Alyssa's PoV:

The crisp fall air nipped at my skin as I walked onto the football field with my parents, my heart racing in time with my footsteps. It was hard to believe that this would be the last football game of Aiden's high school life. The end of an era, I guess. And I had a feeling that tonight, the pressure would be even more intense than usual.

Mason was by my side, his presence comforting, and as we made our way to the bleachers, I glanced up at him. He was holding a massive bag of popcorn, offering it around to our group as if it were the most casual thing in the world. But the way his eyes caught mine for a split second told me everything I needed to know-he was just as nervous as I was about Aiden.

"Here," he said, passing the bag to me. "Popcorn for the best cheerleader in the stands."

I laughed softly, reaching for a handful. "You're lucky I don't mind that you're biased."

"I'm not biased," he said, grinning. "Just honest."

My mom got near my ear, a knowing smile on her face "Isn't he cute?"

"Mom..." i warned her, she didn't know it yet that we where dating and that remind me that maybe we should talk about it

"what I am just saying... I think he likes you" she said with a smile... barely does she know

I rolled my eyes, but I was grateful for the distraction. We settled into our seats on the bleachers with the rest of our friends-Emily, Nate, Selena, and Amy, all of us packed together like sardines, our voices a mix of nervous chatter and excitement.

"You think Aiden's gonna pull it off tonight?" Emily asked, her eyes scanning the field.

"I hope so," I murmured, my gaze drawn to Aiden. He was pacing along the sidelines, his helmet under his arm, eyes sharp and focused. There was a tension around him, something heavier than usual. The university coach sitting in the stands just beyond the field didn't help matters. This game was going to make or break his shot at a sports scholarship.

"You good?" Mason asked quietly, his hand brushing against mine hiding from my parents. I felt a warmth spread through me at the contact, but the tension of the game was still too strong to ignore.

"I'm just..." I didn't know how to finish that sentence. I was worried. About Aiden. About everything. But Mason squeezed my hand reassuringly, and for a moment, the pressure seemed to ease.

The cheerleaders were up next, rallying the crowd with their chants and jumps, their bright uniforms a stark contrast to the darkening sky. Their energy was contagious, and for a second, I let myself get caught up in the rhythm of it all. It was good to have a moment of relief before the game began.

Finally, the whistle blew, and the game started. The roar of the crowd was deafening, but my eyes never strayed from Aiden. He was the captain, the leader, but there was something in his posture that wasn't quite right tonight. Maybe it was the pressure of the coach watching him, or maybe it was the weight of the entire team depending on him. Either way, I could see the nerves in his eyes, the tiny flicker of doubt.

It was a hard game from the start. The other team was fast and aggressive, and no matter how hard our guys tried, they just couldn't seem to keep up. Aiden kept shouting orders, but there was a subtle shift in the energy. His usual confidence was starting to slip, replaced by frustration and stress.

I could see Mason squirming beside me, his eyes glued to Aiden, too. He was trying to keep it together for my sake, but I knew how much he cared about his best friend.

"Run Brother!" My voice cracking in the din of the crowd.

"Come on, Aiden!" My dad was beside me, screaming just as loud, but we couldn't reach him. We couldn't change the outcome from here.

Amy was practically out of her seat, hands cupped around her mouth as she screamed for James. "Focus, James! Come on, this is your time!"

I could feel the tension building in my chest. The first half was almost over, and we were losing-badly. The score on the board wasn't what anyone wanted to see, and I could see it in Aiden's eyes. He was beating himself up inside.

"Do you think they'll pull through?" I asked quietly, my eyes still locked on Aiden.

He sighed, his fingers tightening around the popcorn bag. "I don't know. I hope so. But right now, it's not looking good."

I could feel it in my gut. This wasn't just a game to Aiden. This was his future. I was starting to worry about him in ways I hadn't before-his heart wasn't just in the game tonight; it was in every play, every tackle, every touchdown. His future was tied to this one game.

As the final whistle for the first half blew, the team trudged off the field. The coaches were shouting, but there was a tension that couldn't be ignored. Aiden, normally a rock for the team, looked more like he was crumbling under the weight of it all. He stood off to the side, his arms crossed, jaw clenched as he stared at the ground.

Mason's voice broke the silence. "Hey, do you want some water?"

Everyone turned to him, their eyes hopeful, but before anyone could answer, Emily jumped up from her seat.

"I'll get it," she said, shooting Mason a playful smirk. "You stay here I've got this covered."

Mason chuckled softly, his gaze shifting to me for a brief second. "Alright. Just don't come back with something ridiculous like... lemon-lime soda or something."

