The Bet With The Qb

Madison’s POV

Jefferson high, was suppose to be my fresh start.

Jefferson high was suppose to be a chance for me to get a do—over, but the universe had a cruel way of punishing me over and over again for my past mistakes.

What was suppose to be a fresh start turned out to be a nightmare.

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“Have a great day at your new school Madison.” My mom’s voice echoed off the kitchen walls.

We had just moved into Jefferson a small town surrounded by mountains, my mom got promoted a week ago and was sent to work for the medical center which is low on surgeons.

While most kids saw a promotion as their world crumbling I saw it as a new beginning.

After everything that happened at my old school, the longing for a new beginning was all that mattered to me and the universe had blessed me with one.

Honestly, it felt like a dream to be in

a new town and go to a new school where nobody knew what I had done.

Where I could blend in without being reminded of my mistakes.

Where my secrets can remain buried in my past.

My mom’s voice broke into my thoughts and I looked at her.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to drop you off, the center is just—“

“No!” I said almost immediately. “I can handle myself and this town isn’t over crowded. It feels wrong for me not to enjoy the outdoorsy scenery while riding my bike,”

I reached out for the club sandwiches spread out on the counter; mom never failed to make them every morning.

“Fine.” She grabbed her bag from the counter. “Have a fantastic day at school.”

She planted a kiss on my forehead, and the second she pulled away her soft gaze hardened, “Be more open this time Maddie, you deserve to have friends. Maybe even love. You need to let go of the weight of the past,”

I forced a smile her way, watching as she walked out the door and got in her car .

Love?

Friendship?

Those two words had cost me. My reputation. My life. My sanity. I wasn’t going to let that happen again.

The ride to school was short. Wind in my hair, early morning sun dancing around my skin as I rode my bike down the road filled with tall palm trees.

I felt so sad it had to end so soon.

My sadness turned to anxiety as I rodeos into the school gates. I was praying endlessly for me not to be noticed or stared at but life had other plans.

The minute I parked my bike, a car horn blasting from behind almost made me fall off it.

“That space is reserved,” I titled my head and my eyes landed on the most gorgeous pair of ocean blue eyes. It was like I was staring at the sea. I tried not to get lost in them but then this blue sea eyed boy had to stick his head out of the car window, showing me his alluring eyes came with-cheekbones, and a narrow, rounded jaw and chin. It was like I was staring at Henry cavill’s twin.

“Move,” he repeated, and from the school logo on his jacket. I knew at that moment. He was part of the football team.

I didn’t wait for him to repeat his words. I had dealt with footballers before and it didn’t end well. It was because of them Friendship and love sounded like a death sentence.

I muttered a sorry, and moved my bike in another direction. I didn’t have a specific place I wanted to park. I ended up dumping my bike at the corner of a tree, hoping it doesn’t get carried away by a garbage truck.

Classes went by quickly, and I let out a sigh of relief when I found my bike where I had left it.

On impulse, I decided to shop for flowers—Mom loved them, and she deserved a bouquet for her promotion. But after pedaling for what felt like forever, there wasn’t a single flower shop in sight. Instead, the houses grew older

Every building I passed either had a broken window or smelt like mold. There was also no human in sight.

I tried retracing my path, but it felt like I was riding in circles.

Then I saw a pawn shop. The only building without broken glass or graffiti.

“Hello?” I called as I pushed open the door.

“Anybody here?”

I didn’t get a reply just the sound of a floorboard that seemed to creak under every step I took.

“Hello?” I called again hoping to get a reply. but my hope died when I was greeted by more silence.

I made up my mind to venture deeper into the store. I found a narrow corridor , behind the unmanned counter, which led to a door.

Any sane person would’ve turned around. But apparently, I wasn’t sane.

I pushed the door open and topped breathing.

Three guys sat around a table in their football uniforms. Mr. Ocean Eyes from the parking lot was among them. God, up close, he looked even more gorgeous than he had in the parking lot.

I wanted to turn and run. I knew footballers were trouble.

However, the second I took a step backward. The blonde haired one with emerald eyes sighted me.

“Don’t,” he snapped, eyes locking on me. “Don’t take another step.”

The others turned, their stares landing heavy on me.

“Come here,” Blondie continued, flexing his hands against his chest.

“I—I didn’t mean to intrude. I got lost, I—”

“Shh.” Ocean Eyes rose slowly, and he looked like a predator about to bounce on its prey.

I clamped my mouth shut, as I walked in their direction.

“Talking gets you in trouble,” he murmured, moving towards me. When he was closer, he placed his fingers on my cheek.

I swallowed hard.

“And trespassing has consequences,” his voice was like poison.

“I’m sorry. I’m new here, I—”

“You don’t need to apologize, mon chérie,” said the one with golden-brown eyes. “You just have to bear the consequences.”

As he said those words, I looked ahead and saw a smile spread across the table. At that moment I realized none of them looked like they were planning to let me walk out of here.

Ocean eyes’s hand left my cheek, moving to my hands. He dragged me towards the table and I felt my heart beat fasten.

“Roll the dice,” Ocean Eyes spoke, pointing toward a die at the edge of the table surrounded by dollar bills.

I blinked at it. “What?”

“You heard him,” Blondie barked. “Roll

the dice that’s the price you have to pay for trespassing.”

“You’re part of our little game now. “ he added.

“And who knows you might end up being, the consolation price later,” he smiled and I gulped.

Getting tangled up with football players was exactly what had destroyed me once before. I swore I’d never let that happen again, but somehow I had managed to rope myself into another mess.

History had found a way to repeat itself.

I was doomed.