Chapter Four: The chance

As gym class ended, Max wiped the sweat off his forehead with the hem of his hoodie and grabbed his backpack. His muscles ached, but in a good way—he felt like he'd accomplished something.

He made his way out of the gym, the cool hallway air feeling refreshing after the stifling heat of the weight room. Just as he was about to head toward the locker room to grab his stuff, a voice called out behind him.

"Tate! Hold up!"

Max turned around to see Coach Stevenson, the football coach, striding toward him. The man was built like a tank, with a whistle hanging around his neck and a clipboard tucked under one arm.

"Uh, hey, Coach," Max said, his voice uncertain.

Coach Stevenson stopped in front of him, crossing his arms as he looked Max up and down. "Been watching you in gym today," he said. "You've got some potential, kid."

Max blinked, caught completely off guard. "Me? Potential?"

The coach chuckled. "Yeah, you. That deadlift form was solid, and you've got a good frame for the game. Ever thought about playing football?"

Max hesitated, his heart racing. Football? Him? He'd always been the guy on the sidelines, watching other guys play sports, not the one being asked to join.

"I, uh…" Max scratched the back of his neck. "I've never really… I mean, I'm not exactly in shape for that."

Coach Stevenson raised an eyebrow. "You think every guy on my team started out in shape? Hell no. Football's about grit and determination as much as it is about strength. And from what I saw today, you've got both."

Max felt a strange mix of emotions—pride, disbelief, and a little fear. The old Max would've laughed this off, made some excuse about not having time or not being good enough. But something about the coach's words, combined with the progress he'd already made with the system, made him pause.

"I don't know, Coach," Max said finally. "I'm just starting to work on myself. I'm not sure I'm ready for something like this."

Coach Stevenson nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Fair enough. But think about it, Tate. We could use someone like you on the team. You've got more strength in you than you realize."

Max didn't know what to say, so he just nodded. The coach patted him on the shoulder. "Door's always open. Let me know if you change your mind."

As the coach walked off, Max stood there for a moment, staring after him. Football? Him? The idea seemed crazy… but also kind of exciting.

System Alert:

New Opportunity Detected:

Join the Football Team

Optional Quest: Attend football practice to try out for the team.

Reward: +5 Strength, +5 Confidence, New Skill: "Explosive Power"

Max stared at the notification, his mind spinning. This wasn't something he'd ever imagined for himself, but… maybe it was worth considering.

"Explosive Power, huh?" he muttered, a small smile creeping onto his face.

With the thought lingering in his mind, he turned and headed for the locker room, feeling like today might be the start of something bigger than he'd ever expected.

As the final bell rang, Max found himself standing in the school parking lot, staring at the football field in the distance. He could hear the faint shouts of players warming up and the whistle of Coach Stevenson echoing across the field.

Part of him wanted to just go home, crawl under his blankets, and pretend the conversation with the coach had never happened. But the system notification from earlier kept nagging at him.

Optional Quest: Attend football practice to try out for the team.

Reward: +5 Strength, +5 Confidence, New Skill: "Explosive Power"

Max clenched his fists. He wasn't the kind of guy who just jumped into things like this, but maybe that was the problem. Maybe he needed to start doing things that scared him.

Before he could overthink it, he marched toward the field, his backpack slung over one shoulder.

When Max reached the edge of the field, the players were already running drills. The sound of helmets clashing and feet pounding against the turf made his heart race. He spotted Coach Stevenson near the sideline, barking orders at the team.

"Coach!" Max called out, his voice cracking slightly.

The coach turned, his expression lighting up when he saw Max. "Tate! Glad you showed up!"

Max hesitated. "Yeah, uh… I figured I'd give it a shot."

Coach Stevenson nodded, gesturing for Max to follow him. "Alright, let's get you geared up. Locker room's over there. Grab some pads and a helmet. I'll have one of the guys show you the basics."

Max did as he was told, heading to the locker room to change. The football gear felt awkward and heavy, the helmet slightly too tight, but he adjusted as best he could. When he stepped back onto the field, he felt like a fish out of water.

Coach Stevenson waved him over to a small group of players who were practicing tackling dummies. "Alright, Tate, first things first—we're testing your power. See that sled over there?" He pointed to a weighted sled on the field.

Max nodded, his stomach churning.

"Good. I want you to push it as far as you can. Focus on staying low and driving through your legs. Got it?"

"Yeah, I think so," Max said, though he didn't sound very confident.

He walked up to the sled, placing his hands on the metal bars. The weight felt intimidating, but he took a deep breath.

System Hint:

Use proper form to maximize efficiency. Engage your core and drive through your legs.

The system's advice flashed in his mind, and he adjusted his stance, planting his feet firmly on the ground.

"Whenever you're ready, Tate!" Coach called.

Max gritted his teeth and pushed. The sled didn't move at first, but then, inch by inch, it started to slide forward. His legs burned, his arms trembled, but he kept going, focusing on every step.

By the time he reached the marker Coach had set, he was panting, sweat dripping down his face.

"Not bad, Tate. Not bad at all," Coach Stevenson said, clapping him on the back. "You've got raw strength—we can work with that."

System Alert:

Challenge Completed: First Push

Reward: +2 Strength, +1 Confidence

Strength: 7 → 9

Confidence: 5 → 6

The sudden boost made Max straighten up, his exhaustion melting away slightly. He couldn't help but grin, feeling a spark of pride in himself.

