her star boy - Chapter 10: Chapter 10
You are reading her star boy, Chapter 10: Chapter 10. Read more chapters of her star boy.
Devyn
I find myself heading back to the stadium that Luis brought me to yesterday. This time, for his game. I don't think about what happened when we were here yesterday; how we kissed, the call from Maddy, then Luis and I in his car processing how different our lives may have been if we hadn't been told a lie all that time ago. He drove me home in silence, and we only shared a look before I got out of his car and he drove away.
DEV'S FIT^
"God, I'm so nervous," Serena says from beside me.
I glance away from the road briefly to look at her. "Why?"
"Watching Noah play," Rena visibly shivers. "Is like watching watching him stand on the edge of a cliff, waiting for him to fall off and die. I went to his games before we were even together. I hate them."
I could imagine. American football is a bunch of big beefy men running at each other for sport, and it's ridiculously dangerous.
Serena and I pull into the parking lot and circle twice before we find an empty spot. It's packed beyond belief. The roar of the crowd is so overwhelming that it's loud, even from the outside of the stadium. The sheer energy makes my pulse quicken.
I immediately feel out of place here. While everyone else is here because they love the sport, I'm here because my ex-boyfriend and I found out some insane new yesterday and I feel like I need to be here for him to play well. Call me superstitious, but something tells me he needs the support today.
By the time Reen and I find our seats, my ears have adjusted to the loud buzz of the crowd. We're front row, in the seats reserved for friends and family. I spot Josiah, and smile. It's been years since I saw him, but he always was a good friend to Luis, to me too.
"Devyn Young in the flesh," he grins when he sees me, holding his arms out for a hug, which I accept.
"Hi Jo, it's good to see you," I tell him, taking the seat beside him.
Jo settles down too. "You too, Dev. Maybe now Luis will stop moping around over how bad he fumbled you."
I raise my eyebrows at this, a surprised smile on my lips.
"Oh, great," I roll my eyes. "Glad I could provide emotional entertainment."
Jo grins wider at me, and just then, the crowd bursts with cheers, the energy doubling. I realise it's because the players have begun to file out. I scan my eyes over them, spotting Noah and a few guys that I've seen a couple times around the house or at the charity event. I try to catch a glimpse of Luis's messy hair, and then I do.
His hand grips his helmet as he walks onto the pitch wearing a jersey and those tight little football player pants. But it's his jersey that catches my attention. Red, with the number seventeen printed in bold white font. My heart catches.
I watch Luis while he heads to the middle of the field, his helmet under his arm. He stands with his other hand on his hip like he owns the place, like there aren't hundreds of thousands of eyes on him right at this moment. The stadium lights hit him like they know what they're doing—like they know just how to accentuate the sharp lines of his face. Unfortunately, he looks really good.
The ref flips a coin, and Luis nods, before he calls something back to his team. The game hasn't even started, but the way he moves—like he's carrying the wait of the world—has me holding my breath. We all stand for the national anthem, and soon after we sit the players begin to drift towards the 35-yard line for the kickoff. And then the whistle blows, the kickoff sending the ball flying into the evening sky.
Luis has his team huddled, looking like a commander as he speaks to them, focused. I've seen him like this before, I'd been to his high school games. But something about being here now, surrounded by the bright stadium lights and the screaming fans feels different.
The first play is called, and I watch Luis line up behind the centre. For a split second, the noise dims. The crowd, my own thoughts. Then the ball snaps, and it's chaos.
Players crash into each other, the ball slicing through the air, and the crowd erupting with every big play. I have no idea what's going on, if I'm being completely honest. Luis is at the centre of it all, yelling commands, dodging players and throwing the ball with a precision that shows why he's the star player.
I don't know the rules, but it doesn't matter. The energy is contagious, and the way Luis moves—so confident and in control—keeps my eyes glued to him. Even when Josiah tells me a play has fallen apart, Luis doesn't flinch. He just carries on, already moving to the next one.
During halftime, Serena and I go to grab a drink and some fresh air, flushed with adrenaline as if we're the ones playing the game. We barely make it back in time because of the length of the line, and the third quarter is beginning when we get back.
The final quarter comes around in no time. The tension is so thick in the stadium that it makes the air hard to take in. The clock is ticking down, just seconds left, and this is it. The ball snaps, and this time everything moves in slow motion.
Luis drops back, the defense closing in on him, but he's unfazed. He shifts, fast on his feet and dodging one tackle, and then another, his eyes never leaving his target downfield. It feels like the crowd collectively holds its breath as he winds up, and in one motions, he launches the ball.
It spirals beautifully through the air, sailing across the field in slow motion. Time seems to stretch as Noah, the receiver, reaches out with one hand, his fingertips grazing the ball. And then, it's in his grasp.
The crowd explodes into a deafening roar and Serena and I squeal loudly, holding on to each other and jumping up and down. The players storm the field, a wave of elation crashing over them as the game ends in a perfect, final play.
I watch Luis's eyes flick towards the stands, even while his teammates rush him, searching through the crowd. And then, his gaze locks on to mine like they were drawn by an invisible thread. The noise of the stadium dims enough for me to hear the thud of my own heart. He's standing there, helmet in his hand, sweat glistening on his brow. For a second, we just stare at each other. But then something shifts, something deep, and I feel it in my chest. In the heat of my stomach. It's like we're the only two people in the stadium.
He doesn't look away, and there are so many unsaid words in his look. I'm holding my breath again, I realise. Then, a smile tugs at Luis's lips, and it brings one to mine. Luis holds up a hands and waves at me. It's a tiny gesture, but it has my heart kick starting in my chest and feeling warm. I wave back.
