All American: Winter Break

Chapter Thirty-Nine: All-American (Part One)

"Well look who It is?! Mr. All American is in the building!" Coop hollered at her best friend as Patience cheered beside her girlfriend. Spencer grinned from ear to ear walking closer to hug his best friend. "What up Coop, what up Patience. Yo I didn't know you two would make it? I thought you would be halfway to Vegas by now,". Spencer hugged Patience as Coop shook her head.

"And miss your party? You must be tripping! Nah but forreal we just came to say goodbye. Our tour bus is parked right outside Slauson's. We should've already been on the road by now but you know I couldn't leave without showing up for my best friend,". Patience rolled her eyes. "I also wouldn't be able to handle a three-hour trip to Vegas with Coop yapping on and on about how she couldn't say goodbye. Besides I also wanted to come as well. Look at you being all big shot. Mr. All American and all. Ooo, are those mac and cheese bites?!" Patience averted her eyes to the appetizer table straight ahead. The both of them watched Patience as she took a plate and gathered her food.

Their laughter naturally died down turning back to Coop, he could see her eyes wander around the room. "Damn Spence can't believe you did it. You know that eight-year-old little boy would be proud. You've been dreaming about this since you were yay high,". Coop joked lowering her hand to her chest. Spencer softly laughed. "You've been right there by my side every step of the way. Cheering me on at every football game. You know out in the field I zone out the world around me, but the only few people I could hear are you and my moms. Through every win and every loss you've both have been my rock through it all,".

Spencer sighed as he too looked around Slauson's cafe seeing that it had been decorated in banners, balloons, and pictures of him in his football uniforms throughout the years. All the banners and posters around the cafe congratulated him as an All-American. Feeling a comforting hand on his shoulder, Coop softly squeezed him.

"And we both ain't going anywhere. We will be there cheering you on when you get drafted to the NFL. Damn straight I'm about to buy a season pass and everything! You bet your ass I will drop everything to be there at every game Spence. We made a pact,". Spencer smiled scrunching his eyebrows. "But what if you're on tour?". Coop shook her head. "Nah, I'm scheduling my tour around football season,".

Spencer laughed. "Oh, you got it all planned out don't you?". Coop nodded as if it was ever a question. "You bet your ass I do,". The both of their laughter died down naturally as Spencer let out another long sigh. "Nah Coop...we both did it. Look at us, your blowing up-" Spencer trailed. His voice fell to a softer tone. Coop smiled looking up at the banner. "And you're an All American...we made it Spence. Me and you. Who would've known two kids from Crenshaw with big dreams would someday turn into a reality,".

Spencer smiled and at that moment it was as if everything had sunken in. He couldn't believe that he and his best friend's dreams were coming true. Something they both had thought was only a dream seemed to be turning into something more. "Shawn did-" Spencer trailed holding back the tears. Coop nodded in silence. Clearing her throat she agreed. "He was our biggest support system. Always telling us that we would someday make it out of Crenshaw and do big things, and he was right. He may be gone but he'll always be with us. We just gotta keep making him proud,".

And with the last of Coop's words, Spencer wrapped her in a tight hug as if it was the last time. "Ayo Spence, you ain't gotta squeeze me that hard! You know I'm only going for a month. You are also coming up to see me in few weeks. It's not goodbye, Spence. It's a see you later. We'll still call and facetime. It'll be as if I never left,". Spencer wiped the single tear that escaped him nodding into her shoulder. He squeezed her tighter and instead of Coop saying another word she squeezed him just as tight. Olivia and Patience walked over laughing at something Patience had said when they looked at both Coop and Spencer.

"You both need another minute or-" Patience trailed. Spencer shook his head pulling away from the hug. Clearing his throat, he smiled. "Nah, we good. You both heading out?". Coop nodded. "We should, we don't want to hit more traffic than we already are,". Olivia wrapped her arms around Spencer's resting her head on his shoulder. "You going to light up Vegas. Show the Coop troop what you're made of,". Coop wrapped her hand around Patience's shoulder. Her eyes sparkled with the brightest of smiles Spencer had ever seen. "You already know,".

