Students of the Game Read Online Free PDF Page A

yank my polo over my head.
    Carver and I are sitting on the edge of the pool with our feet dangli ng in the water, when the blond chick from lunch and a friend, lazily float over to us. Their hair fans out across the water’s surface, and they remind me of mermaids floating in a moonlit lagoon.
    “They don’t look like freshmen to me,” the friend comments.
    The blonde laughs, trying to stay afloat and eying Carver, she says, “I know! Aren’t they cute? I want one.”
    “What are they, like…fourteen, fifteen? I’m pretty sure that’s illegal,” the friend jokes. Blondie just shrugs and proceeds to pull Carver into the pool by his feet and he responds by playfully dunking her under the water. Blondie’s squeals and erratic splashing start to cause a scene, and I look around to see if Bobby is aware of this little incident. I really don’t want to cause any trouble between a teammate, especially this early into the season. Bobby’s nowhere to be found, and by the time my eyes pan back to the pool, neither is Carver.
     
     
               “What the hell are you doing, man?” I whisper and grab Caver’s arm, yanking him away from the mass of teenagers crowded around the keg. Carver obtained a towel in his travels and it hangs loosely off his hips. I look away not wanting to find out what’s underneath if it decides to fall.
    “What do you mean? I’m just having fun.” Carver gives me a dirty look.
    “Are you forgetting the fact that the blonde is property of a 200 pound linebacker…that I have to play on a team with?”
    Carver smiles, “You need to get laid, dude.”
    I throw my hands up in defeat. “I’m not getting involved if he decides to kick your ass.”
    “I’m not worried about it,” he shrugs, grabs two cups of beer, and hands one to me.
    “I don’t drink,” I say, pushing the cup back towards him. And I don’t. I never have. When I picture Joy’s face, the way it contorted into a mixture of confusion and fear, the day her dad was killed. I can’t justify doing something like that, knowing the effects it can cause. I know that she’ll never be aware of it, but it’s just something I feel the need to do, for her.
    “Of course you don’t,” Carver mocks, with an eye roll. He takes the cup and suddenly screams, “Hey, everyone…we got a keg stand virgin over here!”
    My face falls and I wonder why I was stupid enough to come here with this guy. I should have trusted my gut instinct and known he was a little off from our very first conversation. I don’t have time to react, nor can I even move, because I’m instantly surrounded by half of the North Tide football team. A few guys grab my arms and legs, and suddenly I’m propelled upside down with no choice but to grab onto the keg. A girl forces some sort of hose contraption to my lips and within an instant, the bitter, yeasty taste of lukewarm beer, burns my throat. I have no choice but to swallow until foam starts to makes its way up my nose. I start sputtering and coughing, then feel myself being set back upon my feet. I catch my balance and everyone starts whooping and cheering. When it’s all over, I’m ready to punch Carver in the face. I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, ready to lay him out. Though after a few moments, the feeling quickly dissolves and I find myself wrapping my arm around his neck instead. “Thanks, dude. I’m so glad you’re here,” the warm and fuzzy words reflecting what’s taken over my insides.
    Carver laughs and pushes me away. “OK, man. Enough with the bro love.”
    “No, no. I’m…serious.” I sway to the side and Carver has to grab my bare shoulder so I don’t fall over. “You can be like, my new best friend. I had one. She’s amazing, but she hates me. I think I might marry her.”
    Carver gives me a funny look. “Dude, you’re not making any sense.”
    “Her name is Joy Anderson and I’m in love with her.” And that makes a whole lot of sense to