The day of the big game finally rolled around. And to say that I was nervous was an understatement.

This was our final football game of the season, and it was against our rivals, Riverbend.

The boys had been preparing for this game for months. Same as the cheerleaders.

And I'm stuck learning the routine for half time in four days.

"Daytona! Get your head in the game. We can't have you slacking off. If you miss another step I'm going to have to bench you, and believe it or not, but you're one of our best." I nodded my head at Makayla and focused on the routine.

"Five. Six. Seven. Eight." The co-captain, Rylan, called out. Our team pulled off the routine flawlessly and we were awarded with a break.

As I sat on the grass in my uniform, my stomach sank. My gut was telling me that something bad was going to happen tonight.

"Hey you alright? You look really pale." Rylan sat next to me, a look of concern on her face.

"Yeah, sorry. I'm just a little nervous about the routine. You know. My first game and it's against Riverbend."

She placed a hand on my shoulder, "I understand. When I cheered at my first game, I totally puked everywhere right before." I laughed along with her and stood up when she offered me a hand. "You'll do great I promise."

"Thanks." I offered her a small smile and even though she reassured me, I still felt off about this.

I wish Logan were here to comfort me.

I sighed and realized that he probably would be here, but not for me. I shook the thought from my head and readjusted my ponytail.

"Okay girls. It's time to get in place!" Makayla barked into the megaphone.

Over the past week, we managed to stay out of each other's way as much as possible, and cheering, it wasn't as hellish as it thought it would be.

We got into position along the sidelines and faced the crowd waiting for the football players to come out. A cold breeze brushed past my exposed stomach and I had to clench my jaw to keep from shivering.

