Becca watched as her boyfriend, Ryan, was tackled to the ground by The Howlers' largest defenseman. Ryan, being half the size, didn't stand a chance.
The whistle blows, and Ryan is slow to get back up. Becca felt her heart in her throat with worry. She watches as he is circled by his concerned teammates and the head coach, but she can't hear the words exchanged. The crowd is on their feet with concern at the sight. Soon, the referee and the game medic are called over.
After an eternity, the team helped Ryan up to his feet. He was wobbly, but there didn't seem to be any significant injury. The announcer spoke with the referee briefly before announcing to the crowd that number thirty-one, Ryan Cotter, would be benched for the rest of the game. Replacing him was number twelve, Patrick Rivers, and not many people on the team seemed pleased about it. This confused Becca; Patrick was fast, and it didn't make sense why he was permanently benched in the team. In her opinion, he was a better quarterback than Ryan was, but she's never voiced that to anyone. Nor would she.
The crowd on the Timberwolves side booed, while The Howlers crowd and team members were laughing and cheering at the benched quarterback.
Ryan was the town's golden boy. His father was the sheriff, and his grandfather was the chair-president of the town council. Ryan's being targeted and taken out of the game so early in the first half will not be taken lightly by the town or the Cotter family hierarchy.
Becca had seen firsthand the pressure that Sheriff Cotter placed on Ryan. It caused Ryan to lash out at others rather often. Although he was never physically towards her, she has seen others suffer the wrath of Ryan's bullying or antagonizing. After this public embarrassment, the sheriff will take his frustrations out on Ryan. Whether it was Ryan's fault or not, it didn't matter. Ryan needed to do better.
After all, he was a Cotter. That had a reputation and power over the town with it. Ryan was expected to hold that set of standards, regardless.
Becca wasn't sure she wanted to leave with Ryan tonight after the game.
He was her ride home, but she knew he'd also be in a foul mood. He was easily triggered into anger and responded passive-aggressively to everyone. She hated it when he was short with her, but he always argued that it was best that way, so he didn't lash out at her instead of others. He would try and convince her that it was for her safety.
When Ryan asked her out shortly after she arrived, she initially thought it was too soon to start seeing someone in a new town, but figured that it might help her fit in and make some friends. Unfortunately, it was the opposite. She was never invited to know Ryan's friends, and her few from school couldn't stand his arrogance. She was confident that there was a grain of good somewhere in him. At times, when he wasn't paying attention, and his guard slipped, she could have sworn she'd seen it.
Although she knew this relationship wasn't the healthiest, she was stuck. There is a rule around town. You don't break up with a Cotter. You had to wait until someone else came around, and they lost interest in you. Their ego and temper were notorious. The town sheriff was married three times, after all. Every single one of them was younger than the next. She was too new in this town to make waves or enemies already. She would bide her time, convinced he'd tire of her eventually. If rumours were true, she’d be considered rather dull and vanilla for a guy with a reputation like Ryan Cotter. Before her, he had a two-week cycle. This was the longest time that a relationship had lasted for Ryan. She wasn't sure what it was about her that made him stay around, but whatever it was, she hoped he would move past it. Many girls were vying for his attention, both in school and around town.
"Miss Layton." A male voice greeted her from the aisle.
Looking over, Becca saw the university dean, Mr Wilks, and his devoted wife, Martha Wilks. They would have been inseparable if he hadn't been at the University. Becca admired their loving devotion to one another. That was what she wanted in the end, and she knew she'd never have that connection with Ryan, but again, she just had to be patient and wait it out.
Bringing her thoughts back to the elderly pair standing at her side, she offered them a smile.
"Dean Wilks, Mrs Wilks. Hello. Out to watch the game, I see."
"We are, but some jackal spilled his beer on the bench we were situated on. I noticed you have space. Would you mind if we join you for the remainder?" Dean Wilks asked. He was not impressed with the relocating mid-game. Most benches were packed. Becca was surprised she was alone on her bench while others were overstuffed with bodies.
"Sure." Becca slid down the bench further, making space.
After they sat down, Mrs. Wilks turned and smiled at Becca. "What unfortunate luck for young Cotter, wouldn't you say?" Becca nodded sadly and pursed her lips. After all, it was the looming doom for the rest of her evening.
"I am sure he'll be out causing chaos tonight." Dean Wilks sighed and stated matter-of-factly. It wasn't lost to the town that Ryan had occasionally caused a few undesirable incidents around town, but he is, ultimately, untouchable.
