The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18

ASTRA

“Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God.”

I was going to throw up.

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The stadium lights blazed overhead, turning the entire field into a sea of silver and gold. Music blasted through the speakers. The stands were packed, students in black and gold, waving banners, screaming at the top of their lungs. The energy was electric, almost overwhelming.

This was Harrington Academy’s first home game of the season.

And I was somehow in charge of half of it.

“President Hawthorne!” someone yelled from the sidelines.

I gripped my clipboard tighter, headset slightly crooked on my messy bun, and tried not to panic.

Priya rushed up to me, looking frazzled but excited. “The cheerleaders finally agreed on the smoke bombs, silver and gold only. The student section is almost full. Jason’s helping hand out the glow sticks!”

I nodded quickly, flipping through my checklist. “Water coolers are set. Banners are up. Pep rally script is ready. We’re good. We’re good.”

I didn’t sound convinced.

Jason appeared beside me, holding two glowing sticks and wearing a soft smile. “Breathe, Astra. You’ve got this.”

I gave him a shaky smile. “I’m trying.”

The announcer’s voice boomed across the stadium,

“Ladies and gentlemen… please welcome your Harrington Hawks!”

The crowd erupted as the football team ran out onto the field,

My eyes found him instantly,

Zane,

He looked every bit the star quarterback, navy jersey stretched across his broad shoulders and chest, helmet under one arm, dark hair messy from warm–ups. The captain’s “C” patch stood out proudly. The entire stadium chanted his name.

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Bu his eyes scanned the sidelines until they locked on me.

For a long second, the noise faded.

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Then he turned away sharply, jaw tight, and jogged toward the team huddle.

The pep rally portion kicked off right after, cheerleaders doing stunts, the band playing the fight song, students waving banners. My committee had done most of the setup, and seeing it all come together made my chest swell with pride.

We actually pulled it off.

By the time the national anthem ended and the teams lined up for the coin toss, I was buzzing with

nervous energy.

Jason stayed close the whole time, occasionally bumping my shoulder lightly. “You look good in president mode.”

I laughed nervously. “I look like I’m about to

pass out.”

“You look hot,” he corrected with a grin.

My face heated.

Then the game started.

The referee blew the whistle. Harrington won the toss and elected to receive. The kickoff sailed through the air, and the crowd went wild as our returner caught it and sprinted forward.

I stood near the sidelines with my committee, clipboard in hand, trying to look professional even though my heart was racing.

Zane was on the field now.

Every time he moved, calling plays, shouting at his teammates, throwing warm–up passes, I couldn’t help but watch. He was magnetic, Dangerous. In control,

And every few plays, his eyes would flick toward the sidelines.

Toward me.

Jason noticed with a raised brow. “He keeps looking over here.”

“I know,” I whispered.

Maya and the cheerleaders were performing near our section, but Maya’s glare kept cutting toward me like knives.

The first quarter flew by in a blur of noise, tension, and adrenaline. Harrington was up by one

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Chapter 18

touchdown when halftinic finally came.

I let out a long breath. “We survived the first half.”

Jason laughed. “You survived. We just helped.”

Priya and Elizabeth came rushing over, beaming.

“This is actually going really well!” Priya said.

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Elizabeth nodded. “The student section looks amazing. People are loving the glow sticks.”

I smiled, genuinely proud for a moment.

But the feeling didn’t last long.

Because as the halftime show started, I felt it again, that heavy, burning stare.

Zane was on the bench, helmet off, water bottle in hand… watching me.

Not the cheerleaders doing their routine.

Not the marching band.

Just me.

And the look in his eyes was dark, intense, and anything but friendly.

I quickly looked away, heart racing, and forced myself to focus on my job.

“Priya, make sure the glow stick distribution is ready for the third quarter,” I said, checking my clipboard. “Jason, can you help the maintenance guys move the extra water coolers closer to the bench? Coach said they’re running low.”

