Scramble
Copyright© 2025 by Lumpy
Chapter 44
Coach Holloway pulled us together as we walked off the field. The adrenaline was really pumping, and I honestly couldn’t feel anything in my hand.
I just needed to keep it going until the next game, and I’d be able to throw no problem.
“Hell of a comeback, boys,” Coach said as we started walking toward the locker room. “Down fourteen points to a team like Judson, and you fought back. That’s championship heart right there.”
The guys were all high-fiving each other and whooping it up. It really did feel good.
“We’re not done yet, though. We’ve got to face either Dallas Carter or Odessa in the final. Both teams are from Division 1 schools and experienced. Odessa’s got the best defensive back in the state. We’ll know in an hour who we’re going to face.”
Both semi-finals were being played on the main field, so they still had to go on. They’d have an hour break after their game, which gave us kind of a leg up.
“We’ve got a two-hour break to eat and rest. I know some of you will want to scatter, but I want us all to head to the university dining hall and have a team meal, to keep your heads straight for what’s coming.”
Made sense. I think some of the kids were planning on maybe going somewhere with their parents, but staying together seemed like a good move. A lot of this was mental, after all.
“Coach Holloway,” a voice said off to the left, where stairs led up to the spectator seating.
We all turned to see Li’s mom standing at the top of the stairs, Li just over her shoulder looking vaguely mortified.
“Ma’am,” Coach said, clearly surprised by the interruption.
“I will be taking Blake to lunch with Li and myself. As I understand it, you have two hours until you play again. I will have him back in one.”
All of the eyes moved from her back to the coach, like we were seeing the beginning of a tennis match.
“Well, ma’am, I appreciate the offer, but I really want the team to eat together. It’s important for maintaining focus and team unity, especially before the championship game. Maybe Blake could see you after the final?”
Li’s mom didn’t even pause. “I understand, but I am still planning on taking him with us.”
“Mrs. Sun, I really think he should stay here.”
“Thank you,” she said firmly before pointing at me. “We will have him back in plenty of time. Blake, come with us.”
I looked back at Coach. I didn’t want to go against his rules, but I also really didn’t want to face her wrath.
Thankfully, he clearly felt the same way because he just shrugged and said, “Be back by four-thirty sharp. And Blake? Good game.”
“Thanks,” I said, climbing the stairs kind of awkwardly, the rest of the team watching me go.
Li fell into step beside me as her mom led up the bleachers to the exit for fans. “Mom, you didn’t have to kidnap him from his team.”
“Nonsense. The boy needs proper food and a chance to decompress. University dining halls serve garbage.”
Twenty minutes later, we were sitting in a booth at some family restaurant off the main drag from the campus. Li’s mom had ordered for all of us without asking what we wanted, and I was working my way through a chicken sandwich that was actually pretty good.
“So,” Li’s mom said, setting down her coffee cup and fixing me with that intense stare of hers. “I want to discuss your friendship with my daughter.”
Li immediately looked down at her plate. “Mom, please don’t.”
“I will speak my mind,” her mom continued. “At the start of the school year, I was deeply skeptical of your advice. I did not believe that student council or basketball would truly enhance Li’s college applications. And I certainly did not approve of her befriending a football player.”
I nearly choked on my sandwich. “I can understand that.”
“Can you? Good. Because I was wrong about you. You were correct about everything. Li was able to balance her new leadership roles with her academic schedule, just as you predicted. She has grown more confident and capable throughout the year. I credit your influence for pushing her to embrace these opportunities for growth.”
Li was slowly turning red; staring at her plate like it might save her from this conversation.
“I only encouraged her to do things I knew she could do,” I said.
“True, but you helped her reach that potential and helped her chances of getting into a good school. Part of the reason I agreed to come down here this weekend was to get the chance to thank you for being a good friend to Li and a positive influence.”
“Mom,” Li muttered.
“I’m just glad to be her friend,” I said, trying to shut this conversation down as quickly as possible.
“However, while I approve of your friendship, I do not approve of fighting. Especially at school.”
“It didn’t happen at school,” I said quickly.
