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"ALRIGHT, let's get Harlan in here."
Laurie stood on the sidelines; lips pursed as she watched the game.
"Harlan? You sure? He hasn't actually kicked a field goal once this season." Sean said skeptically.
"Well, he has to learn how to at some point, and I'm still wondering why his game is off during actual games instead of practice." Laurie spoke, scanning the field. Sean sighed slightly and glanced over to the curly brunette boy, sitting on the bench with a frown.
"Harlan, get in here." Sean called, waving the Haire boy over.
"O-okay coach." Harlan scurried up, his eyes darting to the stands. Lauren followed his eyeline, spotting a girl from school, Brooke, Sean spotting the exact same.
"Is that what this is about? That young lady?" Sean asked.
"No, it's got nothing to do with her!" Harlan hissed, his gaze still darting to her.
"You sure, man? I mean we get it, okay? But you're gonna need to focus, block everything out." Laurie advised.
"Yes, forget about it all, block everything out! She is not here." Sean attempted to hype up and convince Harlan's fears away.
"She's right there! I see her!" Harlan muttered. Lauren sighed, feeling for the boy and placed an encouraging hand on his shoulder.
"Listen, it's okay if you're nervous, but we practice hard so there's not as much pressure at games. Pressure at practice, not games. You got this, okay? Block the noise and the anxious out, you can acknowledge her, but you gotta focus too, okay?" Laurie encouraged, making Harlan's frown crack into a grin.
"Okay, I'm gonna do it!" Harlan smiled, marching out onto the field. Laurie smiled, patting his back.
"You really think he's gonna do it?" Troy grimaced, standing by Laurie.
"Who knows at this point?" She sighed, running a hand through her brown waves.
"He's not gonna do it." Sean sighed. Laurie sighed as well, taking her eyes back onto the field, crossing her fingers with hope, which quickly fizzled out when the play was an exact repeat of every time Harlan tried to score during a game. ending with Paulie groaning in pain on the ground and Harlan walking away defeated, extra point no good.
