Damaged Petals.

[Soapy]

Season 7, Episode 3
The sound of her name cut through the hallway noise. Nia kept walking, shoulders hunched, earbuds already in place though no music played yet. She recognized Zack’s voice without having to look.

“Nia! Hold up!”

Her fingers trembled as she pushed through the double doors, sunlight momentarily blinding her. The parking lot stretched before her, a sea of vehicles and chattering students. Nia didn’t turn around. She couldn’t.

Sixteen steps to the sidewalk. Twelve. Eight.

The memory crashed into her anyway. Brian’s hand on her shoulder, his breath hot against her neck, the room spinning and yet perfectly still.

Nia’s throat tightened as she reached the sidewalk, her pace now nearly a jog. She fumbled with her phone, finally starting her playlist, turning the volume up until the bass drowned out her thoughts. The concrete path home had never seemed so long.

Brian’s casual greeting the next morning played on loop in her mind.

“I’m making some eggs, you want some?”

And Amber leaning against the kitchen counter with that knowing smirk as Nia gathered her things as soon as Brian had left.

By the time she reached her front door, Nia felt like she was on stilts. Her hands shook so badly she dropped her keys twice before managing to unlock the door. The empty house greeted her with silence.

She took the stairs two at a time, backpack abandoned at the bottom step. In her room, she dropped to her knees beside the bed, reaching underneath to the loose floorboard. The small plastic bag contained only three pills now even though she’d been saving them, rationing them out. They wouldn’t last much longer.

Nia swallowed one dry, the bitter taste making her wince as she sat on the edge of her bed. Her leg bounced with nervous energy as she waited for the familiar warmth to spread through her limbs, for the edges of her thoughts to blur and soften.

Five minutes passed. Ten. The memory of Brian’s hands still burned on her skin. Amber’s smirk still twisted in her gut.

“Fuck,” she whispered, pushing herself up from the bed.

The kitchen cabinets yielded nothing but dishes and dry goods. The refrigerator offered only juice and soda. Nia yanked open the cabinet above the stove where her dad used to keep whiskey, finding only empty space. The pantry revealed the same, bare spots where bottles had once been. They must have cleared everything out when she came back home.

Nia slammed the last cabinet shut, grabbing her hoodie from the back of a chair, checking her pocket for what little cash she had left. The front door clicked shut behind her as she stepped back into the afternoon light, already mapping the quickest route to find what she needed.

…

The football spiraled through the air, a tight rotation that cut through the late afternoon humidity. Brice planted his back foot and followed through, his arm extending in that fluid motion that he knew Malloy would be looking for.

“Beautiful,” Malloy called out. “That’s the release point we’re looking. You feel the difference?”

“Yeah,” Brice nodded, wiping sweat from his forehead with his forearm.

Malloy had been coaching him since Brice was barely able to hold a football with one hand. Now the man’s salt-and-pepper hair had more salt than pepper, but his eyes still caught every mechanical flaw, every slight imperfection in Brice’s delivery.

“These are the money downs,” Malloy said, gesturing to the four high school receivers who had been running routes for the past hour. "I need full speed!"

Brice settled in front of Malloy, acting as his center, calling out the cadence like it was an actual game. The receivers burst off the line at his command. Brice dropped back, feeling the phantom pressure that would be there in a real game, his eyes scanning from primary to secondary to check-down options.

The ball left his hand just as the receiver made his break, connecting twenty yards downfield.

"If you’re on time, you’re late!" Malloy shouted. "A little more anticipation there, Bricey!"

He fucking hated that name.

Eight more passes followed before Malloy blew his whistle, signaling the end of the session. Brice’s shirt clung to his back, soaked through with sweat.

As they gathered their gear, Brice noticed the group of high school kids who had been watching from the sidelines starting to inch closer.

“Hey, um, Brice?” One of them finally approached, a football clutched in his hands. “Would you mind signing this?"

“Sure thing,” Brice said, taking the offered pen and ball. “What’s your name?”

“Jason,” the kid replied, his voice cracking slightly.

“You play quarterback?” Brice asked as he scrawled his signature across the leather.

“Yeah, JV this year but hopefully varsity next season.” Jason couldn’t seem to stop grinning.

