I'm Serving Forever

It was official, the school year had begun – pumpkin spice everything was already being sold at Avide, Fall was just around the corner, and tonight was Stonegate’s first football game of the year. Peyton knew the turn out to the game would be big, the stands filled with freshmen trying to figure out their place in their new community while sophomores and juniors roamed around the field making jokes about their summer and their new class schedules. Seniors would be intermixed in the crowd, affectionately proclaiming that today was their last first game and their last first hot dog from The Shack (the not-so-cute name given to the food stand behind the scoreboard). Parents would be milling about wearing their son’s football jersey, selling raffle tickets, and begging for more financial support for the team. That was just the way football was in Roseboro, very Friday Night Lights, with what felt like the whole town rallying around the team. She couldn’t help but get caught up in the glow that everyone arouned her seemed to share, and she looked forward to a day that Declan could experience it with her.

Not since freshman year had Peyton missed a game, always in the stands, drinking hot chocolate in her sweatshirt, while the team ran up and down the field. She knew all of the fight songs and cheers by heart, and sometimes she wondered why she hadn’t just joined the squad. But team sports had never really been her passion; she preferred individual sports, ones where she could strive to beat her best over and over again. It was why she was on the track team, and why she was drawn to Beck’s affinity for wrestling. Not that she didn’t understand the joy of team sports – she couldn’t help but smile when Jay high fived someone on the soccer team after a goal or when Austin landed the assist for a winning basket. Maybe she was just a bit of a sports junkie, watching baseball, basketball, wrestling, soccer, even some lacrosse and softball games when she wasn’t competing in her own track meets.

Tonight felt different, however, and she was pretty sure it was because she was going to the game with Austin. Sure, she had gone to football games with Beck, snuggled up against him in the top corner of the stands, hidden away behind the marching band so they could kiss without being too public. But this was more like a first date, though she wasn’t even sure it /was/ a date. And truth be told, she didn’t want to ask him because it would be awkward if he thought it was. Peyton didn’t want to hurt Austin’s feelings, and she /had/ been thinking about asking him out, so maybe she was just better off treating it like a date.

Despite the fact that he had seen her with messy wet hair in a bikini and post-workout in leggings and a sports bra, Peyton still spent the better part of an hour picking out a cute outfit for tonight. If anyone asked her, her excuse would be that she expected to be in a lot of snap stories and insta photos, and wanted to look good for her first senior year photo op. She settled on a pair of high-waisted tweed shorts, a maroon Stonegate football t-shirt (that she had bought from one of the moms last season), and a pair of maroon keds with pristine white shoelaces. She pulled her blonde hair into a braid that she let fall over her shoulder, added a few bangles, put on a bold red lipstick, and called herself ready.

Thankfully Declan had spent the day at the pool with Peyton’s mom, and was ready for bed well before 7pm. Though he fussed a little when she laid him in his crib, with a soft lullaby and a gentle rub of his stomach, he was fast asleep. Peyton was thankful, as it gave her a little more time to get ready for her date (it still felt strange to call it that). She didn’t like to be late and felt badly for even implying that Austin might have to wait for her. But she was more afraid that he would be the kind of gentleman who showed up early and caught her talking to Declan in her Mommy voice and not her sister one. And that was a level of commitment she was not ready to broach on a first date, even if Austin did know so many of her other secrets.

Instead of sending him a text to let him know everything was clear, she decided to wait outside on her front step, sitting with her legs crossed staring out at the street. It was a quiet night, most of her neighbors were already at the game, or were out in town doing something else to celebrate. She could hear the sound of crickets chirping away even though the sky wasn’t yet dark, and there was a cool breeze that made her consider going back inside for a sweatshirt. Hopefully Austin wouldn’t be too long and she wouldn’t decide to walk back inside at the instant he arrived because that would make the start of the evening just slightly more awkward. Rubbing her arms to keep herself warm, she looked out at the street again to see headlights in the distance. Not wanting to look too eager, she took out her phone and scrolled slowly through her Instagram feed. It probably wasn’t him anyway, and it was, well, she’d just look like she was enjoying the mostly warm weather.

Austin didn’t know how to even begin to do this. 

To date.... a girl. A girl who he would easily call one of his best friends on top of being the ex of Beck, his longtime teammate and friend. Not that the last part really mattered in his mind considering how long they’d been broken up; however, he knew that it mattered to her. She could deny it all she wanted, but he could see it in her eyes when she spoke about him, the love that lingered despite everything. And he knew that it would matter to the other too if he caught them together, doing what couples did best on friday night date nights by snuggling up to one another as they watched the game play out in the cool September air. 

And although he hadn’t missed a game, possibly ever, his group of friends having an affinity for being front row and showing as much support as they possibly could--- It felt odd to bring someone along with him. Someone who he would stick with the entirety of the night.. offer his jacket to.. put his arm around. He’d seen Liam do it many times, so it wasn’t like he was completely clueless on how the night should progress. It’s just that... well, if he was being honest, he always thought that his date to game nights would eventually be someone with broader shoulder and a more masculine scent--- Which Peyton was the exact opposite of. Not that he didn’t love her to pieces. He’d always told himself that if he were to date a girl, he would pick her. Why, he wasn’t exactly clear on--- They’d always just been drawn to each other ever since the first time they met at one of Beck’s matches. 

So he supposed this was his chance; to put on his mask and play his part. He could be the normal jock guy everyone already thought he was anyway.. right? 

Yanking on his varsity jacket from Sophomore year, Austin did a quick check in the mirror then, deciding that his combo of jeans, school T-shirt, and jacket were the correct amount of spirit before he carded his fingers through his hair, making little fixes here and there, finally deeming himself ready. And he’d done the drive to Peyton’s house multiple times, at all times of the day, under every condition known to man--- But this time, he couldn’t help but feel different despite doing his best to act normal. Glancing down at the clock then, making sure that he wasn’t too early considering she’d already told him that he would probably have to wait for her, Austin slowed his speed ever so slightly as he entered her neighborhood, his eyes lighting up as he spotted the other waiting for him on her front steps. He couldn’t help but feel slightly grateful that they could just go--- It gave him less time to freak out further.