Tension On The Field: Chapter One

Dedications

The name Joyce and Dwight came from my good friend Kellen Sharp who gave me the idea of these names. I told him I would dedicate him and so here he is. He was the only one who gave me ideas when I hitted a writer’s block. There’s also a little surprise stored for him in my story. Hope he likes it! I also dedicate this to Emma Hachemi for letting me borrow a book that gave me the idea to write this story. That story was really inspirational to me. Christian Sayavong for reading my stories every time I share them with him and giving me support. And of course Maggie Balistreri for giving me the encouragement and support that an author always need. She’s always has been there for me from the start. I always dedicate my stories to her. Thanks guys!

Chapter One

Times like these calls for my anger to flare. You see, I was at a football game with my cousin Dwight Hall when he got tackled brutally, since he was the quarterback for the Knights. That idiot that tackled Dwight was on the Wolves, our rival team in all sports. The idiot left with a smirk on his face while Dwight was mumbling curses about them. That was the end of the drive and defense was getting ready to go. Coach Hamilton called off certain people to go. I wasn’t one of them.

“Come on, Coach! Let me go!”, Coach saw the desperation and anger behind my helmet. Coach knew that when I was pissed I tended to leave the players injured a bit more. Coach smirked and nodded.

“Young, come back. Joyce, go!”, I grinned pleased. As I was passing Dwight, I whispered in his ears, "What number was he?”

Dwight put four fingers up and whispered back, "Kick their asses, Astraia.”

I threw him my largest grin, "You know I will!” I shouted this time energetically. Dwight shook his head with a grin on his face too. As I ran onto field into the huddle circle, players slapped my back enthusiastically. Even though, Darwin was the leader of the defense I was regarded with just as much respect and authority. Darwin didn’t mind either.

“I can’t be the only one who saw what happened with Dwight.”, The other players shook their heads, "With that much energy, we should have just as much, but more. Are you guys ready to put it to the test? Are you ready to kick some Wolves’ ass?” I was greeted with heartening words of Hell yeah! or You know it! I smiled at them. We were like a family. When someone hurts one of us we gave them the treatment right back.

I put my hand in the center. Others followed suit. “All right. On a count of three. One, two three, Knights!” We all ran into our positions; everyone energized. As I was in position, my heart was thumping rapidly. All I was aware of was the blood rushing inside my head and the quarterback calling out a play and hike. Like a rocket blasting off into space, I charged straight into the quarterback’s defenders. I admit that the defense of the quarterback was strong and hard to press.

As plays were done it came to fourth down and the Wolves were going for it. Doing the only thing that came naturally to me I charged again at their defense. Eventually, with the whole effort of the Knights I managed to break past the quarterback’s defense and sack the quarterback. I could hear the enjoyment from the Knights and the bitterness from the Wolves.

As we were getting up I mumbled to the quarterback, "That’s for number four. Give it to him, will ya? Thanks.”

That was the end of 2nd quarter and we took a break. I was slapped on the back enthusiastically as we were walking back to the sidelines. Congrats were made with a large grin; especially from Coach Hamilton and Dwight.

“Great job, Joyce.”, I nodded my head.

“Thanks, Coach.”

Dwight gave me a high five, "That was spectacular! They didn’t even see you coming.”, He starts to laugh, "Did you see the look on their faces? Oh, and especially on number four. I think he blanched.” I giggled. I did see the look on number four’s face. A sense of hostility was near me and I turned my head to see some of the Wolves glaring daggers at me. Number four and the quarterback included. I had an idea that really would take them off the cliff.

“Hey, Dwight. Do you mind filling up my water bottle?”

Dwight took it from my hands, "Sure thing. I don’t mind at all.”

“Thanks!”, I called out as he was walking away. Turning my attention to the Wolves I took my helmet off and my long, brown reddish hair came out in a messy low ponytail. I untied it and shook my head; letting my hair fall back in natural waves. I glanced back at the Wolves and I could see their shocked expressions. Just to make sure, I waved my hand flirtatiously and gave them a wink. Now they were beyond pissed. The steam that was coming off from them made me sweatier than before.

