Storiesonline.net ------- Divided at Division One by Pettybox Copyright© 2008 by Pettybox ------- Description: Jared Winslow is a small college football coaching legend in Vermont who waited for the opportunity to come along to move on to Division 1 NCAA coaching. His love life was waning and broke it off to move on. He found new & old opportunities for both sex and love as he began to mold his dreams and slowly realize how one tied its fortunes to the other. The highs and lows of both love and coaching success intertwine on his journey. Codes: MF rom sch cons oral ------- ------- Prologue Jared Winslow went to West Virginia University on an Athletic Coaching Education Scholarship after graduating from Central Vermont High School. Jared's father Edwin coached CVHS to 12 State Football championships in 15 years. Jared worked with his father on the bench for 8 of those until he went off to college. Upon graduation from WVU he got a job as an assistant for Vermont Valley Tech, a school known more for its nationally ranked Division II Soccer and Hockey teams. After 2 years he landed the interim head-coaching job by default when the head coach was fired in a gambling sting. They finished 5 — 0 under Jared and was given the job on a permanent basis the following year. Many thought he was given the job over other tenured coaches on the strength of his father's reputation. Whether that was true or not, within 2 years he started winning championships with his own recruits. In his 9 years as head coach he had won 7 consecutive championships. He turned down offers to move up the coaching scale because they were not the fit he wanted. He demanded to be the head coach with full reign if he went to a Division 1 school. New England Ag & Tech had been Division 1 for three disappointing seasons and was beginning to lose fan base as well as alumni money because of the lack of TV interest and Bowl bids. That was all about to change as Winslow got permission to talk to NEAT. Valley Tech never really thought Winslow would leave because of the challenge NEAT would be. They were poorly recruited and demoralized with a 7-29 record over the first three years as a Division 1 school. Valley Tech only had one stipulation on the permission to talk; it must go unpublicized by mutual agreement of Winslow and NEAT. On a supposed recruiting trip in mid-December Jared met with the NEAT AD (Athletic Director), Joe Barber and spent two 12-hour days with him. Barber sold him on the "family" style that the department ran, emphasizing that his sister-in-law was the Sports Information Director and there were 2 other father-sons on the 42 man football, baseball and hockey staffs. Soccer, Lacrosse, and Rugby were "club" teams and did not fall under Barbers realm. Jared insisted on having free reign on recruiting and had his own guidelines on scholastic requirements. "If I think a student-athlete has the ability to graduate, I can recruit him. Once it becomes obvious that the promise is lost, he's gone, no questions asked. Alumni and fans be damned. No student-athlete has a guarantee." Barber liked the simple philosophy and planned to sell that to Dean Crawford in wanting to expand the football budget to turn a profit. Meredith Crawford was a bottom-liner and she wanted to forfeit their Division One status for football. The program had made little progress and was entering the fourth year of a 5-year commitment to the NCAA. In final negotiations Dean Crawford was dead set against hiring Winslow. Surprisingly, it was when he said that he needed THREE years, bringing them to a 6th total year at NCAA Division One, and the way he said it that flipped her over. "If you give me three years and end up losing money and you're unhappy, I'll pay you back the negotiated signing bonus and move on. You can hold it in escrow if you like. I'm THAT sure we can turn this around. The 40,000 seat stadium will be too small by the time I finish." Jared promised. Doubling the budget of a failing program was against any principles Dean Crawford had, but Jared Winslow's cockiness and utter confidence swayed her to offer $800,000 for signing, and $800,000 for each year. It amounted to a giant raise from his current $150,000. It was to become an even more significant change in his life than either AD Barber or Dean Crawford had imagined. "Winning" Winslow, or "Winnie" Winslow, however the papers wanted to personify him, was moving to the big time. ------- Chapter 1 "WHAT IN HELL IS THIS HORSESHIT?" Barbara Gaynes wailed as she threw the front-page headline onto the bed where Jared lie, he just thinking about getting up. "Aw FUCK, they leaked it. It wasn't supposed to be this way." Jared said looking at the splash of black ink in the front page. "WINNIE WINSLOW GOES TO N.E.A.T." "Ummm DUH! You're moving 125 miles away from the woman you promised to marry 6 years ago and lived with for the past 9. Don't you think I should have a little say?" She demanded. "Let me explain it all Barbie, sit down." He said patting the bed. "Fuck you, don't sugar coat it. Just tell me!" She spat back at him. "Do you think we've been happy for past few years? We haven't made love in 3 months and not 5 times in the last 2 years. We seem to be on auto-pilot and I thought changing jobs would be time for a fresh break." He started before she cut in. "A break? Do you mean like a coffee break or a break up?" She asked sadly preparing for the worst. The look on Jared's face told her it was more than a coffee break "What about the house? How do I pay for that?" She asked suddenly worried about her well being rather than the relationship. "I'll pay it off and deed it to you. Don't think this is the absolute end. Maybe a break from each other is all we need to get the spark back." Barbie spun her body away from Jared and sat Indian style on the bed, her arms crossed and her head, pouted lips and all, hung in defeat. Her straight raven hair hung shiny and perfect as Jared looked at the ball she had put herself into and at what his inconsiderate move had done to the woman he once loved so much. Sunday was just the worst day for him to tell her what he planned to do. The announcement wasn't supposed to be until Wednesday. March was late to announce coaching changes, but the Valley Tech program was so much on cruise control that it would suffer little as long as they promoted good coaches to his position. He promised to leave his assistants at Valley Tech for at least one season, not wishing to raid the cupboard. He would have little time to recruit for this season, but felt he had a small nucleus to work with and could shape some sort of team. Barbie was sobbing and Jared got up from the bed and went to her side and knelt on the floor. He laid his head beside hers on her lap. "I want you to be happy, and I felt we just weren't in that place. We've been going through the motions for a long time; two people living together saying hello in the morning, and goodnight at bedtime. The passion is gone. I used to look at you and get excited both mentally and physically. Now you seem disinterested, unhappy and bored. At a time in our lives when we should be flourishing we're going through the motions like an old married couple." He tried to explain. "I can change!" She exclaimed, "I can make it more exciting again. Tear off my pajamas and do anything you want to me. You always said I gave great head, let me do that for you. I still love you, I really do." "Barbie, you love the security I provide. The spontaneity of our lovemaking dropped out a lot of miles back. I can jerk-off and make myself happy in that way, and I have many times. You're still an attractive woman, but apparently don't find me as the one who rings the bell for you, or you don't feel the need to be rung. That alone should tell you something." He reasoned. After falling back into her ball she raised her head again. "I don't love you and the fact that we don't fuck is proof?" "Yes, YES it is! Not having the need to express your love, or the need to feel reciprocated tells me a lot. Can you seriously tell me that you love me? Do you love me to the point where you can swear before God and all of our friends that you will uphold your marriage vows and leave the altar wanting me to take you to the marriage bed and love and please you, and then you me?" He asked her. Her sobs got louder and more pronounced before she looked up through her tears and looked him in the eyes. "You're right. I would be a hypocrite to take the vows, but I would take them just to be there with you. You are my security blanket and I don't want you to leave. Please Jared, reconsider or take me with you. That's it, I'll go with you and in a new setting things will change!" She said coming to a new false realization. "Barbie, what about your career? What of all the children who depend on you? Rehabilitating those young bodies into normal children is your life. You couldn't leave them and you know it. I've tracked something since Wednesday, that's 4 full days. We have said a total of 30 words to each other before this morning. Now I know I'm not here all day, but I have went to bed with you and woke up each morning with you. We watched the news together and shared coffee each day. Thirty words!" Jared complained. "Barbie face it, we've grown apart. I don't know if this is the end forever. We may decide that we like our little 30 word 4-day forays into blandness. But, I think we both deserve better. You know that I will always love you as the person who fulfilled my life for all these years. Now I've got the opportunity to move on to huge things with this school. I've known the Division 1 challenge would be presented to me at one point and truthfully other schools have asked and VT refused them permission at my request. At NEAT I have a license to fail for a year or so, taking over for Sherm Woodard. He should have stayed in the NFL ranks, but thought he could go back to how colleges recruited and played in the 60's. They've had 2 sell-outs in 2 years and the fans were there to see the other team on both occasions. I can do this and be set for life. It's an open door, but I don't think I can go through with you in clear conscience. I want a new start. We deserve to find out if we can be happier." He continued. Barbie looked up, her eyes red from crying. "Is it all that easy? Just a "don't let the door hit you in the ass?" Is that all I mean to you?" She asked. "You mean the world to me, and that's why I'm setting you free, to find yourself, to see what life and love hold for you. You are still a beautiful, attractive woman who I'm sure still gets her share of second looks and elevator eyes. You should have a vibrant and happy life. Instead you're stuck in doldrums with me in a stale relationship. We worked hard and paid down the principle on the house and it will be yours now. I want you to keep the ring so you never forget me, and who knows, maybe we'll be together again. I'll be going to a furnished coach's quarters there where I only need bring my clothes and personal items." He further explained. "Is it all that simple for us? I woke up this morning thinking I was with my future husband, the one who promised to marry me but never set a date. Then I read in the paper he's moving 125 miles away from me to start a new life. Now, 20 minutes later I'm on my own?" She asked somewhat rhetorically. "It's NOT that simple and you seem to think this all came easy for me. I love you in so many ways and we've lived our lives so closely together. I don't even know if I can exist without you, but the situation tells me I should try, for both me and you." He said tenderly. "When do you leave?" "I have to be there Thursday morning for a press conference, then I meet with the players that night and Friday and then Saturday there is a get together for the Athletic Directors staff. Then I'm off to meet with players who were recruited last year, all the while evaluating the staff that Woodard had, some might be salvageable. On Wednesday before I leave here they plan a send-off. I'd like you to be by my side for that. You've been as big a part of my stay here as anything, and make no mistake, I want you to be a part of my life in the future. We just have to find out where we are and what part of each other's life's we can be. If during our time apart we decide we want to see someone else we have to pursue that, it's a part of the process." "So what do you say at the send off on Wednesday night? ... and now a special thanks to the woman I slept with and led on for the past 9 years?" She asked with attitude. "I never led you on. You were in this thing with both eyes open, and most of the time leading the way. Do you really think we're OK?" Jared asked, amazed at her denseness. "Don't look at me like I'm stupid Jared. I KNOW we were standing on opposite sides of the wedding cake. I've always figured you asked me to marry you to keep me here. Now you want to give me the house to pay for all the times we screwed. But, do you know what? Your words have been a merry-go-round for the past 20 minutes. You love me, you don't love me, you can't live with me, and you want to live without me. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT, EXCEPT APPARENTLY, A NEW PIECE OF ASS!" Barbie said losing her temper and burying her head in the pillow with her back to Jared. "Barbie, stop the theatrics and listen to me. YOU'RE RIGHT, on a few counts. To have sex with someone new is NOT the reason I want to move on. I'm not exactly Don Juan, or Robert Redford, but I've had my share of opportunities. A lot of women want to see if Winning Winslow will rub off in them. I've turned down EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM! Do you know why I'm sending mixed messages? ... because I don't know what I want. But, plain and simple, I cannot live with you and be this way anymore. I can't tell you I want to marry you anymore, I can't say I don't either. DO YOU WANT ME TO STAY HERE WHEN I CAN'T SAY I REALLY KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT YOU?" He said frustrated that he was at a loss for cogent expression of thought. Barbie cried for a few more minutes before the room went totally silent. She was sure Jared had left her there to cry herself out. She sat up and he was still there, lying next to her, tears coming from the corner of his eyes. With her face full of tears and a nose that needed wiping she kissed him hard and pulled back. "Jared I know we've been in a terrible rut, I'm not stupid. I just figured we would weather it. You never told me you were considering the big move. I know I can't leave here, at least right now." She said, her eyes just an inch from his. "The fact I didn't need to tell you, or ask your opinion was the biggest tell in my whole decision. I didn't feel bad about it at all." He said. "As far as the sex goes, we're just in a normal married persons rut. After a few years you grow tired of the same sex routine. Nothing's exciting because you know what is coming next and soon it's a couple times a year." Barbie said. "Who fed you that logic bullshit, your Mother? If I ever thought YOU would become the unfeeling ice queen she was I would have left a long, long time ago." Jared sniped back. "My Mom was sick and we just never knew it. My Dad should have left her long before she died. Once he found out she was unbalanced he pitied her. She only fed me venom for all the time YOU knew her, but I remember a great childhood." Barbie reflected. "But she fed you the sex horse shit, I'll bet." "She told me she didn't sleep with my Father once I was born. I slept in their bed every night. She would buy him "personal happiness" magazines." Barbie admitted. "After I leave, YOU should go see a shrink if you had to listen to THAT bullshit. Although, ... she DID feel guilty if she bought him jerk-off material." Jared said, getting testy once again. "Alright, let's leave my parents out of this. I know they were fucked up and I had hoped we wouldn't end up like them. I shouldn't have told you that. That was secret." "SECRET? What other secrets have you kept from me?" "None, Jared. God, let's just figure out what we have here." Barbie said suddenly realizing the situation around her was really happening. Barbie bent forward again to look Jared in the eye. "I do love you, even though I've done little to show it. You used to grope me to initiate some play, but that always seemed to be at a bad time. I guess I tried to avoid spontaneity when THAT'S what we needed. You haven't done that in months." Barbie said with a soft sincerity to go with her admission. After a long pause she put her lips to his and he responded in kind, kissing her hard. His right arm went up and his hand squeezed the ball of her ass, fondling it. She kissed him harder and fell forward pressing her breasts to his chest and straddling her legs over his right leg. She began to hump herself on him as both of his hands held her ass. She paused her kiss and put her head next to his, giggling in his ear. He slid his hands up over the waistband of her pajamas and inside to her bare skin, squeezing. "Let's do something spontaneous," She whispered. "Why don't you fuck me in my ass. You've always wanted that." "You always said it would hurt, and I haven't asked you in 5 years. Why now?" "Because I want to make you happy. It's apparently something you like. I know it's going to hurt, but that's OK." "It just seems like something I would like, I adore your ass." "You've never done it?" "No, I was trying to get some more excitement in our sex." "It's not exciting if it's painful!" She said losing a bit of the passion for the moment "How do you know it's going to hurt?" He challenged her. "Because I've done it and I don't like it and it hurts!" She admitted as she began to lose her temper. "More secrets, huh? Why didn't you just say this in the first place, the first time I brought it up? Honesty in a relationship is the basis for love. Just tell me things, stop hiding them." Jared said knowing an argument was brewing. "OK, OK, OK, I was wrong." She said calming down and moving her lips to his again. He wanted to say more, but the thought of a guy shoving his dick up her ass, with her in pain, satisfied a little revenge factor within him. He was enjoying the kiss and getting hard at the same moment. Breaking the kiss as before, trying to be spontaneous she whispered again. "I'm going to suck your dick until it's good and hard as rock. Then I want you to fuck me until I scream. When you're ready to cum, let me suck it out. There's something I like and we haven't done that in a long time." She waited for no approval from him, she just slithered down his body and began to play with his cock and balls with her fingers, tongue, and mouth the way she did in the early days of their relationship. They would fuck, she would finish him in her mouth and then he would eat her until she tore herself off his mouth. They felt it was birth control insurance. Jared swore he wouldn't let this happen when he played out his hand to her in his mind. He didn't want to lead her on. One good fuck wasn't going to sway his decision. But there was one other factor he hadn't "entirely" counted on. He still loved her, and that was why he was letting it happen. He knew old feelings would come rushing back in the goodbye, but the one thing he had to be sure she knew on his leaving, they were no longer engaged. However with a crotch full of her sloppy spit and her mouth alternately sliding up and down his cock and sucking and fondling his balls was not exactly the time to make sure that codicil was expressed. "Get rid of those bottoms and get your legs up." He said touching the back of her head, knowing his cum was frothing. She fell off to the side and stripped her bottoms down. She laid back into the pillow pulling her pajama top up under her neck. As he got to his knees he saw what a beauty she was. At 5' 9" she was a tall girl by standards. In a skirt her long legs were the kind that turned your head. On her back her hip bones just protruded a bit on either side of her flat stomach with a picture perfect inny navel. As she laid back her breasts widened under their own weight, but the nipples fell just a few degrees off the perfect center they held when she stood. Her nipples were a perfect mauve taupe with long hard buds when excited. Her dark haired pussy was in serious need of a trim, or a total shave as Jared liked it. Her full bush was evidence of the deterioration of their sex life as the hairline even began to creep up towards her cute belly. She petted her bush as if to part the little head of hair for his cock to enter. "I'm sorry for looking like this. I guess it's..." "Shhhhhh." He said with a finger to his lips as he moved inside her legs and put his fingers to her slit, parting the lips and feeling her wetness. He stroked his thumb over her clit before leaning forward to put his straining cock to her entrance. "OOOOOEEEEEE!" She yelped at the first intrusion in her honey pot in months, as he sunk to the hilt. She wrapped her arms around his back tightly and folded her legs firmly around his ass. "New England Ag can't have you as long as I've got you like this." She said in a heady whisper. He kissed her hard and lurched a bit forward releasing her legs from behind him. He pressed as deep as he could into her, her legs opening fully spread. He hunched up and put his shoulders under her legs, bending her in half as he began to fuck her, almost like a pile driver. She liked to be fucked hard and he was filling her wish. Her cries filled the room each time he hit bottom and he felt her fingers grip him tightly as she spasmed and came. He double-timed his stroke to wring her orgasm from her. When she yelped out and grabbed at his arms he stopped and pulled back popping from her pussy. He reached over with his left hand and touched her left hip, gripping just under it and pulled. She helped him flip her self over on onto her knees and put her head into the pillow, her shoulders fitting on the pillows edge. He looked down at the sight before him. Her perfect ass was not the round classic apple shape from Playboy, but long and full. Each cheek had a little muscled dimple when she walked and bent over like this she could make men cry. Her mane of pubic hair ran under her perineum almost to her prominent asshole. It was never a buried wrinkle in the darkened cleft of her ass; it was always a perfect little O. It was the forbidden fruit from many forays with his fingers, trying to convince her to try something that seemed so exciting and prurient. Now he knew it wasn't fear of the unknown that jilted his requests, it was fear of the known. He envied the lucky man who had been in the dark little hole, but also cursed him for hurting her. The tip of his cock was almost straining to get back in her warmth as he put a hand on her coccyx, his thumb at the top of her cleft and pushed his fat cock head into the wet shroud of her wings and drove up into her, going even deeper than before. From the little anatomy that came with his degree he knew the vagina barrel elongated in this position and let an average man reach the cervix and opening for her uterus. Medical terms aside, her pussy was totally full of cock. She pushed back to feel him fill her as he gripped her hips to him. He let her go and pulled back before gliding up into her again. He repeated his stroke over and over, his balls swinging to her pussy on each stroke. Her mouth was open and eyes were closed as guttural sounds came from her throat as she was in another level of sexual consciousness. He looked down at her ass as it's flesh rippled so slightly on her tight body with each assault. He remembered something from their early years of lovemaking that she liked. He planted loud crisp open hand smacks to each cheek of her ass, making her cry out loudly. When he didn't repeat it, she cried out. "That's it. Spank your bad girl, beat my ass red!" Jared could never really hurt her, but he knew what she wanted. She got 4 more cracks on her fleshy cheeks each alternating sides before she trembled and came hard, burying her mouth into the pillow. Jared heard the muffled shrill scream of her orgasm starting just before he felt his own rising again. He wanted to alert her but she was still in her grind. He made his mind leap to absurd thoughts to let her finish ... The Grand Canyon filled to the top with blood, and me falling into it! ... He envisioned hoping it was enough to delay him. He saw her exhale and the middle of her back relax as she finished her orgasm. "Barbie! Take my cum, take my cum!" He said frantically, falling back from her. She leapt to her knees and twisted, dropping her head over his pussy drenched cock. She pushed down hard with her mouth and up once and was going to use her fingers to assist him but it wouldn't be necessary. He grunted 5 or 6 times in excited cadence as his orgasm zoomed up his cock and into her mouth. He wondered if she was surprised at how much he came because it brewed so long before their activity today. She moved her lips slowly up and down over the head to coax all he could offer. When her mouth could take no more she grabbed her pajama bottoms and spit the load into them, wishing she had planned with a towel. Clearing her mouth of the contents of his balls she once again sucked at the head of his cock, this time tasting and swallowing what little more he could muster in post orgasmic pulses. "Jared, I love you and your cock. I don't know how I could love another. I don't want you to go." She said cutely and softly. "Barbie, Don't do this to me. You know it's best. Just let this remind us what we had and what can be if we work our way back to each other." Jared said looking down at her as she tipped her head up with a pout. Suddenly she bounced up and pushed him back onto the bed. "You don't think you're getting away without using that mouth on my pussy, do you?" She said as she crawled up to straddle his face. She used her fingers to push back some of her bush but he had no trouble flicking his tongue on her clit. This was their sex routine for most times they were together. She was on the pill, but she knew 2 friends who got pregnant while using the pill so they didn't totally trust it. They both loved to give and receive oral, so it was no problem. Early in their relationship she would often treat him to a surprise blowjob when she was on the rag. She hadn't done that in years. All of these thoughts went through her head as she tried to relive their sex life as he licked and nibbled on her pussy. She closed her eyes and tipped her head up moaning and hissing through her teeth when he hit a particularly good spot. She brought her hands up to her breasts to squeeze the nipples, but he quickly replaced them with his. If fixing the sex alone was all he needed to do, Jared had the problem licked, pardon the pun. It was the social boredom they both suffered through in the tedious humdrum of life together with nothing to say to each other. She began to get close to a big orgasm and began to bear down on his mouth a little. He sensed that and began to suck on her nubbin in earnest. She was what she called "flying"; his mouth on her clit, his hands on her nipples and she sitting up with her hands behind her holding her ass. She drew deep breaths through her nose until she came hard almost pushing at the bridge of his nose with her pubic bone. She hissed out the deep breaths she took until her hand came around from behind her and slid between her pussy and Jared's mouth. "Oh God, Please stop, it's all I can stand. I can't believe I didn't miss that more. What am I going to do without you?" She asked, as if rhetorically. Jared got up from the bed and smiled to himself. He was happy she was going to miss him for something. The way things had been for the past many months he wondered if she would know if he came home at night or not. He had 3 more days to live with her until he would leave for NEAT. He wanted that to be the last they made love. He was afraid if they went for it again there would be a scene with crying and regrets and he wanted to avoid that. ------- Chapter 2 After spending the rest of Sunday beginning to pack up what was his and what was going to remain hers, they had few items to dispute over. Barbie seemed to want him to leave some items she knew he would be back for. Jared wanted to avoid that. If he wasn't compelled to come back for her, he didn't want to spend another night in what was his house, after Wednesday. He was able to stay away Monday and Tuesday when she was home by saying his community goodbyes. He arranged Wednesday morning for the lawyer's office and deed transfer and final pay-off of the mortgage. That way he would have reason to be up and out early. After all the trouble he spent trying to be sure there wasn't another "fuck to remember you by" he wasn't even sure she had wanted to seek one. She seemed to slip back into her rut. Somewhere in that beautiful attractive body and smart compassionate mind was the woman he once wanted to marry. After a flash of what he loved about her, her sexual passion on Sunday, she was back to humdrum leaving him wondering if she at all realized he was leaving in the morning on Thursday. At the send-off on Wednesday night at the football field the whole student body, as well as half the town, it seemed, came out to cheer him and wish him well. He held Barbie at his side and credited her for much of his success, "always being my rock". She wiped away tears and held his arm and everyone in attendance was sure she would leave with him. She had already assured the Vermont State Child Developmental Center that she was staying and continuing the programs she had started making it one of the best of its kind in the nation. When the Valley Tech admin staff wanted to take Jared out for a drink, Barbie passed. She kissed him and said she would see him home. When he got there at 11 o'clock, she was asleep. He stripped to his underwear and slid in along side her, looking at her in the ambient glow of her ever-present night light. Her dark hair framing the pretty face on the pillow excited him, with the covers just up over her waist her nightgown was askew and one breast showed. There was a day when he would have suckled it to waken her and make love. Now that was a memory and would have seemed so unfair. His hard-on strained in his shorts as he tried to go to sleep, but couldn't. He went to the bathroom pantry and got a hand towel and again lay along side her watching her sleep. He pulled his shorts over his erection and stroked himself gently as not to rock the bed and wake her. He came into the towel wishing it were her mouth or pussy. He rolled the towel and dropped it beside the bed and went right to sleep. He had to be at NEAT for 10 a.m. so it meant getting up early to leave. Her 4:30 alarm would be the last he would hear there. When he rolled out in the morning she was already in the shower, he not hearing the first alarm. He went into the bathroom to pee and she spoke loudly to him. "Please Jared I'm showering, can't you wait?". He answered her with a simple "Sorry", saying to himself, "So this is how it's going to be. Maybe that's best." The small U-Haul with all of his things had left the day before so all he had to go with him was his computer, a laptop, his briefcase of player profiles, and a small night case and ditty bag. He put those few things in the car and came back into finish his coffee and say goodbye. He sipped his coffee in the kitchen waiting for her to come out and leave as well. When she came out she acted surprised to see him. "I thought you already left." "You think I would leave without saying goodbye, kissing you?" "No I guess not. Hurry and get going though, your car is blocking me." Jared went over and hugged her tightly not feeling like his advance was welcome. He went to kiss her on the lips, but she offered her cheek. She showed no emotion. He went out the door and got to his car realizing his house key and her car set was still on his ring. He waited for her to come out to leave and would hand it to her. When a few minutes went by he went back to the window and saw her with her head in her hands at the kitchen table. She was probably crying. He decided to let her have the end as she wanted it. He tried to make it cordial; she didn't want that. He walked to her car and opening it with the clicker, he put the keys on the dash where she would see them. Good-bye Barbara Gaynes, and goodbye Valley Tech. He was off to make his millions in the high-pressure world of Division One college football. As he started his drive his mind raced with thoughts of the what's and where's he had to put together for the upcoming season. The preliminary schedules were already printed and NEAT had 10 conference games in the recently formed Northeast 10, plus 2 out of conference and 2 scrimmage wild cards. They weren't supposed to win the wild card games, but they would bring 2 major college programs to each teams home in the new conference to boost attendance and interest. Jared wondered if he had time to call in favors to make the 2 out of conference games as powerful of opponents as the wild cards. He may have been second division, but he had a lot of friends in the top college ranks. He ran the team he was inheriting through his mind and had a lot of changes in mind. He remembered a safety with the fastest feet he had seen in quite a while. He wondered if he could throw the ball. He was a great safety, but with his quickness he might be able to set up quickly and negate some of the slowness in the offensive line. Plus he could run the option and establish the running game. Quickness was a quality of every Winslow team. He had few sizable players, but looked for strong players who weren't afraid to use their speed to force their opponents into mistakes and out of game plan. He knew some of his plans would leave some established players with hurt feelings, but he had to use his personality and psychology to show them how their contribution to TEAM could get scouts there to look at them. In his 9 years at little second division Valley Tech he had 9 players drafted in the first 5 rounds, and 40 overall. A few played in the NFL and some were working as assistants and scouts. Best of all he only had 4 dropouts, and 10 forced to leave because of grades. Besides transfers, he graduated all the rest of his players. Trying to piece the team together in his head not being able to match faces, bodies and names, his head began to ache. He stopped for a coffee and asked a waitress if she had any Tylenol. She reached in her apron pocket and took a bottle of Extra Strength, no less. "Have a good time at the press conference today and Good Luck at New England Ag Mr. Winslow." She said with a polite smile. Little did she know that she had made his day. For people to drive 60, 100, or even 150 miles to see New England Ag or Valley Tech game was very, very common and the recent publicity made him a recognizable face. There were no large cities near either college, but they drew from the rural areas where they had no other affordable 1st rate college sports besides hockey. Even University of Vermont, known mostly for it's hockey drew from across the state and had a season ticket waiting list said to be 15 years long. The boost to his ego, the coffee and the Tylenol got him going with a fresh start for the last 40 minutes of his drive. He began to run the people he would have to deal with first hand through his head. The athletic director that he would answer to, Joe Barber seemed like a nice enough guy. They spent a lot of time together when they recruited him, and they would be together to go out and meet those scholarships with football intentions for the upcoming season. Barber was 54 and talked of his wife, 10 years younger than he, as the "old gray mare" when Jared had brought up the subject of bringing along wives or girlfriends on this trip as many do when they travel in the off-season. "No, oh God no! We don't do those things anymore." Barber said, "We've been married 24 years and that should tell you the story. She went gray before ME! We do have fun when we go away because we both love to eat gourmet and try wines, but all of the other stuff is long gone. I do too much work on these trips and don't get time for dinner and wine appreciation. It's true what they say; you put a bean in a jar every time you do it the first 2 years you're married, and then take one out whenever you do it after that, and the jar is never empty. I got married when I was 30, so I had plenty of time for all of that stuff." "You're 54, you're not dead." Jared countered, but Barber just chuckled and said, "You'll see someday, my friend." As Jared pulled onto the NEAT campus he began to see many signs and banners welcoming him. This was a large campus that made up half the area population during the school year, but the draw from over New England was like that of the Red Sox. Most of New England was rural and driving 2 or more hours to get somewhere was a hop, skip and a jump for many of them. The stadium was built with money and land bequeathed to the campus for that reason. With 40,000 seats the NCAA became interested in adding them to the Northeast 10, well aware that in the old 20,000-seat venue they had a long waiting list for season tickets. All they wanted was a commitment from the administration that they would seriously recruit. His cell phone rang and he picked up to hear Joe Barbers voice. "Hey Jared. The press conference has been changed to the stadium. Go to the Gate 11 parking lot. The guard will be looking for you. Gate 11 is players, coaches and the like. We're gonna tie this announcement in with the selling of the naming rights to the stadium." Joe said. "Oh good Lord, dare I ask?" Jared asked. "Hahaha, don't worry. It'll be New England Meditek Stadium. We send tons of graduates to them and they're a good employer for all of New England. What's the matter, afraid it would be Exlax Park or Kotex Stadium?" Joe asked with a hardy laugh. "OK Joe, I'm in town so I'll be there within a few minutes." Jared said hanging up. The crowd at the press conference shocked Jared, with over half of the stadium was filled. Jared wasn't shy with all the attention though, and posed for dozens of shots for the press, did an ESPN interview and signed a few hundred autographs beforehand. Once he was introduced he was congenial with the press, with lots of them from Boston who refused to throw him easy softballs. Winslow wasn't at all about to shy away from any question and never at a loss for words. The last question of the conference was when he was asked for predictions about the teams finish. "Do I think we'll win the division? I would never bring my team onto the field if I didn't think we had a chance to win. If I ever thought a player had that thought in their mind they would be eating Mom's home cooking in no time. We'll always have a game plan to win. Obviously this first year will be tough on all of players, coaching staff and me alike. BUT, we work with what we have and I see a lot of talent to work with. I have a lot of plans and ideas, but a lot will take time to call this ALL my team, but be assured from the opening kick-off this year you will see a different New England Ag and Tech team. THEY CALLED ME WINNING WINSLOW AT VALLEY TECH AND I HAVE TOO MANY MONOGRAMMED AND PERSONALIZED THINGS TO CHANGE TO DUMP THAT NAME." Jared answered as the crowd went crazy and he stepped off the podium. It was pure Hollywood, with the answer looking to be off the cuff, but Jared had it loaded and ready from the start. The fact it came as the last question, was just luck. Jared spent almost 2 hours trying to break free from interviews, autographs and photos. Joe Barber knew he had to get Jared out of the stadium and get him to his new residence so he could settle in a bit before he started work. He had 3 appointments with returning players that evening and 16 more for Friday. With 39 returning players the rest of the 60 + -man roster made up of incoming freshman and transfers he was assured of having a very young and inexperienced team. He only hoped that when the new season started all 39 would still be around. He planned on filling them with excitement and an optimistic outlook of their new coaches vision. His 3 transfers were going to be juniors, having transferred after their freshman years and having to sit out a season. All three were highly regarded prospects with NFL aspirations. However, the only colleges they could get into left them with little chance to make a national splash. Having proved themselves on the field and now in the classroom, NEAT administration accepted their transfers. Low SAT's and dismal High School GPA's kept them out of prime schools. If a prospective transfer shows he is willing to crack down on the books as a freshman and continue to do so while sitting out the season they are given permission to practice with the team. They have no guarantees though. Jared felt all three had the potential to be major impact players, but history told him that grades would be a problem as they found more athletic success. Jared Winslow didn't tolerate that, or the attitude that goes with it. Nobody is above his rules and to him Student-Athlete meant just that. Student first, Athlete second. It was the probable reason he would never ascend to the high ranks of the best-known football schools. He felt compelled to graduate players. His Dad had been a friend of a top basketball school coach from the mid-west who consistently was ranked in the national top 20 or better for 15 straight years. He had graduated but ONE player, and he came back after retiring from the NBA to get his diploma. It made his Dad spitting mad to talk about it because he respected his friend's skills so much. Jared was sure he didn't want that sort of legacy to dog him. Joe Barber sat in on the first 3 interviews Winslow conducted Thursday evening. He instantly knew that he liked his style. Each player came in comfortable of his place on next years team in the position they felt they had the most talent. They left with uncertainty of making the team and their position wide open, but somehow happy and confident they could show Coach Winslow the skills it might take to play where he thought it would best serve the team. It was already evident that Jared Winslow possessed the ability to handle boys to make them men, and then to handle the men individually and as a team making them be the best they could make of themselves. He was a motivator and dealer of confidence. Barber was well aware that sitting in on any of the other interviews was not necessary, Winslow could handle himself quite well. When Jared finally got to his residence that night he was tired, but anxious to get settled. Whomever was assigned to be sure his personal things were put into the house did a great job of lining up the boxes in a way that they were all easily accessible, but not in the way. He set up his bathroom and kitchen and decided to settle into bed. He realized that it was the first time in many months that he would be sleeping alone. He was sad and missed Barbie, but one thing struck him. He missed the Barbie that was passionate, forceful and not afraid to take the sexual reins to drive both of their lusts. That was the one that made love to him on the last Sunday morning. The Barbie he lived with the 3 days before and 3 days after that event was the one he spent the most time with in the past few years and he did not miss her. Their first 7 years were happy, horny, day-to-day personal victories of life. Where and why that slipped away were questions not easily answered. Nothing had changed in the regularity of time they spent with each other, with Barbie making almost every road trip. Now he looked to the empty side of the bed and imagined her tall dark haired image there. He sighed and hugged the pillow, but quickly he faded into sleep. Friday Joe Barber left Jared to himself in his office at the administration building to finish his player interviews. By 4 in the afternoon Jared was working the phones networking his contacts, but ready to get home and settle in. The on-campus residences were somewhat of a gated community within the campus. It bordered off campus private homes, but to drive to them you had to go by a guard shack where license plates were tracked. After 6:00 PM cars were stopped and drivers questioned of their business in the area. It was supposed to appear as an invisible curtain of security. By 6:30 in the early evening empty boxes were beginning to pile up on the garage floor. He enjoyed setting up his bachelor housekeeping. He wasn't in love with the furniture picked out for the house, but he was adaptable more so than Barbie would have been. He had expected to get a congratulatory message from Barbie in some form, but nothing came. Calling her was out of the question. He wanted the silence between them to last for at least a few weeks, and he was not going to be the one to give in. He felt no culpability in the loss of the relationship. He hoped she realized after just a few days that she didn't really miss him that much. That would be the proof that she had become bored with the relationship, which he thought was totally evident. Only the threat of him leaving made her juices flow on Sunday, but she reverted back to her former mood on Monday morning. Saturday morning Jared awoke for the first time in weeks with a full sense of accomplishment and without conflict in his head over his recent decisions. His home was set up with only a short list of things he wished he had taken from his old life and home. He had finished all of his interviews and written brief notes to himself on each player. He knew what to watch for with each of them as early practices started. He had notes from the game videos he had watched and was already coupling them in his mind with the impressions he took away from his talks with them. The challenge of building his team, his career, was at hand and he was excited. Today he would meet the rest of the athletic staff at what was an annual affair to finish the school year, Joe Barbers barbeque! It was where incoming staff for the coming school year met the athletic administration. It was one of the school departments that didn't shut down for the summer, it was also one of the departments where next years staff changes were plugged in before graduation if at all possible. That usually meant coaches and assistants. Barber felt seeing the previous attitudes and methods were important for the new personnel to drink in and see where changes needed were evident. Joe Barber fought administration to keep Soccer, Lacrosse, and Rugby out of his realm. They wanted to cut staff, but he convinced them that they were just "club" sports and not worthy of his time and staff. He didn't want the key money producing sports to suffer through time spent with teams with no fiscal bearing on the college. The schools reputation was bringing more and more students from abroad, however, and those "international" sports were beginning to see heavy student involvement. It wouldn't be long before there would be a recruitment program and a solicitation to the NCAA to make their teams legitimate. Jared was dressed and ready for the affair by a little after 11. It didn't start until noon, but he wanted to be there early to meet everyone and also to show he was more than willing to pitch in. He wanted to be sure that everyone knew he was no prima-donna. The national news of his hiring certainly spread some animosity with some, and he was determined to show them he was a "regular Joe". He took the directions Joe Barber had given him to his sister in laws house. It was off-campus on a piece of property willed to the university. It offered a large country-setting perfect for outdoor affairs. The home was that of the Sports Information Director, Ann Comeche who was the sister of Joe Barbers wife. All he knew of her was that she was a few years younger than Mrs. Barber and did her job quite well. She had studied Jared Winslow's career and prepared a flawless packet for distribution upon his hiring. When he was sent a copy for his approval, he made but one change, that he was single, and never married. It was assumed that he and Barbie were married, he guessed. When he pulled into the large dirt and gravel driveway he was the third car there. He saw a woman taping table covers on long tables in the side yard and as he pulled in a gray haired, but seemingly young, late 30's or early 40's, woman came out of the house with bags of ice. Joe guessed it was Ann and he quickly got out of the car and went to her. "Here, let me get those, I came early to help out." Jared said rushing to help her. Oh PLEASE, the bags of ice are the least of our worries. I know you're Jared Winslow from all of the media attention. Good luck and welcome." She said shaking his hand. "I'm Annabelle, but please call me Belle." "Ummm, we could use a hand moving the grilles from the shed. There's only Amanda, one of the frat booster organizers here and me so far." She said turning to the woman on the side of the house. "Amanda, come meet Coach Winslow" She yelled. The "woman" on the side of the house ended up being a 19 or 20 year old student who reminded him a bit of Barbie once she got close to him, trim figure and dark hair. "Oh, Hello Coach, so glad to meet you! I've got a whole presentation to show you on how we'll support the team, but let business wait. I'm glad you came early, we can't seem to move the grills." "First off, Please call me Jared off the field. My Dad was Coach Winslow and I don't pretend to be him. Secondly, any student participation in team boosters is fantastic and I look forward to seeing your presentation and sharing ideas. Getting fan support at away games and the like is something I hope you've worked on." He said as he made his way toward the shed. "It is, we want to get a LOT done I that area, but we can talk later." She said as she walked up beside him. Belle, was already in the shed trying to pull on one of the grilles to move it. As she bent over and pulled he couldn't help but notice what a shapely and firm ass she had. Belle was tall, around 5' 9" and well filled out. Not what you would call thick or even a little chubby. She was well proportioned and the kind of body he might have called comfortable. Where Barbie was close to the bone, Belle was quite the opposite. "I can't move these for anything!" She said pulling on it so hard she fell back to him. He caught her and was intoxicated by her smell immediately, slightly flowery, but just a scent that conveyed pure woman. He held her arms that he caught her by and without thinking said, "Wow, you sure do smell great." He was embarrassed he said it and thought it was best to just let it go as he examined why the grilles wouldn't move. "You obviously didn't put these away, but there's a steel sheath going through the frame of them that locks over there." He said pointing to a large hasp that went through a support beam for the shed. All three grilles were immovable until you unlocked the heavy padlock. "Do you have a key for that?" He asked. She fumbled in a pocket and drew out a chain with a fob that said "shed" with two keys. One was a door key and the other for the padlock. He unlocked it and went to the other support beam and drew out the sheath. "Now we can move the grilles. Let me see if I can get them alone." He said as he pulled one out and rolled it to the deck attached to the front of the shed. Once outside Belle took one end of the grille, the one without wheels and bent to swing it into place. As she bent the front of her shirt opened giving Jared a good look at 2 beautiful boobs right to the edge of the nipple. She looked up and caught him looking and smiled at him, definitely flirting. He began to apologize but let the words catch in his throat and carried on as it nothing happened. She smiled brightly at him and walked past him back into the shed where Amanda was pulling a second grille out. "Please let me get those." He said with Amanda giving up her quest. "Once you get them out and lined up can you help bring out the soda and beer for the coolers?" Belle said as she walked toward the house. "Not a problem." Jared said as he watched she walked away in her light colored tight pants. He looked for a panty line, but was caught as she turned back "Fuck!" He thought to himself. "She probably thinks I'm some sort of stalker or something." He finished the grilles and went into the house with Belle arranging food in the refrigerator. "The cans of soda go in the blue coolers and the bottled beer goes into the 2 green ones. The bags of ice are in front of each cooler; just dump it in after you load them." Belle said as she turned her attention to a potato salad she was starting to mix. Jared didn't miss the circular motion of her hips and she didn't miss him in the back splash mirror checking her out. "What is it about this woman that has me mesmerized? She's so bright and cheery and her smile lights up the room. Yeah, that might have something to do with it. Plus she looks like she would feel so good up against you, all soft and warm. Holy crap, I'm horny! A week ago I was with my Barbie and already another woman, an older woman, was making me go crazy." He ran through his mind as he did what Belle asked. He heard another car pull up as Belle came out of the house. "Well now you get to finally meet my baby sister. She's been talking about you all week and she missed really meeting you. She's been so jealous of my husband." Belle said. "Whoa, wait a minute! I thought YOU were Ann! Didn't you say your name was Annabelle?" Jared said, truly stunned. "No, I'm Annabelle, She's Anna Marie. Both of our grandmothers were Anna's. She uses Ann, and I've always been Belle." Belle said to his surprise. "Holy Shit! I've been checking out my boss's wife like she's a steak at the meat market and she's been flirting right back. How in Gods name can he call her "the old gray mare"? She just oozes sex." He thought to himself as he walked with Belle to meet Ann. "Anna Marie, meet Jared Winslow. We've already put him to work and he passes the test as a good guy." Belle said smiling to her sister. Ann Comeche was simply a younger version of Belle. It would be easy to convince anyone they were twins. Ann's body was a little tighter, obviously more athletic, but in the same 5' 9" frame. Ann engaged him in conversation instantly as he helped her with the bags she just came from the store with. They bantered back and forth as they walked toward the house, strictly talking business. Just as they reached the door Belle yelled from the yard. "Did you have to steal him right away so fast? I saw him first! Just because you're not married doesn't mean you get first dibs!" She said kidding. "You'll have to excuse my sister, our boss neglects her. My brother in law is married to his job first and my sister second. It's not really that bad, but she makes you think so some times." Ann said making excuses for her sister. "He didn't call her the "old gray mare" did he?" Jared began to stumble at his answer when she cut him off. "I knew it. We all go gray early, the women in our family. I think she's pretty attractive, don't you?" "Umm, you're asking me to comment on my new boss's wife, but YES she's attractive, as are you. Now let's change the subject." Jared said wishing the whole subject hadn't come up. "Come here for a moment." Ann said pulling Jared into a small study with a desk and shelves of trophies and awards she had won. "Let me tell you this, no matter what the problem is, no matter what the situation is, if it's trouble, come to me. If you and I end up being mortal enemies, I will defend you and prop you up, fix anything I can fix and make things better. It's my job and I take it seriously. There are people I work with I find deplorable, but you will never know it because my job is to make our public persona a positive thing for the university. I will do my job and not let my personal feelings get in the way. I will not undermine you. My brother-in-law treats my sister like shit, but it casts no shadow on how I do my job for him. OK, are we straight?" Ann said forcefully to Jared. "I think I know the program. Thanks for the heads-up and quick tutor on you. We didn't really have an SID at Valley Tech." He told her as she began to open the door. "Remember my words, NO MATTER WHAT! ... and my sister will apologize for flirting." "That's not necessary." He said waving his hand not wanting her to bother speaking to her. "Oh, I'm not going to tell her to, she'll do it on her own. She's only playing because Joe isn't here yet. She wants you to know she's OK. She knows Joe probably ran her down." Ann said pushing the door into the frame half-way and finishing her thought before opening it and walking out as if nothing happened. More and more of the staff were arriving now along with Joe Barber. Little by little Jared met everyone and he was glad he was fitting in. He added to all of the conversations and laughed with everyone at the jokes and stories. He drank a few beers and loosened up nicely. It didn't take long before he had to answer natures call and he went into the house to use the bathroom. Just as he was about to go in he saw Belle come out of the little office he had been in earlier. "Jared, I have something for you." She said pushing a paper into his shirt pocket. He was about to protest when 2 others came into the door. So as not to create a scene he went into the bathroom and closed the door locking it. He took his leak and washed his hands and then took out the paper, unfolding it to read. "I made you feel like a voyeur, you're not. I'm a flirt and was playing with you. I'm so sorry. I couldn't resist a new victim, especially one so cute. I won't do it again." Jared smiled not really knowing what to make of the note, but glad she wrote it. He tore it into little pieces and flushed it down the toilet. He went back out into the outdoor party and began to mix and mingle with the rest of the Athletic Directors staff that he fell into. Everyone was aware that Jared Winslow was making a tremendous amount of money, probably as much as the rest of the staff combined. But, they were also aware that he was going to be the man who could propel the college into the forefront of Division 1 sports across the board. Joe Barber was aware that the other 3 club sports had good chances of drawing better players to get in on the ground floor of something magic happening. There were many small town high school players who are aware they have 1st Division talent but don't have the grades to get into a big school and attempt a walk-on. Those that have borderline grades attempt prep schools that cater to such athletes. However, some look for schools with established club status teams on the brink of going to Division 1 or 2. Then by their senior year the can shine in a new spotlight and be noticed by professional scouts. As Jared mingled and talked he wondered aloud, "How's the soccer program? Any stand-outs?" "I'm not really a fan, but I keep hearing about a Brit striker from North Wales, that town with the longest name. That was how we all heard of him; the computer kept kicking out the city name. His name is Brian Faraday." Mike Denault, the baseball coach, said hearing Jared ask. "Did I hear BRIAN FARADAY?" Belle yelled from her lawn chair under the huge elm. "Well, there's Belle! She goes to all the soccer games. She likes the small crowds and contained game time. She might know more about the players than anyone, and Faraday is her favorite." Ann Comeche said as those in the crowd familiar with her fanatic status all chuckled. "It's FAR —A-DEE, not Faraday. He's a dandy." Belle said loudly so Jared could hear. "I'll be down at the next game." Winslow yelled back. "Looking for a kicker?" Denault asked under his breath. "You bet!" Jared answered the same way. The baseball coach turned Jared sideways and filled him in on what he knew without drawing attention. "I was hoping to turn him into an infielder, but he has no baseball skills to speak of, even though he seems to be a great athlete. Great feet, but he couldn't throw. I could make him a hitter, but absolutely no arm. He will talk to you, though." He whispered. Joe Barber yelled to "Come and get it!" acting as the barbecue chef with his office staff helping. Soon everyone was either seated in a chair, at a picnic table or on the ground with a plate full of burgers or dogs and a variety of salads. With alcohol to fire their tongues the close-knit bunch began to needle each other to get a laugh at each other's expense. "Hey you guys, make sure you get Bob Mason over there a ride home today. He would have brought his girlfriend as Designated Driver but she isn't old enough to get her permit." Len Wilson, a travel coordinator said kidding one of the stadium managers. "She's not quite THAT young." Mason said defending himself. "Yeah Jared, if you have any daughters lock them up. Mason likes them young. He's 40 and his new girlfriend is barely legal." Mike Denault chimed in. "Sure, let the new guy think I'm a pervert or something. Jared, she's 23, not 13." Bob said to Jared. Jared Winslow just shook his head smiling. "So Bob, how was your dirty movie night last night?" Wilson asked. "God, do I have a big mouth. Lenny, I'm not telling you ANYTHING again. IF you must know it was fine. I hadn't seen a pornie in years. Biggest difference now is everyone shaves, the men, the girls. Lenny's got more hair on his bald head than the people in that movie." Bob Mason said, embarrassed his friend had brought it up. Everyone laughed at the hair comment. "So maybe I'm onto something, being bald?" Len said with a self deprecating chuckle. "Not unless you use your head for sex." A voice from the group near the tree said. "Well, THAT sheds a new light on things." Joe Barber said laughing. "Supposed to make you feel sexy all day long; shaving off your crop. I just don't trust myself with a razor in that area." Rich Brokay, maybe the oldest of the entire group, a basketball coach, said. The whole group laughed and more than a few of the females blushed. "Like MEN need something to make them think about sex more than the 20 hours a day they spend fantasizing." Myrna Denny, the women's hockey coach said. Before the conversation got more bawdy and personal Joe Barber and his sister-in-law Ann brought around the wheeled trash barrel and picked up plates and scraps preparing for dessert. As the angle of the sun changed the tree shade gave little relief from the suns rays unless you wanted to sit downhill. Some who could no longer stand the heat or the burning rays moved inside where Ann's air-conditioned living room provided relief. While some of the others moved to the back of the house for shade, Jared and a small group moved inside to get cooled down and breathe the easy air, having enough of the humidity. Belle, Ann, Joe, Jared, Myrna and Rich sat in the living room making casual conversation. When talk turned to travel and vacations Joe Barber and Belle seemed to link up with Joe showing her the first attention he had given his wife all day. They talked of trips they recently made and the time they had. Soon others chimed in and before anyone really noticed, Joe and Rich had moved to a back room where they were watching baseball and Ann began to prepare the table inside for the desserts she planned to put out. Jared sat in front of the window with Belle in a rocker opposite him and Myrna in a corner easy chair. Jared spoke easily with the 2 women about his career and plans for NEAT. He told them what he foresaw for the University if the football program was successful. As Jared spoke Belle watched him intently and drew her knees up and wrapped her arms around them. Sliding a little forward in the chair her Capri's pulled skintight between her legs. In looking at her Jared couldn't help notice her detailed camel toe. So fine was the detail Jared knew she was one of the women who blushed earlier when talk of shaving private parts came up. As the conversation bounced between the 3 of them Jared had a hard time keeping his eyes off the sexy woman's cooter being displayed. He wondered if she was aware of the display she had on, but once when her eyes caught his looking she smiled. "That horny pussy is pushing my buttons again." He thought to himself as he tried to keep his mind in the conversation. "I'm going to call everyone inside for cake, cookies and coffee now." Ann announced to the house as she went outside for a moment. "I'm going to get coffee, anyone else?" Myrna said as she got up and went to the kitchen leaving Jared and Belle alone before everyone came into the adjoining room where dessert was being served. "I thought this was over with." Jared said as he got up to walk past her. "I've changed my mind, I want to play more." Belle said with a pout to her lips. Jared looked around to be sure they were private. "Look, I'm flattered that such a pretty woman would come on to me, but I don't get involved with married women, especially in this situation." Jared could hardly believe what had transpired throughout the day. This woman, the wife of the Athletic Director, had thrown herself at him. Was he the first; was she a cheating wife just looking for another new paramour? He, along with the others got coffee and partook in the sweets offered on Ann's table along with coffee. Ann was beginning to check with those who drove and might have drunk too much. The only one she had a problem with was her sister, Belle. She had come in her own car, but had since secured the keys and made sure her brother in law Joe was bringing her home. People began to leave and Ann began to pick up and Jared wanted to pitch right in. "Jared, you did enough when you got here, please don't feel obligated. This is your first time here, you're a guest." Ann said. "Oh PLEASE! I'm happy to help. Everyone else has family and a life to get back to. I've just got to pack for a trip on Monday after my meeting with the Sports Admin and your staff. My place is more or less settled. A workaholic alone with his files, phone and computer makes for a long evening. I'm on information overload and the busy time helping out here would be good." He told her. Others helped but soon it was just The Barbers, Jared and Rich Brokay. Rich looked down at his watch and shook his head. "I'm going to have to shove off here Ann, I've got an appointment for a phone interview from an AD at an Italian prep school." "At 8 o'clock on a Saturday?" Jared asked "Yes, and crazier yet, it will be 2 in the morning there. He's flying in from a tournament in Croatia, or near Croatia, something like that. We've had a hard time hooking up. He has a student who wants to come here and he hopes basketball will get him in." Rich answered while making sure he had his things. "How's your Italian?" Ann asked. "Luckily he's from Detroit. Lots of Americans involved with basketball overseas." Rich said as he walked to his car. Joe Barber looked to Ann wanting some sympathy. "Listen sister in law, Belle is asleep in the car. I didn't think she drank that much, but I want to get her home. I'll send someone up for her car tomorrow. You're all set here?" "Sure, go ahead. Jared and I can get the rest. I just have to secure the grilles in the shed. We don't need them stolen again." She said with a little chuckle. "Stolen?" Jared asked. "Oh, a couple years ago at this same party we left the grilles out to clean and put away in the morning, as well as the coolers with leftover beer and soda. In the morning it was all gone. We suspected a frat came up and helped themselves and we even involved the police, but nothing ever turned up. It's quiet up here, but no one ever heard a thing. Now I've got motion sensors around, as well as an alarm system. Campus security monitors the motion sensors with all the others around campus and when they don't think it's an animal they call me. I keep them informed of my coming and goings and we're all happy. I like the solitude of being out here, and no one really bothers me." Ann told him making sure he knew the situation. With the last of the things put away and secured in the shed Ann took Jared's hand and pulled him towards the house. "Come on, I'll make a fresh pot of coffee and we can talk." Jared hadn't planned on staying, but accepted her invite. He sat at the dining room table and pulled up the plastic wrap on a plate of leftover brownies to help himself. "Put one on a napkin for me too Jared. They were good. I usually bring leftover goodies in for the sports interns, but the brownies may stay with me." Ann said as she busied herself waiting for the coffee to brew. She went into a back room and came out having changed into a N.E.A.T. cut-off shirt that came just to her naval and some small sweat shorts. As she poured coffee and moved into the dining area it was apparent to Jared that she had removed her bra as her breasts moved freely in the shirt. "Whew! It was a long day for sure but always a lot of fun. Your assistant coaches were sure this was going to be a farewell party for them, you know. They figured you would bring in your own." Ann said settling in her chair. "You're kidding, why didn't they come out and ask me? That's the first strike I have against them. They have to be straight with me if they expect the same back. They know the team and have experience with the system; I'd be a fool to replace them until I know what their shortcomings, if any, are. I can't touch my old assistants for a year anyway, but if these guys learn my system, they'll be fine. They just need to know that with the team and the game I am a taskmaster, and do not accept losing well. Physical errors, physical shortcomings are things that cannot usually be helped, but mental errors and lack of mental toughness are not tolerated in my system. Be outplayed, but never outsmarted. Know the next move before it's made." Jared said almost as if preaching. "This comes from your father, I suspect?" She asked. "Somewhat, but mostly from my own philosophy. My Dad taught me the game and the ins and outs. I think I apply them better, but that's mostly because I deal with men. He was high school and they were kids, no matter what. I don't have kids, if I do they become men fast or go. A great college coaching legend used to take his recruits out in the middle of nowhere for their first practices in a couple of busses. He would put the players on a field and work them in the hot sun until they were close to dropping. He would announce that they were staying the night and would repeat the drills the next day. Besides water and some bag lunches, the players had nothing else. He was the only one prepared to spend the night. Some thought he was crazy, but only the players who stayed went through the second day of drills were considered for the team, no matter where they were drafted or what their situation. Some left and walked back to campus, but they never had a shot of playing again. Be tough and be willing to go into battle with me, for me, and I'll be by your side all the way. Also be mentally tough; know where you are at all times. The great Yankee, Don Mattingly, had played a flawless first base for some incredible amount of consecutive games and was asked what made him so prepared to do the right thing on the field. His answer was simple; know where you are and what can happen. When asked to explain he imagined a scenario of 1st and 3rd, one out. Was the batter a good bunter, was the runner on third fast, was he a risk taker? Was the second baseman good with a pivot moving the way he was going to have play this hitter, and he went through at least a hundred questions and answers for that one play. He was ready for anything and nothing could surprise him. I want that in my players to some point, but in the generals I send on the field, I EXPECT that. Some players are smarter than others, some are followers, some are leaders. I shouldn't have to point out to any player who the general on the field is, he should know. That general is the one who will answer to me and he'll do it in front of all of the players he thought he was leading. How he handles that might have a great effect on his ability to continue to lead on the field." "Wow, I'm impressed. I suspect a lot of players learn to hate you and your ways from the outset. Most of them have never been charged to perform like this before. Most were stars in their high schools." Ann said making an astute observation. "If a player doesn't hate me at first and learn to love how I do things, he isn't around long. I show them how to make themselves better. Once they figure it out they look at me and say thanks as the rest of the team comes together in the same way. If we don't win one game my first year be assured that every team we have played will know they had a battle when they beat us. We won't go lying down." Jared said firmly with all the conviction you knew he used and instilled in his teams. They both sipped coffee and nibbled on brownies for a moment when Ann looked at Jared and smiled, starting a new conversation. "You shot my sister down, huh?" "She told you?" "Yes, she tells me everything." "Would she really cheat on Joe?" "I'm afraid so. She's a vital woman and her husband treats her poorly when it comes to intimacy." She admitted. "Why is he LIKE that? I think she's pretty, very sexy. He acts like she's a worn out hag." "I don't know, maybe he's got problems, if you know what I mean. He does love her, but he's perfectly happy having a sexless marriage ... ummm ... ohh ... Well there, I've said way too much of family business." Ann said a little sorry she let out a secret that would eventually become obvious. "So, does he have any idea that she screws around?" "I think he's oblivious, and I'm not really sure he would care as long as she was there when he gets home. I think that's why she was so blatant with you, you showed an interest in her." "Well, I thought she was YOU!" Jared exclaimed defending himself. "So, you're interested in me?" She said smiling like the cat that caught the canary. "Well, if I thought SHE was attractive, I would have to think you were. I'm not trying to start a relationship with anyone. I just flirt a little and that's a bad habit. I could flirt back home because everyone knew I had a long time girlfriend at home. My flirting was just my self-confidence with women. Now that's ended." Jared said somewhat uncomfortably. "So ... do I have a chance?" Ann said with a seductive smile before she touched his hand and smiled. "Don't worry Jared, I'm not looking for a relationship, just some company every now and then. I won't lie; I see a few men every now and then, but no one else on campus. I find you ... interesting. You're handsome and that self-confidence does shine for you. If we can be discreet I don't have a problem with helping each other out. Do you know what I mean?" "I think I better go. This is moving too fast." Jared said getting up. "There is nothing to move Jared. I'm not asking you to be my boyfriend or have a relationship. Take it a face value. I'm looking to land an AD's job somewhere and don't need any strings attached should I want to leave. The clutter of a relationship could re-route my planned course. This would truly make no difference to how we work together." "Your sister would find out." "No, not if I wanted to keep it discreet, and I do. Besides she may show up on your doorstep sometime anyway, she's persistent. She's already told me she'll bag you when you come to the soccer game." Ann said as a little laugh overflowed from her emotion. Jared sat back down, but didn't push his chair back in, keeping his distance. "What is it with you two? Is there a competition?" He asked suspiciously. "No, no, no, no! God no! I was a little jealous when I found out you were falling all over her, checking her out when you thought she was me. Remember I said before that she just wants you to know she's OK? What I should have said was that she wants you to know she's available. I hadn't looked at you in that way until then. After our little meeting in my study when I first came home I knew I wanted to dance with you." "I'm not so sure I like the music for dancing. Do you just want to hop into bed?" Jared asked making sure he made it sound cheap. "You know a woman likes to be wooed. You may have been in a relationship for a long time, but I'm sure you haven't lost the art of seduction. Otherwise I suppose you know a woman has toys for that kind of ... uh ... dance." She said with a tone, pissed off at his comment. She wasn't cheap and he didn't want to feel that way either. He found her and her sister very alluring in their own way. Both had mature but well kept up bodies. Belle was 44 and he figured Ann for 33 or 35. They could be twins except Belle was more Playboy than Ann, her figure a little fuller. Neither was fat but you could "pinch an inch" on either of them. The word that recurred to Jared was "comfortable". "I better go. Thanks for the great party and all the advice. We have a meeting on Monday morning if I read my memos correctly. So nice to have met and talked." Jared said coldly as he stood and went out the door to his car. Driving down the short hills above the campus and university town he began to feel like a heel. He knew he made her feel cheap, like he was better than her. He knew she wasn't. She was just a little more honest about what she wanted and needed. She wanted the feeling a man could provide, she just didn't want the commitment and frills. They were both grown up and not sixteen, for sure. Why couldn't he be honest with her about what he wanted? He ogled, admired and eyed Belle when he thought she was Ann, the available one. She made him randy and he flirted, but when he was afraid that he had come on to his boss's wife, he backed down. Now Ann had taken the grown up approach and he turned into the moral police, and he knew he didn't belong on THAT force. He pulled over when he saw the opportunity and turned around. He pulled into Ann's driveway and saw the lights still on in the dining and living rooms. Ann was at the door when he went up the steps. "Did you forget something Jared?" "Yes, my sense of decency, my manners, and I'll gladly leave my pompous ego in the car if I can come back in. Uhhhh ... I'm so sorry Ann. We both want and need the same thing things and you're so right when you say we don't need the clutter of relationship to take us off course." Jared said, his tail between his legs. "I don't know, you made me feel pretty awful. I wanted to cry. You made me want to question myself." "That's what made me come back. I knew I hurt you and I have no reason to. I took it as you trying to win me over, or something like that. I realize it's selfish on both our parts, but convenient. We both walk away happy, no strings. Sometimes life is so goddamned hard to cope with." Jared said making sure they were both on the same page. "I think we can be friends, Jared. We're both trying to over achieve and ... well, you know ... lets sit in the living room. Can I get you a wine? I just opened a syrah. I was going to get drunk and call you names until I fell asleep." Ann said as she walked and extended her hand toward the sofa where her half empty glass sat on the coffee table. "That sounds nice, umm ... the syrah part, not the calling me names part, haha." He answered as he made his way to the sofa. The sun was just beginning to disappear outside and the room was only partly washed in its waning rays. The light from the TV, with almost no sound, lightly lit the rest of the room with a slight bleed over from the fluorescent lights in the kitchen/entranceway. When Ann came back into the room with his wine and a basket containing the bottle he couldn't help but notice her pointy breasts swung freely under her shirt, her nipples firm from anticipation. She sat next to him as she handed him the glass and placed the basket on the table. She picked up her own and turned drawing up a knee and offered her glass to toast. "To a pleasurable evening and the beginning of a friendship." She said with a sexy smile. She sipped, as did he, and then offered her glass again. "To your career, which I hope is successful. I say that selfishly because it can only make my career better." She said clinking again. He smiled and thanked her sipping once more before settling back into the sofa to converse. "So, what size college do you think you could handle the AD's job for? If Joe left could you step in here?" "Not without a lot of bumps in the road. I'd rather go to something small where no one knew me." "Something like Valley Tech? There's a job that may open in a year or so. Paul Bittle is the AD and the SID most times. The press office there releases sports info and that's really an advertising department. I'll keep my ears open. Bittle has something brewing and he hopes to get a bounce off my legacy there." "Work with me for a bit and see what you think, if I could handle it or not." She said shyly realizing he barely knew her work. She leaned forward and refilled her glass, but left it on he table. She reclined all the way back into the sofa tipping her head toward him and resting it on the sofa back. He looked at her and smiled, seeing the invitation on her face. He leaned and pressed his lips to hers. They kissed with only lips touching for a moment and then he pecked kisses on her lips before pressing his mouth to hers again, this time opening it. She opened hers as well and snuck out her tongue for a long mouthy kiss. He exhaled deeply and turned a bit, bringing his hand to her upper arm pulling her closer. The kiss was long and wet and getting physical fast. "Ohhh, you kiss so good! I like wet sexy kisses, kiss me again." She said. Jared covered her mouth with his and turned further pressing his chest to hers, feeling her hard nipples against his crew shirt. He moved forward tipping her in the sofa while turning to his knees. She was on her side with knees drawn up while he pinned her shoulders at an angle where he could still reach her mouth as he hunched over her. He had grown significantly in his pants and was pressed up against her mound from the back through her thin sweat shorts. "The blood is going to rush to your head like this." She whispered. "Can't you feel it has?" He giggled as he kissed her. "Oooo, you're a dirty boy. I'm going to like you. Let me up." She responded. Jared sat up and she followed turning and drawing her leg up on the sofa between them. She leaned toward him and offered her lips, which he took gladly. They pecked and necked for more than a few minutes until she rested her hand on his leg. It was a signal to Jared to move on as her nipples were achy and needed attention. He wanted to reach for her breasts before, but her kisses were just too good to miss. She was a very sexy kisser, much as she lauded him for. As she leant forward her cut off shirt had ballooned open a bit at the bottom and Jared brought one hand up inside to cup one of her tits. It was soft, yet firm, standing out on it's own. His thumb caressed the nipple and he could tell it was a large round one with a big bud. She groaned into his watering mouth and squeezed where she had grabbed his leg. Jared suddenly felt his hard-on grow bigger than he thought it had in a long time. Barbie was sexy and knew her way around his body, but this kiss and grope was becoming one of the best teases he had ever had. He had a few out of relationship sexual experiences, wham-bam-thank you ma'am, if you like, but never one with foreplay and teasing. He squeezed and massaged her breast, pinching at the nipple, amazed at its firmness, like a young girl. Barbie was thin with prominent breasts, but out of their brassiere support gravity had changed them. They were almost more beautiful than when she was first with him. Now they were full and round more pliant. But Ann's were still like that of a twenty year old. Jared pulled his hand from her shirt and turned a bit, his mouth still suctioned to hers, and brought both hands to the edges of her cropped shirt. He began to lift up at the sides and she broke the kiss and the hold on his leg and raised her arms to let him take it off. Her breasts were magnificent. Large, conical, and firm with upturned nipple buds on top of dark aureoles. She looked demure and shyly embarrassed at being exposed to him. Jared had thought this was not going to be uncomfortable for her, as he thought he understood she was not new to no frills, no strings sex. However she still was the shy violet he might expect from a younger woman. Despite her prematurely gray hair she looked to be an innocent, which drove Jared to a lusty pitch. "My God Ann, you are a beauty! Don't be embarrassed." Jared whispered as he hugged himself to her pushing her breasts to his chest, resting his chin on her shoulder. "I'm sorry. I've never been out here like this with a man. I'm usually a bedroom whore." "Don't call yourself a whore, you're a beautiful woman." "I don't mind calling myself a whore when I have a man. It's what I want to be sometimes and I'm not ashamed. I have needs and this is how I fulfill them." "You've never done it out here?" "N ... nn ... no." She said with a shiver. Jared backed off and took her crooked leg on the sofa and opened it to kneel between her legs and lower her to her back. Before she could protest his mouth went to one of her nipples and she swooned loudly and hissed a "YES" as he lolled and sucked at the bud before taking the tit in his hand and switching his mouth to the other nipple. After suckling that he switched his busy hand and mouth again before planting his mouth on hers and kissing her deeply. She ground her middle to the bulge in his shorts and began to whimper into his mouth accenting each push to his bulge. She wanted him inside her and she realized it would not happen unless she asked for it. Whether it would be he reaching into his pants and taking him out or just out and out asking him to fuck her. This was playing out better than she ever imagined, having a lot of tension and steam to blow off. Now her temperature had risen to a boiling point and she was about to overload. She reached between them and grabbed his hard penis through his pants. "Fuck me! FUCK ME!" She begged, ripping her lips from his. She had managed to get his zipper down in her groping and fumbling but he sat back off of her for a moment and undid his belt opening his shorts. He pulled his briefs below his balls and leaned forward on one arm using the other hand to pull aside her little shorts to reveal a little light blue thong that he worked under his fingers holding both garments aside as he bent forward and slipped into her hairless, soaking wet slice. She shrieked at his sudden entrance making him wonder if he had hurt her. "Oh, you're so big and fill me up." She said as he began to rut on her. Jared knew he wasn't particularly blessed in the penis size department, but hearing her words made him happy and feel even bigger as he began to jack hammer in and out of her to bring her off in hopes of prolonging their night. Her hands gripped his arms as he fucked her with abandon and he quickly heard her breath catch and a muffled, almost cackle-like, sound from deep in her throat. Her grip tightened on his arm and her legs stiffened. He slowed and let her enjoy her orgasm as he fell onto her. "You needed that, didn't you?" He whispered in her ear as she panted in his. She hugged him tightly as her answer and he smiled to himself, knowing she was happy. He knelt up and stepped off the sofa and knelt on the floor, pushing the coffee table a bit. He pulled at her torso to turn her legs off the sofa tugging at her to flip over. She quickly caught on was kneeling on the floor over the sofa. Jared took her sweat shorts and thong off in one motion, Ann shuffling her knees alternately to get out of them. He rocked back to his buttocks and shucked his shorts and underwear and rolled up to his knees behind her. Jared nudged between her legs and put his wet cock to his pussy and plowed in. Her face went into a throw pillow she pulled from where her head rested before and pleasurably puffed into it as he steadily fucked her once more. No more jack hammering, just a nice steady paced fuck. Suddenly it hit him that he hadn't used protection. He wasn't really worried about disease with her although he hated himself for not asking any such questions. He stopped his fucking and bent over her, kissing her back and pushing his hands under her to her titties. They were both breathing heavily when he whispered to the back of her neck. "Are you protected? We don't need any problems." "Of course," She puffed, "everything is all right. You don't think I would do this without being safe and clean, do you?" "Sorry to ruin a moment, but I was stupid to get so carried away." He apologized. "Permission to get carried