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locker room blues

Jessica

Third and Five… tie game, ten seconds to go from the thirty-two-yard line in the fourth quarter.

“HURTS! WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?! YOU MISSED YOUR ASSIGNMENT ON SECOND DOWN! WE SHOULDN’T BE IN THIS SITUATION! DON’T FUCK UP THIS TIME!!! O-LINE, YOU’VE BEEN GETTING YOUR ASSES HANDED TO YOU! IT’S A FUCKING MIRACLE WE’RE EVEN TIED!!! NOW GO OUT THERE, RUN THE PLAY, AND WIN THIS FUCKING GAME LIKE I KNOW YOU CAN!!!” Coach yells at the top of his lungs, trying to inspire the squad, but in the process, he makes me feel like shit.

It’s that asshole safety! He blitzed and ran me over, forcing Duval to throw the ball away. Then his ass stepped over me, talking shit about girls not belonging on the field. That really fucking got to me…

Coach has had a heavy emphasis on the pass all game, so I’ve been relegated to being mainly a pass blocker or route runner. We could complete a pass and call a timeout, but our kicker is injured and his backup already missed a field goal and an extra point. Damnit…

During games, I’ve always experienced an adrenaline rush like none other. I’ve always felt on top of the world, but because of my fuck ups, my team is about to lose. My chest tightens as anxiety gets the best of me. I clutch my chest, wanting to throw this fucking helmet off. But I can’t… no matter how I feel.

“JEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSIIIIIICCCCCCAAAAAA!!!!!!!!” I hear over the loud crowd and I spin smiling, but it doesn’t reach my eyes when I notice Faythe holding up the phone with Bebe on it, waving. Instead, a lump forms in my throat at the vacant seat next to her.

I feel like shit right now, but I don’t have time to dwell on any of that.

I line up in shotgun next to Duval. We’re going to try two shots at the red zone. It’s our best chance…

“Aye, alert, alert! Luffy! Luffy!” Duval calls an audible, letting me know it’s a play called for me. Wait, what? Why?! What does he see?

“WHAT THE FU—” We hear Coach yell. This is a risky play, completely against his call, but maybe…

“SET HIKE!” he yells, and I’m kicked into action. The second he steps back to pass, it’s an all-out blitz. Oh my God… this is it!

I brace myself to block the linebacker, and the second he commits, I step out of the way and run a wheel route. When I turn to look at Duval, he’s already being tackled, but before he hits the ground, he throws the ball my way. Shit!

It’s overthrown, so I have to leap as high as I can and stretch my left hand to make the one-handed grab. When I look ahead there are about three players to beat. This is it…

I run ahead at full speed before coming to a sudden stop and juking one of the safeties at around the fifteen-yard line. I sprint ready to break another tackle, but Tek comes out of nowhere and runs over the fucker trying to stop me. They both drop in front of me, and I have to hurdle over them. One more!

It’s the asshole that ran me over earlier! Less than ten yards to go… his ass thinks I’m going to avoid him…

I hold the ball tight and he shuffles his feet, expecting me to spin or juke, but instead, I lower my shoulder and run his ass the fuck over. Once he’s behind me, he goes for a last-ditch effort to trip me and grabs my ankle, but I keep my balance, drag his ass a few yards, and lunge from the three, stretching my arm out with the football. I can make it… I can?—

“TOUCHDOWN!!! JESSICA HURTS SCORES WITH ZEROES ON THE CLOCK!!! THE TIGERS WIN!!!”

“….ssica! …sic….! JESSICA!” I jump, startled, wiping tears from my eyes, turning away when I see Tek standing next to me, still in his uniform. Even though he went to the locker room a while ago, he’s still holding his helmet.

“Oh… I’m sorry, huh? I wa?—”

“You’re crying…” he points out, and my chest sinks. I laugh awkwardly, trying to feign silliness.

“Of course I’m crying. I just won the biggest game of my life, s?—”

“No, I recognize happy tears when I see them… you look down,” he states, and I blink my sore eyes as I look out at the empty stadium where I imagined Frank would be. Suddenly, more tears fall from my eyes. Shit… I wipe harder, willing these tears away.

“N-no,” I stammer. “I’m not crying, I—” I feel his arms wrap around me and though I’m thrown off by it, I return it briefly and step back quickly. “Thank you, Tek. I needed that,” I chuckle, getting myself together.

“Of course. I’ll always be a shoulder you can cry on. I’m always here if you need me.” He steps closer and I back up, holding out my hand to his chest.

“I know and I appreciate that, but there’s no need. I had a moment of weakness, but I’m good.” I give him a bright toothy grin even though I feel like shit and I’m sure he can tell based on the frown on his face, but thankfully he doesn’t linger on it.

“Well, I’m glad you’re good, but still, our MVP shouldn’t be alone. I came to invite you out tonight.” Immediately, I start shaking my head, but he sighs.

“You just won MVP and got the winning touchdown, dude. You’re coming out with us no matter what,” he demands.