All-American 2

Riley is the first good thing that happened to me. I study hard to make straight A's, but that does not bring me pleasure. In the morning, I try to wash myself as completely as I can. I do not like the feeling of being unclean.

I go to school in the morning and my football buddies are always slapping me in the back and watching out for me. At parties, we crush beer cans on our heads. At school, we're always joking around.

Then there's Riley. She's five foot five. Blue eyes and red hair. Her hair reminds me of the dawn. My words disappear. I smile.

And then, there's Sonya. Captain is always looking at me as though I had committed murder. Sometimes, I just want to beat the shit out of Captain except that THAT would hurt Sonya's feelings.

-You think you're too good for us.

-Sonya, what is your problem?

But as Riley and I walk through the high school halls together, I suddenly become aware that students are discreetly staring at us.

-Why are they staring at us? (I say in my mind). 

-We're celebrities.

That's the thing. When I am with Riley, I become REAL somehow. People somehow become aware of my existence in a way that I could never be real anymore. You see, I wasn't always a straight A student and I wasn't always a quarterback. Before, I was almost nothing. I hid in the shadows, not even wanting to be seen. In Middle School, I was just sick and tired of being invisible. My sister Sonya was overshadowing me in academics. Athletes just wanted to beat me up because I was just so vulnerable. I built up my mind and body until I became tough, indifferent, and mechanical.

Then I met Riley. She's making me feel shy again. My friends say I've been pussywhipped. BUT I just don't know.

-Do you believe everything you hear?

When I just hold her hand, the rush of pleasure is just so great. 

My friends keep a scoreboard on how many girls they've slept with. There were parties in which I was often the only one left drinking in the living room of someone's home. All my other friends were "getting it." American girls just did not find me attractive. I often felt like I was being treated like a neuter so sometimes I would try to be even more aggressive than my American friends. That did not work. It made me seem "desperate" for a lay whereas I just wanted to be like the others. Still, it was better than life at home. 

My father is a very good man. After I became a football star and a straight A student, he became very obsequious toward me. Then he saw a picture of Riley. He said:

-Very pretty girl. Wish I could have girlfriend like that. You very lucky. You sure you my son? Very proud.

-She's a vampire. (Sonya)