Chapter 51
Raine
The crowd is hyped for this game. I’ve already seen three fights between Vegas fans and Greenville fans.
I’ve never experienced that sitting up high in my box.
Isobel’s smiling, taking everything in. We stopped for beers and stadium hot dogs.
It’s a must do if you slum it in the stands.
Okay, slumming it was kind of harsh. I’m not a people person.
People are talking about a blowout, Fortune losing. Even Vegas fans are expecting it. It the team loses; Dasher will be crushed.
The teams are warming up, and I seek him out. His parents are a few rows in front of me. When he sees them, he sees me. I wave but he turns. I don’t know if he saw me or if I’m a distraction he’s trying to avoid. I’m not here to cause problems, I’m here to support.
The teams take their places; the captains go for the coin toss.
We lost. Greenville is receiving. Fortune’s defensive line takes the field and from play one it’s obvious that this is going to be a hard game.
I feel for everyone of those players. Greenville scores and as the announcer booms it over the loudspeaker, the camera pans to Dasher.
He waves at the camera, but I notice the fear in his eyes.
We all watch as he rushes on the field with the offensive line.
Jester snaps, Dasher steps back, looking for someone open.
When he doesn’t see anyone, he takes off running.
Everyone in the stadium is on their feet as he takes off.
He gets to about the ten-yard line when he is brutally hit by one of the Greenville players.
The whole place goes silent and then cheers when he gets up.
He looks a little unsteady. The team lines up again, but they kick a field goal instead of running it.
The line changes and Hart speaks to Dasher a few minutes before going back to watch the field.
Dasher sits on a bench, and some medical staff do some eye tests.
They must determine he’s good to go because Greenville scores again, dominating the game.
Dasher runs onto the field again and before he makes his play call he looks at me.
I’m not sure what to do, so I just stare back.
He should know I’m here to support him. He turns back to his line and calls out his play.
He passes to Dane, one of his running backs, who tries to find a pocket. There isn’t one, so he tries to just plow through, and he is taken down.
From where I am, I can see the frustration on the faces of the Fortune. Hopefully they will come back out after halftime with renewed hope or prayer.