Look out for the <>!!

On a sadder note, school is starting back up meaning I will have less time to update. I might have to start posting only twice a week again.

Darla H

"It's another Saturday!!!! What do you think about that Nojo?" Dad asked as he walked into the kitchen where I sat on the counter, talking to Vera over FaceTime.

"Is that Dad?" Vera asked.

"Who else would it be?" I asked with a smile as Dad popped into the view of the camera.

"Vera! My girl! How are you? Anything new happen? Tell your old man about it. I'm sure you have so many stories about all the adventures you're going on."

Vera smiled, then looked at the time on her wall. "Well, since I just talked to you yesterday, I'm doing good. Nothing has changed."

Dad waved to Vera. "Great talk. I'll let you converse with Nora then."

"Talk to you later."

I looked around the kitchen at dad and mom and realized this place wasn't as quiet as it was just 15 minutes ago. Needing more privacy, I got up from my seat and wandered into my bedroom.

This was the first time I had talked to her in a few weeks, and I had important things to talk about with her. She knew much more about the team then I did, and I had so many questions I hoped she could answer.

"So," I started as I closed my bedroom door. "Another reason I'm calling is because I want to pick your brain about the players on the team. How much do you know about them?"

"I know enough."

"Do you know anything about Everett?"

A smile played on her lips. "I don't know him well, but what I do know is he was friendly, came to talk to me when I would visit ad. Seemed really kind, more than most players."

I thought about how he pushed Shelly to the ground and yelled at him yesterday. It took two players to pry him away from Shelly before Dad came. "Are we talking about the same Everett? Because the one I know picks on the other players and surrounds himself with a small posy as if he's some hot crap."

She shrugged. "Maybe it has to do with Charles. I heard Charles did a lot of damage."

"The player that was kicked off the team?"

She nodded. "I only met him a few times, but I never liked him. Gave me a gross feeling when I was around. It was as if he knew he could get away with anything. He believed he was so talented. And maybe he was, but it went to his head."

"I feel the same about Everett," I mumbled.

She got up from her bed. "Well, I'm just saying, Everett wasn't a problem from what I heard. Charles was Dad's headache. Don't you remember him talking about it?"

I shook my head as I tried to rack my mind with any football conversations last year and came up with nothing. Every time football was brought up, I tuned it out. But now I regretted that.

"You're kidding me. And now you're the intern for Dad?" Vera asked in disbelief.

"I'm trying my best here."

"I see that," she quipped.

I pointed my finger at the camera. "Don't get sassy with me."

She smirked as Mom knocked on the door frame and opened the door without waiting for a reply. "I'm planning to do some yoga. Want to go?" Mom asked kindly.

I had nothing else to do. "Sure. I'll go, but I don't think I'm in the mood for yoga. I'll take Rori and walk back instead."

"Sounds good. Can you leave now?"

I turned my attention back to Vera, making sure she was ok with me ditching.

"Don't say anything more. I have important things to do, like watch my plants grow."

I rolled my eyes at her.

She smiled. "Anywho, I love you. Talk later. Also, remember, like we agreed on, take a few photos of those players' butts. I'll pay you for those photos." With that, she ended the call.

I quickly turned to Mom who stared at me with wide eyes. My cheeks turned hot as I braced myself for making an explanation. Vera always liked leaving me in awkward moments. "She's joking."

"Mmmmhmmm," Mom hummed. "I know Vera and I know you. Vera's always putting people into pickles. You gotta watch out, one of these days, Vera will get you in more trouble than you can manage."

"Speak from experience?" I asked as I stood up from the chair in my room and slipped on a T-shirt.

She smirked.

She didn't need to say anything for me to guess. "I can only imagine," I said as I walked out of the bedroom behind her.

"Paul, I'm heading out. Be back in two hours," Mom said as she slipped on her shoes.

Dad walked out of his office with a smile as he looked at his wife. "Ok! But hold on. You are seriously the most beautiful thing I have ever seen."

She beamed as she pulled her hair up into a bun. I never saw anything else make Mom smile the way Dad did. It was cute. "Thank you."

As they continued to talk to one another, I quickly got ahold of Rori and slipped a leash around his neck. He gave a little bark as he bounded around happily, knowing what the leash meant.

