The Inevitable Evidence

11.

PDV Tobias

We're all in the locker room.

Sitting on the benches, without speaking, all preoccupied with our thoughts and the encouraging speech of the coach. He is giving us his last instructions before Damian manages our game for the afternoon game.

I can't even hear what the coach tells us, leaving us a little before kick-off, I can't see Driss' legs trembling with stress or Jaison grinding his fingers, or even Oscar reassuring Joshua by stroking his back so much that my stress is at its peak. It's finally time and I didn't think I'd feel stress like that, it's like we have a responsibility to keep and it's winning. I can't tell myself that we're going to win, but rather that we're going to lose. I've always been a defeatist and not confident at all, putting a lot of pressure on myself when in real life I could rest on my comrades since we're in the same boat but... No. However, Damian reassured me last night before I fell asleep and I admit that it made me feel good because I felt that I mattered and that I could count on him, he reassured me and repeat that I was a good player and that we were going to win. But seeing Jaison, Emilio, Driss and Eidan reassure myself I get back into my negative thoughts, they would have been there for me too, if I had not done even if I was forced to and I realize that my thoughts are always the same but I can not say anything other than that, I do not regret my choices but it is true that I would have liked to have this consideration that they always granted me ...

I didn't realize that I had lifted my legs on the bench and put my head on my knees and my arms around them, or that the possibility of shaking was true. I can't hear the guys' hubbub at all so I don't hear Jaison bending down in front of me either, it's when he puts a hand on my knee that I raise my head, questioning him with my eyes.

"Unfortunately, I still know you at your fingertips. So please don't stress out because we need to concentrate and ready to face the other clowns. You have an important place on the team, we all count on you Goldsmith so chase your black thoughts out of your mind and take my hand. He said, accompanying the word to the gesture, getting up and reaching out to me.

-      I...

-      Don't say anything. It is not on this match day that we will have a conversation. Now take my hand."

And I'm taking his hand. He smiles at me and integrates me into the conversation of Emilio, Niall and Kwan who talk about the few little strategies we talked about with Damian without the coaches. Kwan is a bit in the same condition as me but he   looks serene on the other hand. We smile and Jaison pats my shoulder as she walks away when Driss calls her. I watch him go and tell me that he at least is mature enough to help me again despite everything I've been able to do since the beginning of the year.  Thank you...

**

I close my eyes and breathe. I'm ready. Ready to face the Ohio team. I'm ignoring everything. The coach comes back - it's time - and puts his hand in front of us. We all stand up, and we each put our hands on each other. We all look at each other with this smile and this unfailing complicity that we acquired on the training ground; I finally notice. We are all ready and determine to win. The characters of each, the audacity of one and the stress of another mix to form a single character, that of winner. Our team cry vibrates inside my ears and we leave the locker room with our helmets in hand. I exchange a look with Damian, who winks at me, and we enter the field.

The lights blind me when it's my turn to enter the field. I hear the screams and cheers of the whole audience. I see the cheerleaders towards our bleachers shaking their pompoms and shouting our names. I distinguish my father with my two brothers, he carries Austin on his shoulders and he gives me great signs to which I answer. I see Maddison smiling at me and  whispering a "good luck» with a beautiful smile and I walk straight to her to kiss her before letting go and turning to my team to put my mouth guards that hand me Emilio and directs me to Adam who calls me to help him put as he does his atele in the leg since he had the good idea to hurt himself before the game but he says he can play so we'll see.

Once the leg warmer is put, I rise and lack of fall when Jaison passes just in front of me, I follow him with my eyes and see Melora arrived to meet her also. I feel like I'm in a rosewater movie that she was forcing us to watch with her. Urgently "To all the boys I liked" because she arrives with the football jersey number of it inscribed on her two cheeks but compared to Lara Jean, she raised her hair in a big crazy bun on the top of her skull, she was simply inspired by this scene because by looking up, I see Harmony, Laurie and Auxalia with the jersey numbers of the boys.

When they reached Prescott, they hugged each other for long seconds over the fence. She strokes his back and I guess she whispers phrases of encouragement to his ear, he sticks his mouth on his forehead sign that she should not be worried before taking her back in his arms, he always kisses Melora on the forehead, like a big brother and a protector and I always found it incredibly cute and adorable. I am slightly impressed by this scene because I know that she would have done the same for me or rather something similar because she always managed to decipher us and know what one wanted and the other not, to reassure us each in his own way and distinctly.

And I understand that I have a bitter taste that will remain present for a long time in the mouth...

