarter.

"You ready to head home?" Amber asked as they walked down the bleachers.

"I'm actually meeting Car in a couple minutes," Zoë responded, groaning when Amber smirked at her. "Shut up!"

"Just don't kiss him. I need to be there when that happens."

Zoë shoved her as Amber walked away towards the parking lot and Zoë circled back towards the school. Her phone chimed with a text:

Captain Flirt - Meet me under the bleachers

She sent a quick reply, shrugging. Whatever he wanted to ask her must be really important. She walked underneath the bleachers and sat leaning against the lowest bleacher, closing her eyes.

Footsteps scraped against the cement and a thud broke out against the metal as Carden sat next to her on the ground.

"Hey."

"Hey."

"So...what's up?"