CHAPTER 5- SPOTTING HER IN THE CROWD

Kylie's POV

We dropped by the canteen to buy ourselves some snacks, since everyone was already in the stadium, we did not have to wait in a very long queue like usual. There were banners all over the way and the closer we got to the stadium, the more we could hear the cacophony.

Our school’s football team has been the state’s champion for the past five years and it was all thanks to Elijah. He really did contribute a lot since he was recruited into the team and was immediately promoted to the position of captain when we entered our sophomore year. He was the youngest captain in the history of our school and probably, the most skilled one too as under his leadership the Eastshore Wolves have not lost a single match.

"Elijah! We love you."

"Elijah. Please be my boyfriend!"

"Elijah, you are so handsome."

The football stadium was packed with people and all of them were rocking the red jersey, the official color of our football team. Everyone was holding big banners and cheering for the hero that Elijah was.

Jessica and I were trying to find a seat when we saw two girls squeal the captain's name and run towards the field. I furrowed my eyebrows and asked, "Are they even from our school?"

Jessica chuckled and said, "More than half of these people are not from our school, they have just come to catch a glimpse of him."

I could not believe what I was seeing or hearing. I knew that the man was well known amongst the people but sure did underestimate his popularity.

The stadium was so packed that we could not find a place to sit at first and it took us ten minutes to find one, that too at the back.

I never attended any of the football games despite my boyfriend being on the team. I was never interested in the game and thought it was a sheer waste of time. But then again, I would watch the girlfriends of other team players dressing up and going to support their boyfriends.

Justin never demanded it from me but I knew he would be happy if I did that.

So, one day, I went to watch the game without telling him. The Eastshore Wolves won like always and everyone ran towards the stadium to celebrate. I too followed behind to surprise Justin, only to see him being cozy with one of the cheerleaders.

I stopped in my tracks and watched the two as my eyes welled up. I looked around; I did not want anyone to see me like this so I walked away.

“Hey, babe. You okay?” That evening when Justin came to meet me, he could tell by my still expressions that something was not alright.

I turned my gaze at him and confronted him in a bland tone. The man, however, replied to my queries with a round of laughter. He said, “Babe, it is normal. All the guys do that.”

“But you have a girlfriend!” I said, “Have you ever thought about how I would feel about it?”

Justin immediately stopped laughing and apologized, “Babe, I am sorry, I didn't mean to make you upset. Nobody knows that I am in a relationship, if I don’t engage with girls rumors would fly around that I am gay.”

“What? Why would anyone do that?”

“That is how it works.” Justin muttered and pulled me in a hug, “Babe, I have no other choice but to put on an act. Just know that you are my only girl and the person I love is you.”

Even though I understood his side of the story, I was never comfortable with watching him in close proximity with another girl. I never attended another game until today.

It was really noisy but the rush elevated when the players entered the field. I hurriedly looked over to see that Justin was not there.

"Wow, looks like that scumbag isn't playing today." Jessica clapped. This made my face go pale as I felt that something was not alright.

Justin was one of the main players in the game, he had never missed a match. What happened today, it was unlike him to skip a match because of an announcement party.

Did… something happen?

I cleared the thoughts off my mind to focus on what was happening on the field.

The cheerleaders were putting on a performance and some of the football players joined them too. I was enjoying the show when suddenly, I felt a bone-piercing gaze in myself.

I lifted my eyes to see Elijah staring at me from the field.

My heart stopped for a brief second as our eyes met. I was not mistaken as I could see him staring into my soul from his spot.

How… How did he know I was here?

The stadium was crowded and I was sitting in the last row, how did he manage to find me?

I tried to move around and to my utter horror, his eyes followed me like that of a hawk looking at his prey. A mysterious smirk appeared on his face as if he was taunting me for not being able to resist him.

I covered my face with my hand and looked around; so far, no one seemed to have noticed that he was looking at me. But I knew Elijah, the look on his face was not giving me a good feeling.

Before the madman did anything stupid, I decided to leave. I grabbed my bag and whispered to Jessica, "Jess, I don't think I can stick around."

"Why? What happened?" The girl's face clouded with concern.

I shook my head and said, "I am not feeling well, I will head back home."

Jessica did not ask anything further and said, "Okay, let's go."

"No, you watch the game. I can go on my own." I reassured the girl multiple times before she finally let me leave.

I got up from the seat and without even looking at Elijah, made my way out.

Since I was leaving school, I decided to leave from the back door which was closest to the stadium. I was just passing by the men's locker room when I heard Justin's voice echo in the empty hallway.

I stopped in my tracks hearing him and turned around to look at the tightly shut door; it seemed like he was having an argument with someone.

"Who is he arguing with instead of being in the game?" I wondered. I did not have to wait too long as I heard Lisa's voice replying to him.

"Justin, I can't believe how unreasonable you are being! I was just having a friendly conversation with Elijah."

"A friendly conversation? You were literally throwing yourself at him." Justin screamed at her.

So, the man did notice what his good girlfriend was doing yesterday and just pretended to not mind it.

Lisa berated, "I did not do that! It is all in your head."

"It is all in my head, right? Then why the fuck are you here today? Aren't you here to look at him?"

"Jesus, Justin! What is up with you today? I was here to support you."

"Well, I am not playing today. They benched me for no reason." Justin spoke up, catching me off guard.

I was right, they did bench him for no reason. But why? Justin was a really good player.

My train of thought was hindered when Justin slammed the door open and stormed off angrily. I was quite shocked, I had never seen him so angry before.

"Justin, wait!" Lisa came running out of the room but she could not catch up. She stood at the door, looking in the direction he had just left and stomping her feet in anger.

I stood there unfazed until I saw a familiar silhouette appear on the other side of the corridor.

Elijah locked the door behind him and saw me standing there. He immediately started taking large strides toward me.

"Fuck!" I said to myself. What was he doing here? Is he not supposed to be in the field, playing the match?

My mind went blank and I stood there rooted to the ground. I could hear my heart drumming inside me with each step he took towards me.

Lisa was panting at the door of the locker room when she noticed Elijah from the corner of her eyes.

"Elijah…" She muttered before quickly adjusting her dress. I was nauseated by the way she quickly switched colors.

She kept her hand on her curvy hips and stopped him, "Hey, handsome… How have you been?"

Elijah stopped and looked down at her. With a poker face and a layer of frost dusted on his words, he said, "Get out of my way."

Lisa's face went pale as a newly pressed sheet of paper. Her lips quivered as if she wanted to say something but the man did not wait and walked past her. He did not even bat an eyelid at her, he made it clear that she was not even worthy of a second glance from him.

"Kylie." He called out my name, snapping me out of the fantasy.

I did not know what I was thinking as I turned around and started to walk away as fast as I could.

"Kylie, wait." I heard him call me again but the more he called, the faster I started to walk.

Elijah was naturally taller so it did not take him too long to catch up to me. He caught me by my arm and forced me to turn around, "I said stop right there."

“Hey, didn’t see you there.” I grinned and put on a dumb act which I could say he did not buy by his expressions.

Looking inside my eyes, he asked, “Why are you avoiding me?"