A Trio of Returns

Ty stood in his dingy bathroom. A bathroom which was shared by too many siblings. The shelves and cabinets were a mess of all their different cosmetics, toothbrushes, deodorants, and countless other hygiene products, plenty of which he knew were either empty, or hadn't been touched.

He stared into the stained, old mirror. He was shirtless, flexing his non-existent muscles, disappointed that he looked the same as he always had, despite all his training and working out now.

He'd been doing regular private workouts with Coach Hoang, as well as going to the gym most days, whether JJ was there or not, as well as keeping up his usual training, but maybe it was stupid to think results would be visible so quickly.

He was still as skinny as ever, sure he had a six-pack, but that had always been there, and there still wasn't a shred of muscle anywhere else.

'TYRESE! Stop hogging the fucking bathroom!' Victoria banged on the door.

Ty threw his shirt back on and opened the door, shoving past her without a word.

'Finally!'

He ignored her and grabbed his bag from his room. Then he hurried to the front door. 'I'm going to school!' He yelled, but he went through the door and closed it before even waiting for a response he was sure wouldn't come. He didn't even know who else was home at that moment.

He hurried to school, wishing the day would already be over and he could skip straight to practice.

The day was a long slog, just like any other, but eventually, it was over, and it was time for practice. Ty sighed with relief; he never felt more at home than he did on a football field.

The usual early birds showed up—JJ and Rabbit. Ty ignored them, though Rabbit did congratulate him and JJ on winning their last game and ending the short losing streak they'd been on.

One notable person was missing before practice got underway, as Coach Long didn't show up, even as Bella made her way to the field. Ty thought it was strange but didn't say anything yet.

It only became stranger, when it was officially time for practice to get underway, and Coach Long was still missing. Even Deshaun had shown up, which JJ was on the lookout for and quickly made his way over to meet him.

'Dee! Where you been, hermano? I've been trying to talk with you.'

The two dapped each other up, though Deshaun looked away. 'I've just been busy, what's it matter?'

'Busy? The hell is that supposed to mean? We had a game, and you still didn't show, we could've lost.'

'Yeah right. I heard you won anyway, so did it matter?'

'Well … not like that but—'

'Leave it. I'm here now, ain't I?' Deshaun moved past JJ.

'Banks! I need to speak with you, Jones, go group up with the others,' Coach Hoang said.

JJ frowned but moved away to stand with everyone else, while it was Coach Hoang's turn to chew out Deshaun.

'I don't know what game you're trying to play, Banks, but we aren't playing it. What's done is done, so you're going to have to live with the consequences.'

'Fine, I don't give a shit. Sit me out for the next game.'

'Hmm. No, no, that isn't it. You're going to have to work harder than you ever have before, you need to get back to acting like the leader we know you can be, and you're going to have to earn back the respect of your teammates. If I see you slacking off, if I even see someone else working harder than you today, there'll be hell to pay. Now get your ass over with the others.'

'Yes, sir.' Deshaun rolled his eyes and walked over to the rest of the team.

Coach Long still wasn't there, but Coach Norman stood before the teams. 'Quiet down. I know the coach ain't here, but that ain't no excuse for us to be slacking off. Now, he will be here in a moment, but that doesn't mean we're gonna wait for him.'

'Where is he?' one boy asked.

'He's just got some business to take care of, then he'll be here as soon as it's done. While we wait, go and give me some laps and get warmed up.' He clapped his hands sharply and the players moved off to begin jogging around the field.

Ty, his curiosity getting the best of him, made a detour over to Bella first. 'Hey, where's your dad at?'

She looked at him, frowning. 'Not that I need to tell you, but he's with Chris, making sure he's all clear to join in properly today. They should be back any minute.'

Chris and Coach Long were with the school nurse, double-checking that all signs of Chris's concussion were well behind him, and he was okay to resume practising and playing.

The examination was just finishing, and everything appeared good—Chris was in the clear.

Coach Long thumped him on the back lightly. 'I'm happy for you, let's hope that's the last concussion you ever have to worry about. But, as for today, let's just take things easy with you.'

Chris looked up at him and nodded. 'Yes, Coach.'

'We'll see how you go this week, but we'll probably let Cameron share more of the snaps in the upcoming game.'

Chris was a little frustrated but nodded again. 'I understand, Coach.'

During the early stages of practice, JJ was trying to stick close to Deshaun, but Deshaun did a good job of avoiding him and his probing, annoying questions.

Thankfully for Deshaun, when Chris and Coach Long returned, it distracted everyone else and took the heat off him.

Coach Long didn't want to disrupt the practice going on, but it was unavoidable. The boys gathered around Chris, wondering if he'd be able to join in today.

'Okay, don't crowd around him now. Give him some space.' Coach Long cleared his throat. 'Yes, Chris has been cleared to participate, but he'll still take things easy for a few days.'

The others didn't seem to care that they were going to ease him back into things, they were just happy that he was better. They cheered and pressed in around him again, whacking him on the back or shoulder, jostling him a bit as they welcomed him properly back.

Chris couldn't hold back the grin that overcame his face. It felt right to be back instead of being relegated to the sidelines.

'Alright that's enough, get back to work!' Coach Long's shrill whistle dispersed the crowd gathered around Chris and sent everyone back to their drills.

Now that Coach Long was back, and practice was fully underway, JJ had no chance to pester Deshaun or confront him.

