Playing the Game

Chapter 3: Football Players

Chapter 3

"Keep your eyes open Fred!" Coach Turner yelled, his face turning red. "I swear to God if you miss another block you're sitting on the sidelines for the rest of your life!"

Fred's posture dropped and he turned into himself, hanging his head low.

"You're leaving your teammates out to dry and that is unacceptable!" Coach Turner yelled, stepping towards Fred.

I took the time to regain my breath, stretching out my back as I looked around and examined the team.

We were in good shape, don't get me wrong, but today was a rough day.

Mondays always were.

The intensity wasn't as high on Mondays from the guys and Coach Turner always ran us dry. It ramped up throughout the week, peaking obviously on Fridays.

But this week was an off week, we didn't have a game on Friday.

Coach Turner took a deep breath, readjusting his hat.

"Grab some water, let's turn in for the day." Coach Turner said, shaking his head. "McKinley." He called my name, gesturing me over.

"Fuuuuuck me." I whispered to myself, wiping my hands on the sides of my practice jersey as I walked towards Coach Turner.

We were joined by the offensive coordinator and one of the other assistant coaches.

"Yeah, sir?" I asked, folding my arms across my chest.

"I need you bringing the captain game a hell of a lot stronger, kid." Coach Turner shook his head. "We've gotta bring them closer together."

"There's not much I can-"

"Wrong." Coach Turner spoke up. "Son, you're the glue that's keeping this team together. But no matter how many passes you hit on target or how many yards you rush, at the end of the day you need a cohesive team and that's both on and off the field."

"Yes sir."

"Get the guys together. Make sure they understand the power of a team." Coach Turner said seriously.

I thought I was good to go, but I was sucked into a conversation about new plays with our offensive coordinator.

I left the field a solid fifteen minutes later than the rest of the team with a new set of plays that I had to learn.

As I was heading out to my truck, a bright head of red hair caught my attention as she was leaning against her car.

I tossed my stuff into the bed of my truck before heading over to Elizabeth and her little silver car that didn't fit in at all.

The bumper stickers on the back made her even more of an outsider. There was on that said 'women belong in the kitchen' with kitchen crossed off and lab written beneath it. Then she had one that said 'proud to be everything the right wing hates'.

"Your bumper stickers are guaranteed to get you rear ended around here." I told her with a laugh.

Elizabeth looked up at me and rolled her eyes.

"You again." She muttered, pushing herself off of the car. "What do you want?"

"What are you doing hanging around here still? School ended like an hour ago." I frowned, walking up to her.

"Guess someone saw my bumper stickers." Elizabeth gave me a look, folding her arms across her chest. "They disconnected my battery."

"Well that's an easy fix to-"

"Yeah no shit. I fixed the problem and it was good for like three seconds but it died and it's not starting now." Elizabeth replied.

"Well give it a go I'll help you figure-"

"My battery's dead. The car is testy anyways. I know how to diagnose a bum engine." Elizabeth gave me a look. "Don't give me that look that just because I'm a girl I can't handle myself."

"I wasn't." I held up my hands in defense. "Do you need a jump?"

"That would be lovely." Elizabeth sighed.

"Stay right here." I told her with a laugh, walking over towards my truck.

"Not like I can go anywhere if I wanted to."

I pulled up next to her car and got out. I went to grab some jumper cables from the back of my truck but Elizabeth was already pulling them out of her trunk.

"Gotta stay prepared." She gave me a look as she walked around to the front of her car. "Can you pop your hood?"

"Yes ma'am." I laughed, following her requests.

I had to admit, I was impressed she knew her way around the car like this.

Most girls in this area didn't know squat when it came to engines.

I walked over to see if she needed help but she seemed pretty self sufficient in this area.

"Hey your phone's ringing." I said suddenly, watching the screen light up on the phone that was perched on top of her car.

"Who?" She asked, standing up straight.

"Uh..." I looked over to the screen. A picture of a guy in a football jersey popped up in friend, the name 'Tommy' above his name.

"Tommy?" I offered.

Elizabeth's face went dark as she bent back over her engine to connect the cables.

"Ignore it." She muttered, standing back up straight.

"You sure?" I asked, picking up the phone.

"Don't test me." Elizabeth gave me a glare before getting into her car. She started the engine and then got out to disconnect the cables.

As she was doing that, the phone started ringing again.

The same guy.

"Hello?" I answered the phone with a grin, knowing that it would definitely get under her skin.

Elizabeth's eyes widened and she dropped the cables.

"Vonnie?" A voice asked on the other end.

Elizabeth snatched the phone out of my hand and hung up the call.

"You jackass." Elizabeth hissed. "You think fucking with me is going to make me warm up to you?"

"What's the big deal?" I laughed, leaning against her car.

Elizabeth shook her head, slamming the hood of my car shut.

"Stay the hell out of my business."

"Who's Tommy? Ex boyfriend?" I guessed.

"No fucking way."

"Current boyfriend?" I raised my eyebrows.

"None of your business."

"Thought you said you didn't mess with football guys. His picture says otherwise."

"Who says I mess with that guy?" Elizabeth gave me a look, tossing the cables into her trunk. "Quite frankly, my life is none of your business."

I raised my eyebrows, taking in the appearance of her car.

"You certainly make your life everybody else's business." I laughed. "Liberals stick out in West Texas like a sore thumb."

"Good. I like to stand out." Elizabeth said before getting into her car.

And with that, the conversation was over.

She drove away, leaving me bewildered and shocked.

That girl...