"You can't eliminate the student council funding for the football team." Zach said to me. Jessica of course sat next to me, and the rest of the members of the student council and I rolled my eyes. I can, because I'm President and it was the plan. They have plenty of funding and sponsors from sources outside of student council, so I could put the student council money to good use.
"Zach, your team has plenty of funding from the district. You guys have more funding than the drama and music programs put together." I said.
"We have more guys involved than the music and drama put together. We have four teams." Monty said, and I rolled my eyes. Justin was sitting silently between Zach and Monty, and I didn't know he was going to be playing football again.
"What does that have to do with me? I promised I would do everything I could to eradicate jock culture." I said.
"But you can't say that jock culture is this or that, there isn't just one culture. And. . I mean, we're changing things around here, Mimi." Zach said, and I sighed. I could hear the sincerity and sympathy in his voice, but. . it wasn't enough.
"Zach. . Male athletic programs not only protect athletes who commit sexual assault, they foster a culture of violence and aggression that creates rapists everyday. May I remind you of a little place called The Clubhouse?" I asked him. Zach and Monty's faces both clouded over when I said the Clubhouse.
Where the baseball team took girls and got them high or drunk, and raped them. Ending the night with a polariod to not only document the occasion, but to make sure that nobody snitched because if one player went down, they were all going to go down.
"Mimi. . some guys do shit, I know that. Athletes and non-athletes. But for lots of guys, football's their only shot at a college scholarship. Football, athletics, for some people, they're a lifeline." Zach said, and I sighed, because I know he was right. That's why Monty played so many sports. He used to tell me all the time, between playing football and basketball, he was bound to get recruited for one of them.
Then he could get away from his abusive asshole.
"For who?" I asked in a softer tone.
"For me." Justin's voice rang out, and the look in my eyes became softer as I looked over at him. "Look, I didn't want to come back to football, but. . once I did, it. . it got me out of bed in the morning and it. . got me back in myself and shit that. . I feel like myself for the first time. . in a really long time." Justin said, looking at me, and I couldn't help how weak I had become under his gaze. Football was helping him. . even I noticed his change in attitude around the house.
"Look, Mimi. Cut our funding or don't. In the end you're not going to win. Because we're not going to give up." Zach said, and then he stood up and walked to the table. "Imogen, you know that I love you so much, and I would do anything for you. . but you also know how much I love the sport, how much I love the game. . and how much I'm not Bryce. Just think about it." Zach said to me in a quieter tone before leaving the room.
I sighed, because he was right. I do know how much football, baseball and basketball mean to Zach, and I know how much he loves them, and I know how much I love him. I know I promised to bring down jocks, because they cultivate rape culture, but I guess my real target is rape culture itself.
But how do I bring it down without bringing down the jocks that come along with it?
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dempzee: i know we've been arguing like shit lately, but i was going through my pictures and thought back to the day this was taken. we had once again been fighting for like 3 weeks. we cooled off, we talked and we hugged it out for a long ass time. let's do that again. there's not a thing in this world that i wouldn't do for you, imogen. not one. i just want to give my best friend a hug. i love you ❤️ [immyjen02] immyjen02, itsfoley, cheerstojess, and 3,496 others liked view comments
immyjen02: i love you forever zachy 💖
itsfoley: the reunion we love to see.... even tho this is an old pic. recreate it 😈
cheerstojess: @itsfoleystop talking oh my gosh 😂😂
mount.gomery_: so zachy gets..... okay 😂😂
alex.standall: @mount.gomery_zach didn't choose bryce over her 🤷🏼♂️🤷🏼♂️
rryan_shaverr: oop 👀
immyjen02: @rryan_shaverrOH MY GOSH RYAN I MISS YOU. i can't believe you left me with these heathens 😭😭
cheerstojess: @immyjen02love you too, i guess 🙄
dempzee: ^^^ right in the heart 😔😔
alex.standall: ^^ ouch 🥺🥺
t0nypadilla: ^^ im slightly hurt by this as well🙃
rryan_shaverr: @immyjen02i miss you too my queen, but it seems you're in trouble 😂
immyjen02: guys stop, you know i love you all, bye ❤️
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There hasn't been that many Zach/Imogen moments like there used to be so here you go, and yes, in the present time, THEY ARE STILL BEST FRIENDS. So many people keep listing Zach as one of Imogen's best friends that she's 'lost,' I don't know how you guys operate in your friendships but just because you have disagreements and don't always get along doesn't mean you're not best friends anymore, lol. Imogen and Zach have been through wayyyy too much together to just stop being friends over petty shit, and even though it was rocky in the beginning, THEY ARE STILL FRIENDS. So stop assuming/saying they're not.
