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8

The football team was just running out onto the field when they climbed back into the stands. Virginia stepped up onto a higher row to see better, scanning the crowd of collegiate athletes on the field to try and spot Greyson and Quinn. Glancing at the girl next to her, she cleared her throat.

"Um, do you have a roster?" she asked.

The girl turned and smiled. "Sure. Cool face paint dude."

"Thanks," Virginia smiled as she took the blue piece of paper with a list of names detailing the player's number, name, hometown, height, and position. She ran her finger down the list of names, halting on Greyson Fauntleroy, number 29, from Fairfield Heights, South Dakota, 6'0", Wide Receiver. Further down was number 62, Quinn Lachlan, Annapolis, Maryland, 6'3", Running Back. She didn't know what either of those positions did, but at least she knew their numbers. Handing the roster back to the girl next to her, Virginia realized Tracey was just now returning to her side. Tracey took a sip from a water bottle that was new to her possession.

"Here," Tracey held it out to her. "Drink."

Virginia took it hesitantly. "What is it?"

Tracey shrugged. "Flavored water."

Frowning, Virginia opened the bottle and took a sip. It stung on the way down and burned her lungs, making her want to cough, but she didn't dare. She'd had vodka before and never cared for it all that much, but it was a college football game, and this seemed to be the norm. She figured, when in Rome, right?

"Thanks," she handed it back to Tracey and reached into her pocket to check her phone.

A message from Catherine popped up:

What happened to you?

Virginia looked up just in time for the team to line up for kickoff. Martins won the coin toss, and Virginia spotted both 29 and 62 on the field. It surprised her. They had to be very good to be starting as freshman. Very good. She watched the other team kickoff and looked back to her phone.

I'm over with the people dressed like #1 fans.

She heard a whistle sound and saw that the play had stopped near the 45-yard line. Virginia realized then just how long of a game it was going to be, and that she'd never really sat to watch a football game in her entire life. Her phone buzzed.

Well I'm stuck over here with actually crazy people.

Virginia laughed at that and turned toward where Catherine stood. She started to wave her hands wildly as Tracey had done to get her attention. It caught the attention of about a third of the crowd, but Virginia ignored that they were all looking at her until Catherine finally saw. Virginia waved her over, but Catherine shook her head slightly. Shrugging, Virginia tried to convey dismay to her roommate across a sea of fans, but she wasn't sure Catherine got the message.

"Look! Look look look!" Tracey whacked her arm.

One of the players for Martins had brought the ball another fifteen yards closer to the end zone. Virginia managed a cheer. As the rest of the quarter passed, Virginia took another drink from the water bottle and started to yell a little louder and once even jumped up and down with excitement when Greyson intercepted a pass with an impossibly high jump. As they moved into the second quarter, Virginia had become engrossed in the game with a score of Martins 7, Fairview 3, when she felt a tap on her shoulder. Catherine was standing next to her.

"Hey!" Virginia cried. "You came!"

Catherine shrugged. "I figured you guys were having way more fun over here than those idiots. They just sit there and complain about the game. Actually, I think they wish they were playing and are jealous that they aren't."

"Well we're having a good time," cried Tracey. "Here!"

She held out that half-drunk bottle. Catherine cast a glance at Virginia, who communicated its contents with her eyes.

"Oh, no thank you," smiled Catherine. "I'm good."

"Watch!" cried Virginia, pointing as the ball flew through the air and Greyson leaped up to catch it.

Suddenly, another body flew through the air and collided with Greyson's. It was a huge body that contacted his and sent him flying backward, the ball still in his hand. It was as if he fell in slow motion back to the ground, and Virginia had a perfect view of his arm bending awkwardly beneath his body. She flashed back to her eight-year-old self, jumping off a swing that was going too high, and her arm buckling between her elbow and wrist under the pressure of her body. Virginia felt ready to throw up, sure that was what just happened to Greyson.

The whole crowd was silent and all she could hear was her own heartbeat. Quinn was beside Greyson instantly, bent over him, blocking his body from view of the crowd. Suddenly, Quinn stood up and Greyson extended the arm out, the arm that by all rights should have been snapped in half, to have his friend help him to his feet. In the other hand, Greyson still held the ball.

"Wow," breathed Tracey. "You don't see shit like that very often."

"No you don't," Virginia shook her head.

Catherine shook her head and they watched, still quiet while the crowd roared cheers and as the football teams set themselves up for the next play.

Then Catherine turned to Virginia. "Hot dogs?"

Virginia laughed. "Sure. We probably won't miss much. That has to have been the most exciting part of this whole week."