Set going into 204 season
Name - Monte Flowers
Height - 6'2
Weight - 203lbs
Position - WR/S
Birthday - 02/02
Age - 17
From - Louisiana
Live in - Cali
Team - Mission Viejo
State Rankings
Espn - 1
247 - 1
Rivals - 1
General Rankings
Espn - 3/ 1st Wr Ranking, 2nd in Db Rankings
247 - 5/ 2nd Wr Ranking, 2nd in Db Rankings
Rivals - 5/ 3rd Wr Ranking, 2nd in Db Rankings
Season Stats
8th Grade
37 Recs - 473 Yards - 6 TDs
Freshman
48 Recs - 830 Yards - 4 TDs
Sophomore
63 Recs - 1037 Yards- 7 TDs
Junior
82 Recs - 1678 Yards - 14TDs
DB Stats
8th Grade
53 Takls - 354 YA - 1 Tfls - 0 TDA - 1 Sacks - 5 Ints - 16 PBUs
Freshman
63 Takls - 372 YA - 0 Tfls - 0 TDA - 2 Sacks - 2 Ints - 7 PBUs
Sophomore
47 Takls - 281 YA - 2 Tfls - 0 TDA - 0 Sacks - 8 Ints - 10 PBUs
Junior
52 Takls - 217 YA - 8 Tfls - 0 TDA - 1 Sacks - 2 Ints - 14 PBUs
Looks
Hair - Free formed afro with a low taper, gets hair braided a lot
Skin Color: ✋🏽
Eyes - Brown
Other - Full sleeve of tats on his right arm and part of his chest. Wears earrings
////////////////////////////////////////////////
Name - Camari Flowers
Height - 6'2
Weight - 192lbs
Position - WR/CB
Birthday - 09/15
Age - 18
From - Louisiana
Live in - Cali
Team - Mission Viejo
State Rankings
Espn - 3
247 - 3
Rivals - 2
General Rankings
Espn - 9/ 5th Wr Ranking, 3rd in Db Rankings
247 - 10/ 5th Wr Ranking, 3rd in Db Rankings
Rivals - 8/ 5th Wr Ranking, 3rd in Db Rankings
WR Stats
Freshman
23 Recs - 323 Yards - 3 TDs
Sophomore
58 Recs - 942 Yards - 7 TDs
Junior
53 Recs - 982 Yards- 7 TDs
Senior
68 Recs - 1287 Yards - 11 TDs
DB Stats
Freshman
0 Takls - 0 YA - 0 Tfls - 0 TDA - 0 Sacks - 0 Ints - 0 PBUs
Sophomore
3 Takls - 0 YA - 0 Tfls - 0 TDA - 0 Sacks - 0 Ints - 0 PBUs
Junior
28 Takls - 234 YA - 0 Tfls - 0 TDA - 0 Sacks - 1 Ints - 4 PBUs
Senior
43 Takls - 291 YA - 3 Tfls - 0 TDA - 1 Sacks - 3 Ints - 9 PBUs
Looks
Hair - Dreads
Eyes - Brown
Skin Color: ✋🏽
Other - Full sleeve of tats on his right arm, Wears earrings
___________________
Third Person Perspective
May 2, 2024
📍 Mission Viejo, California
Beneath the blazing California sun, two identical teenagers sat shoulder-to-shoulder at a long table positioned in front of a sea of cameras and spectators. Monte and Camari Flowers looked almost impossible to tell apart at first glance, but their personalities were beginning to separate them. Both sat upright with their shoulders squared, their expressions calm and composed, but there was an undeniable excitement hanging in the air.
Lined up neatly across the table were five college football hats: LSU, Miami, Texas A&M, Georgia, and Notre Dame.
Five schools.
Five different futures.
Each hat represented months, and in some cases years, of recruiting calls, late-night conversations, campus visits, film sessions, meetings with coaches, promises of playing time, discussions about development, and countless questions about what the next chapter of their football careers could look like.
For the Flowers brothers, this wasn't simply a press conference.
This was the moment everything became real.
Behind them, the crowd continued to grow louder. Reporters squeezed between family members and friends, coaches stood nearby watching closely, and cameras were positioned from nearly every possible angle. Phones were held high above heads as people tried to capture the announcement. Every few seconds, another camera flash illuminated the table.