I hear Damian call Jaison because the match is about to start, I try to look away but it's missed, I see for the first time Melora immersed in the ocean gaze of our captain away from the gaze of Jaison who has already turned his heels. Since what I thought I saw and a discussion with Damian, I wonder if Damian didn't lie to me when he swore to me that nothing was happening, that he hated her and that he had just gone to her to tell her something about Harmony. I blow and I realize that Niall takes me with him and pats me on the shoulder and thanks to him, I refocus and stay focused on the game until the last minute before the game.

Let's hope my feelings don't get the better of me during the game... 

The first quarter is announced by the man in black and white. My stress multiplies but Damian quickly comes to me, puts his hand on the side of my face so that I only look at him and I focus on the match, by plunging his blue eyes into mine he asks me that I remain lucid and with him, that he needs me, his best friend. It's amazing how he can feel when I stress or even all my emotions but on the one hand, I thank him for having me so well identified since he helps me a lot despite everything, I would never think it would be one day... I give him back his words, for the first time, and we're heading to the edge of the stadium because after the kickoff, the ball is at the Cleveland Browns. We all tap in the hand of Niall and Joshua, who run to place themselves in the defense. When I turn my head, I see Coach Willie putting on his helmet to give  Damian instructions once it's up to us to get on the field.

The whistle blows when I put my eyes back on the field. The quarterback of the opposing team, Ruben Sanchez who is a rather haughty guy and with whom Damian has already had problems, hits the ball with his foot to take it as far as possible, after backing away thanks to the offensive line that blocked our players. A guy from our team, Yvan, catches up with him pretty quickly and runs in a hurry towards the middle of the field before being tackled between 30' and 40' Yards. The crowd shouts his last name, proud of him. We applaud him and encourage the team by keeping our eyes on the game. Emil, the offensive coordinator, must probably be proud of the guys as he struggles to stay put and howls as loud as all of us put together.

**

This is their third attempt at attack, I'm biting my nails hoping that our team will still quickly tackle Ruben's team. This one is also in place and receives the ball from the center and throws it back to one of the running-backs who sprints. While our team forces the other players to block, Niall manages to intercept him and tackle him to the ground, which is worth a hit on his torso. Damian tends to face this action, a sign that the rivalry to go up a notch. I confess that when I see this action, I am determined to go out on the field and to turn them on. The referee whistles a foul, which suits us well and it's up to us to get on the pitch and we got back on our feet. Our captain puts on his helmet and I don't have time to say a word that he's already gone.

PDV Damian

I'm and back up. Ruben and I are an old story and we've always been competing since the sandbox. We used to be best friends but he made me too much of a sneak and a low blow so I ended up stopping our old friendship. When the coach told me we started the season with a game against them, I got cold sweats. Fortunately for me, I've always been transparent with the coach and he knows what I've been in before I get involved in football, Tobias doesn’t even know everything; That's why I don't give him time to see me so vulnerable and on edge especially that he doesn't need that right now.

We head to the center of the field; I'm surrounded by Adam and Jaison. Ruben arrives in front of me and I anchor my eyes in his, he has not changed; Always that provocative and proud look, especially that stupid corner smile made to look for you and get you out of lose your patience. It stinks of hypocrisy. He smiles at me and overtakes me, giving me a shoulder, I see Jaison wondering if everything is okay and intimates him with a nod that yes. We're going online, me behind with Driss and Jaison. Driss encourages us to mit-mot and makes us laugh with his teeth protector that makes him sputter; He winks at me when I give him instructions from Willie, ready to knock the Cleveland Browns down.

Adam holds the ball between his legs, tackled to the ground. He's waiting for my signal and throwing it at me. I don't take a second before throwing it to Driss who's already running outside while the offensive line is blocking the Cleveland Browns. Sasha blocks as much as he can his opposite as Emilio who is stronger than I thought and Driss passes the ball to Jackson who unfortunately gets tackled at 20' Yard. The audience is furious, the cheerleaders jump and cheer us on. I take a look at the coach or his side, stands my father, proud. Driss makes the comeback and gets pushed by a guy from the opposing team, I hasten to arrive and push him back. Driss is in euphoria, probably super proud of his race since he does not even pay attention to what the player of the opposing team has just done to him and that he congratulates Jackson but he puts his hand on my shoulder to thank me by coming down to earth and seeing the whole team outstretched.

