DJ's Morning
The morning sun peeked through DJ's window, casting a golden hue over his room, to start his day right, DJ hopped out of bed and prepared for his routine while feeling groggy.
DJ headed to the basement, where he had set up a makeshift workout area. He began with a plyometric workout 5x5, made to increase his vert.
First up were broad jumps. He crouched low, arms swinging back for momentum, then exploded forward, each jump propelling him farther. His feet hit the ground softly, absorbing the impact as he prepared for the next leap. DJ focused on maintaining balance and power.
'What school should I even go to, Syracuse has great Coach and staff plus my brother while Penn State always has a great defense but they don't really have a air raid type offense so it's hard to see myself going there' DJ thought to himself
Next, he transitioned into squat jumps. DJ lowered himself into a deep squat, feeling the burn in his thighs and calves. He paused for a moment, then burst upwards, reaching for the ceiling.
His hands brushed the ceiling the above, and he landed back in the squat position, ready to spring again. He repeated this, his legs screaming in protest but his mind focused on the goal.
'I'll just wait it out and see plus Jalen told me it's better if I find a team and coach who perfectly fit me and my goals, its not about the biggest school but the best fit that matters.' He though silently
After that, he moved on to pogos. DJ bounced lightly on the balls of his feet, mimicking the spring of a pogo stick. These rapid hops made his ankle strength and agility better, crucial for quick cuts on the field and preventing injury. The rhythm of the pogos was almost hypnotic, his body moving like a well-oiled machine.
'Well if it's WR development the choices are obvious Ohio State, LSU, and Alabama are the best.' DJ thought while trying to make his dream list
Then came the single-leg hops. DJ started on his right leg, hopping forward with precision and control. He balanced on one leg, each hop testing his coordination. After a series of hops, he switched to his left leg, repeating the process. His muscles ached, but he pushed through, knowing this was what he needed.
'With big schools offering, more offers will start rolling in, max preps and Sports Center are posting me already and my following is growing, my rank will definitely be a surprise.' DJ though with a grin
Finally, he tackled tire hops. DJ had set up a series of old tires in a row. He jumped in and out of them, his feet moving quickly and efficiently.
The tires simulated the quick burst of explosiveness required to evade defenders on the field. Each hop was calculated, his focus locked as he navigated the obstacle course.
Sweat dripped down his face as he completed the routine, a sense of accomplishment washing over him.
He wiped his brow and grabbed his phone to check for messages. A notification from Coach Franklin lit up his screen.
"DJ YES!! I am pleased to announce this is your official offer and if accepted, a locked roster spot for the next season is awaiting and secure for you! Big congratulations. Continue finishing strong and training for the next level."
DJ's face broke into a wide smile. Penn State was offering him an official spot. Almost immediately, another text came through, this time from Coach Douglas of Syracuse.
"DJ, your performance last night was nothing short of incredible. I'm thrilled to extend an offer to you. Keep up the hard work, and we'll see you in Syracuse orange soon. Congratulations!"
DJ couldn't contain his excitement. He quickly posted on his social media accounts:
"I am pleased to announce I have received an offer from Penn State University. Go Lions!"
and
"I am pleased to announce I have received an offer from Syracuse University. Go Orange!"
Almost immediately, the notifications started rolling in. Friends, family, teammates, and even some college coaches liked his posts and commented with congratulations and words of encouragement.
The comments flooded in under his posts:
"Congratulations, Well deserved!" - Malik
"One of one" - Travis
"My heart <3 !" – Brianna
"Congrats!" - Ellie
"Go get 'em, King!" – Addison
"Can't wait to see you in the big leagues!" - Coach Carter
"Keep flying high, bro!" - Former teammate
"Proud of you, kid. You've come a long way." - Middle school teacher
Plans with Friends
After basking in the joy of his offers, DJ checked the group chat with his closest friends. He typed out a message, suggesting a trip to the beach.
DJ: "Yo, how about we hit the beach today? Swim, play some volleyball, and just chill. I'll pick everyone up."
The responses came quickly.
Malik: "Sounds dope! I'm in."
Brianna: "I'm in too. Need a beach day."
Travis: "Count me in. Need some sun."
Ellie: "Let's do it! Volleyball here I come."
Addison: "I'm down. Beach time!"
