Second Down - Chapter 15

Friday was the first practice in a while where the coach didn’t ride us like we were screw-ups. In fact, he was in a downright amazing mood. We did the least amount of warm-up we’d ever had to do before and spent a fair amount of the practice looking at film from the game, with the coach explaining to us where things went right and where we could still fix things.

I thought the coach might say something about the long passes I managed during the game and how we gave up a whole quarter by banging our heads into their defense with running plays over and over, but he didn’t. I’d kind of hoped the success with that would have opened the door to a new kind of offense where I got to really let loose, but I guess just running the ball forever was the way to go.

Elijah was still on the warpath, trying multiple times to corner me in the hall, but I managed to always be in a crowd. It wasn’t that I was scared of him, but I just had too much going on to throw it away with a suspension.

Or worse, getting benched and giving my starter spot up to Gabriel.

Since practice was easy and the coach let us go, I scrapped any extra practice with the guys and took off for home right after Elijah and his guys went back into the locker room. I thought maybe I’d made a mistake when Hunter slowed down and looked right at me as I headed for the street, but either Elijah was too lazy to go beyond chasing me to the parking lot or they didn’t remember the way to my house because no one followed after me.

My walk wasn’t alone, however.

I was walking quickly, mostly to put some distance between me and the school so I wasn’t in direct line of sight if Elijah came running out, and turned a corner to see someone else making the walk toward my neighborhood.

It wasn’t hard to figure out who it was, since the Chinese girl, whose name was Li, I’d finally learned, stood out. She was taller than just about anyone in the school and had long, straight black hair that was pretty distinctive.

I decided seeing her walking was a sign and picked up the pace to catch up with her. Either she had the fastest walk of anyone I’d ever met, or she heard me and picked up the pace because I wasn’t closing the distance between us very quickly.

“You’re walking like you’re trying to escape me,” I called out, jogging to catch up.

She must not have seen me because she turned and looked a little surprised.

“What the hell do you want?”

“Nothing, really. I was going the same way and just wanted to say hi,” I said, falling into step next to her.

“How many times do I have to say I’m not interested?”

She picked up the pace even more, I guess trying to shake me.

“A few more times, probably.” I matched her stride. “Look, I’m not trying to be annoying, and I’m definitely not hitting on you. I just... I feel really bad about how the guys treated you. The fact that I was ever friends with people like that…”

“So I’m what? Your penance?” Li stopped abruptly, spinning to face me.

“I mean, I wouldn’t put it like that.”

“If you feel so bad about what your friends did, why aren’t you trying to fix things with all of the other people those jerks mess with?”

“I am. Or I’m trying to. You’re definitely not the only person I’m constantly chasing.”

“I bet.”

“No, seriously. You can ask around. I could give you a list if you want.”

“And what makes you think any of us want your help making things right?” she asked.

“I mean, you don’t want them to treat you like this, so you want … something to change, right? I don’t know, but I at least want to try. Is that such a bad thing?”

“I guess not,” she said after a moment, turning and starting to walk again.

I stepped in stride with her again. This time, she didn’t speed up to lose me.

“It’s more than that. I’ve also noticed you’re always by yourself. That can’t make you happy.”

“I like being by myself. Just because you hate being alone doesn’t mean I do. Not everyone needs a fan club.”

She should check around the football teams, and maybe even the cheerleaders. I definitely didn’t have a fan club.

“Maybe that’s true. But not wanting a fan club isn’t the same as wanting to be alone all the time. And I don’t believe you prefer it. Or maybe I can’t believe it.”

“Oh really? And why’s that?”

“Because people aren’t built for that kind of isolation. Plus, I’ve seen how you watch other people at lunch, especially the groups. And not in a, ‘god I hate those people’ kind of way.”

Li stopped walking again. “That’s seriously creepy.”

“It’s not like that,” I said quickly. “I just... I’m worried about you. I mean, after what Elijah and them did to you, I can get why you don’t…”

“You shouldn’t,” Li cut in. “I didn’t ask you to feel guilty about me.”

“No, but I feel guilty all the same. Still, the question still stands. Don’t you get tired of being alone all the time?”

Instead of answering, she started walking again. I didn’t say anything or push her, just walked next to her.

