Juliana

21. Sweaty hugs and sobbing

*A/N: Bleh. I feel like this update is just crap, and I am unhappy with it. :/ Sorry guys. Don't think it's up to par. Read if you dare.*

"And another reception by Patterson resulting in another six for the Bears." I jogged off the field to the sidelines.

I grabbed a Gatorade from the water girl, and I looked around in the bleachers for Jules. She was holding a huge poster above her head, and she was waving it around like crazy. It had my jersey number on it.

The crowd roared after our kicker tagged on the extra point.

"You and Juliana going out after the game with the rest of the team and I or what?" Aaron said in my ear.

"I'm down for it. I don't know about Jules though. She may want to see her dad."

"Understandable. How's he doing, by the way?"

"Worse. The hospice has put up some Christmas decorations in his room per his request. I think he's nearing the point where he's just wanting to give up the fight now, ya know?"

"Yeah... I'll be praying."

"Thanks, man. It's tough on me, so I can only imagine what it's like for Juliana."

***

Juliana reached out and hugged me, but she soon pulled away. "Ew... you're all sweaty and gross." Her nose scrunched up.

"But I want a longer hug than that..." I held my arms open again.

"Go clean up and then you'll get one..." She stuck her tongue out at me.

I wrapped her in a hug, and she squealed before she broke free, hopping off the bleachers and running out onto the field. I chased her around the field for a little bit before catching her and hugging her again. She giggled.

Her giggle was cute; it was one of the many things I loved about her. "If we're going out with everyone else tonight, I gotta go get cleaned up."

"You were the one that chased me!"

"True." I walked towards the direction of the locker room. "You can go ahead and get in the truck if you want. It's unlocked. And if you wanna turn on the heat, the keys are underneath the driver's doormat."

"Robbie... you have to stop doing that. It's dangerous!"

"It's Star... what's going to happen?"

"Still..." I heard her say before the door clicked shut behind me.

***

"Another win boys. One step closer to the championship. Still undefeated." Aaron held up his glass of Coke.

"You got that right." I took a bite of pizza.

The rest of the team and I always went out for pizza after every game. It was an unspoken rule that if you had a girl, she tagged along.

Juliana leaned into me and whispered in my ear. "Robbie..."

She gave me her phone. It was a text from her Aunt Grace.

Aunt Grace: Heading to hospital. Your dad is there...going straight to ICU. Will keep in touch. Stay out on your date. Enjoy your Robbie time. ;) Love you.