One of the Boys

“Run it again,” CoachBurns called. “Faster release Evans.”

I ground my teeth. “You’ve been telling me that for four years now Coach.”

“One day here you’ll listen.”

“Same play?” I asked.

“Until you get it right.”

“I get the ball to him every time!”

“Release the ball faster.”

He couldn’t see me glaring at him through my helmet, but I was ready to punch him.

“Just release the ball as soon as you get it. See what Coach says then,” Jake said, with a smirk.

“Get into position”, I snapped.

“Ooh, Captain Evans is getting snappy.”

“Run it again,” I shouted.

My team grumbled, but they all filed back into position.

“He’s a f*cking idiot. Just ignore him,” Nathan, my center, said as I got into position.

“If he wants a quick release, it’s what he’s gonna get,” I said.

“Yellow 63, Blue 42, hike” I called.

As soon as the ball hit my hands I stood up and let it fly. Wesley scrambled to get to it, but he wasn’t even halfway through his route yet.

“Evans,” Coach barked.

“Is that what you wanted Coach?” I called.

“You pull another stunt like that, and I’ll bench you in a heartbeat.”

I rolled my eyes. I’m the only Quarterback that Winter Lake High School has. And not only was I the only one, but I was state champion three years running. So unless he’s putting Nathan in, he’s stuck with me.

“Run it again. Do it right,” Coach barked.

I got back into position, snickering to myself.

“Yellow 63, Blue 42, hike,” I called out. The ball hit my hands and I took a step back. I launched it, and it fell right into Wesley’s arms. He took it in for a touchdown, and then proceeded to shake his ass all over the end zone.

“That’s what I want every time,” Coach called. “Good practice, hit the locker rooms. Evans, come here.”

Aw shit.

I saw Jake leaning against the wall, waiting for me. His eyes sparkled with amusement.

“Yes Coach?” I asked, ripping off my helmet.

“You’re team captain now; that means you need to step it up and be a leader. No more of those stunts, got it?”

“Got it.”

“Good, go home and get plenty of rest. How’s the leg?”

I grimaced. Everybody’s still talking about the damn leg. “Just fine sir.” I turned to leave, and then stopped. “Coach?” I asked, keeping my voice level.

“Evans?”

“You know, Nathan broke his wrist last year. Why don’t you ever ask him about it?”

Coach furrowed his eyebrows. “I don’t see where you’re going with this Evans.”

I sighed. “Nothing Coach, forget I said anything.”

“I’m not worrying about you because you’re a girl,” he said, biting back a smile. “You’re my star Quarterback Evans, I gotta make sure you’re in working condition.”

I crossed my arms. “Got it.”

“Go home and ice it now, you hear?”

“Yes sir.” I jogged over to Jake, who smiled at me.

“What did he want?” he asked, as we ascended the hill towards the locker rooms.

“He basically told me to get my act together.”

Jake rolled his eyes. “What an asshole.”

I reached my locker room and opened the door. “Tell me about it.”

His smile got wider. “When does cheerleading practice get out?”

I shoved him. “Get to your own locker room and stop looking in mine, would ya?”

I went in and shut the door behind me. I stepped into the shower and washed the sweat and grime off of me.

I pulled on a pair of shorts and an old t-shirt with my Nikes. I threw my pads and helmet into my bag and pulled my hair back into a messy bun. I knew that I had helmet hair.

I went into the locker room to grab my stuff, and the cheerleaders were all standing around talking. Damn.

“Hey Samantha,” Madison cooed. “How was football practice?”

“Fine,” I snapped, grabbing my stuff.

“You look like you fit right in out there,” she said, with a wicked smile.

“Same to you,” I said, with an equally sweet smile. “I mean, how much talent it must take to shake your ass.”

She narrowed her eyes at me. “Oh yeah? How about throwing a football? Talk about easy.”

“Easy? I don’t remember talking about you.”