The hotel dining room buzzed with energy as the Flight Boys grabbed their final breakfast in Chicago. The reality of being tournament winners was still sinking in, and the attention was unlike anything they'd experienced.
"Yo, check this shit out," Deshawn said, scrolling through his phone while balancing a plate of pancakes. "TMZ Sports just posted about us. TMZ! What the fuck!"
"TMZ?" Marcus nearly choked on his orange juice. "We're really famous now."
"They called T the 'Next Big Thing in High School Football,'" Deshawn continued reading. "Says his performance was 'video game numbers in real life.'"
"Video game numbers," Tristain repeated, shaking his head. "This is all so fucking surreal."
"Get used to it, bro," Elijah said, pointing toward the hotel lobby. "Look at all those people waiting out there."
Through the dining room windows, they could see a small crowd had gathered near the buses - mostly other players' families, some tournament staff, and a few people with cameras.
"They're all there for pictures with us," Jaylen said with disbelief. "Specifically you, T."
"Me?"
"Dude, you're the story of the tournament," Carlos explained. "From third string to tournament MVP in three days? That's some movie shit right there."
Tristain's phone buzzed with another notification. His DMs were completely flooded - college coaches, reporters, and apparently, brands.
"Bro, look at this," he said, showing Marcus his phone. "Nike just DM'd me."
"Nike?!" the whole table leaned in.
"They want to send me free gear. All I gotta do is wear it and post pictures."
"Free Nike gear?" Terrell's eyes went wide. "That's like thousands of dollars worth of shit."
"Adidas hit me up too," Marcus added, checking his own phone. "And Under Armour. They're all trying to get us to wear their stuff."
"We're really about to be sponsored athletes," Deshawn said, grinning. "This is insane."
"Hold up, hold up," Tristain said, his phone ringing. "It's Coach Cignetti."
The table went quiet as Tristain answered.
"Coach Cignetti! Good morning, sir."
"Tristain! Congratulations, son! I watched that entire final game last night. Absolutely incredible performance."
"Thank you, Coach. Appreciate you watching."
"Listen, I know you're probably getting ready to head home, but I wanted to have a more personal conversation with you. Not just about football, but about you as a person."
Tristain stepped away from the table slightly. "Of course, Coach."
"Tell me about your family, son. What's your support system like?"
"Well, I'm staying with a host family here in Indiana - the Sayanas. They've been incredible. My mom and Dad's back in Texas, working hard to support me and my sister. It's just me and her, really."
"That's a strong foundation. What are your goals beyond football? What do you want to study?"
"Honestly, Coach, I've been so focused on just getting a shot at football that I haven't thought much about academics. But I'm interested in business, maybe sports management."
"That's perfect. We have an excellent business school at Indiana. What do you like to do outside of football?"
"I play some video games, hang out with my teammates. I like cars too - dream of having a nice one someday."
Coach Cignetti chuckled. "Well, if you keep playing like you did yesterday, that dream might come true sooner than you think. What don't you like? Any pet peeves?"
"I hate fake people, Coach. People who aren't genuine. And I can't stand when people don't give their best effort."
"I can respect that. Those are good values to have. Listen, Tristain, I want you to know that our offer stands firm. We believe in you not just as a player, but as a young man. When can we get you down to Bloomington for that visit?"
"Whenever you want, Coach. I'm definitely interested."
"Perfect. I'll have my assistant reach out this week to set something up. Enjoy your celebration today, son. You've earned it."
"Thank you, Coach. This means everything."
After hanging up, Tristain rejoined the table where his teammates were pretending they hadn't been listening to every word.
"So..." Marcus grinned. "Indiana still wants you?"
"Big time," Tristain said. "Coach Cignetti's setting up an official visit."
"That's dope as fuck," Deshawn said. "But you better not forget about us when you're a big-time college player."
"Shut up, bitch," Tristain laughed. "We all gonna be playing college ball after this tournament."
---
As the team made their way to the buses, the small crowd immediately swarmed toward Tristain. Parents with their phones out, younger players asking for autographs, and even some of the hotel staff wanted pictures.
