The Game Plan

26

Kenz and I were driving to school the following Monday morning, and I could not find a radio station to listen to.

"But if I told you I loved you would it make you wanna stay? I'm sorry fo-" I pressed a button and skipped over the Florida Georgia Line song.

"Tonight your memory burns like a fire, with every one it grows higher and hi-" I groaned and skipped the Rascal Flatts song.

"I should've brought you flowers-" I pressed the off button on the radio.

"Jeez, testy much?" Kenz joked from the drivers seat.

"Music is stupid." I grumbled, looking out my window.

"I think someone is relating too closely to those songs." She sing-songed.

"No." I said, rolling my eyes.

But I was. Unfortunately I was too stubborn and proud to back down now. I knew I had made a pretty big deal about all of this.

Plus, I wouldn't take myself back after the phone call the other day.

Kenz drove into the parking lot at school and into our usual spot. She shut the car off and got out to help me.

"If it makes any difference, I think you two should figure this out. You have dealt with too much to lose each other over a misunderstanding." She said

I couldn't focus in school, I was too busy thinking about everything on my mind.

"Britt?" My dad called from the living room that night.

"Yeah?" I yelled downstairs.

"What's up?" I heard my mom ask, walking into the living room.

"Britt, come down here." She said.

I grabbed my crutches and made my way downstairs to the living room. My dad was sitting on the couch, his eyes locked on the news. My mother was standing behind him, her eyes focused on the story as well.

"What?" I asked, following their gazes.

On the screen was a shot of Fort Worth high school.

"What is this?" I asked.

"The weekly report on the high school athletics in the area." My dad said.

I knew the feature well, they had done a story about me once and covered the game last week.

"Last week we recapped the state championship football game and the Friarburg's quarterbacks devestating knee injury." The voice of a reporter read as the cameras flashed back to the episode last week.

"And this example of sportsmanship from the Fort Worth team." She said.

The camera focused in on a shaky cellphone video of Nick chasing the stretcher, his helmet in his hands.

"We went to Fort Worth to talk to the captain - Nick Morgan - about this video." She said, the camera now focused on the reporter. She was standing on the Fort Worth football field.

I sat down on the couch, curious about the episode.

"Did you know about this?" My dad asked. I shook my head, still looking at the screen.

"When we met up with Nick, we were surprised at his choice of attire." She said, and the camera showed Nick walking over to the reporter to shake her hand in a crowded Fort Worth hallway.

He was wearing a Friarburg jersey.

"Wow, interesting choice of shirt." She laughed.

"Yeah, I borrowed this from a friend of mine." He said, smiling as he led her through the halls.

"Britt Manning?" She asked, smiling in a knowing way.

"No." Nick laughed, but had a smile on his face. "This is from another player."

"So tell me about the video?" She asked.

"Well, I am dating Britt Manning." He began.

At this point, I could barely breathe - let alone move my eyes from the screen.

"When I saw she got hurt, I forgot about the game and our schools. I just wanted to make sure she was okay." He said.

The reporter gave an awed smile before he continued.

"And the hit was illegal. After the whistle blew." He said.

"Well we all know about the investigation that was requested by Fort Worth surrounding Britt Manning." The reporter said.

"Someone I really admire once told me that whether or not I agree with what happens surrounding this time, I am still a part of the team. For a while, I didn't tell anyone about Britt. I didn't know if they would continue to respect me as a captain when they found out. Then I found out that the hit was illegal, and I know that's my fault. I should have stepped up earlier, and I never should have kept my relationship with Britt a secret." He said.

"Wow, I have to say Nick, we don't normally have stories this... romantic on this feature." The reporter laughed.

"Believe me, this whole thing is crazy even for me." He laughed.

"So how are things with Britt since the game?" She asked.

He was quiet for a minute before smiling.

"They played a better game and won. There are no hard feelings from me. The injury is definitely a sore subject. I have a lot of guilt about it and things have definitey been tense." He said seriously.

"But you're wearing a Friarburg jersey. Trying to get some brownie points?" She asked.

"Something like that." Nick laughed.

"Well, you are forgiven in our book." The reporter and Nick laughed as the camera panned away and switched back to the news studio.

"Last week's game was a big controversy in the state for a few weeks. But Nick Morgan has shown us that this is about more than just a game. Even as a high school senior, he has admirable traits that I think many people in this state should admire and try to reflect in themselves." She finished.

The camera went back to the anchors, who commented on the story.

At this point, my jaw was hanging open and I had tears in my eyes.

For the past week, I was mad at Nick. However this was about more than a game and our relationship was important to me.

I pulled out my phone and called Matt. I needed to have a conversation with someone.

___________

The next chapter is the last chapter of The Game Plan. However, there will be an epilogue and I have already planned on it being very long. Even though I will write an epilogue - I haven't entirely ruled out a sequel about the college years. (You should know by now I do what I want when it comes to writing, even if it isn't 'correct') I am sure many of you want a sequel, but I want to write different stories first. We will see what happens!

For other work by me check out:
The Bachelor - a Niall Horan fanfiction
After The Bachelor - the sequel to The Bachelor
Stuck With Him - a teen fiction