Page 98 of Heart of Gold
Finally, the teams are lining up for kickoff but I don’t immediately see Gavin. In fact, the first drive on offense, Gavin never takes the field.
“That’s weird,” Ava says. “Gavin is usually in the game.”
“Maybe the run game is working and they are just saving him.”
I nearly laugh at myself when I realize how much I’ve learned about football over the past couple months.
Ava giggles, “Why do you sound like a little mini Levi?”
I shrug, “I’ve been spending a lot of time with them.”
The offense comes off the field settling for a field goal, and the defense takes the field. The other team scores on the first play, and Ava and I just look at each other.
What is going on?’
The other team kicks the ball into the endzone, bringing it out to the twenty-five yard line and I finally see my number 2 take the field. I don’t take my eyes off him, and after two plays and barely moving the ball, the ball is snapped and I watch as Gavin cuts across the middle and catches the ball. He runs quickly into the endzone, no defender even close enough to potentially tackle him.
The camera pans down to the end zone and I wait for him to look into the lens but he doesn’t. He doesn’t smile, he doesn’t even celebrate with his teammates. He lets the ball roll off his fingers to the ground and walks back to the sideline.
“Something is wrong with him,” Ava says. “Gavin is always so smiley. He’s a goofball.”
The fact that I might be the reason he’s unhappy hurts my chest.
We don’t score again and halftime rolls around quickly. I send Levi a text to check on Gavin.
Is Gavin okay?
Levi
He’s alive but no I wouldn’t say he’s okay.
What can I do?
Levi
Nothing.
He won’t respond to my texts.
Levi
Coach forced him to room with Collins, I don’t think he slept.
I have to fix this.
Levi
I don’t think you can right this second.
Will you just tell him that I said the answer is always Pepsi?
Levi
WTF. K, I’ll tell him.
Halftime ends and the Eagles get the ball back. After a few short screen passes, finally Gavin goes deep and the ball soars straight into his hands. With two short strides, he’s in the endzone. Ava and I squeal and I can’t look away from the TV. Gavin’s hands are in the shape of a heart right in the frame of the camera.
Levi told him what I said.