away again is granted." She said, apparently not miffed by his lack of forethought or coitus interruptus. He sat back up on his knees and began to stroke into her again as she spread her arms out as if she were flying while she rested her head on its side on the pillow. He held her hips and totally enjoyed her tight vaginal grip, hearing the slosh of her wetness. He looked down at their union, not helping but notice her pretty wrinkled rosebud asshole. Now was not the time to find if she liked to play there, but her womanly round ass cheeks were split just perfectly and the thought of being inside that little aperture was going to make him cum fast. He fantasized about doing Barbie there, but was always shot down. He held her cheeks and ran his hands over them and between them touching her little wrinkle twice with no action or reaction. He put his thumb on it and kept it there for more than a second and then went about finishing fucking her. She had begun to bounce back onto him getting close to her own orgasm when he gripped her hips and began to plunge hard in and out of her. "Ohhhhh I'm gonna cum!" He said as the sound of the slap of their bodies rang out on the room. "SHOOT ON MY BACK! COVER ME! Let me feel it and smell it!" She squealed loudly. As much as he would rather have filled her, it was his cum, but her choice as far as he was concerned. He slid out of her and his prong sprang up as soon as it was free of her warmth. Two hot volleys went onto her back before he took it into his hand and dribbled more cum onto her back before dabbing it just above her asshole and then on her asshole. He felt one more surge come up and he dropped that on her asshole and watched it roll out of the dimple and to her pussy. She reached behind her, still puffing from her own climax and rubbed some of his load around and brought a finger full of it to her nose and smelled it. She turned her face forward and he was sure she tasted it, but he was sure she didn't want him to know it. "Ohhh Jared, that was awesome. I'll sleep like a baby tonight. Get me a towel to clean us off." Ann said trying to lay still so nothing would drip off of her. Jared got to his feet and went to the bathroom and took the guest towel from the rack and went to her, wiping her back and then dabbing her ass crease and pussy. Knowing she was dried off she went back to her knees and took the towel from Jared. She quickly reached out to where he stood and took his cock in her toweled hand and wiped it dry. She dabbed his balls lightly and took his cock in her hand again, squeezing it to get a last drop of sperm. It came out and she wiped it off with her thumb and then wiped the thumb off with the towel. She looked up as if she was about to either say something or perhaps put it in her mouth, but she smiled a little grin and let it go, standing up. "Get dressed and I'll get my robe." She said walking toward her bedroom. Jared got his clothes and separated his underwear from his shorts and put them on. He had unbuttoned the top of his crew shirt, but never really took it off. He slipped into the sandals he came with and waited for her to come out. Her door opened and she came in glowing, like she had just been fucked silly. "Jared, thank you for a wonderful time. It was great to get to know you this way and who knows, maybe we can get together again like this. Just remember this was strictly anonymous and without ties. No one needs to call anyone tomorrow or anything like that. I'll see you in my office on Monday morning. Oh, I meant to tell you before, there is a soccer game on Sunday at University Field, that's the little field behind the Stadium. Two o'clock, I believe. This time as Jared drove down from the hillside over the university he had no guilt or hard feelings about how he left Ann. It had only been a week since the last time he got laid, but this was a tension breaker he had needed for a long, long time. After the last 2 years of a waning sex life with Barbie something new and fresh did him good. He hoped he and Ann could get together again. ------- Chapter 3 His first Sunday in his new home saw him sleep until 11 a.m. waking well rested and ready to take on his new position. He hadn't slept past 7 or 8 o'clock in 10 or more years. Had financial security and guiltless sex eased all of his tensions and allowed him to relax? He made coffee and turned on his computer to find 13 emails in his inbox. Eleven were from campus well-wishers he met the day before and two were from Barbie, which he opened last. Jared: I found a lot of your things you probably need. Let me know if you're going to be home on Sunday and I'll drive them up for you. Please let me know by Saturday evening, as I would like to get an early start on the road. Love ya, Barbie. "Well," he thought, "I guess I'm a bit late in reading this one. I hope she didn't leave to come here anyway. I really don't want to see her." The second email answered some questions for him. Jared: I guess you're out of town as I thought you might be. Call me on your return. Love, Barbie "Oh God, what does she have?" He said to himself. "Probably a half tube of toothpaste and some socks. I know I cleared out anything I wanted." He sat and thought about Barbie, trying to miss her. Their first 5 years together were the best time of his life. She was a fun loving, active, vibrant partner to him. She had a body to kill for and was such a tiger in the sack that she wore him out. He wished he could find the moment where it began to go south. She was a horny nymph at times then. Now, he barely missed her, the only image he conjured was her in front of the TV. The fun loving person whom he would frolic with both outside and in was just what he called "a wump". Yes, she put on a good show on their last Sunday, but the days that followed left no hangover of rekindled feelings. Very possibly she left everything at work where her passion for her job filled her life, it seemed. Like the pitcher who warms up so meticulously before the big game only to go to the mound with no stuff, no idea, having left it all in preparation, once she got home she had no time, no passion, no idea. So lacking was the passion, he once thought she was cheating, but that wasn't her. He thought, "Am I bastard son of a bitch for not answering this at all? Right now I don't want her in my life at all. Let me live a month, 2 months or even 3 without seeing her, thinking of her, having her and see if I really miss her. If she came now, or even if we communicated, old feelings may root and spoil the landscape I want to create. If this tree grows, I want it to be for real." He went through his campus phone directory to find a phone number for Brian Faraday. He found it and called. Hello Brian, this is Jared Winslow. I've just been hired here at NEAT as the football coach and I'm told you're quite an athlete. Brian: uh ... oh really? Coach Winslow! I've heard and read so much about you. Welcome to University. How can I help you?" Coach: I was hoping to get a chance to talk with you. You know there's going to be openings for walk-on on my team and I would love to see you try out. I hear you've got quite a foot. Brian: I've never played American football. At home, well most everywhere else, football is soccer. But, I've never played. Coach: They convert kickers all the time you know. Soccer style kickers fill the NFL and a good one can play a short career and comfortably retire with a great pension and have a second career in his given field. Because you play in a club status, if you convert to a NCAA sport there could be financial help from the NCAA's University Incentive with tuition. I know we're getting ahead of ourselves here, but I just want you to see the possibilities. Brian: I'm hoping that we can get some sort of status here for soccer, maybe a Division 2 or 3. Coach: Well, that could happen, but you're just finishing your freshman year, you'll be a senior by that's ever decided. It wouldn't hurt to come out and talk would it? Obviously I'm thinking of the success of the team, but think of yourself as well. Brian: I heard all of this from the baseball coach, but I was cut after 3 practices. Coach: Baseball is a multi-faceted sport. With football we would concentrate on your one known given skill, kicking. I have one other kicker coming in for sure. There may be other walk-ons, but as long as you can do it, you have the inside track already. Brian: Really, why? Coach: Because you're an athlete, a proven athlete and most important, a great student athlete. You know pressure, you know your studies, you can handle both. Brian: Suppose I can't kick a football? Coach: Suppose you can. Believe in yourself if you want others to. Brian: I've got a game soon. Can I think about it? Coach: Of course, I'll be at the game. I've never seen you play. I'm going on what I've heard. That's how good it's been. Brian: We aren't breaking any NCAA recruitment rules are we? Coach: No, you're already a student, classes are in for a few more days. I'm having one walk-on skills workout before school ends. Any current student can show up and you have a head up, you've got full medical clearance. Can we talk after the game today? Brian: Sure, it won't hurt. Coach: Be sure you tell your coach, keep it all above board. Remember, I'm not trying to talk you out of a soccer career here. Our seasons may overlap a little from time to time, but almost never from day to day. If you keep up your studies there won't be a problem. Look for me after the game. I'll be outside the locker room. Brian: Thanks for thinking of me Coach. Bye. When Jared hung up he had the impression that Brian Faraday thought he was a snake oil salesman. Now he only hoped his soccer Coach didn't portray him the same way. If Faraday was that talented he could get a lot further with football than soccer, at least in this country. The problem was, Faraday was supposed to help put NEAT on the soccer map. However the rest of the team was so poor Brian couldn't overcome the adversity. Surely other schools may try to woo him, as much as they are allowed, which is limited. But a transfer might mean sitting out a year, even if it was just a club team. The NCAA reviewed these on a case-by-case basis and Brian's reputation could make him probable to sit out a year on transfer. After showering Jared was off to University Field for the game. As he parked there was a small sign at the ticket booth "Soccer Today vs. Connecticut Prep, Free Admission, NO ALCOHOL ALLOWED" Walking in he saw the reason the old football field was called The Bleacher Bowl. It was all wooden bench on metal frame seats that ringed the field. No fancy seating and it held about 8000 uncomfortable butts. They added another 1000 folding chairs in the front when Varsity football played there. Today there was no need for any additional seating; a crowd of maybe 500 was there, including the players, friends and families of the players. Jared found a seat halfway up the middle stand. He pulled a ball cap over his head and tried to be as inconspicuous as possible. He knew media coverage may make him a recognizable target, but he planned on being courteous to any autographs or curiosity seekers. Jared Winslow had a little knowledge of soccer having played it in high school, although he never excelled. What he was interested in was seeing the reflexes, speed and kicking power of the center forward Brian Faraday. The game featured little offense until a NEAT winger fed Faraday who came onto the ball just ahead of a defenders foot. He drilled a cannon shot off the goalkeeper's outstretched foot or goalpost and a defender intercepted the rebound and drilled it toward one of his midfielders but Faraday was anticipating the pass and headered it down as one of his other forwards crossed. Faraday, in full stride took a pass back and repeated his earlier cannon shot towards goal. And the keeper barely saw it pass over his shoulder. "Hmm, in 30 or 40 seconds of play I can see what an athlete he is for sure. If he can kick a moving ball like that, a set ball on a tee or a hold should be cake." He thought. However he remembered Mike Denault the baseball coach and the trial he gave Faraday after seeing his fast feet. He should have been a natural for shortstop, but he saw no hope for him. So he wasn't quite measuring him for a uniform yet. He was just getting into the flow of the game when he heard the clip-clop of shoes coming down the bleacher behind him and Belle sat right next to him. "Good afternoon Coach Winslow. How do you like our football team, or should I say soccer team? My husband says you're probably looking for a kicker, young Faraday?" She said being quite polite, a change from the day before. "Yes, it's just an idea. He's supposed to be a special athlete. Looking never hurt." Jared said keeping his eyes on the game. "You mean like looking and not touching, like yesterday?" She said with a bit of attitude. "Belle, how about a little decorum. You are the AD's wife, and I work under him. Don't you find that quite inappropriate?" He asked. "He hasn't worked under or over me in a long time, so I look for a little excitement from time to time. I thought I had a hook in you yesterday, but you surprised me." Belle said bluntly; not afraid or shy to air her personal problems. "If I seemed like I was coming on to you, it was because I thought you were Ann. It isn't that I want to come onto Ann either, but it seemed like YOU started it. I thought Ann was coming on to me and I responded. I'm very sorry if you thought I led you on. It wasn't my intention." Jared answered, as he got more and more uncomfortable by the minute. "I respect your feelings and commend you for having the character not to have a fling with someone he obvious seems to think is attractive and willing, but morally unavailable." Belle said patting his knee and getting up to leave. "You said that yesterday, and went back on it." He said still seeming to keep his attention on the game. "I saw you staring at my coochie and I thought I rehooked. My bad." She snickered as she walked away The game remained 1 to nil for quite a time and Jared sensed another person approaching, he hoped it wasn't Belle. "Coach Winslow, Welcome to University." Said the friendly female face. The greeting gave her away as a student, Winslow had already learned. "Thank you very much, I'm very happy to be here." He said looking at the woman, who appeared to be beyond college age, maybe 28 or 30. She was sort of attractive in her own way, a big smile with rosy cheeks. Very cute in the face and long wavy brown hair. He detected she was a bit pudgy, but not fat. She looked motherly to him, or at least his perception of how a young mom would have survived childbirth. "I don't mean to bother you, but may I sit with you for a moment?" She asked as Jared nodded politely. "I grew up in Vermont and was always familiar with your fathers career when I was a little girl and now you're like a hero to me. When they said you were coming here I could barely contain my excitement. Now, meeting you ... Oh My GOD, I've never introduced myself. My name is Connie Nixon." She said extending her hand as Jared offered his to shake, but she never let go of it and continued to babble about her fanaticism for his accomplishments. "I'm interning here in the Sports Department and I hope we get a chance to work together. I would even come over and clean your house or whatever. I feel I owe you so much for everything you've done." She said with a look in her eye that Jared had seen before in the eyes of young girls adoring star players. She was a Jared Winslow groupie; perhaps the only one in the world, for sure, as far as he knew. He quickly let go of her hand and said, "Well, so nice to meet you Connie, but now I've got to get back to paying attention to the game. Thanks for stopping by." Connie took the hint and was on her way. She got about 5 rows away and turned back to smile and wave. When she turned back to walk away she exaggerated her hips and Jared rolled his eyes. He hoped this wasn't going to be a problem. He put the incident in the back of his mind and watched the remainder of the game. Brian had no more goals but plenty of chances. Winslow thought if he were a scout, the goaltender for Connecticut Prep was a dandy and he would recommend him. Although NEAT won, the prep school goaltender was peppered with shots over and over again and was the standout player, with Faraday not far behind for testing him so often and his single tally. After the game Jared walked slowly toward the locker room area to wait for Brian Faraday but was immediately intercepted by Derek Englund, the Soccer Coach. "Let me tell you right now, you come here with all the money they threw at you and you think you're the big shot and can squander away my players for your squad. But if this lad leaves my program I will fight you through administration till one of us no longer has a job." Englund said in his cockney accent, surprising Jared with his feistiness. "Whoa, whoa, whoa sir, I'm afraid you do not understand my reasons to meet with Brian. This is why it was all done above board and with your knowledge. I, in no way, want to draft him off of the soccer team. It is totally possible and legitimate for him to play both sports. I don't even know if he could make the team, and I am interested in him only as a kicker. He would not be part of drills where he might get hurt to jeopardize his career here. We have no kicker for the team and unless we get a better walk-on, I have the feeling I could turn him into something, if he has the will. I checked and you had but one conflicted game with ours in the last three years, and that was a rescheduled game." Jared Winslow said quietly and confidently to someone who was looking for a shouting match and fight. Derek Englund took a deep breath and calmed a bit. Jared took the moment to speak. "My name is Jared Winslow, Football Coach, and you are?" "Derek Englund, Soccer Coach. Sorry for going off on you. Brian didn't quite explain." "Derek, be assured I have only spoken to him once, and that was for no more than 5 minutes, no more than a few hours ago. I don't know a whole lot about soccer, but I did see him play before and he is a talented athlete. Whether that translates to the football field remains to be seen. Realize that if he makes a Division One NCAA recognized roster as a walk-on while in a club sport incentive program, he could get tuition help from the NCAA. He would have to prove himself as a student to do that though. With all the stories of star players taking basket weaving and baby-sitting to pass their college careers, the NCAA is committed heavily to student athletes who excel. From what I know, Brian Faraday fits the mold." Jared said making sure Derek knew his intentions. "Check my credentials and you will see I graduate players. In 8 or 9 years I've lost but 14 players who either dropped out or were asked not to return because of grades. I graduated the rest of my players. It may be why I'll never get a job at a Big 10 school, but I sleep at night." ""I'm very sorry for assuming what you were trying to do and for not knowing more about your credentials. I've got to get back to talk to the team, but I hope we can get together later after you've spoken to Brian." Englund said making a quick exit to get to talk to his players before they dressed and left. Jared wasn't quite forthright in his intentions, but he was certainly bendable. He would like, in the very best scenario, for Faraday to be a sensation and not want to play soccer. He wouldn't talk Brian out of his soccer career, but would hope he might make the decision for himself. Winslow knew that his whole dream of getting a premier kicker who might lead the nation in scoring was just that, a dream. But Jared found that if he put the wagon ahead of the pony it somehow changed the karma at times. "After all," he thought "when he left Barbie he figured he wouldn't get laid for a long, long time and already he had, and could have scored 2 more times if he no scruples whatsoever." He reasoned chuckling to himself. After about a 20-minute wait Brian Faraday came out with a few other players and they all came over to meet Jared. "Coach Winslow, Welcome to University!" The 3 others said in almost unison. Then one by one the players extended their hands to introduce themselves and shake his hand. "Rich Morton. Eric Tilly, and Denny Ellis." They said glad-handing the coach. "We wish you as much success as possible to get the school on the sports map. It can only help us." Morton said. "OK guys, let him breathe." Brian Faraday said laughing as he stood back waiting his turn to meet and talk with Jared. Jared looked over the 3 and extended his hand. "Brian, Jared Winslow. Ummm, let's take a walk so we can talk." The other three said their goodbyes to Brian and patted him on the back as Jared and Brian walked back into the field area where the grounds crew was taking up the nets and replacing divots. "So, how do you like the United Sates and the campus life?" Jared asked. "So far it's been pretty good. My grades have been real good and I feel I've played well, although the team needs work. I could have gotten into a bigger program, but with no guarantees. I love soccer, but playing is what I want to do, not fighting for playing time." Brian said with a very slight Welsh accent. "From what I hear you could transfer to a major program of your choice. You under estimated yourself." Jared remarked. "THIS is the school I wanted. If I went to one of the Ivy leagues and starred I would be pining for the courses and the professor I wanted here. I know what I want. Transferring would sit me out of competition for a year, AND make me come back here for graduate work. Education is my goal. Animal Science, Plant Pathology, business accounting and lots of other skills will be needed when I take over my family's business back home. They own a huge cattle farm as well as a crop-based farm. My Dad is only 42 and we are pretty well off, but he wants to retire by 50 and give me the operation. My fathers mentor is here and is who I want to learn from and he's also Welsh and from my home town." Brian said very matter of factly with a marked determination in his voice. " ... and the name of that home town is?" Jared said with a knowing smile. Jared knew Faraday was from the town in Wales with the longest name of any town anywhere. "Llanfair­pwllgwyn­gyllgo­gerychwyrn­drobwll­llanty­siliogogogoch." He said proudly in a deep Welsh accent. "And it means "The church of St. Mary in the hollow of white hazel trees near the rapid whirlpool by St. Tysilio's of the red cave". We're a town of just 3000 or so and we can all mostly speak Welsh. It's a very hard language to learn and speak, but we are proud. My family's farm is not actually in the town, but we live close-by." "So you've pretty well mapped out your future and know the way you want to go. I commend you. Now what I would like to do is sidetrack and branch out your athletics a bit. I'm sure you're heard about or seen the soccer style kickers in American football. Back at Valley Tech I had a walk-on one year who had never played football as well, but he was a striker, much as yourself. With a little coaching he began to learn how to use his kicking ability. By the middle of the season I began to use him in games. He scored 127 points for us that year, and almost 200 the following, his senior year. He didn't have to attend regular drills, just team meetings and regularly coached kicking drills. He was only involved in actual tackling plays twice that year; they were on run-backs. His name is Ger Nietczyk. He could have gone on the NFL and was drafted in the 1st round the following year even though he said he would not sign. He, like you, had a vocation he aspired to and had no interest in professional sports. His talent was so great that he was drafted, albeit in lower rounds, for the next 2 or 3 years in hopes somebody might talk him out of his self-imposed retirement. Ger works as a sometime assistant to me now and lives close-by. What I would like you to do is come to each of the two mini-camps for walk-ons and work with him. You'll find out if you have the talent and desire to try this. What you need to consider is that if you are successful, you'll become well known and we'll be sure to let everyone know you are a 2-sport star. You would become eligible to NCAA scholarship grants if you make the squad. If you become as successful as Ger, the NFL could draft you. Now you may not have an interest in playing professional football but, a successful kicker can make a lot of money, even if you played a few years, even while you were going for your masters past your college eligibility." Winslow explained uninterrupted to get his whole point across. "You make it sound so lucrative and easy." Brian said wide-eyed and full of hope. "Remember the first thing is, you have to be able to do it, and respond to coaching, and of course, have the desire. Coming in cold you probably have a 30 or 40% chance, BUT, with your athletic skills and personal drive, you can do it. If, per chance, your athletic skills do not translate to being a kicker, you lose nothing. I would just like you to give it a try. I think it would be a great opportunity for you, and for The University. Right now, as we speak, you have NO competition. Any kicker we have will be a walk-on." Jared said, hoping he had hooked the young man in. "When are these mini-camps?" "One is one Wednesday, and the next is the Monday following. That's the last day of classes. You're eligible to attend both, even though the second one is for incoming freshmen. You are considered a sports freshman since the NCAA here does not recognize soccer here." "I'll try it, but make no promises." "A try is all I ask. I'll have Ger call you and arrange a time and place for Wednesday. You may be right here or in the stadium. Now go and meet with Coach Englund and explain to him. He can call me with any questions. We will not interfere with any of your soccer schedule." Jared said patting Faraday on the back and they walked back toward the locker area. They made small talk, mostly about the odd long name of his home with a few laughs and chuckles. Both of them walked away with a great first impression of each other. Jared looked forward to the afternoon as it would be the last in quite a while where he wouldn't not have to think about football and his new job. Monday morning after his scheduled meeting he was leaving with Joe Barber to visit recruits and begin his depth charting for the fall. He had to be back on Wednesday for the mini-camp after his first in-depth meeting with his coaches Wednesday morning. Thursday morning was evaluations with the coaches and then off to see more recruits with Joe. Sunday was back to NEAT to regroup, unpack and prepare for Mondays mini-camp, Tuesdays evaluations and off to see more recruits. By Friday he would start visiting returning players at their homes to meet their families and let them know what to expect when they finally got to their first fall practice. No one would be coming in cold for the fall semester and beginning of football. They would know Jared Winslow quite well and also be aware of the student-athlete requirements he enforced. ------- Chapter 4 When he got back to his residence after the soccer game and meeting with Faraday the phone was ringing as he walked in. It was Joe Barber. "Belle tells me you were at the soccer game and had an incident with Derek." Joe said sounding miffed. "Not exactly. He began to go off on me about stealing players and I set him straight as to my intentions and he was quite OK with it. I met with Brian Faraday and he had done as I told him, to inform his coach that he was speaking to me. Everything was above board and I assured both of them that we would not interfere with his soccer schedule at all. Joe, if he makes the football team you realize that it will only help the soccer program here." Jared explained. "Don't help it too much, I have enough to do. Another schedule and 15 more players and that psycho Brit is more than I think I can add to my plate." Joe said sounding all too serious. "I wouldn't say that too loud Joe. Administration may look for someone who can, and maybe add Lacrosse too. Having too much work is a better alternative to not having a job. Lots of AD's handle it. You'll get a bigger staff and delegate more. You know the money they paid me wasn't just because I was a nice guy. They want results from the Athletic Department and if it has to expand to bring in more money, welcome it. I have a contract, they won't fire me unless they want to pay me off first and that won't happen." Jared warned him. "I guess I have a hard time realizing we're in the big leagues now with a lot more on the line. Thanks for centering me a bit. Gee, I bet you would make a good coach." Joe said with a little snicker. "When Ger meets with Brian I'll be sure you're invited to the work out. He'll be able to tell us real soon if Brian has the aptitude for it. I won't be there unless it's really early or late. But, just watch and don't make any comments." Jared said finishing his conversation. "God, I think I'll pull the phone from the wall, or maybe just let the machine get the calls." He thought, fed up with the hoopla and the meeting of new people. He decided to sit on the screened in breezeway with a couple beers and his half-finished Dennis Lehane mystery novel. He started the book almost 5 weeks before, but hadn't had time to get past the hook of the first few chapters. Mystery reading was always an escape for Jared, especially when they were on the road, plus he felt it sharpened his strategy skills ... He just drew the shades on the porch when he heard a knock on the door. He stole quietly into the house and tried to see who it was on his porch. The wreath on the door blocked a lot of the little 4 by 6 window in the door. He could make out it was dark haired woman, but she was turned just right so as not to let him see her face. Suspecting a sales pitch or an inquiring student he opened the door to just get rid of the distraction. The door no more than cracked when the person turned toward him and he sighed. "Barbie, what in hell are you doing here? I never got your email until a few minutes ago." He said, irritated. "THAT'S how you greet me?" She said breaking down in tears. "Do we truly have NOTHING left? I thought you might be a LITTLE happy to see me!" Jared opened the door to allow her in and took her into his arms although she stiffened like she didn't want to be touched by him. "If you're so unhappy to see me don't bother appeasing me. I'll just go and try to forget all the years we spent together and dash the dreams we had of a life together when you were all I lived for." She said laying a guilt trip on him. "Barbie, stop the pity party. You drove all this way on a chance that I may or may not be here. I'm just shocked to see you, not unhappy." He said, lying. "Fuck you Jared, you walked out of my life without a regret in the world. I've been going over in my mind the mistakes we made wondering if they're worth fixing and I came to one conclusion. I still love you as much now as ever and I cannot believe you don't love me the same way. I take total responsibility for the last 2 or 3 years and how I let our love life slide, and how I took you for granted. But you never made one FUCKING EFFORT to challenge me IN ALL THAT TIME!" She said going into a verbal attacking mode. "You could have pulled me out of the funk I was in, but you let me linger on. Didn't you feel any passion the last time we made love?" She asked through her sputtering tears. "Barbie, that was two horny people fucking, not making love." "So, you feel NOTHING for me?" She asked, her face scrunched up ready to bear the answer she didn't want to hear. "I can't truthfully say that. We've had too much together, but I felt more like your brother than anything the last few years, and you seemed to be so happy with that. The few times we did "make love" it was just mutual use of each others bodies for masturbation." Jared said sorry his words were going to hurt her. "How can you be so cruel, Jared? I came here to be encouraged by your feelings for me and instead you made me feel like a silly ass teenager who imagined a love that wasn't there. WE HAD A REAL LOVE DAMMIT!" She spat through her tears. "I KNOW WE DID, but you let it slip away. I couldn't compete with your job, the television or your workouts. I would come home from work and you would be in your laptop, watching a soap opera you taped or in the den on the treadmill or stair climber. I would go to bed at 10 and you were still watching the crap you taped all week. I would cook you a nice dinner and put it on the table and you would take your plate and bring it in the living room. On nights you actually sat with me to eat you would inhale it and be off to the TV saying "Leave the dishes, I'll get them later." Does THAT sound familiar?" Jared said tapping his fingers in the palm of his other hand and he made each point. Barbie seemed to melt in place as she began crying uncontrollably sinking to her knees, then to the side holding herself up with her arms. Tears were dripping onto the floor as she bawled. Jared couldn't bare to look and had to walk away. She looked up from the floor and implored him, "Aren't you even going to try and comfort me!!" "No, and for two reasons. One you will think it's all better then, and it's not. Two, how you feel right now is how I've felt for the past two years when I went to bed alone or tried to do something TOGETHER with you. That's why when I got this offer I was OUT." Jared said turning away. "WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SOMETHING??" She implored him once again. "Because you seemed to be happy and content and you let me know how it would be if we got married, you happy and content in your little world of escapism, and me frustrated as a prisoner in a relationship with someone I knew too well and had loved too much to leave. However when 2 and a half million dollars called from 3 hours away with new challenges I found something I might love more and could leave you for with no regrets. Plain and simple there is the answer to the question you've been asking your self since you saw the newspaper that morning. I wasn't going to tell you until Wednesday to make the time of pain shorter for you. You wanted the whole truth and there you have it. Don't think I hate you, because I do not. If you ever discover within yourself the woman I loved and cherished please come back to me and see if you can sweep ME off MY feet." He told her without regard for her feelings or regret for any words. Barbie sat for a few minutes as if dumbfounded as she filed the words away and thought about their application to hers, their, situation. "So, you just told me in a long and round about way that you still love me and the life we had and can have." She deduced aloud. "I guess you can read it that way." Jared said. "But," he said after a long pause, "It doesn't mean I'm waiting for you or expect you to change back. My moving here without asking you to join me was my break off. I've moved on. I don't want you to come back and act like I want you to, I want you to come back and be who you were so we can be who WE were. I don't think that's possible for you to do. You were too content for too long. You need to search inside yourself and see if I'm what you really want. Your little world of TV escapes and work while curled up on the couch or running on the treadmill made you happy and content. You don't need me as I see it." "Jared, the young girl who made love to you a couple times a day and sucked your dick all week after feeding you her pussy is all grown up and those times are past us." Barbie said defending herself. "Who says they are? Are we 50 or 60 or 70? Have our sexual organs dried up and fallen off? We both have needs and wants and sharing them with someone you love makes them that much more intense, more rewarding. What's the matter with rolling over in the morning to be inside of you to give us each an orgasm to start, or finish the day. What's wrong with tasting each other's very core and making each other happy. It's the togetherness of our own little worlds colliding and becoming one. I can walk into a bookstore with you and look across the expanse of it and see you, your cute little ass wiggling as you shuffle from shelf to shelf and say to myself, "I'll be inside of her later and we'll both hold onto each other while the greatest joy a body can feel sweeps over us." I can notice a man looking at you as you pass by and say to myself, "Eat your heart out. I'll have her so hot for me later that she'll taste my cock and worship the seed that flows from it." That's all part of the love we USED to share and there's no reason why we can't have that again. But, I can't live on the memory of it. Wait, actually I can, because when we ARE at a time or an age when we can't actually make each other happy that way, we can hug and hold each other remembering the joys we made for each other. That's love. Hiding at your work station to obsess over your job, curling up on the sofa in a trance to watch mundane playhouse life's unfold on the TV and taping every insipid stupid movie to watch later isn't. I laud you for doing your best to keep yourself in shape, but less TV time eating junk food that you have to work off later would be even more time for us to spend together. Your priority used to be us, and now it's not. If that's the way you want it, fine. I want you to be happy, but I have to be happy too, and I wasn't." Barbie heard his words and looked as if she were looking inside of herself, and then sprung up. Her tears had stopped and her feet found the sandals she had kicked off when she started her crying jag. She went to the front door saying she would be "right back." He saw her go to her car and get a box of things and return to the door with them. She dropped the box saying, "Here, these are yours. I may or may not be back. It may be soon, it may be later. Maybe not at all. You were a fucking prick for never saying anything before, but I think I understand why and I can live with that, ... NOW. You never gave me fucking answers." She said bitterly as she went out the door. Jared went to the door and hollered for her to hear. "You never asked the questions." She stopped in her tracks and came back almost to the porch. "If you're a betting person, bet that I'll be screwing Jar-Jar before long. I think I love you too much to let you go. I don't think you have enough passion to screw around with anyone else, so I don't have to worry about that, you'll hear from me one way or another." She said pointing her fingers with a smirk. "Too late." He said to let her know he had already screwed around. She stopped and turned. "Too late huh?" She laughed. "That's male ego bullshit." "Come in and look in my hamper for my underwear, smell her pussy on it. No wait, she wiped me off with the towel I cleaned the cum off her back with. But you still might smell her." He said coolly. She locked her eyes to his and waited for the blink, as it were. In a few moments she knew he was telling the truth. She wanted to lash out at him, but couldn't. "No one will ever treat you as well as I have, as well as I did in the good days. No one will ever have Jar-jar but me." Barbie said before turning and getting into her car and leaving. Jared was almost hopeful that she would take inventory of her life and come back. Her reference to Jar-jar was her pet name for him when they were in bed. She would use the name in a cutesy voice and ask dirty questions to make him crazy. "Does Jar-jar want to feed Barbie some sweet Jar-jar juice? Does Jar-jar want to warm his big hard cock in Barbie's pootie-puss?" He thought it was cute, until the Star Wars prequels came out and the character Jar-Jar Binks emerged. She stopped using it then and it never came up again, until now. She drove away leaving Jared on the porch. He was very satisfied with himself for telling her off, in a way, but most of all he was happy that he told her the truth as he thought it was in his mind. He loved sticking it to her that he had already moved on and had a sexual affair. However it was not lost on him that the scent she briefly left as she passed him and that was in the clothes and things in the box, excited him. He took a small pile of t-shirts from the box, his t-shirts that she regularly wore to bed, and smelled them. Even if he hated the person who just walked from his home, and he was sure he didn't, the scent on the shirts was Barbie, the woman he loved so dearly not so long ago. He went about reading his book in the breezeway and polishing off the 2 beers he promised himself, only to top them off with two more. With a big day looming he checked the TV for anything that might look interesting and opted for an ESPN show on Joe Paterno and other legendary college coaches. He startled at the strike of 10 in the grandfather clock that was part of the furnishings and realized he may have been sleeping for a half-hour or more. He went to bed after setting his alarm and had trouble sleeping. Barbie would have loved to get the information that he went to the sack of clothes she brought and took out one of his t-shirts she regularly wore to bed and put it over one of the pillows on the bed. After a few minutes of snuggling it to his face he jerked off to relieve the uncomfortable erection he could not help. Barbie still had an effect on him and he would freely admit it to himself, and probably no others for now Monday morning left no hangover of thoughts about Barbie and what she meant to him, what she did to him. He was all work and his day was planned. His first meeting was with Ann Comeche and her staff to go over her plans to get the new refurbished football program off the ground at NEAT. At 8:45 he went through the doors of the Sports Administration office searching for Ann's office. He only knew it was upstairs over his ground floor office that led right out to the old practice field, a field he planned to put back into use. He wanted the players to feel special when the stepped onto the New England Meditek Stadium field. Only last pre-game practice and actual games would take place there. It was another reminder that they were students first. He checked the directory and headed up to her second floor office. The halls of the Sports Admin building were busy but he saw her door at the end of the hallway. Just ahead of it he passed a larger classroom type room with a sign "Staff meets Coach Winslow 9:00 a.m." on it. As he passed by it to Ann's office he saw Connie Nixon, his seeming groupie among the group waiting for the get-together to begin. He knocked on Ann's door and let himself in. She was busy at her desk writing on a legal pad when she looked up momentarily to acknowledge him. "Good Morning Coach Winslow, I'll be with you in a moment. Normally I would have coffee here, but we're set up next door for a small get-together with coffee, doughnuts and pastries." She said barely looking up. "You can leave your briefcase there on my secretary's desk, it will be safe there, I'll be locking this up when we go next door. We actually share a secretary, an intern. We can discuss that later." She said finishing her note, ripping it from the pad and putting it in an envelope. "Oh, OK." Jared said. "I usually type all my own things up, but if I ever have the need for help..." "We can discuss that later Coach Winslow. Very quickly, here is the outline of what I'll cover in this get together with staff and I ask you to just agree with everything for now and get them a little gung-ho. Only four of them will be here in the summer and the rest will re-join the staff in the fall. There will also be the box office staff there. There's six full timers who will be there the summer through and the rest are interns." "Tell me that Connie Nixon is NOT one of the four who will be here for the summer, that could be a problem." Jared said. "How's that, Coach Winslow?" She asked. "Please Ann, call me Jared, and Connie already approached me at the soccer game and made it clear that if I wanted to, ... umm if I was interested, ... well, just to say she came on pretty strong." Jared tried to say diplomatically. "Shit, she's such a good little worker too. I know she's screwing around with some of the team and I was going to overlook that. I'll just cut staff and fill her position later. Don't let it bother you, she's been warned. Nobody can stop anyone from fraternization, she's been warned about discretion, though. Oh, and you'll always be Coach Winslow on campus." Ann Comeche got up from her desk and brushed down her skirt and walked to the mirror in the open bathroom door and checked her hair and face. Jared couldn't help but notice how well she filled the skirt and how pretty her face was, which he presumed needed no make-up. She was a fine picture for sure at any sort of presentation for the Sports Department. She picked up her laptop and said "Let's go!" leading him out of the office. He couldn't help but remember fucking the tiger vixen just 2 days before, but she made no reference to their conjunction and was just as she said she would be. She went to the room next door and asked Jared to wait as she entered the room. "Could I have your attention and please take a seat." She said with a short pause as the clamor of the 20 or so people died down and the sound of chairs moving in and out from tables filled the air. "I would like to introduce to you a man who will usher in a new era, the second giant step of New England Agricultural and Technological University Division One football, Coach Jared Winslow!" She said proudly as she stood to the side and extended her arm for his entrance. The small group applauded and Ann showed Jared to a seat at the front of the room. "Before we get started showing Coach Winslow our program and plan for our first Bowl year (applause) why don't you all get yourself your coffee, juice or milk you want." The group scrambled to get their goodies and Ann stepped in front of Jared to brief him. "I'll show you and the staff the presentation they've prepared for you and then I hope you can give us a few words. Please take notes on things you don't like and we can either make changes or show you why we can't." She said handing him a mini-legal pad and pen. She plugged her laptop into a box at the front of the room and a screen rolled down. Her video presentation began with the TV spots that would run all summer throughout their target area of season tickets prospects in New England and then she followed with narratives to go with graphics shown on the big screen. After the presentation Ann was about to introduce Coach but said she had some good and bad news. "First the bad news, The NCAA says we have too large of a summer intern staff, the good news is that one of you will get to stay home for the summer. Connie, you're junior on the staff, so you'll have the summer off. Spend that time thinking about what you can mean to the program." Connie Nixon's eyes flooded with tears and they shot directly to Coach Winslow and then to Ann Comeche. She knew exactly why she had been shunned, already kicking herself for coming on so strong to Coach. She knew already why Coach Winslow was so successful. He wouldn't partake in any monkey business and would not stand for any. She had been stupid, and knew it. The rest of the meeting was a rah-rah for the accelerated approach they would take with football with Coach Winslow assuring them that the product he put on the field would make all their jobs easier to sell and promote. He assured them he was successful and had no plans to offer NEAT anything different. He honestly liked the plans they had put forth and few notes about any changes. He truly felt that as the program began to steamroll they would rise to the occasion. By 11 o'clock they had finished up with Coach Winslow saying a personal hello to each member of the staffs represented there, except for Connie Nixon who had slipped out early. Jared hoped she would drop from the program entirely. He made sure he was in his office for his 11:30 meeting with his assistant coaches. It too was just an informational meeting for both of them, but now he had to reassure each of them that their job was safe while reprimanding them for worrying about job security while never approaching him over it. He stressed to them about being upfront on all counts. He inquired about who was free over the summer and who worked a second job. All of them were NEAT staff employees, instructors, or professors. "After this first trip with Joe Barber to visit 4 recruited students with letters of intent I plan to visit each member of the returning team, the transfers, and the committed walk-ons who have prep experience. I should tell you that no player has any job, but I would love for one of you to accompany me on my subsequent trips. I want my offensive coach, my defensive coach and special teams coach to know my program and be with me when I present it to the players. I'm trying to make the trips exclusive to the positions you might cover. But I want you to know I am going to step on some toes. I don't want any whining or back stabbing going on. I do things my way. Learn it and soon we'll all do things my way. My way wins, but I'm not stupid either. Give me suggestions. I make mistakes and take calculated risks. However between now and let's sayyyyy ... game 3 of the schedule, DON'T QUESTION ME. By that time you'll see how it works and I guarantee you'll fall in line. Here are a few things I plan to do that will qualify as big changes. On the defensive and special teams you have a fellow Marvin Hudson, he's a safety and cornerback. In watching team films I see he has some of the quickest feet I can remember. He's a big shouldered kid and he used to throw the ball a little in high school. I'm hoping to make him a quarterback, I'll bet he can scramble like crazy and do a lot of option plays. You've had a half assed kicker here for two seasons and we can't recruit a new one it seems. I have a the star of the soccer team going to a crash course on kicking and I think he can be a big star for us, time will tell. In the meantime I want this junior who's been kicking and missing 35 yards, um ... Claxton? Let's get him fitted for backs pads. Six foot 3 and 230 pounds with a 36 inch waist should be a full back or a line backer." Ira Pressley, the special teams coach interrupted him. " Coach, Scott Claxton is afraid of inter line play, doesn't like to be tackled." "I don't need nancy-boys. Ask him if he's ever screwed a cheerleader and when he says no tell him why. It's because he's not a star, and he's not a star because he's not tough. He'll have to grow a set to play with me. Be direct, be blunt with those boys before they turn into men, and we'll make them men! Do you mean to say Sherm Woodard let a kid stay on his team even though he was afraid to be tackled?" Winslow asked incredulously. "Well, he could kick, and we didn't have a kicker." Pressley said. "I don't care if he could shit diamonds, he's not a team guy if he's afraid of contact. Why does he think they wear equipment? Don't tell me you guys are a bunch of yes men. When I told you not to question ME, I meant that a little differently than being a yes man. Didn't you think it was a little crazy to have a guy on the team afraid of contact?" Winslow asked, beginning to show his famous temper. "Well, of course I did Coach, I had my leg broken and a broken nose in 3 years of NCAA ball at Syracuse. I could barely look at the kid without some disgust. But what was I going to do?" "Show some spine!! Why do you think his program failed? When I look at all three of your resumes I had no problem where you came from and what I thought you could accomplish. We'll do things MY WAY here, but I NEED you guys to shape the team USING my way. When I say shit I may tell you what color, but the shape is all up to you. COME ON YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW YOU'RE ALL BETTER THAN THE SHIT WOODARD PUT ON THE FIELD." Coach Winslow shouted, sorry he had lost it a bit. "Listen you guys, it was never my intention to come here and run down Sherm Woodard. His legacy at both college and pro won't suffer from the failure he had here. I can't help but think a part of that failure stemmed from you guys working in awe of him instead of working with him. I come here with quite a legacy myself, although a lot shorter than Woodard's. I wasn't going to call this meeting until I had a chance to talk to each returning player. However after our little get together and party on Saturday I was told all three of you thought you were swinging in the wind waiting for me to cut the rope. If I thought that and I was any of you I would have been waiting on the highway WHEN I GOT TO TOWN to confront me and ask me if I would be retaining you. Let me tell you that was strike one against all of you, but maybe I understand that thinking a little more now. We may be doing things my way here now, but not without input from each of you. My Special teams coach is Ira Pressley, my Offensive Coordinator is Jordy Alford, and my Defensive Coordinator is Frank Ruffen, PERIOD. You three guys are the bones of the body of work we want to create here. I've interviewed each of the departing seniors and every returning player here on campus. Over the next few weeks I plan on visiting each of them at their homes as well as each recruit, each guy I planned to have come and walk on and each serious intended freshman who thinks he may have a shot at making the team who could not secure a scholarship. I want one of you to be with me for each of these trips. We can have an idea where each player may fit in, but there are no guarantees, no position is assured. Well, to clarify, when Brian Faraday comes in he is my intended place kicker. We have to make an effort that he not get hurt. The soccer program is loaning him to us and I am confident that he has the athletic ability to learn and do this quickly. I know he's competitive enough to not shy away from making a tackle if he has to. But, if a kid walks on and can out perform him, I hold no jobs for anyone. Fair is fair and right is right. Are we all square on at least that?" Jared said trying sum up his thoughts and nutshelled plans and program. "I'm in," Frank Ruffen said, "My resume is out there but I'm pulling it back. I teach a special class on Farm Law here, but I love the commitment both you and the university show to this program. I want to be part of it. "Ditto here," Ira Pressley said, "This is more what I wanted for the last couple years. I love teaching here, I do a specialized History elective but I can it teach anywhere. Staying in a football program, especially one that's committed like this one is important to me. I hope to move on from here with my career. I'm only 44 and I think I know what I'm doing." Jordy Alford was rubbing his chin. "Coach Winslow, I feel quite like my two friends here, but I don't teach here, I head the Student Finance and Scholarship office. If I may, I would like to call you out. Sherm didn't like a ripple in the sheets and we got to a point where we wouldn't even ask him about anything or make suggestions. He laughed at me and probably came close to firing me for making this suggestion, so let me try it on you. There's a girl who is coming back in the Fall as a sophomore that can out punt any guy on the team, and probably most of the guys in the conference. One of our weaknesses last year was our punter, and we needed to do a lot of it. Sherm wouldn't even look at her. Before you make any assumptions, she's almost 6 foot tall and weighs about 165 and is solid. She's no amazon, nor is she manly. She isn't a freak and played 4 years at a Texas High School on the varsity. We were the only school to give her unconditional money for education and Woodard wouldn't even give her a thought. She just finished her freshman year here at the top of her class. Show me that you walk the talk and include her in your interviews." "She can take a hit and not shy from contact, right?" "For sure." Jordy said confidently. "She won't be a problem in the locker room and take the obvious kidding and rough talk?" "If she is like she was in Texas, she'll take part in it. She doesn't want anything special as far as that goes. She'll need her own shower and a stall with a door for her locker. She's actually an attractive girl but is from a family of 7 brothers. She's not shy, but she's a good girl. The boys will respect her and she will make sure of it. I put a lot of time into getting her here and Sherm near broke my spirit over her. The fact she is the top student in her class, if not the university, saves my ass over the scholarship. She is the top Horticulture Systems student while working a dual major in Agribusiness. If she were to play ball she would drop her second major and stay on 2 more years to finish and thus add a year of eligibility for football." Jordy assured him. "You tell her to stay in shape and to expect to hear from me. You and I will visit her at home within the next 2 weeks." Jared said with authority. "I think we're all in then and ready to work. What can we do to get this thing really rolling?" Jordy said acting as the leader of the 3 coaches. "Well for the remainder of the school year, these few days and commencement week, just promote the program to anyone who asks and go over in your heads the attributes of the players you've worked with. Prepare any player you might talk to for possible changes. No player is guaranteed his position or starting job back. We want athletes looking for challenges and of course every athlete is a STUDENT-athlete. You know the ones who have problems and encourage them to get study help or to come back here for mid-summer review and retest in problem courses. Dean Crawford has assured me that any student-athlete who did not fail a course and made an effort can do a 3 week review and retest for a higher mark in the last 3 weeks of July. They normally do it for problem cases where a student had to leave for a health or family problem. Meredith assured me that athletes can be included and the board as well as the NCAA has approved it. I think that covers it for now. Oh, you might keep in mind that each of you can have a 3 student-intern staff during the ball season to run charts, make copies, manage headphones, all of that diddly stuff. They'll be at each game and make the road trips for their efforts. It's not easy and I don't take ANY crap from any of them. It's not a country club and if I even think there's any screwing around, excessive partying, whatever, they're gone and I see that it's on their transcript. Gentlemen, call this Day One of the new regime. I don't and YOU don't take any shit from anyone. I'm behind you all the way. Drive home the new attitude and I can guarantee you we will be respected and thought of highly at a national level in just a few years." Jared said forcefully, almost triumphantly as he got up from his desk. "Can I assume that the three of you are God fearing men?" He asked. "Yes Sir!"s came from the lips of all three with Ira Pressley stepping up and saying, "Coach, we make sure every player is aware of God's role in their lives and meet for interfaith prayers on game days. We felt it was something we should do before sending the boys into battle." "That's great, I'll be sure to be a part of it this year." Winslow said as he took a Bible from his desk. "Can we all place our hands over each others on the Bible to ask for God's blessing, guidance, and success as we start this venture. We'll have the lives of 70 of his creations under our wing as we travel and play around the country. This will be our prayer that we all return safely and the players play without injury." Coach said as all three placed their hands alternately on the Bible. All three closed their eyes and prayed to themselves for a moment. The prayer ended with Ira saying, "In God's name we pray and place our trust." The four men all shook hands and knew the size of the task before them, but all also knew how to accomplish it and were confident that Jared Winslow was the man to lead them. None of them were bible-thumpers or religious crusaders, but felt compelled to show to God their faith and trust at His table and were not shy to lead their charges to that same table. Whether they chose to follow that path was their own decision. ------- Chapter 5 Jared had managed to inspire both himself and the three coaches that made up the root of his staff. He already knew they were capable, now he knew they were going to execute as well. He saw three hungry, but frustrated coaches who thought that a former NFL coach would come in and fire up a program. Instead they saw the shadow of a legend on cruise-control who hoped to catch lightning in a bottle. They now knew the University had made the right decision in bringing Coach Winslow. Jared Winslow met up with Joe Barber about 12 o'clock for their trip to visit recruits after his meeting with SID staff and his coaches. Two of the recruits were fairly local, each within a few hours drive of campus. They could visit each of them and then fly from Hartford to Chicago for an evening meeting with Boge Hollins, a talented High School legend from Cicero, Illinois. Hollins was shied away from by some big schools because of possible discipline problems. Sherm Woodard may have given the prospect some impressions of what his campus life would be, Jared Winslow would soon change that. Jared was prepared to rip up his letter of intent right in front of he and his parents if he sensed attitude. Hollins had to show both Winslow and Joe Barber that he was going to buckle down and become a Student-Athlete and go by ALL the rules. His job of running back was not guaranteed if the staff felt his size suited him better at another position. That was highly unlikely, but recruits had to know WHO was in charge. Their first recruit had a job at Sturbridge Village, a recreation of a late 1700's New England Village where folks dressed in period clothes and conducted life as such. Today one of their "apprentice smithy's" would go outside the village gates and meet in their modern office lounge to discuss the beginning of his college education and NCAA football career. Nunzio "Junior" Contralco was a fleet footed option type quarterback in his 3 years of Varsity High School ball at Wilbraham Central High. He threw but 27 passes in just under 40 games over 3 years and led his conference in yards and scoring using roll and run or roll and pitch option plays. His coaches insisted he had great hands and could become a fine receiver as well. He was the All-American boy by all accounts and his interview impressed both Joe and Jared. He was quite willing to go along with any plan as he talked enthusiastically with the two while his parents sat and beamed at their sons easy going cooperative style. Their next stop was in Hartford to meet Thurmond Smythe. Smythe was an imposing young man for his 19 years, 6 feet and 8 inches and 260 pounds of well chiseled muscle. He looked like an inside lineman, a guard or tackle, but Coach Winslow already had ideas for him to possibly be a middle linebacker. Everyone talked about his quickness, but Jared felt that would fade early as his boy's body became a mans body. If he could take advantage of his youth for a year or two, he would love to see him learn the instincts of the middle position and use that when he moved to inside the line or ideally to defensive end. The scant hour they spent with Thurmond was filled with so many "Yes Sirs and No, Sirs" that Jared wondered if he was going to West Point. Smythe was from poor inner city stock, but both parents refused to let him fall into any of the pitfalls the neighborhood presented. His upbringing was obviously strict, but the boy was happy and proud. The way he looked to his Father and Mother to impress them with both NEAT representatives respect and awe of his talents it was easy to see he was well mentored and centered. Jared had no doubt he was talking to a star. Both he and Joe Barber commented, almost in unison, that it was reminiscent of Tiger Woods and his father. As they walked down the jet way at Bradley International for their 4 hour trip to O'Hare at Chicago Jared Winslow bubbled in his pride for Thurmond Smythe. "I feel a new hope for the inner city black youth of the country. All we see are the negatives, the hip-hop cultures negative icons, the drugs and the poverty. But without fanfare or any press, there are good kids fighting their way out to become productive members of society. My bio on him called him under-privileged. He has the best thing any kid can have, 2 parents who care about him and show him the right way." "You never hear about the good kids. We've had a bunch of inner city kids come through the football program in just the three years, both white and black, and we've never had a problem kid. They all want to get out alive and make something of themselves. You're right, you never hear about the good kids and THAT should be the real news." Joe Barber said as they found their seats. "Now, this kid we'll see tomorrow morning Boge Hollins may burst our bubble. He's such a talent, but he's had truancy problems and a couple pot arrests. He scores high in aptitude and IQ tests, but he may need a push with marks. A lot of schools wouldn't touch him, even though he may be the most talented high school player in the country. He's 6 foot and 200 pounds, runs like Gale Sayers and hits like Jim Brown, powerful as if he's 230 or more pounds. Did you ever see Emerson Boozer?" Barber asked him. "No, a bit before my time but that's not the first time I heard the comparison. Boozer supposedly had the phantom legs that were like cartoon legs, a blur. If you hit him low, you missed him. Unfortunately he didn't have the body to take the hits it took to bring him down." Winslow said. "Well, Hollins does. He gets up every time like Wylie Coyote, no matter what the hit, and the hitter KNOWS he hit something. Like Boozer, he's got great hands. He can get out of the back field after making his blocks and get free. Last year he had 22 twenty yard plus receptions, and scored on 20 of them. He's electric. Now the bad news. He wants to move his "posse" to school with him and live off campus." Joe Barber said disgustedly. "I've heard the story. I brought my bios of Dwight Gooden, Daryl Strawberry and Kevin Mitchell with me. Three can't miss Hall of Famers who let their "friends" ruin their careers and lives and drain their bank accounts. When he leaves Chicago he leaves his "posse" behind and if he's smart, never sees them again. I have a feeling I'm going to tear up his letter in his face Joe. How much is that going to cost us?" Jared asked. "Nothing, we normally would be subject to a lawsuit, but I wrote this one up carefully. He has to agree to our rules or it's a no go. His Dad is on board with us and his Mom is a non-issue, out of the picture. The father was going to spend the last month and the rest of the summer trying to talk sense to him. He warned me that he's pretty headstrong, though." "Not any more than me. I won't let one player sink a whole program." Winslow said proud and determined. "I know, it's why we hired you." Joe Barber said without blinking. "Nothing goes ahead of the University, followed by the team, followed by your self-esteem. I convinced Dean Crawford on those merits, and your track record." "Thanks Joe, I won't let you down." Jared said settling in as the plane taxied and took off. The flight went smoothly and both men fell asleep until the rustle of movement as the plane landed in Chicago. Joe Barber yawned and got his bearings. "Would you be insulted if I skipped dinner tonight and just went up and went to bed when we get to the hotel? I have a ton of paperwork to finish and rather than try to do it tonight I'll get up early and finish it then and have the hotel fax it for me." Joe asked. "Not a problem Joe. Our late lunch with the Smythe kid will do me fine. I might send down for a bottle of wine or a couple beers and watch TV in my underwear. That's what I do after a road win if Barbie isn't with me." Winslow laughed. "If she going to join you at school? You haven't really mentioned her much." "Well, we sort of broke up. We got a little stale. Things may happen again, but for now I'm free. But, I'm not really shopping around. This job will keep me a little busy for a while." Jared said as their turn finally came to get off the plane. They were staying at the O'Hare Marriott where their meeting with the Hollins family would take place. The hotel shuttle was waiting for them and in just a few minutes after landing they were walking down the hall way of the 5th floor of the hotel with a bellman pulling their things on a bag gurney. "Downstairs at 8 for breakfast? I'll meet you in the lobby?" A groggy Joe Barber asked. "Sounds good, don't forget your wake up call." Jared said as he tipped the bellman and stepped into his room. He immediately turned on the TV and turned to ESPN just in time to see his own face on the news and hearing... "Coach Jared "Winning" Winslow who's trying to put New England Ag and Tech on the football map this season to bolster the Northeast 10 to respectability is in Chicago tomorrow to see their biggest hope for that end with Boge Hollins. The troubled High School legend was turned away by several college football powers believing the owner of many national scoring and yardage records was, to quote a source at the scouts combine, "too self centered and high strung to exist in a team oriented atmosphere." The coach plans to meet with Hollins tomorrow at the O'Hare Marriott as Winslow makes a world wind tour of his scholarshipped players. The verbose and outspoken recruit has been unusually quiet and out of sight since the end of his high school career. There have even been rumors that Boge Hollins may forfeit his offer from NEAT to begin a career as a rapper." For many reasons Jared Winslow's heart sunk at the words he heard in the report. First he had hoped this would be a quiet introduction not to play into the flamboyant kids publicity hungry appetite. Secondly he hoped he hadn't done anything stupid and signed with an agent believing he had anything to market but his tremendous football talents. Jared would call room service and ask for a bottle of his favorite wine, some cheese and a sandwich. He hoped he could put Boge Hollins and football in general out of his mind and relax after a long day of traveling. It was how he usually savored a win or forgot about a loss when he was traveling on the road with his team. He called it self indulgent solitude. The wine, the food, and the TV set would ease his tension and take his mind off everything. He knew how to deflect stress and ease it out of his mind. He was about to call the order and the desk and tell them not to allow any calls through without a password when the phone rang. "Hello?" "You were going to come to Chicago and not even look me up?" The female voice said. "Apparently not. Who is this?" Jared said, annoyed. "Didn't you get my emails?" She asked. "Please tell me who you are or I hang up in 5 seconds. 5 - 4 — 3 — 2..." "It's Meaghan Mahaffey, Jared. My God have you forgotten me?" "Meaghan! No! I could never forget about you, but I haven't gotten any emails. You blind sided me." "I sent them to your CoachWin@vvt.edu account, I don't have your new email. You're still checking that one aren't you?" She asked. "Well yes, I'm supposed to but I've been so busy the past week. I don't even know my New England Ag account either. I've just checked my personal Time Warner mail, I'll have to give you that one, juniorjarwin@grtne.rr.com. So what's so important?" He wondered. "Well, YOU, obviously. You've made a lot of sports news and I wanted to congratulate you, talk to you. You remember that I'm not Mahaffey anymore. You DO remember going to my wedding? It's the last time I saw you." She said wistfully. "I'm sorry Meg. You know sometimes your life is full of just ... living. I know you're Mrs. MacDonald now, how's Matt?" Jared said proud he remembered the name. "Matt and I split up about a year ago, well the divorce was final in January." She replied. "Oh Meg, I'm so sorry to hear that." "Don't be. I didn't know that Matt liked to gamble and wasn't big on working when I married him. As my Dad said when I filed for divorce, he was a bum." She told him. "Any kids?" "Yes, a little boy, Declan, after my grandfather. He's with his father the rest of this month and July, I get him on weekends. Then he's with me the rest of the year except for every other weekend. Matt may be a bum, but he's a good Dad to Declan." Meaghan said. "So what do you do?" "I'm a teacher in Wilmette, not far from where I live. Wilmette is a nice suburb of Chicago. My parents bought the house for me and Declan, umm Declan and I. So let's not talk on the phone, let's get together. I'd just love to see you Jared. I think of you whenever I'm lonely. We had something good once." Meaghan said hopefully. "Oh Meg, I don't know. I just settled in here and..." "You won't have to travel Jarry, I'm not too far away. You'll be surprised how I look. I weigh just what I weighed in High School. When you last saw me I was a little tubby, when I got married. Please, I think of you a lot." She pleaded. "Are you sure Meg? There's a lot of miles from when we were together to now." He tried to reason with her. "Jared, you know a woman never forgets her first, and you were my first for a few things. I already told you I thought of you when I was lonely. You know what I meant by that didn't you?" She said, her voice going to a sexy lilt. "Oh gosh Meaghan, I guess I know. What makes you think we can still have anything. Do you remember why we broke up?" Jared said, almost rhetorically. "We broke up... , " She said as she choked up a bit, "We broke up because you were going away to school and we thought we should see other people to see if we were right for each other. Stupid kids, we threw something good away. Then your sister told me you were screwing everything that moved in your dorm. That was when I met Matt at school. After college we lived together for three years before we got married. Now 8 years later, here I am wondering how I lost you." "Well, my sister lied to you. I didn't touch another girl until I found out you were seeing Matt, and that was almost after my whole first year at West Virginia. She was probably trying to make me sound like a campus stud." Jared told her. "Jared, we're still on the phone." She whined. "OK where can I meet you?" Jared said giving in and letting his curiosity get the best of him. "I'm downstairs in the lounge." She said cautiously. "You little sneak, you knew you could get me out." He said with an understanding chuckle... "I'll get dressed and come down." Jared went through his suitcase for a shirt and slacks remembering his time with Meaghan and how they thought they were the perfect couple. They had sex for the first time, each of them, on prom night. They spent more than a few of the next nights wrestling in the back of his Dad's car. The day of the senior trip and picnic they went all the way to The Great Escape in Lake George, New York. As soon as they got inside the park they snuck off to the exit saying they left medication on the bus. They got their hands stamped and walked to a small motel and checked in. They necked and petted until Jared got the nerve to do what they went there for. He went down on Meaghan and ate her pussy until she could barely breath. Then she did the same for him, sucking him until she got him to finally climax. She spit it all out, although it wasn't her intention. It was to prove their true love to each other. Two months later he was off to WVU hoping she would call and tell him she couldn't stand to be with anyone else. Instead he heard she took up with Matt. They never resolved the reasons they left each other behind, but when she invited him to her wedding he presumed it was because all of their other friends were there and she didn't want to seem spiteful. Jared was on the elevator down to the lounge in just a few minutes and actually felt nervous seeing her for the first time in some 5 or 6 years. At her wedding it was apparent that she had gained 20 or more pounds to where she wasn't really fat, but certainly more rounded. When they dated she was a tiny thing, barely 5 foot and 95 or 100 pounds. When he walked into the Second City Lounge her smiling face was like a beacon from a bistro table just right of the bar. He smiled back and as soon as he got to where he wanted to extend his hand to her she jumped from the stool and threw her arms around his neck and held onto him, her legs dangling as his arms went around her to hold her. It was "their hug" back in the day. She whispered "I missed you" and planted her lips on his for a more then friendly kiss before she let go and he let her drop to her feet. "I've been looking forward to doing that to you for months now Jared. I didn't know how I was going to hook up with you but I was determined to see you again. How are you?" "Well, the sports news kind of tells you what's been happening with me, so in a word, busy." He replied still marveling over the tiny thing she had once again become. He was sure he could pick her up and throw her over his shoulder and walk back to Vermont if he had to. Her face was bright, cheery and clear with nary any signs of her 34 years, marriage, children or stress. Her dirty blond hair was cut short to almost pixie like length, short and close to her face. In this light she could pass for 18 or 20. "Oh I know, my God they've made such a big deal about you coming to meet Boge. I had Boge in junior English when they moved him to Wilmette schools last year. He wasn't a great student at first because he didn't want to be there, but once he applied himself he was fine. He adapted well. His family moved him 3 hours from his home, to his grandmothers house, to get him away from the gangs, drugs and all that, but he was back in Cicero for football season. He needs a mentor. But enough about football, how is Barbie and does she like the move?" She asked prying to get an idea where she might stand. "Barbie and I have taken a break, we kind of grew apart." He said in an even tone to be sure he didn't sound happy or sad over the situation. "So the two of us are here free to be whatever?" She asked hopefully. "Oh Meg, I'm not looking for a relationship and that's no reflec..." "STOP Jared! Let me be totally honest with you about a lot of things. First of all I didn't expect to walk into your life and have you open your arms to me. My saying "free to be whatever" was stupid and premature. I want to tell you some things that have driven me crazy for a long time and that you have a right to know. It may seem like ancient history, but I go over this every day in my head. I may get emotional, but don't let that stop me, I have to do this. First of all when you went away to school and we broke off for "a breather" I still expected you to call me everyday, or every other day or every week. You told me you loved me and I gave myself to you because I loved you too. After 58 days of waiting by the phone, checking the mail, your sister came home from visiting you and she was full of stories about you being the dorm stud, the party boy and all that shit. I found out a couple years later that she told me that stuff because you were sick over the fact I hadn't contacted YOU and she didn't want you to appear weak. But right then, I hated you. If my heart was broken over not hearing from you, it was ripped to shreds over that and the fact you had moved on as well. I put myself out there and met Matt right away. He was kind and nice to me and I was also sleeping with him after just a few dates because that was how I got back at you. I made sure I threw it up in your face when you came home too. I really fell I love with Matt and after a while you and I became civil, at least we went from not speaking at all to saying hello and exchanging pleasantries, even though my heart ached because I still loved you. I found you could truly love two men at one time. Half the time Matt made love to me I was thinking of you. When I got engaged it was to make you jealous and when we finally got married I invited you, not to keep the old gang all together for a big party, but to shove it in your face, even though you never gave a sign you cared at all. Matt and I had a good life and he gave me my precious boy Declan and I learned to live with the fact that you were always on my mind. Matt lost his job because of his gambling. That happened just after I got my Masters at night and I got the teaching job right away. I treated his gambling as a sickness and worked with him in every way I could to cure him. But he lost all incentive to work or look for work as soon as I brought home a decent paycheck. It was the beginning of my falling out of love with him. On Declan's 5th birthday I asked Matt to move out. I went to work at getting myself in shape so I could put myself out there again and have a man around for Declan. I ate right and exercised and soon I began to see in the mirror the girl I was in high school. I dug out an old bathing suit, the one I wore on our senior trip, and it fit perfectly. However, it made me think of you and what we did that day when we checked into that motel with our clothes over our swim suits. From then on I would get lonely and think of you, about that day and others we had together. I've wanted you everyday since. I don't know if it's to scratch that itch I can't reach by myself, or if it's because I still do really love you. Before you say anything, let me tell you that I've only been with two men in my life, you and Matt. I've had other friends named Buzz that I had to put batteries in, but I never ran around or sought other men because it was you I wanted. I recently even tried to go and spend a night with Matt, but he repulsed me knowing what he did to our lives. Jared, I want to go upstairs with you. I want to be with you in the ways we used to be. Maybe it's to show you how much I love you, maybe it's to satisfy something I haven't been able to resolve. I couldn't hurt anymore than I do each day if you reject me now, or reject me in the morning. I know you still have some sort of feelings for me, just don't send me home with a broken heart over not even trying." Meaghan finished her long dissertation that was obviously rehearsed and well thought. She wasn't a desperate rambling stalker, she was sincere and brutally honest. She had touched Jared's heart to where he was at a loss for words. He kept going over in his mind their times together. He looked into her cute face and her sincere wanting eyes realizing that he was already beginning to get engorged between his legs. He reached out and touched her hand. "There are no promises. You have to understand my life is already full, but there is no other woman right now, and if I didn't care for you I wouldn't lead you on just for the sake of getting my jollies." He said with pure honesty. "I know you wouldn't hurt me for the sake of getting laid. You are a kind and decent man and I know that. What you've made of yourself proves what I've always known about you. Now I have to ask you, where did you leave Barbie, your relationship?" She asked so as to judge where she might be in the line for his heart. "She swears that she can become the woman I fell in love with and proposed to. I am not so sure of that, but she knows my heart is open. Where there is a place in my heart for you, there is a place for Barbie. I owe her that much. I want you to understand that. But know this, she has already thrown our love away once and taken me for granted." He said to the misty eyed Meaghan before taking both of her hands in his and drawing them to him. "Don't take anything that happens tonight to your heart. Know that you are so special to me, but I am not looking for the relationship you crave. If it hits me over the head and happens, that's fine, but my life is too helter skelter right now to WANT to be in love and be giving of myself like that. My last two years with Barbie were like living alone so this state is not altogether new to me. I'm not needy." Meaghan was nodding in agreement with his "terms" before he finished his sentence. "I know, and I don't have expectations. I'm here to tell you that I still love you and to find if there is any remnant of what we once shared in your heart ... and I think there is! I've needed a man so badly and I've been home alone thinking about you so many nights and when I heard, about a week ago, that you would be in Chicago I had to be with you. I don't want to sound cheap, and I know I sound desperate. I'm really hoping that my closing a book WITH you might open another FOR you. I won't stalk you, chase you, or anything like that. When, or IF I walk out of your room tonight, or (a big grin appears) in the morning, I won't contact you unless I hear from you. There, ... my heart and soul are naked for you. If we go upstairs, I have other naked parts for you to see." She said with a sexy grin. Jared was having a hard time digesting everything and second thoughts were creeping into his thought process. "I'm not so sure Meg, about one thing; you may be making love to me, but I'm going to be fucking you, or at least making love to the ghost of what we were. Now don't take that the wrong way, I may end up making love to you as well. Just understand that 30 minutes ago you were not on my radar and now you want to give yourself to me, something that you did with a lot of thought all those years ago." He told her. "Jared," She said with said in a near tears urgency, "I've been making love to the ghost of what we were many times all through my marriage and in the last 6 months, almost every night. I don't know if we can recapture the love and camaraderie, the friendship, or the dreams we once had, but right now I'm so close to the needs my body and spirit have from you, please don't deny me and please don't make me beg. We can never determine who was more stupid in throwing away the relationship we had, whose pride, whose ego, whose utter fucking bullheaded decision it was to throw what we had away, but let's not walk away from this chance to ignite it. Sexually it will burn long and hot, I can guarantee you that, but as for the rest of it, I know the years gone by, the places we've been, the people we've met can all change things. I have a son who needs to be mentored by someone who can be with or near him everyday, not just weekends. You may not have applied for the job, but in my mind you're the top candidate. No matter what comes of this meeting, this crossing of paths, it can't proceed unless I fulfill my fantasies of making love to you and close that book of my life." Jared looked into her eyes and saw the gleam he recognized from so many years ago. It was the same gleam he saw when she suggested sneaking away from the senior picnic to "taste something new". It was the same gleam he saw when she told him she slipped a surprise in the breast pocket of his prom tux as she pinned on his boutonniere. When he checked it, it was a condom. The look told him that she meant business and denial or refusal was not in the equation. He stood and took her hand and winked. She smiled a wide grin and grasped his hand tightly and stood and walked toward the lobby. It was going to be an interesting couple of hours, or hopefully an interesting night. ------- Chapter 6 In the full light of the lobby he saw the petite girl he ravished in his senior year all grown up. She wore a navy colored skirt and white sleeveless sweater. Her thin cupped bra did not hide her nipples even in the sweater. Her perky tits of youth were now mature breasts, wide and full. Her round, but skinny butt was now a bit wider, probably a bit from gravity and from childbirth, but still much of an eye catcher as it rocked to and fro as she walked. A little mileage on her face, hidden by the lounge lighting, now showed, but she was still a cute, attractive fox, in any man's book. They made small talk on the elevator with only Jared asking her to be quiet in the hallway so as not to give away the fact he was bringing a guest in his room in case Joe heard them from across the hall. They got off on his floor and quietly slipped into Jared's room. "Would you think I was strange if I asked you to play out the fantasy I've run through my head a hundred times or more while I got busy with myself?" She asked. "You've given us that much thought?" He asked. "As I was standing up in the lounge to take your hand I was just a touch away from orgasm, and I'm just about there now. That's because this is happening as I imagined. I