It Started With A Concussion ✔️

Chapter 7

This week has been stressful. I've been running laps trying to finish this yearbook and get them printed.

On top of that I've been trying to find time to finish up my projects and final assignments. It took hours digging through my camera roll to find pictures for my collage.

On Tuesday I had pretty much completed it in art but I just needed to find one more photo to print. A blank spot was right at the edge that I needed to cover up.

I asked a Mrs. Klein what I should put there and her answer was pretty unsettling.

"Well, it's a board about your life. I know you have yourself, your family, your friends...but I think you left one person out of this." she hints, giving me a smirk.

I thought about it for a second but it didn't take long for me to question her. "Do I have to?"

"You don't have to, but he is an everyday character in your life, whether you like it or not." she shrugs, her positive tone persuading me.

Sick and tired of this project I take the advice and go looking for a picture. I found a few embarrassing photos that I forgot I had, but my eyes fell upon a picture I had taken earlier in the school year.

I must've taken it with one of the school's cameras because it was really high quality.

It was Jackson, holding his helmet after a game—Friday Night Lights I assumed due to the dark background.

And it must've been drizzling because his jersey was muddy, his hair looked soaked and his eyeblack smeared down his face as he was walking off the field.

After a quick examination I realized it was a pretty good picture of him.

I swear, I do too much for this kid. I even manage to make him look good.

I copied the picture onto a document and printed it out. As I glued it down on the edge of the poster, I took a few steps back to look at the final product.

Everything looked good and from far away you couldn't even tell that it was him. Unless you looked at the number printed on the front of his jersey.

That's all I could say about Tuesday.

Wednesday was pretty boring, considering I had nothing to do. I attempted to ask Jackson to start the poster, but with the first Summer League Game coming up, he didn't have time.

I swear all we need is two hours and yet, we haven't gotten to it.

Now it's Thursday afternoon and time is ticking.

"And don't forget to support your fellow Trojans this weekend at 2pm! First game this Saturday!" The speaker announced as the final bell rang.

I walked to my locker with a swarm of people and dropped off anything I didn't need. Emptying out my bag I knew I needed to talk to him.

Because there was no way I was doing this all by myself.

So, walking outside I headed down to the field where they were gathering for practice. I passed all of the guys, saying hello, and finally found Jackson by the bench.

"Jackie!" I sang as I walked up to him.

He looked up from tying his laces and immediately frowned.

"Yeah I'm not happy to see you either." I make a remark off of his expression.

"What do you want?" he asks, already fed up by my presence.

I ignore his manner and continue, "Well, it's Thursday. I want this poster done."