Our Eternal Ruin (Auslly)

34. The ring on her hand

Two months later

Shit, I was nervous as hell. The doctor had said I could play in limited capacity, but he didn't think I'd be able to last a whole game. I mean, who plays after having their chest cracked open?

Yet I felt healthy as a horse. I'd started working out two weeks after my surgery, slowly and surely, I felt healthy again. No more nausea, no more anything. I was alive, and God, was I thankful.

I waved at Ally. She was sitting in the stands with her aunt and uncle. My dad and Jobob had gotten crazy close over the last few months. Crazy, but it seemed that grief on both Ally's and my sides brought the men close to one another. It only took about a week for Jobob to get over his star-struck attitude. Within two weeks he was pulling pranks on my dad that had all of us in stitches.

It was good to laugh. It was even better to see my dad laugh.

Dad waved from the sidelines too and pointed at Dez, who was sitting next to Cassidy with a giant sign that read, Go Austin! In Red letters. They drew a giant heart around it. In his other hand he was holding a camera, Dez had briefly mentioned that he wanted to be a director, and I told that he could practice with tonight's game.

News of my surgery and cancer struggle got out as we all assumed it would. After numerous Skype interviews with Good Morning America and Anderson Cooper, not to mention ESPN, I'd barely had any time to even think about the bowl game and about what I was going to do during halftime.

We were playing Oregon. Again. Of all the luck in the world. They were good, but we were better.

I threw the football again and stretched my arms above my head. It was the BCS championship. I should have been thinking about the plays, about not getting hit, about winning — but all I could think about was her.

"Ready for this?" Tony asked, throwing the ball one last time.

"Of course." I laughed. "Are you?"

"Hell yeah, they're going down." He pointed two fingers at me and then threw his head back and howled. People in the stands were shouting green and yellow. I knew Dez would be pissed. Poor guy, nobody hated the Oregon more than him, though he wouldn't tell any of us the exact reason.

The announcer came on the loud speaker. Funny, how last time I was on the field, I'd thought my life might be over.

And honestly — it had just begun.

The first two quarters went by in a blur. The score was tied and I was officially exhausted. Coach tried to take me out a few times, but I wouldn't let him. I was doing a damn good job and I wanted to carry my team. I couldn't fail them, not now.

"You sure you're up for this?" Dad asked once the buzzer for halftime went off.

"Yup." I licked my lips. "I've been waiting all my life for this."

He dug into his pocket and handed me the box. "Go get 'em."

"If everyone could have a seat, we have a special announcement." The man called over the loud speaker. I walked to the middle of the field amidst shouts and cheers from all over the stands, even the Oregon fans were on their feet.