Page 36 of No More Jocks

“That was his ex, and he was just telling me not to hurt him. He still loves him, but he cheated on him, and that’s why they broke up.”

“Damn Bradley is bisexual?”

“Yeah, please keep that between us. I don’t think he’s officially out yet.”

“Trust me. My lips are sealed.”

“Thanks,” I replied.

“Marcus, please don’t tell me you cheated on him.”

“Naw, Caleb is just out and open, and I’m not ready for that just yet. I’m a jock, and it’s going to be weird having a boyfriend and then going into the locker room and dealing with the backlash from the team.”

“I understand the backlash. I went through that myself with my boyfriend in high school. It messed the whole trajectory of my life up, but you must make the best decision for yourself.”

“What happened?”

“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you some other time.” Just as I was about to beg my brother to tell me his story, I looked at my phone and a smile spread across my face. It was a text from Caleb.

Caleb: I’m sorry Marcus and I love you. Let’s talk after the game. I don’t want to distract you. I’ll be there cheering you on.

23

MARCUS

The next few days were a blur of anxiety and preparation. I spent hours on the field, pushing myself harder than ever. The upcoming championship game was my only chance to prove myself, to show the school and my coach that I was still dedicated to my future.

Brandon had been right—if I could perform well, this whole incident would blow over. The eyewitnesses had cleared my name, but I knew I was on thin ice. One more slip-up, and my dream could be over.

Caleb and I didn’t talk much during this time. He needed space, and I needed to focus but just knowing that he still loved me was all the fuel I needed to push hard for my dream—for us. But every night, as I lay in bed, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. His smile, his laugh, the way he made me feel like everything was going to be okay.

Every morning, I woke up before dawn to run laps around the track. The crisp morning air was refreshing, but the weight of everything on my shoulders made it hard to breathe. I pushed through the exhaustion, reminding myself of why I was doing this. My career was my ticket out, my way to ensure a better future for myself and my family.

After my run, I’d head to the gym for strength training. Coach had given me a strict regimen to follow, and I stuck to it religiously. As I lifted weights, my mind would wander to

Caleb, wondering if he was thinking about me too. I missed our conversations, our study sessions, the way he made literature come alive.

In the afternoons, we had team practices. The drills were intense, and Coach wasn’t taking it easy on me despite everything. If anything, he seemed even tougher. “Prove yourself, Marcus,” he’d say. “Show me you deserve to be here.”

I threw myself into the practice, channeling all my frustration and fear into my performance while still making time to study for finals. My teammates noticed the change in me. Some offered words of encouragement, while others kept their distance, unsure of how to approach me after the recent events.

Evenings were the hardest. After practice, I’d head to Kim’s house. The silence was almost deafening without hearing my mother’s voice. I missed her but couldn’t deal with the guilt she was going to lay on me over the arrest. I needed positive energy and to stay focused. I tried to study, but my mind kept drifting back to Caleb. I wanted to call him, to hear his voice, but I knew we needed space. Instead, I’d lie in bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying our last conversation over and over in my head.

One night, as I was about to drift off to sleep, my phone buzzed. It was a text from my brother, Brandon.

Brandon: How’s practice going?

Marcus:Intense. Trying to keep my head above water.

Brandon:You got this, bro. Just keep pushing. Remember why you’re doing this.

Marcus:Thanks. I need to prove myself at the championship game.

Brandon:And you will. Just keep your focus.

His words gave me a small measure of comfort. I knew he believed in me, and I couldn’t let him down. I couldn’t let anyone down.

The days leading up to the championship game were grueling. Each morning, I’d wake up sore but determined. I couldn’t afford to slack off, not now.

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