Scarlet
The crowd roared as I stepped onto the bleachers, their excitement a living, breathing thing that seemed to pulse through the air. The school’s football team was one of the best in the region, and tonight’s game against our biggest rivals had everyone in a frenzy. Students packed the stands, faces painted in school colors, banners waving high in the crisp evening air.
I wasn’t usually part of this chaos. Games like these didn’t appeal to me; they were loud, chaotic, and teeming with people who made my life hell. But tonight, something was different.
Damien.
It wasn’t like I hadn’t seen him play before. I’d watched from the shadows when we were kids, marveling at his speed, his precision, and his natural charisma that made everyone gravitate toward him. Back then, I’d cheered hi
