Gladiators of the Gridiron

Ty POV

All throughout the day, I couldn’t stop my hand from shaking, nor could I keep my mind from thinking about tonight. I might as well have just stayed at home with how little attention I paid at school that day, too focused on the game that would be played that night.

Even when I got back home my hand didn’t stop shaking. I lay there in my bed, eyes closed as I listened to my rapidly-pounding heart and held my hand to my chest. Nothing would calm me down, not until I stepped onto the field and the game got underway, only then would I relax, back in my element.

Aside from Megan, no one else knew what was happening that night. No one else would’ve cared, they were never bothered about my middle school games, so why would these be any different to them.

I didn’t care either, even if Megan didn’t show up, it made no difference. I wasn’t playing for anyone else. If there were 100,000 people watching me or no one at all, nothing changed.

My phone rang loudly, shaking against my pillow as an alarm went off. It was time to get ready and go. I sat up and shut off the alarm. I got out of bed and started to pack my things into my bag.

Megan was waiting for me when I stepped out into the hall. I hesitated for a moment before moving past her carefully.

‘I’m going out, I’ll be back later tonight,’ I quietly said.

‘Good luck… uhm.’ She paused. I stopped and turned my head back to look at her. She was looking at the ground before she moved closer and wrapped her arms around me and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

‘Do you want me to come cheer you on?’

‘...I don’t care. Do what you want, the game’s at seven. You know where the school is?’

She nodded.

‘Well, yeah. Come if you want.’ I only half hugged her back before moving away and heading for the door. She followed me all the way as we slipped away from the chaos.

The twins were causing a ruckus, Victoria, our elder sister, was arguing with our parents to be given permission to go out tonight, not like she’d listen if she didn’t get it.

Both our mother and father were home for once, so no one even noticed as I stepped out of the front door. Megan waved me off as I hopped onto the bike and sped off towards the school, thankfully it was a home game today.

***

I had gotten there early, excessively so, but it was better than just laying there and waiting at home. Even on the field alone I felt much more at ease; my hand stopped shaking.

Why was I so worried to begin with? I’m going to win, it’s inevitable.

Once again the trio of Coach Long, Bella, and Luke were the first to show up after me. They were surprised to find me there, but with their arrival it was like the floodgates had opened as officials and others started pouring onto the field as well to make sure things were in order before the game.

I went over to my coaches and followed them towards the locker room.

‘Early and eager, huh, Samuels?’ Coach Long laughed.

‘Did you even go home?’ Bella asked. I ignored her as Coach Long got the door unlocked.

‘You know, I’m sure if you asked the coach, he wouldn’t mind picking you up as well,’ Luke said.

‘I’m fine,’ I said sharply. I didn’t need their help like that. I looked at Luke. It made sense that he always came with them, it’s not like I expected him to be able to drive himself around.

When Coach Long got the door unlocked, he held it open for us all. I let the others go in first before I stepped through, quietly thanking him. I looked around, and my hand started shaking again.

The room still felt cramped, even without any of my teammates here. The facilities were old, but they had what we needed, I didn’t mind that they weren’t over-the-top flashy for no reason.

I went over to my locker and threw my bag into it, sitting on the bench in front of it and squeezing at my hand. It was strange to be in a mostly empty and quiet locker room.

‘Hey. We’ve got your proper uniform over here, come get your jersey and grab a helmet,’ Bella said. I looked over and nodded. I stood up and went over to the table where she’d laid out the uniforms and a row of helmets.

I picked up my number “21” jersey and held it up in the light. It was a simple design, but that’s all it needed to be. It was solid black all around, with the collar and the end of the sleeves being yellow. The numbers were large and bold, filled with yellow as well and had a red outline. I checked the back of the jersey but maybe it was wishful thinking to expect my name to be there.

When I’m in college, I thought. Aside from that, it was perfect. I draped it over my shoulder as I looked over the helmets. They were black as well, with red double stripes down the middle from front to back, and the team's logo on the sides.

I picked one up that had a dark visor lodged in the facemask. I thought about it, before putting it down. That’s not for me. I picked up a regular helmet and moved back to my locker.

‘Do you have gloves?’ Bella asked me.

I looked back and shook my head. ‘Not my style, I don’t need them.’ She raised a brow but shrugged and left it alone.

Eventually, more of the team started to show up. They all looked so relaxed, pumping music and joking around with each other as we got ready. Am I the only one stressing? Am I the only one taking this seriously? I thought.

I laced up my boots, having gotten changed into my pads, my helmet in my hands as I stared down at it, still sitting in front of my locker and staying quiet.

I felt a hand slap me on the shoulder and then I heard JJ’s gruff voice say, ‘Keep your head up, rook. We got this. Your brothers have got your back.’

I looked back at him, but he had already moved on to the next person, giving them an affectionate smack on the pads and their own words of encouragement.

When he had gone around the entire locker room, he sat down and Coach Long stepped into the middle of the floor. I turned to face Coach and kept my eyes on him as he grabbed everyone’s attention.

‘Alright, alright. Settle down now boys. I’m loving the energy in the room, so let’s keep that going when we get out there on the field. That’s the type of energy I want you all playing with, so don’t forget it.’ He looked around with a wide smile.

‘You’ve all been doing great in the practices leading up to this. The first game is always important in any season, so let’s go out there and really make a statement. I want us shooting out of the gates with 110% effort. Hit ‘em hard and hit ‘em fast.’ He motioned for us to close in.

Everyone got up and shuffled over into a tight huddle, Coach raised a fist up above his head and each player raised one of their own against his.