The next action, we reproduce the same pattern but I pass the ball this time to Jaison which runs as fast as Driss until the end zone. I hold my breath hoping that he doesn't get tackled before, our defense fights as best it can, lets him pass when he can, pushes the Cleveland Browns and as soon as he enters the orange zone and let’s go of the ball, we rush towards him hearing at the same time «TOUCHDOWN"  coming out of the speakers put on either side of the stadium. Smiles split on all the faces of my team and we hug but we separate quickly, to stay fixed on our goal. We'll have time to do it after we win this game and we'll win it.

Emilio is the one chosen by the coach to kick the ball between the two posts and it is Eidan who holds the ball straight. Emilio easily scores the extra point which is worth 7 points against 0. I assess everyone's behavior and find that they are all out of breath but with a nice smile on my face that give me the courage to continue. The oranges, on the other hand, have a hard time holding back their anger and give us black looks to which I order not to respond to the risk of starting a general brawl before the end of the game, especially since the coach also forbade us.

**

Half-time has just been whistled. We all sit on the bench and hold our disgusted exclamations. The Cleveland Browns have just come back to score with a very well placed and played action, admittedly. The feint they perform is also remarkable. They made sure to lead our team by boat by making it seem that one had the ball while it was another, strategy rather childish but who to walk at our expense.

Niall comes back empty-handed but the coach takes him under his wing to re-motivate him while some drink water, others sit down to watch the cheerleaders do their sequence. We've got a really great coach. I take a look to support Maddison and see that Tobias is doing so much, he joins me with a bottle of water and we look at the performance of the girls. The team led by Maddison are really good, they have gained in technique and have more or less updated and Maddie has completely changed the initial choreography that was old to modernize it and make it a little more provocative to put the opposing team in sweat by flexible movements and really well manage that arouses the admiration of all. This is in any case my point of view judging by the guys of the team but also by the audience who cheer much louder and long our cheerleaders compared to the one opposite. 

The performance ends, I turn around and find that Jaison has gone back to the edge of the field to see Melora. Although I don't appreciate what he's doing because he has to stay focused because it's up to us to get on the field in no time, I know he needs her and I respect that. They exchange a few words and he comes running back, obviously with a smile on his face, to sit next to Emilio who can't contain his anger following the 7 points that Ruben's team have just scored and there's something to do but I'll take care of him later.

I open the bottle that Tobias took me and drink a few sips feeling a look behind my back, so I see a beautiful brunette waving at me. I then join her by running since there are only a few minutes left before the third quarter. I try not to get noticed, which is an impossible thing since I can already see this s look of Jaison and Emilio frowning as I arrive in front of Melora. When I look up at her, I read admiration and deep pride and it literally turns my stomach, I start to hate the beautiful smile that she gives me because I do not like what it causes in me, this emotion scares me.

I sit at the railing and wait for her to open her mouth, really not knowing why she calls me, given that many people are around and this will raise questions.

"A Wheeler problem? I'll say it, a little tense and dry.

-      None, I recognized Ruben. She replies by frowning at the agreement of her last name.

-      Excuse me, I don't want people to get ideas about us and there are always ears listening. I say, staring at her with my blue eyes that love to destabilize her. Everything is fine, I manage Ruben, he has not tried anything yet. I reassured her, since she had already been unlucky enough to meet him at my house, by chance.

-      I didn't think about calling you sorry. She said, putting one of her locks behind her ear as she loosened her hair.

-      Don't apologize, I'm glad I can have a moment, of course, with you. I smile as I hold back from stroking his cheek. You should go, guys are really going to be asking questions especially Jaison.

No sooner had I uttered this sentence, than he called me to tell me that the game resumed and that it was up to us to go on the field while shooting me with my eyes.

-      It's up to you to go, smash everything. I'm with you. She told me before I turned my heels with a huge smile on my face with a wink.

-      I promise I'll win. I say with a smile. And I promise to dedicate an extra point to you. I added, muttering, feeling her shivering against my hand on her arm. And...

-      And I promise to wait for you in front of your house, your heart beating even more than it is now. Does she end the conversation by touching my cheek with her hand."

When I see her away from me, my fists are clenched. I hear Tobias called me but it's like I'm walking next to the one I love, because yes, I love this girl when I shouldn't. I close my eyes thinking I can refocus but to no avail. The only thing I get is his smell, his smile and his last sentence. I end up blowing when it's the coach's turn to get me out of Melora's invisible grip and get back into my role as captain immediately, ready to humiliate the Cleveland Browns and especially honor my promises.

