City of Champions: Jalen Hurts

6

You know that myth about Eagles fans being absolutely unruly creatures?

It wasn't a myth and Reese didn't know that until after Jordan got drafted. She learned that at the very first divisional meeting game against the Cowboys. Dak Prescott, the Cowboys quarterback, owned the Eagles and the rest of NFC East since he was drafted in 2016. Things changed when Jalen Hurts took the reigns and brought the Eagles back to relevancy after their terrible 2020 year when they were 4-11-1.

Now, though, Eagles fans had nothing to be sad about. They had a young, black quarterback that could run and pass the ball effectively, an excellent wide receiver core that consisted of AJ Brown and Devonta Smith, an offensive line that didn't allow an in-men in the back field, and a defense comprised of 5 Georgia bulldogs.

Point is, they had a lot to brag about and while Reese was a proud Eagles fan, she didn't indulge in a lot of their behaviors. Like shotgunning beer cans at tailgates or yelling at opposing teams fans. But Reese had to admit that she loved the heart and soul of these Eagles fans. It was one of her favorite things about Sundays.

It was Thanksgiving and the Eagles played against the Buffalo Bills tonight at 8 PM. Reese was both anxious and excited.

"You sure you aren't hungry, Reese?" Serina asked Reese as she opened the car door to her jeep. "Just because we aren't eating Thanksgiving food doesn't mean we can't have a late lunch or something."

Reese held the door handle. "I mean... I'll grab something small with Layla. I don't want my stomach to be turning during the game and stuff."

She was fine with eating but when people made comments about it, Reese got defensive about it and it made her not want to. That's why Thanksgiving had been anxiety inducing for the past few years when once upon a time, it was her favorite holiday.

"Hi, Layla. Are you already at the stadium?"

Layla turned the music down in her own car, trying to get through game-day traffic without a murder charge. "No. I'm not close because these people don't know how to drive. Jesus- I'm trying to let you over! Get the fuck over!"

"Honestly. Same." Reese laughed, pulling out of her parents driveway as she listened to Layla's road rage. "What restaurant are you close to? Do you want to get food? Nothing heavy?"

Layla pulled into a random shop center. "I just pulled into a Dunkin', Subway, a Sheetz, Walmart... I don't know if you like any of those. I can GPS a spot, too."

"I know exactly where you are. Wanna do subway?" Reese said, thinking about their vegan pizza. "I'm about 6 or 7 minutes from you."

The outfielder pulled into a spot outside of Subway, parking her car. "Want me to run in and get our food? It should be ready when you get here."

"Could you grab me a pizza please?" She requested gently. "And a diet coke. Please, Layla. Thank you so much. I can send the money."

Layla smiled gently, locking her vehicle. "Don't send the money. I'll get it. You don't want anything else?"

"A cookie." Reese said. "Actually. I shouldn't."

"I'll get it just in case." She says, crossing the parking lot to Subway and slipping inside. "What did you want on your pizza?"

She drove through the light, thinking of what she could eat. "Spinach and olives. See if they'll put banana peppers on it as well."

"Got 'cha. I'll see you in a minute."

"Alright."

While Layla and Reese were making progress in their friendship, Layla wasn't sure where she and Jordan stood. They talked and flirted on occasions but obviously, she wasn't taking it very seriously because he was a pro-athlete and probably didn't have time for a college kid.