Niki sat at her desk and leaned back in her seat. Her homework was too easy. She began to play with her hair and looked at a picture of her and her sister. Tears filled her eyes, but none fell, because she heard the phone ring.

"Niki, it's for you!" Niki got up and ran downstairs. She took the phone from her mom. Who could be calling?

"Hello?" Niki said.

"Hey Niki. It's Trihn." said the voice from the other end.

"Oh, hey Trihn. How'd you get my number?"

"Your school record. So, do you want to go to the football game tonight?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Cool. Me and the guys will pick up in an hour."

"Alright. Bye." Niki said before hanging up the phone.

"Who was that?" Niki's mom asked.

"My friend, Trihn. She was inviting me to a football game tonight."

"Well, you go and have fun."

"Thanks. I'm gonna go change."

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"Hey guys." Niki said as she got in the van. The others greeted her. "Where's D.L.?"

"He'll meet us at the game." Itchy said.

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Niki, Taylor, Trihn, Warren, and Itchy sat in the stands, watching the game.

"I thought D.L. was gonna meet us here?" Niki said.

"He is. Just wait." Trihn said.

"The game's going to be over in like ten seconds." Niki was right. There was fifteen seconds on the clock and their team was behind by three. They had possession of the ball and were on the fortieth yard line.

"Don't worry. He'll be here."

Number 43 hiked the ball to Number 23. He pretended to pass it off to Number 84, who was tackled a few seconds later. Number 23 threw it to Number 15, who was twenty yards away. Number 15 caught it and maneuvered his way through the different players of the opposing team. He was at the goal line when he was tackled by three other guys.

The referee ran over to him. The three young men stood up. He stood up and lifted the ball into the air. The crowd cheered; Itchy, Taylor, and Warren, loudest of all, stood up.

"I didn't know the boys were into football." Niki said. Trihn chuckled.

"They're not." Trihn said.

"Then, why-" Trihn pointed to the field at Number 15. He took off his helmet to show off an Uptown Fade haircut. It was… D.L.?

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"You dominated, man!" Taylor shouted to D.L. as he walked over.

"Of course I did." D.L. shouted back. He began to run over to them. He gave each of the guys a manly hug. He was about to give Trihn.

"Uh-uh. Don't you dare. You're all sweaty." Trihn said. D.L. scoffed.

"Am not. I just took a shower."

"Yeah. Now all you need to do is shave that head of yours." Taylor said, playing with D.L.'s haircut. D.L. hit him.

"Niki. You came." D.L. said.

"Yup. Trihn invited me. You didn't tell me you played football." Niki said.

"Yeah, that's not the first thing I tell a girl." D.L. said.

"Hey, D!" called one of the other players. "We're going to celebrate. You coming?"

"Yeah. I'll be there. Come on, guys. Let's jet." The six of them walked to the car. Trihn and Taylor sat up front, while Niki was stuck with the other three boys in the back.

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"Hey, D.L."

"Hey, Tina. How are you?" D.L. said.

"Good. Just need an interview for the school paper," Tina said.

"Fire away," D.L. said.

"So, how does it feel to be the first freshman in 65 years to be on the varsity team?" D.L. thought about this. He never really had to think about it.

"It's great. I mean, it's a sign that I'm a great player."

"And how well do you and your teammates get along?"

"Well-" D.L. began.

"We love this kid," said the quarterback who was at the table next to them.

"We get along perfectly. I feel like I'm actually their age."

"Yeah, instead of the baby on the team," the running back said. D.L. rolled his eyes.

"Well, what do you have to say to the teams that oppose you?" Tina said.

"Watch out men, because when we're done with you-"

"You'll be little boys!" said the rest of the team. D.L. looked at them. That wasn't what he had had in mind, but it would do.