Chapter - Carter
Carter
Hanging out with Nate isn’t just sex; it’s so much more than that.
We played hours of Super Smash Bros and Mario Party, and I somehow got him to play Monopoly, even though he claimed to hate it.
We scrolled Reddit together, cracking up at the most unhinged comment threads.
I even made him dive into Harry Potter fanfiction, which is my absolute favorite.
Some of those Reddit writers basically live in my brain.
The best part was this past Thursday night.
I spent three hours alone finishing most of Season One of Schitt’s Creek, but only because the deal was that Nate had to keep reading Deathly Hallows, the seventh Harry Potter book.
He’s halfway through now and totally obsessed, except he’s over all the deaths.
I don’t blame him. You spend seven books falling in love with these characters, and then poof, they’re dead.
But seriously, spending time with Nate these past two weeks pumped me up. I know it’s going to show on the field today.
***
We’re all in the locker room, getting hyped, when Jack Sanders, the cute tight end I used to lowkey fawn over, shouts, “Let’s fucking go! We got this! We’re the underdog in this game by three points, which is a new record! When have we ever been this close to being favored in past seasons?”
His energy is contagious. I throw my arm around Marcus and Josh and start jumping, yelling, “Let’s go! Let’s go!” The whole team joins in, bouncing and shouting, caught up in the moment.
After our hyped-up pregame celebration, the team rushes onto the field through the tunnel. We are clearly ready for the game to begin and start the first quarter hot.
It’s already the second quarter, and it’s clear our pregame celebration worked because we came out hot. We’re up by 10 points, which might not sound like much, but for us, it is huge.
Personally, I’ve got 20 rushing yards and 10 receiving yards so far, all from one screen pass from Miller and a few rush plays up the middle. Not bad for just one quarter. I know I can do better, but I’m off to a solid start.
Arizona has the ball to start the second quarter, and they’re driving hard.
Our defense can’t seem to stop them. I’m not sure if it’s because they’re exhausted or Arizona’s offense just decided to turn it on, but in under three minutes, our cornerback trips over himself, and the receiver is left wide open in the end zone.
A deep 40-yard Hail Mary to their star receiver, and they score.
Miller looks at us and says, “We got this. We’re still up by three.”
After a 30-yard punt return, we start on our own 30-yard line. Good starting position.
On the first play, I rush left and am tackled hard after gaining five yards. I’m a little dazed getting up, but a few seconds later, I’m good to go.
The second play is a perfect 20-yard pass to Jack Sanders, who is becoming Miller’s go-to guy. Jack’s always been the muscle, known more for blocking than catching, but this season, he’s determined to be a receiving threat as well. And it’s evidently working.
The next two plays are runs up the middle, where I grind out a total of seven yards. I catch Coach McCormick waving me off the field and putting in the backup RB for the next snap.
“Take a breather,” Coach says, slapping me lightly on the shoulder. “We need you for the rest of the game.”
I nod, breathing deeply to get some oxygen. The backup, a stocky 250-pound bus, plows forward three years and snags us the first down.
We’re now around the 40-yard line and inching into field goal range. Seven minutes have ticked off the clock. Perfect. This is exactly what we need: control the ball, control the game.
Coach pats me again. “Get back in there.”
Miller locks eyes with me like he knows I’m getting the ball. My chest tightens with nerves, but I shake it off. Thinking about Nate helps me focus. His smile. His body. His warmth. It calms me down instantly.
Miller hikes it. I swing out left, run ten yards, then cut back in, and the ball’s already in my chest. Instinctually, I turn and sprint forward, slipping past defenders for an easy 20-yard gain before running out-of-bounds close to the end zone.
With no huddle, Miller snaps it immediately. I throw a block on the edge while he scrambles right for 20 yards, completely untouched, and crosses into the end zone.
He breaks into his signature shimmy dance in the end zone, and I can’t help but laugh. I jump onto him as the rest of the team joins in.
We’re up 17, with the half nearly over. We’re so going to win this.
We take that high energy into the locker room, all of us jumping up and down. But Coach McCormick raises a hand, his voice cutting through the excitement. “It’s only halftime. Relax. 17 points is nothing; we need more.”
That shuts us up. We glance at each other, nodding, and settle down to listen as Coach lays out the game plan for the second half.
By the end of the third quarter, Arizona creeps back and ties the game.
