Anthony's Story by MELODY DUPREE (first ebook reader .txt) 📕

knew and how to counter them but mentioned one that no one had yet to stop in action. They urged me to talk about it and I went on in detail describing the first game it was used in and by whom. When they heard a woman had invented the play they were in complete and utter shock at that fact. I went on to explain that the woman had become the first female to venture on to a real NFL football field and that she was the mother of most of my former teammates and that more than likely she would be at the game next week. I started to say that their most formidable enemy on that team would have been me, but I decided to not say that and went on to describe the play and the basic structure of the play and how it was ran. When I finished the guys and coach in front of me where staring at me as if I had just fallen from the sky.

“I am going to let you guys go home and process what I just told you and then we can discuss some more about this after your game on Friday. Is that okay with you,” I asked and they all nodded their consent.

I walked away back towards my car and ran right into solid muscle which sent me sprawling into the mud. I looked up to see that the Baltimore High football team had showed up and that Junior wasn’t happy about seeing me here. Anthony however ran towards me and pulled me up and hugged me to him putting slight pressure where the tattoos were at.

“It’s only been a day Anthony. Surely you don’t miss the backstabber that much,” I joked but I saw the hurt in Anthony’s eyes and pulled him to me even closer just enough for him to see what he was going up against the next week.

“We came because we go up against them next week in nationals so I hope you are prepared for a good game because you are playing with us,” Junior stated in a bored voice while looking at Anthony in distaste.

“I don’t play with you guys next week I got a glimpse of the opposing team’s defensive lineup on the coach’s clipboard and it looks like I play with them next week. But more than likely I will throw a huge party to celebrate my win over Baltimore High because I just found a way to stop that so called unstoppable play of yours,” I said and Anthony stepped back in shock.

“How would you be able to stop a play you never ran,” Jason snapped at me and my eyes flashed.

“You will see but just remember to watch your back on and off the field, Mr. I am a royal quarterback,” I said and walked away from them to my car.

I heard footsteps behind me and turned to see Anthony following me to my car with Junior staring after him in anger. I opened the passenger side door and Anthony climbed in. I walked around my car and got in on the driver’s side and turned on the car and hit the gas to go home. When I got there my dad was home and had a slew of guests that I immediately registered as his former teammates. I pulled on my hood and walked past the living room and Anthony followed at a more sedate pace. That was when I heard her voice and realized that it was the whole team visiting because their children had made it to nationals. I was now sentenced to a life of hell if I put my plan in action next week.

 

Anthony's point of view

I looked towards the living room as I heard my name called and immediately ran into Michael who had stopped just at the far edge of the door. I managed to grab the back of a chair that then ended up flipping over and Michael busted out laughing as I went down to the ground with the chair. I glared up at him then shrugged and apologized to his dad for messing up the quietness of his house and he shrugged and said “It’s okay Anthony. How you managed to flip an armchair just by grabbing onto it to keep from falling down I don’t know but thanks for the entertainment.” I nodded and followed Michael to his room after I had put the chair in its standing position. Once in Michael’s room I jumped him from behind and took him to the floor. What I forgot was that he was still sore from the tattoos we had given him.

 “Anthony you could not have caused a louder noise to make them think we were having sex and trashing the room,” Michael said with a smile on his face.

 “Well sorry if I felt like tackling you to the floor,” I said with a smirk.

 Just then his bedroom door opened and the rest of my teammates came in clearly unhappy. I got to my feet and walked over to the window to look out at the rain. Michael got to his feet and came and stood beside me as the team plopped themselves down in beanbags and the couch that Michael had bought from the NFL store online because it was decorated with the raven’s team symbol.

 “Nice to know you guys think you can come in here and make yourselves comfortable without asking me,” Michael said without turning from the window.

 “What else are we supposed to do? Your dad invited us to stay here while we are in town and it looks like we all have to share a room with you even though we don’t want to,” Junior said and Michael turned to stare at Junior with a smirk on his face.

 “Enjoy your stay but you will not take the nationals trophy home with you. But just in case let’s make a deal,” Michael said his smirk even more pronounced.

 “What deal is this,” I asked before Junior could speak.

 “If you guys don’t use that new play of yours that I watched you run last night then I will personally let you take home the trophy by not using my counter for quarterback fake out. Do we have a deal,” Michael said and Jason looked up and nodded.

 “We have a deal,” he whispered and Michael nodded.

 That was when I noticed that Jason had a black eye forming and that Junior was glaring at him with nothing short of anger.I also noticed that he had a cut lip and bruised knuckles. He didn’t make eye contact with Michael when he had spoken but had looked at Junior who had completely ignored him until he had spoken. Junior opened his mouth to speak but Michael held up his hand to stop him. He was staring at Jason and I realized that he had noticed what I had noticed.

 “Jason who hit you this time because I know damn well it wasn’t your dad,” Michael said and Jason looked down at his lap as tears began to stream down his face.

 “Tell me how you knew a best kept secret because you know who hit me. I don’t have to tell you,” Jason replied and leaned back against the wall.

“Look Junior if you want us to tell you something you don’t punch the person to get what you want. You wait until they are ready to talk to you about what they are hiding. And even when you find it out you don’t punch them in the face for hiding it. Otherwise Anthony would probably have punched me for hiding my feelings from him,” I said and then turned my attention to Jason. “I knew a best kept secret because I remember something that the guys didn’t know. Anyways I also did research on your family. You are closely related to the royal British family and if William and Harry predecease you the throne goes to you when Charles dies.”

“What did you remember Michael,” I asked looking at him in shock.

“He used to have a British accent like the one his dad has, but due to the fact that he grew up here he lost the accent while his father still has one,” Michael responded and the guys looked at him like he was crazy.

“How do you remember that and no one else does,” Jason asked Michael.

“I remember that because every time I hear your dad talk it reminds me of a really cute boy who had a really cute accent before he got an American one,” Michael replied. “And that boy was you.”

“How about we have a pizza party tonight and just hang out with each other,” I suggested and Michael agreed.

“That is a good idea Anthony but how are you going to pay for that when you have to feed the adults also,” a voice said from the doorway.

We all whipped around to see Mel Johnson standing in my bedroom doorway with her hair dripping wet. She looked at us with a haughty look in her eyes in a way that told me she wasn’t helping Anthony pay for any pizza party.

“I thought we could pool our money together and order seven extra-large cheese and pepperoni pizzas and eight or nine 2 liters of soda of different selections,” Michael suggested and everyone turned to stare at him.

Michael Senior pulled out his wallet and pulled six hundred dollars from it and said, “That should be enough for all of that food and drink. I am pretty sure that between the kids three whole pizzas will disappear,” he said.

Michael smiled at his dad and picked up the house phone that he had in his room and dialed pizza hut and placed our orders with two of each soda, half of them diet and half of them regular. Once the pizzas had arrived as predicted Michael came into the room with three boxes of pizza and one of each soda in mine and his hands.

“How did you get that past them,” Junior asked and Anthony shrugged as he dumped the soda’s on Michael’s bed.

 “One of the pizzas I picked up is half pepperoni and half cheese so it’s an even count of slices,” Michael said.

And with that said we dug into the pizzas and didn’t say a word until we had finished eating.

Michael's point of view

As we all winded down for the night we set up who would get the bed on Monday’s with whoever