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Authors: Heidi McLaughlin
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dreamed all his life about being a Tiger. He’s just listening too much to these other colleges feeding his mind with empty promises. Don’t you worry, Hal, Liam will pick Auburn on signing day.”
No, Hal, you should worry because I most definitely will not be picking Auburn on signing day. My dad thanks Hal and they promise to get together soon for a round of golf. It must suck having to kiss everyone’s ass all the time and while it should be my dad kissing Hal’s, it’s not. Hal wants me to suit up for him and that’s just not going to happen.
The car ride is silent. I watch the scenery as we drive to the next university. The radio is on NPR or some other political talk radio that I care nothing about. I just want to go home, back to Beaumont and Josie. I wish she could’ve come with me on these trips, but since one of my parents has to be present I knew it would never happen. But having her here would make the decision so much easier. I’m going to ask her if she’ll apply to wherever I decide to go. I know it’s a long shot, but I don’t think I can be away from her. Not like this.
I close my eyes and block out the noise from the road. My head rests against the window as he speeds down the highway. My life was supposed to be simple and I thought it was until recently. Now nothing makes sense. Last year if you’ve asked me about college, I could rattle off a million things I want to do with the NFL being my top priority. Ask me now and the answer is going to shock you.
“We’re here.” His voice is gruff and full of anger. The University of Alabama is not on his radar, but they’re on mine. We get out and he straightens his jacket immediately, sucking in his gut as a group of girls walk by. I shake my head and walk ahead of him.
“Now any one of those girls is worth bringing home.”
I stop and look at their retreating backsides. “Really? They’re colors are crimson and white and I thought for sure you only saw blue and orange.”
“You’re looking at this the wrong, Liam. If you go to Auburn, you’ll have special liberties that others won’t.”
I shake my head. “I don’t want special liberties. I want to earn my achievements on my own merit. And I don’t want one of those.” I point to the girls. “What makes them any better, huh?”
“They’re here getting an education.”
“So? Josie’s going to college.”
He scoffs. “She’s waiting until the right moment to get pregnant so you have to support her for the next eighteen years.” He walks away before I can give a rebuttal, which is probably for the best because the next thing out of my mouth would’ve been, “ so what if she is ” and something tells me that Sterling wouldn’t appreciate that too much.
Chapter 13
B eing called out of class and told to report to the principal’s office is never a good feeling. I rack my brain as I walk to the office. I know I’m passing all my classes and all my absences from this week have been excused. I can’t imagine that I’ve done something so wrong that I’d have to meet with the principal.
I open the door to the office and stand at the counter while the secretary files her nails. She looks up, snapping her lips as if she’s moving her false teeth back and forth. Why they keep her around is beyond me. You can’t understand her when she talks and her hearing is too far gone to hear the phone ring. She motions for me to go into the office, not even calling the principal and tell her I’m coming.
I knock once and open the door. Mrs. Craft is sitting behind her desk, her head down and fingers flipping through a magazine. “Mrs. Craft I got a message to see you.”
She looks up and smiles. “Oh yes, Liam, come in and sit down.” I do as she asks. I bite my lip and wait for her to deliver the bad news. Only she doesn’t. She continues to look through her magazine while I sit across from her not knowing what’s going on.
The door opens. I turn and see my coach walk
No, Hal, you should worry because I most definitely will not be picking Auburn on signing day. My dad thanks Hal and they promise to get together soon for a round of golf. It must suck having to kiss everyone’s ass all the time and while it should be my dad kissing Hal’s, it’s not. Hal wants me to suit up for him and that’s just not going to happen.
The car ride is silent. I watch the scenery as we drive to the next university. The radio is on NPR or some other political talk radio that I care nothing about. I just want to go home, back to Beaumont and Josie. I wish she could’ve come with me on these trips, but since one of my parents has to be present I knew it would never happen. But having her here would make the decision so much easier. I’m going to ask her if she’ll apply to wherever I decide to go. I know it’s a long shot, but I don’t think I can be away from her. Not like this.
I close my eyes and block out the noise from the road. My head rests against the window as he speeds down the highway. My life was supposed to be simple and I thought it was until recently. Now nothing makes sense. Last year if you’ve asked me about college, I could rattle off a million things I want to do with the NFL being my top priority. Ask me now and the answer is going to shock you.
“We’re here.” His voice is gruff and full of anger. The University of Alabama is not on his radar, but they’re on mine. We get out and he straightens his jacket immediately, sucking in his gut as a group of girls walk by. I shake my head and walk ahead of him.
“Now any one of those girls is worth bringing home.”
I stop and look at their retreating backsides. “Really? They’re colors are crimson and white and I thought for sure you only saw blue and orange.”
“You’re looking at this the wrong, Liam. If you go to Auburn, you’ll have special liberties that others won’t.”
I shake my head. “I don’t want special liberties. I want to earn my achievements on my own merit. And I don’t want one of those.” I point to the girls. “What makes them any better, huh?”
“They’re here getting an education.”
“So? Josie’s going to college.”
He scoffs. “She’s waiting until the right moment to get pregnant so you have to support her for the next eighteen years.” He walks away before I can give a rebuttal, which is probably for the best because the next thing out of my mouth would’ve been, “ so what if she is ” and something tells me that Sterling wouldn’t appreciate that too much.
Chapter 13
B eing called out of class and told to report to the principal’s office is never a good feeling. I rack my brain as I walk to the office. I know I’m passing all my classes and all my absences from this week have been excused. I can’t imagine that I’ve done something so wrong that I’d have to meet with the principal.
I open the door to the office and stand at the counter while the secretary files her nails. She looks up, snapping her lips as if she’s moving her false teeth back and forth. Why they keep her around is beyond me. You can’t understand her when she talks and her hearing is too far gone to hear the phone ring. She motions for me to go into the office, not even calling the principal and tell her I’m coming.
I knock once and open the door. Mrs. Craft is sitting behind her desk, her head down and fingers flipping through a magazine. “Mrs. Craft I got a message to see you.”
She looks up and smiles. “Oh yes, Liam, come in and sit down.” I do as she asks. I bite my lip and wait for her to deliver the bad news. Only she doesn’t. She continues to look through her magazine while I sit across from her not knowing what’s going on.
The door opens. I turn and see my coach walk
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