would run into you in a bar and go back to your room, not as strangers, but as we are right now." She said with an uneven voice. "Really? Then what happens." Jared asked inquisitively. "I take the desk chair", She said as she moved it, "and move it to here and have you sit down in it." She said motioning as she quickly turned off lights leaving only the bedside lamp and the bathroom lights on. There was still plenty of light in the room to see, but none was glaring at them, mostly sharp rays from the bathroom behind her and soft luminescence from the bed lamp. "Then I stand just out of your reach and take off my clothes." She said as she reached behind herself and undid a catch at the top of her sleeveless sweater. She crossed her arms in front of her and held the bottom of the garment and pulled it up and over her head being careful not to mess her hair or catch the chain around her neck. She revealed a thin cupped bra that provided support but certainly didn't hide her half dollar sized dark nipples or their hardened buds. The last time he saw her breasts they were prominent cup cakes on her chest, now they were much wider, full and in need of the support her brassiere gave her. What once were cone shaped firm tits, were now a beautiful woman's breasts. She undid the front clasp and pulled away the bra, somewhat throwing her breasts out. She dropped the bra on the bed and put her hands on her hips. "My baby changed these from the titties I used to rub in your face when I rode you, huh? But my nipples are much more sensitive now." Meaghan said as she crossed her hands over her breasts and pinch the nipples, sighing loudly. "If my friend inside your pants is getting a little big for its britches you can adjust it, but please leave it in. I want to take it out myself and relieve that ache myself using my hands and mouth. Yes, I still love to suck my lovers penis. You told me everything you liked and I kept my appreciative husband happy for a long time. But he called me a dirty, naughty girl when I did that. You would preen my hair and stroke my cheek showing affection. I'm sure it was much better for you and I KNOW it was for me. Taking his spooge in my mouth was his occasional treat, taking yours was mine and I've missed that." She said while exaggerating her lips as she pinched her nipples and slid her hands to her hips and rotated her middle like a dirty dancer. Jared reached down and did adjust himself as he smiled back at Meg. "I hope you don't like a furry honey pot, because that was some of my new liberation since my divorce. I read where Eva Longoria said she tried it because of advice from a friend and she couldn't believe how excited and aware of her sexuality it kept her. I agree." Meg said as she undid the buttons on the side of her skirt and pulled down a cinching zipper. Her skirt started to fall and she caught it and stepped out of it. That left her in a sheer short slip that she didn't need in the black garment but it kept the skirts fabric from her skin. She turned away from Jared and slipped the slip down as she rolled her hips as her ass came into view, with only the gusset band of her tiny panty covering the split of its gorgeous shape. She caught her fingers in the sides and bent bringing them to the floor where she stepped out of the leg holes of the panty. She stood up and turned slowly to Jared. "My back end is a little wider than when you last saw it, but I think I look more a woman than a girl now." She said as her front side came into view and she struck a pose with her hands on her hips with one leg open a bit. He saw her contraceptive patch at her panty line. She held the pose for Jared to drink in what she knew was a delicious sight for any man. She had worked hard to bring her body back to it's former teasing form and she was proud. She walked toward Jared and sunk to her knees before him. "My pussy is dripping thinking of tasting and smelling you. Every man must have his own musk and I would know yours anywhere. We were both kids the first time we tried this but we did OK. I remember I wanted to wait for a hotel room because I thought the car would make us feel dirty." She said as she settled her hands in his crotch and worked at the buckle on his belt. Once undone, she worked his pants open and drew down the zipper. His cock was straining against the boxers he wore that day and the opening in the front was gaped by the protrusion they were not designed to contain. Her hand went into the gape and took hold of his penis just behind the head and pulled it out as her other hand pulled aside the opening. Rather than holding out and admiring her catch she bent and wrapped her mouth around the head as soon as it came into view as if it were supplying oxygen before her lungs burst. She mewled and groaned deep in her throat as she pushed her mouth as far as she could over him before relenting and just holding the head in her mouth, lolling her tongue over and over it as Jared sighed loudly and slowly blew out a long breath though puffed cheeks and pursed lips. Suddenly she pulled her head up and threw her hands to her pussy saying "Stand up and take down your pants!", as she bent over in a ball and watched her fingers work Her fingers worked vigorously and the sound of "wet and squishy" filled the room as the clink of pocketed change hitting the floor interrupted it. She squealed loudly and the light behind her caught the wet fluid she squirted that her hands deflected. She threw her head up and stretched her lithe body out and she opened her eyes to see Jared standing, his shorts and pants just fallen around his ankles. He was about to sit down but she bolted forward, kneeling fully up and took him deeply in her mouth, her nose almost touching his body before she gagged a bit and relented taking him in her hand and slipping off her mouth. "I've cum already and I want you to cum in my mouth so I can taste you again. Then you can do whatever you want to me." She said before putting him back in her mouth and beginning to fuck her mouth over him. If he wanted to protest, the mouth fucking over his manhood scuttled the thought. The action of her tongue and the pulling of her lips had his orgasm cycle starting to turn. It would take only a few minutes before she might get what she was wishing for. Then Jared put his hand on her head and said "wait!" Meaghan stopped her mouth and looked up at him in startled question. "What?" "This isn't right. I can't say I'm not enjoying it, but to finish like you say ... it isn't right. We've had that closeness, but we aren't there. You aren't my, ... my ... whore, and please don't take that the wrong way. I want you, I want you real bad, but until I can tell you that I love you and want you to be with me I don't want that. You're too special to me." Jared said as he stroked her hair. "If you were any other man I would be mortified right now Jared, but from you it's one of the reasons why I think I still love you. You don't want me to leave do you?" She asked with disappointment in her voice. "No, No, I don't even want you to stop what you're doing, just let's not finish like that. I want to taste you and make love to you. Well, maybe saying make love flip-flops what I gave as a reason why I don't want to ... uh ... finish in your mouth. I want to taste you and fuck you silly, make you happy, cure your loneliness and ... well, you know." Jared said stumbling and unsure of his words. Meaghan slipped her mouth over Jared's cock and sucked him up and down a few times to return him to his former stiffness before pulling her mouth off him and looking up to talk. "You are still the sweetest man, thoughtful, reasoned and full of character. You're special and I would be happy to fuck you. It would be great for both of us and maybe open doors for us." "But remember, this may not turn into magic for us. I know you've had your fantasies about us and we may have stupidly cheated ourselves out of a wonderful life together a long time ago. That doesn't mean we can put it together now. I would be happy if it did, but I can't hide the fact that another woman has the same sights on me, and she has a special place in my heart as well. Meg, these few minutes with you have made me remember the passionate affection we had for each other. Let's use that tonight to create some heartfelt pleasure for each other. If our hearts cry out for each other, I'm sure we'll hear." Jared soberly explained. Meaghan stood and threw her arms around Jared's neck and nestled her head in the crook of his neck and shoulder. "Jared I want us to keep going tonight to satisfy my hunger for you, but I promise that I won't look too far past the pleasure if we can't get back on the track we were on years ago. In my heart I knew it was a long shot and you could have used me, but you're too sweet a man." She said kissing his neck and then stepping back. "Now get out of those clothes, you look foolish standing there in a shirt and your pants around your ankles!" She kidded with a smirk. Jared laughed and stepped out of his pants and took off his shirt, quickly dropping his clothes. He stepped to her and picked her up, she wrapping her arms around his neck as she giggled. Jared pasted his lips to hers and walked to the bed letting her down slowly until he was bent over her, her weight on the bed and only touching her lips. He broke the kiss and with no fanfare or build-up put his mouth over her shaven little pussy and began to lick, suck and taste the pussy he first ate many years ago. It was sweet with her juices and her musk filled his nostrils. She reached one arm out to grasp his leg and he used that for a cue to move it from the floor and swing it over her, moving his other knee just beside her, never removing his mouth from the fountain of her little cootie. His dick and balls swung over her face and she reached to take his cock in both hands as he began to pay particular attention to her clit where he remembered she was most sensitive once her hood retracted, but now her clit almost pulsed, it was so full of blood and anxious for relief. He remembered that she didn't like being an active player in 69 until she came because she sometimes couldn't focus on her own pleasure with a face full of crotch to distract her. Her clit seemed bigger than he remembered and it was alive in his mouth as she groaned and filled the room with sounds of animal pleasure, deep guttural throat catches and feminine squeals. Then he felt her flexing her sex muscle and pant heavily before grunting and bearing down hard with a muffled shriek as he pushed her face into his balls. Milky clear fluid flowed from her pussy as she came. Jared had experienced a little of female squirting and knew the reaction she was having, but she wasn't forcing out a stream of fluid, it was just flowing, wet and messy to his mouth and down her legs to the bed. Suddenly she bucked and pushed a hand down to separate his mouth from her pussy. She opened her mouth and took his balls in one big mouthful, then pushing one out to loll the other with her mouth, before switching to the other as her chest heaved trying to suck in air through her nose, coming down from her high. Jared pulled up from her font using one hand to steady himself and the other to lightly slap the wet, sloppy pussy. She bucked as if his hand were giving her shocks and more fluid oozed up. He swung his leg over her again to kneel at her side, but he quickly swung the other back to straddle her chest and present his cock to her face. She instinctively opened her mouth and took him in pushing her head up to take all she could. He leaned forward to gag her a bit and then he sat back leaving just the head in her mouth. "You were always so cute, so sexy with my cock in your mouth. Think you can keep it hard while your little pussy calms down? If I fucked you now the way I want to I don't think I could keep you on the bed." Jared said in a low almost whisper. Tears appeared at the sides of Meaghan's eyes and rolled down the sides of her cheeks. She took a hand and pulled his cock away from her lips to talk. "You know you can't just fuck me. You want to make love to me, like I'm making love to you. It's OK. We deserve this even if it's the last we do and this becomes goodbye. I know it could be that we got to fates station too late to ever catch the train. That doesn't mean we shouldn't chase it to try and get on." She said in a low voice. Jared knew her words were true. He was making love to her like he wished he had made love to her everyday since he left for college. She was still the lithe little nymphet he knew, only now her body was that of a mature woman, still packed into her small frame. She was smart, she was loving and the sheer joy and ecstasy she got from sex with him told him she cared deeply for him. He already wondered if in three days, when he was immersed in mini-camp making decisions that would shape the team and his career, would he still be able to think of her and be this excited. He still felt a pang of excitement and anticipation when he thought about Barbie. Would this make that go away? Meaghan read his pensive face after her words and knew, for the most part, what he was thinking. She had run the same questions through her own head when she fantasized about him. While she couldn't get inside his mind to see his reactions, she did shake him back to the moment when her tongue curled out to the underside of the corona of his penis and her top lip hooked behind head and she closed her mouth over him. His eyes closed as his absorption of pleasure shook him from his reverie. "God Meg, I have to be inside you." He said moving from her mouth and backing down her body until he could move his knees between her legs. With almost no effort he leaned forward and the tip of his penis found her entrance and he sheathed into her as they each sighed in pleasure. He resisted the urge to plunge in and out of her in a crazed rut by pasting his lips to hers for a long tender deep kiss. The moment was special, but she clearly wanted more physical passion. "Let me get on my knees so you can tear me up, be my animal." She whispered, surprising him by her choice of words, but he knelt back from her and complied. Once his penis popped from her she scrunched up and flipped over spreading her legs so her feet were on the outside of his knees. He guided his cock to her pussy as he saw a drop of her honey form and roll toward her hood and clit. He swooped his head down to lick across her dewy little lips and catch it. The aroma filled his nostrils and he wanted to plow her hard now, but she had one more passionate request. "Eat my ass, give me your tongue there!" Jared was interested in some ass play from back in his college days. He had looked for a volunteer to open her ass for him to satisfy his urge to split a female bun set, but never quite found it. He discovered a few players who like a finger or tongue, but no one willing to open up, at least for him. With Megs dimpled perfect ass spread and bent before him he had no reservations about swabbing his tongue from her pussy lips to her cute pinched wrinkle. He backed up and bent to bury his face between her cheeks, holding each side of her ass to his face like a man with an oxygen mask in an air-lock. He licked and probed his tongue as her breath caught and her throat rattled in her pleasured enjoyment. An ass rim and ream was not new to her from her reactions and soon when he pulled his face from her he saw she had relaxed and opened up from his ministrations. He instinctively slid his thumb into her opening and pushed in taking her breath away. "NOOOOoooooooo Jared, PLEASE DON'T!" She wailed loudly as she twisted and fell to rest on one hip and look up at her startled lover. Looking between scared and embarrassed she explained frankly; "I'm not prepared for that. I was always sorry I didn't give you that first, but I loved my husband and wanted something special for him. You know what I mean. If I let you play there I won't be able to control myself. I'm embarrassed you know." She said in a tone and facial expression he had never seen or heard from her before. "It's OK, get your pussy up here before I explode." He said in a tone and manner that told her he shrugged it off. She twisted back up and opened her legs as before as he moved in and pushed into her fully, forcing her breath from her while Jared went to town pounding her as he previously wanted. Nary a sound came from her as she lifted her head and shoulders in her startlement at being filled so rapidly. She held that position as he wailed away at her for five or six hard strokes before she pulled the pillow at her fingertips and scrunched her head and shoulders into it to enjoy the screwing he was giving her. "FUCK ME HARD BABY!" were the only words she spoke as he did just as she requested. He needed to get off and she was going to be his receptacle. He knew he would cum soon and he felt her quiver around him and suddenly it got very wet, almost too wet to allow him enough friction to get off. She dripped her fluid on the bed just as he began to feel his load shoot up his dick tube. "AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHH!" He wailed as she squealed under him as he humped up off his knees holding her little ass in his hands. As the last of his load dripped into her he fell back and out of her, falling to the side on his stomach, his head hanging over the side, exhausted. She was still in the position she was fucked, but her head, neck and shoulders were relaxed into the bunched pillows they had forced to the head of the bed. "Honeyface, could you get me something?... , a towel, your underwear, anything; I'm dripping." She asked him in a low voice. He rolled toward the end of the bed and let his legs swing out to break his fall and pulled himself up to his feet as he staggered to the bath to get a towel. "Honeyface?" He thought. "There's an old pet name no one else has ever called me." He mused as he thought of the first time she did use the name right after he had eaten her and kissed her with his wet face. "Had she planned to use that name, or was it just spontaneous? I did have a honey face, but it's dried up a bit." He chuckled to himself. He brought her the towel and as soon as she dragged it across her pussy she flipped to her side and looked at him lovingly. "Sex wise, we still got it, you know." She said as she bounced her butt up quickly. "And SHIT, I still manage to lay my ass into the wet spot." She giggled as she repositioned herself to a dry area. "Ummm, about before." Meg began, "I always planned to give you my last cherry when you came home at Christmas that year. I know you were afraid to ask, but it was obvious you were interested. When we never got back together I saved it for my husband on my wedding night. It's pretty intense and sometimes it hurts too much, but it can be pretty sexy. I've never thought about you there, but ... ummm you know, some other time if there is one." She said acting a bit embarrassed but thinking she needed to explain. "A ... OK ... sure. It's fine. I'm a ... cherry with that still." He stumbled out. "No ones ever shoved a dick up your butt?" She said laughing to break the mood. "You KNOW what I mean!" He cracked as he knelt and fell onto the bed beside her giving her ass a playful slap. She followed his eyes as he laid down holding her smile and laugh inside her tightly closed mouth not wanting to embarrass him with her zinger. They kept their eyes glued on each others until she swallowed the smile and grin and they both silently softened their looks. "We were really fuckin' stupid, huh? We had something great and let ego's and inner pride rend it away." She said candidly. "My dumb sister trying to protect my male vanity, telling you I was the campus stud wasn't my idea. However when I came home and saw you with Matt, it was what everyone told me would happen. Yes, for sure, we were stupid." He agreed. "Are we fooling ourselves here? Did we really think the sex wouldn't be good? What about the rest of our lives? Has too much changed about us?" She asked. "I just don't know Meg. We need time to work on it and I don't know if I could give you a fair shot. My mind tells me I want to try it, but I can barely fit sleep in right now." He said to be sure he was non-committal. "Maybe if I slept with you tonight it would help that." She said with a wink and a smile. "That would be nice, Meg. No expectations, though, OK?" "No, it'll be a trip down memory lane whether we talk or screw or suck each others brains out. Just being with you is hard to comprehend. Actually I'm pretty tired after a day of anticipation and that workout." She said sitting up to pull down her side of the covers and slipping in. "I'm actually kind of beat up too. I'll join you after I pee." Jared said getting up to turn out lights and use the toilet. He slipped into the bed along side Meaghan and pulled her tight to him in a spoon. The fingers of his left hand and her right entwined as he smelled her short blond hair. Her scent was unmistakable to him and he mentioned it. Then he propped up to kiss her cheek and he saw she was grinning with tears running from her eyes. ------- Chapter 7 "You OK?" He asked after letting her enjoy her moment. "Yes, I'm so happy, I can't remember being more so. Even if we part tomorrow and I never see you again, I know dreams can come true. I only wanted a chance to tell you how I felt and feel you inside me again. I was afraid you might hate me or think I hated you. That's bothered me all these years ... and the thing about the smell, my scent? With you it's taste. This sounds naughty but, I've only tasted two in my life, but you, your cock, taste so much different that the other, you know ... Matt's. I didn't want to bring him up, but you are distinctly you." She said uncomfortably. "You've never had a fling just out of curiosity, never a guilty pleasure, never used your natural lure to get someone you were attracted to?" Jared wondered. "No, I was tempted many times, but I somehow thought I would always end up with you, and you were my only fantasy. If we don't work out, I'll probably move on to make other discoveries, but I'm not wanting for more. You know the pleasure I get from my lover." She said in a sudden sullen tone. "This is a shitty question, but relevant, were you as good, as satisfied with Matt?" "For a long time, yes. I realized that, even with you, I loved the act of sex more than I loved my partner. But when it finally came evident that Matt had no character and was shallow, I saw that characteristic ran deep in you and was the reason I took up with you in the first place. You were real, he was fake. Sex was so good to me that I forgot the reason why I gave myself. Stupid, huh?" Meg said sadly. "We were both pretty stupid with a lot of things about us never figuring the lifelong gravity the situation held. Try as we might, some of those things can't be changed." He added to base her thoughts in reality "But relationships are so much more than sex and that's what drove my fantasies and hope for you. With Matt, our life, our marriage, our world was crumbling beneath us, but the fact I was getting great sex blinded me. When I realized what had happened I wanted to give up sex forever, but my little fantasies of you kept me going. With any other man I'll have to be so careful, I know what I have with you." She explained. "Isn't the fact that the basis for relationship with me is already there making it easier for you, coloring your world all rosy, though?" He asked. "No because with you if I take away the sex, there is still something there, my heart still pounds for you, I want to be with you. We're so good together." She said tearing up "You have character and are a decent man. We solved problems together and you opened your heart to me." "I'll bet if you think back you'll find it was like that with Matt at one time too." "Jared, I'm going to tell you something that only the Illinois courts, my family, and Matt knows. You'll probably think I'm the stupidest, most gullible person in the world. Matt lost his job, or as he put it to me, he was laid off. He said "as soon as the markets leveled off," they would call him back. He said he was low man. Even that wasn't true. I felt horrible for him and we made love that night and I went to work the next thinking all would be fine. After a month of no unemployment checks he told me there was a problem with how he filed and it would be straightened out and he would get the back checks. We scrimped and ate like welfare people, but my baby was happy at home with his daddy and I was going to work with a smile on my face every morning with a big sex glow. In to the second month a friend of mine casually asked me to scratch off her lottery ticket since I was so lucky with ours. I didn't know what she meant and she said she had seen our name on the lottery web site as a $10,000 scratch off winner. I went and looked and sure enough Matt MacDonald of Wilmette was listed. I checked the phone book and there was only one Matt MacDonald in Wilmette. I got suspicious and went down to the Chicago Exchange to look up a girlfriend who worked with Matt. I went into the office where Matt worked and she saw me and rushed to meet me and take me out into the hallway. I knew something was up then and then she started asking me all these confusing questions and I had to ask her to stop and TELL ME what happened. I thought Matt got laid off during a slow period. She told me Matt was fired for being out of work so much, for possibly stealing a clients money and a whole laundry list of other things. I went home and confronted him and he broke down into a crying mess and told me a story so wild I couldn't believe it, but I've found out that it was all true. He had a gambling problem for a long time and after a time at work it caught up with him, hiding losses from me, a lot of drinking during the day, using up a lot of our savings and he even tried to get a second mortgage on the house. A client loaned him money and when he couldn't repay it they said he stole it. He lost his job and couldn't get unemployment because of the circumstances. He hocked some of my jewelry, and some of his mothers things to pay off people, and gamble more trying to get the big win. He DID win 10,000 on a scratch off and got almost 7000 after taxes. He used a few thousand to appease some gambling debts, put a thousand back in our savings and blew 4000 in one afternoon trying to make the big kill. Jared, during this time I felt so bad for him, thinking he was poor old Matt who got laid off, we made love everyday, sometimes a couple times if Declan didn't fuss early. He used and abused my love for him, my pity for him, when all the while he was lying and deceiving me and my baby. I threw him out of the house that night and he went to his parents, who live near Columbus in Ohio now, and they bailed him out of everything. The son of a bitch had the balls to come back to my doorstep saying he was reformed, all paid off and ready to re-start our lives. When I thought of him making love to me after lying all day to me, I was sick to my stomach. While we fought, and it was just words, he never touched me, I thought I saw something in his shirt pocket and I asked him to show it to me. He turned all red and owned up to buying a $100 in scratch off lottery tickets that morning. He apologized profusely for not throwing them away, as he had intended, before he got there. He wasn't sorry for buying them, he was sorry for not hiding the evidence. We were definitely through! Once he got a job, got professional help and a decent place to live, mostly thanks to his parents, I let him start taking Declan as the courts had prescribed. Declan missed his Daddy so much and Matt seems to be really trying to make himself better. He was a rat husband, but he is a good Daddy." "Wow, it sounds like the guy had a real sickness, not that I condone any of it. There had to be many times when he could have stopped himself before he got too deep." Jared observed. "That's my thinking too. His parents begged me to give him another chance, but I can't think of him without remembering how he lied and deceived me. If he weren't Declan's father I wouldn't care if I ever saw him again." She said reaching back to find Jared's hand. "So your plan is for me to take you away from all of this?" Jared asked absently. Meaghan sat up quickly pulling the sheet up to cover her breasts. "Jared! You don't think I came here to hornswoggle you into something, do you? I'm not that devious and I hope you don't think..." "Whoa, calm down. I didn't think that or mean for you to think I thought that. I just meant that it MUST have crossed your mind that if we hit it off again you could be rid of him." Jared qualified. "Well, you know I've fantasized about being with you and even getting back with you and with those thoughts, yes, I thought about that. But I came here to meet back up with you, mend some fences and get good and laid. I wanted to show you how much I care for you too, and make you aware that I was "out here". I didn't expect, even under the best scenarios, to have a TV movie ending to my story. Jared, no matter WHAT happens to me, whether I marry a prince from a far away land or end up living on the street, I will ALWAYS love you in some special way and because of my situation, AND your situation, I'm able to express it right now." She said as she sat up again holding the sheet in front of her and looking down at Jared before she fell forward and hugged her drawn up knees to herself. She looked off into nowhere and mused aloud, "Maybe coming here tonight I've fucked up my only real hope." "No, no, NO! You haven't! You did the right thing coming here because otherwise I would have never known your situation. My situation is easy to follow in the sports pages. If you think that I'm walking out of here tomorrow all happy because I got laid without being swept off my feet, you're wrong! You are, and have always been the fantasy of my life. But, I know you understand the situation of my life with its obligations to work, and with another tie to my heart that I just can't walk away from, no matter how I want it to resolve or continue." She turned her head sideways and looked back and down at his face, "Do you remember The Bubble?" Jared laughed and nodded. The Bubble was an imaginary force field type of idea they got from watching Star Trek re-runs. They would put their fingers together, aim at the floor and swoop their hands over their head and back to whatever was behind them as they both buzzed through their teeth and then gave a WHOOP as they drew The Bubble. They imagined they could be inside The Bubble and do whatever they liked and no one could see and the outside world didn't matter. "Can we stay in The Bubble tonight? Let out all of the talk about everything and just leave our adoring hearts together to make love out of everything we do, be it just breathing, sleeping, or maybe getting a little sexy again, or if I have my way, getting A LOT sexy again." She said with a pixie smile, still not moving her head from its knee-top perch. "We can try." Jared said smiling as he put his arm out and waited for her fingers to join his. "Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, W H O O P!! " They shouted out giggling like kids as she fell on him and locked her mouth to his. Their kiss was deep and exciting, and most of all long! Meg finally broke it and looked into Jared's eyes. "I'm with a man that I love and I'm laughing again. I wondered if I ever would. Let's get some sleep and let our bodies rejuvenate a bit. We can wake up early and finish some other business, and I mean SEX business, since that's all that's ever in The Bubble. What time should I set my phone alarm for?" She said reaching for her cell. "I have to meet Joe at 8 for breakfast, and I'll need an hour to shower and get some numbers together, How about 4 or 5? My hotel wake-up is for 7" He answered figuring times in his head. "I can do that, it's barely 10 now and getting 6 hours sleep will be more than I usually get. After you're out of the shower I'll get in and be gone before you have to explain me away to anyone." She said pressing buttons into the tiny black square before looking from the corner of her eye at Jared. "Kinda like high school, sneaking around, huh?" Jared hugged her as she put the cell on the bed stand and cuddled back into him. He draped an arm over her and after some small talk, they fell asleep, exhausted. An electronic version of the Mexican Hat Dance screamed from the small phone on the night stand before Meaghan rousted herself and reached for it turning the alarm off. She took a moment to shake the cobwebs from her mind and then she smiled broadly to herself. The warm body next to her was who she fantasized waking up with for the past 6 months or so. The room was dimly lit by the light from the bathroom as her eyes adjusted and she turned in the bed to wake Jared. He, however, was already wide-eyed and smiling at her when she turned. "Good morning, I dreamt about us and high school all night. I woke up about 2 minutes before the alarm. I was looking at you. You're still a hottie, very pretty." He said to her, almost whispering. "Thank you, it wasn't easy finding the hottie in me. I was about plus 15 pounds when I got married and after Declan was born I kept more on and lost my shape. Just at the end of last summer I started to diet and exercise again. I got rid of the guilt foods, the chips and ice cream, and set my sights on getting a new man. In January I decided I wanted the new man to be my old man, YOU. I knew then as I do now, that it's a long shot. What's important is that I set goals, the weight, my shape, and you, and I've achieved them. I'm motivated." She said knowing she had gotten into his mind at least. If things didn't work out for them, she knew she had made her best effort. "What do you think of jumping in the shower together, real quick, for a body wash, refresher and wake up?" Jared suggested. "I'm in, just let me pee and I'll get in and you can join me?" She asked with a quick kiss to his forehead as she threw off the covers. Jared watched her cute little dimpled ass disappear into the bathroom and he realized she could very well be what he needed to complete his life. The good years with Barbie would be hard to top, but she had "shit the bed" on him once. If she did that because she was bored once the crackle and fire left their life, how would the years after 50 and retirement go? If his libido totally died he could envision cuddling, laughing, joking and enjoying life with Meg. Besides the crackle and fire of sexuality was something Meg wasn't about to let ebb away. She was as horny now as when they dove in back seats, behind bushes, snuck in each others bedrooms, or splurged on a cheap hotel. However he had no control over his feelings. What if he saw Barbie and his old feelings washed over him? What if she discovered her flow and actually fixed it? What if assuming some sort of stewardship over a young baby and the prospect of an instant family soured his feelings? He heard the toilet flush and a moment later the shower come on and he kicked off the covers. Opening the bathroom door he saw the image of Meg behind the shower curtain in the tub. He opened the toilet and emptied his own bladder and closed the top remembering not flush so as not to change the temperature of Meg's shower. He pulled aside the curtain and saw her clearly for the first time in many years lit with the bright light of the bathroom. "You still look fucking awesome!" He blurted out without thinking. "Come on Jared, my boobs aren't pointy and there's a crease starting between the top of my thighs and my butt cheeks. My tummy is back to flat, but the scar from my c-section still shows." She said degrading herself. "Meaghan, my eyes don't lie. Your breasts are simply perfect and I bet that crease you see is when you turn to look at yourself in the mirror. No turn and there's no crease. I've watched your ass each time you've moved tonight, and it's awesome. Anyone who can see your c-section scar is already close enough not to care about it. If you're after me because I may be the last resort, you're way wrong. As long as a man is breathing, he'll be interested in you." Jared said as he stepped in and held her under the warm water. "You're not just saying that so you can sex me up and walk away with no guilt?" She asked. "Come ON Meg! I think you know me better than that. I said I had a place in my heart for you and I meant it. I need to sort some shit out and I will call you, or even come visit and let you know what's happening in my life. I've got a HUGE job here with 6 months work and 2 months to do it in. I've already got Barbie pulling at me, the job pulling at me, and now you've made me a great option plan too. I don't need a relationship to muddle up my work, but man does not live by money, career and ego alone. He needs to express himself in other ways and know when someone else loves his inner being and spirit. I believe you do. Barbie? I'm not so sure of, but just like saying no to you right here with no thought would be unfair to both of us, pushing her out of my life without thought would be unfair to her, as well as myself. I do have a lot of years invested in her, but I don't know if I can forget or forgive the last few years we had." HE scolded and reasoned to Meg. "Let's just wash and get sexy. I want you to make me scream, but don't worry it won't be too loud." She said with a serious tone and chuckle. Meaghan had the soap and was already quickly washing her arms, underarms and torso. She lathered the soap and handed the bar to him. Jared took it and Meg began to lather and wash between her legs. Jared smiled at her slight embarrassment, touching herself in front of him. He lathered the soap and put his arms around her and began to wash her bottom. As he went to work his hands between her lovely cheeks she clenched and pushed him back. "Let's not play there right now. I just, ummm ... voided and I'm not too clean inside, I bet. I'd like to make you happy there, but not today. Please understand." "Meg, I was just going to wash you. Yes, I love your ass, but I won't anal rape you. Why are you so paranoid?" Jared asked, getting a little short with her reaction. "I'm sorry, Hon. I just really like sex there and I don't want to be tempted for a lot of reasons. Can we drop it?" Meg said with a look that meant finality. "Sure, but I want you to know that wasn't my intention. I'm not obsessed." "Drop it!" She said as she leaned to him and they kissed and spoke again. "I'm good enough for rolling around in the sheets, meet me out there?" "I won't be far behind you, just let me rinse." Jared said with a quick peck back to her. He quickly forgot about her little insistence with him, but she hadn't. Her ex, Matt, had used her ass many times after the baby was born. They had planned to abstain from the practice after childbirth because her OB-GYN had told her she would probably be cut there to ease the baby's delivery. Since she went C-section they didn't have to, but Meg had decided to not use prescription contraception for a while and Matt refused to use condoms. Matt was always careful not to hurt her and soon she began to really get into it. Once they divorced she swore to herself that it would be something for only her husband, not matter who or what. But that didn't exclude using toys and fantasizing about Jared. Now, since hearing he was a virgin to it, she puckered at the thought. It was then she decided she would seem pretty cheap if she invited him there. She wanted Jared so bad but didn't want to fall all over him and chase him. She kept telling herself that if she kept her cool and didn't seem too desperate he would respond to her low pressure approach. Jared came out of the bath wearing just a towel that he dropped when he got to the bed. He smiled and slid in beside her and suddenly they were transported back to their high school days, seemingly inside "The Bubble". Their mouths, hands and genitalia all met to provide a solid hour of moaning, groaning, and cries of pleasure and delight as they both expressed their feelings for each other. Where hard sex may have been in part of their intentions, tender love making was all it turned into. As the clock grew nearer and nearer to 7 o'clock Jared knew how he wanted to reach his climax with her, she on her back with her legs on his shoulders as they watched each other cum. She knew from years before what he wanted, but she still had a selfish request once she had cum for him more than a few times like that. "Jared, cum in my mouth! Let me taste you and fill my senses with you. I need to remember how you taste, how you rumble and tremble for your greatest pleasure, knowing I caused it." She said in an almost desperate tone as she held his arms and he battered her pussy. Jared stopped his pummeling of her and bent her further in half to kiss her lips as her legs slipped off his shoulders. The kiss was long and probing until he broke it and slid from her pussy and rocked back on his haunches and turned his legs to the side of the bed. She knew just what to do as she peeled herself from the sheets he had pressed her into the last 10 minutes of missionary fucking. Their first try at oral ended with him sitting on the side of the bed and she on her knees on the floor in front of him. She loved the feeling of being submissive to him and feeling his fingers in her hair or stroking her cheek as he fucked her head onto his cock. Their first time she had told him to "let fly" and she would decide what to do with it. She had been, and always was, the instigator with new sex play and had planned on running to the bathroom to spit him out. He was so deep in her mouth when his first surge came she swallowed instinctively and the rest was easy. She felt dirty and naughty, a feeling she loved that sent shivers right to the center of her pussy. Her one hand left his balls and slipped to her sex, pinching her clit, making her cum hard and force her mouth hard over his cock. It was that night she had replayed over and over in her mind in her fantasy of Jared. Her nose was at his pubic bone already as his fingers splayed from her chin to behind her ear as he moved her mouth over him. He grunted hard in the pleasure of being fully in her mouth and throat and took his hands from her head and hair. She continued bobbing her head over him as one hand went to the back of her head, not pushing her down though. The other held her cheek and when his thumb touched the corner of her eye she opened her eyes and looked up at him. Their eyes met and he splashed into her mouth. His grunt and groan of pleasure that followed his first volley caused her to pull on her clit and cum again herself. Just for a moment they were back in school and everything was innocence, pleasure and love, ... sloppy love, but it was love. The immediate room smelled of his cum and her wet, sloppy pussy. He looked down at her as he began to relax back from her mouth. She smiled around his cock and he couldn't help but chuckle and touch her cheek as he withdrew himself from her and swing his leg back over her and lay beside her. "That was the taste I needed, what I craved, to really HAVE you. If we don't work out, I have that, my dream and my fantasy. In this life we have so few fulfilled dreams and fantasies, no matter how shallow, no matter how simple. I've had one that I've relived over and over for more than a few months. It may not seem much to you in your grand scheme of the fame and money you've realized, but I'm satisfied. But, you have to help me out here Jared, what are my chances?" She said not turning her head, still looking at the ceiling. "Don't stop dreaming Meg. I found out tonight that I still care for you, love you in fact. But, I owe something to Barbie to hear her, give her the chance I gave you. I'm not talking about having sex with her, I mean opening up my heart. She and I had a lot, but she threw that away, it seems. I hold that against her, almost as if she cheated on me, but I want to give myself a chance to see where I am. Do I make any sense?" He wondered. "You do and I take all of this at face value. I've done all I can do and I know I haven't wasted my time. I accept whatever happens." She said turning to look at him. Tears were rolling down the side of her face and she could see he was welling. Suddenly the phone rang in 3 quick bursts, it was 7 o'clock and that was his wake up call. "I have to get in the shower, I have to get to work and get you out of here." He said. "Go ahead, I'll stay in bed until you get out. Showering together can only be trouble, huh?" She smiled. Twenty five minutes later Meaghan was pulling on her clothes as Jared brushed his teeth. Her hair was still a bit wet from the towel dry she gave it, but she was close to home where she could finish everything off. She came to the bathroom door as he finished rinsing, ready to leave. "Goodbye, for now. Make sure you look me up one way or the other, OK?" She said. "Don't worry, I will." He said as he pasted his lips to her mouth and a long kiss developed. He broke the kiss and hugged her tightly saying, "You keep up the good work taking care of yourself, you look awesome." "Thanks, I made a commitment to myself to do that, knowing I wanted to look good for you, and for myself." She replied as her voice cracked with emotion. "Just remember that it's you that I love and cherish, not the body you're in. We have so much together and while the sex and playing is so satisfying, being with you to share life is our joint goal. Ultimately that's what scared me back into all of this." Jared said being particularly candid and encouraging to her quest for him. She kissed him once again and gave him a short hug before gathering her purse and walking toward the door. He began to follow her and she turned to him. "No more goodbye's Jared, I'll just wait for a hello. It's been hard enough and I don't want to make a scene leaving here. Remember that no matter how much I love you, you have to follow your heart. Be well." She said quickly turning the handle and opening the door to slip into the hallway. Jared's eyes welled with tears as he turned back to the bathroom mirror to finish his morning routine. It had been a long, emotional, satisfying, yet soul searching 12 hours since Meaghan walked back into his life. He knew he had to put those thoughts behind him and get about to the job at hand. Mental discipline had always been a strong suit of his, but turning the switch from real life to real work was not going to be easy today, but he would accomplish it. Mental toughness and determination is how and why he was a winner. ------- Chapter 8 At 5 minutes until 8 Jared gathered his things and headed to his planned breakfast with Joe Barber. Once in the lobby he picked up a local paper to go with the USA Today left at his door and went to the front desk. He presented his card and ID and made a request. "Could you please be sure that our rooms are NOT made up and everything is left undisturbed until we check out. We may need one of them for a private meeting later. If we're here past check out time just bill us." He asked as he planned for a long drawn out meeting with Boge Hollins. "Yes Sir, as a matter of fact a Mr. Barber made the same request already a few minutes ago and I believe I saw him go into the restaurant." The clerk said politely. "Not a problem then." Jared aid smiling as he went off to join Joe. Jared was surprised Joe had gotten the jump on him, but then again, he didn't get laid a couple times last night either. "If reality would give Joe a poke," Jared thought to himself, "he would bring his wife on these trips and ride her horny body all night instead of leaving her home to get her jollies cheating on him." However Jared realized it was none of his business, even though Belle had targeted him as a potential "rider". Joe Barber waved down Jared and they exchanged pleasantries about their evenings and got about to ordering coffee and breakfast. They had just got about to discussing the order of the day when a large older black man approached their table. Jared recognized right away that the man was an ex-football player by his size. Age had robbed him of toned muscle, but the mans size betrayed any other obvious vocation. "Excuse me gentlemen, my name is Elmer Hollins. I'm Humphreys father, but I guess you know him better as Boge." He said low voice that betrayed his size. Jared immediately stood up and shook his hand and asked the man to sit with them. "I know who you are Mr. Winslow, but I don't know your friend." Elmer said as if he were about to pass state secrets. "I'm Joe Barber, Athletic Director at New England Ag and Tech, would you mind if I asked you to show us ID, for obvious reasons." Jared was immediately annoyed at Barber's attitude with the man, wanting to get off on the right foot with his prospects family. "Of course, of course. I understand." Elmer said taking out his wallet and showing a picture license. "Before we all meet later I have to tell you about a problem we have before we actually meet later. My boy is in trouble." He said as the two other men at the table exhaled their excitement for the day. "My son is stupid in that he got involved with a gang and all this rap crap that's eating up our neighborhoods. I promise you, no drugs, he ain't into that even though it's always assumed. They listen to all this stuff and get ideas from these supposed icons about how we've all been cheated by our color or a fixed system of government. Now, let me tell you, I have no problems to make him think that. I played college ball, got a couple years in the NFL, got hurt and got a job with the Bears here and have done real well. I'm a physical therapist, it's what I went to school for. His ideas come from that damn music and the gangsters that make it, indoctrinate them with. Now to make a long story short, Boge is under a house arrest of sorts. His gang, or posse or whatever these jackasses call themselves got involved in a robbery and murder. My Humphrey was not even in town when it happened and everyone knows that. There were 11 kids in his group and 5 of them are dead, shot down in the street. Boge knows who shot them and why. It was the trigger man in his group and I guess he wants all witnesses dead. Boge can name all of them left and the trigger man, but he won't. It's this street honor thing where you don't snitch on a brother and put another black man in jail." Elmer Hollins explained. "So where is he now?" Joe Barber asked. Elmer Hollins looked both ways and leaned in a bit. "He's in a room upstairs with the two cops that won't let him out of their sight. If he doesn't talk, he's poison, if he does he's a dead man until everyone is apprehended. Even then there's a chance some other gang may want him to pay a price." He said shaking his head. "Boge isn't in a real gang like Bloods or Crips is he?" Jared asked. "Naw, he just wanted to have a posse and all this stuff got blown out of shape and one of them turned into a jackass, wanting to make a name for himself and the gang. Humphrey just wanted to feel important, like some of them rap assholes. Excuse my language but I've about had it with all of this." Elmer explained. "Mr. Hollins one rule of all gangs is that they take care of their own business and no one enforces another's junk. It keeps the politics to a minimum. If he outs his brothers, he'll be safe. I know more than I should about gangs, but I've had a few of members in my locker rooms. Let me talk to him." Jared said confidently. "You don't think there'll be retribution?" Hollins asked cynically. "I doubt it. Most gangs are minority based seeking control of a territory, their own law making, enforcing, and recruiting cadre. Sounds like Boge, or Humphrey as you call him, had a posse and some of the members started "playing" gang. Why they went as far as a robbery is beyond me, but my guess is that someone wanted to wrest control from your son. What that person doesn't realize is that he likely worked in someone else's territory and if he tries much else, THEN there could be trouble." Jared continued speaking authoritatively. Joe Barbers jaw had just about dropped to the table, saying, "How did a farm boy Vermonter become such an expert on this stuff? You're scaring me." "Joe, Division 2 schools take a lot of kids that major schools won't touch for various reasons. Crime and violence are the major ones. If a kid can convince me that he'll straighten his life out and get on a good path, both socially and educationally for a chance to play ball, I'll take the risk. I've learned a lot from them and that has helped me deal with others that have come along." Jared expounded. "Excuse me, Mr. Hollins, for asking this in front of you, but Jared, how do we know this boy is worth the risk we'll be taking." Joe wondered aloud. "Some of the reasons are right in front of us. His father cared enough for his son to come here, and the MAN, certainly not a boy anymore, has taken personal commitment to a great level to protect his friends and the law of the street, no matter how misguided. I've also talked to a teacher he had when his parents transferred him out of inner city schools. As unhappy as he may have been, he adjusted, buckled down and became a good student." Jared explained. "Ok, this is your program, but I wonder... " Joe Barber said exhaling. "Joe, don't cry before you're hurt! We have a chance to save a young man here and put his life on track, AS WELL AS getting a player to make a big difference for us. Taking risks is what this is all about. Now, Mr. Hollins, let's go up and talk to your son and see if we can get some commitments from HIM." Winslow said as he started to stand up. The three men got off the elevator of the 8th floor of the hotel. They were immediately joined by a plain clothes cop, Tim Santino, the lead detective on the case, who recognized Elmer Hollins. "Elmer, after today I'm going to take the detail off your son and he'll be on his own. We can't continue to baby-sit and protect someone who doesn't want to cooperate." The cop informed him, making Elmer's face drop a bit more in his stressed state. With a couple of knocks to the door they were in where Barber and Winslow saw Boge Hollins for the first time in person. After much of the bravado and street tough demeanor he had displayed on the field and in press conferences, it was easy to see he was a broken man learning a hard lesson. With quick introductions Jared Winslow sat at a table with Boge and leaned into him to say a few things privately and intimately. "Listen son, I think I know what's happened here and what's going on in your head. Give me a few minutes to talk to you and explain a few things about life from a perspective you may not have heard before. You're on the verge of making a gigantic leap into something that will bring you and your family great joy and prosperity if you play your cards right. The principles you are standing on, no matter how serious you think they are right now are going to seem silly and petty in a few short years looking back at this. Now the difference in how you see that silliness and pettiness will be in your perspective at the time you realize it. Will you be a player who made a difference in the game of football at the college and pro levels, or will you be a schlub working from paycheck to paycheck to get by. Let me show you some names you might know and recognize." Jared said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a dozen pro football player cards. He laid the cards out one by one in 2 lines of 6 facing so Boge could read them. "You know who all of these guys are don't you?" Winslow asked as the young man nodded. "There are 4 of these men who despite their great careers, are almost better known for their off the field problems. Pick out those 4 as you see them." He said as Boge picked up 4 cards. "Those are 4 very talented men who have brought with them, to the NFL, a posse of friends and hangers on from their younger lives. Those friends and hangers on depend on these players for their every need and influence the bad decisions these men have made. With the 4 you have heard about guns, drugs, and a litany of other tabloid headlines. Just imagine a great doctor taking his skills after 10 years of college and training and teaming up with all the guys in the frat house who flunked out of college and setting them up in his home while he worked all day. That is no different than what these players did. They are supporting leeches who suck off and sully the reputation and talent of great players. Now, of the eight left on the table pick out the ones you think may have been in either street gangs, jail or juvenile hall before their college careers." Jared instructed him. Boge looked long and hard and finally shook his head. "I don't know. I doubt any of them. These are the guys you see on billboards and posters and TV ads for Boys Clubs, and charity's and all that stuff." "Boge, all eight were in gangs, in juvy, and in jail for one thing or another. But they all got one piece of advice from people they looked up to. That piece of advice was to let your past go and begin a fresh life. How many friends do you have right now, that if you weren't the football star, would be in your life?" Jared asked. Hollins sat up to defend his friends and quickly sunk back into his chair. "Probably none." "I don't know whether or not you're a baseball fan, but you must have heard of Dwight Gooden, Daryl Strawberry and Kevin Mitchell, right? All three at one time in their career were said to be certain Hall of Famers as they began amassing credentials. With those credentials came money. With that money came the leeches from their former lives, the leeches they should have shed years before. I'll leave you these bio's to read when you have the time, but I don't think I need to tell you the lessons you might learn from them." "Boge, right now one of those so called friends of yours has taken the life of an innocent person and is seemingly eliminating the witnesses to his deed. It's his power play to be you in that little gang, and if you really think you have a "gang" you're sadly mistaken. Even the nastiest most violent gangs have a code of honor. This person is offing his friends because he doesn't trust them, there's no honor there. This rule of the street where you don't snitch has killed a few of your friends, and might kill all of them until it's just you, and the shooter standing. Are you going to trust him with your back? Save the rest of your friends and get this monster off the street. Give him up. You talk about the honor of the street with the no snitch rule as if there's two worlds out there, a black one and a white one. Once you realize that there's only one and live it, you may be able to be one of the eight cards I pull out and show to a young man 10 years from now. It's your choice. Be a man and go on to your college education with a clear mind with goals of being a successful student athlete with a career in professional football, or what ever profession you school for, if sports don't work out. The other choice is to not be a snitch, leave a murderer on the street, see your friends hunted down and spend the rest of your life watching your back and never being trusted by anyone. I'm not here to play games Boge, I have a long tough season ahead of me and to tell you the truth, I don't have time for punks. I can take you out of here with me to NEAT and mold you into a man, a leader and respected member of the community. It's up to you. Of the men on these football cards, some are destined for the Hall of Fame. One of those once told me that he has spoken to many other kids from the street who've found success and they've all told him the same thing. Your friends when you're 15 are rarely your friends when you're 25 and the very much the same from 25 to 35. Of course there are exceptions, but they are few and they are special. When you step from the streets to the spotlight you have to be sure there are no hangers on to weigh down your ascent. I showed you 3 Major League baseball players, a pitcher and 2 outfielders who were destined to be sure-fire Hall of Fame heroes, but they let their friends on to the ride and all have sunk to nothing with only memories of the greatness they once had. Shedding friends may sound cold now, but it will make sense later. Telling those detectives the names and whereabouts of the shooter AND the names and whereabouts of the people they need to protect until he's in custody is your duty as a citizen, and as a friend. Don't base a life decision on the ideas of some "gangsta" rapper who doesn't know you or will ever know or care about you. You have a chance to save yourself, your family, and the family you may father yourself, right here and right now. The decision is yours." Jared Winslow said as he stood and put his hand on the young mans shoulder. Humphrey "Boge" Hollins sat with the same smug look of defiance he had been showing on and off for the past few days when confronted by police and looked to the police in the room and shook his head. It was unclear if the softened look he had when his Dad and the two men came into the room or this tough look was the real reflection of his soul. He then stared off into nowhere as Jared Winslow and Joe Barber were thanking and saying goodbye to Elmer Hollins as they whispered to each other, Elmer shaking his head. The door opened and as it did Jared briefed the lead detective, Tim Santino, outside the door producing more head shaking. The door closed and they headed toward the elevator until a commotion erupted behind them. "Wait, wait," Elmer Hollins shouted, "He's giving them up, HE'S GIVING THEM UP!" Joe and Jared stopped and cautiously walked back to the now open door. Inside they saw Boge Hollins with tears running down his face. "Coach Winslow," Boge spoke loudly around the new commotion in the room, "Do you feel certain that other gangs wouldn't seek any retribution against me?" "I feel quite certain they could care less about you and your little posse. No one has to know what transpired here anyway, and if they do how many of these guys do you think are football fans? Listen, you talk to the detectives and we'll schedule a meeting for a few hours from now and let the press in after that. They don't need to know anything about any of this. If it comes up just say that you've never been in a Chicago street gang and let it drop there. For now, you talk to the detectives and stay close. Boge stood and hugged his Dad who couldn't stop patting him on the back and hugging him. "What was it son? What was it that changed your mind?" "When Coach Winslow said I could be saving the family I might once have, it hit me. You would go to any lengths for us and always have. I was letting down my unborn children before they had a chance. You would never do that and I know how hard you worked to put food on our table." The hubbub in the room was, all of a sudden, racing. Detective Tim Santino had the break in the killing spree of the past few days without the press involved at this, the heart of the case. The puzzle piece that Hollins was integral was overlooked by the fact he was out of town for the original murder and some of the retributional killings. The press had been hanging with him up until the day before the official signing of the letter of intent at NEAT. That whole pomp and circumstance was now ESPN drama and local sport press felt it had wrung every angle from the story before the flashbulb flurry in front of the TV cameras. "Bad boy promises to be good and attend college for the new media darling of college coaches", was a headline you could only write so many ways. Winslow and Barber sought out Elmer Hollins to nail down things for the show of the press. "Mr. Hollins, We're going back to our rooms and contact the media to postpone the press conference until two o'clock. It's going to appear that our private meeting hit a snag and there is a problem with the signing. Everything will be "no comment" from us, from you and from Boge. Understood?" Jared asked him. "That shouldn't be a problem. That Santino guy has the media on a wild goose chase for now. He wants the scene here to look as normal as possible, but Humphrey isn't leaving the protection he's got here until everyone's apprehended. He just told me that everyone is still in town, he's pretty sure. As soon as you postpone the press conference the sports press might start to clamor, so I better warn these guys. You know, my boy Humphrey has been a local story and hero for years here in Chicago and Illinois. When he began to get into trouble the press actually protected him from the bad stuff for a long time. Once the major schools lost interest there could have been a major reveal on all his problems and then New England came along as a Division 1 school so they held their breath. His connection to this hustle and murder could have killed everything. I hope we saved his reputation and he gets his head and life together. Thank you for giving him the opportunity and for talking some sense to him." Elmer explained as he continually shook Jared Winslow's hand. "I can't take all the credit, remember is it was Coach Woodard who recruited him. In his notes he said he thought there was a real good kid inside and that he came from good stock. Sherm didn't mince words, he wrote that Boge needed "a good psychological ass kicking to get his head turned around as well as a few quarts of humility shoved up his ass." Jared told him as the three laughed at Sherm Woodard's almost prophetic words. The three shook hands and parted, Jared and Joe finally headed off to the elevator. Barber thought to himself that the real deal breaker was the football cards. Hollins realized that his dream of the NFL was going up in smoke before his very eyes. When he brought it up in the elevator to Jared the only reaction he had was a wry little curl at the corner of his lips, seemingly fighting off a smile. Calls to ESPN and press agents through the NEAT Sports Information Director, Ann Comeche set up a "no comment" wall on the 3 hour delay. As Joe and Jared watched the ESPN 2 "bottom of screen" crawl announcing the schedule change for the news conference they noted that sources close to the negotiations expressed academic concerns. No more than 3 minutes after the crawl started the phone rang with a frantic Ann Comeche on the other end. "Jared, I don't know where they got that line about academics on Hollins. If we wanted to raise a fuss about them sports profiling blacks, or just discrimination in general we could. Do you think we should release his transcripts, his CRF (Cumulative Record File)? There's nothing embarrassing in it. Without sports he wouldn't have gotten into a lot of the bigger schools, but he's a smart kid who always applied himself to pass his courses, albeit late at times. His SAT's were 1830 on the 2400 scale which, if you use the curve scale that figures race and income background, are far above any standard for admission to any mid-level or better school. I think we should go with it. I want to squash this before we or he gets pigeon-holed as basket weavers. I'll re-release your statement about student-athletes to go with it. I'm more than a little pissed off that they would run that rumor without even checking." She said without barely taking a breath. "OK, Ann. That flies with me. You didn't have to check with me, I have total confidence in you and I knew it didn't come from you. Skip the honeymoon with me Ann. I've read your transcript too and if I had a doubt we would have spoken." He said, surprising Ann. "Thank you, Jared. I don't know why I wanted to hear that, but I'm glad I did. I'll go fry those bastards eggs right now." Ann said hanging up. Jared was glad he cleaned that bit up, although he was surprised she had pussy-footed at all after her point blank introduction at the meet and greet barbeque. He suspected she may have thought their positions had changed after their sexual encounter, but he had taken it fully as she proposed, "strictly anonymous and without ties". He felt pretty certain she had been convinced as well, by now. "If we get to zero hour on our press meeting and nothing has happened with apprehensions do we go ahead with extra police protection? It's going to raise a lot of questions and investigation." Joe Barber said, hoping Jared had an answer. Jared furrowed his brow and ran a hand through his hair. "Joe, that's a call at the line of scrimmage. We'll just have to read the defense." Jared said devoid of ideas. Joe Barber switched the TV over to a local news channel and opened his laptop and began to work on finances for the football program while Jared doodled trying to give his mind a break from the stress he had put himself through earlier. After the second order of coffee from room service had arrived a bulletin came across the screen to stay tuned for a news conference on a break in the recent string of youth murders in Chicago. Before either could react to it the phone was ringing. Jared Winslow picked it up. "This is Detective Santino, we've got the little bastard. He tried to shoot a cop and almost got his head blown off in the deal, but we have him alive. We have Humphrey Hollins other friends in custody and safe. If they all come clean on their participation and help finger the shooter they could get off with probation. At least that's part of what we agreed to with Hollins for his flip. But, I'll tell you; this "no snitch" code of the street is costing lives across the country. I can't thank you enough for your help in talking sense to the boy." "Don't credit me as much as his father," Jared said, "It was the roots of his upbringing that finally made him see the light. I just shook him loose. Is there any chance that Boge's name is going to surface in all of this?" "It may come out that they were acquainted, but there's firm establishment that Boge was out of town when the crime took place and he had no part in it. I don't even think there will be a rumor that Hollins flipped on his friends. The shooter kept hollering we wouldn't have found him if not for the evidence he left, but we don't know what he was babbling about. We had him 15 minutes after Hollins talked. If he hadn't laid on the floor after his first shot at our guys he would have got his head blown off by the return fire. It blew 5 inch hole in the wall beside the window. Their "safehouse" was an abandoned or little used construction trailer near an equipment yard. A .22 might have penetrated the walls. Stupid kids who got their bravado from rap songs. Through our searches and investigations we have no evidence that Hollins ever had or owned a gun. That along with his cooperation has probably saved his name." Santino elaborated. "So where is he now?" "They should be calling you any minute now so they can move up there." Santino said as Joe Barbers cell phone rang. "We're moving him through adjoining rooms, disaster egress', and surveillance spaces to get him off the floor. There may have been a tip-off from a snitch at the hotel to the tabloids." "Well, when they get here we'll all go downstairs at 2 minutes of 2 to the press room set up just off the 2nd floor promenade. If you can spare a man or two as an escort down I'll feel better. If they stay just until we're sure there's no trouble from anyone." Jared inquired as Joe Barber nodded and said OK to the caller on his phone. Both men clicked off their calls and Barber announced that Boge and his father would be at their door any moment. As he said that the door at the adjoining room to Jared's rattled and then rang with a loud knock. "What the..." Joe Barber asked as his face filled with panic. "It's probably them!" Jared said as he slid the lock and chain open to the room. Elmer and Boge Hollins, along with a bellman and a uniformed officer came through the door. Boge Hollins went to Jared Winslow and shook his hand and then hugged him. "Thanks for ending my nightmare. I'm here to listen to you about my college education and my chances of playing football for you." He said with a big smile. After a flurry of handshakes and the bellman leaving after his escorting the group, and the uniformed officer excusing himself the four men sat down and went over the terms of the letter of intent and then went over the basics of the schools rules for student athletes and Coach Winslow's expectations. As the two o'clock hour neared all four parties were happy and satisfied they had made the right choices as well as Boge making promises to give the effort he may have lacked in previous schooling. They gathered their things as a knock came to the door and a plain clothes officer said he was there to escort the four down to the meeting room. The day was seemingly saved and Joe Barber and Jared Winslow had their man. If they made their 4 p.m. flight to Albany they could meet with their final recruit and fly into Burlington Vermont and head home first thing in the morning to be at the mini-camp. One of the first big pieces of Jared Winslow's work was done in building what he wanted to become a National football power, and he even had some ideas for building his own life back together as well. ------- Chapter 9 The 2 day whirlwind of speaking to sports scholarship recruits was over after meeting Tim Waters right at the Albany International Airport. Waters was a wide receiver, lanky, but strong, who had impressed many by his overall athleticism. Jared Winslow knew little about him except that his predecessor was impressed enough to take a chance on recruiting him although he might be an academic problem. Jared saw right away that taking a fatherly approach with the boy might be the best way to approach him. He explained that with all of his talent, he could go nowhere if he didn't hit the books. He need only ask for tutors and help and he would get it, as long as he applied himself. However he made it clear that once academics became a problem, he would be ineligible to dress for subsequent games until he fixed the problem. In talking to him it was apparent that he was a bright young man who skated on his talents in High School. "Tim, let me explain something to you," Jared said as he took a firm stance leaning into the young man before him, "Think about your favorite sports teams." "That would be the Dallas Cowboys, Boston Red Sox, and Notre Dame anything." Waters said with a proud smile. "Think of the lowliest man, least talented player on each of those teams. You can bet he was the most gifted player in his neighborhood, on his Little League or Pop Warner team. He was probably the best player on his High School team and that in many cases, the best player in his city or town if he was from a non-metropolitan area. You might feel, and you should, that you are the best at what you do, but remember that if you make the team there are 40 plus others who feel the same way. It's not going to be easy anymore and the difference in getting a fair chance on the athletic field might be your academic performance. The schlubs that made up your taxi squads who were the class clowns aren't going to be there. Every player who puts on that uniform is in the same situation as you here in the Albany area. He thinks he's the best. You'll have to perform at all levels of this undertaking, and that means buckling down and studying. I can't fight for your sports eligibility, if you don't work. I don't "carry" anyone. Are we clear?" Winslow finished. Tim Waters face sobered from the toothy grin he had not been able to wipe off since he and his parents were escorted into the private room the airport provided. "Sir, I want this more than anything. Mr. Woodard wasn't as "in your face" when he had me sign this letter, but I thank you for being honest and forthright. I will work harder than I ever have in hopes of making everyone here glad they gave me a chance." Waters dead panned. "That is all anyone will ever ask of you. I think you will do just fine." Coach Winslow said standing to shake the young mans hand. After a series of hand shakes and back patting Joe Barber and Jared Winslow made their way to their gate to get the last flight to Burlington. Having never left the secured gate area they were prescreened and were able to board. "We're not driving home tonight, are we?" Jared asked. "No, but we have to be on the road by 6 tomorrow morning so we can be settled on campus by 9. I expect you'll have a pretty good bunch showing up on the two fields by 10. We'll have a driver though. One of the SID assistants drove the van from Bradley, where we left it, to Burlington today. They'll drive us back." Joe Barber told him. "What's Dean Reynolds got against renting a car?" Jared said with a knowing smile. "She wants to cut back to afford you!" Joe said, winking and smiling. "In reality, the van was donated by an alum, but it's a lease and we have to turn it back in a few months. She wants to squeeze every nickel out of that deal." "God Bless her penny-pinching heart." Jared said as he soon nodded off during the flight. After a hurried tour of their four student-athlete scholarships it would be 12 hours from wheels down in Burlington, Vermont to the opening of the first of two one day mini-camps for the NEAT football program. As the two men walked from the secured gate area they saw a young man holding a NEAT sign to identify himself as their driver. It would be not quite 45 minutes before they were situated in the Residence Inn on I-89 and headed off to a quick recovering sleep to prepare them for the 5 a.m. wake-up for the final leg of their trip back to campus. Joe and Jared would have the coffee laden trip back to go over notes and discuss what they were hoping to accomplish that busy day. By 9 a.m. all three assistant coaches and their staffs had their hands full writing up students for the camp. It was mostly a medical and legal release for the University to clear up any problems of accountability for injuries suffered. There would be 60+ students on hand for the camp that included 6 players who finished the previous season on the injured list. They were just here to prove they had recovered and could be ready for the next year. Two members of the soccer team, including Brian Faraday, were there as well as 3 female students, including Oksana Cushman, the high school punter from Texas. The rest of the participants were returning members of the current team and walk-ons. It was not a mandatory camp, but any team member who was physically able to be there, was. Many course finals had already taken place and students traveling long distances were not expected to return, and some had internships they could not abandon. As far as how participation would affect Coach Winslow's appraisal at try-outs the following year, you took your chances if you were a bubble player. Desire played a major role in his thinking and after seeing the gung-ho attitudes of the 4 incoming scholarships he was hungry to see more of the same. After the sign up, equipment fitting, stretching exercises and quick indoctrination each coach ran drills until they were able to establish and offensive and defensive unit to plug different players in and out of for situational drills. Some campers were sent to the Bleacher Bowl field little by little as coaches winnowed down talent and non-talent. Many at the second field were still being looked at for special teams as well as the kickers. Ger Nietczyk, the one time nations leading scorer, was there to tutor Brian Faraday on the skills of soccer style place-kicking, but he also had 2 other candidates for place kicking whom he thought could make a serious run at the job. One was a female, Julie Murcer from Oklahoma who had challenged State High School scoring records but was never recruited by any programs. It was only when her friend Oksana Cushman was going to be given a chance to audition did she see the new coach might be open minded enough to try-out another female. She really felt too small for men's football, but she relished the challenge. Murcer was a petite, slight girl who was obviously well muscled despite her diminutive frame. She looked more likely a ballerina than a football player but after a lay-off from competition she was having no problem consistently hitting 30-35 yard kicks on the straight and narrow. Nietczyk was impressed and encouraged her to keep rebuilding stamina and to stay by to provide some mechanical demonstrations for his "pupil". The "pupil" Faraday caught on quickly to the placekicking aspect of the job, but had to hone down his approach to a 2 or 3 step dance coordinated with the ball snap. His athleticism shown through as he quickly caught on to the rhythm in repetition and after only an hour of counting his way through the "dance" he seemed to have set an inner cadence. His efforts got straighter and longer as he kept up the reps. Nietczyk smiled as Brian took tips from the young Murcer girl as he asked her questions. Ger had been content to let Faraday play his new game over and over as assistants chased down balls and kept "reloading" the snapper. Julie stepped into the path of the kicker and squatted to point to a spot on the ball and made a motion about follow through. As Faraday hit a few more long ones Nietczyk approached Julie Murcer. "Do you think he can win the kicking job?" He wondered. "Oh God, yes. He tells me this is his first day. His mechanics are a bit sloppy, but as he does reps he'll iron some of that out. He's easily 15 or so yards longer than me. My long was 40 even in high school, but I was accurate. He's only going to get better. I'm not really here to make the team, just to see if I can still do it. I couldn't take a hit from these guys." She said. "If I were in a pinch with no kicker I would call you in a second, you have great mechanics, but your size is a problem.