{Song of the chapter: Happier than Ever - Billie Eilish}

I pulled Jake's jersey over my head, the fabric feeling heavier than usual, like it didn't belong to me anymore. Staring at my reflection, I smoothed down my shorts, but the pit in my stomach wasn't going anywhere. This jersey, this role—none of it felt right tonight.

Becca glanced up from her phone, her brows furrowing as she took in my face. "You okay? You've been out of it all day."

I sat down next to her, sighing heavily. "No. I'm not."

She shifted, turning her full attention to me. "What's going on?"

I hesitated, the words getting stuck in my throat. I'd been holding this in for so long, trying to ignore the growing tension between Jake and Theo, and now... now it was like everything was unraveling all at once. "It's Jake. And Theo."

Becca's brow furrowed deeper. "What do you mean?"

I shook my head, my fingers twisting in the hem of Jake's jersey. "Theo told me something about Jake... something I can't stop thinking about."

Becca straightened. "What did he say?"

I swallowed, the memory of Theo's words hitting me like a punch to the gut all over again. "He said Jake's been complaining to the team about me. About my... boundaries. That I'm not giving him what he wants, and he's thinking about getting it somewhere else."

Becca's eyes widened, her expression darkening. "He said that?"

I nodded, my voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah. And when I asked Jake about it—about why he and Theo fought—he just brushed me off. He wouldn't explain anything. And then..." My throat tightened as the memory of that phone call came rushing back. "I called him later, and I swear, I heard a girl in the background."

Becca sat up straighter, her voice filled with concern. "What did he say when you asked him?"

"He said it was his cousin." I scoffed, the words feeling ridiculous in my mouth. "But he was weird about it—like he couldn't wait to get off the phone."

Becca frowned, her eyes narrowing. "That doesn't sit right with me, Isla. Do you believe him?"

"I don't know," I admitted, my voice shaking. "I want to, but after what Theo told me... everything just feels off."

Becca stared at me for a long moment, then sighed. "Isla, if Theo fought Jake, there's a reason. Theo wouldn't just get into it for no reason. He's protective of you."

My heart clenched at her words. "But why didn't Theo just tell me everything? He's always been honest with me. Why keep this from me?"

Becca rested her hand on my arm, her tone gentle but firm. "Maybe he's trying to protect you from something worse. Or maybe he thinks you need to figure it out on your own."

The knot in my stomach tightened as her words sank in. "But what if I've been wrong about Jake this whole time?"

Becca gave me a sad smile, her voice soft. "Then you'll know. But trust your gut, Isla. If something feels off, it probably is."

I swallowed hard, my mind spinning. "I just don't know what to think anymore."

Becca squeezed my arm gently. "You'll figure it out. And I'm here, okay?"

I nodded, giving her a small smile. But deep down, the doubt was growing, creeping up my chest like a storm waiting to break.

*******

The stadium erupted in cheers, the energy electric as the final whistle blew. We'd won. The scoreboard flashed brightly, declaring victory, and the players on the field pumped their fists, high-fiving and celebrating. Jake and Theo were right in the thick of it, their arms around their teammates, but I couldn't help but notice the glance Theo shot in Jake's direction—quick, sharp, like something unsaid still lingered between them.

Beside me, Becca jumped up and down, pulling me into a celebratory hug. "We won!" she squealed, her excitement infectious.

I grinned and joined in, but my eyes searched the field, locking onto Theo. Without thinking, I dashed toward him, my heart thudding wildly. As I reached him, my feet seemed to have a mind of their own, and before I knew it, I was throwing myself into his arms.

"You did it, you won!!!" I exclaimed, my voice breathless with excitement as I threw myself into his arms.

Theo caught me easily, lifting me off the ground as I wrapped my arms around his neck. For a split second, everything felt right. His familiar scent, the warmth of his skin against mine—it was like we were in our own little world. I could feel the steady beat of his heart against me, and it felt like everything had stilled.

We pulled apart quickly, both of us pretending like nothing had happened, like we hadn't just shared a moment that shifted something between us.

"Good game," I managed, my voice a little too casual as I avoided his eyes.

"Yeah," he muttered, running a hand through his hair, his gaze flicking away, just as unsure.

Before I could say anything more, Jake appeared, his arm sliding possessively around my waist, pulling me close. I could feel the tension radiating off him as his eyes darted between Theo and me.

"You coming to the party afterward?" Jake asked, though his voice held a sharpness I couldn't ignore.

I nodded, trying to keep my tone light. "Yeah, of course."

"Good," he said, tugging me away from Theo before I could respond. "Let's go."

