Coach as never pushed us as hard as he's pushed us today, so far two people had quit right there on the field, three people had thrown up, and one dude had passed out, but it seemed like every sign of weakness made him push us even harder. I was about to stage a mutiny but I knew more than anybody that he wouldn't let me quit, but something had to give... we had won our last game but he was pissed that it was only by three points. I looked over at Ziggy who was teetering, he was at his limit and he wasn't the only one most of the team look demoralized and defeated if we kept going there's no telling what would happen. Though I was only a junior, I was voted captain and it was my job to look after my guys so I walked over to Coach K who was yelling at the Offensive Coordinator Coach Gillum and he looked like he was about to knock Coach K out but he didn't because he actually cared about his job and didn't want to lose it but Coach K was trying everybody today. I stood there and listen to a string of insults that would've gotten anyone knocked out and waited, Coach Gillum nodded in my direction and Coach K turned to look at me and his expression softened.
"Lollis, did I tell you to stop doing sprints? Get your ass back over there before I add twenty more." Coach K barked and I knew he was just talking shyt at this point like I said there were two versions of me the shy timid Calvin and the Calvin you see on the football field.
"I'm calling it... I just came over here to let you know practice is done for the day." I said looking directly in his eyes, he was getting pissed, he hated his rule being challenged but I wasn't about to back down. "Look at MY team... they're exhausted and at their breaking point, if we don't stop now they'll quit on you or worse they'll push themselves to the grave." I said and to emphasize my point, my boy Black Reese fell over and tried to will himself back up but he couldn't before collapsing back on the ground.
"Have them take him to the nurse while the rest of y'all hit the showers for the day." Coach K said walking off, I decided it was best for me and Ziggy to take Reese to the nurse since Ziggy wasn't doing too well himself.
"I fuckin hate his bitch ass...." Ziggy said as we walked through the halls. "This shyt can't be legal what he's doing to us, I mean I get pushing us but this is borderline torture."
"Zig, I'll talk to him.... but some of this is on us, that game shouldn't have been that close, there were too many mental errors and you missed too many easy passes." I said not sure why I was defending Coach K.
"Whatever Cal.... I seem to recall that you had what, four rushes for twenty yards?" Ziggy asked with a little anger in his voice, I was about to remind him that I also had the only two touchdowns but that was irrelevant at this point. "You going to Shooter's party this weekend?" Ziggy asked as we waited outside of the nurse's office.
"I'm not sure yet..... The Gathering is on Saturday so I might skip the party so I can be ready for that, plus Izaia wants to chill Friday so there's that......" I said and Izaia sucked his teeth. "Zig what's your beef with Izaia? I mean it can't be that deep considering all the things I've seen y'all do to each other." I asked.
"I just don't trust his motives, like out of all the times we've gone to those secret meetings why didn't he say anything then? Why wait until the season starts? I'm just saying that I don't trust the timing of everything." Ziggy said and I really didn't have time to answer because Black Reese walked out of the nurse's office looking like he was going to pass out at any moment.
"She wants me to go to the hospital, but I'm going to go home and have my pops take me. Zig you mind giving me a ride?" Black Reese asked and Ziggy nodded since Ka'Jai should be on his way to pick me up I dapped them up and walked outside to wait for him.
"You showed real leadership out there with your team....." A man said walking over to me and it took me lesson than a second to figure out that he was a college scout.
"Thanks.... but I'm holding off on making any decisions until AFTER my senior season next year." I said since I was a freshman I had been getting scouts trying to recruit me to come to their schools but I wanted to focus on my education and make my decision when I was ready.
"I respect that but if you ever want to come on campus for an unofficial visit, here's my card." He said handing me a card and walking off, just as he got in his card Anjo pulled up and I was surprised because he rarely picked us up from any events.
"Did something happen?" I asked getting in the passenger seat.
"We got a visitor coming in a couple hours and the others are cleaning up." Anjo said and I really didn't like the way he said, visitor, because it came across as someone he didn't like and if Anjo didn't like someone there had to be a reason. "Just a heads up, this muthafucker is a fuckin racist and he's looking for any reason to shut the group home down. He hates Devin and the fact that he's successful so whatever you do make sure you're on your game because we don't need to give him any reason to come back." Anjo said. When we got back to the house I was expecting everyone to be running around like chickens with their heads cut off but instead, Denzel and the Twins were outside smoking.
"Look I know what you're about to say Anjo.... but if this dude is as bad as you claim then it'll be best for everyone if we are as relaxed as possible." Marcelino said and Anjo just walked past them but I could tell he was pissed. "How was practice?" Marcelino asked and I shrugged.
"It was coo.... aren't y'all going to get dressed?" I asked looking at them, they were all wearing basketball shorts and t-shirts.
"I am dressed, I'm not about to put on a suit to try and impress some white dude who doesn't give a damn about us." Denzel said and I saw anger in his eyes, I knew a little bit Denzel's history... I wouldn't go as far as to say that he hated white people but I knew there was some hatred there. "Waddup bro...." Denzel said to someone behind me and I turned around and.... well I felt like my heart was about to jump from my chest, Izaia always looked good but this simple sweatpants and beater look he had going on was just.....
"Sup Denzel.... wassup Calvin." Izaia said smirking and I looked down at the ground started shuffling my feet, I mumbled something that I didn't remember and he laughed quietly. The next thing I knew, Izaia placed his arm around my waist and pulled me close to his body. "You know I'm mad at you right?"
"What did I do?" I asked confused because this was my first time talking to him since this morning and even that conversation was pretty basic. But Izaia stepped back and pulled a sketch pad out of his bag and showed me a picture, even though it was incomplete I knew once he was finished it would be nice as fuck. "How is this my fault?"
"Because I haven't been able to stop thinking about you since that conversation this morning and if you weren't busy I'd fast track our date to tonight." Izaia said kissing me. "But I gotta get going....." Izaia said handing Denzel a bag. "Calvin, walk me to my car." Izaia said and I followed after him. "We got a bye week next week.... so I was thinking about coming to your game if that's coo with you." Izaia said looking into my eyes.
"Why so you can spy on me?" I asked half joking, half serious.
"Nah I don't need to do that, I just wanna be there as soon as you get finished so we can go back to my house since I got something planned for that Saturday." Izaia said looking at me. "But we can discuss that later... call me when you're getting ready for bed so we can talk." Izaia said kissing me before getting into his car and speeding off. When I walked into the house Will was talking and I guess it had something to do with our guest.
"Aight so the man y'all are about to meet name is Mr. Reagan.... he's a complete dickweed who hates y'all for the color of y'alls skin and he's looking for any reason shut this bitch down so please.... please don't embarrass my bro." Will said causing the twins and Denzel to start laughing. "This isn't a joke...." Will said and I could see that he was serious which made them laugh harder but before he say anything there was a knock on the door and Will moved to answer it.
"Hmm... it smells like blacks in here." This white man said walking into the house and the room was so silent that you could make out everyone's heartbeats. "Relax it's just a joke.... please don't tell me you boys are apart of the politically correct crowd." He said looking around the house.
"Nah we can take a joke.... the question is can you." Mauricio said looking at Mr. Reagan and I could tell by the looks on him and his twin's identical faces that they were about to give this dude the business and I was about to sit my ass on the couch and watch because I knew this was about to be entertaining as fuck...........................
