Page 70 of The First Play

But I know that’s an impossible dream.

Our time is running out. Very soon I’ll be kissing him goodbye, and then he’ll be driving out of my life for a whole week!

CHAPTER 27

ZANDER

So, I didn’t know how to feel about football camp. It was with a college I didn’t even want to attend, so that put me in a bit of a foul mood over it all. Plus, there was the whole driving there with my dad bit. He wouldn’t let me go alone… probably because he was worried I’d bail and sneak away with Sienna for the week.

Okay, so the thought had crossed my mind, but I never would have actually gone through with it.

As much as I hate my dad’s constant diatribes and worries about my future, I do secretly agree with him that I need a college education.

I think the whole breaking up with Sienna thing is bullshit, and as hard as my parents have tried, they are still losing that battle. I love my girlfriend, and I’m not dumping her because of their insane fears.

We can do long distance for a year. It’s not that big a deal.

I’ll go to this college and play some ball. I’ll do what I have to, graduate like they keep going on about, and then Sienna and I can do whatever the fuck we want.

Unless you go pro. Coach Jones thinks you’ve got what it takes.

This new college doesn’t have the same caliber of football as Brighton does, but it’s still a good school, and Coach Jones has a good rep, apparently.

Shit, maybe I do need to throw my all into this thing. The fact that I wasn’t accepted anywhere but here has kind of knocked me. Maybe I did fuck around too much in my last year. Maybe I did let Sienna distract me. But like hell I’m blaming her.

I love her.

She’s my girl.

Nothing my parents say is going to change that.

We arrive at Kelsey U and I reluctantly get out of Dad’s car, hitching my pants and hating the flood of nerves trying to drown me.

“You can do this, son. You’re gonna be great.” Dad gives me a stiff nod but softens it with a smile. He’s proud of me for doing this, and it’s nice to be in his good books for once. I follow him into the stadium.

The sun is shining and the field is looking perfect, the green grass vibrant as guys in training gear run around completing drills. I watch the quarterback hurl his pass down the field. It’s a pretty good spiral, but I know I can throw better than that… and it’s time for me to prove it.

Fired up in a way I haven’t been in a while, I shake Coach Jones’s hand and am pulled into a world of football… that I have the best time in.

I’m introduced to the entire coaching team. The head coach—Miles Filmore—seems pretty awesome, and the players all respect him as far as I can tell. Coach Jones works the offensive players hard, and there are mumbled complaints, but I can tell he only wants the best out of his players.

Dad isn’t allowed to stay and watch, thank fuck, and not having him in the stands analyzing my every mood is liberating. No one knows me here. There are no expectations. I can write myself anew, and it feels fucking fantastic.

The guys on my new team are friendly and fun. The seniors welcome me into the fold. They’re obviously really good at looking out for the newbies. I spend the first day hanging out with the starting quarterback and wide receiver. I’ve never felt so welcomed and appreciated before.

I’m housed in a dorm with a bunch of football guys and am bunking with a freshman who tells me story after story about his epic year so far. I can’t lap it up fast enough. He takes me to a mixer, shows me all the best food spots around campus, and opens my eyes to a whole new world.

It’s fucking amazing.

I’ve never known anything like it. This place is so huge. There’s so much to do, see, experience. And it’s great not having a parent breathing down my neck.

If I’m really honest with myself, it’s also kind of nice not having any pressure from Sienna either. She doesn’t mean to do it, but when I spot her big sad eyes watching me walk past at school and I can’t stop to kiss her or say hi, it always makes me feel bad. Or when I’m not allowed to go see her and she sends me crying-face emojis… I know she’s only kidding, but it still feels like I’m letting her down.

She texts me all the time, and I love it. I do. But it can be a lot, too, you know?

I thought I’d hate the phone ban this week. I said it was the stupidest rule. They want full immersion to build team camaraderie, and I mocked them for it. But… it’s been awesome.

No one can reach me here.

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