Small Town Boy

Chapter 1

The bus wound its way along the valley floor, slowly leaning left, then right as it navigated the corners. It was too early in the fall for there to be any snow on the peaks, but it was decidedly no longer summer. Despite it only being 4 in the afternoon, the sun was low, casting long shadows from the peaks down the slopes, over the river, and up the other mountains that engulfed the valley. If you looked close enough you could see the trees beginning to drop their leaves in anticipation of the winter. 

On the inside, however, it was far less idyllic. Loud voices echoed behind me, and from the seats next to me, guys spoke in excited tones. Next to me, Ben was slumped against the window, cheek pressed against the glass, watching the cars coming from the other direction. His legs kicked his football bag, which sat underneath his seat, almost absentmindedly, the rhythmic thumping drowned out by the racket behind. 

"You alright Lan?" A familiar voice enquired from the seat across the row. It startled me slightly, and I whipped my head around to face my brother, all 6 foot 5 of him, his all-seeing eyes staring directly into my eyes, waiting for a response.

"Yeah, just nervous," I mumbled, quickly looking out the windscreen at the front of the bus.

"That's normal", he laughed, "Besides, you are better than I was when I joined. Fuck. That was three years ago."  

"You're getting old," Owen chimed in from the seat next to him, playfully shoving his shoulder. 

"Well we're the same age so I guess that goes for you as well." Parker shot back, shaking his head. "Anyway, I didn't even play in my first game in my freshman year."

"What makes you think I'll get to play," I asked, voice softening as I spoke. I pointed to Owen, "He's the captain and starting Quarterback, he's 3 inches taller and is stronger in almost every way."

This time it was Owen who spoke, "Exactly, I'm the captain, so I get to make some of those decisions, and you, my friend, and too much of a talent to not play. I've seen you in training, and you'll grow in time, you know that. And get stronger. You'll be playing in some form, I promise."

"See," Parker smirked and reached over to ruffle my hair. I managed to squirm away from his hand but earned a shove from Ben, who pushed me back into my seat. 

"Besides," Owen pulled his sleeves over his shoulders to reveal his biceps, "When these muscles go off to college, someone is gonna have to take over from me."

"Maybe." I shrugged. "If I'm good enough."

"Come on Lan," Parker shook his head again, "You know you are good. Everywhere else you've played you've been the best."

"Well, I know that. It's just," I paused, "This feels different. It feels real. This counts."

"That's a good thing." Owen nodded, "It means you care, and you want to do well." 

As he said that the bus leaned and turned into the parking lot of the school we were playing at. Coach Hudson stood in the aisle, bracing himself against the seat with one hand, a clipboard in the other. 

"Alright boys. We're here, get your stuff, and find the locker room. Remember we're representing our school and our town, so I expect nothing but the best behavior." He finished and was met with a chorus of acknowledgments. I picked up my bag and followed Parker off the bus, and into the school. Ben caught up and draped his hand around my shoulder.

"Let's go!" He exclaimed. "Our first game." 

"I know," I said, with far less enthusiasm.

"You could at least act a bit excited. I know you are." He teased. I shrugged in response and he didn't say anything else until we entered the locker room. He didn't need to. He knew how I was feeling without asking, that was the thought of thing that came with 10 years of friendship. We got each other.