Present
Outside, the March spring breeze ruffles my academy jersey. The smell of spearmint's strong. When I breathe, the coolness of the air mixed with my gum creates a bite in my mouth. It's overcast weather. Chillier than what the lying weatherlady said on the Morning Show.
I'll be okay, though. I'm young. I can take it.
My black-and-blue jersey. Matching shorts. Up to my knees in (yuck) long socks. Shin guards in my pack. I'll swap my skaters for cleats when I get on the field. And I can't forget Naruto whiskers on my face made from eye black, because...fandom (and the extra winning chakra).
You're right. You really are a dork.
"Stephen, put a jacket on," Mom nags. "You're going to get sick!"
I want to say something, but I lock myself inside the four-door instead. I told her when she nagged in the kitchen that I'm fine. I put long sleeves under my jersey as a compromise. Who cares if I catch a cold anyway? I go online for high school. No off days.
I wish someone would write a slice-of-life about online learning.
You can draw one later tonight. The game?
Without Brandon and against the Bears? It makes my left knee twitch.
Okay. Nope. We're not going there, Stephen. What have we worked on all winter break, hm? We're not going there.
Easier said than done when it feels like the world's on your shoulders and your coach expects you to go all number-one hero like it's MHA.
Have your daily agenda...
1. Wake Up [ x ]
2. Win Second-Half Opener [ ]
3. Work [ ]
4. Check Application Statuses [ ]
5. Home [ ]
My to-do list. It's on a mental SMART Board with clipart aliens.
You're welcome for the clipart, by the way. I thought you'd like it.
My supervisor loves aliens.
I eye myself in the rear-view mirror. My shaggy hair that licks around my ears still looks damp from the rinse. I've got a hint of a fuzzy face (as Kenzie calls). I hate it. It keeps growing back and I wish it wouldn't. I see my earbuds blinking. My glasses. They're my good sporting pair. Black like my whiskers. Just thicker and rubbery to stick to my face.
That's me. Dorky seventeen me.
And what's going on?
The second half of my last academy league season. The rivalry game. The game my parentals will see, but Kenzie won't. The game I know we're going to lose. Yeah. Portersburgh Fisher Cats and Manville Bears. The reverse fixture. In my city. On my turf.
Home-field advantage.
...I wish she could be there. GoPlay won't mean a thing in August.
Smile. Put some music on.
The parentals get in. Mom nags about the lack of warmer clothing. So, I hang my head back, close my eyes, and sink into the backseat.
"All Star" by Smash Mouth. My traditional pre-match theme.
All while picturing the one with me in spirit because...who needs luck when the best person in the world's in my heart?
YOU ARE READING
Earhart & Noonan: An "Us Club" Novel (#1)(NaNoWriMo15)
Novela JuvenilFor the first twelve years of Stephen Vaughn's life, just trying to get others around him to pronounce his first name the right way ("Stee-vehn Vawn") has felt like the hardest task he's had to try and cope with. That is, until his perfect life with...
