Paper Weight

The Pre-Game Ritual Part 1

It was October 12th, the day of the big basketball game for the Pittsboro Sharks. It was also the day of the art show, which would be having many of my works of art in it. I can see it now, Willa Quince's wall of gum. A mural of gum, looking like my recently deceased friend, Pyper Romcot.

Pyper had died almost a year ago, she overdosed on painkillers that she had due to the fact that she had a knee replacement only four months before.
She was bullied constantly by the "popular" kids, just because she was unique. One night, she just snapped and decided to leave this world and everything on it, including Willa.

Willa remembered all the times her and Pyper were together. Pyper was like her older sister, guiding her through life like what her mother should be doing, but is too busy with her job to do so.

Willa's mom was a major art fan, she would go to art conventions for weeks at a time, leaving Willa alone with her father, who was barely home himself. Willa's father was a retired football star. Her father, Robert Quince played for the Tennessee Titans, an NFL team. He was a linebacker, he hit like a bull. Robert played during the Super Bowl in 2000, but hurt himself and was taken out of the game. But of course the team did 1000% better with my dad off the field. His injury only worsened over the years, giving him no choice but to plunder into his retirement. Now, fourteen years later, he is now apart of a crew that covers all the games. He calls it "The round table of football gods" even though more than half of the guys on that crew are assholes.

Today, I get to go to the semi-finals for my high school. My art teacher, Ms. Fritz agreed to have all the student with work in the art show to go and support the basketball team, only if they came and supported us after their game.
"Great," I thought to myself. "big, sweaty jocks in a tiny room. Can't wait."

[later]
It's almost time for the game, I have to get ready. I decided to wear my Pittsboro Sharks shirt from when I was twelve. It was a dark, almost black shade of blue with a Carolina Blue Shark on the torso area. The words "Pittsboro High School" were embellished across my chest in a dark red color with white streaks outlining the letters. After that I decided to wear these jeans that looked like they were washed out, actually I think that's what they're called. To finish off my look I wore my black chucks, also known as converse. I was ready for the worst night of my life.

I decided I would take my cousin, Sydney just because she love watching sweaty hot guys run around a gym.

Sydney was a college student, but she always hung out with me, so people started thinking that she went to Pittsboro High. Sydney had chocolate brown hair and tan skin with beautiful brown eyes that made her look perfect.
She was probably the most popular girl in her college, not because she was mean, but because she was nice to everyone.

Sydney decided to pick me up at 6:00 so we could go out to eat before the game, she said it was a pre-game ritual. She also said that we might see some "hot guys" there because they would come before a big game just to eat and have fun. I thought it would be better to just stay at home, go to the game, and then go to eat, but who am I to say anything about this weird stuff jocks do.

"So, Willa, you know you're getting to that age where you're going to have urges." She said laughing softly, blinking fast, trying to stop the tears of laughter from streaming down her face.

"Oh my god, please stop talking." I said softly, rubbing my temples to get that image out of my head.

"Did your mom already have this talk with you?"

"Nope, dad did."

"Ooh, awkward." Sydney said laughing and punching my shoulder softly, but playfully.

"Yeah." I said sighing lightly as my voice trailed off.
Oh no. There they were. The Pittsboro High School Basketball Team. There he was Jayce Bennett, the star of the basketball team, staring straight at me..and he was smiling...he was smiling at me.