Chereads / The Bench Warmer / Chapter 8 - Chapter 7: Life Is Great

Chapter 8 - Chapter 7: Life Is Great

Initially I was shocked, as I was a bit lost as well as a bit surprised that she had even said yes in the very first place any ways. That was due to a lot of people saying that she was going to tell me, 'no', because the both of us were far too young to be worried about having a life after high school together. A part of me thought that they were right with what it was that they had said at the exact same time as well, as it did in fact make sense as to what they had said. I also knew that Kimberly was a smart girl, and I was sure that she would have put some thought, and some consideration in to it.

At the exact same time too, I also knew that she had been put on the spot, and she did not have all too much time to think on it at all, as I knew as well as she did, that every single person that was in that cafeteria had their eyes on us right then and there. It would have been quite a bit of an embarrassment on me as well, as to the fact if she had said no. I was the star football player, and a lot of people might think that every thing that happened in my life was good for me. That might be true for certain things, but this was one of those times where I was worried that it would not be the case.

I was sure that there was a few people that might have hoped that she had said no at the exact same time too. I did not go out of my way to make any sort of enemies at all, but at the same time too, I also realized that it was destined to happen, with me being the star player on the team, as I knew that just like my father had told me, was the fact that a lot of people were going to be jealous of me, and they were going to hope, and they were going to pray for my down fall at some point or another, such as they had when my father had been in college on a basketball team, a player on the scouting list to go to the NBA none the less, and a player leading his team in the conference to get a spot in the NCAA tournament.

That was no longer the case any more sadly, how ever, as I shook off all of those thoughts from my head all at the exact same time as well, as I kind of figured that they really did not matter at all right now, and I also figured that it was best not to dwell on it for all too long at the exact same time too, as I knew that it did not help me at all in going out and achieving my goals and my dreams. I already had a plan for what it was that I was going to do once I got to college. I knew that once I was in to there, I was going to do some extra classes, and I was going to do some summer semesters, so that by the time I got out of college my Junior year, to get in to the NFL, I would also have a college degree from a top college.

I breathed in quite a bit heavily, all at the exact same time as well, as I knew that was only so long as things went to plan. I felt like I could still graduate from high school this year, such as my guidance counselor had put me up to do, and I could still get red shirted my fresh man year, as I knew that the odds were that I was not going to get any playing time my freshman season for one thing, and also by the time that I went to the NFL, I could be drafted while I was 19, and I could be playing my first NFL regular season game by the time I was 20... I was not going to lie either, the thought of that was quite a bit enticing.

At the exact same time too, I also had to realize that I was for certain getting way to ahead of my self right now, as I knew that I had to take this day by day. I knew that big name schools like UCLA and Stanford would take away my scholarship, but at the exact same time too, whilst they might not be a big name in football, I also knew that I could go to a college such as Harvard, or maybe even a Princeton, as I knew that they would not take away my scholarships, due to the fact that I was a very gifted student. I could only imagine me walking out of there, being a top ranked prospect in the NFL draft, as well as the fact that I had a 4 year degree to a big named school such as those ones.

I blinked my eyes a few times, as I then got my focus back on to the presence, all at the exact same time too, as I did my best to try to wake my self up all of the sudden, as there was a lot more important things going on at this very moment in time, such as the fact that my girl, and the love of my life was holding on to me, as it was clear that she was in fact in love with me, such as I had hoped to be the case before I did this in the very first place any ways. Not that I had all too much doubt it my mind about any of it, but I still could not help but to be a little bit scared of all of it.

I sighed just a bit to my self, all at the exact same time too, as I looked at her right in to her eyes, as I could see her doing the same time to me. I blinked my eyes just a few times, as I was not all too sure as to what it was that I should be doing right now. Perhaps there was not any thing for me to do at all, as I felt like I should just enjoy a good moment such as the one that the both of us were in right now, as I looked down at the nice expensive ring that I saw was in her hand right now. I winced a bit, as I knew that it was a bit of a pricey ring, as I was for certain glad that my mother had paid for it.

I shivered all at the exact same time as well, as I did my best to get my focus off of all of that, all of the sudden, none the less, as I got my then began to start to all of the sudden remember that my father had come to us and he had congratulated the both of us too, as to the fact that we were now engaged. It was a bit too early to think of a wedding right now, as I felt like perhaps it would be best to leave that to wait til the end of the senior year, like it or not, as I knew that it was going to be nearly 2 years up until that point. At the same time too, I also then began to remember all of the sudden, at the exact same time too, that I had been thinking of not doing my Senior year as well.

