Page 89 of Overtime

Locker Room Talk

1 We Are the Champions

Junior Year

The smell of sweaty pads,socks, and uniforms permeates my nose. No matter how much the janitorial staff deodorizes the area, or how hard they work to keep it sanitary, the scent just never goes away. I imagine it's a lot like being a garbage man. After a while, you get used to the odor that would make anyone not as experienced puke up their eyeballs.

It's Monday morning and everyone stumbles in for conditioning either still half asleep or raring to go. There’s no middle ground. Some guys just pop out of bed like daisies, go figure.

I trudge to my locker, wishing I was more of a coffee person like Evie. Morning peppy go-getter, I am not. If I didn't play football, I'd be a night owl.

Conversations swirl around me, not really registering on my radar of putting one foot in front of the other, until a certain phrase I've never heard spoken aloud before punctures my mental haze.

"Dude, I had the worst wet dream last night. Woke up totally soaked. I even had to fucking change my sheets like some little kid who pissed the bed."

The din of locker doors slamming closed, sneakers squeaking against the tile, and quiet conversations silences as all eyes turn to stare at none other than our PDA king and center, Christian Zawicki.

No one speaks as Christian's cheeks flame a deep red that isn't normally present on his cocky face. As the silence stretches on, I'm suddenly wide awake and preparing to put down a mutiny of name-calling, shaming, and general mayhem.

Finally, the calm before the storm breaks when Alex clears his throat. "Sucks, bro. Been there, done that. It's a fact of life. Carry on."

Just like that, everyone bonds over the knowledge we've literally all "been there, done that." More stories are shared across the room, some even laughing through their perceived embarrassment.

Shit like this is exactly why Alex should've been made team captain.

Not only does he have an answer for everything, but he has a way of bringing people together I certainly don't possess.

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