Return II

Desmond now started to feel the eyes on him as he sat in the locker room, the usual noise and chatter dampened by his presence. Tyler's questioning had left a sour taste in his mouth. No one usually dared to press him like that, and it grated on him that Tyler had even tried. As he stood up, his eyes scanned the room, catching the glances of a few teammates who quickly looked away when they met his gaze. Desmond smirked, feeling a surge of satisfaction. They knew better than to challenge him directly.

As he walked past a group of players huddled near the door, they fell silent, parting like the Red Sea to let him through. Desmond didn't acknowledge them, but the way they shrank back, eyes downcast, was all the recognition he needed. He reveled in the control he had over the room, the unspoken rule that Desmond was not to be messed with.

But the memory of Tyler's probing still nagged at him. He knew he had to keep up appearances, to make sure no one else got any ideas about questioning him. He spotted Tyler across the room, talking to another player, and felt a flash of irritation.

Without hesitation, Desmond strode over, his steps purposeful. As he approached, Tyler glanced up, meeting his eyes with a calm that only fueled Desmond's annoyance.

"Tyler," Desmond's voice was low, but there was an edge to it that cut through the noise. "You got something to say to me?"

Tyler turned fully to face him, his expression unreadable. "I think we already talked, didn't we?"

Desmond stepped closer, his size and presence intimidating. "Yeah, we did. But let me make something clear—you don't need to worry about what went down with Marvin. It's handled."

Tyler held his gaze, but Desmond could see the slight tension in his jaw, the way his shoulders stiffened. "I'm not worried, Des. Just curious. But if you say it's handled, then I'll take your word for it."

"Damn right you will," Desmond growled, his tone leaving no room for argument. He waited a beat longer, ensuring his message was clear before turning away. Tyler might be smart, but even he knew better than to push too far.

As Desmond walked back to his locker, he noticed Adam and Caleb watching him. Unlike the others, their eyes didn't dart away when he caught them looking. Desmond's lip curled into a sneer. "You two got something to say?"

Adam shook his head quickly, but Caleb, ever the more daring of the two, shrugged. "Just making sure everything's cool, Des."

"Everything's fine," Desmond snapped, though his tone wasn't as sharp as it had been with Tyler. "Mind your own business, and you won't have any problems."

Caleb nodded, but there was a glint in his eye that Desmond didn't like. He made a mental note to keep an eye on those two. They were loyal enough, but he'd seen how quickly loyalty could shift when people started getting ideas.

As the team finished packing up, Desmond noticed how the others gave him space, not just physically, but in the way they spoke to him—or didn't. They knew who he was, and what he was capable of, and that was enough to keep them in line.

But in the back of his mind, Desmond knew that Tyler's questions and Caleb's glances were warning signs. His reputation was strong, but it was only as solid as the stories that built it. If those stories started to unravel, if people began to doubt him, everything could come crashing down.

Desmond clenched his fists, a wave of anger surging through him. He wouldn't let that happen. Not now, not ever. He'd done what he had to do to maintain his status, and he'd do it again if necessary. The truth was what he said it was, and anyone who dared to challenge that would face the consequences.

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As Adam and Caleb left the locker room, the tension between them was palpable. They hadn't said much, but both were thinking the same thing—Desmond was on edge, more so than usual.

"You notice how he snapped at Tyler?" Caleb muttered as they walked down the hallway.

"Yeah," Adam replied. "It's different from his usual brute way, something feels off."

Caleb nodded in agreement. "Desmond's always been the top dog, but if he's lying about what happened with Marvin, it's only a matter of time before someone calls him out. And when that happens…"

Adam didn't need him to finish the sentence. They both knew what it meant. Desmond was tough, but if his reputation took a hit, he'd be vulnerable in ways he hadn't been before.

"Think we should stay out of it?" Adam asked, glancing over at Caleb.

"For now," Caleb said. "But if things start to go south, we might have to pick a side. And if that happens, I'm not sure Desmond's is the one we want to be on."

Adam nodded, his mind racing with possibilities. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Desmond made his way out of the school, when he reached the parking lot to wait for his mom, Desmond spotted a group of juniors hanging out by their cars. They were football players too, and their camaraderie was evident in the way they laughed and joked with one another. As Desmond approached, their laughter didn't completely die down, but it did take on a different tone—less carefree, more measured. They didn't scatter like the other students, but their eyes were on him, watching closely.

One of them, a tall, lanky kid named Eric, nodded at Desmond as he drew near. "Yo, Des, good to see you back. Heard about what happened with Marvin. You really messed him up, huh?"

Desmond paused, his eyes narrowing slightly at Eric's comment. The way Eric said it, with a hint of challenge or doubt, rubbed him the wrong way. Desmond stepped closer, his size and presence immediately creating tension. The other juniors didn't back down, but there was a subtle shift in their stance—less relaxed, more on guard.

