Page 54 of Falling Into You

She wasn’t about to tell them that she was the one who had convinced Coach Fitz to take Jacob back. Just yesterday morning, she’d gone to his office to plead her case and make him understand that Jacob had changed—that he had proved himself to be a responsible team player. But she’d also thought they’d come to an understanding. That, at least for this season, he could participate in both sports. That, if Jacob was up for it, of course, they could just figure out any event conflicts as they went. Maybe she’d somehow gotten it all wrong. Or maybe Fitz had put it to Jacob and Jacob had decided to focus all his energy on soccer.

Layla whacked Rory’s arm. “He’s here.”

Everyone turned to look toward the parking lot. Sure enough, Jacob was walking toward them in his cheerleading uniform, his varsity soccer jacket buttoned up over it. Rory’s heart pounded with trepidation as he approached. She made a snap decision. This was not a conversation she wanted to have in front of the team. She handed Layla her cup and went to intercept Jacob, jogging to meet him before he could get any closer to the squad, much less within eavesdropping range.

He opened his mouth to speak, but she stopped him. “What’re you doing here?” she asked, shoving her gloved hands under her arms.

“What do you mean, what am I doing here? It’s homecoming.”

“I’m sorry, is the soccer team playing in this game?” she asked, tilting her head.

He looked at the ground. “Rory, come on.”

“No. You’ve made your decision, so I suggest you leave before things get any more confusing,” she said.

When he met her gaze, his green eyes were bright. He wasn’t seriously getting emotional about this, was he? “Look, I know it’s complicated, but at least let me cheer today. You need me for the halftime routine.”

“We don’t, actually,” she said, lifting her chin to better sell the lie. “We figured it out at the pep rally, and it was great anyway. We’re good without you.”

He stared at her, obviously hurt. Her heart felt sick.

“I don’t want to leave,” he said, his voice raw.

“Yeah, well. You already did,” she said. “You left us yesterday.”

She turned around and walked away from him, a stiff breeze hitting her from behind and quickening her steps, as if telling her she was doing the right thing. It was time to make a plan. One that didn’t involve Jacob Reilly.

Jacob

Jacob didn’t leave. He wasn’t sure what made him stay. His innate school spirit? Some kind of weird, previously untapped craving for self-torture? The thought that he might be able to find an opening to convince Rory he should do the halftime routine with them? A combination of the three? Whatever it was, he found himself lurking at the top of the bleachers with a few of the other soccer players, glad it was so crowded that most people couldn’t see he was wearing his cheer uniform.

Luckily, Tucker wasn’t around. He was probably too busy primping in his suit somewhere, making sure he looked absolutely perfect for his float ride with Rory and his inevitable crowning as homecoming king.

The scoreboard ticked closer and closer to halftime. The score was tied, 14–14, and tension in the crowd was so thick Jacob could practically taste it. The Lumberjacks were driving down the field and had one more play to call with tenseconds left. Everyone’s heart was in their throat. It would be amazing to take a lead into halftime. Of course, Jacob was swallowing his own heart for a whole different reason. What was the squad going to do at halftime without him?

“And Ramsey drops back to pass!” the announcer called out as the play went off. “He’s got Ishmael in the end zone... and the pass is... good!”

The crowd went berserk. Everyone around Jacob jumped up and down and hugged and high-fived. Jacob played along as best he could, but his heart wasn’t really in it. The pep band played the school’s fight song, while on the track, Rory and the rest of the squad danced along and led the crowd in shouting “Jacks! Jacks! Jacks! Goooooo, Jacks!”

“And the extra point is good!” the announcer shouted, which made everyone cheer even louder. “The Lumberjacks take a 21 to 14 lead into the half!”

Jacob slid out into the aisle as fans began to stream toward the concession stand and the bathroom. The student section stayed put, of course. They knew to stay for the halftime show.

“Now don’t go anywhere, folks! It’s homecoming, so we have a very special halftime presentation for you. A performance by the Woodmont Lumberjacks varsity cheer squad followed by the annual parade and the crowning of our homecoming king and queen!”

Whoops and cheers followed Jacob as he made his wayaround the bleachers and headed down toward the track. He had no idea what he was going to say to Rory to convince her, but he had about ten seconds to get there and try. He was only few feet from the fence that separated the grounds from the field when someone stepped right in front of him.

It was Rory’s little brother, standing as tall as he could with a no-nonsense look on his face.

“I wouldn’t go near her if I were you,” Owen said.

“Owen, come on,” Jacob pleaded, his pulse pounding.

“She was up half the night crying because of you.” Jacob had never seen Owen angry. The kid was practically vibrating as he added, “Which, as her brother, is something I really did not enjoy.”

Jacob swallowed hard. “Really? She was crying?”

“Yeah. I don’t get it, Jacob. I thought you liked her. I even told her to ask you to homecoming.”