Ty preferred the earlier starts. Unfortunately their game against the Warriors would be at night. Perhaps because the Warriors were flying in that day. Whatever the reason, they were heading back to Vegas. It's not like the Raiders were using their stadium during late January anyway.
At least the long trip would make the wait feel shorter. Sitting around at home on game day, waiting until it was time to go, was the worst.
His energy and anticipation built without hope for release. It was different on the bus. Sure, the trip didn't mean the game was starting, anticipation was still building during the drive, but he was on his way, surrounded by his brothers. The burden and expectation was shared. At home, he was just a lone wolf, trapped and cut off from the pack. If it took too long he he'd have to gnaw his leg free from the trap.
He left early; Meg met him at the door. 'Get anyone you can to watch the game. I'll do something sooner this time. Even if he falls asleep after the first drive he'll see.'
She hugged him. 'Good luck, big brother. I know you'll do amazing.'
He hugged her back. 'Stop shaking. I won't let it be that close again.'
She laughed, letting him go. 'Of course.'
He walked out, shrugging his bag onto his shoulder before mounting his bike. A game on a Saturday night? As if anyone in the family would be free to watch.
He arrived at the carpark before anyone else. The nearby practice field called to him, and though he yearned for it, he stayed where he was. He'd save his energy for the game. All of it.
Coach Long was next to arrive, Bella and Coach Hoang with him. The latter rolled over to Ty's side and said: 'Excited or anxious, Samuels?'
'Is there a difference after you look deep enough?'
'Don't get all philosophical on me now.'
'I'm in prime condition. There's nothing you need to worry about.'
'Were you in prime condition last week?'
Ty stared into his eyes. Ty's were cold, but they saw Coach Hoang. They weren't yet looking through him as if he wasn't there. 'I was, and I get better every game. So as long as you put me against their best Receiver, we'll win.'
Coach Hoang chuckled, turning away from the unspoken staring contest. 'You'll forgive me when JJ makes a game-saving interception during this tournament, just wait.'
'We'll see.'
Coach Hoang moved away as the bus pulled up. Over the coming minutes more of the players and staff arrived, and soon all their bags were stuffed into the undercarriage. Benny joined them too. Obviously without his gear. Still, his arrival caused a bit of a stir. It was a good reminder of who and what they were fighting for that day.
Once everyone was on board and seated, they started the now familiar drive back to Vegas and Allegiant Stadium.
Coach Long reminded everyone they were staying overnight in Vegas, having been put up in a hotel due to how late the game would end. He hoped they all brought a change of clothes.
Ty hadn't thought much about the stadium during the first game. It was close enough to middle ground between them and the Eagles, but against the Warriors, the Dons were much closer to home. The gala had been in Vegas too. Whoever had bankrolled the tournament—that Virgin guy or whatever—must be based out of the city. It made sense to display the number one star so prominently. "Put me on prime time in a stadium fitting for my level of skill. Bright lights, cameras, thousands of spectators. It doesn't matter if they're booing or cheering, they're only watching for me."
Bella sat next to Ty at the front, fidgeting nervously, scratching the red and gold paint off her fingernails.
'We're going to win,' Ty said.
She froze. 'I know that! … It'd just be easier if we had Benny.'
'No one's going to let his last game be cut short by an injury. We can't lose like that.'
She nodded and took a deep breath. Her hands were still for a moment. Not even ten minutes later they were back to scratching. Ty didn't have much room to talk. His leg kept shaking.
The trip passed. It was long, made longer by the nerves. The sights of the city weren't as awe-inducing anymore, even lit up as it was after sunset. Ty wasn't there for the flashing lights and dazzling sights. He was there to be flashier and more dazzling than anything in the skyline.
When the bus pulled into its parking bay, more reporters than last time waited, held back more so by their modicum of decency rather than the flimsy safety barriers sectioning off a walkway for the Dons. Even that was familiar after the prior week despite the larger crowd.