"Ladies and gentlemen; let's hear it for your Warrior football team." The announcer yelled out and our football team came running out of the fake tunnel and onto the field. "Who's ready to play some football?!"

~~~~🌸~~~~

It was the last five seconds of the game and we were ahead 35-24. I sat on the bleachers, letting the cool of the metal and the chill of the wind cool me down.

The buzzer went off and the football team ran off the field with a win tying up their season.

"Hey. Good job out there." I spun around and almost ran into Jaxon.

"Oh thanks."

"Have you always been a cheerleader. I don't remember seeing you at games before?" He pulled his helmet off and shook the sweat out of his hair.

"No, I just started on Monday actually. Way to go to you too. You guys won." I smiled at him and he returned it, not letting the fact that sweat was dripping into his eye deter his genuine happiness.

"I know! Man. This was a good season." I nodded my head along with him and wrapped my arms around myself. The sun had set a long time ago and now stars filled the dark sky above us. "Oh my bad. You're probably freezing. I don't want to hold you up any longer. We still meeting up for the project?"

"Uh, yeah. See ya Jaxon." I waved goodbye and headed to my car, fishing my keys out of my bag. "Where are they?" I mumbled under my breath.

I set my bag down on the asphalt and bent down to thoroughly search through my bag.

"Hey. Need some help?" The voice was deep and raspy, and oddly familiar.

I turned my head and my blood ran cold. I was frozen, my hands emerged from my bag, keys intact.

"Wha-what are you doing here?" I could recognize that hair anywhere. The blueness had haunted me for at least a week, and even though he fought him, his sadistic smile still sent fear racing deep into my core.

I tightened my shaking hands around the strap of my bag and threw it over my shoulder. "I-i'm good." I turned on my heel and hightailed it through the parking lot, my duffel bag banging against my hip with each step I took. Running was useless. My bag weighed me down and I was never a great runner to begin with, so with each passing second I could hear his footsteps getting closer and closer.

I ducked and turned down a row of cars, pressing my back against the door of a blue Honda. The blackness of night was providing me with extra coverage and I sucked in a breath making sure to stay very quiet.

His footsteps slowed and eventually stopped.

He was listening for me.

I pushed myself into the car as far as I could. Rocks poked into me but I didn't care. Slowly, I moved my shaking hand across the ground trying to be as quiet as I could-

And then my key snagged on a rock, revealing my hiding spot immediately.

I turned to get up and run but Jared blocked my exit. I scooted backwards across the asphalt as quick as I could, but my bag prevented me from going anywhere when it got caught on the tire.

Jared stood above me, his blue hair falling in his face, "First I didn't get to have my fun with you, then your boyfriend beat me up, and then you took my place as number one fighter at Highrise." His eyes shone with malice and he crouched down to my level, "I have a lot of pent up anger due to you. Now we're going to go somewhere where no one can hear your scream this time."

He gripped my arm tight enough to leave a bruise and yanked me to my feet.

I struggled and fought as much as I could, but it was no use. I was 5'7 and he had to be at least 6'0. I was no match for him. What I needed was a saving grace.

"Your struggling is pointless. Remember what I told you? I'm practically captain of any sport your pretty little mind can think of." He yanked my arm and I stumbled forward.

The stadium lights switched off and we were plunged into a deeper darkness.

I thought about fighting him in the dark, but as if reading my mind his hold on me tightened, "Don't even think about running away."

I whimpered when he didn't let up on his grip. That's for sure going to leave a bruise, I thought.

We kept wading through the dark and I wondered how he knew where he was going. Which led me to my next question: Where were we heading?

I tried to imagine the direction we went from the stadium and I could only conjure up two spots. One; the band hall. Or two: the old gym.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and prayed that it would be the former because occasionally a band kid stayed late after games practicing. But in the case that it was the old gym, then I was massively screwed.

The pungent, but familiar, odor of the old gym drifted into my nose. A tear slipped out as I realized that if I didn't fight back now then...

No.

I refuse to think like that.

I'm strong and capable. I can do this.

I dug my heels into the grass and tried yanking my arm out of Jared's grasp. It accomplished nothing. He stumbled back a bit, but his hand of steel kept firm.

"You're only going to make this worse for yourself." He granted.

"I don't care!" I fought with all my strength to break free, but nothing worked. In the end, he dragged me into the gym and I was out of breath.

"See what I mean." A yellow light flickered in and out above our heads and it cast an ominous shadow over everything making it ten times as scary. Jared leaned over me, studying my face. "Now you're tired. I would've let you fight back now, but you've tired yourself out."

I searched for the bleacher seat and pushed myself up. "Screw you."

His face contorted into a sinister smile, "Gladly."

He approached me and everything seemed to move in slow motion, my erratic heart beat even seemed to slow down for a second.

The double doors bursted open, slamming against the wall, sending an echo through the empty gym.

At first I couldn't see anyone, but then I realized why.

The shadow that covered the areas near the door had blended in with his hair. His tan complexion seemed to be masked by the light as well, making him blend in with his surroundings.

But I had studied this person. I knew, even without seeing him, that his jaw was clenched and with each step his hands swung by his sides, clenched together tightly, forming a fist powerful enough to send someone six feet below.

Logan had come to save me, and he looked pissed.

"What the hell is your problem? Huh? Did I not make it clear to you when I handed your ass to you the last time you pulled a stunt like this?" Moving like lightning, Logan held Jared up in the air by the scruff of his shirt.

Logan tossed him aside like he weighed nothing. I let out a breath that I didn't know I was holding.

Jared scrambled off the floor and took off running. I stared as Logan watched him runaway with his tail between his legs. Once the doors closed completely he turned to me, his hard features automatically softening. "Are you okay? He didn't hurt you right?"

I shook my head, still in shook. Everything seemed surreal. Who knows what would've happened to me if Logan hadn't stepped in.

I found myself crying and running to Logan. I wrapped my arms around his waist and cried into his chest. It took a moment, but he wrapped his arms around me and started to gently pat my hair in soothing motions.

He kept his arms wrapped tightly around me and guided me to the door. "Is your car still here?"

I nodded my head and opened my sweaty palms to reveal the keys I had been clutching in my hand the whole time.

He took the keys out of my hand and if he was disgusted by how slick they were, he didn't show it.

We walked through the dark together until we got to my car. Logan let go of me to hold passenger door open and I found myself missing his warmth. I gave him a confused look, still not daring myself to speak just yet.

His mouth turned up into a soft smile, "I'm driving you home. My ride ditched me and we have a project to work on tonight. Don't we."

I nodded my head and got into the car. He shut the door behind me and walked around the the driver side. "Want to play some music?" He asked while handing me his phone.

I took it out of his hand and went to Spotify. I hit play on his daily mix 3 and had to hold back a laugh at the irony when the song 'Not Over You' played.

Apparently he had the same thought because I saw him crack a smile. "Dreams. That's where I have to go, to see your beautiful face anymore. I stare at a picture of you and listen to the radio." He sang along.

"Hope. There's a conversation we both admit we had it good, but until then it's alienation and I know that much is understood. And I realize, if you ask me, how I'm doing, I'll say I'm doing just fine. I'll lie and say that you're not on my mind. But I go out, and I sit down, at a table set for two. And finally I'm forced to face the truth no matter what I say, I'm not over you." At the last second our eyes met and my breath stopped.

His face looked so sincere and heartbroken that I longed to reach out and tell him that I thought about him everyday. But then I remembered he chose Makayla. If he wasn't over me that was his own fault. I turned my head and looked out the window.

The drive to my house seemed to fly by. We pulled up into my driveway and Jaxon was already parked out front on the curb. I climbed out of the car and unlocked my door, Jaxon and Logan followed me in.

"Well. You've both been here before, but Jaxon, welcome to my house. This is what it looks like on a daily basis." My voice sounded detached, it didn't sound like mine. I led them into the kitchen and for the first time I realized that Jaxon had two boxes of pizza in his hand. I took them from him and set them on the marble island.

"You didn't have to bring pizza. I could've made something." I opened the boxes to find that he had picked up a cheese pizza and a Hawaiian. The Hawaiian was basically just pineapple, bacon, ham, and some sort of glaze that always slipped my mind.

"No way. You're hosting us and plus I personally was starving." He picked up a slice of the Hawaiian and took a bite.

I laughed at his eagerness and picked up a slice of the cheese.

"Should we get started?" Logan asked and we got to work right away.

