Chapter 7

“Coach Hurley, ‘Ellison News,’ Amber Couch! Hello!”

“Hello, Amber.”

“And let’s start with the most important question: do you think the Golden Eagles will be able to hold on to their lead in the school lacrosse league this season? We all know we have serious competition, and the fight for a spot at regionals is expected to be tough.”

“Absolutely. I’m completely confident in that. All the guys are focused on winning, so an exciting sports year is ahead of us.”

“Not long ago, the team got a new captain. What should we expect from him? And are you worried he might not live up to your hopes?”

“The most important thing is for Sean to live up to the team’s hopes and bring the guys together around him. It won’t be easy, but he proved himself well last season, and I have every reason to believe he’ll handle it. Right now the team is recruiting players, and the captain’s authority is extremely important for newcomers.”

“Last year, there was a player on the team who scored more points than Sean Renton, but was expelled from school after the well-known incident. This year he has returned to classes, and…”

“You’re talking about Matthew Palmer?”

“Yes, him. Coach Hurley, do you intend to bring Palmer back onto the team? After all, we all remember exactly who the Golden Eagles owe for their victory against the Bulldogs, who had held the city championship title for the last two years.”

“Interesting question, but I’m not ready to answer it yet. A lot will depend on the team and on Matthew himself.”

“Still, Coach Hurley, what can you personally say about Matthew’s return to the Golden Eagles family? Does the school have any chance to hope for that?”

“As far as I’m concerned, I won’t hide it: yes, I would like to see Palmer back in the starting lineup.”

Amber turns to me triumphantly, and I can practically see the word “Bingo!” flash in her eyes.

Lacrosse is sacred at our school and interests absolutely everyone, so Couch spends a while longer asking the coach about the training program, changes in the starting lineup, and whether the newcomers who have arrived at school can realistically prove themselves.

I photograph the guys during warm-ups and shut off every extra feeling when the coach asks everyone to come over for a group shot.

Sean is here too. I don’t look at him, except through my camera lens, but I do look boldly, the way I always have. As my gaze slides over his face along with everyone else’s, it suddenly seems to me that he looks away in confusion, as if he knows he can’t hide from me in this moment. Not behind his showy indifference, and not behind Kate’s attention.

Screw it. I don’t let my hand shake when I take the pictures, and I’m not going to blush under the guys’ focused stares. Today only one of them can throw me off balance—Palmer—but luckily, he isn’t here.

After taking the Golden Eagles’ pictures, I lower the camera, thank the coach, and wish everyone a good practice. My smile comes out strained, but there’s nothing I can do about that. I can’t fake it with my face, so I simply hurry to leave as fast as possible.

Coach Hurley seems a little surprised that I didn’t wave to Sean or trade our usual jokes with him. I doubt he seriously cares about his players’ personal lives, but he doesn’t miss anything. I hope he’ll soon be happy about Renton’s new girlfriend when he finds out who she is. Maybe he’ll even praise him for such a smart choice of partner.

Of course. The Golden Eagles’ new captain and the cheer captain—charming cheerleader, bitch Kate. Team victory. Full stands, happy screams at a hundred and twenty decibels, and the two of them shining like rising stars in the school coach’s career sky…

What joy that will be. He’ll pee his pants. They say Adam Hurley has been invited to work at a serious university, so the backing of Almighty Harding, Kate’s daddy, certainly won’t hurt. Everything is working out just freaking great for everyone.

Fine, then.

“Whew, we did it! And in only about fifteen minutes!” a pleased Amber breathes out, falling into step beside me and turning off the recorder. “Did you hear what Hurley said, Ashley? I knew it about Palmer. I’d bet my teeth on it, he dreams about having him on the field. And all that ‘I can’t answer the question’ excuse stuff is for stupid idiots. It’s weird the coach didn’t drag Matthew here right away, if he brought him back to school. I was so hoping to see him!”

“It isn’t that weird, Amber, not after what happened. Did you see the guys on the field?” I nod toward the players. “Right now everyone hangs on Renton’s every word, and if Palmer comes back…” I lift a brow with a smirk. “Instead of one more strong player, Hurley could end up with an open confrontation between two leaders. You don’t think he fails to understand that, do you?”

“I think,” my friend says, turning her head and narrowing her eyes thoughtfully as she looks over the guys, “that before Palmer was allowed back into classes, they piled a whole lot of conditions on him.”

“Who?”

“Moran and Principal Gibson, for starters!” Ambi turns away with a sigh. “Our social system never malfunctions. Either it grabs you by the balls and holds tight, like my dad says, or it tosses you onto the side of the road like trash. And if Palmer is back at school, then believe me, Ash, broadly speaking, he doesn’t have much of a choice. Especially with his reputation. Don’t you think I’m right?”

“I think Coach Hurley is a sly fox and knows what he’s doing,” I agree with her. “I believe Jake that Palmer is a dangerous type and it’s better not to get involved with him, but listen, if everything is the way you’re saying, then I don’t envy him. I wouldn’t want to be in his place. Though,” I add, remembering the strong energy of the guy that practically tortured me in English class, “I wouldn’t want to be near him either. If he comes back to practice, he’ll be forced to listen to Renton. And I can’t imagine how that’s possible. Last year they simply ignored each other until the fight happened.”

“And I’m the one who doesn’t envy Renton,” Amber continues thinking aloud, glancing once more toward the guys. “Look at him now, so sure of himself. Acting like he doesn’t care and Palmer’s return to school wasn’t an unpleasant surprise for him. Ha. Like I believe that. And as for the guys on the team…” She narrows her attentive eyes. “For now, Ash, they’re hanging on his every word. But we’ll see whether Sean has enough authority if he has to lead the team into a game against the Bulldogs without Matthew. And whether Kate will still want to hang around his neck when the Golden Eagles get knocked out of the city championship.”

Amber shakes her head, mimes a cork popping out of a cider bottle, and lets out a wicked little laugh:

“Trust me, once Renton understands that the same way Hurley already has, he’ll accept Palmer’s presence like a good boy. He won’t make a peep.”

I sigh, brush the fallen strands of hair off my cheek, and turn toward the school. I really don’t want to think about that at all.

“You know, Ambi, I think I don’t care. Let them do what they want. If they need pictures from me, I’ll take them. And it doesn’t matter whether Sean is with Kate or not.”