The first soccer match of the season kicked off with Marshall Grammar Titans hosting Taranto High School Eagles.

Kayley and I sat down on the third row, close to the bench where our players would interchange from. On the screen, there was a countdown.

It was Friday and word had gotten out all about the fight. Walking out of the bathroom halfway through third period, I heard a junior talk to her friend about how Reid and Chase were fighting over who would become the next Mafia leader. And since Reid and his friends weren't around to quell the rumour mill, Kayley had heard that they were all shipped to military school but had run away and were now shovelling cow manure in Puerto Rico.

"So I dropped by the garage this morning and did you know Bree Richardson owns a Maserati and the most gorgeous red Alfa Romeo?" Kayley sniffled to herself, shaking her head with awe. "My shitty Bugatti looks like something out of a scrapyard compared to it."

I rubbed my hands together to warm them up. "You're a terrible driver and your Bugatti is all beat up. Plus, it's hardly a shitty car."

Kayley shook her head, flipping her ponytail over her shoulder. "Trust me, it's shitty. I have to go back and forth to the garage every other day. But it's good because I can get a workout in - three and a half miles. Not bad, huh?"

I blinked. "Three and half miles?"

She just grinned, sitting up straighter as players started emerging from the other side of the stadium. "Oh – look! Taranto's number fifteen is hot."

I stared at her incredulously for a moment longer before deciding that it wasn't worth arguing. Kayley had always been in great shape meanwhile I hadn't worked out properly for years after quitting swimming. In fact, Kayley's mother had been hell-bent on her pursuing modelling but she insisted that she would never give up her diet of pizza and ice-cream.

As Taranto started their pregame warm-ups, they were met with jeering from the home crowd. Seconds later, the sudden uproar and flashing cameras announced our own team was being led out onto the field by Reid himself. I watched as he turned, flaunting his famous number 7 to the packed stadium. The yellow captain's band on his bicep stood out even more against the red and black uniform.

Kayley freaked out as she always did, giving into the energy of the crowd. Eventually the team gathered by the interchange bench, right in front of us and we were close enough to hear Reid, giving his routine pep talk.

"This is our legacy." I could see his dark hair, head bent, somewhere in the midst of the group that crowded around him. "This is our house. Three championships in a row, boys. This year, we'll make it four and it starts right here."

They all hollered their agreement and Reid briefly went through their game plan. The siren sounded and our team split up, dividing into their positions around the field as Reid shook hands with the Taranto captain in the middle. The referee blew his whistle to signal the start of the game.

Tyler immediately took possession from the kick-off and the crowd started chanting. I watched as he dodged a Taranto midfielder and started downfield, passing to Dennis. Dennis covered some ground before moving it on. After several transitions, Taranto came close enough to take a shot for goal. But Jarred's flawless intercept saw Dennis back in possession, dribbling past Tyler and passing to Reid. The stadium watched with bated breath as Reid steadied and kicked truly into the top right of the net.

Five minutes in and Reid already scored.

He was truly in his element out here, with the crowd screaming his name and his teammates who fawned over him, just like everyone else. I wondered if they knew that there was a drastic difference between scoring a goal and finding the key to immortality. They all treated him like a god amongst men but deep down, I was also a little jealous of how the entire student body absolutely adored him. There were rumours about Reid potentially being drafted to go pro in January and as arrogant as he was, there was no doubting his talent.

"He's so good!" One of the girls in the front row gushed. "I could marry him."

Coach yelled something as Reid plopped down on the bench in front of us, grabbing a bottle of orange juice from the cooler. From the goalie net, Jarred did a series of hand signals, to which Reid acknowledged with a thumbs-up. I watched as he raked a hand through his damp hair, brow glistening with sweat as he directed a few boys hitting the interchange.

"Isn't orange juice full of sugar?" I asked Kayley who was engrossed in the game.

"Huh?"

"Never mind," I muttered as Reid adjusted the tape on his hand. "It was probably freshly-squeezed by the Queen half an hour ago."

-

Marshall Grammar secured a 3-1 win over the Taranto Eagles.

After the game, most of the seniors, including Kayley and I, hung around to chat with the cheerleaders and players. We congratulated the team and after witnessing the intense make-out session between Tyler and Bree, decided to call it a night. Since Kayley insisted on taking an Uber home, I dug around in my spray jacket for my car keys.

