Carden

Dean was everywhere Carden went. He was at the beach after school nearly everyday and he seemed to be at Starbucks whenever Zoë and Carden were there studying. Not to mention how he caught Dean flirting with Zoë at Wendy's after a sick surfing night.

He was leaning against the edge of his table with his elbows propped up and talking to Zoë who looked like she was about to beat him over the head with the tray in her hands.

When she saw Carden she excused herself and rushed over. She wrapped her arms him, even if he was soaking wet and water was dripping endlessly from his hair. "Thank you for saving me from him."

He had wrapped his arms around her tightly, her hair smelling like watermelon. "Hey, no sweat. It's my job as a knight to save his fair maiden from dragons."

"I'm not your maiden."

"Whatever." He glared at Dean over her shoulder. "But there is a vicious dragon who keeps trying to take the maiden from her knight."

But when Cam leaned over and whispered, "Yo Car," from across the lunch table that was the last straw.

Cam tilted his head every so slightly to the left in the direction of Zoë and Amber's table. "Dude, look."

But Carden was already looking. Amber was staring at Cam with that help-us-please-I'm-begging-you look and Zoë was tense. Her usually happy demeanor had vanished and the adorable annoyance that stood behind it showed. And the cause of all this? Dean Hamilton.

Anger bubbled inside Carden as he watched as Dean laughed loudly at something Zoë had said, throwing his head back and running a hand through his hair to fix it.

"He's a terrible flirt." Then Dean reached over and twirled a strand of Zoë's hair in between his fingers.

"Okay, that's it," Carden hissed as he stood violently.

He stormed over to Zoë's table and sat next to her with a forced, flirty smile. "Hey babe, you wouldn't mind if me and Cam sat with you, right?"

Zoë smiled. "Of course not!"

Cam slid into the seat next to Amber and started a conversation with her. Zoë let out a sigh filled with relief as she gently took his hand in her's, gently running her thumb along the back of his hand. Carden tucked back a piece of her hair, fighting back a smile at Dean's expression.

His brown eyes had hardened, it was the same look Carden had seen in his phone reflection since that morning. His lips had formed a hard frown and when he made eye contact with Carden, he glared.

Dean raised an eyebrow and mouthed, "Back off. She doesn't like you."

Idiot.

Carden smirked and reached for his backpack. If this guy wanted to fight, then a fight he would get. But in the end, Carden would emerge from the battlefield with Zoë holding his hand and leaning her head against his shoulder.

He unzipped his backpack and pulled out a handful of jerseys. "Mkay Zo, I washed all of these, as promised, now you can take your pick." He put all the jerseys on the table and pointed to the dark blue one. "I'd pick that one though. It's my lucky one."

She stared at the table and gingerly reached out to touch the fabric as if they would fall apart if she touched them. A smile appeared on her lips as her eyes read the word "Ash" on the back of them. "So I can pick any?"

"Whatever one you want, you can have. The season ends in two weeks and I know for sure I won't have to wear these again so pick one."

Zoë's hand hovered over the fabric until she gently grabbed the white one with his number and last name written in navy on the back. "This one?"

Carden smiled at her. "Perfect. You'll look beautiful in it."

She laughed and gently tucked it into her backpack. "I guess."

When she turned back to him, he gently cupped her face in his hands. "Zo." He paused as she stared into his eyes with some unknown emotion. "Believe me, you'll be beautiful in it. Would I lie to you?"

"No..."

"Exactly. And why would I lie about this? You're absolutely beautiful Zoë. Beautiful ." He emphasized the last word.

Zoë blushed, eyes on the table. "Thanks...babe."

His heart fluttered. She'd never used that word towards him.

"Zarden!" Amber squealed, Cam smiling as Carden glared hard at him. Zoë snorted and Dean stayed silent. Cal high fived Andrew, who tipped his hat at Carden. At least Carden got the approval of her friends.

As Zoë and Amber started arguing over the ship name, Andrew adding his insight every once in awhile, Carden glanced at Dean. Cam glared at Dean, pointed to Amber and shook his head. Carden narrowed his eyes and said loud enough for only Dean to hear, "Not happening dude. She'll never like you. Ever."

*****

"Cardennnnnnn!" Zoë whined the next day as he walked her to her fifth hour class. "Are you okay? You seem...off."

He swung their hands wildly in between them and laughed. "Of course! It's just a big football game tonight, star quarterback, undefeated football streak, all the added stress that comes with it." He forced a smile when she raised an eyebrow. "I'll be fine after the game. Promise."

"If you say so."

She pulled her hand from his as she stood in front of her classroom. "I'll see you at the game, alright?"

"Perfect. And I better see you in a football jersey tonight, specifically one with the number two on it."

"Don't worry, I will." Zoë smiled softly before ducking inside of her class and Carden sprinted into his English class.

The entire time, his heart pounded excitedly inside his chest. He was going to play his final Homecoming game and they were going to win. He would play his best for Zoë.

The bell rang and he rushed home in a daze. Homecoming Game. Homecoming Game. Homecoming Game.