Voices and cameras chirped and clicked. Lights flashed as the team stepped off the bus. The noise and excitement welcoming them increased when Ty came into the open. They called his name and snapped for his attention. He kept his head down, not looking one way or the other, but he couldn't help the smile creeping across his face.
Once they were in the tunnel, with the greats of Raiders history looking down at them, Coach Hoang returned to Ty's side. 'Keep your head in the game, Samuels. Those vultures will capture your downfall even more eagerly than they'll document your rise.'
Ty grinned at him. 'Don't worry, Coach. I forget even YOUR existence when I'm out on the field.'
'I should run over your foot for that.'
Ty's grin only widened.
The coaches kept quiet once they were in the locker room. Some of the players had music on, though nobody blasted anything from their speakers, it was all kept quiet and private as everyone got themselves ready, mentally as well as physically.
Coach Long kept the first set of messages simple—ignore the bright lights. It's nothing different than last week. Don't get in your own way. Just play your own game, and we'll be good.
Stepping out onto the field for the first time that day, the lights didn't seem as bright as their first visit to Allegiant Stadium. The cameras were all still there, as plentiful as last week. The boos that heralded their arrival were lessened, but more cheers made up the difference. But the volume didn't reach the peaks of last week. Looking in the stands, there were less people filing into the stadium.
Ty shrugged. Even if most of the spectators had been locals or those in the area, SOME fans would've made the trip from Arizona, same for Cali, not so much for Hawaii. Seeing as the Eagles game had been during the afternoon, people could've driven back home afterwards before it got TOO late, not so much for a night game. "They'll be watching. Even on a Saturday night, watching me play is the best entertainment people can buy."
The real sight to see was on the field with them. The Warriors had arrived too. Less fanfare—good and bad—greeted them than the Dons, though cheering was still the majority reaction; Ty and the Dons were the villains for another week.
The Warriors were a visually imposing team, even if their colours weren't all that intimidating. Their uniforms were a bright blue colour with gold trimming, opposite what the Dons had with red and gold. The Warriors filled them well, however. Each boy looked bigger in person than they had on film, even from across the field. Physically, they were the largest team the Dons had faced. But even if they were the heaviest and the tallest, Ty still wasn't impressed after meeting them in person.
The rest of the Dons were still a little starstruck by the cameras and huge stadium. Their nerves were easier to wrangle, but it was evident they struggled with them in the first place. Watching the Warriors, they didn't seem to face such difficulties.
"They're probably so happy they made it this far they can't feel anxious. They don't have the drive to beat us. They're satisfied with their lot." Ty growled. By the time the Dons returned to their locker room, a fire was smouldering within him.
'It's the same as last week,' Coach Long said, addressing the boys. 'It's just a field, no matter what surrounds it, it's just like every day at practice. Don't focus on the outside, just focus on what's in front of you, sharing the same field as you. We proved we belong last week, tonight we prove that wasn't a fluke. Bring it in.'
Benny was right beside him, the first hand to join Coach Long's. Soon they all had their hands piled atop one another's.
'Three, two, one—'
'Family!'
They ran out through the tunnel and stampeded onto the field, JJ and Jay leading the charge. That strange mixture of boos and cheers, like a high-pitched wail, met them as they emerged.
During their lap of the field, Ty scanned the crowd. It was definitely smaller than last time, which made his task easier. Jogging down the sideline that would be theirs for the game, he saw them—Kentavious Rice Sr. and Jr. sitting in the stands a few rows back. Ty waved, beaming at Junior, who smiled and waved back.
Such arrogance. He sat right where Ty would see him, wanting to be noticed, wanting Ty to know he was watching, studying. "Study all you can. You still won't be ready for me."
When the Warriors ran onto the field, Ty turned his attention away from Junior. The time for distractions had ended. It wasn't much longer after that when the captains were called together for the coin toss.
Before the Dons' representatives could march out to meet the Warriors', Coach Hoang spoke up. 'Send Samuels out.' No-one refuted his suggestion, but he drew a few odd looks and felt the urge to explain himself anyone. 'We need to take this seriously, and they need to see what Dons football means.'
