Page 118 of The Way the Heart Breaks: Jade’s Story

I catch the ball, find the opening, and hit it. Nobody catches me. I cross the goal line and turn toward the stands and throw up a J.

Next play, the Tigers throw the ball. Bad decision. I read it before it leaves the quarterback's hand. I break. Intercept it. And I'm running.

The crowd gets louder with every yard. Twenty. Fifteen. Ten.

I'm finally dragged down near the twenty, and I get up laughing as the whole damn stadium is on its feet.

We line up, and I look across the field.

Alex is ready. Links gets the snap and hands it off. Alex hits the hole. Two defenders close in. He drives through them and keeps going. He gets it to the one-yard line. The place explodes.

“That’s what I’m talking about!” I yell as we line up.

I catch Ryan tossing his thumb over his shoulder toward us, telling Alex, “There’s your backup tonight.”

Alex glances back, “You make stupid eyes at my cousin like that, I’ll tie you to a tractor and drive it in the pond.”

“What if she makes them at me?” I ask as I run to position.

The game ends with a double win. The game, and an invite.

* * *

Standing on the field, surrounded by the team, watching the Blue Valley community rush the field, it’s almost spiritual. They’re celebrating a win. But it’s not our win; it’s theirs, the Ross family, the Brooks family, a community that showed up in a way Coach Saville told us to expect, but not to let it go to our heads.

Jade’s not in the stands, but I do see her at the sidelines with a woman and her father. She’s hugging him, and then the woman. I see Ryan making his way toward them, and he hugs the woman and shakes hands with Jade’s father.

I lose sight of her for a moment when a bunch of middle schoolers and their dads surround me. I give high fives and thank them for the congrats.

I see my parents just off the field waiting for me to go to them, and as much as I really don’t want to, I do anyway.

Dad hugs me. “You played one heck of a game, Thomas.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

Mom stands expectant, and I do what a good son does, one who doesn’t want her to pitch a fit when I ‘ask’ to stay with the team tonight.

“Good way to start your senior season,” she states. It’s backhanded as fuck. She wants to say my last season, but too many people might hear, and she’d look like a bitch, which she is.

“Thanks.” I step back from the cold hug and look at Dad. “Bunch of the guys are camping out tonight.”

“Of course. You boys deserve a night,” he says.

At the same time, Mom asks, “Do you mean staying at Lucas’s house?”

“Nope, I mean camping out,” I say, forcing myself to keep my tone even.

“Are you coming home to pack a bag?” she asks.

“Got everything I need in my duffle bag,” I lie.

“We’ll see you in the morning for church?” she asks.

“Tomorrow is Sunday.” I smile, but don’t give a yes or no.

“Sounds good. Have fun tonight,” Dad says and thankfully starts walking away, and since he’s always holding her hand, she really has no choice but to go.

I make my way back on the field to the team before she decides to come back and insist I come home first or some shit.