Within moments, the rest of the group swarmed around him. Footballs, hats, t-shirts, even a phone case, were thrust in his direction. Brice signed them, exchanging small talk, offering cliched advice when they asked about their own games.

“Man, I hope the Colts draft you, bro,” said a skinny kid in a faded blue and white shirt. “That’d be perfect."

"Yeah, maybe," Brice smiled as he signed his shirt, "I don’t know, I grew up here, went to Purdue. Might be time to see what else is out there, you know?”

“But the Colts, man!” the kid persisted.

“We’ll see what happens,” Brice said with a noncommittal shrug, "Who knows? Maybe they’ll be too good to get the top pick."

…

The joint’s harsh smoke scratched Nia’s throat, nothing like the quality she had grown used to. She sat cross-legged on the park bench. The weed was cheap and wasn’t doing much but it was all she could get from Royce behind the convenience store.

She took another drag, holding the acrid smoke in her lungs until they burned. This park looked different in the late afternoon light, emptier, sadder somehow. The playground where they used to hang as kids stood abandoned, the metal slide reflecting golden sunlight.

Three days before Jimmy’s injury, they’d sat on this very bench. His hand had brushed against hers when he passed her his phone to look at this reel. They’d made that stupid pact in ninth grade, laughing about it then, but by junior year, the idea had started to feel less like a joke and more like a promise. A future that now would never happen.

Something caught her eye.

“Shit,” Nia muttered, quickly dropping the joint and grinding it under her heel into the dirt. She brushed at her hoodie, trying to disperse the lingering smoke.

Her first instinct was to follow at a distance, to watch them unseen. But before she could decide, Skylar looked up and their eyes met across the grass. Recognition flashed across her face, followed by a smile and a wave.

Nia hesitated, then stood. Her legs felt wooden as she walked over.

“Hey,” Skylar said, her nose wrinkling slightly before her expression smoothed into a smile. “Nia, right? From the other day?”

“Yeah,” Nia felt her cheeks warm with embarrassment. She extended her hand awkwardly. “Nice to see you again.”

Skylar shifted the stroller handle to shake Nia’s hand. “Thanks again for your help."

Nia looked down at the baby, who gazed up at her with wide, curious eyes. His tiny mouth curved upward in what seemed like a smile.

“He seems happy today,” Nia said, catching herself staring for longer than she intended.

“Oh yeah, he loves this park.” Skylar adjusted the baby’s hat.

Nia let out a short laugh. “Jimmy loved this park too. We used to come here all the time.”

“Oh,” Skylar nodded,. “That’s nice. Well, thanks again.”

As Skylar turned to leave, James’s eyes stayed locked on Nia’s face. Those eyes. The way they seemed to recognize her, to know her.

“Bye, James,” Nia whispered, raising her hand in a small wave.

…

"How’s my baby doing?" Liz said in that high-pitched voice that annoyed Skylar more than it should.

Skylar handed him over, watching as Liz pressed her cheek against his, inhaling his baby scent.

“Brice isn’t here yet?” Skylar said, setting the diaper bag on a barstool.

“His workout went a bit long,” Liz bounced James gently. “He should be here any minute now."

Skylar bit back a retort.

“I packed extra bottles,” Skylar said instead. “And his new teething toy. The blue one is his favorite right now.”

“Oh, I picked up a few new toys myself,” Liz said, gesturing to a small pile on the counter. “And look what else I found.”

Liz shifted James to one arm and reached for a glossy magazine, flipping it open to a marked page. “I’ve been thinking about James’s first birthday. I know we’ve still got a few months but those things sneak up on you so we better get to planning now. I found this company that does the most darling themed parties. Look at this sailor one they did for the Henderson’s.”

Skylar glanced at the magazine.

“It’s nice,” Skylar said carefully. “But I’ve actually already started making some plans. I’m thinking something simple at the riverwalk. James loves being outside.”

“The park?” Liz’s eyebrows lifted slightly. “For his first birthday? I was thinking we could host it here. The backyard is perfect, and we could set up a tent in case of rain. First birthdays are really more for the adults anyway, since the baby won’t remember.”

“I appreciate the offer,” Skylar said, keeping her tone light, "I’ll keep it in mind."

