Offside

I couldn’t think of anything I would rather do. It was an exhilarating sensation, and I felt more like me than I had in a really long time.

I was going to win this game.

I was going to win it for my Rumple.

I walked into the locker room about as pumped up as I could be.

“You fuckers ready to kick some ass?” I screamed as I jumped up on the bench next to the lockers.

“Fuck yeah!” Jeremy responded. Several other guys responded in kind.

“Shutout! No fucking scores for these assholes!” I yelled. I pointed over to my defenders. “European defense tonight. You fuckers push them to the sides and then right through to the middle—no crossovers. I’ll take it from there.”

“You got it,” Paul piped up.

“Klosav, Clint—you guys do your shit, and we’ll be set.”

“Fucking A!” they both yelled at once.

“Frankie, if you get one more offside call against you, I will personally kick your ass after the game. Don’t give away the motherfucking ball, you hear me? Stay onside the defenders.”

“Whatever you say, captain.” He gave me a strange little smile, but I ignored him.

“Tony.” I looked down at the freshman who was on the floor near the door to the showers, lacing up his cleats.

“Yeah?” he said. He looked a little concerned.

“You’re starting tonight. Center. Get me a fucking goal.”

His eyes widened, and he smiled.

“Fucking A,” he replied.

I dropped down on the bench and started pulling my stuff out of my bag with one hand while I opened my locker with the other. I lined everything up on the bench—shin guards first, then socks, then my cleats. I put them on, right side first, then the left, laced up the cleats, tucked down the laces, and stood up to stretch.

Shut out game.

For my Rumple.

Mine.

I couldn’t stop smiling.

“You’re in a good mood,” Jeremy said as he plopped down beside me with his cleats still untied.

“We’re gonna kick ass tonight,” I said with a maniacal grin.

“I’m a little surprised,” he said in a softer voice. Some of the other guys started walking toward the locker room doors, ready to head to the field. I could hear the band start to play outside. “I didn’t think things were going so well there a while ago.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well…you and Nicole…in the hall.”

“Oh, you saw that?”

“Yeah, but even if I hadn’t, it’s all anyone was talking about at lunch.”

“Shit, she won’t like that,” I mumbled.