"You think I didn't?" Desmond's voice was low, carrying an edge of menace that wasn't lost on the group.

Eric held his ground, though there was a flicker of unease in his eyes. "Nah, man, just saying. People been talking, that's all."

"Yeah?" Desmond's gaze swept over the group, daring any of them to say more. "Well, they better watch their mouths. Marvin learned the hard way. If anyone else wants to test me, they'll get the same."

Eric exchanged a quick look with the others, a silent communication passing between them. They were confident, but not foolish. They knew Desmond's reputation wasn't just talk, and pushing him too far wasn't worth it.

"Got it," Eric said, his tone more serious now. "No one's doubting you, Des."

Desmond stared him down for a moment longer before giving a sharp nod. "Good. Make sure it stays that way."

As he turned and walked away, Desmond felt the usual rush of power that came with asserting his dominance. But beneath that, a nagging unease lingered—a sense that things were shifting in ways he couldn't fully control. The juniors hadn't backed off as quickly as he expected, and that made him uneasy.

He pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on the weekend ahead. He'd have to keep his story straight and make sure everyone remembered why they shouldn't mess with him. But deep down, Desmond couldn't shake the feeling that cracks were forming in his carefully built reputation. And if those cracks widened, everything he'd worked for could come crashing down.

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The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the middle school football field as Austin jogged out for practice. His helmet bobbed slightly with each step, the same way his dad's used to when he was getting ready for a game. Unlike the rest of the team, Austin's movements were smooth and confident. He'd been training with his father, Joel, and it showed in the way he handled himself on the field.

Coach Daniels, a stocky man with a booming voice, blew his whistle to gather the team. "Alright, listen up! We're going to start with some basic drills. Remember, we're a team, so we work together. No one's a superstar here—got it?"

The boys nodded, some with more enthusiasm than others. Austin took his place in line for the first drill, which was focused on route running and catching passes. As a wide receiver, this was where Austin could really shine, especially since the rest of the team was still figuring things out.

"Receivers, you're up first!" Coach Daniels called out. "I want sharp routes, clean cuts, and catch everything that comes your way."

Austin lined up across from the quarterback, his feet light on the grass. When the ball was snapped, he burst off the line, his stride quick and deliberate. He cut sharply at the designated point, turned, and the ball was already in the air. Without hesitation, Austin reached out, catching it in stride before sprinting downfield.

"Perfect form, Austin!" Coach Daniels shouted. "That's how it's done!"

The next few receivers took their turns, but it was clear they hadn't put in the same work as Austin. One of the boys, Luke, stumbled coming out of his break, the ball sailing over his head as he tried to recover.

"Keep your balance, Luke!" Coach Daniels advised, his tone encouraging but firm. "You need to stay low and controlled when you cut."

Another receiver, Kevin, hesitated on his route, unsure of when to turn. By the time he made his move, the ball was already past him, bouncing harmlessly on the turf.

"Kevin, trust yourself!" Coach Daniels called. "You've got to be decisive out there."

Austin watched his teammates, noticing their struggles. When it was his turn again, he made a mental note to set an example. As he lined up, he could see the determination on the other boys' faces—they wanted to get it right, but they were still learning.

The snap came, and Austin was off, cutting sharply at his mark and turning just in time to see the ball spiraling toward him. He snatched it out of the air with both hands, tucking it in and sprinting downfield. The catch was clean, the route precise.

"Nice work, Austin!" Coach Daniels shouted. "Everyone, watch how Austin runs his routes. That's what I want to see!"

As the drill continued, the team gradually improved. The boys still made mistakes—some routes were run too wide, others too shallow—but with each repetition, they got a little better. Austin, meanwhile, continued to catch every pass thrown his way, his movements smooth and practiced.

Next, Coach Daniels set up a scrimmage to see how the team would perform under more pressure. Austin jogged to the sideline, ready to play his position as wide receiver. The quarterback, a boy named Mark, looked nervous but determined as he huddled the offense.

"Alright, let's run a simple out route," Mark said, his voice a bit shaky. "Austin, you're the primary target. Everyone else, clear out space for him."

The team nodded, and they broke the huddle. Austin lined up against the cornerback, a lanky kid named Jake who was still figuring out how to cover receivers. When the ball was snapped, Austin exploded off the line, sprinting downfield before cutting sharply to the sideline. He saw Mark hesitate slightly, but the ball came his way, a little off-target but still catchable.

Austin adjusted quickly, reaching out to snag the ball with his fingertips before tucking it away and turning upfield. Jake lunged for him but missed, and Austin continued down the sideline until the whistle blew.

"Great catch, Austin!" Mark called out, jogging over to give him a high-five.

"Thanks," Austin replied, his breath steady despite the sprint. "Just keep throwing like that, and we'll be good."

