Rejected By The Alpha Quarterback

CHAPTER 7

HAZEL

There are a million and one reasons why I shouldn’t go to the game. For one, Nick will be there. So will the rest of the rugby team members, as well as the cheerleaders.

Word must have spread by now, about my break up with Nick. It’s still so surreal that it had happened. Just yesterday, I was getting ready to go to a frat party to surprise him; now, I’m sneaking into a rugby game, trying to avoid notice as I slither up the bleachers.

Kelly is trailing along behind me. We find our seats and settle in to watch the game.

At least, Kelly is excited to be here. That makes one of us.

“This is so exciting,” she grins, pointing at the field. “So, who’s our team playing against?”

“A coven of witches,” I mumble beneath my breath. Earlier, I had seen a poster of the game hanging on the dorm hallway. “They are from the North Carolina university.”

“Witches going against werewolves. This should be interesting.” She’s watching the field with rapt attention but I couldn’t care less about the game.

My eyes drift towards the cheerleaders, specifically Nancy.

I spot her in seconds. It’s hard to miss her shiny blonde curls, wrapped in a high ponytail. She’s waving her blue Pom Poms, leading a cheer routine. Her smile is practiced and perfect, just like the rest of her. It lights up her entire face and makes her look prettier.

The longer I stare at her, the sicker I feel. Like I’m coming down with a bad case of the flu.

I wonder what Nick is telling people that happened between us. Is he claiming he broke up with me? Is he going to start dating Nancy now that we’re no longer together? Do people even know that he cheated? That he lied to me and used me for two whole years?

I don’t think anyone knows. If they did, they wouldn’t be chanting his name as louder as they are right now.

The crowd is pumped up as the team gets into formation to play.

“The game is starting,” Kelly’s eyes shine bright. She’s way too invested in this and I’m already regretting bringing her along with me.

I know it’s not her fault that I’m miserable and heartbroken, yet I can’t help feeling sensitive in the face of her excitement.

The game kicks off and the crowd goes wild. After a few minutes of watching, I excuse myself from the bleachers.

“Sorry,” I say to Kelly. “Wanna go grab a few things from the concession stand. Will be right back.”

“Okay,” Kelly yells in my face. “Any chance you could get me a soda?”

“Sure.” I maneuver around the bleachers, making my way down. Asher’s sweatshirt is tied around my waist. Once the game is over, I’ll hand it over to him and then, I’ll finally be done with the entire rugby crowd. No more Friday night games. No more frat parties. Certainly no more athlete boyfriends.

“Hazel!” Nancy suddenly materializes in front of me, saccharine sweet smile plastered on her pretty face. It is so unexpected to see her, so much that I lose focus of the reason why I had ventured away from the bleachers in the first place.

All I can think of is the fact that she’s here and there’s so much I want to say to her. At the same time, I can’t bring myself to say anything. I just continue to stare dumbly.

“How are you doing?” she asks, acting as if we’re friends. “Are you okay? I heard about the break up.”

Of course, she has.

“I heard it directly from Nick. He said he dumped you because you were cheating on him.”

“What?” My brows draw together with a little mix of confusion; little mix of anger. “Is that what he’s going around telling everybody?”

“Don’t worry girl. I don’t blame you.” She leans in and whispers conspiratorially; like we’re sharing a secret. “Everyone already knows that Nick is way out of your league. You must have been feeling insecure about this the whole time you were both together. Isn’t that why you cheated?”

“If there’s anyone who’s in the wrong, it’s Nick,” I grit my teeth, eyes hardening in annoyance. “He’s the one that cheated on me. With you. That’s right. I saw you both last night. Saw you making out. Heard everything you were saying about me.”

I glare at her, expecting shock to replace that carefully curated smile of hers. But she’s still smiling, acting like my words didn’t get to her.

“What is it that you want me to say to that?” She eyes me from head to foot. “Want me to beg? To grovel for your forgiveness?” Her laughter makes me flinch. “If there’s anyone who should be apologizing, Hazel, it’s you. You should be apologizing for believing a total hottie like Nick would genuinely be interested in you. And now, you have the nerve to come here and try to make a scene about it.”

Her smile drops. She steps closer, trying to intimidate me with her superior height, gloating in the fact that her wolf is stronger than mine.

“I’ll give you a piece of advice, wolfling,” she grins viciously, condescending eyes holding me in place. “Forget about Nick. He doesn’t want you anymore. I can’t think of a single guy on the team who would want you. About time you returned to your own kind.”

“And what kind would that be?” I’m boiling with rage.

“Isn’t it obvious? The geeks, of course.” She smiles. “Now, that’s right up your alley.”

She says it with a straight face, looking damn right pleased with herself for humiliating me.

“Alright then Hazel. I’m glad we could have this talk.” Beaming, she snags her snacks off the counter and heads back to the bleachers.

I’m no longer thinking about getting snacks. I forget all about the gummy worms I’d been meaning to get.

With trembling hands, I loosen Asher’s sweatshirt from around my waist. It still smells strongly of him. Like cologne and the outdoors.

I wear it, storming back towards the bleachers. I’ve got a plan forming in my mind and if there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s the fact that Nick and Nancy aren’t going to like it.