The Penalty (Tortured Hearts)

1. McKenzie

ONE

MCKENZIE

I’m a liar.

To be fair, I didn’t want to lie. But when my dad asked me if I was doing ok and if I had enough money for this semester, there was no way I could tell him the truth. It would kill him to know that his only daughter can barely make ends meet.

The only way that I could get through the semester was to give up my apartment and spend my nights either in my car or crashing on other people’s sofas. My scholarship just barely covers my tuition, and I had to drop some of my hours at the restaurant I work at in order to fit all my credits in. One of my journalism classes is going to take up a lot of time because I have to attend sporting events to report on them and actually spend time with the team.

It’s only for one semester, so I figure I can handle it.

I couldn’t tell my dad the truth. Not after all he’s done for me and my brothers. I know there’s nothing he can do about it. He doesn’t have the money. He would be stressed if he knew the truth and tell me to come home, but that’s not an option for me. Or he’d try to take out another loan, which would put them in an even worse situation. No, I couldn’t let that happen. I went away to college to fulfill my dream of becoming a sports journalist.

So, I lied, but I did it for him. That counts for something, right?

“You’re sure you’re ok? Everything going ok at the restaurant?” he asks for the third time this phone call. He always worries about me, but it definitely got worse when I left for college. Not that I mind the calls I get while he drives to and from work or the check-in texts throughout the week. I just don’t want him to worry so much. I’ve got it covered. Mostly.

“Yes, Dad. You worry about taking care of Mom and Spencer,” I tell him. Luckily, my three older brothers are now out on their own. I’m here at La Vista University, a good two hours away from my hometown, so it’s just my mom and younger brother still living at the house. The problem is my mom recently went through chemo, and the costs associated with the treatments have added up quickly. Turns out the health insurance Dad got through his company was only good until something major happened, like, ya know, cancer. Now they’re in debt even though they won’t talk to us about it. I saw one of the monthly bills sitting on the counter one day, and it didn’t take a math degree to know he owed more than he made.

Mom is in remission now, which, of course, is the most important thing. But I hate that they have this burden on their shoulders. So, I refuse to add to it.

My parents strongly suggested that I go to a community college near home to save money, but I insisted on getting out of there. La Vista was my top choice school, and I was ecstatic when I got my acceptance letter. No one could have talked me out of coming here.

I don’t regret it. Not one bit.

Even now that my new bed is going to be the driver’s seat of my old-ass car, I’m still happy with my decision.

“Alright, baby girl. Well, you know if you need anything, you can call me.” My dad has always had a soft spot for me. By the time they had three boys, my parents for sure thought that baby number four was going to be another boy, but nope. Out I came and turned their lives upside down.

My brothers have always accused me of being Dad’s favorite. He’ll deny it until his dying day, but secretly, I think they’re right.

“I know, Dad. I’ve gotta run. I’m walking into my first class, but I’ll talk to you soon.”

We say our goodbyes, and I hang up just as I get to the building for my Cultural Diversity class. It’s a required course for my Sports Journalism major, but it’s not only for journalism majors. There are plenty of people I’ve never seen before walking into the class.

The lecture hall is filling up quickly as I walk in, so I take the first seat I can. It’s right next to a girl I don’t know, but she smiles at me, so I assume she’ll be friendly.

“Hi, I’m Kylie,” she says as soon as I’m seated.

“McKenzie,” I say, introducing myself.

“Are you a junior?” she asks.

“No, I’m a senior. You?”

“Junior. I just transferred here, though, so I feel kind of like a freshman.” She laughs nervously, and I instantly feel for her. I can’t imagine how hard it would be to come into a school where you don’t know a single person.

“Oh. Well, welcome to La Vista. You’ll love it here. There’s so much to do.”

Kylie scrunches her nose like she doesn’t know if she believes me. “Really?”

I laugh because, come on. This is Nebraska we’re talking about. “No, it’s boring as hell, but at least La Vista is a good school.”

