Loathing Logan (COMPLETE )

Game Jitters and Late Night Burgers!

Logan

The crowd cheers on. I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins as we made our way out towards the field. The Friday night lights and the loud cheers, mixed with the school band in full blast, fill the air with all its joy. 

Our school has been undefeated for the past six years under coach Mitchell's long endearing support and coaching tactics. He's by far the best coach there is in all our county. This year, I intend to give it my all and make him proud. He's done so much to help every single one of us. Even Carter, regardless of how much of an ass he is, he's still a great player. One of my best defenses if I may add.

If it's one thing I love, it's to feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins as the first game jitters fill us; the school spirit can be felt through the air,  giving us the monumental feel,  urging us to plummet into giving it our best.

I slowly make my way out through the hallway and stand in the middle between the bleachers; in front, the huge banner awaits for us to break through, as the all-time champions of our county and all south Tennessee. 

The pressure is weighing on me. I'm not going to lie! it's making me scared shitless! But I'm determined to give it my all this year; more than in the previous years.

I took a long sigh, and close my eyes, muting all the noise around me as my head tilts back. 'ok! Come on Logan. You got this. You gotta give it your all. We can do this. . . we can do this." I tried to reassure myself that things would go right, but I'd be lying to you if I said I wasn't nervous; hell. . . .I was more than nervous. I was terrified, scared shitless. The last thing I want is to go in there and let the coach and my team down.

"Hey, Romeo!? What's taking so long? You're stalling the game sweetheart." My eyes widened, bringing me out of my trance. Heart pounding in my ear; each time I hear her voice, man! my stomach fills with a head-on, going down a rollercoaster ride kind of feel vertigo. 

Sophie has never been the sports kind of girl, but I do have that to thank Troy. He loves sports, and though he's not in any team, he's always the first in line to purchase tickets for the games. My eyes avert everywhere, and the numerous flash of cameras and phones blinds me from being able to see her.

"Come on quarterback! Get your ass in the game. Mama's hungry, and I want to go eat." I hear her voice again. This time, I turn to my left, and see her there, wearing our team colors and those pom-poms student council sells up front by the entrance, I know because my mom and sister have a collection of those damn things too.

I look towards my team, they're still waiting for the small welcoming parade to end, and give coach Mitchell the signal for us to enter the field. I can't help but smile, and I quickly walk towards her, jumping on top of the rail, and close to her. My face almost touched hers, making her startle. My hand slips and my body tilts back, but quickly, Sophie reaches out to me, gripping my hand and pulling me close to her.

"Wow! Logan?. .be careful. You're going to hurt yourself before the game even starts." Her eyebrows narrow and she clutches tight on my arm. I chuckle and grab her waist without thinking. "Aww, I thought you didn't care Patterson? see? I'm starting to grow on you." she pushes my chest, but I hold on to the rail tightly, making me stand steady on the rail without falling back.

"I don't care. And I'm also looking forward to seeing you get tackled by the opponent team so I can cheer. See? that's why I bought these." She laughs and waves the pom-poms in front of me making me chuckle. 

"Sure sweetheart. Deep down you know you come to cheer for us! That's why you're wearing our colors. But you especially come to cheer for me. It's alright though. You can go ahead and deny it all you want." She rolls her eyes and crosses her hands over her chest. "Think what you want. I'll be the first one to cheer when you lose."

"Oh really? How about a bet then?" I asked, I know that even if I was nervous about this game, we were sure to win it.

"I don't bet Logan, and you know that." she squints her eyes and purses her lips. Troy and Alexa are in the back, dancing along to the beat of the school band. "Oh come on! what? You're afraid I'll win?" I smiled, my eyes refusing to look any other way but her eyes.

Her eyes locked in mine, " Ok Logan, what kind of bet?" She answers and calls me a jerk for taking advantage of the opportunity, but I was damned if I let this one go. 

"If we win this game, you gotta go out to the movies with me." A bright smile sneaks up on my face. I can feel a lot of eyes on us, but the only person I can look at right now is her.

"What? pff, dream on Logan. No way I'm going to the movies with you."

"Sounds like you're declaring us the victory already." My head tilts to the side, and I smile brightly at her. She glances around, pondering on what to say.

"Fine. But if you guys lose the game, then you have to do whatever I say for a whole week. Deal?" She raises her hand and I grab it tightly, pulling her close to me, making her gasp. "Deal. Get ready to lose Sophie, I'll be enjoying the comfy seat at the movie theater next to you this upcoming Friday night." She shrugs her shoulder and pulls away slightly. Her eyes averted from my sight. 

"Hey, Logan? Come on, time to go." Steven yells from behind the banner, a bright smile on his face as he turns back and places his helmet back on.

"Logan? What happened to your jaw? it's red." Her eyes widen as she sees my jaw. I had completely forgotten about it myself. "Oh, it's nothing. I'm fine. But see? You do care." She rolls her eyes and laughs. I jump back down, and wink at her, running towards my team, Steven and Dylan both patting me on my back and helmet. 

The adrenaline is back, but this time, my determination to win this game has more than multiplied. I have to win this game! No matter what.

**********

The crowd cheers, the band plays at full blast and the announcer calls the opponent team out to the field first. Their own house cheering for them as they make their way out, wearing their white, gray, and purple uniforms out on that field.

Logan shakes his body and sways his head from side to side. Hands shaking as if trying to release the excess adrenaline pumping in his veins. Sophie hates to admit it, but he looks mighty good in those tight black, brown, and orange; with the black helmet, and the school mascot imprinted on the side of the helmet. 

The announcer calls them, and the team sprints forward with force as they rip through the banner, Logan is the last to run through. The announcer calls out his name announcing him as the leading captain of the team. The crowd cheers on, louder, the ground vibrates and roars as the loud beats of the drums and feet stomp on the ground from all the audience in the bleachers.

