Chapter 5 Be a real couple

Bella’s POV

I withdrew the phone from my ear as Agnes screamed into my ears.

“Calm down,” I hushed.

But she didn’t.

“That scumbag. I should have seen it coming,” she said angrily.

Even I didn’t. I always thought that Asher and I were endgame.

“So, the new guy…” Agnes’s voice came low, with an intent that was obvious.

I snorted. “He’s a jerk.”

I remembered his warning, and I let out another snort. As if I wanted to have anything to do with him.

“Bella, that guy is a golden boy. He’s rich, popular, the best at hockey, and handsome,” Agnes stressed every word as she described Tyler.

My face scrunched up in irritation. “So what? He’s rude and arrogant.”

I walked to the bed and lay on my back, taking a deep breath. Tyler’s face appeared on the ceiling, and I pushed it away.

“You could get with him as revenge on Asher,” Agnes said again.

I wanted to tell her I already had, but I stopped myself. She was going to go nuts again with excitement.

Tyler was a forbidden fruit I shouldn’t even taste.

“Bella? Are you there?”

I let out a low sigh. “I’m tired. Let’s talk tomorrow.” I ended the call and grabbed a pillow.

I can’t believe Asher ruined my future. He’s my past now, a hurtful one. From now on, hockey is my only thing, I told myself as I forced myself to sleep, hoping for a good tomorrow.

**

The next morning, my phone was blasting beside my pillow. I groaned and reached for it, barely opening my eyes as I silenced the alarm. Before I could put it down, another call came through.

It was Agnes. I answered immediately.

“Bella, why is everyone talking about you, Tyler, and Asher being in a love triangle?” she asked, her voice bursting through the phone.

I frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“Check the internet.”

My heart skipped a beat.

I quickly ended the call and opened my social media. The first thing that appeared was a video.

My stomach dropped. I pressed play.

Asher appeared on the screen. “I don’t want there to be any misunderstanding,” he said.

“Bella and I have known each other for years. She came to the city because of me, and the kiss between her and Tyler was just to make me jealous. It meant nothing.”

My eyes widened.

The video continued, mostly consisting of Asher ranting.

“That idiot,” I cussed under my breath.

He cheated on me, humiliated me, and now he was making me look like the problem.

A sharp knock suddenly came at the door, and I got up to open it. One of the boys stood outside, his expression worried.

“The president wants to see you,” he informed me.

My stomach tightened, and panic struck me. “The president?” I repeated.

I followed him downstairs, my heart growing heavier with every step. When I entered the meeting room, I paused at the doorway, taking a deep breath.

The president’s angry voice came before I pushed the door open. “That girl is trouble.”

“She hasn’t even been officially announced as part of the team, but she’s already making headlines,” he lashed out.

He looked at Coach, who was standing near him.

“We should cancel her contract,” he stated.

My heart sank as my hand tightened around the door handle.

Cancel my contract? My scholarship flashed through my mind.

Everything I had worked for suddenly felt like it was slipping away. I turned around, and my gaze met that of the rest of the team. They were standing there.

I clenched my fists and walked past them.

Before I had taken five steps, Tyler’s hand gripped mine. He pulled me back before I could even resist.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

I tried to pull my hand away, but he didn’t let go immediately.

“I thought you were tough,” he said.

I looked up at him, my eyes burning. I quickly looked away, refusing to let the tears fall.

“I’ll leave,” I said.

Tyler’s expression changed. “What?”

“I’m not good for the team. I don’t want to ruin everyone’s chances because of me.” My voice trembled. “I’m sorry, Tyler.”

He stared at me for a moment before letting out a small chuckle.

“You’re seriously going to give in?”

I looked at him again. “What else can I do?” I wiped beneath my eye.

“This is my mess. I’ll fix it.”

I was still speaking when Tyler grabbed me again and pulled me into the room. Before I could protest, I was standing in front of the scary president.

“Bella is not leaving,” he said firmly, with an air of authority.

Both the president and Coach stared at us. I pressed my lips together nervously. I turned to Tyler, who was still gripping my hands, and wondered if I should beg or just shut up.

There was a long-drawn silence before the president spoke.

“Fine,” he breathed. “There’s another way we can resolve this.”

The rest of the team stood at the door, watching and waiting. Everyone’s attention shifted toward the president.

He looked between Tyler and me.

“You two become a real couple,” he said.

The words seemed to echo. It took me a second to process them.

“What?”

My eyes widened, and Tyler’s expression was just as shocked. The team also exchanged stunned looks.

He shrugged, looking completely serious.

“That’s the only way we can control the narrative instead of allowing rumors to control it.”

I stared at him.

“You want Tyler and me to date?” I asked, as if it were the worst thing imaginable.

Tyler finally found his voice. “Absolutely not!” he burst out, a look of disgust on his face.

“Okay, then. Bella’s contract will be terminated,” the president said, moving closer.

My breath hitched.

I can’t lose my scholarship. Dad was so happy when he heard I got scouted by the best team in the city. I can’t let him down.

I shut my eyes and turned to Tyler, who had a hard expression on his face.

“It’s just pretence,” I said.

He turned to me sharply with a deep frown.

“No,” he said sharply and firmly.

I sighed. This stubborn jock.

Again, I grunted and clenched my fists, trying to swallow my anger and pride as I looked at him again.

“I will do anything. Just name it, whatever you want,” I pleaded desperately.

Tyler looked at me as if I had lost my mind. I quickly grabbed both his hands in a plea.

“I will even be your slave, Tyler Brooks,” I told him.

The instant I let out those words, I regretted them because Tyler’s expression shifted. His angry face slowly melted into a mischievous, dangerous smirk.

“Anything,” he said.

I swallowed hard. This isn’t good.