Chapter 3 The deal

Elara.

I caused  a scene, I was halfway through it when I realized coach Liam and my father are good friends.

He is going to kill me for this.

I began to dread the thought of going home.

I didn’t want to.

As I headed out, my eyes caught Dylan on the field, this is his fault. Maybe I can get him to speak to the principal. I can’t.

I hated the thought of speaking to him, it would only make him overly confident. I had to find someone else, someone that I know the coach will listen to, and the principal will have no choice either.

My feet paced across the room, a wave of anxiety  through my veins, when my eyes snapped to the pictures on the wall.

My pulse raced

Dylan Reid

Javier Santos

Landon Hayes

The star player of the team.

Landon’s picture was right in the middle, I never spoke to him, I heard a lot about him.

The star, every girl’s dream in the school, he once dated a cheerleader and after they broke up, she stopped cheering, now she is just a bitch that likes to take out her anger on new students.

Safe to say. He had something to do with it, like not being able to see his ex every day during a game. He is from a wealthy family and each time the team needs anything, his father makes sure they get it, their last trip  funded by  his father’s private jet.

Javier on the other hand is a foreign exchange student that started last year, they convinced him to stay for another year and I have a feeling he is never leaving until we win every trophy.

I could speak to him.

He is Clara’s ex.

I am not about to mess with that.

That leaves me with Landon.

Why would he agree to my terms? Maybe I can convince him, he loves hockey, I know nothing about hockey and last I heard, him and Dylan are not on good terms.

That’s a common ground.

I need a chance to fund my team, I had thoughts about fundraiser, we could even sell our arts on the street, anything to make this work.

I didn’t leave the hallway, instead I stayed, I sent a quick text to Clara asking her to take care of the club for the day.

I watched as every member would walk past me without a word, I waited, I found myself settled on the wooden chair.

Landon is my last resort.

I would hate to protest, my mom will never agree to this and she will rather take me out of the school than have me protest

Minutes passed until I saw Dylan walking into the hallway

Oh no.

I raced further into the hallway, he was right behind him, on his phone, if he makes the mistake of looking up, he would get a glance of me.

My eyes scanned across the hallway when I saw a door and to my luck, it was open, I rushed into it.

My heart skipped a beat as I pressed my ears against the door, I could hear his footsteps.

“It’s you.”

A chilly voice filled the room.

My pulse raced.

I turned around and my eyes met Landon Hayes.

He stood from the chair.

A chill runs down my spine

My eyes darted to the plaque on the wall

Jeremy Hayes’s sponsored captain strategy room.

I averted my gaze away from his wall  and my eyes met his.

“Uhmm- you are the girl that yelled at the coach.” He said cutting me off.

I didn’t tell.

“I’m Elara..”

My eyes stared at me, I moved uncomfortably in my position.

I had imagined he is an asshole, he didn’t sound like one

“Landon.”

“I know who you are?.” I whispered. “You are the reason they want to take away my club from me.”

“I assure you I am not.”

“Do you even know what you are destroying? How would you like it if someone destroys your dream, tried to take away your stick and puck and tells you there are better things to fund for than something you care about?.” I asked, my voice hitched for a second.

I have spoken so much in the past hour, I didn’t want to raise my voice at him, especially when I have no idea what I am getting into.

Landon’s eyes soften.

Did he care?

I have mumbled what to say to him over the last thirty minutes and now the words were scrambled in my head.

“Who proposed this?.” I asked. “Someone had to, there is a new building, the management would not want to take out the art studio unless someone suggest it,  and I am sure as hell, if you needed something, they will be more than willing to give you the new building, so who?.”

“You think someone on my team did this.” He asked

I wanted to mention Dylan, yet I didn’t.

I only suspected him.

His eyes darted to mine and realization dawns to him.

He knows who I am? Everyone did especially the hockey team.

“You are her, Dylan’s ex.” Landon spoke.

“Yeah.” I whispered, I plastered a fake smile on my face as I stared at him. “Look, I don’t want to get into a fight, I know you can change the principal’s decision. Tell them to keep the art studio.”

“What makes you think they will listen to me?.” He asked and a frown appeared on my face.

“You are the golden boy, the team will do anything to keep your happy and I am sure the grant, the team won it because of your father’s influence.”

He smirked.

“Why will I want to help you?.”

Of course just like any boy he will want the same thing.

Was I willing to do that?

I can’t give up on my dream.

“What will it cost to keep one room?,  just talk to them, make them keep it.” I gritted through my teeth.

A smile  appeared on his face as he turned to look at me

“How about a deal? We share the building and in return, you design a full rebrand campaign for the team, and locker room design, maybe my locker design.” Landon suggested. “You work directly with me, no middle man.”

I glanced across his office, it could use some life, it felt lifeless here.

With an office like that, I can tell he will be able to turn the world around.

“You want us to share the building, art needs peace and quiet.”

“It’s that or nothing.”

Landon pulled his hand out.

His hand swallowed mine, warm and steady…like he knew I will say yes