The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 97

Chapter 97

Chapter 97

ASTRA

“Who can tell me the central symbolism of the white whale in Moby-Dick?”

Mr. Grant’s voice cut through the classroom like a whip.

Literature class.

One of the few subjects I actually enjoyed when my mind wasn’t spiraling.

But today, my mind was very much spiraling.

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Last night kept replaying in my head like a fever dream. The club, the dress and the… masked stranger who had pulled me onto his lap, touched me like he owned me, and then…. kissed me so hard it stole my breath.

And then the ten thousand dollars he dropped between my legs like it was nothing.

And that voice… that scent…

I was still trying to convince myself it was just my exhausted, terrified brain playing tricks when Mr. Grant’s voice rang out again.

“Astra? You seem particularly distracted today. Care to share your thoughts on the white whale?”

I startled, blinking rapidly as every head in the class turned toward me.

But the answer came automatically, the way it always did when it came to books.

“The white whale represents the unknowable, the unattainable,” I said, my voice steady even though my heart was still racing. “Ahab’s obsession with it isn’t just about revenge. It’s about humanity’s futile struggle against nature, fate, and the limits of our own understanding. The whale is indifferent… almost godlike in its power and mystery. Chasing it destroys Ahab, but he can’t stop. Because some obsessions consume you completely.”

The class was quiet for a beat.

Mr. Grant nodded, looking impressed.

“Excellent, Astra. One of the best interpretations I’ve heard this year. The theme of destructive obsession is exactly right.”

I gave a small, polite smile and looked back down at my notebook.

But inside, my stomach twisted.

/*Destructive obsession.

The words felt too close to home.

Because no matter how hard I tried to push the thought away, that masked man’s touch, his voice, his scent… it all felt terrifyingly familiar.

And the worst part?

Some sick, hidden part of me hadn’t hated it.

I squeezed my pen tighter, trying to focus on the page in front of me.

Chapter 97

But all I could think about was murky green eyes behind a black mask.

And the terrifying possibility that it really had been him.

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I made my way to the committee room after the final bell rang, my backpack slung over one shoulder and my brain still stuck somewhere between Moby-Dick and a black mask.

The hallway buzzed with the usual after-school chaos. Lockers slamming shut, Students laughing and someone sprinting” past carrying a basketball.

Normal.

Everything was painfully, frustratingly normal.

I pushed open the door to the committee room and stepped inside.

A long conference table occupied the center of the room.

Elizabeth was already there, seated at the head beside the chair reserved for me. My vice president glanced up from her laptop and smiled.

“Finally. I was about to start charging you a late fee.”

I snorted.

“Try it.”

Priya sat across from her, scrolling through mock-ups on her tablet. She looked up excitedly.

“I finished the graphics for next week’s game-day posts.”

“Please tell me they’re better than the Homecoming ones.”

Priya gasped dramatically.

“They were amazing.”

“They had glitter animations.”

“They were festive.”

“They were blinding.”

Before Priya could defend herself further, Chloe walked in carrying a clipboard nearly as large as her torso.

“I did inventory,” she announced.

Everyone groaned.

Chloe looked offended.

“What? Somebody has to know how many megaphones we own.”

“You scare me,” Elizabeth informed her.

“I get that a lot.”

Chapter 97

I dropped into my chair, smiling despite myself.

For a few precious minutes, everything felt normal.

Then the door opened again.

Jason walked in.

His face immediately brightened when he spotted me.

“Hey, babe.”

The nickname drew a few teasing looks from around the table.

Jason ignored them completely and leaned down to kiss my cheek.

“Hey.”

He pulled out the chair beside mine.

And then the door opened again.

The room fell noticeably quieter.

Zane Ashton stepped inside.

My stomach immediately tightened.

He wore a black Harrington football hoodie with the sleeves shoved up to his forearms. One hand was tucked into his pocket

as he strolled toward the back of the room like he owned the building.

Behind him came Noah Carter, one of the assistant captains.

Zane barely glanced at anyone.

Then his eyes landed on me.

For a second, everything seemed to stop and my pulse began racing.

The memory of a black mask flashed through my mind.

That voice.

That scent.

That hand wrapped around my throat.

My stomach flipped violently.

Zane’s expression didn’t change.

Not even a little.

He simply held my gaze for one impossible second before moving toward the back row.

I looked away first.

God.

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Chapter 97

I hated that.

The door swung open again.

Maya Whitmore swept into the room like she was arriving at a red-carpet event instead of an after-school committee meeting.

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