AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He and my dad went back, way back. Back to when they were in high school. I’d heard the stories. The rival’s week pranks and mayhem. There was no love lost between my old man and my new coach.
None at all.
In fact, my father had petitioned for me to attend one of the other local high schools instead, but I didn’t want to be anywhere else. I wanted Rixon High. Coach Ford was the best, and if I had any hopes of getting a full ride to the college of my choice, I needed to play with the best.
My guys hesitated behind me, unsure of what the fuck they should do.
“I don’t have all day, ladies,” Coach added, and I gave my team a small nod.
They fell into step beside me as we got ourselves situated on the available benches.
“Okay, listen up.” Coach Ford yanked off his ball cap and ran a hand through his dark hair. “This isn’t how I saw the season going, just like how I’m sure it isn’t how you saw the season going, but here we are.
“The reality is, I have too many players and not enough spots. Which means things are going to have to change.”
“That’s bullshit, Coach,” Jenson Monroe shot up, “and you know it.”
“What I know, son, is that this team has a championship to defend. So unless you want to see it slip through our fingers this season, I suggest you sit your ass down and get with the program.
“This is how it’s going to go. You show up to practice, you work hard, you follow my lead, and I’ll make sure you get time on the field.”
The room exploded with chatter. Monroe’s guys were arguing amongst themselves, outraged that we were coming in trying to steal their positions, while my guys were moaning about being forced to play with a team they hated. But not me and Monroe. We sat quiet, glaring at the other. He was their quarterback. The team’s leader. He was good too. But he wasn’t as good as me. And from the flicker of fear in his eyes, he knew it.
“Okay, okay,” Coach boomed. “Quit bitchin’. I want you changed and out on the field in ten. If you won’t listen to me in here, perhaps you’ll listen to me out there.” He stalked off, his anger rippling through the air.
“What do we do, Thatch?” Bryan asked me.
“You want to play football, Bry?”
“Shit, yeah, but they don’t fucking want us here anymore than we want to be here.”
“Suck it up, buttercup.” I slammed a hand to his chest and patted. “If you want Michigan to come knocking, you’re going to need to show them what you’ve got.”
“I don’t know, Thatch… It’s their territory.” His eyes flicked over to where Monroe and his guys were changing into their uniforms.
“Look. Forget about them and focus on the game.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
We got changed, reluctantly pulling on the white and blue jerseys one of the assistant coaches gave us. It felt wrong to be in their colors, but I guess we weren’t Eagles anymore.
We were Raiders.
And fuck if that didn’t feel like some kind of treachery.
* * *
“Run it again,”Coach Ford yelled across the field. He reminded me a lot of Coach Forrester from Rixon East, but he had an air of authority that our coach didn’t. I guess it came with being NFL royalty.
Coach Ford knew what it was like to want football, to live and breathe it. He’d moved through the ranks from high school to college all the way to professional football.
He got it.
“Okay, Jenson, switch out with Thatcher.”
“But, Coach—”
“I said switch out, let’s go.”
