01. Chasing Nikki (18 page)

The girls
were rotating in sections, so that each row had the chance to stand in the very
front and be seen well and judged.  I waited for Nikki’s to come forward and do
their cheer. Reaching between my knees, I grabbed the giant white poster I’d
made, with the number ten written in big bold letters, and held it up.

Nikki
noticed immediately and flushed a bright red.  I chuckled, enjoying myself
completely.  Several students began looking and pointing at me, laughing.  I
didn’t care.  Every time Nikki came forward I flashed my sign, signaling my
opinion clearly to the adult panel that was there to judge the event as well.

Tryouts
lasted about thirty minutes, and at the end we had to check off a little sheet
of paper with our favorite picks for the squad.  I put three checks next to
Nikki’s name and a couple next to her friends, Tana and Brittney too.  They
were both really good.

We were
released a little early for lunch, so I went out to my truck to wait for
Nikki.  I left the door open, and turned the stereo on loudly while I watched
people piling into cars and heading out of the parking lot.

It wasn’t
long before I saw her hurrying across the lot to join me, and I jumped out of
the truck to meet her.

“You were
great, baby.” I smiled, pulling her against me.

“Really?  I
was actually kind of flustered because you kept flashing that dang sign.” She
wrapped her arms around me, hugging tightly, and I laughed.

“Sorry.  I
didn’t think about that.  I just wanted to make sure everyone there knew you were
the best.”

“I don’t
know about that, but I’m glad you thought so.” She popped up on her tiptoes to
give me a kiss on the cheek.  “Are you ready to go eat?”

“In a
minute.  Brett’s coming with us today, but he had to go turn in a late
assignment before he left so he didn’t get detention.”

“I wish I’d
have known that.  I would’ve invited Tana to go with us too.”

“Tana? Why?”

Nikki
smiled.  “You boys are so blind sometimes.  She’s had a crush on him for ages.”

I mulled
this new information over.  “That’s interesting.”

“How come?”

“Because
I’ve been trying to get Brett to go out with her so we could double date.  He
said she dumped him in sixth grade.  I got the impression the two were way
through with each other.”

Nikki shook
her head.  “Not Tana.  She’s always liked him.”

“Why’d she
break up with him then?”

“Her parents
made her.  They said she was too young to have a boyfriend.”

“Ah.  I
see.” I brushed some of her hair back from her face and kissed her lightly. 
“Here he comes now.  Maybe we should play matchmaker for them.  What do you
think?”

She smiled
widely and kissed me back.  “I think that sounds fabulous.”

By the time
early weight training for football rolled around after school that day, I’d
convinced Brett to ask Tana out.  He seemed skeptical that she still liked him
at all, but I told him Nikki was positive.  We’d set up a double date to the
movie for the weekend to help take the awkwardness of the first date off them.

The guys
from the team were all gathering around the weight stands now, picking what
they needed for the different equipment we were working on.  Machines were
clanking loudly by the time Coach Hardin walked in and blew his whistle to get
our attention.

“Welcome,
boys.  I’m happy to see so many of you here for this.  I know we’ll get several
more when the official practices start this summer, but I think this will help
all of you gain an edge.  I realize many of you are returning this year, but we
have some new people here as well.” He looked pointedly at me before moving
on.  “I’m excited to see what some of you have to offer.  We have several
positions that have been vacated by the graduating seniors.  We’ll be filling
and shifting things around until we can move like a well-oiled machine.  Just
because you played somewhere this year, doesn’t mean you’ll have that spot next
year.  The best man will get the starter positions and you will be placed where
we feel you’ll best serve the team.  So until things are decided, work hard and
run fast.”

“Thanks,
Coach,” someone said from the back of the room. The rest of us added our
agreements and returned to what we’d been doing.

Toward the
end of the session, the coach blew his whistle again.  “That’s good for today. 
I’d like to see the following guys before you leave today—Chad Thompson, Wes
Miller, Brett Dodson, and Chase Walker.”

I shot my
eyebrows up in surprise as I glanced over at Brett in question.

He
shrugged.  “I don’t know, but if I had to wager a guess, I’d say Coach is
planning on taking you for a test run.  Chad and Wes are running backs, and I’m
the center.”

