Beverly Lights

3

The whistle blew loud the following morning on the field while players were warming up and getting loose. Spencer stood on the side lines stretching his legs trying to shield his eyes from the sun that was too bright for his liking. "Hey, thanks for the ride last night." JJ said as he walked up next to him. "What?" Spencer asked with a confused look on his face.

"Ah, you didn't drop me off at my house?"

"No, bro."

"Well that's kinda awkward."

"Hey Spencer!" Juliet called as she quickly walked over to him. "Good luck out there today!" She wrapped her arms around him in a hug. "Oh, thanks." He said as he hugged her back.

"Whoo! Time to buck up, buttercup." JJ shouted as he jumped up and down.

"Yo, why is Juliet here?" Spencer asked as he watched her walk over to Jordan.

"Her dad's a booster. She usually tags along with him to practices."

"Wait, what?"

"Boosters are here to see what you've got."

"I thought it was just drills?"

"Nah, man, scrimmage day! Whoo! Whoo!"
Let's go!"

"Hey Jordan." Juliet called out to him. He turned to face her and a large smile came over his face. "Hey, girl." He said and they gave each other a hug. "So we're still on for tonight?"

"Of course." She smiled and headed for the stands. Juliet sat next to her dad as the Eagles were starting their scrimmage. The alcohol consumption from the night prior and the hangover he was currently experiencing were clearly effecting the way Spencer played. He was dropping passes and couldn't keep up with the ball placement or Asher while on defense. It was like he was a complete different ball player. All of the boosters seemed less than pleased with his performance.

Towards the end of practice Spencer was walking off the field with his helmet in hand trying to catch his breath. "Get it together, man." Asher said as he walked by. "You smell like a party bus." Spencer looked at Asher as he walked up to Jordan while they both laughed. "More like Tequila and regret." Jordan added and they turned for the sidelines together. "Hold up, y'all set me up?" Spencer snapped at them. His raised voice caught Juliet's attention and she could tell that a fight was about to break out. "Last night I thought...?"

"Thought what?" Asher chuckled, "Thought that we were a team, friends? The only reason you were even at that party was because we told Layla to get you there."

"To what? Haze me? Make me look bad? You got me confused with somebody else, bruh."

"Then go back to Crenshaw."

"What'd you say?" Spencer snapped as he dropped his helmet and walked up on Asher. "Say that again, bruh." Jordan wedged himself between the two to stop the situation from escalating more. "Come on, bruh. Say it again!"

Coach Baker was suddenly in the midst of it all and he walked Spencer backwards away from Asher. "I will not let you blow this." He quietly said to him in a stern tone. "One fight, and you're done. Game over." He then turned to his son and said, "And you- you should know better than this."