My refilled water bottle was in my face, "Here ya go.”, Dwight frowned slightly at my hair and took a glance at the Wolves. This time his expression was one filled with awe and delightfulness. Dwight shook his head slightly.

“You’re a little sphinx, you know that?”, I just shrugged my shoulders.

“I know, but I couldn’t help it. You know they piss me off. Plus, they were just asking for it.”

This time Dwight shrugged his shoulders, "I know you couldn’t. That’s why you’re our secret weapon.”, With a last grin he made his way onto the field.

I know that you’re probably thinking that girls can’t play football and etcetera. Well, this girl can. At Knights, we treat everyone with the same respect. This football was coed. Most girls I know, some that were also my friends, didn’t want to try out for a sport like football. They didn’t want to damage their makeup, hair, bones, etc. I agree with the part about the body, but seeing as to how I’m really advanced in the stuff I do I just couldn’t help it. The next thing I know, I was called to practice with the guys. At first, it was kind of awkward playing with the guys, but as time passed the guys accepted me as one of their own. Although, changing with the guys in the lockers room was embarrassing at first, but once they got the message that I wasn’t someone to mess with they stopped trying to peek. With Dwight as captain he wouldn’t put up with anyone trying to peek at his ‘little’ cousin.

By the end of the game, the Knights had won with a score of 28-21. We were all cheering even when we hit the lockers.

“Well, team. You guys did a great job. No practice next week on Tuesday. Joyce, great ass kicking on the field today.”, I blushed. Compliments from Coach Hamilton wasn’t often, "Now, hit the showers. All of ya stink. If you don’t mind, I would like all my players looking nice and refreshing.”

I rolled my eyes. So typical of him. With all my gear in my locker and my gym bag around my shoulders, I headed to the showers. Even though, we considered ourselves as family I was still aware of the fact that I was taking a shower with thirty-three other males. Doing the typical thing to do, I decided to take a shower farther away from the males. Wrapping myself in a towel, I hastily shedded all my clothes.

Several minutes later, I was out of the building and waiting outside for my older brother, Arin, to pick me up. Surprisingly, he was already there waiting for me when I walked outside. I raised my eyebrows at him and opened the passenger side door climbing in.

“I watched you play.” Now it made sense. Normally, he’d be on a few minutes late, but he was never early. He wasn’t as punctual as some people I know, mainly me.

“So, how’d I do?”, I heard him chuckle softly and he glanced at me for the first time in the car. There was a twinkle in his eyes.

“How’d you do? Gosh, I don’t know. For a girl your size and age, you sure have the strength to tackle someone who weighs two or three times as much as you.” Self-consciously I took a look my build. I wasn’t big nor small. I had the right build for a girl, but that didn’t stop me from looking at myself as a girl. Sure, I play sports, but I didn’t have, as some guys would say, the biggest area in the front nor in the back.

I shrugged my shoulders with a grin, "Well, I did learn from the best.” Arin just ruffled my hair and was discussing some plays with me on the way home. Every since, I had an interest in sports, when I was about eight years-old, Arin had made it his priority to teach me all he knew about sports, especially football since he was on the football team in high school. Arin was older than me just by six years. He was in college, but he stayed at home. Arin went to college when he was 20. He was already in his second year at college. He was going to become an FBI technical analyst. I was also in my second year of high school, sophomore, and I had just turned 15 recently.

My dad was sitting in the kitchen table as we walked in eating a bowl of ice cream.

“How’d go the game?”, My eyes shined as I was impatient to inform him.

Arin just shook his head with a chuckle, "You shouldn’t of asked that?”

A worried expression appeared on his face, "What do you mean?”, Arin just motioned for me to tell him and I did so excitedly.

Arin just tossed his phone to our dad, ”I have the whole thing recorded. I’d figure you want to watch how it went. Next time, we are using a digital camera. My phone is going to die if I keep it up like this.”, Our dad just ignored him though, too engrossed in the video watching his daughter sack the quarterback. I headed upstairs too tired to complain. As soon as I hit the bed, I’d knocked out as fast as a flame in the middle of a winter storm.