I sighed, as I did my best to get my focus off of all of those thoughts, all at the exact same time as well, as I felt like I should have some time to think on it after tomorrow, once the weekend was to begin, as I then gulped a bit to my self, and I then once again got my eyes, and I got my focus on Kimberly all of the sudden, as I knew that it was who and what it was that I should have my focus on right now, as I cracked a bit of a smile on my face, which I could tell had made her feel all the better about all of this as well. I was always good with the ladies I suppose, as my father had always told me.

A part of me, at the time, had thought that it was due to the fact that it was due to me being the star athlete on the football team through out middle school even, before I had even met her in the first place. I now realized that it was not the case at all, as me and her had been together for nearly 2 years at this point, and we rarely got in to any fights, and it was also clear to me at the exact same time as well, that she was in fact in love with me. She might have said yes to me at first, due to the fact that I was a star athlete on the team, but she truly was in love with me now, as I knew that I could say that with out a doubt.

I rolled my eyes a bit at the exact same time too, which I was glad that she had not noticed me do as such a thing, as I saw her taking a bite of her sub from Subway, that she had on the table right now, as I was glad that she had not seem me do as such a thing. As she finished off the last bite of her sub, at the exact same time as well, she then all of the sudden turned her head back over to me, and she too then smiled right back over to me, even though I was no longer smiling, due to the fact that I was a bit worried about all that was going on right now.

Either way, I did my best to get my focus off of those thoughts none the less as well, as I then saw Kimberly all of the sudden nod to me. I was about to tilt my head, and act like a bit of an idiot as well, which was not my intent, though I did in fact pride my self on me having a bit of a good sense of humor, which was a lot to be said at such a boring school like the one that I was in right now, as I some times did in fact wish that I could go back to Arizona at the exact same time as well, when I thought on things like that, though I knew that I did not want that to be the case, as I knew that I had friends here for one, and I also had Kimberly with me.

I shook off all of those thoughts from my head all at the exact same time as well, as I then all of the sudden noticed that Kimberly had her eyes squinted at me, as it all of the sudden hit me, as to just what it was that she had even done a few moments ago in the first place. I blinked my eyes a few times, as I got my focus on to that instead, as I knew that it was a lot more important than the rest of the thoughts that seemed to be going through my head right now, as I then did in fact all of the sudden nod right back over to her, to let her know that she had my full attention now, which might not have been the case a few moments ago.

Kimberly still did not seem to be all too certain, as it seemed like she still felt like I was a bit lost in my head, and I was a little bit lost in my own world, which a part of me kind of still felt like I was, even though I knew that it was not the case at all. Kimberly stared at me for just a little bit longer at the exact same time as well, as I then noticed, and I heard quite a bit of a heavy sigh come out of her mouth all of the sudden at the exact same time as well. I once again blinked my eyes, as she then did in fact finally begin to start to speak to me, which I was glad for, as I was not all too sure as to how much longer I could sit here like this. I once again got my focus off of all of those thoughts how ever, as I got my focus instead on the fact that he was talking right now, as I then begun to listen as to what it was that she even had to say in the very first place any ways.

"Thank you for this Grant... This is by far the best day of my life... I love you so much..." She said to me, as a few tears dripped down from my eyes at the exact same time too. It felt a bit strange, as I knew that it usually was quite a bit hard to get me as emotional as I was at this very moment in time, but it was clear that Kimberly had done a damn good job at it. I loved her so much, and I was not all too sure as to why it was that I had been so worried in the very first place any ways, about all of this, and the fact that I had been worried that she might say no to me for some odd reason or another.

I began to breath in quite a bit heavily to my self, all at the exact same time as well, as I held on to her a bit closer, as I felt like there was not much else that I should say back to her, as I knew that she knew that I loved her back at the exact same time too. After all, that was the reason that I had proposed to her, and I knew that she could tell that it was a very nice, and it was a very expensive ring at the exact same time as well. She was always good at spotting what was nice, and what was not nice, which was for certain some thing that I was not the best at doing, I could say for a fact.

A lot of that might have to do with the fact that I was a football player, and I was used to nasty stuff, such as a lot of dirt, and a lot of mud all over me all of the time. It was a lot of the reason that I had asked my mom to go out and look for the ring for me. I knew that my mother was friends with her mother, as I knew that she had hired her mother, as I had met Kimberly even before I had found out that we had gone to the same together. I felt like I had a bit of a special connection when I had first even locked eyes on her, and I was fairly certain that she could say the same thing with me.

