Andrew walked up to Nancy and said, "Hey, you came," greeting her casually as he approached.
Nancy stopped leaning against the wall and took a couple of steps toward him. "Yeah, a big win. Congratulations," she replied with a small smile.
Andrew smiled back. "Thanks," he said, and immediately turned his eyes toward Barbara. She, caught off guard, stiffened slightly when their eyes met.
"Oh, she's my best friend," Nancy jumped in quickly. "Barbara, this is Andrew."
"Nice to meet you…" Barbara mumbled, trying to sound natural.
"Same here," Andrew replied kindly, giving her a half-smile that only made her feel more flustered. Then he turned to Nancy. "We should get going before people start asking me for more photos and handshakes," he added with a mix of humor and exhaustion.
Barbara looked at him in surprise. He didn't seem to enjoy the spotlight, and that was unusual.
"All right, let's go," Nancy said, slipping her book into her bag.
"But first I need to meet up with my family," Andrew clarified.
Both girls nodded and followed him. As they walked through the stadium area, they drew plenty of attention, some people pointed, others congratulated him in passing. Barbara could feel the curious looks aimed at them: the team's star walking around with two girls who were probably complete unknowns to most students.
A few meters ahead, Andrew's family was already making their way toward him.
And, as always, Cam was the first to stand out.
His face was painted in Mater Dei colors, with the number 19 drawn in glitter on his cheek. The moment he saw Andrew, he let out an excited yell and threw his arms in the air.
"THERE'S MY CHAMPION!" he shouted, running toward his son as if there weren't hundreds of people watching.
Before Andrew could say anything, Cam wrapped him in a tight hug. "Oh my God, Andrew! I'm so proud! What a game!" he said, voice thick with emotion as he shook him from side to side.
"Dad, please…" Andrew muttered, trying to break free.
Ignoring him, Cam grabbed his face between both hands and squished his cheeks as if he were still ten years old. "Look at you! The hero of Mater Dei! And those yards, those passes…! Oh, Mitchell, we raised him well!" he shouted, turning to Mitch.
Mitchell huffed, embarrassed by the spectacle in front of so many people, but his eyes were shining with pride. "Cam, please…" he said, smiling as he walked closer, carrying Lily, who was yelling for Andrew to hold her. "You were incredible, son. Congratulations. One step closer."
A few meters away, Nancy watched the scene with a restrained smile. Barbara, on the other hand, looked thoughtful. 'Actually… he breaks a lot of stereotypes now that I think about it,' she reflected.
It was common knowledge at school, and all over the internet, that Andrew had been adopted by a gay couple. His YouTube channel, with millions of followers, and his Wikipedia page had turned him into a public figure even outside football.
Behind them appeared Gloria, Claire, Phil, Haley, Alex, and Luke, all talking at the same time, overflowing with excitement.
"That pass in the third quarter was insane!" Phil said, gesturing wildly.
"Great job shutting up that idiot Clausen!" Claire added with a satisfied smile and a competitive glint in her eyes.
"Andrew, you are a star, honey!" Gloria exclaimed, hugging him tightly and leaving her strong perfume all over his clothes.
"To the finals! To the finals!" Luke chanted, hopping around while holding a huge cup of soda, probably with more sugar than blood in his system.
Jay was a bit farther back, arms crossed and expression serious, but with a proud smile. He wasn't as loud as the others, but his eyes said everything he didn't.
"Why didn't that old man put you in during the last quarter?" Haley complained, crossing her arms. "He put in that Max whatever, and he didn't even score a touchdown."
Andrew smiled, already used to his cousin's unfiltered remarks. But before he could reply, a voice chimed in from behind.
"Hey, show some respect. 'That old man' is Bruce Rollinson," Steve said, appearing alongside Kevin and Archie. "He's a legend, Haley. If anyone knows what he's doing, it's him."
Haley shot him a playful, disdainful look. "Well, he cost Andrew two touchdowns and a bigger record over Clausen."
"File a formal complaint at Mater Dei to get him expelled, I'm sure they'll listen to you and fire him after twenty years," Willa said sarcastically as she arrived with Leonard and Howard, who already had his camera out, recording fan reactions after the game.
Phil stepped between them before the discussion escalated, "The important thing is that we won, right? And with a record on top of that!" he said, looking at Andrew with that genuine enthusiasm that mixed pride with his usual awkwardness.
"Thanks, Phil," Andrew replied with a laugh.
He then greeted Steve, Archie, and Kevin with handshakes and a few strong pats on the back.
"Congrats, man! Another record," Steve said with a wide grin. Seeing Andrew play like that, live, stirred a mix of nostalgia and friendly envy in him. Made him wish he could play with him again. Kevin and Archie felt the same.
"By the way, this is Nancy," Andrew said, pointing her out. "She's my mentor at Mater Dei. She helped me a ton this year with academics. I'm giving her a ride home and then we're grabbing something to eat."
Cam spun around instantly, face lighting up. "Oh, so you're the famous Nancy!" he exclaimed with excitement. "Thank you for taking such good care of Andrew!"
Mitchell smiled too, more restrained. "Really, thank you. We've noticed his grades have been improving more and more."
