Page 13 of Falling Into You

MY OFFICE TEN MINUTES BEFORE BELL. NO EXCUSES.

For a person who was generally good-natured, that kind of text was not a good sign.

“Have a seat, Reilly.”

Mr. Fitzgerald, a man in his fifties with a medium build, a constant sunburn, and a balding head, was standing near the window of the office, spritzing his ferns with a spray bottle. Fitz was not only the coach of the boys’ soccer team but also the head of the athletic department, which meant this entire twelve-by-twelve-foot cube with one tiny window belonged to him. The wall behind his desk was lined with shelves full of trophies, and the windowsill was jam-packed with greenery.

Jacob sat in the chair across from the desk and settled in, sliding down and resting one ankle atop the other knee, trying to play it cool. His knee betrayed him, though, bouncing up and down nervously. Outside the closed door, kids laughed and shouted at each other, lockers slammed, and life went on as normal. Jacob really wished he could be part of it.

“I’ll cut to the chase,” Coach Fitz began, placing the spray bottle down on his desk with a bang. The man did not look happy. His already wizened-from-the-sun face was even more wrinkled than usual as he narrowed his eyes in ascowl. “What happened last night to Beckwidth... that was your doing?”

“No! I mean, kind of, but—”

“Sit up straight when I’m talking to you, Reilly,” Coach snapped.

Jacob shoved himself up, his heart full-on pounding now. “Sorry. I... yes, it happened at my house, and I guess technically he fell because of me, but we were all screwing around. It wasn’t just me. Kai was there, and—”

“I suggest you stop talking before you throw any of your other teammates under this particular bus,” Fitz said, leaning forward and pressing his fingertips onto the desktop.

Jacob’s mouth snapped shut. Sometimes he did not understand adults. Coach always told them not to lie and to take responsibility when they did something wrong. But then they also didn’t want you to rat on your teammates. So which was it? Were Cody, Tucker, and Kai supposed to take responsibility for their part in what had happened, or was Jacob supposed to admit only his own role in the fiasco?

“Because of you and your... signature shenanigans, I’m without a goalie for the next three games,” Coach Fitz said.

“You’ve still got Everett,” Jacob pointed out.

“Everett’s too green; you know that. I’m already chalking up these three games as losses.” He waved a dismissive hand, disgusted.

Jacob cleared his throat, trying to process what he was hearing. Another thing they were never supposed to do wasto give up. Or to believe that one person being out meant it was over. They were a team. If Cody was out, the defense was going to have to step up. Everett was going to get his shot, and he was going to have to make the most of it. It was as if everything Jacob had ever been told was a lie. He had no idea which way was up.

“I’m really sorry, Coach,” he said. “But itwasan accident.”

“All I know is, wherever you go, mayhem ensues,” Coach Fitz said. “If you’re not making stupid bets, you’re stealing your teammates’ clothes while they’re in the showers or hiding all the basketballs or wrapping the chess team’s chess sets in flypaper.”

“That was a good one,” Jacob said with a chuckle. Coach picked up his spray bottle and slammed it down again. Jacob flinched. “Sorry.”

“And what’s this I hear about you trying out for cheerleading?”

Jacob swallowed hard. He hadn’t thought this could get worse, but there it went.

“Oh, uh... where’d you hear that, sir?”

“How many times have I told you boys, I don’t miss a thing?” Coach asked, leaning back in his chair.

“It was just a stupid bet,” Jacob said placatingly, leaning forward. “We were messing around, and I thought I couldn’t lose, but I—”

“Stop right there.” Coach Fitz held up a calloused hand.“You do know you can’t participate in two varsity sports at the same time.”

Jacob blinked. If his heart had been pounding, now it was slamming. There was something about Coach Fitz’s expression that he didn’t like. “Yeah... I know that.”

“Okay, good. Glad we’re on the same page.”

“I’m not going to actuallybea cheerleader.”

Coach clicked his teeth together a few times, a sure tell that he was pissed. “But youaretrying out.”

“Well, yeah.” Jacob turned his palms up, helpless. “You don’t make a bet unless you intend to follow through. My dad taught me that.”

“Really? You know what my dad taught me? You don’t make a commitment to a team unless you intend to give it your all.” Coach pressed one pointer finger into the desk for emphasis, the tip turning white from the pressure. “For the entire season.”