Jaison intercepts me by asking me what his best friend wanted me and I just explain to her that she wanted me to get a little less him after what he told me last week,he smiles weakly at me and apologizes because he knows that if I'm tough it's because I want to bring out the best in him, I am shocked and I take it by the shoulders and still be a little confused but no less happy to have managed to gain the confidence of my players and especially to have managed to keep Melora out of the conversation. When I get to the others, I take Emilio aside.

"Is everything okay?

-      Uh, yes. Don't worry, my anger subsided, so I went to see Harmony at the break.

-      You're right, you have to stay connected, you do a good job and your game so far is impeccable but don't give in to the provocations of the opposing team.

-      No problem Brett, thank you for taking me apart and getting back on the block.

-      That is my role, I want to do. I say on returning to the team.

-      Damian?

-      Yes?

-      You're a good captain, thank you.

-      Thanks to you Moretti."

PDV Driss

More than two hours have passed and the actions follow each other as well as the team changes whether in ours   or even in that of oranges and blacks. I am divided into annoyance and joy. Indeed, the Cleveland Browns just scored a touchdown and I don't lead wide, I let a player go and they were able to get in the Yards and then score in spite of us. I know the team doesn't blame me, Damian forces me to keep my composure and determination but it starts to diminish. We're all tired while the others are stronger than ever, they don't give us time to get the ball we're already tackled and I'm starting to lose my temper like Tobias just pushed a guy from the opposing team because he's been causing it since the first three down.

Besides, it is Emilio who pushes us to get into them, just like Joseph who yells at us to rush into the pile. Damian tries to pass the ball to Jaison or me, trying to clear the ball with his foot to send it to Eidan or even to make a pass to Kwan or Nicolas but it's hardly lost; They're all on our quarterback.

They manage to score again and now lead 21-7. We are upset, I really want to give up, so much so that I hit the bench or we sit after an action by an opposing player on Niall and even if it earns him a foul, I enrage. Coach Willie doesn't pay attention to me, and I understand that the action that just passed drives him crazy and I have no right to distract him. I believe it is this awareness that makes me sit between Jackson and Jaison, who hasten to take me by the shoulders, to reassure me and repeat to keep hope; I’m not alone in the team and we all count on each other.

**

We are back on the ground. The opposing team is starting to lose strength while we, thanks to Damian, have just recharged our batteries. We just had to remind us who we were in front of us, our goal and the people in the sidelines and in the stands, who rely on us.

Adam begins the strategy proposed by the coach, that is to say, to fool. He's in front of us and squirming his pelvis, passing his head to one side and then the other, which is worth the outraged looks from the Cleveland Browns, one of whom gets up and asks him what he's doing and that reaction is the same for the rest of their team. Our center does not take a crumb of their behavior and that is when he throws the ball to Damian who gets out and hits it with his foot, it arrives in the hands of Jackson and then Eidan who sprints to the line of oranges, turns and drops the ball in the end zone smiling proudly. I don't take long to yell:  

"THAT'S MY BABY! I TAUGHT HIM EVERYTHING! »

This makes the whole team laugh before we throw themselves at him to congratulate him.

The opposing team serves fists but we immediately stop our kisses, preferring to continue to do what we do from the beginning: ignore and not provoke. It’s Damian who shoots between the two posts and gives us an extra point, he turns to the stands and points someone quickly before taking me by the shoulders to get our defense in place.

Everything happens quickly, we don't have time to see the opponent's four downs because our defense starts strong by directly blocking the Cleveland Browns at 20 yards with the kickoff. Their turn ends and when we get on the field, the opposing players try to destabilize us by sending us peaks at lengths while we place. They insult us and we're more surprised than shocked at their behavior, tasked and it proves they don't know what to do anymore. We're ready and Damian frowns when he hears a request from the coach. He shares it with Jaison who exchanges a wink with me, and I immediately understand what the coach has just asked and I rub my hands with satisfaction. Adam places the ball and throws it to Damian. Here we go.

Our captain goes straight into the pile, gets hit and finally proves he doesn't have the ball but I'm already far away and I laugh like a lunatic and I hear the guys laughing in turn. I avoid a defender with a dance movement learned from my dear Auxalia, I will have to thank her and to continue in my momentum, I enter the end zone moonwalk by swinging the ball to Kwan by my laughing side.

I turn my head to the benches and the coach applauds, I'm too proud of my team, damn it! I don't have time to turn around as I already feel Emilio getting up in the air on his shoulders. The opposing team, on the other, asks for a break and we can finally breathe. We cross the field as heroes with all the applause of the people present in the stands, I see thousands of banners with the names of our team and children with our numbers on the cheeks.

