For The Love Of The Game

Chapter Twelve

The next two weeks were uneventful and everything had returned to normal. The stitches had been removed and today I was able to practice lightly again, it consisted of just throwing the football around, but to me it was heaven.

Emily and I had grown closer, and next month over Thanksgiving break I was going with her to meet her family. It was still a few weeks away, but I was nervous as hell.

I was feeling good, my body was getting healthy again, and my mood was always great. Emily was right certain things would creep back into my mind, but with Emily and my therapist help I had found better ways of dealing with it.

I was in my room studying for a test coming up in Emily's class. She was already  preparing us for her final exam coming up in December. She was a good teacher, but even I struggled on some of her test.

I wasn't feeling all that great, my stomach and head were hurting. I just  figured it was from looking at my damn notes to long, and I hadn't really eaten much that day.

I decided I had studied enough and went down stairs to see what Emily was doing, she smiled when she saw me "finally decide to get your nose out of those books."

I just rolled my eyes as I made my way to the fridge, "yeah well if my math teacher hadn't decided to throw a surprise test that would cost me half my grade I wouldn't have too."

She laughed, "you make it sound like I'm a horrible teacher or something."

I just shrugged my shoulders, "definitely bottom three."

She placed her hand over her chest and mad a sad face, before we both started laughing. "I think you'll be fine, you have passed every test with flying colors, even the surprise ones."

I sat down on the other side of the couch, propping my feet up on the coffee table, "what made you want to be a teacher?"

"Both of my parents are teachers, and I did tons of tutoring in high school and college, and I liked helping everyone. So I became a teacher, to help hard headed kids like you."

I pushed her shoulder playfully, "I'm not that hard headed, and tutoring is that your way of saying messing around?"

I laughed when she spit the water out of her mouth, "no smartass, I mean actual tutoring. I was a good child and if you want to really know I've only been with two people, both female."

Damn now that made me feel bad, I wasn't exactly what you call a hoe, but I for sure had slept with more than two people. "So you were a goodie two shoes."

She just smiled that perfect smile, "yes actually I was, and I still am."

I just rolled my eyes, and bite into my apple. Miss goodie two shoes, had now sparked a bigger fire growing inside of me.

I looked at myself in the mirror, finally I was back in my football uniform, and after missing most of the season I was back in time for the playoffs.

Five more games, that's all I had left as long as we kept on winning. Five games and we would be four time state champions.

I made my way to the other guys, the weather had taken a drastic change over the week. It was cold and rainy, but our little town had still traveled a long way to watch the game.

The score went back and fourth most of the game, there defense couldn't stop us, but unfortunately we were having a tough time stopping them.

Time was winding down in the fourth quarter and we needed a stop or a turnover. The quarterback was killing us on the ground, but as I lined up on defense I decided to take a chance.

Instead of rushing I backed up, I could hear the coaches yelling, but for some reason my gut told me it was going to be a throw.

I was right the quarter back never saw me, I jumped in front of the receiver, the ball hit me right in between the numbers.

Our crowd went nuts as I ran down the sidelines, scoring a touchdown, and it turned out to be the last score of the game.

I was dead tired by the time we got home that night. When you play six man football, most of the time you play offense and defense. By the time the game ended, I could tell I was a little out of shape.

Emily went on and on about my interception, especially after I told her I ran a completely different play then called. It was cool to have someone that was just as passionate about sports as me.

It didn't take me long to fall asleep that night, I think I was out before my head hit the pillow. The next morning Emily woke me up, "come on sleepy head get up already, I want to go shopping."

I looked at the clock which read ten am, I groaned trying to pull the covers back over my face, but I had no luck. She tore all the covers off of me, the cold hitting my body instantly. "Shit, that was not fair."

She laughed, "it got you up didn't it, I'll be ready when you get your ass down stairs."

I got up looking out the window at the lake, it was raining and it was peaceful watching the water bounce off the lake.

I grabbed a pair of wind pants, a t-shirt, and a hoodie. I slid on my tennis shoes, grabbing a hat and throwing it on backwards, before making my way down stairs.

We ended up going to a different town, that was the only bad thing living where we did. There was nothing to do, so you had to travel a good hour or so to find good place.

I was actually glad Emily had gotten me out, I needed a haircut and a few more winter clothes, but I also kept my eyes on things that interested her with Christmas coming up.

We decided to just grab some lunch while we were in the mall. We found a table away from others as we both ate our lunch.

I wasn't paying much attention when a man walked up, "hey there baby why don't you ditch this kid right here, and come with a real man."

I looked at Emily before looking at the man, I went to speak but was cut off, Emily smiled a sarcastic smile, "thanks but no thanks I'm fine."

The guy wasn't going to take no for an answer as he knelt down placing his hand on Emily's thigh. I felt rage start to run through me as she pushed his hand away, once again denying him.

I cleared my throat catching the man's attention, "I believe she told you no."

He gave me a sideways grin, "oh and what are you gonna do about it faggot?"

I stood quickly knocking the chair over, as he stood as well I towered over him. I grabbed him by his shirt collar pushing him up against a beam, "what the fuck did you just call me."

Emily was beside me with her hands on my arm, "RJ let him go, it's not worth it. Please if not for anything do it do for me."

My eyes flickered to hers for a split second before turning my attention back to the man, we now had a crowd around us. I wanted to do nothing more than to beat some respect into this asshole, but instead I dropped him.

He jumped to his feet before running off like a little bitch, I ran my hands over my face and threw my hair before picking my chair up and sitting back down.

"Thank you," I looked up at Emily who was smiling at me.

I knew that look, she was proud of me for not losing my temper, "your welcome, now hurry and finish so we can shop some more."

After a long day of shopping, I was exhausted. I was laying across my bed looking out at the lake. It was still raining, and I loved the sight. There was a soft knock on my door, "come in."

Emily opened the door slowly, "were you asleep?"

I sat up, "no I was just watching the rain."

She sat down on the bed and looked out the window at the lake, "I just wanted to tell you I was proud of you today. You didn't let that temper of yours take control you today.

Whatever it is that's helping you I hope you stick with it."

She stood as I smiled and nodded my head. Once the door closed I just thought to myself, as long as your around I'll be fine.