The entire country was watching.
Monte Flowers, widely regarded as the top recruit in the state of California, sat with the confidence of someone who had spent his entire life under the spotlight. Recruiting analysts had followed his career for years, breaking down every game, every highlight, every performance. He had become accustomed to hearing his name mentioned alongside the nation's best young players.
He slowly reached for the microphone.
"First, thank you to everybody for coming out today," Monte said, looking across the crowd. His voice was steady, almost surprisingly relaxed considering the magnitude of the moment. "We appreciate everybody who's supported us throughout this whole process. We'll be announcing our commitments shortly. Before we do that, are there any questions?"
Almost immediately, hands shot into the air.
Monte looked toward the reporters before Camari leaned forward and pointed toward one of them.
A reporter raised his microphone.
"For both of you," he began, "how important is immediate playing time? Do you need to know that you're going to start right away, or are you both comfortable sitting behind an older player and waiting your turn?"
Camari didn't even need to think about his answer.
"I want to start right away," he said confidently. "I think I'm good enough to start right away, so that's what I'm looking for."
A few reporters scribbled notes.
Camari wasn't being arrogant. He simply believed in himself, and after everything he had accomplished on the field, he wasn't afraid to say it.
Monte nodded beside him before adding his own answer.
"I'm different," Monte said. "I don't mind developing. Obviously, I want to play, but if there's somebody ahead of me who the coaches believe is better, then I'll wait. I'll work. I'll earn it."
He paused for a moment.
"I'm not scared of competition."
That answer earned a few approving nods from the coaches standing behind them.
Monte then gestured toward another reporter.
The reporter stood.
"Monte, do you think your decision to class up was the right decision for your career? You could've stayed with your original class. Do you feel like moving up was worth it?"
Monte smiled slightly.
"I played four years of high school football," he answered. "I've got just as much experience as anybody else coming into college. And honestly, I've been playing up an age group or two for most of my career anyway."
He shrugged.
"So it wasn't really that big of a change for me."
The crowd chuckled.
Camari pointed toward another reporter.
"Next question."
But before the reporter could even begin—
RING. RING. RING.
Monte's phone suddenly began buzzing loudly against the table.
The sound cut directly through the room.
For a second, everyone went silent.
Then several people started laughing.
Monte looked down at his phone.
Camari glanced over.
"Kyren?" he asked.
Monte looked at the screen and nodded.
"Yeah."
He picked up the phone and answered.
"Hel—"
"Pick up the hat."
Monte stopped.
The voice on the other end was unmistakable.
Kyren.
Monte immediately started smiling.
"You got my number," he said, shaking his head.
Another voice suddenly came through the phone, apparently joining the conversation.
"What did the Honey Badger wear?"
The crowd nearby began laughing again as Monte listened.
"Pick up that hat," Kyren repeated.
Monte looked toward the five hats sitting on the table.
Everyone in the room knew exactly which one Kyren wanted him to choose.
Camari glanced at his brother.
Monte raised an eyebrow.
Camari reached across the table.
His hand hovered over the hats for only a second before he grabbed the purple and gold LSU hat.
The second Camari placed it on his head, the entire crowd erupted.
Cameras began flashing rapidly.
Family members jumped to their feet.
Someone behind the table shouted.
Camari laughed, leaned back in his chair, and shook his head as the noise continued around him.
"LSU," someone yelled from the crowd.
Camari simply smiled.
Monte was still holding the phone.
"Boxed when I get the chance," he muttered toward Kyren before finally ending the call.
He placed the phone on the table.
Camari tossed the LSU hat away
Now all eyes turned toward him.
Five hats had been sitting there moments earlier.
Only four remained.
Monte slowly stood from his chair.
The room quieted.
He reached underneath the table, where another hat had been hidden from view.
The cameras immediately shifted toward him.
Monte pulled it out.
Black and red.
A Georgia hat.
For a moment, he simply held it in his hands.
Then he placed it firmly on his head.
The reaction was instant.
The crowd exploded.