"Excuse me, Tristain?" A middle-aged woman approached with her teenage son. "My son plays quarterback too. Could he get a picture with you?"
"Of course," Tristain said, putting his arm around the kid. "What's your name, man?"
"Jake," the kid said, starstruck. "I watched your whole tournament. You're incredible."
"Keep working, Jake. Three days ago nobody knew who I was either."
The pictures continued for about twenty minutes. Other tournament players, their families, random fans who'd heard about the Flight Boys' run. Tristain took every single one with a smile.
"Yo, T!" Marcus called from the bus. "You're gonna miss the fucking bus taking pictures!"
"Coming!" Tristain called back, taking one last selfie with a group of young players.
As he finally boarded the bus, the entire team started clapping and cheering.
"Ladies and gentlemen, your tournament MVP!" Deshawn announced dramatically.
"Shut the fuck up," Tristain laughed, but he was grinning ear to ear.
---
The bus ride back to Indiana was a mix of celebration, exhaustion, and anticipation. Everyone was scrolling through social media, showing each other highlights and comments.
"Bro, look at this TikTok," Jaylen said, showing everyone his phone. "It's just a compilation of all your touchdown passes set to music. 2.5 million views."
"Two and a half million?" Tristain shook his head. "That's more people than live in most cities."
"You're actually famous now," Elijah said. "Like, for real famous."
"We all are," Marcus corrected. "Flight Boys are on the map."
"Yo, check this shit out," Deshawn said, practically jumping out of his seat. "Barstool Sports just posted a video called 'High School QB Goes Nuclear.' It's got T throwing all six touchdowns set to Dragon Ball Z music!"
"Dragon Ball Z?" Terrell cracked up. "They really said you went Super Saiyan?"
"That's some anime protagonist shit right there," Carlos added. "Next thing you know, they gonna be making T into a cartoon character."
"I'd watch that anime," Jaylen said seriously. "Tristain and the Flight Boys saving the world through football."
"Y'all are so fucking stupid," Tristain laughed, but he was scrolling through the comments. "But yo, some of these comments are wild. Listen to this: 'This man really said fuck physics and threw that ball through dimensions.'"
"Through dimensions!" Marcus was dying laughing. "That's the most extra shit I've ever heard!"
"Here's another one," Elijah said, reading from his phone. "'I don't know what's more perfect - his throws or his face. I would let this man ruin my life.'"
"BRO!" Deshawn yelled. "They're thirsting hard as fuck! T, you got grown women ready to risk it all!"
"That's weird as hell," Tristain said, but he was grinning. "I'm seventeen, these people are crazy."
"Crazy in love with your arm talent," Marcus said. "Check this out though - someone made a fake ESPN draft board with you as the #1 pick in 2028."
"2028? That's four years from now!"
"Four years to become a millionaire," Jaylen pointed out. "That's not too shabby."
Suddenly, Carlos stood up and started doing his impression of the ESPN announcers from yesterday.
"With the first pick in the 2028 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns select... Tristain Dyce, quarterback, from wherever the hell he goes to college!"
"Cleveland?" Tristain made a face. "Bro, don't manifest that shit. I want to go somewhere that actually wins games."
"Hey, Cleveland's not that bad," Terrell said.
"Name one good thing about Cleveland," Marcus challenged.
"Uh..." Terrell thought for a moment. "They got... um... that one restaurant?"
"Exactly," Deshawn said. "T deserves better than Cleveland. He needs to go to like Miami or LA or somewhere with bad bitches and good weather."
"Bad bitches?" Elijah raised an eyebrow. "You know T's already got his bad bitch back home."
"Facts," Marcus agreed. "Ayana's gonna be wife material by the time T makes it to the NFL."
"Wife material?" Tristain's eyes went wide. "Bro, we're seventeen!"
"So? You telling me you don't think about it?"
"I mean..." Tristain paused, actually thinking about it. "Maybe sometimes."
"SOMETIMES?!" the entire bus erupted.
"Boy, you're sprung as hell," Jaylen said. "Been walking around with heart eyes since day one."
