Page 86 of Racking Up Penalties
“You think you’re something special, don’t you?” he sneers, not even trying to keep his voice down.
“Special? No, man” – I shrug, keeping my voice level – “just part of the team.” It’s true; I want to be one of the guys, not above them.
“Right,” he scoffs. “Just remember, hotshot, I’m watching you.”
He turns on his heel and strides away. I watch him go, feeling the weight of his resentment.
“Man, forget that guy,” one of the linemen mutters from beside me, clapping a hand on my shoulder. He’s right. I shake off the last remnants of Tyler’s hostility, focusing instead on the supportive faces around me and nod.
I’m here for Tessa. Her image in my mind is a bright spot, undimmed by the likes of Tyler Brown.
Laughter erupts from a few lockers down, and I’m grateful, even if it’s more at Tyler’s expense than I’d like. I don’t enjoy this, the tension that keeps winding tighter every time he opens his mouth. I wish he could see that I’m here for the same reason he is—to win games, to make our mark, to be part of something bigger than ourselves.
Exhaling slowly, I finish packing up and sling my bag over my shoulder. My gaze drifts across the rows of lockers, taking in the faces of my teammates, and I wonder what it’ll take for Tyler to let go of whatever grudge he’s holding onto. What would it be like if he could just see me as a fellow player, someone who loves this game as much as he does?
“Hey, Tristan,” someone calls out, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Great game today, huh?”
“Definitely,” I reply, mustering a smile. We’re a team, after all, even if one of us hasn’t quite realized it yet. I hold onto that belief. This is where I’m supposed to be—where I want to be.
“See you tonight at the bar, man,” another teammate says as I head towards the exit.
“Tonight,” I echo, feeling the resilience take root within me. Tyler or no Tyler, I’m here to stay. And I’ll keep showing up, day after day, proving that I belong.
I walk across campus to meet Tessa at the coffee shop she loves after the game. I’m looking forward to some time with her before we go out and celebrate tonight but unable to shake the stain Tyler has left on me.
The familiar scents of roasted beans and baked pastries mix with the murmur of conversations around us as I take a seat.
Tessa slides a cup across to me that’s steaming hot and perfect.
“Tristan?” Tessa’s voice pulls me in, her hazel eyes searching mine with confusion. “You look upset but you just won.”
I set the cup down, warmth spreading through my fingers. “Sorry, Tess,” I start, shaking off the lingering shadow of the locker room. “Just had a rough time with Tyler again today. He’s not letting up, you know?”
Her face softens, and she reaches across the table to give my hand a reassuring squeeze. “What happened this time?” she asks, her voice a gentle nudge urging me to open up.
“Same old stuff, really.” I run a hand through my hair, trying to shake off the frustration. “He’s got this way of getting under my skin, making these comments… It’s like he’s on a mission to remind me that I don’t belong there.”
“Tristan, you’re an amazing player,” Tessa insists, her words carrying the weight of her belief in me. “Don’t let him get to you.”
I manage a half-smile, grateful for her support. It’s moments like this that make everything else bearable. Tessa, with her fiery red hair cascading down her shoulders and her vibrant spirit, has this uncanny ability to make the chaos fade into the background.
“Thanks, Tess.” I take another sip of coffee, the bitterness somehow comforting. “It’s just annoying, you know? I want to be part of the team, not feel like the odd one out.”
Tessa’s expression shifts, clouded by something I can’t quite place. She withdraws her hand, wrapping both of hers around her own mug. “I feel like this is partly my fault,” she says, her gaze dropping.
“Hey, no.” I lean forward, intent on dispelling her doubts. “None of this is on you.”
“But it is, Tristan. You transferred here for me…” Her voice trails off, and she bites her lip, a clear sign of her inner turmoil. “You already had a place where you belong. On your old team..”
I reach out, lifting her chin so she has to meet my eyes. “Tessa, listen to me. You are not responsible for Tyler’s issues.” The earnestness in my voice surprises even me. “And even if that was true, it wouldn’t change a thing. Being here, with you, makes all the crap worth it.”
“Does it really?” She searches my face, looking for the truth behind my words.
“Absolutely,” I affirm without hesitation. “In the grand scheme of things, Tyler is just a blip. An annoying one, sure, but still just a blip.”
“Okay.” A small smile tugs at the corners of her mouth, a hint of relief lighting up her eyes. “Just promise me you’ll tell me if it gets too bad.”
“Promise,” I reply. “You know, every team has its ups and downs,” I say, breaking the silence that had settled over us like an unwelcome winter chill. “Tyler is just… one of those downs. But that’s just how it is—navigating through personalities and egos. It’s part of the game, part of life.”
