Adam Watson

"Good practice Watson," Coach Dobson said, slapping me on the back. "You're making real gains in the weight room."

"Thanks Coach."

I headed into the weight room to shower off, ready to climb back into my bed for another couple of hours.

Friday morning conditioning was always a rough one.

"My office Watson!" Coach Mason called through the locker room. And then his office door clicked shut.

Fucking great.

I'd been competing with the backup QB, coincidentally also named Adam, for my starting position all week. Coach Mason had remained true to his word, refusing to hand the position over to me.

And I'm sure today was the day I was going to find out if my ass was going to be on the bench or not.

I took a quick shower before joining Coach Mason in his office.

"I heard you showed up strong today," Coach Mason said, glancing up from his desk.

"Yes sir."

He leaned back in his chair, letting the silence settle around the room.

I ran my fingers through my wet hair, my eyes flickering to the wall and then back to him.

To say I was nervous would be an understatement. I couldn't imagine having to explain to my dad that I'd lost my starting position, the disappointment in his voice.

I was already enough of a fuck up as it is.

"You came in here ready to fight this week, but you're still not acting as yourself Adam."

I could feel my heartbeat picking up in my chest as Coach Mason leaned forward, resting his forearms on his desk.

"What do you mean?" I asked, keeping my voice level.

"You're going through the motions. And doing a damn good job at it. But that's not the Quarterback I put my ass on the line for. Tomorrow's game against Auburn is a big game for us, and I need a Quarterback that I know is going to give me his all."

"I don't understand what you want from me."

"I want heart Watson. I want passion. I want the guy who came to my office door and wouldn't take no for an answer, wouldn't leave until I gave him a chance."

I cleared my throat as I remembered that whole debacle.

Vanderbilt had been the only school still willing to consider me after I'd been admitted to rehab. I'd already signed with Louisiana State University and they'd called my parents while I was away to recede. As did every other school that had recruited me to play for them.

But for some reason Vanderbilt University re-extended their bid. Coach Mason had admitted to me that he didn't remember doing so, that it had probably been a mistake. But I wasn't going to let the only opportunity I had to still play Division One football disappear. So I'd begged him to give me a chance, and promised that he wouldn't be disappointed.

Now almost a year later I was riding a full-scholarship with a starting position. And I could see it all slipping away.

"I'm still that same person Coach," I said. "I'm still that same guy."

"I've been waiting for him to show up on my field. And so far I haven't been impressed."

I felt as though there was a weight pressing against my chest. Football was all that I had left. Without it I'm not sure what I'd do, what reason I'd have to continue getting out of bed in the mornings.

Football had gotten me through so much grief and disappointment. I needed this.

"He'll show up on Saturday if you give me a chance to do so."

Coach Mason was silent once again, studying me this time.

I maintained eye contact, the seconds feeling like hours as they slowly dragged by.

Coach Mason finally sighed. "I'll give you the first half Watson. Show me something worth playing the second."

~*~

"So what's your plan for next weekend?" Terrence asked me.

"I'm asleep. Leave me alone."

Terrence pulled my covers off of me. He shoved me over towards my wall, climbing up and joining me.

"What the fuck are you doing?"

"You refused to speak to me, so I'm making myself heard."

If I shoved him too hard he'd fall from the bed, which was raised at its maximum height. So instead I hit him with my pillow as hard as I could before sitting up.

I ran my hand across my face, my eyes bleary. "What part of I'm asleep is lost on you?"

"You've been asleep all morning and a good half of the afternoon. It's 3:00 Adam, your sleep pass has been invalidated."

"I didn't realize it had an expiration on it."

Terrence ignored me. "What's your plan for next weekend man? I need to know so I can plan accordingly."

"Is next weekend special?"

"Family weekend, did you really forget already?"

Fuck.

I let out a long groan, flopping back down onto my pillow. "My plan is to fake like I transferred schools and hope that my parents don't come."

"Good one."

"I don't know man," I said, glancing up at him. "No way is my dad missing a chance to come and check up on me. I'm sure they'll be here the entire weekend, so long as my mom is feeling up to it."

I would never wish ill upon my mom, but if there were one weekend I'd want for her to be out of commission, it would be Family Weekend.

"That's all I needed to know," Terrence said. He climbed back down the ladder leading up to my bed.

"What's your plan then?" I asked, leaning over my side railing.

"To become one with your family."

I nodded. "So basically the same thing you've always done?"

"Precisely."

I climbed down my ladder, taking a seat on my futon. "Maybe my weekend will interfere with Michael's."

"Call him and find out."

"I'll pass." I grabbed my bottle of Jack Daniels from underneath my futon and took a swig. "My parents would still come here anyways."

Terrence offered me a disapproving look, his eyebrows pinched together and mouth tilted into a frown. "Wonder why."

"I'm perfectly capable of handling myself."

"As you've proven time and time again, clearly."