“On it,” Jason replied, giving my shoulder a quick, reassuring squeeze before jogging off.

The rest of halftime flew by in a blur of coordinating with cheer coaches, confirming the student section chants, and making sure the banners were still secure, By the time the teams came back onto the field for the second half, I was exhausted but buzzing.

The game kicked off again.

And Zane… God.

He was everywhere.

Tall, broad–shouldered, and ridiculously handsome under the bright lights, he commanded the field like it belonged to him. Every snap, every play call, every perfect spiral pass, he was focused, sharp, unstoppable. The crowd chanted his name after every completion. Girls in the stands

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Streamed like he was a rockstar.

He threw a beautiful 35–yard pass in the third quarter that led to a touchdown.

Then another one early in the fourth that set up the game–winning drive.

I hated how mesmerized I was.

Every time he came off the field, his eyes found me on the sidelines.

Every single time.

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The score stayed close the entire game, but Harrington pulled ahead in the final minutes. When he clock hit zero and the final whistle blew, the stadium exploded.

Final Score: Harrington 28 – Westbridge 24

The crowd lost their minds.

students flooded the field. Cheerleaders screamed. The band played the fight song at full volume. Fireworks went off above the stadium.

stood there in the chaos, clipboard forgotten in my hands, grinning so wide my cheeks hurt.

‘We did it!” Priya screamed, tackling me in a hug. “You did it, President!”

Elizabeth and Chloe joined in, jumping and laughing. Jason appeared out of nowhere and lifted me off the ground in a quick, celebratory spin.

‘You were incredible tonight!” he shouted over the noise.

I laughed, dizzy and happy, as Jason set me down.

All around us, people were chanting “Hawks! Hawks! Hawks!”

The final whistle had blown. Harrington had won 28-24.

The field turned into pure chaos.

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Students flooded down from the bleachers. Cheerleaders were screaming and hugging. The band kept playing the fight song at full volume. Fireworks cracked overhead. Parents and alumni were cheering from the stands.

It was beautiful. Overwhelming. Perfect.

The football team was in the middle of it all, helmets off, sweaty, laughing and slapping each other on the back. Zane stood tall in the center, broad shoulders still rising and falling from the game, hair damp with sweat. His teammates were practically worshiping him.

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Buchis eyes kept finding me through the crowd.

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I forced myself to focus. “Okay team,” I said, raising my voice over the noise. “We still have work to do. Let’s start breaking everything down so the maintenance crew can get the field cleared.”

Elizabeth nodded. “Banners and glow stick stations first.”

We got to work.

For the next thirty minutes, my committee moved through the celebrating crowd like worker bees. We rolled up banners, collected leftover glow sticks, stacked empty water crates, and made sure the student section was cleared of trash.

By the time we were mostly done, the field had thinned out. Most fans were heading to the parking lot. The football team had disappeared into the locker room to shower and change.

I wiped sweat from my forehead, my cardigan long since tied around my waist. My leggings were dusty and my arms ached, but I felt… accomplished.

Priya collapsed dramatically onto the bottom bleacher, Chloe doing the same. “We survived.”

‘We more than survived,” Elizabeth said, grinning. “We actually crushed it.”

Jason bumped my shoulder. “Told you you’d be great

I smiled tiredly. “Thanks, guys. Seriously. I couldn’t have done this without all of you.”

We said our goodbyes near the exit gate. Hugs, tired high–fives, and promises to meet up tomorrow to finish cleanup.

Jason lingered for a second. “You sure you don’t want a ride? I can drop you off.”

I shook my head, patting my scooter. “I’m good. I need the fresh air anyway. See you next week?”

“Yeah.” He gave me that soft, sincere smile again. “Get home safe, President.”

I watched him walk towards his car, then kicked my scooter to life and started the ride home, the cool night air brushing against my flushed skin.

The win still buzzed in my veins.

But so did the memory of Zane’s eyes on me the entire game.