“Nothing, there’s gonna be a surprise doping test for the whole football team.”
“It doesn’t seem like much of a surprise since you guys all know about it,” I said sarcastically.
“Someone blabbed to Jackson.” Someone named Blaze.
“Well, I can tell this coach doesn’t scare them that much.” I hazarded a guess.
“Oh, yeah, he does. Besides, think about it for a second. What university do you think would want someone who spent a year in juvie?”
There wasn’t much to think about; the answer was clear to me. No college would admit him.
“And the same goes for the others. What Ivy would accept two guys with a string of acts of vandalism on their résumé?”
I turned around all at once and stared at Tiffany perplexed.
“Are you talking about—”
“Oh yeah. I’m talking about Will and Jackson. And if the principal hates them, the football coach is the only one who can save their skins and ensure a scholarship at a good school.”
“So the coach tries to keep them on the straight and narrow for their future?”
“Well, they’re rich, white, privileged males. And, yeah, the coach is an asshole because he knows some of them can only count on football for scholarships. That’s why he can be such an asshole.”
The world’s unfair, June.My dad had told me that in tears on the day of my brother’s funeral. And it was true.
Someone like me would’ve needed perfect behavior, superhigh grades, and a whole lot of luck to get into Yale. Meanwhile, they couldn’t even be bothered to turn in their homework, and their futures were already secured. Not to mention everything they did when they weren’t at school.
Unfair.
“What do you mean, Tiff? About the coach?”
“A guy showed up to practice with eyeliner, and he kicked him off the team.”
“Are you kidding?” I jumped up incredulously.
“No. He still thinks guys should be and behave in a certain way.” There was the toxic masculinity that James’s group and friends were sucked into. Maybe that was where it all started.
“Look, June, the dear old coach doesn’t know what his perfect little men like to do.” She giggled mischievously.
Was she talking about James or Jackson?
I cleared my throat, but I didn’t have the guts to ask her.
“For god’s sake.” Tiffany let out an expletive when she dragged me in front of the mirror.
“What is it?” I asked confused, gazing at my shapely figure stretched in that particularly provocative dress.
“So much untapped potential behind that good girl front,” she whispered, pointing at my reflection.
“Thank you for the backhanded compliment.”
She brought her face close to mine.
“I’d never insult you, June. I’m just saying that if you wanted to, you could enhance yourself more. But—”
“What?”
I let my eyes meet hers. I didn’t know why, but I liked the look we exchanged. The way that Tiffany looked at me made me feel beautiful.
