At the trial football game I had set up to show Julian that our players were top-notch, some jock guys warmed up as they threw a football back and forth.
"Let's do this!" a jock guy shouted to his friend.
"I'm ready!" his friend hollered back.
"I like the attitude. But I need to see if you guys are all talk." Julian sprinted up to the jock guys as they started the game.
"Go! Catch that ball!"
"Got it!"
For a few minutes, Julian and the jocks played a quick game as they threw the football back and forth. I knew my players would win, as I had a tendency to pick only the best for my school. Since I already was aware of that, I pulled out my iPhone and scrolled through the 400 e-mails flooding my inbox as I waited for them to finish. Next to me, Autumn watched Julian with bated breath as he ran across the grassy field. I bit my lip, trying to hold a snicker in at how obvious she was acting.
A few minutes later, the pickup game came to a stop.
"Not bad! I have to admit, I'm impressed. You three managed to keep up with me." Julian smiled at the jocks. "Good hustle… and quick thinking. Especially you, you could be quarterback material," he nodded to a jock guy.
"Heh. Thanks." the jock guy replied, hiding a smirk. What Julian didn't know was that he had been the quarterback at the now defunct Spartan Academy a few towns over. Like I would recruit less than the best.
Julian continued his sports talk. "Now, this school's still got a long way to go. A handful of jocks running a few football plays is a long way from a football team that can bring home a win. You've still got to work on your stamina and speed. Not to mention the footwork."
Then his eyes shifted to me. "But you know what I see in this group? Teamwork. That's something Hearst High forgot a long time ago. Together, we can get this school a winning team. And we'll take down Hearst High." He smiled and pumped his fist in the air. The jocks cheered and exchanged high-fives.
I flipped my hair, which I had just set in a glossy side ponytail. "Is that your way of saying you're enrolling here?"
Julian blushed. "I'd be honored to enjoy your school."
Next to me, Autumn dug her grubby fingernails into the side of her worn Spring Floral dress. I could see the anger flashing in her brown eyes. And I knew exactly why—Julian's eyes were on someone else and not her. Well, that's what she got for trying to recruit her crush to my school for her own selfish reasons. And things were only going to get worse for Autumn Brooks, if I had anything to do with it.
