Chapter 51
When Nick arrived at his locker on the morning of their last football game, he found Emily there.
“Hi!” He was excited to see her, although he felt a little unsettled about the game tonight.
She gave him a tentative smile. “I wanted to wish you good luck tonight.”
Even though they had broken up, Em was supportive.
“Thanks, I appreciate it!” He took a step toward her to give her a hug, but she froze.
She started to say something but clamped her mouth shut as Cat came down the hall. Emily whirled around and hurried away.
“Did I spoil anything?” Cat said with a laugh.
Yes, he thought, but he answered, “No, she was just wishing me luck.”
Cat had a pink slip of paper in her hand and fluttered it as she talked. “My checkout instructions.”
“You’re really leaving?” Nick’s breath seemed suspended in his throat.
She shrugged her right shoulder. “I’m used to it. We’ve lived in four different places in Oregon.” She began taking books from her locker.
“Will you keep in touch?” he asked, suddenly worried about her leaving when they had the reincarnation thing hanging over them.
“We don’t go for another week, but I need to get packed.” She touched his arm. “I’ll see you at the game.”
He swallowed. “It’s been a hell of a year so far.”
She laughed. “Sorry for wrecking your life.”
Nick grimaced as he considered her words. He certainly wasn’t the same person he was at the beginning of the year.
****
Later, Nick looked over the football field where frost had crystallized on the grass, giving it a twinkly, enchanted look. His eyes teared at the brightness.
Coach patted his arm. “You ready to show them what you’ve got?”
“Ready!” he said with false gusto and rubbed his hands for warmth. His whole body shook with nerves and the chill bite of the wind and Michigan winter. His eyes scanned the bleachers for an unfamiliar face. Would he know who the Michigan scout was? The man with the hat? A woman looking at her telephone? Who could they be? Nick stood as straight as he could and moved his arms, testing the wrapping on his bruised and battered chest.
He certainly needed help to pull this off tonight. He didn’t usually pray before a game, but it was worth a shot. “Dear Lord…Help me. I need your guidance tonight…” He inhaled, but it was painful to breathe deeply. The team was running sprints to stay warm on the side of the field. He should be running too, but the cold air and his sore ribs made running hard, and he decided to keep his energy for the game and remained at the sidelines, stomping his feet.
Their opponents were running similar exercises—the green-and-white Laketon Lancers and the red-and-silver Monroe Nighthawks. Their uniforms made a swirl of Christmas colors as they ran and threw and blocked on the frost-stiffened grass field. Even though it wasn’t Thanksgiving yet, the weather made it seem like December.
Gary whistled and poked him and said, “Dude! Glad you’re able to play.”
“That makes two of us.” He rubbed his hands over his chest and felt the reassuring strips of tape binding his ribs.
Gary gave him one final clap on the back, jarring his ribs and making him wince inwardly. How the hell was he to play this way? He needed to grab the ball early and run like hell.
“You ready?” Coach asked.
Nick jumped. “I won’t disappoint you!” He pushed all the school drama away and concentrated on football.
“Focus. Anticipate. I know you can do it,” were Coach’s parting words.
Nick joined the team. The buzzer sounded. The ball was thrown to him, and he took off. It was a miracle he wasn’t tackled, he seemed to run with the wind, his lungs burning with the cold air and adrenaline coursing through his veins. He cradled the ball, his legs moving faster and faster. He thought only of the goalposts, coming toward him in a blur.
He was almost there! He could see the line. A ton of bricks fell on him before he crossed the goal line though. He struggled to get away, but the weight was in his chest. On hands and knees, he crawled toward the line until his vision narrowed, and he tumbled into a black hole.