The scrimmage continued, Mark threw an underthrown pass intended for another receiver, and the ball was intercepted by Josh, the middle linebacker. The defense erupted in cheers, while Mark hung his head.

"Hey, don't worry about it," Austin said, jogging over to Mark. "Just keep making your reads, and we'll get it back."

Mark nodded, his confidence shaken but not broken.

Coach Daniels blew his whistle. "Alright, offense, we're running a deep pass. Receivers, I want you to hit your marks, and remember full sprint."

Austin nodded, his heart pounding with excitement. This was his favorite kind of play—the chance to really stretch the field and show what he could do. He lined up against Jake, the cornerback who had struggled earlier in practice. Jake looked determined, his stance wide as he tried to anticipate Austin's move.

"Set, hut!" Mark, the quarterback, called out, and the ball was snapped.

Austin exploded off the line, his legs churning as he sprinted straight down the sideline. Jake tried to keep up, but Austin had been practicing with his father for months, and his speed was undeniable. He glanced back over his shoulder, seeing the ball spiraling through the air toward him.

Everything slowed down. Austin's focus narrowed to just the ball and the end zone ahead. He extended his arms, fingertips barely grazing the leather as he stretched his fingers pulling the ball into his chest. Jake was a step behind, lunging to make a tackle, but Austin sidestepped him, staying on his feet and turning upfield.

"Go, Austin! Go!" someone shouted from the sidelines.

Austin didn't need to be told twice. He sprinted the remaining yards to the end zone, the defense trailing behind. The play was flawless, executed just as Coach Daniels had drawn it up. When he crossed into the end zone, he slowed down, finally turning to see the rest of his teammates catching up.

Coach Daniels blew the whistle, a wide grin on his face. "That's how you do it, Austin! Great catch and run! Everyone else, watch how he kept his focus and didn't let up until he was in the end zone."

Austin jogged back to the huddle, his teammates slapping him on the back and offering high-fives.

"Man, you burned him," Kevin said, his eyes wide with admiration. "How do you run so fast?"

Austin shrugged, a small smile on his face. "Just gotta keep practicing. My dad helped me with my speed."

"Whatever you're doing, keep it up," Mark added, grinning as he gave Austin a fist bump. "That was a perfect route."

Coach Daniels called for another play, this time a slant route across the middle. Austin took his place, his mind already calculating the angles and timing. He knew the linebackers would be watching for him this time, and he'd need to be quick to avoid getting hit.

"Set, hut!"

Austin darted off the line, cutting across the middle as planned. The linebackers reacted quickly, closing in on him, but Austin's training kicked in. He adjusted his route slightly, a quick stutter-step that threw off the timing of the defense. Mark saw the opening and fired the ball to Austin, who caught it in stride.

As soon as the ball was in his hands, Austin knew he had to avoid the incoming hit. He juked to the right, narrowly dodging a linebacker's outstretched arms, then cut back left, breaking free into open space. The defense scrambled to catch up, but Austin was already downfield, his legs pumping as he pushed for every yard.

"Keep going, Austin!" Coach Daniels yelled from the sidelines, his voice filled with excitement. He saw massive potential in Austin and was excited to have him playing on the team.

Austin's lungs burned, but he kept going, dodging one last desperate tackle attempt before being brought down just short of the end zone. The play had gained huge yardage, and the offense was now in scoring position.

"Great effort!" Coach Daniels called as the offense jogged to the line of scrimmage. "Austin, that was a nice adjustment on the route. That's what I like to see—smart playmaking."

As practice continued, Austin remained a central figure in the offense. On one play, he ran a perfect out route, catching the ball right on the sideline and dragging his toes to stay inbounds. On another, he turned a short screen pass into a big gain by weaving through defenders, his agility on full display. Even when he wasn't the primary target, he ran his routes hard, drawing defenders away from his teammates and creating opportunities for the rest of the offense.

As practice drew to a close, Coach Daniels gathered the team one last time.

"Good work today, everyone. We've still got some things to clean up, but I saw a lot of progress out there. Austin, once again, you showed what hard work and focus can do. Everyone, take note—practice like he does, and we'll be a tough team to beat."

The boys nodded, some still catching their breath, but there was a sense of accomplishment in the air. Austin, wiping sweat from his brow, felt a sense of pride for his performance, he had been the star showing off his agility.

As they walked off the field, Kevin jogged up beside Austin. "Hey, wanna grab some water? You were on fire out there."

Austin smiled, a bit of humility in his expression. "Thanks, man. But it's a team effort. We all did good."

"Yeah, but you're like our secret weapon. You're like our weapon X," Tyler said, grinning.

Austin just shrugged with a small smile, as they headed toward the water station, Austin's thoughts were already on the next practice, knowing there was always room to get better.

(A/N: Still reading? thanks. Hope your days have been good.)