Liz’s smile tightened almost imperceptibly. “Of course."

…

Brice tightened his sweats and grabbed his shirt from the floor, pulling it over his head. He checked his phone, wincing when he saw the time.

“Shit,” he muttered.

“Got somewhere you need to be?” Willow asked as she lounged on the bed.

"Yeah, something like that,” he slipped his feet into his shoes without bothering to tie them, then patted his pockets to make sure he had his wallet and keys.

It felt strange being in her bedroom after all these years. Back in high school, she’d been one of the few girls who’d turned him down flat when he’d tried to hook up with her at a party.

“I don’t do guys with girlfriends,” she’d said, nodding toward Connie across the room. The rejection had stuck with him, like an itch that needed to be scratched.

“This was fun,” he said, offering the obligatory platitude. “We should do this again."

Willow sat up. “So like, you’re getting drafted next year, right? To the NFL?”

"Yeah," Brice smiled as he paused at the doorway, "Something like that."

[Caesar]

Royce behind the convenience store

First of all, take this shit to GAC, gang.

The who gon' get packed out o meter has tipped toward Nia with this one.

We're also adding Skylar to the potentials. Liz might murk her for the baby.

And Brice gonna get caught with another baby before he goes to the league.

[Captain Canada]

Between Nia and Liz, we got some creepy fucking female characters up in here.

Of course Brice still throwing dick at girls any chance he gets. Probably raw too.

[redsox907]

Liz just trying to control the narrative, always. Whether with her cheating ass husband, son who can't keep his dick in his pants, or the crazy BM.

Brice still wilding

Nia definitely OD'ing at some point, but I think Connie next up to get packed out

[Soapy]

Royce behind the convenience store

First of all, take this shit to GAC, gang.

The who gon' get packed out o meter has tipped toward Nia with this one.

We're also adding Skylar to the potentials. Liz might murk her for the baby.

And Brice gonna get caught with another baby before he goes to the league.

What's GAC?

Between Nia and Liz, we got some creepy fucking female characters up in here.

Of course Brice still throwing dick at girls any chance he gets. Probably raw too.

who among us

Liz just trying to control the narrative, always. Whether with her cheating ass husband, son who can't keep his dick in his pants, or the crazy BM.

Brice still wilding

Nia definitely OD'ing at some point, but I think Connie next up to get packed out

no matter what, a pack going up

[Soapy]

Season 7, Episode 4
From pop warner to high school to college, there was nothing like the first day of pads. Brice felt that familiar rush as they finished individual drills and were heading to the twenty-yard line to begin their first competitive period of the practice.

Brice jogged toward the huddle, helmet tucked under his arm. He scanned the defense as they lined up across from him, focusing on the new faces. The Toledo transfer, Jo’Ziah Edmond, had certainly stood out in winter workouts and the early portion of spring practices. Exactly why he was the perfect person to go at during the first snap.

The offense broke the huddle and lined up. Brice settled behind Abdul, eyes scanning the defense.

“Blue 18! Blue 18! Set... hut!”

Brice dropped back, his eyes locked on Jesse who sold his vertical release before breaking at the numbers to the outside. The ball left Brice’s hand before Jesse had turned his head, headed for the spot where Jesse would be.

But Jo’Ziah was already there, breaking on the pass before Jesse had even finished making his cut. The cornerback’s hand flashed in front of Jesse’s face, knocking the ball away with a smack that echoed across the field.

“Get that weak shit the fuck out of here!” Jo’Ziah shouted, bouncing up from the turf. “I ain’t playing with you!"

"It’s fucking practice," Brice shook his head, "Give us a fucking honest look, damn."

Jo’Ziah turned. “Maybe try throwing a better ball next time.”

"Stop cheating the fucking rep," Brice tried to turn his attention back to the sidelines for the next play but his eyes remained fixated on Jo’Ziah, "Do that shit in a fucking game to impress me, Toledo. It’s a reason why your ass had to go over there to get on the field. You weren’t getting no tick at Michigan, bro."

"I’m here for a reason, five!" Jo’Ziah fired back at him as he took his helmet off, "Your bitch ass was on the sidelines, probably shitting yourself in the national championship game. The defense is what won you that motherfucker, bitch, and I’m here to bail your ass out for the next time you can’t get it done.