Since I started the internship, I didn't walk with him as much as I used to. For a second, I felt guilty about it, but his waging tail told me he harbored no resentment.

"Nora, let's go. Paul, I'll see you later," Mom finally said as she opened the door and slipped out.

I nodded as I pulled Rori out the door and got into the car.

Mom backed out of the driveway then smiled to herself. "Nora, you need to find someone in your life that looks at me like your dad looks at me."

"That's the goal."

She nodded as she drove down the road. "So, Dad said you're doing great as an intern. What do you think about it now that you are a few weeks in?"

I smiled as I thought about the exciting three weeks I had. When I first took this internship, I wanted only to pad my resume, but as the days went on, I realized this internship was more than that. I was learning so much and I took it seriously.

"I don't like football, but I have a better appreciation for it. Maybe I don't understand it fully, but I'm trying. And maybe I don't hate football as much as I used to."

"I'm glad to hear that."

"And I'm making friends too, which helps. I might not like football, but at least I like the team members."

"So is there one person you would consider your best friend on the team?"

"Tad, the towel boy is my best friend, but as for the players, I don't have anyone that stands out to me. Besides, I couldn't date any of them."

"Why not?"

The question was so simple, but the answer demanded more explanation. "Because we would be so different."

"Is that a bad thing? Look at me and your father. We have something we have mutual interests in, but there are a lot of things we do differently."

I nodded as Mom parked the car.

"I'm not telling you to date a football player, but college is the best time to meet someone, and I don't want you to look back and see it wasted."

School would start in the next week and maybe mom had a point. "Thanks for your advice."

She smiled as she got out of the car. "Just don't tell Dad I said that. I don't think he would be happy with you dating a player. I think he wants you to be his baby girl forever."

I laughed as I pulled Rori with me. "Your secret is safe with me."

She gave one last smile before walking into the yoga studio.

Silently, I walked to the front of the building, which overlooked a small park. Rori pulled on the leash with extra energy, nearly yanking my arm out of socket.

"Ouch, bud," I muttered as I rubbed my shoulder.

I knew if I didn't let him sprint around for a moment, he would pull me all the way home. So, to help tire Rori out, I let him off the leash and threw a stick, letting him shoot off like a bullet to get it.

"Hey, Nora," Everett's voice rang out.

My breath caught in my throat as my heart sped up. I turned around to face his slightly sweaty face, making me think he just finished an intense yoga practice.

This time I would not talk to him. I would not let him get under my skin. My face twisted up as my hands balled into fists. Unwilling to say anything to him, I turned back to Rori, hoping he would leave.

"I was wondering if you wanted to take a walk with me," Everett said.

There was no way in hell I would do such a thing. I frowned as Rori ran back to me and I put his leash back on.

Rori, unknowing of my hostile feelings with Everett, rubbed against his leg to say hello.

I glared at Everett. We clearly didn't get along so why did he want to walk together?

"Think nothing of it, just as friends."

I sighed, tired of that word. We were not friends. "I hate your use of that word."

He stuffed his hands into his pockets as his gaze shifted towards the ground. "I hate that word myself. You have to understand I have a hard time with that word."

"That doesn't justify anything."

He shook his head. "I'm not asking it to, but at least you know."

I knew little. It's not like he was particularly descriptive.

"So, what do you say? I can walk you home."

I took a step closer to him with a frown. "Why are you always trying to talk to me when no one's around? I have a hard time understanding what you want. Do you want to be friends, or do you just want to make me feel like trash?"

He frowned. "It was never my intention for you to feel like that."

I let out a cynical chuckle, finding dark humor in this statement. "Really, because you do a poor job of making me feel anything different."

"I just have a hard time letting people in."

I looked into his eyes, wanting a good answer. If he wanted to be friends, I needed to know more about him. And selfishly, the only reason I wanted to be friends with him was to help dad with team building. If I knew Everett, I could really help the team.

"Why?"

He shrugged and for a moment he was silent. "For so many reasons. My parents, last year's team, my childhood. I could keep ongoing."

