All American: Winter Break

Chapter Four: Life's Too Short To Hold a Grudge

"Knock, knock. Good morning Mr. Adams I hope you don't mind but you have a visitor," Nurse Leslie announced. Rolling Spencer inside the room, Spencer automatically caught Asher's bright smile. "Good morning Nurse Leslie, what up Spence. You look like crap,". Asher's voice was raspier than usual as if he'd barely woken up a few minutes ago. "Touche," Spencer held his ribs so he could breathe out a laugh.

Asher didn't look so hot either. With his eye, nose, and lip bruised from the big brawl the both teams had before the game, he'd been beaten up pretty badly. Although Asher tried to mask the pain he'd been in, Spencer was really good at reading people. Just from the forced smile, and the way his eyebrows furrowed with every inch he moved, Spencer could tell, that he too had been more hurt than he led on.

Nurse Leslie rolled Spencer to Asher's bedside. Locking the wheels to stay in place, and adjusting Asher in the bed. "I'll give you guys a few minutes to talk before Asher needs to take his medication. Play nice boys,". Nurse Leslie waved walking out of the room to give them privacy. Both of the boys smiled hearing the door close behind her. Spencer reached out to clasp his hand with Asher's.

"It's good to see you up Spence. Sorry about all of this. When I heard that you were the one I tackled this morning, I was happy to hear that you'd been okay,". Spencer smiled. "No need to apologize. You were just doing your job. Could've easily been the other way around,". Asher agreed.

"We were both under a lot of pressure to win, and with both our teams on edge since the fight, it was bound to happen that one of us would end in the hospital. We all took a couple of rough hits on the field, I'm sure we're all feeling it today. Things would've ended differently if Jordan and JJ wouldn't have been arguing changing the plays mid-way through the game. I could've sworn we would've won if it wasn't for those two. You're lucky you were on the other team because they were going at it all night like wild hyenas,".

Spencer smiled shaking his head. "I could only imagine. I'm glad I was too, you know winning the state championship and all,". Asher smiled. "Kicking a man while he's down. It's all good though. You guys deserved it. After the hell of a year you've been through, I wouldn't want to have lost to another team,". Spencer let out a sigh. "It wasn't easy I'll tell you that. Even to the last second of the game, it could've gone either way,".

Asher's smile faded, clearing his throat to stop his emotions from resurfacing. The words from his doctor stayed permanent on his mind, thinking back to the news he'd received knowing that the state championship game was in fact the last time he would ever play. Trying to mask his feelings, he was thankful Spencer hadn't noticed. "But it's not like we don't got spring football and the All-American game coming up. I'm sure you still got opportunities for a comeback,". Asher forced a smile, agreeing. "That's right...the All-American football game, how could I miss that? I'm just hoping we'd be fully recovered by then. Wouldn't want to go easy on you or anything. Have you received your letter?" Asher asked. Spencer shook his head.

"Not yet, but I have a feeling it's on its way, or I hope so. They should be sending them out in the next couple of weeks. Have Jordan came by to see you?". Asher shook his head. "Not yet, JJ said he blames himself for calling the play that ended both of us in the hospital. He's been going through it. You know Jordan when he gets inside his head there's nothing we could do to take him out of it,". Spencer agreed. "I'm sure he'll be good. He just needs to cool off which is probably best,". The both of them had gotten quiet before Asher spoke up again.

"Are we good?". Spencer met Asher's worried eyes. He could tell how much hurting Spencer and his injury had been weighing on him. A slow smile spread across Spencer's lips giving him a slight nod. "Yeah, we're good,". Asher extended his hand for Spencer to shake. The door to the hospital room opened up to Nurse Leslie walking in rolling a cart inside. "Alright Asher it's time for your lunch and medicine. As for Spencer it's time to get you back into bed,". Spencer groaned.