For Past, Present, and Future

Denzel wasn't the only one reaching new limits in the lead-up to the Regional championship. Ty and JJ were back at the gym, and Ty watched as JJ powered through his squats.

Seeing Jake again had lit a fire under JJ, and regular practice wasn't cutting it. Ty and JJ had been going to the gym every day since then, and Ty had never seen JJ so intense.

It was the last stretch before the big game. There wasn't any time to get better or stronger, but JJ was sure as hell trying.

Even though he was dripping with sweat, JJ hadn't slowed since they began. It was eye opening for Ty, seeing how much weight JJ was hauling around with ease. Even if two of Tyrese sat on the barbell, it still wouldn't have eclipsed the actual weight JJ was squatting at that moment.

Ty's strength had improved throughout the season thanks to JJ's help and guidance in the gym, but he could still barely do half of what JJ did.

"That's how far away I am? How can I even compete? … You better be stronger than him, JJ." Ty wasn't even in the same realm as those monsters—JJ and Denzel—strength wise. He wondered if Jake's advice would help against Denzel, but he wasn't hopeful.

JJ finished his set, the weights clanking heavily onto the rack as he set the bar down. Even though he was panting heavily, he still carefully removed the weights and placed them back where they belonged as he lightened the load for Ty.

'You're up, Ty,' he said. He stayed in the rack's frame, standing in front of Ty to spot him as Ty got into position.

Ty looked JJ up and down. He was trembling, veins still flaring visibly against his skin even though he was now resting. 'You good?' Ty asked.

'Of course, hermano. You?'

Ty nodded and settled under the weight before lifting it from the rack. Maybe he should've added more. He didn't feel like he was straining as JJ had, but he couldn't imagine trying to get even an extra five pounds through his set.

Ty got through his set quickly. JJ was always ready to help him in case he struggled, but he wasn't necessary then.

Ty set the weight down, then said: 'Let's take a break.'

JJ was reaching for his extra weight, but stopped. He looked up at Ty. Ty's face wasn't the kind you argued with. He nodded. 'Alright, a break's good.'

They sat down on a nearby bench, grabbing their drinks. JJ's legs were still shaking.

'You're really pumped up for this next game,' Ty said. 'I've never seen you push yourself this hard before.'

'Huh. Well, it's win or go home, right? We all have to push ourselves this hard.'

'Hmm.' Ty nodded. JJ was right. Still… 'Won't do us any good if we get hurt before the game.'

JJ shook his head. 'I won't get hurt.'

Ty raised a brow.

'I can't. Everyone's relying on me.'

Ty stayed silent. JJ spoke the truth, and he wasn't about to interrupt.

'…Everyone. This next game—every game we play now—it's not just the season that depends on it, but our family. For a lot of our hermanos, me included, it'll be our last high school game if we lose.'

It was no secret there was a large portion of seniors on the Dons. It was their last chance. The next loss would be their last as Dons. But neither Ty nor JJ intended to lose again.

'All of them, they're relying on me. And it's not just them either, but it's everyone on the team. Even the coaches. Even the players—the hermanos—that came before. They left the team in MY hands. It's my responsibility to take care of it, to take care of all the hermanitos like you and make sure we're all successful. To uphold the legacy of the Dons and show that everything everyone's taught me hasn't been worthless.'

Their next game, a showdown with the Bears. A showdown with King Denzel. JJ was the only one on the team that could match him. Ty knew that—everyone did.

Ty placed a hand on JJ's back. 'You can do it.' He HAD to. If JJ couldn't stop Denzel, and force the Bears away from his running, and force them to rely on passing, they'd never bring out their secret weapon—number 14. If they couldn't force the Bears to pass, then Ty won't have an impact. As long as the game wasn't in Ty's hands, the Dons would lose. He knew that … but he didn't mention it to JJ.

'It's funny, you know,' JJ said. 'Normally, winning isn't this big of a deal. I haven't really cared whether we win or lose before. Of course, I want to win State, who doesn't? But it's never been the important thing. Playing with you, and all my hermanos, big or small, THAT'S what was important. But now, that's over. We NEED to keep winning if we want to keep playing.'

Ty's brow furrowed. The whole line of thinking was backwards to him. Of course, winning was the most important factor. Why else would you play if not to win? But JJ went on.

'I don't even care if I can never play again after this season. We NEED to win State. I'd give up football if it meant playing with you all a little longer.'

Ty stood up. 'That's crazy! How can you possibly say that? How can playing with us be more important than playing football? What about college, or the NFL? Hell, any pro league would be better than not playing at all, wouldn't it?!'