"Hey."

I let out a shriek of surprise, dropping the keys in shock. When I straightened up again, I saw Reid leaning against his Porsche that was parked further down my row. He didn't look impressed at my lack of coordination, walking over with his hands shoved into his pockets.

I noticed that his hair, usually dark brown, looked almost black from a shower and curled more than when it was dry. He'd also changed into a plain grey sweater with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows. This drew my attention, once again, to the leather bracelet on his left wrist which had a tiny silver charm that I'd never noticed before. It caught under the parking lot lights.

"Shouldn't you be at the after-party?" I asked.

"They won't miss me."

I looked at him dubiously. "If you say so."

Reid responded with a cutting scowl, pushing a hand through his hair. There were shadows under his eyes and he had a cut on his bottom lip from yesterday. His hands, which were resting on the roof of my car, were bruised and swollen, badly wrapped with tape.

"Look, I don't know what your deal is with Tyler." Reid let his arms drop to his sides when he noticed that I was staring at his bruised knuckles. "But you need to back off and take a breather, alright? I don't need more people nosing into my business."

I thought back to the events of yesterday. "Tyler? I only gave him a lift."

"I don't care about the details."

"Okay?" I was starting to think nobody taught Reid Castellan any manners. "I know you were all caught up in that drama or whatever but I literally walked out of that gym the minute you guys started throwing punches. You're wasting your time here."

He gave me a hard look, leaning his forearms against my car. "Glad we're on the same page."

"Me too," I said.

We stared at each other for a moment, the silence making me shift uncomfortably on my feet. It was ridiculous, the way that he still looked like he'd just stepped out of a magazine cover under the unflattering glare of the parking lot lights.

"One more thing," said Reid casually, pleasantry sounding thin. "Keep it to yourself. I'm not telling you what to do but the surveillance footage is gone. If anything, it's your word against mine. Make of that what you will."

Suddenly, it clicked.

As much as he was trying to sound reasonable, Reid was already facing twenty weeks of community service after the last stunt he pulled. It sounded like both his father and the school was doing everything they could to keep him in line, even throwing out obscure punishments. So naturally, suspension and the withdrawal of his captaincy would be the next step. And if that happened, he can kiss his soccer dream goodbye. Reid had an MLS draft prospect image to maintain. He was under heavy scrutiny and he was here now to tie up loose ends.

I tried to remain unfazed. "Like you said; your word against mine."

This, apparently, was the wrong answer.

Reid walked around my car so that he stood in front of me, close enough that I took a wary step back. Seeing this, he paused and this time, he didn't even try to sound reasonable. "Is this a joke to you? How did it feel to be collateral damage before?"

A ripple of laughter sounded from behind me and I jumped but it was only a group of people headed for their cars. When my attention fell back onto Reid, he lifted an eyebrow.

"Why don't we talk about Yale?" He smiled with a flash of malice, no doubt remembering what was on the line for him. "Ambitious, aren't you?"

Yale.

I wanted to laugh but it felt like sand in my throat. "Are you threatening me?"

Reid leaned in close enough so I could see the faded blue against the green in his irises. "Let's just say that I'll sleep better at night, knowing you won't get to go to your dream school."

My pride pleaded otherwise, but there was no fucking way I was going to let Reid ruin what I had worked so hard for. With his connections, he could do it - and he would. It was a hit below the waist, even if it was his paranoia speaking.

"Fine," I sneered. "I wasn't planning to snitch anyway but if you're gonna stoop that low, Reid, you have my word."

He didn't react, green eyes unwavering from mine. "Good."

"Great."

Once again, silence fell and this time, I broke it first.

"That was too far," I said flatly, unlocking my car. "I'm not going to take it personal but you know that, right? And out of curiosity, what makes you think my word means anything anyway?"

I thought the question would irritate him but his expression softened a little. "You won't believe it, Lex, but my getting the better of Chase Anderson will always outweigh my morals. And there are days where I try to be the optimist."

I scoffed. "If you were an optimist, Reid, then you wouldn't even be here. And if you want to win this stupid feud, you need to be the bigger person."

Life lessons, in my school parking lot on a Friday night. Senior year was full of surprises.

"Wrong," said Reid with a humourless laugh. "If I want to win this feud, then I will make the necessary sacrifices. Winners make sacrifices, Lex. That's what makes me a winner."