He makes his way running towards his team, as the spotlight follows him through. He takes off his helmet, unpredictably stopping in front of the boys announcing. He stands next to their bench and snatches the microphone away from the boy.

"Sophie Patterson! This one's for you sweetheart!" His voice echoes through the air, making Sophie's eyes wide in shock. A mirrored look just like hers on Troy and Alexa's face, just like the many that glance her way.

He returns the microphone to the boy and runs to his team and does a summersault in mid-air.  His team greets him with boyish howls and woots, pushing him on his chest and tapping him on his helmet as he places it back on his head.

The game is called to a start, and the opponent team is given the ball first. Sophie begs the heavens that they make a quick touchdown; Not because she wants to see her school lose, but rather so she avoids that movie night with Logan. She hates to admit it, but that kiss from a week ago still lingers in her mind. Every time she reminisces on that kiss, the butterflies in her stomach still run wild. 

The crowd cheers, and though the opposing team is good, they're not as good as Lakeview High. Their quarterback launches the ball, but the eagerness to win the game gets the best of Logan as he runs and intercepts the ball and runs at full speed. The crowd goes wild, screaming in joy and hoping for the best. 

Though he's fast and swiftly avoids being tackled by most of the opponents' defense, he doesn't make it past the 30-yard line. His breath is erratic as he tries to catch his breath. Sophie bitting her thumbnail as she looks nervously out to the field. But by the end of the third quarter, and the score of 35 to 14, she gives up. 

The only thing making her more uncomfortable in this game is the nasty stares Amber throws her way from time to time. Though she can't understand why? She was going out with Carter now. And, she was the one that ended the relationship between Logan and herself. If anyone should be mad through all of Amber's ugly deeds, are Logan and Emily, Carter's old girlfriend. 

The last whistle is heard, and the crowd roars, including Sophie, who gives up on being sour over the jitters in her stomach and cheers along with Troy, whom she's more than certain he's cheering for Dylan. The announcer calls out one last time for the team as he announces their final score, 21 to 56. 

Logan's heart is pumping with excitement, and knowing he's still on a roll, he runs carelessly, gripping the microphone away from the kid announcing one more time, making everyone laugh. He takes off his helmet, throwing it in the air and standing on top of the table. The boys announcing move partially away and laugh. "Sophie Patterson. See you on our date next Friday night, sweetheart." Her eyes widen and her lips were pursed together. Her friends slowly look at her with their mouth gawked open and eyes wide in shock.

"What did he mean by DATE, Sophie? Did you just agree to go on a date with him?" Troy's eyes widen in shock as he turns his body towards her and points towards Logan. The crowd slowly begins to stand and leave. "I - I might have made a bet with him. If they lost the game, he was going to do anything I said for a whole week; and, if the other team lost, I. . . had to go on a date with him next Friday." Troy rolls his eyes and presses his hand against his forehead.

"Sophie! our school is the leading champion. We've rarely lost a game in years! You've been to almost every game throughout our high school years. You know our team wins like 90% of the time. Why would you think this game would be any different?" He nods his head and closes his eyes.

She shrugs her shoulders and presses her eyebrows together. "I. . . .ugh! you're right. I wasn't thinking. I got caught up in the moment of the argument. I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. I thought he'd get distracted and lose the game. . . .  I don't know. Troy? help me. Get me out of this." 

"Oh no. You got yourself into this sweetheart. Deal with it. You keep getting yourself into compromising situations with him, now deal with the consequences of your bad judgment." Sophie protests like a five-year-old, making Troy and Alexa chuckle.

"Wh-?ugh!...... fine. Whatever. Let's go." She hangs her shoulders and walks, dragging her feet as she makes her way down the stairs. 

Amber glares furiously at her, making her way towards her. "Hey, nerd freak!" She yells at her but soon stops on her track as Steven and Dylan stand in front of her.

"Not today Amber. Do yourself a favor! let it go, ok? You moved on, Logan has the right to find someone that can really make him happy, don't you think? Now, I'm sure Logan can agree when I say, " Steven leans against Amber's ear and whispers, "It's best you leave Sophie alone." Steven pulls away and turns on his heel. She clenches her jaw, grasping her hands, gripping her pom-poms tightly.

"Or what?" She yells, making Steven turn, Logan startles her making her look back, Sophie standing feet away from them, "There is no, 'or what' Amber. Remember, you're older by a few weeks, which means you're already 18. Lay a hand on Sophie, I will report you myself." Though Logan would hate to come to drastic measures, he knows Amber far too well. He knows she won't stop unless she's given the last ultimatum.

Sophie's eyes widen. After so many years of Logan taking Amber's side, this is something she never thought she'd witness; The day Logan would contradict Amber.

Just as Amber is ready to blurt out sarcastically at him, coach Mitchell's wife stops her, making her startle and eyes wide in shock. "You heard them, Amber. Let it go. You've already caused enough damage this year don't you think? And we're barely at the end of the third week of school. You need to take care of your actions from now on sweetie. Life, as a legal adult is not always fun. There are severe consequences that can be legally blinding to your daddy's pocket. May I suggest you grab your pom-poms and go home."  

Amber clenches her jaw. She tightens her grip and though she wishes to say something back, she knows it's best to leave it alone. . . .for now, at least.

"Ok. You guys do the same, please. Disperse. We'll meet you guys at Maggie's to celebrate first game victory." Mrs. Mitchell smiles and taps Sophie on her shoulder as she walks past her. Troy grabs Sophie by her hand and joyfully pulls her close to him. 

"You heard Brianna! Let's go eat some late-night burgers and pig out on french fries." He pulls her along, Sophie's eyes averting to Logan, smiling at him as he smiles brightly back.

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