Chapter 2: Dream To a Nightmare

Part I - Too Good to Be True

-One week later-

JuJu is at his house with Isiah and Ruben watching the NFL games Sunday afternoon. Suddenly, he gets a call from his old coach from when he played little league. He coached him throughout his childhood in Football, Basketball, and Track.

"Hello?" says JuJu.

"Hey, Kid! How's it going?" He says

"Give me a sec, guys. Gotta take this. Hey coach, it's been a while since we talked! How's the family?"

"We're doing good, your dad told me you getting colleges interested in you, that's good! Little by little, you'll get to where you want to be."

"Thanks, Coach, appreciate all the help you and my dad did for making me the best player I can be."

"Anytime. So, University of Michigan huh? A lot of great players went there."

"Yeah, it's not The University of Miami but I'll get there at some point. I hope."

"Hey, any offer you get, you take it. Not many people get this opportunity."

"Yes sir."

"Well, I gotta go. Remember, if you need any training in the offseason, just let me know. I'm a phone call away. Congrats again."

"Got it. Thanks."

"Who was that?" Ruben asks.

"It was Coach Smokey, remember from little league?" replies JuJu

"Oh yeah, I remember. You still talk to him?"

"Yeah, my dad's known him for years. They played together in college."

"Wait, that reminds me," Isiah adds in. "When are you heading off to Michigan?"

"Tomorrow afternoon."

"Oh damn, already? That went by fast. Is it just your sister and parents that's going?"

"Yup, just us. Y'all gonna miss me?"

Isiah and Ruben both laugh.

"Yeah, I'm gonna miss my boy," says Ruben while fake crying.

The trio continues to watch the NFL games laughing and talking amongst one another. Suddenly, there's a knock at the door. It was Lina and she sees the door open.

"Hey JuJu, can you help me with something-" she says before cutting herself off. "Oh, hi Isiah. I didn't know you were here.

"Hey, Lina," Isiah replies. "Aye JuJu! Your little sis is here! She needs your help with something."

They both walk together to the living room while she greets Ruben and her older brother.

"Hey, Lina. what do you need?" JuJu asks.

"Nevermind. I'll tell you later. Did Mama make food for us?"

"Yeah, it's in the fridge. Put it in the microwave for a couple minutes."

"Okay, thanks. I'm gonna be in my room when the food is done."

Near the end of one of the games, Isiah and Ruben decide it was time for them to go home. They say goodbye to each other and head out the door. JuJu cleans the mess he and his friends made and wash the dishes. He then calls his sister.

"Hey, Lina! My friends left! What'd you want to ask me?"

Lina comes down the stairs with an empty plate.

"I needed help with packing for tomorrow," she replies.

"Oh, why didn't you say that before?"

"I don't know. I guess I felt embarrassed."

"Nah sis, you shouldn't be. My friends are nothing different. Besides, you've known them for a long time too."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"Okay, let's get you packed."

-Next Day-

It's Monday afternoon around 3 o'clock while JuJu, his sister, and his parents pack their things to get to the airport.

"Alright, everyone ready to go?" asks D'Angelo.

"Yeah, I think we're good Pops," JuJu replies.

The family gets into the car and heads off to the airport. JuJu puts his earbuds in and listens to the music he downloaded for the plane ride a week before. Lina lays her head under JuJu's arm with her stuffed bear in her other hand while JuJu puts that same arm over her. He receives a text from a group chat with both Isiah and Ruben.

"Let us know how Michigan is my boy," writes Isiah.

"Oh shit, you were a step ahead of me," replies JuJu. "I was about to text you guys. What y'all doing?"

"Yeah, me and Ruben are on the game."

"Find some girls for me up there," Ruben writes.

"LMAO, alright I got you. I'll text y'all when I land."

30 minutes later, the family reaches the airport. JuJu wakes up his sister and tells her to get her backpack. He holds her hand while crossing the street to the entrance to the building.

"Papi, what gate are we?" asks Maria.

"Uhh, it says we're gate B15. We go this way," says D'Angelo.

"Dad, can I have McDonald's?" Asks Lina.

"Yeah let's find our gate where our plane is and we'll get you some."

While walking through the security gates, Lina looks to her left while holding JuJu's hand and sees the big screen with a list of the other flights.

NEW YORK– DELAYED

CINCINNATI – DELAYED

BUFFALO – DELAYED

CHICAGO – DELAYED

She then sees others become delayed as well.

"Yo sis, you okay?" asks JuJu.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm okay." replies Lina.

"We'll get you some to eat right now. Hold on a sec."

Once the family reaches their gate, they all set their things down.

"I'm gonna use the bathroom," says D'Angelo. "JuJu, can you take your sister to McDonald's? Here's five bucks."

"Nah pops, I'll pay with my own money, it's all good." JuJu replies.

JuJu takes his sister and walks her to the restaurant. They speedwalk through a sea of people staying together like they were in the middle of a Black Friday shopping spree.

"Hey, what do you want from here?" asks JuJu.

"Just a Happy Meal and a juice," Lina replies, smiling.

After they get her food, they head back to their gate and sit until the seating is called to their plane. JuJu and Lina sit by the window and she looks out of it while eating her chicken nuggets.

"Hey, can I get a chicken nugget?" asks JuJu.

"Sure" replies Lina. "I didn't know how big planes were. They're huge. They look so small in the sky."

"Oh yeah, this is your first time on a plane huh? I'm surprised you're not scared. My friends are scared of planes."

