His eyes stared at the paper intently. He cringed his face cocking his head sideways. His concentration was broken when he felt a warm hand on the back of his neck. He turned his body to see Becky looking at him. "What are you looking at?"

"Football tryouts."

"What about them?"

"I think I want to play." Becky scrunched her face. "What about volleyball? Or Whisper hug?" Adam exhaled deeply. "Whisper Hug was Moe's band and volleyball isn't until the spring." Becky snuggled herself into Adams body. He put an arm around her. "I need something to do."

"You have Degrassi TV with me."

"I know but still I need a guy thing to do."

"And hanging out with your girlfriend isn't guy enough?" Adam laughed and kissed the side of her head. "Of course it is but we both should find things that make us happy. You know we have our time together and then our separate times."

"Are you saying you don't want to be around me twenty four seven?" Becky said with a smile. Adam smiled in return holding her tighter. "I do but I think it's healthy for us to have our separate time too. Balance it out." Becky smiled and detached herself. "I agree. That's why I'm running the school play this semester."

"Filling Eli's shoes?"

"More like reinventing them."

"I could help backstage—"

"Nope you said different things. This is mine." Adam looked at Becky with a smile as she smirked at him. "Well then…" Adam looked back at the football tryouts. "Ask your brother he played football didn't he?" Adam nodded. The bell rang signaling class. "I'll see you at lunch." Becky said kissing Adam's cheek before bouncing off. The hallway was littered with kids scattering to class. Adam turned around and frowned. He saw Connor off in the distance walking to class. "Hey Connor!" Adam said getting his attention and walking to meet him. "Hey Adam what's up?"

"Your playing football this year right?"

"Yeah."

"What would you think if I played?" It was silent as Connor processed the information. The both entered their English class. "I don't know Adam it's a contact sport."

"So?"

"So wouldn't that be a little to tough for you?"

"I've been taking T and working out a lot with Dallas. I feel stronger."

"Strong enough to get hit by someone three times your size?" Adam pondered the thought about getting hurt. "Your mom was already upset about you getting hurt in volleyball. I don't think she will go for a full contact sport."

"Drew's played before."

"He was also quarterback."

"That's it! Connor your genius." Adam smiled as he sat down in his desk. Connor sat in front of him and turned around. "Well I know my IQ is much higher than yours."

"Connor. Quarterback. I couldn't play quarterback."

"Can you even throw the ball?"

"I have a good arm in volleyball all I have to do is apply it to football. You block so you could look out for me."

"I guess."

"It's genius and Drew could train me."

"Can he train you in time?"

"What do you mean?"

"Try outs are in two days." Adam was hit with the realization. "I can pull this off."

"Good luck to you." Connor turned back around as the teacher started her lecture. Adam reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone to text Drew.

I need you to help me

It was lunch and Becky was sitting with Jenna and Connor when Adam walked up with his tray and took a seat right next to Becky. "I asked Drew." Adam said to Connor.

"About?" Becky said in response with Jenna looking at him as well. "Football. Anyway Connor do you think you could get me some pads for practice?"

"Adam." Adam looked at his concerned girlfriend. "What?"

"Your mom is going to kill you."

"She will be fine. Connor?" Connor looked at Adam with his sandwich in his hands. "Sure I could give them to you after school."

"How about you practice with me and Drew after school."

"Alright."

"Sweet." Adam smiled at himself proudly as he bit into his sloppy Joe. It dripped onto his pants. "Just please be careful. If your football skills are as good as you're eating I'm going to be worried." Adam smiled and swallowed. "I promise you I will be fine."

After School…

Adam was on his way to the locker room when he heard Becky. "Hey you." He turned to see Becky with a "Degrassi Drama" shirt on. "Hey yourself." He kissed her as she smiled. "Where are you off to?"

"I have auditions to watch."

"Who's helping you?"

"Oh don't worry Imogen offered to help." Adam's face went a little blank. "Imogen?" Becky looked confused. "Yeah what's wrong with that?" He swallowed hard. "Nothing. That's great."

"Yeah she's going to be a great co director."

"Becky are you ready?" Imogen said from the steps of the gym. Becky turned to respond. "Yeah I'll be right there. Be careful with football." Adam nodded as Becky walked off back into the gym. He looked at Imogen who was looking back at him. She smiled at him and turned to follow Becky. "Crap." Adam shook his head and headed toward the locker rooms.

