The Game Plan

20

I woke up the day of the championship game and just stared at my ceiling.

The past ten years of my life had led up to today. I wondered if this is how dancer's felt when they auditioned for dance companies, or if I would feel this way when I graduated college.

I doubted I would ever feel this way again.

I sat up, and Brady was sitting on the floor with his blue and yellow bandana already on.

"Don't you look supportive." I grinned and he barked once.

I grabbed my phone and opened a text to Nick.

Quarterback to quarterback I wish you the best of luck. No matter what happens tonight, you mean more to me than a game.

I locked my phone and walked downstairs in my game day shirt and jeans with Converses.

My mom was making breakfast, and Luke and Matt were sitting at the kitchen island.

"Did I invite you over?" I asked, genuinely confused. Maybe I had and completely forgot.

"No. We just knew your mom would make breakfast." Luke said, a fork and a knife in each hand, a towel tucked into his shirt.

"You seem prepared." I laughed.

"Just the biggest day of our lives, I wanted to be nourished.' He shrugged, digging into the pancakes.

We finished breakfast and Matt drove us to school. Today would be the easiest day of the year, filled with pep rallies and teachers who will give up trying to make everyone focus. Throughout the day, my anxiety was on a steady incline. Even my texts with Nick seemed forced, like we both knew what this day meant. As excited as I was to play in this game, I couldn't wait for this to end so I could be in a real relationship with Nick.

The pep rally led up to two hours before kick off, so the football exited and made our way to the locker room and grab our stuff so we could take the bus to the stadium where the game would be played. I put my headphones in and went to the zone where I could focus for the next couple of hours.

"Bring it around!" Coach called from the locker room area of the stadium, and I laced up my cleats to meet him and the team in the hallway.

"Part of being a coach is encouraging you to be the best person you can be. When this season ends, I want you to be able to look in the mirror and you know, you know, 'I gave it all I have and I gave it for a worthy cause'. Because the support and teamwork that I have seen over the past season has been something I have never seen in all my years of this sport. You have taught the rest of North Carolina that it doesn't matter who is under the helmet. What matters is the character and the integrity of that person. Win or lose tonight, that is what matters." Coach said.

Everyone cheered loudly and ran to the entrance to wait for our introduction and run out for the game.

In the visitor's locker room, Nick was trying to get into the game zone.

"You nervous?" Sean asked and Nick shrugged.

"More nervous about Britt?" Sean said, understanding.

"It's just strange." Nick admitted.

"Well, I can't believe I am saying this, but you know its just a game. Your relationship with Britt and what that has taught us all is worth more than a trophy." Sean said.

Sean, Ty, and Cam knew that Nick and I were dating and they had no problem with it. Nick still hadn't told the rest of the team, he decided that would be a better conversation after the emotions died down.

"Well most of us." Ty said, walking over.

"What?" Nick frowned.

"I just want you to know I overheard the guys and I'm not so sure they are playing clean tonight." He said, glancing at Nick.

Nick looked from Sean to Ty and back to his team.

"Circle up!" He called, and everyone gathered around.

"No matter how this goes tonight, I want us to leave this game knowing we deserve that trophy." He said.

Everyone cheered, but he had a bad feeling in his stomach.

Since this is football down south, there was a grand entrance for both teams.

Fort Worth ran out through their banner to "World's Greatest", which Nick thought was cheesy and lame and complained that there were much better songs, but he lost the vote. I let the guys choose the song so long as Coach approved their choice.

We stood in the entrance and I could see and hear the crowds.

I knew that I had the support and I was proud.

I was proud of every single player that would stand next to me on that field. I was proud of my coach and the rest of the athletic department for supporting me when no one else did. I was proud of my parents and family for keeping my grounded. I was proud of Nick for seeing past the controversy. I was proud of my best friends for they're unconditional love.

But most of all, I was proud of me. I had worked damn hard on and off the field to be standing here. I put in hours of hard work and skipped out on shopping trips to watch game footage. I was proud that for once, I put myself and my needs above all else and took a chance with Nick. I was proud that I opened up to people and I was proud that with the help of the people who love me I beat this investigation.

"And now... Friarburg Panthers!" The announcer yelled and we began running out toward the field.

As Fight Song by Rachel Platten began to play through the arena, I became covered in goosebumps. Clearly they had some help, but the boys chose the perfect song and I knew they were excited to surprise me from the looks on their faces.

"You guys are such saps. Let's kick some butt." I joked, running to the bench to warm up.

I've still got alot of fight left in me.

_____________

If you want to hear what they ran out to, click play on the video to the right of this and start it at 2:38. Yeah, I'm a cheeseball but that song truly sums up this entire book for me and I wanted to include it!

To clear up any confusion my updating schedule has changed to due general schedule changes in my life. I will be updating on Mondays and Thursdays but just like before, if I get 25 likes on Monday or Thursdays chapters I will update on Saturday.