However, that didn't mean he had given up, and during their drinks break, he made his way over to the other boy. This time, JJ was flanked by several of the other seniors.

Jay, Deshaun, and Chris stood beside him, Benny and others were sat nearby. Ty was sitting not too far away, but he did his best to ignore the confrontation.

Deshaun looked up from his seat and set aside his drink. 'The fuck is this? A gang muggin'?'

JJ stared at him like he was a dog that had been caught tearing up a cushion. 'Just tell us what you were up to, what was so important that you had to miss not only practise but an entire GAME.'

Deshaun wiped his nose with the back of his hand, looking away. 'I've been working, 'cause I got a fuckin' job unlike some of you bums. Helpin' out my old man with his construction business.'

'Don't cha need some kinda … qualifications for that?' Jay said, too lost in thought to notice Deshaun's glare.

'Hmm, okay, but I still don't think that's any reason for you to stop coming to practice, and it ESPECIALLY shouldn't stop you from showing up at a game. You can work around those hours, right?' JJ said.

'Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe some people don't care as much about some shitty game. … Not everyone has D1 offers like you.'

JJ took a step back, surprised by the antagonistic response. 'Whoa … what's that mean?'

There was an awkward silence between the seniors. Ty was looking over, watching and listening with interest now.

Deshaun shifted in his seat and then sighed heavily. 'I ain't got any offers from ANY college to come play.'

'That's bullshit,' Stephen said. 'You're easily good enough to go D2 at least.'

'I ain't bullshittin', I know that much. Either way, I ain't got offers. So sorry if I'm prioritisin' my future career rather than football at the moment, we can't all make the big leagues like a certain Mr D1.' Deshaun stared at JJ.

'That's… okay, yeah, I have a couple of offers from some schools, but that doesn't mean anything. Everyone has some offers, right?' JJ looked around.

'Yeah, I mean I got some D2 offers for sure.' Stephen rubbed the back of his neck.

'Hm? Oh, yeah … I think I've got some offers from places.' Jay sighed. 'But college sounds like such a pain, don't you think?'

'I've heard from a D1 school, but they said they could only move forward with me if we won State first,' Chris said.

'Even I've heard from a D3 school,' Benny awkwardly spoke up.

'You see what I'm fuckin' talkin' about?' Deshaun waved his hand around. 'EVERYBODY got a scholarship. Everybody BUT me. Shit, I'll be fuckin' lucky to have even a D3 college interested in me now that there's a fuckin' freshy showin' me up.' He shot Ty a dirty look.

Ty held no remorse or empathy for the older boy's situation, staring back at him blankly.

'Man, that doesn't matter. They're probably late or got lost in the mail or something. You're way too good to not get ANY offers. But anyway, who cares? WHEN we win State—not if, when—we'll all go D1.' JJ placed a hand on Deshaun's shoulder, smiling down at him.

'Are you forgetting there's a National Championship this year?' Every head turned towards Ty. 'When we win that, I bet even the worthless backups who rode the bench will go D1 and get to pick their dream college.'

JJ grinned and laughed. He nudged Deshaun. 'See, Dee? I promise we're gonna win State AND the National, then we'll all go D1, and we'll be able to play against, or with each other in college, wherever we end up.'

The coaches called for the break to be over and for everyone to get back to work.

JJ kept his smile and offered Deshaun a hand. 'What do you say, hermano? You gonna help us be champions?'

Deshaun looked at the hand silently for a moment before he clasped it tightly and was helped to his feet. 'Fuck it. I ain't got shit to lose anyway. Let's win some fuckin' trophies.'

'That's the spirit!' JJ pulled him into a hug and the others rubbed Deshaun's head roughly, telling him how glad they were to have him back.

'Duuude, we almost lost without you guys,' Jay said.

Deshaun laughed. 'You ain't need to lie, I seen the scores. Y'all were really in trouble without me, huh?'

Chris looked over at Ty. 'They would've had an easier time. But thankfully our awesome teammates stepped up big time. Let's repay them this week and return the favour, yeah?'

Deshaun looked at Ty as well. 'Yeah, yeah sure.'

Ty stood up, rolling his shoulders as he walked back out onto the field. He glanced in Deshaun's direction. 'Hey. If you don't want to be shown up by a "freshy" then maybe you should work harder and do better, instead of being a crybaby bitch about it.'

'The fuck you say?!'

JJ got in between Ty and Deshaun, holding Deshaun back. 'Yo, Dee, relax! Settle things on the field and prove him wrong there, alright? Uhh, he's just trying to motivate you in his own unique way, you know?'

'Fuck. Goddamn freshy. He needs to watch his damn mouth and show us some motherfuckin' respect.' Deshaun backed off, and they all returned to practice, Stephen agreeing with his sentiments regarding Ty.

When their training resumed, they picked back up with an incredible intensity, the whole team being pumped up as Deshaun set the standard for effort.

Ty had seen Ricky around, but he hadn't been approached by the brat, so he hadn't heard anything about who they were facing next.

Looking around, he didn't think it mattered. He was certain that whoever they faced in this upcoming game, they wouldn't stand a chance against the resurgent Dons.

But, he did have a creeping doubt about one thing, gnawing away at the back of his mind. All that talk about winning State and going on to win the Natty as well was all good, but they still had an important hurdle before them—there was no winning State if they couldn't even make the tournament, which meant winning Regionals.

And to win Regionals they'd have to best the Bears or the Vikings … or a team even stronger than those two.