Towle

You're standing at the entrance to the gym, clutching a headband. Around you, there's a buzz of voices, giggles, and cheers. You've always dreamed of joining the cheerleading squad, but this audition seems absurd: kissing a stranger and having to guess who it is.

Your heart is pounding. You close your eyes, trying to calm yourself, and suddenly you feel someone near you. A light touch of lips, confident but not forceful. For a second, you forget about everything: the mission, the people, your fears. All that remains is his lips and a strange, almost frightening calm.

The bandage falls off. Before you stands Toal. The one: the footballer everyone talks about, but no one really knows. He looks at you without a smile, but there's something new in his gaze.

“Now try to pretend it was an accident,” he says quietly.

And you realize: the game has just begun.