Page 29 of The Backup Plan

ESPN will call me a battle-hardened worrier

Warring.

Warrior.

Cameron

Nailed it, Marsh. He’s our Cory. I’ve never seen him manifesting or meditating or whatever, but he sings like a Disney prince.

Hayden

Time out.

Cameron

He sings in the showers after almost every practice. Sinatra and that kind of stuff. Everyone loves it, and I’m doomed.

Dale

You need to get out of this funk. Get your head on straight and keep your eyes open. She’s not the only girl out there.

Marshall

No, keep your eyes on the prize. Fall is for football. Take it from the old guy in the room and save your heartache for the off-season.

Cory

Manifest the win, buddy. Let the wins flow through you. All the wins.

Cameron

This is my time to get in her good graces before she breaks up with him and stays friends so the locker room doesn’t get awkward. I want this time.

Hayden

I want to hear the boyfriend’s breakup songs.

Marshall

I want it on the record that I tried with you idiots.

Cory

I want pancakes.

TEN

Laser Tag

AVERY

“Click this thing for me,” Isaac said, pointing over his shoulder to the buckle on the back of his laser tag vest. “Where do we get our weapons, and are we seriously the only ones here?”

“We’re at a roller rink at nine p.m. on a school night,” Avery pointed out. “I guess no skaters means no one here to plays laser tag on their breaks, so it looks like just us.”

“Then you’re toast, my friend. Burnt toast. Tiny crumbs.”

“Isaac. Before we go shoot each other, I need to talk to you about something a little awkward.”