Made In America

5

I'm the first in the kitchen on Friday morning which is no surprise. What is surprising is that I haven't heard yelling or slamming doors yet.

Hunter didn't want to move here and hasn't put effort into adapting. Rick is attempting to get him to try which leads to fights.

Just as I sit down to eat my cereal I hear a door slam followed by yelling. I guess I spoke too soon.

"Why can't you understand that I don't want to be here! I had to leave my life and my friends back home! So yeah, Im not happy about about the move!" Hunter yells before storming downstairs.

"You can make new friends while you are here," Rick tries to reason.

"Because Earls Dibble Jr makes such a good soccer buddy," Hunter says sarcastically.

"Give them a shot, Hunter. You are just assuming things," an exhausted Rick says.

"Ryan can bring you to the tailgate so you can meet some of the other students," my mom suggests from the entrance to the kitchen.

"I'll have to decline. I'm busy."

"Hunter you are going. End of discussion." Rick says.

Hunter grabs his stuff and storms out the door.

###

"You guys are going to the bonfire after the game right?" Peyton asks as she sits down next to me at lunch.

"Of course I am," Austin says then looks at me for an answer.

"I don't know if I will this week. I have to take Mr. Panties-in-a-twist with me to the tailgate and game."

"What did you do to deserve that punishment?" Austin asks.

"My mom and Rick think it will be a good way for him to make friends. He had no choice."

"Well you can just drop him at your house then join us at the tailgate."

"You know Austin, that was actually smart. Did it hurt? " Peyton says and gets shoved by Austin.

By the time school and practice are over, I am exhausted. Thankfully Rick got off work early so I didn't have to take Hunter home.

"Mom?!" I call as I walk into the house.

"In the kitchen."

"Can I go to the bonfire after the game?" I ask trying to sound as sweet as possible.

"I guess. Just be safe."

"Yay"

"Now go shower. You smell" She says as she shoos me out of the kitchen with a spatula.

As I walk towards my room I hear voices coming from Hunter's room. He is on the phone and I can't help but listen.

"Dude it sucks that you had to move," voice one says.

"What are you going to do about soccer? Do they have soccer there?" voice two asks.

"Ryan says they have a pretty good team. Hunter says.

"Well on the bright side they have reception and soccer. Thats better than what you thought." voice two comments.

"The people are still weird. I have never seen this many muddy trucks with flags in the back in my life. And camo too."

"My mom loves you. You could come stay here if you want." voice one says.

"I would but my dad wont let me. He wants me to stay here and give this a shot."

I hear footsteps on the stairs so I quickly go to my room and get ready for the game.

###

The tailgate is packed when we finally show up. We tailgate on a field right next to the stadium. One of the student section leaders always blasts music and students bring paint to paint eachother. Todays theme is red white an blue out. And we always go all out.

Peyton and I are wearing blue and white nike shorts and a red sports bras. We painted red white and blue hand prints on outr stomachs, arms, and legs. We paint #16 on our cheeks for Austin. We managed to get Hunter into a shirt that says USA.

"Ready to see how football is really done?" Peyton asks Hunter as we make our way to the stadium.

He just shrugs in respose.

"Have you told him about the thing yet?" Peyton asks me.

"No. I think it will be more entertaining this way." I respond.

Our student section is wild. We chant louder than the cheerleaders, we have silly string, baby powder, and confetti that we throw everywhere. We even call bullshit on plays. Our school also has a little cannon they shoot off when we get a touchdown and when our team takes the field. 

We take our place at the front of the student section and wait for the game to start. Finally we hear it. "Please welcome to the field your home team the Westwood Wolves!" followed by the boom of the cannon. Hunter jumps causing me and Peyton to laugh. Hunter just glares at us causing us to laugh harder.

We won the game 21-14. No surprise. The other team was good but we are better. Austin threw the winning touchdown. Again no surprise there.

"See you at the bonfire," I tell Peyton, "I have to drop Hunter at home first."

As we exit the stadium I bump into Austin, showered and changed. "Good game." I tell him.

"Thanks. See you at the bonfire." He says smiling.

I immediately feel a smile spread across my face. 'I need to stop.' I think to myself as I get in my car.