Seam Route

prologue

four months ago...

Parker

Everything I've worked so hard for has led up to this moment. 

I almost think I'm dreaming, that this is all a simulation and I'm still forever sixteen wondering what to do with myself.

But against everything I'm sitting here in an all black fitted suit, with my family surrounding me in the green room where all the other prospects are sitting. Thirty minutes feels agonizing and the cameras shoved in our faces as we wait doesn't help.

Even though I'm secluded from the man stage where the fans are sitting I can hear the electric noise.

I can feel the crowd buzzing with excitement fans on edge to find out which collegiate football star their favourite team drafted. They're overjoyed to see the team's future to aid them into becoming playoff-bound and title contenders.

"You okay?" My oldest sister Morgan asks, her eyebrows pulling together in concern.

"Fine."

"I'm glad."

It's been a while since I've seen her. I've been so busy back at UCLA with football, and because Brooklyn is so far away, I didn't ever go back to my hometown during my college years. 

My family had tried to get me to come back but there was always something that I had to do that kept me from going there. Convenient is what it is, is what Morgan would always say in rebuttal.

It had been no secret to my family that I preferred Los Angeles over New York. They knew that as soon as football offers rolled around I wasn't even considering committing to any Eastern colleges regardless of how much they tried to sweeten the deal.

I ended up at UCLA. 

Great school? Yep.

 Great program? Yeah.

 Great Football Team?  Of course. 

Great coaching staff?  Even better.

Two-thousand seven-hundred eighty-nine miles away from New York? Thank fuck.

And my choice paid off, during my time at UCLA we ended up winning the National Championship and I was a Heisman Trophy Nominee and then later winner. It was very rare for a wide receiver to win because the award was typically given to a quarterback or running back. However, the numerous clutch catches I made during the bowl games and the championship game earned me the votes to win.

My draft class was strong this year with a diverse amount of different skilled positions needed in the league.

But I was for sure going to be drafted first round, in the top ten draft picks it was a lock. After a conversation with many teams, I  knew I would be the third-overall pick for the LA Chargers. They did not have a good season whatsoever, and while they have a good QB, there offensive power lacks skill and talent. 

The Charger's coach told me I'd be a perfect fit and I couldn't agree fucking more. Los Angeles was my new city, all the people I'd met in college lived there. It was the place I wanted to be in.

Being the Third Overall Pick is a good thing too in terms of everything. Yes, it's a super high draft position nonetheless, but being drafted first? All the pressure is on you, every sports network, analyst, every person and their mother tries to predict the first draft pick. And if you don't immediately succeed? Well, you're going to be crucified and considered a bust.

I look to my left at Ashton Agnello. Quarterback at Louisiana State University. The projected number one overall pick and he's going to The Jets. He's a good fit for the team, they need a backup QB, their current one is good but gets injured a fucking lot.