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[sub][color=slategray]Location: Meadow University Football Field → Nectar's[/color][/sub][/center]
[center][color=3F6E6D]𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁[/color][/center]
Most people looked forward to Fridays- after all, it was the end of the week and beginning of the weekend. But, Fridays were notorious for being Meadow University Football’s most rigorous practice day, which meant the players dreaded going to sleep every Thursday night. Their Fridays were always the same year after year- between the hours of 6AM and 9AM, the players strength trained and conditioned as a team, and from 5PM to 8PM they practiced on the field with their coaches and trainers. In between all of this, they were expected to maintain their specific athletic diet and complete all of their coursework. Total, it’s about 6 full hours of working out, more or less, whether it’s in the gym or on the turf. 

Coach Murphy planned this strategically, knowing that the weekend was spent slacking off at parties and eating cheat meal after cheat meal. Legally, according to the NCAA, Division I teams can’t practice for more than 20 hours a week, and you can bet that Coach milked each minute he could get, tallying each spare moment throughout the week that the team didn’t use and adding them to Friday’s practice. He was a bit of a hardass, that was for sure.

On this Friday in particular, the players itched for a reprieve, Nolan included. Not only did he have football things to worry about, he also had one of his first practice MCAT exams the day prior and did not perform as expected. Plus, with everything going on as a result of the Great Bash, there was never a better time to let loose and enjoy a break, with alcohol most definitely being involved. But, they still had to get through a grueling practice before the fun could commence. 

The scoreboard read 8:05PM and the team should have been off the field five minutes ago, but Coach Murphy pleaded they still had 10 more minutes of allotted time. In true fashion, he was a “I dismiss you, not the bell” kind of guy. Nolan huffed as they completed a few more plays, the exhaustion of the week piling up and slowly deteriorating his muscles and drive. 

[color=347195]“Nolan, pick up the pace!”[/color] He could hear Coach Murphy- his father- yell out to him from the side lines. [color=347195]“Find an opening and be available for your quarterback!”[/color] As a wide receiver, it was his job to get down the field, dodge defense, and be open to passes, so he needed to be quick and strategic. But also, as the son of the coach, he was always needing to surpass his father's expectations. There was no preferential treatment here, in fact, it was the complete opposite of that: Coach ragged on Nolan more than any other player. Not only did Nolan need to be a successful player, he also had to be a successful son.

As they ran the play, the dark haired boy attempted to make a breakaway and allow himself to be open to receive the ball. But he wasn’t fast enough, causing the quarterback to choose another teammate who was in a better position down the field, and Nolan to get tackled as the ball was caught by someone else. The force of being taken to the turf knocked the wind out of him, and he struggled to find his legs and stand up after the play had ended.

[color=347195]“Murphy, that won’t be enough on game day! Get your act together!”[/color] He could hear his father shout, not even caring that his son had been sacked and was not moving from his position on the ground. 

One of his teammates, Drew, came to his aid, offering a hand and hoisting him up. [color=C6C5C9]“You good, dude?”[/color] He asked, patting the boy on the back for reassurance. 

Nolan coughed instinctively as he found himself upright once again, letting his hands find his knees and taking a few deep breaths to regain his composure. [color=3F6E6D]“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just so fucking done with this week.”[/color] He shook his head, pulling off his helmet and allowing the breeze to comb through his hair. 

Drew laughed. [color=C6C5C9]“I feel you on that one. Does this mean we’re going out tonight?”[/color]

Nolan smirked, [color=3F6E6D]“I don’t think that’s even a question at this point.”[/color] the boy replied, already knowing that he’d be drinking tonight. As he glanced back at the sidelines, Nolan caught a glimpse of his father, simply staring at him with a look of pure disapproval on his face. The smirk on his lips slowly melted away and guilt panged in his chest. He tore his gaze away and looked back at Drew. 

[color=3F6E6D]“Oh, I’m [i]definitely[/i] drinking tonight.”[/color]

[center][color=3F6E6D]𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁[/color][/center]
Less than 2 hours after stepping off the field, Nolan and a few of his teammates walked through the door of Nectar’s, one of their favorite bars in town. They made their way to the back corner and set up shop at a high top table, allowing them to have the best view of the entire place and everyone in it. Without even sitting down, Nolan motioned to the bar, ready to get their night underway. [color=3F6E6D]“First round’s on me boys, I’ll get us two pitchers.”[/color]

Walking over and pressing his palms on the bar, he leaned towards the bartender and ordered the brews for him and his friends. After he had seen him start to fill the pitchers up, Nolan rotated around and let his back rest against the edge of the bar, looking around to see if anyone he knew was present. It didn't take long to notice that directly next to him was none other than Bastíen Bonfamille, who looked rather pleased with himself for some reason. Deciding to comment on his cheerful disposition, Nolan turned only his head in order to make eye contact with the boy. [color=3F6E6D]“You’re certainly in a good mood this evening, Bonfamille.”[/color]