The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 33

Chapter 33

Chapter 33

ASTRA

I can’t believe it.

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Zane freaking Ashton just defended me in front of the entire gym class.

My heart was still pounding as the nurse pressed a cold compress to my nose.

“Hold still, sweetheart. It’s not broken, just bruised. You’ll have a nice shiner tomorrow.”

I nodded numbly.

All I could think about was Zane storming across the court like a demon, the pure rage on his face when he slammed Brock into the bleachers. The ice-cold warning he gave everyone not to touch me.

“Why?”

He hated me. He’d spent years making sure I knew it. So why did he look ready to kill for me?

The nurse gave me an ice pack and sent me on my way.

I went straight to the locker room, stripped, and stood under the hot shower for a long time, trying to wash away the blood, the sweat, and the memory of Zane’s hand on my thigh in Science Lab.

But my mind wouldn’t stop spinning.

“Why did he defend me?*

“Why did he stare at me like that the whole game?*

“And why does my body still react every time I remember his touch?”

I hated him.

I should hate him.

So why couldn’t I stop thinking about him?

I dried off, wrapped a towel around myself, and stepped out of the stall.

The locker room door suddenly swung open.

Maya and her crew walked in.

My heart slammed against my ribs.

Their eyes immediately locking onto me like predators spotting prey. A few other girls were changing quietly in the corner. but they all went still, pretending not to watch.

Maya’s eyes were still red and swollen, but her expression was pure venom.

She stormed straight toward me, heels clicking sharply against the tiles.

“Well, well,” she sneered, stopping just inches away. “If it isn’t the fat whore who thinks she can steal my boyfriend.”

My eyes went wide. I instinctively adjusted my glasses, clutching the towel tighter to my chest.

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Chapter 33

“Leave me alone, Maya,” I whispered, voice shaking.

“Why should I?” she snapped, stepping even closer until I could smell her expensive perfume. “Ever since you moved your fat, clumsy ass into his house, Zane’s been acting weird. Distant. And now he broke up with me? In front of the whole school?”

Her voice rose, echoing off the walls. The other girls stayed silent, eyes glued to the floor. Everyone knew Maya’s family was powerful, old money, connections, the kind of influence that could ruin lives with one phone call.

She shoved my shoulder hard, making me stumble back against the lockers.

“What did you say to him, huh?” she hissed, eyes wild. “Did you spread your disgusting legs for him? Whisper pathetic litle lies in his ear? You think because you’re living under his roof you can take what’s mine?”

Tears burned my eyes, but I forced them back.

“I didn’t do anything,” I said quietly. “I swear.”

Maya laughed, cold and cruel. “You’re nothing, Hawthorne. A charity case. A fat little parasite. Zane will get bored of you soon enough and come crawling back. And when he does?” She leaned in, voice dropping to a venomous whisper. “I’m going to make sure you regret ever breathing the same air as us. My father knows people. Important people. One word from me and your scholarship, your little job, even your mother’s hospital bed could disappear. So stay the fuck away from Zane.”

She shoved me again for good measure, then spun on her heel and walked out with her crew, laughing like they’d just had the time of their lives.

The locker room stayed silent for a long moment after Maya and her crew left.

I stood there, towel clutched to my chest, heart racing, tears finally slipping down my cheeks.

I stood there, towel clutched tightly to my chest, heart racing, tears slipping silently down my cheeks. My nose throbbed. My knees still burned from the fall in the cafeteria. Everything felt too heavy.

I couldn’t stay here.

Wiping my face quickly with the back of my hand, I turned toward my locker. My fingers shook as I pulled out my regular uniform, I changed as fast as I could, wincing when the fabric brushed against the fresh bruises on my knees and shoulder.

Once dressed, I grabbed my bag and slipped out of the locker room, head down, damp hair still hanging heavy down my

back.

*Stay away from him.

The thought repeated like a mantra as I walked down the empty hallway.

“You have to stay far away from Zane.

Maya was already unhinged. If she thought I was the reason her perfect relationship ended… things would only get worse. Much worse. I couldn’t afford to lose my scholarship, my job at The Gridiron, or risk anything happening to Mom’s care. Not for whatever twisted game Zane was playing.

I needed to be invisible again.

Just Trash-tra.

Nothing more.

I turned the corner toward the side exit, still repeating the words in my head like a prayer stay away, stay away, stay away when I suddenly collided with a solid chest.

Chapter 33

“Oof.” I stumbled back, adjusting my glasses with trembling fingers. “S-sorry, I wasn’t..”

A large, warm hand settled on my waist, steadying me.

My breath caught.

$5 vourneys

Before I even looked up, the scent hit me, cedarwood, something expensive and masculine, mixed with the fajht trace of gym sweat and that same cologne that had haunted the science lab earlier.

Zane.

My head snapped up.

He was standing so close, towering over me, green eyes dark and unreadable. His black gym shirt clung to his broad chest and shoulders, still slightly damp. One hand remained possessively on my waist, fingers pressing lightly into the curve there like he had every right to touch me.

My heart slammed against my rib cage so hard I thought it might bruise.

“Z-Zane…” I whispered, voice barely audible.

He didn’t move or speak at first.

He just stared down at me, gaze slowly dragging over my damp hair, my slightly swollen nose, the faint bruise already forming under my eye. Something flickered across his face, dark, and intense.

But when his eyes met mine again, that familiar smirk slowly curved his lips.

“Running again, Trash-tra?” he murmured, voice low and rough. His thumb brushed once against my waist, almost absentmindedly. “You’re getting predictable.”

I tried to step back, but his hand tightened just enough to keep me in place.

“I… I have to go,” I breathed, hating how small my voice sounded. “Please.”

He tilted his head, studying me like I was something he couldn’t quite figure out.

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