Forever Mason, page 16
I glance over and see that her head is down and she’s writing furiously. I’m tempted to lean over and see what she’s put down, but figure she’ll tell me later. As I stare at the sheet of notebook paper I know I can’t write about having sex with my girl, so I focus on football. Going into my senior season—my last season—I’m on track to break the state record in rushing yards. I’m on the cusp, according to the reporters, and each game brings out more and more scouts to watch. Although, no one on the team is stupid enough to think the scouts are there to watch them. They’re here for Liam—Beaumont’s Golden Boy. He literally breaks the law, and no one bats an eyelash. If anyone in town is missing a mailbox, it’s probably because of him, well . . . the both of us because I can’t say no to him either. If he wants to get drunk, drive and play mailbox baseball, I’m his co-pilot. I swear we are a bunch of dumbass kids, but as long as he’s winning games, no one cares. It’s bothersome, really, and maybe it’s because a part of me is jealous. Liam’s my best friend but I hate all the attention he gets. I’m the one running through two-to-three-hundred-pound linemen, but Liam gets the credit. Everything he touches, turns to gold. And even though Katelyn and I have been together longer, the high school hierarchy goes to Liam and Josie. Still, I wouldn’t trade my years with him for anything.
I finally put pen to paper and write about Liam, Josie, Katelyn, and me, and this incredible friendship we have between us. I’m close with Josie. I don’t know how it happened or why, but we’re good friends. I consider her a sister and since I never had one, that means she’s pretty important to me. But the fact that my best friends are dating and heading down the same path as Katelyn and I are, I’d say life is pretty good, and I’d have to say the moment that changed my life, or the lives of our tight-knit group would have to be homecoming, our sophomore year. Liam asked Josie out, and they’ve been together ever since. They’re good for each other. Josie is Liam’s escape from his parents. I wish I could say the same for her, but Sterling and Bianca are the coldest, rudest, and meanest humans on the planet. I know Liam is counting down the days until he’s out of here. He tells me he will only come back to get Josie, and that’s after he’s drafted. Beaumont will never see him again. I can’t say that I blame him. While the town has been nice to him, his family hasn’t. It’s hard being who he is and having the parents that he does. There was one point, during our junior year, when I had been called me into the principal’s office. Someone reported that Sterling beat Liam and everyone figured I would know. It would’ve been so easy to say yes, even though I had no proof, and I almost did until I realized how much worse off Liam could’ve been. I told the truth, but sometimes the truth is wrong.
There are times when I wish we could go back to our sophomore year. When Liam came back from camp, he was a changed person. He smiled more and laughed a ton. He came out of shell, and it was good to see. The differences in him were short-lived though. Liam’s become sullener and reckless over the past couple of years. He fights with his dad constantly. If it’s not over football and what college he’s going to go to, it’s over Josie. Sterling, the dick, hates Josie and he’s not shy about letting Liam know that she’s beneath him. Sterling takes it upon himself to bring suitable women home for his son. Women Sterling feels would be a better NFL wife. According to Sterling, Liam’s allowed to associate with me, no one else. Liam uses the excuse, “It’s Mason’s birthday,” often to get out of country club events with Sterling. I think I’m pushing eighty by now.
