Shane
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Friday had finally rolled around, game day, I needed to Impress or my starting spot would be going back to the senior I took it from, even though he was no where as talented as I was.
I looked at myself in my bathroom mirror, it was my first time putting on my Green andGold northview eagles football jersey but it looked and felt right. I had gotten the same number that I had at Jefferson high school which made me feel like I had a bit of home. Number 11 meant a lot to me in more ways than one.
I went downstairs and grabbed my car keys off the kitchen counter. My dad was gone again, thank God. But still I was a little sad he wouldn't see meplsy tonight especially when football is what held us together for the longest time.
I missed those days, being on the field with my little brother our parents in the stands, cheering us on. But those days were long gone, and I couldn't even tell you the last football game my dad saw me play. I guess the Mississippi state championship.
I headed in my car and turned it on, I picked up my phone to put on my music to see a text message from Ellianna.
'Hey don't worry about picking me up." was all it read. Since I had been giving Colin rides to school Ellianna had been joining us, after all her house was right next to his and wether she admitted it or not I knew that mustang definitely beat taking the bus.
So I carried on with my normal routine picking up Colin, going to school talking with Matt, Ryder and Colin about the game and then going to chem. It was the first time this week Elli hadn't beat me to class, but then the final bell rang and she still never came. I sent her a text. 'You not coming to class today?' she never answered and for once I had to sit through chem silently after I finished the busy work Mrs.Awndrews had given us in 15 minutes.
After a lonely chem class met up with my now official girlfriend Karlie we both had history second although with other teachers. "Hey Shane, ready for the game tonight." she asked me wrapping her hand in mine her long acrylic nails sort of digging into my skin.
"Yeah it should be good, we're poised for a win if all goes well." and I hoped things would go well, this game was dependent on my ability to pass and even though Colin and I had been working on our drills all week I still wasn't sure if our big play with a 30 yard pass was going to be ready for the field.
"Youll be fine, your a superstar and everyone knows it." she told me, I appreciated her support but no one at this school knew I was a superstar no one had seen me play yet. But I didn't have the heart to tell Karlie that.
"Thanks Karls." I told her as we approached her history class. She gave me a kiss on the cheek.
"Bye see you at lunch." she told me as she walked in her classroom. History was uneventful for me as well. It seemed like every class was just a checkpoint until tonights game. All I could think about was all of the plays Id be calling.
In the passing period between 7th and 8th periods I saw Miranda. I walked up to her.
"Hey Miranda." she turned around and slowed so that she was walking right next to me. "Hey what's up?" she responded to me.
"Do you know what's up with Elli? I haven't talked to her all day and she wasn't in class." Miranda wrinkled her face in confusion. "Elli?" she questioned, like she didn't know an Elli, and she didn't, but Ellianna was her best friend. I forgot she didn't know my nickname for her.
"Sorry, Ellianna, have you seen her." a light bulb went off for Miranda. "Oh yeah, she's at home she's sick." she was sick, I tried not to let my face fall but I was disappointed, I was really looking forward to seeing her in the stands. Why? I don't know I couldn't say. But I knew my dad wouldn't he there and Karlie would be there waving a sign no matter what. I wanted someone to impress Elli was gonna be that person.
"Got it thanks Miranda." I told her. She smiled at me. "No problem, and kick ass tonight!" she yelled as she walked to her final class today. I sent Elli a text as I walked to my final period. 'Hey heard you were sick, I'll miss you at the game feel better. Btw you didn't miss much in chem.' just something simple, after all I was just trying to be a good friend.
My final period was athletics which was filled with prep for tonights game. Then I went home to a silent house for an hour to eat then it was back to school for game time. I normally was never nervous for football games but this particular game had my stomach in knots.
The locker room was filled with the normal pre game excitement, going over plays and the game plan, getting each other hyped up to hopefully win our first game of the season. I was fully padded up and ready to go when, Matt Sanchez approached me and gave me good slap on the back. "Ready for the show rookie?" he asked me. I hardly considered myself a rookie, I was on varsity last year at my old school and even got some playing time in the Mississippi state championship but these guys didn't know that.
"Always ready Matt." I told and he moved on making his rounds to all the players. And then it was time and we were running through a big banner ready to play the first game of the season. It had been a while since I had heard the roar of fans, the band playing a fight song and the smelt fresh cut grass just begging to be played on. It felt like home and for a second I missed my hometown, I missed my mom and I missed my brother Alex.I realized no matter where I went football would always stay the same. It was the only constant I had in my life and at this moment I was so grateful for it.
When we got to the stands I took a minute to look up at the Friday night lights and at the fans in the stands. I saw Karlie holding up a poster with number 11 on it, my number. And then out of the corner of my eye I saw Miranda and her family no doubt here to support Matt, but next to Miranda was a blonde girl wearing a north view tee shirt. Ellianna. I couldn't tell you why the sight of her set off a fire in me but I couldn't help it, I smiled, because now I had something to work for something to prove. I was ready to win this thing.