And then the moment is over, and he's pulled back into the chaos of his team.
I find myself heading back to the stadium that Luis brought me to yesterday. This time, for his game. I don't think about what happened when we were here yesterday; how we kissed, the call from Maddy, then Luis and I in his car processing how different our lives may have been if we hadn't been told a lie all that time ago. He drove me home in silence, and we only shared a look before I got out of his car and he drove away.
DEV'S FIT^
"God, I'm so nervous," Serena says from beside me.
I glance away from the road briefly to look at her. "Why?"
"Watching Noah play," Rena visibly shivers. "Is like watching watching him stand on the edge of a cliff, waiting for him to fall off and die. I went to his games before we were even together. I hate them."
I could imagine. American football is a bunch of big beefy men running at each other for sport, and it's ridiculously dangerous.
Serena and I pull into the parking lot and circle twice before we find an empty spot. It's packed beyond belief. The roar of the crowd is so overwhelming that it's loud, even from the outside of the stadium. The sheer energy makes my pulse quicken.
I immediately feel out of place here. While everyone else is here because they love the sport, I'm here because my ex-boyfriend and I found out some insane new yesterday and I feel like I need to be here for him to play well. Call me superstitious, but something tells me he needs the support today.
By the time Reen and I find our seats, my ears have adjusted to the loud buzz of the crowd. We're front row, in the seats reserved for friends and family. I spot Josiah, and smile. It's been years since I saw him, but he always was a good friend to Luis, to me too.
"Devyn Young in the flesh," he grins when he sees me, holding his arms out for a hug, which I accept.
"Hi Jo, it's good to see you," I tell him, taking the seat beside him.
Jo settles down too. "You too, Dev. Maybe now Luis will stop moping around over how bad he fumbled you."
I raise my eyebrows at this, a surprised smile on my lips.
"Oh, great," I roll my eyes. "Glad I could provide emotional entertainment."
Jo grins wider at me, and just then, the crowd bursts with cheers, the energy doubling. I realise it's because the players have begun to file out. I scan my eyes over them, spotting Noah and a few guys that I've seen a couple times around the house or at the charity event. I try to catch a glimpse of Luis's messy hair, and then I do.
His hand grips his helmet as he walks onto the pitch wearing a jersey and those tight little football player pants. But it's his jersey that catches my attention. Red, with the number seventeen printed in bold white font. My heart catches.
I watch Luis while he heads to the middle of the field, his helmet under his arm. He stands with his other hand on his hip like he owns the place, like there aren't hundreds of thousands of eyes on him right at this moment. The stadium lights hit him like they know what they're doing—like they know just how to accentuate the sharp lines of his face. Unfortunately, he looks really good.
The ref flips a coin, and Luis nods, before he calls something back to his team. The game hasn't even started, but the way he moves—like he's carrying the wait of the world—has me holding my breath. We all stand for the national anthem, and soon after we sit the players begin to drift towards the 35-yard line for the kickoff. And then the whistle blows, the kickoff sending the ball flying into the evening sky.
Luis has his team huddled, looking like a commander as he speaks to them, focused. I've seen him like this before, I'd been to his high school games. But something about being here now, surrounded by the bright stadium lights and the screaming fans feels different.
The first play is called, and I watch Luis line up behind the centre. For a split second, the noise dims. The crowd, my own thoughts. Then the ball snaps, and it's chaos.
Players crash into each other, the ball slicing through the air, and the crowd erupting with every big play. I have no idea what's going on, if I'm being completely honest. Luis is at the centre of it all, yelling commands, dodging players and throwing the ball with a precision that shows why he's the star player.
I don't know the rules, but it doesn't matter. The energy is contagious, and the way Luis moves—so confident and in control—keeps my eyes glued to him. Even when Josiah tells me a play has fallen apart, Luis doesn't flinch. He just carries on, already moving to the next one.
During halftime, Serena and I go to grab a drink and some fresh air, flushed with adrenaline as if we're the ones playing the game. We barely make it back in time because of the length of the line, and the third quarter is beginning when we get back.
The final quarter comes around in no time. The tension is so thick in the stadium that it makes the air hard to take in. The clock is ticking down, just seconds left, and this is it. The ball snaps, and this time everything moves in slow motion.
Luis drops back, the defense closing in on him, but he's unfazed. He shifts, fast on his feet and dodging one tackle, and then another, his eyes never leaving his target downfield. It feels like the crowd collectively holds its breath as he winds up, and in one motions, he launches the ball.
It spirals beautifully through the air, sailing across the field in slow motion. Time seems to stretch as Noah, the receiver, reaches out with one hand, his fingertips grazing the ball. And then, it's in his grasp.
The crowd explodes into a deafening roar and Serena and I squeal loudly, holding on to each other and jumping up and down. The players storm the field, a wave of elation crashing over them as the game ends in a perfect, final play.
I watch Luis's eyes flick towards the stands, even while his teammates rush him, searching through the crowd. And then, his gaze locks on to mine like they were drawn by an invisible thread. The noise of the stadium dims enough for me to hear the thud of my own heart. He's standing there, helmet in his hand, sweat glistening on his brow. For a second, we just stare at each other. But then something shifts, something deep, and I feel it in my chest. In the heat of my stomach. It's like we're the only two people in the stadium.
He doesn't look away, and there are so many unsaid words in his look. I'm holding my breath again, I realise. Then, a smile tugs at Luis's lips, and it brings one to mine. Luis holds up a hands and waves at me. It's a tiny gesture, but it has my heart kick starting in my chest and feeling warm. I wave back.
And then the moment is over, and he's pulled back into the chaos of his team.
End of her star boy Chapter 10. Continue reading Chapter 11 or return to her star boy book page.