Friday Night Midnights

September 9

Monday morning. Can't say it's my favourite day of the week. Actually, I can say it's my least favourite day of the week. Actually no. That would be Saturday. Cause that means no crushing another team for an entire week. Ya, Monday is the second worst day of the week. As I crawl out of bed to turn off the annoying alarm blaring from my phone, I start to remember everything that happened yesterday. Rebecca likes me. I think. And I have no clue if I like her. Heidi's hiding something. Oh ya. And I have an older sister who's currently sitting in jail. My life is perfect. To make matters even better, today is September 9. My dead dad's birthday. Great. Today is gonna be absolutely fantastic.

I quickly get dressed in "school appropriate" clothes as mom likes to call them. Basically jeans and a clean sweater and mom is happy. I walk down the stairs hoping mom won't wake up before I head to school. Don't really want to see her burst into tears when I'm leaving the house. It's like this every year. We don't talk about dads birthday until the day it arrives and as soon as the clock strikes midnight and September 10 begins, it's like dads birthday never happened. I get it's probably not the healthiest way to go about it, but it's the Hill way.

Mom isn't downstairs yet when I reach the kitchen, so I quickly (and quietly) make myself a bowl of cereal and sit at the table to scarf it down before someone walks down those stairs. Normally, mom would already be awake, breakfast would be made and I'd be sitting here eating scrambled eggs with bacon and possibly pancakes if moms in a good mood, surrounded by my sisters and mom. On dads birthdays, breakfast is cereal, sitting at the table alone. As I'm putting my bowl in the sink and filling it with water so mom doesn't get pissed that cereal is stuck to the bowl, Heidi texts.

Heidi: have a good day at school. I'll make sure moms ok
Me: ya ok. I'll come home in time for dinner but not much earlier
Heidi: ok thanks Ryder. Maybe mom'll be better this year
Me: hopefully
Heidi: text me when ur coming home
Me: see ya sis. Luv u
Heidi: luv ya too little bro

We both know this year won't be any better than the last 16.

School was normal. Walk to class, barely listen in class, walk out of class. Repeat until the final bell goes. Football practice was anything but normal.
"Ryder!" I hear coach yell as soon as I step into the locker room.
"Coach!"
"I need to talk to you so get in gear and get outside."
"Yep" quickly changing, I'm outside in the blazing hot September sun of Texas within 3 minutes.
"Took you long enough Hill. Ok. What have you told the boys?"
"Nothing really coach. Joel and Aaron know about the switch up but unless they told someone, no one else knows."
"Do you not listen to me Ryder?! I wanted you to tell them. No way did I want to deal with 30 teenage boys yellin at me."
"Sorry coach. I can tell em now..." I really don't want to tell them. I was hoping coach would take the job of telling them and I'd just have to calm them down. Much easier.
"It's fine. I'll tell them. But they better get their asses out here or you guys are running." I start to run back towards the locker room until I remember what Aaron said earlier.
"Hey coach. Are the seniors gonna get playing time?"
"What?! Why would I do that? You think I'm an idiot Hill?"
"No sir." I laugh as I run to the locker room. Gotta say, football always makes me feel a little better. Even on the worst days.
After yelling at the team to get their asses onto the field and huddle up around Coach, coach breaks the news.
"Boys. This week we're trying something a little different. Everyone except our QB is changing positions." And that's when the yelling starts. Which also means it's my turn to step up.
"Hey!" I yell. They shut up pretty fast when I do that. "It's one week. One Friday night game. Coach isn't stupid. There's some reason for this madness. But if we don't practice in our new positions, there's no way in hell Friday is gonna be good. You hear?"
There's grumbles of agreement which pleases coach and so he starts listing off positions. All I need to know is who I'm passing to and who I need to depend on to protect me. Sounds like I'm passing to Martinez, Aaron, or Jace. And Joel is hopefully gonna give me time to pass to one of them. After those new assignments, I space out. Thinking about dad mostly. I never met the guy yet he's the one who's impacted my life the most. Sometimes, I honestly hate him. I hate that I can't go home after practice cause mom will burst into tears when she sees me. I hate that I had to grow up without a dad teaching me how to throw a ball and I needed Joel's dad to teach me. I love mom and I love my sisters but sometimes I really wish dad wasn't driving that day. No idea where he was going cause I've been too afraid to ask but I wish he waited another few seconds before getting in the car. Or drove one notch on the speed dial slower.
"Ryder!" Shit. I really gotta stop blanking out.
"Ya coach"
"Did you hear what I said?" Uh no. Definitely did not hear what you said coach. I look to Joel hoping for some help but he has a massive smirk on his face. Good to know I'm not getting help from him. I look to Aaron to see the same look as Joel. Great. Thanks guys.
"Uh no coach. Sorry."
"Thinking about a girl?" And that's when the team bursts out laughing. I get the smirks and I throw a death glare at both Joel and Aaron. They only laugh harder.
"Of course sir. What else?" Playing along I watch as the tension in the team slips away and pressure is released from the teams shoulders. It's good to see.
"Alright then Ryder. Line up and start calling plays. This week is gonna be full of practice runs."

