5. Bailey
5
Bailey
Tuesday
I t was football that got me out of bed the next morning. I had spent the night trying to convince myself of lies that had to be truths and truths that were undoubtedly lies. Like, that's not how it happened , I told myself as I replayed the events of that night in my head. Accidents happen on farms all the time. Really, in the end, what was reality but our perception of events? How I perceived the events of that day were exactly how they’d happened. Right?
No.
Maybe.
I hated lying, but I hated lying to myself even more. I wasn’t daft; I didn’t like treating myself as such. So, while I needed a reason, a distraction, a focus this morning…football fluttered into my mind. Practice was first thing in the morning, and there were chores to do, so I had to get up. With newfound conviction, I turned off my alarm, wincing as the clock read four-thirty.
No one was in the barn this early in the morning, which was how I enjoyed it. I completed my tasks, feeding and watering everyone before cleaning their stalls.
The sun was starting to rise as I walked up to the house, still in my pajama pants and a hoodie.
“You’re up early,” Dad said. He held a cup of coffee in his hand as he sat on the porch, watching the sun rise.
“I have to be at the school by six-thirty.”
If the thought of football was the first thing to get me going, my dad’s happiness was a close second. The pride that had shone in his eyes the night before glistened in them now; his smile was infectious. “Do you know what position you will play?”
“No, I’m not really on the team yet. I’m going to watch practice today, then Coach will tell me.”
Dad nodded and looked out over the field in front of the house. “I sat out here, as I normally do for my first coffee, and was looking out over that patch of grass…right there.”
I turned, so I could see where he was pointing. I didn’t notice anything significant.
“That’s where you caught your first football.” He was grinning like a fool, which almost made me choke up. “You were in kindergarten, and your friends played every recess. One day, you came home, begging me, ‘Daddy, please, please teach me.’” He laughed, and I shook my head at the voice he gave little me .
“And I was a natural, wasn’t I?” I joked.
He nodded slowly, still reminiscing. “You never gave up. That’s in your blood, Bailey. We McCormicks, we never give up. You’ll join the team, it’s just what we do.”
I put my hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “Gee, Dad, thanks for the pressure.”
He laughed at me as I walked into the house.
Just like that, the night before fled from my mind. I focused on getting ready and grabbing something quick to eat. Mom was in the kitchen, baking as usual, but as I turned around to leave, she stopped me and handed me a large container of fresh muffins. “In case anyone is hungry after practice,” she said, like it was no big deal she’d just handed me a few dozen muffins.
It was cold enough that I had to throw on a sweater. The drive to the city was completely clear, not a single car in sight. I shook my head. That’s because everyone was still warm in their beds, tucked in.
The only bonus to getting up so early was that the parking lot was empty when I got to the school. I made sure to not park close to Chase’s red car, though. I got out of the truck just as a loud rumble entered the parking lot.
The sleek black motorcycle revved as the driver glided into the lot and parked beside my truck. I tried not to stare, or at least make it obvious I was staring. A large sports bag was strapped to the back of the bike.
I started walking away when Nolan’s voice stopped me. “Where’re you going?”
I spun around. He held the helmet under his arm as he turned the bike off. “This is yours ?” I asked, surprised. I walked up to it, this time staring and appreciatively taking it in like I’d wanted to do before.
“Well, I didn’t steal it.” He laughed, unbuckling his football bag and walking up to me. He wore a black leather jacket and leather biking pants. He tucked his gloves into his helmet. “I’m surprised you came. Did you have coffee yet?”
I shrugged. “Meh, I don’t drink coffee much. You?” We began walking down to the field.
“And risk vomiting it up? No, thanks. I didn’t have to drive forty minutes, though. I live like twenty away.”
“Lucky. I had to do chores before coming here, so I’ve been up for two hours already,” I complained.
“I’ll take your chores if you take my morning workout and protein shake.” He shuddered.
“You did a workout…before coming to practice?” I raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you going to wreck your body?”
“I'm used to it.”
More guys were making their way to the field, some already on the field.
“Are you practicing with us?” Nolan asked.
“I’m watching this one. I’ll be up in the bleachers.”
“You came all this way at the ass crack of dawn just to sit in the bleachers?”
I shrugged. “Well, we will see.”
Coach waved at me and ran over. “Bailey, glad you could make it. How does the early morning feel?”
“I’m used to it,” I assured him.
He smirked. “Good. Our practices normally run two to three hours. Most of the time, we get out here, but there will be some days in the gym, library, and the weight room. I expect all players to watch their emails, so they know where to be.”
I nodded, not even realizing our school had a weight room.
“Have a seat, and watch how the team does practice. If you decide it’s not for you, no need to say anything. Just head on to school.”
“Thanks, Coach.” I walked over to the bleachers and sat down at the bottom. It wasn’t long before I was regretting my decision. The metal bleachers were frozen, and the cold was beginning to seep into my body with my lack of movement. Poor Nolan too. He looked cold as he pulled off his leather gear, wearing only his shorts and T-shirt. When he glanced back at me briefly, I gave him a smile and a wave, but to my shock, he started running back toward me.
