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OLIVER

I heard my name called the moment I stepped inside the front entrance, and the tone was not a happy one. My first thought was that Mom had found out about my less than stellar grades, so I poked my head into the kitchen and said cheerily, “Hi Mom, I’m back.”

“You haven’t made things up with Savannah?” Mom clipped, picking up her glass of wine.

“What?”

“Savannah? You haven’t made up with her yet?”

“I told you we’re over for good this time,” I said, bustling over to the fridge. I scanned the shelves and grabbed my container of homemade protein balls and the bottle of milk. Mom tutted and handed me a glass before I drank from the bottle.

“You always get back together,” Mom stated. “Penny is worried.”

My stomach clenched in dread. If Mom had spoken to Savannah’s mother, it meant that Savannah wasn’t going to give up on us so easily.

“Hmphh.” I let out an agitated sigh. “I told her this is it. For good. And I mean it.”

“Okay, okay, calm down,” Mom said, though I hadn’t realized I’d raised my voice. “It’s just that you say it every time and you always get back together.”

“I’m done,” I said forcefully. “I’m sick and tired of all the drama.”

“But you two are so cute together,” Mom drawled with a cheesy smile.

“Cute?” I mocked. “You think being cute is a good reason to stay together?” I shook my head in disappointment and popped a peanut butter protein ball into mouth.

Mom cleared her throat and looked a little sheepish. “I’m sorry, Ollie, I just thought you two were the perfect match. What’s it been? Two and a half years?”

“Feels like twenty,” I muttered, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. “It’s time to move on.”

“All relationships have ups and downs,” Mom said, sipping her wine.

“Sure, but ours feels like more downs than ups,” I said.

“You looked so great together at Homecoming though,” Mom said.

I huffed with thick sarcasm. “That’s the second time you’ve said how good we look together.” I put the milk back into the fridge and stood with my fists clenched by my side. My relationship wasn’t something I talked to Mom about—ever, but I felt the need to open up especially as it seemed there was a bias against me and I’d been deemed the bad guy. “Do you know what really happened?” I didn’t give Mom a chance to reply. “Savannah was flirting with the wide receiver from Lincoln. And it’s not the first time. And I’m over it.” I didn’t flinch, my stance intimidating. “I’m just over it.”

Mom’s mouth gaped in surprise. It took her a moment to find her words. “I didn’t know,” she said softly, taking another sip of drink. “Penny said Savannah was shocked that you’d broken up with her, that she couldn’t understand why you had.”

I shook my head. “Lies, Mom. I talked to Sav about it. She laughed it off and said she was just...” I held my hands up for air quotes, “...distracting him.” I rolled my eyes.

“Well, Penny believes you’ve broken up for no good reason. She said Savannah’s devastated.” She set her empty wine glass down and gave me a hard stare. “And apparently she was too upset to go to school today.”

Knowing I was on the verge of losing it, I closed my eyes to reset. Savannah was not going to take ownership of the breakup and would likely play the role of innocent victim. I had a small pang of regret that starting the new fake relationship with Maya might have been a little hasty. But then I remembered the kiss, and there was no regret over that. Besides, there was nothing I could about it now—I was taking Maya on a date on Saturday, and I was looking forward to it. Like really looking forward to it.

“Do you want me to start dinner?” I said, noticing nothing had been prepared. I didn’t mind cooking and it would certainly get my mind off of Savannah.

“No, you go and do your homework,” Mom said. “I’m just about to get started.”

In my room, I pulled out my English assignment, taking a glance of it, but without the reference guides it would be a struggle. Still, I had to make a start. As I clicked on my assignment to see where it needed improvement, Dad poked his head in my doorway.

“Whatcha up to? Rewatching the Scorpions game?”

There was so much expectation in his voice, that without thinking, I answered, “Yep.” Meaning I had to click on St. Martin’s last game, even though I’d already seen it.

“That’s my boy,” Dad said with a satisfied chuckle. “There’s always something new to see, a pattern of play or a defense strategy to analyze.”

He sat beside me and I restarted the video. “Look how early Hatton throws the ball,” I said with a mix of both awe and despondency, “way before his receiver is out of his break.”

“Hatton is good,” Dad stated, nudging my shoulder, “ but so are you .”

We watched the replay until Mom called us to dinner and after eating, we spent the rest of the evening reviewing games. Dad had played college football and was now an avid fan and supporter, and though my brothers had played for the Snow Ridge Owls, none of them had won a championship. And he made no secret of the fact that he would be thrilled if I’d be the one son to follow in his footsteps and get a scholarship and play college football. Just like him. My brothers had gone on to study Architecture, Computers and Business at college.

All too soon, hours had passed and Mom was shooing me off to bed, telling me I needed my rest, but also pestering me about Savannah again.

“I think it might be a good idea to talk to her,” she said. “Let her know that it’s definitely over because Penny doesn’t seem to think it is.”

I’d had enough of the Penny and Savannah issue and mumbled, “Yeah, whatever.” I suddenly remembered I had an English assignment to resubmit.

I checked a text from my brother Lance, asking me how training had gone. He’d been a linebacker for the Owls but was in his third year of college, studying computer engineering. He’d been a top student at Snow Ridge High with a 4.0 GPA and...

I was struck with a heart stopping idea, one I should have ignored, but the more I thought about it, the deeper it embedded into my brain...

My brothers still had their bedrooms for when they came home for holidays or summer and winter breaks. Sure, they’d taken their clothes and stuff with them, but Lance’s trophies and childhood knickknacks were still lined up on shelves and his desk and bookshelf were stuffed with his old school books. I padded across to his room, nervous yet excited. The answer to my dilemma might be right here in Lance’s room. Surely he took English Language and if he didn’t, Ryan or George must have. Hopefully there were written assignments on paper, rather than his computer.

I opened his desk, then his closet. On the top shelf was a bunch of folders, all well labeled with subjects and grades.

“Thank you Lance,” I breathed as I easily found the AP English Lang folder.

I hadn’t wanted to take any Advanced Placement classes, but everyone said I needed them. Colleges would be more favorable to my average grade for an AP class than my great grade for a regular class. Or so I was told. As I was struggling with AP Biology too, I wasn’t so sure it had been the right advice for me.

I checked the hallway before quietly closing the door and slipping back into my room. I wasn’t going to copy Lance’s assignment outright, maybe just use it as a guide, get some inspiration from it.

With a weight training session early tomorrow morning, I flicked through the folder, my heart racing as I considered the goldmine in front of me. I needed to take notes quickly because then I could resubmit to Mrs. Shelton and concentrate solely on the game.

It was well after midnight when I finished typing up my assignment. I didn’t bother to proofread it, already bored by it. Lance had gotten an A, but I’d be more than happy if my version got a B.

I grabbed my phone and though it was way too late, I sent Maya a goodnight text. I wasn’t expecting a response—and didn’t get one. But that was okay. I was feeling good about things. Assignment done, big game on Friday and my first date with Maya on Saturday night.