“Do not try to split hairs with me. A school-sponsored activity is the same as being at school.”
“I know, and I wasn’t trying to fight. I was ambushed. I had no choice but to defend myself.”
“And look where that got you,” she said. “You are in good shape and work out a lot, and yet you got very badly injured.”
“I think I did okay. Even for someone my size, fending off two attackers isn’t simple. I think I did pretty well protecting myself and preventing something worse. ‘Cause they wanted to really hurt me. I handled an unfair situation as effectively as I could.”
Li’s mom studied me for a moment, then shook her head. “Simply handling it is not sufficient. A man should be able to defend himself without getting injured, even against multiple people. You should learn to defend yourself. I know someone who can help, and I will make arrangements.”
“Mom, that isn’t necessary,” Li said.
“Nonsense. Of course it is.”
Li looked at me apologetically, but what was I going to do? It wasn’t like I was going to argue with her, that was for sure.
I’d rather fight Elijah again than do that.
We were later than we’d promised Coach Holloway we’d be because we had to stop and let Li’s mom do another treatment on my hand. It had started hurting halfway through lunch, and I was getting a little worried that the swelling was coming back as we finished, so I was actually glad when she pulled out her kit again and did it right there outside the restaurant.
It was still weird to see all those needles sticking out of my hand, and I think we might have freaked out a few people walking by, but I was glad she did it this time.
Between the needles and the goop she put on after, the swelling was back down by the time we got to the field, and most of the stiffness was gone. There was still pain, but another pill from the doctor took care of that.
The team was already on the field warming up when we got there, and Coach gave me a look as I hurried up to join them.
“How’s the hand?” Mickey asked as I dropped in next to them, seeing me still flexing it because I could feel the needle marks.
“Much better.”
“Good, cause we’re going to need it,” Joe said. “Permian destroyed Dallas Carter in the semis. Absolutely crushed them.”
Dallas Carter was a really good team and had made it a stage past us in the playoffs in the fall. If they were beaten that badly, we were in for a hard time.
“How bad?”
“Forty-two to fourteen,” Mickey said.
“My parents stayed to watch their game,” Miguel said. “They said Permian’s quarterback is a killer. Just took apart the defense.”
“Their receivers any good?”
“They’re okay, but it doesn’t matter,” Joe said. “Their QB can drop the ball wherever it needs to be.”
“Damn.”
“But you should have come to the team dinner,” Mickey said. “You missed fireworks.”
“Why? What happened?”
“Coach Holloway kicked both Elijah and Jake off the team,” Joe said. “Sent them home with their parents this morning.”
I stopped mid-stretch. “Both of them?”
“Completely off the team. Not just seven-on-seven. Coach told Elijah he’s permanently out of the football program at Wheaton High.”
I couldn’t believe it. Elijah finally getting the consequences of his actions. Being off the team meant he wouldn’t get scouted by colleges, which meant he had no chance of getting scouted by professional teams. His football dreams would be completely dead.
And I didn’t feel the least bit bad about it.
“What exactly happened?” I asked.
I figured Coach must have found out about the fight, but how the coach found out was a mystery.
“After you left, Coach pulled them aside and grilled them about their injuries and what had happened,” Mickey said. “Coach wasn’t being loud about it, but Elijah was throwing a fit.”
“But how does he know. I mean, yeah, it was obvious, but I’d think he’d need proof to kick anyone off the team.”
“Jake cracked,” Mickey said.
“What? How do you know?”
“‘Cause I heard Elijah railing on Jake afterwards, completely pissed at him. He told Coach everything.”
“He just confessed?” I asked, actually surprised.
Mason was probably the most loyal of Elijah’s little soldiers, but Jake wasn’t far behind. It shocked me he’d break with him.
“Yep. Every detail. I’m guessing he probably figured if he came clean, Coach might go easier on him for next year’s team. Coach had already threatened to kick them both off the team if no one said what happened and how they got the injuries.”
Mickey snorted. “Fat chance. I hope Coach cuts him anyway.”
“I don’t really care what happens to Jake,” I said finally. “As long as he stops with his bullshit and becomes a team player. That’s all I want from any of them.”
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