Chapter 7

“I fucking hate this!” I exclaimed, searching through my bag frantically. Why was it that most games started like this?

“Lose a tampon again?” Nate teased.

“No!” I screamed. “I can’t find a pony tail band!”

“Girl problems.” Ryan teased.

I groaned and put my hands on top of my head.

“Why so stressed?” Nate asked, walking over to me.

“My moms coming to the game.” I grumbled. “And coach said there’s going to be scouts here.”

“Your moms coming?!” Luke exclaimed.

“Now you see why I’m freaking out!” I exclaimed.

“Heres a rubber band.” Dylan smiled, walking up to me.

“Oh thank you.” I smiled, taking it from his hand. “You’re a life saver.” I grinned, flipping my hair up into a pony tail. Once my hair was safely out of my face, I pulled on my socks and shoes, then grabbed my helmet.

“So how was the dinner last night?” Ryan asked as we all walk out to the field after coach’s talk.

“Really good.” I smiled as Dylan appeared next to me.

Ryan gave me a weird look.

“You actually had fun at a party your parents threw?” Ryan laughed.

“Well the party itself wasn’t fun.” I laughed. “But I didn’t have a bad time last night.”

I heard the marching band playing as we waited to run out to the field.

“Good luck.” Dylan said softly in my ear.

“You too.” I smiled, turning around to face him.

“You’re coming over after, right?” He asked. I nodded, grinning. We were having dinner at his house tonight.

“I’m excited to meet your family.” I said happily. I hadn’t met them yet, but from what Dylan said, they were excited to meet me.

“Only 5 of my brothers will be home.” He replied.

“I don’t care.” I said.

“You seem happy.” Nate said as we jogged out to the field.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” I said, smiling.

Nate just shrugged. “Your mom is here.”

“Yea that’s a good thing.” I said, looking in the stands for her. She saw me and waved excitedly. I laughed and turned to Dylan.

“Let’s go.” I grinned, nudging his arm with mine. Dylan nodded and we jogged over to coach on the sideline.

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“Okay boys I have someone I want you to meet.” Coach said, walking into the locker rooms.

The guys and I crowded around coach and the two men beside him. We were still in our uniforms, and many of us still had our helmets on. We all sat down on the benches around coach.

“These are scouts from University of Michigan, they’re looking at some of you Juniors and Seniors.” Coach explained. I sighed, and held back my eye roll. There was no use for me to be here. I wouldn’t play for a Big 10 school. Never in a million years. I sighed and looked over at Dylan. I knew that he really wanted to go to Michigan, so obviously he’d want to pay attention.

I kind of zoned out as the scouts talked about college stuff.

“There are a few individuals I’d like to see.” One of them said. He was Allen, and the other was Ron.

“Yea of course.” Coach said.

“Sam Carson, Dylan Peters, Nate Hart, and Ryan Lowland.” He said.

I smiled, because I knew that Dylan would be really excited. We followed the scouts into the halls while the other boys stayed behind, obviously really upset.

“You 4 stood out of everyone, especially you two.” Ron said, pointing to me and Dylan. I saw Dylan’s face break out into a huge smile, and it gave me butterflies. Him and Ryan had their helmets off, but Nate and I still had ours on.

“Any of you looking into college ball?” Allen asked.

“Oh yea.” Dylan grinned. Nate and Ryan both nodded. I shook my head.

“Not really.” I said, wanting to punch myself. How many people could say that had scouts from the University of Michigan telling them that they had talent, and then said they weren’t playing ball. Fuck this.

“Why not? You’re good?”

“Personal reasons.” I said, crossing my arms.

“Well we’d still love you at Michigan,” Allen said, talking to me and Dylan. Ron was talking to the other two. “We didn’t see anything on your grades though, we couldn’t find your files.”

“Oh.” Was all I said.

“Well just think about it.” Allen said, then turned to Dylan. “How about you? College football in your future?”

“Oh yea I’ve been wanting to play for Michigan since I was a toddler.” Dylan grinned.

They talked for a little while, and I felt myself getting more and more frustrated.

“Well it was great meeting you both, I hope to see you again.” Allen said. I just nodded and walked into the locker room. I ripped off my helmet and bitterly put it in my bag.

“Hey- Sam what’s wrong?” Dylan said, jogging after me.

“Nothing.” I said, pulling my pads and jersey over my head.

“It doesn’t seem like nothing.” Dylan said, putting his hand on my shoulder. I felt tears slip down my cheeks.

“What if you couldn’t play football in college because of your fucking gender. Just because you were a girl means that you couldn’t play with the guys. It’s like fucking kindergarten and I have cooties or something!” I cried, unsure where all these emotions were coming from. Dylan just pulled me into a hug, holding me close to him.

“It’s no use crying over it... You’re a girl, there’s nothing you can do about that. You’re amazing at football, and we all know it. Even if you don’t play for Michigan, you’ll be fine. Even if you don’t play football at all, you’ll be fine.” Dylan said softly in my ear, rubbing my back. I just nodded, sniffling.

“Oh I’m getting your shirt wet.” I said, pulling away.

“I don’t mind.” He said. I sighed wiping my cheeks.

