Breaking Tradition

Chapter Thirty-One

Disclaimer: All characters and settings are purely fictional. If there are any similarities to real people or places, it is merely coincidental. The plot is written by me and not copied from any other writer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Final Sideline Decisions ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Life has a strange way of making decisions for you. I thought I had my life planned and mapped out. If you had asked me last year what I planned to do with my life, I would have given you a detailed list of the goals I wanted to accomplish before the age of thirty. Now here I was, lost, a million thoughts racing through my mind of what I should do. Not even the cheers and chants of the crowd could compel them away from me.

It was the last game before the championship, and Devenport was leading. There was barely three minutes left in the game. Theo was playing like the champ he is. I could see it. About ten years from now, he will be a professional football player. People will be chanting his name. Men will proudly wear his jersey. There was no denying the greatness awaiting him. 

But for me? Those chances crashed the day I fell from that pyramid. Even if I could go back, the fear outweighed it all. Maybe that's why I was struggling to make a decision. I got my acceptance letters. I was accepted to UW, Riverview, U Cal, and Brighton. Unfortunately, without a cheerleading scholarship, UW and Brighton were out of the question. I didn't know how to tell Theo. Our entire senior year was filled with him dreaming of us spending our college years together. Now, it was only going to be just that--- a dream of ours. 

Then, there was the news Doctor Thomas told me. It was going to crush him. When he asked if I was ok, I deflected. I couldn't tell him the truth, so I lied. I said there was nothing wrong. What else could I do? He was on the brink of accomplishing all his dreams. I couldn't mess that up for him with my issues. So, I told myself I would spill the beans after the championship game. So, here I am, sitting in the bleachers being a supportive girlfriend. I try to hold back the wave of regret and jealousy when I see the cheer team perform.  Watching football from the stands was not nearly as fun as being down there with Mikah and the rest of the squad. Despite my fears, I missed cheerleading. 

As if hearing my thoughts, Mikah looked up and waved at me. Excitedly, I returned the gesture. She pouted before holding up her hands to form a heart. I do the same. She was my bestie. I look for Bianca, but she's nowhere near my eyesight. I shrug it off and return my attention to the game. 

"Bradshaw passes the ball! It going, going, it's CAUGHT! Ladies and Gentlemen, Devenport has done it again!" The announcer shouts. There was still a minute on the clock, but with the lead Devenport had, they couldn't lose. 

"That boy is going places. I swear with an arm like that, it would be a shame if he doesn't make it to the pros," a voice behind me said. Usually, hearing comments like this made me swell with pride, but tonight, it made me nauseous. 

"Of course he is. Why wouldn't he?" Another person remarked. I didn't have the nerve to turn around. My body was frozen in place. The sickening feeling in my stomach intensified. It's like I knew what was coming. My body knew where this conversation was headed, and I couldn't help the guilty feeling growing inside of me. 

"The same reason all good talent in this town rots away, a girl," the guy responded. My eyes grew full. The thoughts I buried deep in my brain erupted. My heart burst as I cried silently. Everything I wanted to tell Theo was going to ruin his dreams. And how many people would hate me for it? His parents? They wanted nothing but the best for him, even if it meant opposing the girl he loved. I was the reason they cut him off financially. Hayden? It was their dream to play football together in college. Would he hate me for taking that dream away from him too? What about Theo? I knew he would sacrifice everything for me. He would do it in a heartbeat. But he would regret not living his dreams, wouldn't he?

"If he knows good for himself, he'd focus on his dreams. There will be swarms of women after he goes pro," the next guy replied. Swarms? Of course. Why wouldn't they? Gosh, he was handsome, rich, and on his way to becoming a successful football player. Why wouldn't women flock to him? My eyes trailed to my hands. I was shaking. The truth was out. I just needed to accept it. 

The crowd roared in a celebratory fashion. Devenport won. Before I could look for him, Theo was running up the stalls, trying to reach me. People were offering words of congratulations and shouting compliments. His eyes stayed focused on me. I plastered a fake smile on my face. It was enough to get him through the crowd faster. 

When he reached me, his arms wrapped around me, "We did it, babe!" He was sweaty, but I welcomed the warmth. I faked a grin, ignoring the eyes of the men who spoke earlier. I didn't want to see the knowing looks on their face. 

"I'm proud of you, babe," I said, kissing him. He grins, pecking my lips again before staring at me. His brown eyes met mines. At that moment, he was open. I was closed. My decision was made. 

"Theo! Get down here!" Hayden shouted. Theo grinned at him before kissing my cheek. 

"I'll meet up with you at Tyler's, babe," He said before heading back down to his team. 

The crowd began to disperse around me. I sat waiting for Mikah to finish up before we headed to Tyler's. My eyes gaze on a man in a flannel shirt and some washed-out jeans. He shook his head disappointedly at me before walking off. I sat up straight. He wouldn't see me crumble under his gaze. I wasn't who he thought I was. I was not another girl going to ruin a guy's life.

They were wrong. I wasn't going to be a bump in Theo's life. They would see. They all would see.