Cheers thundered across the venue as Monte's family rushed toward him. Cameras flashed so rapidly that the entire area seemed to flicker. Reporters shouted questions over one another while friends and teammates celebrated behind him.
Monte smiled beneath the Georgia hat.
Camari stood beside him unzipping his jacket, revealing a Georgia t-shirt
Cameras continued flashing from every direction as the Flowers brothers stood together, finally allowing the weight of the moment to sink in. Monte and Camari moved around the stage, shaking hands with coaches, exchanging hugs with family members, and congratulating one another on the decisions they had just made.
For months, they had heard the questions.
Where would they go?
Would they play together?
Which schools had the best opportunity?
Who would start?
What would their futures look like?
Now, those questions finally had answers.
The two brothers embraced again as the crowd continued celebrating around them. Their usually calm expressions began to crack, and for the first time that afternoon, the emotion was impossible to hide.
Then their mother stepped forward.
Both brothers immediately pulled her into a hug.
She wrapped her arms around them tightly, smiling through tears as cameras captured the moment. She had been there through every early-morning practice, every long drive, every game, every recruiting conversation, every setback, and every victory. Seeing her sons finally reach this moment meant just as much to her as it did to them.
Monte eventually pulled away and wiped his face before looking back toward the podium.
The microphone was still sitting there.
He walked over and picked it up one final time.
The crowd slowly settled down, curious to hear what he had to say.
Monte looked over at Camari, before turning back toward the cameras.
A wide grin spread across his face.
"We'll be headed to Georgia," Monte said, clearly joking about the fact that both brothers had just made their decisions despite choosing different schools. "See y'all next week."
The crowd laughed and cheered once again.
Monte lowered the microphone as Camari shook his head and laughed beside him.
The cameras captured one final series of images—the brothers standing together, their mother between them, surrounded by family, coaches, and friends.
Then the broadcast faded out.
The official announcement was over.
But the celebration was just beginning.
Away from the cameras, the Flowers family continued celebrating one of the biggest moments of the brothers' young football careers.
And for both brothers, the next chapter was about to begin.
May 13, 2024
📍 Athens, Georgia
The Georgia football facility was already buzzing by the time Monte and Camari Flowers walked through the front doors.
Players moved through the hallways carrying equipment bags, coaches hurried from meeting to meeting, and staff members called out instructions as preparations for the afternoon practice continued. For most of the players inside the building, it was another day of football.
For the Flowers brothers, however, it was the beginning of an entirely new chapter.
The two walked side by side down the hallway, their footsteps echoing against the polished floors. They still hadn't completely gotten used to the idea that this was their new home. After years of high school football, recruiting visits, and countless conversations about college, they were finally wearing Georgia gear and walking through the same facility as the players they had watched on television.
Eventually, they stopped in front of the head coach's office.
Monte glanced at Camari.
"You ready?"
Camari nodded.
Monte raised his hand and knocked.
Knock. Knock.
"Come in," a voice called from inside.
Monte opened the door, and the brothers stepped inside.
Kirby Smart immediately looked up from behind his desk. He stood and walked around it before extending his hand toward them.
"Glad you two made it here safely," Smart said.
Both brothers shook his hand.
"Nice to see you again in person," Camari replied.
Smart smiled.
"Glad to have you guys here. You ready for practice today?"
"I'm ready," Monte answered almost instantly.
Camari nodded.
"Yeah, me too."
Smart chuckled at the immediate response.
"Alright. I like the enthusiasm."
He grabbed a folder from his desk and glanced down at it.
"Here's how we're going to start. Head over to the receivers' film study. They'll get you caught up on some of the terminology and basic concepts."
The brothers nodded.
"Defense meets in about an hour," Smart continued. "I'm guessing you two want to play both sides of the ball?"
Monte and Camari looked at each other before nodding simultaneously.
"Absolutely," Monte said.
"Both sides," Camari added.
Smart leaned back slightly and smiled.
"Good. That's what I wanted to hear."
He picked up a radio from his desk.
"I'll have someone get you your practice jerseys, equipment, and the rest of your gear."
He looked between them.
"Large helmets, right?"
"Yep," Monte confirmed.
"Alright. Go get settled in. I'll see you both out there."
"Thank you, Coach," Camari said.
The brothers nodded before turning toward the door.
