I can't believe this is happening.
Will and I had plans.
We had our future.
We had everything.
And now it's gone.
Forever.

Will grinned, then went to stand up as Jake, who'd tackled him first, began to drag himself to an upright position. But Will's right leg was awkwardly positioned under Jake's forearm, and as Jake released himself, Will felt his knee try to follow, twisting hard in the wrong direction. Will winced as pain shot through his leg.
"You okay, man?" Josh asked, reaching his hand out to Will. Will took it and let Josh pull him the rest of the way up, feeling his knee continue to burn as he stood. Will felt a flash of worry that he'd injured himself and wouldn't be able to play tonight, but after a couple of seconds the pain faded and his leg felt fine.
"Hey," Josh suggested, brushing dirt off his blue-and-grey-striped shirt, "after we kick some Ridgefield butt, why don't we go out and celebrate you going to Michigan?"
"Sounds good," Will said, casting a backward glance at his dad, who was busy clipping branches. He didn't seem to be paying attention to Will and his friends.
Or maybe he realized that I do deserve a break, Will thought, hoping it was true. His friends knew what a big deal his football career was - and soon enough his dad would understand that football was all Will needed.