Finally, she said, “It’s not worth letting anyone trick me again.”

“That’s fair. I know I can promise I’m not trying to trick you, but there’s no way for you to know that for sure. I get why you’d be hesitant.”

We reached the corner and she looked north, where I needed to keep going straight, so I stopped. Surprisingly, she stopped, instead of leaving me behind.

“Look, if you really want me gone forever, just say so and I’ll respect that, otherwise I’m probably going to come back to check on you again. But maybe think about whether that’s what you actually want.”

Li adjusted her backpack strap, studying the ground. “I guess... you can keep checking. But I’m not promising anything.”

“I’ll take it,” I said with a small smile. “See you around, Li.”

I gave turned and headed for home, leaving her behind. She was still like a wounded puppy who’d been kicked a few too many times. Skittish and ready to run.

I’d take the victory. It wasn’t much, but it was something. And sometimes something was enough to start with.

***

Saturday was actually productive, and more than just the yard work and changing the oil in Eduardo’s mom’s car. At first he was still really quiet while we worked, but I guess doing something boring for a long time with someone else finally got to him, because he started talking.

At first it was some jokes and messing around, probably not the smartest thing to do when working with yard tools, but it was something. Then just random conversation about nothing important. The kind of BSing guys do.

My knowledge from the dream life came in clutch again when we went to change his mom’s oil. Eduardo had never done any kind of car maintenance, so I was able to walk him through and teach him how to do it. I think that got him to open up more than anything else, and while we worked he told me a little about his life in Midlands.

Most of it was just the same as my life here, although I guess a little less rambunctious. What still wasn’t clear, even after all of that, was how he’d end up initiating into a gang. Not that I ever really knew any gang people in my life, or my dream life for that matter, but nothing about his personality struck me as being the type.

Or even do well if he did. He was too soft-spoken. Too afraid of people. And too kind-hearted.

Hell, that had been one of the things the papers had said about him after he was caught. That everyone who knew him was shocked he’d end up in a situation like this, that he’d kill a deputy. At the time I’d just chalked it up to the kind of nonsense the papers liked to write, because it made the story all the more catchy, but they were right.

In exchange for the work, his mom made some kind of chicken and rice thing for lunch that was delicious.

And it worked. Monday at school I managed to get Eduardo to move over to having lunch with me and the rest of the guys, who accepted him with open arms. It really said a lot about the people I was choosing to be friends with. Had I still been buddies with Elijah, he would have made Eduardo jump through hoops to even be talked to, and then constantly belittled him to make sure he knew his place.

Elijah’s weekend seemed to be a lot less smooth. He seemed to be unraveling. He again tried to corner me just before lunch but he was predictable as always and I was keeping an eye out for him, so I was able to avoid him. He had some kind of argument with Jake that ended up getting loud enough for us to hear Jake tell him ‘that’s not fair,’ and storm off.

I could imagine what Jake thought was unfair. It was following Elijah’s ‘plan’ that ended up with him riding the bench through our first win. The other thing I couldn’t help but notice was that Hunter wasn’t sitting with them at lunch. He actually wasn’t anywhere at lunch.

I thought maybe he missed the school day, home sick or something, but on the way to the field house to get changed for practice, I turned a corner and saw him standing by his locker.

He’d just pulled open his locker door and an avalanche of crumpled paper cascaded onto the floor around his feet.

“Son of a bitch!” Hunter said, slamming his fist into a neighboring locker.

He dropped to his knees and started gathering the wadded-up balls of notebook paper. My first instinct was to keep walking. Hunter had made it clear whose side he was on.

But, I’d been exactly the kind of jackass Elijah and the rest of them still were, and I was out here asking people for forgiveness and trying to get a second chance. It would be hypocritical to just write Hunter off.

And, there was a more strategic element to it. It was obvious where this came from. And why. Elijah had given Hunter a death stare through most of the game, especially every time Hunter completed a play instead of botching it. And I’d seen the two of them argue, both during the game and at Friday’s practice.

Elijah was the kind of guy that any sort of deviation from what he wanted was the same thing as treason. Elijah wanted Hunter to keep burning down his high school football career in the name of a feud, and Hunter didn’t want it.