But that didn't explain why Vera said he was kind last year. The two Everetts seemed like two very different people. "I heard you were a kind last year, but when I look at you, all I see is a dick."

"It's easier to be a dick than a target."

My mouth shut as questions swam in my mind. "So, when you said people were sharks, you speak from experience."

He nodded in silence.

Figuring, he wouldn't share anything more than that, I decided that for now, that was enough. "Fine, I'll go on a walk with you. I have to take Rori home anyhow."

His gaze met mine as he smiled only for a second.

_____________________

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Silence filled the space as Everett and I walked down the road. It twisted my stomach into knots, making me wonder why he even wanted to come if he wouldn't talk. More importantly, I wanted to know what he was actually thinking. The silence frustrated me.

Finally, I couldn't stand it any longer. "How did you get into football?" I asked.

I thought this question was a shoo-in for a detailed response. He was the best player on the team, he would love to talk about himself and the sport that got him to college. But what shocked me was how the corner of his mouth turned downward in thought.

He sighed as he ran his hand through his messy hair. "Dad got me into it when I was young because he loved it. Found out I was good at it, so I didn't stop."

He spoke with such logic, not passion, as if it was only common sense why he played. "Do you like football?"

He shrugged as if the answer was simple. "Sure, doesn't everyone in Ohio?"

"I don't," I replied quickly.

He stopped walking as his eyes widened. "Your dad is the head coach for OSU and you're the intern. You don't like football?"

"Surprised?"

He was the first person on the team I divulged this information to. No one actually asked me what I thought. I think they all figured I liked it since my dad was coach.

"Shocked actually."

"Well, life is full of surprising facts."

He nodded as he continued to walk down the road. "If you don't like football, do you like your internship, then?"

With a smile, I nodded as I thought about being with Dad almost every day for the past few weeks. "Turns out I love it more than I thought. I've learned so much from the last three weeks. I guess, there's more to football than men pushing each other over."

He chuckled. "But there are a lot of men pushing men over."

"Yeah, there's a lot of that, but there's more to it, at least behind the scenes. Still don't like the sport, honestly, probably never will. But gained a better appreciation for it."

The conversation died out and birds chirping were the only thing that filled the space between us. Walking under the shaded trees that lined the streets, I saw my house approaching and I knew this walk would be over soon enough.

"Why did you shout at Rick the other day?"

His hands balled into fists before he took a deep breath. "It's because he's hanging out with Charles like they're BFFS. After everything your father has done for the team, Charles is still around like a persistent rain cloud."

My palms started feeling sticky, feeling silly thinking it was about me. "What did Charles do that was so bad?"

"Rape, drugs, theft, abuse, the list can go on."

My stomach flipped as the weight of the words sank in. He mentioned it so causally, but I could see that even Everett was affected by Charles' destruction. "I never read about any of that when I researched his name."

He shrugged. "Because the school's superb at hiding things. Turns out if you are the best person on the team, you can get away with a lot."

"And that's why you said you got him kicked off."

"He said too much, and I got it on tape maybe a month into the season. Turned it into your dad, hoping to some kind of reaction. Got it, but it took a while to get him off the team. He played until the end of the season, then quietly left."

"Why did it take so long?"

He shrugged again as he looked at his shoes. "Your guess is as good as mine."

My mouth felt dry as I tried to piece it all together in my head. Everett was careful, but he learned from experience. Talking with him made me want to trust him, but maybe this was nothing but a rouse. "And that's why you don't say much. You don't want to incriminate yourself?"

He shook his head if I got one key point wrong. "I want to protect myself. I don't want people to put words in my mouth."

"And the others are afraid of you because they know you can film them if they step out of line."

"I don't film unless they deserve it. Charles pushed me over the edge, and I had enough. But the others still don't trust me. They see me as a backstabber. The team is everything, and we are supposed to look out for each other. But Charles didn't look out for us, he didn't look out for me, so I needed him out."

Not wanting this conversation to end too quickly, my pace slowed, hoping he wouldn't realize it.

My heart raced in excitement. This was the first time I was having a decent conversation with Everett, and I finally getting answers. I was right, he was part of the reason the team wasn't a team. The team didn't trust him. He was one reason the team was broken, and he seemed ok with that.