DJ smiled at the quick responses. He grabbed his keys and headed out to pick everyone up, starting with Brianna. When he arrived at her house, she was already waiting outside. She wore a simple yet stylish outfit, perfect for a day at the beach.
"Hey DJ," she greeted him with a warm smile, climbing into the passenger seat.
"Hey B," DJ replied, returning her smile. "Ready for a fun day?"
Brianna nodded. "Absolutely. Let's go get the others."
Wendy's and Beach Conversations
Once everyone was picked up, they made a quick stop at Wendy's for some food. Sitting around a large table, they dug into their meals, the conversation flowing easily.
Malik kicked off the conversation with a random question. "Whats your guy's favorite Froot Loop flavor?"
DJ laughed. "Thats not a thing."
Malik. "What colored Froot Loops."
DJ looked at him weirdly, "No the colors are real but the flavor isn't real life."
Malik. "Then what are the colors for, decoration?"
Dj replied with a straight face,"Yes they all taste the same, the colors are for kids"
Malik said while breaking down,"But wouldn't they just be honey nut cheerios."
DJ said with an exhausted expression,"Theres a fruit favor but they're just different colors so your not eating a box of yellow circles."
Malik with a determined face ,"no"
DJ felt his blood pressure rising with a vein on his head,"wdym no."
Malik as if radiating a buddhist like aura nodded his head,"green and purple are different, green is basically sour apple."
Travis patted him on the back,"that's skittles buddy"
Addison chimed in. "It's just your mind playing tricks on you."
Travis, finishing a bite of his burger, added, "Same with M&Ms. They all taste the same, just different colors."
Brianna laughed. "This is the kind of deep stuff we discuss over fast food."
The banter continued as they finished their meal, the group laughing and joking around.
At the Beach
The beach was a perfect escape. The sun was shining, the waves crashing gently against the shore. DJ and his friends wasted no time diving into activities.
They swam in the cool ocean, raced each other through the waves, and played a few intense games of volleyball. DJ, ever the athlete, was all over the court, spiking the ball with precision and diving for saves.
They then moved to a makeshift basketball court, where DJ showed off his skills, dribbling around Travis and sinking a few three-pointers.
After a while, they decided to throw around a football. DJ ran routes, catching perfect spirals from Malik, who was showing off his quarterback arm.
After a while, the group decided to build a sandcastle. Malik, however, ended up being buried in the sand up to his neck, much to everyone's amusement. They crafted an elaborate sandcastle around him, complete with turrets and a moat.
"Behold, King Malik of Sandlandia!" Addison declared as she put a crown shaped shell on his head.
"This is disrespectful as the king I command to be released" Malik grumbled trying to sound angry
"No" The group said unison
"lemme get my pictures in first." Ellie teased as she took photos of the others posing around Malik
People at the beach started to recognize DJ, coming up to congratulate him on his recent offers. He smiled and thanked them, enjoying the support from the community.
---
As the sun began to set, DJ and Brianna found a quiet spot away from the group. They sat on a large beach towel, watching the waves roll in.
"DJ," Brianna started, her voice soft. "Today was amazing. I really needed this."
DJ nodded, looking at her. "Me too. It's been a whirlwind lately."
Brianna hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "DJ, about Jordan... I know you said you'd talk to her. But I just want to make sure that... you're serious about us."
DJ reached over, taking her hand in his. "Bri, I promise you, I'll talk to her. I want you to know that I'm serious about us. You mean a lot to me."
Brianna's eyes softened, and she leaned in, her lips brushing against his. "You mean a lot to me too, DJ."
DJ kissed her gently, before they pulled away, smiling at each other.
"I'll make sure Jordan knows I'm taken," DJ assured her. "And I'm not interested in anyone else."
Brianna nodded, resting her head on his shoulder as they watched the sun dip below the horizon, the sky painted in hues of orange and pink.
---
After dropping everyone off, DJ finally made his way home. He entered his room and lay on his bed, feeling the exhaustion of the day. His phone buzzed, and he saw it was his older brother, Jalen, calling.
"Hey, Jalen," DJ answered, still smiling from the day's events.
"Hey, little bro! I heard about your offers. That's amazing!" Jalen's voice was filled with pride.
"Thanks, Jalen. It's been a crazy day," DJ replied, feeling a sense of accomplishment.
"Yeah, just keep doing what you're doing. You've got a bright future ahead," Jalen encouraged.