Read Online Sanctuary by Alan Janney - Free Book Online

a man. He chomped on his gum and smiled behind sunglasses.
    “Good practice today, troops?” he asked and we groaned our answer. “The games are starting soon. We’ve got a good squad here, and we’ll be competitive.”
    “No,” Samantha glared. “We won’t be competitive. We’ll be winning .”
    “Gear, you’ve quickly become my favorite football player,” he barked. “And a giant pain in my ass.”
    “Happy to help, Coach.”
    “Thought you’d all like to know,” he continued, “that the Patrick Henry Dragons are favored to win the Division again this year, and also the state championship.”
    Groans. Jeers. I smiled grimly and spun the football in my hands. I was going to wreck the Dragons’ plans.
    “Another juicy tidbit,” he grinned, “is that our old pal Tank Ware is playing offense now too.”
    “What?!” I shouted. Loudly. Everyone jumped.
    Garrett nodded. “He told his coach he wants the ball. He’s going to be the Dragons’ starting running back.”
    “This is a joke.”
    “No joke, Jackson,” he said.
    “I hate that guy!” I threw the football in disgust. Judging by the faces of my teammates, I threw it really far. I didn’t watch. “Freaking…ugh…stupid… stupid stupid Tank! What a self-absorbed glory hog. Jeez, I hate hate hate that big ugly cow.”
    “I like your fire, Jackson,” Coach Garrett said. The team was staring at me with wide eyes.
    “Coach,” I said suddenly. “I want to play linebacker.”
    “Oh come on Jackson,” he chuckled.
    “I’m serious. Dead serious. I want to hit Tank when he has the ball. Knock him out of his cleats.” I was grinding my teeth so hard the others might be able to hear it.
    “Chase,” Samantha warned, “Don’t make this personal.”
    “Besides. You’re the quarterback,” Coach said. “Too valuable to play two positions. You could get hurt.”
    “I’m playing linebacker,” I snarled. Garrett was no longer smiling. “Or I’m quitting as quarterback.” The whole team stirred uneasily, except for Daniel Babington. He perked up. Daniel was the second-string quarterback.
    “We’ll talk about it later, Jackson.” His voice had gained a stern edge. “But you don’t set the roster. I do. And you don’t threaten to quit on your teammates. Ever.”
    He was right. I was steaming and I couldn’t think logically, but deep down I knew he was right. I just really really really hated Tank. I saw red when his name came up.
    “Yes sir,” I mumbled and I stalked off. Selfish arrogant thick-headed freakish ill-mannered ugly Tank. He was a troll. A goblin. Simpleminded selfish conceited weak dumb duplicitous conniving…
    Katie Lopez descended the bleachers and joined me as I stormed off the field. She was wearing blue shorts, a white shirt, and sandals with raised heels. “My favorite quarterback appears…agitated?”
    “Your imbecile of a boyfriend is agitating,” I glowered.
    “Oh?”
    “He’s going to play running back this year,” I said. “Which means he’ll play offense and defense, and bully kids smaller and weaker than he is.”
    “Isn’t that what good football players are supposed to do?” Her voice held notes of sadness and frustration and defiance, all at once. We stopped walking. For a moment, I truly felt sorry for her. She had chosen the wrong guy, and she knew it, and her inborn loyalty was torturing her. I reached for her hand, and she didn’t resist. She felt trapped, I could see it in her face, because she truly had feelings for Tank. Tank…
    “He’s a villain. Evil. And ugly. And thanks for holding my hand. And I love you.” Her fingers sent tingles from my hand to my heart, which was pounding. Some of the football players were walking past us and openly admiring Katie.
    She took a deep breath and beamed at me. “Say it again. I like it.”
    “Break up with him. And I will say it forever.”
    “How about,” she said, squeezing my hand, “I come over tonight?”
    “…Go on.”
    “And