We Come Alive 3

"Take It From Me..."

Saturday mid afternoon, Mateo called a football team meeting for all the players to come to. It was mandatory that all the players came and showed up, so he wasn't surprised when he saw at the time that he told them to be there, car loads of players showed up. Some of them were in casual clothes, some in workout clothes since they were going to go workout after the meeting, and some looking like they were fresh out of bed and were going to head back to it when they got home.

Mateo stood at the bottom of the bleachers while the players sat in a section of them. They were all silent and didn't speak a word to each other as they waited for Mateo to start talking.

"Over the passed couple days, a lot has happened with this team. And a certain player." Mateo begun. "As most of you could guess or heard, he's no longer on this team. Nor will he most likely ever be. Why I called this meeting was to enforce a rule that I think some of you are starting to not want to listen to or abide by. If any of you are ever caught doing, selling, or knowing of any drugs, liquor, or anything else you're not suppose to have...you're on your own. You're off this team and I'm not going to cover up for you. You are completely and utterly by yourself. Take this situation as an example, something you thought no one would find out about and wasn't a big deal? It can get you into huge trouble. Because this player, he lost all his scholarships for college, is off this team, and is under close watch by the school. Now the law? He has to go to drug counseling sessions and has to take random drug tests every week until they think he's fit to be a functioning member of society."

"So Ethan's not expelled?" Jose called out, not trying to hide Ethan's identity since everyone knew who Mateo was talking about.

Mateo shook his head. "No. He's not."

Jose leaned back against Clover's legs since she was sitting behind him. Jose let out a quiet groan as he listened to Mateo's speech since he wished he never had to see Ethan again, but now he might be forced to for the rest of the school year.

~**~

A few hours later, Clover was laying in her and Dante's bed scrolling through her contacts list. She was alone in the house since Dante, Leroy, and Julio went out in Dante's car after Clover came back home. She didn't ask where they were going since she mainly didn't care since it was going to be something stupid most likely anyway.

Clover finally landed on the name she wanted and pressed the call button. She put it on speaker so she didn't have to hold the phone to her face as she was wrapped up in the duvet and watching The Dark Knight, her favorite movie.

"What's up?" She heard through the phone.

"Hey Rick, I need to talk to you."

Clover heard Ricky sigh through the phone and slightly groan as he laid on his couch. "About what?"

"Ethan."

Ricky snickered into the phone. "No. You already know how I feel about him. There's nothing I'm doing for you or doing for him. No, clove. Whatever it is, forget about it."

"What about how he was always by your side? During your first arrest, Ethan went to your court case and even tried to lift your spirits. When you were arrested the second time, he went again."

"So did all of you." Ricky reminded her. "You know, until you left me in court."

"We're not talking about me." Clover huffed. "Ethan counted down the seconds until you got out of county. He visited you during house arrest. He made sure you didn't feel like you were alone. Rick, he even tried to throw you a party!"