"Heart eyes?" Tristain defended himself. "I do not have heart eyes."
"You absolutely do," Carlos said. "Every time her name comes up, you get this stupid smile on your face."
"What stupid smile?"
"Like this," Deshawn said, making an exaggerated lovesick face. "All dreamy and shit."
"I don't look like that!"
"You literally look like that right now," Marcus pointed out. "Just thinking about her got you smiling like an idiot."
Meanwhile, Jaylen had been going through his own notifications. "Yo, my followers jumped from 800 to 15K overnight. What the fuck am I supposed to do with 15,000 followers?"
"Post more shit," Terrell suggested. "Start making content."
"Content? Like what?"
"I don't know, workout videos, day-in-the-life stuff, behind-the-scenes Flight Boys content."
"Behind the scenes of what? Us being stupid teenagers?"
"Exactly," Carlos said. "People eat that shit up. Show them us playing video games, eating food, roasting each other."
"Speaking of roasting," Deshawn said with a mischievous grin, "y'all want to hear something funny? I went through Elijah's phone while he was sleeping last night."
"You did WHAT?!" Elijah lunged toward Deshawn.
"Calm down, calm down! I didn't post nothing! But bro, your search history is WILD."
"Don't you fucking dare," Elijah said, his face turning red.
"'How to get bigger biceps fast,'" Deshawn read dramatically. "'Best protein powder for skinny guys.' 'Why am I still growing at 16?' And my personal favorite - 'How to slide into DMs without being weird.'"
The entire bus erupted in laughter while Elijah tried to tackle Deshawn.
"You violated the bro code!" Elijah yelled. "That's private information!"
"'How to slide into DMs without being weird' is CRAZY work," Marcus said, wiping tears from his eyes.
"Who were you trying to slide into DMs with?" Terrell asked.
"None of your fucking business!"
"It's that girl from Warren Central, isn't it?" Jaylen guessed. "The one with the curly hair who was watching our game?"
"Maybe," Elijah said quietly.
"MAYBE?!" everyone yelled.
"Okay, yes! She followed me on Instagram after the game and I didn't know what to say!"
"Just say hey," Carlos suggested.
"Just say hey? That's it?"
"Works every time," Deshawn said confidently. "Trust me, I'm an expert."
"Expert?" Marcus laughed. "Bro, you've never had a girlfriend in your life."
"That's because I'm focused on football! But I know the theory!"
"The theory," Tristain repeated. "This man said the theory."
"There is a science to it," Deshawn insisted. "You gotta be confident but not cocky, funny but not try-hard, interested but not desperate."
"You sound like you've been reading pickup artist blogs," Jaylen said.
"Maybe I have! Education is important!"
Coach Taylor stood up at the front of the bus, shaking his head at their conversation.
"Alright, gentlemen. I know you're all excited, and you should be. But I want to remind you - this is just the beginning. We've got Tampa in three weeks, then LA, then Texas. Each tournament is going to be harder than the last."
"We ready for all that shit," Deshawn said confidently. "After what we just did? We can beat anybody."
"That's the attitude," Taylor nodded. "But stay humble, stay hungry. The moment you think you've made it is the moment you stop improving."
"Yes sir," the team responded.
"Now, I couldn't help but overhear some of your conversation back here," Taylor continued with a slight smile. "And I just want to say - Deshawn, sliding into DMs is not a science. Just be yourself."
"Even Coach is roasting me now!" Deshawn said dramatically. "This is bullying!"
"Also," Taylor added, "Elijah, just say hey to the girl. Worst thing that happens is she doesn't respond."
"See?" Carlos said. "Even Coach agrees with me."
"Fine, I'll text her when we get back," Elijah said. "But if this goes bad, I'm blaming all of y'all."
"It won't go bad," Marcus said. "You're a tournament winner now. That's automatic game."
"Automatic game?" Tristain laughed. "Did you just say automatic game?"
"It's a thing! Tournament winners got natural charisma!"
"By that logic, we all got automatic game now," Terrell pointed out.
"Exactly! We're all about to be drowning in attention!"