“Here,” he said, taking his leather jacket and wrapping it around me. “You’d probably be warmer out on the field.”
I grabbed the edges of the jacket and pulled it in close. “Thanks.”
He ran back onto the field with Lachlan, who gave me a wink before turning around to join the group. I looked over everyone on the team to see if I knew any of them. Ethan and Chase were obvious, but I had quite a few classes with the others as well.
Soon, the whole team congregated together and began running. Nolan was in the lead as, one by one, everyone fell into a single file behind him. Nolan would call out—I couldn’t hear exactly what—and the last guy in line ended up sprinting to the front as the rest maintained a steady speed. Nolan called out again, and this time, it was Lachlan’s turn, sprinting hard as he made it to the front. It was the sixth guy that had to sprint who was having trouble. He didn’t seem to be able to push hard enough to take on the line; he was halfway there when he started slowing. Nolan called out a cheer, and the whole team chanted, clapping in tune.
I wasn’t running with them, but I felt it. The chanting, the camaraderie, the adrenaline. I moved to the edge of my seat, egging the guy on. I didn’t know who he was, but I wanted him to make it. As if we all held some sort of power that we were transferring to him, the guy moved faster, pushed himself harder, until he was finally at the front of the line and able to slow to an easy, steady jog.
Ethan was next. For such a big guy, I had expected him to move slow, but I should’ve known better. Ethan had never been the kind to fall behind. He had always worked hard to make sure he was just as good as, if not better than, anyone else. He made it to the top of the line quickly, his long legs giving him an advantage.
Chase was right behind Nolan, not even breaking a sweat when he sprinted, his muscles pumping, his hair moving in the wind.
“You’re drooling,” Hadley’s voice snapped at me.
I hadn’t even seen her come down to the field, Emma and Katie, her two friends, in tow. I sighed and decided not to give her the satisfaction of looking at her. I was focusing on the practice, which wasn’t exactly difficult. More than half the football players were panty-dropping hot. Maybe I was drooling a little, so sue me.
Hadley scoffed and began whispering loudly to Emma and Katie, something about Chase, which I really had no interest in listening to.
A few parents were making their way to the bleachers as well, watching their kids practice. One man sat a few spots down from me.
Nolan was sprinting next, and he made his sprint look like an easy jog, overtaking the line and ending in front again. He brought the team back to where the coach stood, and they all spread out, stretching out their limbs while Coach talked with them. There were three other coaches on the field, none of whom were teachers I recognized. I wasn't even sure if they were teachers at all.
It wasn’t long before the guys were grouped and moved around the field. Some got their gear on and were working on tackles, others were throwing the ball, and others were running through an agility course. Nolan and Ethan were together, working on a handoff. I focused on them, watching the fumbles as Coach instructed them through it.
“Come on, Nick,” the man on the bleacher near me said under his breath. He was obviously a parent, even though he sat away from the other parents. He had dark hair and broad shoulders, a typical-looking sports buff. I bet he was one of those parents at little league games who had to be benched or kicked off the field for arguing with the ref.
Nick. I looked around the field. I didn’t know all the players, but I knew most of them. There was no Nick on the team. I shrugged it off.
“Goddamn it, Nick,” he said again, just as Nolan fumbled the ball from Ethan. I looked over at him again and realized he was staring directly at Nolan and Ethan. When he turned back to sit on the bleachers, I caught a glimpse of his face. He had a striking resemblance to Nolan.
After a few good handoffs, Ethan and Nolan went to join the other groups. Coach ran everyone hard, but as time went on, Lachlan seemed to be gaining energy, not losing it. It was entertaining to watch him and another player dance their way through the agility course like it was nothing to them. Even Nolan found it amusing, calling out to them and hyping them up. Soon, they were going head-to-head, trying to one-up one another, but Lach was damn fast. He must’ve been holding off during his sprint that morning because he could take everyone, twice over.
Coach called everyone in, and he must have told them to get their gear on because they all broke off to do just that.
“Why are you here?” Hadley asked, moving down from the bleachers to stand near me.
I frowned at her. “I’m watching the practice, just like you and like all the parents over there.” I waved to the other bleachers, where half a dozen parents now sat, watching their kids.
“Yeah, well, you don’t have a boyfriend here. Are you seriously so desperate for Nolan that you have to stalk him here too?”
I ignored her and pulled Nolan’s Jacket closer around me. Even though it was warming up outside, I still felt comfort in it. Like it might somehow protect me from Hadley. From the corner of my eye, the man I was fairly sure was Nolan’s father glanced at me before turning back to the practice. I shrank down, wanting to hide.
“Hadley,” Emma whispered.
“What? Everyone knows she was all over him during class too. Poor guy can’t breathe.”
I was pretty sure Nolan was avoiding her for that exact reason, and it wasn’t like anyone noticed me in classes. I kept my focus on the practice in front of me. It looked like they were going to scrimmage, almost like a mini game.
