Nathan stopped short, slowly putting his hands up. His blue eyes darkened, the serious expression falling into place. “Hang on a second,” he said. He tilted his head and stared at us, as if trying to figure out what Silas was up to.
Silas positioned himself in front of me, separating me and Nathan. His brawny body easily blocked my view, but I tilted around him to see what was going on.
“I heard what you did,” Silas shouted. He clenched his hands into fists. “Back off.”
“Oh ... okay,” Nathan said, tilting his head, catching on. He started stepping backward. “I don’t know what you heard. Don’t want any trouble.”
My heart was nearly exploding at the scene. I reached up, clutching at Silas’s shirt. What was going on? Boys crowded out into the hallway. I spotted Rocky and Jay among them. Rocky looked delighted. Jay looked unhappy. He frowned deeply, rubbing a palm across his shaved head.
At the back of the group was North, crossing his arms and staying behind the others. He met my eyes. He slowly placed a finger across his lips, motioning that I should stay quiet.
I nodded slightly, taking the hint. This was a show of some kind.
“Fuck you,” Silas said in a loud tone. It wasn’t really angry, or I didn’t feel like it was. He was simply in control and aware of the situation and deepening his voice so he could assert authority. I’d heard this before, when he’d fake-fought with North once. “You think you can spread rumors about sleeping with my girlfriend and then that’ll break us up? Nice try. She was with me all night last night. Now what?”
Uh-oh. Danielle must have started that rumor going around. This was how Silas was choosing to handle it, but what did that mean for Nathan? I took a step back, studying the situation and trying to catch the mood of the other boys. Most of them looked like they were hoping for a fight. Jay was stepping up, like he was ready to help but wasn’t happy about this. Rocky was smirking. He caught my eye, winking.
“Hey, I didn’t start those,” Nathan said. He straightened, seeming to be catching on. “That’s what I was coming to talk to you about.”
“You weren’t looking for her?”
“I didn’t know she was down here. I came to find you when I heard what was going on. Seriously, it wasn’t me. I’m not interested in her.”
I felt a sting at his last comment, even though I knew this was an act. It was the words coming from Nathan’s own mouth that affected me.
Rocky stepped up next to Silas, pointing out at Nathan. “Not what I heard.”
“Rocky,” Jay called to him. “Not our fight, man.”
“Shut up. I’m not going to let him talk his way out of this.” Rocky squared his shoulders off at Nathan and started marching toward him. “Think you can talk shit about Sang and get away with it? You check her out in the hallway. Caught you grabbing at her the other day. Now you’re saying you’re not interested?”
Nathan backed up some more with his hands up. “Believe what you want. I’m telling you, I’m not. Why would I bother coming down here if—”
“To stop her from telling us,” Rocky said. “I don’t know.” He turned to me. His face looked serious, except for the glint in his eye betraying his enjoyment. “But she just got here and a second later, you show up.”
Was he trying to pick a fight with Nathan by himself? Rocky had to be crazy! They were the same height, but Nathan was clearly bigger, stronger. Nathan wasn’t backing away because he was afraid. He was backing off because he didn’t want to fight and end up hurting him.
“Rocky,” Silas said coldly. “I’ll handle this.”
“Hey if someone fucks with my buddy’s girlfriend, it’s my business. Looking out for you, man.”
Motion caught the corner of my eye. North was signaling again. He pointed toward the door, making a motion with his head that I should back off. I didn’t want to leave Nathan to fend for himself.
“I don’t think Nathan did it,” I said out loud, unsure if I was helping. Some of the boys turned to me, stunned expressions. Did they not expect me to say anything when this was about me in the first place? “I just ... I mean a lot of rumors go around about me. They’re just rumors. Not true. Silas knew this one wasn’t true. I just wanted to let him know I heard it.” I realized what I was saying was probably perpetuating additional rumors of what Silas and I were doing last night together when we weren’t. But what was the better lie? I had to go with Silas’s plan.
Silas breathed out a little, letting his shoulders relax. “We’ve got to get ready for the game. I don’t have time for this,” he said. He pointed at Nathan. “Just stay away from her.”