The bell rings just as I write my last word. I put my name at the top, hand Katelyn her pen, and make my way to the front of the class to turn my paper in. Katelyn’s in front of me and as much as I’d like to grab her ass or kiss her, things have to wait until we’re in the hall. I don’t know how many times we’ve been busted for making out in the halls. At least we’re not like Liam and Josie and having sex in the dugout or behind the bleachers. I walk right behind her and put my arm around her shoulders. I love being taller than her, and it comes with so many perks. One of them being I can see above everyone in the hallway and can easily guide her to our lockers. When we get there, we have a mini make out session. This is our norm and I’m going to be sad when we can’t do this every day. I don’t know what I’m going to do when we go away to college. Her parents have long said they won’t help her with college expenses. I think it’s mostly her mom. She’s never approved of anything Katelyn has done, and her dad just does what his wife says. Josie’s parents are different than most parents. They’re very lenient and don’t really care what she does, as long as she’s safe, and they’re supportive of her. It wasn’t until last year that Josie dropped the bomb that her mother is considerably younger than her father. Josie doesn’t like to talk about it for some reason, but it explains why her mom is so free-willed and very nonchalant about a lot of things. Katelyn and Josie want to go to Beaumont State. It’s an odd name for a school because Beaumont isn’t a state, and they really could’ve named it something different. It’s a four-year college, with dorms, and sports teams. The campus is pretty and near the mall. I think that is why the girls like it so much.
I’m kissing Katelyn’s neck when someone hits me on my shoulder. It’s Liam with Josie right behind him. Right along with the harem that follows him around. He’s oblivious though. Liam only has eyes for Josie. They’re the lucky assholes who didn’t have a class last period. Liam and Josie always go to his house during their free time. It’s close, Sterling isn’t home, and Bianca won’t dare say a word.
The four of us walk to the cafeteria and sit at the same table we have for the past three years. Others have tried to join us, but they only last a couple of days before they realize they don’t belong with us during lunch time. I carry mine and Katelyn’s food to the table and sit down. She and Josie are already there, and Liam isn’t far behind.
“We had to write an essay in Sociology today,” I tell him and Josie, but I’m looking at Liam. “It got me thinking about next year and how Nebraska is taking their sweet time getting back to us.”
Liam’s eyes meet mine and I know he's already been accepted. I swallow hard and fight off the emotions about to take over. He opens his mouth and then closes it. I’m thankful for the chatter in the cafeteria because it’s drowning out my heartbeat right now.
“Look,” he says, and then pauses. Liam clears his throat. “There are twenty plus schools that want me to come play for them right now, and Nebraska isn’t one of them.”
“Did you apply?” I ask him.
He shakes his head. “It’s not on the list.”
“Well, it would’ve been nice had you told me before I wasted money on the application.” I throw my food down onto the tray and get up. Without even asking him, I know why, and it grates me. Liam can’t stand his father yet lets him dictate his life. I don’t get it. I don’t look back to see if he’s watching me walk away because it’ll just be another let down. I’m sure Liam has a valid reason and I’m sure it has to do with Sterling.
Twenty-Four
I turn my alarm off before it has a chance to blare and send my heart rate skyrocketing. I’m tired, sore, nervous, stressed . . . I’m a mess, and my lack of sleep isn’t going to bode well for me later. In a little over an hour, horns will sound outside my door, and I’m expected to run outside with my arms pumping in the air, hooting, hollering, and feigning excitement about tonight’s game. The fact is, I’m scared shitless. Beaumont High plays for their fourth state championship game tonight, and I’m one hundred yards away from breaking the all-state rushing record. One-hundred yards—the length of the football field. That’s all I need to have my name cemented in the history books. The thing is, no one realizes this except my dad and our offensive coordinator. Coach doesn’t even seem to care because he tells Liam he wants to see more down the field throws and not so many hand-offs. I want to ask him why because it’s not like Liam needs to showcase his talent, he’s going to college while the rest of us are trying to get noticed. Everyone wants to go to college and continue playing. We’d like to have a scout or two talk to us after the game and not clamor around Liam, especially when everyone knows he’ll end up at Auburn. People in town are always worried about Liam and wondering what school he’s going to choose. They’re already planning their Saturday afternoon football gatherings and tailgate parties. Ralph’s, the local bar, has a big board attached to the wall with all the schools who have come forward with an offer for Liam. Just him. No one else. I tried to tell Liam yesterday, but he never acknowledged what I said. I know the pressure is on him as well, but just this once, I’d like to matter.
