Jackson responded with a long drive of their own, which netted them a field goal. They were now up 27–10. We traded another touchdown for a field goal to make the score 30–17 when the third period ended. At the beginning of the fourth period, disaster struck. I hit a wide-open receiver. The ball bounced off his hands, and their safety gathered it in. Kevin rallied the defense and stopped them for another field goal try. The kick caught the upright and bounced out.
The next drive was my best one of the day. I was four for four and we scored on a long pass to Wolf who snuck out and was all alone. His score put us within striking distance at 30–24. We traded punts and then found ourselves with the ball and seventy yards to go with a little over a minute left. It was miracle time.
We were down to one timeout, and Jackson decided to blitz me on every play. Each time they got closer to sacking me. Coach Engels sent Ed in with the play.
“Statue of Liberty.”
We all smiled. It was time for a trick play.
“Statue of Liberty on two,” I said.
I lined up in the shotgun and set the team.
“Down.”
This caused Ed to go in motion from his slot towards the center.
“Set. Hut, HUT!”
Jackson sent everyone. The receivers had one-on-one coverage. They expected me to throw the down and out, so I pumped with my right hand and had the ball on my hip with the left. As I pumped, Ed jetted by and took the handoff. I was hit by three Jackson players and listened to the crowd as they suddenly realized that Ed had the ball. I jumped up in time to see him cross the goal line. We pulled the game out, 31–30.
Our fans stood and roared their approval. Kevin and I made sure everyone showed good sportsmanship and shook hands with the Jackson players. Their coach sought me out.
“I just wanted to tell you it was a pleasure to see you play. I have a vote on selecting the All State team, and I’ll be voting for you.”
“Thanks, Coach. I thought you had us today.”
“I hate to say this, but I’m glad we lost. I would be embarrassed if we had won that way. Good luck in the tournament.”
Kevin led the team to the stands, and we all shook hands with our fans. We went to the locker room where the ejected coaches waited for us. Coach Lambert had Ed in a bear hug and bounced him up and down.
“Careful, Coach, we need him,” I said.
He let Ed go, and I grabbed him and hugged him. Ed had a huge grin on his face. I set him down. Kevin came up, and we hugged each other.
“We did it, brother,” he said. “We did everything we could. Now we wait to see if we get in.”
I hit the showers because I needed to meet the car Jennie was sending. I did my hair and dressed in my new clothes. Kevin was the first to see me.
“Let me guess. You have a date.”
“Yep, you don’t think I’m hanging with you guys for a two-hour bus ride?”
“Have fun. I think I’ll join the freshmen on the school bus,” Kevin said.
“You’re learning. I’ll see you Monday.”
As I walked out of the stadium, I saw the Phillips family. Alice came forward and the rest of them hung back. I guess she needed to talk to me.
“I just wanted to say I’m sorry for this weekend,” she said, unable to look me in the eye. “I know that I said certain things would happen, and I backed out of them. I understand if you’re mad.”
“Mad, no. Disappointed, yes, but you need to do what’s best for you. Will I plan another weekend? Probably not.”
She finally looked at me and saw that I was serious.
“Are we still friends? I hope so, just not as close as I had hoped,” I continued.
Okay, it was a dick move. Normally I’m Mr. ‘Forgive Anything,’ and I was the one who had scared her. She was the one that chose to shut us down.
“Will you call me?” she asked.
“No. I’ve told you how I feel. The ball’s in your court. When you figure out what you want, you let me know.”
I walked past her, went to John, and gave him a hug.
“Thanks, man, for coming to my game.”
“That was interesting. So when do you know if you get to go to state?”
“It has to be soon. Our first game would be Wednesday. I’ll call you and let you know.”
A black limo pulled up.
“That’s my ride.”
I hugged Mrs. Phillips.
“Thank you for showing Alice those pictures,” she whispered in my ear. “She needs to grow up. I’m sorry she treated you badly after you said such nice things to her. I think that someday she’ll realize how much she messed up.”
I shook hands with Mr. Phillips, and gave Alice a sad smile as I headed for my ride.
“That kid is going places,” Mr. Phillips told his wife. “I’m glad that he’s John’s friend.”
Chapter 6 – Payback Time
Saturday November 9
I WAS GLAD TO SEE MARK’S dad was my driver. At least he didn’t lose his job. I wondered if his son went back to California or if he stayed, but I didn’t take the time to see if he still played for Eastside. I needed to be alone with my thoughts so I pulled my tablet out of my bag, allowed him to open my door, and got in. He loaded my bags into the trunk, and we pulled away from the stadium.
We were on the road for about fifteen minutes when the divider came down.
“Sir, I wanted you to know that we’ll be stopping to pick up two other passengers, Miss Lilith Prescott and Miss Elizabeth Towson.”
“How do they know Jennie?”
“They’re classmates. They’re at a horse show, and we’ll be picking them up.”
He seemed to be trying to decide if he should tell me something. I was tired and wasn’t in the mood for games.
“Just tell me.”
“If I may be blunt, Miss Towson is very aggressive. Jennie would be disappointed if you fell for her.”
“Okay, I got it. Keep my hands off the girls. Anything else?”
“We’ll pick them up in fifteen minutes.”
I leaned back and fell asleep. My adrenaline-high from the game had finally come down and I crashed.
I WOKE TO FIND TWO girls staring at me.
“Sleeping beauty has joined us,” the cute one said.
I looked at my phone. I’d slept for 45 minutes.
“Hi, I’m David.”
“I’m Lilith, and this is Lizzie,” the cute one said.
The girls were about the same height and build. Both had long brown hair, but Lizzie’s was curlier. They both wore their school uniforms: plaid skirt, white blouse, and a blue blazer with Wesleyan’s coat of arms on the breast pocket.
They sat on the side seats facing each other, and Lizzie gave me a perfect shot up her skirt. If Lizzie was cuter, I might have played her game, but today I wasn’t in the mood, especially after dealing with Alice.
“Lizzie, please sit like a lady. Your panties are showing.”
“I lose,” Lilith snorted. “She bet you’d notice her panties in the first minute. I said it would take five. I don’t think she was expecting that response.”
“Shut up.”
Her scowl for Lilith turned to a smile as she looked at me.
“Tell us about yourself.”
These two were up to no good. I needed to wake up and pay attention.
“I play a little football. That was where I was today.”
Lizzie was in interrogation mode. I recognized this because Tami does it to me all the time. Lizzie wasn’t in Tami’s class, and I had been evading Tami’s questions for years. I never said I was successful, just that I had practice.
“Are you any good?”
“I got to play some today.” Here was where you flipped it. “I hear you went to a horse show. That sounds so much more interesting than sports.”
Lilith looked excited.
“Well, it wasn’t really a show, it was an auction. Lizzie and I do show jumping and my horse is injured. Abigail is helping me get a new horse. I needed to start working with him so I’m ready for the spring. We found a fabulous mare named Jasmine.”