Jay never called his goals "dreams". To him his goals were prophecies. Benchmarks he met no matter what. The first to practice. Before coaches, staff, even the janitor. The last to leave. Helping staff with training plans and janitors finish up. Jay set goals and didn't just hit them, but overtook them.
A championship to him wasn't just the title or the win, but a display of the effort he took to always push himself further. That's why standing there, audience screaming his name, spotlights illuminating the 10 colorful computers set up on a grand stage, it was more than just the atmosphere, but the meaning.
His team stood beside him, they had argued and fought, but like any good captain he led them to victory. A captain isn't anything without his team and the people flanking his right and left were some of the best damn teammates he could ask for.
Ready to take stage for the world, nerves loomed over his heart as his heartbeat deafened the booming of the audience in the stands. His finger nervously slid across the ring box in his pocket.
Lily, his girlfriend of 3 years and support for all the hard nights, the goals missed and dreams that wavered, would become his future today. As he calmed his nerves rubbing the ring box his phone vibrated. A desolate island in the sea of cheers and chants.
'Ignore it, Focus' His mind wandered, but his will was strong. That was until another buzz came and another. Doubt crept in.
'What if it's mom?' 'What if someone got hurt?' 'Is lily ok?' 'Just a glance.'.
He pulled his phone from his pocket, trepidation flowing into his heart and coursing through his arteries as the screen unlocked. A message from Lilly containing an image. His cheeks grew hot, a tease to motivate him probably. The relief and embarrassment turned his complexion warm as he opened the photos expecting a slutty pose, a cosplay, maybe something riskier.
The heat in his cheeks sunk to his chest as his heart pumped, rushing blood through his veins as his hand squeezed trying to destroy the phone with his grip. A video of his love, his life, the woman in the crowd he would propose to, not only with his best friend, but mocking him. His dreams, his drive, his will, all crushed as his heart raged. Her nude figure being ravished by Josh as he held her phone, pulling her hair. Written on her back in sharpy. "Jay the Hard Worker." Video after video, different positions her pale skin covered in sweat and Josh's vile seed.
2,3,4,5 videos. The dates all different. Times Josh said he couldn't come to practice. Lies upon lies welled up as tears of rage bled from his eyes.
Reason slowly breaking, his eyes saw the genesis to this revelation. A text. "You're a daddy!" The phone snapped under the pressure making the rest of his team jolt.
Josh responded first, "Hey man are you ok? You look like you saw a gh..."
His eyes saw the phone, the evidence. Even behind the cracked screen the truth was still real and ugly.
Jay's hand, shredded with shards of glass, clenched the phone. "Look man it's not what you...."
WHAM!!
Jays hand connected with Josh's chin, knocking him to the floor. Before the other three could reach him Jay straddled Josh and landed blow after blow.
From the outside crowd heard screams behind the curtains and grew concerned, most of all, Lily. Checking her phone she realized what she had sent, what he saw, what she did. Panic energized her and before she knew it she blew past security and ran into the side of the stadium where Jay's team was supposed to be waiting to greet the world.
Brutality greeted her as Jay sat over Josh hitting him again and again, breaking bone and skin.
"JAY PLEASE STOP!!" She cried
Rage deafened him as he continued to beat Josh as if trying to put his head through the floor each fist bearing the weight of betrayal. His other teammates moved to pull him off, trying to drag him away.
It wasn't till he was a foot away that he heard Lily's cries. His head turned as he took her in. Her blonde hair clung to the tears on her face and anguish creased her features. Pain pushed his heart into overdrive as bile rose in his throat and he puked on the cold concrete. Seeing her only made him remember her words, her actions, reigniting the rage he felt.
He twisted and turned breaking free of his teammates grip as Lily tried to reach him. One final turn and he was free lunging at Josh's battered body. His hand clawed around this throat as Josh tried to pry Jay's hands off of him.
"I'm Sorry." Josh muttered, oxygen drained from his brain as Jay increased the pressure. As Josh started to take his last breathe police burst in the door and seeing Jay, immediately fired hitting him square in the chest with a bullet. Time froze. Then shattered.