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Zayn had gone from six touchdowns to only one the following game. Luckily it was a home game, so the crowd was able to get behind the team and help propel them to a victory, improving their record to 7-1.

Coach had told them that the way their division was going, they couldn't really afford to lose another game or else they could miss the playoffs. So practices were extra hard and long and film study was a must.

However, whenever Zayn wasn't preparing for his next game, he was at home preparing himself for what was to come. He hadn't returned to Sam's place since that night he left without saying anything. He didn't want to work for him anymore and pretend to like it.

Instead, he spent the time he could be working making plans, packing a bag with a change of clothes, a flashlight, beanie and leather gloves while fiercely drowning himself in memories of what happened to his parents: how they had to suffer so much fear before they died and how his sister suffered the consequences of their murders' actions.

He thought about how he was left alone and the screams from his father after his wife had been killed in cold blood right before his eyes. He thought about how his father had to watch her bleed out from the neck knowing he would be next and that ultimately they were both going to leave their two beloved children behind before they were ready.

How must it have felt to know their life was going to end that very night? How must it have felt to even fear that their son could be killed too? Did they think about him right before they died? Did they wish he was old enough to call for help? Were they happy that Doniya wasn't home?

The more he thought about those things, the more he cried and the angrier he became. It was like all the anger he felt two years ago when he first decided to avenge his parents death had came back twofold and reminded him that he had a job to do. And no one could stop him from carrying it out. Not one single person.

Not even his sister, no matter how upset she was at him right now.

"Mrs. Daniel told me she's already warned you twice about being distracted before she called me."

"Yeah, so? I'm still not failing and as long as I'm not, it's not going to affect my scholarship."

"I don't care. It's not enough to not be failing. You are smarter than what you're showing her. You got a D on your physics test and apparently that's been consistent."

He huffed and turned away.

"Don't roll your eyes at me."

"I'm not even rolling my eyes."

"And don't talk back to me."

He frowned hard.

"You act like I aced math last year. I've always been average and you know it."

"You may not have aced it but getting a D is not like you. And by the way, a C is considered average. A D is considered below average."

Zayn began to cry where he stood but mostly out of anger. "You don't even understand, Donny!"

"What don't I understand?"

"Students go through slumps too. It's not gonna kill me."

"I didn't say it will. I just want you to do better." She spoke softer this time. "Listen to me. I support you playing football and I love watching you be great at it. But I also like seeing you pay attention to your studies and show how smart you are when it comes to the books."

"But I am smart."

"I know you are. That's why I know you can do this. So can you do it for me? Can you show me just how smart you really are?"