For The Love Of The Game

Chapter Two

The rest of the day passed quickly and I was now sitting alone, well Alice was here, but my parents were not. It was normal though they were never home, my dad was a very successful businessman and traveled all over the world trying to get the richest clients, and my mom followed him everywhere.

"Ruby dinner is ready," I heard Alice calling from downstairs, I really wasn't hungry but I didn't want to refuse two meals that she had cooked in one day so I made my way to the kitchen.

It smelt delicious, and felt myself become hungry quickly, I sat across from Alice as I made my plate.

"Your parents called tonight said they would be home Friday night before your first game."

I lost my appetite at those words, "Well that would be a first, who are they trying to impress?"

Alice sighed and looked up at me with sad eyes, "I don't know dear, maybe they are actually trying."

I chuckled sarcastically, "that would be another first."

My parents had never came to any of my high school games, I could remember when I was younger how proud of me they were, until I told them my 8th grade year I was gay.

They wanted prim and proper, and I was the complete opposite ever since that night my parents turned into monsters, they tried everything they could think of to get the demon out of me they said.

They tried Christian therapy, preacher after preacher, when that didn't work it eventually turned to beatings. I didn't realize I was rubbing my back until I felt Alice's soft hand on mine.

I looked into her eyes, even though she was a Christian woman, she had never turned her back on me or judged me for being gay. She always said that Jesus made us the way we we're suppose to be, if that meant you were gay or straight.

I helped her clean up the kitchen even though she insisted that she could do it. Alice was older and I knew her health wasn't that great, I was actually sure she was sicker than she let on.

I made my way up to my room, I actually had been excited about the first game Friday night, but now not so much.

I laid across my bed, wondering why they hadn't called me, and how long they actually planned on staying, hopefully not long. At some point in my thoughts I drifted off to sleep, jumping up quickly from a nightmare as my alarm started blaring.

I wiped the sleep out of my eyes, after shutting off my alarm that goes off at 430 every morning. I get up and change into my workout clothes before heading down stairs to start my morning routine.

I walked into school my ear buds in my ears, blocking out all the noise of the kids, my mood was poor and I didn't feel like messing with anyone.

I don't know what led me there, but when I looked up I was standing in front of Miss Connors door, I went to turn, but she looked up ushering me to come inside.

What the hell was I doing? Usually when I was in these moods I find a place to myself, not go looking for company. I placed my hand on the doorknob, taking a deep breath before entering her class.

Her smile lifted my mood a little bit, "Good morning RJ why are you here so early?"

I looked up at the clock realizing I still has 30 minutes before the first bell even rang, and I silently cursed myself.

"Honestly I don't know," once again mentally slapping myself for being more honest than I wanted to be.

Her smile faded some, "are you okay?"

I looked away from her piercing eyes that seem to be searching mine, "yeah I'm fine."

"Well I found one thing your not good at."

I quickly looked up at her, "oh and what is that?"

She smiled devishly making me forget we were at school, "you are a horrible liar."

My grin slowly faded, as did hers when she read the expression on my face, "I think I'll just go I'll see you in class Miss Connors."

I turned towards the door, I could hear her call my name, but before she could reach her door I was already down the stairs. I eventually made my way to the football stadium, I walked into the field and sat down on the 50 yard line.

I layed back closing my eyes, I could hear the roar of the crowd, the blowing of whistles, the crunch of helmets and pads hitting together. Even though we were a small school this placed was packed on Friday night and there was no doubt in my mind they expected anything less than another championship this year.

I checked the time on my phone, realizing I had two minutes before the sound of the first bell and also that I had one hour before I had to face Miss Connors again.

I was wishing the clock would slow down but it felt like the hour flew by, before I knew it I was slowly walking down the hall to her class. This morning she was standing outside greeting her class as the students walked in.

I felt myself grow nervous, and then I started getting mad. I've never been one to be nervous, hell I'm the "cool" kid in this school, who will kick your ass if need be. So what the hell was so different that made her make me feel so different.

I adverted my eyes away from hers before she could see me staring at her, "good morning Miss Connors," I went to walk passed her when I felt a small hand on my shoulder causing me to stop in my tracks.

"Rj, are you okay?"

I plastered a fake smile on my face before looking up, "yes ma'am sorry about this morning I was just a little off."

I don't know if she believed me or not, knowing how good she was at reading me probably not, but she removed her hand and nodded, before I turned and walked towards my seat.

I wasn't paying much attention to what she was saying while she was teaching, thankfully math came easy to me and I never really had to pay attention. "Rj can you please give me the answer."

My head shot up as I realized everyone in the class was staring at me, I glanced up at the board and gritted my teeth, so now she wanted to call me out. "12" I casually answered before looking back down at my note book.

I heard her stammer as she tried to collect herself she knew I hadn't been paying attention and expected me to get it wrong, maybe one day she will learn you can't judge a book by it's cover.

The bell rang and I quickly gathered my things trying to get out the door, "RJ stay behind for a few minutes please."

I groaned turning back around to face my now pestering teacher, "yes ma'am?"

Her eyes found mine and for the first time in a while I felt intimidated, "look I can tell something is different today, just know my door is always open."

Now she was getting under my skin and I didn't know why, "Miss Connors you've known me all of two days, I told you I was fine I'm just trying to get back into the flow of school, just forget about this morning and let's move on."

I could tell she wanted to say more but she just nodded her head, I exited the class feeling a deep pressure in my chest and I knew my anxiety was coming back. I hadn't had it in a while and even stopped taking my medication for it, but for some reason it was coming back, and I had no clue if it was from my parents coming home, or the new teacher I couldn't get out of my mind.

"Johnson what the hell is wrong with you?". I looked a my coach who had a hold of my face mask. "You have fumbled twice, missed tackles, and now you can't even hit an open receiver. Hit the track for a mile in full pads than take your ass to the shower, come back tomorrow with your head on straight."

He let go of my facemask, "yes sir" I turned and ran towards the track, this is what I loved about this coach. Even though I was a girl and one of his best players he treated me no different than anybody else. I had screwed up today in practice and I knew something was really up then.

I took off my helmet, grabbed a drink of water before starting my run, I looked around and spotted a brown haired beauty in the stands. Her eyes locked with mine before she stood and exited the stands.

Why was she watching practice, and why did she just leave? I hope she didn't hear coach, but of course there was no chance she didn't by the way he was yelling, which only proved her point, something was wrong.