Episode 21: The Temptation Game
Jaden sat on the bench, rolling his sore shoulder as he watched the rest of the players warming up. The last match had pushed him to his limit, and now, things inside Iron Stride were changing.
The program was scouting more players. New faces were arriving.
The competition was only getting harder.
And with harder competition? Came more distractions.
Ava's Little Game
"Carter."
Jaden sighed before he even looked up.
Ava Sinclair. Of course.
She stood in front of him, hands on her hips, her blonde hair tied up, sweat glistening on her skin from an earlier training session.
Jaden leaned back, unfazed. "What do you want, Sinclair?"
Ava smirked. "Relax, I'm not here to ruin your life."
Jaden raised an eyebrow. "Yet."
She laughed, tilting her head. "You're fun when you're annoyed."
Jaden shook his head. This girl never quit.
Ava stretched, her tank top shifting slightly, just enough to be distracting. "You know," she mused, "it's kinda impressive."
Jaden exhaled. "What is?"
"You." Ava's smirk widened. "Most guys here would've broken by now. Iron Stride eats people alive. But you?"
She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "You're still standing."
Jaden's jaw tightened.
Because she wasn't wrong.
Ava studied him for a second, then grinned. "You ever gonna let loose, Carter?"
Jaden rolled his eyes. "I'm fine as I am."
Ava tsked. "Shame." She leaned in slightly, voice teasing. "Bet I could make you crack."
Jaden didn't move. Didn't react.
Instead, he just smirked back. "Keep dreaming."
Ava chuckled. "Oh, I will."
Then she walked off, her laughter echoing down the hall.
Jaden exhaled. That girl was trouble.
Locker Room Banter
Later that day, Jaden sat in the locker room, re-taping his wrist when Leo plopped down next to him.
"So," Leo drawled, "Ava still trying to make you her next victim?"
Jaden smirked. "She's persistent."
Leo whistled. "Damn right. She's got half the guys here wrapped around her finger."
Jaden shook his head. "Not me."
Leo grinned. "For now."
Jaden gave him a look. "I have Abby."
Leo raised his hands. "Hey, I respect it. But I'm just saying…" He leaned in. "It's a long season."
Jaden sighed. "You're an idiot."
Leo just laughed.
For the first time in a while, Jaden actually felt normal. No fights. No death threats. Just banter, football, and bullshit conversations.
Maybe Iron Stride wasn't all bad.
New Players, New Problems
That evening, a meeting was called in the main hall.
Jaden and the rest of the players gathered as Coach Vance stood in front, arms crossed.
"We've brought in new recruits," Vance announced. "Fresh blood. Stronger competition."
Jaden frowned. More players? That meant more cuts.
Then the doors opened.
The new recruits walked in—each one looking sharp, hungry, and ready to fight for a spot.
Jaden scanned the crowd—until his eyes locked onto someone familiar.
No fucking way.
His stomach twisted.
Standing among the new players…
Was his old high school rival.
Jaden's jaw clenched.
Leo nudged him. "Yo… you good?"
Jaden exhaled slowly. "Yeah."
But deep down?
He knew.
Iron Stride just got a whole lot more complicated.