Chapter 1: Not the Smartest of Them All

                                    

                                          
When sports are your life, it's hard to find time for a decent relationship. No guy wants a girl that acts just as manly as they do. As for me, I am that girl. I eat, drink, and burp football. My dad played in high school, college, and professionally and was now coaching high school football in Miami. Both of my brothers were into sports, football and soccer. Ever since my freshmen year in college, I had a job as an athletic trainer for the football team at the University of Miami. I guess you could say football is my life. 
                          
"Ally Jo! I'm headed to the library!" My best friend Mia called from the living room of our apartment. "you coming with me?"
                          
"Mia, what would I do in the library?" I yelled back from my room. She had just interrupted my perfectly good nap. 
                          
"Work!" Mia yelled back. 
                          
I groaned and rolled over on my back. 
                          
"It's a shame, it's your senior year and you've never been in the library for over five minutes." Mia walked into my room shaking her head. 
                          
"The library is doing just fine without me," I sighed. "plus, when I do study I do just fine in here." 
                          
"Aren't you failing your Business Finance class?" Mia asked. 
                          
"Don't remind me." I groaned. 
                          
"They have tutors there."
                          
"Fine, I'll go. But this will be the only time," I finally got up from my bed. "don't get used to it."
                          
I grabbed my Business Finance book and walked out of the apartment with Mia to the campus library. 
                          

                          
"It's too quiet in here for me." I whispered to Mia when we walked into the library. 
                          
Mia rolled her eyes. "Tutoring is on the third floor, have fun." She winked and walked into the 24 hour study room. 
                          
The library has a third floor? I thought. I found the stairs and followed the signs. When I finally reached the tutoring center, I went to the front desk. 
                          
"Hey, I'm here to get help with," I whispered, placing my book down. "Business Finance."
                          
"Ally Jo?" The girl at the front desk laughed. "You're in the library?" 
                          
I couldn't remember the girl's name to save my life. I knew too many people because of the football team. 
                          
"I'm just as shocked as you are." I smiled. 
                          
"Any parties this weekend?" She asked. 
                          
"If we win tomorrow night," I whispered. "Dave is having one at the usual place." I really wasn't good at whispering because some people behind me made 'shhhing' noises. "Damn." I said under my breath. 
                          
"Awesome!" The girl whispered excitedly. "Well, you're the only one here for Business Finance. Your tutor is in room 310." She smiled. 
                          

                          
When I walked in, there sat a guy on his cell phone with two books and a notebook sitting in front of him. He had brown hair styled like Zac Efron's. He wore a green and blue striped tank, showing off his muscles. He looked up from his phone and his eyes met mine. 
                          
"You my tutor?" I asked, setting my book down on the table. 
                          
"Yeah," He chuckled. "Ally Jo, right?" He asked as I sat down across from him. 
                          
Where did I know this guy from? 
                          
"I'm Brett," He smiled. "second string running-back." 
                          
"Brett? You're smart?" I asked. 
                          
"Yeah," Brett chuckled. "I broke the stereotype."
                          
"Well that's good! We need that," I said, opening my textbook. "but right now, I need help. Let's get started?"
                          

                          
After spending two hours with Brett, I finally felt good about Business Finance. 
                          
"Thanks, Brett." I smiled. 
                          
"I'll give you my number," He said, reaching for my phone which was on the table. "just in case you need a refresher before your next test."
                          
I leaned back in my seat and closed my book. "Don't bank on me meeting you in here though. The library is not for me." I crossed my arms over my chest. 
                          
"We can meet wherever you want." He chuckled and handed my phone back to me. 
                          
As he handed it back, our eyes met and he held our gaze with the phone in both his and my hand. Then I blinked and quickly took my phone from him. 
                          
"Thanks again." I said quickly getting up from the table. 
                          
"See you at practice!" Brett called after me as I left the room. 
                          
As I walked out, I walked right into what felt like a brick wall. I looked up at the 6'9 black male in front of me. 
                          
"Oh, hey Devon." I sighed. 
                          
Devon and I had a past. Sophomore year, we had a month long fling. Little did I know, I wasn't the only girl he was having the same fling with. Him being a basketball player, all the girls wanted him. How naive are they? Well, I was one of those naive girls my sophomore year, but I learned my lesson real quick. 
                          
"Ally Jo, what's up?" He asked. "What're you doing in the library? Thought I'd never see you here."
                          
Why was he trying to make conversation? I held up my Business Finance book. "I'm dumb in this class. Why are you here?"
                          
"Study hall." He sighed. 
                          
"Well, get to it." I said, walking away from him.