Coop waved back to him, leaving Slauson's cafe when Spencer felt as if a piece of his heart had broke leaving him a feeling of emptiness. His face tensed as his eyes burned fighting back the tears that wanted to escape. Olivia could feel him tense from beneath her arm when she soothed him and reassured him. "Spence we are going to see her in a couple of weeks,". Spencer exhaled deeply, blinking a few times when he nodded at her words. "I know Liv...I know,". He let the silent tear that streamed down his cheek stain his shirt. The tapping of a microphone brought him out of his thoughts when Olivia and Spencer both turned back to see Grace standing on the stage.

Walking over to the front of the stage his mother spoke. "Thank you to everyone who came out today to celebrate this huge accomplishment from my baby boy Spencer James! Y'all remember that name because soon enough we will see him on TV every Sunday!" Grace excitedly spoke as the crowd of friends, neighbors, and loved ones gathered around. Laughter was heard throughout with some cheering and applauding at her words. Spencer warmly smiled at his mother. She took a deep breath before continuing. "Let me calm down now I got ahead of myself there," Grace smiled meeting her son's warm eyes. Clearing her throat she continued.

"There is so much I can say about my son. All he's ever done is exceed my expectations. He is not only there for his family and friends, but also for his community. Whether it'd be on-the-field winning games or off-the-field fighting for change, Spencer seems to be our shining star. The one to guide us through the dark. I'm not only proud of the boy I've seen grow before my eyes, but the man you are becoming. And I know this is only the beginning, but you've already made me so proud and lucky to be your mom baby, I love you and congratulations Spencer. Without further ado, I'd like everyone to welcome Cranshaw's very own All- American!".

Grace wiped the tears that streamed down her cheeks the second the crowd of their family and friends burst into a thunder of cheers and applauds. Wrapping his mother in a tight hug, his mom whispered how proud of him she was. "Thanks, mom. Love you," Spencer rubbed her back while Grace squeezed him a little tighter. "I love you too baby,".

The music started to pick back up while the crowd dispersed. Walking down the steps Spencer and Grace were met with Olivia and Laura waiting at the bottom. Laura wrapped Spencer in a tight hug squeezing him as she rocked them from side to side. "Spencer I hope you know how proud I am of you,". He smiled warmly. "I do Mrs. Baker. thank you for everything you have done for me. You took me in-" Spencer trailed the second Laura cut him off. "Nonsense, you're family. It's also the least I could do for how much you've helped my family out. You've been there for both Olivia, Jordan, and my husband. I should be thanking you for taking care of them and being there for them. Keeping them safe and happy," Laura smiled warmly now directing her attention to Olivia who agreed.

"Speaking of making me happy...we have something to tell you both-"Olivia trailed as Spencer looked at Olivia widening his eyes and gritting his teeth. "Now?" he asked. Olivia nodded. "Got a better time?". She asked meeting his eyes as he searched hers. "Tell us what? Is everything okay?". Laura asked looking at Grace before looking back at their kids catching them exchanging glances at each other. Olivia smacked her lips tightly together wincing at her own words. "Actually...". She trailed turning to Spencer who stood up straighter. Never shying away from Olivia's eyes, he saw the hesitation in hers when he cleared his throat. "We have something to tell you guys," Spencer continued. Laura smiled warmly when she subtly glanced at Grace containing her excitement.

"What is it, baby?" Grace asked a bit concerned. Spencer turned to Olivia once again before looking back to his mother and Mrs. Baker. Interlacing his hand in hers, their mother's eyes widened already knowing where the conversation was heading. Squeezing her hand, a smile grew on his lips. But before Spencer could Speak Olivia butted in blurting out the words they kept in, hidden from the world as their happy little bubble burst before their eyes.