We collapse on the benches and the coaches congratulate us by handing out bottles and ruffling our hair, very proud of us. I even see Damian running towards his father, who takes him with his arms, proud of him, like all of us.

**

PDV Tobias

I can't take it anymore, I'm gasping. I immediately take the bottle that Damian hands me. We can't take it anymore; the opposing team leads only 7 points but they are almost all on him and Jaison so it is difficult for us to get the ball up and they give our defense a hard time; They’ve completely exhausted themselves. I also can't concentrate so the break will do me the greatest good. The band enters the field and offers us their performances. Unfortunately, I am unable to enjoy their music because we go to the locker room because our coaches want to talk to us.

"Brett, it’s time to apply the strategy seen in training. Announce Coach Willie.

-      We can see that the opposing team is leading the way and its high time to show what you guys have in your belly! Even if we put in good deeds and a good game, we have to win this game! We encourage Joseph, the offensive coordinator.

-      Very well. We will apply what we have learned. Answer Damian, breathless but determined. We're going to show what kind of wood the Baltimore Ravens are heating up!

All the guys smile at him, probably proud to have such a good captain. Just like me.

-      Take care of yourself anyway. Move forward together as a team. And above all listen to yourself! Willie replica before you go out. You have five minutes.

-      Three! Libra Adam, putting his hand in the middle.

-      RAVENS!"

**

There's only three minutes left. We just exchanged our places because Ruben's team came to the end of their four downs. It is imperative for us to score the last seven points with the extra point to overtake the Cleveland Browns and thus win the game. We don't drop anything and for my part, always look towards the ball carrier.

Two players have been sticking me to the Basques since the beginning of the last quarter, they are really starting to inflate me. I dodge one of their tackles and rush to Driss who carries the ball, we exchange a look and when he makes the pass to me, I've never run so fast. I raise my head to see who is in front of me, I hear the orange players behind me trying by all means to bring me down but I smile behind my helmet, they do not suspect at all what we have just done ... Like them a little earlier.

All of a sudden, I'm tackled to the ground, and it's with disgust that the oranges discover that I don't have the ball. I offer them my most provocative smile. Indeed, as Driss passed the ball to me, I immediately slipped the ball into the arms of Emilio who was confused with the opposing players. So, it was with dismay and joy that I saw Emilio laying the ball behind the Browns' defensive line to the cheers of the entire crowd and under the bright smiles of our team.

We run to Moretti and jump into his arms; the coach doesn't even arrive two seconds later and Damian throws himself at him. We won! Hell, we really won!!!! I can't believe it, it's a sick thing! The feeling is incredible, so it's about winning and achieving something remarkable! I'm so proud of myself, of all of us, I love it!

Who knew our team would win? Not me but we gave ourselves the means to build a good and beautiful team of which we are proud and only for that we had already won. Driss pulls me to everyone for a general hug, all the guys have a beaming smile and Damian congratulates us by telling us that we deserved to win in any case and that we were indeed much better than we could believe. We shout our victory by jumping in the air, arm in arm. I'm so proud to be on a team, I didn't want to get into it and Damian forced me and he was really right.

The audience is in euphoria and we turn around to give them a big sign; We even run around the stadium making big signs to the spectators. Lots of people are yelling our names, the cameras are pointed at us and we're really super happy. Some cheerleaders come to see their boyfriend for the bliss while we will be the hand of the opposing players with grips a little stronger than others and black looks but no Maddison in sight. Until I finally see her.

I run towards her and so I'm happy and happy, I take her and spin them in the air under her laughter, when I rest her on the floor it's not her that I see but Melora, and when she regains her spirits, she lays her lips on mine and my world stops turning ... After a few moments, when I open my eyes again, it is the face of my girlfriend that faces me and I realize that I totally imagined Melora's head in place of Maddison... She takes it out of my grip to take Damian in my arms and I end up shaking hands with the other players, still ringing.

I finally scrutinize the audience in the hope of crossing a familiar look. I come across the bright eyes of my little brother, holding a t-shirt with my number on it, proud of me, it jumps from everywhere. Then I come across my father and Ryan who smile, they also proud of me, it reads in their eyes and especially those of my father who is ready to shed a small tear.

I cross the little brown eyes of my mother who is also there along side my father-in-law and who applauds with all her strength by jumping on the spot in the same way as Austin to run towards me, a smile on his face. He doesn't wait any longer, comes down from the bleachers and runs almost the entire length of the field screaming. I grab him and fly him through the air before he tells me he's very proud to have me as a big brother and loves me dearly.