Chapter 20
1610 Words
Saturday morning dawned clear and cool, the kind of autumn day that felt made for football games and festivals. By eight o’clock, Willow Creek University’s campus was already buzzing. Alumni wandered the sidewalks carrying coffee, children chased each other across the quad wearing oversized university sweatshirts, and the marching band could be heard practicing somewhere beyond the stadium.
Ava stood in front of the bathroom mirror, pulling her hair into a loose ponytail before changing her mind and letting it fall back over her shoulders.
Chloe leaned against the doorway, arms crossed.
“You’ve changed your hairstyle three times.”
“I have not.”
“You absolutely have.”
“I’m just trying to decide.”
“It’s a football game, not a royal wedding.”
Ava laughed.
“I know.”
Chloe tossed her a navy-blue university hoodie.
“Wear this.”
“I thought I’d wear my gray sweater.”
“You would freeze.”
“It’s October.”
“Exactly.”
Ava pulled the hoodie over her head.
“Happy?”
“Very.”
She smiled as she looked in the mirror. The hoodie was slightly oversized, the sleeves covering part of her hands. It was comfortable.
“I haven’t been to a game in forever.”
“I know.”
“You excited?”
“A little.”
“You need this.”
“I know.”
Her phone buzzed.
Emily: We’re meeting outside the stadium at noon! Don’t be late! Jordan claims he’ll eat everyone’s nachos if we are.
Ava laughed.
“What?”
She showed Chloe the message.
“I believe him.”
“So do I.”
⸻
The walk across campus felt completely different from any other Saturday.
Every sidewalk was crowded.
Student organizations had set up booths along the main walkway.
The smell of grilled hamburgers mixed with kettle corn and roasted pecans.
Music echoed between the buildings while cheerleaders practiced routines on the lawn.
Ava slowed her pace.
“I forgot Homecoming was this big.”
“It gets bigger every year.”
Emily suddenly appeared from the crowd carrying two foam fingers.
“There you are!”
Jordan followed close behind with a cardboard tray loaded with food.
“I brought emergency fries.”
“There are emergency fries?”
“There are now.”
He handed the tray toward Ava.
“You’ll need fuel.”
She laughed.
“I just ate breakfast.”
“You’ll eat again.”
“I like him,” Chloe whispered.
“I’ve noticed.”
The five of them wandered through the festival before the game.
Jordan somehow convinced everyone to throw baseballs at the charity dunk tank.
Emily dunked Professor Daniels on her first throw.
Jordan missed all three attempts so badly that one baseball rolled into the nearby flower bed.
“You’ve embarrassed the nursing department,” Emily teased.
“I was distracted.”
“By what?”
“The pressure.”
Everyone laughed.
For the first time in years, Ava found herself laughing without thinking about what came next.
No assignment.
No shift at work.
No schedule.
Just…
Today.
⸻
The stadium filled quickly.
Blue and silver flags waved from every section.
Students stomped their feet as the marching band entered the field.
Ava stared around in amazement.
“I can’t believe I’ve missed this for three years.”
Emily looked over.
“What usually stopped you?”
“Work.”
“Studying.”
She smiled sadly.
“Sometimes I just stayed home.”
Jordan handed her a bag of popcorn.
“Well.”
He gestured toward the packed stadium.
“You’re here now.”
The opening kickoff sent the crowd to its feet.
Ava laughed as everyone around her began cheering.
“I have no idea what’s happening.”
Emily blinked.
“You don’t know football?”
“I know…”
She hesitated.
“…there’s a football.”
Jordan dramatically covered his heart.
“Someone teach her.”
For the next quarter, Emily patiently explained downs, first downs, touchdowns, and why everyone suddenly hated the referees.
By halftime, Ava actually understood enough to cheer with everyone else.
“This is fun.”
Emily smiled.
“I told you.”
“I should’ve come sooner.”
“You should’ve.”
Ava looked around the stadium.
Families.
Friends.
Students.
Alumni.
She realized she’d spent years believing she didn’t have time for things like this.
Maybe…
She’d simply forgotten to make time.
⸻
During halftime, her phone vibrated.
Mason: Presentation went well yesterday. How’s the game?
She smiled and quickly replied.
It’s actually really fun. I finally understand first downs. Mostly.
A minute later he responded.
😂 I’m proud of you. Wish I was there.
