“You’re a first-time offender, at least. How’re your grades?”
I wince.
“Decent.”
“Decent C or Decent D?”
“In between?”
“Get them up. Go to the academic center. Get whatever you need but get them up. When they reconsider your suspension, and I’ll press to end it early, you need to look like a model fucking student, you hear me?”
“Got it.”
“Fuck.” He curses again, staring out the window.
I’m sure he’s seeing his future wavering along with mine and the rest of the team, because we need the championship this year. Especially after we got all the way last year and came apart in the final stretch.
“All right. Get going. Keep your phone close. The other coaches and I will be in touch when we know more.”
“Got it. Thanks, coach. And again, I’m sorry about all this. I’ll apologize to Griffin and his wife as well.”
“Get the kid who did it to apologize, will ya?”
I nod, and then I start to head out the door when he calls my name again. I look back.
“You’re a good kid. I just hope you’re not ruining your career to save the rest.”
“It is what it is.” I shake my head, not knowing what else to say.
He nods and waves me on my way.
* * *
When I getto the car, I call my sister. Because right now I need family and I haven’t figured out a way to tell my mom I might have blown my whole fucking future. Nora answers after the fourth ring, and she sounds like she’s in a good mood. Maybe that’ll help the blow of what I’m about to say, because she’s unlikely to be much happier than my mom will be about it. Just slightly less devastated.
“What’s up? This is an odd time for you to call.”
“I fucked up.” I decide to just rip the Band-Aid off.
“Shit.” I hear her let out a little sigh. “What happened?”
I explain the whole situation, the party, the accident, the lack of housing and the fact I’m on the verge of taking a suspension for the team. There’s a long pause after I finish talking, so long I’m almost worried she might have hung up.
“Nora?”
“Yes. I’m here. Sorry. I’m deciding whether to praise you for helping the team and your friends, or yell at you for taking the risks and then all the blame.”
“It can be both.”
“Right.”
“I don’t think I can tell mom. I just… I can’t deal with disappointing her like that. Especially when I don’t know all the details.”
“I’ll tell her, but you know she’s going to call you anyway.”
“Yeah. I know. But at least I don’t have to hear her cry. I can’t… if she does, you know? After everything.”
“I get it. Don’t worry. That’s the least of your worries right now, and she would tell you the same thing. Is there anything I can do to help?”
