Two
Zane
My senior yearwas supposed to be amazing. I was supposed to finish out my time at Lake Conroe High as the best damn player the town has ever seen. I had a million friends, and a girlfriend, and life was sweet. Then my dad had to go and screw it all up. Well—I can’t blame my lack of girlfriend on my dad, but everything else is his fault. Andrea and I called it quits a year ago, but after that dramatic relationship, the girls at school were wary of me thanks to the lies my ex spread. Regardless, now I’m single and stuck moving to Brazos City, Texas just because my dad got a job offer he couldn’t pass up. I am no longer the star running back for the Lake Conroe Hornets. Now I’m a resident of Brazos City, Home of the Bears.
The Bears are one of our biggest rivals.Was, rather. Now I guess I am a Bear? Or at least I will be soon.
My dad reaches across the front seat of his truck and smacks me on the arm. “Cheer up, son.”
I give a grunt in reply. I am seventeen years old—eighteen in just a couple of months. Why does he think he needs to not only come with me today, butescortme? I’m perfectly capable of driving myself to meet the coach at Brazos High, but my dad is a little overbearing at times.
It’s extremely unconventional to let someone join a football team when they moved to town a month after the school year started. That would mean joining a new team without a summer of practice under your belt. It’s basically unheard of to allow someone new to join the Varsity team. But that’s what we’re attempting to do. My reputation alone was enough for Coach to grant me a meeting with him. There are a lot of scouts with me on their list, but if I were to suddenly drop out of football in my senior year, I’m not sure anyone would want me to play college ball. Getting on this team is important.
It’s a school day, but I withdrew from my old school yesterday and we’re taking two days to move into our new house before I enroll in my new school. My meeting with Coach is taking place during the school day, so I shouldn’t be surprised when I see a team of football players on the field when Dad and I arrive. Coach had instructed us to park in the back lot near the football field.
I take a look around as we walk up to the field. They have a decent stadium here. They even have artificial grass so it’s always perfect playing conditions. I’ve enjoyed the times my team played against theirs over the years, especially because we’ve beat the Bears every time. But now I’ll be playing for the losing team. With any luck, I’ll turn them into the winning team.
“Son,” Dad says as we walk. “Make sure you’re polite and friendly.”
“Why wouldn’t I be polite and friendly?” I ask. He’s giving me this nervous look like I’m some kind of untrustworthy felon.
“We want to make a good impression. I spoke with Coach at length on the phone yesterday and he seems really happy to have you on board, but if he changes his mind, your college plans will be screwed. So impress him, okay?”
I sigh. “No need to worry. Coaches love me.”
I’ve been on a sports team since I was old enough to walk. Coaches do love me. This one will, too, especially since he knows that having me on the team will increase his chances of winning.
The Bears’ coach is a younger man than the coaches I’m used to. He doesn’t even have any gray hairs yet, and he’s fit enough to be an athlete himself. Back at my old school, both of our coaches were grandpa age. But looks are clearly deceiving because my old team beat this one every single time.
Coach shakes my hand. “Zane,” he says, giving me a big smile. “It’s so great to meet you.”
He turns to my dad and shakes his hand as well. “Hi, Mr. Warren. So glad you’re now a resident of Brazos City.”
Dad smiles right back. “It was an unexpected move, but we’re glad to be here, too.”
“So,” Coach says, clapping his hands together in front of his chest. “You ready to try out?”
“Try out?” I say, a little confused. Out on the field, the team is currently doing drills. A few of the players look curiously over at us. I wonder if they’ve recognized me yet.
Coach nods. “Yeah, I mean, as far as I’m concerned, you’re already a part of the team. But just to make sure I check all the boxes, I have to make you try out.”
I nod. “Okay.”
Good thing I’m dressed for athletic activity. I’m wearing the shorts and shirt I put on this morning to help my parents move into our new house. Coach blows his whistle and calls everyone over, then he introduces me. If these guys didn’t recognize me before, they do now. It’s weird being looked at like some kind of celebrity by this new team. At my old school, everyone already knew me. We all grew up together. Now it just feels weird.
I run drills with the team for an hour. The guys seem cool, and although a few of them give me crap for being a former rival, everyone is welcoming. When the bell rings, the team heads back to the locker room and I walk back to my dad and Coach, who have been standing on the sidelines talking this whole time.
“Welcome to the team,” Coach says.
“Thanks, sir.”
I’ll have to visit the athletic department early in the morning before my first day of school to get my uniforms and everything, but I’m officially on the team now. Dad can’t stop telling me how proud he is on the drive home. I sit quietly wondering what this school year will bring. I’ve been interviewed for magazines and sports sections in newspapers for a few years now. What will the football fanatics say now that I’m on a new team? I don’t know and I wish they’d shut up. I love playing football but I’m so sick of football talk. I just want to live my life without being in the spotlight all the time.
When we get home, I help carrying in the rest of the furniture and boxes from our moving truck. My mom starts unpacking right away, and my little sister insists on decorating her bedroom all by herself even though she’s only six and has no idea what she’s doing. I wander outside and check out the back yard. It’s not big enough to do any good football drills back here, which means I’ll have to drive up to the school when I want to get some extra practice in. As I’m walking around the back yard, I notice a gate. I stand up and peer over the fence. It’s just a huge grassy field behind the neighborhood, and this gate opens up into it.
I could definitely practice out here.
I open the rusty metal latch and push open the wooden gate, which scrapes on the tall grass.