(she knowingly nodded and smiled) But I think the chance of you being hurt is small. Remember that the line in front of you is a lot more sophisticated than what you saw in High School. I don't think you're timid and I'm betting you know how to take a hit. You are small, but it also makes you a smaller target. As long as you are aware that you can be hit and know how to take a hit, you would be OK. The one thing both you and Brian have over the boy kicking on the other side of us is, you're both very athletic. He's very good, but too mechanical, but he'll have the summer to work it out." He said with a smile back to her. The third candidate was a heavier lad who kicked classic style, deadly straight and long, but with a snap and hold he was just too slow. He simply had to look at the placement too long. It was a common malady and not an easy one to overcome. After displaying his skills Nietczyk summoned the kicker, Ben Breen, to his side. "Ben, you really have a talent, but your mechanics are way too slow. Work on a rhythm over the summer and when we come back in the fall and hold try-outs be sure you're here. I usually just work with soccer style candidates with Coach Winslow. However, I've made several notes about your accuracy and distance, but at this point and at this level of competition you would be way too slow to the ball. You and your holder would be in traction with the hits you might take. We have video tape of your tryout and I will review it with Coach Winslow and I'll be sure he sees it." Ger said to Breen before patting him on the back and sending him off. Meanwhile back in the stands Joe Barber himself was manning a video camera set on a tripod to record the kickers. Other staff of some of the assistants were beginning to set up video of their own to record "skills", as Jared called it. Like Nietczyk and Barber, they each had some sort of wireless communication to get the shots they wanted. Mini "skills" clinics were opening around the field as candidates were sent from Meditek Stadium to the smaller field. Real contact was being avoided to be sure there were no injuries, but Ger was on the phone with Jared to ask a favor. "Coach I know we shun contact, but do you think you could send me 12 or 13 linemen so I could have a rush and a defense to show Brian a little of the intensity? I think he's natural kicker, but I don't want to build false hopes in him. He should see the fury that surrounds the snap and hold." He advised him. Upon over hearing his request Julie Murcer went to Faraday as he took a break. "I think they're going to get a rush for you to show you the hardest part of this job, having the mental mettle to concentrate and put the world out of your mind to where it's you and the ball. I watch the spot where the ball is going to be and envision it being there. As you start your stride it's not there and then as you build to contact/impact it appears. All hell is breaking loose around you, but you put that out of your mind and trust your holder. You'll have to work out an emergency plan if the play gets broken for some reason. What ever you do, hold the ball tightly and run toward the goal avoiding contact and saving your skin. If the play gets broken and the holder has the ball he will get it to you because you have forward momentum. If it's fumbled your job is to cover the ball and protect it." She schooled him. "I have no fear of the rush because I know they want the ball as much as me, plus soccer isn't exactly always NON-contact. My biggest problem right now is having to kick the moving target. I thought I'd start off with balls on a tee." Brian told her with a big smile in his Welsh accent. "No, they know you can boot them, they want to see you in action." Julie said as her heart fluttered at Brian's good looks and sexy accent. "I want to thank you for helping me out here, even though you're going out for the same position. The big German guy, Mr. Nietczyk is a little intimidating, he makes it look so easy." Brian said reaching shake her hand. As she shook back she blushed heavily and tried to cover it with something under her breath. "You know I don't think he's German, I think that's a Polish name and believe me if you followed American College football you would know he's a legend in New England, leading the nation in scoring." "Maybe we could we go to The Rat (Rathskeller) some time for a drink and a bite? I'd love to repay you for your kindness." He asked her uncomfortably. Before she could answer Ger was upon them. "Brian why don't you go with the fellow at the table by the bench and get fitted for some shoulder pads. We're going to bring a rush for you to see game like conditions. I don't expect there to be any contact, but you never know. We don't red-shirt kickers, but nobody's looking to kill anyone either." Nietczyk told him as he rushed to the table as asked. "Now Miss Murcer, I really do want you to think about going out for the team in the Fall. I'll bet he would carry you on the roster ahead of that other boy, Ben. I think if Faraday wants it he'll make the team, but I bet he would carry you as a reserve. I don't mean for this to sound sexist, but if the girl punting at that end of the field doesn't make the team I'll be surprised and I know Coach Winslow won't carry just one female, um ... for a lot of reasons. Please think about it. Julie heard the snapper and holder holler to friends coming into the end of the "Bleacher Bowl" as a dozen or so young men in pads and carrying helmets were jogging in. Amid the high fives and hand slaps Brian Faraday came back out with pads on and a helmet as the whole group gathered around Ger Nietczyk. "Alright fella's we aren't looking to scare the hell out of our kicker here, but we want to give him a taste of a rush and movement in front of him. You might know Brian Faraday, he's the top player on the soccer squad and he looks like he might be able to score some points for us. Any of you on this past years team know how much we needed a kicker and points, so let's try to be constructive, but remember he's here on loan from the soccer team and we want to send him back in one piece." Ger said as they all laughed and greeted him. "Now this is Julie Murcer. She may not look like a football player, but she can kick better than anyone we had on squad last year as well. She's going to get some pads and take some snaps as well. We haven't went over decorum for having women in men's football but both I and Coach Winslow expect each of you to treat her with the same kind of respect you might expect. NOBODY has made this team yet." Ger said as he stepped aside to introduce Julie, as well as surprise her with his invitation to take some kicks. The group was quiet for a moment and then one of the boys spoke out. "Welcome Julie and good luck as well." After that each young man said hello or nodded to her before she ran to the far table to get pads herself. The simulated rush with blockers in front of Brian Faraday confused him at first, but after setting up for 4 sets of "downs" they all took breathers and Brian looked to be talking to himself or in deep introspection. A few moments later when they set up for another series of snaps, Brian looked like he had done it all day only looking befuddled when a guard let a defender through to dive in front of the ball. He smiled back at Nietczyk who let him see it was intentional. After a dozen or so total snaps and rushes Ger called for another break. "OK Brian, you're done for the day, after a break lets give Julie 8 snaps and then you guys take a long breather before I see what Coach Winslow wants." Ger said smiling and patting Brian on the back. The linemen all sat in the ground or their helmets to rest and all quieted down for the first time. The slap of foot to leather football was unmistakable from the far side of the field where Oksana Cushman was taking long snaps and booming the ball away. "No WAY!" One of them shouted as she hit the next in the series of three she was doing over and over for the video camera and an assistant. Soon they were all on their feet watching her kick away long and high. "Is Coach Winslow going to bring in MORE girls?" One asked. "Only if they play better than you." Nietczyk said smiling. Julie Murcer walked up with her pads and helmet that looked a bit big for her, but she was ready. The boys lined up not knowing what to expect and quickly saw she could get the ball away a LOT faster than the beginner Faraday and that she was no slouch. Her only short coming was distance and that had everything to do with her size. Her timing and skill quickly earned the respect of each boy in the line arrangement leaving Ger Nietczyk to hope that it might carry over for Oksana Cushman. It was easy to see that Oksana was much more skilled than the returning junior Scott Claxton, who hadn't bothered to come to the camp. "Clax won't have to make up any more excuses for shanking anymore." A lineman said looking back over his shoulder at the female punter as they all laughed after Julie finished the second series of 4 kicks. Although Jared Winslow didn't attend the kicking exhibitions of Brian, Oksana or Julie, he knew they were the most important people he would review later that day, even if it were by video tape. He wanted to keep all of the pressure off of them and trusted the opinions of his coaches and the testimony of video. He got the opportunity to talk to Marvin Hudson, his fleet footed cornerback, and asked him to throw some balls for him and saw the possible makings of a running and throwing quarterback. He looked at lots of new talent as well as existing players and got some great ideas. He invited everyone back to the second mini-camp on the next to last day of school, and followed up with personal invitations to those he was anxious to see again. As he met later with his coaches, including Joe Barber and Ger Nietczyk, and viewed video tape and notes he commented to all of them that the summer may end up being a bit more restful after all. "You fellows know how many losses you pinned on your kicking game last year alone. Just figure you might get at least half of those back if the rest of the team doesn't improve." He said hesitating. " ... and if it doesn't improve we may all need new jobs for next season so let's make that part of our inspiration to drive these guys ... and gals!" "YES!" Joe Barber bellowed, "I can tell you by from my vantage point in the stands, BOTH girls who are candidates to make team in the fall, are BOTH going to give the boys a run for their money." "I heard it from my boys I sent over there to do a rush," Frank Ruffen, defensive coordinator, affirmed, "Both girls made our kickers last year look sick, and Faraday may be kicking 60 yarders if he gets the hang of it." "Well, let's not get too excited, but it does look like Brian Faraday may be our answer and the girl Julie Murcer got rave reviews too." "Yep, the boys said she filled a pair of Pop Warner football drawers pretty well too." Jordy Alford, Offensive Coordinator, added. "I guess she's a tiny thing, but I told them that one comment like that out loud in the locker room could get them suspended or off the team. We'll have to set up some new rules if either or both make the team." "Yes, we will." Jared added, "But both girls seem to be good sports and not hard asses, but I won't have them disrespected. It's a talk and a policy we'll set up when the time comes. If they produce, they won't have a problem. Neither is going to be here for their looks or lack thereof. So, leave me the video tapes and you guys go home. Try not to think about football for a week and we'll do this again next week and maybe get some more ideas. Ira (Pressley, Special Teams Coach), I want you to see if you can get the Claxton kid to come to the camp next week. His was the shortest and least productive "one on one" I had when I came in and I want to talk to him about the kicking he's NOT going to be doing next year. If he sees Oksana do her stuff maybe I can convince him to try another position. It's worth a try, I like his size." With that, the group broke up knowing that summer was just about on them and there would be some relaxing, some recruiting, and some one on one visits to players over the next few months. But they all knew it was a new regime and it meant business, and if the business was winning, it was going to be fun and rewarding. ------- Chapter 10 It was after 6 pm when Jared Winslow finally pushed the key to his backdoor into the slot and turned it open. His day started 12 hours ago almost 3 hours away and since he had taken a half of a yellow legal pad in notes and walked the perimeter of Meditek Stadium turf a few dozen times to watch different "skills" being exhibited. The perimeter was so cluttered with sleds, tackle makers, 2 and 5 man wheel trainers, steppers and line chutes that the field resembled some weird torture palace. Only the running and passing drills in the center of the field made you know it was football that it was all about. He was sorry he hadn't gotten to the other field to see the special teams drills but he was aware of the pressure the kickers alone were under and he didn't want them to try to do something extra when he got there. To walk away from a mini-camp with no injuries was a priority. After a shower and donning fresh sweats he settled into his easy chair after wheeling a modified video editor to the side of the chair. He could load 4 tapes and watch them on split screens or individually. For the new season he had already requested digital video equipment which was lighter and less cumbersome to use and had become cheaper in the past few years. To Jared, this was like being let loose in a store with an unlimited gift certificate. He loved seeing players try to show off their skills in the free arena because he could see things that wouldn't show up in a game or a practice. He spent the night making new notes and comparing old, getting numbers off jerseys and comparing them to his master list of signees. He was most impressed with Brian Faraday who suddenly had a great interest in his experiment to become a place kicker. When they first spoke about coming to the camp and trying it out Jared felt Brian was appeasing him, rather than having a real interest in it. Somewhere along the line someone got to him and let him know what it could all mean if he became successful at it. Someone who recognized his overall athletic ability saw his potential and put it into simple terms for him. Also the fact there were two other candidates that showed up to create competition may have helped. If you weren't impressed by the talent of Julie Murcer you needed glasses. The tiny thing could powerfully boot 35 to 40 yards consistently. When she came back out in pads and football pants he saw what Ger had said earlier. They must have been Pop Warner sized pants to get to fit her, and they were very tight. There was no mistaking she was female even in shoulder pads and helmet. He knew he wanted to carry a second female if Oksana Cushman made the team and Julie was one that could actually play in the right situations. The only thing that bothered him was that he caught her twice, on the video tape, seeming to grab Brian Faradays ass. One could have been in passing but the second brought a smile from him to her that she returned. Romance was a problem they could work around, but he hoped her interest was in him and not players in general. Football bunnies were a problem and having one in the locker room could be a disaster. He knew it was still early, but was surprised it had turned 9:30 when his phone rang. "Hello Jared?" Said the voice "Who is this?" He queried "It's Ann from University." She answered sloppily. "Have you been drinking?" He asked suspiciously as her words slurred. "Yes, that's the problem. I went out with some of the women in the admin building and I can't drive home. Can I get a cab to your place?" She stammered out. "Why not get a cab HOME?" He wondered. "It's too far to get a cab back to get my own car in the morning, plus it's embarrassing ... and I need someone..." She added sheepishly. "Where are you?" He asked exhaling in a resigned tone. "I'm at Corky's, I can get a cab." Ann insisted. "No, I'm far too visible in this town to have cabbies dropping drunken women off at my residence. Corky's is in that little strip mall next to the Super Drug?" "Yes, it's not 5 minutes from you." She said. "I'm leaving now, be in front of the drug store." He said abruptly hanging up. "SHIT!", he thought to himself, "I don't mind she had the common sense to not drive, but am I the only friend she has to call? Wait, she said "I need someone", Good Lord am I the target of a booty call?" Her thought chuckling to himself. It was a cool late spring evening and Jared slipped into some no-tie canvas shoes he kept by the door for just this type of quick errand where bare feet wouldn't do. He left the lights on and slipped through the mud room into the garage activating the opener. By the time he got to the security shack at the top of the block the garage door was re-closed and his place secure. The guard paid little attention to cars leaving and little more to those going in. Residents and regular visitors usually slowed and waved, others obeyed the stop sign. If an unknown drove right through he would call campus police for a drive by, but there was rarely any problem. Ann Comeche was, like Jared asked her to be, waiting by the drug store when he pulled up. She slid in and he sped away. "Save your lecture for the morning and don't worry, I'm not falling down and puking kind of drunk. I usually know my limits but the talk got long and sexy, we all got giggly, and someone kept buying. The next thing I know they all had rides show up, husbands or boyfriends, and there I was, drunk and alone." She said without looking at him. " ... and feeling sorry for your self." He added. "Yes, little Miss Career who doesn't want to be tied to a man until she finds it convenient. I never felt so lonely in my life. When I was 20 I could just undo a couple buttons on my blouse and find a guy to flop with. Now, I have to be more discreet and I knew you'd be alone. Please don't be pissed off at me. I would do this for you, both personally and professionally." She said without getting her tongue tied too much by her state. "I know we kind of agreed to be there if we got lonely, as you put it, but I never expected THIS." Jared said in a semi-confused state. "Come ON Jared, you really don't think I do this every week do you? Nothing has to happen, I just don't need the DUI or everyone knowing I got so drunk I had to take a cab home. You don't have to take advantage of a drunk lady." She said disgusted with herself. "Get down in the seat and turn your head away so I can get by the guard shack OK." He advised her as he drove by and waved to the unsuspecting man with a badge seated in the 4 window post. He remotely opened the garage door and drove in with the door rolling down behind them. "Let me get you some vitamin B, Tylenol and water. Have you eaten?" He asked as she sat in a kitchen chair. "No, if I had eaten I might have been able to drive." She responded. "I hope you like cheese, I'll make you a cheese sandwich. The bread and the protein will help absorb the alcohol and help absorb the B into your system. The water will re-hydrate you and the Tylenol will head off the headache." He said smiling to himself, having been in the same boat many times. "Yes Dr. Winslow. Does this mean you're not letting me stay the night?" She asked sadly. "You're still staying, but we'll get you out early to get your car and no one will know the difference, OK?" Jared said as he busied himself preparing her food and laying out the pills and water. He sat across from her and let her eat and down the pills, refilling her water glass again. "So going out with the girls wasn't such a good idea?" He asked as he noticed her brighten a bit. "Normally it's not a problem but Carla, one of Dean Crawford's staff was being picked up by her new boyfriend and she told about how she was so horny and was going to spend the night with him, in great detail. Then Brenda, who just got divorced confessed she had a boyfriend already and he had started sleeping over. Pretty soon I was the only one at the table not getting laid tonight and I don't mind saying I was the best looking one there. Then the 3 extra drinks, then thinking about the last time I had sex, and that was with you, and then I stood up to go and pee and I knew I couldn't drive. I'm sorry if I sound like a desperate woman. I made choices and sometimes they're hard to live with." She said shaking her head. "Ann, just when do you think you're going to be content enough to let yourself get attached to someone? Love isn't an emotion you can turn on and off. Do you just walk away from anyone you feel yourself getting attached to?" He wondered. "Yes, ... well, ... sort of ... you see if I think a guy is interested I usually end up in the sack with him to let him see me as something less that he might think. Guys like you, who are just neat and sweet, who have the same kind of "career problems" are nice to hook up with for a safe outlet." She said before downing her second glass of water. "How do you know I'm not going to fall for you, or you for me. Love IS blind." Jared said wanting to engage her mind. "Blind, but not deaf, dumb and stupid. You're so career opportunity minded you would never let yourself chase after a co-worker or underling. I know that if you did have those kind of feelings for me you wouldn't have come to get me tonight. Right away I saw you as a comrade I could trust. Although I barely knew you I didn't feel I was fucking a stranger. I know I sound callous or maybe cheap, but I'm not." Ann said pushing her chair back to stand up. "I don't see you that way and I totally understand what you wanted that night and where we were. Sometimes life is cruel to our ego's and our psyche. Sex isn't the fixer, but it's the relief and the escape from the devils that chase us. You should start chasing opportunities or make the decision to just stay here and make your life whole." He said as Ann hugged him. "Thank you for the outside perspective. My brother in law can't stay here forever and I bet I could get first shot if he wanted to retire." She said backing away and reaching back to grab the edge of the table to regain her balance. "I better sit down, I'm not totally seaworthy yet." She said with a chuckle, but continuing to prattle on. "I know he wants to retire soon, but with you here I might have some competition. You're the guarantee that the program will flourish." "With me at NEAT you've got your guarantee Dean Crawford won't pay another premium salary. You could work at double what you make now and still be an inexpensive replacement for Joe. Don't sell your self short." Jared advised her. "If I could get that job, fall in love and come home to a man every night I could finally get over this obsession that I have for making SOMETHING out of myself. All I want is to be comfortable, have a secure and sexy home life, and know my work is appreciated. But I want a 9 to 5 guy, one whose home every night. I've dealt with sales guys, coaches, even a few players after they graduated. I'm home, horny and heartachey and I don't KNOW where they are, but if they feel like I'm feeling, they might be cheating." She said, getting a little emotional toward the end of her spiel. Jared went behind her and rubbed her shoulders to comfort her. She reached up to touch one of his hands saying, "Can I go lay down? Would you lay down with me? You won't be taking advantage of a drunken woman. My heads pretty clear now." She got up and walked toward the hallway, looking back to Jared with a questioning look. "Straight ahead, the end of the hall." He said as she walked into his bedroom and saw the king size bed in the low light from the bed stand lamp. "Let me find you something to sleep in." Jared said looking to the closet. "No, no, I'm fine." She said sitting on the bed starting to unbutton her blouse. "I sleep in my panties and always have." "OK then, let me get something and I'll sleep on the sofa." Jared said, assuming nothing. "You'll do nothing of the sort. I want to sleep with you, feel a strong man next to me. Jared, make love to me. Make me feel like a woman, I need that tonight. If you don't want that, at least lie with me, hold me." She said suddenly going into a quiet sexy voice as she stood and pulled off her blouse and began to unbutton her slacks. "You really want to use each other like this? The other night there was a little foreplay." Jared said a little stunned at her forwardness. "We can foreplay in bed, I just want to get under the covers and I'm not wearing my clothes to bed just to take them off and get them all wrinkled." She said showing she was still a little drunk. Jared began taking his clothes off, not real happy with the situation. He knew they agreed to be "fuck-buddies" but suddenly it didn't seem entirely right because she had gotten drunk. After sliding off her slacks she sat back down on the bed and unsnapped her bra clasp in the front and took it off her arms, then laying all of her clothes neatly on a chair near the bed and turned to Jared looking as delicious as ever, her breasts an instant temptation, but she read more into his face. "Jared, I'm not going to call you every time I have too much to drink. I'm not going to look you up every time I get a little horny. Don't think I'm using you like that. The fact I called you so soon since our first "indecent proposal" is only because I was so close in proximity at Corky's and your name flew around the office all day because of the mini-camp and you were on my mind. I might have gotten a cab to campus and slept in my office or something if I hadn't been thinking of you when the girls all started talking sex tonight. I might be a little drunk, but I can still sense you might think I'm some pathetic whore or something. Besides times when I'm alone, I get laid but 4 or 5 times a year, if that, all with men I know." "Ann, STOP. You're saying a lot more than you want to say, I'm sure. Don't assume what I'm thinking and "pathetic whore" NEVER ever entered my mind. Truth be told, it was worry about how soon you sought me out again that you read on my face and you've already explained that. Get into bed, it's cool and you don't want a summer cold." He said as he pulled back the covers. She slid in beside him as he pulled the covers up and they each laid their heads on the pillows. "The LOOK," he said pausing, "was you casually stripping in front of me like we were together a hundred times before. I just didn't expect it but I know your inhibitions are a little skewed right now." "That WAS a little forward, huh? Sorry, but I bet I'm still the last naked woman you've seen. I hope I still look good to you." She said with a smile and a touch of her fingers to his cheek. "As long as we're being uncomfortably honest, you AREN'T the last woman I've seen naked. I ran into an old girlfriend in Chicago who wants to take up with me again. She was my first and to tell you the truth, I don't know what to think." He admitted. "You aren't cheating with me, are you?" She said in a surprisingly sober tone as she pulled back from him. "No, no. If I made any commitments I would have said something already. My Dad, my career, and my commitment to University all make me honest, even when it might be somewhat painful." He said while thinking to himself that even somewhat drunk, Ann had character. Jared reached over to her and pulled her close, their mouths in close proximity. "I must be sobering up, I wish we started with a little foreplay." She said with a sheepish smile. "We can foreplay right here." He answered as he began to plant little kisses on her lips. She tried to answer each kiss by catching his lips for a longer smooch but he was pecking at her lips. She finally gave up trying to catch his lips as he pecked around her mouth, then her nose and then propping up on an elbow, across her forehead and along her hairline and then down to her ear, and then over to the other ear by way of her cheeks and nose. Before he left that ear he whispered in a low sexy voice. "Wet yet?" He said as he slid down and corralled a nipple between his lips as he held her ample breast to his mouth while his right hand fondled the other boob. "Oh God, Jared. The foreplay express is catching up fast. My nipples are so sensitive." She said catching her breath as she rolled her eyes back and enjoyed the play. After lolling each breast and nipple Jared began to slide down kissing her belly and poking his tongue in her navel. "Oh please Jared, NO! I'm not clean or fresh. Don't eat my pussy right now, it freaks me when I'm not fresh." She said frantically. Jared stopped going down to calm her and kissed his way to her face, whispering between kisses to her mouth, "You asked me to make love to you and I was doing it the best I know how." He apologized. "Oh I know, but I'm a little germaphobic, it would have ruined the moment. We can shower together sometime and 69, I'd love to suck that beautiful cock of yours. Now I just want you to fuck me." She apologized back in her suddenly sexy coarse whisper. Jared knelt up to reveal the tent he had grown in anticipation of fucking Ann. She quickly reached out and reached over the top of his shorts and grabbed it, stroking its length. Jared pulled the band of his shorts off the crown of his manhood to allow her full access but she only pulled at him a few more times before she cupped his balls and smiled to him. "Get inside me, my man animal." She said letting go of him and putting her thumbs to the waist of her panty and pushing them down, the wet spot on the front more than obvious. Jared moved over her and without any help from her or him lined up with her pretty pink pussy and slid in to the hilt. "Goddddddd, JARED YOUR COCK!" She swooned aloud as her arms wrapped tightly around him as if she were trying to squeeze the breath from him. "You're so fucking big, let me get accustomed to you." She whispered in an almost painful lilt. Having spent years in locker rooms, he knew he was no size prize winner so she must be incredibly tight and never had an even average man before, was all he could figure. But as she requested, he waited for a moment before beginning to move within her. As he held her face close to his he saw a real beauty in her face that you only got a hint of in a casual glance. She was quite fetching and had such a passionate aura about her when she was aroused, that when you coupled that with her obvious intelligence and the way she conducted her job, which must be a taste how she handled her personal life, she was quite a catch if she would just put herself out there. He chuckled to himself when he thought of himself in the role of the 9-5 househusband that she wanted. He kissed her softly on the cheek and began to move in and out of her in a slow saw that she quickly accustomed to and began to ride with her hips. Her breath quickly caught in her throat and she emotionally responded to the instant pulses of pleasure emanating from their union between her legs. "Ahhhhh, you're fucking, ... you're FUCK ... ing me so ... G ... GOOD!" She swooned out in pleasure before throwing her arms around his neck and hold her head tight to the side of his as he rode her, drove her. Her mouth opened just a bit in her ecstasy and a shrill loud, seeming siren like, sound came from her as she came. She came in 3 waves of orgasm before she coaxed him to stop with guttural whispers in his ear and a leg wrapped over the back of his legs. Once she caught her breath she let her tensed body relax with him to settle into her. She kissed his neck where her mouth was, just behind his ear and whispered. "Let me roll over like before and plow me like you did, please?. Shoot your cum all over me?" As much as he was getting his own pleasure, in his mind this was all about her and he would have done most anything she asked, but this was easy. He peeled himself from her and she quickly turned over in front of him, gathering a pillow in which to bury her face and propping her knees up to present her sex to him. A drop of her own juices formed at the bottom of her lips and just before it broke off he rubbed his cock through it and pushed into her causing her to swoon once again. This may have been about her in his mind, but now he wanted to get his own nut and looking down at her womanly, shapely ass before him. As he gripped her between her hip and the cheeks of her ass her started pounding her as she requested. He looked down at her asshole which had dilated as she gave herself and he couldn't help but comment. "Has anyone ever told you that you have a lovely, sexy asshole that begs to be touched, licked, prodded, and fucked?" He asked boldly as his hips slapped to the globes of her ass. "Yes, yes, yes, I can be a bad girl there, but not tonight, I'm not clean, just FUCK me!" She spat back as if the answer were loaded and waiting to be asked. He felt his cum beginning to rise and he dug his fingers into her flesh as the pleasure unfolded in his groin. The load from his swinging balls was in motion and he pulled from her as a watery shot sprayed over her back and he took his cock in his hand and stroked it hard, pumping a long volley of white goo up her back as she Ooooowed and Ahhhhed as each blob hit her white ass. Her knees unfolded and she was now flat on the bed on her stomach, her arm under herself and a rubbing hand over her pussy as he finished pumping his load onto her. He rolled to his side and fell onto the bed. She popped up and walked on her hands and knee's to kiss his face as he closed his eyes and smiled, exhausted. She kissed him again and thanked him for making her so happy. She shifted on the bed to lay beside him, or so he thought, but he felt her mouth go over the head of his cock and her tongue swirl over it once before flopping down beside him on her belly laying an arm over his chest, her mouth near his ear. "I just knew your cum would taste good, I had to try it, sorry for being so bold and naughty." He smiled and patted her arm as he had no more strength to even speak. He fell asleep where he laid and felt her move a short time later, aware that she went into the bathroom and he heard the toilet flush. Her warm nude body snuggled beside him and he felt the covers go over him. They were across the bottom of the bed with no pillows but they simply could not move. They would sleep until his alarm at 6:00 a.m. They both startled at the radio alarm as the news of the morning began to fill the room. Ann sat up half way before flopping back down and hugging her face to Jared's side. "I guess I should thank you for no hangover. Your little cure worked well, I hope getting good and laid was part of the therapy." She said softly. "Last night was an error in BOTH of our judgments. You were kind of a pathetic spirit and I was a willing participant once you began to undress. I hope you can consider me as much of a friend as I do you. You're my only true confidante here on campus." He said, still wiping cobwebs. "I'm sorry if I used you. It was a night that any other means of relief would have fallen short. Once we get into it we're pretty hot. I did something that I don't do with casual lovers, the oral thing, you know? I'm embarrassed. I also recall making some pretty stupid promises that I wouldn't have done totally sober. I'm not that loose outside of a serious personal relationship." She said agreeing with his summation and admitting her culpability. "Relief is the key word. Frustration, tension, worries, they all build up." He said blankly. "It would seem you have the world by the ass, Jared." "Ann, I have to produce, as well. Then I have two women who want me to be their partner for life and start families with. It sucks that I love them both." "Then I complicate things, and I'm sorry." "The only complication with you, Ann, is the ethics of it all." "Don't think of that because I'm not trying to gain anything from this and neither are you. We aren't romantically involved. Your job is everything I hate about being tied to a man. We can talk honestly and we fit together horizontally." She said as he started to get up. "Well, you're career minded and driven by the possibility of power in your job. I couldn't be with someone in that mode. IF, and I'm beginning to think that is a big if, IF I ever get married, my wife won't need to work for any reason beyond her fulfillment." He explained. "Ummmm, could I impose on you to bring me to my car before you shower? I don't want to be tempted to make any other errors in judgment this morning. An occasional roll to relieve tension was my initial intention and this was just wrong. It won't happen like this again." She asked in her embarrassment. "Ann, nothing is changed and we're OK. We both fucked up last night. Get dressed and you can be home in 20 minutes to start your day like you always do and nothing will be different." He said knowing they were words she wanted or needed to hear. "Thank You." She said as she got up and found her underwear. After each of them relieved themselves they met in the mud room and went to the car. Jared hit the button to roll up the garage door and started the car. With Ann bent over in the seat as they rode past the napping guard they made their way in the early dewy morn to Corky's where Ann's car sat undisturbed. She looked to him and took his hand and kissed the back of it. "You're sweet and kind as a lover. Thank you for not making me feel as cheap as I should feel. I feel I disappointed you as a friend and I don't want to do that again." She said with doe eyed sincerity. "I'm fine, you're fine." Was all Jared could say as she let his hand go and got out of the car. Jared made sure her car started OK and they drove in separate directions. ------- Chapter 11 Jared Winslow had hoped that his staff and all around him and his program had done what he asked during the final week of school. That was "try not to think about football for a week" and let everything settle. With the exception of a few straggling exams and labs to fulfill course requirements, school was over. Those taking part in graduation ceremonies and those who had to stay were the only ones left on campus. The second mini-camp sign up sheet was 100% with those asked to return and another 13 students added their names as those who thought they had enough talent to want to be seen. Four of them were female. It had been made clear that there was a new regime and they would at least get a look. Jared spent the week in his home and office barely bothering anyone and absorbing himself in video from the season and the mini-camp. He would meet with the coaching staff and the rest of those facilitating the camp on Thursday night to a quick run through of their goals. He had but one thing on his to do list to take care of and he felt it best to delegate it to a more proper person. He knocked on Ann Comeche's door just before lunch on Thursday. "Hello Coach! I was going to call you later to show the final demo tapes I got back from my staff for the summer season ticket teasers." Ann said greeting him. "OK, we can do that, but I need to ask you a favor." He said holding up a video tape in his hand. "Let me show these two clips I've culled to explain something." He said handing her the tape that she quickly loaded in the machine behind her desk. They both looked to the monitor in the upper corner opposite the desk and the images of Brian Faraday kicking on mini-camp day appeared, with Julie Murcer helping him and giving tips. The tape showed the two times she played "grab-ass" with Brian and his appreciative smiles. "Don't think me sexist for asking you to talk to her. This is something I need to nip right now. If she and Brian have a relationship there is little we can do to stop it except to warn them that if we think it affects play on the team one of them could be cut. If it means she's a football bunny she won't be considered for the team. Girls who act as football team "groupies" can't be stopped and they pop up on every team, on every level. I could not possibly have one in the locker room." Jared explained. Ann watched the tape a second time and then sat back in her chair. If anyone ever suspected that she and Coach were meeting from time to time for a little hanky-panky and was watching for telltale signs or body language to tip them off, they would walk away unconvinced. Ann Comeche did not allow their closed door relationship to provide any slack in the execution of her job. "No. No because I clearly do not see where this is in any way the duty of anyone but you. I will sit in the room when you speak to her as witness, but I won't give my opinions." She told him. Jared easily saw that the buxom sexy tiger who sought him out as a partner and the SID were two different people whose paths would not cross. "I'm not sure if you're 100% right on this, but I'll respect your opinion because I don't want this to go any further than the few people who are aware of it." "I can get someone on my staff to arrange her to be here to meet soon, maybe even this afternoon. I can check her class or exam schedule and get back to you." Ann said as she put her offer in motion. Jared had no more than settled into his notepads and videos when his intercom rang. "Julie is on her way from her dorm to my office and will be here any minute." Ann said, hanging up before Jared could answer. He took his yellow note pads on kickers and went up the stairs to Ann's office once again. As he hit the top stair he saw from the other end of the hallway Julie Murcer coming towards him. She obviously lived in one of the two adjacent dorm buildings close by. Inside Ann's office she had set up an extra chair in front of her desk and when Jared came in Ann got up from her desk and in a very businesslike fashion said, "Here, Coach Winslow, you sit in my chair and I'll sit out front. It's a body language thing." She said as Jared began to protest as she waved him off as the knock came to the door. Julie Murcer opened the door slowly and Jared quickly invited her in. "Julie, please sit down. I'm not sure if you know Ann Comeche, she's the Sports Information Director here at University. I want her here as witness because what I'm going to say is uncomfortable and I'll get right to the point. Your performance at the mini-camp was very commendable and I think you have a special talent. Quite frankly, if Oksana makes the team I'm planning, at this juncture, that you will as well. I would like her to have another female in the locker room and on the road. It would mean having 3 kickers, but you are certainly talented enough to occupy the roster spot. However, I have a little problem, that may be nothing, but I have to bring it up. You were being video taped all the while and you were seen groping Brian a couple times. I guess it was an effort to show him you were interested in him but I have to make one thing clear. Inter-player relationships are not forbidden, but ARE frowned upon. They can affect the play of the whole team sometimes. These relationships are usually hidden because, obviously, they are usually gay. I certainly believe that what two people do behind closed doors is their business and no one else's. But, when it affects my team it becomes my business. If a male-female relationship were to sprout on the team it would be more open and accepted. Dissolution of these relationships can be messy and venomous. On the other hand, there are girls who "like" football players. The boys are usually fit and muscular and carry a status about them in the college community making them targets for these "football bunnies". I won't have a player on my team, either male or female, who plans on using the locker room as their good time recruiting station. It hurts egos, friendships, and dissolves camaraderie. Your personal life is your business. You know where I stand now. At this juncture, I WANT YOU to make this team. If I were picking my team right now, IS THERE ANY REASON WHY I SHOULDN'T PICK YOU? IS THERE ANY REASON YOU MIGHT WANT ME TO DROP YOUR NAME FROM CONSIDERATION?" Julie Murcer didn't flinch or bat an eye during Coach Winslow's dissertation on inter personal relationships within the team. However when she went to respond, Jared saw a little lip quiver, not sure if it were awe, anger or fear. "Coach Winslow, I never in my life thought I had a chance of making this team. My head is spinning at the assumption by you that I could. I'm a little overwhelmed. I have guys come onto me all of the time because of my Lolita looks, and I can't help that. Brian did pick up that I was interested, but he's never called me and to tell you the truth, he said he would. If you're asking me if I'm a whore, I'm not. I'm also not offended by the question. In Oklahoma our Friday Night Lights are as bright as Texas'. I was part of a big time program there and know about all the things you spoke of. I have a serious boyfriend back home but I won't deny that I was looking for a little attention. It won't happen again, within the team, and you can count on me Coach." She responded maturely, adding, "We're all on the same page there." "Thank you Julie, you've shown me that you're a mature young woman and haven't hurt your chances one bit of making this team. Frankly, I'm a little amazed you weren't recruited a little stronger either before you chose us or afterward by the team." Jared said scratching his head. "Coach, when they see me in person I'm not taken seriously. When your mini-camp said it was open to serious students with grade point minimums and no talk of male-female I was surprised and when Oksana said she was invited I was intrigued. I still never expected to get a serious look. For this chance you can expect me to toe the line as a person, player and student. I only ask to be taken seriously by the rest of the team and staff." Julie said. "I think you saw at camp that once you showed what you could do, some attitudes changed. Once it becomes obvious that you, Oksana, or both of you will make the roster we will have a meeting about peer respect. Thank you for your straight forwardness." Coach Winslow said standing to show her out. Julie walked out and Jared turned to Ann who smiled saying, "You owe me props for showing you the right way to handle this." "Touche! You told me I could trust you." He said with a wink to their "other" relationship side. She neither smiled nor acknowledged his comment and went back to her paper work as he left the room and headed down to his own office. ... On the morning of the day before the last day of "University" at New England Agricultural & Technical Coach Jared Winslow huddled with his three key coaches and each of their top 2 staffers. They outlined and went over all of the notes Jared had taken from what he saw and watched on video in the past 5 days, comparing notes, ideas and impressions with each. It was scheduled for a 4 or 5 hour pow-wow and the first real test of how the group might work together. For that reason Winslow didn't have his friend and confidant, Ger Nietczyk, show up until the short "after-lunch" session. He wanted none of "his" people to sully the mix or mood as to get a true read of the staff compatibility. Jared was happy because no one opted to leave for lunch and they all went as a group to the Student Union Rathskeller. The Rat, as it was known, was not German as it's name might imply, nor was it anything like the famed Rathskeller of Kenmore Square in Boston. It was simply the basement of the Union building that featured a "food court" of sorts with many of the stalls now closed for the school year. The pizza and sandwich shop stayed open until the very end to squeeze what revenue they could from the straggling student body that prepared for summer classes or Saturdays graduation ceremony. Instead of being a bystander in the camaraderie of the total staff that had worked together Jared was in the middle of the cajoling, joking and kidding that went on. At one point Jordy Alford, the offensive coordinator, leaned over to Jared and said; "Sherm Woodard wouldn't have been caught dead with his underlings. We saw him on the practice field and game field, period." "Underlings? You guys are my teammates. We're all working for the same goal and unless something is glaring, I'm the guy who takes the hit if we go down. Somebody has to be in charge, but I'm dead if I figuratively lose any one of you in a clash of ego's or personality. I'll try to drive that point home when we get back." Jared said between bites of his lunch. Upon returning to their meeting room Coach Winslow did as he told his assistant Alford he would, pressing forth the idea that they were all one team and that although he was the head of that team, he was well aware that it could not function if all of the cogs didn't join and turn in sync to push to the end. Then he opened his notebook and continued the evaluations. "I want to introduce to you all a man who played for me at Valley and led the nation in scoring as my place-kicker, Ger Nietczyk. He is here and I expect him to walk through the door momentarily." He said holding up a blackberry that he had obviously been signaled on. "Ger has agreed to devote some time to trying to develop one of our soccer stars on campus into our place kicker, as well as coaching any other kickers who come to camp. He's here as a personal friend of mine, but as of today he will fall under Ira Pressley's staff, who can use him as often or as little as he thinks necessary. He will not be a full time coach, only a teacher. Some of you may have met him at the last camp." Jared said as Ger walked through the door. Nietczyk went through the room shaking hands, exchanging names and then came up to the front of the room to stand with Coach Winslow. "I think Coach has told you that I'm not here to step on any toes, I'm not looking for a job or anything like that. I'm just here as a friend of Coach Winslow because I owe him for helping me in my college career. I observed Brian Faraday after a few quick lessons last week and I think he has great possibilities. He has great athleticism and desire. He took to the position quite naturally and so far looks quite adept. I haven't taught a lot of soccer style kickers, but what I've learned is that if you have a raw kicker you should try to get him to start with the ball in motion. Becoming accustomed to the ball and how it travels off a tee is good practice but setting the time mechanism through the snap, the hold and follow-through is the key. A lot is going on around you and learning to set your mind and sights on the ball when it comes into to the contact zone improves your focus. We were very lucky to have had an experienced, game tested, place kicker join us for the try out, Julie Murcer." Ger said while a deep smile crept across his ruddy face. "She may have captured his attention in ways I couldn't, she's a very pretty girl. I also think she could be the answer to your kicking situation if needed. From what I saw, from 40 yards and in, she was quite deadly and surprisingly powerful. She wasn't very confidant beyond 40, but I can tell you that from the few games I saw last year, she would be a major improvement." "Do you think she could take a hit if protection broke down?" Jordy Alford asked. "Hard to say. She is afraid of being hurt, but not afraid of contact. She seems more than willing to sacrifice herself. She's big time program, high school tested. However she is keenly aware that she'll be dealing with bigger men, and more so, an anti-female factor. I got a hold of her high school coach who used the word "gutty" more than a few times. He had to be sold on her himself and she convinced him she could do it. He's seen her pick up a loose ball and run, as well as diving on a fumble. She won't be shy, but she will depend on her teammates for a little extra protection. They will have to be "with" her." Ger answered and then clapped his hands once. "So that's what I have. I'm scheduled to work with Brian and Julie again tomorrow. If he still has the desire he had last week I'm going to see him twice over the summer and as often as he needs me in the fall leading up to try-outs. When Julie showed him how it was done with a rush on and under pressure, I think it helped him a lot. She is a natural and makes it look easy." Ger said finishing. Coach Winslow stood back up to make a point. "Ira Pressley and I are seriously looking at Oksana Cushman to be our punter. I think it would help the situation greatly for her to have a second female on the team, even if that second girl isn't always active. If we do carry two place kickers to meet that end I'm not sure which one of your squads will be affected with the lost roster spot. We're hoping for more than one or two Special Teams two-way players. I hate to put a Back at risk on kick-offs and punts a few times every game, but what it is, is what it is. We'll always have volunteers... Frank Ruffen raised his arm in a circular motion saying, "I think all of us know how much our kicking game killed us last year. Any one of us would have given up 2 spots just to get a little edge on the scoreboard or a few less yards to defend. The roster spot is the least of our worries. If the girl can really do it and it helps the situation with Ira's punter none of us will complain, huh?" He stated and asked his sort of country way as the other coaches and staff nodded, raised hands or gave an "amen". Winslow turned to his friend Ger made a "See, I told you" look to allay any worries he had about recommending 2 place kickers. Nietczyk like the way Julie made it look easy and her willingness to impart knowledge. Her fear, or apprehension of being hit had been knocked out by his simple explanation that, yes, the hits would be harder from larger players, BUT, the defense in front of her would be that much better as well. It was apparent that each coach and staffer was anxious to get the meeting over, the mini-camp over, so as to get about to a summer of relaxing and refreshing. They already were anticipating the fresh start of a new season with a new coach and new outlook, but the summer bridge to that end held too much good time anticipation to want to skip. Those next three days were like a fast forwarded whirlwind for Jared Winslow. He had the mini-camp, a day of summations and review with his coaches and staff on what they saw at the camp, and then the ceremony of Graduation. Each coach of the 4 major sports got up to say a few words and read off the names of departing seniors. Sherm Woodard was supposed to have come to bid his seniors from the football team a kind adieu, but he cancelled at the last minute. Although his leaving was billed as a retirement for health and family reasons, he knew they were buying out the final year of his deal if he didn't leave on his own. He could have changed any doubts about the condition of his leaving by being at the graduation, but he chose to skip it. When Jared Winslow's name was announced to say goodbye to the football seniors the stadium erupted into cheers, applause, and a standing ovation. The campus and the surrounding community, and all those attending were ready for winning football. ------- Chapter 12 Real relaxation time, the kind where you kick back and get lost to the world, would not be on Jared Winslow's docket for this summer. It was the challenge that brought him to this stop of life and he more than measured up to meeting it. He knew other coaches and teams would do whatever they could to stand in his way. He had done his due diligence on the talent recruited by Sherm Woodard and maintained a promise to not touch any Vermont Valley Tech recruits he had lined up. However, a bulging notebook filled with newspaper clippings, notes from friends and allies of both he and his father, and letters from fans in general, gave him a road map for the summer that could bring him from coast to coast to talk to potential recruits. Being able to fill the place kicker and punter roles would be a summers worth of work and to have done it from within the student body made him glow. He also felt that he had, at worst, a back-up quarterback in Marvin Hudson. At the second mini-camp Hudson came with a renewed interest in the position after going through the motions to appease his new coach at the first camp. He liked the thought of being a leader on the field. He was intrigued by the simple drills that Coach ran him through and asked him to practice before coming to the second camp. Marv spent his spare time in the next few days back peddling with his arms raised as if signaling a touch down. He would back peddle 10 yards and then push off with his left foot to change forward to his beginning mark and then do the same and push off with his right foot. He found the more he did it, the faster he could do it and with great ease of balance. Coach had told him that when he got to the point where it seemed easy, start doing it with your arms akimbo (hands on hips). By the time he got to the second camp he was so curious by the drills he was excited to see how they might benefit him, only because he found how proficient he had got. He found with smaller choppier steps his balance and speed improved. He almost wondered if these were pass coverage drills. But when he got to the camp Coach threw him a ball and said "Let's have a catch.". They threw the ball back and forth to each other for almost 10 minutes before Coach Winslow told him they would start throwing harder. Marv Hudson had no problem handling the coaches throws, even it they were hard and crisp. He only worried that Coach could handle his hardest at the 10 yards they apart. But then Coach did something different from the stride and throw he had been doing. He dropped back in short choppy steps and then sprung forward wheel-housing the ball to Marv. The result was Hudson ducking away and flailing with his arms to catch the ball at his face. He went and retrieved the ball coming back smiling at the coach. When he got to the 10 yard mark he repeated what the coach had done, dropping back and pushing off his back foot as he reversed his momentum. The result was wide of the coach, but Winslow was able to reach and get a hand on the bullet pass. "I get it, I get it!" He shouted to Winslow. "Do you feel the power generation?" Jared said smiling. "Yes, yes. Ohmigod!" He answered. "Now, we have to harness it all and translate it to the position. Keep in mind that it isn't how hard you throw, it's how hard you throw accurately. Of the same mind, it's not how far you throw, but how far you throw accurately. This little exercise wasn't a parlor trick, it's simple physics. To spring something forward, it must go back first. To throw a ball underhand to me you would swing back first, the principle is just that simple. To drop straight back with the short choppy steps rather than turn your shoulders to your throwing side and side step back you're keeping all of your options open without having to do a hard pivot. If you see a hole in the line you can draw instantly instead of setting. But running the ball isn't your worry now. I want to teach you how to throw. Marvin, if I didn't recognize that you were a good athlete I wouldn't even try this out. But I can see by your play in the defensive backfield that you were probably a good soccer player, an excellent tennis player, and I bet you played the infield in baseball." Hudson blushed and nodded his head. "I was the top seed in New England High Schools for tennis all through my junior and senior years. I couldn't participate in the Class A finals for academic reasons, but I've overcome those problems. I was in too many sports and my school suffered." "Your athleticism should translate well to this position if you learn the basics of throwing and identifying defenses. You're an intelligent defender but now you'll have to think even faster on your feet. When you use the short choppy drop your feet are always in motion and that is much harder to read. You can roll left or right with an easy pivot, but your weapon is your arm and your feet and legs are the trigger. You call a 52 Hot Pass setting a wide out and the tight end as targets. As soon as one of them opens in your sight line, you plant and fire. But, because you have 2 receivers on the right side and your line is blocking in a fence, you know the defense is going to weigh heavy to that side and if the line has done its job your back may have gotten himself free. You pump, drop one more step and throw for a longer gain. Is it a broken play? No, not really because you save your trigger. Without having to reach back, which takes extra time, you can throw a 30 yard play instead of the 10 yard play you planned ... all because of the physics of it. You are power and speed in motion. You use that along with a well coordinated throw to speed your release and put that much more on the ball. The faster you get into your pocket and the faster you release the ball, the more you confound defenses. Am I making any sense to you?" Coach asked as Marvin nodded. "I see the logistics of it all from a defenders point of view. If the quarterback keeps his shoulders level with the yard lines defenders never know which side he's seeing. If he never gets flat footed he's tough to wait on without losing your man or letting the zone wash out. Do any pro sets use this style?" Hudson wondered. "Not usually, because once a QB gets to start at the pro level he's lost that extra quickness, but he still has his arm and knows how to keep his momentum trigger. A couple of pro's kept the style in their early careers, Spurrier, Namath, a few others. It's all about speed. Getting set quick, releasing the ball quick. What does that do to a defender?" "You make him keep his options open, he can't commit as fast as he wants." Marv answered. "And if he does guess and commit, what happens?" Coach asked quickly to get a quick response. "If he's wrong the receiver either opens up alone in the zone or the quarterback runs for open field." Hudson fired back. "That's because you were a good defender. Now I'm not telling you that you're going to be a quarterback for us, but I think you have all the tools and I've shown you a few of the things you can use to hone a skill. Keep practicing your throwing, always off your back foot, even if you just drop a step. Build up the memory in that muscle set. I'll look you up a few times in the summer and we'll have a catch. Get a friend or family member to catch you often. If you want to use a softball, that's OK. It keeps your hand open to build up the strength. With your hand closed around a baseball you don't stress the muscles and tendons as much where the ulna and radius bones meet the wrist." Coach told him as he pointed to his own arm and wrist. "That's where the snap of your wrist will come from and power the ball, like we just saw." "Coach, I know you're telling me that if I work hard enough I can make this all happen, but if I can't start I... " He began to say and stalled not wanting to poke holes in the coaches plans. "Don't worry Marvin, your job in the defensive backfield is safe. I wouldn't pull you from there to have you sit on the bench as my back-up quarterback. My back up will not sit because I need the roster spot. When you come to camp in the fall we'll evaluate everything. Just understand that learning the offensive and defensive sets will be a challenge and school will get no easier. Once I've shown you what you can do the decision will be yours when you come to camp." Winslow told him with serious conviction. "Who do you think will be the starter at quarterback?" Hudson asked. "I don't know, the boy Coach Woodard recruited seems to be better suited as a wide out. We will keep all options open." Jared said with a smile and a pat on the back to Marvin Hudson. Coach Winslow knew in his heart that Marvin Hudson could start at quarterback some day for him. He just wasn't sold that he could learn enough about the offense and trust his capabilities to do it that fall. His defensive play, as a freshman, had gone un-noticed because of the low stature of the school. If he were with a Big 10 school a lot of hype would have been thrown his way. He had been shy about the fact that Coach thought he could do something he had never tried. He just didn't have the self-esteem to think of himself as the leader on the field, the quarterback. That was for the "cool guys and jocks" in High School. Now he was excited to think of himself in that role, his confidence growing already. Jared Winslow had lit a confident, competitive fire within him, and that was good. Before setting out to see each player at their home with one of his assistants to personally follow up on their previous one on one's and mini-camp sessions Jared promised himself a couple weeks to get his life in order. He wanted to resolve Barbara Gaynes once and for all. He wanted so much to miss her and want her back in his life, but that fire had gone out. He felt sure of it now, although he didn't discount the fact that once he saw her in person it could change. The only urgency he felt at this point was the fact that she may have been holding great expectations of their reunion and leading her on was something he couldn't do. She was the favorite pair of jeans he couldn't just throw away. He would rather give them to the Salvation Army and hope they might get a good home rather than discard them. The memories flickered bright, but the flame was cold now. He regretted having to call her to let her know he would be in town. The phone rang 4 times before the message played. He was discouraged to hear his own voice. "Hello, You've reached the home of Coach Winslow and Barbara Gaynes. We can't come to the phone right now but sure don't want to miss your call. Leave your name and number and we'll get back to you as soon as we can. Beep." He rolled his eyes and left a message. "Hi Barb. I'm going to be in town for a couple days and I want to get together and talk. So, call me on my cell or car phone and let me know when you'll be around. I'm driving to my Mom and Dad's in a bit and then I'll pop down to see you on..." "Hi Jared, I'm here. I was watching a movie and couldn't find the remote. I can drive up to your Dad's and meet you if you want. I have a few days to burn before we start summer sessions. It'll be fun." Barbara said as if nothing had happened between them. "No, ... no Barb. You stay there." He said coldly, although he hoped it didn't sound that way. "I'll be in town on Wednesday and call you before I come by. Are you busy early or late that day?" He said hoping to give her a little preview of the tenor of his visit. "I'll be here all day. You're going to stay here, right? I'll change the bed that morning and plan a special dinner for you." She said hopefully. "No, don't go to any trouble for me Barb. I've got a room at The Radisson, I've got to see some of my football people and... " He began. "Jared, this is your house, OUR house. Why wouldn't you stay here?" She interrupted. "Barbara, it's YOUR house, and I'm not staying there because I don't live there anymore." He said emphatically. "So you're coming to dump me in person?" She said, her voice cracking. "No, I'm coming to talk to you and hope to get some things straightened out and better understood. Please, let's just talk when I get there. OK?" He implored. Barbara sighed deeply and agreed and seemed uninterested at whatever else Jared had to say before she hung up. Jared was glad the few days leading up to his confrontation with Barbie was a full slate to keep his mind off the situation. His first stop after the drive was at his parents house where he relived his childhood every time he went. Home was home and his Dad could not have been more proud. His Dad had failed a bit since retirement but he relived his coaching fire through his son. He couldn't wait to sit and read the notes and charts Jared had on his new team and truth be told, Jared wanted to hear his Dads input. His Mom doted on him and was disappointed Jared had opted to stay in a hotel, but he did plan to entertain some friends and disturbing his parents was not something he would do. His first and second days of the visit were great catching up vehicles, but the end of that second day was his late afternoon with Barbara and he became a man facing the firing squad as the day passed. He weighed the possible magic of seeing her and having his heart flutter with seeing her and finding the reaffirming feeling that his heart was no longer into the relationship. The latter scenario was not one she would weather well and the memory of the joy she once brought him made it seem so unfair that he had to hurt her. Only the truth his heart told him that she brought the separation about herself made it easier for him. When he pulled into the drive he saw her home almost unchanged from when he left. She kept the yard and lawn as neat and orderly as always and he knew he saw her back away from the rear door where she had been watching for him. He took a deep breath and walked up the walk and looked through the rear door to the kitchen through the four paned window and saw her sitting at the table balancing her checkbook, or at least looking that way. He knocked gently and she looked up feigning surprise saying "Come in" loud enough for him to hear as she stood. When he came through the door she glided to his side and hugged him tenderly as he said his hellos. She pulled back from her hug expecting him to kiss her but he loosed his grip and dropped his arms. "Barbie, I know you expect us to pick up from where we were a while back, but I don't think I can do that." Jared said. "I know it will take a while, but we'll get married someday, just like you promised!" Barbie said brightly with a big smile a hugging her head to his breast. "Barbie, you're hearing what you want to hear. Would you want me to marry you even though I didn't love you that way anymore. Would you want me to be miserable and to make you miserable?" Jared asked pointedly. "Are you telling me you don't love me anymore?" She asked pulling her head away and staring right into his eyes. "Yes, I'm telling you that I love you as a person who is close to me, but not as the person I want to marry and make love to and have children with. Something happened to us. As we grew into our lives we went into different directions. Can't you see that?" He asked. "No, I'm still your Barbie and you're my Jar-Jar. Look at our pictures together on the mantle, that's us, that's us in love." She defended. "That was us at that moment Barb. We've drifted apart and you're making me say this as bluntly as possible. I don't want to live with you anymore now or ever. I've tried to miss you and my heart just isn't into it. These things happen Barbie. We grew apart and you won't admit it. Aside from the day I told you I was leaving we hadn't made love in weeks, ... months! If the paper hadn't leaked my leaving we wouldn't have made love that day. If you desired me it wouldn't have been that way. You want me to stay for your convenience, I don't think you love me like you think you do." Jared reasoned to Barbie as her eyes welled with tears. "NO, NO, NO, I really, really DOOOOO love you Jared Winslow. Why is my heart ripping apart?" She sputtered through her tears. Jared took her in his arms and held her tightly and whispered in her ear. "We had a great run kiddo, but something wasn't right. I KNOW that you know that. We were the horniest pair of rabbits in the field and once we got into the spontaneous 2 or 3 times a week we were at our best and sparks flew each time we saw each other. But something happened and we became roommates who shared a bed. You never opened the gates of full honesty to me about some things. Without that others doors begin to close like dominoes, one begets the next. Eventually you lost the yearn for me to touch you. Trust me, I'll be gone and soon you'll get that itch, but it won't be for me. We've spoke but a few times in the last months and I don't think you've been crying yourself to sleep." Barbie went limp in his arms and pulled away. "How do you know I haven't been crying myself to sleep. You weren't here!!" She said folding her arms and turning from him. "Because you would have called me in a second and begged me. I KNOW YOU!" He snapped. "You stick out that big pouty lip and stamp your feet until you get your way. You came close to that the first weekend without me when you showed up on my porch, but that was just desire for familiarity. You had to be sure I was still there. If I felt you truly came because you had an epiphany about how you felt and what I meant to you, you would still be there. But that wasn't the case, was it?" He said to her challenging her true feelings. Barbie turned towards him, her eyes red with tears welling, but with a sudden calmness of her emotions almost like the eerie updraft calm before a tornado hits. "I want my comfort zone back, I know that. I want things the way they were, no stress, no surprises. I thought I had everything and wrapped myself up in it. I forgot that you have to work at relationships. I'm not stupid. Once you left I saw what happened. Having the thought of knowing if I wanted a man I was going to have to work at it again scares the shit out of me. Opening yourself up, wiggling your ass, showing off your tits to get attention; those are all things I was out of practice at. I lost you by taking you for granted and getting love lazy. I'm not stupid. I was only hoping that you loved me more than I thought, and I was wrong. Once you told me you had gotten laid that first weekend, I knew I was done. A stranger had taken care of the need I was supposed to want and fulfill. I've given you a pretty good act of being naïve to the situation and played my last card today. I hoped when you saw me today it would reawaken feelings. I'm so sorry for letting all of this slip away. If you had been a 9 to 5 pencil pusher and came home to our bed every night I wouldn't have fallen into the ruts I'm in now. But, I'm not blaming you. I brought my work home and I used TV to escape. You should have been my outlet on nights you were there. I fucked up." Jared was floored by her admissions. All the while he had thought she was unaware of the real problem she had been trying to grasp what little there was left. It had shown her that real desire was gone but her comfort and security were the center of her world. He went to reach for her, but she pulled away. "No Jared, I don't want your pity or sympathy. I was going to be perfectly willing to continue to use you as my security blanket again. You deserve so much better. I have to reinvent my life and find another man who can make me happy using my own stupid mistakes as a lesson on how not to lose the love of your life. I hope we can always be friends after a while. I hope I can call you when I need someone to talk to." She said, wanting their split to be abrupt leaving no doubts. "Barbie, you're still the best part of my life so far. That's something I'll never forget. I can't blame you for wanting to save all of it. You know you can always call me. I'm sure you'll find someone. You're such a beautiful woman, a lot of men would pursue you in a second, just be sure to separate the winners from losers and know what you want." Jared said as he watched her move away from him both physically and figuratively. "I've got to change and be more honest so I don't fuck up like I did with you. Once I know what I want and get my head on straight I'll call you to see how you're doing, let you know how I am. Fair enough?" She said as she moved towards the door, as if to show him out. She went out the door first and he followed. Her arms were folded in front of her and she wouldn't look up to face him. "Barbie if you think I'm just going to walk away, you're wrong. I want to hold you, hug you, and kiss you one more time. I never stopped loving the Barbie I proposed to, remember that." He said as he moved to her and she surrendered her arms from their folded position to wrap around him. Their hug and hold was long and tight. He wanted to speak, but knew his voice would crack with emotion. He pulled back and kissed her and she kissed back. "Let's never say goodbye, just see you later." He said as he kissed once more and turned to go to his car. For a moment the Barbie he had always loved was there outside the house with him. He knew it, he felt it. He only hoped she would rediscover it too. He hoped she might find a lucky man who might discover the deeply passionate and complete lover inside her. Deep inside he knew there was a twinkle for everything he felt for her, but he was uncertain if she could ever illuminate that fire for him For the time being his mind was lost thinking about another love, another woman who wanted his attention, Meaghan Mahaffey. He had been so sure that he was going to go through heart wrenching ordeal with Barbie that he promised himself to put Meg out of his mind, not expecting Barbie's mea maxima culpa and admission of hoping against hope he would return to her. She had known early in the process that it was over and only when faced with the final decision from his "cooling off" did she come clean and save herself from further stress and angst and he from guilt torture. Although the raven haired Barbara Gaynes was a magazine cover body and face who could bring any man to his knees, Meaghan Mahaffey, still the temptress who supplied him with the forbidden fruits of love as a young man, was suddenly back on his radar screen and making him yearn for the Lolita-like charms she offered. Not only was she a great sex partner who was every bit the willing experimenter, but she was the worker bee at the relationship. When they dated nary a night would go by she hadn't planned something for them. Getting together with friends, alone time, study time, a movie and even time away from each other was on the suggestion board. She never ran his life, but made sure there were no ruts with them. Sunday afternoons were always ended early and they were home with their families, both of which were well rounded and nuclear. Long after the last dinner dish was washed and put away and home work finished Jared would be in his room dialing up his love, Meaghan. It was then they planned to see each other during that week. Jared always had to work around his father and the football team after school and then home for dinner in the fall and winter. But, the spring and summer were full of time together, probably even more than he spent with Barbie when they lived together. At that moment, as he drove away from the house he once called his own, he yearned to be with Meaghan more than anything else in his life. He was no more than a mile from Barbie when he pulled to the side of the road and took out his cell phone, dialing Ann Comeche's office. "Hello Ann, I wonder if I could impose on you for a personal favor." "Sure Coach, I'm sure I owe you at least one." "What's the fastest way to get me to Chicago from where I sit back home in Central Vermont?" "Let me check" She said as he heard the key taps on her computer. "Hmmmm, how far are you willing to drive?" "Oh, an hour or two at most, and a direct flight." "OK, OK, I assumed that. Let me see ... how's the days off going?" "Good to be home, see Mom and Dad, tie up loose ends." "Can you get to White River Junction by 5?" "White River Junction? I'm NOT going to Chicago in a Cessna!" "There's an AirExecutive Share Jet leaving from a private strip there. Destination Chicago and Minneapolis. One seat open to Chicago. It leaves Boston about now and stops in White River to pick up someone. It's a 10 seater. Dean Crawford won't like the price, $600." "Oh, it's on my personal card, strictly pleasure. Book it!" He said excited. "You just saved 9 other hot shots some money. Share Jets are one price split by the number on board. Ummm, only one piece of luggage and one hand held carry on bag. It lands at O'Hare at 6:20. Do you need a car? You have Avis preferred through us. I can set it up, just pay with your own card. OK? Have a great time." Ann told him, happy to help him out as he assented to the car. "Now," He thought to himself, "to see if Meg will see me." He wasn't worried about putting the cart before the horse, he was going to Chicago. If she was as serious as he was feeling, she would see him. He dialed her number as confidently as he did in High School. "Hello stranger! Seeing your name on my caller ID made my day!" Meaghan said brightly. "Well, that's a nice hello. I was wondering if you were busy tonight?" "Are you in town?" She asked. "Well, I will be in a few hours. I have business in town and I was hoping you would be free." He said hopefully. "I'm not sure if I can get a sitter on short notice, what did you have planned?" She asked. "Oh, I don't know, maybe dinner and then a few drinks, some talk. I just want to spend some time with you." Jared said trying not to seem too excited. "Oh, REALLLLY? What if I can't get a sitter, do I get a rain check?" "Better yet, if you can't get a sitter, can I come over? We can have dinner sent in and I'll bring wine. But, I would much rather take you out." Jared said confidently. "What's your business in town?" She asked unexpectedly. Jared was caught off guard by her question and he faltered in his confident ramble. "Uh, Uh, ... I've ... Shit ... Meaghan. I'm coming to town to see you. To tell you the truth, I thought Declan was with his father for June and July and you had weekends." Meaghan acted like she expected the answer. "Is froggy comin' a courtin'?" She asked referring to the old folk song they sang in a talent show for a local orphanage when they were in school. "Matt finally got a job and can't take Declan, so he gave up his time except for when his Mom can take him. I don't like all of the shuffling with him. "Am I being too forward, or presumptuous?" Jared asked knowing he had been busted. "No Jared, I've looked at the phone every night since I last saw you asking it why it wouldn't ring with you at the other end. My little Declan heard me say "Ring Goddamit ring." so many times one night he got up from bed and asked me why I was mad at the phone." Neither of them spoke for a moment letting their words sink into to each other. "Jarry, I think I love you all over again. I'm sorry for saying that up front, but I have to be honest. There haven't been many days since you left for college that I haven't loved you, to tell you the truth." She said breaking the silence. Her words brought more silence from his end until he stuttered, "I ... I ... don't know how to even answer that because I moved on once I was with Barbie. I can honestly say that seeing you last month assured me that you were never out of the core of my mind. It was as if I had been waiting for you all of this time." He said uncomfortably as he said aloud what he had been afraid to admit to himself. "But there is something we have to talk about before we even begin to think of starting a serious relationship. That's the most important man in my life, Declan. If we start up again you have to know he comes first and you have to accept that, and accept him. I've talked to him as best I can about Mommy getting a new boyfriend someday, maybe even a new husband. He knows whoever that is won't be a new Daddy, but will act like one sometimes. I know that sounds like a tall order to swallow but... " She laid out to him before he stopped her. "Meg, I UNDERSTAND all of that. I've went to sleep the last few nights thinking about all of those things because of what I did today. I broke off cleanly from Barbie. It was amicable and we both understood everything about how we ended, why we ended. I couldn't toy with your feelings or the hopes and dreams of your child with that hanging over my head. Getting into a long distance relationship is not going to be easy and with Declan involved it's not going to be as easy as asking you to join me. If this does work out though, you would come to be with me ... right?" Jared explained and asked hopefully. "Of course. I've explained to Declan, just in the past few weeks as I waited for this call, that we might move away someday and even be in a place where Daddy couldn't see him every week, where Grandma and Grandpa could come and visit." She said, her voice cracking at the last words. There was a long silence while she recomposed herself and Jared let her. "My little boy said it would be OK to move if I sang for him again and planted a garden where we could play again." She said through tears. "He knows I'm not happy." "Well, I'm getting a little emotional here myself and I have to drive about 70 miles to the airport. I'll take my GPS out of this car and put it in the rental when I get there. Expect me between 7 and 7:30. I look forward to our night whether we go out or order in." He said wanting to get on his way. "JARED, don't hang up, one more thing. Get a hotel room because you can't stay here. I don't want to have to explain that to Declan or answer the questions if he ever told his Dad or mine for that matter. We shouldn't have sex here to be sure he doesn't walk in on us. I always promise to leave my door open since his Daddy left." She said hoping she wasn't bursting any hopes he had. "I know, I know. I've thought over all of that too. Luckily, your parents know me, but it still would not be right. Listen, we KNOW the sex is good, it's other things we'll have to worry about, talk about. If we get alone while I'm there it will be great, but if not it will still be worth it just to see you." He reassured her of accepting any consequence. "OK, let me get started trying to find a sitter and you get to your plane on time. It's summer in Chicago, the high 80's today. You shouldn't have any delays. Jared, I can't WAIT to see you." She said. "Same here, bye hon." He said knowing he had just jumped off a peak where there was no going back. He had thought long and hard about this and wanted to get it in motion or resolved before the fall season but had anticipated problems with Barbie. He was happy she had made it easy. He headed back to his hotel to get his bag and checkout for the drive to the White River airstrip. ------- Chapter 13 As the small jet settled on the runway at O'Hare Jared Winslow jostled awake surprised he had slept so soundly on the plane. The close quarter of the cabin on the jet lent to a quick roll call of names and occupations for those who wanted to disclose them when they took off. He looked around the cabin of the jet trying to remember the names the others had given, but his sound sleep had robbed him of any memory of the few seconds of introductions. Once they were airborne with a full plane the pilot or co-pilot, they never said who was who, stepped back into the cabin and welcomed them and suggested the swap of names. "If y'all are traveling for reasons you don't want to disclose, or just want to be incognito, just make something up. I'll start it up by saying my name is Rex and flew for United for 20 years. Once it became obvious that our pensions might be in danger I got out and helped to start this little venture and we've grown to about 15 jets and are doing quite well. I won't be retiring any time soon, but I sleep better at night." The man from the cockpit drawled in a Texas accent. The man in the first seat looked back at the rest of his fellow passengers and said he was Paul, an artist who traveled to Chicago every week for his craft; and so it went around the plane each fellow nodding to each other. When Jared said his name there were three who knew the name and made comments. But now 7 were getting off in Chicago and the 3 left to travel onto Minneapolis all nodded or bid good evenings to the rest. Once through security and getting his bag Jared saw the Avis stand and found his car waiting at the curb. He didn't have to leave the Airport complex to see a sign for the O'Hare Marriott and he knew from his last trip that he needed to get on I-190 to get there, he only hoped they had a room. A weeknight without the Cubs or White Sox in town was rare, but one was in Detroit and the other had an off day so getting a room was easy as long as he didn't stay into the weekend. He would have to fly out on Saturday or make other arrangements. The 3 nights were costing him almost $1000 and it marked the first time he realized he made the kind of money where he could afford such extravagance, even though his conscience told him to be more frugal. He quickly panicked when he remembered his car was in White River Junction and perhaps only AirExecutive Share Jet might get him back there. He searched out the ticket he bought and got to the website and found the same hopper on a return from Denver — Minneapolis — Chicago — White River Junction and Boston late on Saturday. He bet if the artist wasn't aboard, the White River Junction was not a regular stop, obviously not the metropolis that the other cities were. But that was the beauty of the Share Jet concept, and also why it was so expensive. He stopped at the Concierge Desk and inquired about a good restaurant between there and Wilmette. After deciding on seafood he assured Jared he could get them into Nick's Fish Market after 8, even though is was usually an impossible reservation. Jared slipped him a generous tip and took the card from him with the address. Armed with his Garmin on the dash with her address programmed in Jared hoped to find Meg's house before 7:30. The tiny screen on the dash told him the trip should take 25 minutes in traffic and it was just about exact as he pulled up to the front a neat little 3 bedroom home just off a large park area of town. He sucked in a deep breath and went up to ring the bell. Before he could ring the door flew open and Meaghan stood there, just as cute and pert as he remembered, holding the hand of a shy little boy in hers. "Good evening Jared. I want you to meet my little boy, Declan. He's been so excited to meet Coach Jared I showed him on TV." She said formally. Jared extended his hand saying, "I'm so pleased to meet you Declan. Your Mom and I are old friends and she told me all about you. Would you shake hands with me?" The little boy with reddish-blond hair took his hand from his mother and looked up to Jared and extended his hand. "Glad to meet you Coach. Are you going to be my Mommy's boyfriend?" He said proudly. Jared heard laughter from beyond the doorway and saw another woman holding back her laugh. "I hope to be Declan, if it's alright with you." Jared said shaking the boys hand. "Just remember she has to be a Mommy to me too!" He said smartly. "I know that Declan, and I bet she's a good one too." Jared answered. Little Declan hugged his mothers leg and she leaned up to kiss Jared quickly as she squeezed his hand. Jared this is MJ, my neighbor. She's going to watch after Declan and make sure he gets to bed. The woman stepped forward, a smartly dressed, well groomed woman, of 50 or so. "Hi, Marie Julina Fumba, but my friends call me MJ." She said extending her hand. "Hello MJ, I assume you and Declan are friends?" "Oh yes, he's been a great neighbor to me and we've shared more than a few pots of popcorn and bowls of ice cream." She responded with a wink. "Declan honey," Meg said squatting down to look him eye to eye, "Mommy and Coach Jared are going to go out for dinner and maybe even dance a little. I promise that when you wake up tomorrow morning I'll be in my bed so you can come in and wake me up to make your breakfast. OK? I know you'll be a good boy for MJ, right?" "Have fun Mommy, but we aren't saving any popcorn for you. Goodbye Coach!" Declan said before running off towards the kitchen while MJ looked up holding back a laugh and waving the two off. "MJ, the latest we'll be is one o'clock. You know where everything is and you have my cell number if you need to call. Thanks so much for coming over on such short notice." Meg said as they strode arm in arm toward the door. "Not a problem." MJ said as she held the door for them. "My husband pulled a double for inventories and won't be home until after midnight himself." Meg and Jared walked to the car and when Jared opened the door for her she turned as she got in and threw her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply, long and lingering. "I needed that." She said breaking it. "I actually need a lot more than that, but we may have to keep our undies on tonight. I can't be late. Where did you plan for dinner?" "Nick's? Do you know where that is?" "Where are you staying? "Marriott O'Hare." "Mmmmm, that's not too far from Nick's. Maybe you WILL be able to show me your room." She said with a gleam in her eye. "Nick's is exclusive and expensive. How did you get a reservation?" She wondered. "A reservation?" He feigned before laughing after a pause to get her worried. "The concierge at the hotel has connections, as long as we're after 8." He confessed. They got to Nick's just a few minutes after 8 and had a long, wordy dinner over Hawaiian style seafood. Jared had one wine with dinner, but Meg had one before dinner, one with and after. They talked old times mostly and skipped over the years they spent apart. As the conversation began to wind down Meaghan reached across the table and took both of Jared's hands into hers. "Imagine both of us being so hard headed not to face each other then. It was all ego's and pride and how we would look to our friends. You know that don't you? I thought about it the whole day after our last ... uhh ... meeting." "A meeting, that's what it was? A meeting? I thought we made love." Jared said, kidding her. Meaghan looked both ways as if to see who might be listening. "Well, to be frank, the last time you fucked me silly I spent the day in orgasm hangover wondering HOW I could have ever let you go in the first place. I loved you soooo much, and I don't doubt you felt the same way. We both felt betrayed. And now something like 15 years later we pick up and it seems nothing has changed. It was 6 years after we broke up when I got married and when you came alone with the guys from school I figured you didn't want to flaunt your pretty girlfriend. But once I saw you that day I wished I was marrying you. I led 2 lives with Matt, one loving him, and one wishing he were you. I guess I shouldn't fault him for living 2 lives, one with me, and one lying and deceiving me." She looked nervously at her watch. "Can we go to your hotel and be alone, I really need you!" She said almost desperately. "Are you sure it's not loneliness and the wine talking?" Jared asked to be sure she wasn't a little tipsy. She looked both ways again as before and whispered. " My panties are soaking wet and I'd get under the table and suck you right here if you wanted me too. Please, we can park in the back of the car if you want. We have so much time to make up and so much life to catch up to." "Calm down honey. We don't have to catch up. We simply got off the train at different stations and now we're both getting back on the same train at the same station. I'm not saying I don't want you right now, we just don't have to rut in the back seat. We can go to my room, but we have to leave at 11 to get home without any questions. OK? We have a couple days to spend together, ... me, you and Declan." He said calmly. "Oh God, you know MJ wanted to take Declan to Six Flags Hurricane Harbor with her grandchildren on Friday and I had said no without telling Declan because I didn't want her paying and I was a little short. But I suppose I could swing it to be alone with you." Meg said smiling. "I'll give you the money if you want to send him, or he can stay with us. We'll have fun." "Not THAT kind of fun, but I can't take your money." "Don't start this Meaghan. You're a school teacher on summer salary, I'm damn near a millionaire football coach. Money is not an issue. If everything works out between us you'll