Loud, vicious booing echoing through the entire stadium.
“BOOOOOO!”
“GET OFF THE SCREEN!”
“NOBODY WANTS TO SEE HER!”
I look up, confused, and that's when I see it. My face, blown up to enormous proportions on the jumbotron. The camera has somehow found me in the crowd, and now seventy thousand people are looking at me.
And they're booing… me.
The noise is deafening, crushing.
My heart is racing. I feel dizzy.
How much more can I take before I fall and crack completely? My father thinks I'm a failure, and he’s right. I can’t even make a friend without it turning into something about Zach. I don’t deserve him. I don’t belong here.
It’s all too much.
“Ignore the assholes. They’re all just jealous,” Olivia says, pulling me into her side as Mike moves to stand in front of me, using his body as a shield from the camera. When I look up at him, he’s smiling.
“Evans is going to have to thank me for showing his jersey on the jumbotron. It’s giving him more exposure,” he jokes, but it doesn’t land with me.
I can’t breathe. I can’t feel. I can’t—
I'm already handing Ella over to Tiff before I scramble to my feet.
“Where are you going?” Ella asks, her voice small and confused.
“Honey, no—” Olivia stands with me, blocking my path. “Don't go. Please. Don't give them the satisfaction.”
“I have to—” I can't finish the sentence. I can't explain that I'm breaking apart right here in front of everyone.
“Then I'm coming with you,” Olivia says firmly.
“We both are,” Mike adds, already moving toward me.
“No.” The word comes out harsh. “I need—I just need to go. Alone.”
“Honey, please, don't do this.” Olivia's eyes are desperate now. “Just sit down. We'll leave in five minutes. I promise, but don't run while they're watching.”
The booing continues in our section even though the camera has moved away from me. The girl who told me to sit down earlier smirks as I stumble past her.
“Running away again?” she says loud enough for half the section to hear.
Mike turns on her immediately. “Say one more word—”
“Fuck off,” Olivia snaps at her at the same time.
But I'm already pushing past people, already running.
“Honey!” Olivia's voice chases me.
“I'll go after her,” I hear Mike say behind me.
“No, stay with Tiff and Ella,” Olivia responds. “I've got her.”
But I don't stop. I can't stop.