AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He’s always been there for me.
“Where to?” I ask.
Connor shrugs. “Anywhere.”
I start the car. My heart skipping beats, I drive out of our neighborhood, never quite knowing which way we’ll go until I have made the turn. When we reach the city, Connor rolls his window down. Warm late-summer night air floods the car, wind tickling my nostrils. I follow his lead, rolling my window down and tapping the button to open the sunroof as well.
When I glance at him, I notice his smile. Light and fleeting, but enough to make my foot tremble against the pedal. I keep my focus on the road, our silence overtaking us. It’s as comfortable a silence as one could have with a boy you used to share crayons with.
Eventually, after nearly an hour of turns and roundabouts, we end up at school.
Not Chicago North University.
“Chicago North High,” Connor says as I park in the empty student lot.
“Not sure why,” I say. “Just kind of… auto-piloted here.”
He chuckles. “Five days a week for four years. Hard habit to break.”
“No kidding.” I look at him beside me, his smile long gone now. “Connor, are you okay?”
He blinks his youthful eyes, green irises stained golden beneath the orange street lamp. “Chicago North hired my dad,” he says. “The university, not this place.”
“For what?” I ask.
“He’s the new head coach of the Bearhawks.”
I tilt forward. “Seriously?”
“He told me tonight.”
“What happened to Coach Thomas?”
“Some personal matter that would reflect poorly on the school. They obviously forced him out because of it.”
I scoff. “Usually, that means he slept with a student or something.”
“Yeah, well, whatever it is, it’s big enough for them to bring in a celebrity coach to distract from it.” He exhales hard through his nose, his teeth locked in frustration. “Why’d it have to be Junior Morgan?”
I pause, thinking through his pain. “Now if you’re chosen as QB, everyone will think it’s because of him,” I say.
“Exactly.” He pivots in his seat to face me. “See, I knew you’d get it.”
“Oh, I do.”
“Everyone else will think I’m overreacting. I should just take the win, but if I make starter because of him, I don’t see that as a win.”
“Because you didn’t earn it by yourself.”
“Yes.”
“You want to be quarterback because you’re the best player for the job, not because of the name on your jersey.”
“Yes! Thank you!”
I bite my cheek. “But…”
Connor pauses. “What?”