I dress in a pair of khaki shorts and my football jersey. It’s a Friday tradition, and there’s no way in hell I’m breaking it, even though it’s the last thing I want to put on today. It’s odd to think back to the first game of the season and how excited I was compared to now. But I don’t want this game to happen because tomorrow, when I wake up, I’m no longer Mason Powell, running back for Beaumont High. Instead, I’ll be Mason Powell, the guy who played for one of the best football programs in the state. And then next week, I’ll take all of my game articles and the game footage tape the media department at the school put together for me, and I’ll send packets off to colleges. For the past few months, I’ve lied to Liam. I’ve told him I have some decent offers when in fact, I have only one from a Division 2 school that I’ve never heard of from someplace in New York. I have a lot of Division 3 schools interested, but they don’t offer scholarships, and their tuition is something my parents can’t afford. I don’t know why I haven’t told Liam the truth. I think, deep down, it’s because I don’t think he’d care. It hurts to think these sorts of things about my best friend, but it’s how I feel. Deep down in my heart, I also believe Liam’s this way because of the mental abuse he’s taken from his father over the years.
When I make it downstairs, my mom sits at the kitchen table, flipping through a magazine. “Good morning.”
“Good morning. Big day?”
I grumble. “Don’t remind me.” I scoop some eggs onto my plate and grab some bacon. I sit across from her and start eating.
She gets up from the table and returns with a glass of orange juice. She sets it down in front of me and then sits. Mom is always worried about my vitamin intake and making sure I’m staying as healthy as possible. Last year, Katelyn was sick for two weeks, and my mom begged me not to kiss her or do other things because she was afraid I’d catch it. We definitely didn’t kiss, but we absolutely did the other stuff my mother hasn’t talked to me about since I was fifteen.
“You’ll do well,” she says. It’s what she says before all my games. She’s not your typical sports mom. While she’s my biggest supporter, aside from my dad, she sometimes stays home on game night and waits for me so I can tell her about the game. She doesn’t like hearing other parents bad mouth my teammates or me, and she really doesn’t like it when I get hit. The games cause her a lot of anxiety, so she opts not to watch them. She’s always been this way, so it really doesn’t bother me.
“Are you going?” I ask her, knowing full well she’ll stay home.
“Yes,” she says as she looks me in the eye. “It’s your last game, and from what I hear, it could be quite exciting.”
“I’ll try not to get hit.”
“Please do,” she says, even though she knows it’s impossible. When the horns start honking, I clear my plate and kiss her cheek. “Have a great day, Mason. I love you.”
“Love you more,” I tell her and then head to the front door. Before I open it, I inhale deeply. This is it. I pull the door open and push the screen door away from the door frame. Cars and trucks decorated in our school colors line the streets in a parade. Katelyn jumps out of the back of a truck and runs toward me. I catch her, and her legs wrap around my waist.
“Last game,” she reminds me.
“Guess we better win, huh?”
She nods and kisses me until the horns start again. I let her go, and she runs back to the truck she and some of the squad is riding in. I make my way to my truck and am surprised to find Nick jogging toward me.
“Hey man, can I ride with you?”
I nod. “Liam will probably jump in.”
Nick grimaces. Nick and I are friends, even though Liam hates him with every bone in his body. I can’t say I blame him because Nick made a move on Josie, but the guy deserves a second chance. There have been times when I’ve told Liam and Katelyn a couple of white lies so I could hang out with Nick. I’m not proud of myself, but I like the guy, and I didn’t want to put Katelyn in a position where she could slip up and say something to Josie which would cause all kinds of drama. It’s shit none of us needed. I’ve done right by Liam and told Nick to put Josie out of his mind.
“I’ll jump out when we get to his place.” This fight is stupid.
Some of the vehicles pull forward, while the rest of them stop to give me space to back out. I’m sandwiched between the cheer squad, which is a nice place to be.
“You know how I went to that college mixer thing?” Nick asks.
“Yeah, how was it?”
“Great. I met someone.” Thank God.