The loudspeaker then comes on and starts boarding for their plane. JuJu and his family get their things and get their place in line. Once they get onto the plane, they get to their seats and put their bags in the storage area above the seats. The passengers get the safety instructions before takeoff.

"You exited JuJu?" asks D'Angelo.

"Yeah, kinda nervous though." JuJu replies. "It's a new state, new environment, it's something I'm not used to."

"Look, son, when I was in college, I traveled around the country all the time, remember? I went from Kentucky to Florida, then to North Carolina. You'll be fine. Just stay with the people you trust. Remember that."

"Yes sir."

"Alright. Now just relax and have a good time Lil Man, you deserve this."

Hours later, JuJu wakes up and takes off his earbuds seeing his family still asleep until the loudspeaker comes on.

"Attention passengers, this is your captain speaking, we are about to touchdown in Detroit in just a couple of minutes here. Thank you all for flying with us and hope to see you again soon."

JuJu looks out the window and all he sees is fog. Minutes later, he sees the skyline of The Motor City, Detroit. He turns his head away from the window and sees his family awake.

"Hey sis, look, we're here. Welcome to Detroit."

The plane then lands on the airstrip, slowly turning into the dropoff gate. One of the flight attendants then gets on the loudspeaker to thank everyone for flying the airline while the passengers get up from their seats getting their luggage before they enter the airport. JuJu turns off airplane mode on his phone and begins to send texts to his other family and friends that he just landed. The family gets off the plane and gets to the main lobby when D'Angelo looks at his phone and receives a text from one of the people from the scouting program at the University of Michigan about the details on which hotel they're gonna stay at. They get a rental car and head off into the hotel. Once they get to the hotel, they get to the front desk and are greeted by a woman.

"Hello, can I have your last name please?" she says.

"Yes, the name is Rose," D'Angelo replies.

"Okay. Oh! Here you are. Maria, D'Angelo, Paulina, and Julian." She calls down another worker to the lobby. "He'll show you all to your room."

The family is then brought to their room and is split into 2 rooms by a door. Each room had a balcony with a view of Detroit in the Distance with the University of Michigan campus and stadium visible a couple of miles away.

"Okay guys," says Maria. " Let's get some rest everyone. We have a big day tomorrow."

"Yeah," says D'Angelo. "We have to be there at eleven. JuJu, get some rest son. You and your sister can have the other room."

"A'ight." JuJu replies. I'll see you guys in the morning. C'mon Lina, you can watch TV to help you sleep. Night guys."

"Buenas noches mijo," replies Maria.

JuJu's woken up by his sister telling him to get ready. He quickly gets up to take a shower and put on comfortable clothes matching the University of Michigan's signature colors, navy blue and yellow. Everyone else gets dressed as well and they meet in the hotel lobby.

"Just got a call from the school," D'Angelo says. "We're meeting the scout at the football field entrance."

The family gets in the rental car and head off to the school's campus. Everyone is talking amongst each other while JuJu is looking through the window into the cloudy skies of Michigan.

"JuJu!" says D'Angelo. "You good son?"

"Oh yeah my bad, I'm good." JuJu replies. "I just zoned out."

"We're here."

Once they get out of the car, they are instantly greeted by Coach Richardson.

"Hey, look who's finally here!" Yells out, Coach Richardson. "The man of the hour. How was the flight?"

JuJu laughs. "A little exhausting, but it was good overall though."

"I want to introduce you all to someone on this tour of the school. Say hello to Head Coach, Jim Harbaugh."

JuJu's eyes lit up like a kid in a candy store. He was shocked to see a former NFL head coach walking towards him and his family.

"Hello, I assume that you're Julian Rose?" says Harbaugh.

"Yes sir. But you can call me JuJu." He replies.

"Richardson has told me a lot about you and even showed me your highlights this season. Keep up the good work kid. I'd be honored to coach you in a couple of years."

"Thanks, I appreciate it."

"Alright, I gotta go to a meeting. Richardson, show them around the campus. You all have a good time."

"Yes sir," replies Richardson.

He then shows the family around the campus providing the history of the team, stadium, former players, and even the school in general. They then get to the football locker room. They see the room filled with cameras and JuJu knows exactly what's about to happen but acts like he doesn't.

"Is it media day or something? Why's there a bunch of cameras in here?"

"It's for you and the other prospects," replies Richardson. "Look to your left."

JuJu looks in that direction and sees a personal locker with his name on it, followed by The school's official football uniform. JuJu knew it was gonna be a photo shoot for new prospects the school was having their radar on. He walks closer to the locker and sees his number eleven in the signature Wolverines colorway followed by the pads, helmet, visor, pants, and cleats. JuJu puts on all the gear and poses sitting in his locker. After the photo shoot, the school offered all the prospects to eat at the cafeteria where the actual players were eating at. JuJu sees players on the team who were future first-round picks in the NFL Draft like Jabrill Peppers and Devin Bush. He realizes how the school is very passionate about both academics and sports. He's also considering this school as one of his top choices for when he becomes a senior.

"Hey JuJu," calls out Richardson after the photo shoot. "I got a little gift for you and your family's time here. I know you're all Chargers fans, so I got you all tickets to the Chargers versus Lions game tomorrow. How's that sound?"

"You're kidding," JuJu replies, smiling.

"Nope. Got them right here."

He hands JuJu 4 tickets to prove that he was serious. He stood there speechless. He thanks Richardson and storms off to tell his parents. He believes that this day can't get any better.

"Thanks for taking time out of your week to come to visit. It's the least we can do here at the University of Michigan."

JuJu turns around and nods his head.