We got down the field where a few players mingled around, and he released me from his grip. “Good. Now we’re alone.”

I promptly smacked him across the face. “You do not get to ignore me and drag me off like that.”

A shocked look colored the rest of his face while my handprint left a nice red patch. “What the hell, Fal?”

“Why the hell are you causing a scene like this?”

He gripped my arms, his eyes frantically searching mine. “Fallon, I have been trying to tell you what is going on and that I had nothing to do with it.”

I shook his hands off my arms and took a step back, holding my arms across my body in a protective stance. “We cannot be seen together, no matter the circumstances.” I turned my head and started to walk away to leave him standing there.

But this motherfucker gripped my wrist again.

“Hey,” a voice came from behind. “Is there a problem over here?”

Garrett’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. “What are you doing here, man?”

“Not much,” the voice said coolly, a tone I recognized well. “Just wondering why you’re hassling a pretty girl when it’s obvious she wants to leave.”

“U-uh,” Garrett stuttered. “You know how it is with girlfriends, man. They get mad at you.”

Brent came into view, arms crossed. “Yeah, man. I know how it is.”

Garrett’s face relaxed into a grin, thinking he could talk his way out of this. “Then you don’t mind giving us some space to talk?”

A chuckle came from deep in Brent’s chest, dark and dangerous. “Yeah, dude. I mind,” he growled, his eyes darkening with a predatory glare.

I watched as Garrett began to grow weary, more fearful of Brent. Was it wrong that I found Brent's intimidation factor kind of... hot? Garrett threw his hands up like he was facing down a wild animal. “Woah. I was just talking to her, Brent. She’s my girl-”

Before I could blink, Brent's fist connected with Garrett's face in a satisfying thwack. I backpedaled, eyes darting around as guys materialized out of thin air, drawn to the smell of rising testosterone levels and impending violence like sharks to chum.

Lots of footballers en route. Both teams.

It was a veritable football player buffet because both teams were piling in. The North Ridge Panthers, looking lost and confused, glanced around like they'd stumbled into the wrong field. Suddenly, one of them started hollering at our team, accusing us of cheating our way to victory.

Oh, sweet baby Jesus. This was about to turn into an all out, Friday Night Lights meets Fight Club brawl.