“What do you remember from last night?” I ask.
“Everything.” He doesn’t look up. “I remember it all.”
“How’d you get home?”
“Uber. I think a few hours after you guys left. I started to come down a little bit, enough to think… so I called an Uber. But then I got lost trying to find the road. I only made it because the guy parked and started honking, and I followed the horn. I told him I took drugs and got lost in the woods and he told me stories about taking drugs as a kid. I spent the whole ride back staring at his head because it just kept… moving.”
I cross my arms and stare at him. Erik still wouldn’t look at me. His eyes were locked on the floor and his whole posture was sunken, like he’d fallen into himself.
I don’t speak for a long time. I stare at him and finally see the boy that he really is. I see the small, sad, pathetic boy, and I realize I might’ve fucking broken him at long last.
“Do you know why I did that?” I ask.
“Because I’m trying to blackmail you,” he says.
“That’s right. And there’s a drug test coming up.”
His eyes snap up. “Was that part real? You meant it? You can switch out my piss?”
“I can,” I say. “But you need to give me something first.”
“The video.” He leans toward me and I can see the fear. “I’ll give you whatever you want, just please don’t let them test me. If I get caught, I’m done. This isn’t the first drug test I’ve failed.”
I stare at him, surprised. “I didn’t know about that.”
“Failed one in high school.” He leans back and stares at the floor again. “Hardy told me if I ever failed one again, he’d kick me off the team, that he doesn’t care how good I am.”
“Nobody will care,” I say. “Not if you’re a liability. You’re only useful if you keep your mouth shut and win games.”
Erik nods miserably and doesn’t speak. I stare at him and feel my heart racing. I can’t believe how broken he seems, but it almost makes sense. All that bravado, all that bragging and acting like an asshole, it all has to be a cover for something.
It’s a cover for this, for this sad little boy I see sitting across from me. His entire identity is wrapped up in football, and without it, he knows he’s worthless. If he can’t throw a ball really far, if he can’t win games, he means nothing as a human being.
And now I have his entire future, his entire identity, wrapped up in my hands.
I’m taking his power away.
“After practice, go home and delete the footage,” I say. “I don’t need you to bring me a copy. Delete it all and text me when you’re done.”
He nods once. “Fine.”
“Then I want you to apologize to Chloe. You’ll find her after her tutoring and you’ll tell her you’re sorry for what you did. If anyone ever asks about her, you’ll tell them that she’s a smart, great girl, and you wish you hadn’t blown your chance.”
“Sure, yeah. I will. I owe her an apology.” He nods eagerly.
“And finally, you’ll keep this in mind.” I lean toward him. “I drugged you once and it wasn’t that hard. Don’t think I won’t do it again. Next time, I might not drop you off in the woods, but I sure as fucking hell will make sure you fail the test. I will end you, Erik.”
He meets my gaze. I expect to see anger and defiance.
I only see pleading.
“Okay,” he says. “I’ll delete it. I’m done with this. Seriously, I’m really done.”
“Good.” I lean back in my chair. “Be nice to people. Play football. Wins games. If you step a toe out of line, it’s over for you.”
“Yes, Coach.”
“Good. Get up. You’re dismissed.”
He stands, turns, and leaves my office, a broken husk.
Eventually, it’ll wear off. I have a feeling he’s still under the influence of the acid. But if he’s smart, he’ll delete that footage and never talk about this again. He might still be a cocky prick, but at least he’ll be a cocky prick that’s not harassing the girl I love.
I pick up my phone and call her. She answers right away. “Hey,” she says. “Did you see him?”
“He just left my office.” I smile a little bit and look up at the ceiling. “He’s going to delete the footage. And he’ll be stopping by tomorrow to apologize to you.”
She lets out a choked sob. I laugh a little. “Are you serious?”
“I’m serious,” I say. “It’s over, Chloe.”
She laughs along with me, though I think she might be half crying. I don’t care though, the joy rings through me, and I feel like I’ve finally won something. That little bastard has been harassing my girl, hurting her, and was going to try to ruin us even worse.