~~~~🌸~~~~

"Bye." I waved goodbye to Jaxon as he drove away and closed the door. Letting out a breath as I leaned back against it.

We had gotten most of our project done already. Only a few minor details needed to be fixed.

"Well. That was exhausting." Logan plopped down on the couch and threw his legs over the edge.

"Tell me about it." I sat on the other end of the couch. It was an awkward silence and the tension between us was thick.

"Daytona." Logan sighed out and raised his feet so he was sitting properly, facing me. "Look. I have to tell you what is going on because-"

He was cut off by a knock at the door. I got up to check it out with Logan on my tail.

When I got to the door and checked through the peephole, all I could see was someone in a black hood. I shrugged my shoulders and turned to walk away when they knocked again and I jumped out of my skin.

Logan pushed his way past me and threw open the door, "What do you want."

The man in the hoodie spoke in a low voice, "Is this the residency of Daytona Pierce Lyn?"

"Who's asking?" Logan retorted, clearly agitated.

"Is she home? I have something to give her."

I stayed out of sight. For all I know, this could be Jared trying to pull a sick prank.

"I can take whatever it is." I heard something slip out of the hands of the other guy and then the door closed.

"Who was that?" I asked, sitting back down on the couch.

"I don't know. But they left this for you." He handed me an envelope and I opened it, pulling out the letter from within and read it.

Daytona. I've got my eye on you.

I'm watching you everywhere. All the time.

You can't escape my clutch.

I'll get you when you least expect it.

No matter where you go. No matter what you do.

I'll make you pay.

By the way: nice little uniform you've got on.

~C.D.

A chill swept over me. It wasn't Jared, but it was much, much, worse.

"Daytona?" Logan stood above me and I shot my head up in his direction. "What is it?"

"Oh it's nothing. Just something I left at school." I chuckled nervously and folded the paper, shoving it into my back pocket.

