The Other Side

Chapter One

When you're nearing the end of a football game, you don't pay attention to the people in the stands. You're always focused on the next play and keeping an eye on the ball. You can feel sweat covering every inch of your body and every hot, heavy breath you take through your mouth-guard. You don't listen to the crowd cheering you and your team on and you don't hear the broadcasters commentating every play, every touchdown. Basically, what I'm trying to say is-- you focus on you and your team, not the outside.

I score the final touchdown of the game three seconds before the buzzer sounds. I tumble to the ground and do a somersault and let go of the football after crossing the line. My teammates run towards me and I pull my helmet off quickly, throwing it behind me to where the ball is. They huddle on top of me and create a dog pile, cheering me and patting me on the back. Friday nights are my favorite nights, these are the moments I live for and do what I do.

For once in my football career, I look up in the stands and admire the crowd cheering my team on; cheering me on. My teammates are still patting me on the back as I scan the screaming crowd for familiar faces.

My team lets up the dog pile and soon the only guys left behind with me are my three best friends. We make conversation about the other team and each other's plays while I reach back behind me to grab my helmet. I scan the swarm of people running from the student section to the field and push myself up off the ground.

"Hey we can grab a bite to eat after we get cleaned up and then hang at Jake's place, okay?" I wait for their response of head nods and start jogging toward the herd of people in the middle of the field.

My girlfriend runs towards me so I drop my helmet and open my arms to welcome her into my sweaty embrace.

I pick her up and kiss her soft, face-paint covered cheek, "Well who do we have here? Could this be the one and only, Emma?"

She giggles and plants a kiss on my lips, "This is she. Is this the one and only Noah?"

I set her back down and she picks my helmet up off the ground for me.

"Uh--do you want to come get something to eat with me and the guys after we get cleaned up and then go over to Jake's for the night? His pool is still open and his dad is out of town 'til Monday."

Emma acts like she actually has to think of an answer and then says yes. I kiss her on the lips one last time before heading to the locker room to shower and pack up my bag.

~~~

I open the car door for Emma and she gets out, still wearing her school colors from the football game. I'm wearing a football sweatshirt and ripped jeans. We kind of look like one of those stupid couples that color coordinate our outfits all the time.

I run up to the door before she can get to it and open it herself, so I can open it for her. She goes inside and I follow her as she sits in the corner booth where my friends have already started ordering half-off appetizers.

"Real classic, guys. Applebee's after a football game, where literally the entire high school comes so they don't have to spend a shit ton of money on REAL food," I joke with my friends.

One of my friends blows his straw wrapper off the straw at me and it hits me in the eye so I throw a menu at him.

"Hey," Emma gently, but firmly grabs my thigh and then pats it while she looks at the menu.

"Sorry, Noah. Forgot you brought your mom to dinner tonight," my friend, Owen, says.

Aaron adds in, "She's about as hot as his mom."