The Game Plan

9

I woke up on Monday morning and went for a run like usual. Then I went back upstairs and showered using my usual shampoo and conditioner, and blow dried and straighten my hair.

Just like I usually do.

However, my house felt different than usual. The obvious tension was in the air, and I couldn't get my mind off of the day and what it would bring.

"Nothing to worry about." My dad reassured me for the tenth time. He wasn't necessarily my lawyer, per se. The school and my dad felt that having a lawyer would look like we did something wrong. He was just providing legal advice as a father.

Loopholes people.

I gave them both a hug before walking out to my car to pick up Kels. As I reached the car, my phone buzzed.

The first message was from Nick.

Good luck today kid, call me tonight.

No matter how much I ran it over in my head, and I ran it over a lot, I couldn't wrap my brain around the fact that I was talking to the captain of the team we would be playing in the championship.

The other text was from Cole.

Not sure why you've been ignoring me...

I closed my phone without responding to either of them.

Kenz climbed in and began chattering on nervously about upcoming tests. The rest of my day pretty much followed suit. None of my friends knew what to say, so they just rambled.

Finally, I was sitting alone in the locker room. I pulled on my practice pants and tank top over my sports bra.

As I wrapped my hair into a braid, my hands shook.

"Calm down. You're being a baby. You have nothing to hide." I said to myself, looking in the mirror. I grabbed the eyeblack I had in my back and smeared some on my face. I didn't need it for practice, but I felt tougher.

I remember when I was 8, I had my first game against another town. I chuckled thinking about how scared I was. Cole found me pacing in my bedroom and grabbed my hand. He grabbed some eyeblack and smeared some onto his hands.

"See." He walked me over to a mirror.

"You look tough. It makes you look like a warrior like in my books." He explained.

Instantly, I felt better. I felt like one of the guys. I kicked major butt in that game, and I've been in love ever since.

More than anything, I wanted to text Cole. But I am nothing if not stubborn.

I walked out to the field and took a huge, deep breath. On the sidelines were several men in suits talking to coach.

I jogged over with my helmet and smiled at them.

"Hi, I'm Britt." I reached to shake their hands.

After all the introductions were made, one of the men smiled.

"Now try not to break that pretty manicure today." He winked and I felt the urge to shove my hands in my non-existent pockets, for the second time in the past week.

"I will certainly try." I smiled and jogged over to my team.

"God damn telling me to watch my god damn manicure. I'll show him what he can do with my manicure." I grumbled.

"Woah there killer, calm down." Matt laughed, giving me a friendly shove.

Little did I know that before I had arrived, Matt and Luke had sat down the team.

"I don't expect this practice to be any different, but make sure we show Britt the same respect we always do. No giving her a hard time." Matt announced in the locker room.

"Absolutely." Someone agreed.

"We need to make them see that she is amazing at what she does." Luke added.

"What's the plan?" Someone else asked.

"Well, first we are perfect gentleman on that field. We don't want them to have anything to complain about. I think they're gonna be searching." Matt grimaced.

"And Kenz is going to rally people to make signs for this Friday's game." Luke said.

"And we're heading to Fort Worth this week to talk to them." Matt finished.

After our stretches, I led the team in warm ups.

I tried to joke around with them, attempting to ease my nerves. None of them were having it.

"What's going on?" I asked, running past Luke. He just shrugged and smiled.

We ran some old plays and worked on some new ones.

"Go farther!" I called to Matt.

For some reason, he wasn't pushing me today. He stayed in a safe zone and I sent it neatly into his open arms.

I put my hands on my hips and scanned the field. What the hell was up today?

Today of all days for them to be in the Twilight Zone.

"Don't want you to over do it on your arm." Matt said, running over.

"Over do it my ass." I muttered, jogging back to position.

After the practice, I ran to the locker room to change. My arm was feeling sore so I stopped at the trainers. One of the officials walked by and I watched him write something down when he looked up and saw me.

"My daughter plays football." He said, smiling.

"How old is she?" I asked, as the trainer stretched me out.

"Nine." He said, walking in.

"Just a little older than me when I started." I smiled.

"She loves it." He said.

"What's not to love?" I grinned.

"Aren't you ever afraid you will get really hurt?" He asked.

I shrugged before responding.

"I'm sure my parents are terrified. But Cole has been playing forever. Plus, Matt and Luke have just as good a chance at getting hurt as I do." I said.

"Why are you playing?" He asked after a minute of watching the trainer.

"I love it." I said without thinking.

"Have a good night Ms. Manning." He smiled and walked out.

I thanked the trainer and grabbed myself to head out to the car.

Are you going to tell me how it went or should I ask Mom and Dad.

I rolled my eyes and threw the phone on the passenger seat.