Short Story Draft1

Milton High School, August 30th: the first day of school. Jay Young was about to open the doors to the school with the marching band playing, guys reaching out hoping for a high five and not to mention girls screaming for him. He would just casually stroll in, acting like it was a normal for him, or for anyone. A freshman having sophomores, juniors and even seniors screaming for him, it was crazy, but it was about to happen.

He walked up to the school, glancing up at the sign reading MILTON HIGH SCHOOL. He chuckled. Big deal he thought. Jay was being recruited by the top colleges in the nation as an eighth grader. High school would be nothing. It was really just a waste of four years. He knew what would happen to him, first college then the pros. He could even pick his sport, football, basketball, or lacrosse. He checked how he looked in the glass doors. Perfect, as usual. Jay opened the door slowly, so he could look even cooler, but when he did no band was playing. Okay maybe that was a stretch he thought. No guys were begging for a high five. Oh I get it, they’re gonna go for the, oh big deal approach and hope I talk to them first like I’m their “equal” or something. Psh yeah right. He did hear screaming girls though. Just not in his ear. Weird.

He turned the corner off the main entrance hallway toward his first class to the left and saw a massive crowd of screaming chicks moshing against the wall. After a couple seconds of staring he caught sight of a boy pushing his way through the crowd. The boy streaked down the hall when he got lose while about two hundred girls chanced him.

Jay, quite pissed, turned the other way and started to storm off. He saw Randy Wagner, a senior he had been friends with forever, since his family was so close to the football coach, and Randy was the star of the football team, not to mention the coaches son.

“Yo Randy.” Jay shout out.

“Hey Jay, what’s up buddy? You’re up in the big leagues now. Haha took ya long enough.”

“I’d hardly call this the big leagues Randy. It’s high school.”

“Well then big shot, we’ll see what you got at practice today.”

“Yes you will Randy. Yes you will.” Jay walked away smiling. Picturing himself making that first big hit on someone while Randy’s jaw dropped. The rest of the day went smooth. Everywhere he went people recognized him. His confidence skyrocketed to normal after the shaky start to the day.

At football practice Jay was feeling nice in his new gear. They started off practice with a discussion and the coach introduced a new kid to the team and school system Jake. That kid from earlier, what a tool. First drill he’s gonna be on his back. In the first rep of the first drill Coach Wagner put Jay against Jake.

“Let’s welcome Jake to the team Jayson.” Coach Wagner winked.

This kid doesn’t even know. Haha, too bad. The boys stood five yards apart facing each other. It was a blocking drill. Both players would have to bring the other down. Coach said down, Jay got down. Coach said set, Jake got set. The coach said go, and they both flew at each other. They hit-

What the- ahhhhh my head. Jay opened his eyes to the team staring at him. It took him a minute to realize he was on his back. That damn kid knocked me out.

It wouldn’t get better for poor Jay. Wagner told his parents he’d have a starting role on varsity for sure. Jake took it. Randy told all the girls how awesome Jay was. They liked Jake more. Jay had all the friends a guy could want. Jake was cooler. As the season progressed more and more things were falling out from under Jay. He got a D in Spanish. All the while Jake was rubbing it in on Varsity as Jay watched from the sidelines. Jake would run by him after a big tackle and say “Yeah member that Jay boy.” The kid also cheated on his three running relationships with even more girls somehow keeping it all secret and twisted stories behind his friend’s backs. That’s what Jay saw. Everyone else seemed to see the most wonderful angel who had blessed Milton simply with his presence. It became too much. One day after practice as Jay walked into the locker room to shower Jake came by and whispered in his ear “Hey big guy, what’s up?”

Jay didn’t allow himself to hear that though, he processed it as “Hey Big Shot, What now?” Just another dig at his failed expectations. Not hearing an answer Jake moved ahead.

“Yo Jake.” Jay exclaimed through gritted teeth. Jake turned around into a sucker punch that landed right on his nose. Randy, who was close by, ripped Jay away so Jake couldn’t retaliate, not that he was going to. See Jake was really a nice kid. Jake was just the better athlete and nicer to girls, and a better friend not being so conceded and arrogant like Jay.

Coach Wagner had no other option but to throw Jay off the team. People didn’t look at Jay the same way anymore. He had no friends, Randy wouldn’t even talk to him, and girls walked in the other direction when he came near. Jayson slowly realized the monster he was.

When basketball tryouts started Jay took the court humbly, and when he made JV as Jake started as the point guard he cheered on his teammate. Randy began to talk to him again, the guys started to see a new man, and girls saw a boy with a new self esteem. Not one full of self confidence, but of love and care. Jay made varsity lacrosse with Jake by his side. That year they won the state championship.

In the locker room above Jay’s locker hung a piece of paper reading one little phrase:
All is received, when all is given.

When Jay was kicked off the football team he realized what we all need to realize at one point, you cannot receive love without giving it, you cannot receive trust without trusting, and you cannot win without accepting defeat first. We all struggle; we all fall; we all stumble along our way. Sometimes it takes a big fall to help us reach the summit of our potential. Milton High School won ten state championships in Jay’s time. He never lost one after his freshman year. But it wasn’t Jay that made it happen. It was the team that put up those banners.