Nancy nodded modestly. "All the credit is his," she replied calmly. "I just guide him a bit, he's very disciplined."
Alex, who had been quiet, watched her with interest. In her eyes there was that spark of recognition: a smart person recognizing another sharp mind.
Haley, on the other hand, narrowed her eyes, studying Nancy from head to toe with that instinct of a protective cousin and the slightest hint of jealousy.
Andrew noticed and shot her a quick look. No words were needed, one of those glances that clearly meant, "Don't even try it, Haley, or I'll air your secrets and you really don't want your mom to know."
Haley looked away, crossing her arms.
Claire glanced at Nancy for a few seconds before turning to Andrew. "Well, it was an incredible night," she said with a smile. "When you finish dropping Nancy off, come by the house. We've got pizza waiting."
"Perfect," Andrew answered with a smile.
The group began moving toward the parking lot. The stadium lights were slowly dimming behind them as the noise faded.
The adults walked ahead, chatting. Andrew walked just behind them talking with Leonard, Howard, Willa, Steve, and the others. Nancy and Barbara followed a bit farther back.
"Are you seriously not going to the party?" Howard asked, with his usual enthusiasm. "Dude, we're in the final! The party is going to be legendary!"
Leonard looked at him as if he had just asked whether the sun rose in the west. "Are you seriously asking Andrew that?" he said, stressing his name.
In general, they were the same as him. They only went out once every few weeks, once in a while was fine, but every weekend would feel boring.
Well… for Howard it wasn't boring anymore, now that he could spend the whole time making out with Alison there.
Howard raised his hands in defense. "I know, I know! But come on, Leonard, eight years without reaching the finals. Eight! I think that justifies breaking the 'carefully selected parties only' rule. Two Fridays in a row won't kill us."
Haley, who was walking nearby, turned around with a grin. "In this, you seem more like a Mater Dei student than Andrew," she said, amused.
Willa jumped in with her usual acidic tone. "Is your girlfriend going to the party even after her parents caught you two having sex in her bed?" she asked with a malicious smile, provoking laughter from the whole group.
Howard rolled his eyes, though a smile slipped out anyway. "Yes, Willa, thank you for reminding me. And in case you care, everything's under control. Alison earned divine forgiveness with two A's in math and literature. So they're letting her go… or she's sneaking out, I'm not entirely sure."
Leonard sighed. "You should be sure. She's your girlfriend," he muttered.
"I'll pass," Andrew finally said. "I'm not going two Fridays in a row."
Besides, if they won the sectional championship the following Friday, there would be an even more legendary party, and he'd also be invited. And if he accepted, that would be three Fridays in a row. He wasn't sure he'd say yes, even for a final.
"A shame," Howard said. "What about you, Leonard? Come on, don't leave me alone. I need someone to distract Olivia if she shows up."
Olivia, his girlfriend's best friend, was practically a satellite: wherever Alison went, she appeared within three meters.
Leonard hesitated, then shrugged. "I guess I could go. Maybe it won't be that bad."
Things with Olivia weren't going great anymore, but he figured he might as well enjoy what was left before it all died out and he never saw her again. Who knew how long it would take to get another successful flirt going? Better take advantage.
"Thanks, man!" Howard exclaimed, giving him a pat on the back.
"I'm going too!" Steve said, grinning ear to ear. "I want to see if a Catholic school actually knows how to throw a real party."
Howard and Leonard exchanged a look and smiled. Steve was unpredictable but fun, having him around always made things more entertaining. And although they already knew several Mater Dei students, it was better to move around with someone they trusted.
"And you guys? You joining or what?" Steve asked, looking at Archie and Kevin.
Kevin shook his head with a smile. "Sorry, I'm going to see Sophie."
Steve let out a theatrical huff. "Of course, of course… the lucky guy with a girlfriend."
Archie also shook his head apologetically. "I have a meeting with the guys from my school. Sorry, man."
"Bah, everyone's busy," Steve said, shrugging but still in good spirits.
Howard, Steve, and Leonard said their goodbyes and headed toward Howard's new car that he wanted to show off to Steve.
Andrew walked toward his own new car under one of the streetlights: Space Gray Metallic, flawless, fresh from the dealership. The glow from the lights slid across the smooth body like water.
Only three days of use.
It was the biggest purchase he had ever made. At first, Andrew had considered something cheaper than the Camaro, but while looking at cars with Jay and Mitch, he came across this BMW, and it was love at first sight.
Jay, remembering how he had wanted to gift him a car in the past, decided to give him $10,000 as a contribution.
And Mitchell, seeing this, couldn't stay behind. He gave Andrew another $10,000, saying it was normal considering everything he was accomplishing.
So Andrew put in $20,000 of his own money, added the $20,000 gift, and drove home with a new, elegant, powerful car, but much more practical than the Camaro: four doors, comfortable space, and a refined interior that still had that new-car smell.
And although Mitch's contribution seemed impulsive, Cam agreed, and it wasn't an excessive expense for the family's savings. In fact, Andrew wouldn't even use his college fund, since he already had more than a dozen top-level football programs offering him guaranteed scholarships.
