Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
24
Cage
The sleek silver pen in my hand can’t weigh more than a few ounces, yet it feels like a ten-pound boulder.
“Just sign here, and your transfer will be official,” Coach Willard tells me, anger and disappointment bleeding through every single word.
I’m disappointed in myself as well.
Against my better judgment, I bring the tip of the pen to the dotted line and start signing my name. With every letter added to the paper in blue ink, the emptiness in my chest grows, threatening to swallow me whole, to take away every part of me that makes me… me.
My hand stills. Realization settles that this moment is a crossroad. This is not just a simple signature, a simple act. This is a moment that will determine the rest of my life.
One little action. One signature copied onto the insignificant piece of paper, making it to what could be one of the most significant moments of my life.
Time seems to stand still, and for a second, everything around me falls away. All I can see is myself. The boy I was yesterday, and the man I could become tomorrow.
I can’t do this. It’s not what I want. It’s someone else’s dream.
Blackthorn isn’t where I belong. North Woods is, with Blair and my friends. No amount of money will ever change that.
Dropping the pen onto the paper, I look up at Coach Willard. “I’m not going.”
“Yes, you are,” my father sneers. “Sign the damn paper!”
“No, I won’t leave North Woods.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Coach says, letting out a sigh. “I can’t lose one of my best players.”
“I’m sorry, you still do. I quit.”
My father slams his fist against the table, making everything on Coach’s desk shake. “The fuck you are. You will not quit, you will sign this paper, and you will play for Blackthorn.”
“No.” I stand my ground. “I won’t.”
“If you don’t play, you can kiss your life goodbye. No condo paid for. No car. No phone. No money. Do you understand? I’ll cut you off. You’ll have nothing.”
“I have my freedom. I’m tired of you forcing me to do what I hate. I hate football. I quit. Cut me off, I don’t care.”
I’ve never seen my father so angry, his face is bright red, and veins are popping out over his forehead. I know if Coach wasn’t sitting in front of us, his fist would already be in my face.
He stands up so suddenly, the chair he was sitting on crashes to the ground.
“You’ll regret this,” he yells before storming out of the office, slamming the door shut so violently the pictures on the wall almost fall down.
“I’m sorry, Coach,” I say. “I’m sorry about my father, sorry about letting you down.”
His brows pull together. “Don’t apologize. Not for him and not for yourself. I didn’t know you hated football.”
“It’s not something I advertise.”
“You really want to quit? You’re here on a scholarship to play ball. You know if you quit, that scholarship will end along with your football career.”
“I know, I’ll find another way to pay for tuition.” Shoving from his desk, I stand. “I don’t know what or how, but I’ll figure it out.”
Coach stands up with me, holding out his hand to shake mine, he says something that shakes me to the core. “I’m proud of you.”
Confused, I take his hand. “But I quit the team.”
“You did something way more important than playing football today. What you just did, standing up to your father despite knowing that you will lose his support, that took some major balls. I don’t know what made you do it, but whatever it is, go find it and hold on to it.”
“Thanks, Coach. I will. I’ll go find her, and when I do, I’m never letting her go again.”
Either my father didn’t take me seriously, or I simply got to the bank quicker. I was able to withdraw what was left in my account, and I maxed out my credit cards to pay everything I needed for the rest of the semester, including a dorm room.
Murphy and I got everything we needed out of the house and put it into storage before moving the rest to our new dorm room.
“This stinks,” Murphy whines, throwing himself onto the bed.
“We’ll find a new place. This is only temporary.”
Dramatically, he flops onto his belly. “Either way, our friendship is over.” He speaks into the mattress.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
Popping his head up, he explains, “I won’t see you at practice anymore, you’re gonna find a weekend job, so you won’t come and party, and now you’re gonna get your girl back, which means she is going to take the rest of my time away. I won’t ever see you. That’s how friends get unfriended. Before you know it, we’ll be strangers. All I’ll be getting is a nod when I pass you in the hall.”