“No way, seriously?” We get to a stop sign, and the girls start singing our fight song. They’re loud, off-key, and perfect. Everyone comes out of their houses and starts cheering, but there’s always that someone who tells us to shut the fuck up. When we hear it, we lay on our horns so that they know we care.
“College girls are different,” he says, earning a sideways glance from me. He’s wearing a shit-eating grin, and all I can do is high-five him.
“Dog,” I say to him, and he laughs. The thing about Nick is that he’s a good-looking dude. According to Katelyn, many of the girls on the squad want to date him, but he’s only been interested in Josie until now. That’s not to say he hasn’t been hooking up with anyone. He throws some epic parties and has been known to disappear with some arm candy.
The last stop on this parade route is Liam’s. Before we turn onto his street, Nick jumps out of my truck and into one further down. I have to choose between him and Liam, but I can’t turn my back on my best friend. After we pick him up, we’ll drive down Main Street where we’ll wave, people will wish us luck, and then we’ll head to school, where absolutely no work will get done. We have a pep rally, a team luncheon, and then normally, we’ll board a bus to some neutral location. As luck would have it, it’s Beaumont High’s year to host the championship game. Of course, the opposing team petitioned to change it, but the board kept it here.
Once Liam’s done making out with Josie, he hops in my truck. He looks ragged, and I’m willing to bet he didn’t sleep a wink last night. “Did you sleep?”
He shakes his head. “You?”
“Nope. Sterling on your ass?”
“He never stops. I wish he’d leave, or she’d leave him.”
“Would you go with her?”
He nods. “Just so I can live with the quiet. The other day I caught him on the phone with Hal all but guaranteeing I’m going to pick Auburn in February.”
“Do you know who you’re going to pick?”
“No, maybe I’ll surprise everyone and not go to school.”
I snort. “Yeah, right. You’re going to the NFL, man!”
Liam doesn’t respond and is quiet until we hit Main Street. “I’m going to miss this,” he says. “I’m going to miss people not giving a fuck.”
The roar of the crowd vibrates through the tunnel. I’m pumped. I’m ready. And I’m as nervous as I’ve ever been. I feel like I need to puke but can’t. I was careful today, watching what I ate and ensuring my water and Gatorade intake wasn’t excessive. I don’t want to feel sluggish, but I don’t want to cramp either.
Liam’s behind me. I turn and put my hands on his shoulder pads. The eye black he wears says, “Jo,” for Josie. I don’t remember exactly when he started calling her JoJo, but it’s his, and only his, nickname for her. Don’t be the asshole who tries to call her that because Liam will rip your head off.
“Do you hear that crowd?”
“Yeah, man. I can hear it. Crazy, right?”
I jostle him one more time and then stand beside him. “There has to be more people than last year.”
The cheer squad runs by, and Katelyn kisses me quickly and then runs to catch up with the rest of the girls. Josie stays behind to talk to Liam. They’re intense, and I often wonder how either of them will manage to be away from each other when we all go off to college. I know I will have difficulty being away from Katelyn, but Liam’s different when with Josie. I swear they have a secret language or something.
“Knock it off, you two. If you give him a stiffy during the game, some linebacker is going to break his pecker.” The three of us start laughing, and Josie finally kisses Liam goodbye. Liam and I slip our helmets on and wait for the signal that it’s okay to go out onto the field. Once it’s given, we run out to the sound of our marching band and through the alley the cheerleaders have made. Their red and gold pom-poms are shaking, and they’re cheering, and then I’m standing on the sideline, looking at the packed stands. Holy shit. I’ll never have this moment again.
Liam calls my name, and I follow him to where we warm-up. One of the junior varsity team freshmen stands beside Liam, catching the balls I throw back at him. After we’re warm, we stretch, and that’s when I spot my dad in the sea of fans. He stands there holding a sign with how many yards I need.
“I can’t believe my dad has a sign,” I say to Liam as I nod toward the bleachers.
