Reach for the Stars

Another Titans' practice ended. The last before their next game of Regionals, and though it was another gruelling session of mostly running for the JV participants, Kenny kept his head high and marched over to Coach Otsen.

Jackson followed, slower and a bit more hunched over, but he still supported Kenny.

Coach Otsen turned around, acknowledging the boys with a nod. Kenny steadied his breathing, then said: 'Coach. You think there's gonna be any room on the varsity team this weekend? Maybe like two new openings?'

Coach Otsen raised a brow and looked both boys over. Kenny stared back, jaw set, whilst Jackson turned his head away. 'Can't say I'm surprised. That's why you've been training so hard?'

Kenny nodded, a smile forming on his lips. If Coach Otsen had noticed they'd been working harder than the others, surely that was a good sign.

'I'm glad you've got such a goal in mind, and that it's helping push you. But when you don't reach that goal as quickly as you like, don't lose that motivation. The only way a goal becomes unattainable is if you stop working towards it.' Coach Otsen started walking away.

Kenny started after him. 'Coach? What about those roster spots? Coach?'

Coach Otsen said nothing of any openings in the varsity team.

Jackson stood by Kenny's side. 'Something tells me we haven't made the team,' Jackson said.

'Shit! … I'm sorry.'

'For what? We were never gonna make the cut after one or two weeks of trying a little harder. Doesn't mean we're gonna stop trying.'

'Yeah. So what if we haven't made it yet? There's always next week.'

'If the team wins this weekend.'

'Pfft, you kidding? Of course they're gonna win—they're undefeated.'

Jackson smiled, but every team had to lose, eventually. 'Speaking of the game, you coming to this one?'

'Yeah, of course.' Kenny dumped his vest back onto the rack. 'Can your brother pick me up?'

'Sure thing. I'll see you tomorrow.'

The two bumped fists and parted ways. Even if Jackson wasn't certain the Titans would win like Kenny was, he still saw it as a ninety percent chance. Only time would tell if the Glendale Cardinals would be the first to beat the varsity Titans this season.

Kenny and Jackson sat on opposite ends of the backseat in Tommy's car. They were heading for a practice field at a local community college, where today's game would be held.

The drive was smooth and short with little traffic. The smooth sounds of Bring Me the Horizon flowed from Tommy's speakers, though he kept the volume low.

Kenny's dissatisfaction with Coach Otsen's decision to keep him and Jackson off the team was visible through his expression and posture.

'I'm sure it'll still be a great game,' Tommy said. 'These usually are.'

'I know, but it's just frustrating,' Kenny said. 'Why can't I make it? What am I missing? I know I'm good enough—WE are good enough.' He looked at Jackson. Jackson offered a supportive smile. 'If Rudy was good enough for the team, then so am I. … Coach better not be sitting us just cause we're freshmen.'

'I don't think it's that,' Tommy said.

'Coach Otsen has his reasons,' Jackson added. 'Let's use today's game to figure out what they are.'

'Good idea, Jack.'

This satisfied Kenny for now, and the trio soon pulled into the carpark just outside of the open, scarce field. Both teams had arrived for the afternoon game, but as there was still some time before the opening kickoff, the two stands flanking either side of the field were yet to fill.

However, Tommy spotted one familiar face near the Titans' bench. 'Hey isn't that one of your teammates? The new one. What was his name? Rudy, right?'

Both boys looked over, their faces dropping at Tommy's last words. He said them just as their eyes found Rudy, sitting alone a couple of rows back from the bench.

Before either Kenny or Jackson could direct Tommy to a different spot further away from Rudy, he was already walking right up to him, a pep in his step.

Jackson winced and mouthed an apology to Kenny, then followed his big brother. Kenny's expression soured. Exasperated, he had to follow as well, and soon the three of them stood beside Rudy.

'Hey, you're Rudy right? Do you mind if we sit here?' Tommy asked cordially.

'Huh?' Rudy looked up at the stranger, confused. Then his eyes fell on Jackson and Kenny. 'The hell?' He grimaced, cheeks darkening. 'What do YOU want?'

'To watch the game,' Jackson said.

'To get away from you,' Kenny said.

Rudy looked at him coldly, and Kenny matched that frosty stare.

'Like my little bro said, we're just here to watch the game, same as you. I'm Tommy by the way.' Tommy still had a smile on his face. He squeezed by Rudy, then sat on the other side of him.

Jackson groaned. Now there was no getting away from it. Tommy had decided this was where they were sitting for the afternoon. However, as he tried to follow Tommy and squeeze past Rudy, Tommy stuck a foot up and blocked the path.

Jackson's eyes widened. He looked down at Tommy like Tommy had just kicked him. He pleaded with him silently, but Tommy didn't lower his blockade.

'Can you get out of my face and sit down already?' Rudy grumbled.

Jackson thumped down into the chair next to Rudy. Rudy's icy gaze turned to him. Jackson didn't even glance in his direction.

Kenny sat next to Jackson, and an icy silence spread over the group. Even under the Arizona sun—still hot despite winter being right around the corner—goosebumps covered Jackson's arms as he sat wedged between Kenny and Rudy.

Things stayed quiet and icy as the on-field warmups concluded and the teams returned to their locker rooms for their final preparations.

'I'm really looking forward to this game,' Tommy said, though his words rebounded off the ice without so much as chipping it.

The silence dragged on, but at least the rest of the stands were filling with more cheery supporters, their pregame chatter a gentle buzz which kept the awkwardness away from deadly levels.

Eventually, the teams returned to the field for the coin toss. The Cardinals won, deferring.

'You know, it's awesome we found you here, Rudy,' Tommy once again attempted to break the ice. 'It'll be great to have some insights from someone who was actually on the team.'

