Page 32 of Away Game

West

I watchedas Fin pulled his arm back, launched the ball down the field, and it soared through the air. My feet kept moving as I made my way to the twenty-yard line, where I turned and caught the ball firmly in my grasp. Without looking back, I ran and dodged Western U’s defense. They’d been kicking our ass all day, but now was my chance to get our team ahead.

Number ninety-seven clipped my shoulder, causing my body to spin to the side, but I righted myself and kept running. Running as fast as my body could take me was the only thing on my mind—that and scoring a touchdown to start the second half off right.

The moment I crossed over into the end zone, I threw my hands up in the air to celebrate, but everyone else was quiet. My teammates were running in the opposite direction instead of towards me to celebrate the touchdown with me. It was then I noticed a hush had come over the entire stadium. Looking up into the stand, I saw them looking downfield with worried eyes and hands clasped to their chests.

Slowly, I started jogging in the direction where all the players were gathered. I wasn’t sure who had been hurt, but I had a feeling it was either one of our guys, or it was bad. Really bad. When I was halfway there, the crowd parted, and I saw white and teal colors staring back at me with number seven on his arm and chest. Fuck, it was Fin.

He was clutching his right arm with his left hand while lying on a stretcher. His face was in a pained scowl as the EMTs slowly placed him on their golf cart and sped off down into the tunnels.

My touchdown didn’t feel so great after that. The whole team’s morale was down as we stared after where Fin had been taken while our second-string quarterback started to warm up on the sidelines. It seemed wrong, but I understood the game had to go on. We couldn’t end a game every time someone got hurt. Otherwise, we’d never finish.

Coach Kyle talked quietly with his two assistant coaches. Their heads were close together, and they discussed strategy. Every few seconds, he’d look up and back in the direction Fin left with a scowl on his face.

A strange unease grew in the pit of my stomach as each minute passed, and I waited for news. When no news came from the locker room, I knew it was bad. Coach clapped me on the shoulder and told me to get my ass out on the field. I closed my eyes and tried to center myself. We needed to win, or we’d let Fin down.

For the rest of the second half, we didn’t play to our true potential, but we managed to win with a field goal in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter. There wasn’t any cheering when we left the field. Instead, we all hung our heads with our eyes continuously going to Coach for when he’d update us on how our starting quarterback was doing.

Filing into the locker room, I sat down next to Oz, who couldn’t stop the bounce of his knee as he watched every move by our coaches. Finally, after everyone was seated and quiet, Coach looked around the room once and then spoke.

“I know you’re all anxious to know about Huntington’s status, so I’ll tell you what I know, which isn’t much. After that, it will be up to Huntington to fill you in on what he wants you to know.” He looked down at his shoes, took a deep breath, and then slowly lifted his head. “The medics took Huntington to the hospital where he is currently getting checked out by a team of their top doctors. It isn’t good, gentlemen. Not knowing the severity of his injury, I can’t say if or when he’ll be back to playing. That means we’re going to be practicing extra hard from now until the end of the season or when Huntington comes back to get Conley up to speed. That being said, I’m giving you all tomorrow off, but I want to see you bright and early Sunday morning to watch films. Do you get me?”

“Yes, Coach,” we all chanted as one.

“Good, now get cleaned up and get the hell out of here. I’m headed to the hospital to check on our quarterback.”

From the corner of my eye, I saw Conley sag against his locker. Hopefully, he could take the pressure of taking over Fin’s role.

“Coach,” Oz called out as he made his way over to him. They talked in hushed whispers for only a moment before Coach clapped Oz on the back and walked out.

“What’d he say?” Ford asked as he jerked his pads over his head.

“He said he was going to call Fin’s parents on his way, and if we wanted to go, we could, but we needed to represent the school while we’re there.”

Ridley rolled his eyes. “What does he think we’re going to do? Run up and down the hallways shouting or some shit?”

“No clue, but if you want to come, hurry up and get dressed because I want to be there when he finds out the news.” Oz pulled a blue t-shirt over his head and started to shove his tennis shoes on.

“I’m coming, but I doubt they’ll let you back there with him,” Ford said while walking backward toward the showers. “Give me five minutes, and then I’ll be ready.”

Fuck. I wanted to go and be there for Fin, but I wasn’t sure if I’d be welcomed or not. Still, I wanted him to know I was there to support him.

Oz dumped his uniform in the laundry and was walking by when I stopped him with a hand to his arm. His blue eyes were worried as he looked down at me.

Tapping my fingers on my leg, I worked up the courage to speak. “Do you mind if I tag along?”

Oz’s brows rose for only a second before he looked me over and shrugged. “Sure, if you’re ready to go when we leave. Fin’s going to need all the support he can get,” he muttered the last part, and I wasn’t sure if I was meant to hear it.

I understood being disappointed about not being able to play, but I had a feeling there was more to Oz’s statement. I wished I knew Fin better, but what little I did know was an enigma.

The only times I’d seen Fin since our kiss in his room was in the classes we shared and practice. The rest of the time, Fin stayed holed up in his room and didn’t hang out with anyone. Not even Oz.

Not wanting to be left behind, I quickly stripped out of my sweaty uniform, did a quick rinse off, and got dressed. I was tying my last shoestring as Ford and Ridley were leaving the locker room.

The second I stepped out of the locker room, a reporter was in my face.

How had I forgotten about them?

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