Fragile Threads [boyxboy]

Chapter 8

Brent made a daring rescue for them—he bolted all around the field, dodging the other team as he picked up flags before running to jail. He brought a good number of them back—enough to then blitz the other team and get the ball across the line.

As everyone else cheered, Ethan felt slightly proud of himself for holding his ground. No way in hell was he ever going across the line, but he seemed good at defense.

The second round began with more determination. The girl switched out with someone on their team so she could play a round, while keeping her shirt on. So maybe she was one of those athletics types, too. Ethan admired her slightly for being the only girl in a game of probably forty guys.

Landon’s team wasn’t happy about losing the first round though. Almost everyone charged the line when it started, and Ethan wound up on his ass in an instant. The ball was gone then, and the third round over before it even started.

“Best two out of three,” Brent hollered defensively as the other team jeered from their side of the field.

Terms were agreed and the third round started. Brent jogged back to Ethan. “Come get the ball with me.”

“What?” Ethan asked in horror. “But the ball—“ he pointed back to his one reason to stay where he was.

“Someone else’ll cover it. You come with me. I get the ball, they focus me, I toss it to you at the line, you step over the line, we win.” Brent nodded to confirm his plan. “Now lets go.”

Ethan trailed Brent up to the front line. They danced over it a few times before completely breaking over. A few other guys came along, proving distractions as Brent raced for the ball. Ethan waited just over the line, going unnoticed as he wasn’t much of a threat.

Brent carried the ball part way back, throwing it just before getting his flags pulled. Ethan had never caught a football before. It nailed him in the chest, and he caught it in his arms from there. He took a few steps back over the line, and the round was declared over.

“Three out of four!” Landon challenged. No one else protested it, so another round started, much to Ethan’s dismay. How long would this last?

He tried going back to defense, but Brent had liked their earlier strategy. Ethan had a feeling it wouldn’t work twice. He hovered at the front of the line, making eye contact with a few of the guys daring him to step over. Brent heckled them as he jumped back and forth, just out of reach from getting his flags pulled.

It was enough to make Ethan chuckle. He was having a bit more fun with this than he thought he would. Brent led a few failed attempts across the line, reverting in more people going to jail. Jason led the next jail break and got some people out, but they still had fewer than the other team.

“Do you think you can make it to the ball?” Brent asked in Ethan’s direction.

“No,” Ethan squeaked. He didn’t want to go over there.

“Can you throw a ball?” Brent continued.