All American Senior Year: Volume One

State Champs We Have Arrived (Part Two)

Every muscle in his body ached. After the past few weeks of getting back on the field and training for state, all the hits he'd received have been catching up to him. In many ways, he'd felt drained and exhausted. Wishing nothing more than to go on that much-needed vacation and the massage Olivia offered him earlier that morning. After the season he'd been through, he was ready to take off and take a break from it all. But before he could celebrate, he needed to be focused on the game in two days. From all the stories he heard from Jordan and the tapes he'd watched over the past few weeks, he knew Beverly wasn't going to be easy.

They've been a powerhouse this season and with Coach Montes being a female Coach Baker, Spencer knew he had to be at the top of his game. He was more than ready, but the only thing he couldn't shake was the heavy feeling of going against Beverly. Although he didn't want to admit it, Spencer knew it was going to be tough to see Jordan and the rest of his brothers he'd grown to love over the past year.

Sure, Crenshaw's his home, but in many ways, Beverly had become his home too. Not knowing that he would have to go up against his best friend, who had become more than that in a short amount of time. But Spencer feared in the heat of the moment, their egos would get in the way of having fun and playing the game. With the pressure and tension from both teams to win, he knew it was only a matter of time until one of them had taken a joke too far causing chaos to ensue

Adding more fuel to the fire, he knew all eyes would be on him this coming Friday. All season he'd been trying to gain trust from his team that he came back to Crenshaw for all the right reasons. Although he had been in a good place with everyone as of late, including Frausto, he was nervous knowing they would second guess his intentions. With Spencer playing for Beverly last year and growing close with the boys, his team was anxious about his motives. And if Spencer would be able to play at his best, and willing to go up against the team he played for last year. Meaning he had to go up against JJ, Asher, and Jordan.

Spencer was well at handling the pressure, but the one thing that made him nervous was Jordan's previous injury. With him suffering from two concussions, Spencer hoped his team wouldn't be caught up in the moment, injuring anyone on the Beverly team and vice versa. Unlocking his front door, he heard laughter coming from the dining room when Spencer pushed it open to see Coach Baker and his mom, fall silent, turning towards his direction.

"Ah, there is the man of the hour," Coach Baker rested his elbows on the dining room table grinning from ear to ear. His mother called him over, giving him a warm welcome hug. "Hey, Coach I thought you weren't supposed to pick me up for another hour. I ain't dressed yet. You think I can take a quick shower before we head out? " Spencer asked. Coach Baker nodded. "We got time, dinner is not until seven anyways. But I actually came over earlier to talk with you. I was going to give you something this morning after practice, but I thought your mom should be here,". Coach Baker reached into his pocket taking out a letter and handing it to Spencer. His eyebrows scrunched confused, holding the letter in his hand. Spencer looked at the letter then back to Coach Baker. "What is this?". Coach baker lifted his shoulders to his ears. "Open it and find out. You've earned it,".

Spencer's smile slowly faded flipping the letter over to read who it was from. In big bold letters, it read "UCLA: Alexander Turner, Head Coach of Football,". Spencer's throat went dry, clearing it when his mother looked at Billy then back to Spencer. "You going to really have us waiting out here? What is it baby? The anticipation is killing me, open it and read it to us,". Spencer's hands trembled slightly while his heart picked up its pace. The pounding in his ears became constant. "It's a letter from the head coach at UCLA..." Spencer trailed.

Gently opening the envelope to not rip it, he placed it on the table carefully unfolding the letter in his hand. His eyes scanned through the words and with every word he read his eyes widened. A slow grin spread across his lips. A clear of a throat from his mother stopped the overwhelming excitement he felt. "You going to have us sit here and wait or are you going to tell us? Share the good news baby. What is it?" his mother asked impatiently. Spencer cleared his throat once again when he started to read the letter out loud.