Becca remained silent. It wasn't that she disagreed; she didn't want others to think she was misspeaking about a Cotter, and it got back to Ryan or his father.
Understanding her reserved silence, the topic moves lighter, and they discuss their latest neighbour's gossip. It was light and entertaining for Becca.
Becca was lucky with her residence. Not only did she get a Scholarship to a top university for computer studies, but she also managed to gain residence within a beautiful bungalow in a quiet and respectable neighbourhood. While looking into residences available for university students, she stumbled upon a listing for a live-in caretaker for an elderly couple looking to spend the year in their tropic retirement home. They needed someone to maintain the bungalow in their absence. After the vigorous application process, Becca was approved and moved into a fully furnished, picture-perfect home.
Coincidentally, it was three doors down from her new Dean, Mr. Reginald Wilks, his wife Martha and their adorable husky, Koda. Becca loved dogs, but the contract with the house specifically stated no pets or roommates. She loved interacting with all her neighbours who had dogs. During her morning runs, she was always allowed puppy petting time, since her run seemed to always end around the same time as when Martha was returning from her walk with the ever-fluffy, Koda.
A new family had moved into the area, and with them came three large dogs and many new experiences in the neighbourhood. Becca was sure it annoyed Dean Wilks, but it seemed as if Martha kept him calm. He hated the flowers planted along the new neighbours' driveway because they didn't follow the community guidelines and colour scheme. Dean Wilks hated their wind chimes. Again, the noise was against the guidelines, but the board let it drop. He also hated the lumen power of their security lights, stating that they were intrusive and too bright.
Ultimately, he was showing his grumpy old man traits, and Becca found it rather amusing to watch this typically tightly collected professional man occasionally show some personality. It gave him that more human, less robot vibe he usually displayed.
Everything about the Wilks exterior property was perfection. Dean Wilks took incredible pride in their home's appearance and neighbourhood standards. Becca loved the little pointers they gave her for maintaining her property. She was learning a lot of pride in ownership from them. Even though she rented for a year, they didn't look down on her. She never caused waves and took in all the information like a sponge.
"Is Koda still having problems with the three new dogs?" Becca asked light-heartedly.
"He is. They continue to try to come over to our property. There is a leash law to be followed." This statement made Becca internally laugh. Koda was never leashed, but Dean Wilks mentioned it for other dogs.
"I am sure they'll fit in soon and start following the guidelines." Mrs. Wilks added, trying to soothe her worked-up husband. Becca nods and turns back to the game. She could see Ryan was frustrated being on the bench. He yelled out onto the field at plays, saying he'd do better.
Men! Becca thought to herself. Hypocrites, the entire lot of them.
After the game ended, the score was close: 7-6 Timberwolves. The Howlers nearly took it tonight, but no one was happy. Becca was sure this would be Ryan's most heated topic tonight.
"Miss Layton, let us take you home tonight. It would be easiest since we are heading back there anyway." Dean Wilks offered, and she appreciated it. She just wasn't sure how Ryan would take it. Everything had to be coaxed cautiously around him.
"I would, but I'm not sure how--"
"Babe!" Ryan's voice broke her from her conversation.
Becca turned and looked at her gloomy boyfriend.
"I'll be out in fifteen; wait by the car." He dictated. Becca felt the Wilks pair move to her side and address Ryan in her stead.
"I just offered to take Miss. Layton home. She's our neighbour, and you live across town."
"No, she's coming with me." Ryan refused right away.
"Son," Sheriff Cotter came to Dean Wilks' side. "I think that is best. You are going straight home. If you are too injured to play the game the town came to see you play, you are too injured to tour the town with your girlfriend. Priorities, Son!"
A chill ran down Becca's spine. Sheriff Cotter always made her uneasy. He was too forceful in most of his interventions. She didn't feel safe alone with him, which was unsettling, considering he was the Sheriff.
"Dad--"
"Enough! Get ready and go straight home, boy!" There was no room for argument with Sheriff Cotter, and Ryan knew it. His shoulders briefly slumped in defeat, and then he straightened his posture and shot Becca a chilling glare. He made it seem as though she had betrayed him. This left her uneasy. Perhaps it was genetic. The Cotter men had a dark core within them.
Ryan turned and left in a huff. He was angry with everyone: his father, the Dean, and, above all, Becca. She didn't stand up for him, but she was his female. It was her job to stand by him.
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