"Some of us already are," Jaylen said, looking at Tristain. "T's DMs probably crashed Instagram."
"They're pretty wild," Tristain admitted. "I got marriage proposals from girls I've never met."
"Marriage proposals?!" Carlos's jaw dropped. "Bro, show us!"
"Hell no, that's weird as fuck. But there's like thousands of them."
"Save some for the rest of us," Deshawn said dramatically. "Leave some rizz for the rest of the team."
"Y'all are idiots," Tristain said, but he was laughing. "I only got eyes for one girl anyway."
"AWWWWW," the entire bus said in unison.
"He's so in love it's disgusting," Marcus said, pretending to gag.
"Y'all are just jealous," Tristain shot back.
"Jealous? Of what? Having one girl when you could have thousands?" Deshawn asked.
"Quality over quantity, my guy," Tristain said. "Besides, Ayana's better than all those Instagram girls combined."
"He's got a point," Elijah admitted. "Ayana's actually cool. Most of these girls in our DMs probably just want to say they dated a football player."
"Facts," Jaylen agreed. "Give me a real connection over fake love any day."
"Look at y'all getting all philosophical," Carlos said. "Tournament winners and relationship experts."
"We contain multitudes," Marcus said dramatically, making everyone laugh.
"This bus ride is too long," Terrell complained. "I'm bored as hell."
"Want to play 20 questions?" Deshawn suggested.
"What are we, twelve?" Elijah said.
"Fine, let's play Never Have I Ever then."
"On a bus? With Coach right there?" Jaylen pointed toward the front.
"Coach can't hear us if we whisper," Deshawn said conspiratorially.
"I can absolutely hear you," Coach Taylor called from the front without turning around.
"Damn, he got good hearing," Carlos whispered.
"I heard that too."
"This is some superhero hearing shit," Deshawn muttered.
"Heard that as well."
"Okay, we're just gonna sit here quietly then," Marcus said loudly.
The bus was quiet for exactly thirty seconds before Jaylen started snickering.
"What's funny?" Tristain asked.
"I'm just thinking about how we went from nobody knowing who we were to being on TMZ in three days. That's the fastest come-up in history."
"Fastest come-up in history," Elijah repeated. "We should make that our motto."
"Or 'From Third String to First Place,'" Carlos suggested.
"'Zero to Hero,'" Deshawn added.
"'Flight Boys: We Stay Fly,'" Terrell said.
"That's the worst one yet," Marcus said.
"Y'all are all terrible at slogans," Tristain said. "How about just 'Flight Boys: Tournament Winners'?"
"Simple and to the point," Jaylen approved. "I like it."
"Speaking of tournament winners," Elijah said, "what y'all gonna do with your trophies?"
"Put it on my dresser so I can look at it every morning," Deshawn said immediately.
"I'm giving mine to my mom," Marcus said. "She deserves it for putting up with me all these years."
"That's actually really sweet," Carlos said.
"What about you, T?" Terrell asked. "What you doing with yours?"
Tristain thought for a moment. "Probably put it somewhere Ayana can see it. Let her know she's dating a winner."
"OH MY GOD," the entire bus groaned.
"He really said that with his whole chest," Jaylen said, shaking his head.
"Y'all are haters," Tristain laughed. "Just wait until y'all get girlfriends."
"Bold of you to assume we want girlfriends," Deshawn said. "I'm focused on my craft."
"Your craft of sliding into DMs?" Elijah shot back.
"It's a craft! It requires skill and finesse!"
"And reading pickup artist blogs apparently," Marcus added.
"Knowledge is power!"
The bus settled into a comfortable buzz as they continued their journey home. Some guys were napping, others were still on their phones, and a few were continuing their ridiculous conversations.
Tristain found himself staring out the window, thinking about everything that had changed in just three days. From third string to tournament MVP. From unknown to famous. From uncertain future to multiple college offers.
His phone buzzed with a text from Ayana.
Ayana: "How far out are you? I'm getting impatient 😍"
Tristain: "About an hour now. Why, you miss me? 😏"
Ayana: "Maybe... I got something special planned for my tournament winner"
Tristain: "Oh yeah? What kind of special?"