"Aren't you lonely?"

He glared ahead at my house in silence for a moment. "No," he stated so quickly it sounded like a lie.

Football was a team sport, so it must have felt incredibly isolating to be on his own. "You know, you talk about the team, but you're just as much of a problem as Charles. Don't you think that fear causes distance?."

His face twisted up as he balled his fist. He remained silent, which allowed me to speak up again. I didn't care if he didn't like what I had to say, someone needed to.

"You know, when I told you that you remind me of mount Everest I wasn't lying. Being a mountain is the loneliest thing, and no mountain can be part of something else."

"What makes you think I'm not a team player? I have friends on the team," he snapped back at me in anger.

I eyed him, trying to understand how he possibly believed that. I saw the way his friends stood around him. They stayed because they wanted protection from his wrath. Those weren't friends. "Your posy doesn't account when they're afraid of you too."

He shook his head as he stopped walking. "I don't have to listen to this shit." He glared at me, but I stood unwavering. I wasn't afraid of him, even if he towered over my small frame.

"No, you don't. But don't you think you should? The truth is often painful."

He frowned as he looked around, making sure we were still alone. "Goodbye Nora."

And just like that, our pleasant walk was long gone. Anger boiled beneath my skin, turning it hot. There was no way to recover from this. I was done with his crap and if he didn't want to talk to me again, I was fine with that. "Goodbye Everett." With that, I picked up the pace with Rori trotting beside me.

As I walked up the driveway, I saw Dad weeding the front flowerbed. He looked up at me with a cheerful smile. "Did I see you talking with Everett?"

I nodded as I took off my shoes, allowing my feet to breathe on the grassy ground. "I ran into him as I walked home. We decided to talk for a few moments."

He looked at me then down the road as if he could still see Everett. I grabbed his attention, all because of Everett. "What did you guys talk about?"

"Nothing too much. Just football, internship, stuff like that."

He nodded. "Everett used to be such a kind kid. He talked to everyone, but I haven't seen that side of him for a while."

"I think I just saw that side of him for a moment."

He grinned widely at me. "By goolie! That means Everett's still in there."

Maybe he was, but he was so deep down in there and maybe nothing would help him out.

"Hey, if it's not too much trouble, since you two are friends-"

Oh, we were not friends, but I didn't care to rain on his parade.

"-can you tell me if he says anything that is noteworthy?"

"Looking for anything in particular?"

He shook his head as he wiped his muddied hands on his jeans. "Whatever you think is important."

It wasn't like I was pining to talk to Everett, but I could at least keep an ear out. Dad deserved that much. "Sure, I can do that."

He threw his hands into the air excitedly. "Great! You are really the best intern in the world. The best of the best."

I smiled. "Thanks." On my way into the house, I stopped, thinking about the conversation with Everett. I had one question for dad. "Hey, one thing Everett said was that he reported Charles to you, but it took a while to get him off the team. Why was that?"

Dad frowned as his excitement vanished. "You know the university and the hoops I have to jump through to do anything. Nothing's easy with them, and it took a lot of time to get things worked out with the board and such."

I nodded. I believed that the University took a long time. University could be a nightmare to deal with. I heard my professors talk about it, so I could only guess Dad had to deal with it too.

"I turned the video into the University President as soon as I Everett gave it to me. They said they would look into it but it took them weeks to do that."

"Why am I not surprised?"

"It's the sad truth to universities. It happens across the country. University protocol gets in the way a lot of times. Takes you so long to do anything."

"Have you dealt with football players stepping out of line in other schools?"

He gave a tired sigh as he stroked his mustache. "Happens at almost every school."

"And the universities act the same?"

He shrugged. "OSU was probably the slowest I've experienced, but all of them were slower than I would have liked."

And that comment made me hate the sport even more. My hands balled into fists the longer I thought about it. "So, at the beginning of the season, you told me you picked me because you knew I wouldn't date any of them. I believe it's because you know they're not as perfect as they appear."

"No one's perfect."

I nodded. "You're right. No one is." And the football players were proof of that. Before I drove into my disdain for football and the university in front of the head coach, I grabbed my shoes and headed into the house. "Well, enjoy your weeding."