Friday, After School, Moments before the game, 2:35...
"Alright Shane. First game of the season. You got this, you got this. You're Shane Mothafuckin Price! You got this you blonde son of a bitch!"
You might be thinking, hey, who's yelling at Shane? Well, Shane was currently by his locker, staring into a mirror he had put on the inside of the door, and yelling at himself. He was nervous as all hell going into his first Varsity game and he was trying to psyche himself up. A lot of students walked past him as he was going through this pregame ritual. Some laughed, some briskly walked past him in fear, and some stared at him in confusion.
"Shane, what- what are you doing?"
Shane turned around saw one of his teammates, Seth, staring at him with a confused look on his face.
"Ok, you're in the third category I listed off." Shane said.
"What? What are you talking- You know what, never mind that. Dude, seriously. Are you okay?"
Shane grabbed Seth by his shoulders and stated into his eyes.
"Seth, believe this. I am absolutely, positively, 100%, not okay right now!"
"What's wrong, man? And can you let me go, please?"
"Oh, sorry sorry. I'm just really nervous. It's my first Varsity game. Last year I was on the Junior Varsity team in my old school. I'm excited because I know the competition's gonna be at a higher level, but I'm also afraid of embarrassing myself." He vented.
Seth gave him a friendly smile.
"You're gonna be fine, Shane. You're our backup Wide Receiver anyway, so chances are you're only gonna get maybe 10 minutes on the field."
Shane sulked.
"Aw man. I know that but it still sucks that I'm gonna be riding the bench for most of the game."
"Bro if you put the work in, you'll get more time out there. I promise. I'll even tell coach to keep his eye on you."
Shane have Seth a hug.
"Thanks dude! You're the best!"
"Yeah, no problem. Now, again, could you let go of me? I don't want people to get the wrong idea."
Shane quickly let go.
"Shit, my bad. Again."
"No apology needed. Now let's get out asses to the locker room, and into our uniforms before coach kills us."
"Lead the way, boss."
Crunch Time, 4:02...
It was almost the end of the game, and the score was tied, 28 to 28. Shane had not gotten an opportunity to play due to how close the game was. The two starting wide receivers, Kofi Kingston and Dolph Ziggler, were on fire. Dolph had scored the first two touchdowns, and Kofi took care of the last two. All 4 passes were thrown by the quarterback, Seth Rollins. Currently, the team had possession of the ball with 30 seconds left on the clock. The team huddled and Seth laid out the game plan.
"Alright boys. We can end this game and walk out with a W if we do this correctly. I'm gonna drop back, fake a pass to Dolph, then pass it to Kofi. You two run your routes correctly and I guarantee this will work. I need the offensive line to handle their blocks and keep the defense away from me as long as possible. Got it?" Seth ordered.
The best lineman on the team, Ettore Langston, affectionately nicknamed Big E perked up.
"Got it, captain! You can count on us!" He beamed.
Seth chuckled.
"I know I can, E. Now, let's get this thing rolling! Ready, break!"
The team went into formation against the opposing team, and prepared to execute the plan.
"Hike!" Seth yelled, and was thrown the ball.
Everything was going according to plan. The line was keeping the defense at bay, while Ziggler and Kingston were running the correct routes. Seth faked a pass right to Dolph, and threw the ball left toward Kofi. Kofi caught the ball, and was heading toward the goal. Yup, everything was going to plan, until Kofi got hit. And he got hit hard. He landed head first into the turf and wasn't moving a muscle. All of his teammates that were on the field rushed over to him in concern and fear. Sounds of, "Kofi! Kofi, are you alright?!", filled the air. Kofi didnt respond at all. The ref instructed the team to go over to their bench while the medics tended to the unconscious boy. They did so reluctantly. Kofi was soon after carried off the field via stretcher. One of the medics told the team the details.
"Okay. Kofi's injuries are not fatal. We know that for sure. We suspect he has suffered a major concussion, however. He's going to be transferred to the nearest hospital, where he'll be tended to."
"Thank you, sir." Coach Helmsley replied worried.
The medic left, and coach addressed the team.
"Guys, what happened to Kofi was unfortunate, but let's not let his suffering go in vain. We're 30 yards away from a touchdown, with 5 seconds left on the clock. Now, that Kofi's gone, Price, you're in. Get out there!"
Shane nodded and ran with the rest of the team onto the field. Seth huddled the team together for the final time that day.
"Alright, guys. We gotta do this for Kofi. His sacrifices will not go to waste. We're doing the same play, accept this time I'm faking the pass to Shane and then passing to Dolph. We do this right, and we win the game. Ready, break!"
"Okay, Shane. You got this. All you gotta do is run your route correctly. That's all you gotta do." Shane thought to himself, nerves building up once again.
"Hike!"
Seth once again had the ball in his hand, faked right to Shane, and prepared to throw left to Dolph. However, Dolph was completely covered. The guy guarding him was all over the kid. He looked over the right and saw that Shane was covered, but not as much. Seth had to make a decision fast, because a defensive lineman had broken through and was heading right for him. Seth threw up a prayer toward the new kid and everyone in the bleachers waited with baited breath to see what would be the outcome. Shane looked up and saw the ball coming straight for him, and for a split second, he panicked.
"Shit! This guy"s all over me! I'm gonna fuck it up!" He thought.
But suddenly a switch went off his brain and he did something incredible. As the ball came flying closer, he realised he wouldn't be able to catch it from his position. So he jumped. Next thing he knew, he was on the ground with a ball in his hands. He also happened to be in the goal. The team rushed toward him and jumped on him in sheer happiness. Seth was the first one to him.
"That was awesome! You caught it with one hand! And it was over your defender! I told you you'd get your chance! You did it!" Seth praised.
"I did? I did. I did!" Shane yelled out in joy.
His teammates raised him in the air in celebration, the students in the bleachers were going insane, and the cheerleaders were jumping around in joy. Everyone was so happy for the new kid. Everyone... Except Alexa.