Ayana: "The kind that involves you, me, and celebrating properly 😘"
Tristain: "You're killing me with this teasing"
Ayana: "Good. I want you excited to see me"
Tristain: "Trust me, I am. Can't wait to hold you"
Ayana: "Just hurry up and get home so I can show you how proud I am"
"Yo T," Marcus said, noticing his smile. "You texting your girl?"
"Maybe," Tristain said, not looking up from his phone.
"Look at that smile," Deshawn said. "Bro is down BAD."
"Leave him alone," Jaylen said. "Let the man be happy."
"I am happy," Tristain said, finally looking up. "Happier than I've ever been in my life."
"Good," Marcus said seriously. "You deserve it, man. We all do."
"Facts," the team agreed.
Tristain put his phone down and looked around at his teammates - his brothers. Tournament winners, future college players, and the best friends he'd ever had.
Life was pretty fucking good.
----
As the bus pulled into the North Bridgeton High School parking lot, Tristain could see Ayana waiting by the fence. She was wearing a tight Flight Boys t-shirt that she'd somehow gotten made, along with jeans that hugged her curves perfectly.
The moment he stepped off the bus, she ran toward him and jumped into his arms. He caught her easily, spinning her around as she wrapped her legs around his waist.
"My tournament winner," she said, kissing him softly. "I'm so fucking proud of you."
"Damn, I missed you," he said, holding her tight. "You look incredible."
"I look good for you," she said with a smile. "Now put me down before your teammates start taking pictures."
"Too late!" Marcus yelled, already recording on his phone. "This is going straight to the group chat!"
"Y'all are so fucking nosy," Tristain laughed, but he didn't let go of Ayana.
"We're going on a date," Ayana announced to the team. "Y'all can have him back tomorrow."
"A date?" Deshawn grinned. "Y'all finally official now?"
"Mind your business," Ayana shot back, but she was smiling.
"We'll see y'all later," Tristain said, grabbing his bag. "I got some celebrating to do."
----
Tristain picked Ayana up in Toms car, and they drove to a nice restaurant downtown. Nothing too fancy, but nicer than anywhere they'd been together before.
"So," Ayana said as they sat across from each other, "how does it feel to be famous?"
"Weird as hell," Tristain admitted. "Like, three days ago I was worried about making varsity. Now I got Nike trying to sponsor me."
"Nike?" Her eyes went wide. "Baby, you're really about to be big time."
"We'll see. Coach Cignetti said the only thing holding me back from being a 5-star recruit is getting some varsity film in pads."
"5-star?" She leaned forward. "Tristain, do you realize what that means?"
"It means every major college program in the country would want me."
"It means you could literally go anywhere you want. Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State..."
"Indiana's looking pretty good though," he said with a smile. "I like the idea of staying close to home."
"Close to me, you mean," she said with a knowing look.
"Maybe," he grinned. "Depends on if I get rewarded for winning tournaments."
"Rewarded?" She raised an eyebrow. "What kind of reward you thinking about?"
"I don't know," he said, his voice dropping slightly. "What kind of reward do tournament winners get?"
"Well," she said, biting her bottom lip, "I guess you'll have to find out after dinner."
"You're driving me crazy, you know that?"
"That's the point," she said with satisfaction. "I want you thinking about me all through dinner."
"Trust me, I am. Been thinking about you all week."
"Good," she said softly. "Because I got some celebrating planned that's gonna blow your mind."
As they continued their dinner, talking about the tournament, his future, and their increasingly obvious feelings for each other, Tristain realized this was exactly where he wanted to be.
Tournament winner, future college star, and sitting across from the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen. Life was definitely good.
"So," he said as they finished eating, "about that reward..."
"Patience," she said with a mischievous smile. "Good things come to those who wait."
"I've been waiting all week."
"Then what's a little longer?" she said, reaching across the table to hold his hand. "Besides, anticipation makes everything better."
Tristain squeezed her hand and smiled. "I love you, Yana."
"I love you too, tournament winner. Now let's get out of here so I can show you just how much."
This is definitely just the beginning.