Free Faster (The University of Gatica #2) by Lexy Timms

plugged her ears from the noise. The screams even drowned out the marching band’s music. She knew the game but had never gotten into her high school’s Friday night light’s games.
    The teams took the field with Syracuse having the first kickoff. The defense players of Gatica took the field and Aileen squinted, trying to find which one was Tyler. She tapped Jani. “Which one is Tyler?”
    Jani pointed to the end of the field where one of their players stood alone. “He’s number eighty-eight. You’ll know it’s him. Just watch.”
    “He’s the kickoff return. Last year he blew everyone’s mind in the first game of the season,” Sean said. “First play of the game is about to start.” The ref’s whistle blew and the stadium grew suddenly quiet.
    Syracuse kicked off.
    The bright setting sun should have caused some kind of distraction, at least in Aileen’s opinion, but Tyler bent slightly as he caught the ball at the five-yard line.
    He took off running like a bat out of hell. A Syracuse player with fast legs dove across to knock him down. Tyler went over top of him like he was a hurdle. He zigzagged down the field, deeking and ducking out over Syracuse players to the fifty-yard line. All that was left was the kicker, a tiny little guy who looked ready to poop his pants.  The kicker chased him. Tyler ran around him like he wasn’t even there!
    Tyler slowed his pace as he high-stepped it into the end zone for a ninety-five-yard touchdown. He stopped, paused as the roaring of the crowd paused in perfect unison. He straightened his arm holding the football and dropped it to the ground like what he had just done was a walk in the park. Everyone in the stands jumped to their feet and started screaming.
    “And that is why he is one of the best players in the country!” Sean stomped his feet in appreciation.
    The teams changed players with Gatica now in the position to kick off and Syracuse to receive the ball. The first down for Syracuse, the quarterback threw the ball to his wide left receiver where Tyler must have been watching the quarterback’s eyes or was one step ahead, or read the quarterback’s mind. Aileen didn’t have time to figure it out. She watched in awe as Tyler hurled himself into the air and snatched the ball away from the receiver.
    He took off again and was finally brought to the ground at the twenty-yard line. The fans screamed in appreciation. He was part of a team, but he ran the show and controlled the field, in two plays!
    The quarter ran down and in the second quarter, Syracuse took the lead. They were a strong team that quickly figured out ways to stop Tyler when he took the field. If he had been on the offense line, Aileen had the feeling he would be unstoppable.
    At half time, the school’s marching band took the field with the cheerleaders twirling and twisting in the air. The score clock showed Gatica in the lead by seven. Twenty-one to fourteen for the University of Gatica.
    Jani and Aileen ran up to grab snacks and drinks, squeezing in a bathroom break in between.
    “So what do you think?” Jani asked as they stood in line to buy. She stretched and shook her arms. “I’m so sore! I hate the first month of training. My body doesn’t like what I do to it.”
    Aileen laughed. “I’m sure it’ll forgive you the moment you hit a six-foot jump at your first meet.”
    “True dat!” She grinned. “Are you a football fan now? I saw you screaming and cheering with the rest of us.”
    “I believe I am. College football is pretty exciting. I can’t believe how we’re kicking their butts.”
    “Game’s not over yet. Second half can sometimes take twice as long as the first.” A buzzer sounded, letting them know there were five minutes left till the whistle.
    They raced back down to their seats, sharing the red licorice with Sean.
    Gatica started the second half kicking off to Syracuse. The defensive line stopped Syracuse from scoring a touchdown and ended up with the ball