Page 2 of Afterglow
I raise my eyebrows. Although lesser known than other universities, Lakewood has been slowly growing over the past couple of years. Besides leaving my father, this is the other reason I decided to come here. The footballdepartment is growing as they attract well-known and distinguished coaches.
Colton shakes his head, a slight curve on his lips. “Austin is being dramatic. I study biochemistry so I don’t have the time to commit,”
“I understand,”
Football is demanding, with the amount of travel, training and effort that is involved. If you aren’t a hundred percent dedicated or passionate about the sport, you will burn out.
The two boys follow me around the apartment. The tour ends and I leave them to unpack their belongings. In my room, I do the same.
Two boxes are left in my room, one containing my football equipment and the other has all my school supplies. I organise my desk, laptop sitting in the middle and my excessive collection of pens and pencils are sorted into different jars.
My dad wants me to declare for the draft, not considering the possibility that I want to pursue a different career. Mum was a professor at the University of Texas so we both loved learning, our curiosity could never be satisfied. It’s part of the reason I decided to study clinical exercise science at Lakewood.
I’m still unsure if I will ever declare for the draft—not that my father knows this, but my back up plan is to become a physical therapist. Our relationship deteriorated after my mum passed away and now that I’m so far away, football is the only thing we talk about but even these conversations consist of very few words.
It turns out that striving to please someone for years without recognition leaves you empty with nothing else to give.
The colour melts from the sky, the vanishing sun replaced by a full moon. The street lights provide a path to Frankie’s, the local bar all university students drink at. Colton and Austin invited me for drinks and I agreed for the social aspect. It would be good to meet other freshmen before classes start next week.
Austin fills our short walk with casual conversation about his childhood and dreams of playing in the NFL. I wish I still contained the passion I had when I was a child. Although the field has been a constant part of my life, sometimes it doesn’t feel like the home it once was.
My eyebrows scrunched together when Austin mentions my father’s name. The boys went silent, forcing me to fully pay attention.
“Sorry, what did you say?”
“Your last name is Knight, right? Just wanted to know if you were related to Matthew Knight. He was one of my idols growing up,”
Jealousy simmers in my chest, I swallow trying to push my emotion to the back of my brain. I wish my father was my idol. Our similar looks created a pit in my stomach before I moved to Arizona. The thought of someone realising who my father was and becoming my friend based on his merits is one of my biggest fears.
“Yeah,” I reply cautiously. “He’s my dad,”
Austin’s eyes widened. “Holy shit, that’sso—”
Colton elbows Austin in the ribs after spying my discomfort. Internally, I’m thanking him for trying to stop this conversation. My chest constricts but I force myself to breathe.
“We don’t have the best relationship at the moment. It’s a bit of a long story,”
Austin backtracks, his face softening with a combination of pity and understanding. “Shit, sorry. I didn’t mean to be a dick. Just for you, his idol status is removed.”
The seriousness in his tone loosens the muscles in my chest, allowing a chuckle to escape. “It’s okay. But can we keep this between us? I don’t want everyone else to know,”
I’m under enough pressure as it is and I don’t want to give the Dean or my father a chance to take my freedom away. My new friends nod in agreement as we arrive. The flickering neon sign that reads, ‘Frankie’s Bar,’ illuminates the dimly lit street.
People fill every crevice of the establishment and the air is intoxicating, smelling of cheap beer. Colton, Austin and I buy some type of alcohol, its fruitiness swirling down my throat.
Everyone is buzzing with excitement. For the freshman, this is probably their first night celebrating the new chapter of their life.
I slide my fake ID back into my wallet, although, I’m sure the bartenders know most people here are underage. They just don’t give a shit because the establishment is earning money. The three of us makeour way toward the pool table, which is being swarmed by people.
Briefly, my eyes catch onto a girl who is making small talk with the two girls beside her. I can’t stop my gaze travelling down her figure, her denim shorts highlighting her long legs and soft curve of her hips. God, she is beautiful. Her honey blonde hair is an untameable mane of curls as it falls past her shoulders.
My ogling session is interrupted when our eyes clash. Even from here, the girl’s emerald, green eyes are molten. I plaster a smirk on my face, winking at her as I sip my drink. A pink hue covers her cheeks but that doesn’t stop her rolling her eyes. My tongue darts across my lips at the thought of a new challenge.
“Got your eye on someone, already?” Austin teases.
“When she looks likethat,” I say, nodding my head towards the girl. “I definitely do.”
Last year, I found comfort in different girls’ beds, not caring who they were. Call me a dick or a playboy—both are true, but it was the best way to avoid my problems.
