Our Football Family [Slow Updates]

07 | charlie

* if at any point in this chapter you get too confused by all the names and new characters, scroll down to the very bottom where i've listed them all for you. sorry if it's too confusing. 

The last two weeks have gone by so fast, and the next thing I knew, the final team selections were posted.

"Come on," I coax Alex. "Don't you at least want to see?"

"No." She says, staring at her shoes. "What's the point? I already know that I'm not going to be on varsity."

I sigh. "How about I check it for you? Is that okay?"

She sighs as well. "I guess."

I trudge over to the locker rooms and push my way forward. As expected, my name is there: QB - Charlene Johnson. But it takes me a while to find Alex's name. 

I find Aaron's and Jared's, but don't want to spoil it for them so I don't mention it. After I nearly give up, I see Alex's at the bottom of the page: Halfback - Alexandra Scott.

I smile, then push my way out of the crowd. "Guess what?" I shout out to Alex, who is on the other side of the field. 

She glances up, squinting her eyes in the sun. "What?"

I jog over to her. "You made it!" 

She raises her eyebrow skeptically. "Are you sure? This isn't some kind of joke, is it?"

I place my hands on my hips. "You need to have more confidence in yourself. Seriously. You did make it." I use a hand to signal in the direction of the lockers. "You can see for yourself."

She stands up and loops her arm through her backpack strap. "It's okay, I believe you." Already walking away, she says, "Come on, I can see Jared and Aaron walking to the car."

I nearly roll my eyes at her. Where is her motivation? I may be her friend, but I need 100% from everyone on the team all day, everyday. Practice hasn't even started, and she's already acting so down. 

I trail behind her, mulling over this thought. But all negative thoughts vanish when I see the smiles on the boys' faces. 

Jared and I broshake. "Yeah?"

"Heck yeah." He says, excitement all over his face. "Get ready for next level awesomeness."

"Can't wait." I say, slapping him on the back. 

We continue walking towards the car, and I keep congratulating veteran members and them me. Everyone is super hyped, and I absolutely can't wait for the first practice tomorrow. 

****

"Charlene?" My mother calls out when I enter the house. Again, I refrain from rolling my eyes. These last few weeks, my parents have stayed at home, keeping me here with them. 

"Yeah?" I say, hanging up my jacket and walking towards the living room, where I heard my mother's voice.

The first thing that I notice is that she's wearing her work clothes. She doesn't even notice that I'm standing there as she scrambles to close her briefcase. My father then comes thundering down the stairs, buttoning up the last button of his shirt.

"Let me guess: you're leaving again?" I ask, crossing my arms across my chest. 

"Yeah," My father kisses my cheek as he moves past me to start loading the car. 

"When will you be back?" I say, whirling around in his direction.

"One or two months." Mother says with nonchalance, as if being one or two months away from your only daughter is not that big of a deal.