Aaron Verlice, the charismatic and talented quarterback of the university's football team, has always been known for his precision on the field and his charm off it. But few people know about his secret passion - art. Aaron's sketches and paintings...
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I sit on my bed, hugging my favorite plushie - a soft, lovable lion that always brings me comfort. Blair is sitting beside me, chattering away about something, but my mind is half-focused on her words and half-focused on the upcoming athletic competition tomorrow.
I nod along as she talks, occasionally giving mumbled responses, but my mind is elsewhere. I'm mentally preparing for the competition, visualizing the routines and practicing my moves in my head. I'm already planning out my strategy for tomorrow, mentally calculating the points I'll need to win and the areas I need to improve upon.
Blair must notice that I'm not fully engaged in the conversation anymore, because she pokes me on the shoulder to get my attention.
I turn my head towards her, tearing my thoughts away from the competition and bringing my focus back to the present.
"Hey, are you even listening to me?" Blair asks, a slight pout on her face.
I give her an apologetic smile.
"Sorry, I spaced out for a moment," I admit, still hugging the plushie close to my chest.
Blair rolls her eyes playfully.
"Yeah, I kinda figured that out," she says, a hint of amusement in her voice. "You were literally staring off into space like a zombie. What were you thinking about?"
I let out a small sigh.
"Just the competition later. I've been trying to prepare for it, thinking through my routine and the points I need to score," I explain, my fingers fidgeting with the plushie's mane. "I mean, i still have few days before the competition"
Blair nods, understanding my preoccupation with the competition.
"Yeah, I get it. You've been talking about nothing but that competition for the past few days," she says with a smirk. "But you don't need to worry so much. You've got this in the bag."
"I wish I could say I share your confidence," I mutter, still feeling the pre-competition jitters. "It's a big event, and the pressure is real. I have a reputation to uphold, and I want to make Lakewood proud."
Blair gives me a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"You're going to be great. You've worked so hard for this, and you've got the skill and talent to back it up. Plus, you have me cheering you on from the sidelines," she says with a grin. "You've got this, girl."
I take a deep breath, feeling a bit more encouraged by her words. I straighten my shoulders and try to exude confidence.
"Thanks, Blair. You're right. I can do this. I just need to believe in myself and trust my training. How about you and your volleyball team?"
Blair grins, her own confidence shining through.
"We're going to rock it too. We've been practicing our asses off, and we've got a killer team this year. We'll give those Oaks Hills girls a run for their money, no doubt about it."