have all the money you'll need to raise him." He snapped back. "What do you me "if" it works out, what doubts do you have?" "Well, none in general, but we were apart for over 10 years. People change, ... well ... uh ... they CAN change. The only difference I see in you is your total dedication to your son, and I would have expected that. When we were "the thing" and I thought I would marry you I envisioned children and what a great Mom you would be." Meaghan sobered to the thought that her Cinderella dream might have an evil step-sister in it. "I thought we were just getting back on the same train." She said referring back to his earlier analogy. "Honey, there's baggage we have to bring with us. Don't you think we should go through the baggage? You wouldn't want to be out there a third time if we ran into a problem would you? He reasoned. "No. God no. It's been torture for the year and if I didn't keep the prospect of you in the back of my mind I would have had no hope. Do you have doubts, or questions about us?" She asked. "I think I would like to have my own children, at least one, maybe two. What are your feelings about that?" He asked hopefully. "I never thought I would do that again, but I would have YOUR baby, for sure. TWO? Well, maybe not. I don't think I want to be pregnant past 40, and I still remember my mother telling me that twins ran in our family. I felt I dodged that when I had Declan." She admitted. "So there, we have one thing to consider. But don't get me wrong, in my mind I've pictured and planned out a long way with us together. I really WANT us to work out. So, how about that little side trip to my room, still game?" He asked leaning into whisper the last few words. He felt her foot travel up the inside of his leg for an answer as they smiled at each other and stood. Jared paid the check summoned the valet for his car. "It's 9:30 and about 20 minutes to the hotel, leaving us an hour alone before we should head back to your house. Do you think we can find anything to do for an hour?" He asked as the car was pulling up. Meaghan just smiled and winked at him as the valet opened the door for her. The quick ride to the hotel was quiet except for the voice on Jared's Garmin GPS giving him directions. When they pulled to the hotels front apron a bellman approached and Jared got out showing his room ID. "We'll be back down in a short while, an hour at most. We have to change and freshen up for a show across town, so keep the car handy. We won't want to wait when we come down." Jared said as he passed him a folded bill and took the car chit. The young man who had come to open Meg's door fixed his eyes on Jared and knew he recognized him as celebrity from ESPN, but he couldn't place who he was. The recognition did get Jared and Meg a bit of extra VIP treatment though. As they strode through the lobby to the elevators Meg held Jared's arm tightly speaking softly with a giggle. "I never made an entrance with a sports star before. I hope I don't end up on the gossip pages tomorrow." Jared just squeezed her hand as the door to the elevator opened and they stepped in alone. As soon as the door closed she fell into his arms and turned her face up to his to kiss him. He met her lips with a deep kiss that broke only when the unit chimed, reaching their floor. They stepped out and Meg let Jared lead them to the door of the room where he slid his pass-card into the lock and it opened. Meg looked around the room, illuminated only by the muted TV, as Jared had left it, and was going to turn to say something to her old beau when he swept her off her feet and walked her to the bed while she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Jared you're so silly and romant... " She started to say in a startled tone before he sat on the bed and put his lips over hers and settled back onto the bed with her on top of him. The long tonguey kiss continued as he ran his hands over her back and over the waist of her sexy skirt to the roundness of her delicious little ass. He fondled and caressed the globes while she swooned into his mouth before breaking the kiss, kneeling beside him. "Let me get this top off, my nipples are like rocks and need to be touched." She said breathlessly as she struggled to undo the buttons at the back of her neck. "Well," He said scrambling to get behind her, "I'll have to do that while I'm fucking you kneeling in front of me, I just HAVE to get inside of you." Her blouse was going over her head as he tried to shinny her skirt up and fumble with his zipper. The blouse now off, she leaned forward on her elbows as her skirt exposed the round cheeks of her ass. He was surprised she had worn no panties, but it didn't mean he was unhappy about it as he undid his belt to accommodate getting his hard cock out of his pants. With two loud pleasure and relief sighs he was balls deep inside her hairless little pussy that he swore felt as snug as prom night many years before. "Ohmigod, Ohmigod! FUCK ME!" She grunted as Jared pounded her little puss. He made no attempt to make this a long and drawn out love making session as he blurted out "Do you want my cum inside you?", to which she answered "Yes, yes please!" Somewhere in their conversation of the evening she had made note that she had just finished her period, glad he hadn't called a few days before. That, coupled with the patch he felt on her hip as he pounded her, left him confidant they were safe. He hunched over her and reached around to hold her achy nipples that tipped the breasts that hung free from the brassiere she still had on, but was opened at the front. As he rolled her hard nubs and thrust into her she began to loudly orgasm, arching her back to steel herself for the spasm she craved. As he heard her muffled squeal from deep in her throat signal her relief he felt the urge in his loins as he clasped her breast tightly and heard his abdomen slap her pretty bottom. "God, I'm gonna cum already, you're so fucking hot!" He exclaimed as he grunted and strained as his balls began to stir up his load. Jared growled loudly as he began to shoot into her pussy and her mewlings made it even more intense as he pumped at her and then slowed to 3 distinctive hard slippery thrusts into her, holding the last one as he squeezed the last drops from his load. She pushed her knees out to get flat on the bed causing Jared to fall beside her as he slipped from her wet and sloppy hairless slice. They each breathed deeply just moments after their heavy huff and puff, punctuated by occasional lap of the surf from their tidal wave of pleasure. Once they caught their breath she spoke in a giggle. "Déjà vu? "Awards night?" He laughed. "Exactly!" She said mischievously as she turned her head to smile and wink before shifting to kiss his cheek. Awards night was something Central Vermont High School did to shorten the graduation ceremony. It was usually a few days before the big event and brought senior parents and interested underclassmen to the school to hear the honors and scholarships earned. Seniors picked up their cap and gown and gave families ample time to take graduation photos before the big day making it less hectic. Many families planned late dinners out to celebrate after the ceremonies and Jared and Meaghan's were no exception. The two families extended to about 25 with relatives and friends and planned to meet at a large Chinese buffet restaurant where arrangements had been made to accommodate them. The time was set for 9 o'clock and when Meg and Jared left the ceremonies they had 27 minutes to get there. Not far from the school they pulled into a rest area that served as a lovers lane. Meg was already cuddled up to him stroking his penis through his pants when they pulled in. He smiled at her and opened his door and she, as if on cue, hopped into the back seat. She was beginning to undo her skirt when he told her to "get your butt in the air" as he undid his belt. That night they had their first quickie and it had transpired almost exactly like tonight's. "I'm leaking all over your bed." She said with a chuckle. "Don't worry, so am I" He laughed as he forced himself up to go get a towel. He wiped the bed with one and had another damp one to wipe her sex. He got in close as she opened her legs to let him get the mess. He switched ends of the towel to clean her and bent to kiss her hood and clit nuzzling his tongue in the special spot. "OH NO JARED!" She said startled as her hand flew down between his mouth and her pussy. "My little button is glowing in the dark, it's so sensitive. Besides, you're stealing my idea." "What's that?" He said rolling back to his knees on the bed. She stuck out her lip in a pout and looked at him slyly but shyly. "I still want to have you in my mouth. I know it's a silly fantasy but how do we fall in love again if we don't fulfill each others fantasies." "Isn't that what you did on Awards Night, I mean after the back seat?" He asked. "Uh huh, it was. Do you think you're up to it? I want to tell you the same thing I told you that night, but this time promise not to be mad." She said as she slid off the bed and knelt on the floor, pulling his leg over her head so she was between his legs as he sat up. "Why would I be mad?" "Because you'll say we're going to fast, or at least I am." "What?" He asked as she took his softened dick in her hand and wrapped her thumb and index finger around the head in one hand, and put her other finger to her mouth to bring wetness to the head so she could slide her fingers over the head. "Jared, I'm not falling in love with you again, I HAVE fallen in love with you again. I would pack the car and drive to Vermont tonight if you asked me to move in with you. I'm that sure. I picture us together, you working at the school and me with a teaching job close-by or something. I don't see how we could fail." She said paying closer attention to what was happening in her hand. "How do you know I haven't CHANGED." He said as her mouth went around the head. "You still taste the same with my pussy on it." She said smartly popping her head up and then going back down on him. "How about the things besides sex, and you really are making things happen down there." He said as she was proving she hadn't lost any of her skills. He began to get stiff once again to where she could stroke while she talked. "Do you think our goals in life have really changed? I know we want the same things for each other and we knew we were perfect for each other then." She said before returning to her mission. "I love you too in a special way and want to show you that, and to myself, we made a big mistake. But aren't you afraid at all? ... WAIT ... don't answer that yet. Keep doing what you're doing." He said surrendering his sexual will to her sexual skill. She used just her mouth on his cock while her hands busied themselves massaging his balls, rubbing the skin between his sack and his legs and underneath. When he looked down to her, her eyes were glued to him occasionally rolling back in her head as she swallowed excess spittle. "You're going to make me cum for you Meaghan, you sexy shit!" He called out only to make her intensify her work. With her eyes glued to his as her mouth went up and down on him one hand crept up and began to do a circular throttle around the base of his dick. She heard him grunt and hiss as he raised himself up a bit, cumming in her mouth. "Mmmmmmt! Htttt! Oh baby, your mouth is ... Arggggg!" He muttered mindlessly as he sensitive cock head was being lathered and doodled by her tongue as she coaxed his second load out. Finally he could take no more and pulled back on to the bed to ease the pleasure-pain she was inflicting. She sat back on her haunches and looked at him with an obvious mouthful of cum and spittle, but also a big smile on her face. She reached for the towel he had used to wipe her pussy clean and spit the contents of her sweet mouth into it, wiping her lips and finding a dry corner to wipe her tongue. "Oh, that was better than my fantasy!" She said giggling and hugging up to his leg resting her head on the top of his thigh, watching his penis go to an "at ease" position. She blew on it lightly and then stroked his balls lightly. "Your sex is so handsome and delicious. It makes me happier than... " She started to say and then stopped mid-thought. "You're not mad I didn't swallow it, are you?" "No, why would I be mad?" "Matt always insisted and... " She started and stopped a second thought. "Let's not compare to him. You're looking for ways to justify taking his child from here if you come to be with me. He made his bed and what happens with us is made possible by his stupidity. Don't try to justify what he thinks will be unfair. First, it hasn't happened and secondly, he never considered your pain. I saw your mind go away the first time you thought about leaving. Let's do a day at a time. Now lets drop it. You were asking me if I cared if you swallowed my cum or not. No, I don't. You couldn't make me happier." He said all the while preening her hair. "It's just, ... ummm ... I don't mind, it tastes kind of sexy, but on top of a good dinner it ruins that feeling. I don't know why it makes a difference to ... some guys." She said hesitating and being sure she didn't drop Matt's name again. "He never hurt you did he, I mean physically?" Jared asked suspiciously. "No, not really." She said evasively. "Meaghan?" He asked knowing there was more. She was staring blankly at Jared's cock, but probably more the space behind it as he hadn't moved her head from it's resting place on top of his thigh. She wanted to tell him something she had never told anyone. "You know he played with me mentally, but he did things that were weird, or going to lead to other things. If a time came when I did what I did tonight, spitting into a towel, he would hold me mouth closed with his hands until I swallowed. If he got mad, he would slap my bare boobs, hard enough to bruise them, making me feel guilty for some silly thing he thought I did to hurt him." She said still in a blank stare. "He wouldn't hurt Declan?" "No, he did those things to me for manipulation purposes to help cover his lying and deception. When I tossed his ass out and he knew that I knew every lie he told me he was embarrassed. When I told the judge everything he did, he contested little. His terrible life was mirrored right in front of him. He changed in a lot of ways, but it was too late. Enough about him." She said finally breaking her trance. She took the shrunken tired penis in front of her and kissed the tip. "Let's go, we've used up our hour. I hope you haven't lost any respect for me for putting up with what I told you." She said as she stood and began to straighten her bra to re-snap, and readjust her panties. Jared took her in his arms saying "Lose respect? Not at all. Sometimes we make errors of omission or commission to protect things we love at the expense of pride and ego. You allowed bad things to happen to you for reasons you only parsed positively. If anything I love you more, but any chance of me getting along with Matt are dashed. Don't you ever think that he's paid enough for what he did to you and your life. Forgiveness is not an option. He would take that and use it like he used your love in the past." "I know that and beat myself up every time I feel bad for him. I love you so much!" She said almost jumping in his arms "Come on, it's just a few minutes after eleven. We should get going." He told her as he finished dressing and she found a mirror to check her look. They held hands tightly and gave each other googie eyes on the way down the elevator and out through the lobby. The bellman outside saw him coming and gave a two finger salute to him and ran off to get his car. In a few minutes they were off to the Chicago suburb to get Meg home. Little was said most of the way as they just exchanged glances and smiles. As they got into the residential area close by Meaghan broke the ice. "MJ is just going to know I got laid tonight. She kidded me about it when I asked her to sit and I swore we wouldn't have the time or opportunity. She's been trying to fix me up with guys ever since Matt and I split up. A few nice guys, but no one I was really interested in. I came close to sleeping with one, but he had the biggest thing I ever saw and wouldn't let him near me after some heavy petting. She and her husband prance around the back yard in their pool in the skimpiest bathing suits, anytime I would go over we always talked about sex, it seemed. She seems like a reserved little housewife, but your should see the body on her when she shows it. Once when they thought I fell asleep reading by the pool she gave her husband a blowjob right in the pool. So they always kept my juices flowing and thinking of you. Right now, I can barely think of the time we spent apart, that's how normal I feel with you Jared. I hope that doesn't scare you." "No, not at all because I know we'll be apart for a while again and the ache will tell the tale of our feelings. I'm going to be traveling a lot this summer and even if you moved in with me tomorrow we would be apart a lot. I think by the time I leave on Saturday we'll have a clearer idea on a lot of things." Jared said. "Will you come over tomorrow for breakfast? I'll make you whatever you want to eat." She said hinting at a sexy tone. "WHAT ever I want?" He said with a leer. "We are both so bad! I walked you right into that one. We can't get too familiar with Declan around quite yet. Let him get to know you and be comfortable with you. He knows we were prom dates in high school. He understands a little of that stuff from his little friends sister." She explained. "We'll find something to do, the 3 of us tomorrow, unless you have any plans. God, I hope he's a little interested in football." Jared mused aloud. "Yes, in Chicago kids get football, baseball and basketball fever. It must be the water." Meg said as they pulled up to her house. She went to open her door and he took her hand. "Hey, I don't think I'll be able to properly kiss you good night inside." He said as he moved his lips to hers and she surrendered easily. It was a long tonguey kiss with is hand going under her butt for a squeeze to which she responded with a pat to his package. "We'll have some fun this week, I promise." She said breaking the kiss and opening her door. They went arm and arm into the house where MJ was just watching the opening of David Letterman. "Wow, back so soon? I thought the two of you would have a LOT to catch up on!" She asked. "We had a nice talk over dinner and I showed him Lake Shore Drive at night with all the lights. We have a few days for catching up." Meg said casually. "Well, anytime you need me, I should be around. My husband is working mid-shifts, 3 to midnights until Monday, but it's all double time so I can live with it. Good night. Nice meeting you Jared." MJ said as she made her way to the door. The door no more slammed shut when Meg heard a little voice from the back room. "Mommy, come kiss me goodnight." Came the sleepy cry from Declan. "I'll be right there honey. Let me let Coach Jared out." She said loud enough for him to hear. "Goodnight my love. What time will you be by for breakfast?" She asked turning to Jared. "What's good, 9?" "Nine is great. I'll see you then." She said with a kiss and whispered "I love you." Jared went to the car and drove confidant he knew the way back to the hotel. He felt self-satisfied he had made the right decision in coming to Chicago and pursuing this relationship. However, he still was taking it a day at a time. ------- Chapter 14 Jared was a usual early riser and was surprised when he woke and it was just after 8 o'clock. He made quick work of shaving and showering and just as he was getting out he heard the room phone ringing. "Hello?" "Coach Winslow, it's Elmer Hollins, Boge's father. I work some nights at O'Hare and saw you come in last night and thought you might looking to see Boge. I called him this morning and he said he never heard from you and I was wondering if you had a hard time getting in touch with him." Jared chuckled before he apologized, "I'm sorry, I know I said I would see Boge over the summer, but actually I'm on a pleasure trip to meet a friend. However, as long as you called, how is he doing? Are his troubles behind him?" "Well, I'll cross my fingers, but so far he is a changed man, and I do mean man. Suddenly he has taken a lot more responsibility for himself isn't so much of a rebel. He wanted to do something over the summer to keep himself busy and out of trouble so he's helping run football camps for kids through The Boys Club. Dexter Tanksley, the old Bears star, runs the day camps and has taken my boy under his wing." Elmer explained. "That's great! I should look him up while I'm here just to see him work. Where are the camps held?" Jared said suddenly excited that one of his summer worries may have flipped into the sure thing column. "They do them in a few locations, but right now they're at Crawford-Wilmette Consolidated School. It's on Crawford Ave between Wilmette and the Glenview suburbs." Elmer told him. "I'll be in the Wilmette area with someone from there so I should be able to find it. If I have a problem I'll call you back. Don't tell him I'm coming, I'd rather just walk on and watch for a few minutes before he knows I'm there." Jared asked before saying goodbye and finishing getting ready to leave. Having missed the bulk of the early traffic he got to the Wilmette area and Meaghan's house with no problems and pulled up in front a few minutes after nine to see Declan waiting and watching at the screen door. "Hi Coach, are coming to take my Mommy to another Prom?" Young Declan asked innocently. "No, I'm coming to meet you and maybe have the 3 of us do something fun together. Would you like that?" Jared said as he let himself in. Meaghan came out of the kitchen as she heard the voices. "Oh my God, what is Declan asking you?" "He wants to know if we were going to another Prom." Jared said with an embarrassed smile. "Breakfast is on the table. Declan you come sit next to Mommy while I explain to you what we did last night." She said while winking at Jared. "Coach Jared took Mommy to a nice restaurant last night and then we went for a ride along the lake so I could show him the lights of the city." Meg explained. "I thought you were going to a Prom?" "No I told you that Coach took me to MY Prom when I was in school like your friend Benjamin's sister." She told Declan and then looked up to Jared, saying "Benjamin told Declan about the limo coming and the photographer coming in to take pictures and all the fancy clothes. I told him we went to OUR prom a long time ago." "Mommy doesn't like my Daddy anymore, that's why she can go to Proms with you." The somewhat confused boy said cutely. Meaghan flushed with embarrassment. "Declan honey, we went on a date. Coach is a special friend who means a whole lot to me that I know a long time ago. Sometimes Mommies and Daddies have things happen that makes them sad and they start living in different houses, but your Daddy will always love you and take care of you, just like I will. But Mommy wants to be happy and have a special friend to." Declan looked down at his pancakes, then at Coach and then back to his mother. "Do you kiss?" He asked, prompting smiles and giggles from each of them. "Yes, we kiss. I like Coach very much and he likes me. That's why he wants to get to know you. If someone likes me, they have to like you too." She said trying to measure her words. "Unless your Mom has special plans, how would you like to go see some football players practice for a little while?" Jared asked. "Real players!! Sure! Will there be hot dogs and soda?" "No, it won't be a game, it will be players showing boys how to play. You'll see, umm ... if it's OK." He said looking to Meaghan with a questioned look. "Exactly WHERE are these players?" She asked. Jared went about explaining to her about Elmer Hollins phone call and the location of the school. Like he had figured, it was close by and she knew exactly how to get here. As they ate breakfast Jared saw that Declan was a well balanced, well behaved, inquisitive youngster. When he got an answer to a question you could see him process the information and ask his next question. He didn't seem whiney and always obeyed his Mom and accepted the situation between his Mom and Dad. He was very protective of his mother and saw himself as man of the mouse, probably something drilled into him by his father and grandparents. When his mother told him that Jared and she were prom dates to give him a point of reference to their relationship he quickly associated it with his friend Benjamin's sister who had probably obsessed over her first prom, as young girls do, leaving an impression on her little brother and his friend. He didn't fear losing a monopoly on his mother to another man because even as he prepared for 1st grade, he was aware of his Mom's loneliness. It was apparent that Meaghan knew her little boy would have to grow up fast in some ways and held little back in explanations of situations. She had done a good job in putting things in a perspective for such an innocent to understand. But, despite Meaghan's claims that Matt was "a great father" Jared was beginning to have his doubts when he saw how quickly the boy was taking to him and Declan's lack of referral to what should have been the strong male figure in his life. He was more than open to accept "Coach Jared" as his mothers mate. "Declan, have you ever heard of Boge Hollins?" Jared asked. "Sure, he's a football player and my Mom even taught him in school." Declan answered smartly. "Did you know he's going to go to MY college and play for my team next year?" Jared asked. "Really? Are you a teacher too?" "No, I'm the football coach, I just teach how to play football. But today we're going to go over to see Boge Hollins and watch him teach some young boys, just like you, how to play fair and play football right. Does that sound good?" He explained. "Can we go Mom?" He asked her with a big questioning smile on his face. "Yes, we'll all go and then we can show Coach Jared some things in Chicago and have fun, the 3 of us, OK?" She assented. Soon they were, all three, in Jared's rental car headed for Crawford-Wilmette Consolidated School. Meg couldn't help but look adoringly at Jared for almost all the short trip. Each time he looked to her he could see the effect he was having on her, and he felt much the same way. The eye contact was not lost on Declan who couldn't help but smile to see his Mom so happy. As they pulled into the small parking lot for the school they saw a group of 40 or so boys and men gathered on a striped and pylon lined field set up for football. As they walked closer it was apparent that the boys were split into two groups with men in blue Boys Club football jerseys heading up each. They each had a few assistants in white tee shirts and 15 or young boys in red tee shirts, shoulder pads and helmets. They were doing light contact drills to show the boys the basics of the game, how to tackle and be tackled. As they got closer to Boge's group they heard him instructing the little players. "While you think of football as a rough sport, many of you think that to tackle someone is to hurt them. You're NOT trying to hurt them, that's why we wear equipment. No one wants to go home from a game with an injury. When a play starts and you are playing defense you want to locate the player with the ball and stop them. Others are trying to prevent you from reaching that player. What's something we DON'T do when trying to reach the ball?" "Blindside!" A few of the youngsters yelled. "Right!" Boge agreed "Because that would be trying to hurt someone. There are rules about using your hands on offense and defense, and we always obey the rules. What is the first thing we have to remember about football?" "It's a game, and games are fun!" Many of them yelled in unison. "OK," Boge said laughing and pointing to an assistant, "Give me a 4 man line offense and a 4 man defense and a runner." While young boys jumped up and down with hands raised two white shirted assistants tapped boys on the head and sent them to Boge who lined them up opposite each other and took the runner aside. One assistant squat down and explained to the boys how the offensive line was supposed to open the hole for the runner. In minutes they ran the practice play with Boge taking an air snap and handing off to his runner while assistants ran substitutes in and out so each could experience contact. All the while on the other side of the field Dexter Tanksley was doing much the same with his group. Tanksley was older, perhaps 38 or so, a talented back with good hands who had to retire after just 8 seasons because of a series of concussions. His injuries kept him from national superstar status, but Bears fans knew he was something special and when he was right, the league knew him as a great offensive player. While keeping a distance Jared Winslow was glad to see Boge so happy, laughing and showing the kids the fun and basics of the game while enjoying their innocence. As the small group took a breather Boge turned and saw the three people who had been watching and quickly realized who he saw. "COACH WINSLOW!" He shouted as he ran to Jared and hugged him. "Oh man, I didn't know you were coming this week." He bubbled. "Boge, it's not an official visit, I'm in Chicago to visit a special friend, whom I think you know." Jared said as he turned to Meg. "Uhh, ... oh my God, Miss MacDonald! My English teacher when I was living at Grandma's. How are you? I have to thank you for getting me interested in reading again. I passed along those books you gave me and they are making the rounds." Boge said as Meg blushed and took Boge's hand and shook it. Then Boge looked down to the starry eyed little Declan. "And who is this young football star?" "This is Declan, Meaghan's, Miss MacDonald's, son." Jared said as Declan extended his hand to shake as well. Jared Winslow could hardly believe the transformation of Boge Hollins before him. It was a young man who had taken an inventory of his life to find what he really had and what he really needed. The attitude and rule of the street had given way to common sense and his need to succeed. One small thing that made Winslow proud was that Boge was wearing a NEAT baseball style bench cap. Coach was sure they hadn't been sent out, so Boge had made an effort to seek out the bookstore on-line to buy it and show-off his new colors. "Boge, I'll let you get back to your work here. I just wanted you to know I was interested in what you were doing after I talked to your Dad. I'll be back and make arrangements ahead of time to meet with you and your family to prepare you for coming to University, maybe even get out for a catch. I'll be in touch." Coach told him before parting with another hug and handshake. They watched for a few more minutes and then walked back to the car to resume their day together. Jared and Meg talked about the problems Boge had overcome and that filled little Declan's head with questions, mostly about football and college. While Declan watched the sights go by and asked questions, in the front seat Jared and Meaghan made suggestive eyes at each other, smiling as they read each others thoughts. A sign they had seen 3 times advertising a "Cruise on the Great Lake" piqued Jared's interest and Meg told him they had never done that if he would like to, exciting Declan. The rest of the day was spent on the hour cruise on Lake Michigan and then late lunch at the Sears Tower followed by a trip to the top. Meg and her son had never done most of the sight-seeing that tourists do, so it ended up a special day for everyone. When they got back to the house Declan was ready for a nap after falling asleep in the car on the way back. Meaghan had to promise him that they wouldn't go anywhere while he slept and would be there when he woke up. Jared sat at the kitchen table while Meg made coffee, he watching her intently. "Do you know that watching you make coffee from this angle is enough to drive any man crazy, watching your hips and little ass swish and bend getting the coffee, filters and water?" He asked. "Oh really?" She asked turning to give him a wicked smile. "While you stood at the rail on the ship with Declan and at the Tower I had to look at yours as well. Are your thoughts as naughty as mine?" "Depends." He answered coyly, "What are yours?" "I'm sure yours have something to do with me bent over and you deciding which hole you want to slide your cock into. Mine have something to do with filling my hands with your cute ass while I fill my mouth with something else." She said looking back to get his reaction. "The trouble is, your fantasy can't be accomplished with Declan in the house, mine is a possibility. Later on after he goes to bed we can be in the TV room downstairs to get my kind of privacy. What you might want to do will make me get very loud." "How did you accomplish that when you were married?" He wondered. "We could close the door and lock it. Now I've promised him my door will always be open at night if he gets scared. Well, I shouldn't say "scared", it's the little insecurity of his Dad not being here, and I'm not so sure he really sees his Dad that much when he gets him for the weekend. Matt working 5 days a week and then staying home with Declan is a little more than I can imagine. Last weekend Declan spilled the beans that he was really at Matt's parents house both Friday and Saturday nights." She told him. "He's got money in his pockets now?" Jared surmised. "That's what I figure, maybe that's unfair but he's always on time with his support check. He tried to make me feel guilty when he told me that his parents paid it some times when he wasn't working. He hid his gambling and things so well from me I wonder what else went on that I didn't know about." She said regrettably. "Declan comes back safe and seemingly well adjusted?" "Oh yes! He gives his Daddy a big hug at the curb and comes in with his little bag. His clothes are clean and everything he wore the day before is washed and folded in the bag and more often than not he has a story about something special they did together. The courts have CPS do surprise inspections at his house and mine and he's always been perfect. So at least I have to say he's a good Dad." She said as she prepared cups for the coffee. "Is MJ his only sitter?" "Besides his grandparents, yes, but I never call Matt's parents, even in a pinch, but I could. My Mom and Dad have a time share on Lake Michigan since we moved out here. They bought in for 8 weeks a year for 5 years. Then they have an option to buy or opt out. They love to fish and still have the nice boat. They trek the boat out here from Vermont twice a year and they have Declan a lot then, but I'm usually with him too." "They bought that and bought you this house?" Jared asked, sort of stunned. "They want to spend a lot of time with their grandson and this house and the equity in it was their gift to us after the divorce. They wanted us to come back to Vermont with them but at first I insisted he be near his father. Now I'm daydreaming of a life with you in Vermont and... " She started to say, but tailed off. "Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. No matter what we do his welfare has to be figured in and I wouldn't take him away from his father if I were you. A boy needs a Mom and a Dad." Jared said not wanting it to seem like cold feet, but just what might be right. "You couldn't act as his Dad?" Meg wondered aloud, wishing she hadn't. "Meaghan! No matter how you feel about Matt, he's still the boys Dad and he loves him. You can't just pull a switch and hope he won't notice. Let's just drop all this talk until we know what we want." Jared insisted as she brought the coffee to the table and then turned and sat on his lap. "I know what I want, at least right now." She said as she nuzzled her bottom into his lap. "Meggy, don't tease me like that after you say we can't do it here." Jared scolded her. "Wow, MEGGY! No one has called me that except you since I was 10. That was your pet name for me in high school, ... and we may not be able to do the nasty, but I could sure make you happy downstairs and be able to cover if he ever walked in." She cooed putting her mouth close to his ear. "Wouldn't THAT be like high school?" He asked. "It would, but it's not what makes it exciting. Your cock in my mouth makes it exciting. Don't you remember some of the crazy things we did? How about that freezing football game when we had the blanket over us and I sat on your lap? I had cramps from you being in me so long." She whispered giggling. "Was that love or lust?" He asked semi-seriously. "Is that what you're worried about? We're in love with having sex, not each other? Weren't we something special before? Was it just sex?" She asked pulling back and looking him in the eye. "I'm worried that we moved on so easily, or at least it seemed that way." Jared said quietly. "EASILY? On my wedding night I enjoyed the sex, but I distinctly remember wishing it were you. I loved Matt, but I loved you more then and I do now. I settled and part of it was if I had enough sex I wouldn't care if it wasn't you. Tell me you never thought of me afterwards." Meg loudly defended and challenged him. "The truth," He said with a sly grin, "I jerked off every night for a year thinking of you. I had that nude Polaroid of you that I didn't throw away until I proposed to Barbie." Meaghan stood up and went to her cupboard and took out a cookbook, "Crock Pot Cooking for Singles". She flipped to the back where there was a pouch to add recipes of your own. She fished out a couple recipe cards and among them she pulled out a Polaroid of her own. There was a naked Jared, holding his penis in his hand, fully erect, as if it were a weapon. "You threw yours out? I kept mine, but I had to hide it so it wouldn't turn up. I don't even have a crock pot, but this recipe book came to bed with me a lot of nights, especially in the last couple weeks." She admitted. "God, that's not even a sexy picture, it looks like a frat house picture." He said. "But it was all I had. Hmmm, maybe we should go 24 hours without sex and see if we still like each other." She said with a tease in her tone. "Meaghan, I KNOW I love you and I know you love me. I have no doubts there. But, don't you worry we've changed a little? I mean I know I can share you with Declan, but I also think he should have his father in his life. Wouldn't it be selfish for me to ask you to move out with me and take that away from him?" He asked, obviously having thought about the prospect before. "Can I at least propose that to Matt and see what his reaction is? I won't say I'm going out to be with you. I'll just say I'm thinking of moving home. It'll be a trial balloon." She asked hopefully. "Do that if you want, but wait until I leave so he won't get suspicious. I know Declan will probably tell him I was around anyway..." "But, New England Ag isn't home, that's damn near Canada. When I say home he's going to figure around Rutland someplace, near Mom and Dad. Come on Jared humor me a little. IF I should move, either home OR to be with you I still have to sell this, find a job and all that. It won't be tomorrow." She emphasized. "OK, OK, OK, go ahead and do that, but don't get all hyped up. He may take legal action to keep you around here and that wouldn't be unreasonable. Just don't get your hopes up that this would be easy ... and think of your son." He warned her. As his words came from his mouth they heard a little voice from the back room. "Declan! Mommy is in the kitchen!" She hollered and then turned to whisper in his ear. "See, you missed your blowjob." She said as she stood and got into her own chair. Declan came into the room sleepy eyed after his hour nap and cuddled up with his mother. "Are you staying home tonight? I miss all the fun." He asked. "You didn't miss any kid fun last night. We sat in a restaurant for 2 hours and talked. We'll stay home tonight and do what ever you want." His Mommy promised. "Can we get pizza and wings and play Nintendo?" He asked bouncing up and looking at both of them. Jared laughed out loud and nodded to Meaghan. "Yes we can! Now why don't you go watch a little TV while we figure out what to get." Meaghan said with a little pat to his bottom and he ran to the stairs to go down to the TV room. "I think for his good, and maybe ours that he should be awake when I leave tonight. Just to make sure he doesn't think there are any secret goings on." Jared suggested. Meg exhaled deeply and agreed and turned to look out the sliding door to the back deck as she heard her name called, it was MJ. "Meg, my daughters husband is going to be off tomorrow so all three of us are taking the 2 kids, if Declan comes he won't be a burden at all. Besides he has a ball with Madison and Christopher." She called over the fence. Meg looked at Jared and Jared nodded as he got up and took Meaghan's hand to walk out to the fence. Jared went to his wallet as they walked and took out a crisp 50 and 100 dollar bill. "Only if you let me pay for him." Jared whispered looking at Meg who already knew it would be fruitless to sway him. "MJ, are you SURE it won't be too much of a burden?" Meg asked. "Don't be silly, Declan always minds and he can be my date." She answered before reluctantly taking the money as they worked out the details. In the middle of it all Declan came up to see what the commotion was and hooted and hollered when he learned he was going to the Six Flags. The excitement for the next day made the evening go by fast. Their pizza and wings arrived as Jared surprised Declan with his knowledge of Nintendo and some of the games he had. At one point when Declan had to go to the bathroom Meg leaned into Jared and cooed into his ear. "Promise to screw me silly all day long tomorrow?" "Would that make you happy?" "It would make me delirious. We can be in the shower together 5 minutes after they leave. How does that sound?" She asked. Before he could answer Declan came back into the room. "Are you two going to smooch all day tomorrow?" Declan asked perceptively. "We can smooch right now." Jared said pulling the boys mother close. "Eoooow! No! Mommy said you might have to do some football stuff one day, so are you bringing Mommy?" He asked innocently. "Yup, that's exactly what I'm going to do." He answered with a smile. Their evening ended quietly with Jared saying goodbye to Meaghan and the yawning Declan a little after nine. He looked forward to his day with Meaghan as much as Declan did the Six Flags park. Although he had been intimate with her within the last day or so, he hadn't seen her undressed in the full light of day for many years. He yearned to see her lithe little body with her slightly plump bottom and full womanly breasts to hold against him, to tease, taste and satisfy. He was falling back in love in a steep spiral with the first love of his life and was waiting for the rub that would put a negative perspective on it all. The fact he didn't want to remove Declan from his father meant that he might have to commute to Chicago every week when he was recruiting and during the season. He wondered if he could arrange for a closer pick-up point for AirExecutive. These things tossed over and over in his mind, but the anticipation of making love to his old found love the next day, with no bounds, had him sleeping and dreaming in no time. ------- Chapter 15 Mommy, are you going to be here when I get home?" Declan asked as his mother finished double tying his sneakers and gave him final behavior orders. "Of course. Even if Coach Jared has to do any football stuff, I'll be sure he's back here too." She assured him. Jared stood back and watched Meg the Mom and was pleased she had become so adept with the boy, reminding him of his own Mom when he was small. MJ, who was there to pick up her "date" leaned to whisper in Meaghan's ear as Declan pulled her impatiently towards the door, "Have fun, I could use a sex day as bad as you". "You behave or there will be no TV or Nintendo later, remember MJ is the boss, OK?" She said as they went out the door. Meg couldn't help but laugh as Declan turned and nodded with a knowing smile. She knew he had the "only child" syndrome of growing up emotionally faster than multi-sibling kids. It was mostly from being in the company of adults and being subject to more adult behavioral situations. Matt and Meaghan didn't talk to him like a child and he wasn't exiled from the room when conversations took place. Jared had seen an example of this when they ate lunch the previous day at an upscale eatery in the Sears Tower. When the waitress gave the boy a children's menu he handed it back to her and told her he could get a hot dog, hamburger or chicken finger anywhere, and could he see the fancy food menu as well. He told his Mom he wanted French Onion Soup and pointed to a word he couldn't say but the description seemed like what he might like. He was reading at a 2nd or 3rd grade level and wanted Chicken Maisonette, basically chicken with spaetzle in a light sauce. "It sounds like something Grandma made for me with squiggly noodles." When Jared looked at him, semi-astonished, and Declan told him that "spitzels are homemade noodles". The Coach swallowed a big laugh to let the boy have his day in the sun. Once the door latch clicked shut Meg turned to Jared and smiled. "Let's go get in the shower!" "Well, why don't we sit on the sofa and talk for a few minutes first. We'll give them a chance to get away without coming back for something they forgot. Besides we can finally just talk in private without any clocks to compete with." Jared said as he moved toward the sofa taking her hand. He sat and laid back as she slid in along side him, resting head in the crook of his arm. They each took deep breaths before Jared spoke. "So what do you think of the two of us? Do you think we have any issues?" "Would you think I had rose colored glasses if I told you that it seems like all the years in between your leaving for school and this week have disappeared? Back then I couldn't imagine life without you and I'm already at that point. I know everyone changes, but I just can't imagine we've been apart for all these years. I keep waiting for a moment, an instance where I'll say, "THERE, the bubble burst and THAT'S why this can't work.", but I just can't fathom it. Are we blind to something?" She mused out loud staring off into nowhere. "I'm caught in the same little vacuum. Barbie seems like another life. It's like 10 years obliterated and it's like we just turned our heads away to look over our shoulder. I can't help but think the same thing, ARE WE MISSING SOMETHING?" He asked amused she had the same thought line. Meaghan turned her body over and hugged her arms around him and rested her head on his chest as she began to tear up. "I want to be afraid and run away from the feeling it's so strong, but I can't run away without you to hold me. It's so weird. What did we do all those years ago to be so stupid?" She said, her voice cracking. "Too young to understand? I don't know. But, I agree, the feeling is strong, almost weird..." He concurred. "If I didn't have my little Declan I would have come looking for you years ago. That's how long I've known. Don't let that scare you." She said as she absently ran her hand down over his stomach to the front of his pants. "It scares me that I was so happy at one time with Barbie and then we drifted apart. I always blamed her, maybe it was me searching for you, like ... subconsciously." He said before becoming aware of her hand. "I'm searching for you now. Don't think I'm bad, I just want and need you so much. Matt and I had a wild sex life with me trying to keep him happy and me trying to deny I still wanted and needed you. Divorce was shame and I didn't want that. I hate to admit this, but if you hadn't ended up in the sports news on the day you did, I would have screwed a total stranger that afternoon. A woman alone at a cocktail bar at lunch hour draws a lot of attention from dirtball businessmen." She said resting her head on his chest as she turned doe eyed looking at him while her hand played. "You don't need to tell me this, save yourself from..." "No, I want you to know the truth, where I was. I was meeting a guy there the second day. I felt his cock through his pants right at the bar the day before. I had a hotel key with me with every intention of being his whore. Your face came up on the TV screen in the ESPN story as if to tell me DON'T DO THIS! I didn't hear the story attached to the shot of your face. I was suddenly so overridden with guilt... " She said stopping in mid-sentence hoping her point was made. "You thought fate stepped in? Maybe it did, but let's not mull over it now. Let's move on from the stupid decisions we made as kids." Jared reasoned. Meaghan half smiled as tears welled up in her eyes and Jared thought she was going to bring herself to his shoulder for a hug and comfort but she sat up a bit and turned to unzip his pants. "This is my constant fantasy of you, to please you with my mouth, to suck you and taste you. It was my idea the first time and I've never done it with anyone without thinking of you, wishing it was you. Since the day you left for college I don't think more than a few days passed where I didn't wish I had you here to please like this and show you how much I loved you." She said as she fished her hand through his zipper and into the pocket of his briefs and pulled his penis through. She held it like a prize before taking the head in her mouth and lolling her tongue around it and then looking back at him. "You please and fulfill me greatly with your mouth and how you worship MY sex, you make me the absolutely crazy when you make love to me, fuck me and make our bodies one, but this is my special way of making love to you. It makes me tingle inside without touching myself." She said as she dropped her head over him and fed herself moving more and more of him into her mouth with each nod of her head on him. "Oh God, I want to stop you and fuck you right here, but it feels so good. Let's get in the shower and do what you planned before we sat down." Jared said, sorry to have her stop, but wanting to pace their day better. She popped her head up from her sucking and smiled at him. "What I had planned was to be a very naughty girl, but I'm rethinking things. I was going to take your last bit of innocence, fulfill YOUR fantasy, give you my ass you adore so much, but I just got another idea." "and THAT is???" "Since I want you so much that way, and you want me so much that way, why don't we save that for a special time, a marker in our relationship?" She said testing a trial balloon. "What do you have in mind?" He said smiling, biting at her tease. "When I sleep in your bed in Vermont. When I go back home to be with you." She said hopefully. "Do you really think you can ever take Declan away from his father? You know I would want you two out there, but no matter what a rat he was, or how you feel about him now, Declan needs his father." Jared insisted, no matter how much it hurt him to say. "I know, I know." Meaghan said falling off to the side of Jared holding her head as if she had been beaten. "Don't feel that way Meg. The only thing that would have changed all of this would be if you never had Declan. Think how empty your life would be, think of the joy you would have missed. Don't try to back over that, let's look forward. We can still be us. I can spend part of every week here during the season and be here for a good part of the rest of the year. I've really thought a lot of it out." He said to comfort her. "I would be lost forever without my little boy. Even the horseshit his father has put me through is worth having him. I want to have your baby too, so you can see." She said breaking down crying. Jared spent the next hour of the morning calming and soothing Meaghan's fears and feelings over her want for a new life with him. He assured her that they could be together often with him at N.E.A.T., especially in the off season and during school breaks. Whether it was her and Declan traveling to him or he traveling to her, they could be together. He reasoned that if they wanted to be with each other it was the only way and they could do everything possible to make the life "normal" for Declan. Although it took a good part of the morning the couple finally got back into the mood to be in the shower together and make the day theirs once again. Whatever words he used finally soothed her and made her look at their relationship from his vantage point. As he talked she vacantly listened, his cock still in her hand long after it's blood filled excitement had waned. Once she was convinced that all could be fine she let him go and wrapped her arms around his neck to kiss and dry her tears. "Why don't we go and take that shower together and finish everything we started out here?" He suggested with a devious smile. She needed no coaxing as she stood and extended her hand to him and they went off together. After a long shower that drained the hot water he sat her on the counter to kiss and dry her until she laid to her side and took him into her mouth to continue the adoration she started on the sofa earlier. He ended up bending to use his mouth on her freshly washed sex. They never made it from the bathroom before they each had oral orgasms that started an afternoon of making love and adoring each others bodies. By the time he walked onto the O'Hare tarmac to board the AirExecutive Share Jet on Saturday afternoon he was satisfied both sexually and in the fact he had made the right decision to come there are pursue his rekindled romance. He was also quite happy to have made a great impression on little Declan who hated to see him leave. Getting on the small jet he noticed some of the same faces he flew with a few days earlier, most notably the artist, Paul Haley Bickford, whom was also going back to White River. Jared had seen a piece on local Chicago TV on Saturday morning about him and a piece of art he was creating for a local museum show. The jet was not full so it meant the trip would cost him a tad more than the flight in, but the convenience was more than worth it. Once the 8 passengers had exchanged names and pleasantries Jared nodded off as he had flying in only to be awakened by descent in to Vermont's long lonely strip in White River Junction. Once on the ground he was surprised to see three others getting off and 4 more ready to board onto to Boston or other points. He supposed the proximity to Dartmouth College and the local artist community housed at the Tip Top kept the little strip busy with private jets and planes. The cool Vermont air in the early evening sun made the drive back to New England Ag and Tech a pleasant one. He pined for Meaghan already and spoke to her once after she had dropped Declan off with his father after seeing Jared off at the airport. He ignored the message light blinking on his phone at home opting to do his exercise routine, shower and retire early for the evening. He felt assured that anyone who had anything important for him had his cell number. The phone could wait. A goodnight call to Meg was all he needed to supply dream fodder for his tired body. Although somewhat matured, she still had the body of a cheerleader and the passion of their high school prom night. Although the last two women he had were of the type you created fantasies from; Barbie the sleek dark haired mystery woman and Ann the full figured buxom Playboy type, Meg was the girl you saw in the bathing suit ad, and the summer drive-in flick who just drove you crazy as she showed off her body. Luckily for Jared, she wanted to give it all to him. His dreams that night were sweet fantasies of life with Meaghan. In the morning he searched his sub-conscious for hints of nocturnal sex, but general bliss with Meg was all he could conjure. No specifics, but lots of happy thoughts. He wondered if the fact she was still horny like an 18 year old had colored his thoughts about a long relationship, but the fact he was not starving for sex made him discount that feeling. Had HE been the real reason for the failure of he and Barbie? Had his subconscious pined for the first love of his life all along? He pondered these thoughts all through his shower and general preparations for his Sunday breakfast meeting with Meredith Crawford, the Dean at NEAT. He had no real reason from her for the subject of the meeting, but when Ann Comeche called and told him of her request she surmised it was about summer recruiting expenses cloaked over concern for the high profile Boge Hollins was receiving. If that was the veiled subject he planned to come clean about all Boge's problems, but only if he HAD to, and assure her that it looked like Boge was a changed man. His chance meet-up with Boge a few days earlier could only serve as a further reason to allay her fears. Dean Crawford was only wary of bad press the University might get and how it would reflect on those who continued endowments to their alma mater. Jared drove to Green Mountain Greens, a local, but fairly exclusive country club known for their restaurant as much as their golf. The Sunday brunch was for members only, by reservation only, and a weekly tradition at the club. It was a dignified affair where members enjoyed their exclusivity with their guests in a posh and quiet atmosphere. From the Sunday dinner hour on through the week, the restaurant portion of the country club was open to the public, but the top chefs and gourmet prices kept the clientele to the clubs liking. Jared presented himself to the maitre d' and he was shown to Meredith's private table where she was already joined by a lawyer Jared recognized from their contract negotiations. "Please, renegotiating already? If you're happy now just wait until we play a few games!" Jared said to instantly inject some levity into whatever situation concerned them. "Jared Winslow, that's one of the reasons why I hired you." She said as she stood to shake his hand, "You have the glowing confidence to not let any situation falter you. You keep an eye on the prize. You remember Jerry Sussman, University's counsel?" Jared shook both their hands and sat as a waiter immediately came to bring water and pour coffee. Meredith looked to the waiter and nodded saying "Just leave the carafe Timothy, and give us a few minutes before we order." "Apparently you want to get right to the point and cut to the chase and I have no problem with that." Jared said settling into his seat. "I have two concerns that greatly trouble me and how NEAT will be portrayed in the news and the scholastic community." The Dean said looking him square in the eye. "Well, before you say one more word let me tell you that every thing I do, every decision I make concerning this football program is made with just exactly that in mind; how will this reflect on New England Ag and Tech? Remember, they sign my check as well as yours." Jared assured her. "I respect that, but I do have the right to question those decisions and that's all I'm doing here. First off, tell me about this Humphrey Hollins character. Why did so many other schools pass on him and his questionable past? When Coach Woodard offered him a letter he assured me it would be a very, very long shot he would ever sign the letter of intent and even thought the clean record clause would keep us from any commitments." Dean Crawford said firing her first salvo. "I can't outline the entire details of how I came about this, but let me assure you that I saw the transformation of Boge, the nickname he prefers, of boy to man. I saw him look at the scales of his future where he would have to place his character on the lighter side to outweigh any of the garbage on the other side and he did it. Since then in a surprise visit to him I saw an exemplary young man molding his future with his eyes set on a prize of his own. He's even so proud of the decision he made, he went to our website and bought a NEAT ball cap to wear and show his University pride. I know his father well and talked to him on many occasions and can assure you he will be an asset to our community." Jared responded back quickly, calmly, but with conviction. If his response seemed rehearsed to the Dean, it was. Jared wanted her to know that he had his own ears at the University already and that little concerning his team got past him. If questions were to asked about the team and its players, he wanted his answers to show the amount of control he had. On this day, upon seeing the lawyer with Dean Crawford he had already surmised that Boge Hollins was not the only topic of discussion. Asking about Hollins was simply a father-son talk about who he might be hanging around with and counsel wouldn't be necessary for that. He quickly ran through the pages of his minds plans to find where she may want to dig and what response he could prepare. His eyes left the table and caught Timothy, the waiter, who quickly surmised they were ready to order. He approached the table and bought time for Jared as the Dean impatiently ordered a selection of meats, eggs and fruit for the table. As she did so, Jared narrowed in his head, down to 2 or 3 possibilities for counsel presence. The sexual indiscretion with Ann Comeche was a long shot, asking his assistants to pray with him over The Bible was another long shot. No college could be that liberal. Then like a ton of bricks it hit him. Females on the team in the locker room!! He had no more than a few moments to prepare a response, if indeed he was correct, before Meredith sent Timothy off and turned to him. "So tell me Coach Winslow, how are you prepared to handle the firestorm over having both sexes in the same locker room in the fall?" She asked him, hoping to catch him off guard. Picking up his coffee for a sip of confidence he planned his response and attitude. "What firestorm? Who's complaining? The only people who's business it is are the players themselves and their families. If the players involved have a problem with the situation they can drop off the team. I wouldn't want anyone involved to be uncomfortable with it." Jared said frankly. "What if sex between the players occurs?" "As long as it's not in the locker room and it's consensual, how is that our business? I have spoken to everyone involved, so far, about respecting each other, knowing the bounds of camaraderie and every other little avenue we can go up with this. We are dealing with grown-ups here Meredith. I treat them like adults. Any young man or woman who has enough brains to finish school and come here to further their education who isn't an adult and mature in his or her thinking won't make the team anyway. If females make the team of our traditionally all male sport they will have privacy in the locker room for changing clothes, and will have private shower areas. However they will be in the locker room and be subject to locker room talk which is part of the machismo of the sport." Jared assured her. "Women don't have machismo." Dean Crawford responded. "You've never been in a women's team locker room. The talk is as rough, more explicit and as bawdy, if not more so than a men's locker room. The young women I expect to make this team have the kind of character to deal with any of the male-female problems that might crop up, but all players will be aware of the rules of decency and the consequences for disregarding them. As far as sex between players, they all know it's frowned upon, but if two consenting adults want to get together for those purposes, we can't stop them. Relationships between players is a problem and I've dealt with it before, between gay players. There are no hard and fast rules, you deal with each case individually." He outlined confidently. Jerry Sussman, the University counsel cleared his throat. "Coach, a few outside groups have heard about the possibility of co-ed locker rooms and the NCAA is probably going to let them come in and observe." "That would be over my dead body Mr. Sussman. Unless there were a reason, a specific reason, a specific problem, no one, and I mean NO ONE comes into one of MY locker rooms without my permission. I know my bounds and what I'm hired to do here. I know where the NCAA can step and this is a place where they cannot. They can request, but they will never get permission from me. I protect my players. It's probably the most important part of my job. The locker room is sacred. I don't allow reporters in and I'm certainly not allowing any "outside" group in." Jared said sternly. "They'll pressure you. They'll make up horror stories." Sussman warned him. "Let them, and they'll see how I operate. Interviews are in the interview room and even then, it's all with approval. If either of these girls have a problem, I'll know about it first. If they go elsewhere, they'll be gone. I'm not a control freak, but I'm on the pulse at all times. Once my players see how they are treated and the team runs they won't question much." Jared told him confidently. "Coach Winslow, the only baseline I have for dealing with the team and the NCAA is what I've done in the past couple years and with Coach Woodard. I can see there will be a learning curve with you and with your record I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt." Sussman said as he looked to Dean Crawford and nodded. "Meredith, I won't sign off completely on this particular situation, but until a problem crops up let's live with it. Publicity-wise I'm sure you'll get lots of national attention." "That's not exactly a ringing endorsement or sign-off." She said looking to Sussman for support of her worries. "He's not exactly like anything we've dealt with before and when I look at his record he obviously knows something that others don't. For the money we've got invested you would be foolish to tie his hands." Her counsel told her. Meredith Crawford looked from Sussman to Jared and shook her head. "Jared I hadn't planned on us being a test tube for the NCAA. When I read about women who played NCAA football in the past they weren't division one and the girls weren't exactly feminine looking. I hope you know what you're doing." "Look at my paycheck and look at my contract Meredith. You obviously trusted something about me and I promise not to do anything to lose that trust. Both of these girls can make the team and you should know that I insist on carrying both, or neither. I do that looking out for the university, for you and for me. I didn't jump into this without any thought. It surprises me to think that you thought I did." As his last words rolled off the food trays came and the Dean, the lawyer and the coach had a constructive, civil, conversation over a large late breakfast or brunch, all seemingly relieved that potential problems and fears were allayed. ------- Chapter 16 Jared thought he had gotten through their breakfast meeting without bringing up expenses, but Dean Crawford could not bite her tongue any longer as they walked from the restaurant at Green Mountain Greens to their cars. "Oh, the travel office sent me itinerary's and vouchers for you and the coaching staff for now through the end of July. I know you said there would be a lot of work over the summer but I didn't know we would keep a travel agent in business." She said through a pained smile. "You go back over my summer expense plan and you'll see exactly what I planned to do and your initial at the bottom. There were no surprises there." Jared said with a big smile knowing he had her dead to rights. "I guess I didn't realize you were taking a week with EACH coach to see players and recruits." She complained. "Meredith," Jared said as he broke stride toward his car to walk up to her and make a point. "We made money at Division III with my program and I don't doubt we'll do the same here. The first year may end up being seed money for the program, season ticket revenues and bowl prizes, but you'll never be sorry after my contract is up. I made you that promise, remember?" "If you're that successful and I'm that happy, how much will your next contract cost us?" She asked somewhat facetiously, but anxious to hear his answer. "As long as you re-sign me before the end of my deal, just redo the bonus and redo the years for the same price and I'll be happy." Jared replied, ready to deal again as his own agent. "You see Meredith, I have a lot to prove here. I'm comfortable, I'm home, I'm happy. When I'm successful I'll have many suitors and that will be the cheapest publicity for the program that you could never buy." "Coach Winslow, your confidence is admirable. When I had doubts before the first game was played I was encouraged by fan support. Then I second guessed myself because there just wasn't enough money coming in, but you've made me feel good about all this again." She said shaking his hand before they all left. Jared chuckled to himself over the hand holding he had to do with Dean Crawford and her lawyer but was happy to appease them and allay fears. Her comments about travel expenses left him sure he knew what the messages on his phone were now. They were probably the travel office and his assistants wanting to confirm dates. After a quick trip to his campus office to get mail he would hear the messages and see how his week was planned. The "travel office" was Maris DelAire, a retiring math professor who now spent little time in the study and lecture hall and JoAnne Zyrypski, an intern who went to college late in life, her early 30's. Ms. Zyrypski was a widowed travel agent who had sold her business upon marrying a wealthy contractor. He had died only a year into the marriage from pancreatic cancer. Neither Maris or JoAnne had a reason beyond passing the time and the need to be productive to be at NEAT. Travel office was hardly a full time position, but it fit neatly into their schedules. JoAnne was hardly an "intern" at the position, but loved sharing her expertise. The bright and shiny voice of JoAnne Zyrypski sounded uncommonly professional when her message played in Jared's den. "Hello Coach Winslow. This is JoAnne Zyrypski from the travel office. I've laid out 3 travel weeks for you and your assistants covering 35 of the 39 players you had hoped to see. Please call me at my home and set up a meeting to finalize these plans by Monday afternoon. My number is 555-0987." JoAnne sounded as bubbly and bright on the phone as she had on the answering machine and a meeting was set in the Coach's office for first thing Monday morning. Jared had 46 players to see over the summer and 7 were local. Among the 4 she could not book meetings with were Brian Faraday, who was home in his native Wales with a promise to be in the States early, and 3 others who were on travel vacations with family. Those 3 were each told to be in touch with Coach once they returned. His mini-vacation was over and he spent the rest of Sunday exercising, preparing his laundry and talking on the phone to Meaghan once she had put Declan down for the night after returning from his fathers. That talk was long and left him wishing he were with her. It already felt like they had never been apart and that worried him in certain ways wondering if there were a bubble about to burst. That recurring thought was always dashed by the strength of his feelings for the situation and doubt was waning each time he stepped deeper into the relationship. His conversation with Meg might have lasted longer into the night except for the tone beeping in his ear that another call was waiting. He ignored it the first time, but when it returned just a few minutes later he asked Meg to hold while he checked it. "Jared, I thought you might be there. It's Joe Barber and I have some things to go over with you." His athletic director said sounding a bit frustrated. After asking him to hold Jared went back top Meaghan and said a quick goodbye with a promise to call on Monday. "Jared, in the future when Dean Crawford calls you like that make sure you get me involved. I hate to feel like I'm in the dark on those things. I could have calmed her down. She side-steps me because she thinks I hold things back from her. She and I just had it out over expenses, waiting for her to approve overages because SHE hasn't approved a revised budget she KNEW was coming. Then in the middle of it all I find she had you on the carpet over monies and policies." Barber told him, obviously spitting mad. "Well Joe, you can calm down a bit. I wasn't exactly "on the carpet". She just wanted me to hold her hand a bit on a couple of ethical questions and I stood firm on expenses reminding her that we talked about everything I've put in for and even have her initial on my proposals that were SUPPOSED to be in that budget revision she never completed." Jared said to calm him but also reaffirm that she herself had dropped the ball on budget revision. "I wouldn't mind her sticking her nose in, or even the cold feet, BUT she's already made the commitments that can't be turned around. Once you and I put this whole thing on recruiting and prospect commitment in motion you can't stop it. She got a bill from a contractor who designed the locker room privacy shield for any females who make the team. I got a bathroom and shower guy to come up with something that we can take on the road with us and not take up much travel space. We'll just need an intern to travel with us to put it together. It goes together easy and it's solid and private. I've done it myself and so has Belle. It's simple and light so anyone can handle it. It fits right in front of two dressing stall positions." Joe told him, getting excited about the prospect and publicity the girls would bring. "THAT bill set it off? How much was it?" "It was almost 5 thousand with time spent designing and one new mold they had to make, but everything else is from existing designs." Joe explained. "Well, cost is cost. Having it done is priority. Are you going to make any of the players trips with us?" Jared wondered. "No, too busy, too many things going on. Did you get the football schedule yet? I finalized everything and the travel office is booking." Joe asked. "No, but are there any changes from what we talked about?" "No, 7 home games, 7 on the road. Two early scrimmages, two non-conference, and 10 conference. It's breakneck, but what you wanted. Camp opens August 14th, Classes begin August 19th. Scrimmage at home the 29th, good luck!" Joe Barber said exhaling, knowing how it crept up slow and then it became everything. "God, I love it. It's like 3 months trying to tackle a live fire hose and once you finally catch it, they turn the water off." Jared said with a chuckle. The Northeast 10 was trying a new later practice start date that allowed back to back practice, but no back to back two-a-days. The rest of the NCAA was starting a week earlier with no back to backs. The Northeast 10 would go full pads on the 18th, a full week later than the rest of the NCAA, but with just as many practices in. Winslow felt confident that he could come up with a team by the scrimmage on the 29th with Boston College. His mini-camps had given him lots of ideas and great looks at talent on hand. By not making the mini-camps mandatory spring practices he saw who was serious and who wasn't. His Dad called it "sorting the wannabe's from the gottabe's". He wanted you to show up because you wanted to, not because you had to, simple as that. By the second scrimmage on September 5th against Appalachian State he hoped to have a solid idea who he would dress for the home conference opener on the 12th. Unless there were some major changes of heart he had a pretty good idea who would fill the heart of his roster. The NCAA had the Northeast 10 experimenting with a limited travel roster of 54 suited players and 70 at home. Jared Winslow was never one to carry wild amounts of players, he felt it watered down the intensity of the squads. The NFL limit was usually 53 and the NCAA really had no set rule of roster numbers. Winslow was never one to throw his schools money around and felt a limit on players would also cut spending. The NCAA rules had always been hard to change and using the fledgling new conference as an experiment for practice rule changes, roster limits, byes, and out of conference scheduling didn't hurt the tradition of the more established conferences. After 3 years the ruling body of the NCAA would decide if the changes would go into effect throughout all Division One football or be scrubbed. Before finally ending his day he quickly sifted through the usual pile of letters from accepted students who had an interest in playing football. Most all had letters of reference from their coach or school avowing to the students character. Not every high school was on every recruiters list and lots of real talent slipped through those cracks. The fact that the rumor mill spun stories of N.E.A.T. placing females on the roster, adapting soccer players to football, and taking high risk players into the system, had left hope for those who felt they had enough talent to play at that level. Open try-outs were starting on August 12th, two days before any student was allowed into his on-campus dorm. When you came to town you had to have living arrangements made for those few days or sleep in your car or pitch a tent. You had to be serious. If you didn't attend either of the spring mini-camps or the open try-outs and were not officially excused, do not bother showing for the first full day of practice, no exceptions. Eight returning players were excused for injury, academic or family reasons. On Monday morning Jared woke just seconds before his alarm went off, thinking it was uncanny how the human condition allowed such things to happen. A moment later his phone rang and he realized it had probably rung a first time that woke him before his alarm. Before it rang a third time his picked the receiver to offer a sleepy hello while slapping at his alarm clock... "Hello tiger, you said you had to be up at seven, I thought I might wake you." Meaghan said in a sexy voice. "Mmmm, I LIKE this a LOT better than the damn buzzer I just punched out. Why are you up so early?" Jared replied, happy to hear her voice. "I dreamt about you and woke up all flustered, randy and wet. Declan is still sleeping and I thought I might get rid of a little sexual tension with you." She said with a bit of urgency. "Oh, you naughty girl." He chuckled. "You have no idea how naughty I can get when I'm alone like this. I've bought a few toys from the late night TV erotica shopping channel for just these times." She said with a bit of a swoon in her voice. "I've always denied using these things, but I'll make full disclosure to you, because you're who I fantasize about when I take them out." "Meg, you're getting me aroused." "That's the idea silly, grab hold of that fat cock. I've got one almost the same size stuffed up in me right now." She said calmly, but firmly. "Holy crap, you're serious! I can't help but grab myself!" "Well, I'm glad of that because the sound of your voice is all I needed to get my rock started, my pussy is trembling and I haven't even turn this rabbit on yet." Meg said as she swooned into the phone and Jared heard a whirring buzz begin. Jared tried to picture Meaghan's cute little body, legs spread wide with her rabbit stuffed up her little pussy. He's never seen a rabbit in person, but knew what it was and what it did. He knew rotating pearls rumbled under her clit and vibrating tendrils danced on her clit as the bullet loaded end buzzed deep inside her. "Fuck Jared, I'm going to cum! Fuck Jared, I'm going to cum!!! Fuck Jared, I'm going to cummmmmm!!!!!!!!" She wailed into the phone before her voice tailed off in a scratchy growl. Jared breathed heavy as he stroked himself and strained his ear to hear more from his lover. "Mmmmm, that was nice. I was just going to relieve some tension until I thought of calling you. Hearing your voice rocked my world. I hope you're taking care of business." She whispered into the phone. "I am. Your little phone show drew a pretty explicit picture for me. I only wish it was my cock and my tongue getting the action." He said getting short of breath. "Don't you think I wish it was my mouth and my hand on your cock right now. I love having that fat head in my mouth when you begin to breathe like this. I love to drive you crazy, know I'm in control of pushing you over. I'd be hungry for a big squirt of your hot cum to hit my tongue, even squirt to the back of my throat to make me swallow already and hear you grunt and swoon just like THAT!!" She growled into the phone as Jared came over his belly and hand. After a few minutes of heavy breathed silence Jared spoke. "God, I'm a mess, but what a way to wake up. I'll face the day with a smile." He said with a satisfied groan. "Someday we'll always wake up together." She said with a cry in her voice. "Come on Meaghan, don't get all weepy and wishful. Wait and see what the future brings. We'll make it as good as we can. Let's play this out and see what happens. I'm visiting a lot of the team to make personal contact with them in the next few weeks and I know I'll be in and near Chicago a couple times. I'll get my schedule today." He said to comfort her. "I hope so, I miss you. Even Declan wanted to know when you might be back. I think that just proves that his father doesn't do enough with him when he takes him. I know it's because you're new and show interest with him, but he asked if you were coming the next time he went to Daddy's because he'd rather stay home. His grandparents spoil him, but don't DO things and interact with him. Something's going on with Matt right now too. He said he might be moving to another job, but he's not sure where and then his father slipped and said something about "new troubles". Then I've been getting notices from my credit protection company that my records have been accessed 4 times in the last couple weeks." She said, speaking frankly in her reverie. "He's not signing your name to anything, is he? He can't get at your personal finances can he? Is he all paid up with what he owes you each month?" Jared fired back, worried something might be askew. "No, no, no, all of that is protected and he's always been on time. He's a lot of things, but I can't add deadbeat Dad to the list, ... yet!" She assured him. "Well, I'm sort of a mess here and a little late getting started, but thanks for the phone sex." Jared said laughing. Meg wasn't as amused as Jared and after a long silent pause she told him as much. "Jared, this wasn't just phone sex, I made love to you! I didn't do it because I was horny and needed the relief, that was a by-product. The reason I called was because thoughts of you and how I missed you made me want you. Don't make it, or me sound cheap. Being your cock whore behind closed doors is the most exciting thing in the world, but it's all because I love you. Am I making sense?" She said, finding the words to express her feelings hard to emote. "Yes, and I wasn't making light of anything. It was just a poor choice of words, ... and I don't exactly think of you as "my cock whore" behind closed doors." He said wondering about HER choice of words. "Well, I am, just like you're my gigolo behind closed doors. We do each others biddings for sexual gratification, but not for money, we do it for love. Am I making sense?" She asked. "NOW, you are. I was confused at how you called yourself that, but now I understand." He answered. "Well then, ... NOW you can go." She said with a little laugh. "Have a great day my lover, call when you can." Jared kissed the air for her hear and hung up to make his way to the shower and clean himself up. Making his meeting with the travel office person would be tight, but not a problem. As he showered his mind wandered and one thing nagged at him more than anything lately, the fact that unless there would be a huge walk on contingent, he was working with a small field of candidates for him to form a team. With the eight known walk-ons, the light recruitment and the known returnees he had 74. Some teams in other NCAA divisions would carry that many. He hoped to dress 54 on the road and 60 at home. It was the first time that he was afraid of embarrassment. He took the team late with virtually no time to recruit on his own, not knowing that Sherm Woodard saw the writing on the wall and had recruited only from the top echelon. He hadn't beat the bushes for the sleepers. Only the fact that unless having a mixed gender roster blew up in his face, with the 2 girl kickers and soccer conversion, he had already addressed and resolved 2 of the teams most glaring weaknesses. Now if he only came up with a quarterback with only minimal skills who could follow instructions and lead his teammates. After his meeting this morning he decided he would look up Marvin Hudson and see how his summer was going and see how his "quarterback" experiment had matured in the Petrie dish. The "travel office" was in a building adjacent to the administration building where the sports offices were. It was an office getting more and more use since NEAT had went Division One with football. Maris DelAire led the department but once travel turned into a more demanding part of the operation of Division One sports, usually finding charter airfare and accommodations for groups of 50 or more, she was over matched for the position. That was when JoAnne Zyrypski came is as a student intern. JoAnne was a late life student who previously ran a travel agency and was more than happy to use her expertise and build her credits interning. Her eventual goal was to get a degree and write a book based on her unique life experience. She could easily handle the department by herself, but Maris was the administrations guarantee of financial fortitude. Maris was the longest tenured prof at the University whose vanity kept her from retirement. Her occasional lecture, guidance counseling and overseeing the travel office made her feel needed and wanted. Jared Winslow was on time for his appointment with seconds to spare. He was smoothing his tie and patting his hair down as he lightly knocked and opened the door to see the stately Maris DelAire behind her desk. "Good Morning Mr. Winslow! So glad to make your acquaintance. I'm Professor DelAire, but I would so happy if you called me Maris." She said as she offered her hand. "Please call me Coach or Jared, Mr. Winslow is my father." Jared said as he lightly shook her hand. "OK, um ... Coach. Miss Zyrypski has submitted your travel needs and we've approved everything and she's waiting to go over everything with you. She was here a moment ago but went to get a pot of coffee for us." Maris said just as the door opened. "Oh so sorry I'm a bit late, but I thought coffee would be nice." JoAnne said as she came in with a tray with a carafe and 3 cups. She set the tray down and smoothed the front of her skirt before turning to Coach to shake his hand and introduce herself. Jared could not help but notice what a vision she was. Her perfectly coiffed auburn hair framed such a fetching and pretty face that could stop traffic. He knew from reading her bio that she had been a Miss Teen USA finalist, a successful travel agent and now getting her masters degree to fulfill her life. To say the Coach was smitten by her beauty would be an understatement. He knew she would be pretty but she was the whole package of beauty and an instant personality that jumped out at you. If there were a flaw in the whole package it would be she was just a bit toothy, but he was sure she broke a few hearts in her day and probably would in the future. "I'm so pleased to meet you after all I've heard about you." JoAnne said she motioned Jared to a side cubicle. "Let's go to my desk and I'll show you what we've prepared and see if you approve of the schedule we have." Maris spoke up as they walked away. "JoAnne, I'm going to take my coffee and go to a conference I have with a student in the Admissions office. If you need me, just ring me there." "Professor DelAire, it was a pleasure meeting you and I hope we have the opportunity to work together often." Jared said politely as Maris left. From the moment Maris DelAire left the room JoAnne seemed to change, going into super-friendly travel agent mode, it seemed. She laid itineraries in front of Jared and then stood behind him bending over his shoulder pointing out the city and plane changes. Jared took his eyes from the sheets on the table to glance sideways and he looked right down her top and quickly, embarrassingly, quickly averted them. He saw her breasts right down to the nipple and he was sure she was aware of the show she was putting on. "JoAnne, Please sit across from me. You make me nervous over my shoulder. Besides I want to ask questions to your face." He said hoping he wasn't