Great,
I thought. 
An impromptu try out for quarterback.
  

I hadn’t
been prepared for this, and I tried to calm my sudden flutter of nerves,
reminding myself football was like breathing to me … second nature.

After all
the others had filtered from the room, my grandpa stepped through the door.

“Warren,
glad you could make it,” Coach Hardin said, extending his hand.

“Wouldn’t
miss it.” Grandpa sent a smile and a friendly wink my way.

Coach Hardin
turned to address those of us who remained.  “Boys, I’d like to take you down
to the field and have you run a few snaps and passing drills with Chase.  We’re
looking at him as a possible quarterback based on what Warren has told us about
him, and some of his past statistics.  I know it’s early for this, but we want
to know what all of our options are this year.  Is that okay with each of you?”

“Sure thing,
Coach,” Brett replied.  “I’ve been anxious to see if my buddy here is for real,
or just all talk.” He punched me playfully on the shoulder.

“Hey! Be
careful.  That’s my throwing arm.” I gave a fake wince as I rubbed it.  “You
probably just killed my whole tryout.”

Brett
laughed and rolled his eyes.  “Whatever dude.  I didn’t hit you that hard.”

“You kids go
on down to the field lockers, grab several footballs, and start warming up. 
Warren and I will join you in a couple of minutes.”

The four of
us took off, and I dug my cell from of my pocket to message Nikki.

“Grandpa’s
here. Coach wants to try me out with some field drills today.  Text when I’m
done.  Probably won’t get to see you tonight.”

She replied
right away.  “Okay.  No worries.  Good luck.”

“Thanks,” I
wrote back.  “Love you.” 

I hit send
before I realized what I’d just done.

Damn, damn,
damn.  I’d just told my girlfriend I loved her for the first time in a text.  I
hadn’t even meant to.  It had just seemed like the natural thing to say.

My phone
buzzed loudly in my hands, and I stared at the reply.

“Ummm … you
love me?”

“Chase? You
gonna stand in the middle of the street all day, or are you gonna come do this
with us?” Chad’s voice called, and I looked up to see the others way ahead of
me.

“I’m
coming.” I hurried to catch up as I sent a reply.

“Sorry. 
Busy.  Call you as soon as I’m able.”  I hit send and turned my phone off, feeling
bad for leaving her hanging like that.  I just hoped to high heaven I’d be able
to concentrate on what I needed to do now.

“Who were
you talking to?” Brett asked.

“Nikki. 
Just telling her I’d be late tonight.”

“Man, she’s
got you on the ol’ ball and chain already, doesn’t she?” Wes hooted.  “You
sound like some old married guy.”

I laughed it
off with a shrug.  “Fine by me.  I’m sure there could be a lot worse things in
the world than being married to someone like Nikki.”

Chad
groaned.  “Dude.  You got it bad, bro.”

“She’s great
girl,” I said a bit defensively.

“Back it
down, Chase.” Brett said, giving me an elbow.  “We’re all just razzing you a
bit.  We think it’s cool the two of you hooked up.  Don’t we guys?”

“Sure. 
She’s a hot chick.”

That only inflamed
me more.  I left and went out onto the field.  Once I hit the center, I dropped
all the balls I was carrying and flexed and stretched my arm.

Brett picked
one up.  “You ready?”

“Yep.  Fire
away.”

Brett moved
away a few yards and tossed me the ball.  I caught it and threw it back, all
the while increasing the distance between us until I was warm.

“Nice steady
pitches there, Chase,” Coach Hardin said as he and my grandpa arrived.  “Let’s
see how you do with a moving target, shall we?  Brett, come hike for us.”

The three
boys lined up, and I took my place back behind Brett several feet and called
the snap.  I caught it easily and watched as Chad and Wes took off running
different routes.

“To Wes,”
Coach called out, and I bombed it the long distance down the field.

Wes turned
with perfect timing and caught the ball easily.

“Good job. 
Run it again.”

We set up
once more, but this time coach directed me to throw to Chad who was farther
downfield.  I was completely locked in, easily judging the speed of my future
teammate, and I threw the ball.

Chad reached
out and caught it, turning to run toward the end zone.