"Welcome to Georgia," Smart called after them.
Monte smiled.
"Thank you, Coach."
The door closed behind them.
They walked several steps down the hallway before Camari finally broke the silence.
"You think we'll understand this playbook by the end of the week?"
Monte looked at him with a confident smirk.
"I'll understand it by today."
Camari immediately laughed.
"Sounds about right."
Monte shrugged.
"I'm serious."
"You always are."
The two continued down the hallway, joking with each other as they made their way toward the receivers' meeting room.
⸻
Later That Afternoon
The sun hung over the Georgia practice fields as players began making their way outside.
The atmosphere was completely different from the facility.
The meeting rooms had been quiet and controlled.
The practice field was anything but.
Coaches shouted instructions from the sidelines. Players stretched, ran routes, adjusted their pads, and prepared for another demanding practice.
Then the Flowers brothers jogged onto the field.
Monte wore #84.
Camari wore #85.
Both were dressed in full Georgia practice gear, helmets tucked beneath their arms as they walked toward their teammates.
They weren't acting nervous.
They weren't acting overwhelmed.
If anything, they looked like they belonged.
Monte exchanged a few words with one of the receivers before laughing at something he said. Camari joined another group, casually introducing himself and talking football as though he had been in the locker room for months instead of hours.
A few veterans watched them from a distance.
Everyone knew who they were.
The highly recruited brothers had arrived.
But recognition wasn't enough.
Eventually, the coaches called everyone together.
"Team reps!"
The casual atmosphere disappeared.
Players lined up.
The coaches began dividing everyone into groups.
The first team moved to one side.
The second team gathered opposite them.
Then the third team was called.
Monte and Camari jogged into position.
They had been placed together on the third team, and their assignment was simple:
Four drives against the second team.
It was only practice.
But everyone understood what it meant.
This was their first real opportunity to show the coaching staff what they could do against players who were already established within the program.
Monte adjusted his gloves.
Camari tightened his chin strap.
They looked at each other.
"You ready?" Camari asked.
Monte nodded.
"Let's go."
Practice Scrimmage Summary
First Set
The first set began with the second team taking the field, hoping to establish the tone and show the coaching staff they could handle the newly assembled third-team unit.
That plan lasted exactly one play.
The ball was snapped, and before the runner could even reach the line of scrimmage, Monte Flowers shot through the gap. He read the play almost instantly, slipped past the initial block, and met the ball carrier in the backfield.
Boom.
Monte wrapped him up and drove him backward for a tackle for loss.
The sideline immediately erupted with reactions.
It was the kind of play that reminded everyone that Monte wasn't just an elite receiver. He had come to Georgia expecting to contribute on both sides of the ball.
The third-team offense took over.
Ryan Puglisi lined up under center before motioning Camari across the formation. The defense shifted with him, expecting the motion to reveal the play.
The snap came.
Puglisi quickly handed the ball to Camari on the jet sweep.
Camari hit the edge.
One cut.
Then another.
The second-team defense tried desperately to close the angle, but Camari accelerated through the opening before anyone could get a hand on him.
Suddenly, there was nothing but green grass in front of him.
Camari turned on the jets and sprinted 38 yards untouched into the end zone.
The third-team sideline went wild.
Camari flipped the ball away and jogged back toward his teammates with a huge grin.
Third Team: 7
Second Team: 0
⸻
Second Set
The second team returned to the field determined to respond.
They moved the ball slightly better this time, but the drive eventually reached third down.
The quarterback dropped back and looked toward the outside.
The pass came.
Camari closed quickly.
He timed his jump perfectly and delivered a hard, physical pass breakup, knocking the ball away before the receiver could secure it.
Three-and-out.
The defense jogged off the field, and Monte immediately tapped Camari on the helmet.
"Good play."
Camari smiled.
"Let's score again."
They didn't have to wait long.
On the following possession, the offense lined up with Monte split out wide.
The snap came.
Monte released vertically before breaking toward the middle of the field on a deep post.
The defender tried to stay with him.
He couldn't.
The pass arrived perfectly over the middle.
Monte secured it in stride.
A safety closed from behind, but Monte absorbed the contact, shrugged him off, and kept running.