"Definitely…" Barbara said, staring at the vehicle in awe. "You're destroying the self-esteem of every other teenager in the country."
Andrew laughed and climbed into the driver's seat, adjusting the backrest. Nancy sat in the passenger seat, closing the door carefully, and Barbara took the backseat, looking around with wide eyes.
Barbara ran her hand across the backseat, inspecting every detail. "This feels more like an airplane cockpit than a car," she murmured.
Andrew started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot. The streets were nearly empty, bathed in the orange glow of the streetlights.
For the first few minutes, Andrew and Nancy spoke naturally about school: exams, assignments, and other things.
Barbara watched them from the back, astonished.
She had never seen Nancy talk this much. Her usually reserved friend looked completely at ease talking with him, even laughing between explanations about equations and history classes.
The drive continued with soft conversation and occasional laughter, until Nancy, with a casual tone, said, "By the way, Barbara thought you'd forget about us… you know, because of all the victory euphoria and testosterone."
"Nancy!" Barbara yelped from the back, sinking into the seat, her face bright red with embarrassment.
Andrew burst out laughing. "Well, there are stereotypes for everything," he said, amused, as he reached for the car stereo and raised the volume a little.
"If I were the stereotypical jock, would I listen to this?" he added with a mischievous smile, selecting a new song.
A few seconds later, a familiar melody began to play, accompanied by a soft "Oh, woah… oh, woah…"
Barbara recognized it within two notes.
And then Justin Bieber's voice filled the car: "You know you love me, I know you care…"
Holding back laughter, Andrew started singing quietly along with it, just under the volume of the song: "Said there's another, and she looked right in my eyes…"
Barbara stared at him from the backseat with her eyes so wide they looked like they might pop out.
Nancy, cracking up, started singing the chorus without a shred of shame.
And when the inevitable "Baby, baby, baby, oh…" arrived, Barbara couldn't hold back anymore, she joined them enthusiastically, shedding all her shyness.
She was a huge Bieber fan, and the last thing she ever imagined was singing "Baby" inside the car of the most famous high-school quarterback in the country.
Finally, the BMW turned into a quiet residential neighborhood, with neat houses and silent gardens. Andrew stopped in front of a modest but well-kept home.
Nancy and Barbara stepped out of the car. He smiled at them through the window and said goodbye before driving off down the street.
The girls remained on the sidewalk, watching the BMW's taillights disappear into the distance.
They walked toward the door in silence, the cool air brushing their faces. Nancy searched her bag for the keys, while Barbara replayed everything she had just lived.
"So, do you still think Andrew is the typical stereotypical athlete?" Nancy asked.
"No," Barbara answered instantly, her tone firm. "I was wrong. And actually, I completely approve of you two dating. I used to doubt it a little, but his personality convinced me."
Nancy looked up, surprised, keys in hand. "What are you talking about?" she asked in her usual calm tone, though with a slight jolt in her voice.
Barbara smiled mischievously. "Nothing, nothing," she said. "Just getting ahead of a possible future, that's all."
Nancy shook her head. "Shut up and get inside before I leave you out here."
Barbara laughed, amused, and entered the house, with Nancy closing the door behind her.
Back with Andrew, after dropping the girls off, he headed straight toward his uncle and aunt's house. Luckily, Nancy lived just ten or fifteen minutes away, so the drive didn't take long.
When he arrived, the lights at the Dunphy house were already on. They were waiting for him with the table set and the smell of freshly baked pizza filling the air.
Dinner was calm and relaxed. Everyone talked about the game, the plays, the stats, laughing between comments and making improvised soda toasts.
For one night, they decided to leave the nerves about the final aside. This was a night to celebrate the victory.
After eating and chatting for a while, Andrew was ready to head home with his parents and little sister. But then his phone vibrated. It was a message from Madison.
[Are you coming to the party? I'm waiting for you]
[And by the way… who were the girls you had in your car?]
Andrew stared at the screen for a few seconds in silence.
The first message sounded normal. The second one… not so much. A simple question, but with that mix of casual and jealous undertone, a clear red flag.
They weren't a couple, not even close. And their connection was more physical than emotional.
She herself had agreed that there were no commitments, yet her behavior didn't really match that idea, and they had only known each other for about a month, maybe less.
He could ignore her and let things fade away on their own, the comfortable option. But that wasn't his style. He texted her back saying he'd be there soon and that he needed to tell her something.
"Are you going to the party? Two Fridays in a row?" Mitch asked as they stood outside the Dunphy house, about to get into the car.
Cam had already buckled Lily into the back seat and looked at Andrew, waiting for his answer.
"It's because of Madison, what we talked about earlier, remember? I'm going to end things," Andrew replied.
Cam let out a soft sigh and nodded. "You're doing the right thing. If you already feel it's not working, it's better to be honest. Nothing's worse than dragging something on when there's no real connection," he said in a gentle but firm tone.
Andrew nodded, said goodbye, told them he'd be back soon, got into his car, and drove away from the house.
-------------------------------------------------
You can read 15 chapters in advance on my patreon. 50% Holiday Discount!
Link: https://[email protected]/Nathe07