All day he had been getting pats on the back and good lucks. Posters were hung around the school promoting the game. They ranged anywhere from "This is the Wild" to "Arrowsmith doesn't belong here" to "Watch out for Ash. He's fast."

The entire school was hyped.

But to Carden, it felt like the weight of the world was on his shoulders and only his.

He was the quarterback. He was the one who made the big plays that made the student section go crazy. He was the one who threw spirals for a touchdown. He was the one the team counted on. And if he didn't play his part, they'd lose.

Plus there were his family expectations. He had to uphold Jared's legacy and he had to play the best he could. There could be college lookouts at the game tonight.

"Hey baby," Mother chirped from the couch as Carden walked into the living room. "You ready for tonight?"

"I think so." He shook his hands excitedly. "Besides all the stress of the entire school counting on me, I'm doing good."

She laughed and flipped back her auburn curls. "You'll do great. Besides, you've got one cheerleader that's always there, right? No matter what?"

He glanced at the picture on the wall. "Yeah, right."

"Is Zoë coming?"

Carden's lips forced a grin. "Yep! And she's wearing one of my other jerseys at the game." He bounced anxiously on his feet. "Mom, I can't believe I found someone like her."

Mother walked over to him and gently cupped her son's face in her hands. "Just don't let her slip through your fingers, alright? Sometimes the girl you're with is the one and sometimes they aren't. I trust you to make the right decision but there's one thing you should always remember." She paused to look into his eyes. "Treat her right while you still have her."

He let the words sink in. Mother was right. He needed to keep Zoë close while he could, before Dean tried to make a move on her. Before something swept her away from him. He needed to ask her to be his real girlfriend.

"I understand Mom. I'll be upstairs."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

He rushed upstairs to his room, glancing at Jared's room before walking inside. His phone was full of messages, most from his teammates but none from Zoë. She was probably getting ready for the game.

Cam?

Carden nervously paced around his room and ran his fingers through his hair until the familiar chime of his phone met his ears.

Ya?

I think it's time for me to ask Zo to be my real gf.

He sucked in a nervous breath as the three gray bubbles appeared. His heart pounded hard in his ears as the message finally appeared on his screen.

Rlly?! YES ZARDEN IS REAL!

Leave it to you to freak out about a non canon ship.

ZARDEN IS MY OTP!

I think you've been spending too much time with Amber dude.

ZARDEN!

Carden blew a shaky breath out of his lips. Now tonight just got ten times more stressful.

*****

Music pounded against Carden's skull as he raced out onto the field with his teammates. The cheerleaders screamed and cheered, the student section stomping on the bleachers and loud screams escaping their mouths. The parents clapped calmly, some whooping as the announcer came over the speakers.

"Welcome Clarkston Badger's and welcome to the Homecoming Game this season!" He paused as the students screamed loudly. "This season has been full of ups and downs for Clarkston but now they play the undefeated Arrowsmith Cougars! Clarkston is lead by senior, Carden Ash, who has an had an incredible season with a total of nearly fifteen touchdown passes and three interceptions! LET'S GO BADGER'S!"

The cheerleaders led the students in cheers as Cam came over to Carden. "You ready to play, Captain?"

He nodded. "Ready as I'll ever be."

Carden glanced over at the students, eyes scanning for a blonde in a white jersey, but of course the student council had decided to have tonight's game be a white out. It was nearly impossible to pick out one face.

"Looking for Zo and Ambi?"

He nodded. "I can't find them anywhere though."

From the top corner of the student section where there was nearly four empty rows, four people stood on the bleachers looking awkward caught Carden's eyes. One was wearing black jeans with her blonde hair in a ponytail, a white tank top, and a red flannel. Another had a cowboy hat and the girl on his arm was glaring down at the group of Barbie Dolls below them. The fourth...

"Cam..."

Carden pulled off his helmet as the school started singing the star spangled banner. When he looked back at the other single girl afterwards, his heart leapt into his throat.

Zoë's hair has been put in a fancy bun with two curls outlining her face. Her light blue ripped jeans stood out against the the silver bleachers and his jersey shined in the lights. The number two glimmered as he smiled. She was wearing his jersey.

"Yo Car!" Cam cheered as he pulled on his helmet. "Get ready! It's game time!"

He pulled on his helmet, glancing at Zoë one more time before turning towards the field. Clarkston's special team ran onto the field and loud cheering burst out from the bleachers.

The kick returner caught the ball and sprinted down the field. The game had officially started.

Carden jogged onto the field with the offense and ran to a huddle. He explained the play and as they lined up on the line of scrimmage, someone screamed, "GO CAR! YOU GOT THIS!"

Zoë.

He smiled as the center launched the ball towards him and he glanced around the field. Cam sprinted down the field and ran left, leaving the defender behind him.

He threw the ball and watched as Cam caught it and ran for twenty yards and was tackled. The students screamed and cheered, loud "LET'S GO CARDEN!" coming from his right.

As he jogged forward, he glanced at Zoë again. But this time one more figure stood with them in the bleachers.

Dean.

No.