*******

The party was already in full swing by the time we arrived, the house packed with teammates and friends. Music thumped through the walls, the bass vibrating through the floors, but I felt detached, like I was moving through a fog. Jake's arm hung loosely around me, his attention already drifting to the guys.

I plastered on a smile when he glanced back, murmuring "just tired," though it felt like a lie I'd repeated one too many times. His hand skimmed the small of my back as he leaned in, voice low and deliberate. "Let's find some quiet upstairs. Just us."

I nodded, not trusting my voice, and let him lead me through the crowded house. Each step upstairs felt heavier, the air thicker as we left the noise of the party behind. A knot twisted in my stomach as we reached the bedroom, the door clicking shut behind us.

Before I could speak, his hands were on me, rough and impatient. His lips pressed hard against mine, but the kiss felt all wrong. Rushed. Desperate. My hands pushed against his chest, but he didn't seem to notice, or didn't care.

"Jake, wait," I whispered, trying to push him back gently.

He ignored me, his grip tightening as his mouth moved down my neck. "Come on, Isla. Don't start this again. We both know how this goes."

"I'm not playing," I said louder, shoving harder. "I'm not ready."

But he kept going, his hands moving with determination, trying to push me back toward the bed. "You've been holding out for months. It's about time, don't you think?"

Panic rose in my throat as I pushed with all my strength. "Jake, stop!" I said firmly, my voice trembling with fear and frustration.

Finally, he stepped back, but his expression sent a cold chill through me—his face twisted with frustration and something darker, something cruel. 

"What the hell, Isla? You're seriously pulling this now?"

I stumbled back, my heart pounding as my eyes searched his for any hint of the boy I thought I knew. "I told you I wasn't ready. I thought you understood that."

He laughed, but there was no warmth in it. It was sharp, cutting through the air like a knife. 

"You really think I've been waiting around because I'm some nice guy? Please. You've been stringing me along for months, acting like you're this innocent little thing. You know what? You're just a waste of my time."

My stomach dropped. "What are you talking about?"

Jake sneered, his eyes hard. "You think I didn't know? Your dad's the coach for Barcelona. I wasn't with you because you're special, Isla. You were just a bonus—a hookup I thought I'd get for my senior year, but you didn't even give me that."

The world tilted, his words crashing into me like a freight train. My breath caught in my throat, my chest tight with disbelief. "You... used me?"

He shrugged as if it was nothing, his voice dripping with smugness. "Obviously. And that's why I slept with Bonnie. At least she knows how to give a guy what he wants."

My heart stopped. The room spun, my vision blurring as I tried to process what he'd just said. "You slept with Bonnie?" I choked out, each word scraping against my throat.

Jake's grin widened, cruel and unbothered. "Yeah. You were never going to give me what I wanted, so why waste more time? She was ready. No games, no teasing. Just everything I needed."

My knees nearly buckled, but I forced myself to stay upright, the betrayal sharp and suffocating. "Was she..." My voice cracked, but I had to ask. "Was she the voice in the room when I called?"

The look on his face confirmed it before he even opened his mouth.

"Yep," he said, no hesitation, no regret. "She was right there. I was with her while you were whining on the phone. She couldn't stop laughing about it after."

His words felt like a punch to the gut, knocking the wind out of me. Tears blurred my vision, but anger started to bubble beneath the surface, mixing with the heartbreak. "You're disgusting," I spat, my voice shaking but defiant. "You're nothing but a fucking pathetic, selfish—"

"Please," he interrupted, rolling his eyes. "Save the dramatics. You think I care what you think? You're just another girl who wasn't worth the time."

Tears streamed down my face as I backed away from him, my hands shaking. "Theo was right about you. You never cared about me at all, did you?"

Jake shrugged, completely unfazed. "Go cry to Theo or your dad or whoever. I'm done. I got what I needed."

Something inside me snapped. All the love I thought I had for him shattered, replaced with a raw, burning rage.

"You think you're done with me?" I let out a dry laugh, my voice hardening despite the tears. "You're not worth anything, Jake. I'm ashamed I wasted any time on someone like you."

I shoved past him, my body shaking with anger, my heart breaking, as I bolted out of the room. The sound of the party faded into the background as I ran down the stairs, the air suffocating, his cruel words still echoing in my head like a twisted mantra.

The second I hit the cool air outside, I gasped, my breath catching in my throat as the tears poured down my cheeks. My legs carried me farther away from the house, away from him, away from everything that had come crashing down around me.

But his voice, his cruelty, still rang in my ears.

I had to get out of there. Away from Jake. Away from the lies. Away from the heartbreak.