After all, that was of course the reason that she had said yes after all, I was quite sure of, as I could not help but to hold that same smile that I had before on my face, for just a little bit longer, as we had our eyes locked with each other still. I felt like she had fallen in love with me the moment she had seen me, and I was fairly certain that it was not because I was the star player on the football team, such as a lot of people had wanted to try to tell me from time to time. She had known me before she even knew that I was a star athlete, and I felt like I should just drown out all of that noise.

I am sure that the fact that I was a star athlete was for certain a plus, but that was a lot do to the fact that I knew that she wanted a guy who had their shit together, and their life in place none the less as well. I for certain had my life in place, but at the exact same time as well, I also kind of felt like I should just be taking this day by day. I still had a bit of some thoughts as to the fact that I might still should graduate this year and go to some Ivy League school out on the East Coast, even after the fact that I had just gotten engaged to the love of my life, but at the same time as well, I felt like I should just talk about it with my father when it came to Saturday how ever.

I felt like it was the best option, but I was not sure as to where it would help me, and it where it was that it might help me, as I really did not want to leave Kimberly alone out in San Diego with no one to really be with, besides her friends of course. I knew that she relied on me a lot of the time though at the exact same time too, so I just was not all too sure as to just what it was that I should do as of right now. I blinked my eyes a few times, as I then did my best to try to get my focus off of all of those thoughts, as I then all of the sudden shook my head a bit more to my self.

At first I was worried that Kimberly might have thought that I had shaken my head at her, which was not the case at all how ever, but as I continued to look at her right in to her eyes, I knew that she seemed to not be all too worried about all of that at all right at this very moment in time, thankfully enough for me none the less, as I then let out quite a bit of a rough sigh of relief, all at the exact same time as well, as I then nodded a bit to my self, as I got my focus back on the present, and just what it was that was going on around me at this very moment in time, as I noticed that it was quite a bit loud in the cafeteria, which at first I might have thought that it was due to the fact that a lot of people were talking about me and Kimberly.

I shook off all of those thoughts, all at the exact same time as well, as I knew that it more than likely was not the case at all, and I knew at the exact same time as well, that I really did not need to have that big of an ego at the exact same time as well, as I knew that it was best to stay a bit more humble as an athlete, even if the media would in fact like me more if I did in fact speak up with a big ego a lot of the time. I shook off all of those thoughts, all at the exact same time as well, as I knew that it was besides the point never the less, and I needed to wake my self up right now, as I knew that my girl friend needed me right now none the less.

Besides, I also knew that it was always like this in the first few days of school, as people liked to talk a lot due to the fact that they wanted to catch up on some things with their friends, and to tell them about the things that they had done over the summer at the exact same time as well, that was a bit hard for you to explain over a simple social media post, or for you to tell some one in a text, as I knew that even with the emoji features that they had on a lot of the phones, it still did not make it easy to show the actual emotion that you had with the situation that you had been in over the summer.

I sighed just a bit to my self, all at the exact same time as well, as I got my focus off of all of those thoughts, all at the same time too, as I then got my focus more on the thoughts as to the fact that I was hungry, and I had hardly ate much of the lunch that my father had made for me, all at the exact same time as well, as I had quite a bit of a guilty look on my face, at this very moment in time, as if I had done some thing bad, or I had done some thing that might be deemed as a little bit evil none the less, which I had not done at all how ever, as I shook off all of those thoughts, and I then began to bite in to the simple PBJ sandwich that my father had made for me.

It was in fact simple, but I knew at the exact same time as well, that my father did not have time to make some thing out of the ordinary, as I knew that he had to keep his focus in on the school, as it was in fact his job to do as such a thing, as I then let out a bit of a soft sigh to my self, all at the exact same time as well, as I then shook my head a bit, all at once, as I got my focus off of all of those thoughts, as I then finished off the rest of my meal, before I then all of the sudden turned my head back over to Kimberly, who she had either been watching me this entire time, with a big smile on her face, or she had just seemed to all of the sudden instead, just start to look at me, and it was just perfect timing none the less.

I got my focus off of all of those thoughts all at the exact same time as well, as I was about to speak to her, when all of the sudden, I heard the bell ring, letting us know that lunch was over, and that it was time to get back to our classes. I heard a bunch of load groans from a bunch of the people that were in the cafeteria, as every one then seemed to get up from the tables, all at the exact same time as well, as me and Kimberly were one of those people that did in fact do as such a thing, as she still had a smile on her face for some reason as well, even though she knew that we were about to sadly be leaving each other now.