She stared at the message.
Me too.
She slipped her phone back into her pocket.
Emily noticed.
“Mason?”
Ava nodded.
“He’s working again?”
“Conference today.”
Emily frowned slightly before looking back toward the field.
“He must really like that internship.”
“He does.”
“And that’s okay.”
Ava believed those words.
She really did.
Yet somewhere deep inside, a tiny voice whispered another question.
When was the last time he chose you over work?
She immediately pushed the thought away.
It wasn’t fair.
He was building his future.
She wanted that for him.
Didn’t she?
⸻
The home team won by a field goal in the final seconds.
The stadium erupted.
Students rushed toward the exits, laughing and celebrating.
Jordan threw both hands into the air.
“We’re undefeated!”
Emily hugged him.
“You didn’t even play.”
“I supported emotionally.”
“That doesn’t count.”
“It absolutely counts.”
Ava laughed so hard her stomach hurt.
As the crowd slowly moved toward the campus festival, Emily hooked her arm through Ava’s.
“So.”
“So?”
“You survived your first Homecoming game.”
“I did.”
“And?”
“I’ll definitely come next year.”
Jordan overheard.
“See?”
“I create lifelong football fans.”
“You create chaos.”
“I prefer enthusiasm.”
⸻
The afternoon festival stretched across the entire campus.
Food trucks lined one side of the quad.
Local artists displayed handmade jewelry and paintings.
Student musicians performed on a temporary stage.
Ava wandered slowly, taking photographs whenever something caught her eye.
A little boy sitting on his father’s shoulders waving a university flag.
Click.
An elderly couple dancing to a student jazz band.
Click.
Three cheerleaders laughing after dropping one another during practice.
Click.
“You brought your camera.”
She turned.
Ethan stood a few feet away, holding two lemonades.
She smiled.
“I’ve started bringing it everywhere.”
“I noticed.”
He nodded toward the camera.
“Find anything good?”
“I think so.”
She turned the screen toward him.
He studied the photographs quietly.
Instead of commenting immediately, he looked at each one carefully.
Finally he smiled.
“You always catch the moments everyone else misses.”
She felt her cheeks warm.
“I don’t know about that.”
“I do.”
Ben walked over carrying a paper basket of fries.
“There you are.”
He looked between them.
“Oh.”
“I didn’t realize you were talking.”
Ethan smiled.
“Ben, this is Ava.”
Ben offered his hand.
“It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“You too.”
“I’ve heard—”
He stopped himself just in time.
Ethan gave him a look.
Ben quickly recovered.
“I’ve heard your photography is really good.”
Ava laughed.
“I think people are exaggerating.”
“They’re not,” Ethan said simply.
Before the conversation could continue, Ben’s phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
“I’ve got to take this.”
He pointed toward Ethan.
“Don’t disappear.”
Then he walked away.
An awkward silence settled for just a moment.
“I should probably find my friends,” Ava said.
“They’re probably wondering where I went.”
“I’m sure they are.”
She smiled.
“It was nice seeing you.”
“You too.”
As she turned to leave, Ethan spoke again.
“Good luck.”
She looked back.
“With the contest.”
Her smile returned.
“Thanks.”
She waved once before disappearing into the crowd.
Ethan watched until he couldn’t see her anymore.
Ben returned a minute later.
“You like making things difficult for yourself.”
Ethan looked confused.
“What do you mean?”
“You’ve known her for weeks.”
“Mhm.”
“You’ve had multiple conversations.”
“Mhm.”
“And you still haven’t asked for her number.”
Ethan smiled faintly.
“No.”
Ben sighed.
“Why?”
Ethan watched students crossing the quad.
“Because she’s still building her own life.”
He looked toward the crowd where Ava had disappeared.
“I don’t want to become another thing she has to figure out.”
Ben shook his head with a smile.
“You really are different.”
“I hope that’s a good thing.”
“I think someday…”
Ben laughed quietly.
“…she will too.”
Across campus, Ava rejoined Emily and Jordan just as the marching band began its evening performance.
She looked around at the smiling faces, the music, the autumn leaves drifting across the lawn, and the camera hanging comfortably around her neck.
For the first time in longer than she could remember, her life felt full.
She didn’t realize that sometimes life became fullest just before it asked you to let something go.
- Writer