"Alright," Coach continued, "you're gonna join the linemen for the rest of practice. Don't worry about knowing everything—we'll teach you as we go."

Max nodded, heading over to the group. He wasn't sure what he'd gotten himself into, but for the first time in a long time, he felt like he was part of something. Maybe this football thing wasn't such a crazy idea after all.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the field, Max found himself drenched in sweat, his muscles aching in ways he hadn't felt before. Practice had been a whirlwind—learning stances, blocking drills, and running plays with the linemen. It was overwhelming at first, but the longer he stayed on the field, the more he found himself enjoying the challenge.

By the time Coach Stevenson blew the final whistle, Max felt like he'd been hit by a truck—but he was also buzzing with a strange sense of accomplishment.

"Alright, bring it in!" Coach called, waving the team over.

The players jogged to the center of the field, forming a loose circle around the coach. Max hesitated at the edge, unsure if he should join, but Coach Stevenson caught his eye and gestured for him to step in.

"Good work today, gentlemen," the coach said, his voice firm but encouraging. "We're building something strong here, and I'm proud of the effort you've put in. Especially from our new guy."

Max felt a dozen pairs of eyes turn toward him, and he shifted uncomfortably under the attention.

"Tate," Coach said, clapping a hand on his shoulder. "You came out here today not knowing what to expect, but you gave it your all. That's the kind of attitude we need on this team. So what do you say? You ready to make it official?"

Max froze, his heart hammering in his chest. This was it—the moment he'd have to decide if he was really going to commit. He thought about how far he'd already come, the system pushing him to be better, and the way it felt to be part of something bigger than himself.

He looked up at Coach and nodded. "Yeah, I'm in."

A cheer went up from the players, and a few of them clapped him on the back.

"Welcome to the team, Tate," Coach said with a grin. "You're gonna fit in just fine here. Practice tomorrow, same time. Don't be late."

Max couldn't help but smile, despite how sore and exhausted he was. He'd never imagined himself as a football player, but now, standing in the middle of the field with his new teammates, it didn't feel so impossible.

System Alert:

Quest Complete: Attend Football Practice

Reward: +5 Strength, +5 Confidence, New Skill: "Explosive Power"

Strength: 9 → 14

Confidence: 6 → 11

New Skill Unlocked:

Explosive Power: Temporarily increase speed and strength during short bursts of activity. Cooldown: 12 hours.

As the system notification faded from his view, Max felt a surge of energy ripple through him. He grinned to himself, already imagining how he could use this new skill both on and off the field.

"Let's go, rookie!" one of the players called, snapping him out of his thoughts.

Max jogged toward the locker room with the rest of the team, feeling lighter than he had in years. This was only the beginning, but for the first time, he believed he could handle whatever came next.

Max walked through the front door, the weight of football practice still lingering in his sore muscles. The familiar scent of his mom's cooking wafted through the air, and he could hear the faint hum of the TV in the living room.

As he dropped his backpack by the door, his mom's voice called out from the kitchen. "Max, is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me," he replied, kicking off his shoes and heading into the kitchen.

His mom was at the stove, stirring a pot of something that smelled amazing. She turned to him, her face lighting up. "How was school today?"

Max hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to bring it up. "Uh… pretty good, actually."

"Pretty good?" she echoed, raising an eyebrow. "You're usually dragging your feet when you come home. What happened?"

Before Max could respond, his dad walked into the kitchen. At 6'3" with broad shoulders and arms like tree trunks, his dad, Marcus, was an imposing figure. A retired gym trainer, he still kept up with his workouts and had a natural air of confidence that Max had always admired.

"Hey, champ," his dad said, giving him a nod. "You look like you've been through the wringer. Tough day?"

Max chuckled nervously. "Not exactly. Actually, I, uh… I joined the football team."

His mom froze mid-stir, turning to face him with wide eyes. "You what?"

His dad raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms as a grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Football, huh? Didn't see that coming. What brought this on?"

Max scratched the back of his neck. "Coach Stevenson asked me to join after gym class. He said I had potential, so I figured… why not?"

His mom set the spoon down, walking over to him. "Max, that's amazing! But… are you sure? I mean, football is a big commitment."

"I know," Max said quickly. "But I think I need this. I've been wanting to change, to push myself, and this feels like a good step."

His dad clapped a hand on his shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze. "That's my boy," he said with a proud smile. "Football's a hell of a way to build discipline and strength. You've got the right mindset, Max. I'm proud of you for taking that leap."

Max couldn't help but grin at the praise, his chest swelling with pride.

His mom still looked a little concerned. "Just promise me you'll be careful, okay? Football can be rough."

"I will, Mom," Max assured her.

Marcus leaned back against the counter, crossing his arms. "Well, if you're serious about this, we'll need to talk training. Can't just rely on practice to get you where you need to be. You'll need to focus on strength, endurance, and recovery. And diet's gonna be just as important."

Max nodded, already feeling the weight of what he'd signed up for. But instead of feeling overwhelmed, he felt excited. This was the kind of challenge he'd been craving.

"Thanks, Dad," he said. "I could definitely use some help."

Marcus smirked. "Good. We'll start tomorrow morning. Bright and early."

Max groaned, but his dad just laughed. His mom shook her head, smiling despite herself.

As they sat down for dinner, Max couldn't stop thinking about what lay ahead. Football, training with his dad, and the system backing him up—it felt like everything was finally falling into place. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he was on the right path.