Do Not Fall For The Baseball Captains novel Chapter 12

Clause 7-

Victoria’s POV

The bonfire was huge, a tall, orackling pile of wood and flames that lit up the whole field.

It threw warm orange light across everyone’s faces and turned the grass around into shifting patterns of shadow. Hundreds of students drifted in and out of groups, their laughter and overlapping conversations tangling with the heavy bass of the music.

I stood by a small wooden stall, clutching a stick of pink cotton candy that was nearly as big as my head.

When I reached into my bag to pay, the girl behind the counter just waved her hand.

“Don’t worry about it, the Warhawks opened a tab. Everything tonight is on the house, courtesy of the team.”

“Thanks,” I muttered, offering a small, awkward smile before shoving my wallet back into my bag.

The lady barely noticed, already turning to the next student in line.

I tore off a piece of the pink fluff, letting the sugar melt on my tongue as I started aimlessly drifting through the crowd.

My eyes darted from one group to another, the orange glow of the fire making everyone look like silhouettes.

Where the hell was Elijah? He had practically made it a mission to drag me here, making sure we arrived together just to drop me like a hot potato the moment we arrived.

I’d been on my own for twenty minutes now, pretending to be very interested in the grass and trying my best not to look like a total loner.

I let out an annoyed huff.

This was exactly the kind of thing that made me want to grind his head.

I scanned the edges of the field, wondering if he was already off in some dark corner trying to win a glance from Lexi.

And if she was here, that meant Caleb probably was too.

The thought made my stomach do a nervous flip. I wasn’t even sure I could look Caleb in the eye after that night without completely falling apart.

“Hi, Victoria.”

I froze, a piece of cotton candy halfway to my mouth. I didn’t think anyone here actually knew my name–not in this crowd,

anyway.

I turned slowly, my heart already starting to thud against my ribs.

The guy standing there looked familiar. He had the broad shoulders and the easy, practiced posture of an athlete, with a cap pulled low over his eyes.

I recognized the face from a dozen games and campus posters, but his name was stuck on the tip of my tongue, refusing to budge.

He must have caught the blank look on my face because he let out a soft, knowing chuckle.

‘Not knowing who I am stings a little, you know. I thought we were friends by proxy.”

I offered him an embarrassed smile, feeling the heat creep up my neck.

“I’m so sorry. I’m just…. having a moment.”

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“It’s fine, Victoria.” He brushed it off, his smile widening. “I’m Noah Stones. I’m on the pitching staff for the team.”

I nodded quickly as the name finally clicked into place.

“Right, of course. Nice to meet you, Noah.”

There was a beat of silence where I felt the need to shuffle my feet.

Noah didn’t move, though. He was looking at me with a curious, almost guarded expression.

“I didn’t expect to see you here,” he said, tilting his head toward the fire. “Ashfield brought you?”

The mention of Caleb’s name made my heart do a painful little dip. I shook my head, my throat tight.

“No, actually, I came with-”

Successfully unlocked!

“Me. She came with me.”

Elijah’s voice cut in from behind me before I could even answer Noah.

Claine 7

We both turned to find him standing a few feet away, his hands shoved deep into his pockets.

His jaw was set like granite, and his eyes were completely unreadable.

Noah’s gaze bounced between us, his eyebrows climbing toward his hairline.

I watched the realization click behind his eyes; he clearly remembered the rumors flying around about me and Elijah.

15 Dan

But then, his expression shifted. He looked back at me, his eyes narrowing in a way that made my skin crawl. It was a look of pure confusion, like he was looking at a puzzle piece that didn’t fit.

I could practically feel the suspicion radiating off him–the silent question of what I was doing with Elijah.

He didn’t say a word about it, but the vibe was heavy enough to choke on.

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