‘Just keep doing what we’ve been practising. Don’t forget what we’ve been working on, and trust in the game plan. We’ll set you on the right path, but it’s up to you players to see it through and bring the win home for us. I know you can all do it, I’ve got faith in you all. Do your best and make us all proud.’

‘Dons on three,’ JJ said. ‘One, two, three, DONS!’ The team’s collective voice boomed out and echoed around the locker room.

‘Defence, stay with me a sec,’ JJ said, still not moving away from the huddle as the offence and coaches started to peel away. He stood tall in the middle of the pack, fist still raised.

‘Stay strong, brothers. We’re all a team. We’re all there for each other. Don’t take a single step back, don’t give an inch. We’re gonna crush them, together. We’re a wall, and that’s why we gotta work together. If one gap opens up we crumble, so support each other and we’ll suffocate those pussies!’

There were some quiet cheers and “yeah”s as JJ’s words riled up the others.

‘Crush on three. One, two, three, CRUSH!’ Another roar echoed out of the room and the second huddle broke away. I brought my fist down, taking a deep breath as I stared at it. The shaking had stopped.

When we exited the locker room and ran out onto the field, we were met with a wave of cheers as the lights shone down on us. The stands were packed for the opening game of the season, and the crowd of onlookers sure made their presence known.

We ran a lap around the field, soaking in the adulation, though my attention was elsewhere. I couldn’t take my eyes off the opposing team standing in the middle of the field. So those are the Monsoons.

They were gathered around their coach, the heavy-set man giving a speech to his players and trying his best to keep them from focusing on us or the crowd, but still a few pairs of eyes strayed onto us as we made our lap.

They were all big. All of them looked taller than me; there probably weren't any freshmen on their team. Come to think of it, I was pretty sure I was the only freshman on our team.

When we finished our lap, we made our way to the sidelines, the crowd at our back. Coach told us to stay warm and loose. The Monsoons moved onto the opposite sideline, only empty buildings behind them.

JJ led two other players out to the middle of the field to meet with officials and the captains of the opposing team. Our two other captains happened to be two players I’d gotten into “fights” with.

Seems the lumbering, slow—both physically and mentally—fuck Stephen Day who I’d embarrassed during tryouts was a captain, along with that twisty-headed, skinny bitch, Deshaun Banks was too.

I couldn’t hear what was going on at the coin toss, but Deshaun looked like he was talking shit like usual, whereas JJ had an amiable smile on his face, and Stephen—still the tallest player on either team—silently glared down at the opposing captains.

But as both sides came away from the interaction, the opposing captains seemed in a brighter mood as they jogged back to their team. When our captains got back, they confirmed that the other team had won the toss, and elected to go on the attack first.

Perfect, I thought, I don’t have to wait, and we can stomp out their hopes of victory straight away. I grinned.

Coach Long had another quick message for us before the special teams squad ran out onto the field for the kickoff. ‘Alright boys. Don’t worry about the crowd, don’t get sucked up into the moment. Just focus on yourself, and your teammates beside you. Go out there and do your best!’

Every member of the coaching staff made sure to pat the players on the head or back as they ran out onto the field, but as I went out to join them, Luke stopped me, holding a hand out in front of me.

‘Ah, you’re not on special teams, Samuels. Just sit down and wait a moment,’ he said. I frowned down at him and watched as the others filed onto the field and got set up. I wasn’t offended by the notion of sitting out for the kickoff, but I wasn’t exactly thrilled by it either.

Nevertheless, I took my place on the bench without complaint and watched as the game got underway. It was a decent kick, but certainly returnable. The shorty who had been back waiting for it took off with some speed.

He made a good return, out to around the thirty-yard-line before he was crunched in a tackle by JJ. A part of me was glad the shorty held onto the ball, it would’ve been such a buzzkill to have our offence take over straight away when I was supposed to be out there first.

‘Get out there defence! We’ll test them with “Cover One Robber” first,’ Luke ordered, his voice taking on a sterner tone that he reserved for when he was in coaching mode.

I pulled on my helmet and jogged out onto the field, Deshaun by my side. ‘Don’t fuck up, boy,’ he said as he shot me a glare.

‘I’m fine, worry about yourself, sorry ass bitch.’ He laughed and shook his head before moving over to the huddle and informing everyone of the plan.

JJ planted himself in the middle of the formation. Deshaun was on the sideline nearest the stands, and I was on the opposite side of the field. Each Receiver was closely covered by a man, and our four Linemen were matched up against the five of the offence.

The shorty who had received the kickoff was their RB. Their QB was tall and slender, his spindly arms looked weak. Their line looked stout and strong. But all these I’d only given a quick glance. My focus was on their Receivers.

They were all taller than me—they were over six feet tall at least. They had solid builds, slim but not skinny. The one in front of me, number 88, didn’t look tense or nervous. I hunched down in front of him, as close as I could be without being offside.

He smirked. ‘You sure you wanna get that close, pipsqueak?’

I narrowed my eyes but then flashed him my sharp grin. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll be attached to you as soon as that ball is snapped.’ I stuffed my mouthguard in and hunkered down, ready for the game to get underway.

He laughed and kept smirking. ‘If you can keep up.’ He put his mouthguard in as well and turned his head towards his QB.

The world went silent as I awaited the QB’s signal and the snap of the ball. It was just me and my opponent in front of me. Everything else was dark, and my breathing and heartbeat were all I could hear.

Then a loud cry burst my little world back open and the stillness exploded into movement.

‘Hut!’