rude or off-putting. "No, no, not a problem." She said as she moved over to her chair. Even as he asked her questions about the trips he found himself mesmerized by her face. She was classically pretty and her face seemed to glow with its perpetual smile. When her eyes caught him looking at her she would just smile big and continue with her spiel about the trip and it's changes. Her effect on him was very off-putting because he was truly in love with Meg and no reason to want to meet or be with someone else, but he was mesmerized. "I don't mean to sound like a jerk, and I'm not coming on to you, but I find you extremely pretty and your whole look very captivating. So, if you see me staring, please don't take it the wrong way. I mean nothing by my staring, you are just very beautiful." Jared said shyly. Joanne blushed a bit and looked up. "Thank you so much. Many men have said the same things and it's usually followed by and offer for a date or dinner or something. You however, I would be quite interested in dating should you ever ask. I find your rugged good looks and confident demeanor to be very attractive. Are you sure you're not coming on?" She said with a sexy, toothy smile. "Oh, I'm quite sure, I newly, deeply involved with my high school sweetheart and my conscience would never forgive me." He said blushing back. "Oh, and loyal and true as well! Coach Winslow, I'm not turned down by many men but I must tell you that whomever the woman is calls herself lucky, I'm sure." She said never losing her bright glowing smile. "Now, let's get back to the itinerary. I've made it so you only have 4 days of travel each of the 3 weeks and just one of those days each week will be all driving. You had 6 players whom you listed as Special Teams or Offense or Defense. They made it easy to link travel connections. I've personally spoken to each one and confirmed the day you would be there with time approximate. They've been told you will confirm the day before. Barring any unforeseen travel conditions I don't think you'll have any problems. So, look everything over and I'll have your tickets, maps and directions dropped off to your office each week. Um, ... unless you would like me to personally deliver them to your house." She said with an inviting smile. "No, that's quite alright, my office is fine." Jared said smiling and knowing there was a certain amount of both jest and seriousness to her offer, as she knew her advances had already been thwarted. She got up and walked to the door to show him out, making sure he got a look at the sway of her hips on the body he had turned down. "Thank you so much for your help JoAnne and I'll be sure to call should I need any further assistance." Jared said not meaning any double entendre, but sure she took one from it. "Please do." She said with an offer of her hand to shake which he took just before he left. "Miss JoAnne," He thought to himself as he walked down the hall to the staircase out, "There is nothing I would like more than to fuck you into the middle of next week, but it could only cause me more problems that I don't need right now. But, what a piece of ass!" Jared went back to his office and called each assistant to make sure they got the itinerary and were ready to start their journeys. Jordy Alford was the first assistant to leave with him, so he took the longest time on the phone, making sure he was ready. He explained that he would further explain "the system" on the first leg of their trip and by journeys end he would fully understand how Team Winslow would work. Jared's system was simple. First, know your job, ask questions until you do. Then it was trust. Trust in yourself, trust in your skills, trust in your teammates and their skills. If unsure of anything, ASK QUESTIONS. With arrangements made to leave Wednesday night they looked forward to spending Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday together and driving in from New York Sunday night. Hanging up he flipped his Rolodex for Marvin Hudson's phone number and called him. "Marvin, It's Coach Winslow. I was wondering if you were free this afternoon? I'd love to have a catch with you." Coach said greeting him. "Sure Coach. I have to watch my family's vegetable stand until noon, then my Mom and Dad come down, but then I'm good until 6 or so. I have to come back to help them close up." Marv answered enthusiastically. "Well, good then. I'll be by and we'll throw for a while and if time permits, can go to lunch and talk. How does that sound?" He asked. "Pretty good, I'm driving my friends crazy, wanting to have a catch all of the time, but I'm stingin' their hands and I suppose that's good." Marv answered. Marvin Hudson had been a more than competent defender in the defensive backfield and his football instincts were in the "special" range, i.e.: he knew more about the position than he had been taught. Coach Winslow wasn't quite sure how Marvin would handle being thrust into the quarterback job if he had to. He knew he would do what's right for the sake of team, but to go from a position where he was more than competent to one where he was unsure didn't seem fair, even to the Coach. Hudson was an OK student who might need tutors if team pressure weighed on his grades. He was game-smart and enthusiastic about his new found skill, but would doubts about his level of skills make him want to stay where he was on the depth chart? These were the thoughts going through Jared Winslow's head as he opened his equipment closet and took 2 new regulation balls from a new case that arrived while he was away. He pondered what possibilities he could mold from his study. He knew he should worry about how he would replace him defensively if he made the move, but that was a worry for another day as he slipped into his car and started the short drive to the Hudson's Farm. The Hudson Farm stand sold locally grown vegetables from their own fields when they were in season. This early they had only cucumbers, some cold storage apples and potatoes as well as their own maple syrup. The rest of the small stand had crafts and Mrs. Hudson's baked goods. Soon beans, squash, and lots of sweet corn would fill the baskets to have customers lined up nearly all day long. It was just past noon when Jared pulled into the farm road beside the stand. Marvin's father smiled big and waved as Jared drove past to the farm house. Marvin was sitting in the swing on the porch like a scene from a Charles Wysocki painting or a back drop in your mind's eye from Maycomb, where To Kill A Mockingbird was set. The scene was just that thought provoking and rustic. Jared stood from the car and Marv smiled big and wound off a rifle shot with the football right to Jared's chest. It hit his hands with a crisp snap and sting as it slipped through to his chest where he cradled the ball. He flipped the ball into the front seat and reached behind the drivers seat for one of the new balls. "Here's a new one to wear out." He said as he threw the best he could flatfooted from the side of the car before he headed to the porch to shake Marv's hand. "So, are you looking forward to the opening of camp and the start of school?" Jared said extending his hand to Marvin. "Yes Sir," He replied with a hearty handshake. "I'm starting to be all over this quarterback thing. Ya know, I've always been a follower, a good soldier, and the stronger I seem to get, the more I think I can really do this. I'm surprising myself how accurate I can get." "You don't want to be a soldier anymore?" Coach asked with a chuckle. "Oh, I'll be the soldier for you, but for once I'm beginning to think I can lead on the field. I played 2 years of High school ball with Chappie Kaye, who's starting quarterback at Southern Michigan. I was always impressed how he was "one of the guys" in the locker room and in class, but when he was on the field you just knew we could jump on his back and he could carry us. I wouldn't have been recruited by Coach Woodard if he hadn't been coming to see Chappie. I know I can throw further than Chappie and I feel a certain confidence about myself that I could do what he did." "I've seen him play twice and I've been impressed by his execution and coolness under fire. He doesn't get rattled and that quiet confidence is what makes him tough. He's a great percentage passer. That's a polite way of saying he doesn't have a great arm, but doesn't make many mistakes. Not being afraid to eat the ball, or to throw it away is an art. Like a Tom Brady; he's on a scoring drive with a couple minutes left and instead of throwing a low percentage pass that could mean trouble, he'll take 3 or give the ball up, knowing he can get it back because he has confidence in his teammates. He knows he only needs a couple plays." Coach explained. "Yeah, yes, that's a good example. You know what I mean then. I threw with Chappie a couple times when he was home and we talked a lot. He was real impressed at my release and told me that if I learned to read defensive sets I could do well. To hear him say that to me made me feel good." Marvin said with a wide grin. "So let's see that arm. Is there a field nearby we an use?" Jared asked. "Sure, one of the high school fields will probably be open." Marv said as Jared motioned towards his car and they walked off. They crossed a thoroughfare through the Hudson Farm to an adjacent main road which was no more than a few hundred yards from the local central school. It had a large football field with stands and 3 other practice fields, of which one was totally free. After a few minutes of warm up tossing Jared asked him to drill as he had taught him, but he smartly moved 20 yards away. Marvin Hudson took the air snap and dropped about 6 yards and wheel housed a sharp bullet pass that Jared side-stepped and caught. "Wow, that's 25 yards or more in the air with just a flick, you've been working those wrists!" Jared exclaimed. "Yeah, and driving my friends crazy like I told you. We made up a passing game, but my side always wins so that's kind of slacked off, but I am getting my throws in." Marv told him smiling as he whipped another ball at Jared. "You're throwing to moving targets? Is there a rush?" Jared wondered. "It's only 4 to a side, a passer, a receiver and two blockers, vs. two defenders and two rushers. No 4 man blitz and four completions in a row is a score." Marv explained. "I'm not too quick, but let me run a few simple patterns and you try to hit me on the sidelines." Coach said. Coach ran down about 15 yards and turned out and looked to see the ball on its way as it hit him in the numbers. He smiled and trotted back, flipping him the ball, saying "Same thing, a few yards deeper. Hut-hut!" as he circled Marvin and broke downfield and Marvin dropped back. This time he stutter-stepped at 15 yards and took 3 more long strides and turned out. His eyes caught the blur of the ball that he instinctively cradled to his chest after it slugged him high in the sternum, nearly knocking the breath from him. "Holy shit!" He thought to himself, "He's unloading boulders, what a heavy ball!" He walked back to Marvin catching his breath, flipping him the ball saying "Good throw hot shot. If you put ME out of commission you won't have a coach who believes in you." They both chuckled as Jared put his hands to his hips and walked a slow circle behind Marvin, his pants for air becoming more shallow. "This time, same pattern, pump fake and then roll the way I go after the fake. He walked the slow circle around Hudson again, hands on hips to be sure he filled his lungs, called out a "hut-hut" and loped down the field. At about 20 yards he made a turn right again and saw Marvin's arm pump in the corner of his eye. He stopped abruptly and turned left toward the other side of the field and saw Marvin racing the same way, both angling toward the line of scrimmage as you would on a broken play. Marv unleashed a wristed pass that bore into Jared's side while in perfect stride before pulling up, huffing and puffing. He only smiled at Marvin as he caught his breath and flipped the ball end to end to him. "Good instinct, running toward scrimmage," He started breathlessly, "Cut down the angle, minimize the loss if you're caught." "I've been reading books on skills and drills. They've been my summer study. Books by Axmin, Jenkens, and Don Reed. They were all recommended by my high school coach." Hudson said as he blushed at the praise Coach heaped on him. "I get the feeling you want this pretty bad, all of a sudden." Coach mused. "I know what we had at quarterback last year and I realized that I'm a much better thrower. I did a little investigating on the new guy coming in, Contralco, and he's only thrown a pass or two a game. I'm betting he ends up a scat-back or a wide out. I can't imagine you coming in and starting a whole new type of offense with an option quarterback. Unless I've underestimated the job, I can do this. I'm fired up." Hudson said confidently. "If I get you some private sessions in an elite Quarterback Camp, would you go? Can you get away? It's usually 2 four hour split sessions on consecutive days and then you go home with books and DVD's and follow-up with one 2 hour session a week or so later. I can get the sessions comped, but you'll have to pay for transportation, NCAA rules. But, we can work around the rules and get that reimbursed, all above board." Coach suggested, suddenly extremely excited at Marvin's attitude. "Sure!! I could go! I can get some of my family to cover me at the stand!" Marv said, almost jumping out of his shoes. "Marv, understand, this is no vacation. This is intensive training and I'll get a report card. If you don't take it seriously they send you home. After you've completed the 2 live sessions the study course is rigorous. In the 2 hour session where you'll get your final grade and evaluation, you'll get a chance to lead a scoring drive against live players, you'll be one of 22 on the field, 10 helping you and 11 trying to stop you from succeeding. Are you up for it?" Jared warned him. "It will be my chance to put up or shut up, Coach. I feel so confident that I can do this, it will be my test and I know I'll be man enough to say I CAN'T do it, if it works out that way. I'll accept their evaluation." Marvin answered confidently. "OK, remember that I'll take their recommendation as gospel, they are that successful." Coach said extending his hand for a shake of agreement. Marvin Hudson shook his coach's hand and was overjoyed that he had shown his enthusiasm enough to convince him he wanted the job and challenge. "Let me go put on my football cleats and get you to do some more serious throwing. I want to see that arm, but I'm afraid in sneakers I'll screw up my knees or pull a muscle if I slip." Jared said as he went back to the car to change. When he came back to the field they did a little catch and talked. Once they both felt they were fully loose Coach Winslow told Marvin a few play numbers and ran loose versions of the patterns, each ending with Coach being hit in the chest with a heavy Marvin Hudson throw. "Marvin, how many passes do you throw a day?" Coach asked, puzzled by how fast his arm-strength had developed. "At least 50, but I take my fourth day off. At first my arm was hanging after a couple weeks and I took 4 days off and when I started to throw again, I was stronger." Hudson noted. "Ahh, tired arm syndrome. You get that from overworking the muscle, not giving it time to recover. Then once you do it's toned from the stretch and it bounces back quickly. Baseball pitchers get it often in the spring just before they get to the "free and easy" stage. The way I've taught you to torque the ball out of your hand with weight shift and wrist snap you're using about half of what a baseball pitcher uses." Coach observed. "So, you'll let me know when and where I'll have to go for this Quarterback Camp?" Marv asked. "Yes, I know one particular good one who owes me a favor. He'll comp it to me for promotional endorsements. You put the money upfront for the travel and I'll get it back to you without breaking any NCAA rules. It's a loophole they are well aware of, don't worry." Jared told him confidently. After a pretty fair workout Jared Winslow was winded, worn and feeling everyone of his years. He gave Marvin a hearty handshake and gave him the ball he had brought with him. "That's a new ball and I'll leave you another. Once a ball gets too easy to handle and begins to fit into your hand, switch to a new ball. Get confident with one that's a bit more of a job to handle. There'll be all new ones in games." Jared said as they hopped into his little car and sped back up to the farm house. Just as he was letting him out Jared grabbed his arm. "Marvin, the chance of you walking in and taking the starting QB job is very remote. But having your sights on it is wonderful. But, face the fact that some kid may walk into camp with experience that we can translate into wins for the team. You'll never be out of a job if that happens. You won't be my 2nd string, you'll be my third so you can keep your job on defense if need be. Personally I have every confidence in you that you'll start our first game, a dress scrimmage against Boston College, no matter who I have in mind as my starter. I need to get you some game experience. Once you get a playbook, Coach Ruffen tells me you're a fast learn. Now you know an offensive playbook is more complex then defensive sets, but I don't think you'll have a problem." "Coach, I promise I won't let you down. You'll get a maximum effort from me. If I don't end up starting it won't be from lack of effort." Marvin assured him as he got out of the car with his 2 new footballs and waved goodbye to his coach. ------- Chapter 17 Jared couldn't wait to get home and shower after his little workout with Marv Hudson. It was invigorating to get out and run a bit, catch a ball and fill his lungs with the rich country air. He would work himself into better shape as practice began in earnest but he anticipated being a bit sore the following day. While in the shower he heard the phone ring and cursed the probability. Once out and dried off he went to the blinking machine and pressed the play button. "Good afternoon Coach, I hadn't expected you to be so hard to ff... , so hard to FIND this afternoon." JoAnne Zyrypski said as she stumbled over an intentional faux pas. "I have something for you that I know you want, that I would love to provide, but I can't seem to hook up with you. Your tickets, pre boarding passes, and itinerary are all here for you at your office. Right after you left I checked my Inbox and the messenger must have left them off while we met this morning. Nice to have someone putting something in your box to fulfill your needs." She continued until there was a long pause leaving Jared to think her message was over, but the light was still blinking. "Jared, I won't stalk you or anything stupid like that, it's just I'm not used to being turned down. If your girl has a man that's true ... I'm jealous of her, there's not many of you around, but I would be glad to lead you down that path. I wouldn't steal you, only borrow and possibly teach you a few things she would be happy to have you know." He decided to try and nip this problem in the bud right away as he scanned last calls and dialed her number. "Hello Coach, I thought you might call." She said obviously using her caller ID. "JoAnne, I find you very alluring and very tempting. You are certainly a very beautiful woman whom, I'm sure, can get most men she desires. It would just be a bad move for me right now. I've made a commitment of the heart to properly pursue this new relationship and even a meaningless fling would weigh heavy on my conscience. I'm flattered you find me desirable, but please, for the sake of the school, our jobs and our futures, please don't pursue this any further. I want to be able to work with you without any further distractions." Jared said to her, getting right to the point. "Coach, I told you I wouldn't stalk you, and I meant it. I just wanted to make sure you knew what I had in mind. I've been the victim of a cheating boyfriend more than once and hate the feeling of deception perpetrated on me. I applaud you for being so true and I can say your girl is lucky. No harm, no foul?" She said, almost as if rehearsed, already knowing what his response would be. "I'll take you at your word, ... no harm, no foul. I'll pick up my tickets and stuff when I get back to my office in the morning." Jared told her before abruptly hanging up. Jared had to admit that she was quite a temptation, but Meaghan was more than he could handle and screwing around was just not his thing. His previous dalliance with Ann Comeche may have exhibited a bit a poor judgment, but it was nothing that would hurt any feelings at the time and though they were co-workers, she was not exactly a subordinate of Jared. Besides all that, Ann was very discreet and career minded. JoAnne, on the other hand had nothing to lose. Jared Winslow had sold his program of winning to many locker rooms of young impressionable players. Most were players he already knew or recruited and he let that program sell itself up the line to the coaches, fans and school administration to the point where he had a free reign and constant benefit of doubt on decisions he made. With this jump to Division One in a fledgling conference with a team with established coaches, a large group of returning players he had never worked with, and a supportive, yet skeptical, administration, he had his hands full. During the next 3 weeks he had to sell his program, his football doctrine and formula to the heart of the team that would make or break his career at NEAT. He had already talked extensively with his coaches about how things would run, but now he would be one on one with them to really sell the package and then use them as the "salesmen" to bring it to the team. He understood that some players would be skeptics themselves, especially those who came in thinking they would play 4 years for Sherm Woodard, an NFL coaching veteran with contacts and influence in the professional league. What Jared had going for him was the hype that the sports networks placed on his hiring. Although he had not proved himself on the big stage, his credential was impressive enough to merit the publicity. With few exceptions, every stop along the way included meeting the family of the player, usually having a meal where free and open talk let everyone know where Winning Winslow was coming from, and where their sibling, son or daughter was headed. Both the player and his family knew that Jared's door was always open to frank and private discussion of problems concerning the player, the team or one of his coaches. The only caveat in the policy was when a player didn't like the way he was being utilized he had to come with his coach and be straightforward and forthright over his issues. There was no going over anyone's head in Jared Winslow's football world. "Man Up, or Man OUT" would be on the door to his field office and on his desk. It dove-tailed with his work credo; Know. Know your job, ask questions until you do. Trust. Trust in yourself, trust in your skills, trust in your teammates and their skills. If unsure of anything, ASK QUESTIONS. To have a doubt in your abilities, or a doubt as to where you stood, you shouldn't be on the field until those doubts are allayed. Every player on the field always knew what was expected of him or her. One project Jared wanted to work on was Scott Claxton. He was the previous years kicker who was going to find himself out of a job. He wasn't a very good kicker, but he was all the team had before the arrival of Oksana Cushman. Now Winslow had a sizable lad in Claxton who was in magnificent shape and well attuned to the rigors of practice and team discipline. However, he was afraid of contact. Taking hits in practice from teammates was one thing, but full pad, game opponent contact left him with a fear of being hurt. During the time he and Defensive Coach Frank Ruffen spent with Claxton and his family on a Sunday afternoon in late July, Jared was able to get alone with Scott, walking away while Coach Ruffen dazzled his parents and brother with football stories. "You know you're not going to kick, right?" Jared opened with as they walked away from the porch they had been talking on... "I kind of figured that, and was surprised you even wanted to talk to me." He answered. "I wanted to talk to you because you're a member of my team. A young man your size who wants to play football shouldn't be relegated to the kicking taxi. Have you ever thought about playing in the defensive backfield where YOU can inflict a little pain, steal some balls and help leave your offense in good position." Jared asked. "Umm, ... I ... I wouldn't fit ... I don't like..." He began to stammer as they reached the end of his yard and stepped onto on Nature Path used for biking and walking... "I know, your special teams coach said you didn't like contact. I'll tell you the truth; the first thing I said was that I didn't want any Nancy-boys on my team. I hadn't expected to see such an imposing figure when I finally met you today. Out of your pads you're still a big boy and I know from the coaches, you have good speed. Taking hits is a part of the game you should just learn to deal with. No one LIKES getting hurt, but it is part of the game. If it's pain you're worried about, you ought to realize how the adrenaline in your body will prepare you and relieve you when you get the rush of contact. If you were to work on defense, you could utilize your speed and size. I really want you to come to camp with an open mind with no thought about kicking. I have two girls who can boot the ball for us and both need to be afraid of the contact they could see, but they aren't afraid." The Coach went on as they walked away further. "I'm embarrassed." Claxton said stopping, a lump forming in his throat. "DON'T be embarrassed!! But this was why I wanted to get you away from everyone. You have something you have to face up to and you just need a push. Yes, you'll take a hit or two on defense and you'll learn to deal with it. After a few of those I promise you that you'll see everything I'm talking about. Let all your fears out and show them you can conquer this and I'll bet you'll be begging for the ball by next season. Maybe you can play both ways. Where ever your fear came from, I can help you beat it. By my own rules you should not be allowed to even show up for practice this year since you avoided both mini-camps with lame excuses. I'm willing to go out for you if you're willing to try for me. You've seen all the hype my hiring got for the school, if you do well it won't go unnoticed. You're a big strong savvy kid. Each coach, to a man, dissed you for being timid, but not one could say anything else about your character as a teammate. I believe you have the ability to make the team at another position and I'm offering you this opportunity. Work for me and I'll work for you, but under the circumstances I'll tell you, you better show your intestinal fortitude to me early. I have no time to baby anyone. I have roughly 3 weeks to create a team that will compete at a higher level than last year. Think about my challenge and be at practice when it opens. If you're not there the first day, I'll consider this trip a waste of time." The Coach told him firmly with a finger snapping toward him to make each point as he preached and challenged. "So what do I do?" Scott asked, excited, but wary. "On the first day of practice when I call for my defenders to go with Coach Ruffen after my indoctrination speech, get up with a hoot and howl like they all do and go with him. Listen, work hard, and do your best. You know your teammates are going to be surprised and those who think they can beat you out for a position will test you. Either meet their challenge or turn tail and go to class. Just show us you're willing to let yourself excel. YOU KNOW you have it in you, I KNOW you have it in you. You just have to show yourself you have the balls to overcome all of this. Now. Let's get back to the rest of them so they know we didn't get lost, heh, heh." Jared said with a hearty pat on the back to young Claxton. "You really think I'm big enough to play defense?" Scott asked with doubts. "You're on my roster as 6 foot 3 inches and 230 pounds. Your uniform pants are size 36. Don't you realize that you probably bigger than most guys on the team? You're not soft and you must work out." Jared said amazed he was selling himself so short. "I lift and run a lot. Heart disease runs in my family so I work at it. My grandfather died at 45 and my Dad has had a heart attack already." He answered. "You'll have to have a physical to get into football practice and as long as you pass that, don't worry. I'll have a specialist do a work-up on you. Maybe I can have that done after the first practice." Winslow said as he jotted down a note into his spiral pad. "If that's where your fears come from, we'll take care of it right away. He'll call you to get a medical history from your doctor, just be sure you give him permission. Fair enough?" "Yes, sure, fair enough, but ... uhh ... just don't mention any of this to my parents. My Dad doesn't want me to worry, he feels like it's all his fault, passing along this bad heart." Scott said in a low voice. "Scott, you don't know you HAVE a bad heart. You may have a lot of your Mom's dominant genes as well." Jared replied quietly as they got back with the rest of the family. As they blended back into the conversation before the Coach and his assistant left Scott Claxton felt somewhat of a rush at the challenge put before him ... His Dad always asked him what he would do if there was ever a draft and he had to go into service. Scott's Dad fought in the first Gulf War and knew what it was like to be home one day and then asked to be a killing machine the next. He also knew the stories his own Dad told him about Vietnam. He was well aware that his son was ill-prepared for that kind of situation, and it worried him that he wasn't tough enough... Jared wasn't really sure what was in Scott Claxton's heart and character, but the fact he was built so solid told him something. He played a hunch and apparently struck a nerve. He wasn't convinced he could make a solid defender out of Scott, but he was pretty sure he could be an impact somewhere on the team until he learned a position. Ideally, he could take the defensive backfield spot of Marv Hudson. Fast feet and good instincts were needed for that spot, however Claxton's upper body strength should make him a sure tackler. He hoped he had opened the eye of the tiger in him. The rest of the three weeks were spent getting to know each of his assistants and having some sort of personal rapport with each player. Committed new recruits were the easiest to get aboard a gung-ho program, while some of the others needed the familiarity of the assistant to open a few doors. Perhaps the most tested he felt was with the parents and family of the girls he invited to camp who, with little effort, were going to make the team unless they were seriously challenged. Julie Murcer's father made him feel a little like he was asking for her hand rather than play football. He demanded and got great assurances to his daughters safety in the locker room. Julie herself was greatly embarrassed by her fathers worry but understood the situation. The family of Oksana Cushman was quite different in the fact they wanted her talent to be the story, not her gender. They correctly assumed that the team would make a special place for their daughter to change and suit up and that standards of decorum would exist. Her father insisted that her presence should not change the overall "locker room" atmosphere. Both girls were from "Friday Night Lights" type programs and didn't want doilies for their daughters. Coach Winslow asked each family to refuse to take part in any feature stories on the girls from media outlets until at least after the season started. "There is no sense in putting pressure on either girl like that or in bringing attention to the mixed locker room where outsiders might try to defend something that doesn't need defending. If the girls have a problem they can come to me, not the ACLU or NOW. Your daughter should be a part of the team, not a sideshow." During the whirlwind tour Jared was able to be with Meaghan 3 different nights as they spun through Chicago or the area each week. The Windy City served as a hub on each tour almost as if it were planned. Jared felt uncomfortable leaving his assistant alone on those evenings but he did explain his relationship with his "lady friend" and they understood. Only one of the visits to Meg were conjugal, Declan was there for the first and last week, but on the middle one, Meg was home alone waiting for her lover to call. At the time Jared was not aware that Declan was spending the week with his father so when he went to the door he was surprised to not see the tyke waiting for him, the door was instead closed. He knocked and it quickly opened with the smiling Meaghan waiting for him. She was wearing a N.E.A.T. t-shirt Jared had left behind that went down long enough to just cover her bottom. Her dirty blond hair was longer than it had been since he first saw her on the "Meet Boge Hollins" trip. It was in a sort of shag reminding him of Meg Ryan in one of her movies. She was cuter than the pixie-like movie star and certainly had a better body with rounder, more prominent features. She jumped into his arms and they had a long kiss as he bent to her tiptoeing form. She pulled back to tell him a doe-eyed "I've missed you soooooooo much" before planting her mouth to his again. She broke the kiss never losing eye contact and said in a smoky voice, "I really hope you can spend the night with me. I want to wake up with you." "I don't know Meg, I have a 7:45 charter to Madison and it's a wild day with trips to Lansing and Indianapolis." Jared said cautiously, although there was nothing more he wanted. "We can go to bed early and set the alarm for 5:30 and get you back to the hotel by 6:30." "I HAVE my bag in the rental and don't need to go to the hotel, let me call Jordy, he's the assistant traveling with me, and see if he's OK with meeting me at the airport." Jared said whipping out his cell phone. As he talked with Jordy Alford, his Offensive Coordinator, he watched Meaghan go into the kitchen and pour some wine, setting the glasses on the coffee table as she puttered around waiting for him to finish. As she moved about he became aware that the t-shirt was ALL she was wearing. He knew from her fresh smell she had just got out of the shower or bath. Jordy understood the situation and was quite familiar with traveling through O'Hare and agreed to meet at the Executive Air kiosk. They would fly to Madison, Wisconsin for a mid-morning meeting with one of his few seniors, an offensive lineman, Greg Alusik and his family. Then they were on to Lansing, Michigan for a late lunch with Kemmer Brooks. When firming up their meeting Kemmer's heavily accented German mother insisted on making their lunch, serving her German specialties. Kemmer had actually been a highlight of the NEAT team finishing in the top 25 in the nation in offensive yards. He could run from the halfback position as well as be a sure handed receiver out of the backfield or wide slot. Not especially large or fast, his greatest gift was his sure hands and ability to stutter step and change directions quickly. Hoping to not have eaten too much, the Executive Air charter was on to Indianapolis where it was originating a charter to Las Vegas. Jordy and Jared would miss that gambling junket to have a 7 o'clock dinner with Jack "Whiskey" Daniels, a senior Center, and his parents. Daniels hoped to complete his 4 years of Division 1, hopefully still not missing one offensive minute with injury, would get him a shot in the NFL draft. They would fly commercial the following morning to Albany, New York where the rest of their trip was via a rented SUV. But now was time to put the grueling meeting schedule on the back burner and give some time to what he was beginning to think was the love of his life. She looked as delicious as ever and was obviously ready and waiting for him. Jared hung up his phone and returned it to his pocket before taking off his coat. "You smell so good and I have a days worth of travel on me. Let me get my bag and take a shower." He whined to her. "No, no, no! Just freshen up a little and come here. You can shower in a little while. I want to hold you NOW!" She whined right back. Jared went to the kitchen and ran the cold water and splashed his face a few times before wiping it with a paper towel. Then he ran the hot water and took a drop of dish liquid in his hands and washed them soaping up half way to his elbows after rolling up his sleeves. He dried his hands and went to the sofa as she handed him his wine and knelt beside him pushing her glass to his lips as he took the hint and offered his to her. "You must have watched a corny movie this weekend." He chuckled nodding to the TV that played a light jazz music channel he could barely hear. "No silly, YOU did that to me with champagne and Dixie cups on prom night. Remember, right after the first time you made love to me?" She reminded him. "Oh man, I can't believe I was that corny!" He giggled as he sipped from the glass she offered. "That was NOT corny. It was so sweet. I had held you in my hands a few times and never thought you would ever try to put it inside of me. When I showed you the rubber in your coat pocket I thought you would shit." She said giggling and trying to sip from the glass he offered. "A friend of mine said you would cum before you got the condom on, but you lasted a long time and I think I actually came 3 times before you did. That was when I thought you had done it before. I read in a sex book I snuck from my Mom had that said women never orgasmed their first time and that a man could never do as well as your own fingers, but you were awesome." Meaghan moved the glasses in their hands aside to get her face to Jared's again and she pasted her mouth over his for a long deep kiss, pressing her body tight to his. She came up for air once to remove the glass from his hand and hers and place them on the side table. She kissed him deeply again and spread her knees over him trailing her kiss to his ear where she begged in a whisper. "Put your fingers inside of me. I'm so wet, I need to feel you." Jared didn't need to be coaxed as he shifted his hands and brought one between her legs to her hairless slit and plunged two inside of her while his other hand dropped to the globes of her ass and rubbed across it and clumsily squeezed the roundness of one side, his index finger grazing her little asshole. "There too! Push in there!" She gasped as she hugged her head to the side of his and squealed in his ear at the intrusions in both her holes. Jared knew right away that her back hole had been greased with some sort of lube. She was happy and horny and ready to give herself. To be free of the stress of travel and work and be with this woman, whom he thought he loved and who wanted to give herself entirely was as exciting as he thought he could take. She shook and shimmied, moaning in his ear as his fingers diddled her two openings. "I'm not afraid to say without reservation, that I love you and miss you when you leave. I want to be with you someday." She moaned through shivers and a hiccoughed whisper. He thrust his fingers deep into her and whispered a quiet "Me too" as he shrugged his torso a bit after feeling discomfort from the large problem that had grown in his pants. She realized the problem and was about to give up his fingers and let him get his problem out of his pants when the phone rang. Her eyes darted to the TV screen which showed the caller ID information. "FUCK!" She said jumping up from her pleasures. "That's my in-laws, they have Declan I bet." Meg got the phone leaving Jared there with two soiled hands and an erection painfully filling his pants. As her saw her conversation get deeper, she mostly listening, he got up and went once again to the kitchen and rinsed his hands. He retrieved his keys from his pocket and shook them towards her face to show he was going to get his suitcase. She nodded knowingly as she continued a series of "uh-huh's" and "I see's" to the caller. By the time he got back into the house she hadn't moved and was still listening causing Jared concern. "Is Declan OK?" He asked lowly, getting her attention. She nodded forcefully and asked her mother-in-law to hold on one second, covering the mouthpiece. "This is about Matt, Declan's fine." She said before saying "OK" into the phone and continuing to listen. Jared took his suitcase to the bedroom and opened looking for his "morning kit" of essentials like shaver, after shave and bathing gel and went into the shower after fishing out a t-shirt and underwear. He stripped out of his gritty clothes and found her shower stepping in to feel the cool water pour over his body. He didn't need a cold shower, his erection having passed for the moment, but enjoyed cool, just past warm, showers once the hot weather arrived. After quickly washing he flicked on his electric wet/dry shaver to take the sandpaper shadow from his face in the cool water. He stepped out and dried, slipping into the t-shirt and shorts he pulled out of his bag. He splashed on after-shave and washed his hands before walking back to the living room to find Meaghan just hanging up and sitting in a confused stupor. "So what's the big deal? It had nothing to do with Declan?" He wondered to her. "No, no. Apparently Chicago has it's own Enron type scandal and my ex-husband is at the middle of it. He's a lot smarter than I gave him credit for to get involved, and a lot dumber than anyone ever thought for not throwing people he doesn't even work with anymore under the bus. Six others at MidFaRe have been indicted and one turned Federal witness. That was supposed to be Matt but he was holding out for a better deal. Meanwhile somebody else flipped on him. Unless he's hidden it, he's the only one who wasn't lining his pockets, unless he gambled it all away like his father thinks. This explains so much about the last few weeks." Meg babbled out almost in a stupor over the news. "What do you mean?" Jared asked. "I kept getting e-mails from my ID protection account that my financial information was being accessed over and over again and all that was ever listed as the inquirer was Confidential Government Agency. I also felt I was being followed at times and a few neighbors had people ask questions about me. I mean, if Matt got away with a lot of cash, I never saw it. This house was totally paid for by my Father and Matt and I NEVER even had a real nice car. I still owe 3 years on the car I have now. I hope and I guess they've been convinced I'm not hiding or sheltering any money anyplace." She told him, still trying to put things together in her head. "I thought Matt was fired for gambling on the job and generally not showing up." Jared asked confused. "Apparently the woman who I trusted to give me the real scoop on Matt was in on it too. She got the others to get Matt fired because he was flaunting around the money and gambling like a drunken sailor. She helped keep the phony books and says they even talked about having Matt killed. She was the one who flipped on all the others,. But even so, she's going to jail. Since Matt played games with the Feds and led them on wild goose chases before they went to her with a deal, they want him to get nailed as hard as any of them. He portrayed himself as a patsy, but he helped put the whole scam together, it seems. The FOX news will be on earliest and will have the whole story." Meaghan said as she broke down and cried. "Didn't he ever think of his son ONCE during all of this? I know now he didn't give a shit about me except to service him. The prosecutors and the defense lawyer that's been appointed for him told his mother and father that Matt may have either hidden or gambled away 5 million dollars or more." She said drying her eyes as Jared offered her another glass of wine. She took the wine and turned on the TV just as the news was getting ready to come on. True to her mother and father-in-laws words, it was the lead story as the news anchor began: "Lies, deceit and thievery rock a Chicago Exchange standard. Commonly known as MidFaRe and trading under symbol MFR, Mid West Farm Fuels and Recovery, was known as a progressive safe investment. MidFaRe was buying, selling and trading commodities and futures much in the style of Enron. They backed and sold new developments in the transporting and distributing of ethanol and gas derivatives from farm products throughout the mid-west. They also financed developing, building, and operating power plants, pipelines, and it also dealt with rule of law and other infrastructure worldwide involved with food to fuel projects. Now some of the firms top executives, as well as some of their savvy underlings who helped them cover, foil and cheat investors out of over 100 million dollars, are all under Federal indictment and may face as many or more State charges. Some local retirement plans as well as City of Chicago employee pensions are funded by MFR. All trading on the stock is suspended as holders of the stock in retirement portfolios hold their breath." The news anchor went on to give the names of company executives with accompanying footage of the "perp-walks" out of the MidFaRe building, ending with: "Also indicted was Matthew MacDonald who actually left MFR over a year ago and was not living the in the high-style of his fellow conspirators, but is said to be one of the main cogs in the cover-up that fooled investors and regulators while funds were being spirited away. He is charged with 4 counts of embezzlement, 3 counts of fraud, and numerous counts of forgery, money laundering, extortion and racketeering." Meaghan hung her head and looked to Jared. "I'm sorry for all of this, ruining the mood of what was supposed to be our evening. I better call my Dad and tell him every thing I know so he won't be totally shocked. Matt's father is making sure Declan is away from the TV and won't see a paper, but sooner or later he'll find out his Father was a criminal. Listen, you have a big day ahead of you tomorrow. Why don't you go in and go to bed? Set the alarm for 5 or 5:30 and we'll get you to the airport on time." "I can stay up and comfort you, don't be foolish." He responded. "No, please go to bed and leave me alone to talk to Dad. I'll be saying things and talking about things that you don't want to hear, at least for now. Do that for me, please?" Meg asked him with a little kiss. "Sure, you know best, and Meaghan, ... I understand." Jared said wishing he could do more. Despite the excitement of the evening and the unfulfilled feeling in his loins, he fell asleep right away, exhausted from the day of travel and stress. He slept soundly until he became aware of Meaghan in the bed, tossing and turning. It took a moment or two for him to realize where he was and the situation before he spoke to her. "You OK? Having a hard time falling asleep?" He said in the dark. "Yeah, too much excitement, but my Dad made me feel better. He put things in perspective and made a point I hadn't thought of. If they throw Matt's sorry ass in jail I'll be rid of him and be able to move away without any guilt." Meaghan said with a quiver in her voice. "What about a father for Declan?" Jared wondered aloud, wishing he hadn't. "That's the happy and sad of it." She said starting to cry and seeking Jared's shoulder to cry on. "I would be happy if you and I worked out and Declan thought of you as his father. I would even be happy if he sought out my Dad as the father figure in his life... (now crying heavily) ... but I just know you and I are going to be forever. Give it time Jarry, you'll see." She said between the tears and sobbing. "I know, I know. I believe it too. Don't ever think I don't." He consoled her thinking she may have had doubts about him. "But ... but ... what do I tell Declan when his Father comes looking for him 20 years from now. That's what he would have gotten even with a plea. He could do 30 or more if all the charges stick. My Dad says maybe Matt will let who ever I marry adopt Declan for the good of his boy. If he's really sorry and repentant, he just might. If he ever loved me, he'll do that." She said spilling more tears and opening her heart to some of her real feelings. Jared held her tight and preened her hair, kissing her shoulder, then her cheek trying to comfort her. "You understand my getting emotional about Matt, caring so much about all this. I DID love him dearly at one time, but I still loved you even then. Will you ever understand that?" She said crying and confused and mentally exhausted. "I knew that right away when you started telling me tonight, you know, ... that you still cared for someone you loved some much at one time. Whether you still loved me back then? ... I don't think you're just saying it and I can understand that you always harbored feelings for me, but..." Jared said hesitating not to injure her feelings. "Jared, you might not want to believe it but... " She started to say before bolting up in bed and throwing herself over Jared. It was at this point that he realized she was not wearing anything as her mouth sought out his and she thrust her tongue into it. Her bare breasts ground against his bare chest as he struggled to meet her passionate kiss, but she was clearly the aggressor. He felt the thickness in his loins rising to meet her movements a she ground herself on him. She pulled her mouth from him and spit out, "You KNOW what you were going to get tonight." She reached under him and pushed his under shorts down until she held his cock in her hand. "My pussy may not be as wet as before but something else is still ready from when I planned this night." She said as she struggled to push him into her little flower. "NO, NO, Meaghan! I want this to be special!!" He said as he rolled her off him. "I'm not going to let you hurt yourself trying to make a point that doesn't need to be made. I know you prepared yourself, but that was two hours ago." Jared said worried she was doing something to punish herself for the actions she never took with her feelings. She was mad he had thwarted her efforts, but understood. She reached behind herself to the shelf on the headboard and touched an instant "on/off by touch" nightlight that gave the bed area a soft glow. He was on one elbow looking down at her instantly seeing how beautiful she looked, her womanly breasts framed over her crossed arms. Her lips were pursed tight and her eyes were averted to the side. "This is something I wanted to get out of the way. I can't feel like I've given myself to you and proved you're mine and I'm yours until I do." She said not looking him in the eye. With her teeth gritted, she continued speaking through them, "I gave that, soon to be, criminal bastard my ass so many times that I got to like it. I did it so he would be happy and not be so depressed about things that happened with his job, and so I wouldn't get pregnant doing so when I couldn't use the pill and he refused to use condoms. Now when I get the urge to play alone, and believe me when you're gone from me I get that urge a lot, I sometimes want to touch myself there, feel something there, but I only think of him when I do. I want to think of you Jared. I wanted this to be a sexy night full of everything we missed, me and you, and fuckin' Matt ruined that too!" "We'll have lots of nights to live and love together. Having to go through crisis' like this together help build and strengthen bonds. We can have all of the sex you want tonight, but how much of it will be out of spite? We'll have more nights when Declan won't be here, and maybe nights soon when you'll be in my bed, back home ... our bed back home. His stupidity and greed is what put you back in my arms, back where you belong." He said hoping his words would soothe her. Her face brightened as she lost the rigidity in her jaw and turned her eyes to him. "Is this some roundabout invitation or proposal?" She asked with a smirk of sorts in her look back to him. "Take it as you might. If you have to ask or wonder how I feel about you I've done a poor job conveying my feelings." He said just before he bent over her and kissed her full on the lips. She spread her arms to welcome him and felt his hairy chest press to her breasts. She swooned and shifted under him as she felt his hardness at her inner thigh. Unlike a few minutes previous, she felt herself getting wet with fresh dew from her passions. She shifted her bottom and punched her torso to him, his cock sliding in her to the hilt. They both gasped a welcome relief at the belated intrusion. "I doubt I'm fertile tonight, but don't get too frisky in there, as good as you feel in me. Not to ruin a mood, but I have to go through and track one cycle before I go back on a pill or patch, so I'm without birth control." She whispered, regrettably. "So, that's why you had some other ideas tonight." He groaned back to her. "Yes, I'd love to have your baby, but not quite right away." She said brightly. Jared began to move within her and she instantly responded, one hand grabbing his arm as the other arm wrapped around his back. "God, your cock feels so good in me, I'm going to come in no time. Stay in control baby." She said as he sped up a bit more with his thrusts and her breath quickened coupled with little grunts and squeals from the back of her throat. "Oh Goddddddd, I'm gonna cummmm! After I do give me that cock to suck. I WANT THAT JUICE!!!" She ranted as she began to press up to meet his thrusts. Jared was still enjoying her pussy seemingly massaging his prick as he slid in and out of her tight snatch. He hadn't reached that magic time yet and was glad he was holding off, she felt soooo good! She sucked a hard breath and bore down, holding that breath as orgasm swept through her. Her face turned red, then an almost scary white before she shrieked out for them both to hear it bounce off the bedroom walls. It was all Jared needed to hear to know he was going to start his own spasm. He shuddered and groaned in regret as he pulled from her and quickly, from his knees, shot two fingers inside her and pushed his thumb to her clit, quickly working the fingers. "Oh no, on no, OH NO!! Yessssssss!" She screamed wide eyed at Jared as he wrung another orgasm from her sensitive little pussy before pushing his hands away. She covered her pussy quickly with one hand and she scooted from under him and turned to get his pussy wet cock in her mouth. She hungrily pushed her lips and mouth over him and fucked her mouth a few strokes on him before grasping the base with her two fingers and worked them up and down leaving the head sealed in her mouth as she tongued it. "Oh God, I'm cumming now!! GEEZ, UGH, UGH, UGH, AHHHHhhhhhhhh!" He wailed as he drew his cum up his cock and down her throat quickly. She nursed his tip lovingly until she could coax no more of his spunk from him. She fell off to the inside of his leg rolling over and looking up to his face with a coy smile. "If you were in my bed every night you might not have to go through that torture when I see you." She said with a wink before reverting her eyes to center on his manly equipment, drawing up her hands to fondle his penis and sack. "Would you let me shave all of this, leave you nice and clean? I was desperate for entertainment and MJ loaned me one of their inspirational pornies and all the men are shorn to a shadow or more. It's very sexy, and leaves so much more to tongue." She said with a wicked smile. "I can tell you as a woman that I feel so much more sexy without a bush and more lickable space." "Putting it that way, I might consider it." He grinned, almost embarrassed at the thought. Then he quickly pulled himself out of her reach and went off to the toilet and quickly returned. "We have to get to sleep. We both have big days ahead of us. I'll bet you'll have press and investigators at your door early. You might consider taking Declan and hiding out someplace." He said as he settled into the bed she had just rearranged. "No, my Dad and I talked about that and we figure it's best to just face the music. I have nothing to hide except for the fact I was stupid and unaware my ex-husband was gambling away peoples fortunes while we lived paycheck to paycheck here at home. Of course, I can only imagine how his parents feel. They bailed him out of all of his gambling debts, not knowing he had his hands on millions more while he just about broke them. Then they drive 5 hours from Columbus to Chicago every week to be with Declan while he goes to work, thinking he's rehabbing his life. All he was doing was waiting for the house of cards to fall. It's just... " She prattled on until Jared stopped her. "Meaghan, just stop. Wailing on about the ifs, buts and the would of, could of, and should haves will only keep you from sleeping. You couldn't have known, and he didn't want help. Let's you and I move on and start that by getting some sleep." He said as he touched and petted her face. She slid down into the bed and snuggled up to Jared's arm and became quiet, closing her eyes and knowing he was right. Jared reached back and touched the bed light off and whispered an "I love you" to her as they both drifted off into an exhaustive sleep. ------- Chapter 18 It was July 26th and Jared Winslow's Press Release announcing the practice schedule was ready for release on August 1st for the Sunday papers and sports sections throughout Vermont and New England. It was being prepared to mail to all invited team members and recruits as well as any walk-ons who had made themselves known. It would otherwise be posted at the Coaches Hall. As he had "promised" on his visits with players a few weeks earlier, it would be grueling and would prove just how much you might want the privilege of playing Division One NCAA football. With NorthEast 10 teams starting a week later than other NCAA programs it was designed to put an onus on players to report in shape and to save them and the school money. They would only have to find 3 nights of lodging before the 1st official day of students being allowed in dorms, instead of 9. The schools would also not have to feed the team the extra week. The streamlined regimen was discussed for a few years before the NCAA finally found it's guinea pig conference. The NCAA was hoping to cut the NCAA acclimatization process from 10 days of consecutive practices to 4 before pads were worn. Teams that seldom or never earned bowl monies felt they were at a disadvantage with 10 days of acclimatization. Now, that monetary playing field might be leveled some. The 10 day light practice (acclimatization) before pads was supposed to cut down on injuries, and it hadn't. The letter was simple and direct about what was expected of them and made no apologies about the full practice schedule. Friday, August 14 - 8:00-12:00 Noon. 3:00 p.m. Walk-ons report for weed out Saturday, August 15 - 8:00-12:00 Noon. 3:00 p.m. Walk-ons report for weed out Sunday, August 16 — (8:00-9:00 Team Worship at Coaches Hall for those who wish) Practice 9:00-Noon. Monday, August 17- 12:00-5:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 18 — 8:00-11:00 a.m. and 1:30-4:00 p.m. (first full day of pads) Wednesday, August 19 — Classes begin. All practices from hereafter are inside Meditek Stadium and are CLOSED Thursday, August 20 - 3:30-6:30 p.m. Friday, August 21 - 3:30-6:30 p.m. Saturday, August 22 - 8:00-11:00 a.m. and 1:30-4:00 p.m Sunday, August 23 — 3:00-5:00 p.m. Report to Coaches Hall —Playbook Study Monday, August 24 — 3:30-6:30 p.m. First cuts Tuesday, August 25 - 9:15-11:30 a.m. and 3:30-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 26 — No practice. Schedule class make-ups 3:00-7:00 p.m. All Profs or tutors will be available Thursday, August 27 — 8:00-12:00 Noon. Team lunch 12:00-1:00 p.m. Cuts and Playbook Study 1:30-3:30 Friday, August 28 — 3:30-5:30 Scrimmage prep Saturday, August 29 — Report 11:00 a.m. Meditek Stadium Scrimmage Boston College 1:00 p.m. Sunday, August 30 — Report to Coaches Hall 5:30 with Playbook for team report card. You are cut without your Playbook, no exceptions. If you made the team thus far you will given the practice schedule for the week leading up to our 2nd scrimmage vs. Holy Cross. Curfew and grade management will be enforced from this day forward. No excuses. After keeping the two week practice schedule AND classes you will have graduated from boys and girls to student-athlete TEAM players. Look out for each other. You represent N.E.A.T. and yourselves. You will be in the National Sports Spotlight feature on NCAA Week on ESPN. They'll watch us prepare and then review our game at Holy Cross. Let's show them we mean business. Coach Winslow The coach had many things going on his life's burner but everything was advancing at a smooth pace. For one, Brian Faraday was in the States and working out daily with Ger Nietczyk and staying at his ranch, working for his keep. Nietczyk had a ranch with llama and a few bison. He also produced maple syrup and maple products from the tree's on his land. Also Marvin Hudson had gone to Quarterback Camp and was so impressive that the instructor called Jared to tell him he may have a winner. Marv was flying back out to Tulsa to take his "live" test the next day. As for his love life, at her request, he hadn't seen Meaghan since his last trip through Chicago while doing one on ones. When he made that last trip, after the MidFaRe scandal broke there were reporters and photographers around and Meaghan felt guilty she had brought Jared into the fray. They spoke daily on the phone and she kept him updated. If Matt pled guilty without a trial on the Federal charges, they might be able to get the State's charges dropped. However, they still believed he had a pile of money hidden somewhere. He would have to come up with that before any deal was struck. Meg believed he put away a stash for Declan. She was going to talk with him and hope he might give up that cache. His best hope of jail time was 25 years, it seemed. The forgery, money laundering and the extortion counts were ultimately very provable, all linked to fraud and illegal interstate transfer of federally controlled securities. The 25 years seemed to be a sweet deal, according to his own attorney who had brokered the deal. However, it all hinged on IF Matt gave them what they wanted, and that was real cold hard cash that could just not be accounted for. She wanted an assurance from Matt that if she remarried her husband could adopt Declan, with Matt rescinding his rights as a father. It would rake embarrassment and confusion from Declan's life. Declan was too young to understand the situation now and if he NEVER saw his Dad again he might be able to go through life with few, if any, questions as to why Matt neglected his commitment as a parent and did his nefarious deeds. As much as she knew it might hurt Matt, it would be part of his punishment for his deeds which he was willing to accept. His parents even agreed it might be best, although they still wanted to be able to see Declan. Meaghan's former in-laws certainly considered her more a daughter than they did Matt a son after his betrayal. They had went a long way to bail Matt out of his troubles while he withheld his real crimes and drained much of their savings. They had a retirement to worry about and Matt had cut into a lot of what they had planned for. The only positive from the whole thing was that Matt freely admitted what a terrible husband, father, son and person he had been, and that he was addicted to gambling. Although Jared would like Meaghan there at his side, as long as the Matt MacDonald distraction was present he knew it was best she was not there and it gave him a chance to devote his full attention to his task as hand. Jared wanted little to do with the whole Matt affair and volunteered minimal input. He felt his position was tainted and that Meaghan should close the book on that part of her life by herself. He didn't want her to regret a decision he had been party to. Besides his few hours of personal time, Jared Winslow's days leading up to the opening of camp were filled with his commitment to the team. He wasn't surprised when his phone rang and the caller ID read Joe Barber, his AD. "Coach Winslow, mind if I drop a minor bomb on you?" He asked. "Umm, depends. If you know it's really going to upset me and I'm going to find out anyway, leave it be." The coach said with a curious chuckle. "Our ever present Dean, the unpredictable Meredith Crawford, wants you and I, along with Mike, Derek and Rich, the other coaches, to come over to her office for a short presentation before she has a little press announcement. It seems she has given us a new team name and logo." Joe said with a whine in his voice. "I thought we were just NEAT, although one of the booster clubs has us as "Beavers". What does she have us?" He asked cautiously. "Beavers was one of the club names before the NCAA sanctioning, and one team was the Eagles, and another the Rattlers, but the football team never really had a mascot. Well, I hope you like it because she's already signed a contract with a manufacturer and approved a design." Joe said, as if giving up hope. "Oh my God, should I ask?" "We are the NEAT Green Aggies." "Well, it could have been worse and "green" seems to be in besides the connection to Vermont. Aren't these things usually decided by the student body and with SID promotions or something?" Jared wondered. "Yeah, like maybe some input from us? She goes off half-cocked like this sometimes and steps on toes to make sure we all know who authorizes the checks ... She's also seen the headlines the woman has got at that tech school in New York and I think she would like some of that press." Barber told him. "Whatever, let her have her fun. I can handle Green Aggies. But I'll probably act a little hurt. I'm planning on pitching for a players dorm for next season. If we can put together a decent season we can try to pitch the alumni for some help, but that's off in the future a bit, at least building one." Jared revealed. "Thanks for the future headache, but I'll gather the other coaches up in the van and drive to see her majesty for 4 o'clock. Are you going to be there or at home?" "I'll be in my office, just ring me on your way and I'll be out front. Do we dress for this?" Jared wondered. "No, the press thing is tomorrow. She say's she'll give us blazers and caps for tomorrows press show. Bet you can't wait huh?" Joe laughed. "Hey, once I plant the players dorm seed, my lips will be attached to her ass, so be prepared for that. She likes to be pampered and kowtowed to." Jared admitted. "Don't think you'll have to get in her pants to get a favor. No one seems to knows if she plays for the home team or if she and her lawyer are an item. She keeps that all pretty shielded. One of the housekeepers said she had "lady friends" around a lot, but that was after she was taken off that crew, so... " Joe offered. "Oh GOD! I'm not thinking of pursuing any goals on that level. She's got 20 years on me as well as way too much jewelry and a haughtiness that I think lies just beneath the surface." Jared said laughing as he finished his call and got ready for the 4 o'clock meeting. Jared Winslow was not intimidated by Dean Crawford for one reason, he knew she admired him and all he had accomplished in his life. Her ironclad grip on the University purse strings were loosened easily for Winslow when he demanded the signing bonus and the extra year of commitment he sought to make his NEAT deal. His utter confidence in turning the program into a money maker by offering to pay back his signing bonus if it didn't told her he was for real. She told the head NEAT counsel, Jerry Sussman, who had advised her against the bonus in negotiations, "Braggadocio is one thing, but to stake that much money on your own abilities makes him a genius or a fool, and I'm betting genius." As he rode with Joe Barber, Ann Comeche, and the other coaches into the Deans campus complex they were all quiet in pensive thought somehow amazed that they were about to see the team names changed and new uniforms presented without so much as an iota of input from any of them. Derek Englund, the Soccer coach, had been included in the presentation which told Joe Barber that the sport was about to fall under his realm, even though it was still of "club" status. Englund was sure the entire name and uniform change had been a machination of Jared Winslow, whom he still saw as an interloper as well as teachers pet to the Dean. He was shocked to hear Jared salt in his own derisive comments on the ride. No single coach made a long protest on the trip, just one and two word expletives over the situation. As the van pulled into the circular drive in front of Dean Crawford's home Ann Comeche could no longer hold her tongue. "I'm the fucking Sports Information Director and knew nothing of this and was never asked for input!! I mean, it wasn't even mentioned as an IDEA! If I don't strangle the lezzie bitch today I never will." She spat out before the van doors opened. "Hold on everyone, before we go in... " Joe Barber said to get everyone's attention. "No sense in letting our emotions get the best of us in this situation. Besides flexing her muscles here she's also trying to show each of us that she really is committed to sports and acknowledges the fact it serves as an advertisement for NEAT and is a money maker. She is on our side and wants to show that. Don't go off half-cocked and say anything to her to put you in a bad light or worse yet, get you fired. Unless this thing is just hideous let's all just stroke her and thank her and promise to participate in the news conference tomorrow." Joe calmly said. "It looks like you'll be first in line to kiss her ass." Ann said caustically. "I don't need her approval to fire your ass before we get inside Ann. I asked you to control your emotions and play nice and I mean it. Like it or not, she signs the checks we all cash on payday and even though she's overstepped normal bounds here, she's done it innocently trying to show a team spirit with all of us. Don't push me. I like my job too much to go down with any one of you. Now let's go in." Joe said firmly, all the while looking directly at Ann. They didn't have to ring the bell, a young woman, apparently a student intern, greeted them and told them that Dean Crawford was waiting for them in the library, asking them to follow her. Meredith was at her desk and stood when the entourage came in, smiling a grin few of them had ever seen. "I can't tell you how happy I am to see each of you. I know it's a little unprecedented for the Dean to make such a decision without input from her most key people, the people it may most effect. But I really wanted to show you all how committed I am to each of your programs. I wanted a name that shows what we are and who we are. Green, that is being green, is so much in today's news I thought it only fitting we take our location in the nations greenest state and tie that with the environmental green, along with our agricultural connections in our education format to become the Green Aggies of N-E-A-T." She said with a proud smile as she clicked a light that shone on two jerseys on easels showing a home and away uniform. The home uni was a forest green with white lettering. The player number was on the front with "aggies" in white over the number and "of N E A T " under it. There were white accent stripes on the sleeves and a green Vermont state patch. The back of the jersey also featured the player number and his name in white. The away uni was the opposite color-wise, green on white, and the Vermont patch was replaced with N.E.A.T. on a patch. Both were accented in either green or white piping. Ann Comeche smiled big and let out a sigh of relief. "Dean, I can't tell you how skeptical I was about all of this, but this, ... THIS (pointing to the jerseys) is just fantastic. They are awesome. We've never really had a link to who we are and the colors have always been green, um ... ish. Now we have something. Can I assume that we will call these our colors and can fashion a logo for licensing?" "Licensing?" The Dean asked innocently. "Jerry Sussman, our counsel kept mentioning it, how much will it cost us?" The group laughed, some right out loud, until Joe Barber stepped forward and took her hand. "Now, it's possible to have a trademark logo that people can buy and wear everywhere and we will get paid licensing fees for allowing them to use it and make money off the sales thereof. We've always produced and marketed OUR OWN... "souvenirs", if you will, with the university logo." He explained. "So WHY haven't we done this before?" She wondered. "Because no one off campus, or maybe out of state, cared enough about our teams. Now we could become a continuing national story." Ann said looking to Jared with all of the other eyes following her. Jared shuffled his feet and looked back up saying, "No pressure here, none at all." Before smiling as the others chuckled at his discomfort. With the uniforms fiasco ending in a positive light each of the coaches and staff were given blazers in the official colors and asked to wear them to the press conference the following day. It signaled the approach of the football programs climb up to the highest drop before it's roller coaster car plunged into the season of try-outs, practices, cuts and first game prep. Things would happen at break-neck speeds and preparation was your only defense against the g-forces the season would bring. Jared Winslow's put-up or shut-up time was nigh, and from outside appearances, he showed no signs of the stress. Coach spent the next morning on the phone talking to recruits and returning players he could not meet personally with. He was getting more and more excited over the upcoming challenge and each time he looked at the team blazer hung on the coat hook by the door he got a little more proud of his decision to make the move. As 11 o'clock approached he donned the blazer and drove to New England Meditek Stadium where the media room buzzed with local outlets setting up alongside ESPN news and a few other college sports reporters. Although announcement of colors and logo didn't seem a big deal, it was a slow sports day for football overall and the media still loved the feel-good buzz that the young successful coach had brought to a still lackluster conference. Once Dean Crawford showed up everything went fast and before he knew it Coach Winslow was called on for a few words. Though unprepared he stumbled through a sentence or two about the name and colors and what they meant. It was as he finished his remarks that he realized it was a "press conference" and he might have to answer some questions. "Coach, with most of the top NCAA teams and even the NFL staying away from Humphrey Hollins because of his legal and discipline problems have you prepared how you'll handle him and is there going to be a separate set of rules for him?" An ESPN reporter asked. "I can assure you that Boge is prepared to come here and be as big a part of this team as his talent will allow. I know of NO REASON WHY he cannot or will not abide by all of the same academic or team standards everyone else in the locker room will. In my meetings with Boge I have found NOTHING but a fine young man on the precipice of an outstanding athletic and scholastic career. You guys have made him into something that he is not. Although we are all responsible for our actions as a youth, we are not always held accountable for them once we mature into men. No one in this room was exempt from doing something stupid in his or her teen years. Boge Hollins will prove all of your prejudged opinions wrong, and he will be treated no differently than any other player and I can assure you he would want it no other way ... Next question, and that is my final word on Boge." Coach Winslow said emphatically. Another reporter stood and flipped through his pad of questions to something NOT about Hollins. "Umm, we've all heard that you may carry a female on your practice squad. Besides the publicity angle on this, do you think that we'll ever see women play regularly in an NCAA Division One football setting? Katie Hnida scored a couple points for New Mexico a few years ago and later filed some sexual harassment charges and may have ruined it for women for a while." "If a girl is talented enough, she can play on my team any day. I don't do publicity stunts and unless there is an injury, we WILL carry at least one female member on this team, and quite possibly two." He answered as if to drop that subject. A few other questions about strength of schedule bowl possibilities were asked when Jared caught Joe Barbers eye. Barber clearly wanted to keep a lot about the rolling out process of the "new NEAT" under wraps for a few more days. The press conference had been about the colors and logo and it was getting pushed aside. "Well, I have a meeting with my staff I have to attend so that will be it. I hope you're all as enthusiastic about covering us once we open camp." Jared said as he quickly and decisively stepped from the podium. Back at his campus home Jared used the excuse of the press conference to introduce the schools colors as an opportunity to call Meaghan and ask her if she saw him on the ESPN news or any other outlet that may have picked it up. Both her home and cell phone rang off the hook before picking up to take his message. He knew he promised not to "drop in" but the temptation to take a day off from the school to see her was becoming overwhelming. However, if she was involved in any legal proceedings he didn't want to interfere in hopes his staying away might hurry things along. With only a small amount of worry, he called Meaghan's parents to assure himself all was OK. "Oh my," Mr. Mahaffey said at hearing Jared's voice. "I'm afraid I might ruin a bit of her surprise, but I shouldn't let you worry. She's flying in to be with you for a couple days. By my itinerary, she should have landed in Burlington where she was going to cab to Winooski and get our car and drive to the campus. Don't let her know we told you. I told her she shouldn't barge in on you, but she insisted you would have nothing going on except football." "Where's Declan?" Coach asked. "Oh, he's here at Lake Michigan with us. We had him out fishing today. Wait until you get him out on the Vermont lakes." Mr. Mahaffey said happily. "That's probably a ways off until all of this legal crap is settled." Jared sighed. "Well, not so much, I'll open my big mouth again. That's why she's coming out to see you. Everything is settled. Let her tell you, and act surprised, OK?" He pleaded. Jared Winslow's curiosity was piqued now, and he was also totally stunned that Meg would come unannounced. If there were any trust issues on her part they were certainly behind her. The chance that he might have another woman on the side was not a worry to her if she thought she could walk right into his life. For that he was happy. Jared knew she was in for an almost 3 hour drive from Burlington at that time of year, a lot of boats and trailers going back home from their Vermont and New Hampshire summers. Including time to get lost and make a wrong turn or two, he figured she would be 7 o'clock or later Knowing he would be sleeping and waking with Meaghan mellowed his day out and helped him forget about football for a time. He was beginning to get real comfortable with the relationship, reminding him of the team he had formed with Barbara Gaynes when he was back at Vermont Valley. Ahh, there was that soft spot for the Barbara he once knew. From the moment they each got home from their jobs they immersed themselves in each other. After time she brought her job home and then used TV to escape, and little she stopped making road trips with him. But before those times the sex was hot and heavy almost from the moment they got into the door. If she got home before him she might be laid out on the sofa nude, waiting for him. Her long thin body with long black straight hair cascading over perfect breasts was a sight to walk in on. She might be on her knees with her top off just inside the foyer on his arrival, waiting to please him with her mouth. Sometimes he would watch for her to pull up and leave a trail of his clothes leading to the shower where he would be waiting for her. He promised himself that life would be different with Meaghan. They promised themselves to wait until there could be a time they could be together before they made deep commitments. He just didn't expect it would be this soon. If she came to live with him he would be an instant parent, but that thought appealed to him. Declan was bright and inquisitive and understood more about his parents break-up than most kids. He loved his father, but knew his Mom was the one to butter his bread. Jared's little trip down memory lane and fantasy of the future was rudely interrupted by the ring of his phone. As much as he didn't want to end his little fantasy, he answered it. "Hello Coach, it's Ger. I just thought I would let you know that if young Faraday doesn't make the team, I'll keep him full time here at the ranch. He can out work any hand I have here." Ger Nietczyk said in greeting Jared. "Ummmm, Ger? Are you trying to tell me that there is a chance he won't make the team?" Jared asked suspiciously. "If given the opportunities, and knowing the kind of athlete he is, he can easily lead the conference in scoring. With his soccer background, I don't see how line play will upset him. Once we go full pads at practice let's lose the red shirt and let the lines have at him. He needs the baptism, but he looks very strong. You'll only have one problem, he may want to forego soccer for the football career." Ger informed him. "You better explain that he would lose some of his government grant money without soccer and if plays an NCAA sport he could get money from them. Soccer got him here and he should stick with it." Jared responded. "His coach, that Englund character, is out here harassing him all the time warning him to stay in soccer shape and not get hurt. Personally, I think it's wearing a little thin on him." He said. "I'll get with Joe Barber and we'll both talk to Derek. He has to realize that if he loses Brian, no one is going to want to play NEAT in soccer and he'll fall down in the club ratings. He's just paranoid that Brian will shun soccer and if he keeps harassing him, he just may. " Jared explained before finishing the call and hanging up. He spoke briefly with Joe Barber about the problem, locked up his office and headed back home. There were no messages at his home or on his cell so he figured Meg wanted a total surprise for him. He wasn't convinced she could find his home once she got in town. He settled in to watch the news of the day and wait for a call or a knock. Four o'clock turned to 5 and 5 to 6, and still nothing was heard from Meaghan as Jared fell in and out of sleep in his chair hearing the repeat of the news hour. He knew he should get up and get up and fix a little dinner but he was hoping to take her for to dinner if she got there soon. It was the shrill ring of the phone that woke him a 5 till 7, startling him as he searched for the phone and his wits. "Uh, uh ... Hello?" He stammered as he put together where he was and the situation at hand. "Hello Coach Winslow, Herb here at the gate. I have a woman here, a Meaghan Mahaffey who wants to see you. Should I let her through?" "Sure Herb, please let her through, she will always be welcome." He said as he heard her car rev over the phone. Jared got up from his chair and smoothed his clothes and tried to look as if he hadn't been napping as he went out the side door in the driveway as she pulled in. He stood with his arms akimbo and stared at her. "Let me guess," She said as she alit from the car, "You're wondering what I'm doing here?" "I might do that," He said coyly, "But I would much rather hold you and kiss you." She jumped into his arms and they held a long kiss. "God, I've missed you so much and I'm so sorry I've neglected you all through the legal bullshit while the press seemed to have a 24 hour spotlight on my house. I've had detectives and PI's crawling all over every bit of my personal life trying to link me to Matt's crimes and finally I'm free!" She said, never breaking her hold on him. "Free? Is it all over with?" He asked, feigning and knowledge. "Yes, but I've had to pee like crazy for the past hour, can we go in?" She asked, suddenly impatient. Once settled and calmed she sat at the kitchen table as Jared poured two glasses of wine. "After Matt insisted there was no cash left from all he took, stole, and embezzled, he was recorded in the visitors lounge at the jail telling one of his co-conspirators where it was. It's hard to believe he was even smart enough to pull this whole thing off. Anyway, once the judge who was making the deal with the prosecutor and his lawyer team found out about the cash he withdrew everything from the table, accepted the guilty plea from the plea bargain, convicted him and sentenced him. His one lawyer wanted him to appeal but Matt's out of money and doubts anyone can help him, seeing how he signed a deal and couldn't keep his part. He had put the money away for Declan in case he got caught. The others involved are trying to make Matt the heavy in the whole thing, but he was just a patsy after they found out about his gambling problem. At his sentencing a family came forward whose parents lost their farm and life savings. The parents committed suicide rather than face losing everything. It was awful to listen to." She told him as she sipped her wine and decompressed after her trip. "Good God, the judge didn't need anything else to throw the book at him, but the drama of the family must have REALLY sealed it for Matt. Did you EVER have an inkling he was involved in anything so, ... so ... devious?" Jared asked. "Jared, I swear the entire time this was all going on we lived like paupers. We had a $200,000 house that we could barely make payments on, about $100,000 in combined income and a new child plus all of the start-up debt that goes with new home ownership. During that time he was gambling away 10 or 20 grand a day and getting deeper in debt with crooks. He really led a double life. His defense tried to say he was schizoid, or had DID(dissociative identity disorder). However they couldn't provide any solid diagnosis. But, the lies, back-tracking, changing of his stories and accusations really pissed off the judge in the first place, the added story by the victimized family sealed it. He will probably serve 20 years before he's even considered for parole." She said as her voice cracked and shook her head. "Meaghan, I didn't want... " Jared started. "No, please. I need to talk about it and get things out, especially for you. The Matt I married was a special man who made me happy. He was someone I caught on the rebound from you. I loved him for how happy he made me and for how he made me forget about us, sometimes for days at a time. But, I never stopped loving you. He never knew that and I've tried to ask myself a thousand times if I unwittingly drove him the way he went. I really don't see how. I supported him and provided him with all the love I possibly could until I found out about the betrayals, the lies, ... everything." She said teary eyed looking forlorn at Jared. "Don't even begin to blame yourself Meg." He interjected as she continued. "I really don't, but there is guilt over the betrayal of my heart to him. Until I found I was pregnant with Declan if you had come to the door and said, "let's go" I would have left. After I had my son I had Declan to fulfill my life and the thought of being without you was easier. Now, ... well just look at everything. Was it my karma that brought him down and swept him from the picture?" She asked. "Don't be foolish. Even the stories I've read in the Burlington paper about him they talk about gambling way back when we were in school. He bussed and waitered the cruise boats on Lake Champlain and was known as "Chance" to a lot of the staff." Jared added. Meaghan sat pensively as if lost in a quandary in the choosing of her next words. Jared saw the look of her eye and asked her "What? What's troubling you?". "Once all of the other trials pertaining to the case are done and Matt does not appeal, and his lead lawyer says there's little chance the request would even be heard, he can do something to help himself, and me ... and you." She said stumbling as if afraid to say. "I know I fantasize and wish," She continued, "and please don't hold me accountable for the reincarnation of my teenage dreams of bliss with you, but if Matt tells the courts that he does not want his son to be subjected to prison visits or find the depths his father sunk to, at least until he's able to fully understand, he would allow any other man I choose to marry to adopt and help in the raising of Declan. This judge in particular would mark it into the record and he could get paroled easier, if not earlier. As for the adoption of Declan, there would be a rigorous vetting process by the state where he was born and the state where we live at the time who would make recommendations to the Federal Courts. Jared, I'm very serious about marrying you and spending my life with you. I hope you feel the same way and could accept Declan as your own son." Jared was floored by her frank openness of real discussion of both subjects, Declan and marriage. They had spoken openly about both before, but now suddenly there it was. This was the real thing. He thought when the moment came he would be fearful. However a solemn confidence grew over him and he smiled back at her. "I do feel the way you do and after we've fully grown into each others life and our level of affection and happiness with each other hasn't changed I would easily pursue all of your dreams, my dreams." He told her taking her hand. "That's why I'm here. To start to grow into your life and see what we can make of a life together. I've already petitioned to take Declan out of the state for the purpose of moving to Vermont. Matt won't fight that, he knows I always wanted to go back home." She said, somewhat relived that Jared agreed so heartedly. "I want you here with me, not in Burlington. You understand that, right?" He asked. "Of course, I won't have you out of my sight again." She answered with a sly smile curling her lip. Jared leaned forward and took both her hands as their lips met and they kissed deeply. She broke the kiss and fell back limply into the kitchen chair. "Would you indulge me for a while? There is something I just have to do. Would you mind if I took a long hot bath, alone, to relax and get the travel grit from my body? It soothes me like you would not imagine. Then when I get out I would like you to shower and then join me in your bed. We can make love and please each other, maybe fulfill a few fantasies?" She asked with a sexy grin. "You've talked me into it. Here let me show you where things are and where you can put your bags and things." He said getting up and walking hand in hand with her to the bedroom, pulling her bag behind him. "When do you have to be back?" He asked hopefully. "I can spend all day tomorrow with you, as well as Monday, but I'm supposed to fly out around noon on the 3rd. So, I'll have to leave here early and drive to my parents with the car. I'll leave that off and taxi to the airport." She answered. "If I can get you on AirExecutive out of White River that day ... I'll get your Dad's car back to Burlington." He said confidently. "Don't be crazy, I already have the ticket." "I'm not poor, so that means YOU are not poor. We can do things like this. I have to fly to Champaign next week to talk to a boy who wants to transfer. I can fly out of Burlington on your ticket. When I'm done I'll find a way to Chicago, and give you the keys personally." He said with a peck to her lips. "While you're in the bath I'll check AirExecutive and make sure there's a flight for you for Tuesday." ------- Chapter 19 Jared made the flight arrangements for Meaghan to get back to Chicago on Tuesday morning and then went about making sure he could piece together a dinner of some sort for their post-lovemaking hunger. Right now, eating dinner seemed to have taken a back seat to sexual relief. While passing the time by checking his email he heard the bathroom door open and he rushed to see if he might help her, but she was just closing the door to his bedroom, smiling back at him saying "See you in a few minutes." He assumed she didn't need help turning down the bed or getting anything from her suitcase and went right to the shower where the bathroom smelled of sweetness from her bath and rinsing shower. He started to get a little excited at the prospect of the first time making love to her in his home. She had always been a very sexual, eager, lover. From what she had told him of her marriage, she and Matt had remained sexually active right up to her finding of his crimes and betrayal. She even stressed how she thought keeping him satisfied was so important after he had lost his job. She was no fading violet in the marriage bed, for sure. He had to admit some worry about what happened with Barbara and how she became bored and complacent about sex, but Meg always sought ways to keep things fresh and exciting. He showered quickly and made sure he paid close attention to his "equipment" lightly treading on the line between washing up good and playing with yourself. Thoughts of Meg waiting for him certainly had him excited. He made sure he finished with his "manly" bottle of liquid soap Barbara had bought him long ago that he was still using. He wanted to smell clean but not soapy. After quickly drying he wrapped a towel around his waist and made his entrance into the bedroom. Meaghan was propped up on two pillows with the sheet just pulled up to her waist. Jared easily saw that the last few weeks of trial and legal nonsense had taken a toll on her just by fact she had lost weight. She was easily as thin as she was in high school, but her breasts were just perfect, just beautiful, as she smiled and lit up at sight of her lover. You wouldn't have seen a sexier picture in any men's magazine. "Take off your towel and come to me. Straddle me and let me taste your lips, your tongue. I want to smell your breath and your body. Your are the man I have loved since our first kiss." She said in long exhaling impatient sigh. Jared did as she asked, dropping his towel and coming to her side of the bed, kneeling at first into the mattress and swinging his leg over her. She took his face in her hands and kissed him deeply holding her lips tighter to his than she may ever have. "I want to be with you more than ever. More than what I dreamed of when you left for school and I cried myself to sleep each night. The thought of being with you, living with you, becoming your wife is suddenly in my grasp. Your eyes tell me you want the same thing, don't they?" She asked impatiently. "Yes, Meg. I do want what you want but I think we want it to happen too fast. Let's not do anything stupid. We have to think of your boy and how this all affects him." Jared implored. "Let's let it take it's own pace if we're sure, Jared. Let's just worry about me and you and now, and NOW I know what I want." She answered him by pulling his face to hers and locking lips again. Their kiss was long and hard before she broke it and giggled in her impish sexy way. She reached to her side and took a small white plastic pot in her hand. She unscrewed the cap and dipped her finger into what was an intimate lubrication potion. She ran her fingers between her breasts before reaching and holding them like two perfect peaches in her hands. "Slide your pretty penis between my breasts. They were never quite full enough when we were just kids but having my baby turned me into a woman here. Let me cradle you." She said smiling softly in a manner Jared thought could make him climax right here. Jared slid up her body and leaned into the crevice she held for him. He moaned softly as the softness of her bosom caressed him. Instinctively he pumped his hips pushing himself through the soft tunnel she held for him. "You look so hard and big and you feel like hot iron in there." She said in a pleasured sigh. "God, I love you Meg. You make me so happy!" Jared moaned. Meaghan tipped her head up to better see him slide between her titties and his cock was nearly at her lips. She watched it come up through the path she held for him a few times and could no longer resist snaking her tongue out and opening her mouth and relaxing her grip on the sides of her breasts. Jared braced up like a preening animal pushing his hips towards her mouth. He knew he could not last with these sensations and dropped back to her hips and moved to his right to get her from under the sheet and to move between her legs. As if guided by magnets the tip of his cock found her smooth wet slit and he impaled her. Her thin, but muscled stomach moved in rhythm to his thrusts making room for his cock each time. Meg's lower lip trembled as an orgasm swept up from her loins as Jared pounded her. Jared pulled back from her to prevent his own orgasm and she instinctively flipped over to her stomach and propped her round butt up for him to mount. He found her wet slice and plowed her to the hilt as she gasped. "Take me and possess me! It feels like you're so far into me it would come out my mouth! Hold me!" She screamed out as Jared bent to wrap his arms around her prone body. He filled his hands with her breasts, her left in his right hand, her right in the other as he pressed his body to her. He squeezed both titties hard until the tips of his three fingers pressed the aureole and nipples into the ball of his hand. He held that press hard before refilling his hands with her soft tender boobs. "God, I'm cumming." She cackled with a voice broken by the orgasm sweeping through her. Jared held her like this until he felt her body ease it's tense state of pleasure, then he relinquished her body and knelt up straight and began to plow his cock into her as her supple ass rippled with each thrust. He looked down at the display before him and saw her little brown rosette fully open and dilated. He stopped his thrusts and let a ball of saliva drop from his mouth almost directly into the little aperture. "YES JARED!! Fuck me there!! Take my ass, it's ready for you! I had my fingers there while you showered. CUM INTO ME!" She ordered him in a shrill command. He pulled himself from her wet, pink and sloppy pussy and saw her asshole wink closed and then open as he brought the head of his cock to his target and slid in. "HUMMMMMMMPHHHHTT!" She barked as her whole body seemed to shiver from his abrupt intrusion. She writhed like a wounded snake, but showed no overt signs of pain, just immense pleasure as he held himself fully immersed in the bowels of her very being. Suddenly the tense body under him seemed to go limp, almost as if she had passed out, but she spoke. "I am fully yours, and you are mine." She declared in a sighing whisper of relief. Jared responded by beginning to pump himself in and out of her, wanting to finally relieve the pressure in his balls. He didn't know how much lube she had used on herself or whether she had just willed herself open, but she was loose enough to slide snugly in and out. He began to wonder if she might orgasm like this when he saw her shoulders tense up and the front of her body rose a bit from the bed. "Oooo ... Oooo ... Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhgrh! GOD that's good ... I'm cumming!!" She squeaked out. Not as if Jared needed any stimulus to finish his deed, but her little declaration itched just the right spot to push him over the edge. "Oh God Meaghan. I'm going to cum too!" He spat out as he humped up using his hands on her hips to brace himself up. SLAP SLAP SLAP!! The sound echoed in the room as his thrusts hit the soft yielding cheeks of her ass. The growl deep in his throat gave away the fact he was depositing his cum up into her as they both experienced the pleasure of loving sex. His body lost it's tense pose and he fell onto her, kissing the back of her neck before falling to the side, keeping her attached. Still embedded in her bowels, he held her closely as they both puffed air out their mouths until normal breathing resumed. "That was all I ever imagined from the first day I wanted it to happen with you." She said in a monotone voice as she stared blankly at the wall. All Jared could do was groan as he shrunk to the point where he popped out of her. "Your towel, your towel! Get me your towel!" She asked him hastily as he popped up from the bed and grabbed the towel he had dropped to the floor earlier. She stuffed it behind her and rolled flat onto it. "God, you must have came a quart, I feel I'm shitting the bed." She laughed. "Thank you Miss Buzzkill." He chuckled. "If you want to play in the backyard you have to accept the messy parts that go with it." She said sitting up and smiling at him. She stood and kissed him and put an arm around him pulling him toward the bath. "Let's go rinse off and you can make me some dinner. Then. how about staying up all night talking and sleeping all day tomorrow?" She suggested. "Sounds good, BUT ... too close to the start of football. Life with a coach is never dull, or conducive to a Sunday off between August and January. Are you sure you can handle my schedule?" He asked with a smile as he pulled her head to his and kissed her cheek. "As long as sessions like just now are included, I don't care. Life with you was always exciting and living with you and watching Declan grow up with you will be even better." She said stopping to hug him. "Sessions like that could get me to retire and stay home all day!" He laughed as they stopped outside the bathroom door and joined hands facing each other. "So was that little mystery everything you thought it would be? It's something I enjoy, but you're too big to try too often. I'm going to know what I did tomorrow when I get up." She said with a smirk. "In a moment of passion it was something that just happened. If we planned it beforehand I might have been more careful. I didn't mean to hurt you. It was real exciting, especially with you cheering me on." Jared said getting a little embarrassed at the thought he may have hurt her. "You didn't do anything to hurt me besides eat your Wheaties when you were little. You may not think "little Jared" (patting his penis) is anything special, but he's fatter than what I'm accustomed to there. When passions reach that point I'll never have a regret. I love you!" Meaghan said to reassure him before pulling him into the bathroom to shower. After a quick rinse together Jared found a frozen pizza in the freezer and the two of them sat at the kitchen table in t-shirts and underwear nibbling and talking into the evening until the clock struck 12 times and Jared knew he had to get to bed. "I've got to meet with my coaching staff at 11 tomorrow to go over the playbook. I hate to work Sundays before the season starts, but our schedules are kind of full next week and I never allow anyone but coaches and me put together playbooks. If I gave someone the plastic pages and binders with all the copies to assemble I would worry it might end up in the wrong hands. I may be paranoid, but I've never lost one." He said with some regret. Meg reached over to him and took both hands in hers and smiled devilishly. "Work is work, but remember I'm here for the horny honeymoon ... you know that period when you have sex every time you look at each other. We didn't get that back in Chicago when you were "courting" me, ... or did I court you?" "Meg, we had the horny honeymoon a long time ago. Remember 5 times in one day?" He laughed. "Sorry, wore off." She said as she got up from the table and headed to the bedroom... Jared laughed to himself at her boldness and wondered how he got along without her for so many years as thoughts of their early relationship swept over him. He thought, "What did Barbara Gaynes do to me that made me forget about Meaghan? Right now I can't believe I ever let Meg out of my life." He pondered Barbara Gaynes for a moment and remembered her sleek body and long shiny black hair. With a simple squint of her eye and pouted lip she oozed sexuality when they first met. He hoped she had rediscovered that side of herself to get another man and they did something to help her keep herself in that groove. He couldn't help but blame himself for letting her slip into the life funk that ruined their relationship. He was beginning to convince himself that the subconscious draw to Meaghan Mahaffey may have been the root of it all. After he few moments of reverie he pulled himself out of the kitchen chair and went about the house turning off lights and securing the doors. He wondered if Meg had another bout of the "hornies" waiting for him and his manhood in the bedroom as his cock surprisingly leapt at the thought. But, if she had, the length of the day coupled with the rigors of travel and hard sex had taken it's toll on her. She apparently had fallen asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. The buzz of her breathing never even wavered as he slid in beside her and switched off the light. He quickly joined her in her nocturnal repast. Jared's deep sleep was being interrupted, or at least disturbed by the nagging swell in his groin of the tremendous urge to pee, or was it? Sensations around his crotch felt good but he was confused by the chill he felt in the air. He stirred and woke to find the covers had been pulled back and he was laying with his straining cock peeking through the slit in his boxers with Meaghan's face looking at it and him alternately while applying wet kisses to her satisfier. "I guess that answers the question, "How many kisses and strokes to a mans erected penis does it take to wake him out of a sound sleep?" She said with a devilish grin. Still not fully awake, Jared began adding the pieces of his thoughts until the picture became clear. "Oh God, you horny little poop!" He said with a smile as her reached to touched her golden hair. She smiled at him and quickly filled her mouth with the head of his hard staff, giving it a full lick and suck. "I wanted to do that for the last 10 minutes but was afraid you'd pee in my mouth. As much as I wanted to think that little monument was for me, I knew you had to pee. So, I've just been kissing it, caressing it. " She giggled. "I love him, you know, ... almost as much as I love you. I think he makes us both very happy." Jared shook his head and crooked his finger for her to come to him and kissed her deeply. "Let me go to the bathroom and relieve the pressure that's causing the problem and we'll see if we can raise it again." He said with a big smile as he pulled himself out of the bed. When he returned she was sitting Indian style on the pillow on her side, her hand idly busy between her legs. "Ummm, got something on your mind?" He wondered aloud with a sly grin. "I do. My little clittie is buzzing thinking about your little friend, but my pussy is a little sore from the ride you gave her last night, not to mention another little place." She said red-faced. Getting into the bed he took the hand from between her legs and brought it to his mouth, sucking her fingers. "I think I know a way we can both get happy." As he went to move his mouth to her pussy she unfolded her legs and fell toward the end of the bed. As he licked away the dew her thoughts and fingers had produced, she longed to feel him stretch her mouth but she was still involuntarily arching her body at the sensations he was bringing to her nerve center. After her bottom settled back onto the bed Jared drew a leg over her, making sure his mouth did not lose contact with her squishy slit. She quickly took his straining cock and aimed it at her lips while putting an arm around his buttocks to pull him deeper into her mouth and let her head rest into the bed. The wet sounds of mouths satisfying genitals filled the room in concert with the hums and groans of approaching satisfaction and just plain feeling good. The liquid rewards of each others orgasms, intensified by their senses of taste and smell, brought them each to a plateau only lovers reach. Mere sex for pleasure's sake doesn't trigger the special feelings they had as they melted into the bed in their reverie. They were about to slip back to sleep when Jared startled. "Oh, what's the time? I've got a meeting!" He said as he sat up and saw he had plenty of time. "What am I going to do while you're away?" She asked sleepily. "Why don't you figure how you want to change the house here, figure what room you want for Declan and what furniture we'll need." Jared answered as he stretched. "Are you asking me to move in? Are you sure we should do this? What about my job? Shouldn't I find a job first?" She asked in rapid fire quickly sitting up. "Isn't that what we talked about before, or did I mistake pillow talk for real talk?" He wondered aloud turning back to her. "I didn't think you wanted us here before the football season, especially your first season." She reasoned. "Why not? I can't make Chicago runs that often during the season. It would be way too hard and living without you the past month has been tough. You won't need to work, you know. I kind of do well." He chuckled. "No, I won't be a kept woman. Don't even talk about it. It's not going to happen. I'll entertain it when and if we get married. But, for now, I WILL WORK." She said as she scooted to the end of the bed and put on a robe of Jared's she found after her bath. "O --Kay! If you have your mind made up I won't defer you. You can also spend some time in the want-ads today. I assume you want to teach still?" He asked as he began dressing. "Teaching, day care supervision, I can even do re-hab therapy. I had a PT license in Illinois, but it expired. I bet I could re-qualify here in Vermont if I had to." She said proudly. "Well, come out with me and I'll make coffee and find something to eat before I go." He said as he slipped on his shoes as he kept dressing. "Make sure you wash your face before you go." She said acting a little embarrassed. "You don't want the boys to smell a little poo-dat on me?" He smiled. "Ha, not at least until they meet the poo-dat you might be wearing." She responded. Before putting on a shirt Jared went to wash up and brush his teeth. Within 20 minutes he was off to get a war room set up for the coaches and he to work. Ann Comeche was supposed to find an intern to sit in for her this day. She was to help copy new play cards and laminate one for each coach besides assembling 70 playbooks as they finalized each one. Unfortunately she had a prior commitment for the day with the family so even Joe Barber was unavailable. Jared was strict about the play book and reproduction of play pages. The copier and laminator had to be in the room and any partial copies or bad copies had to be shredded on the spot. Many plays were standardized, but not all teams kept all plays in their books, plus Jared and each coach had lots of their own plays or variations. Ten sneak, ten draw, 27 sweep, 32 blast were all common plays, but all coaches gave them different looks. For example, the Ten sneak is a Quarterback Sneak. It can be run from any formation providing 12 different looks, with or without motion makes that double, now 24 looks, and then can be mirrored to either side, so double it again. That means a simple quarterback sneak can have 48 different looks for an opposing defense. A team may carry 5 variations in their book. Ten Sneak Slot, Ten Sneak Draw, Ten Sneak Slash, ... the variations that a team can carry are limitless. Jared Winslow always felt that the Shakespearian proverb "brevity is the soul of wit" had it's own meaning for playbooks. Stacking play upon play for teams to learn usually meant keeping a lot of plays you might never use. In practice, run the variations but don't confuse the issue with a lot of remembering. As long as the offensive coach, his quarterback and Jared KNEW the plays, the variation could be quickly laid out in a huddle if necessary. For example, in the case of the Ten Sneak the QB could call the standard play from the book and as he called signals he would make the center aware with a right or left touch the way he planned on going after seeing the defense. It's usually a 2 yard or less play and the center is to lay the key block, right or left. Confusing the play with more variants to 9 other players won't make a difference and makes little sense. In early practice sessions Jared Winslow wears the laminated play-card around his neck and is the 12th man in the huddle. He calls the play, showing the card to all and points out each assignment. They line up and a light contact version is run. The basic playbook is learned this way until he can lose the cards, call a play and see 11 sets of confident eyes looking back at him. Coach Winslow stresses that knowing assignments on each play is key. The rule of thumb is, don't confuse yourself with everyone else's assignment, that will come as you unfold the plays over and over and you learn to read a broken play and what you might do. Winslow was always complimented on how instinctive the players he sent onto bigger and better things were. The play learning technique he uses is what he credits for that. By saying "brevity is the soul of wit" for his style saved him from having to use the variation, "keep it simple, stupid", but that's what it was. As he set up his "war room" in a meeting room just adjacent to his office he was pleased that a crew had moved a copier, laminator and computer into the room as he had asked. As he inserted his CD into the tray to access his game strategies a knock came to the door. It was JoAnne Zyrypski, the Travel Coordinator he had worked with earlier in the month "Good morning Coach. Miss Comeche asked me if I would devote my time to you today and I told her I would be happy to help out you and the program. Just tell me what I need to do and I'm yours." She said with an inviting smile. Jared rolled his eyes to himself and kept as professional as possible giving her instructions to exactly what was going to be needed and about how serious confidentiality was. She seemed to understand what he needed her for and took her things and settled near the copier with a book until she was needed. Jared couldn't help but notice her pert figure in her tight jeans and the light pullover top that showed her nipples prominently. This was a woman who could turn men's eyes just walking into a room. Jared was doing his best to ignore her as he busied himself getting ready. "Are you sure there's nothing I can do to help you right now? You seem to be uncomfortable and there's really no reason. Yes, I came onto you in a very unprofessional manner and I'm not the least bit ashamed or regretful. I saw something I wanted and I asked for it. You denied me and that's the end. You might think I'm a horny black widow out looking for another catch for my web and nothing could be further from the truth. I've been married to the love of my life and that's satisfied me. I have needs like anyone and usually find ways to satisfy them. I get more propositions in a week than I've made in my life. I'm not what you think and respect your wishes. Now please stop acting like I'm not here." She said as she folded her arms and let her feelings fully known. Jared stopped what he was doing and looked up to her. "I have to admit that I am, or at least was, a little freaked out by your walking in the door today. For that I'm sorry and I thank you for being so frank and honest so we can function. I'm sorry for being such a jerk. Ummm ... there are a few things you could do. Could you go down to the Requisition and Supply Room and sign out a color and black cartridge for this printer. Charge it to Sports and I'll sign for them before I leave." He said handing her the key for the room. "I'm authorized to sign and have my own key. I'll sign and put "per Jared Winslow". Do you have enough copy paper and laminant sheeting?" She said getting up and acting eager to help. Yes, I believe they left me all the other supplies. I just don't want to have a problem later, we'll be doing lots of copies." Her said as she left. Ira and Jordy came into the room just moments after JoAnne left. "Good Morning Coach!" Jordy said as he came in. "Is Miss America going to be our copy bitch today?" Ira Pressley laughed out loud and said, "We might get away with calling Ann our "copy bitch" but I don't think that will fly too high with JoAnne." "Is that what you call the copy runner on playbook day? If so, NO, it won't fly with her, but don't think you have to curtsey and bow for her. She's here on her own time and volunteering, but there's no reason we can't be ourselves. Is Frank on his way?" "He and Ger were at the mini-mart getting coffee as we passed. We stopped and hollered for them to get 4 more, figuring Ann would be here." Ira said. "I'm sure JoAnne drinks coffee and I'll get her to make a pot later." Jared said as JoAnne came back into the room. "Yes I do drink coffee and was just going to offer to make some before we get started." She said after overhearing the talk. "Coach Ruffen is bringing you one for now and when we break I would appreciate your making a pot." Jared said. "Our coffee set-up in the travel office is on a wheeled cart, I'm just going to bring that in here so I don't have to leave the room once we start. I'll feel better then." JoAnne said as she left the room to go down the hall to the Travel office. Jared wondered if he had been too manic in his explanation to her about information leaks of the playbook. He had scared her into not even wanting to leave the room so as not to bring her integrity into question. Once she left the room he looked at his two other coaches as they returned their eyes from following her out the door. "Come on you guys. Let's not spend the afternoon watching her ass. Keep your minds on the book. She dresses to get the attention and she eats it up. Let's try to figure ways to win more than we lose this season." Jared said half kidding while shaking his head. Frank Ruffen and Ger Nietczyk came into the room with a tray of coffee and bag of doughnuts. They all exchanged pleasantries and opened briefcases and got into a huddle of sorts with two tables pushed together so they could face each other. JoAnne came in rolling her coffee cart. She had a gallon of spring water, can of coffee and the Krups that she quickly set up. After quick introductions she sat near the copier while Jared started the meeting turning on the computer and the overhead projector. As plays flashed on the screen they talked of variations moving x's, o's, play weights, and route arrows until they came up with something they were happy with. As decisions finalized Coach Winslow sent the play to disc and removed it to transfer to the large hi-res copier. JoAnne ran 70 copies and enlarged 5 by 25% and laminated them for the coach's. While the coach's worked on the next play she slid the copies into plastic page savers that went into the 70 binders. It generally took the coaches as much time to negotiate a play together, each making their case, pro or con, to changes, as it did for JoAnne to sheath them into the books. She was quite fast and adept at the finger and hand work involved. Any down time she had she spent copying the 12 offensive and 12 defensive basic formations for each book as well. Of the 40 plays in the book a certain amount were non-negotiable Winslow standard sets. Those would be discussed at the 3 scheduled play meetings they would sit in on this week just before practice began on Friday. In the 4 hour plus session the coaches saw the intensity that Jared Winslow brought to the game as well as the confidence he projected. The only one not surprised by it all was the one man who had played for and been in the trenches with Coach Winslow, Ger Nietczyk. Although Ger would only be a "coach" up until the first game, he would take part in all coaches meetings until then. Since he lived close-by and the need for a kicking coach was minimal, Nietczyk was well suited for his roll. His experience was invaluable. After the marathon session and locking the playbooks safely in his office Winslow adjourned the meeting and called for another session on Tuesday. He would project plays once again on the overhead and begin to parse each one with the staff. Cramming for an exam could be no more intense than the week ahead. Jared drove home with a sense of accomplishment as well as satisfaction, knowing his staff was clicking on all cylinders and had no apparent conflicts. He couldn't wait to tell Meg about his first "real" day of the new season. With her car in the garage he was able to walk into the house with little fanfare. He called her name out and getting no answer he walked room to room looking for her. There, in the bedroom, he found her wearing nothing but an I-pod in an arm holster while she was exercise dancing. She didn't see him at the door as she was quite intense in her dance. Her body was striking as it moved. She had no fat on her and her shape was perfect. Her breast was fuller and hips a bit more generous than the Meaghan seen just like this when they were kids falling in love. Back then they had managed to sneak away to a local hotel where they spent a night dabbling in demon alcohol and worshipping each others bodies. Jared had woke early that day sensing motion around him. There, just across from the bed was Meaghan with a cassette player in an arm holster, doing very much the same dance exercises she was now. He marveled then at the beauty of her body and the fluid motion and sexuality she brought to the female form. Now, more than 10 years later she was the same personification of God's treasure He made for man to continue the species. If there were a more beautiful woman in Jared's eyes it would be hard to believe. As she bent and strutted, sometimes holding her poses, she displayed her sexuality and attention to her body detail as if keeping such were just for Jared's pleasure. While he marveled at her body and how much he loved the way it pleased his eye and stroked his libido, he suddenly saw something he was aware of before but perhaps resisted admission to. He loved the person inside that body. The way she craved his own passion, the passion she felt towards the fruit of her loins, her son, the way she strived to fulfill her life with his and share hers in the same manner piquing his interest in every detail; those were the barebones reasons he suddenly felt an overwhelming passion for Meaghan, that spirit inside the perfect vessel before him. He stood back from the door to continue his voyeurism as she spun almost as a ballerina with her eyes closed in the passionate throes of feeling her body perform and move. Then she came to a full stop and paused going up on her toes, her arms straight above her head with her hands prayer like to the heavens and bending her torso horizontal to the floor, her other leg forming a perfect T. She held the pose for a moment and then her foot went flat to the floor and while keeping one arm straight out the other went to between her legs, a finger pushing between the puffed slice of her smooth sexual opening. In just a moment her face flushed and her lips pursed. She was coming! The urge to touch and hold her, to impale himself in her body was overwhelming him now. Jared stepped back to the kitchen and yelled her name as if just walking in again. "Meaghan!!" He called out and walked toward the bedroom again, after a hesitation. "In here!" She called out as he turned the corner into the room and saw her nude form once again. They rushed to each other and their lips met with arms encircling each other. She felt his hardness against her and reached down the hold it through his pants. "Inside me please, I need you." She said as she pulled at his belt and brought him towards the bed. Once there she turned and bent, spreading her legs a bit with a hand going to her pussy and holding the lips open for him to aim at. Jared's pants went to the floor and before even bothering to step out of them he pushed his underwear down far enough to expose his engorged cock and bring it to the target she held between her fingers. He slid into her sopping vagina and held himself tightly to her pretty little ass cheeks luxuriating in the glove of her pussy. The rest of the day was spent in devotion to each other, talking and making love beyond satisfaction until where their sex parts hurt. There was just no end to their hunger for each other. Meg's hope for a horny honeymoon alone with Jared had been a perfect diving board into the pool commitment to each other as soul mates, life partners in the raising of her child, and eventually spouses. If there were any doubts to their compatibility and commitment, they had been dashed. They had both been made aware of the inevitability of their love. On Monday Jared cleared his schedule to spend the day with Meaghan, but instead of spending the time with her in bed, he took around the immediate area to show her the campus. That also meant going and meeting the people they would deal with in Jared's job. She met his coaches and the others he worked with, even working in a meeting with Dean Crawford. It was a day of pride for Jared Winslow because for the first time in many years he was sure of everything in his life. The day of personal inventory was much better than any day of work he had scheduled could have been. Cramming Monday into his Tuesday was going to be well worth it. Much of both days were going to be spent on the phone and making arrangements for recruiting. Now it would be one whirlwind day after he got Meg off from the little airstrip in White River. That final full week before practice began as he and his coaches got together 3 times for playbook meetings working strategies for implementation and execution. They each talked of hopes for players returning and new faces they had recruited. In Jared's spare time he was on the phone helping new players with assimilation as practice neared. Early Friday afternoon he would drive Meaghan's Dads car to Burlington where he would take off for a trip to Champaign, Illinois. An Illini frosh had joined that team with hopes of being one of the main cogs in their running game. In what he called a clash of ego's with the offensive coach and a few of the established sophomore and junior players he had worked himself into a doghouse. He saw but a few minutes of playing time his freshman year and saw no hope for the upcoming year either. Transferring meant sitting out an entire season, unless he could prove severe hardship, a personality conflict never fell into that category. If he could practice for the season with the NEAT squad and stay in shape, be sharp and experience some practice contact, he could come on and play his junior and senior years with Coach Winslow. The boy in question, Edwin Thomas Arnsberg was heavily recruited by a lot of Division II schools including Jared Winslow's Vermont Valley Tech. During his senior year in High School in San Diego he blossomed size-wise and began tearing up state and national rushing records. Illinois jumped into the fray and took him for their Division I high powered program. It was a big move for a school of their size to recruit from the particular division and sports class of high school Arnsberg attended. However, the college career of Eddie "ETA" Arnsberg stalled just a few weeks into practice and his full talents never saw the light of day. Had he been a weak student they may have rescinded his scholarship, but he was Deans List material. Seeing he was being blackballed by the team, he contacted Winslow and expressed interest in sitting out the year on the practice squad and playing his last 2 years of eligibility with NEAT. He had gotten his "permission to contact letter" from Illinois and met all the criteria from the NCAA transfer office. He knew he would have to pay full boat for his sophomore year before NEAT could offer any sort of scholarship for him to finish. That meant keeping great grades and the best conduct. If NEAT coaches found there was a personality problem they could drop him from consideration. If he attended just one practice at Illinois in hopes of making that years team, it would preclude him from participating in another NCAA program until his senior year, and only if he met transfer requirements. If he were to be a double wash-out, it is unlikely any school would touch him. So for "ETA" Arnsberg, he knew the ball was in his hands and had to handle it without fumbling to prove himself. He had to transfer before the first Illinois practice. Jared was going to see him to be sure he understood the chance he was taking with the possibility of losing any future scholarship monies. Having recruited him a few years earlier, he knew the talent he was dealing with. The drive to Burlington was a mind clearing experience for Jared as he put all things "Meaghan" into perspective. He was convinced his feelings for her smoldered over the years and had perhaps even helped build the wall between he and Barbara Gaynes. At this juncture he could barely remember any of the time when she was out of his life. His desire to start a life with she and Declan was on his mind for the entire trip. Meanwhile Meaghan was preparing Declan for the move from the Chicago area to Vermont. The amount of press given to the MidFaRe scandal made it impossible to keep things from him. So many outside sources knowing the details made whispering about it futile. Declan had been told his father did "bad things" and "dishonest things" and was in jail for a long time. There were few ways to sugarcoat it for the boy. Meaghan told him that Jared would act as his Daddy and do the Daddy things he did with his father. Most psychologists told them that Declan would probably not remember his father in 5 or 10 years as long as he bonded with Jared. That seemed unlikely to Jared but he already knew he had positive connection with the youngster. After what he felt was a very positive meeting with Eddie "ETA" Arnsberg he had given the young man all the signatures he needed for the transfer. It was now up to him and his family. If they felt that the cost of paying for at least one year of tuition at NEAT was worth, beyond the education, the chance to go on to bigger and better sports opportunities was their decision. He could also forfeit eligibility and expose himself to the NFL draft, but he ran a huge risk there. They had but a few days to make the choice. In Chicago he had his first face to face, man to man talk with young Declan MacDonald. He explained that he loved his mother and wanted her to come and live with him, but he also loved him, Declan. He promised he would do his best to make he and his Mommy happy. For the boy it was a no-brainer. It was adventure for him, and for a 6 year old adventure was life. So much to learn and see, and when he found that they would be close to his grandparents as well, he was sold. He did worry he wouldn't see "Poppy Mac" and Grammy Mac" as often, but they could come whenever they wished. For as much as a 6 year old holds those feelings, he did harbor some feelings of betrayal towards his father and welcomed a new start. Before their talked finished Declan looked right into Jared Winslow's eyed and shocked him with the question, "Are you going to be my new Daddy for my Mommy?" "I would like to be, Declan," He said. "But, before that happens we should get to know each other better. Maybe we can go fishing together, climb a mountain, play football and baseball together." He promised. "With you, or do you have somebody take me for you?" Declan asked with a look of resignation on his little face. "Of course, with me." Jared said hugging the boy affectionately. "My Daddy did bad things and made Mommy and Poppy Mac and Grammy Mac cry ... My Papa and Gramma cried too, but they wouldn't let me see. Are you a good man?" He asked frankly. "I promise I'll always be a good man. Will you promise to always be a good boy?" He asked with a grin. Declan averted his eyes for a moment and then brightened looking up to Jared saying, "My Papa says little boys are supposed to get in some trouble, it makes you grow up better." Jared laughed out loud and picked Declan up to hug him and the child hugged him back affectionately. Jared Winslow felt the bond growing between them. Jared slept with Meaghan under the same roof as Declan that night for the first time. It was a big step for Meaghan because she had always told Declan that staying overnight and sleeping together meant different things. She had explained to him that she loved Jared so much that way. After his talk with Jared she hoped she didn't overwhelm the boy with too much. The next day she would begin to stage the packing up of her things for a move to Vermont. She decided to move everything, and besides clothes and personal items, put most into storage units and then do a piecemeal move into Jared's home, selling off what she wouldn't need. Declan wouldn't start Kindergarten until September 9th in Vermont, 2 days after Labor Day. So there was plenty of time to prepare. She and Declan would usher out the movers on the 21st and 22nd and fly to their new home on the 23rd. Her father would oversee the sale of the house for her before he himself would pack up and leave their summer home on Lake Michigan to go home to Vermont. Without his daughter there, he doubted he may ever return for another summer. There was plenty of fishing in Vermont. ------- Chapter 20 Jared Winslow did his best to hide his excitement over Meaghan and Declan coming to live with him as a run up to a marriage that somehow was inevitable all their lives. So many things in their lives changed the fate they stumbled through, but a chance trip to Chicago to interview Boge Hollins put his face on a TV screen that happened to catch Meaghan's eye. That set forth the chain of events that led to this twist of two peoples fates. Besides making his personal life complete, the biggest challenge of his professional life stood nigh with the first day of practice but a day away now. Coaches had huddled several times to skew and tinker with the playbook, and they spent countless hours going over teaching methods and drills to put all of this into players heads. Winslow's 12th man in the huddle method was somewhat common among some coaches, but Jared pushed it further. When his offensive coordinator called his play in the huddle and lined up, his defensive coordinator read the offense aloud and called the set as his defensive quarterback, the middle linebacker, would. Then Coach Winslow would critique, sometimes to a man, what happened after the play was run. As long as his two play callers were smart and attentive it never took long for them to catch on to reading sets. Once the season started, if a play came in from the sidelines that his Quarterback vehemently opposed, as long as the spare time out was available, he was to use it and make his case. It was how they learned each others game. By the middle of the season it was hoped that the field generals used the eyes and instincts of the coaches sideline observations to shape their play calling. At the end of each offensive and defensive set Winslow and the appropriate coach would want to hear what happened on the field from the generals themselves. It all came back to Coach Winslow's credo; Know your job, ask questions until you do. Trust in yourself, trust in your skills, trust in your teammates and their skills. If unsure of anything, ASK QUESTIONS. This day before the camp opening held a long meeting with Jared's AD, Joe Barber. Barber would introduce him to the "eyes in the sky", namely the team videographers and booth observers. The observers were the guys who talked to the coaches through the headphones on the field who charted the games and helped pick apart defenses and see trends. Armed with a playbook and a roster they watched and charted plays and players from the first scrimmage and all through the season. Videographers would catch every practice and every game for later review. Coach Winslow was a huge disciple of video as there was so much more to take in than what he saw. His observers were in their third year associated with NEAT and were ex-NCAA assistants who lived nearby. Both were astute students of the game who had pursued their non-sports careers after leaving football programs. While some assistant coaches aspire to pursue the next level, others see a job that can consume a life if you're not suited. As the "eyes in the sky" they could be involved in the sport they love without the 7 day headache. Frank Enfante and Roger Dorn were both 2nd team All-Americans for Division 1 schools. They knew their jobs well enough to become assistants, but the desire to lead a program escaped both of them. Communication from the booth was very restrictive, they weren't to use instant replay or have any independent camera access. Only the team videographer had access to all available feeds, after the game, not during, and he or his team couldn't shoot any sideline action. The NCAA was very strict on video usage, and Coach loved video. The only footage he had of any of his newer players were what Joe Barber and his assistants shot at mini-camp. Now he would have well shot action from practices where he could not be on every field at once. He was happy to meet the video people, but wanted to think of Frank Enfante and Roger Dorn as new team members. It was why he hadn't selected his own "eyes" and why he hadn't desired to meet them earlier. Armed with a playbook and rosters he wanted their stark opinions with no personalities or preconceived thoughts as to the talent of the players or strategies used. In the first scrimmages they would forge their relationship as far as football went. Coach Winslow held a short private meeting with his coaches and each of their staffs wishing them luck and going over team policies. Everyone was on pins and needles with the new attention being paid to the program. "Tomorrow we're all going to find this is like riding a bike, but right now I know there is a panic that we've all bitten off more than we can chew. Trust me when I say, I've never felt more comfortable with a staff than I am right now. You've all seen the 4 signs all over the locker room and I want those philosophies lived up to. They are; KNOW, know your job, ask questions until you do. TRUST, trust in yourself, trust in your skills, trust in your teammates and their skills. If unsure of anything, ASK QUESTIONS. And finally on my door, both sides, Man Up, or Man OUT! There is no going over anyone's head here." Every coach, every staff member had seen the signs and they all had been explained in detail to everyone. It was going to be an exciting ride. If you had doubts about your own abilities, it was too late to change courses now. The staff was ready to start the season. They shook hands among themselves as the meeting broke and Jared Winslow went to the door and before he opened it he turned and smiled at all the glad-handing. "If I could indulge you all one more time," He said getting their attention. "Remember there is a fan base that expects us to go 16-0, the press secretly wants us to go 0-16. No one really expects us to finish better than 8 and 8 ... We all know that we'll make some body happy out there, one way or the other. See you in morning." He said with a wry smile on his face as he left. On his way back home he drove past Meditek Stadium to see if he had any "campers" in the parking lot and sure enough, there were in the visitors lot. Nine various cars and vans with tents or sleeping bags laid out held a handful of players who did not, or could not make living arrangements for the days before dorms opened. He and Joe Barber expected such and had 2 Porto-Pottys delivered to the lot. He drove into the lot and immediately the inhabitants of the vehicles gathered to greet a new neighbor. All were surprised to see Head Coach Winslow pull himself out of his little sports car. "Ladies and gentlemen, the reasons why you could not make other living arrangements make no difference to me and I have no problem with you being here. We left you facilities to take care of personal needs. If I hear one story of alcohol, drugs, or partying from any of the neighbors, it will not be tolerated. Remember we are all under a microscope this year. Any non-players with you who need shower facilities tomorrow should go see the S I D in the faculty administration building at the beginning of practice tomorrow. She won't seem happy about it, but she will accommodate you. DO NOT take advantage of the situation." He said with a smile before he put the car in gear and left the lot. When he got to the edge of the parking lot he stopped at the light and took out his cell phone to dial Ann Comeche's number. "Ann, I may have mentioned this before but, any players camping in the parking lot at Meditek may have girlfriends or the like with them. They've been instructed to see you at the start of practice if they need shower facilities. Let them use the work-out room shower and make sure they leave it as they found it." He said quickly so she could not interrupt him. "Do you want me to wipe their asses too?" She said with an acid tongue. "Why did I know you would be overjoyed? Please, as a favor to me. I, ummm ... helped you out a few times. Let's give these kids a break If they could afford a place to stay I'm sure they wouldn't be sleeping in their cars." He said hoping she might soften. "Alright, I can handle it, ... and uh ... you may have helped me out, but it's not like you didn't get anything out of it either, Valentino." She said back smartly before hanging up. "Yes, " He thought as he clicked off, "She did provide some sexual relief at a time when getting that monkey off my back cleared my mind." The thought of Ann's voluptuous body stirred a little desire into his groin, but thankfully all he could think of was Meaghan. When he got home he called her right away to see how she was and how the plans were moving along. "I know your mind is full of everything football tonight, but I have some great news. My Dad has a sale pending on my house and his lake camp together! An older couple has their grandchildren in schools nearby and they want to be closer. They told Dad they wanted to get out of the city in the summer when they had the kids a lot. Dad made a suggestion and it looks like they're on board." She said brightly. "That would be an incredible situation for you and your Dad. I hope everything goes through." Jared told her glad he got his mind off the pressure of the season for a second. "You know that means I can bank everything for Declan's education and I don't have to worry that we end up together." She said absent mindedly. "Is there a doubt?" Jared said, shocked by her words. "No, no doubt, just ... everything is falling into "too good to be true" categories. I'm not used to this." She said with a sigh. "Good things happen to good people, honey. I love you and that will never change. I love Declan and look forward to him in my life. I'm sitting in OUR house wishing you were here right now so I could make love to you." He told her hoping to brighten her outlook. "I know, and I want you right now, but that will be soon enough. Remember, with Declan around we aren't going to be sitting around half naked ready to do as we please like last weekend." She warned him. "Well of course, but you just being here is half of making love. We'll find enough private time. Uh ... Declan IS a good sleeper? ... RIGHT?" He asked in feigned desperation. Meaghan laughed out loud and assured him that he was a sound sleeper before wrapping up their call so they could get to the business at hand, she packing up and he preparing his team. During the course of the evening, while he was tinkering with rosters and possible positions, watching old videos filling himself with his team, he received calls from each of his coaches who were also in nervous anticipation. Each of them had received calls from their different staff members in the same nervous anticipatory funk. Joe Barber called to wish him luck and inform him that 16 players with "walk-on" status had reported to his office that day with proper doctors approval and paid tuition receipts. They were using their right to try out for the team with no promises. Tomorrow he would meet, besides his players, the full staff Joe Barber had put together for him. Equipment mangers, laundry coordinators, and general go-fers. Each coach's staff would be there again, as well. He hadn't yet actually personally talked individually with the staffs of each of his coaches, except to know there were no newbie's, all were retained interns with at least one year experience. Friday morning at 7:00 am while 80 to 90 players were given practice pads, team t-shirts and football pants to change into, Jared would meet everyone, except for the laundry team who would be setting up the players. Players were instructed to bring their own cleats, socks and other "personal" items they would need i.e.; jocks, cups, and new to the team this year, protective sport bras and "jills" the female counterpart to the jock. Most women playing the sport wore the same protection that female boxers wore to protect the abdomen and vulnerable organs. Sometime during that melee of people getting equipment Jared Winslow would walk through and shake the hand of each of the laundry and uniform personnel as they worked. Once the team was set and all uniforms with names sewn on were hanging in the Meditek Stadium locker room ready for the first game, he would host a dinner for the entire laundry staff to fete them for their thankless performance. Once his head hit the pillow Coach Winslow slept like a rock until his 5:00 a.m. alarm. Then began a day he knew as ritual by now and he could barely wait until he walked onto the practice field to greet the players. During the 7:00 meet and greet with staff he recognized a lot of faces he saw on campus and around the stadium over the summer. He jokingly passed out "HELLO My Name Is... " stickers to everyone in hopes they could all become friends on a first name basis. He enjoyed the meet and greet hoping the enthusiasm stayed fresh. He managed to get away long enough to walk into the meeting room where uniform pass-out was being handled and was surprised to find but a few players mulling getting re-fits. The rest were crammed into the home and awy locker rooms getting changed. The whistles would blow in just 15 minutes to gather for the Coaches Greeting and seemingly, everyone was taken care of and there would be no hold up. The laundry crew seemed shocked to be given this special treatment by the coach after the previous years of feeling anonymous under Coach Woodard. Jared went back to the meet and greet and took his coaches aside to his office while the rest of the staff left to coordinate the gathering of players for Coaches greeting and the beginning of the first practice. The clock barely turned 8 when the sound of whistles filled the air as this years crop of prospective players gathered. After giving them a few minutes to get settled as instructed by the assistants, the Head Coach and his Coordinators strode out of the door to the team. After introductions Coach Winslow stood in front of them for his remarks and instructions, i.e: Coaches greeting. "Ladies and Gentlemen, classes begin in 5 days and the practice schedule is posted everywhere you look and I know each of you got a copy of it in the mail unless you are a cold walk-on. Your first step into adulthood is doing your best at practice and arranging your life to be ready for classes in these 5 short days. There are no special dispensations of any class work or scholastic requirement because you are on this team. I don't take excuses. The University takes no excuses. You want the privilege of playing Division One NCAA Football ... it does not come easy. Some of you are walk-ons and I feel bad for you already. By noon today you will have had to impress either me or another member of the coaching staff to come back tomorrow. You'll know at 3 o'clock if you've made that impression. When you get that news, be men and women and clear your things out of the locker room. Tomorrow or the day after someone may get hurt and we may look for you. If you didn't act like a mature man or woman, you won't be on our list of replacements. Being cut is part of the game, just like losing is. We don't like either, but we take what we can from it and learn. If you're a walk-on and make it up to Sunday's practice you're on the practice roster. Unless you quit or are cut for team offenses, everybody who comes to practice on Sunday will be here until the 24th, 10 days from now, when I'll make the first cuts. Hustle ... Listen ... Hustle ... Listen. That's the best advice I can give you. DO NOT try to do more than you think you can do, physically. Know your limits. Talent-wise, do not give yourself a limit, always try. So after you've hustled, and after you've listened I want you to apply my simple system. The System? First, know your job, ask questions until you do. Then it is trust. Trust in yourself, trust in your skills, trust in your teammates and their skills. If unsure of anything, ASK QUESTIONS. It's why we have this staff here, to TEACH. NO QUESTION IS TOO STUPID. To have a question and not ask ... THAT'S STUPID. When given a practice field task and it's thought that you failed you will be asked why. Give me a reason, don't give me an excuse. If you don't know, say so. Showing you is teaching you. So now, when each of the coaches calls for his squads, I want you to hustle behind him to his practice field. All those of you who truly do not know which squad you should be with, stay right here, I'll assign you. We have a fairly cool August New England day today so we don't have to worry about heat. I wish you all the best of luck, Godspeed to each of you ... Coaches?" Jordy Alford got up and took a clipboard that Jared handed him. "OFFENSE! ... let's go!!" Jordy shouted as he started to trot to the left to practice field number one. About a third of the players hustled to their feet trying to be the first ones behind the Offensive Coordinator. A few seconds passed and Frank Ruffin took his clipboard from Jared as he shouted. "DEEEEE —FENSE!!! Ruffin shouted as if trying to incite his charges. Amid shouts, hoots, and hollers another third of the group sprung to their feet and followed the coach to the second practice field. Ira Pressley chuckled as he took his clipboard from Winslow, shouting out, "Come on all you SPECIAL TEAMERS, let me see how special you are." All but 6 of the group went off with Pressley. They were six walk-ons left of the 16 who had no pre-interview or assignment. They truly did not know where they might want to report. They all sat on the ground in their football pants, plain t-shirt and holding a helmet and a registration form saying they were enrolled in school and passed a physical in the last 30 days... Coach Winslow pointed to the first young man saying, "Come here and talk to me son." The boy sprung to his feet and approached Coach who had turned to walk with his back to the others. "What makes you think you can play ball with us?" He asked quietly. "My name is John Brooks, Sir." He said as Coach fumbled his registration forms to find the name. "I played 3 years of Varsity football in Alpharetta, Georgia, Sir. I signed a letter of intent to go to Oral Roberts 2 years ago but got into a car accident over that summer. I got busted up pretty good, and was found to be intoxicated at the time of the accident and Roberts denied my letter. I've been rehabbing my injuries and my life for 2 years. I've never been stronger or more determined, Sir, to live up to the potential I once had." Brooks said as if he were talking to an Army officer. "Was alcohol a problem, John?" "Yes Sir, it was. I was a party boy and felt indestructible. Thankfully I was alone in the accident and by the grace of God I've defeated that problem and matured. I didn't need the cure, I needed to grow up." Brooks said. "You were born in Germany, middle school in Texas and then to Georgia, I figure you an Army brat, what did your Dad think of all of this?" Coach asked. "That's correct, Sir. When he got home from the war he was pretty discouraged with me and wanted me to join the Army to get straightened out. I chose school instead and he's just as happy." "Where do you play, John?" "I feel best suited for linebacker, Sir. I've got great lateral speed, a strong upper body and I really know this game. I played both ways in school, playing tight end on offense." Brooks told him, obviously very nervous. Coach Winslow jotted a few things onto Brooks registration form saying, "Bring this to Practice Field 2 and give it to Coach Ruffin. You have 4 hours to impress someone." Brooks looked up and into the eyes of Jared Winslow. "Thank you Sir, you won't be sorry." "I hope not, and good luck." He answered as Brooks pushed his helmet on and ran to the practice field, paper in hand. Jared walked back to the other 5 and sighed to himself, thinking, "Oh no, not another girl. They're going to commit me at the NCAA for wanting to carry 2. I hope she's not serious." "Young lady, you're next. Come here and we'll talk." Jared said turning on his heel and slowly walked the opposite direction holding out his hand, waiting for her to hand him her papers. "My name is June Bokue, Mr. Winslow. I'm hoping you got an introductory letter from your former assistant Coach Gary Gray?" She said handing him 2 papers and extending a hand to shake. Gary Gray had worked as one of his assistants at Vermont Valley Tech when he first took over the job. Gray had family problems and left the program and went home to Utah where he took over the head coaching job at an All-State football program. He did now recall getting a letter from him asking he give this girl a try-out. She was the best receiver in the conference but was understandably not recruited by any established football school. She wanted an Ag education and NEAT was her goal. The stories of female kickers possibly making the team gave her hope and the will to try-out. "June, do you know how tough Division One NCAA football is? Do you really think you can take a hit? Can you take a hit, get up and look your defender in the eye and say "Is that all you have?". I just don't want you to think this will be in any way easy, no matter how good you are. Defenders will gun for you. I already fear for my kickers because of backlash, not that boys don't like girls. There are just a lot of them who think they should be waving pom-poms on the sidelines instead of wearing pads." Coach told her trying to make her rethink her decision to try out. "Coach Winslow, I'm no Amazon, nor am I a Barbie doll. At 5' 9" and I'm built a little masculine, I'm solid. But believe me, I can turn heads in jeans and a tee. I love the game, I'm fast and I CAN take a hit. Once the boys on your team see what I can do they will be there for me." June told Coach trying to convince him. "June, I won't deny you the chance, that wouldn't be right, but please be careful ... Impress somebody out there today and you'll be back tomorrow." Coach said with a smile, a smile that hid his worry. Jared took his 2 way radio/phone and paged his offensive coordinator Jordy Alford. "Jordy before you call me to ask if I've lost my mind, I'm sending another girl down to work with you guys. I know that to carry one female is crazy and I might carry two, but this girls seems to have some credentials. She doesn't have to know it now, but I want you keep her through Saturday and get a look at her in serious drills." Winslow told him. "As you want Jared, but what happens if she's any good?" Alford asked. "I'm not praying she's bad, but I don't want a freak show to be the reason we get a lot of coverage. She's just a freshman so in the event she can cut it, we can retain her, practice her and just not dress her on game days. Anyway, we're putting the cart before the horse here. Just be sure she gets a fair trial, it's kind of an old favor. We'll talk later." Jared said as he ended the conversation. Nothing of the other 4 walk-ons made Coach Winslow think he had found a future player in the rough, sending all four to Ira Pressley's Special Teams field where he might determine or find a special skill. For most of the entire first hour on all three fields Coaches led their charges through exercises. If they weren't prepared to go through a Jared Winslow football camp he wanted them to feel it the next day, besides the fact that a well stretched body is less susceptible to pulls and strains. That was followed on each field by running short sprints, lots of them. No player was excused from either the exercises or sprints. After a 15 minute break Coach Winslow called all three fields together for a quick review of the day. "Now that you've all stretched out we're ready for some light drills. For those of you who get up sore tomorrow let it be a wake up call that you were not in shape to start camp. Your introduction letters asked you not to come in cold and if you did, it could cost you a place on the team. Coach Ruffin and Coach Alford are going to bring their squads to work with me on some run-throughs, almost like a game of touch football. I don't want any heroes out there trying to impress me by leveling a teammate. I want to see speed, moves, throws and catches. Linemen, I want to see positioning, reaction and footwork, not bruises on my offense or defense. Tomorrow we'll get into full shoulder pads, so let's be polite today. Besides this day, you won't hear me use the term polite again. Coach Pressley will take his bunch to the far field and also run through some light drills with kicking and returns, field goal offense and defense. If Coach Ruffin or Alford ask you to join them on the far field it won't mean you are going to Special Teams, he may just need bodies to round out squads." "One again, here is something you will see posted in the locker rooms and I want you to memorize it. It is the system to which we run things. I CAN'T EMPHASIZE IT ENOUGH! " Winslow said as he held up a placard to read. "First, KNOW. Know your job, ask questions until you do. TRUST. Trust in yourself, trust in your skills, trust in your teammates and their skills. Finally ASK. If unsure of anything, ASK QUESTIONS." He recited as many players started to join in. "I'm also hoping I do not need to remind you that we have female members of the squad at this juncture. I don't believe any of them are asking for special treatment beyond privacy in the locker rooms. Any player who shows disrespect for any teammate, male or female, will be GONE! I came here for a reason, ... I win, and there are reasons WHY I win. One of them is that we work hard and respect the man, or woman, in the trenches next to me as we seek one goal. We are all cogs in one machine and when a cog gets jammed, we remove the jam and continue. Let's strive to make something special happen here this year. There's lots of water and Gatorade available, it's not too hot out this week, but that doesn't mean you can't overheat. If you begin to feel physically stressed, speak up. NOW, LET'S GET BACK TO THE FIELDS!" Coach Winslow said as his coaches unfolded their arms from their stance behind him and began a jog back with their charges following. ------- Chapter 21 Coach Ruffin took his team to his field and brought them to the training equipment, dummies and sleds and asked who might not be familiar with them. No one raised their hands but Coach went through the basics of each and said they would get to the "rough stuff" the following day. "Today is a day to get stretched out, have a little light contact and motivate some competitiveness. In a little while we're going to go over and meet the offense for a little touch scrimmage. I don't need any heroes here today, let's not anyone get hurt. Ben Elgart here will be our defensive backfield instructor, when he calls your name go with him and he'll run you through some of the drills and exercises you'll do every time you step on the practice field and just prior to every game. Barry Wicker will take the line once Ben's crew moves out. Any walk-ons left I will talk to and assign." Coach Ruffen said as he paced the perimeter of the players gathered. Meanwhile Jordy Alford was making much the same speech to the group gathered before him. "Once Coach Ruffen clears out from the training area I'll quickly go through the use of the sleds and dummies and then we'll split up. Willie White will take the receivers corps, Shack Johnson will take the linemen, I'll work with the backs. Please note that whomever QB's the line today is totally red shirt, no contact, ... understand? The drills and exercises you do today with the instructors today will be the same ones you do every time you step on the practice field and also just prior to every game. We'll have a little fun today, but by tomorrow you'll be calling your Mothers to tell them how much you hate me. Don't worry my feelings don't get hurt easy and when you walk off the field after the last game this year you WILL be a better player than you are right now." Coach Alford said with a knowing grin as he led them up to the just vacated training field." Ira Pressley and Ger Nietczyk took their special teams to the furthest practice field where, along with one special instructor assistant coach, Cy Hilton, they weeded down to kickers and Ger took them aside While Coach Pressley spoke to the rest. "With few exceptions, for any of you that make the team you'll all be part of either the offensive or defensive squads. Your work with me will be for when you're called upon for special assignments, like punt blocking, returning, kick-offs, extra points and FGA's. Your assignment to me doesn't mean we think any more or less of your skills overall, we just think you might be suited for these situations. With the exceptions of the kickers, you'll all meld into the X and O mix." Ira said in his folksy drawl. "Now I might watch you blocking on a field goal attempt and pull you out the next time we line that way. Don't take it personally. Special teams are fluid. We might use the same line on the 4th and 1 attempt and the resulting punt if we don't make it. I might run 2 or 3 of you in or out. Tomorrow when you come to practice you'll see the lists of who goes to what fields and some of you will go with Coach Ruffen and some will go with Coach Alford. But right now we want to give the kickers some looks with a line and a rush before our little scrimmage later. Remember, no one's getting hurt here today." Coach Pressley took his charges down to the training field as the others had and showed them the training equipment they would all learn to hate as much as the man, or woman next to him. Soon three fields buzzed with action with whistles blaring seemingly every few moments someplace. Balls flew through the air either hurled from a strong young arm or propelled from a foot. Linemen stood in 3 point stances versus a mirrored image waiting for a signal to stand and make contact with a counterpart just to lock their light pads and learn positioning of feet and squaring up of bodies. Everything was basics today. By the next practice the sounds of whistles and cajoling would be replaced with hard whistles, grunts and shouts of orders to be carried out as well as questions, in grimaced shouting form, of your abilities, your deservedness to be here on this Division One practice field. The day was no tease, for all but 6 of the walk-ons it would be their first and last day of a dream of playing. In the "touch" scrimmage that got started later than all wanted it to, Marv Hudson shined dropping back and hitting 6 straight passes with pinpoint accuracy in heavy traffic. A freshman, Tim Waters snagged passes from the air amongst defenders, easily out maneuvering his man with grace. After the touted freshman "Junior" Contralco took a hand off from Hudson and sprinted wide avoiding defenders and turning a hard corner showing his brilliantly fast feet. Coach Winslow led the huddle and sent Hudson and Waters off and called June Bokue off the ever fluid bench. When the huddle broke Contralco lined up behind center and dropped straight back and unloaded a "Hail Mary" that, after light contact, June Bokue flew to outracing any defender by 10 steps. Junior knew how to handle the ball if the Marv Hudson experiment faltered. All of the highlights were taken with a grain of salt considering it was a first day and it was basically a game of "touch" and "for fun". But some low lights could not be avoided from rising to the top to be skimmed away. Walk-ons who didn't listen to instructions, missed assignments or apparently never played beyond sand-lot versions or small high school programs were sent off just to make sure they didn't get hurt. One thing that didn't escape ANY of the coaches was how well their new "star" back Boge Hollins seemed to work in tandem with the returning backfield mate, Kemmer Brooks. They picked and blocked for each other like players who had played together for years. Every coach and assistant, to a man, made sure that Boge got nothing extra in his treatment. Coach Winslow felt Boge could be a natural leader and didn't want to push that mantle on to him. He felt quite sure he could lead by example and using his tremendous talent. So far that was working out fine. The second day of practice was a long tedious 4 hours as any one could put in. It was a day of training and little contact with the ball itself. Most of the day was spent in the work-out rooms and drill field beginning to build stamina and get the body ready for real hitting. Interior linemen worked with sleds the first time, mostly lining up experiencing resistance. It would be another day before those hard workers would get fully padded and begin to slug sleds. Everyone was required to do a 50 yard "dash" through an agility ladder, then backs ran through different ladders to build speed and learn heel placement. It was all equipment they learned to hate, but was indispensable in gaining results. Only a very few players besides Boge Hollins had trained this rigorously in the past and knew all of the equipment. Surprisingly, June Bokue, quickly earning the name "June Bug" from Ira Pressley, was one who was from a major high school program in Utah knew all of the ropes of the equipment and matched Boge step for step and helped explain to the others the how and why of it all. Instruction from their peers seemed to sink in quicker than from the coaches, and that was OK with every Coach and their staffs. By Tuesday, the first day of full pads and the first "two-a-day" one more walk-on was asked to leave and 4 invitees left the program, feeling it was over their heads, or not in their heart. The walk-on was Ben Breen, the classic style kicker. He had worked hard to improve his time to the ball, but in doing so his accuracy and distance suffered. He was going to master the quickness, you could see that, but at the moment the team couldn't carry three place kickers. He would be better off continuing his work and working on his style and skill. He was told under no uncertain terms, to stay in shape and be ready for the call. He was welcome to use the team facilities and practice with the team any weekday, just not the day before a game or game-day. The team was shaping up and positive attitudes abounded throughout the locker room. Even "females on the team' had drawn no negative responses when they all saw the positive contribution each could make. "June Bug" was aware that she would not make the varsity squad to suit up for games, but would be on the practice roster eligible to play at any time. She understood the reasons and had no problem with her situation. Nary one teammate doubted her ability to step in if needed. Females in football would be hard to swallow even as kickers, but Oksana Cushman was proving to be every bit the punter they had hoped and could play with the boys all day long. Julie Murcer, as the back-up place kicker, held her own in practice and knew unless Brian Faraday was hurt, would see little or no action. Still, all three women could easily make a case for playing at Division 1 level. June Bokue was going to be hardest to sell, even if the most experienced players on the team thought she could play. However, Oksana was going to have to be the "Jackie Robinson" for the opposite sex, at least, in the Northeast 10 NCAA division. She could easily compete at this level as a punter without a doubt to her abilities. No amount of heckling, peer or press pressure would sway her or affect her effort. She knew what she wanted and now that she had it, no one could take it away from her. It's probably the easiest position to make the pioneering move and Jared hoped that without a lot of fanfare he could later get Julie into a game for an extra point. He didn't want to known as a "clown" among coaches by doing these "stunts". Of course, he laughed to himself, that if he was 10-0 at one point he could probably put a dog in the game without being questioned, but he didn't hold out much hope for that kind of success his first year. Jared Winslow usually used the first day of classes one day break from the practice schedule as a day of R & R and confab with his coaches to see where they were position by position. This year any thought of R & R was scuttled as he prepared his house for the arrival of Meaghan and her son Declan. Movers would start arriving late Saturday and he wanted an idea where everything might go in the house and what would go into storage. His head hurt trying to sort out the next few days decisions and settled on sitting at his home desk and working out his roster. He called his coaches and asked if they and their staffs could meet at his home instead of Coaches Hall. It gave him another hour at home to work on furniture logistics before his staffs showed up. It was quite the right move as ideas flowed more freely knowing he didn't have to leave and reset his video and paper notes to work on the roster. After 50 minutes of designating some items for storage and some for temporary placement in the garage a van pulled up with 8 of his total staff, followed by Joe Barber's car with 5 more in it. In a room designed as a trophy and memento showcase, it now served as meeting area with 2 leather sofas, desk and an original bench from the original football field. 