“Enough!” Coach Odom’s whistle blew. “Lap. Both of you. Stop wasting my fucking time!"

Jo’Ziah’s helmet went back on with a sharp click. “Yes, sir.”

Brice shook his head as they jogged toward the edge of the practice field.

They had barely cleared the sideline when Jo’Ziah accelerated, pulling ahead. “Slow ass bitch!”

Brice put his heads down and tried to push his pace but the gap kept widening. The weight of his pads seemed to double with each stride, and sweat poured down his face, stinging his eyes. By the time they completed the lap, Jo’Ziah was several paces ahead, barely winded as he slowed to a walk. Brice came in behind him, chest heaving, legs feeling like concrete.

They stood side by side, hands on hips, watching as the team continued the drill without them. Brice glanced over at Jo’Ziah, who was already looking at him. A smirk tugged at Jo’Ziah’s mouth. Brice felt his own lips curl in response.

…

Nia had trailed her from the park, keeping just far enough back to avoid detection while never losing sight of the stroller. Her heart hammered against her ribs, each beat a reminder that what she was doing wasn’t normal. Wasn’t okay.

But she couldn’t stop herself.

Skylar disappeared inside with the stroller. Nia waited for a minute, more like a few seconds, before creeping closer, sticking to the shadows of trees and parked cars. The neighborhood was quiet in the late afternoon, most people still at work.

Nia crouched beneath the front window, the scratchy bushes tickling her bare ankles. She peered over the sill, just enough to see inside. Skylar moved through the living room, James propped on her hip now, bouncing him slightly as she talked on her phone.

“I know, Mom. I’ll be there. Just let me get him settled first.”

Nia ducked down as Skylar passed by the window, then carefully raised her head again. Skylar disappeared down a hallway. Keeping low, Nia skirted around the side of the house, finding another window that looked into what must be the baby’s room. The walls were painted a soft blue, with cartoon animals stenciled along one side.

Skylar laid James in his crib, her back to the window as she leaned over him. Nia watched, transfixed, as Skylar straightened his outfit and touched his cheek. Then Skylar crossed to the window just as Nia dropped to the ground, her heart pounding as Skylar pushed it open a few inches.

“There you go, just like we were outside,” Skylar’s voice drifted out. “Mommy will be right back.”

Footsteps faded away. Nia waited until she heard a door close somewhere in the house before slowly rising to peek in again. James laid in his crib, kicking his little legs, gurgling softly at a mobile spinning above him.

“What the fuck?” Nia whispered to herself, eyeing the open window. “Why would she leave this open like this? Some fucking creep could come in and just take him.”

The irony was lost on her as James made a soft sound. His eyes seemed to search the room before landing right where she was peering in. A smile broke across his tiny face.

The pill from earlier was finally working its way through her system, blurring the edges of her vision. Nia’s fingers curled around the window frame. She could just reach in. Just touch him.

The sound of a door sliding open from the backyard sent ice through her veins. Footsteps on a wooden deck. A man’s voice calling out.

Nia dropped to the ground, scrambling backward on hands and knees. Her elbow knocked against a decorative rock, sending pain shooting up her arm as she bit back a yelp. She crawled behind a large shrub, huddling there as the footsteps grew louder, coming around the side of the house.

Her breath caught in her throat as a pair of sneakers passed just feet from her hiding spot. When they disappeared around the front, she bolted, keeping low until she reached the street, then ran all the way to the corner before slowing to a walk, her lungs burning.

…

Players dispersed across the field, some heading straight for the locker room while others lingered around. Brice stayed put, tossing his helmet onto the grass and wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his arm.

“You sticking around?” Shane jogged up beside him.

“Yeah,” Brice nodded toward the far end of the field where Abdul was setting up, a bag of footballs at his feet. “Probably an hour or so."

They made their way over to Abdul, who was already in position, hands on the ball, ready to snap. Corey and Jesse joined them, shoulder pads off but still in practice gear.

The rhythm of their post-practice work was familiar. They rotated through different routes, Corey and Jesse taking turns running patterns and playing defense against each other.

