Behind My Reputation

02: Behind My Victory

We are down twenty-eight to twenty-four. The crowd in the stands is mostly made up of teenagers and parents chanting something, but I'm too focused on the way Sabrina's ass moved in her cheer skirt.

If I don't get it together soon, we're screwed. The clock is now at thirty seconds and we would lose our own Homecoming game if we don't time this right.

Everyone lines up on the scrimmage line. Bradley and I are in position, ready to bring to action the very play we rehearsed so many times the day before. As running backs, it's our job to catch the handoffs or passes from Rodney, our quarterback. The pass is supposed to go to Bradley since he's faster, but if he's surrounded it'll go to me.

Rodney shouts the play, and I start to run at the signal. I go around as many rival players as I can to get to the center of the field. The ball spirals towards me with less than thirty seconds remaining. Since Bradley's probably surrounded, they're all depending on me. I almost trip over my own feet at the thought.

There's a harsh thump on my chest when I catch the ball.

A little sweat trickles into my eyes, so I barely see number forty-two rushing towards me. I blink and dodge him at the last second. When I feel a grip on my arm, I spin out of it with ease. And with my boosted confidence, I plow right through number ten. The bleachers go crazy when I make the touchdown, slamming the ball into the turf.

I hear my team howl in victory and run over to congratulate me. Rodney wraps a proud arm around me while Cole pats my back. Our rivals, Nixon High, on the other hand, are yelling in frustration. I smirk, but it probably looked ridiculous with the mouthguard in my mouth.

One player catches my attention as he walks by. Ryan Berkley, the quarterback of the rival team, scowls at me with a viciousness only he can muster. He spits in my direction and it only just misses my shoe. I growl in frustration, but Rodney holds me in place to keep me from decking him.

It was surprising that we were able to get through this game without a fight breaking out. Berkley is a manipulative bastard who usually tries to get a rise out of everyone, but today he was suspiciously on his best behavior.

Rodney, Bradley, Cole, and Brett Larson are all huddled together in the way back corner of the locker room when I get there. My curiosity only peeks when Bradley's disappointed face kicks in. Seeing it always put me on edge, because I always know in that moment that Rodney has done something bad.

"What's going on?" I ask, cautiously.

Bradley huffs angrily while he tears off his gear and jersey.

"Rodney blackmailed Berkley," Cole blurts, immediately following a bonk on the back of the head by Brett. "Ow, asshole."

"Keep your voice down!" Brett hisses. "You want the whole team knowing?"

I don't have time for this, and cut right to the chase "What did you do?"

"I have something on him. Nothing big, but it got him to leave us alone for the game. No funny business." Rodney then shows me his phone. It's a picture of Berkley making out with some girl, his hands down her pants. "That would be Patrick Dooley's girlfriend, AKA Berkley's best friend. Total breach of bro-code, dude."

"Are you serious?" I run my hand through my hair in aggravation. "I can't believe you'd do something so stupid after what happened last time."

Some of our younger teammates appear to be listening in, but Rodney isn't having it. "Don't you all have somewhere to be?"

They were curious, but not enough to get on their team captain's bad side. All of the snoops drop their gazes and disperse.

Rodney waits until all perked ears have vanished, then looks at me. "I'm not going to let that happen, Austin. Listen, I didn't use this to win the game, if that's what you're thinking. This time, I played fair."