Coach jogged over to me. “What do you think so far? Think you can keep up with them?”
Only one thing came to mind about what I’d seen so far. “It sucks sitting on the bench. I want to be on the field.”
Coach chuckled. “You’re a good kid, Bailey. The team is going to scrimmage next. You remember Mark from yesterday? I want you to watch him and Lachlan. Lachlan is number thirty-three, Mark is number four.” Coach pointed. “Those are positions I can see you going into, based on yesterday. However, nothing is permanent. If you’re not comfortable with either, we have other spots.”
“Okay.” I nodded. Coach took off back toward the field. He was doing his best to accommodate me, which told me just how desperate the team was for more players.
“Oh my god, seriously? You are joining the team? Wow, stalker much?”
My heart was hammering in my chest when I turned to face her. I wasn’t sure what I was going to say. I didn’t want to be confrontational, but the comments were becoming too much. “Hadley, seriously, I didn’t talk to you before. I don’t care what you have to say now.” There.
“Yeah, because you know it’s true.”
I rolled my eyes. No matter what I said, it would never get through her thick head. I may as well give up now. I watched the scrimmage intently, keeping an eye on Lachlan and Mark. Again, Ethan and Nolan fumbled the ball.
“Fuck’s sake, Nick!” the man next to me called as he jumped up and stormed off the field toward the parking lot. No one on the field seemed to hear him.
“Spaz,” Hadley muttered.
When the ball finally went into play, I tracked my two targets. Lachlan was just as fast, if not faster, while in full gear. He and Nolan were great together, a dangerous duo. They had a knack for silent communication and everything. The moment Lachlan was ready, Nolan already had the ball sailing through the air to him. Lachlan was agile and almost like a dancer as he weaved in and out of players. I winced when someone took him down with a hard tackle, though.
That might be me, if I decided to officially join the team. Would I be able to take a hit like that? It sounded like thunder as their shoulder pads hit, but Lachlan got up as if it was nothing.
Mark was fairly good too. He ran a lot of handoffs and pushed through players, but his large size put him at a disadvantage, making him much slower and easy to catch. His position seemed to be fit for a smaller person.
The scrimmage was start and stop a lot while Coach explained some things and the other coaches moved players around to different positions. It was obvious the whole team was still getting settled into their positions. Once Coach called an end to practice, I was surprised two hours had passed.
Part of me was a bit worried I may have gotten in over my head by jumping up and joining the team, but the other part was itching to get on the field. Plus, I couldn’t get that look Dad had given me out of my head; he really wanted me to play.
All my thoughts were silenced as Chase, Nolan, Lachlan, and Ethan all started walking toward me. Those butterflies in my stomach? The flutters I couldn’t remember ever having felt before? Yeah, they were going wild. I knew I had a goofy-ass grin across my face as I watched them, sweat soaked, hair a mess from helmets, walking toward me, but I couldn’t help it. It was too good to be true. Ethan turned off toward the parking lot, while Hadley ran straight into Chase’s arms with a squeal about his sweat stink when he embraced her.
Lachlan lifted his hand, and it looked as if he might reach out for me, but at the last second, he pulled back and grabbed the back of his neck. “So, you’re joining, right?”
“Of course, she is.” Nolan grinned. “How can she say no to this?” He shook his sweat-soaked hair, splatters landing on me.
“Ew.” I exaggerated my disgust as I stepped back from his line of fire. “I don’t know. Some of those tackles were pretty hard,” I teased, looking up at Lachlan.
He shrugged. “I’m not going to say it doesn’t hurt, because it does, but the armor helps.”
“You’re going to scare her away.” Nolan shoved at Lachlan, stepping in front and blocking him from my sight. “It doesn’t hurt at all, easiest game ever.”
“No, no, no, you don’t know her well enough yet.” Lachlan stepped around Nolan. “See, Nole, Bailey doesn’t get scared.” He turned his eyes to me. “Do you, Bails?”
He was right about the old me. Little Bailey hardly ever got scared. If she did, she would face whatever scared her head-on. Little Bailey lived a sheltered life and knew she was protected from anything. Me, now…well, let’s just say I wasn’t anything like Little Bailey anymore. I had plenty of nightmares to fuel the fear.
“Plus, if you really want to get her, you just gotta say the right thing,” he continued. “Bailey, the tackles won’t hurt if you are fast enough to dodge them. I mean, do you even think you can do that?” He grinned.
I got what Lachlan was doing. He was appealing to my competitive nature, the side of me that ignited the fire within. The problem was, I wasn’t sure where that side was anymore. I didn’t want to disappoint him, though, so I dug down deep to find the sass to tell him off, but then Coach walked up to us.
“What do you think, Bailey? Still interested in joining?” he asked, and I couldn’t help but see the hope in his eyes. The grin from Lachlan. The frantic head nod from Nolan. The team was desperate for players…and the people I cared about were desperate for this team. I needed the distraction.
“I guess I have some free time.” I smiled.