I grip the steering wheel and hit the gas. My eyes glance at the clock on the dashboard and I curse under my breath. Casey is probably waiting for me in front of the library, wondering where the hell I am. I left my dorm room so fast that I forgot to call or text her. I’m sure she’ll understand.

I park in the front and turn on my blinkers, not even shutting the door to the driver side. There’s no time. I need to make sure that he’s all right. The nurse who called me didn’t give me any information.

A tall security guard runs from his desk toward me, pointing at the car. “You can’t park there.” I shrug to him and run up the stairs.

“I’ll be back in less than ten minutes,” I shout and double time to the third floor. My sneakers squeak on the tile floor as the smell of disinfectant takes over. The numbers speed past me until I get to his room. “Coach?” I push the door open and Casper raises his head in the corner.

Coach Vaughn is in his bed, his right leg raised up the side by some medical apparatus. Bruises cover his face and there’s a large gash on his right temple. I can feel the tears coming before I can stop them. Lucky for me, he’s asleep. I don’t need him seeing me like this.

“Mr. Cooper?” A doctor walks in and grabs Coach’s chart from his bedside. “I’m Doctor Peters. The head nurse told me that you were on your way here.” He nods to himself, signs a sheet, and sets the chart back by the table.

“Wh-what happened to him?”

I got the call from the hospital when I just finished my exam and was heading back to my dorm room. I had time to kill before I needed to meet Casey at the library. When the nurse started talking and told me that Coach Vaughn was in an accident, I sort of just zoned out. I hung up the phone and made it here as fast as I could.

Dr. Peters walks over to Casper who’s sitting in a chair. He runs his hand through Casper’s hair and catches his ear. “From what I’ve been told, Mr. Vaughn was walking Casper when a cat got his attention. Casper pulled hard and the leash broke. Mr. Vaughn ran after Casper and didn’t notice that he walked into oncoming traffic.”

“Thanks for making me look like an idiot, Doc.” Coach Vaughn coughs and sits up in his bed. He winces and grabs at his side before righting himself. “But I can’t try to spin it any other way,” he laughs before wincing and grabbing at his ribs.

“You’re going to have to take it easy for a couple weeks.” Dr. Peters puts his hand on Coach’s shoulder before he walks toward the door. “I’ll give you guys some time to talk.” He shuts the door behind him before I turn back to Coach.

“You need to get back to the game.” Coach looks behind me. “It starts in less than an hour. You need to be there to take my place. To guide them through. They won’t be able to win with both of us here.” Coach leans forward and starts to wheeze.

I get up by his side and pat on his back. “Are you sure? Do you want me to get a nurse?”

He waves his hand. “There’s no need for that. I’m just a little beat up right now, but I’ve taken worse hits on the field. Now, go. Go and get a win for us.” He pushes me away from his bed and toward the door.

“But…”

“No buts, David. Go. There counting on you. I’m counting on you.”

I nod and I’m out the door, running back to my car that hopefully isn’t towed by now.

* * *

I make it to the game ten minutes before it starts. I managed to call Casey on my way here and let her know what happened. She, of course, was understanding of everything and will be at the game to cheer me on.

I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect girlfriend.

I run down the tunnel toward the opening, where the team is standing. They’ve been waiting for the Coach and me. Dwayne is the first to break through the ranks.

“Where the hell have you been? And where is Coach?” He looks over my shoulder and back at me. I just shake my head.

“Coach can’t make it. He’s in the hospital.”

“He’s what?” Dwayne yells and the rest of the team huddles around me. “Is he ok? What the hell happened, David?”

“He got into a minor accident with a car.” I break into a smile. “The car lost. He wants me to lead the team tonight while he’s resting. And I need you guys to bring him a win tonight. Something to cheer him up. Does that sound like a plan?”

Everyone’s nodding their head. This is our last moment to make a name for ourselves. A moment for me to go out there and show that recruiter that I can be a pro. That I can lead a team and be one of the best quarterbacks to ever play.

“Coach Vaughn on three.” I raise my hand and they reach out. The team starts to jump around, keeping their bodies warm, and someone starts to hum. “We got this. Let’s make Coach proud. One. Two. Three. Coach Vaughn.” Our roar fills the tunnel of the stadium and we rush onto the field. The marching band starts to play and lead us in. The noise from the crowd is ear-shattering and we head to the middle of the field.

It’s now or never.

I scour the bleachers for Casey. There’s an empty spot where she should be. I fight the bad feeling that’s gnawing at the back of my mind. I need to lead my team. They need me to be strong for them.

And in the blink of any eye, it’s half time. I can barely remember most of the game. Everything is flashing lights, cheering crowd, and being knocked down to the ground. I look up at the scoreboard.

We’re only three points behind. We just need a touchdown and we’ll be back in this.

And that’s when her voice breaks through the roar of the crowd.

“David! David!” Casey is leaning over the bleachers, throwing her hands in the air to catch my attention. I run over and she throws her hands around me, giving me a quick kiss on the lips. “You can do this. I believe in you. I always did.”

My heart beats a little faster and I nod.

I can do this. A fire starts to burn inside of me and I hustle back to my team.

“Everyone huddle up.” They circle me and I push my hand into the air. “We’re only three points down. We’ve come back from much worse. Let’s go out there and make Coach proud.”

“Damn straight,” Dwayne yells and throws his head back to cheer. “This ain’t nothing, baby. We got this.” He throws his head up next to mine.

“Coach on three. One. Two. Three. Coach!” The team roars, almost stunning the crowd with our ferocity. We rush to the middle of the field and get in formation.

The last two quarters are nothing but a bloodbath. We trade points back and forth with the other time. They take the lead by a couple points. And then we get the ball back and score.

It’s not until the last two minutes of the game when I run the clock and send a throw down field to Dwayne. Dwayne leaps into the air and catches it over his opponent before dropping into the end zone. And that’s when all hell breaks loose.

The marching band starts to play our school song. Students, teachers, and alumni jump over the bleachers and charge the field. I fall to the ground, overcome with relief and happiness. Until a hand pulls on my shoulder pads.

“Lester Fleming,” the man quickly introduces himself as a pack of students rush toward me. “Professional league recruiter. Expect a call from me in the next couple days.” The man winks at me before melding into the crowd.

My mouth drops. Just like that, my future is set in stone. I get a chance to play in the pros. A chance to be one of the best. A chance to do what most dream about.

And yet, it matters so little to me. So little compared to the person who’s breaking through the crowd. So little compared to the girl who holds my heart.

“Casey.” I throw my hands around her and hug her tight. Even through my uniform, I can feel the beat of her heart. Those blue eyes look up at me and I’m lost just, like the first time she bumped into me. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” She gives me a peck on the lips before she pulls away. “And I have a surprise for you.”

I’m confused. I don’t know if my heart can take any more surprises today. With Coach’s accident, barely winning the most important game of my life, and Lester Fleming talking to me, I don’t know how much more I can take.

“I know the results for your last final.” She looks coyly at me.

“And? You can’t keep me waiting like this. Did I pass or not?”

“You not only passed. You got a 94.” She throws herself at me and I catch her petite body in my arms. She kisses my cheeks and every part of my face. “I’m so proud of you, David. I knew that you could do it.”

And in this moment, I know that I want to spend the rest of my life with Casey Boone. A girl like her only comes into a guy’s life once. She’s everything that I could possibly want and more.

And there’s no way that I am ever letting her go.

Not now. Not ever.