The Elites: His Girl Zoey

7A - Tucker

I gripped the cold hard plastic of the trophy in my hand and shouted, "Look at this! Look at what we did tonight! We just got our fourth national title, in four years!" Cheers erupted from all around the locker room.

Coach Winters walked into the locker room carrying the game ball. "Congratulations team. You played like men today. All of you should be proud, those who played and those who didn't play. Everyone had a part in this win. Now for the game ball." The talking and celebrating quieted down. It was so silent you could hear a pin drop. "I believe we all know who deserves this ball. He's been non stop pep since the beginning of the season. He doesn't give up, no matter what is thrown at him. So, congratulations. You earned it." Coach Winters walked over to me, and gave the ball to Roger.

Shocked would be an understatement. Roger? I've gotten the game ball every national season since I was a freshman. And here, on Roger's first year playing football, he gets the game ball on the national game. It doesn't make any sense. Roger doesn't deserve that honor, I do.

Everyone was busy congratulating Roger on his achievement, so I went over to my locker and started changing. A junior wide receiver, Josh, someone I work closely with, came up next to me to his locker. "You ok Tuck?" He asked me.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

"Roger got the game ball. That should've been yours." Josh said.

"He may have got the ball, but I got the girl." I smiled back. Josh laughed and fist bumped me.

"Party at our suite later? Upperclassmen only?" Josh asked.

"Of course, who do you think I am?"

"Just making sure."

...

Josh and I were standing in the living room of our suite looking around at the slowly filling room. "Zoey coming?" Josh asked.

"Yeah, she should be up soon. She had to bring her team downstairs. She weeded out the upperclassmen who she wanted to come."

"Is she bringing Ria?"

"Josh, You do know that Ria is a lesbian right?"

"Should that bother me?" Josh smirked. I laughed back.

"Get me a drink." I shoved him on the shoulder.

"Why should I? I'm not some freshman who's afraid of you." Josh shoved back.

"I'll put in a good word for you for captain." Without a word Josh left and came back with two drinks. One for me and one for him. We clinked cups and drank.

After a few more drinks I saw Ria and Zoey come into the suite. I went over to the two of them and brought them back over to the drink table. "Hey cutie, how's the party going up here?" Zoey asked me.

"Better now that you're here."

"Oh god the two of you make me sick." Ria fake gagged, winked, and left.

Brent then came over to me and whispered in my ear, "Hey man, someone's throwing up in your room."

"Aw, shit. Hey Zoey I'll be right back." I said to Zoey's back hoping she heard me. I then left with Brent towards my room. We walked in and I said, "Hey, look if you're throwing up, do it in the bathroom."

The guy turned around, and of course. Roger. "Mmm, I would, but this is more likely to piss you off."

Maybe it's because I was drunk, maybe it's because I just didn't like the guy, but I am very proud to say, it was me who threw the first punch. And boy did I get him good. Roger did get a few punches in before Brent could break us up.

"What the hell guys! Pull yourselves together!" Brent was holding me back and Roger was wiping his bloody nose.

"Tell him to stay away from me, and to stay away from Zoey. So help me god I will kill him."

"Hey 'Tuck'. Watch yourself. I can stay away from her, but that doesn't mean she'll stay away from me." Roger spat back.

I struggled against Brent. "You bastard!"

"Cool off Tucker! Cool off!" Brent threw me into the hallway and dragged me out onto the balcony. "What the hell. Zoey chose you. Not Roger. She left him after the accident. She hasn't looked back." Brent threw me in a chair. "Just stay out here until you've cooled off." Brent turned and went back into the party.

I leaned my head against the cool back of the chair, and closed my eyes.