did Reed. I found myself pulling out Reed’s letter before bed to remind myself of the butterflies he could make me feel. Still buzzing from my almost pseudo-intimate moment with Reed weeks before, I oozed school spirit as I prepped myself for Friday’s final regular season football game. I even volunteered to work the grill with Sienna and some of the other members of the band and student council for the Big Bear Tailgate Party.
This year’s fest was full of extra promise – the Bears were looking to go undefeated. Oddly enough, the last time the school did that was under the leadership of the older Johnson. Reed was undoubtedly feeling extra pressure from the situation.
Sienna and I arrived to the main parking lot at 4 p.m. We were charged with cleaning the grill and getting enough hot dogs and burgers grilled by the time 40 hungry football players and even more boosters showed up for dinner by 5. We were starting to panic when I saw Sean’s truck pull into the parking lot, followed shortly after by Reed’s Jeep. The boys walked over with their jerseys slung over their shoulders over their gray practice shirts, long purple shorts and flip flops. There was something so mature in their walk and the way they confidently moved toward us.
“Hey, Noles. Thought you could use some extra hands,” Sean said, coming up to me and kissing me on my cheek. I blushed when he did and caught myself sneaking a look at Reed to see if he noticed, hoping he didn’t. I don’t know why, but I suddenly felt like I should hide my relationship with Sean from him, like it would hurt him to see us together. Or perhaps, more the truth, that it would damage whatever sparks I was imagining between Reed and me.
The boys were an enormous help, taking over the grilling and getting most of the burgers and dogs started and well on their way to being done by the time the first fans were arriving. I plated a dinner up for each of them and covered it in plastic wrap so they could head into the locker room to join the other players before coming out for dinner.
The entire team came out at 5:30 to a roaring crowd. Coach announced each of their names to whistles along with small bits of highlights from the season. Reed, of course, was saved for the end. When he made his way to the front of the crowd and climbed up the makeshift stage the student council had built for the party, the parking lot was filled with the thunderous sound of the entire town of Coolidge pounding fists on picnic tables. I saw the look of fear flash across his face briefly, but he was fast to tuck it away – ever the responsible pillar of pride for this community. I knew he took on this role with sincerity, and he truly felt responsible for delivering for his friends, his neighbors, his father and himself.
I stood on top of a picnic table in the back with Sienna to cheer for him loudly, and his half smile back at me stole my breath. He pulled his hat from his head and ran his fingers through his hair, slightly embarrassed by the lingering standing ovation from the crowd. When he put his hat back on, he kept his eyes low and looked up from beneath with a bit of a devious look to his face. Pausing, he held the mic in his hand while the crowd quieted down and waiting for just one word from their anointed one. Biting the tip of his tongue, he finally relented to a full blown grin and gave them what they wanted.
“We own this thing – let’s do this, Bears!” he shouted and the crowd responded with more pounding and screaming. I was in awe.
The team headed for the locker room to gear up and get ready to take the field for warm-ups. The rest of the crowd lingered until they opened the gates for seating at 6:45. I handled clean up for the grill on my own so Sienna could head in for band warm ups. Sarah sat at a table with her sister and Tatum nearby. I was a little irritated that she didn’t offer to help me, but I also knew she wouldn’t be much help anyhow. Sarah and manual
This year’s fest was full of extra promise – the Bears were looking to go undefeated. Oddly enough, the last time the school did that was under the leadership of the older Johnson. Reed was undoubtedly feeling extra pressure from the situation.
Sienna and I arrived to the main parking lot at 4 p.m. We were charged with cleaning the grill and getting enough hot dogs and burgers grilled by the time 40 hungry football players and even more boosters showed up for dinner by 5. We were starting to panic when I saw Sean’s truck pull into the parking lot, followed shortly after by Reed’s Jeep. The boys walked over with their jerseys slung over their shoulders over their gray practice shirts, long purple shorts and flip flops. There was something so mature in their walk and the way they confidently moved toward us.
“Hey, Noles. Thought you could use some extra hands,” Sean said, coming up to me and kissing me on my cheek. I blushed when he did and caught myself sneaking a look at Reed to see if he noticed, hoping he didn’t. I don’t know why, but I suddenly felt like I should hide my relationship with Sean from him, like it would hurt him to see us together. Or perhaps, more the truth, that it would damage whatever sparks I was imagining between Reed and me.
The boys were an enormous help, taking over the grilling and getting most of the burgers and dogs started and well on their way to being done by the time the first fans were arriving. I plated a dinner up for each of them and covered it in plastic wrap so they could head into the locker room to join the other players before coming out for dinner.
The entire team came out at 5:30 to a roaring crowd. Coach announced each of their names to whistles along with small bits of highlights from the season. Reed, of course, was saved for the end. When he made his way to the front of the crowd and climbed up the makeshift stage the student council had built for the party, the parking lot was filled with the thunderous sound of the entire town of Coolidge pounding fists on picnic tables. I saw the look of fear flash across his face briefly, but he was fast to tuck it away – ever the responsible pillar of pride for this community. I knew he took on this role with sincerity, and he truly felt responsible for delivering for his friends, his neighbors, his father and himself.
I stood on top of a picnic table in the back with Sienna to cheer for him loudly, and his half smile back at me stole my breath. He pulled his hat from his head and ran his fingers through his hair, slightly embarrassed by the lingering standing ovation from the crowd. When he put his hat back on, he kept his eyes low and looked up from beneath with a bit of a devious look to his face. Pausing, he held the mic in his hand while the crowd quieted down and waiting for just one word from their anointed one. Biting the tip of his tongue, he finally relented to a full blown grin and gave them what they wanted.
“We own this thing – let’s do this, Bears!” he shouted and the crowd responded with more pounding and screaming. I was in awe.
The team headed for the locker room to gear up and get ready to take the field for warm-ups. The rest of the crowd lingered until they opened the gates for seating at 6:45. I handled clean up for the grill on my own so Sienna could head in for band warm ups. Sarah sat at a table with her sister and Tatum nearby. I was a little irritated that she didn’t offer to help me, but I also knew she wouldn’t be much help anyhow. Sarah and manual
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