We get up and run over to the 50 yard line with some confusion on where to stand. Once everything's sorted out and the guys are ready I call it out. "BLUE-37! BLUE-37! HUTT!" Ball's snapped into my hands as the guys in front of me start to run. No ones open. Great. I see a small gap just small enough for someone to run. Quickly taking a look around again and once again seeing no one open, I sprint. Across the 40, almost at the 35 before I'm knocked to the ground. Opening my eyes, I see Joel sitting on top of me. "Nice hit man. Little slow on it though." I smirk at him.
"Shut up." He comments as he rolls his eyes and we start to get up.
"Boys! That was the worst play I've seen in my 20 years of coaching. Nice run Ryder, but everyone else! Laps! Go!" Even though coach gave me an out, being team captain means running with the team even when not required. We run around the field for a good 10 minutes before coach calls us over to do another play. That's how practice goes. Not one TD is scored. And that isn't a compliment to the D, only a dig at the O.

Practice ends which leaves me with 3 hours before dinners ready. 3 hours till I can go home. Waiting till all the guys are out, I head to the stands. Back to center field where I was only days earlier.

Staring at the grass and the white markings on the field, I zone out. Instead of thinking of dad, my mind wanders to Rebecca. The girl who I've refused to let myself believe I actually like until recently. The girl next door. She knows a lot of what happens at our house. I'm sure she's seen me outside before, she knows about dad and how mom is. Rebeccas always kinda been there. In the background, helping without getting in the way. If that makes any sense. Deciding to text her to pass these 2 hours I have left, I open up my phone to see a text from her already.
Rebecca: hey. How's ur mom
Me: idk. Haven't seen her today
It takes her a couple minutes to respond in which time I think about practice and imagine different outcomes for Friday.
Rebecca: what? Wdym?
Me: I left before she was up and I'm still at Hermann
Rebecca: didn't practice end an hour ago??
Me: ya...
Rebecca: and u aren't home?
Me: no. Mom doesn't exactly have the best reaction to seeing me on dads bday
Rebecca: oh right. That's today
Me: ya. What we're u talking about
Rebecca: seeing Kaylie
Me: oh that. Ya she's fine. Kaylie should be home soon
Rebecca: that's good
Me: yep
Thinking back to everything that happened yesterday, I remember Heidi's secret.
Me: hey. U wouldn't by any chance have seen what Heidi was doing yesterday when mom and I were gone would u?
Rebecca: oh uh maybe I shouldn't be the one telling you
Me: so you know something?
Rebecca: ya
Me: what
Rebecca: if Heidi doesn't want you to know then you probably shouldn't know
Me: oh come on
Me: please?
Rebecca: I'm not that easy Ryder. Talk to your sister. I gotta go. Sorry about ur mom. Good luck
Me: thanks
So... something happened yesterday and Rebecca knows. I don't know who it will be easier to get it out of. But that's something I gotta deal with later cause it's time to head home for dinner.

Walking home I text Heidi saying I'm on my way. She responds saying dinners ready and to be prepared for an upset mom. Awesome. Tonight's gonna be full of tears. My favourite.

Walking in the door, I hear cutlery clanging against plates letting me know mom and Heidi are eating. I quickly wash my hands before sitting at the table and loading up my plate, purposely avoiding eye contact with mom.
"Hi Ryder." Mom whispers
"Hi mom"
That was the extent of conversation at the table. Finishing up and cleaning the table and kitchen, I feel a hand on my back. I turn around to be faced with my mother's green eyes, filling with tears.
"Mom. It's ok."
"You're turning more into him everyday baby." The tears start rolling down her face as I wrap my arms around her. Heidi comes in and takes over cleaning the kitchen so I can get mom to bed. Walking up the stairs and opening moms bedroom door, I whisper a good night before giving her a kiss on the head and unwrapping myself from around her. I walk over to my room, shut off the light, text Heidi good night, and fall asleep, waiting for September 10 to come.

———————————————————-

I have changed some small aspects of the beginning of the book to fit with the idea I have in mind. So for a small, brief recap so you don't need to go back and reread the chapters:
Kaylie (the sister currently in jail) is 7 years older than Ryder.
Heidi is 3 years older than Ryder
Ryder's dad (Mr Hill) was in a car accident that killed him before Ryder was born.

There you go. Thanks for reading! If there's any confusion just let me know and I'll try and clear it up.