CARNIVORE

Chapter 33

The only reason I know what football's about is because I played it. This sports damn confusing sometimes. 

Tycho Black.

We're in the locker room gearing up. We're lucky it's a home game. The crowd's turn-up is so high I can hear the cheering from here. Louis says a few words of encouragement as I lace my cleats. He's got a slight shake in his voice. I know he's nervous because everyone is. But I'm not. I'm so level-headed right now that it's almost unnerving. 

When the time comes we all grab a partner and line up. Louis always picks me to be his, except that means we're in the front of the pack, and everybody knows who he is so the cameras will be on him- which means they'll be on me. I've never really enjoyed the attention. I've had two interviews this year so far because I'm the so-called "up-and-coming rookie of the year," or at least that's what the local news channel calls me. I don't enjoy the attention but I'm glad I'm good enough to receive it. 

We leave through the double doors and instantly the field comes into view. The bleachers are packed, with apparently more than 30,000 people here to watch it. That doesn't even include Henningway's students- the school we're up against tonight. I think about our chances of winning as we walk.

Our team is undefeated, with seven wins. They're standing at six wins and one loss, but they're unfamiliar when it comes to actually losing. In the past four years, they've won two state championships and made it to the semifinals in the years they didn't win. To say that this was a big game would be an understatement. 

We pause on our team's logo in the center of the field. I automatically take my helmet off and place my hand on my heart as the national anthem is played by our band which currently surrounds us. I look around in this moment, studying the behavior of my team members. Some bounce their legs in apprehension, while others remain stoic, choosing to take the battle mentally and convince themselves that everything will go the way its intended to. 

But I do neither. It goes back to what I said before- that I'm unnervingly settled. I'm so sure of the outcome of this game that I feel cocky. I try to think that whatever happens, I'll be happy with how it plays out, and then I think of the three men somewhere in the bleachers who came here just to see me play. I can't help but turn around to look for them.

"Oh, Tycho. I wanted to ask you, what's your jersey number?"

"Why?" Alexei looked at me like the answer was obvious.

"Because I need to know who to cheer on, obviously."

Ten. My jersey number is ten. It has been ever since I joined the sport back in second grade. Was it symbolic of something? Not really. I just picked the first number I found because, at the time, I didn't think Jason would let me stay. Surprisingly he did. I think that's the only thing I could ever thank him for. 

The anthem ends, and Louis, Colton, Asher, and I approach the other team's four captains for the coin toss. Everyone waits in silence for the referee to flip it, and when he finally does, half the stadium boos at the outcome. We get the ball first, which means I need to prepare myself to play. 

The four of us leave the field as our Kick-return team enters it. I know I have about a minute and a half to look around for Xavier, Alexei, and Riley so I waste no time in searching. The crowd goes silent as I hear the kick. But I don't pay attention to the field. I pay attention to the reason I'm still here. 

I look up to see a poster board being waved excitedly back and forth with my number and name on it. Below it is Alexei and Riley screaming at the top of their lungs, making eye contact with me. Even Xavier is looking at me, but he doesn't scream. He just claps. I laugh at his awkwardness. He really is old.