Love Me Like A Champion

Chapter Five: One minute

The stadium at North Fall University vibrated with noise. Chants rolled through the stands like waves crashing against stone, drums beating in time with racing hearts. Floodlights cut through the evening sky, turning the pitch into a glowing stage. Every seat was filled. Every eye was fixed on the field.

The scoreboard blinked. 0 - 0

Five minutes left.

Sweat clung to Xander Savage's skin as he jogged back into position, chest rising steadily, mind sharp despite the pressure. The match had been brutal...tackles hard, passes tight, tempers high. The opposing team had marked him relentlessly, two defenders shadowing his every move.

He wiped his face with the back of his wrist and glanced at the clock.

Four minutes and thirty seconds.

From the sidelines, Wendy Savage bounced on the balls of her feet, pom-poms shaking as she shouted with the rest of the cheerleaders. Her blue hair caught the light, flashing bright as she cupped her hands around her mouth.

"COME ON, XANDER!"

The chant started again.

"SAVAGE! SAVAGE! SAVAGE!"

Across the pitch, Freya Woods lifted her camera, adjusting the lens without hesitation. The scandal had not stopped her from working. It couldn't. Rent still needed paying. Food still cost money. And Xander Savage, no matter how much the internet burned...still sold.

She followed him through the viewfinder, finger poised. The ball was passed wide. A defender slipped. Xander moved.

It happened fast, one clean touch and a sharp turn. The defenders were a step too slow. The crowd inhaled as one.

Xander struck.

The ball curved beautifully through the air, kissing the inside of the net just as the clock ticked down to one minute remaining.

For half a second, there was silence. Then the stadium exploded.

"GOALLLL!"

Wendy screamed, leaping into her squad, tears springing to her eyes as she jumped and laughed. The cheerleaders broke formation, spinning wildly, voices raw with joy.

"That's my brother!"

Teammates slammed into Xander, arms wrapping around him, shouting his name. He staggered under their weight, breathless, heart pounding but his face remained composed. Focused.

Freya caught the moment perfectly. Click!

Xander pulling free...another click.

His fists clenched at his sides...a faster click.

The crowd behind him rising to their feet. She lowered the camera slightly, already reviewing the shots when the noise moved from cheering to angry shouting. She looked up. Police officers were moving onto the pitch. At first, no one understood. Then someone pointed.

"They're going for her!"

Hands grabbed Freya's arms.

"What?" she gasped. "Wait...what are you doing?"

"Ma'am, you need to come with us."

Her camera slipped from her neck, swinging wildly as panic surged through her chest. "I haven't done anything!"

The crowd reacted instantly. Booing erupted from the stands, loud and unforgiving.

"LIAR!"

"LEAVE!"

"ATTENTION SEEKER!"

Freya's throat burned as tears spilled over. She struggled instinctively, but the officers were firm, already pulling her away from the sidelines.

"Please," she cried. "Please, I didn't..."

Wendy turned her face away, jaw tight, refusing to look.

Xander froze. He stared as Freya was dragged across the grass, her sobs swallowed by the noise. Something twisted in his chest. He spat onto the ground and looked away, forcing his eyes forward.

He took a step. He moved toward the tunnel but a hand grabbed his arm.

"Xander," his manager said urgently. "Don't."

"I need to..." he started.

"No," the man said firmly. "Cameras are everywhere. This is not the time."

Xander's fists clenched. He turned back.

Fans rushed the barriers, arms outstretched, shouting his name, asking for autographs. He forced a smile onto his face, moving mechanically, signing shirts and phones while Freya's cries echoed faintly in his head. 

***

The cell was cold. Freya sat on the narrow bench, knees pulled to her chest, arms wrapped around herself as tears fell freely. Her head throbbed. Her throat ached from crying. The smell of disinfectant burned her nose.

The door opened, footsteps approached. She lifted her head slowly.

Courtney Savage stood on the other side of the bars, immaculate as ever. Beside her was Watz, holding a tablet, and two sharply dressed lawyers.

Freya's heart sank.

The officer unlocked the cell and escorted her to the counter.

One of the lawyers cleared his throat. "Miss Woods, we're prepared to secure your release."

Hope flared painfully.

"However," he continued, "there are conditions."

Freya listened, numb.

"You will record a live video apologizing to Xander Savage, the Savage family, LEGACY, and the general public."

Her breath caught.

"You will state that the Snapchat screenshots circulating are false," the lawyer went on calmly. "That you were an obsessed fan seeking attention."

Her hands trembled.

"And you will sign an agreement never to speak publicly or privately about the Savage family or LEGACY again."

Silence stretched.

Freya shook her head slowly. "No."

Courtney's gaze sharpened. "Think carefully."

"I won't lie," Freya said hoarsely. "I won't destroy myself to protect you."

The lawyer sighed. "Then we have nothing more to discuss."

She was taken back to the cell. The door slammed shut.

Courtney turned to the officer. "Let me know when she's ready to sign."

She walked out without looking back.

***

The car was quiet. Xander drove, hands tight on the wheel. Courtney sat in the passenger seat, gaze forward. Watz sat in the back, scrolling through her tablet.

"Mum," Xander said finally. "Please."

Courtney didn't turn.

"She doesn't deserve this," he said. "Let her go."

"I won't," Courtney replied calmly.

He swallowed. "She's just a teenager."

Courtney's voice hardened. "So was I when I learned what it meant to protect a name."

He glanced at her. "Please."

She met his eyes briefly. "I won't let a small girl ruin the legacy my grandfather, Damon Savage, built."

Xander fell silent. The road stretched ahead.