Page 5

CHAPTER 5

DYLAN

THE NEXT MORNING

I step onto the training field, my cleats pressing into the damp grass, and my stomach twists like it’s trying to eat itself.

This is it.

Coaches are watching.

Potential future teammates are watching.

Every single set of eyes on me, waiting to see if I’ll crack under pressure.

I pull in a deep breath, rolling out my shoulders as the assistant coach steps forward, clipboard in hand. His gaze sweeps over the team, pausing on me for half a second before he starts talking.

"We’ll be running a full-speed scrimmage today. Two teams. No holding back."

He doesn’t have to spell it out. This is a test.

"We want to see how you handle real-time play against a professional squad."

I already know the stakes.

This is the moment I prove I belong—or I don’t.

If I fuck this up, I’ll spend the rest of my time here playing catch-up, trying to claw my way back into the coaches’ good graces.

No pressure or anything.

The game starts at full intensity. No warm-up, no easing into it—just a whistle and immediate chaos.

I react on instinct, rushing forward as my team spreads out. The ball moves fast— too fast.

This isn’t like playing with my regular squad. We’re not bad, but here, it’s different—the passes are clean, effortless, the movement fluid, practiced. They know each other’s rhythms. They anticipate plays before they even happen. And I feel like I’m half a second behind.

The ball comes my way, and I catch it easily—but my next move? Hesitation.

I don’t see the best passing lane immediately, and that split-second of doubt nearly gets my pass intercepted.

A warning bell rings in my head. Too slow.

A second later, an opposing player cuts past me, and I move in for a tackle, but she sidesteps, leaving me grasping at air.

Shit.

“Push up, Porter!” someone yells from behind me.

I grit my teeth and reset, but I can feel it. The doubt.

Am I actually ready for this?

I can’t do this.

I can’t hesitate.

I block out the noise and force my mind to focus on the game, not the pressure.

The next time I get the ball—I don’t hesitate.

I see the opening.

I cut through the gap.

A defender slams into me, but I keep driving forward.

I absorb the hit, my feet digging into the turf as I fight for space. The moment I feel a second defender closing in, I flip a quick pass to my teammate. Clean. Sharp. Precise.

And just like that, something clicks. I start seeing the field differently. Instead of reacting late, I start anticipating. I watch the way my teammates move, the way the defense shifts. I track the ball’s momentum, feeling the rhythm of play instead of chasing it.

The next time a pass comes my way, I don’t think—I move. I sprint into open space, cut inside, and call for it. The ball comes fast, but I catch it cleanly, pivot, and fire a pass wide before a defender can close me down.

The pace is still brutal, but I’m adjusting. I’m in it now. The game keeps moving, and so do I.

Then, a moment presents itself—a massive tackle opportunity. One of the opposing team’s best players breaks through the defensive line, her eyes locked on the try zone. I see it happening a second before anyone else.

Go.

I charge. Time slows for a split second. I plant my feet, lower my body, and slam into her. The impact shakes through my bones, but I don’t let go. We hit the ground hard, the ball popping loose.

For a heartbeat, the field goes silent. Then, from the sideline—“Hell of a hit, Porter!”

My pulse hammers in my ears as I push myself up, breath ragged. The doubt? Gone. Confidence surges through me.

I stop thinking about not messing up and start playing to win. I start calling plays, directing movement—even though I’m new, even though I know some of these players weren’t sure about me.

And they start listening.

The next time I get the ball, I see the defense pressing up fast—so I do something unexpected. Instead of running or passing short, I step back and send a long, pinpoint kick-pass across the field. The ball drops perfectly into my teammate’s hands on the wing. She bolts for the try zone, crossing the line untouched. The sideline erupts. Even the players who were skeptical when I first walked onto the field? They’re paying attention now.

We’re in the last few minutes. I see another opening—one that requires me to take the risk myself. The ball swings my way, and I don’t hesitate. I cut through the defense, pushing into open space.

Two defenders rush in.

I fake left. Spin right. Break free. Full sprint now, nothing but the try line ahead. My lungs burn, but I don’t stop. I dive over the line, grounding the ball just as the whistle blows.

Game over.

And me?

I fucking did it.

I walk off the field, my legs heavy, body bruised, my heart pounding with adrenaline.

Someone claps me on the back—a veteran player who barely acknowledged me before.

“Didn’t think you had it in you,” she says. “Guess I was wrong.”

The assistant coach steps in next. “You were good in your scouting games. Today? You were even better. Don’t see many hookers who can run like that.”

I nod, still catching my breath.

“Keep playing like that,” he says, “and you’ll make a real impact here.”

I barely contain the rush of relief. I proved myself.

Not just to them—but to me.

As I head toward the locker room, one thought stays with me.

I can do this.