Crushing On The Enemy (Crushing on You 1)

“Okay,” Jake nodded in defeat.

“You're not going to try to stop me?” she asked.

“No, I told them not to come here tonight,” Jake said following her.

She walked over to the bleachers and sat down.

“Then why are you here?” she asked.

“I was going to try to stop them, but I fell as

leep in my truck,” Jake admitted.

“How do I know you're telling the truth?” she asked.

“You don't, well not at least until they look at the security cameras tomorrow,” he said, “Wait a minute, what are you doing here?”

“I came to jog. It helps clear my mind,” she sighed, “You should leave before I call the cops,”

“No, I want to stay. I can give names,” he said.

“So you're a snitch?” she asked arching a brow.

“No,” Jake shook his head, “I just don't want to get some of the blame somehow.”

“Fair enough,” she shrugged.

Jake watched nervously as she called nine-one-one and reported the crime. The operator asked that she remain there so the police could take her statement. They waited in an awkward silence.

“I bet your boyfriend is going to be mad,” Jake said trying to find something to talk about.

“What?” the pom-pom girl asked.

“About the field,” Jake added.

“You have me confused with someone else,” she said, “I don't have a boyfriend.”

“Really?” he asked, smiling a little more than he meant to.

She gave him a weird look and then laughed.

“Don't look so happy about my misery,” she giggled.

“I'm not, it's just that..” Jake wasn't sure what he was going to say, but their conversation was cut short by the arrival of two police officers.

He was quite while pom-pom girl talked to the cops. She explained that they had agreed to meet here for a late night run. One of the officers gave him a knowing smile. For a second he thought they didn't believe her and then Jake realized the cop thought they were a couple. He gave the cop a sheepish grin and looked away.

As he listened, he learned new things about pom-pom girl. Alyssa was her name. The officer questioning her had known her father before he died of cancer. He had been an officer too. She gave the officers that smile that most cheerleaders wore at pep rallies and football games, but they seemed to think it was genuine.

As he watched her, Jake's heart thumped against his chest. It took him a moment to realize that he was beginning to like this odd cheerleader from the rival school. He shook his head, mentally shaking the picture of them holding hands and acting like a couple. It was never going to happen. She came from the richer side of the tracks and was a Panther.

When the officers were done talking to Alyssa, they turned their attention towards him. It pained him to give up the names of his teammates, but he forced himself to speak the names of everyone of them that had participated. His hands shook as he spoke. The officers were patient and gave him time to come to terms with each name he gave them.

Alyssa put her hand on his shoulder and a lump formed in his throat. He forced himself to swallow hard and give the last name.

“Craig Semmons,” he said.

He saved Craig for last even though he had been the brains behind the operation. Through his high school career Craig had been his best friend, but he was guessing that ended tonight.