“What’s up, bitches?"

Brice turned to see Jo’Ziah and Hudauri approaching from the sideline, still in full pads.

“I know the Nap Boys ain’t talking,” Brice called out, trying his best to mask his smirk. "So do y’all flip a coin to decide who’s on top or like is there a schedule?"

Jo’Ziah sucked his teeth but Hudauri laughed.

“That’s rich coming from you,” Hudauri fired back, nodding toward Abdul. “Got your Tobey right there snapping you the ball, ain’t that right, massa?"

Abdul shook his head.

“Man, shut your ass up,” Brice tried to stifle his laugh.

“Y’all want this work or not?” Jo’Ziah cut in, hands on his hips. "Looks like y’all could use some motherfuckers that actually know how to cover somebody."

"Alright," Brice nodded, "Come get this work in, then. On my son’s life, Corey, you better cook this fucking dude."

…

“Officer Kavern?”

Kavern looked up. “Connie. I wasn’t expecting you today.”

“I know, I just—“ Connie sighed. “I wanted to check if there was any news or if you found anything else?"

Kavern’s shoulders dropped slightly. He glanced around the bustling station before standing. “Come on, we can talk outside."

The spring air hit Connie’s face as they stepped into the small courtyard behind the station. A concrete bench sat beneath a scraggly tree. Kavern gestured for her to sit.

“I’ve been meaning to call you,” he said, lowering himself beside her. "I know I said I might be able to help you with this but honestly, at this point, we’ve done all we could. I think we need to stop."

"Stop? But we’re just getting started with—“

“No, we’re not,” the softness left his voice. “We tried to get lucky with a match on the birth certificate and maybe the hotel records. Both of those were dead ends and they are our only lead. This isn’t just a cold case, Connie, which are hard enough on their own. This just isn’t a case, at all. They’re closed adoptions for a reason and unless we have a legal reason to get those records, we’re not getting anywhere with this."

“There has to be something else we can try,” her voice cracked.

“Connie,” Kavern’s hand covered hers briefly. “I understand why you’re doing this. I do. I’d probably do the same thing if I was in your shoes but this isn’t good, not for you and not for her either."

Tears welled in her eyes, blurring the budding tree above them.

“I can’t just give up,” she whispered, tears spilling down her cheeks. “It would feel like I’m abandoning her twice.”

Kavern sighed, his breath visible in the cool air. “Have you considered reaching out to the adoption agency directly? Sometimes biological parents can register their willingness for contact. If the adoptive parents are open to it...”

Connie wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “You think they would be?”

“I don’t know. But it’s a legitimate path, not this wild goose chase that we’ve been on,” he stood, hands deep in his pockets. “Look, I’m sorry, Connie. I never should have encouraged this. I just wanted...I wanted to make things right with you after everything.”

[redsox907]

Jo’Ziah Edmond,

shoutout Jo'Ziah. Got him when he originally left Michigan with Coastal, dude was a dawg.

Surprised Kavern didn't slip her the digits so he could slip her something else later

[Captain Canada]

Nia gonna end up on a wild, drug-induced psychosis and snatch James up huh.

At this point, if Connie doesn't first, that is

[Caesar]

Hopefully Jo'Ziah ain't gotta a lil' yeah because we know what Bryce does when cornerbacks trash talk him.

Fuck type of shit you got Nia on? Bitch in the bushes?

Kavern should've been told Connie ass if she want a baby so bad, she know how to make one.

[Soapy]

Jo’Ziah Edmond,

shoutout Jo'Ziah. Got him when he originally left Michigan with Coastal, dude was a dawg.

Surprised Kavern didn't slip her the digits so he could slip her something else later

Y'all are way too horny. Kavern is a decent man. s/o my dawg Chill

Nia gonna end up on a wild, drug-induced psychosis and snatch James up huh.

At this point, if Connie doesn't first, that is

racial

Hopefully Jo'Ziah ain't gotta a lil' yeah because we know what Bryce does when cornerbacks trash talk him.

Fuck type of shit you got Nia on? Bitch in the bushes?

Kavern should've been told Connie ass if she want a baby so bad, she know how to make one.

Brice has matured since then.

Addiction is a disease.