I push through the crowd of people and make my way into the tunnel. Countless people and faces cheer me on. They lean over the stadium railings with their hands out, waiting for me to give them a high five. I do my best to hit every hand and feel the rush of adrenaline course through me.

That game was a close call. One mistake by me and we could have been done. Lucky for me that Dwayne managed to catch my pass and score that touchdown.

“Good game out there.” Hannah ruffles the pom-poms in her hand and they fall to the ground. She launches herself at me and throws her hands around me. She gives me a quick kiss on the cheek. “Don’t ever let it get that close again,” she whispers into my ear.

“It’s not like I tried,” I answer and pry her off of me. Her eyes glisten as she looks at me, and she pops a pink bubblegum bubble in my face.

“What the hell has gotten into you?” She grabs the pom-poms off the ground. Her hand shoots to her hips and her mouth moves, but I don’t listen.

Hannah Thomas is the head cheerleader. She also happens to be my on and off girlfriend for the last couple months. More for the convenience of having an easy fuck whenever I want it. And she gets to ride around campus glued to my arm and showing me off. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship.

That is until she broke up with me last week. Rumor around campus is that she’s hooking up with a soccer player. And normally, I don’t give a shit, but there’s only so many times I can deal with her stupid breakups before I lose interest. I can have any girl that I want. I don’t have time for her petty drama.

I don’t need her shit tonight.

“Nothing. I just don’t have time for this.” I try to move past her, but she spreads her arms and legs out wide, blocking the entrance to the locker room. Her blonde ponytails bob side to side, the smell of sweat and pink bubblegum filling my nostrils.

“You know you want me, David. You won’t be able to resist me for long,” she sings and peels off the side of the wall. She leans against the other side of the entrance and watches me go inside.

I hate how she thinks that I’ll just go back to her and all her drama. I don’t have time for the bickering and jealousy that comes with Hannah Thomas. And not to mention all the expectations of her riding my success.

“We’ll see,” I say and flick her off as the door to the locker room closes behind me. The last thing I see is her scrunched up face and her mouth opening into a large O. I don’t get to hear the next part, but I’m sure a string of curse words leave her mouth. Hannah doesn’t react well to getting turned down. She’s used to getting her way.

Thumping, loud music reverberates off the gold and blue walls inside the locker room. Everyone is getting ready for the post game parties. There’s no doubt that there will be a party at each and every fraternity on and off campus. Beating the cross -town rivals always puts everyone in a good mood. That is until the next day hangover hits.

“To David,” Dwayne shouts as I make my way to my locker. The music stops and everyone starts to huddle around me. The team starts to hoot and holler, throwing their hands into the air like a Viking tribe ready to welcome their leader.

I put my hand in the air and everyone reaches out. There isn’t a murmur in the room as everyone huddles closer and closer. “I’m really proud of how everyone played out there. They didn’t stand a fucking chance.”

“Damn straight.” Dwayne laughs. “They ain’t got shit on us.”

There’s a couple laughs around the room before it gets quiet. “If we keep playing like that, there isn’t anyone that can stop us. The All-American title will be ours,” I yell and feel the room shake as everyone shouts in agreement. “One. Two. Three. Hawks for life.” I drop my hand as everyone shouts in unison. Some of my teammates spin towels above their heads while others start popping bottles of beer and champagne, already getting the pre-gaming under way.

The huddle breaks and I see Coach Vaughn leaning against his office door. He looks at the bottles of beer and shakes his head, but he always turns a blind eye to that kind of stuff. As long as it doesn’t affect practice too much, he doesn’t say anything. He knows how hard we worked for tonight’s win.

He digs his hands into his khakis and walks over to me. “Good job David.” His words linger for a moment and I take them in. That means a lot coming from him.

Coach Vaughn used to play for the Pro League. He led his team to more wins than any other quarterback in the game. To say that I look up to him would be an understatement. Several of his old school posters were on my wall when I was growing up. He’s the main reason that I chose to come to this university.

His hand squeezes my shoulder and for some reason, I get a bad feeling in my stomach. “Thanks, Coach.”

He holds his smile a little longer and his hand pulls on my shoulder. “Come into my office, David.” The door shuts behind me before I can understand what’s going on. The flourescent lights flicker on above and Coach walks over to his desk. “I know that this isn’t the right time for this, but I don’t have much of a choice.” He lowers himself to the last cabinet at the bottom of his desk and opens it, pulling out a thick manila folder.

“Something tells me I’m not going to like this.” I grab a chair from the side and turn it around, resting my arms on the backside of it. Coach Vaughn drops the thick folder in front of me. A couple pieces of paper fly off his desk and I’m left wondering what the hell could be inside of it. “What is this?”

“This,” he presses his index finger into the folder, flattening it a good couple inches, “is your school work.” He shakes his head and pulls out the piece of paper on top. He looks it over and shakes his head. “How can you be doing this badly?” He flicks the paper toward me and it flies through the air like an autumn leaf falling from a tired branch. I barely manage to catch it and I can already feel my nerves taking over.

I turn the paper over and I’m met with a big fat F on the front. It’s a homework assignment that I’d turned in just a week ago. I haven’t seen my grade for it yet, not that it mattered, I always just stuff them at the bottom of my backpack.

“I’m not happy right now, David.” Coach falls back into his tiny chair, which screeches at his weight. “You’re supposed to be the captain. You’re the one who should be setting an example for the rest of the team to follow. You should be,” He stops and grabs another paper from the pile and shakes his head. “You should be doing better than this.” He slaps the piece of paper in front of him as if it were about to attack him.

I’ve been playing football all my life and because of that, I’ve been in a number of gut-wrenching situations. I’ve lost heartbreakingly close games and won others that seemed impossible. And during all those times, my nerves never broke. I was always able to persevere and do what needed to be done.

