The Boy Who Broke The Rules

Chapter 3 - Levi - The Proposition

"Temptation rarely knocks when life is easy. It waits until you're desperate enough to answer."

The best thing about Saturdays?

No classes.

The worst thing?

No classes.

That means my mom somehow expects me to magically have enough free time to clean my room.

I stare at the mountain of clothes piled on the chair in the corner of my room and convince myself they're not dirty.

They're just...temporarily relocated.

My phone buzzes before I can continue lying to myself.

Noah

Breakfast. Miller's. Thirty minutes.

I smile.

Me: Was that a request?

His reply comes almost instantly.

Noah: No.

I shake my head, toss on a hoodie, and head downstairs.

Mom is standing at the stove making pancakes while my twin sisters, Lily and Laila, argue over the last blueberry muffin.

Dad sits at the table with a cup of coffee and the morning sports section spread out in front of him.

The second he sees me, he grins.

"Well, look who finally decided to join civilization."

"I was sleeping."

"It was ten o'clock."

"It's Saturday."

Mom slides a plate of pancakes in front of me.

"Your father has been staring at your picture in the newspaper for the last hour."

Dad shrugs without looking up.

"They finally used a decent picture."

I glance down.

Right there on the front page of the sports section is a picture of me crossing the goal line with the headline:

BOWMAN SENDS PANTHERS TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP

Mom beams.

"We're so proud of you."

Those five words hit harder than any linebacker ever could.

"I couldn't have done it without the team."

Dad folds the newspaper.

"That's why you're a captain."

Before I can respond, Mom points her spatula at me.

"And don't think I'm forgetting about your room."

I groan.

"I was hoping the pancakes would distract you."

She laughs.

"Nice try."

Thirty minutes later, I pull into Miller's Diner.

Noah is already sitting in our favorite booth with a plate of bacon in front of him.

"You started without me."

"You were two minutes late."

"I was exactly on time."

"You were emotionally late."

I blink.

"What does that even mean?"

"No idea."

We both laugh.

That's the thing about Noah.

He's always been able to make me laugh.

We've been best friends since kindergarten, and somewhere along the way, he became more like a brother than a friend.

At least...

That's what I've always believed.

The waitress walks over.

"The usual, boys?"

"You know it," Noah says.

Once she walks away, he reaches into his backpack and slides an envelope across the table.

My name is written neatly across the front.

"What is this?"

"Open it."

I pull out several papers.

The first page makes my stomach sink.

Student Financial Services

Balance Due.

I frown.

"How did you get this?"

"My uncle sits on the university's Board of Trustees."

I look back down at the paper.

Even after my football scholarship...

Even after my academic grant...

My family still owes thousands of dollars.

I knew money was tight.

I just didn't know it was this bad.

"I shouldn't be looking at this."

"Probably not."

I slide the papers back into the envelope.

"I'll figure it out."

Noah studies me for a moment before speaking again.

"Will you?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean your dad is working overtime."

I stiffen.

"Your mom picked up extra shifts."

I don't answer.

"Your sisters gave up their dance competition this year because your parents couldn't afford the travel expenses."

That one hurts.

I didn't know that.

I thought they just weren't interested.

"They never told me."

"They didn't want you to know."

Silence settles between us.

For the first time all morning...

I don't feel hungry anymore.

Noah leans back in the booth.

"My uncle also told me something else."

I look up.

"There's a private donor scholarship opening next semester."

Hope sparks inside my chest.

"Seriously?"

He nods.

"Full tuition."

My heart starts racing.

"How do I apply?"

His expression changes.

That's when I know.

There's a catch.

"There isn't an application."

The hope begins slipping away.

"What do you mean?"

"The donor likes...games."

I narrow my eyes.

"What kind of games?"

He reaches for a napkin and writes two names.

Levi Bowman

Kennedy Brooks

He slides it toward me.

I stare at it.

"What is this?"

"A challenge."

I laugh.

"No."

"You haven't even heard it."

"I don't need to."

"You kind of do."

I push the napkin back across the table.

"I'm not interested."

He sighs dramatically.

"Fine."

He starts folding the napkin.

"I guess someone else will get the scholarship."

I hate that sentence.

Because for one split second...I imagine telling my parents I have to transfer.

I imagine Dad blaming himself.

Mom pretending everything will be okay.

Lily and Laila acting excited so I won't feel guilty.

I swallow hard.

"What challenge?"

A slow smile spreads across Noah's face.

"I knew you'd ask."

"I haven't agreed to anything."

"I know."

He lowers his voice.

"I want you to get Kennedy Brooks to fall in love with you."

I stare at him.

"...You're kidding."

"I'm not."

"No."

"Hear me out."

"I'm not hearing anything."

"It's one semester."

"No."

"You date her."

"No."

"You become boyfriend and girlfriend."

"No."

"You make her fall in love."

I shake my head.

"Absolutely not."

"Why?"

"Because she's a person."

"So are you."

"This isn't funny."

"I'm not laughing."

I run a hand through my hair.

"Noah..."

"She'll be fine."

"You don't know that."

"It's college."

"It doesn't matter."

He studies me for a long time.

"You've never noticed her, have you?"

"What?"

"Kennedy."

"I know who she is."

"But you've never really looked."

I don't answer.

Because he's right.

I've seen Kennedy around campus.

Usually carrying three books.

Usually with Imani.

Usually smiling politely before disappearing into the library.

She seems...

Nice.

Quiet.

The kind of person who deserves better than becoming somebody's bet.

"I can't do that to her."

Noah folds his arms.

"So your parents just keep struggling?"

I flinch.

"That's low."

"It's reality."

The waitress sets our breakfast in front of us.

Neither of us touches it.

The smell of pancakes suddenly makes me sick.

Noah slides the napkin back toward me.

"You don't have to answer today."

I exhale slowly.

"Good."

"But don't take too long."

I look at him.

"The donor won't wait forever."

I fold the napkin and slip it into my pocket.

Not because I'm saying yes.

Because I don't want anyone else seeing it.

I stand and throw a twenty-dollar bill onto the table.

"I have to go."

"Levi."

I stop.

"If you walk away..."

"I know."

"You walk away from the scholarship too."

I don't turn around.

I can't.

Because for the first time in my life... I don't know what the right thing to do is.

And somehow... That scares me more than losing any football game ever could.