Habits

The Scouts

Cory's POV

"One more round of sprints then we'll call it a day!" Coach Allen announces while checking the watch on his wrist.

I easily make it past the 50 yard line while the rest of my team soon follows behind.

"How...the hell do you do that without dying?" Mark huffs out.

I shrug and begin my cool down stretches when I notice that Coach Allen is staring directly at me.

I instantly think back to all the bad things I've done in the past week, nothing to awful.

"Monteith! Can I talk to you for a minute?" He belts out from 50 yards away.

Well shit, this can't be good.

I hesitantly run over to the goal line where he has a firm stance.
His composure is calm and relaxed, why do I feel like I'm about to get my ass whipped then?

"How about we take a walk on the track?" He offers while gesturing to the track.

Yep, I'm dead.

"Yeah, sure."

Together we walk to the track when he decides to speak first.

"Cory, your an unbelievable athlete and a great joy to watch play on the field."

I may not be totally screwed after all.

"Thanks, coach."

"I'm not the only one who thinks this apparently. We have had an undefeated season, this is the best record that Nolan High School has had in the last 15 years, thanks to you of course."

He pauses.

"Many colleges have taken a great interest in you and your abilities to score on the field. Our last game is on Friday, and many scouts from all over the U.S. are coming to watch you play, also a few Canadian scouts."

The air has been knocked out of my lungs, college scouts are coming to watch me play and I could potentially get a scholarship.
But I'm forgetting about a key factor from my life.

Lea.

I totally blew her off when she was talking about college but when it rolls around to me, I'm taking my options very seriously. I never really thought I would have a future this big when it came down to college

"Do you know what colleges are interested in me?" I ask quietly.

"Literally colleges from everywhere, Washington State, Oregon, Arizona State, Stanford-"

"Is UCLA one of those colleges?" My tone is anxious, to anxious.

"No, they weren't looking for a quarterback, but a UCLA scout will be attending the game." Coach Allen explains to me carefully.

"Who will they be looking at?"

"They are mainly looking for a receiver, so Liam is who they have in mind."

Of course, the only college I had in mind isn't looking for a quarterback!

"Is UCLA your dream school or something?"

"Not so much my dream school." I mutter.

He let's out a loud laugh. "Ahh, I get it! It's your girlfriend's dream school and you don't want to leave her."

I doubt he knows that I don't have a girlfriend, I have a fiancé.

"My situation is a little more complicated then that."