Coach Long mulled it over for a second longer before assenting. 'Tyrese, you, Julian, and Jay get out there. You know the drill, and don't antagonise them. Dons fight with respect.'
Jay sighed but stood and led the way out. He'd hoped that if someone else was going, he'd get the chance to stay back. Ty followed, frowning. He wouldn't start shit, but he'd be more than happy to match any of the opposition's energy if they did.
Three Warriors awaited them along with the officials. The Warriors offered fistbumps to the Dons which Jay and JJ returned politely, exchanging well wishes with their opponents. Ty stared at the three fists before him and put his hands behind his back. The warriors chuckled, hiding their disappointment well.
Ty looked them over. The largest of the captains was also the largest of the team. He was almost a match for JJ, but whilst they didn't have exceptional size in one player, their average size would've dwarfed the Dons'. The shortest Warrior looked like he still reached six feet.
'It's your call, Warriors—heads or tails?' the head official asked.
'Heads,' the tallest answered. His voice was too cheery and soft for someone that size.
The coin flipped through the air, and landed tails-side up. JJ deferred the opening kick, and the teams parted ways, again exchanging fist bumps between all except Ty.
'It won't kill you to be respectful,' JJ said to Ty as they made their way back to the Dons' bench with the good news.
'They can earn my respect in the game.'
'They'd probably be nicer to you during the game if you—'
'I don't need them to be nice.'
JJ sighed, shaking his head. 'Let's just have a good game, hermanos. We'll keep them at zero so you take an early lead, okay, Jay?'
'Mm … sure.'
Ty sat on the edge of the bench, smiling. Finally the defence was up first. He'd stamp his mark on the game within the first drive, and set the tone for the rest of the game. That was the key to victory. "A quick pick-six to start and the game will be over as soon as it begins."
The opening kickoff was returned to the Warriors' 21-yard line, then their offence was marching onto the field for the opening drive. The crowd started chanting loudly, trying to will the Warriors forward, and those nearest the Dons booed as Ty strode alongside JJ, leading their defence out.
Ty took his position opposite the Warriors' #80. He was matched up with a WR again, though still at a size disadvantage. The lengthy, scraggly Warrior was the thinnest on the team, though still had a good twenty pounds on Ty, and half a foot to boot. His face was curdled into an annoying smug look of confusion, like he was questioning why such a scrawny freshy would dare step to him. He was like a puppy with his big dumb eyes and short forehead.
Ty glared up at him. It was a very punchable face. "Didn't this idiot get the memo? Size doesn't mean shit to me."
Obviously the Warriors were unfamiliar with Ty's game. They dropped back to pass on the first play. Ty kept number eighty at arm's length, having the reach advantage. He backed off as eighty skirted to the outside and ran down the sideline. Testing Ty with a deep shot on the first play was an … interesting … strategy.
Ty backpedalled smoothly, keeping up with Eighty. He kept both the Receiver and QB in his line of sight, and Eighty didn't diverge from his straightforward line. Though Ty was sitting on the route, the QB trusted his Receiver, and trusted the size difference, lobbing the ball over nice and high. It was a good pass—one they used frequently; one they'd achieved a lot of success with. Eighty was big for a Receiver. Against a lesser CB that'd give him the advantage. Against Ty that advantage evaporated.
Eighty turned, hands raised, ready to catch the back-shoulder toss. It was right where it should've been. Yet, the window wasn't tight, it was false. A solid wall hid behind those curtains, not glass. Ty rose up, eclipsing the Warrior, and reeled the ball in, picking off the Warriors on the first play. His feet thudded inbounds, but Eighty recovered quickly. He lunged forward, wrapping Ty up, trying to pry the ball from his hands. Ty held on with a deathgrip and was flung to the ground, ball clutched tight against his chest.
The crowd's enthusiasm was sucked away, leaving behind a vacuum of silence. Ty lay on the ground, soaking it in. It was his game, as much as the ball he held tight within his grip was—and always had been—his.