I don’t blame the defense. I blame us. The offense gets completely stuffed the entire quarter. We end with no points for the entire third quarter.
Now, it’s the start of the fourth. Fifteen minutes left to win this thing.
We open with a three-and-out and barely take three minutes off the clock. I see the stress all over Coach’s face, but I try not to let it get in my head.
I jog over to Marcus and say, “You got this. Go get that interception.”
He doesn’t get the pick, but on second down, he gets a sack, knocking Arizona back a few yards.
On third down, their quarterback throws another Hail Mary. It’s somehow caught again by the same speedy receiver. Their receiver sprints out-of-bounds at our 30-yard line untouched. We cannot guard this guy.
They run it up the middle three times and go nowhere. But they kick the field goal and take the lead, 20–17, with seven minutes remaining.
Before we take the field, I feel a burst of energy and motivation. I start yelling, “We got this! One touchdown! Nothing to lose! Let’s go!” Miller nods, eyes full of fire, and we head back out.
After four plays, we’re already at midfield. Three minutes left. Coach calls a timeout to stop the clock.
Our final timeout quickly ends, and we rush back onto the field, thankful that we caught our breaths. Miller hikes the ball and fires a screen pass to me. I take it 10 yards before getting tackled in the stomach; it's painful but way better than taking a hit to the head.
Next play, Miller connects with Jalen Briggs for 15 yards. Briggs has been quiet all game, but when it counts, he shows up.
After the two-minute warning, Coach signals a run play. I rush up the middle twice, gaining 10 yards total. Arizona burns both of their final timeouts.
With 90 seconds left, I rush up the middle two more times, but this time, I get stuffed. Clearly, we need to come up with a new game plan.
Now it’s third down. Miller, with pure concentration, drops back and throws a perfect fade toward the end zone. Jack stretches out, dives, and catches the touchdown.
The sideline explodes with applause and excitement. Between Miller’s throw and Jack’s catch, it’s just unreal.
We’re up by four. There are only 30 seconds left.
Anything can happen, but Arizona has no timeouts, and our defense is fully rested, so I have extreme confidence.
We sprint off the field and wait in silence as the defense heads out.
After a punt into the end zone, Arizona takes over at their 20-yard line with just 30 seconds to go.
Their quarterback drops back and tries to scramble to the left, then to the right, but our defenders get to him quickly. He panics and throws the ball away.
Next play. He drops back again, and it's the same thing; he scrambles all over the place and is clearly in a panic. The only difference is this time, Marcus gets there, and boom, he gets his second sack of the game.
As the game clock strikes zero, we explode onto the field, screaming, celebrating, full of adrenaline. It’s the first game of the season, and we pull the upset.
The hope is that momentum continues and we secure a playoff spot. I know that this is just the beginning and will not be our last epic win.
Back in the locker room, the excitement continues. Coach walks in with the game ball, holding it high.
“Marcus,” he says. “Two sacks. One sealed the win. Well deserved.”
We all cheer for Marcus. I am so happy for Marcus; he earned it. But I’m proud of myself, too. I need to keep this up because this team is now my home. I want to be here in New York, with Nate, with this team.
I ended the game with a little over 100 yards from scrimmage. No touchdowns, but that is irrelevant. We won the game, and I did my part; that is all that matters.
While I am bare ass getting dressed, Josh comes up to me and pats my back, “Let's grab a drink.”
“Can I get dressed first?” I joke.
“I’d prefer you like this, thank you.” Josh reciprocates.
After being caught by Josh, our relationship has flourished. I feel free around him, and I love how he can be himself around me. Still acting ridiculous and saying ridiculous shit like what he just said to me.
***
After we finish getting ready, we start to head out, which is when Marcus catches up to us and says pleading, yet playfully, “I am coming with you; I need to celebrate with someone and not alone. I beg you, let me join.”
I say with a grin, “Call Becky; maybe she can help you celebrate.”
Marcus chuckles, clearly understanding where I am getting at, and yells, “Nothing happened with us, idiot. Also, Boys' night out!”
I say, “Of course, drinks on you then. I do have to leave after an hour or so, though. I have plans with a friend.”
Marcus and Josh look at each other with grinning smiles, and both say sarcastically to each other, “Yeah, a friend.”
I laugh. “I will tell you about it over drinks.”
We get to this bar, where hopefully no one recognizes us. Sadly, I am wrong, as we are swarmed and congratulated by fans.