Paper Hearts (boyxboy)

The Recruiter

Noah:

I'm scared completely shitless right now. Arizona State University is my dream school. I have to get in there. I have an entire plan: full-ride football scholarship, major in architecture, sign with Baltimore Ravens, marry Andrew, and have beautiful babies.

We'll have to have Sara or somebody carry our kids, of course. But my plan will fall apart if this recruiter from ASU doesn't sign me. His name is Ray Pember, he's been to the last few of our games, and he said he'd talk to me today at five O'clock. "It's five eleven!" I yell to myself. "Where the fuck is he?"

"Right here champ." The burly old man laughs

I flip around and jump up to shake his hand. "Oh my god I'm sorry. It's so nice to meet you sir."

He has a hearty laugh. "Calm down son! Ain't like I never heard the F word before."

Nervously I laugh, stuttering to say something witty.

"It's Okay! Look, we're here to talk football anyway."

I nod my head. "Right."

"Good. Now son, you really are quite somethin'. You work that field like magic. I think you show real promise."

I try not to show my excitement. "Seriously? That's...That's amazing to hear."

He smiles. "I've never seen a quarterback like you. Very different, but in a good way."

Different huh? I hope he doesn't mean that in a bad way. "Thank you sir."

He nods. "Now your coach told me I shouldn't even consider you."

I raise an eyebrow. Great, so he does mean it in a bad way. I was really, really hoping being gay wouldn't impact my ability to get in. "Did he now?"

"Mmhm. 'Said you were a 'Tooti fruiti with an attitude'."

"H-he said that?" I stutter, realizing what's happening. Suddenly images of playing under the bright lights and Tempe heat fade out of my mind.

He nods again. "Now, I want you to be real honest here son, you give him trouble?"

I ponder this for a second. I do give him trouble, but the guy's a total asshole. What am I supposed to tell him? "I don't mean to, he just...doesn't like me much."

"Why? Because you're homosexual?"

I swallow hard. "I guess so"

"Well, aside from that, do you honestly give him any other reason not to like you?" He wondered.

I shake my head, "No, I don't think so. He always liked me before I came out."

He seems to understand this, and folds his hands together. "Well Danton, that happens. Most people are still stuck in the 19th century, I mean for god's sake it's almost the nineties, you'd think people would be more open-minded!"

I'm taken aback by this reaction. "Yes, exactly, I feel the same!"

"Not much we can do about it. And I can't promise everyone in college will be as accepting either. In fact, your teammates might even give you more hassle, but something tells me you can handle it."

I step back a bit. "Wait, are you saying..."

"That's right." He nods. "We'd love to have you. Arizona could use the best quarterback in Virginia."

A flood of emotion rushes over me. I can't believe it, I just can't. I've wanted this for so long, I've dreamt of it over and over again. Finally, It's happening, I don't even know what to say. "Sir, I won't let you down, I swear." I start aggressively shaking his hand. "You won't regret this."