I let out a bit of a soft sigh to my self, as I was about to dip my head a bit low to the ground, when I instead just nodded to Kimberly, all at the exact same time as well, to let her know that I was about to speak to her, all at the exact same time as well, as I saw that she had a bit of a sad look on her face still, now all of the sudden, as it seemed like she then began to realize that we were about to be leaving one another, as I heard her let out quite a bit of a rough sigh, through out all of the noise that was going on right now in the cafeteria, as I some how managed to hear that.

In the end, she did in fact nod back to me how ever, to let me know that she had her full attention on me right now, which I was glad for, as I felt like I could not just leave her be, with out at least giving her a simple good bye right at this very moment in time. It was not going to be a simple good bye how ever the case was, as I knew that I had just proposed to her, and this was still a special moment for the both of us right now. I let out a bit of a soft sigh my self this time, as I then all of the sudden began to speak, now that I knew that she was listening as to what it was that I even had to say to her.

"Well... I suppose we should be heading back to class, but my father has some thing planned for us, for us to go and eat out at tonight, and my mother will be there as well... I don't know if I told you that yet or not, so it's just a bit of a warning..." I said to her, as she had a bit of a blank look on her face for some odd reason or another, as to what it was that I had just said to her in the very first place any ways, as if she had not heard a single word that I had just said to her for some odd reason or another, which had me quite a bit confused all at the exact same time as well, as I then tilted my head a bit at her. After a few more seconds how ever though, as it seemed like she was a bit lost in her head, which I really could not blame her for, after what it was that had just happened, I then all of the sudden blink her eyes at me, as she then nodded to me, to let me know that she did not have any other plans for the evening. It made sense, as I was sure that she had known ahead of time that it was my birthday, and I probably had not told her as to what our plans were, but at the exact same time too, I knew that she had her own car, and I also knew that her parents let her make her own decisions, thankfully enough. I let out a bit of a rough sigh to my self, as I got my focus off of all of those thoughts, all at the exact same time as well, as I then continued to speak to her all at the exact same time too, once again. "I love you, and I will see you later honey... Good bye for now..."

I said to her, as I saw that she now did in fact have quite a bit of a sad look on her face, as to the fact that we were going to have to leave each other behind, for at least the time being, which of course I really did not have much control of, as to the fact that we did not have the same class together, and lunch was already over, as I saw that a bunch of the kids were already getting out of the cafeteria, to head back to their classes before it was too late, as it was clear that they did not want to get in trouble. I did not want to get in trouble either, as I knew that this was an important practice, and an important scrimmage planned for today as well, and if I got in any sort of trouble, than it meant that I would not be allowed to go to it.

I sighed just a bit to my self, as I then all of the sudden saw Kimberly nod to me once again, as it did not seem like she had a word to say to me right now, for some odd reason or another, which had me a little bit confused, as I knew that she was quite a talkative lady, such as my good friend, Ray, was. I let out a bit of a rough sigh all to my self, all at the exact same time as well, as I then blinked my eyes a few times none the less. I could tell that she still was quite a bit lost in her head, as I knew that I was fairly certain that she had a lot of thoughts going through it, after what it was that had just happened not all too long ago any ways.

I sighed just a bit to my self, as I then all of the sudden shook all of those thoughts from my head, all at the exact same time too, as I let out quite a bit of a soft sigh, as I then saw Kimberly begin to head back to the class that she had to go to now, which just so happened to be my father's class. I let out a bit of a soft sigh to my self, all at the exact same time as well, as I got my focus in on the fact that I too needed to head back over to my other class at the exact same time too, as I then began to follow her from not too far away. I was tempted to catch up to her, and say a few more things to her, but before I did as such a thing, I saw her catch up to her own friends, as it was clear that she wanted to speak to them for the time being.

I really could not blame her, as I was sure that she was going to ask them for some advice, which I felt like might not be the best idea, but I did my best to try not to get all too worried about it at all how ever, as I then slowed my self down, and I followed the back of the line all the way over to where it was that the science class rooms were at, at this very moment in time any ways. I blinked my eyes a few times, once again, at the exact same time as well, as I then all of the sudden noticed that some one was standing in the middle of all of it, as they were just standing still at this very moment in time, all at the exact same time too.

I tilted my head at them, as I then all of the sudden noticed that the person that was standing in the middle of the hall way, holding up the line a bit, was in fact my good friend Ray, as I rolled my eyes at him, all at the exact same time as well, as it really did not take me all too long as to the fact that he was simply waiting for me. I felt like slowing my self down, or going to the other side of the hall way, to try to ignore him, and to be a little bit toxic at the exact same time too, but none the less, that really was not my kind of personality how ever, as I then nodded to him all at the exact same time as well too, as soon as I had caught up to him never the less.

