Chapter 9

• Coach Maxwell stood just inside the locker room and looked around. It was two hours before their first match against Smith’s Private School. “Kelley, in my office.”
• The guys jeered and laughed as Kelley grabbed his shirt and pulled it over his head before exiting the locker room and heading to the Coach’s office. He knocked on the door and opened it, closing it behind him and sitting down in the single visitor chair in front of the desk.
• “Yes, Coach?”
• “Why are you at Public, Kelley?”
• “Coach…it’s a long story and personal. I’d rather not discuss it.”
• “I’m not just your Coach, Kelley, I’m also a person that has your best interests at heart. I care about every single player on my team.”
• Kelley had been running drills and practices with the team for two months now and it seemed for the time being that Arlo O’Neill had pulled his head out of his ass. Kelley still didn’t really have friends but on some occasions he sat with Lee during lunch, when Mason wasn’t there.
• “Coach, if I tell you then you’ll have to call Social Services and trust me when I say neither of us wants that.”
• “Shit, Kelley. What the hell is going on?”
• “Coach…”
• “I promise I won’t call anyone but I need to know that you’re okay.”
• “I’m good, Coach, I promise. My dad kicked me out and I’ve been on my own since just before school started.”
• “Are you eating enough? Do you need money?”
• “I’m okay, Coach. Just don’t call anyone, please. I’m keeping my head down, doing the work, I’ve got good grades but I can’t talk about what happened.”
• Coach Maxwell looked at the handsome boy in front of him, the scar telling a different story, the scar showing that Kelley Alexander hadn’t always had a privileged life. “Promise to come to me if you need help, I don’t care what time it is or what troubles you have, okay?”
• “Okay, Coach … and thank you.”
• Kelley left the office and Coach Maxwell leaned back in his chair. Kelley was one tough kid, he’d seen tough kids before but somehow with Kelley it gave him respect for the kid. He’d had a good life, rich and then he’d gotten kicked to the curb, took it in his stride, walked into the enemy camp and made the best of it.
• Kelley headed back to the locker rooms and sighed as he reached his locker finding everything strewn on the floor. “Great team spirit, guys.”
• A few of them laughed and one or two of them glanced over at Arlo. Seems like Arlo still had a grudge. Kelley picked everything up and folded his clothes neatly and placed them back inside his locker. The screen of his phone was cracked and Kelley gritted his teeth.
• “What’s wrong, rich boy? I’m sure Daddy will buy you a new one.” Arlo’s shoulder brushed Kelley’s but he stood his ground because he was tired of everything.
• “What’s your problem, Arlo?”
• Mason looked up from where he sat on the bench in front of his own locker, busy pulling on his padding. He too was at his wit’s end with Arlo although he did understand his conflicting emotions. Kelley had been the enemy.
• “My problem is you, Elite boy! You slumming here for a year? Make yourself feel better?”
• “You don’t know anything about me!” Kelley’s anger was evident in his eyes.
• “I know you’re living the high life, coming to Public to do what exactly? Do you go home every night to your Elite family and laugh about us behind our backs? I’m sure your rich ass Daddy loves that.”
• “You see this scar around my eye? My ‘daddy’ did that before he kicked me out of the house. Like I said, Arlo, you don’t know anything about me. Do you want to know how I beat the living crap out of my best friend because I found out he was screwing my girlfriend behind my back for a year? Does it make you feel better that I left my house with a bag of clothes and the car my mom bought? I’m not some little rich boy and if you come at me again I’ll beat the shit out of you too!”
• Kelley slammed his locker closed and walked out of the locker room. Coach Maxwell stood to one side and Mason watched him. Coach hadn’t been all that shocked to hear Kelley’s words. He had been though. Everything he thought he knew about Kelley changed in that instant.
• “Shit…I didn’t know.” Arlo looked the most shocked of everyone.
• “Stop being an asshole to him, Arlo. He’s one of us and tonight he’s going up against his old school and we’re going to have his back, do you hear me?” Arlo nodded his head as Mason glared at him.
• Kelley stood in the quiet, dark gym and took deep breaths. He hadn’t meant to say anything, not about his scar or his father or the fact that he didn’t have a home anymore. He didn’t want or need anyone’s pity.
• The door on the far side slammed open and Arlo O’Neill stepped inside. Light from the hallway spilled inside and Kelley turned towards him. Arlo took determined steps towards him and Kelley balled his fists, ready.
• “Listen, Kelley, I’m sorry about what I said back there. I didn’t think you could ever have any real problems. Private’s always been the enemy but Mason’s right, you’re Public now and you’re one of us.”
• Kelley’s hand relaxed and he frowned slightly at Arlo. “What?”
• “My mom used to hit me like that, up until my dad divorced her and took custody of me. She preferred these thick wooden sticks, she’d break them over my back, hit me with her fists, and it turns out she was always high when it happened.”
• “I’m sorry, Arlo.”
• “No, Kelley, I’m sorry. From now on, I’ll have your back, no matter what. You’re Public now and that makes you my brother. Clean slate?”
• “If we’re starting over then you should know that Kirk favors the left side, he’s got an old injury to his right shoulder.”
• Arlo grinned. “I’ll switch with Jason then, go in from the right because you’re a leftie so that’ll make it easier for you to swing around on the fake pass.”
• Kelley smiled then and Arlo stuck his hand out. Kelley clasped it in his own and the two boys shook hands. “Cross defense, they won’t know what hit them because we’ve never played like this before.”
• “Let’s go kick some Elite ass, Public boy.”
• Kelley laughed 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.
• Smith’s Private School 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.
• “Welcome to the first match in this year’s series here at Public High! This year sees the team starting with 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, one of their 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.
• Inside the locker rooms they celebrated with slaps on the back and lots of laughter as they showered and got dressed. “Kelley! There’s some girl asking for you by the parking lot.”
• “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? 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 hit him from behind as Marcus and Kirk hit him repeatedly on his kidneys. 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 somewhat worried as Mason and Arlo ran towards them.
• “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 as Mason drove, followed by Lee in his truck. He had told the rest of them to go home, that he’d call and that they’d get their revenge for Kelley.