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Star boy

Rayan

Salty sweat trickles down my face as I run across the field. The air is thick with tension, everyone in the stands waiting with bated breath to see how the next few minutes play out.

I run as fast as my legs will let me, knowing that the guys from the opposing team are already running after me so I can't score. I laugh at them because I'm a determined bastard and no one is going to stop me tonight.

I just need to score one more touchdown for our team to win tonight's game. Right now I'm not worried because I know my team has my back. I keep running like my life depends on it.

Being the quarterback and the golden boy of Riverside with carries high expectations. Everyone expects me to win tonight's game, bar none.

Most of the time, it's what I live for. I love being the center of attention, especially when it comes to soccer. My dad is a good man, but if you piss him off or mess with his family or his business in any way, there's no telling what he would do.

His family, the Riverside's, were the founders of this little town that bears his name, and they never let anyone forget it, even generations later. It's a cliché to name a town after yourself. Now that's being pompous.

Three... two... one...

Touchdown!

Tonight is our first Sunday night game. It's the beginning of the last week of August and we have one more week before school officially starts for senior year.

Soccer has been my life for as long as I can remember and I am very good at it. I took to it from the moment I was old enough to play ball with my dad, and my love and obsession for the sport grew from there.

"Get off me , you idiots !" I mutter to my three best friends. While everyone else has already left me, these fools are still here.

"Come on! You know you love it when we throw you to the ground." Nick snorts, takes off his helmet and smiles at me.

They stand up from me and I get to my feet as well. I look up into the crowd and glance toward the front of the bleachers to see if my mother has arrived or not. She promised me she would come tonight, but, as usual, she hasn't come. I let out a sigh at the disappointment that comes over me at this moment. I'm not sure what's wrong with her, but she's been suffering from severe depression for a few months and I don't know how to reach her anymore.

I wish I could do something to get her back to her old self, but everything I've tried has failed. I have given up hope that she will ever be herself again.

She's gotten so bad she barely gets out of bed these days. I know Dad isn't here at my game either, because he's on a business trip. It's just high school soccer, so it doesn't really matter that they're not here anymore, I guess. It's not that big of a deal. The guys and I start walking off the field to go to the locker room to shower before heading home.

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