That’s not how I feel right now.

The disapproving look from Coach Vaughn makes me squirm in my seat. I can feel my stomach turning and I’m on the brink of hurling. I don’t like letting my mentors down. Especially not my idol.

This is a new and unfamiliar feeling for me.

“I can do better.” I grab the folder off his desk before he grabs another assignment from the pile of garbage.

He hands me the paper in his hand and shakes his head. “You don’t have a choice. As of tonight, you are suspended from the team.”

My chair slams into his desk as I get up. “That’s not fair.” The folder drops from my hands and onto the floor, pages and pages of paper flying out as if I were playing 52 pick up. “I won this game for us tonight. I shouldn’t be punished for it.”

“And you’re not being punished for that. Normally, I would be out there celebrating with all of you, but this isn’t the time.” Coach Vaughn makes his way around the table and starts to pick the pages off the ground. “And this is out of my hands. It’s coming down from Ms. Dunn. I managed to convince her to let you attend practice and watch from the sidelines.”

“Thanks,” I mutter under my breath as I help. I can feel the anger building inside of me.

This shit isn’t fair. I need to be out there on the field. This is my last year and last chance to clinch a division title. If I don’t play then I won’t get scouted for the Pros. My life is riding on this season.

“I fought for you, but there’s just too much in that folder. You need to get yourself together and fix it. Ms. Dunn has set you up with her best tutor.” Coach Vaughn hands me the folder and I let myself grow familiar with its weight. It feels like I’m holding my future in my hands, and one wrong step could undo everything that I’ve worked for.

Coach Vaughn pats me on the shoulder. It’s different from before, almost understanding of my situation. “You know how important it is to have a backup plan. It doesn’t hurt to get an education while you’re here on a full ride.” He squeezes my shoulder and I look up into those beady eyes of his. I manage to give him a smile as he shows me out of his office. “We’re counting on you to get this under control and get back on the field. We need you out there.”

“Yes, sir. What’s the tutor’s name?”

Coach Vaughn digs into his pocket and pulls out a small slip of paper. He unscrambles it and squints his eyes. “Casey Boone. And you’re supposed to be meeting her bright and early at the library tomorrow.” He gives me a final pat before I’m outside in the locker room.

Casey Boone.

The name doesn’t ring a bell but I like the way that it rolls off my tongue. All I know is that I feel bad for her, because she’s not going to know what hits her tomorrow.

* * *

“David? Earth to David?” Dwayne yells into my ear and shoves me to the side, almost spilling the drink in my hand.

“What?” I yell back and suck the drops of alcohol that are on my wrist. Asshole almost made me waste perfectly good whiskey. It takes a couple blinks for me to concentrate. Loud music and colorful lights bounce off the wall and onto my face, blocking my senses. And that’s not all.

Ever since I got back from my meeting with Coach, I haven’t been able to concentrate on anything. Everyone is excited about our upcoming game and I’m just left there nodding along with their words. I can’t bring myself to tell them that I’m suspended. I don’t want to deal with the questions that come afterwards.

Dwayne turns to me and brings a hand in front of him, before pointing to his side. I follow his finger to two blonde sorority girls eyeing me from across the bar. When they see me looking at them, they throw me a smile. One of them even pushes her arms together, almost forcing her huge breasts to pop out of her shirt. Normally, I would be all over that, but not tonight. I wave back meekly.

“These two ladies would like to show us their rooms.” He smiles at them and tries to pull me toward him, but I don’t budge. “Wouldn’t you like to join us?” he says through gritted teeth, giving me another tug.

“Nah, I’m good.” I easily pull away from his hand and down my shot of whiskey. I shake my head as the hot liquid burns the back of my throat and I let out a burp. I grab the thick brown bottle and pour myself another generous shot. The girls frown and get out of their seats while Dwayne looks at me like he can’t believe what I’m saying.

“Excuse us for one minute, ladies.” He holds out a finger in front of them and his hand grabs my shoulder. He pulls me off the chair, almost making me drop my shot glass and bottle of whiskey. He takes me out of the room and next to the entrance stairs, out of sight of the two bimbos. “Dude, what’s your problem? I’ve been talking these girls up all night for us. This is a sure thing. Just come upstairs and get laid. Easy peasy.”

I take another swig and my body shakes as the liquor runs down my throat. “No can do,” I blurt out. “The trooper is in no condition to run at full power tonight. I’ve had a little too much of the good stuff.” I hold out the bottle in front of him and shake it from side to side. “Want to take a shot with me?”

Dwayne stares at me and cocks his upper lip. “What the hell’s wrong with you? It’s easy pussy.” He shoves his hand into my shoulder and I bang against the wall behind me. He walks back to the bar and tries to chat the two blonde bimbos up.

He manages to do a decent job of it. He throws his hands around them and takes them away from the bar, conveniently walking around me. One of the girls points at me and I wave back. Dwayne whispers into her ear and there’s a look of disappointment on her face.

I sit down at the bottom step of the stairs and proceed to take shot after shot. I lose count after the fifth. Or was it the seventh? The only thing that breaks me out of my drunken stupor is the old grandfather clock that starts to ring. I count along with the cuckoo bird that pops out at every chime.

“One! Two! Three! Four!” I yell.

Shit! It’s nearly four in the morning!

I lean against the wall and throw my weight on it as I bring myself up. I leave the bottle and shot glass at the bottom of the stairs for anyone else who wants to continue. I count every step to the top floor; it’s the only way that I can make sure that I don’t pass out on the stairs. The door to my bedroom slams against the wall and I fall face forward onto the bed.

By the time I close my eyes, everything is spinning. There’s only one thing on my mind. And her name is Casey Boone.