"Then why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"

Logan was intuitive and I only had a few seconds to come up with a lie before he called my bluff. "Because if I had lost it I would be in deep trouble."

He eyed me skeptically, but let it slide. He settled next to me on the couch and let out a deep sigh. "Okay. Well," he sighed again, "Before I tell you what happened, you have to promise to not act differently around Makayla. Okay? The only reason I'm telling you now, is because I can't stay away from you." I could hear the sincerity in his voice and I was taken back.

"I promise." I whispered, even though I was wondering how well I was going to keep that promise after what he said.

"So you remember the standoff at homecoming, and when she pulled me aside right?" I nodded my head, "Well when she pulled me aside, she said she would leave you alone if I dated her."

"I could've taken care of her myself Logan."

"I know. That's why I said no. But then she made me an offer I couldn't refuse." He paused for a second and studied my face. "She said she would tell the whole school that your brother raped her the night he died."

I sucked in a breath and my heart dropped to my stomach, "My brother never did that! He was out with friends the night he died! I can call them and have them tell you." Tears were slipping out of my eyes and I didn't try to stop them.

How dare Makayla say that about my brother. Even if it was obviously a lie, still.

Logan leaned over and wiped my tears away. "I know. I know he would never do that. But I knew how much it would hurt you if she said that, so I agreed to date her as long as she never brought up your brother to anyone ever again."

I nodded my head and let him comfort me. It had only been less then a week, but I missed Logan always being there for me. It was hard to be strong, when the one thing you wanted to be strong for wasn't there.

"How long are you supposed to do this for?" I sniffed and rubbed my eyes.

"Until she gets bored of me I guess." He shrugged his shoulders. I pushed back the thought that based on what he said, he could potentially have to play her girlfriend for the rest of the year.

"Daytona listen." He held me by my shoulders, "I never wanted to hurt you. Okay? It killed me to see you hurt because of something I did. Jordan had texted me that night saying that you were with Micah, but he got you away. I came over later on that night, drunk out of my mind. I wanted to forget the look on your face when you left the dance." I could hear his voice shaking and I laid a hand on his arm.

"When he came outside I asked if I could see you. He said no that you were sleeping and he didn't want to cause you anymore pain seeing me in the state I was in. So I swung at him. I was angry that he wouldn't let me see you, but I was also angry at myself. Then you came down and I couldn't take it anymore I broke." He lifted my arm and ran his fingers around where the cut was near my elbow from when I fell.

His eyes started to water and he whispered, "I'm sorry Daytona. Please forgive me."

I couldn't say anything. I was stunned. I thought that he had just played with me, but he had done it to protect me and my brother.

I was still mad, because he could've explained things to me sooner. But at the same time, I kind of understood why he did what he did. I didn't like it, but I understood.

"I forgive you Logan." He lifted his head and gave me a small smile, then he wrapped his arms around me in a bone crushing hug.

"I missed you." He mumbled into my hair.

I smiled and just hugged him back, letting my actions speak for me.

He let go and stood up, picking his jacket up off the arm chair, "Right. Well, my brother's waiting outside so I'll be leaving." He walked out and everything felt right in the world.

Well, almost everything.

That note was burning a hole in my back pocket. I took the stairs two at a time and walked into my room, re-reading the note.

Obviously the note was from Colton. That much was clear. But what I was still confused about was why he was going to make me pay. I still couldn't figure that out. I had never even seen the guy until that night at the Undergrounder. Which led me to the next confusing point.

Why did he, the leader of San Francisco's most powerful gang, let a girl like me, beat him?

It was all to much for me to try and handle. The whole night had my mind spinning and when I crashed on my bed, still in my uniform, I fell asleep the instant my head hit the pillow.

That night I dreamed that Colton was chasing me through the school parking lot. He kept yelling, 'I'm going to make you pay.' but I still didn't know what for.

I woke up in a cold sweat.

Sunshine poured in through the windows and I fell backwards when I realized it was all fake.