"Don't tempt me," Emily shot back, as she hurried down to the sidelines to get the water.

I chuckled at their banter, but my heart was still heavy with worry. The second half was coming up, and I knew Aiden needed more than just a pep talk. He needed his team to rally around him.

I glanced back down at the field, my mind racing. It wasn't just the game anymore. It was everything Aiden had worked for-the dreams he'd fought for, the years of practice, the sacrifices he'd made. All of it led up to this moment. I just hoped that, no matter the score, he knew that I-we-were here for him, win or lose.

Emily's PoV:

The tension in the air was thick as I made my way down the bleachers. I could barely sit still. I needed to get out of there for a moment, to clear my head, and maybe even get some water. But more than that, I wanted to check on Aiden. He was under so much pressure, and I hated seeing him struggle like this.

I glanced around, making sure no one was paying attention as I slipped off to the side, away from the main crowd. My eyes scanned the area for any sign of trouble. Good. Everyone was still caught up in the aftermath of the first half, so I had a little time.

I hurried through the gates leading to the locker rooms, trying to be as quiet as possible. The last thing I needed was to get caught sneaking into the boys' area. When I reached the hallway that led to the bathrooms, I saw the door slightly ajar.

Perfect.

I walked over, my heart racing just a little as I tapped gently on the door. I waited for a moment, but the sound of footsteps inside made me pause. The door swung open just as I took a breath to knock again.

"Well, well. What do we have here?" A tall guy from the team stepped out of the locker room, a cocky grin spreading across his face. His eyes lingered on me in a way that made my stomach twist uncomfortably.

"Uh... I was just looking for some water," I said quickly, trying to ignore the way he was staring at me.

"Sure you were," he teased, leaning against the doorframe. "But while you're here, you might as well come inside. We could have some fun-no one's watching." His tone was playful, but it was clear there was something else behind it.

I instantly felt a wave of discomfort. I took a step back, about to turn and leave when I heard a voice from behind him.

"Take a step back, Gus."

I turned just as Aiden barged into the hallway, his expression fierce. His jaw was clenched, and his eyes were locked on the guy, narrowing in warning.

"Yes, cap" The guy immediately straightened up, the smirk falling from his face. He seemed to consider challenging Aiden, but something in his posture shifted. Without another word, he stepped aside, muttering something under his breath as he walked past us and disappeared back inside the balneary.

I turned to Aiden, who was now standing in front of me, his hands still balled into fists at his sides. I could tell he was still tense, the weight of everything pressing down on him.

"Are you okay?" he asked

"Are you okay?" I asked softly, my voice calm but with an edge of concern.

He looked at me for a long moment before sighing, running a hand through his hair. "I'm not in the game, Em. I'm thinking about everything except football-my future, the scholarship, all the pressure. I'm just... I'm lost in it."

I frowned at him, seeing the cracks in his usual confident façade. He was always the leader, the one who never showed weakness, and to see him like this made my heart ache.

I stood up straighter, my posture firm. "Aiden," I said, my voice clear and loud. "You've got this. You're the captain. You've been leading this team for years. Don't let all that other stuff cloud your head. It doesn't matter. All that matters is the game. You need to think like the captain you are, and focus on winning. The rest of it-your future, the scholarship-it's just noise. Don't let it control you."

He looked at me for a long moment, his eyes searching mine like he was looking for something, some reassurance. Slowly, he nodded, his tense shoulders relaxing just a little. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Thanks, Em," he said quietly. "I needed that."

I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms over my chest. "You better go out there and do what you need to do, or I swear, I'll beat you up myself."

He chuckled, the tension breaking for a moment. "I'll make sure I win for you, don't worry."

I rolled my eyes, smiling at him. "You better. Go."

He grinned and gave me a nod, turning to head back into the locker room. I stood there for a moment, watching him walk away before hearing the familiar sounds of the team joking as he entered.

I couldn't help but overhear them.

"Damn, Aiden," one of the guys said, "your girlfriend's been yelling at you. What's up with that?"

I smiled at the thought of their teasing. I could only imagine what they'd think if they knew the truth about us, but it was funny hearing them talk about me that way.

Shaking my head, I turned and made my way to the water cooler, grabbing a bottle for myself and anyone else who needed one. I walked back toward the bleachers, my thoughts racing. I hoped Aiden could focus and get his head back in the game. He needed to. For his future, for the team, for himself.

When I got back to the stands I grabbed the water for the rest of the group, they greeted me with eager faces, asking if everything was okay.

"Yeah," I said, forcing a smile. Let's just hope the best for the second part.