Fiction/Young Adult/Football/Discrimination
What Does Sex Have To Do With It
Chapter Six
The first two weeks of school were done and gone. We played one regular-season game, but it was against a school that didn’t score any points the previous year.
The win was easy, and I scored three times.
The other team appeared confused at first when my name was called, and I ran onto the field without wearing my helmet. You know they probably thought I was a guy when the announcers called Sam Shadows, and then a girl runs out onto the field as one of the starting runningbacks. They laughed at first, until I had the ball, skirted past their d-line, outran their safety and cornerback, and scored within the first thirty seconds of the first quarter.
Then it was game-on.
My boys, Tye and Lee, had my back the whole game. I had my cheering section with Mom and Lissa. Dad kept neutral to keep the tone even with the rest of the team and coaches, but once we got home, I got a congratulatory slap on the back and a ‘good game,’ which equaled a hug from him.
The rest of the team, mostly the offense, didn’t treat me any differently, meaning they didn’t congratulate me. But, they also didn’t put me down either.
I guess we’re in a neutral zone now.
Sure, Lee and Tye had my back, and they practiced as long as they could on most days. But, when their moms said it was time to go home, well, they sort of put that all ahead of wanting to be the best. They were happy with being on the team, but neither had the drive that made them champions.
Good thing they were good at what they did, blocking for me, because Dad would kick them to the curbside if they showed any less than almost perfection.
After school, we had a general meeting today, with Dad talking about the upcoming game and some rival team. Then we did some basic lifting and cardio. Most of the guys left early since the coaches went to a district conference.
Lee and Tye stayed around until they got picked up, and I headed down to the field to work on some plays that we’d drawn up and practiced earlier in the week.
I passed some classmates on my way down to the field. Some acknowledged my presence, but most of the others, the girls, moved to the opposite side of the hallway or sidewalk when I passed.
I was a football player, not diseased.
I was on the field for about thirty minutes practicing my runs and practicing drills when I heard someone clap from behind me. I’d just gotten done running a fifty-yard sprint, dodging upright tackling dummies and imaginary defensive ends. I even did a victory dance at the end when I scored the touchdown against all the players.
A guy who looked like Skylar walked towards me from the opposite endzone.
‘Thought he left with the rest of the guys.’
I jogged to the fifty to meet him halfway. When I got closer, I noticed he looked almost exactly like Skylar, but his hair was a shade darker and six inches longer. Besides that difference, his height, build, all-toned, and extremely good-looking, definite model material—well, it was a Skylar lookalike all the way.
“Nice run. Sam, right.”
“Thanks. Yeah, and you are."
Totally fucking fine. F.I.N.E. That’s what he could say and be one hundred percent correct.
“Maddox.” Mr. Hotness held out his hand for me to shake.
My hand was half the size of his when I completed the gesture. “Why are you here?” I didn’t remember ever seeing him roam the halls. I mean, he looked like Skylar, so maybe I had seen him but thought it was my quarterback.
“I stopped over to see if Sky was here.” Maddox looked around the field. "It doesn't look like anyone is practicing but you.”
I nodded. “Yeah, some sort of..."
“The county conference.” Maddox finished my sentence.
“Yeah. How did you know? Are you related to Skyler? You don’t go to school here, do you?” Someone who looked like him and was almost identical to Skyler would be the talk of most girls at this school.
Maddox pulled the football from my arms and stepped back. He completely disregarded my questions. “You catch?” He poised his arm to pass.
Whatever. I’ll take all the practice I can get. The boy wants to play ball; let’s play.
I did a slant route, and Maddox passed me a perfect spiral.
“Nice. A runner and a receiver. You’re more talented than from what I’ve heard.” Maddox motioned for me to do another route.
“Heard from who?” I ran down ten yards, then cut to the sidelines. I caught the pass that was flawlessly thrown. Maddox had as much talent as Skyler.
“I keep up with who’s who and who’s doing what.” Maddox motioned for me to come back over. He took the ball and got set into position, like he would hand it off. “Ready.” He tipped his head for me to line up on the side of him.
His handoff was ten times less hard than Skyler’s. I didn’t have to suck in and bear the slam to the gut when the football was given to me. We practiced a few more runs until I heard a voice yelling from the sidelines.
“What the fuck are you doing here?”
Both Maddox and I stopped what we were doing and looked to see Skyler storming across the field towards us.
"Uh-oh, it looks like Skyler isn’t too happy with me playing with his new toy.” Maddox’s eyes shone with distaste as a satisfied smirk played across his lips.
“Why are you here?” Skyler stepped in between Maddox and me.
“I dropped Mom off at your house, so I came down to the field. No biggie, bruh.”
“Your brothers?”
Skyler shook his head with a scowl thrown my way. “Cousins.”
“I’m the more athletic, handsome, smarter, and friendly of the two of us.”
Skyler rolled his eyes and shook his head over his cousin’s comment.
Maddox put his arm around my shoulders. “Look, we were playing nice until you showed up.”
I wanted to shrug him off, but there was an undeniable pull that kept me glued to his side. Skyler had a look in his eyes that blazed with fire. There was a true family rivalry between the two.
“Yeah, well, my field, my school, my running back. Go the fuck back to your side of town, bruh.” He took a step forward, challenging Maddox.
“Hey, Sam, if you want to play for a real team, come on over to Northside. I’ll make sure the team welcomes you. Not like these wannabes here with Sky.” Maddox moved his warm body away from me.
“My dad’s sorta the head coach, so I gotta stay here.”
Maddox chuckled and shook his head. “Sam, you can get a transfer. Give me your number so we can practice again.” He took his cell out of his pocket and handed it to me. “Put it under important contacts so I can find it easier.”
Geesh, how many numbers does this guy have that he needs two different folders? I saw the nasty looks from Skyler as I typed in my cell number on Maddox’s phone.
“You’re fuckin amazing.” Skyler rocked back and forth on the heels of his feet as I gave Maddox his phone back. I thought he was talking to me, but his eyes were focused on his cousin.
“That’s what Kortni told me last night.”
Skylar lunged for Maddox, but he juked backward.
“I’ll text you, Sam. Later, Sky.” Maddox strutted off the field without a worry in his thoughts.
“Hanging out with the enemy.” Skyler threw all his anger toward me. “Glad to see you’re loyal.”
What the fuck is he talking about? Maddox and I practiced a few passes and runs. No big fucking deal.
“I was running some drills when he showed up. He threw, and I ran. No big fucking deal, Skyler.” This was one of the first times I went off on him. Usually, I let everything roll off. But today, he got on my nerves, trying to act all captainlike. He never made me feel like part of the team, so how could I look up to him? “It’s not like any of you guys hung around.”
“He plays quarterback for Northside, our direct competition every year for the championship. He doesn’t want you, Sam, only to find out our plays.” Skyler acted like Maddox couldn’t have an interest in me, like I was the most repulsive person he’d ever seen.
“Yeah, well, Skyler,” I said his name back with as much disdain as he said mine. “Maddox never asked about any routes, and he showed me one thousand percent more respect as a player than you and your boys have ever done. At least he didn’t leave me with bruised ribs with every handoff that I took.” I stormed off, leaving Skyler all alone on his field.
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