We Come Alive 5

Epilogue: Jose Garcia

Jose Garcia

After graduating, Jose went off to the University of Alabama. Unfortunately, midway through his freshman year of college, he and Colby broke up from the distance putting a bad strain on their relationship. Jose didn't allow his break up to take his mind off his dreams. He kept his focus on football and school, but did keep his social life in mind and took plenty of breaks to go to parties, but he made sure he was one of the first ones to leave.

During summer break from college, Jose ran into Colby at a local house party in Dallas they were both invited to. After a long night together getting to know each other again, they decided to give their relationship another run.

When Jose played Clover for the first time, they met behind the backs of their respective teams to talk.

Jose walked towards Clover standing in her white and red jersey. The number 19 bold on her torso while she fixed her gloves on her hands. He smiled, slowly walking up to her seeing she hadn't changed since the last time he saw her in full football gear, all that was different was the colors she was wearing. Her hair was braided back into two braids, she was holding her mouth guard between her teeth but put it in her hand when she saw him walking towards him.

"Aw, you look cute." She smiled at him. "Can't believe I'm saying it, but reds your color."

Jose padded his chest where his bright red jersey sat over his pads. "Thank you. I could say the same to you."

Clover smiled and winked to him. She could hear the crowd from the back hallway they were hidden inside the Alabama football stadium. "You know Mateo's out there?" She breathed.

Jose nodded his head. "Finally he can see us play without having to yell at us. He can finally see that I'll always win against you."

"Excuse me?" Clover scoffed. "You're nothing without me. I made you look good. You should be thanking me for this scholarship you're on."

"And you should be thanking me for catching all your awful throws." Jose retorted making Clover dramatically gasp. "Don't pretend. You know Mateo always called me greatness." He smiled, flexing his arms to show off his muscles.

Clover did the same and hit her chest. "And he called me madness. Unexpected wildcard with a million things running through this mind." She dropped her arm and punched him in the ribs even though he could barely feel it through the pads. "While you have this pump up of your ego for the game, my teams need their captain so I'll see you on the field."

"You're captain again?" He asked.

Clover nodded as she walked off away from him.
"I'll always be captain material, co-cap. Don't forget that I chose you to sit by my side every reign."

Jose smirked to himself as she started to disappear in the dim hallway. "I made you!"

"And I made you!"

Mateo sat in the crowd watching them, knowing this moves and their rhythm, but also surprised by the new ones they picked up so quickly. He even met with his former athletes afterward.

They talked to Mateo for a few minutes and waved to Kiara who was still in the stands waiting for Mateo so they could leave. When the conversation had to come to an end, they both hugged their former coach and walked off.

Jose gently shoved Clover as they were both dripping in sweat to go to their teams. "Wanna call your shit-talking a truce?"

Clover chuckled as she shoved Jose back. "Of course not. I'm gonna get you. You may have won the battle, but I'll win the war. You know I want the crown and I won't stop until I get it."

Jose rolled his eyes when they had to separate to go in opposite directions. Before she was out of reach, he gently pushed her. Clover quickly turned around and did it back. The two kept playing around like little kids until they had to run to catch up to their teams.

And unfortunately, Clover was right. Later that year, the two battled for the NCAA championship and Georgia come out on top. It wasn't Jose's last time fighting for that championship though. He went on to win an NCAA championship one year after losing to Clover and Georgia. The win was bittersweet for him since he had to beat Stephen for it, but no hard feelings were held between them. The two still hung out over spring break when they were in town.

Alas, after breaking up a total of three more times in their lives, Jose end Colby came to the conclusion that they ultimately decided not to get back together again. They remained friends but eventually lost contact when Colby moved to Canada for a new job opportunity. He even gave Jose tips on how to move somewhere new almost all by yourself.

After hard-fought years of risking injuries and sustaining many of them, Jose is drafted to the New York Jets in the second round. He brought his mom as his date and hugged her tightly when he heard his name be called. Jose went on to play for the Jets for five years before being traded to the Green Bay Packers until he retired from football.

When Jose finally retires from the NFL at 37 years old, he is happily married with kids. He had two daughters; Angel and Gabriella. Throughout his career, he won one Super Bowl which was enough for him making all his childhood dreams come true. And a fun thing to show off to his friends.

Jose settled down in New Mexico with his family after a long life of playing football. He did all he wanted to do since he was a child and now wanted to be there for his girls to see their dreams come true.

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