So Elijah was sending him a message.

I walked over and crouched down next to him. Several of the pages had insults and slurs on him, mostly in the direction of questioning his sexuality.

“I don’t need your help,” he growled, snatching the paper from my hand.

“Okay,” I said, standing up, but I didn’t walk away. “But we both know Elijah did this.”

For a moment, Hunter hesitated. He didn’t look up or respond, and he resumed picking everything up after that pause, but he’d heard me.

“Is this really the kind of friend you want? Someone who’d do this?”

Again, he didn’t answer, but he did look both ways down the hallway, I guess making sure no one saw us talking. I got it. He was in a tough place. Maybe he thought if he just kept his head down he’d end up back in Elijah’s good graces and still play well enough to keep from losing his spot on the team.

He was naive if he thought that was going to work.

Hunter finished stuffing the last crumpled note into his backpack, I guess planning on throwing them away somewhere else and said, “He just doesn’t know when to stop.”

Well, it was more of a mutter than actually saying it out loud. Like he couldn’t stop the words from escaping.

“He’s not just hurting you. He’s hurting the whole team. You’ve got to see that.”

He stood up, not looking back at me or agreeing, but not walking off either.

“You saw how much better the game was on Thursday when he wasn’t on the field. The rest of us just got to play some football. No head games. No bullshit. Don’t you think it’d be better if it was always like that? If we could just focus on winning?”

“It’s not that easy,” he said, looking at me for the first time since I walked up.

“Why?”

He looked away again. He knew why, he was just afraid to say it, like if he did, it would become real.

“Look, I get it. He’s been your friend for years. Remember, he was my friend first, so I know exactly where you’re coming from. But friends don’t try to destroy your chances just because you won’t help them wreck the team.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Hunter said, but there wasn’t any anger or animosity this time.

If anything, he just sounded tired.

“Maybe not. But I know Elijah can’t stand anyone doing anything he doesn’t approve of. And I know you’re better than this.”

“I didn’t ask for your opinion.”

The anger was back. I guess he realized he let himself slip. Or maybe he was scared about how close he’d come to actually agreeing with me.

“No, but you got it anyway.” I shrugged. “Everyone makes choices, Hunter. It’s never too late to make different ones.”

He looked at me. For a second I thought he might agree or at least acknowledge the point. Instead, the moment passed and he slammed his locker shut hard enough to make the whole row rattle. Without another word, he hitched his backpack higher on his shoulder and started walking away from me, toward the door that led out to the fieldhouse.

“See you at practice,” I called after him.

He didn’t respond, but his steps faltered for just a second before he rounded the corner. I waited a minute before heading toward the field house myself. The last thing he needed was Elijah seeing us together, forcing Hunter’s hand.

Maybe I’d managed to get through to him. Maybe he’d be the first one to break away from Elijah’s control.

I gave him a far enough head start that he was out of sight when I got through the door and headed toward the field house. By the time I got inside the locker room, I could see Hunter standing near Elijah and the rest of them in a half-hearted attempt to join them in conversation.

They had their backs turned to him and it was clear they were shutting him out. He gave me a look, but then turned his back to me too. Elijah, however, did turn his head to see who came through the door and gave me a smirk, which I found somewhat irritating.

This is what Hunter needed to see. That Elijah was always playing games. And yet, here he was, still trying to be friends with them, regardless of the fact that they were shunning him for not throwing away his football career.

Just when I thought there was hope for him. I just shook my head and headed toward my locker, where Miguel and Connor were already suiting up.

I'd made it about three steps before Coach stuck his head out of his office and yelled, "Sims! My office."

I sighed and stood there for a second, trying to imagine what had happened this time. Worse, how Elijah had been involved. It would explain the smirk he'd just given me.

I, however, couldn't keep coach waiting, so I changed direction, heading to his office. Instead of finding Coach Heidemann inside, I found him and Coach Holloway, the head of the football program at Wheaton and coach of the varsity and JV teams.

"Have a seat, son," Coach Holloway said, gesturing to the chair in front of the desk.

I sat down, trying not to fidget. Whatever Elijah had done, if it involved Coach Holloway, it was big. There was a chance I wouldn't even be playing football after today, depending on what lie he passed around this time.