“That’s what I’m hearing.”

“Are you from around here?” I ask. The professor walks in and starts setting up, but there are still a few minutes before the class actually starts, so we continue talking.

“No. I’m from Georgia, but my dad lives here. I needed a change of scenery, and he suggested I stay with him, so here I am.”

“I’m sure you’re going to love it here. In all seriousness, La Vista has a lot of great opportunities.” Not only is this one of the top universities in the country, but our sports programs are right up there, too. The football team is fantastic, and our soccer and volleyball teams have made it to the championships for the past five years. Plus, there are tons of clubs for students to join and ways to stay involved. Honestly, anything you could possibly want, La Vista has. It’s just when most people hear the word “Nebraska,” they don’t think fun. Outside the college campus, they’d be right.

“Yeah, that’s what my dad said. It’s just a lot different from the school I went to in Georgia, where I knew a lot of people. It’s a little overwhelming here,” she admits.

“I’m happy to show you around sometime if you want,” I offer. I haven’t really made many friends over the last three years. Sure, I have acquaintances and study buddies from my classes, but I mostly keep to myself. Between school and work, I don’t have much time for a social life.

Her eyes light up. “Really? That’d be great. Not to sound too desperate or anything, but I’ve been so worried I wouldn’t make any friends.”

I chuckle. She seems super genuine and nice. I don’t know why she would be worried about making friends. “Well, Kylie, I’m happy to be your first friend here.”

She smiles at me, but before she can say anything else, the professor kicks off the class. He quickly goes over the syllabus before we crack our textbooks open to chapter one.

After class, Kylie and I exchange numbers and agree to meet up in one of the dining halls after our next class to get lunch. It’ll be fun to have a girl to hang out with, even if it’s just an occasional lunch. Sports journalism is a male-dominated major here, so I’m mostly surrounded by testosterone. It’s nothing I’m not used to since I grew up with four brothers, but it’ll be nice to be around some feminine energy.

As we part ways after class, I already feel ten times lighter than I did on my way in. I can get through this semester. It’s not forever. I just have to keep reminding myself of this and keep thinking of the end goal. One day, I’m going to be a sports newscaster on a major network. I know it. And these next four and a half months will just be a blip in my memory.

“You’re sure this is what you want? Football?” Professor Moore asks me for the second time since I stepped foot in her classroom. This Television Sports Reporting class is the one I’ve been most excited for even if it is the primary cause of all my financial troubles this semester.

“Yes,” I answer confidently. Being on the sidelines of a football field and reporting on the games has been my dream since I was a kid. It makes it even better that it’ll be the La Vista University Bobcats because I grew up cheering them on with my dad and brothers.

She sighs. “Ok, well, I’ve got to warn you. Coach Danvers isn’t the easiest to work with. I’ve tried to place students with him in the past and it hasn’t ended well. He hasn’t even emailed me back yet regarding a placement for this semester.”

I’ve never officially met Coach Tyler Danvers, but I’ve seen him along the sidelines at games and occasionally around the school. He’s an enigma. He came in as one of the youngest college football coaches in the country and quickly turned our team around. We went from losing almost every game to being in the finals for the National Championship in less than five years.

While he’s done a lot for our team and school, he’s certainly not known as being super friendly or approachable. Rumor has it he eats, sleeps, and drinks football and doesn’t make time for anything else. That’s fine with me. All I need is access to his team and a few sideline interviews.

“I understand. I’ll go meet with him. He can’t avoid me if I’m standing in his office.”

Professor Moore smiles at me as if she’s amused by my determination. “Ok. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”

“I will. Thank you, Professor.”

I take my seat in class and listen to the lecture, but in the back of my mind, I’m figuring out how to make this my best semester yet. I’ve got a heavy workload, but it’s the classes I’m most excited about.

I will succeed this semester, and I certainly won’t let a hard-headed coach stand in my way.