Under the Lights

Chapter 5: Different Than Texas

Chapter 5

I took a sip of my beer, letting out a refreshed sigh.

It had been far too long since I did this.

It was a pre-game ritual that started in my sophomore year with a few other guys on the team. We'd all drink a beer or two before the game, getting into the zone to kick some ass.
Brian never took part. As he was too 'mature to break the law'.

Lame.

Unlike sitting in the bed of my truck outside of the stadium like I would, I was sitting on the floor of my room, against the far wall, my headphones blasting Eminem in my ears as I tried to ready myself for potentially the worst game of my life.

I took another sip of the beer, closing my eyes.
We were definitely going to lose. No doubt about that.

I knew that there might be scouts from U of M, as they'd been trying to get me to commit for the past year. But I'd seen too many people commit to early, get injured, and have no plans for their future.

I just hoped there weren't any scouts at the game tonight.

I drained the rest of the beer, squishing the empty can in my hands.

I seriously debated having a second, but I knew that was a bad idea.

It was one thing to have two beers before a pre season game at home against a team that didn't even know the difference between a football and an egg, when most of the guys on the team had had a few beers more than me even.

But I couldn't do that to this new team. Not once, in my three days of attending this school, had I heard a single mention of alcohol amongst the high school students.

I tossed aside the crumpled beer can, glancing around my room.

Brian was sitting on his bed, against the wall, with his headphones in and his eyes closed as well.
The only difference was that I'd been drinking and he'd probably only been drinking water today.

As the next song started, I closed my eyes again, running through plays that I'd worked with my offense this week.

We had to at least get on the scoreboard.

We wouldn't win, there's no way that would happen.

But I would inflict as little embarrassment as possible on the community of Hamilton.

That was my goal.

~*~*~

"Whoa have you been drinking?" Hank asked, grabbing my chin with his hands.

"One beer, why?" I raised my eyebrows, shoving his hand off.

Hank's eyes immediately widened.

"Shit man this isn't Texas where football players don't get carded and the cops turn a blind eye as long as you bring home a state champ." Hank said quickly, looking nervous. "No one can know you've been drinking okay? And don't do it again." Hank shook his head.

"Like I said, it was one beer. It's nothing." I mumbled, putting back on my headphones as I sat down on the bench to tape my ankles.

My phone buzzed on the bench next to me, and I picked it up, still taping my ankle with one hand.
It was a text from the group message the Allison football team shared.

*Everyone better come home with a W tonight boys! Charlestons included, kick some midwestern ass boys!*

I laughed, shaking my head as I set the phone down. It buzzed a moment later, causing me to pause taping my ankle and look at it again.