Page 3 of Flame After the Fumble

Violet.Pulling my phone from the zipper pouch of my athletic shorts, I tap her contact picture.

After a few rings, she answers. “How is it?!” She rustles around on the other side. If I had to guess, she’s already curled up in that awful purple blanket she loves. Every time she pulled it out of her bedroom at home, I was forced to pick purple fuzz off my clothes for days and watch her favorite reality TV show of the season. I can’t lie, those shows have grown on me since she coerced me into watching them years ago.

“It’s awesome. All of the furniture looks brand new, and it’s bigger than I thought.” Smiling ear-to-ear, I look around, basking in my new home for the foreseeable future.I made this happen.Since I received a full scholarship to play football here, my courses and fees are covered. When it came time to find aplace to live, I knew the dorms wouldn’t work. I was sick and tired of being at other people’s mercy. I wanted a place I could call my own for both of us to live. I’ve always been her protector, and leaving for college wasn’t going to change that. We pulled an ungodly amount of all-nighters, applying for every scholarship, grant, and financial aid known to man. Thankfully, I managed to get the rent expense covered. Even better, I magically found a two bedroom cheap enough to be covered by my room and board allowance. Working part-time as a dishwasher back at home along with my father’s monthly‘I’m sorry for being such a horrible person’deposits into my account have set up my savings until I can find a job.

“Can I skip senior year?” Violet sighs into the phone.

“Nope, but I’ll hold down the fort until you get here. Everything’s okay at the house?”

“So far so good. Just quiet without you.” Violet’s voice is low and gravely, almost as if she was crying. It’ll take her a few months to get used to living on her own.

“You’ll get used to me being gone in no time. It’ll be so peaceful, you won’t even miss what it used to be like,” I say, downplaying the fact that being apart is hard on both of us. We’re a little codependent, but what can you expect when we’ve only had each other to rely on?

Violet lets out a rogue chuckle before replying, “You know that’ll never happen. I love you. Don’t get into too much trouble this year.”

I glance down, becoming distracted by the stain I earned on my t-shirt on the drive over. “Hey, do you know how I can get a stain out of this shirt? It’s new.”

“Ugh.” She pretends to be annoyed. “You know you’re going to need to find a girlfriend sooner or later for these types of questions.”

“Yeah, right.” I huff. “You know that’s not in the cards.”

“You never know. Someone may come in and sweep you off your feet.” She giggles and no doubt daydreams about the day someone locks me down.

My heart seizes as I place my hand over the worn cotton of my t-shirt, rubbing repeatedly over my chest. “I love you, Vi. Get some rest. Call me if you need me. Anytime. Okay?”

“I know.”

“Even if it’s to tell me you walked around school with toilet paper stuck to your shoe. I want to hear it all.”

She huffs, annoyed with my picking. “Goodnight, Hart.”

Putting my phone back into my pocket, I scan around my new home. I grab my keys off the counter before heading down the stairs and out to the car to unload all of my things. I hike each box up the cement stairs and into the cool apartment. I’m exhausted from the ride, and all I need to get through the first night is bedding, shower stuff, and clothes. I quickly throw the brand new sheets on the bed before taking the quickest, scalding hot shower known to man.

My eyes struggle to stay open, but if I don’t exhaust myself completely, it’ll take hours to fall asleep. Grabbing my phone from beside me, I mindlessly scroll through Instagram. A few of my new teammates posted pictures of their gear, some of the guys I played with in high school are repping their new college teams, and Violet posted a picture of her watching reality TV.

I’m reporting to summer workouts next week.It’s surreal that I made it to the collegiate level. I’ll be on the field with some of the best college football players in the nation. All I can think about is how proud Violet’s grandpa would be if he were still here.

“You’re a pain in my side and a headache I didn’t ask for, but I love you, kid. You deserve this.”His warm words were wrapped with a stone-cold expression. Grandpa Evans was the father figure I desperately wanted and needed. When he passed,it was devastating for us both. I made a promise to him to protect Violet in his absence, and Iwillmake him proud.

Shaking off the memory, I click my phone off for the night, fluff my pillow so that it’s nice and soft, and force myself into sleep. This year is going to change my life.

3

Liza

“You’re really hitting Bourbon Street the night before you leave for college?” My sister, Willow, rolls her eyes and shakes her head in faux disappointment. She sits cross-legged on the carpeted floor of my bedroom as I apply my makeup for the night.

“For the hundredth time,yes. I want to have a little fun so I can leave this place on a good memory.” My body rattles with excitement, nerves, and the anticipation of what tonight may bring. But most of all, sadness ripples through me like a current that won’t leave the shore.

I pop a few curls in my dirty-blonde hair to polish off the night’s look. I elected for a tight, black crop-top that shows off enough cleavage to gain interest paired with my favorite leather leggings to hug what little curves I have. It’s risky, but I’m out for revenge.

“Dad will be so thankful that you’re the one who leaves New Orleans.” She rolls her eyes, but follows up with an escaped laugh.

“He’s counting down the seconds until he can be free of the child that is constantly teetering the line ofruining the family name.” I throw my hands up in air quotes and do my best snooty impression of our dad. Although my dad isn’t afraid to show his moments of disapproval when I turn up hungover after a weekend of partying, he loves both of us unconditionally.

I’m not supposed to leave.Shaking my head, I fight back that thought before bile rises from my stomach into my throat.

“Yet again, the fate of this family lies on my humble shoulders,” Willow says as we both let out obnoxious laughs that can’t seem to stop. I grab her shoulders to steady myself from the lack of oxygen from laughing so hard.

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