That Was Then

69-Now

The game is set to start at four and I am impressed at the amount of people filling the stands. It's like the entire town has shut down so everyone could come to the game. Abuela, Mama and Dad are here somewhere but I'd be hard pressed to find them in the stands.

I sit sandwiched between Vivi and Eden. Mara has joined us and none of us has said a word about her rare display of school spirit. She is wearing a black and white hoodie with obnoxious orange lip stick that, of course, looks amazing on her. If I tried wearing something like that I would look like I caught some kind of rare disease.

The marching band trickles onto the field looking sharp and performs flawlessly before the cheerleaders take over. They do a routine to Eye of the Tiger playing at a deafening volume over the rowdy crowd. Then the football team bursts through a huge orange and black banner, 
Seth and Caleb in the lead. The grin on my face reads proud girlfriend even though I'm not quite sure that's what I am anymore. I falter a little, looking more the part of proud ex girlfriend, which is still to be determined. I am buoyed by the smile he offered me in the gym when he read my text and try to be positive about it all. 

Caleb performs well under pressure. Seth feeds him the ball every chance he gets and the other team catches on quickly but Caleb is fast and well defended by two guys who are almost as hulking as Aiden. He's scored four touchdowns to the other team's two by halftime and my voice is starting to feel scratchy from cheering so loudly. 

Mara thrusts something cold into my hand during halftime and I look down to see her flask. She flashes me an orange grin and nods in encouragement. After what happened last time I drank I have no intention of doing it again any time soon but Eden plucks the flask from my loose grasp before I can say so. "We definitely do not need a repeat of Jackson's party!" She hands the flask back to Mara, who purses her lips into an obnoxious orange pout. 

"You guys are no fun!" Mara complains when all of us decline her offers to share. 

"I'm never drinking again," I say emphatically.

"But you are so entertaining when you do!" Mara's dark eyes sparkle mischievously. I didn't even get to see your last performance but I'm a fan!" She cackles and swigs from her flask. 

"I have to drive," Vivi explains. Eden offers no explanation, just shrugs her indifference. I love that about her, she does her own thing and sticks to her convictions with such confidence that nobody even questions or pressures her. 

The stadium shudders as the players take the field again. Without thinking about it my eyes seek out Caleb. I don't have Vivi's butt radar but I pick him out by his number, 21, Abuela's birthday. The other team has rallied, perhaps inspired by some dramatic half time speech like you see in the movies. They score the first touchdown of the half and then a second when Seth throws an interception. The coach throws a little temper tantrum on the sidelines at this point. 

Our offense takes the field again and Seth passes the ball smoothly to Caleb but he only makes it a few steps before he is knocked off of his feet, guys from both sides pile on top of him. Ouch. The coach calls a time out when they return to the field I don't see Caleb. I start to worry, frantically scanning the sidelines for him but don't see him anywhere. Did that last tackle hurt his knee? Is he okay? I'm borderline panicking when Vivi points to where the coach stands, talking closely with a helmet clad player. Caleb. He nods excitedly, hopping from foot to foot and then the coach smacks his helmet and he jogs out to his place on the field. 

The ball sails back to Seth and clock starts ticking down. Just over a minute is left of the game. Seth fakes a pass and then takes off with the ball. Caleb is surrounded by guys from the other team, there's no way Seth can get the ball to him. Except when they start to close in on Seth, Caleb suddenly runs sideways instead of straight down field and he is almost directly in front of Seth when he tosses him the ball. A guy from the other team throws his hand in the air knocking the ball off course but Caleb leaps into the air, snatching the ball and takes off. There are three guys right on his heels, one of his team members runs parallel to him, there for support. Caleb starts to pull away, putting more and more distance between them, dodging the guys in his way, showing off his speed and agility. 

I am on my feet, grasping Vivi's hands probably way too hard but she just squeezes right back. Even Mara is quiet and watching intently as Caleb makes it to the end zone and slows down. The crowd explodes in cheers and whistles. The stadium shakes under our feet as the fans stomp and jump. Vivi and I jump up and down and hug one another. Eden squeals and Mara rolls her eyes but smiles ruefully. There are just seconds left on the clock, no time for the other team to score. Erie won the game. Caleb won the game and I have no doubt that he impressed the recruiter. 

I want to see him before I go home to get ready for the dance. Just thinking about the dance fills me with anxiety and he never said that he wasn't going to meet me there like we'd previously agreed but he also hasn't spoken to me in two days so I'm not sure if that's still the plan. And I'm not sure that I can do this without him. But while the stands are still full and before the team even makes their way to the locker room, Vivi is dragging me out to her car.

"We need to get out of the parking lot before everyone starts trying to leave or we'll be sitting here 'til midnight!" She says emphatically. I climb into the passenger's seat, pushing a McDonald's bag and some renegade french fries to the floor before climbing in. Mara pouts and reluctantly flops into the backseat next to Vivi's dress. 

"I hope I don't get carsick all over your pretty dress..." Mara sighs, running her hand along the gold fabric. 

"Yeah, I'm not falling for that again!" I laugh and Vivi zips out of the parking lot as everyone else is just getting to their cars.