"I watched the tape from Thursday's game," he said. "And I wanted to tell you how impressed I was. You showed some ability for decent passing, although we'll have to really work on it if you're going to reach the levels I think you're capable of. The thing I was really impressed by, though, was the way you kept that offense moving, even when things weren't clicking. Being shut down for a full quarter and then managing to come out of it with your guys still giving it their all shows real leadership."

"Thank you, sir," I said, still unsure where this was going.

"Coach Holloway has a situation we think you might be able to help with," Coach Heidemann said.

"JV's having a rough season. Zero and three so far and from what I'm seeing, we're not in a position to start winning any time soon. The main issue is at quarterback, where we're just not getting the production we need at that position."

I'd met the Jorden Kinsell, the JV quarterback only once. Actually, he'd been the backup quarterback at JV until the guy who'd been at that position, whose name I was forgetting at the moment, had to transfer out of the district on the second day of pre-season practice, before school started.

That left Jorden with no backup. I'd seen practicing on the other end of the field and I had noticed him struggling, with passes often sailing wide or falling short. I honestly didn't consider it would be that much of a problem, since the entire football department seemed to prefer running plays over passing, even at varsity.

"We'd like you to move up to JV," Coach Holloway continued.

To say I was floored was an understatement. They'd made it very clear that freshmen did not end up on JV or varsity. I got that this was a special circumstance, but I also knew this was a big deal.

I could also see problems coming from a mile ahead. If I was a struggling starter and they brought in someone from the freshman team, something they'd vowed not to do, to replace me, I'd be pissed. No way Jorden wouldn't hate me for taking his spot. I didn't know him, but I could see this being trouble.

Of course, I was leaving five guys who were definitely trouble behind, so even if he became difficult, it was still an upgrade.

"If that's what you think is best, Coach," I said.

"Good. I'm glad to hear it," Coach Holloway said. "Now, I know you're being phased in as our starter, but Dale Eddins will remain team captain. You're young and I know this is going to be as much of a learning experience as your chance to show us what you can do. Still, I expect you to show the same leadership qualities you've displayed so far."

Dale was, I think, a running back, and maybe he was also a junior. I honestly wasn't sure. Most of the JV and varsity guys didn't hang out with the freshmen a lot.

That was just kind of how it was.

The only thing about this that was bothering me really was leaving Miguel, Connor, and the others behind to deal with Elijah and the rest on their own. It felt kind of like I was abandoning them.

Not that I wasn't going to turn the offer down.

"Has anyone told Jorden yet?"

"We'll handle that," Coach Heidemann said. "We already talked to Gabriel, since he needs to start practicing today to get ready for Thursday. We'll talk to Jorden while you get suited up for today's practice. Because of some district rules, we can't move to JV until after this week's game, so you're still going to be listed on the freshman roster this week. We plan on having Gabriel start to give him some experience and swap the two of you in throughout the game. It'll be a good way for him to get some experience on the field before he's on his own. In spite of that, you'll practice with JV so you can get two full weeks of practice before you have to go out on the field with them."

That explained Elijah's smirk. He'd heard from his new pal Gabriel that he was going to practice as a starter today and had inferred from the news that I was being demoted. Why he'd think the coaches would drop me after our first actual win, I'd never know, but it was clear he'd think that.

He was going to be furious when he heard that I'd been put on JV and he hadn't.

"I'll want you on the sideline for Saturday's game too. Unless we can find a way around the rules, you'll have to ride the bench, but I want you to see the team play for real before you go out on the field with them," Coach Holloway said, and then pulled a thick playbook from the desk and handed it to me. "Learn this inside and out. The basics are the same plays you've already been running, but the rest are more complex and there are more variations. I gotta say I'm glad you started working on audibles early because that's going to be part of it too. I want you knowing every play by heart before you take a single snap as starter."

It was bigger than my freshman playbook, that was for sure.

"When can I tell my teammates?"

"We're making the announcement today," Coach Heidemann said. "After we've informed each of you individually."

It was going to make this week crazy busy, but if that's what I had to do to get this opportunity, I'd take it.

"I won't let you down."

"I hope not," Coach Holloway said.