This is Us

Chapter 12- Denny

Friday afternoon, I woke up from the nap I took as soon as my classes ended feeling very confused. Then I remembered who I was and what day it was- I am Denny, back up quarterback for the Marke Mustangs football team, and today was homecoming game day.
I had spent a solid 3 hours a day on the field practicing in preparation for this day. Even though I might not even get to be on the field. You see, I'm merely the back up quarterback to the oh-so-mighty senior Dirk Stevens. But still, I went through a TON of practice. Not to mention the fact that I had managed to snag one sweet honeybunny for homecoming! Yep, I'm pretty awesome.

"Finally, you're awake. The game starts in an hour," said Trevor from the other side of the room where he was on his phone. Probably texting the girls.

"And you didn't wake me up because...?"

"I didn't feel like it, plus your face is funny when you're mad."

"Don't act so smug Frank, because frankly- pun intended- you have to save my ass out there on the field and if you don't, say good bye to that pretty honeybunny you call a homecoming date."

"The beautiful joys of being a full back, I get to be sassed by my back up quarterback."

"Higher positioned and proud!"

"At least I'm on the field. But whatever man, let's just get our gear on and beat Cowboy ass!"

This has to be fun.

---

"STEVENS! WHAT IS THIS?" Coach's screams echoed around the locker room.

Someone's in trouble!

"What's what?" Dirk kept his cool.

"You're telling me I'm the only one who's seeing the ton of weed you're trying to hide in your goddamn jock strap?"

Woah. That's a serious accusation.

At the moment, we were ten minutes away from the beggining of the game. Coach was giving us a pep talk while we got ready, but it took quite the turn when he noticed Dirk's bulging and oddly green lower area. Oh god, it's really hare to explain that without throwing up. Oh god, why did coach even look there?

Apparently I wasn't the only on who thought of this. "Coach, why would you even notice something like that?" Dirk asked.

"So you admit it's there? You know what, I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS! You're on the bench. I'll deal with this later. Rinaldi, you're in."

Oh god, I'm Rinaldi! I nodded and Coach stormed out of the room, forgetting all about the pep talk.

"Wipe that smirk off your face, Rinaldi," said Dirk.

I hadn't even realized I was smirking, but I kept smirking.

"Oh, no worries, I know how to put you in your place. Who's that sweetheart you're taking to homecoming? Melanie?" It was Melissa. "The one who woke up in my bed yesterday?" What? I stopped smirking. "That's more like it. Good luck out there!" And he left. My game is going to be shit, I can already tell.

..............

"AND NOW WE BRING YOU! THE....... MARKE......MUSTANGS!!" Martinez says over the speaker, with a load of fake enthusiasm.

We burst through our school's banner, Mason, the wide receiver, riding a horse majestically. That is to say, he was being given a piggy back ride by the school mascot (who was Carlos, by the way).

The roar of the crowd was deafening. Man, did it feel good to know they were cheering for me to lead them to victory! The cheerleaders began riling them up even further, flying into the air and shaking their pom-poms. I caught sight of Melissa and my heart sunk. I had thought she was really cool, but she might just be another slut.