There was nobody left between him and the end zone.
42 yards.
Touchdown.
Monte crossed the goal line and casually tossed the ball back toward the official before celebrating with his teammates.
Two sets.
Two touchdowns.
And the third team had yet to give up a point.
Third Team: 14
Second Team: 0
⸻
Third Set
By the third set, the second team was clearly trying to slow down the Flowers brothers' impact.
Instead of attacking vertically, they went with a screen.
The quarterback dropped back and immediately released the ball.
But Camari was ready.
He recognized the play and stepped forward, getting his hands up at exactly the right moment.
Tip.
The ball popped into the air.
Monte, who had been dropping into coverage, immediately reacted.
He came downhill, tracked the football, and secured the interception cleanly.
The sideline erupted.
Monte turned upfield and began running.
He wasn't satisfied with simply making the interception.
He wanted the return.
Monte weaved through traffic and took the ball deep into second-team territory before finally being forced out.
The third-team offense didn't waste the opportunity.
The scoreboard now reflected just how dominant the practice had become.
Third Team: 21
Second Team: 0
The second team was being beaten in every phase.
⸻
Fourth Set
The fourth set started differently.
The second team finally found some rhythm on the ground.
Their running game began creating small openings, and for the first time all afternoon, they were consistently moving the football.
But when they reached third down, Monte was waiting.
The offense lined up for a read option.
The quarterback took the snap and held the ball just long enough to force the defense to make a decision.
Monte didn't hesitate.
He blitzed straight through the gap.
The running lane disappeared instantly.
Monte met Cash Jones in the backfield and crushed the play for no gain.
The second-team offense was forced off the field once again.
Now it was the third team's turn.
The offense marched down the field, moving the ball with confidence.
Then came a critical play.
Camari lined up against tight coverage.
The quarterback dropped back and fired toward him.
The defensive back was right there.
Camari went up anyway.
He absorbed contact, secured the football, and somehow managed to keep his feet long enough to gain the necessary yardage and extend the drive.
The sideline erupted.
"That's a catch!"
The offense kept moving.
Eventually, they reached the red zone.
Monte lined up toward the back of the formation.
At the snap, he released inside before working across the field on a drag-dig route.
The quarterback waited.
Then fired.
Monte reached the back of the end zone as the defender closed in.
The ball arrived.
Monte caught it.
The defender hit him almost immediately.
For a split second, it looked like the contact might knock him out of bounds.
Instead, Monte fought to stay upright, extended himself toward the sideline, and dragged one foot down before falling to the ground.
Touchdown.
The coaches on the sideline immediately started talking among themselves.
The third team had just completed a perfect four-set performance.
Final Score
Third Team: 28
Second Team: 0
Four drives.
Four touchdowns.
A defensive interception.
Multiple tackles for loss.
Pass breakups.
Explosive plays.
And the Flowers brothers had been involved in nearly all of it.
Monte and Camari walked off the field together, laughing as their teammates congratulated them.
It was only their first practice.
But after what they had just done against Georgia's second team, it was becoming increasingly difficult for the coaching staff to view them as ordinary freshmen.
Practice finally came to an end.
The final whistle echoed across the field, signaling that the Flowers brothers' first official practice with Georgia was over. Players immediately began removing their helmets, loosening their chin straps, and catching their breath after the intense session.
The team gathered together for one final huddle before breaking apart and making their way toward the locker room.
Monte and Camari walked side by side, still talking quietly about the scrimmage.
Neither looked particularly tired.
If anything, they looked energized.
They had walked onto the field earlier that afternoon as newcomers trying to prove themselves.
They were walking off it as two of the biggest stories of the practice.
As the players headed toward the facility, Georgia's receivers coach, James Coley, stepped toward them.
"Hey, Flowers brothers."
Monte and Camari stopped and turned around.
Coley motioned for them to come closer.
"Welcome to the second team."
Camari raised his eyebrows.
Monte simply smiled.
Coley shook his head, clearly still impressed by what he had just watched.
"I've coached a lot of players," he said. "I've seen talented freshmen come in here before. But I've never seen two guys walk into their first practice and take over the way you two just did."
Camari shrugged casually.
"Defense wasn't that good, in my opinion."
