“This also means I need to have a conversation with you about your development. You’re going to have to take over. If either of the two of your coaches were staying, I’d turn your development over to them. Since they’re not, I’m giving the plan to you.”
Bo pulled out four binders.
“This first binder is my evaluation of where you are as a player and what you need to work on in the future.”
He picked up two binders.
“These two binders go together. This one has DVDs showing examples of skills and the drills needed to develop those skills. This binder is a detailed written description.”
He picked up the fourth binder.
“This is the road map. Use this as your guide between now and college.”
I could see the other two coaches eyeing the binders. Bo saw it too and got serious.
“David, you cannot share this with anyone.” He looked at the other two, and they nodded. “This is my life’s work, and I’m paid a ridiculous amount of money to do it.”
“Bo, I’m honored by your trust. If I need advice, can I call you?”
“Absolutely. I’ll help you get on a seven-on-seven team for the offseason, and I’ll also get you slots in quarterback camps throughout the summer. Some of this isn’t cheap, so either talk to your parents about it or get a part-time job. I might also be able to get you some waivers on fees if you agree to help by being a camp counselor.”
“That sounds great. My parents make okay money, but there are some other priorities right now. I’ll have to fund my own football-related activities.”
Coach Lambert looked at his watch.
“It looks like school will start in a few minutes. Why don’t you get going? We need to talk to Bo.”
“I’ll see you at practice,” Bo said.
I WAS DEEP IN THOUGHT when I went to my locker. I was surprised when I found Tracy blocking it. Her mom sent me breakfast sandwiches each morning. I smiled when I saw her.
“Hey, Tracy, we met in the coaches’ offices instead of having practice.”
“No problem, I just thought I’d missed you.”
She handed me the sandwich.
“I’m starved.”
I wolfed it down, and Tracy just shook her head.
“Kendal will be here around 11:30 this morning to set up the conference call. Do you want me there?”
“What’s going on?”
I’d assumed that Tracy would be at all my press events.
“Kendal.”
That was all she had to say. Tracy was used to being in control, and she didn’t want to answer to anyone.
“Can Kendal handle today?”
Tracy thought about it for a moment. The one thing I could count on was an honest response.
“I think she can.”
“Tracy, either she can or she can’t, which is it?”
“She can, but I would like to be there.”
“Not a problem. Please call her and ask her. I don’t want her to think you can come to me and override her decisions. Does that make sense to you?”
She didn’t like my answer, but I could tell she understood. She just smiled.
“I’ll see you at lunch. We’re meeting in the coaches’ conference room. Coach Lambert will be there too.”
“Good, they can grill him instead of me.”
She gave me a funny look that made me nervous.
“I hear you’re single right now.”
“Yes.”
It’s safer just to give one-word answers.
“Would you be my date to the Halloween Dance?”
“My first instinct is to say ‘no.’ Hang on, wait; it would be Hell no! Why aren’t you going with Jim?”
Jim was the one she paid money for at the auction, after all.
“It seems that no guy’s willing to take me out since I dumped you in such a public setting. The bunch of wimps is afraid I might do something similar.”
I didn’t expect to hear that. I really tried not to laugh, but I couldn’t help it. She wasn’t amused.
“David, it’s not funny.”
“I kinda think it is. Give me your pitch. Why should I risk going to the dance with you?”
“First off, we’d go just as friends.” I nodded my agreement to that. “My doctor says I need to go out in a social situation, and she said you’d be a good choice.”
Crud, she was using her mental health. I liked her and her family too much not to help. I found myself doing something I never thought I would do anytime soon.
“Okay, here’s the deaclass="underline" I’ll be your date, but there are a couple of conditions.”
“Anything.”
“If you expect me to be in some kind of costume, you have to get it. Second, we’re just friends. If I want to dance with someone, you can’t get mad at me. I’ll treat you right and dance with you, but if I meet someone, you have to act like my friend and not my girlfriend.”
“Is that it?”
“Nope, we get to have dinner with your parents before the dance.”
She smiled, knowing she’d won.
“Mom’s been asking why you haven’t been over. I’m sure that won’t be a problem.”
I shook my head.
“How did you talk me into this?”
“Easy, you love me.”
“I can’t argue with that,” I sighed. “Will you do me a huge favor? Will you promise not to take advantage of my love for you?”
“I know I hurt you, and I’m sorry about that more than anything. At the time, I thought I had a good reason. I know now that you had nothing to do with the newspaper caption. I also know that the whole ‘not together’ thing was my doing. David, I’m still a little goofy, but I want us to work on being friends. I always enjoy being around you. I feel that when we’re together, we’re more somehow. I also miss the sex.”
I didn’t trust myself to say anything, so I ran.
“Tracy, I’ll see you at noon.”
I didn’t even bother to get my books out of my locker. I know that I’m pathetic when it comes to standing up to girls I like. If I wasn’t careful, I would do or say something to Tracy.
AFTER FIRST PERIOD, I was able to make it back to my locker and get the right books. I was doing fine this morning until she mentioned the sex. My fear was that she would ask me to have sex with her. I knew for a fact that I couldn’t resist that request.
By lunch, I was ready to face Tracy again. To my surprise, she wasn’t there. I never asked Kendal because I assumed she didn’t want her there. The interview went off without a hitch. There were four reporters on the line and, as I predicted, Coach Lambert answered most of the questions.
I’d pushed my luck even setting up the press conferences. Most coaches would never let a freshman hold them, but Coach Lambert couldn’t say no to Tracy either. Now that they were started, both of us were stuck with the situation. I appreciate that he was with me on the calls. I needed to talk to Kendal to make sure we weren’t causing any problems.
After the call, Kendal assured me that Coach Lambert appreciated my team organizing everything. It was one less thing he had to worry about. Kendal told me they had arranged the Senior Night event with the parents. She worked with Coach Lambert to do something special. I was happy with Kendal taking charge. The only thing that was lacking was lunch. She brought me a salad. What growing boy could just have a salad for lunch, especially one that burns through the number of calories I do?
BY LAST PERIOD, I WAS starved. I went to my tutoring session with Suzanne. When I walked in, my stomach growled.
“Sorry about that. I need to eat before practice. Do you mind skipping out before I drop from hunger?”
“You sound like Jim. I swear that growing boys eat enough for five normal people.”
“This growing boy needs food now. I’m ditching with or without you.”