Coach blew
the whistle.  “Do you feel comfortable enough to try out receiving too?” he
asked.

I nodded.

“Okay. 
Let’s try that now.”

This time
Wes took the snap, and I ran the route.  He threw his pass, which was slightly
wobbly, but accurate.  It was a little high, but I was still able to jump up
and catch it.

“Do it
again, but this time, Chad you defend, and try to cause pass interference.”

We took off
once more, and Chad ran good defense, managing to tip the pass as it came, and
causing the ball to change course.  I had to dive across the grass to get it,
but still managed to do so before it hit the ground.

Coach called
us back again.  “Great grab, Chase.  Now I want you to quarterback again and
throw to Wes.  Chad I want you to play defense and try to get him.  Brett
you’re the lineman defending your quarterback.”

Brett hiked
the ball to me, and I rolled back.  Chad clashed with him, while he tried to
break by to get to me.  I waited for Wes to hit his position and threw the ball
right before Chad reached me, wrapping me up and swinging me around.

The ball hit
Wes perfectly, and he turned to run toward the end zone.

Coach blew
his whistle again and brought us together.  “Thanks for helping me out boys.  I
think I’ve seen enough for today.  Gather these things up and put them away. 
Then you can take off.”

“That was a
blast,” Brett said as we picked up the scattered footballs.  “I can’t wait for
the season to start again.”

I felt the
same excitement coursing through me.  I’d loved playing football from the time
I was in peewee leagues as a kid.  I liked to play all sports, but football was
my thing.  I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed it lately.

My thoughts
drifted to images of my dad standing on all those sidelines cheering for me,
and I felt a heaviness settle over my heart. 

“You okay?
You seem kind of sad for a guy who just impressed the head coach.” Brett
studied me with a worried look.

“I’m alright,”
I said with a sigh.  “Just thinking it’s gonna be weird to not have my dad here
with me this year.  He used to help coach my teams as a volunteer.  I’m always
used to seeing him there, giving me instructions and pep talks when I needed
it.”

Brett didn’t
say anything for a moment, casting his gaze around the field before speaking. 
“That guy will be on the sidelines for you now, if you let him.” He pointed to
my grandpa.  “He’s done nothing but sing your praises.  I’ll be there with you
too, and so will Nikki.  I know we won’t take the spot of your dad, but you
have friends if you want them.”

He shuffled
some of the balls he was carrying and clapped me on the shoulder before he
continued on toward the field house.

I stood
there staring after him, letting the words he’d spoken sink in.  He was right. 
No one could replace my dad, but there were others waiting in the wings for me,
if I’d let them in.  I didn’t have to be alone if I didn’t want to be.  I’d
withdrawn from everyone to nurse my hurts by myself.  Nikki had shown me it
didn’t have to be that way.  Could I start trusting other people too?

“Brett. 
Wait up.” I hurried to catch up with him.  “Wanna come to dinner at my house
tonight?  Grandma’s making steak and potatoes.”

“Steak?”
Chad’s head popped up.  “Am I invited?”

“Sure.” I
grinned.  “You all can come.  Just let me ask my grandma and make sure this is
okay with her.  If not, we’ll go pick up some burgers for everyone on the way.”

I called
home, and she actually sounded excited to have the guys over, insisting there
was plenty for everyone.  I thanked her for the impromptu dinner party and hung
up.

“She says
come on over.”

“Sweet.  Let
me call my mom,” Wes said, digging out his phone.

“Okay.  I’ll
go tell my grandpa what the plan is.” 

I left the
locker room and headed to where he was still visiting with Coach Hardin on the
field.

“Good job
today, Chase,” Coach said as I approached.  “I’m very excited to have you on
the team.  I think you’ll be a great addition.”

“Thanks, and
for giving me the opportunity to try out as your quarterback too.  I’ll do my
best though, wherever you want to put me.  I just want to play.”

Coach looked
me over for a second before he turned to my grandpa.  “Great kid you got here,
Warren.  Thanks again for coming out.” He patted me on the shoulder as he
walked past.  “See you tomorrow.”

“Goodnight,
Jeff,” Grandpa said before glancing at me, a grin spreading across his face. 
“He’s impressed.  You did well.”