'Huh?' The sudden statement took longer for Rudy to process.

'Yeah, I reckon the boys can learn a lot from you this game.'

Kenny scoffed. 'Yeah right. Like there's anything to learn from someone who rode the bench every game.'

Rudy turned to Kenny. If looks could kill, Jackson would've been gunned down in the crossfire. He tried to make himself as small as possible in his seat.

'What's it mean that you're not even good enough for a spot on the bench? You can't even get on to ride it, and you're playing the team's weakest position.'

'Someone's gotta sit on the bench,' Tommy added. 'I bet you'd call me a benchwarmer if you saw me "play",' he chuckled.

Rudy turned back, his head whipping back and forth as he was stuck in the middle of a conversation happening from two ends. 'Where do you play?'

'Arizona State. I'm a freshman. Tight End. I'm either on the bench, or coming in to block on jumbo sets at the goal-line,' Tommy answered. Something Rudy said had stuck with him. 'Hey, what did you mean when you said Kenny's playing the team's weakest position? I mean, Shane leads a strong aerial attack, and the offence is good.'

'Yeah, but Shane's a Tight End like you.'

'Probably coming for my job in a couple of years,' Tommy joked, though there was the slightest bit of concern in his voice.

'Hah, maybe. But as good as Shane is֫—and even with how much of the defence's attention he draws—the Wide Receivers are shit and can't do much. It's kinda like me and the JV team, yeah?'

'Oh fuck off,' Kenny said. 'You're not better than us. You're not even the number one option.'

'Bullshit. Like you are? I could run circles around you.'

'Guys, let's just calm down and watch the game. Come on, you're gonna miss it,' Jackson pleaded.

'Jack's right,' Tommy said. 'We're all on the same team here. Let's just enjoy the game.'

Rudy and Kenny settled into their seats, turning their attention away from one another and to the game as the opening kickoff started things.

As the Titans' offence marched onto the field, Jackson studied the game, paying extra attention to the Receivers outside of Shane.

The group fell back into a silence as the game progressed, but the awkwardness and tension was gone, their focus lifted from one another and solely on the game.

As the first quarter came to a close, the score read 3–10 in favour of the Titans. Shane had the lone touchdown: a 7-yard receiving touchdown off of a Fade.

Nick also nailed a 33-yard field goal in response to the Cardinals' successful kick.

A happy buzz was in the air, and Jackson sat back, smiling. It was good the Titans were winning, but he'd been watching; they should've been winning by more.

'Hey, Rudy? Do you know the names of those two who hang around Grant?' Jackson asked.

'Huh? Oh, yeah, what is it, Daniel and Demetrius, I think? Assholes. They just cling to Grant, following him wherever he goes, surviving off his scraps. They're shit.'

'Is Daniel the one with the ugly face, and Demetrius has the ugli-ER face.' Kenny said.

'Yeah, something like that,' Rudy chuckled.

'I noticed they looked bad out there,' Jackson said.

'Hey, they're going against other varsity players, and this is Regionals, so keep that in mind,' Tommy said.

'I know, I know, but I never paid much attention to them before; why would you when Shane's out there? He really makes up for how useless they seem. But, bad as they might be, Rudy got dropped instead. … And we know how good Rudy is so that must mean they're still kinda good even if…' He trailed off, wilting under Rudy's intense gaze.

'What's the deal with that? Even you're better than those shitters, aren't you?' Kenny said.

'I don't want to talk about it,' Rudy muttered.

Jackson shifted back to the game as it resumed and the second quarter began. The Cardinals went on the attack, but the group's focus was still on the Titans' receiving core.

'You've been closer to them all, Rudy,' Tommy said. 'It's clear Shane's the best target, but why do you think the others struggle so much?'

'Ain't it obvious? They just can't create for themselves,' Rudy answered.

Jackson mulled this over. As the game drew on, he watched Grant. Some plays were smoother than others, but overall, he struggled to break away from his man. That was the biggest thing that stood out to Jackson.

'He can't beat Man coverage?' Jackson said.

'Yeah, no one can, only Shane,' Rudy said. 'And if he can't pull the defence into Zone by himself, the rest are screwed.'

Even with two defenders, Shane could break free, whilst the others struggled with one. But if the defence settled into Zone to put more focus on Shane whilst still spreading their coverage across the rest of the field, that's when Grant took advantage of them.

It reminded Jackson of a hyena that waited for the lion to make the kill, then picked up whatever scraps remained after the hunter fed. Grant benefitted off of Shane's gravity and sliced through whatever holes opened up in the defence because of it.

Daniel and Demetrius played similarly, but with less polish. They couldn't recognise those holes as fast, and sometimes they missed out on opportunities Grant wouldn't have.

With that said, if Shane didn't draw that extra attention, then not even Grant got much done to ease the pressure from him.

As the first half came to a close, just in the two-minute warning before the break, Wesley ran in a 12-yard touchdown. Which was much needed as the following extra point tied the game at 17–17.

The score remained that way into the major break.

In the second quarter, the Titans' defence had let in two touchdowns. One resulted from a great drive by the Cardinals, capped off with a 3-yard receiving touchdown with a Slant.

The other, however, was a crucial and costly mistake when poor tackling led to a 44-yard rushing touchdown. When that had happened, Jackson thought Coach Otsen was going to pop a blood vessel with the way he screamed and cursed at the defence.

The game was tense, and heading into the second half, even Kenny's confidence in the Titans wavered.

Whether they'd break away and win remained to be seen, but Jackson looked forward to the second half. He wanted to see how the team adapted and if the rest of the receivers could elevate.