Page 53 of Running Play (Gods of Campus #1)

Christian

“What the hell did you do to your shin!” Coach’s voice booms at Walsh, pointing down to his badly bruised leg. He stands in only his underwear, about to slide his first foot into his uniform.

“Oh,” he stammers, pausing and looking at his leg. “I-I tripped up the stairs.”

I watch Randy and Seth smile in my peripheral. “Well, shit, Walsh that’s your kicking leg…be more careful. You’re no good to me with a busted leg.”

He glances at me and back to Coach. “Yes, Coach.”

“Harrison!” Coach barks.

“Yes, Coach!” Randy yells back.

“Rogers is starting!”

I see the flash of disappointment in his eyes, but he gives a small head nod. “Yes, Coach.”

Rogers is the senior quarterback and the one who needs all the game time for his future football prospects, and he’s a good player. But if there is any game Randy wants to play in, it’s the one against the Cyclones. Luke Cole will be out there waiting for him.

Coach walks past Randy and rests his hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry, son, you will get to play today,” he says, squeezing his shoulder before walking off to talk with another player.

“You good?” I ask, sliding my jersey over my head.

He shrugs. “Not what I wanted, but I get it.”

Jason comes up to us, his smile wide. He claps his hands together with purpose. “Let’s fucking do this!”

***

The roar of the crowd as we run onto the field is a sound I will never get tired of. It’s electric, and I can feel the vibration pulsating throughout my body. The crowd always makes me dig deeper, run faster, and play harder.

Randy and I control the huddle, and I can see it in my friend’s eyes that he wants this.

We are down by a touchdown late in the second, and we need to level the score by halftime.

Since Randy has taken the field, the past quarter has been intense.

The taunting, verbal abuse, late hits, everyone is on edge.

Both teams are grinding away at each other.

I’m surprised a fight hasn’t broken out with the animosity being thrown around the field.

It feels like the championship, and I’m not surprised, because this is what it’s predicted to look like—us and them.

“Okay, boys, we got this. On my call, we are running for Christian,” Randy says as the sweat pours down his brow as he looks in my direction .

I nod my head in agreement. “We got this, boys! Let’s level this up!”

The call is made, and I watch Randy’s pass spiral perfectly in my direction. Damn, he is good. The ball sits perfectly in my hands as I run it over for a touchdown right as the halftime buzzer sounds around the stadium.

***

I slap Seth on the shoulder after our win. Every player on our team was desperate for that victory, and we did it, 27 to 17.

“You’re a machine, man.”

“Thanks, bro,” he says. “How’s the ribs?”

“Fine…after that game and the high I’m on, I can’t even feel them.” I raise the question I have been holding off asking, yet I still hesitate. “Still not heading home for Thanksgiving?”

I watch Randy lift his head and make eye contact with me as we wait for Seth’s reply.

He exhales painfully. “Not this year.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah, just going to chill at home and get some assignments done.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to come to my parents’ place? They would love to see you. There’s room in the car, or you can bring your bike down so you can leave when you want.”

He throws his towel over his shoulder. “I’m good…thanks, anyway.” He stands and heads for the showers .

We both watch Seth walk away.

“Worth a shot,” Randy says.

I nod, wiping some sweat from my face with my jersey and throwing it into the hamper harder than needed.

Seth needs to work through his issues. He pushes them down and won’t talk to anyone.

He’s been unable to move past the accident that took his sister’s life.

One night and his whole family got ripped apart.

They’re never going to heal until he learns that it was an accident.

Watching him walk to the showers, I sigh.

He’s one of my best friends. I know he would do anything for me, so not being able to help him sucks.

***

Between training, classes, and the buildup to our game today, I haven’t had a chance to see Shelby. I know she is waiting for me on the other side of the players’ door, so I quickly shower and get changed in a rush to see her. Heading out the door with Walsh, I see Dani and Shelby talking to Seth.

“Hey, babe. Oh my God, that game was so intense. You played so well!” Shelby says, wrapping me in a congratulatory hug. She is wearing the jersey I got her with my name printed across the back.

“Another amazing touchdown, big brother ,” Dani says from the little circle we have congregated into.

I watch Seth tense at those words. Looking at him, I feel him slip into the dark shadows of his mind where he goes when things get too hard.

Dani playfully punches Seth in the arm. “Seth! Holy shit, you were on fire, babe.”

“Thanks, Dani.” He smiles back but it’s quick and pained.

“I’ve got to head out,” he says, slapping me on the back. “You still okay to take my gear?”

“Yeah, man,” I say as he drops it at my feet. “Enjoy your ride.”

“Thanks, see you at home.”

“See ya,” Dani says, pulling him in for a hug. He reciprocates the hug with a tap on the back, and just as quickly drops his hand to his side.

“Bye.”

Dani watches with concern as he walks away. “Is he okay?”

“No, I don’t think he is. He struggles around this time of the year, and I have no fucking clue what to do for him,” I reply.

The roar of the bike has us watching him as he kicks the bike into gear and disappears out of the parking lot.