“Fine,” Nathan said. He backed up some more and started down the hall. He disappeared around the corner.
“Shouldn’t let him get away with that shit,” Rocky said to Silas. He pointed a broad finger at him. “You should go teach him a lesson.”
“I’m tired of being told what to do,” Silas said, narrowing his eyes at Rocky, his voice going cold. “Last week you want me to break up with her and this week you’re telling me other guys are sleeping with her. I hate drama.”
“I’m looking out for you, buddy. You’re on my team. I’d do it for any of the guys.”
“That’s not it,” Silas said, narrowing his eyes at him. “I know it. They know it.” He jerked his head toward the team that was still watching. “I’m telling you: back off.” Silas glanced once at me, his eyebrows rising and his lips twisting like he had a million things to say but couldn’t right now. “I’ll see you after the game,” he said to me. He stalked off into the locker room.
Rocky glared after him, but North cut off the view by stepping in the way.
“What do you want?” Rocky asked.
“We’ve got a game to play,” North said, his tone deep and serious.
“So?”
“May want to pay attention out there,” North said. “Heard this team was tough. Have it out for shitty quarterbacks.” His eyes flashed once at me, and then he marched off after Silas.
Rocky followed, not bothering to look back.
In a moment, I was alone with Jay in the hallway. My hand was over my heart. They just avoided a fight, but there were threats flying everywhere. What did this mean for Nathan? And Silas? I didn’t understand boys at all.
“He better be right about you,” Jay said coolly. He was partially dressed in his football pants and a T-shirt he’d wear underneath which revealed the bulk of his body. His dark eyes were cold, critical. With the shaved head, he was scary.
The comment rocked me back on my heels. “Pardon?” I asked.
“Silas trusts you,” he said. He turned, heading for the locker room. “I don’t know you, and I don’t care. But half of my team was about ready to risk a fight and getting kicked out of the game for you. You better not be fucking with us.” He disappeared into the locker room.
What else could I have done? I stood there for a moment, unsure what to do and where to turn. I couldn’t run after Nathan just in case anyone was lingering and watching. I waited, wishing North or Silas would come out and tell me what to do.
And what about this person following us?
I turned around, heading the way I’d come. I took my phone out. It took an effort to slow my heart and breathing enough to think clearly. I waited until I was outside and out of earshot before I called Kota.
“What’s wrong?” Kota picked up after barely one ring.
&
nbsp; I told him as quickly as I could what happened. “I don’t know where to go. I don’t know if I should go back for Nathan.”
“Is anyone around?” he asked. “Where are you?”
“Outside, toward the football field.”
“Are there people over in the stands? Are they filling in seats yet?”
I was on the sidewalk that headed toward the gate and the football field. There were people lingering around the gate. Some were setting up ticket booths. Others were talking and watching, but a few had moved on toward the football field. Booths were open nearby, with people inside. “They’re starting to sell tickets.”
“Go see if you can get one, or volunteer to help out if you need a reason to be around. Don’t let anyone talk you into going alone anywhere. Stay with people.”
“Where’s Luke and Gabriel?”
“We’re giving Mr. Morris and the other driver the run around. We’re trying to figure out who this other guy is. I don’t know how soon we can get back.”
“Should I call Victor to come out?”
“He won’t be able to get back for over a half hour. He’s on the other side of Charleston. Go find a place to sit in the stands. If there’s any emergency, I don’t care where North or Silas is, or where Nathan is, go find them. I’m going to get Nathan to stay within sight, but will have him keep his distance. We’ll have to sort this whole mess out later.”
I breathed out slowly, trying to gather myself a bit. The whole scene was nerve-wracking and now I was all alone.
“Sang,” Kota said. “Sweetie, I’ll come for you as soon as I can. We’ll figure this out. Stay on the line with me.”
“I wish we didn’t have to care what they thought,” I said.
“It’s not really like this in other places,” Kota said.
“The Academy’s not like this?”
“Life isn’t like this. Not really. People may notice some things, but they usually don’t care. If it isn’t their own family or friends, they may talk about it for a minute, but they forget and move on, and it doesn’t affect your life. There’s not a lot of petty rumors unless you’re a public face like in politics or a celebrity.”