AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Bile rises in my throat as I look to the empty field. The freshly painted white sidelines suddenly look more like bars on a gladiator cage than a lacrosse field.
Chapter 21
Wes
“Alright boys, listen up!”
The team huddles forward as Cody puts his team leader skills into action.
“There are a lot of expectations going around. Expectations of the rookies, expectations of me, and most importantly, expectations of this team. The Tigers have brought home fiveconsecutive championship banners ranking us as the longest undefeated team since this university was established.”
Whether Cap’s strategy is to add pressure before the game or lessen it is still undecided. Stay tuned.
“As soon as you put on that jersey today, you became a Tiger. You became an undefeated champion.” Annnd first strategy it is.
Pressure cooker, we meet again.
“Undefeated. Champion.” Placing an emphasis on each word, Cody manages to unload fifty years of school spirit onto us. Just a little extra weight to help plow down our opponents.
“It’s time to get your asses out on that field and play the way I know you can play. Time to make our school proud, boys. What are we?”
“UNDEFEATED CHAMPIONS!” Chants rise up and we break the huddle with Taber Tiger’s famous roar. The intimidation factor has never been higher.
We run onto the field, Cody leading the pack as the surprisingly full bleachers erupts into cheers. Taber is a small university by any standard, but the show of support can’t help but boost a guy’s morale.
As rehearsed, the team splits into two lines, all of us turning to face the thundering bleachers. One by one, the two guys at the opposing ends set off a chain reaction of backflips, each of us finishing in a superhero landing – one knee on the ground, the other bent, head majestically bowed – and finish off with the last guys facing each other, one wearing orange and black, the other a makeshift silver jersey. The two seniors battle it out, with a not-so-subtle depiction of the metallic guy getting thrown to the ground while the Tiger stands up in victory.
The crowd goes wild.
Every Taber supporter from the age of nine to seventy-five jump to their feet, stomping and clapping their approval. The energy is so intense I can feel it vibrate through the grass and into my bent knee.
Rising to give the spectators a bow, I scan my gaze across the orange tidal wave. A particularly unpleasant sign catches my attention in the crowd – Jesus, did the guy have to add so much blood? – but even that disturbing image doesn’t stop me searching for one particular person.
Like a needle in a haystack, or a pin in a tub of orange paint; the improbability of my search is almost comical. But like any great riddle solver, I know exactly how to find what I’m looking for: the irresistible pull of my magnet.
Otherwise known as my grey-eyed siren.
I know the moment Trip feels my stare because even from my field position I see a splotch of red stain her cheeks. She turns away from her conversation with Stella and sends a hesitant wave my way. Taking the wave as my cue, I respond with an outstanding air kiss. And for once my reward isn’t a scowl.
It’s a smile that steals my breath from three rows away.
“WESLEY!” A grin hits my face as I turn in the direction of vocal cords that can only belong to my sister.
I spy Lacey frantically waving from the corner of the first row. Her aggressive arm movements nearly have her toppling out of the bleachers in an effort to capture my attention. The combination of Lacey’s tall stature and lanky arms gives her a much larger flailing range, much to the delight of the nearby spectators, I’m sure.
I chuckle and wave back, spotting Nico doing the same from his position down the field. If there is one person my best friend loves more than me, it is my younger sister. If Nico didn’t swing for the other team, I have no doubt those two would be married right now. Because hey, the only thing better than having one dramatic Williams in your life is having two.
As the crowd starts to die down, we shuffle aside so the Sabers can have a little bit of the spotlight. Since they aren’t the home team and therefore have a smaller fan section, they stick to their typical pre-game routine: running out with plastic sabers hanging off their jerseys and showing off some fancy swordplay for the crowd.
A shrill whistle pierces the air, and the teams scatter to begin warming up. I partner up with Hunter and we begin rallying with the occasional passing drill to help loosen up our muscles. Cody wanders over and pulls me aside.
“Thanks for your help the other day. The strategies we drew up may start Taber off with a win this year.”
“What do you mean may? Our strategies are going tobring home the V today.”
Cody laughs, slapping my back, “Don’t ever lose your confidence, Wes.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it, Cap.”
