Only Us (Justin Fields)

71| I Want It All

Justin

I've been a hard worker all my life. I always said that there can be people who are better than me but there can't be anyone who works harder than me. Though if I work as hard as I can I won't have to worry about the first thing. Even from a young age they called me gifted and talented, said that if I keep my head on straight I will do great things.

And I have, and I am. And people are noticing. I haven't officially announced myself for the draft but people pretty much knew this was my last season. Most starting quarterbacks don't end up playing their senior year. If I truly started my freshman year then who knows if I would even played my junior year? Drafting college players is tricky because the difference between college and professional can be huge depending on your position. Being arguably the most important position on a team quarterbacks are in high demand. This draft class has a lot of quarterbacks so staying another year wouldn't be the worst idea. But at the same time this is a new age of professional football. A lot of the franchise quarterbacks are gone or on different teams. A lot of people who didn't think they would be looking for a quarterback now need one.

It's scary to think about where I might end up. I don't want to be too far from home or even Ohio. I've come to love a lot about Columbus and wouldn't mind someplace like this. But in the end it's not up to me to choose where I'm drafted.

Today they decided to interview me for sports center. They were doing a piece on players that they think will be in the running for the Heisman and decided they wanted to talk to me. I wasn't like most quarterbacks, I like to use my feet as much as my arm and I like to use the whole field. People love to pick the brain of athletes and try to understand but in those big moments there is nothing to understand. It's all instinct. But I can still try my best.

I sit in a chair as they put the microphone on me. Due to Covid I was the only one in the whole practice facility from my side while everyone on their side was wearing masks. It wasn't live so I wasn't that nervous, there wasn't much to worry about.

"You ready" they ask me.

"Will I ever be" I smile.

I've had the spotlight on me for a while. I'm no stranger to the camera. That being said, I am not much for talking. I like letting my actions do all the talking for me.

"You were one of the leading figureheads for getting this season going again. It's no secret that you take your education seriously, you're a very smart man. How were you able to overcome something like Covid to get here" they start.

"It's understanding nothing I do will make it go away. We couldn't sit around and wait for it to disappear. People are working day and night to slow it down, administer vaccines, push new and quicker ways of testing. They are doing what they do so I have a chance to do what I do. I know I can't push things past where they are meant to be. But I also know that if we work for all those things I need to work for mine. So instead of sitting around waiting for something with no end to come to an end I could do something. Get people to put together a petition, advocate to start up football so I can have a place in this world too" I explain.

"How much has changed this season" they question.

"Everything" I admit. "I'm lucky I have a big and loud group of people ready to support me. Willing to do a great many of things to watch me play. The stadium isn't full but it isn't empty either. Football isn't the same without fans, the only reason we play is for the fans. But I know they're at home still cheering us on. I see them walking around the city, they tell me how much joy it is to see football again. We can still give them that even though it's not the same."

"What did you do to pass time during the extended break" they wonder.

"I got a little stir crazy at the end but it wasn't awful. I actually ended up moving in with my girlfriend so she kept me company. We made the most of it, I still trained and I got to learn a lot about myself. About this life and what I want" I confess.

"What do you want" they wonder.

I think back to the last person who asked me this question, it was naturally Jillian. Back when we first met really. I told her I wanted everything and she laughed at me. Not because she didn't think I would be able to do that, I know she believes in me. But a person wanting everything ended up falling for the person who wanted nothing. Funny how that worked out.

"I want it all" I answer. After all this time that hasn't changed. Though the meaning of it did. "This life offers so much so why not have a little bit of everything? There is nothing satisfactory of having a bunch of the same thing no matter how good that thing is. The same goes for life. I want to be successful but I also want to get my education and be great at that. I want to continue to build my relationship with my girlfriend and be the best person I can be for her and for me. I want to be the best player I can be. Success is everywhere and I don't see why I have to be just one thing. I want it all" I explain.

Though the person interviewing me was behind the camera was wearing a mask I still see him smile. He nods before looking through the rest of the questions.

We finish up after about thirty minutes which is long enough for me. I thank them for taking their time to come by and they still had a few more people to interview. I finally come home and the whole place smelled great. I don't know what Jillian is making, but it smelled delicious.

"Honey, I'm home" I yell as I close the door behind me. I shed my shoes and the jacket I had on. By the time I look up Jillian was standing there in her PJ's obviously ready to turn in for the night.

"Welcome home" she smiles. How she makes my insides melt.

I pull her into a long kiss before we break apart. "It smells amazing in here" I tell her.

"I made homemade chili" she declares.

"Well I can't wait" I say.