Unexpected | ??

18- The One Where It All Goes Down

I hated their little inside jokes.

The school came into view and I could sense the excitement radiating off my dad. He peaked in high school so revisiting brought back some of his best memories. He basically ran to the ticket booth while my mom and I trailed behind, making jokes about his eagerness.

"I don't think he was this excited since your wedding day," I teased.

She shook her head. "Trust me, he had half the energy the day we got married." We both laughed and caught up with him. He was carrying three tickets and handed them to the lady, who ripped off the ends and returned them. "He's going to frame those."

It was so cute how excited he was. My dad was definitely an enthusiastic person. It could be seen in his work. When he had a passion, he showed it.

My friends were already there when we arrived, sitting front row. Like they promised, they saved seats for us. My mom greeted them while my dad awkwardly waved hi and focused on the field. 

"Does Dean not come to the games?" Mom asked once everyone was settled.

"Nah, not really his scene." 

She nodded and focused in front of her, occasionally leaning into her husband. I turned to my friends and we predicted how the game would go. Since it was homecoming week, the court was going to parade around the field in floats they made. 

The stands filled up fast. It was crowded by the time the game was starting and some people were forced to stand in the back. 

After the usual announcements, the homecoming court started their mini parade. Each couple drove in a line and their names would be announced when they reached the middle. We all cheered for them, even though I didn't know any of them personally. They consisted of seniors, mostly those who were considered 'popular.' 

Then the cheerleaders came out and did their routine. Taylor was front and center. I couldn't help but glance at Jaz, who was practically drooling. 

The team was finally announced and everyone cheered, my dad being the loudest. His face practically turned red from the energy. I eagerly watched as the team ran out, breaking a banner held by cheerleaders.

The energy was immaculate. All us Wildcats united into one, cheering for our team. The louder the crowd, the more motivated the players were. 

When Justin jogged alongside his teammates, my mom grabbed mine and my dad's hand, squeezing so tight. His eyes briefly met theirs and his smile grew. We all cheered his name and I could see the embarrassment seeping through.

His coach called the team over and he immediately went into focus mode. Dylan was grinning at us too, and I waved before he disappeared. 

This was the tensest game yet. For the first time, it wasn't an easy win. Our team was good, but so was the other. Their players seemed rougher, definitely not playing nice. 

Since it was our homecoming, we got the ball first. As soon as Andrew gripped the ball, the game got intense. Players were everywhere. Our red jerseys mixed with the green of the other team, sending everyone into a frenzy.

When halftime came around, Andrew had yet to touch the ball. He was doing pretty well in terms of speed, but he just hadn't had a chance to catch. The score only differed by one point.

The band stood in formation, the cheerleaders standing in front of them. The first note blew and the intense dance routine started. Jaz and I decided to grab some snacks from concessions. Everyone told us what they wanted and my dad slipped me his card so I could pay.