The Sovereign Era by Matthew Wayne Selznick & Matthew Wayne Selznick

Author:Matthew Wayne Selznick & Matthew Wayne Selznick
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MWS Media
Published: 2022-01-07T00:00:00+00:00

I Wear My Sunglasses At Night

by

J.R. Blackwell

October 22, 1985

“So, let me get this right, Jackie.” Eric flopped down on his bed. “You passed out, got picked up by the paramedics, had a screaming match with your coach and then snuck out of the hospital?”

I looked at Eric’s doughy face. I had never noticed before, but it was very punchable. “I didn’t sneak out, Eric, they just weren’t very happy I was leaving.” I paced in his small dorm room. “Coach kicked me off the team.”

“What? Why?”

“Because I’m fat and I’m not a team player and I collapsed on the field and I’m a liability because I won’t take a blood test that is totally unnecessary.”

“You’re not fat.”

“I’m pudgy.”

“Oh stop it. Everyone says you have a pretty face.”

“Eric, that is exactly what people say to fat girls; beautiful hair, sweet face, pretty eyes. For once, I’d just like someone to say that I’m hot, you know? No qualifiers. They don’t even say I have great hair anymore.” I used to have great hair, back in high school, before the fight that changed my life.

Eric scratched at a pimple. “Maybe this isn’t so bad Jackie. You have a lot going on right now. You’ve said before that pre-med is challenging. Maybe having soccer off your plate will be a good thing. Maybe it will give you more time to rest.”

I glared at him. “I don’t want more time to rest.”

“You look tired, Jackie. Your eyes are red.”

“I’ve been crying,” I said, defensively. It wasn’t true. My eyes had itched for days. The doctor thought I had pink eye, but I wasn’t about to submit to any tests. After what happened in high school, and then the Donner Declaration six months ago, I couldn’t risk it. I wasn’t sure that I was a Sovereign, but I wasn’t about to bet my Ivy League education on it.

“You should see a doctor.”

“I already saw one today. He said I needed to get more sleep, but I sleep for five hours a day, which is more than enough. I just don’t like playing in the hot sun. Maybe if they held night games. Football holds night games.” I sat on the bed next to Eric and put my head in my hands. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

“Can’t you talk to the coach?”

“Not anymore. I said some really, ah, indelicate things to her.” It had been worse than that. Some people said I was witty, others said I cut with my tongue.

“What did you say?”

“I told the coach she was kicking me off the team because I wasn’t eye-candy for her to ogle. I crossed about eight lines.”

“Ouch.” Eric put his arm around my shoulders. “I’m sorry Jackie. But maybe this is good. Maybe this can give you time for other things,” Eric slid his hand down to my waist.

I shrugged. “I guess I’ll have more time to study,” Eric’s body felt very warm against mine. I could smell his sweat. The room felt small and sweltering.

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