His outburst drew a few looks from the other gym-goers, but JJ smiled up at him. 'I'm sure that, because of how exceptional you are, Ty, you've maybe never had that connection before. Your team hasn't been a family before. It's only your first season with us, and I know you don't get along great with a lot of the others, but I know you care about us. You might care about winning a bit more right now, but trust me, the more you play together, the deeper your bond will get. You'll understand, when you're a senior, and it's your final year playing with them all, Zay and Rabbit, whatever hermanitos you have, you'll understand.'

'But—'

JJ stood. His hand on Ty's shoulder cut him off. He was still smiling, but there was sadness in his eyes.

'Those moments in training—the jokes and laughter, watching everyone grow like I have with Deshaun, Stephen, Jay, Benny, Chris, Cole, Cameron, and all my other hermanos, moments like beating Jake, all of that stuff, is so much more important than winning, Ty. The only reason winning is important, the only thing that gives it value, is the fact that you win together with all your hermanos, that you get to share that moment. So I'd give it all up—my D1 offers, a shot at the NFL, even football itself, if it meant I could play with my family more.'

Ty stared into JJ's eyes. It hurt. Why did it hurt? He looked away, shaking his head. 'I…I don't get it. Winning…Winning is everything.'

JJ patted his shoulders. 'I promise you'll understand. One day.'

None of it made sense. So why was JJ so convincing? He was talking nonsense. How could playing with your "family" be more important than winning? How could anything be more important than winning? … Why did Ty want to believe?

JJ laughed. 'Now there's another reason why we have to keep winning.'

'Huh?' Ty looked at him, still confused.

JJ grinned. 'Now we have to keep winning so we can teach you how important family is, and how fun it is to play with your hermanos.'

Ty frowned, confusion still etched into his face.

'Hahaha. Come on, I know it can't be THAT bad playing with Deshaun and Stephen, right?'

Ty cracked a smile. 'Oh, it is. They're insufferable. But see, that's how important winning is. I'm willing to win, even if it means having to put up with those assholes for a little while longer.'

'Oh man, you a disrespectful little shit aren't you? Come on, you're not getting off easy after talking bad about your hermanos mayores like that. We're not stopping until you can't even walk out of here.'

Ty scoffed. 'Bring it.'

JJ kept grinning, though Ty saw a concerning glint in his eyes, one he'd never seen before.

The two wouldn't leave the gym until hours later, after they'd gone through sets of leg extensions, weighted lunges, calf raises, another round on the leg press machine, and even some Bulgarian split squats which were killers that was damn near sadistic for JJ to leave until the final exercise.

But in the end, Ty still walked out on his own two feet. Sure, his legs wouldn't stop wobbling, and he wasn't sure how well he'd get through the next day, but he'd made it.

JJ clapped him on the back, almost knocking him over. 'Great stuff, today, Ty. Let's keep winning. For the Dons.'

Ty nodded. Whether or not it was for the Dons, he wasn't planning on losing any time soon.

Deshaun arrived home after another Dons' practice. The last before their game against Warren. Maybe the last Dons practice they'd ever have.

Just as he was about to push football from his mind and switch over to work mode, his mother came up to him. She wrung her hands in front of her, an almost scared smile on her face.

Deshaun frowned. 'Is everything alright, mama?'

She nodded rapidly. 'There's an envelope waiting for you upstairs.' Her voice was so soft; she sounded scared of spooking the envelope if she spoke too loudly.

Deshaun's eyes nearly popped out of his head, but he reined them back in and kept his outward appearance calm and neutral. 'Oh,' was all he said. Inside, his heart was doing flips.

She watched him climb the steps slowly, one by one. It felt like he was climbing K2. Each step brought him closer to the top, becoming tougher than the last.

He opened his door. The envelope was there, sure as anything, like it was the centre of the universe. It sat on a neat bed, which his mama must've made because it wasn't neat when he'd left it that morning.

Deshaun's heart was going to explode. The few steps it took to travel across his room and to the bed were even tougher than the climb up the stairs.

He contemplated leaving the envelope on his bed, reading it another day. Even as he thought this, his shaking hand was reaching for it.

He took it, and carefully tore it open, not wanting to damage what he hoped and dreamed was waiting inside.

The shaking only got worse as he retrieved the letter. He had to read it a few times just to make sure his eyes weren't playing tricks, that he hadn't misread it, and that he wasn't dreaming.

It was from California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt. It was on the other side of Cali, and whilst not the most prestigious or well-known football school, they still had a D2 program. More importantly, it was an offer for a scholarship.

Deshaun had his offer. He'd made it. He was so happy he could faint, and he almost did.