"Run! Come on Adam! Through the tires lets go!" Drew barked at him as he repeatedly blew his whistle at Adam. Adam ran through the exercises as best he could. This was harder than he thought. "Pick up the ball lets go!" Adam pick up the football and threw it through the target. "Ok push ups thirty go!" Adam jumped to the ground and hammered out his push-ups. "Ok stop." Adam rolled over onto his back and panted. He rolled onto his back and laughed. "Why is he laughing?" Connor said as he stood next to Drew. "I don't know." Adam continued to laugh as he sat up. "I'm laughing because for the first time I actually feel like a guy. I'm trying out for football and I'm actually kind of good at it." Drew smiled at his brother and lent him a hand to get up. Adam got up and brushed grass off himself. "You know I had my doubts but your actually kind of good Adam." Adam smiled. "It's the Torres gene. Were naturally gifted at football. Quarterback in particular." Drew said wagging his finger at Adam. The three of them smiled. "Well brother it looks like you may just pull this off."

"I had a good coach." Drew smiled in response to his brother. They hugged. "I think your ready."

"Yeah?" Connor nodded.

Adam walked back and forth in his football gear nervously crunching his hands. Connor ran up to him on the field. "You ready?" Adam looked around to all the buff guys that ran around. "I think."

"You got this."

"Yeah you do." Adam looked to his left to see Drew. "What are you doing here?" Drew looked at him surprised. "You think I'd miss my brother taking after me and going after quarterback?" Adam smiled as Drew hit his shoulder pads. "Good luck." Coach Armstrong blew his whistle. "Alright let's go." Adam looked between Connor and Drew and smiled putting on his helmet. He ran out to the field with Connor.

Adam left his heart out on the field. He made some great throws for touchdowns and avoided sacks. Connor and him were a great pair. It seemed like Connor knew what Adam was doing before he even did it and kept him from getting hit hard. Armstrong blew his whistle to end tryouts. "Great try out gentlemen. I've seen a lot of hard work and determination out here today. I'll post my pick for first string tomorrow." Adam smiled and took his helmet off. Connor took his off to bump Adam in the chest. "Adam you were great."

"Yeah?"

"Totally." They made there way over to the sidelines where Drew high fived his brother. "You made it for sure. Your throws were flawless. What can I say I've taught you everything you know." Adam laughed.

Adam and Becky walked up the steps of Degrassi to enter. They held hands sweetly as Adam told her about the tryouts. "Adam!" Adam looked to see Connor running toward him. "What?"

"Armstrong posted the team." Adam turned to look at Becky. "Well go silly." Adam smiled and ran with Connor down the hall.

Adam and Connor turned the corner and stopped in front of the locker rooms board. "You look first." Adam said and Connor nodded. He looked and smiled. "I made it." Adam smiled and high fived him. He took a deep breath and things seemed to slow down completely. He closed his eyes and walked forward. He slowly opened them. He scrolled down the list with his finger. Finally he had landed on his name. He smiled as he scrolled to the right.

Adam Torres…..1st String Quarterback

"YES!"

"You did it!?" Adam smiled widely as Connor high fived him. "I have to tell Becky." Adam ran back down the hallway in search of Becky. He ran through all different people apologizing as he went through them. He saw Becky talking to Jenna. "Becky!" She turned to look at him with a surprised face at the speed he was coming at her. He stopped and slid a bit catching his balance. "What?" she said giggling. "Hey Jenna."

"Hey."

"I did it! I made the team. Starting quarterback." Jenna and Becky smiled. "Congrats." Becky jumped up and down and hugged him. "Congrats Adam." Jenna said. "Thank you."

"I had faith in you." Becky said detaching from him. He smiled at her. "Oh I forgot how did your auditions go?"

"Good. Imogen and I are meeting at lunch to go over placing people in spots." Adam's happiness disappeared. "Alone?" Becky raised an eyebrow. "Yeah alone. She said she had to tell me some news."

"About what?"

"She didn't say? Since when are you so interested?"

"No reason. He what if I came with you? It would be fun to hear about this play."

"Ok." Becky smiled. The bell rang and she kissed him on the cheek. "I'll see you later. Bye." Adam waved to Jenna as they walked off down the hall. He stood there in guilt. Everything was going for him right now but somehow he couldn't feel happy because of one mistake that he had made in the past. Now it was out to ruin what he had worked so hard for. Or maybe he could find a way to stop it in its tracks.

Thank you to everyone who has such amazing ideas for this story. I love to think about ways that I can incorporate them into the story. I also want to play off of what season 13 is doing. Thanks for tuning into yet another chapter. You guys are the best! Leave a review.