Ray looked at me for just a few seconds, as I saw that he had a big smile on his face, as well as the fact that it was clear that he was a bit proud of me as well, as if he was my father, and I was his son, which was not the case at all, as I rolled my eyes once again to him, as I then all of the sudden saw him start to nod right back over to me. I blinked my eyes a few times, as it was clear that he was just about to speak to me all at once, as I had my eyes, and my ears open as to what it was that he even had to say in the first place, as, after a little while longer, he did in fact start to speak to me, having no sort of regards as to the fact that there was a bunch of other people in the hall way right now, that might be listening. I let out a bit of a soft sigh to my self, as I felt like I really should not be all too worried about that my self right now, as I then did in fact begin to listen as to what it was that he even had to say to me in the very first place any ways.

"Good job man! I am proud of you! You really put in the work today!" He said to me, as it now all of the sudden seemed like he had switched him self from him being a father, to him all of the sudden being the coach of the football team. Though, if I was not going to lie to my self at the exact same time too, I also knew that the coach of our football team kind of treated me like a father, as to the fact that he seemed to be a bit of some extra nice to me, and he treated the rest of the team like shit. Though I suppose that I could not blame him for it either, as there had been a lot of some talks as to the fact that he was going to get fired at the beginning of the last season.

That was of course, until I had broke the school receiving record for the most receptions and receiving yards in a season last year, as I was amazing at my route running, and I was also fast, as it was quite a bit easy to get my self open, even when I was some times double or triple covered, as that was what made me a top 100 prospect in the nation at the exact same time too. Some people should say that I should be higher than 93rd, but I also knew that I had plenty of time to prove that I should be higher at the exact same time as well, as I had another season, at the very least to prove it to the world.

I felt like I would have broke some more records none the less, if it not been the fact that I did not have a very good QuarterBack throwing the ball to me last year, as a lot of my routes where I had got my yards from had been slant routes where I had broken a few ankles, or I had broken a few tackles to get through the defense. I had to hope that we had a good QuarterBack this next season though, as I then let out quite a bit of a rough, as well as a soft sigh, all at the exact same time as well, as I got my focus off of all of those thoughts, all at the exact same time as well, as I was not all too sure as to how I had got my focus on all of that in the very first place any ways.

I let out a bit of a soft sigh, as I shook off all of those thoughts, all at the exact same time as well, as I then got my focus back on to just what it was that was going on right now, as I saw that we were a bit far behind the rest of the hall way full of students, as I realized that we needed to hurry up and catch up to the reason of them, as I then began to breath in quite a bit heavy to my self all at the exact same time as well, as I then did my best to get my self in a bit of a hurry down the hall way, as I did not want to run either, never the less, as I knew that I would get in trouble for that.

Ray did his best to follow me, as it was clear at the exact same time that he was waiting for some kind of response as to just what it was that he had said to me in the very first place not all too long ago either way. If I was to be completely honest with my self, as I was a little bit too lost in my head still, right now, to even think on what it was that he had even said any ways, as I let out quite a bit of a soft sigh to my self all at the exact same time as well, as I then began to breath in quite a bit, all at the same time as well, as I got my focus on the fact that I needed to keep on going down the hall way, to get over to my class.

As we caught up to the bunches of students, who were now heading in to their class rooms, I then let out quite a bit of a relieved sigh all of the sudden, all at the exact same time too, as I saw a bunch of my class mates not all too far ahead of me right now, which let me know that we had now fully caught up to them, and we were not going to be late again to the bell ring, as I was fairly certain that as much of a good athlete as I was, that the teacher was not going to let it slide again, such as he had done last time. There was no reason for me to be late any ways how ever, and I knew that we still had a few minutes, but it did not mean that we should sit in the hall way and speak.

Me and Ray then began to head in to the class room, with the rest of our class, as we then began to head over to our tables, on the far side of the room. Once the both of us had sat down, I then all of the sudden looked at him with a big smile on my face, all at the exact same time as well, as I was quite a bit happy with the way things seemed to be going right now, as I then all of the sudden nodded to him, to let him know that I was about to speak to him, all at the exact same time too, as I then saw him nod to me, to let me know that he had my attention. I gulped just a bit to my self, for some odd reason or another, as I then all of the sudden began to speak to him, now that I knew that he was listening as to just what it was that I even had to say in the very first place any ways.

"Yeah man... Life is great..."