Monte looked over at his brother and laughed.
Coley stared at him for a second before laughing himself.
"Alright, Camari. I like the confidence."
He shook his head.
"But don't get too comfortable. Tomorrow's another day."
Camari nodded.
"Yes, sir."
Coley looked between both brothers.
"We'll get your physicals done tomorrow. Once that's taken care of, we'll start getting you more involved with everything."
"Sounds good," Camari replied.
Monte nodded.
"Looking forward to it."
"Good. Get some rest tonight."
The brothers thanked him before heading toward the locker room.
For a few seconds, neither of them said anything.
They simply walked beside each other through the Georgia facility, surrounded by teammates they had met only hours earlier.
Eventually, Camari looked over.
"Second team on the first day."
Monte smiled.
"Told you I'd learn the playbook today."
Camari laughed.
"Don't start."
Monte shook his head.
"I'm serious."
They continued walking.
The excitement from the practice still lingered in the air. They had arrived in Athens that morning as highly touted recruits with something to prove.
By the end of the afternoon, they had already earned the attention of their coaches and teammates.
It was only one practice.
There was still an entire season ahead.
But as the brothers walked toward the locker room together, neither could deny how natural everything already felt.
The facilities.
The teammates.
The coaches.
The field.
The competition.
For the first time since leaving California, the Flowers brothers didn't feel like visitors.
Athens already felt like home.
<• Skip
Monte's Perspective
I was headed back toward my car with my hands buried deep inside the pockets of my hoodie, my phone lighting up my face as I mindlessly scrolled through it.
I wasn't really reading anything.
I was just scrolling to give myself something to do.
The Georgia campus was quieter at night. Most of the students were either heading back to their dorms, hanging around outside, or already making plans for the weekend. The warm Georgia air still lingered even though the sun had been down for a while, and every now and then, I could hear laughter coming from somewhere across campus.
Camari had already disappeared with a few people we'd met earlier.
Apparently, there was a party happening somewhere nearby.
He had tried convincing me to come.
I wasn't interested.
It was my first week on campus. Everything was still new—the buildings, the people, the expectations, the constant attention. Earlier that day, we'd already made enough noise on the practice field.
For once, I just wanted some peace.
I shoved my phone deeper into my pocket and continued walking.
That's when I heard a voice behind me.
"You new?"
I stopped.
I turned around.
A girl was walking toward me, looking like she already knew the answer to her own question.
She was light-skinned, wearing a blonde wig styled in a clean side part, with the ends curled just enough to give it some shape without looking overdone. She had on a grey compression shirt and black Georgia joggers, making it pretty obvious she was familiar with the campus.
She looked completely comfortable here.
I wasn't sure if she was a student or just somebody who came around often.
"Yeah," I said, slipping my phone into my pocket. "What's up?"
She smiled.
"Thought so. Never seen you around before."
She held out her hand.
"I'm Kaylee."
I looked at her hand before taking it.
"Monte Flowers."
I shook her hand.
"Just got here yesterday."
Her eyebrows lifted.
"Yesterday?"
"Yeah."
"Transfer student?"
"Nah. Undergraduate. Athlete."
That got her attention immediately.
"Oh, really?"
She pulled her hand back.
"What sport?"
I almost laughed.
"Football."
"Football?"
"Yeah."
I paused before adding,
"I'm from Louisiana. Lived in California for a little while, though."
She gave me a small laugh.
"Yeah..." She looked me up and down. "If you lived in Cali, I'm probably pretty low on your scale."
I shook my head.
"Not really."
She looked at me.
"You'd do just fine out there."
That made her smile.
"Where you from?"
"Atlanta. Born and raised."
"Really?"
"Yep."
I looked around.
"Big Georgia fan?"
She shrugged.
"Just a little."
"Just a little?"
She smiled.
"Never been to a game."
I stopped walking for a second.
"That's wild."
She laughed.
"I've never had a reason to go."
I tilted my head.
"Supporting the team isn't a reason?"
She gave me a look.
"I'd need a better reason."
"Like what?"
She thought about it for a second.
"Maybe knowing somebody on the field."
I couldn't help but smile.
I understood exactly what she meant.
