When I realized they were clapping for me, I flipped them off. Mr. Sanders couldn’t see my hands, but my team could. I was embarrassed, but I loved the respect they gave me. Being a part of the team was more than just having a group to hang out with. I had brothers and dudes who looked out for me.

I slipped into a seat and said hi to Trish Calloway, who helped do morning announcements on days we didn’t start with an assembly.

“How was your summer, Sutton?” she asked.

“It was good. Lots of running and working out. How was yours?”

“Worked. Saving money for college, you know,” she said. She worked at Dairy Queen, but I had seen her at a few parties.

I nodded. “Are you working after school, too?” I felt bad because most people I knew had to get a job when they turned sixteen. My dad wanted me to do things that would look better on my résumé so I volunteered with Coach Larson during the summers at peewee football games.

“A few days and on weekends. Hey, when can we get together to talk about the upcoming season?”

The bell rang and I turned to face front. “Hit me up after class.”

“Welcome back, students.” Mr. Sanders slipped his glasses over his nose and started roll. The energy of the first day of school was only rivaled by the last day. “The sooner everyone settles down, the sooner we can head to the auditorium.” That got us to quiet down. We filed out of the classroom and made our way to the first day assembly.

I found Hayley in the crowd and sat with her. “New student alert,” I said.

“Boy or girl?” Hayley asked.

“Girl and she’s gorgeous.” I scanned the crowd for the new girl. We had three new transfers and lost four students. I saw her sitting next to Gabby in the bleachers to my left and discreetly pointed her out. “There. Blond. Second row.”

“She’s really cute, but she looks bitchy or bored. I can’t tell,” Hayley said.

I smacked Hayley’s knee. “She’s new and doesn’t know anyone. Give her a break.” It was hard to look away. There was something about her that made me pause. Sitting there with her messenger bag on her lap, she was the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen.

“Hello. Earth to Sutton.” Hayley leaned into my direct view of the new girl.

“What?”

“Stop staring. You’re starting to drool.”

I frowned at Hayley’s interruption. When the juniors jumped up to shout, I lost her in the crowd.

“Come on. Yell! We need to show the seniors we mean business!” Hayley jerked me to my feet and screamed at the seniors across the gym. I wanted to yell with the team and my classmates, but my heart was with the new girl who took my attention and my breath away.