Wish You'd Met Me First (boyxboy)

Chapter 31: Ethan's Game

A/N: This chapter is another football game, but Ethan's in it, his first game with the team, this will be a fast paced scene, since I want to jump to the action.

The air buzzes with energy as we get ready for the big game against the Silverdale Titans. These guys play rough, but they're not exactly the most coordinated bunch. Meanwhile, the Ridgefield Ravens—our team—are all about finesse, except with Jake and his buddies. Tonight's game is a big one, and you can feel the tension in the air.

I pull on my gear, trying to focus on the game and not on how weird things are with Brett lately. Ethan's first game excitement is contagious, though, and I'm grateful for that.

"Ready for this, Ethan?" I ask, trying to shake off the nerves.

Ethan grins.

"Definitely. Let's show them what we've got."

As we hit the field, the crowd's roar is deafening. I catch Brett's eye across the field, but he looks away. The usual camaraderie isn't there—it's like there's a wall between us now.

The game kicks off hard. The Titans are throwing their weight around, but you can see they're all brawn and no brains. We hold our ground, though. Ethan's tearing it up out there, fitting in with our plays like he's been doing it forever.

Brett and I keep stealing glances at each other. He's playing hard but seems distracted, just like me. It's affecting the game, and the rest of the team can probably feel it too.

Jake and Kyle aren't exactly pulling their weight. Jake misses a couple of blocks, and Kyle fumbles twice, nearly costing us the lead. It's frustrating, but we keep pushing. We're not letting them drag us down.

Ryan, Tom, and Jason are stepping up big time, trying to cover for the slack. Ryan makes a killer interception, Tom's blocking is rock-solid, and Jason's speed is blowing everyone away. Thanks to them, we keep our lead.

Despite the hiccups, we stay ahead. The Titans just can't keep up—they're all over the place. Ethan's a game-changer, grabbing an interception and sprinting down the field like a bullet. The crowd goes wild as he scores the touchdown that seals the deal.

Final whistle blows, and relief floods in. We did it—Ridgefield Ravens 28, Silverdale Titans 14.

The team rushes the field, celebrating the win like we just took the championship. Ethan's the hero of the hour, getting lifted onto shoulders, with everyone cheering him on. Ryan, Tom, and Jason are the first to celebrate with him, all grins and high-fives.

"That was amazing, Ethan!" Ryan shouts, clapping him on the back.

"You saved the game with that interception."

Tom nods with a big grin.

"Yeah, man. Serious skills—glad you're with us."

"All over the field tonight," Jason adds.

"Great job, Ethan."

Ethan's soaking up the praise, grinning ear to ear.

"Thanks, guys! It was a team effort. Couldn't have done it without you all."

But even in the middle of the celebration, the tension with Brett lingers. He approaches, looking relieved but also a bit of.. I don't know, frustration? maybe.

"Good game," he says, voice a little tight.

"Yeah, good game," I reply, knowing there's more to say but not saying it. The weight of it all hangs between us.

Ethan joins in, still buzzing from the win.

"We did it, guys! This was awesome!"

Brett forces a smile, eyes tight.