Playing the Field

Just Another Day

"Brooks, you almost done with the play book?" I ask, chugging some water.

He sits on the bench next to me, "Almost, I'm working on some killer plays. I'll run it by you on Thursday."

I nod. Brooks is the captain and quarterback in his last year. He's rather impressive but takes a little too long thinking. He likes to evaluate every player and the situation and the probability of scoring. Sometimes that saves our butts, but sometimes that costs us time.

He's not too tall and extremely lean. In see how his dark hair and freckles attract girls but he's too dedicated to Sandy, his highschool love.

I admire him and his tolerance. He's received a ridiculous amount of hate but doesn't let it affect his gameplay or his relationship with me. We're close buds as he's shown me the ropes.

"Nia was talking about maybe getting some fries and milkshakes after practice. Would you like to come?" I said.

Brooks was studying the defense do there drills and his eyes were focused on Karl. "Yeah, that would be fun."

I look at Karl and notice how sloppy his footing was. He's our biggest boy and always tackles first but he get tired easily. Often he can't last a full quarter. His health has been a concern among all of us and though we love him as a player his well-being is more important.

"Has coach told him?"

"He did this morning,"

I nod again. Karl needs to lose twenty five pounds in the next two weeks otherwise he's off the team. But that's horrible because he got here on a football scholarship. Yet coach won't risk it.

"He needs to change his diet or that will be his down fall," Brooks cares deeply for all his teammates, always saying we're a family.

I glance at Karl with sympathy, "I'm sure we can help him. Maybe invite him out tonight?"

"And while he eats a salad, we enjoy greasy foods?" Brooks said.

I frown, "It might help him. I saw him eating a apple earlier so he's probably trying. I'll eat a salad to show him we're in this together."

"That's nice of you," he smiles, "I told Colin, that as Karl's roommate, he also has a personal responsibility to keep him on track. He agreed to empty out the mini fridge and junk food."

I grin but then cast my eyes on Stanley. "What about him?"

Brooks saw who I was looking at and his jawline hardens, "I'll keep him in line."

Stanley is just the ass of the team. He was against me at all, has made plenty of racial and sexist slurs at Nia, and is always teasing Karl. Because of his white privilege and wealthy family, he has kept his spot on the team. Coach said he is looking for any excuse to not only take him off the team buy also away from the school. Yet, when your uncle is a huge benefactor, and you have five generations of allumi, you get to stay. Top that with the fact that he doesn't want to go to any other college, means we're stuck until he royally screws up.

I had a quick shower and Drill drove us to the place Nia suggested. It was adorable and had a cool 1950's theme. The waitress were dressed in those guys skirts and there was a nice vibe in the air.

We got a huge booth and had several other kids from the college come and pack the place.

I had Karl sit in between Nia and I so he could feel a little confident. We all had a salad and low fat shake which wasn't as bad as it sounds. Really.

Karl spent the entire time grinning ear from ear and at his salad. He was adorable with his chubby cheeks and messy ginger hair. I didn't miss how he would subtlety glance at Nia.