I could already picture it.
Stadium lights.
Thousands of people screaming.
The crowd shaking the entire building.
My name being announced.
Walking onto the field knowing everybody was watching.
Yeah.
That was a pretty good reason.
I looked back at her.
"How old are you?"
"Nineteen. Freshman."
She looked at me.
"You?"
I hesitated.
Just for a second.
"Eighteen."
She immediately kicked me in the shin.
"Ow!"
I grabbed my leg and looked at her.
"Damn! What was that for?"
She laughed.
"Wrong answer."
I stared at her.
"What?"
"I know you classed up."
I couldn't help but laugh.
She knew.
Of course she knew.
"Just wanted to see if you'd catch it."
She crossed her arms.
"So?"
I sighed.
"I'm seventeen."
"Figured."
She said it like she'd already known.
I raised an eyebrow.
"How?"
"Heard your name already."
I looked at her.
"From where?"
She shrugged.
"ESPN."
I laughed quietly.
"Seriously?"
"Yeah."
She looked toward the direction of the football facilities.
"You're kind of hard to miss right now."
I shook my head.
"Where's your brother?"
"Party."
"And you didn't go?"
"Nah."
"Why?"
"Didn't feel like it."
She nodded.
"I get that."
For a few seconds, neither of us said anything.
It wasn't awkward.
We just stood there.
Then my phone buzzed.
I pulled it out.
Mari: 2 man?
I smirked.
Camari was checking on me.
I quickly typed back.
Me: Yeah. Send the location.
I put my phone away.
Kaylee looked at me.
"Brother?"
"Yeah."
She nodded.
"I'm about to head out."
I looked at her.
"Can I get your number?"
One eyebrow went up.
"You want me giving my number to a seventeen-year-old?"
"Yep."
She stared at me for a second.
I expected her to say no.
Instead, she held out her hand.
"Give me your phone."
I handed it over.
She typed her number into my contacts and gave it back.
I looked down at the screen.
I smiled.
"Knew you would."
She rolled her eyes.
"I could delete it."
"Chill."
She laughed.
"I'm about to catch a ride home."
"I can take you."
She immediately laughed.
"Now you're really pushing it."
"Fair."
I shrugged.
"I'll walk with you."
She shook her head.
"People are gonna get the wrong idea seeing me walking around with a seventeen-year-old."
I looked at her.
"What idea?"
She gave me a look.
"You not dumb."
She lightly shoved my shoulder before turning around and walking away.
I laughed.
"Have a good night," I called after her.
She turned around and waved.
"You too."
I watched her for another second before heading toward my car.
My blacked out Kia k5 was sitting under one of the nearby lights, looking almost out of place among the cars surrounding it.
I unlocked it and slid into the driver's seat.
The engine came alive with a low purr.
I leaned back for a moment, letting the sound settle.
Then I pulled out of the parking spot and started driving.
My phone buzzed again.
I glanced down briefly at the screen.
Camari sent the location.
I smiled.
"Alright."
I turned the music up and headed home first.
Later That Night
After getting back to the house, I took a quick shower and changed into something more comfortable.
Light-blue jean shorts.
A white graphic tee.
A few pieces of jewelry.
And my Oreo 4s.
Nothing too serious. Just something I could move around in without worrying about getting dirty.
I grabbed my keys, checked the location Camari had sent me, and headed back outside.
The drive wasn't long.
But when I pulled up to the address, I slowed down and looked around.
A go-kart track.
I stared at it for a second.
"Of course."
I parked and stepped out.
Of all the places Camari could've picked for a first night out, he picked somewhere we could turn everything into a competition.
I walked inside and immediately heard the sound of engines revving.
Music was playing through the speakers while groups of college students talked, laughed, and waited for their races. The smell of rubber and gasoline hung lightly in the air.
Then I spotted Camari.
He was standing near the entrance like he'd been waiting forever.
The second he saw me, he looked at his phone.
"Took you long enough."
I laughed.
"I got here when I got here."
"You took forever."
"I had to change."
Camari shook his head.
"Whatever."
There were two girls with him.
One was standing beside him, her hair slicked back into a long ponytail. She wore a black top with a red skirt, looking completely comfortable in the middle of the crowd.