"Fuck off, I didn't sign up for a lecture today." I took another swig of the alcohol. "Do my parents just come down for the game for Family Weekend? Or is it some big to-do that I'm going to have to suffer through?"

"What do you think?"

This time I took more than a swig, opening my throat to let the alcohol wash down. "Great."

Terrence stole the Jack Daniels from me, recapping the bottle. "And you're going to have to figure out how to go a weekend sober."

"Please T," I said, with a scoff. "Alcohol will be the least of our worries."

He stored the bottle under his bed, letting out a chuckle. "If that's true then we better start preparing for the end of times."

~*~

Leading my team out of the tunnel on Saturdays was an exhilarating experience.

Leading my team out of the tunnel on Saturdays with a good buzz was an even better experience.

Coach Mason took me by the shoulder pads as warm-ups finished, giving me a good shake. "That's the Watson I've been looking for."

I flashed him a thumbs-up and he slapped me on the helmet. "Grab some water, let's get ready to kick some Tiger ass."

I did just that, feeling the anxiety creep up as the game clock counted down the seconds.

Auburn was a big game for us. As an unranked team, playing a team that ranked in the top ten was an opportunity for us to prove ourselves. And the team was counting on me to be the one to lead them to that victory.

And so I did just that. I poured my heart out on the field, my body aching from multiple sacks and my heart racing in anticipation as the clock wound down. Blood, sweat, and tears was not an understatement today, as we came out on top 24-21.

I'd never felt more alive as we stepped off the field, a hard-earned victory on our part.

Today I'd proven myself worthy of the starting position. I wasn't going to let it be taken away from me by some imposter-Adam. I earned that second fucking half.

The post-game celebration in the locker room included my teammates shoving me around while shouting excited profanities in my face.

"Alright, alright," Coach Mason said, waving to get our attention. "Calm down now dammit."

"Calm down?" Reid called out, one of the team captains. "We just knocked off a Top Ten team!"

The shouting that followed shook the locker room, the group of us stomping on the ground and knocking one another into the benches.

"I can see we're not getting anywhere tonight!" Coach Mason said. "No practice on Monday, I'll see you all again Tuesday. Be safe out there tonight boys." He tipped his hat before disappearing back into his office.

Another cheer went up, and Eric, the starting Tight End, grabbed me by the shoulders. "Where to QB?"

All eyes slid to me in anticipation.

"What?"

"The night is young my man!" Reid called out. "And this is only the beginning."

"You deserve this win," Eric said, slapping me on the back.

"Thanks man."

"Now let's go make some memories that we're bound to forget."

I glanced around at my teammates, who were all cheering without awaiting my response.

As their starting Quarterback, I didn't want to let them down. I was just now starting to feel like one of the guys, like I was accepted. To pass up this invitation could ruin what little progress I've already made.

Which is how we ended up Downtown at the local hub, surrounded by fans and fellow classmates.

The shots were only the beginning.

"Adam fucking Watson," Eric said, slinging an arm around my shoulders. "Damn man, you can drink anyone under the fucking table."

"It is my specialty." I rose my beer glass toward him, before tilting it back and finishing off the rest.

"Another round on me!" Vincent called, causing a cheer to come up from the bar.

I'd learned that he was a die-hard Vanderbilt football fan, having played football there himself back in his day. He could talk if you let him, but what he was really good for was buying rounds of shots.

I think I've had three rounds on him.

"Where's the bathroom?" I asked the guy sitting next to me.

He looked to be wearing a blue shirt, but I chose to ignore his Auburn-supporting ways for the sake of my bladder.

"To the right, around the corner."

I stood up off my barstool, and it was as though all of the alcohol hit me at once. I felt a rush of dizziness, and I stumbled to my right a bit.

"You good man?"

I patted the fellow gentleman's arm, offering him a smile. "Thanks man."

Using the wall for support, I found my way back to the bathroom, emptying out what seemed to be Niagra Falls.

How many drinks have I had?

I zipped back up my jeans, making my way back out to the bar where Reid was attempting to do body shots off of the bartender.

I felt an arm securely fastened around me, and before I knew it my head was being shoved between a pair of breasts.

"This is our star QB!" a voice shouted behind me. "Make it a good one for him."

"What the hell am I doing?" I asked, my face still between these breasts.

"Just pick up the shot glass with your mouth and tilt back bro."

And that's the last thing that I remember.

So what did you guys think about Coach Mason's ultimatum to Adam? Do you think he's right? What about Family Weekend? Predictions? And then the football game? Did you expect a win? What about the celebrations after?

The picture up at the top was submitted by notstilesstilinksi. What do you guys think?

So I'm reliving my childhood right now by watching CatDog on Nickelodeon right now. 90's Nick takes over late night and last night we watched Hey Arnold! I love it so much.

Teaser: Sarah's POV. She and Adam make a bet & it's Joel's first wrestling match.