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“What’s that supposed to mean?” Joel stands in the doorway to the classroom, his hands crossed over his body, a scowl on his face.
I clench my fists and open my mouth, but Patrick gets in first. “It was a dog act, man. From what I hear, the siren had already gone.” He shrugs. “The game was over.”
“What would you know, weren’t you getting your arse handed to you by last year’s wooden spooners?” Joel snaps.
“Just leave it, mate. Remember what Coach said.” Raph, one of Joel’s teammates, nudges him over to a seat on the other side of the room.
“At least we don’t take cheap shots, man.” Patrick isn’t finished, and I’m quite happy to sit back and enjoy the show. “I’d rather lose with dignity than take out a better player after the siren out of jealousy.”
“Whoa.” A couple guys around Patrick grin and give him high fives.
About time Joel gets put in his place.
I shove my chair back as Joel lunges at Patrick. Raph barely has time to grab him around the waist. Macca steps in front of me just as Mr Rogers enters the room.
“What’s going on here?” our teacher demands. “Find a seat or you’ll be in detention for the rest of the week.”
Everyone is silent and staring at the ground. Raph manages to shove Joel back into his seat, and the rest of the class quickly follows suit. Mr Rogers narrows his eyes at the class before setting his laptop down on his desk.
“I’d expect this behaviour from the year sevens, not the year twelves,” he mutters, shaking his head. “Right, today we’re looking at precedent. Open your books up to page 240 and read the case study of Tanka versus Piana. I’ll give you ten minutes before discussion. Go.”
I chance one last glance over at Joel before opening my book. He’s staring at his desk, shoulders slumped. Macca nudges me with a shake of his head, and I sigh as I flick through the pages of my textbook.
∞
“You should’ve seen him,” I say to Hannah later as we lay on her couch watchingClickbait. “He was that worked up. It took Mr Rogers threatening to kick him out of class for him to eventually calm down. He didn’t used to be such a hothead.”
She bites her lip, twisting a piece of her hair around her finger. “Well, if you think about it, he’s lost his girlfriendandhis chance to play AFL all in the space of a few weeks. Can you blame him for being a bit upset?”
“Are you saying this is my fault?” I struggle to sit up, pushing her legs off mine. “I’m the one who ended up with the potentially career-ending injury here.”
Hannah sighs. “I didn’t say that. Don’t put words into my mouth. Although, you’re not that innocent when it comes to the girlfriend part of that scenario.”
I stare at her. She can’t be serious. “I had no idea Sarah was Joel’s girlfriend.”
She raises her eyebrows. “Not at first, you didn’t,” she agrees. “But I told you before that first North Heights party, and you chose to ignore me.”
“She told me they’d broken up!”
Hannah sighs. “It’s not my fault you believed her.”Over me.She didn’t have to say it.
“So, you’re saying Joel was justified in taking me out on the footy field because I was hooking up with Sarah?”Seriously?
Hannah pinches the bridge of her nose. “You’re putting words into my mouth again. I never said that. I just said he’s obviously pretty upset now because of what happened then. I didn’t say he was justified in anything he did to you on the footy field.” She sucks in a deep breath. “When I saw you lying on the ground, I…” sniffing, she wraps her hands around her stomach, blinking back tears. “I was so scared. Your head hit the ground so hard, I was…I was worried you wouldn’t get up again.”
Sighing, I pull her into my arms, pressing my lips to the side of her head. “I’m okay,” I assure her, peppering kisses down the side of her jaw until I reach her mouth. “I promise.”
She lets out a small sob and it tears my heart to shreds.
“I’m sorry for snapping at you,” I murmur. “I guess I’m still angry myself. And to be honest,” I swallow, “a little bit scared that I still might not play footy again.”
Hannah looks up at me, her eyes shiny with tears. “What do you mean? The doctors said six to eight weeks. They said you can start light training again in a couple of weeks. You’ll be back out there before you know it.”
Yeah, but will I be the same player once I got back out there?My stomach churns but I nod. “You’re right. I just need to let it all go. I can’t change what happened, and it’s not worth making Joel’s life any more miserable.”
Offering me a small smile, Hannah rests her head on my good shoulder. “Everything will settle down in a week or so. You’ll see.”
I hope so.But I’m not as optimistic as her.