"Am I glad you're sitting down mom. The head coach at UCLA heard great things from the past coach. He says: "My coaching staff and I evaluated your film. We were impressed with what we saw in your highlights video. Scoring seven touchdowns in one game. And turning the team around this season. We sincerely believe that you have the talent necessary to succeed on the football field and in the classroom. After this season we've seen that you've shown leadership in your team and in your community. Every day we prepare to win championships on and off the field. We recruit ambitious, achievement-oriented, high-energy players. We want people who are hungry. We want players that have a passion and display that passion consistently. After careful evaluation of your academic, athletic, and personal accomplishments, we are convinced you have the athletics we are looking for in our athletic program. We will be in touch, Alexander Turner, Head Coach of UCLA football,".

The three of them fell silent for a moment, while the words that spencer had spoken out loud had finally begun to sink in. Spencer couldn't believe the words he had read. Hoping this wasn't a dream, and in a matter of seconds he'd wake up to his alarm ringing. Thinking out loud, Spencer shook his head still in shock. "I hope this is not a dream, because if it is, this is a dream I don't want to wake up from,". Breaking the silence in the room, his mother burst into tears pulling him in for a hug as she cried out of happiness squeezing her sun so tight he couldn't breathe. Spencer didn't care as he wrapped his arms around his mom and squeezed her just as tight. As is he'd been holding his breath, it finally escaped him while a tear fell with it. "Is this real or am I dreaming?" Spencer asked still in a state of shock.

His mother shook her head while she mother grabbed his face in her hands. "It's real baby. All your hard work has finally paid off,". Pulling him back into a hug, his mother danced excitedly making spencer's smile even wider. As if they'd won the lottery. And in many ways, they'd have. All those late nights and early mornings of practice had been finally paying off. His hard work was showing and the school he'd been wanting to go to since he was eight years old was now coming true. A dream he thought would be just that, not ever knowing his childhood dream would now be his reality. One he would be living in soon enough. "Mom, don't be excited just yet I haven't gotten accepted. He just said he'll be in touch" Spencer reassured her. His mom shook her head waving him off. "But the head coach at UCLA wants to talk Spencer? That's big news. If he wants to talk, it only means he's interested,". Billy agreed.

"I was going to tell you and give you the letter after Friday's game, but thought you needed that extra motivation and push to win," Billy got up off the chair to now hug Spencer. "Yes, Coach. No doubt about it. We winning Friday's game you can count on me and the boys to pull the dub,". Coach Baker smiled knowing it'd been true. "I have no doubt in my mind that you won't. But your mother's right, Spencer. A letter from the head coach at UCLA is big news. Coach Turner even called me and spoke a bit on the phone. He's excited to meet you soon. But before we start celebrating I need you to focus on Friday's game. You can call him afterward and set up a meeting,". Spencer nodded. "Yes, Coach. Thank you for believing in me. You were the one to give me the opportunity, and I can't thank you enough for this. Wait until I tell Coop about this. She is about to buy a season pass to my game next season,". Billy and Grace laughed.

"It was all you, Spencer. You put in the work, transferred schools, left your mom and Dillon. Came back to South Crenshaw to save the school and helped turn the team back around. Any school would be lucky to have you. I'm just happy UCLA decided to give you another shot, you deserve it Congratulations. Now go get ready before Mrs. Baker gets on both of our cases for being late," Coach Baker squeezed Spencer's shoulder. "Yes, Coach. I'll be out in five," Spencer rushed over to his room stopping halfway when he turned back around to hug and kiss his mom on the cheek. "Love you, mom. Our dreams are finally coming true,". His mother wiped the tears that kept falling, gently nodding. "Our dreams are finally coming true Baby, I'm so proud of you,". Spencer squeezed her once more before rushing back into his room.

Throwing himself on the bed all Spencer could think of was telling Olivia his great news. Instead of giving her a call, he decided to wait until he saw her in person. Although he was thrilled about the head coach of UCLA writing him a letter, he was also excited that he would be close to his girl. Living in the same city, they wouldn't have to do long-distance and he could see her every day. Spencer had been on cloud nine, but quickly coming back to earth, he knew that now more than ever he had to win on Friday's game.