The other girl had just stepped out of the backseat of a car.
She had light-brown skin, a white headband, a graphic tee tied back around her waist, and low-rise jeans.
Camari motioned toward her.
"This is Ashley. She's nineteen."
Ashley smiled and held out her hand.
"I know who you are."
I laughed as I shook her hand.
"That's becoming a pattern."
She smiled.
"You're kind of famous around here already."
"Already?"
"You just got here and everybody knows about the football recruits."
I shrugged.
"Guess that's what happens."
Camari cut in.
"Y'all done introducing yourselves?"
Ashley looked at him.
"Relax."
He laughed.
We headed farther inside.
The place was loud.
Engines roared every few seconds as another group took off around the track. People stood behind the barriers watching the races, cheering whenever someone spun out or made a risky pass.
Camari looked at me.
"I got an idea."
I already knew where this was going.
"What?"
"Last place buys food."
I looked around at everyone.
"Deal."
Everyone agreed.
Ashley looked directly at me.
"I'm racing you."
I smiled.
"You sure?"
She nodded confidently.
"I'm beating you."
I laughed.
"Alright."
We started walking toward the registration area.
"If I lap you—"
She immediately cut me off.
"I know."
I laughed.
"You didn't even let me finish."
"I know exactly what you're going to say."
I held out my hand.
She shook it.
"Deal."
We got our helmets and climbed into our karts.
The workers checked everyone before the gates opened.
I tightened the straps and looked down the track.
The lights around the course dimmed.
For a second, everything went quiet.
Then the signal came.
The lights dropped.
And instinct took over.
It was the same feeling I got on a football field.
Vision.
Timing.
Control.
Reading movement before it happened.
The first turn came quickly.
I took it clean.
Then the next.
I wasn't even thinking about it anymore.
I was just driving.
Ashley tried staying close behind me, but every lap the gap kept getting bigger.
I pushed through another turn, accelerated down the straightaway, and crossed the finish line well ahead of everyone else.
I slowed down and looked behind me.
Ashley was still coming.
I laughed.
"Come on!"
She shook her head as she passed.
I pulled my helmet off and climbed out of the kart.
While we waited for everyone else to finish, my phone buzzed.
I pulled it out.
Kaylee ❤️: So what you doing?
I smiled before replying.
Me: Go-karts with my brother.
The response came almost immediately.
Kaylee ❤️: Childish. Very on brand.
I laughed.
Me: Mad I didn't invite you?
A few seconds passed.
Kaylee ❤️: A little.
I looked at the screen and smiled.
Me: Next time. Just me and you.
There was a longer pause this time.
Then:
Kaylee ❤️: We'll see.
I shook my head.
I slipped my phone back into my pocket just as everyone finally finished their races.
Camari walked over, shaking his head.
"Unreal."
I laughed.
"What?"
"You had to win, didn't you?"
"I mean..."
I shrugged.
"Yeah."
Ashley walked over, taking off her helmet.
She looked at me.
"You were actually fast."
"Actually?"
She rolled her eyes.
"Don't start."
I grinned.
"Food's on me, right?"
Camari laughed.
"Absolutely."
We headed over to the restaurant area connected to the track.
We grabbed a booth and ordered food, and within minutes the competition had turned into nonstop trash talk.
I leaned back in the booth and looked at Ashley.
"Gapped."
She sighed.
"I know."
Camari nearly choked laughing.
"You walked right into that one."
Ashley crossed her arms.
"Whatever."
I smiled.
"What?"
She looked at me.
"I'll beat you in something else."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Good luck."
She smiled.
Not an embarrassed smile.
Not a nervous one.
A confident one.
The kind of smile that made it obvious she already had something in mind.
I leaned back.
"Alright."
She nodded.
"We'll see."
And somehow, I had a feeling this wasn't the last competition we were going to have that night.
Third-Person Perspective
Hours later, the night finally settled.
The house was quiet. No engines. No noise. Just the hum of a long day winding down.
Monte lay asleep, worn out, the kind of tired that only comes after competition. Ashley rested beside him, barely clothed, head on his chest, breathing steady.
She smiled to herself.
"I won," she whispered.
And for once, it wasn't about the race.