Stealing for Keeps (Frost Lake High Book 1)
Stealing for Keeps: Chapter 33

The bus ride is quiet. I’m tired, and my head is not on soccer, but I’m on my feet ready to go as soon as we pull up to the curb outside the school. Vaughn and I rush the door at the same time. The hard set of his jaw is as good an indication as any that the few words we exchanged last night didn’t fix the situation.

I let him go first and fall into step behind him. We change and prepare to take the field for warm-ups. Coach hasn’t spoken to anyone. He doesn’t even come into the locker room for our pregame pep talk. I’m glad. I don’t know if I can handle the disappointed look in his eye that he gave me this morning.

I shouldn’t have missed practice, but I’d do it all over again to be there for Claire when she needed me. Besides, it was just a walk-through to go over a few last-minute reminders for today’s game. Rowan gave me the rundown, and it doesn’t sound like I missed much.

I don’t know if the rest of the team who weren’t at my house last night know what’s going on with me and Vaughn, but everyone gives me space as I try to push out everything else and focus.

When the whistle blows indicating the end of warm-ups, we jog over to the sideline for final words from Coach. I’m ready to play. The field is the one place I’ve always been able to block it all out, and I want that today more than ever.

I’m not sorry about Claire, not about falling for her and not about taking care of her last night, but now it’s time to get to work. This opportunity is everything, and if that means putting my differences with Vaughn aside, that’s what I’m going to do. When I glance over and catch his eye, I think he feels the same. I know what soccer means to him too. We may not have a lot of common ground right now, but we both want to win today.

“All right, Knights,” Coach says, ducking his head down so we can hear him over the crowd for the game. We’re playing Ralley today. They have a good turnout of fans to cheer them on, and lots of Frost Lake families made the trip as well. “Ralley is looking sharp. They’ll come out strong and try to control the pace. Keep your heads. Make them play at our tempo.” He looks around the circle, and we all nod along, letting his words soak in and fill us with hope and determination. “Eli and Eddie, you’re taking Vaughn and Austin’s spots today.”

Wait, what? My head snaps up, and an icy dread trickles down my spine.

“You can’t do this,” Vaughn says. “You need us.”

“I need team players, not children who can’t control their tempers or remember their priorities.” His dad has the same stubborn set of his jaw. “You fought, you missed curfew and practice. You knew the rules.” He flicks his head to the side. “Take a seat, boys.”

I avoid the stares of my family as I take a seat on the empty bench. Vaughn sits all the way on the other side, and anger radiates between us. We don’t speak as we watch the game.

Ralley is good. Maybe even better than I expected. Their eyes light up when they realize we’re down two players. Not any two players either. Vaughn is an opponent no player wants to go up against, and I’ve been making a big impact that hasn’t gone unnoticed. Their glee seems to give them a burst of confidence and energy.

I feel hopeless as I watch Rowan try to keep the team working together. He fills Vaughn’s shoes, leading them on the field. They do their best, and they’re able to stop them for a while, but after the first breach in defense that leads to a goal, our team starts to look tired.

Vaughn goes up to his dad halfway through the first half, and they exchange a few words. A flicker of hope blooms in my chest, but when he turns back around looking angrier than before, I know his dad hasn’t changed his mind. Vaughn tosses a water bottle along the sidelines, muscles clenching as he balls his hands into fists.

I feel sick to my stomach. The first game my dad comes to watch me play all season and I’m stuck on the bench.

By halftime, I’m convinced I caught whatever flu Claire had. My stomach hurts, and my head aches. I’m so fucking disappointed and frustrated. I should be out there. I need to be out there.

The team heads out of the locker room, and I hang back. I let my head fall back against the locker, close my eyes, and let out a long breath.

The squeak of shoes on the floor alerts me that I’m not alone. I open my eyes. Vaughn is still here too. His head is between his knees, and his shoulders are tense. As if he can sense me staring at him, he looks up.

“This is all your fault.” He sits straight and then stands.

“How is this my fault? You didn’t have to stay at Claire’s all night. You made that choice. Same as me.”

“Not that.” His face scrunches up. “You heard him out there. He’s pissed that I hit you and that you put our shit before the team.”

“I put our shit before the team?” I want to laugh at the absurdity. “Every decision I’ve made has been about the team.”

“You knew how I felt about her. Then you lied to my face and pretended to be my friend. And for what? So that I’d help you with soccer? Who does that?”

“I wasn’t pretending. This team is just as important to me as it is to you. My family moved across the country for me. Now they’re watching me sit on the sidelines.” I run a hand through my hair. “I should have told you about me and Claire. I’m sorry about that but not the rest. I like her. I like her a lot, and I’m going to keep seeing her whether you try to take another swing at me or not. If you can’t handle that, then too damn bad.”