Diner Girl

Chapter 8

After class, I headed out to the field. Mostly because I was curious to see how things are going with try-outs for a new Quarterback. A few days ago, the team learned that their Quarterback is not coming back due to a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow after his fall during the game. The guys on the football team were worried, their current replacement wasn’t doing so well like they thought he would. According to them, his throws were short and a little bit off-angle.

They were looking for a new Quarterback, they went as far as getting guys from highschool’s to come and try-out but it didn’t get any better for them. I looked at the players and watch them pass the football down to Duncan. His frown wasn’t going anywhere, it worried me that it was going to leave lines if he doesn’t smile soon.

I decided that it was enough for one day, I left the field and made my way towards the bus stop when suddenly I heard someone calling my name. I turned around and found Duncan jogging towards me. “Is everything okay?” I asked frowning. “Yeah, it will be until you hear me out.” I was confused. “I want you to try-out for the team.” He said like we were talking about the weather. “Excuse me, what?” I looked at him as if he lost his damn mind.

“You heard me, Zoey.” He wasn’t going to repeat himself. Stubborn-ass. “Are you nuts? I didn’t play for any school team or club. I can’t try out and anyway it’s too late for that.” I wanted to walk away but he cornered me. “I know all of that is true but don’t tell me that you don’t want to try-out. Why else would you be here?” He always had a way of making things difficult.

“As I said, I can’t.” I told him. “Well, then you don’t give me any choice.” I momentarily took a step back when Duncan advanced towards me, grabbed me around the hips, picked me up, and threw me over his shoulders. “What the hell, Duncan? Put me down!” I tried kicking my way out but he held on to me tightly.

I then heard voices, men mumbling about what Duncan was doing and who I was. He placed me back down on my feet, for a moment I was dizzy and couldn’t really give him a piece of my mind. He probably picked up on that as he held on to me. “Who is this and what is going on?” The coach asked. Xander even looked at me with a cheeky grin.

“This is Zoey, and I want her to try-out for the team.” Everyone was startled by his comment. Even the coach looked at him stunned. “When you made me captain of this team, you told me that you trust me and so, does the team. Well, now I want you to prove that you trust me.” The coach even looked at me with uncertainty. “I have seen what Zoey can do and believe me when I say, she can put any man to shame with what she got.” The coach gave me another look, the doubt still there in his eyes.

“Fine, I’ll give her a chance to show us what she got.” He then looked over at the team. “Well, let’s go.” He ordered them. He then walked over to me. “Okay, so this is your gameplan.” He showed me the clipboard. I studied the gameplan and I was befuddled. “You are basically giving away our position.” He smiled at me. “You do know your strategies.” He said.

“Studied them over the years.” He looked impressed with my answer. “Good, then let’s get to it then.” The coach handed me a shoulder pad and a helmet. He helped me to put it on, it felt kind of heavy but I sucked it up I needed to be protected. I then slipped on the helmet by myself after putting on my gear I made my way over to the team. “So, what’s our strategy, QB.” Xander asked teasing me. Xander was the team’s left tackle. (He protected the Quarterback.) Freddie was a defender. Andrew was the carrier. (He, held the ball in the huddle and snapped the ball to the Quarterback.)

And, Duncan was the receiver. (He received the pass from the Quarterback and made a run for a touchdown.)

I went over the strategy with them, not that I really believed in it, it felt like I was playing imaginary football with a bunch of school kids. We got into our positions, Andrew was crouched in front of me while I yelled the commands to the team. He snapped the ball towards me but I wasn't fast enough to move out of the way as I got tackled and went sprawling with the football. I stood up ignoring this uncomfortable feeling.

I returned to my position and we went for a second round where I met the grass again but this time harder. "What's your problem, asshole?" Xander asked picking him up and shoving him away. "We are just having fun." The guy replied. "Fun my ass." That was Duncan. I was astounded by the way the team respected him as the guy immediately looked down at his feet. "Now can we play like real football players and not some kind of assholes picking on a girl?" He said with a warning voice. "Exactly she's a girl, she should go back to her mani-and-pedicures." He said making a few guys laugh with him.

"Why don't you make me a sandwich because by the looks of it you know a lot about me and being a girl?" The guys stopped laughing. "I don't do manicures, dumbass." I bought up my hand to show him my chipped nails and nail polish. Duncan looked at the guy waiting for a reply but he was quiet.

"Can we now continue?" Everyone nodded. "Good." He then ran off and got into his position. I too got in my position. I crouched down, placed my hand in front of me to steady myself and called our play. Andrew snapped the ball to me, once I caught the ball I was up and took a step back before I got tackled. I then launched the ball with a perfect strike, I covered enough distance and the angle was inline of where Duncan was. He caught it easily and made a run for a touchdown. "Hell, Zoey. That's quite an arm you got there." Xander mumbled.

While the team looked bewildered Duncan looked confident as he jogged over to us. The coach then looked over at me, he looked by far impressed. "And you can do that again?" He asked. I nodded and showed him by running three more runs with the team.

"Well, I think that I can speak for everyone. You certainly came here and surprised us all." The team nodded in agreement. "We will have a discussion with the council tomorrow and let you know what they say. But, as far as I can tell you, you certainly impressed all three of us." He motioned to him and the other two coaches.

I looked over at Duncan who nodded at me. I then looked over at Xander, Freddie, and Andrew and saw them too nodding at me. There were still a few of them who still looked doubtful including the guy who made sure I knew that he didn't think I was capable of being here.