Cecelia's POV:
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I stood looking in my mirror. I couldn't believe it, today was the day. The first day of conditioning for my junior year. It was finally happening, no more junior varsity, I was in the big leagues. Okay so maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration but to me, this is a big deal. I finally have a chance to prove myself.
"You ready?" Dad says standing in my doorway.
"Definitely not," I say nervously. I mean it too. I'm scared I'm gonna mess up this chance.
"C'mon you'll be fine. It doesn't matter anyway. It's time to go and the captain can't be late for the first practice!" He practically screams pulling me down the stairs and out the door.
"It's only conditioning calm down," I order playfully. I swear he is as excited as I am. Though he definitely isn't as nervous. He laughs and puts the truck in reverse.
It's official. I. Am. This. Years. Starting. Quarterback. No big deal but, I'm also the captain! Coach is a good man but I'm not sure I'm ready for all that responsibility. It was one thing doing this on junior varsity because nobody was really watching. On varsity, though, everybody's watching. It's a big deal in my town. I think we should call it footballlandia. I'm kidding, it's Wintervale. Oh and contrary to what's in the name, no there is no snow ever. It's the middle of Georgia for heaven's sake.
We're at Redwood High's Athletic Complex faster than I thought we'd be. My nerves have officially jumped off the tracks.
"Relax sweetheart you'll do just fine, love you!" He says, kissing the top of my head.
"I know daddy thanks, love you too." I get out of the truck and start toward the stadiums. Wow really, I haven't called him daddy in over 3 years.
I'm halfway to the doors and I hear Wesley, one of my wide receivers.
"What's up?" I say. My voice is smoother than I thought it'd be.
"Getting ready to head to the locker rooms. You pumped?" He asks.
"Yes," I lie. "Pumped as ever."
"Good, I'll see you on the field, captain." He winks at me and walks away.
I sigh. I know that wink meant nothing. It was just him playing around. I've known him since 7th grade and I'm pretty sure he still thinks I'm a guy. It doesn't help I don't have any friends that are girls, my best friend is a guy.
I think 7:00 is a bit early but it's not up to me what time we do this. It's mid-June and we have conditioning five days a week until school starts. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday we have it twice a day. In the morning from 7:00-9:00 and in the evenings 4:00-5:30. Tuesday and Thursday we have a "little break" as Coach put it. Once from 10-12:30.
I take my gear and walk into a stall to change. There's a loud bang and I hear voices.
"-she can come in here and act all that! Ugh, it's ridiculous!"
"Look Linds, you and everyone else never paid attention to her, hell we barely even knew she existed. I'm sure she'll mess up and be on her way before you know it."
I know those voices. Lindsay Baker and Brittany Coleman. Cheerleaders. They appear to be talking about me. You'd think that through concrete and metal I wouldn't hear them but no, they're that loud.
"She's a girl! She shouldn't be able to play football! Let alone be captain and quarterback! It took me 7 years to get to where I'm at now. She has been playing what, 2 years? Please, she'll be a social outcast before she can say hike!" Lindsay says and the girls burst out laughing.
"Hey ladies," I say when I walk out of the stall. I have my shoulder pads and everything else on. "What are you guys doing?"
They look at me stunned and at a loss for words. They quickly gather their stuff and scurry out the door. I'm kind of used to the mean words, but they still hurt. I glance at the clock. It reads 6:54. It's time to head out there.
I walk to the door and down the empty hall that leads to the boys locker rooms. This part has always been awkward because we have to do a little knocking code so I know the boys are all dressed. I walk in there and coach begins as I sit down.
"Alright gentlemen," he says and earns a few laughs. "And Cecelia," He adds with an apologetic smile in my direction. I just shrug and he continues. "I'm gonna work you harder than you've ever worked this summer. You're gonna sweat like you've never before. You're gonna be in the best shape of your life! Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes sir," a few mumbled. Big mistake.
"Do I make myself clear!" He shouts louder.
"Sir yes sir!" We all yell.
"Alright, glad that is settled," he says with an evil smile and rubs his hands together. "Now let's get down to business. Here's our roster. No, it's not everyone, so just calm down. I'm just telling some important ones and who they are. Okay, we have wide receivers: Wesley Divens, Justin Hawthorne, and Blake Bellinoid. Center is Nate Turner. Halfback we have Emmet Smith."
Everyone claps after each name and I can feel mine coming and I almost dread it.
"Fullback we have Ashton Mcallister. Last, but not least, we have our quarterback. Our captain. Our girl. Cecelia Anderson!"
An eruption of claps and hollers go up around me and I'm relieved. I'm getting pats on the back and nods of what seems like approval. I'm finally starting to relax.
"I will post it and you can look for your name as you walk out. Is everybody ready to get started? No? Sucks for you guys," he says and everyone gives him blank stares. He laughs at us. "Okay, time to get serious."
"It's going to be different. We've got a girl on our team now. Some of you were on her team in junior varsity. Now let's see," he says and pauses to scan the group. "Tell the other guys Nate, since you were her center before, how she runs her team."
Dread started to run through me. What's he going say? Please don't say anything bad! This is all I kept thinking.
Nate cleared his throat, "Listen. She isn't just some girl. she's our captain and our quarterback. She expects you to treat her with respect. Some of us newbies last year made the mistake of not. Let me tell you, you'll be doing the backward lunge walk until you can't move 'cause your "tired". Let me tell you boys something, you don't know tired until you know Cece's wrath." He smiles and goes on. "She isn't like any other captain you've ever had. This girl carried our sorry asses to the championships and we won. So careful because she knows what she's doing."
I didn't even know that's how he looked at it. I'm thankful that Coach picked Nate because I couldn't have said it better myself.
"Okay so my point is guys," Coach began. "Treat her with respect. She is equal to you. No sexual harassment. If she notifies me of any, it will go into an investigation and you will most likely be kicked off the team. I shouldn't have to tell you guys this, but I know how some guys can take it to far. I'm not saying don't joke around or anything because let's face it, she can handle all of you. Don't take it too far, though."
I'm glad he covered this. Not that I was worried or anything. It's just some of these guys I haven't had on my team yet and I don't know them so well.
"Last thing is rules. These two aren't mine so don't come complaining to me. I'm not reading the old ones. You should all be well acquainted with them by now. Rule one: Boys are to stay out of the girls locker room. Rule two: If found liable for sexual harassment, suspension from the team and possible suspension from school. That's about everyone, not just Cecelia. Lastly, this is my own, Play with your heart and give your all and that's all I'll ever ask of you. And run drills of course." Everyone laughs and he puts his hand in the middle, everyone follows suit.
"Who are we?" He asks.
"Panthers!" We yell back.
"Who are we?"
"Panthers!"
"I said, who are we?"
"Redwood Panthers!"
He claps his hands together. "Now let's get started."
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Authors Note:
Hey Guys!
unstoppablereasoning here. This is my first book so make suggestions, ask questions, create covers, show me cool stuff. I NEED IDEAS FOR CHARACTERS, WHO I WANT TO PLAY THEM, WHAT THEYLL LOOK LIKE, ECT. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. There will most likely be many spelling and punctuation errors I'm sorry just point them out. This isn't like set in stone if I don't like it I can change it.
THANKS EVERYONE 😘