Ezekiel's POV
The game footage flickered across my laptop screen, but I might as well have been staring at a blank wall. The State recruiter had been watching from the sidelines during Friday's match, taking notes on every snap, every decision I made under pressure.
This was the moment I'd been working toward my entire high school career. I should have been analyzing defensive schemes and studying opponent patterns. Instead, I lay sprawled on my bed, launching a football toward the ceiling like some restless kid with nothing better to do.
The pigskin slapped against my palm with each catch. Smack. Smack. Smack.
Each repetitive motion felt meaningless. Every toss dragged my thoughts back to this morning's disaster at Ximena's locker, where she stood with Glenda like a shield between us.
She'd cut me off before I could even finish my opening words.
"If you're here to embarrass me again, just walk away."
