Free Full Impact by Suzanne Weyn Page A

“We’re in.”
    Kadeem jerked his head toward the stands, indicating the cluster of middle-aged men still lingering in the bleachers. “Scouts.”
    Norval recognized a few of them: one scout from Miller College, another from State University, and another scout from nearby Wendell College.
    â€œYou guys heard anything yet?” Kadeem asked.
    Norval shook his head. Kadeem had already been recruited to play college ball for the Peterson Pirates. “Nothing yet for me,” Arnie admitted. “Something better come through. A scholarship is the only way I’m going to college.”

N
    orval squeezed his legs together to balance the paper plate holding his pizza. Kadeem’s parents had put out a great spread for the team. Norval couldn’t imagine how much the tower of pizzas on the table must have cost them. But they’d been right to order so much. This team could
eat
! Especially after a game like the one they had just played.
    Finishing his last bite of gyro pizza, Norval got up and headed back to the table for more. Lara was there with Maritza Rubio, another cheerleader. “Arnie was great today, wasn’t he?” Norval said.
    â€œI guess so. Whatever…” Lara grumbled. What had caused her enthusiasm to fade?
    â€œWhat’s going on?” Norval asked as he peeled another slice from the pie.
    â€œI don’t know. Go ask your buddy. When I tried to talk to him he just brushed me off.”
    â€œHe’s acting weird,” Maritza added.
    When Norval went to find Arnie, someone said he’d just left.
    That’s odd
, Norval thought. Arnie hadn’t even said goodbye. It wasn’t like him.
    He went and found Sadie. “Arnie just left all the sudden. Do you mind if I go try and find him? I’ll be back in time to walk you home.”
    â€œSure, go ahead,” Sadie agreed. “Don’t worry about me. Paige’s mom is driving her home. I can get a ride with them.”
    Norval kissed her lightly. “Thanks. You’re the best.”
    Norval left the apartment and caught up with Arnie in the building’s main lobby. “Leaving so soon? What’s up?” he asked.
    â€œI don’t know,” Arnie said with a shrug. “All the noise in there was getting on my nerves. Giving me a headache.”
    â€œWell, you managed to make Lara pretty mad. What went down?”
    â€œNothing, really. I just wasn’t in the mood for her chatter. I guess she could tell.” Arnie pushed the front door open and headed down the sidewalk.
    Norval fell into step beside him. “I thought you liked Lara.”
    â€œI do. I think I’m just tired. And, like I said, I have this headache.”
    â€œMaybe you should text her later,” Norval suggested. “She’s obviously into you. At least, she was before you blew her off.”
    â€œI didn’t blow her off. She’s cute, man, but she’s trouble. Look how she’s making a big deal over nothing. We’re not even together yet.”
    â€œShe’s a drama queen, sure,” Norval said. “But I thought you had a thing for her.”
    â€œI did. I do,” Arnie said.
    â€œIs something else bugging you?” Norval asked.
    â€œMaybe this scholarship thing is weighing on me. How come nobody came up to us today?”
    â€œI don’t know. But I didn’t see them approach anyone.”
    â€œIt’s like I said—no athletic scholarship, no college.”
    â€œWhat about Southside CC?” Norval asked. “Could you swing that?”
    â€œCommunity college?” Arnie cried. “They don’t even have a football team! I’m not getting to the pros that way.”
    â€œI didn’t know you were thinking pro ball.”
    Arnie reeled around, glaring. “What? Think I don’t have what it takes?”
    â€œWhoa, man!” Norval raised two hands to back Arnie up. “Don’t take it like