I can hear the crowd roaring from all the way inside the locker room. My heart is beating quickly, the weight of the world feeling like it's on my shoulders right now.

This is the biggest game of the year.

The game that will determine whether or not we go to the state championship.

All of the boys are rowdy as they continue to get themselves riled up, but I'm just sitting on the bench in my uniform, breathing deeply in and out.

I know this doesn't determine my worth. I know that no matter what, win or lose, I'm still going to be fine, but it sure as hell would be nice to win.

"Holden." Coach interrupts my thoughts from inside of his office and points to his chair.

I close the door behind me and take a seat, my knee bouncing repeatedly up and down from all of the nerves.

"I know you're nervous, son." He tells me firmly. "But you were born for this game. Out of all the twenty years that I've coached I've never come across a player so dedicated and determined as you. This game could change your whole life, kid. Don't let the nerves get to you. The fear of failing will always stop you from succeeding. Understand me?"

I quickly nod, but it doesn't stop my nerves from running wild. It feels like I'm going to puke.

"Go out there and play because you love the sport." He says. "I know you can do this, Cameron."

The team pounds on the window, all of them jumping around like animals to a drake song they're blaring. It reminds me of Maddie, my chest tightening at the thought.

I remember her riding me in the car this morning, her tits looking incredible. I have to keep condoms on me now everywhere I go, but I'm not complaining about it whatsoever.

She's my girlfriend now, and never in my life did I think I'd ever stick to one girl, but I didn't have to think twice about it. I love her, and with her by my side I feel invincible. Like I can do anything.

And coach is right.

I can do this.

Glancing back towards the window at everyone dancing around, I send coach a grateful smile and rise up from the chair to join them. The music grows louder when I open the door, and they all pull me in to do our pre game huddle.

"What time is it?" I shout, laughing uncontrollably as they all take turns patting me on the back.

"GAME TIME!" They all chant in unison.

I wrap an arm around Ethan's shoulder and yell again, "I said, WHAT TIME IS IT?"

"GAME TIME!" They scream even louder.

"Alright, panthers on three." I put my fist in the middle and wait for everyone to join. "Win or lose you guys are my boys, alright?" And coach's words echo into my head. "The fear of failing is always going to stop us from succeeding, so let's go out there and give it our all. One, two, three!"

"PANTHERS!"

————

"What did I tell you?" Coach screams, the biggest smile on his face. I think he's about to throw his clipboard, but he throws his hands up instead, unsure of what to do with all of his excitement. "That's how you do it, Holden!"

Another touchdown caught by Justin, my wide receiver, and the crowd is going ballistic. We're up by twenty now in the fourth quarter, and with this touchdown we just clenched our spot for certain for the state championship.

It feels surreal as I look around me, and I point to Maddie in the stands to let her know that this one was for her. All the way from here I can see her cheeks have turned a deep shade of red, and it takes everything in me to keep this a secret still.

I want her to take that damn sweatshirt off. I want the whole entire world to know that she's mine. I don't care if Ethan knows it, I don't care if her parents know it, I just don't give a shit.

"Dude, that pass was fucking crazy!" Ethan roars when we pass each other as I go to head to the sidelines, the comets having the ball now. "I can't believe it!"

He slaps me on the back as he goes out to do his job as lineman, and coach pulls me in for a hug.

"Now I can tell you this." He chuckles and points to the stands. I see four random men that I've never seen before, every single one of them holding clipboards. They see me staring at all of them and nod their heads, a wide smile on each of their faces.

A very good sign.

"Arizona state, GCU, Arizona western and Prescott. All here for you, kid."

Not Penn State, but it's fine.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I ask, completely bewildered.

He points a finger into my chest, and I've never seen him more serious. "Because you needed to play for the love of the game, not to impress college scouts. This game? You played because you love the sport. Look at that score right now."

I glance back to the scoreboard and see how far up we are, and I blink away tears before I stare down at my feet. I refuse to cry in front of coach, but damn, It's hard not to.

"That's you." He reassures me. "You're going places, Holden."

"Well, it's not all me." I start. "If Justin didn't catch it then we wouldn't have scored."

"But he wouldn't have had the opportunity to catch it if your pass wasn't spot on." He corrects. "Yeah, Justin is incredible, and I'm sure those scouts are going to seek after him too, but this game is your win, Cameron. They couldn't have done this without you and your leadership this season. We're going to states because of how you carry yourself and the team."

I nod and blink away more tears, clearing my throat and grabbing my water bottle from the ground.

"Cameron." A random voice calls from the bleachers. I glance up and narrow my eyes at a women dressed in a suit. "I'm with channel four news. Can we have a few words after the game?"

I'm completely at a loss for words, and it's like this is all some sort of dream I'll wake up from at any given minute. Am I hallucinating?

"Um, sure." I nod. "Yeah. Definitely."

Coach pats me on the back again, and when the buzzer sounds to end the game, officially clinching our spot in the championship, the team races over to throw a bucket of water over my head.

It's freezing cold, and even though it's Arizona, this time of year is chilly for us. I'm shaking from head to toe, laughing like crazy as the news woman tries to get my attention again.

From the chanting of my name in the stands, to words from coach, to all of the media attention, I have to take a minute. I have to take this all in.

"Give me one second." I hold a finger up to the news woman and walk off the field, heading underneath the bleachers to try and get some sort of breather.

I squat down and put my head into my hands, not even realizing that I'm crying. I don't know if I'm crying from happiness, or if I'm crying because I wish my mom were here more than anything, but I completely lose it.

There's no way this is my life. There's no way.

"Cam." Maddie's voice brings my gaze up from the ground, and she's got tears of her own falling down her cheeks. She sinks beside me and grabs ahold of my face.

We're well aware at how many people are around us, but she kisses my lips and rests her forehead against mine. "Baby, I'm so proud of you." She whispers, laughing again in disbelief. It's the first time she's called me that, and again, I think I'm in some sort of dream.

"I know someone might have seen that, but I don't give a shit." She laughs, and then pulls away from me. "I'm so fucking proud of you."

"I wish my mom was here." I find myself saying, being completely transparent with her. "I think a part of me wishes my dad was here too."

Her gaze softens, and she swipes away a couple more of her tears. "I know you do." She reassures. "Your mom would be jumping all over the place right now if she were here. You remember how she always did that thing with her hips when she got really happy?"

Maddie stands up and does it exactly like my mom used to, and we both laugh when I nod my head. It feels nice to have someone else remember her so well. It just makes me realize how in love with Maddie I truly am. She's the only one right now that could have made me feel better than I already do, and I'm so thankful that she's another blessing added to my life.

"Looks like you've got a fancy interview to do." She points back to the field where all of the cameras are set up. I want to stay here with her, but she shakes her head and points back to the cameras. "I'll be fine." She reassures. "Tonight's all about you, Cam. Enjoy it."

I stand up from the concrete finally, and it takes everything for me not to grab onto her hand.

"I love you." I tell her. "I'm so happy it's insane."

"Go!" She giggles, pushing me back gently with her fingertips. I start to walk away until she calls out for me to turn back around. "You'll be even happier later by the way." She smirks, and that seductive little smile that I love appears on her lips. "It's all about you tonight, Cam."

Good god.

I laugh and shake my head in disbelief as I head back towards the field.

Tonight is officially the best one of my life.