“Holy shit I’m crying. I haven’t cried in 8 years since Nate smashed my face in my birthday cake.” I said, taking a shaky breath. “Pretend you didn’t see that.” I laughed, my voice shaky.

The rest of the team were silently getting their things together, taking nervous glances at me every once in a while. Dylan went to get his stuff together and I changed into some jeans and a loose t-shirt. I pulled on some comfy socks and my adidas slides, then pulled my bag over my shoulder. I put it in coach’s office, then walked over to Dylan. On game days, I couldn’t walk out with my bag, or people would get suspicious.

“I have a question.” Dylan said as he put his arms through his shirt.

“Ask away.” I said as he pulled his shirt on completely.

“If they looked for records of ‘Sam Carson’ wouldn’t they see ‘Samantha Carson’?” Dylan asked. I shook my head.

“My real name is Alexandra Samantha Carson, but I’ve been called Samantha ever since I was a baby... I’m not sure why I wasn’t just named Samantha, because everyone else in my family is an ‘S’, but yea. So everything’s registered under Alexandra.” I shrugged.

“Your real name is Alexandra?” Dylan laughed.

“Hey. No making fun of me.” I frowned.

“I’m not making fun of you.” Dylan smiled, walking towards the back door with me.

“Oh really?” I asked, pulling my hair back up into a bun.

“I just think it’s cute.” He said, opening up the door for me.

“Cute?” I asked. “Ugh.”

“It’s alright. You’ll always be Sam to me.” Dylan smiled.

“Awww. And you’ll always be Dylan to me.” I said as we walked to his car.

“Well that’s my real name.” He said, tossing his bag in the back of his truck.

“True.” I said, climbing into the car. “Let’s go.”

My mom had left the game at halftime to go to my sisters’ dance thing. I knew she wouldn’t pull through with her commitment...

“Can I play the radio?” I asked as we pulled out of the school parking lot.

“On one condition.” Dylan said.

“And what is that one condition?” I giggled.

“I’m allowed sing.” He said.

“Well obviously.” I giggled, turning it to 98.7 amp radio.

“Oh shit not this song.” Dylan said, changing the channel. It’d been We Can’t Stop.

“I hate that one.” I giggled, turning up the song as a different song played. “Oh my God can we listen to this? Please?”

Dylan groaned. “Why...” He grumbled.

“Because this is the best song ever!” I giggled. Dylan just rolled his eyes and we waited for the chorus to come on.

“AND WE DANCED ALL NIGHT TO THE BEST SONG EVER WE KNEW EVERY LINE NOW I CAN’T REMEMBER HOW IT GOES BUT I KNOW THAT I WON’T FORGET HER CAUSE WE DANCED ALL NIGHT TO THE BEST SONG EVER!” We sang.

“I think it went oh oh oh!” I sang.

“I think it went yea yea yea.” Dylan laughed.

“I think it gooooeessssss.”

“You’re adorable.” Dylan said, glancing over at me as he stopped at a red light.

“You know it.” I giggled with a wink, changing the channel again. “Oh! I love this song!”

“Oh my God I feel it in the air telephone wires above are sizzling like a snare. Honey I’m on fire I feel it everywhere nothing scares me anymore!” I sang.

“Kiss me hard before you go! Summer times sadness, I just wanted you to know, that baby you’re the best. I got that summer time, summer time sadness, s-s-summer time, summer time sadness. Got that summer time, summer time sadness oh.”

I changed the channel again, making Dylan laugh. “You just can’t listen to a full song now can you?” He said.

“Oh yes I can.” I said, switching the channel again. “See, I love this song.”

Dylan just laughed. “5 bucks you switch it before the end.”

“Nah I don’t wanna take your money.” I giggled.

“Fine then a kiss.”

“Deal.”

The song was Holy Grail, and I really liked this song. He pulled into a driveway, and was going to turn off the car, but I stopped him.

“Nope. We have to listen to the whole song!” I laughed, holding his hand so that he wouldn’t take the keys out. He just sighed and leaned back.

“Okay can I forfeit I’m hungry.” Dylan mumbled.

“Yea I guess I’ll win anyways.” I shrugged, turning off the radio.

“I WIN!” He proudly announced. I just looked at him.

“You poop face!” I exclaimed, playfully hitting his arm.

“Oh come on, just a kiss.” He said, leaning his head forwards. I giggled and placed a soft kiss on his lips.

“Now lets go eat I’m starving!” I exclaimed. Dylan laughed as we got out of the car.

“Okay, so the twins are Colton and Ethan, and Colton has glasses. Freddie is 12 and he’s the only one with curly hair because he gets it from your mom. Jacob is 8 and Noah is 7 and Noah has a broken arm. Okay. I’ll be able to tell them apart.” I said, sliding my hand as we walked up to the door.

“And what about me?” Dylan asked.

“You’re the one that’s my boyfriend.” I said, kissing his cheek.

Dylan smiled as he pushed open the door.

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Hi okay so I really like this story and I'm writing chapter 28 right now and it's really good because shit just went down with Sam and yay for writing :)

I'm in a weird mood right now but I need to sleep because it's late and I have to be up early ugh

Update: Tomorrow (Monday)

-Panda