15 men pushed the comfort limits of the room, but also intensified the exchange of ideas. The meeting was spirited and quite optimistic about individual players and the team overall. Each coach, to a man, expressed relief that there hadn't been one serious injury, as yet, for the entire practice schedule, despite some intense inter-squad scrimmages. There were still 10 days left before the full dress scrimmage vs. Boston College and only 5 cuts remained. With 80 in camp and 5 players already designated to the practice only roster Jared Winslow's target of 70 roster players, by Northeast 10 rules. The NCAA hoped that trimming overall rosters and travel rosters it would help more teams afford programs to stay competitive. Major program schools were dressing 80, 90 or more players with sometimes 50 or less seeing action. It was hoped eventually they could get to an NFL sized roster. One of the lures that brought Coach Winslow into the NEAT fold was the fact he never carried large rosters anyway and the new experimental rules would cause little burden to him. They saw the 70 man roster as; 3 Quarterbacks 9 Wide Receivers 6 Cornerbacks 4 Tail or Halfbacks 3 Fullbacks 4 Tight Ends 5 Offensive Tackles 5 Offensive Guards 3 Centers 2 Punters 2 Place Kickers 8 Linebackers 5 Defensive Tackles 6 Defensive Ends 5 Safeties Of course, many of the "fringe" players would be serving special teams duties as well as regular offensive starters who might be on the defensive side to cover punts and FGA's. Not many players wore "one hat" on Winslow teams, with the possible exception of the starting Quarterback and his regular backfield. There were few doubts as to who might make the team and those to be cut or added to the practice squad. There were as many "bubble" players as there were consensus cuts, basically 4. Which to keep on the practice squad were mostly decided. Those 5 players would take part in practices and be game ready in case of injury. One they knew was Ben Breen, a kicker, plus June Bokue the female receiver. The other 3 would be multi-purpose players. After the first cuts in 5 days, everyone left would be "on the team" either in the travel, home or practice rosters. On that day they would have the players elect captains. Scott Claxton, the once thought to be timid kicker, was emerging as a cornerback and had done some duty as a linebacker. After the first day of practice he took a ride with Joe Barber to see a heart specialist in Albany for a battery of tests. He didn't return until just before the following days practice, but he had a full clean bill of health that described his heart muscle as "perfect". With the knowledge that he had little to worry about he reacted positively to Coach Winslow's challenge and had been a man possessed in practice. The "tests" his teammates gave him to see if he were tough enough were all met. The coaching staff was wondering if Scott would be chosen as defensive captain with the respect he had earned. Although that would be a great inspirational pick, they hoped they would opt for someone with more game experience. The coach's pick would be Jeremiah "Jazz" Carey. Jazz had picked up the nickname after cringing each time he heard "Jerry Carey". As a freshman he was a standout defensive tackle who had a late growth spurt and came to his sophomore year a few inches taller and leaner. He moved to outside line backer was one of the few team highlights in the Sherm Woodard regime They also felt there was little doubt that Boge Hollins would be chosen offensive captain. After this break all practices moved to Meditek Stadium and were closed to the public and there would be less fighting for positions and more honing skills for positions. Players who would not be seeing first string action would be depended on to be run in and out of games and take over for a down or two and not cause any slack. They would have to be ready to fill Coach Pressley's Special Teams or step into an injury situation and know the playbook and their jobs. Although Jared had always been successful as a coach with all of his teams, each was not without it's pitfalls, be it injuries, personality conflicts, players not making grades or getting into trouble. This season had been so free of any of that, even though it was early, he couldn't help but think some pillar would crumble and endanger the entire structure he was building. The day Eddie "ETA" Arnsberg came into camp he fully expected trouble based upon his last stop, even though he would only practice with the team. He had arrived in camp on Sunday and practiced but 3 days but proved to be in "game shape". He was cheerleading from the bench and encouraging his fellow teammates. Coach Winslow made it clear to Coach Alford that he wasn't to see the ball on any plays in inter-squad scrimmages, he was only to serve as a blocking back for Boge and protection of the Quarterback. If he had a temper or an ego to feed off of, Jared wanted to light the fuse and see how long he would burn before he flew off about not being able to show his skills. To both coaches surprise Eddie took the assignments in stride and even worked with Kemmer Brooks on his blocking positioning. In the teams first closed practice on Thursday, which would end with a scrimmage, Coach Winslow intended to let Eddie Arnsberg show, hopefully, his teammates exactly what he could do. He had earned the respect of his back mates with his blocking abilities, opening holes for either back he was paired with. Now he was hoping that he would show them what could happen next year with he and Boge in the backfield and Kemmer Brooks in a wide slot. Yes, it was valuable practice time, but the hoped results were to show everyone what grit determination and patience can win. Here was a young man with tremendous talents who let his ego short circuit his football life when he was thrown into a big fish pond. Now he had to swallow his pride, give up a year of eligibility and re-route his life and he was doing it with class. It had only been a week but it was obvious he was very mature as a player and had put his life and ego in proper perspective. He knew his place with the team and would use what ever talent and skills he had to make this team better. Everyone was aware of Boge's skills and how he could power his way through traffic, drop a shoulder to burst the line, and get to full speed in just 2 or 3 strides. Arnsberg was not as imposing nor as powerful, however he could seemingly change directions mid-stride leaving defenders to say he "disappeared". Confident would be tacklers would line him up and miss their target. If the dream of he and Boge in the same backfield ever materialized the season would be a highlight reel. But, "on paper" didn't always work out when you hit the reality button. There was a lot of work to be dome between now and that time. The first closed practice inside Meditek Stadium brought 70+ young men and women fully stressed with now the burden of classes and education on top of the demands of their coach. Coach Winslow's first meeting with the players was to tell them that they had to leave all that stress at the door as they came out the runway to the field. In turn, the stress of the game and games to be played had to be left in the locker room when they left to resume their education after their post-practice shower. The words were easy to say for the coach, but he knew, as the players did, it was hard to do. It was why he stressed education first and play second. The reality that one missed step, hit or tackle could end the athletic side of their lives and leave them as a vessel only filled with knowledge. Training and drills, training and drills, repetition, repetition, repetition; That was a Jared Winslow practice. Linemen, both offense and defense knew the jar of contact with sleds, dummies and their own teammates. Receivers and backs learned the sweet feel of the pigskin popping into their hands whether picked from the air or having it shoved into their belly. Pursuit and avoidance, outsmart, outrun, open the hole, close the hole, two hours of being shouted at, back patted and tested over and over. Then for a half hour the middle of the field becomes a stage for rehearsal, a chance to prove your part with coaches mixed in with play cards dangling from their necks. Some players smile confidently to themselves while others wait for the wrath of a coach to fall upon them. Chests swell with pride, while some eyes water with the bitter tears of disappointment with themselves. At the end, before you are sent to wash the grit and sweat from your body, you're gathered to be thanked for your effort and told that no matter how poorly you thought you did, you made progress, no matter how well you thought you did, there is room for improvement. Every player is recognized for their effort no matter how big or small their contribution may seem. Told that each of them is a domino and if one is pulled from the run, the rest cannot fall, just be sure you know where to be to keep the run falling. "Keep the click, keep the click!" was Coach Winslow's expression, referring to dominos falling, one clicking then next. The other coaches picked it up as well. One word, "CLICK" said it all. Players in scrimmages patted each other with "good click". Coach Winslow's reinforcement methods were sometimes subtle, sometimes frank. Inside a diorama frame at the front of the locker room were 3 neat rows of 10 dominos, one over the other. The first row they were stood just far apart that if they fell, one would knock the next. The next row they were toppled, neatly, one's edge laying on the next. The third row they were all erect with one missing in the row and laying flat before it. The black tile had no dots on it, just 3 letters, Y O U. It was an extension of Jared's "click" incentive talk. No matter how inconsequential you feel, you are a part of it all. It was hard to walkout of the locker room to the field without seeing the reminder. Coach Jared Winslow and his staff of assistant coaches and their staffs had been convinced of one thing as each practice day wore on. They had the talent to put a good product on the field and whether they won one game or all of them, they would play tough and not be a push-over. On Saturday, just a week before the first dress scrimmage with BC, most of the coaches were seeking some rest and solitude, a mental health refresher as it were, in between that days "two-a-day". Jared Winslow was alone walking in the Meditek field, hands in pocket, perhaps reflecting in private, on the roll-out of his life. The team, Meaghan's move and bringing her into his life there, with a child. Jody Alford saw him there as he sought out his own few quiet moments, away from the rest of the team and staffs. Alford could not resist approaching him and Jared looked up inquisitively, knowing he had something on his mind. "Hey, what's up?" Jared asked. Jordy broke into the biggest smile of awe and joy before almost shouting at Jared. "Do you believe how FUCKING GOOD Marvin Hudson is!! He can throw the ball through a wall and put it, tits up, in a tea cup at 50 yards!!" He exclaimed. Jared tried to keep his face straight, but he broke into a wide grin. "He is UN-FUCKING BELIEVABLE!" He shouted back. " ... and he has no idea of the level he's at. He knows he's doing well, but he plays as if God made him to reinvent the position. When he came back from the quarterback camp and I got the grade from them, his top potential had no number. They usually tell you 70 to 83 per cent chance of being successful as their best grade. Marv's final was 90 to asterisk. When I called the guy who runs the camp, Johnny Baxter, he told me not to give the score to Marv, not to tell him how well he had done. He didn't want to ruin him. He loved that he was so innocent and a sponge for learning the position. When writers asked him if he had any hot prospects at the camp Johnny said he acted aloof so they wouldn't hound him. Baxter was a pretty fair QB himself until he got hurt, but he knows talent and had made a lot of throwers into quarterbacks." "Junior (Contralco) throws a lot better than I thought he could and he knows how to run an offense. He could be a great back-up if anything happened to Marv." Jordy offered as they privately soaked up the glee at their find in Marvin Hudson. "Yeah, I've thought about that, but I think he's going to be an able receiver out of the back field or even tight end. He's real smart on the field and I like what he does after he gets the ball. He could command the offense in a pinch, but that would mean changing the entire offense if it were a long time thing though. The kid with the heavy southern drawl from Georgia, Mark Freeman, has run our type of set. He went both ways in school. Frank has him penciled as a free safety, like 2nd or 3rd on the depth chart. I've seen him throw and I've got him learning the book. Smart kid, lot of talent, maybe a little over matched for Division One, but certainly capable. We'll get him some snaps this week." Jared said, surprising even Jordy that he had thought out the scenario so far ahead. Alford patted Coach Winslow on the back and walked away with a smile, shaking his head knowing he just had to get that joy off his mind and out in the open. He wanted to make sure he wasn't seeing or imagining what he thought. With only a couple hours before they did it all over again for the afternoon, he again sought out his quiet time of reflection. Alone again, Jared pondered that somewhere between Chicago and where he stood now, a moving van with a car in tow was on its way to him. Tomorrow Meaghan and Declan would arrive in Burlington and they would stay at her parents home Sunday night. Monday morning a service with a van would pick them up with their bags and bring them to him. If all was scheduled right they would meet the movers at his home around noon or 1 pm. He knew he could spend little time with them before he had to leave to be ready for a 3 o'clock playbook study class followed by a meeting with the coaches and assistants to decide cuts and assignments. That afternoons practice and light scrimmage proved to be the one where suddenly everything was falling into place. Players seemed to know their positions and what was expected of them and where their place was going to be. Coach Winslow knew it would happen. He had teams where it didn't seem to gel until the prep before the first game. He hoped that there were enough returning players that a basis of brotherhood might stiffen the gel early and maybe that was the start. Perhaps seeing the break out talent of Boge Hollins, Marv Hudson, Scott Claxton and Junior Contralco among them helped. Mix that with the steady grit and leadership of Seniors Jack Daniels, Greg Alusik, Jazz Carey and the unsung all purpose back, junior Kemmer Brooks (who could end up being NEAT's first 1st or 2nd round pick) a sudden air of confidence re-enforced the team. After the light scrimmage just before they were to break and hit the showers Jared blew his whistle to get everyone's attention. "Okay, let's hit the locker room, but before changing and showers I want you in front of your lockers for a closed door meeting, I'll be quick." He said, his quiet confidence ever apparent. Players filed in and took off helmets and loosened cleats and plopped on their dressing stools, exhausted from the two a day. Coaches and their staffs lined up at the head of the room as Jared took a spot in the middle of the room. He cleared his throat and the room fell silent, with all looking to him. "I saw and felt something today that I think many of you became keenly aware of this afternoon. Sometime today we became a team. Not 70 guys and gals out playing football, but a team. The quiet confidence we've built here is palpable and not a bad thing. We had the seeds of things that can tear a team apart. I was told having a girls on my team would cause problems, I've seen only admiration and respect for them and their talents. I thank them for putting up with a little crap until they proved themselves and understanding what they had to do. When you guys saw them doing things better than any of them could you didn't get petty, you accepted them. You've all watched the guys that you knew didn't have to bust a butt to make the team, ... go out and bust a butt to make the team. We know you're a good team, Myself and every one of the coaches and assistants behind me know you're going to be a good team. What I don't want you to do is let any of this go to your head. If we go out and lose a pile of games, as long as you play hard, this feeling of confidence shouldn't change. You've gelled on the practice field and now you've got to gel on the playing field. That might happen in 1 game, or 2, or 5, or more. I can confidently say, no team in this division will walk over us. Barring injury, I think we'll have a pretty good season. Every one in this room should be a part of this team all year. You might be on the practice roster, on the travel roster or on the home roster. Just remember that each of us needs to be there to CLICK at the right time. No matter how inconsequential your role may seem, we need everyone's click. Stay confident, don't get discouraged at any result as long as you know you played hard. I can say, very confidently, I have never been more proud of any team I've been asked to assemble. In one week you'll have your first test against Boston College. They are a team re-building, much like us, but they have been ranked pre-season so it will be a good test. A lot of Northeast 10 teams are playing scrimmages against teams thought to be above their scale next weekend. I think a lot of people will be surprised. We have 4 more practices and a study session before my game prep and the game. One day this week you'll catch up on your studies you may have missed, ... remember that is more important than any game. You're a great bunch, thanks for your time and letting me get these few words off my mind. None of what was said here, today and any day, ever leaves here. Hit the showers, it smells like a locker room in here." He finished with a chuckle. Once home that evening he spoke for just a few moments with Meaghan who was staying with her parents at the camp that evening before their flight out to Vermont. Jared made an early night of it to be up early and move the last of what he had to before the movers arrived. It was an odd Sunday that there was no team worship, but after a two-a-day the day before and only playbook study Sunday afternoon he wanted them to get sleep and a real day off. Of course, a day off only meant no practice, but everyone worked out as a team prior to the study session. No one had a complaint or ache from the day before so everyone ran a lap and filed into the stands for a trip up and down the steps of Section 7, and one more lap of the field before hitting the exercise and workout rooms. Ger Nietczyk previously led the team with Army style chants as they ran but he couldn't be there this Sunday and before any of the coaches got out to lead them, Boge Hollins and Jazz Carey had them started in the trip around the field perimeter chanting a sound-off. It has become obvious who the players might vote for as captains later that day. Jared was the only coach who fell in with the players making no secret he was the only one young enough to do the run. He welcomed the exercise. After a cool down and time in the workout room the players gathered for playbook study with coaches taking groups to corners of the room and going over and over plays on video screens before leaving them to use their own study methods of remembering play numbers and assignments After some cajoling with coaches and assistants Jared picked up his daily video package of the day before from the video people and drove home. Once he set up the discs and began to watch and listen to his video assistant coaches, Frank Enfante and Roger Dorn, as they added comments and pointed out things they shot and reasons. Roger Dorn had been bubbling for the last 4 practices about Marv Hudson's talent and Frank Enfante was adding his comments, also glowing, about him as camera's rolled. The other comments they added were affirmations of things he and the other coaches had discussed and seen. Off the cuff Roger Dorn added, as the video rolled on Kemmer Brooks reaching in and stealing a would be interception from a defender, "that kid is going to be approached to make himself available for the draft. If he has a good junior year he'll get by the first few rounds and then some team can bag a gem. If his progress continues and he plays out his senior year, he'll go first round." His off the cuff comment bothered Jared in a few ways. He hoped Roger wasn't feeding information to any agents, he considered him too professional to be doing that. Secondly, he knew he was right. He had the kind of talent that teams lusted for with a key attribute made more obvious each time you saw him, he was a winner! He didn't have great size or speed, but football savvy, great hands and instinct were things you couldn't teach. It was likely that for his senior year he would be a wide out or even a flanker. He was being used as a blocking back, tight end, wide out and even half back his first two years, actually amassing a ton of offensive yards for a team that did not do so well. Jared likened him to Danny Abramowitz, who also was not especially blessed with any speed or size, yet caught passes in over 100 consecutive NFL games and may have been the best overall receiver in the league for a 7-8 year period. Once he was past the comments Dorn made Jared sped up much of the video, stopping when something caught his eye or one of the videographers "marked" the sequence to be sure he saw it. He was growing impatient that his phone hadn't rung, waiting for Meaghan to call. Finally after finishing the video and making notes to himself, he realized he was hungry and opened the refrigerator to graze. Just as his eyes settled on some leftover Chinese food, the phone rang. "Oh Jared, I didn't think we would EVER get here. We were delayed in Chicago and had to make an equipment change in Albany. When we got to Burlington there wasn't any hired shuttles to get us to my Dad's house. Once a flight is over an hour late, they don't wait. So I had to get a cab out here, Declan puked on the plane, poor thing, IT'S BEEN A ROTTEN DAY!" Meaghan blurted out, her frustration obvious. Jared paused for a moment and then replied. "I'll be making love to you tomorrow night in our house, in our bed while Declan is asleep in his bed in his room." The words caught Meaghan off guard, but after an equal hesitation she answered. "I'm hoping we christen every room in the house, maybe not tomorrow but soon." She replied brightly. "Don't worry, we will. How is Declan? Still sick?" "Well, I think more pooped than anything. Once he got sick he was on pins and needles, worried he would embarrass himself. He told me he wanted to be cool, and that wasn't cool. He was so embarrassed." She told him with a little chuckle. "Well, we'll fix him up tomorrow. He'll be cool in his new room." Jared told her, his excitement showing. "Are you gonna fix me up too? I'm wishing you were here to fuck the snot out of me right now. I would love to forget this whole day with my ass in the air holding on for dear life." She said frankly. "Meaghan! I've got to function the rest of the night here, and I'm lonely enough without you drawing explicit word pictures for me!" He snapped. "You poor baby, just make sure you save that juice up for me, I may want a little taste." She giggled. "OK, that's it. I'm hanging up. You're so tired and stressed, that you're giddy." He complained. "I suppose you're right, but I'll be all yours tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be there by noon and the truck will already be there." She agreed as they said their goodbyes and hung up to retire early. Jared knew that if he pursued the thickening in his pants it might satisfy him in one way, but he wouldn't miss Meaghan any less so he went back to his team films and charts until he was so tired that sleep would come easy. ------- Chapter 22 "On the first pre-season team itinerary you got, today was to be a cut down day." Coach Winslow began as he addressed the team following Mondays team work-out run. He was almost surprised he was there, knowing that Meaghan, her son Declan, and the moving van were at his house right now moving his future life into place. He and Meg were hugging and sharing a "hello" kiss with Declan hugging his leg when the moving van rolled through the guard house gate at the top of the gated street. The driver of the shuttle van was unloading their bags, plus a few boxes of possessions Meg took from her things stored at her parents house, just as they whispered their love to each other. The horn of the moving truck blared and suddenly life was 120 miles per hour downhill with the windows open and all your life blowing around in a circle from the whirlwind. Right away the one mover of the four, who seemed to be in charge, said they were just contracted to move the contents of the house, not place them, and they had to be in St. Albans, Vermont in the morning to load a houseful to go back to Indiana. They hoped to get there early and head back towards home, already tired from the road. Jared produced 100 dollar bills for each if they were to stay to "place" the items as directed by Meg. Their supervisors would never know of the under the table deal and they could still be "on schedule" in St Albans the next morning. Money talks, as they say, and Jared had a load of work off his back and his mind. Jared had arranged for one of his neighbors, Mike Denault, the NEAT baseball coach and faculty member, to watch over the movers once he left. Now, when Mike came over after seeing the moving commotion, he asked him just to make sure there was no monkey business and they followed Meaghan's instructions. Jared quickly showed Meg his ideas for rooms before he had to leave and just hoped everything fell into place. Instead of his garage being totally loaded with the move for piece-meal placement, it might only be half full of things to move to a storage unit for future consideration. The swirling of his life had to be put on the back burner as he focused on his address to the team, though. One of Jared Winslow's finest attributes was "focus" and it was being tested right at that moment. "As fate would have it, there are no cuts to make as far as saying good-bye to anyone. We had a great walk-on this year, who, after early weed-outs, made a great contribution to our goal. My assignment here was late and all of my recruiting was for my former team at Vermont Valley. We focused, the staff and I, on what we had and worked to develop it giving everyone a fair chance. I think we are at 74 or 5 right now. We will have 5 players on the practice only roster, they will not dress for home or away games, but except for transfer ineligibles, could be put on either roster if there were an injury. We hope each could be on next years regular playing roster. Now as you've heard, we can only travel with the NFL standard 53 players. Northeast Ten is trying to help colleges cut costs to keep more teams solvent without having to go constantly begging to alumni for help. Many of you know that when you travel with 70, there are always 10 or 15 or more who never see a snap, so it is not a great burden, it just limits flexibility. Just remember, always be ready to add your "click" when called upon." Coach continued. Suddenly Boge Hollins shouted, "Can I hear a CLICK?" and the players on their locker stools went around the room in order shouting "CLICK" to a man or woman. Coach Winslow swelled with pride at the sudden outburst and even got a little wet-eyed as he looked at his coaches and smiled broadly. The room fell silent after the outburst as they waited for Coaches next words. "Thank you, I'm very proud. Now lets get out on that practice field and get ourselves ready for Saturdays test against BC. We want to make sure we make a statement that we are here and should be reckoned with. No one likes losing, but no one should be part of giving games away. If you're beat, accept it and learn from it, but make your opponent earn their win. We have work to do and remember one thing, WE BELONG ON THAT FIELD, NO MATTER WHO THE OPPONENT IS ... let's get out there." Players grabbed their helmets and ran past Coach Winslow as if going out to play their toughest game, and it was only a practice. Mentally Jared and all of the coaches knew, they were ready. All had accepted their roles and were ready to go to the next level to better themselves. That days practice was spirited and the finishing scrimmage reflected the teams attitude about itself. When they gathered, waiting to be dismissed from the field the Coach had but a few words for them. "Good show today, we're almost ready. Two-a-day tomorrow so get your rest and make sure you've scheduled all your make-ups for classes on Wednesday. You'd hate to do all this work and be DQ'ed for scholastic reasons. There are no short-cuts or pass-thru's. Keep your marks, or lose your playing privilege." He said before giving a short blast on his whistle and the whole team broke for the locker room to shower and dress. The other coaches approached Jared and encouraged him to get going and they would see that the team dispersed and everything was secured before they gave the Stadium back to Security for the night. "Go Jared, you have too much going at home and you haven't seen Meaghan for a long time. We can handle this. It's a tough week coming, ... GO!" Ira told him as the others backed him. Jared smiled and took the opportunity. He slipped into his office, showered and got back in his street clothes and was gone in 10 minutes. On his way back home he passed the movers leaving town and was relieved he had missed the pandemonium of unloading. When he pulled into the drive the garage door was still up and it was packed about half way with boxes on one side, each neatly marked with contents, and furniture neatly stacked on the other. When he went inside he found Meaghan making Declan's bed in his new room. "Hi Coach, I'm too tired to stay up anymore. My Mom says I can help you more tomorrow. Is that OK?" Little Declan said apologizing as he hugged his teddy bear. Meaghan looked up to Jared and smiled saying, "He didn't want to seem a baby on the plane with his Teddy so we packed it and it was too hard to find last night. He didn't get much sleep so after helping me all day he's zonked. I told him you would understand." She said with a wink. Declan was a little embarrassed at his Mom's words, even though he knew they were right. "Thank you for my new bed and new room. Can we find some friends tomorrow?" He asked as his heavy eyes were ready to give up as he hugged his bear. "Sure Champ, we'll take care of that tomorrow." Jared said as he tousled Declan's hair as a goodnight gesture. As they closed his door Meaghan walked briskly up the hall saying, "Come here with me and I'll show you how we arranged the things for storage." She went right out the side door with Jared following her like a puppy as she walked between the stacks of box's and the stacked furniture explaining her thinking on certain items. She turned down the aisle they left across the back of the garage to leave access to the tools and work bench and she turned to face Declan. She slipped her arms around his neck and put her lips to his for a deep passionate kiss. "I needed to be alone with you for just a few minutes and didn't want to wait for him to fall asleep." She said kissing him once more before stepping back and dropping her hands to his belt, beginning to undo it. "Meaghan! What are... ?" "Shhhhhhh, you're about to get your cock sucked and I can't wait any longer. When I smelled how clean you were in Declan's room it settled my dilemma as to how long I would wait for this." She said as she brought down his zipper and fumbled through the opening in his shorts. Jared looked out over the box's and realized that they could see if Declan should come out of the house or if anyone was approaching. If he was going to protest anymore, those plans were scuttled when her mouth went around the head of his stiffening cock. "Oooooooof! Oh my God, that feels good!" He exclaimed aloud as he looked down at her intently working at her getting more in her mouth. He was totally hard in just moments and she was bobbing her head over him with a milking hand holding the underside of him near his balls, her thumb working intently on hardness beyond the start of his ball sack. "If you keep that up you're going to get me fast! I can't believe how bold you are! I may never leave the house again." He said as he shuddered at his great pleasure. She pulled her mouth away as he hand continued to work. "I'm not bold, I'm in love with you and very horny. I want to get you fast and I WILL get SOME satisfaction from it. Later when you fuck me, you're going to last a lot longer so I am being a little selfish here. Plus, with this out of the way we'll be better able to make rational decisions before we finally get in the shower and into bed. Now do you want me to continue?" She said matter of factly, with a sexy smirk on her face. She barely got the last word out when his hand went to the back of her head and aimed her willing open mouth over him again. NEAT Football and the 70 players under his charge were totally gone from his worry or concern as he felt his climax approaching. He wanted to pump at her mouth, but letting her take total charge suited him well as he exhaled a deep groan and filled her mouth with his cum. "MMMMMPT! " She gagged slightly before humming with pleasured delight at the love snack she was swallowing as Jared writhed on jellied knees. When she was sure he was finished depositing all of his cream in her mouth she gave the head of his cock a few loving kisses and tongue lolls before sitting back on her heels and offering a hand for him to help her up. She got to her feet and hugged him as he nearly fell onto her in his pleasured exhaustion. "I love you so much Jared, I missed you so much. I've been thinking all day of doing that and when you smelled so good just now, I didn't want to wait. Plus tonight you'll be mine for a long time." She smiled coyly before planting her mouth on his. He tasted little of his spunk as their tongues entwined and her scent with the left-over aroma of his cum combined to ignite deep desires within him. Despite her assurances and promise of holding him off so they could work around the 800 pound gorilla of horniness in the room that evening, he didn't think he could stave off it's attack that long. They broke the kiss and looked into each others eyes in the dimming evening light and the muted reflection on the light over the outside of the garage. "You are so good for me, I'm falling deeper in love with you each day." He whispered, saying the words he hoped he could avoid when she first arrived. "How could we have been so stupid?" She said re-hugging him. "I don't think I ever stopped loving you." Once again he had to ask himself; Was Barbara Gaynes ever in his life? That memory seemed so distance once again, but the thought of her long sleek body with it's tempting curves topped with long jet black hair made him realized why he courted her and why her memory would long stay with him. However, Meg was right. How could they have been so stupid? Nine years to swallow a little pride seemed pretty petty right now. They were back in the house moving furniture and emptying boxes until almost ten when they heard Declan cry out. "What is it, my little man?" Meg asked as the light shone in from the hall over his face. "I have to go to the potty Mommy. I don't want to wet the new bed Coach bought for me." The boy responded quietly. Meaghan held out her hand for him saying "Come on then let's go." Declan jumped from the bed and shielded his eyes from the hall light as his mother aimed through the unfamiliar surroundings to the bathroom. She stood over his shoulder as he aimed and peed, she making sure he was fully awake and not missing. "You didn't tell Coach that I wet sometimes, did you?" He said with a little worry. "No, but he would understand it wasn't on purpose. Don't worry." She assured him. "Can he tuck me in?" "Sure, I bet he would like that." "Jared, he wants Coach to tuck him in." She called up the hall. Smiling he came and took Declan's hand and walked him into his room. Declan climbed into the bed and situated himself and looked up at Jared as he pulled the covers around his neck. "I know men don't kiss, but would you give me a Daddy kiss and a hug?" Declan asked. Jared couldn't resist kissing the boy on the forehead and giving him a squeeze. "You get your rest now. I'll need your help tomorrow, OK?" Jared assured him as he closed the door and the boy fell off to sleep. He looked up the hallway and into his bedroom and saw Meaghan getting undressed for a shower, her naked back and bottom facing him. "Lord, what a sight she is, such a perfect little body." He thought as his cock jumped. As she bent to get something her ass dimpled and reminded him of the long dimpled bottom of Barbara Gaynes, realizing how lucky he had been to have had two of the most beautiful women on the planet. But there it was again, the thought of Barbara. Why wouldn't her memory leave him alone? He walked into the bedroom and she turned, holding a night gown in front of her. "Shower with me? You're not too tired are you?" She asked innocently. "Never to be with you." He said with a wide grin. Their shower was long, adoring and playful and it included he eating her pussy while on his knees and her leg askew on the side of the tub. She came hard through gritted teeth trying not to scream to wake her son. Like the relief she provided for him a few hours before, it was welcome as a prelude to a long love making session once they got to bed. Before that happened Meaghan had to dry her hair, which she did faster than she may ever had, while Jared checked to be sure Declan was still in dreamland. Despite their times making love and fulfilling each others sexual needs since their reunion, this night was the reality that the 9 years had been erased and they were together for a run at forever. After checking on the house and then on Declan, Jared came back into the room in his robe just as Meg was coming out from the bath in her sheer night dress. She looked at Jared, and he at her. Passion was beginning to overtake their thoughts as she pushed the straps from her shoulder and let it fall to the floor. She climbed onto the bed and laid on her stomach quickly turning up to one side facing him. He dropped his robe and joined her on the bed kneeling to take in her sexy form, his penis obvious in it's excited state. "I hoped we would neck a bit, but I see something that needs some attention." She said reaching out to squeeze his hardness. Jared's hard-on was raging at this point and his relief was instant as her mouth quickly covered the head and drew a sigh of relief from him. After a few moments of her lolling and suckling at the head she lay back and spread her legs offering him her smooth pretty, pink pussy. "Can we fuck away nine years tonight? This is where we should have been a long, long time ago." She asked quietly in an excited voice. Jared's answer was to move between her legs and quickly slide into her on her juices and the saliva he had deposited. He couldn't go deep enough into her or hold her tighter, and she him. They were both sorry for the mistakes they had made as a young couple in love who let ego erect a wall between them. Now they were trying to fulfill the passion and express the love and feelings they had wasted. The stresses of Jared's professional challenge seemed to fade as he sawed in and out of his lover expressing his lust for her. He would bring her to many climax's including the one where he finally exploded half into her and half up her back. She was breathless on her knees, her screams of ecstasy muffled into a pillow as he drew his cock from her pussy and his long middle finger from her rear and sprayed the rest of his load up her back. He fell onto her and rolled to their sides catching their breaths and enjoying the pleasures they had brought to each other. After a long recoup of breath and trip back to reality she rolled from him and turned to face him. "I don't have to worry about a bevy of women on this campus who know what an artist you can be with that thing, do I?" She said with a wide satisfied grin. "Not exactly. The only other woman I've been with here was strictly for stress relief, mine and hers. No attachments, no expectations. I've turned down 3 good offers, though. I don't think I've gotten any better looking, so it must be my celebrity." He laughed as she gave him a playful poke at his boast. "Come on Jared, you're a handsome man who's face has really matured nicely after having such a baby face when we were kids. Plus you take care of yourself. I'll bet you get a lot of looks. Now, this other woman, will I know her?" She probed. "It's nothing you have to worry about, end of story. She sought me out because she knew my situation and she has no room for a relationship. I was convenient, nothing more, as she was to me." He told her bluntly. "Fair enough, stud." She joked as he kissed him and then rolled to get up to clean herself up. Tuesdays two-a-day left Meaghan lots of time to get her house into order as Jared put the finishing touches on his preseason. With Wednesday as a day for players to make up classes and studies, Jared had long 4 hour coaches meeting before being able to spend the rest of the day with his new "family". The coaches meeting was a strategy session for the upcoming scrimmage with Boston College. "Gentlemen, while there is no doubt that we want to win on Saturday, we can't let go of the fact that we have a lot of new parts and we want to make sure they all work properly. So, as important as a win is, let's not sacrifice getting a look at the signature we want to leave as a calling card for the season. BC will be doing the same thing, they have lots of rebuilding to look at as well. More than anything, I want to instill a little confidence in the boys. We'll use Boge and Kemmer on the first set of downs, no matter what. Run, run, run, and if we get some turf, keep the same thing going. I don't want Marv to make his first pass until he's gotten some snaps and we've gotten some turf behind us, then we'll just call slants to make sure he connects a few times. After that, the wraps come off and work our offense as we've worked it in practice and as we've talked. Eat the clock, be a force, eat up turf and don't get greedy. We're putting a first year arm out there with all the talent in the world, but let's not try to get greedy and find out he can't accept failure or pressure. Once he sees we can control the ball, he'll learn how to select his weapons tactfully. Frank, the same thing applies to the D, no stunts, no blitzes and watch out for hot dogging. This is a test drive. We have more depth defensively than most people think. We're strong with the 3 transfers in the defensive mix, they've all had D-1 experience. Don't let Claxton get over confident, move him in and out until the defense is clicking. We don't need them to beat him a few times and break his confidence. Good play or bad play, move him in and out." Jared schooled his coaches. "No sense in letting them get beat down and taken out of their game. Sherm always let them get their faces rubbed in it, he said it let them know "they ain't as tough as they think". I think it just sapped their confidence. Like you said with Scottie (Claxton) there, he may get beat on a couple in a row, but if he keeps his head they'll cross his zone off their charts. If he loses his confidence, they'll force him into mistakes." Frank Ruffen said, making Jared's point to all of the other coaches and staff. "Sherm thought getting' yer ass kicked made you want to win more the next week. I think it just made you easier to ride, you know like an ol' bronc." Ira Pressley added, like only he could when he slipped back to his natural drawl, as if trying to mock his former boss. "Just so you all know, I'm going to meet with the captains, plus Kemmer and the Waters kid. It will be a meeting only they will know about. I want to talk to them about the first few sets of downs, each way. I want them to know how important I think these sets are and that they will be the keys. I'll stress that success isn't necessary, but embarrassing failure won't do. I hate bringing the freshman Waters in on this for his first game, but he plays and acts like he's been through it all before. He might be a little cloudy in the classroom, but he's smart on the field and hasn't missed a ball thrown his way yet. Frank, defensively we'll guard against a big play early. Whether BC is weak in their conference or not, they might come in here planning to turn a big play early and get us chasing our tail from the gun. There are a bunch of NorthEast 10 scrimmage match-ups with out of conference schools this weekend. They can call them scrimmages, but every one wants to come in and kick ass, make us look bad and build their confidence. The only difference between this and a game is that it doesn't count on your record and we won't play all our starters for the whole game. Remember, the only ones who know about the opening strategy are us, and the players in that meeting. I want every other player on that field to go out ready for anything ... Now let me show you a short version of what our regular pre-game meetings will be. I have a few game films from BC last season and some things I've picked up about them." Armed with a small amount of information of his scrimmage opponent Jared ran through what would be his regular pre-game analysis and the keys to hit on when they met with the players on game-prep day, Friday. After this day to catch up on scholastics, they have one practice, a team lunch, playbook review and pep talk for Thursday. Then they had their first game-prep under Coach Winslow on Friday. The pressure for Saturday was building on campus with high expectations. The college station and local sports call-in shows were full of Green Aggie talk. One thing Jared Winslow had tried to do had happened, all of the pressure was being put on him to win, not the team. In a normal situation Boge Hollins would have the team heaped upon his back. Jared had taken that yoke from him and he knew quite well how to handle it. When Jared Winslow got home that afternoon he found Declan playing in the side yard with a new found friend, the son of Baseball Coach Mike Denault. Inside Meaghan sat at her laptop and papers strewn about the table she was sitting. "I think I found a job, at least if I can find out enough about what I have to do." She said without looking up. "If looking cute in a pair of sweat shorts and a t-shirt has anything to do with it, your hired." Jared wise-cracked back. "Do you have an agent?" She asked. "No, I've only negotiated one contract and that was behind the backs of everyone, so I've never really needed one." "Do you know how many requests you've had in the last 3 hours for interviews? If you turn this team around you could be a gold mine for speaking and endorsements." She said looking up to him smiling. "Whoa, whoa! I want to spend my free time with you, with Declan. One of my keys to sanity is walking away from the field. I spend enough time recruiting in the off-season, getting to know players, meeting their families. During the season I have 12 to 14 hour days and when I'm through I want my own time." He complained. "I want that too, but don't you think you have to sell the product to the fans? Local radio wants you for interviews and call-in shows and how about appearing on National Television shows? You get appearance fees for those, you know, as well as expenses." She said excitedly. Jared sighed deeply. "Meaghan, I don't need any added pressure on the team. I've been approached by agents who've said they can double my salary, but I'm not interested. I like THIS!" He said holding out his arms. "Ann gets me onto the local radio talk shows and I don't do many of them. Once we get the program off the ground and it seems to have a signature, I'll do more." He continued. "But what about national exposure?" She countered. "What if we fall on our face? Then I have the spotlight on me as I pick myself up and make excuse after excuse. When all four wheels are rolling in the same direction and things are going well, I'll consider doing those sort of things for the promotion of the university, not me. If we're successful here, this is my last stop. I've told you before, my goal is to finish this 4 year deal, be asked to do another 4, and then decide if I want 2 more to retire from. That will be 10 years here and me not even 50 and retired. If this doesn't work out, I'll start over again somewhere else. Once I set a goal, I usually find a way to achieve it." Meaghan looked up admiringly at Jared and stood. "Was I one of your goals?" She asked cutely. "Yes, you were, once we got hooked up again ... I knew what I wanted and hoped you wanted the same thing. Right now, let's let Ann handle the local bookings and let the national things wait. I'm not as much interested in promoting me, as I am the team. Let our record paint a picture before we try to sell it, ... OK?" "OK, as long as you tell me I'll get a chance at doing this if you ever need an agent." She said slipping her arms around his waist. "I promise. Imagine, I'll be able to tell people that my agent is screwing me and I won't be exaggerating." He laughed. Meaghan hugged him hard, understanding where he was coming from in his thoughts. She also promised herself to find out as much as she could about the task of performing as an agent. She loved new challenges. The next day she planned to enroll Declan in kindergarten and then go to the practice field to make herself known as Jared Winslow's significant other. Some wives and girlfriends were allowed into practice, but not often, especially at officially "closed" practices. Exactly 2 other wives were there that day to join their husbands for the team luncheon. She and Declan would sit with Jared so the team could see him in a way they hadn't yet. The local and school newspaper were allowed in for a photo op, but it had been made clear that no questions would be fielded until the press conference after Saturday's scrimmage game. The luncheon ended up being a smooth affair where the few outsiders all commented how loose and confident the team seemed. They joked and cajoled each other freely accepting the new players into their fold. The wife of the longest tenured member of the NEAT staff, Defensive Backfield Coach Ben Elgart, commented on the fact there were no cliques as she had seen in prior years. It was the first year there were no all black, all offense or all defense tables. Even the 3 women on the team were spread around and not sitting together. On cues from team captains the whole group would break into some of the sound-off's they chanted while doing exercises or doing laps. Emma Elgart leaned over to Meaghan at one point and said, "I have to give your boyfriend credit, this is the first year they all seem to LIKE each other. That old sourpuss Woodard wouldn't have even stayed long enough to eat with the boys before." She made a good point and Jared Winslow was the person who should take the credit for it. He made everyone feel they had a job and no one got special treatment. Scott Claxton had been a focal point of resentment in the past with his poor kicking performance and running off the field before his kick played out. Little did anyone know the fear the boy dealt with as he tried to live out his fathers dream of seeing his son play football, while worried his heart may explode. There was no special treatment on the team, they all did the same workouts and there was no babying. The men and women went through the same rigors, as did kickers and backs, quarterbacks and line grunts. Boge Hollins had volunteered to help a teammate with math and soon others were sharing their strong points with others. Winslow's concept of TEAM had rubbed off and they all felt a part of a mission. However as confident as Winslow was, he knew there were small flies in the ointment that could derail all he had worked for thus far. That was why Boge Hollins, Jazz Carey, Kemmer Brooks, and Tim Waters all got emails from various University administration officials to meet at the Athletic Directors office Friday morning before classes at 8 a.m. to discuss eligibility requirements. They were to keep their meeting confidential. When the 4 ran into each other at the office they were confused to say the least and even more surprised to see Coach Winslow when they entered the door. "Don't worry fellows, there's nothing to worry about. I just had to make sure this meeting was closed and confidential. You will not let ONE other team member know we met here today. Tomorrow we play for the first time against real competition. We have a quarterback who has never had actual game snaps, a strong side cornerback who might be easily broken by a sly wide-out, a girl punting who never played past high school, and a place kicker who never played the game before. We have to make an impression right away to show these guys and gals that, yes, we can compete. I chose you four because besides two of you being captains, you're either NCAA vets or big high school program tested, playing before big crowds." Jared explained. "I hope to get the ball first tomorrow, but either way here is how we handle the first sets. Jazz, on the defense we play conservative. No matter what they show, no blitzes and keep everyone within themselves. Everybody wants to make their first tackle, Claxton wants to eat a receiver to get his first licks in. Remind him before the first play, on the field, that keeping the ball out of their hands is prime, if a catch is made the quality of tackle is unimportant and out of bounds will do. Don't jeopardize the stop. Lot's of back pats, keep spirit up. A couple guys, Claxton included, may want to hot dog to make a statement ... ummm, as if wanting to personify their new found confidence, we're going to move them in and out a lot to not them get too excited until we get into the swing of the game. I won't single any of them out pre-game because I don't want to break intensity, do you get where I'm going?" Coach implored. "I got it Coach, if you or Coach Ruffen want to rip us on the field, direct it at me. We're all pretty tight and they know I can handle things without busting ego's. I know what you're looking for." Jeremiah "Jazz" Carey, Defensive Captain assured him. "Now, for you three," Jared said turning to the three other players, "No matter where we get the ball, we run at them three times and hope we get the first down. Kem, it's going to be Boge, Boge, Boge, with you blocking. If we get a first down, you're going to run wide and then Boge, Boge, Boge, until we get another first down or punt. Tim, on the third set of downs or the second time we get the ball we'll let Marv get his first throws in and they'll be to you, easy short slants. We'll let him get a couple completions under his belt before we open up a bit. You've played in 3 New York State Super Bowls at the Carrier Dome and know all about big crowds so I know you can handle this." Coach explained. "Coach, Marv could hit me 20 times in a row on short slants, he shouldn't have a problem. I just need to get the step. Of course after 20 short passes from his arm, my hands will be like bloody catchers mitts. Once he can get a groove you can play action and he slips it in Kems back pocket, like practice, right over the middle." Tim Waters insisted. "So, you all know what we want here, just to build some confidence. Whether we win or lose is inconsequential overall. Not looking bad, not looking like we have guys who've never played positions before is key. You four especially all know what it's like to win, how to keep your heads and put the train back on the tracks if it derails. Don't think I don't want to win, it'll get a lot of press and alumni off my back. But in the last 3 years Sherm Woodard teams sent a lot of fans home early, I want to give them a reason to stay. Are we all square, on the same page?" Jared asked them as a group. All four agreed with Coach and at his direction left at different intervals to keep any suspicion at bay. That afternoons pre-game practice would be the last time the team would practice and go over game plans before game day. They would do their first pre-game strategizing the Winslow way. Everyone was keyed up and positive, at least externally. ------- Chapter 23 "Jared ... Jarrrrrrrrrrrred ... coffee is ready. Get up or they'll start the game without youuuuuuuuu!" Meaghan sing-songed in his ear. Jared Winslow suddenly bolted up. "What time is it!" "It's 8:30 baby. I'm surprised you weren't up at six, pacing the floor." Meaghan responded. "Oh yeah, I want to be at the stadium by 9:30. I can't believe I slept so late, I... " He responded groggily. Meaghan pushed him back into the pillow and straddled him over the blanket, dressed in just a t-shirt and sweat shorts. "What's the matter, am I too much for you? I had quite the ride last night. My thighs are still sore from holding myself up over you, slamming down in your pretty pee-pee." She whispered. "Pee pee?" He asked. "Yes, I just gave Declan a bath and had to wash his pee pee, but I don't clean his the way I clean yours. Now, ... you should get UP." She said as she pushed her fingers in to his ribs as she jumped off of him. Indeed, as Jared began to pull himself out of bed he did remember the way he went to sleep, exhausted just after Meaghan finished nursing on his spent penis after her wild ride. They hadn't made love EVERY day in the week she had been there, but they had out-done the last year he spent with Barbara Gaynes. For the first time in the last few weeks he had thought of his former lover and the thoughts weren't soft and nostalgic, they were bitter about the way she had neglected him. As usual his waning thoughts of her were to blame himself before he jumped into the shower as he started his first game day at NEAT. For sure, it was the latest he had slept in years on a game day. She really had rocked his world, as it seemed. At first she had teased and flaunted her ass for him as he sat in his recliner. "How would you like to get real naughty with me the night before your first game? If you win tomorrow you might have to make it a little superstition, getting a little bootie-boff before your games." She giggled knowing her tease had him interested. She spun around and knelt beside the recliner,... "and guess what? I found Declan's baby monitor so we can hear him from down the hall. He said he called me and I didn't hear him last night. So we can be a little braver, and we're both showered." Jared smiled and chased her to the bedroom, but after a few attempts at the act she decided it hurt too much to try any more. "You're just too fat there, we need to spend more time with foreplay. Don't be disappointed, OK?" She apologized. "Don't fret, just holding you in bed is making love." He cooed for her "WE ARE going to do more than just hold each other she warned him before she climbed onto him." She said breathlessly. Passions and devotions ensued until he fell asleep exhausted with a clear mind before his first game as the coach of the NEAT Green Aggies. Although no team member was required to be at the Stadium before 11 a.m., there were a lot of cars in the players lot when he got there at 9:40. Every other coach and their staffs were there already as well as 20 or so of the players. He settled into his office and each coach and assistant staff member came by to wish him luck and tell them how much they liked working with him. Jordy Alford was the last to come in, giving him a hug and telling him not to worry, he had great feelings about the team. "We got a great bunch here, I think. Oksana and Brian Faraday had me worried, both green around the gills, puking. But they both insist it's just nerves before the first game. Faraday was funny, he said he's played in big soccer events and tournaments all over Europe before huge crowds, but he's never been more nervous. Oksana said she just wants to get the first punt away and she'll be fine. I hope they both get a chance to get the butterflies out early. Boge is here, loose as anything, he said he came early to help calm others nerves. He's going to be a great player and I bet a great pro. He said his father was coming today." Jody babbled, trying to calm his own nerves. "His Dad is a good man. He was the one who finally got through to him, painting a picture of life without football and what could happen if he missed the chance to put his life on track. He worked for the Bears as one of their PT's and then worked baggage at O'Hare to help make ends meet. He showed Boge what can happen if you get hurt even WITH an education. He was a scrub with the Bears for a couple years and then tore his knees up and had his PT to fall back on. Boge was on the brink of jail and a failed life when he finally woke up. I knew he was a good kid inside, damn peer pressure was killing him." Jared told him before getting back to putting together his sideline clipboards. By 11:30 there was a loose clubhouse with a lot of talk, joking around and glad-handing. Three women came into mostly all male dominated locker room that day and went into their private stalls and dressed for the game without a hitch. Once they came out and sat on their locker stools to finish, they knew, the team knew, that THIS was where the media would try to bust a story, create a scandal. If the girls chose to roam the locker room they did so at their own risk of being offended by what they might see. Male players were instructed to dress inside their stalls and show respect for each others privacy in doing so. The coaches agreed it was the politest locker room in that sense. Besides the privacy stalls for the three females, there was a partition that was moved into place to protect their view across the locker room. Once players on that side were dressed, it came down and it had worked out quite well. Each girl had been given the option of dressing in a private locker room, but all wanted to be "with the team". When reporters or photographers are allowed into the team areas the team had already been schooled that one off-color remark, one sexist joke could raise an uproar with the PC police, even if the women CHOSE this situation and were not offended. For today there were no such problems, just a spirited, although somewhat reserved, confidence as they dressed and finished their pads, and football shoes preparing to go out for warm-ups. At 5 minutes to twelve Winning Winslow's 3 assistant coaches mulled in front of his door and waited for him to finish a phone call. Once he hung up he looked up and smiled and joined them as they paraded into the locker area. "OK, let's go out and get loose, WE HAVE A GAME TODAY!!" He shouted as they opened the double doors to lead up the runway to the field. From the corner of the locker room a shout of "CLICK" bellowed out and all team members followed with a shout of the same as they began to move towards the field. Captains Boge Hollins and Jeremiah Carey were the first to get to the doors and they stood and turned to glad hand, high five or fist bump each member of the team as they passed. On the field, the coaches staffs had prepared to run a few drills, group exercises, and trainers were readying to help deep stretching of those who needed it. It was a typical scene from any Division One NCAA program, except this one was special today for so many of the players. They had been treated like men and women, not boys and girls, they had been schooled and coached, not brow-beat, into exacting their skills. Jared Winslow knew how much today meant to so many of his players. It may have been called a scrimmage, but it was a new beginning to all of them and no one wanted to miss it. That was why he and the other coaches watched the players carefully as they stretched and warmed up. If someone was hiding a muscle pull, nagging knee or shoulder, or the most common, a tight hamstring, they wanted to pick it up. If any player hadn't been through a pre-game ritual, it certainly did not show. Those who were unsure of the what and how watched the "veteran" players or worked with their coaches. When Boston College came onto their end of the field there were no looks of awe or wonderment at their foe. If there supposed to be an intimidation factor, it was lost on the Green Aggies. Warm-ups went smooth and looked like they were on the field for the 100th time together. Both Brian Faraday and Oksana Cushman took practice kicks and watched for wind currents after getting weather reports that might affect their jobs. The fact they had both puked under the stands from nerves was lost on anyone in the stands or on the field watching them. Neither knew or suspected that Ann Comeche had been fielding questions on both of them and requesting interviews of each, especially Oksana who was going to be the first non-publicity stunt woman to earn a starting position in Division One NCAA football. The Sports Information Director gave a stock answer to each of the requests; "After our first league game we will entertain interview requests, please do not put any more pressure on these fine student athletes as they accustom themselves to NEAT athletics and their academic careers." "Ann, is this going to be your name, rank and serial number answer to any of our interview requests?" A New England Newsday sports reporter asked from the doorway of her crowded office. "Only as long as you ask the same question, it gets the same answer. There is enough pressure on many of the team members and they don't need you vultures asking gotcha questions." Ann complained in her whine that was tinged with a certain finality. Meanwhile as Jared took his last look at his team Joe Barber sidled up next to him. "Got time before they come in to hear your pre-game to listen to a little of mine?" He asked. "Sure, what's up?" Winslow asked, not seeming to give Joe 100% attention. "Let's go into your office, in private." Barber said as he turned and headed that way. Jared didn't know what it was about, but knew it was something that couldn't wait to be bothered at this moment. The door has barely clicked shut when Barber raised his voice. "You have the run of the whole damn University here and I've got vital members of the football staff who've never even met you. Five trainers and 10 PT assistants, plus a house doctor on staff here and not one has said you introduced yourself. Bench Essential Personnel, your BEP team keeps everything going from water to fresh equipment, after the medical the medical staff complained I asked BEP how they liked you and THEY said you hadn't introduced yourself. What the hell is going on here?" Barber demanded. "Whoa Joe! I've had damn little time to think for myself since I got here and I've met people as I've encountered them. Check with the laundry and uniform staff. I've worked with them, met them, thanked them and I'm taking them all out for dinner on Monday night for their tireless work. We haven't had a major injury all through practice and all the other little muscle pulls, cuts and scrapes and the like, were handled with information passed up to me through staff. I just haven't had to get into the one on one with anyone. BEP will know me pretty well after today as I work with them. Remember, where I came from we had half the staff we have here and your expectations of me are a little higher than at Vermont. You hit me with this before my first game? Who put the bug up your ass, Joe?" Jared replied loudly. "I'm walking around the Stadium last night and this morning all happy about the program and I start asking the "little people" what they think and no one knows you. How do you expect to get support from the base HERE where you live, at the Stadium?" Joe asked. "Come back in a week and ask around Joe. They'll all know me, and this talk didn't have a thing to do with it either. I still have 5 or 6 players on my team who I haven't mastered their names and faces yet for chrissake. This is a bullshit complaint and I have little time for that right now. Come back when I have more time!" Jared said beginning to fly off the handle. Joe Barber's face turned red and he turned on his heel and went out the door, leaving Jared baffled that he, above all others, would come to him with such a petty complaint. He was about to collect himself and go back to the field when the door reopened and Joe Barber came back in. "Winnie, I'm sorry for flying off on you like that. I got problems at home and I guess I let it all get to me. You go and do things in your own time. I shouldn't be telling you how to handle yourself." He said in a low voice. "What's the problem at home, Joe? Anything you want to talk about?" Jared asked, suddenly unconcerned over his own issue with Joe. "Shit, I have to talk to someone. Uh... , uh, ... my wife, she told me she was unhappy with her life and maybe she would move out." Barber answered putting his fingers to his temples and drawing them down and over his chin. "Joe, let me be blunt with you. Have you seen the way she flirts around with other men? She wants you to get jealous and take her home and show her how much you love her, and to tell you the truth, the way you take her for granted wouldn't sit with any woman. Joe, she's an extremely sexy and attractive woman in need of attention. She's worried her time for feeling this way will pass without taking advantage of it. You better do your homework." Jared said, making good on his warning of being blunt. "Sweet God, is it that obvious that you had a solution loaded like that? God, I know she flirted from time to time and to tell you the truth, I think she may have acted on her flirts before." He said dejectedly. "Joe, if she made it that obvious, maybe she wanted you to find out and come and fight for her. I don't have the time to get into this, but I can tell you that anyone close to you knows that you treat her just like you refer to her, the "old gray mare." Let me tell you, she could get whistles walking through our locker room, despite her graying hair. She's a sexy, well put together woman and she wants attention, preferably from you. Now I have a game I have to tend to, but take my advice and I don't think you'll be sorry. You charmed me to move here, use that same old magic on her." Jared said smiling, hoping his friend had taken his advice as he slapped him on the shoulder and headed back out to the field. Pregame was wrapping up and he asked other coaches to be sure he hadn't missed anything substantial to alter a game plan, and he hadn't. Jazz Carey looked over at the coaches and Jared nodded to him, signaling him to give Boge the heads up and both captains began to gather their squads back into the locker room. As the coaches walked toward the players runway the rest of the team passed them in a light jog. By the time the staff got to the locker room the players were seated on their locker stools waiting for words from Coach Winslow. "Many of you have been here before, and by that I don't mean this place, I mean this juncture, ... a time for proving yourselves as pieces of a whole. Teamwork is the most proven way to accomplish a large task and I don't doubt one of you are unaware of that. No matter the outcome today, go out there and play your hearts out, show you're playing your hearts out, and win or lose you'll gain the respects of each other, the fans and this staff that stands before you. We've done all we could and now it's up to you. The make-up of this team leaves lots of room for learning mistakes. If you make a critical error and don't learn by it, that error glares. If that error, whether it's omission or co-mission, goes by the boards and you failed to prevent it from happening again, you won't become a winner. Touching a hot burner is usually only done once to teach you NOT to touch it again. Beating yourself up over it will do no good and it will usually distract you to make that second error. Keep your head about you and remember you can't turn back time. Remember today is a scrimmage, a learning experience, and more importantly, a revealing experience. If we've made errors in putting one player in a position, we'll find out today. You all know your jobs, you all know what you have to do to get your click in. If your click is missed, your teammates will have to pick you up. That's what we do, play as a team. If we do that all year I guarantee you we'll have a successful season. There isn't a man or woman in this locker room I don't have confidence in. Be assured that if I didn't, you wouldn't be here. "Can we all bow our heads? Dear God, be with us in this game today. We pray for courage to face and conquer our own fears, and for your protection from injuries. Lord, I ask for strength to play to the best of my ability, and for strength of spirit to be a leader to others. May I be strong and triumphant over those who try to stand in our way. Please guide the coaches in making wise choices and help them be the kind of leaders you would have them be." Jared recited from memory of his Dad doing the same prayer for so many years as he grew up. Jared took one look over his charges and smiled. "Since this is a scrimmage, there won't be any individual player introductions, we'll save that for our first real conference game. We have about 2 minutes before we go out. Line up on the sideline in front of the bench in numerical order for the National Anthem, and the officials will head to the center of the field and the captains will go out for the coin toss. We want to receive, but no big deal if we don't. Have a great game, boys and girls." Players laughed and shook hands, giving each other fist bumps and hugs until security opened the doors and they charged to the field to the raucous cheers of the home town fans. Jared Winslow swelled with pride as he trotted out behind his team for the first time. He felt as confident about this team as any he had before, and that was not a feeling he expected, but welcomed. The anthem and the coin toss were both a blur except for the fact he knew they were defending the ball to start the game. As the kicking taxi assembled on the field Brian Faraday looked over to Coach Winslow and smiled and they exchanged winks. "Under it all," Coach thought to himself, "that kid has nerves of steel and knew from day one that he could do this." Whistles blew and a circular arm wave from a ref let Brian Faraday loose and he strode to the ball as his teammates picked up pace as he boomed a long straight kick-off that settled into the hands of Boston College's Evan Johnson right at the goal line. Johnson had 4 "run back for touchdowns" in his 3 years of D-1 ball and he headed for the center of the field surveying his options in the flats. Before he could make any decision John Brooks, who had his scholarship pulled from Oral Roberts as a result of a drunk driving accident and was 2 years away from the game recovering, cut him down at the 23 yard line. John had lined him up from the catch and eluded two defenders. Brooks stayed on the field as the rest of the defensive squad came out and lined up. BC came to the ball with 2 tight ends and Thurmond Smythe shouted out "AGG-4!" AGG-4 was a simple defense against the Double Fade, a common play to test defenses. It was a fake run and slight roll left with 2 receivers moving through the defense the same direction of the roll. The safety can only cover one and the quarterback throws to the other. The defense made you vulnerable to a run option, but this was a good read as the deep coverage was good and the right side line backer faded into the flats and batted away the first down pass attempt. On second down BC lined up a Power I formation right with 2 fullbacks and Smythe called for 5-3 defense, pinching the safety up as a linebacker off the tight end. BC's blocking broke down immediately and were stopped for a yard loss. Frank Ruffen sent a new right side linebacker in with a call for a 3-5 defense, a prevent defense against a long gain pass. At the snap there were 6 defensive backs and a 3 man rush making NEAT vulnerable to a screen or late draw but Boston College was going for a quick score to set the pace of the game for themselves. A long toss found an open man in full stride towards the goal. However, just as the ball settled into his hands, Scott Claxton's arms went around his mid-section and crashed him to the ground sending the ball rolling with a frenzy for the fumble. Officials ruled no catch, a questionable call. BC's punting taxi came onto the field as Ira Pressley sent his squad out, but not before putting an arm around Tim Waters, his sure handed chosen deep man, to remind him "one step at a time" and not think too far ahead. It was a mantra he used often with return team members to remind them until the ball is safe in their hands, nothing else can happen. Waters nodded as he strode near his own 30 yard line to field the kick. The punt was a long high slow spiral that was getting great coverage. He signaled for a fair catch at the 34 yard line, a great long punt with better than average hang time. As the squads changed bringing the offense to the field Jared Winslow had Marv Hudson at his side with Marv hearing his coach say he was getting nice field position as the ball settled into Waters hands. Then with a pat on the butt, he told him "open up with a 22 Lead, if they show a 4 man line, check off to a 23 Lead." Marv Hudson strode onto the field as if he had done it a 100 times before but inside his stomach was doing a long grind. He joined the huddle just as 10 other players were closing the hole. "22 Lead on 4." Marv said as every eye met his before he clapped hard and they broke to the line of scrimmage. They lined up Power I Left Formation with the Tight Ends split wide. The #4 back, a sophomore Freddy Murray and #3 back Kemmer Brooks lead through the #2 running lane with the #2 back, Boge Hollins taking the direct hand off. Murray slashed through the guard and center and tied up the weak side linebacker as Brooks led Boge through the hole for 5 solid yards. A coaching staff let out a sigh of relief to get the first play out and onto the field with success. Marv looked to the sideline as Coach Winslow ran through a series of signs, however with a clipboard under his arm, the signs were moot, clipboard under the arm was REPEAT. The second down repeat of the play saw the hole Murray slid through earlier closed and the 3 running backs congested a bit in the backfield before Boge got 2 more yards, setting up a third and 3. Immediately a substitute for Murray was sent in, a wide out, who found Marv and gave him the play from the bench, a 34 trap. The 2 backs line up almost as if setting up a screen, but the QB turns to his right and fakes a hand-off to the tailback who veers right. In the same motion the QB continues his turn and puts the ball into the fullbacks hands who follows the lead of his left guard who is cutting off the middle linebacker. Boge took the ball and led the action left for 4 yards. FIRST DOWN!! Although Coach Winslow was tempted to let Marv throw on first down, he decided to keep to the original game plan. Another switch of players sent the instructions for a 27 sweep. The play put a wide receiver in motion towards the center of play with the fullback, Boge, leading the way wide crossing through the area where the wide receiver had just left. The tailback, Brooks follows the fullback, hoping to turn a corner and get yardage. The play worked well, gaining 7 yards before going out of bounds. In the ensuing moments of the clock stoppage and sorting out of players from the sideline Marv Hudson went by Coach Winslow who told him "22 Lead, let Boge get the first down for you. Go once, then twice if necessary." Hudson ran past his Coach and joined the huddle calling the play for 2nd and 3, but Boston College plugged the hole and stopped Boge for no gain. Marv Hudson followed orders and called the same play and it may have been a replay of the previous. Hollins was stopped for no gain and the punting team ran to the field. All eyes were focused on Oksana Cushman as she lined up deep behind the long snapper. Suddenly everyone on the team realized that she getting her first kick out of the way was going to be an important hurdle. If anyone doubted the play calling on the previous set, they didn't now. A perfect snap and good blocking left Cushman unfettered as she lofted a long high punt that left BC to begin a drive on the 11 yard line. A second collective sigh was let out and suddenly electronic media began sending the pictures of the female kicker from NEAT, who not only played with the boys, but did well. If she had been given a break because she was "a girl", she showed she didn't need it. Although it was just one kick, it was obvious she had earned the job and it was no stunt. On the ensuing drive BC began to take advantage of the inexperience of the linebacking corps using screens and play action to confuse players in new positions. Frank Ruffen was quick to get Scott Claxton to the sideline to quickly school him on these new looks and ways he could prevent long gains by closing up the middle as "Jazz" Carey pinched up to close lanes through the front line when he saw the screen. When he came back into the game BC was on NEAT's 48 yard line with a 3rd and 5. This time when the screen set up and Carey moved to plug the middle and the #2 receiver veered into the vacated space. Claxton, the ball and the intended receiver met at the same time with the ball tipping off the receivers hands, Claxton's helmet and harmlessly to the ground. However, a flag gave BC a first down. On first down a broken play in the BC backfield led to a scramble with a long desperation pass that somehow found the hands of the BC receiver at the 20 yard line and he danced into the end zone. It was a play that couldn't be helped and "one of those things". Coach Winslow was still not quite ready to open up his total offense and was going to spoon feed Marv Hudson to the BC defense. After a 26 yard return of the kick-off from the 2 Coach sent Marv Hudson in with a 25 Trap play to Boge Hollins. Marv didn't seem frustrated by the fact he hadn't thrown a pass and he didn't act impatient. Jared knew it was time. On the 25 trap the Tight End and Offensive Tackle double team the Defensive Tackle. The #2 back flies through that lane drawing coverage as the QB drops and then punches the ball into the Fullbacks hands, going through the hole. The play gave them a 9 yard gain and also sent Tim Waters into the game with the play from the bench, a 26 Hot Pass. The play has the tight end doing a 10 yard hook over the middle while the wide receiver does a 5 yard sprint and turn to the sidelines pattern. HOT is a keyword to show the offensive line to block in a Fence style. On short, look, and fire passes, the offensive linemen do not recoil or step back. Instead they face off aggressively hitting the defensive line in the mid section. The Fence serves two purposes. First, it makes the defender keep hands down so he can't reach out and bat down or tip a passed ball. Second, it keeps the offensive linemen from stepping back and getting in either the quarterback's way or the passing lane. If the pass were to go to the tight end over the middle it would become a 56 Hot Pass. (the first number, 2, denotes short, the 5 would mean a longer pass, 7 or 10 yards) Hudson smiled as Tim Waters gave him the play and when he bent into the huddle and barked "26 Hot" he caught Boge Hollins eye and Hollins winked at him, knowing it was his first pass in a college game. Hudson smiled almost as if embarrassed but was proud that Boge recognized how big it was for him. Marv Hudson's full drop back was 7 to 10 yards, back peddled with shoulders square with the line. On the 26 Hot it was no more than 4 of his choppy back steps before he planted and fired. Tim Waters gave a quick fake to the middle on his 2nd stride and turned out toward the sideline as the ball exploded into his chest. He fell out of bounds for a 4 yard gain and bounced up to trot to the huddle. Marv Hudson looked to the series of signs from the bench, but with Coach's clipboard under his arm, he knew the call. "Good job fella's... 26 Hot." He barked again. Same play, same result. Although Tim got a step before he was pushed out and got the first down. Freddy Murray ran in and tapped Kemmer Brooks to go out for a breather. Murray looked Marv in the eye and nodded. Same play, again. With the same line-up, same set, Boston College was not surprised to see the same play unfold and the defender tried to anticipate the throw and cut in front of Waters to pick the ball, but it was thrown too hard and even before Waters fully turned. The defender dove for a ball that was passed him already. Waters lost his balance as he turned and although the sideline was open for a distance, he fell out for a gain of 6. Kemmer Brooks came back in for Tim Waters and told Hudson, "44 Blast". It was a Power I Right with a full backfield. The quarterback turns to the weak side left with the ball as the #3 back races past him and the #2 flares into the flats. The #1 back slashes right behind the #3 and takes the ball. He finds the left side hole created by the action looking right. Boge Hollins needed but a small hole and 2 steps to get to full speed and he powered 18 yards. As Freddy Murray stepped off Tim Waters came in and mumbled "Deep Cross" as he passed Marv. Marv Hudson nodded and took a deep breath, this one was for the marbles. He had a down to waste and knew if no one was open he could throw it away. A Deep Cross is just as it says, the Wide Outs cross in a deeper pattern 15 or more yards with one of them acting as a no-contact pick on the defender of the other. The play set-up nicely, but there was double coverage on Waters just past the line of scrimmage and the pick never developed. Marv unloaded a high pass that rolled in the end zone. Having established the run and somewhat of a passing game Marv Hudson's confidence was building and for the first real time in the game he looked to the sidelines for a play as Coach hadn't made any player changes in the offense. Jared Winslow was spoon-feeding his fledgling Quarterback and had no doubts about him. The signal was 26 Hot Pass and although it had been successful Marv Hudson was aching to open up his passing game, disgusted that the Deep Cross drew so much coverage. At he strode up to the line he saw a Safety pinched up on Waters side. "They're looking for the 26 Hot!" Marv realized, knowing the safety would fly up and try to take the quick short pass before it got to Tim Waters hands. Marv felt nervous for the first time on the field and thought of calling a time-out, thinking to himself, "If I waste the time-out I might look panicked and Junior Contralco would be calling signals. There had to be a reason why he hadn't seen any action yet, he was keeping him ready in case I freaked out." As he set —up behind "Whiskey" Daniels he knew he shouldn't run this play. Just before he about to place his hands in position he shouted down each side of the line, "BLUE, RED SIX!" BLUE, RED SIX!" Blue was the check-off color, Red, or any second color could mean a lot of things, run or pass, left or right, but here it meant RE-DO and 6 was the 6th letter of the alphabet F, in Coach's pass play parlance F was flea-flicker. (A flea-flicker was old football talk for a broken play, or one made to look that way) The call was 26 Hot Pass Flicker. When Waters turned to tuck Hudson's pass in, Marv would fake once and if either running back hadn't engaged a defender he would roll towards the flat, opposite side, to draw a linebacker. Waters would turn on a dime to his inside and head straight up the sideline looking back over his left for a pass. Marv Hudson knew he had to execute this or his ass might be on the bench to think about what he had done in a thinking situation. On signals Daniels snapped the ball to Marv and he did his usual straight, but shortened, back drop and Waters took two and a half strides, stuttered and turned right to have the bullet thrown by Hudson imbed in his chest. As he turned the Safety flew right in front of him as Marv suspected when he pumped his fake. Waters stopped almost dead, careful not to touch the sideline and turned and scampered right up the side. He was in his 4th stride when he looked back and took a cannon shot from Marv's hand right in his numbers. If he had waited a split second longer, he may have been hit or even knocked down by the pass. The field was open in front of him although he did hear footsteps as he raced for the end zone, falling to his knees as he crossed the goal line. He appeared to say a short prayer before bouncing up and holding the ball over his head as teammates glad-handed him. He was looking for Marv Hudson who was swiftly trotting to meet him. He gave him the ball and they embraced. Marv then took the ball and held it in both hands and looked at it intently, before flipping to a passing official. He wanted to soak in the reality of what just happened. He passed Junior Contralco who was heading out to hold for the extra point and suddenly it washed over him that something else special was about to happen. Brian Faraday was about to score his first point. He hadn't even glad-handed his coach when he turned to see the kick ensue. Daniels snap to Contralco was textbook and Brian boomed a line drive through the up-rights as he charged off the field, pumping his fists at his new-found skill. Emotions were so high on the sideline that if Frank Ruffen weren't pushing players out on the field they wouldn't have had a team to kick-off. Brian Faraday hadn't heard cheers and felt such presence of fans since he starred in European Amateur Soccer Championships a few years earlier and he relished the feeling. He shook Coach Winslow's hand before returning to the field to kick-off again. Jared knew that no matter what happened for the rest of this game, tremendous progress had been made. His fledgling Quarterback had actually read a defense and showed the rocket arm he possessed. Brian Faraday transformed the kicking skills with which he starred in soccer to American football, and yes a young lady from the Friday Night Lights of rural Texas could take a long snap and punt the football as well as any "boy" on the field. Both teams felt each other out for the rest of the half with Boston College leading 20-17. The defenses were playing just a bit conservatively in the minds of both coaches as some positions were not set and players feared losing starting jobs to injuries. Boge Hollins had broken free for a 28 yard touchdown run and Brian Faraday kicked an impressive 41 yard field goal. Marv Hudson was 8 of 10 with his passes, but kept his approach timid mixing short passes with his run game to eat up the clock. BC got tough in their own territory, closing up the middle, shutting down the NEAT running game near the end of the quarter. Tim Waters complained of a nagging hamstring, not exactly pulled, but what Tim called cranky. Jared was reluctant to put Junior Contralco into Waters spot, not wanting to use his only back-up QB that way. Mark Freeman hadn't quite learned the system yet and had but a few snaps in practice. Waters had been Marv Hudson's primary receiver with 6 catches, the other 2 going to Kemmer Brooks. Coach Winslow had been reluctant to split out an end too often, wanting to have the best pass protection for Hudson in his first game, wanting to build confidence. A few times Kemmer had lined up as a wide out leaving just Boge in the back field to block and be a screen outlet, but he really needed Marv to get the feel of the pocket as he planned to open up many more plays and offenses to him after this first game. Wally Graham, the trainer working with Tim Waters came into the Coaches office at the beginning of half-time to let him know that Waters was OK, but he should be a little timid the rest of the game, if he had to play. Graham's best advice was to ice it and shut him down. Winslow agreed with that. His special teams, offensive and defensive coordinators were in the office at the time and discussed using Junior Contralco or even John Brooks to take his spot when suddenly Jared stood up and looked out into the hallway as Ben Elgart, a staff member walked by. "Hey Ben, tell the Junebug to report to my office ASAP." Jared asked him. Jordy Alford looked back at Jared, "You want to get her in a game now? Today?" "Why not? She's been running the same plays as Tim in our scrimmages. For us to move Junior or Brooksie there would put us in an awkward position if they got hurt. This is a scrimmage and we want to know how Marv is going to react under game conditions. Is there any reason why you or any of your staff think she can't perform?" Coach Winslow asked, almost in a challenge. "Well, you've got me there, we all think she's ready, but I can't tell you that we don't worry about her getting hurt." Jordy replied. "More so than Waters?" Jared asked. "No, ... no ... it's just... " Alford stuttered. "It's the girl thing, isn't it?" Jared said with a smile. "I can do it, Sirs!" June Bokue said as she walked into the office and got the gist of the conversation. "If I get my butt kicked it won't be because I'm a woman." "You did all your pre-game warm-ups?" Jared asked. "Yes, I did everything as if I was going to play, except I took off my shoulder pads after and put on this windbreaker thinking I wouldn't play." She said confidently. "Get your pads on and get Wally Graham to help you stretch." He said as she ran from his office with a loud "Yes, SIR!" "OK, you guys. Let's go in there and give the team a little pep talk. I don't think any of them think they've had a bad half. Frank, the defensive backfield is a little tentative and that's where they're getting beat. Unless you think there's a real problem, I'm laying everything on first game jitters and not wanting to pull up lame. You notice they're staying away from Claxton's side and Jazzy has been keying on the run up the middle so they've been picking on the weak side. Let's talk to the team and then get the lowdown from upstairs together before we go back out." While each coordinators staff ran around the locker room talking and pointing out problems and doing some back patting the three mentors came out with Coach Winslow to the head of the locker room whereupon both captains looked up and began to say in slightly raised voices, "stools, stools" and the word went around the locker room to get on your locker stool and get ready to listen to the coaches. "Ladies and gentlemen, a pretty fine effort so far. If it were not a scrimmage I could nit-pick a few things, but we had hurdles to cross and I think we've met each goal we set upon so far. Coach Ruffin and his staff are going to fine tune a few defensive sets but I pretty much want to keep the same game plan going. Tim Waters is going to sit out the 2nd half. His hammy is little tight and there is no sense leaving him in to do real damage. June Bokue is getting loose to fill his spot in the receiver corps. Whether she sees any action is yet to be determined, but remember there are some who don't feel women should be on the field. Not one of our female members of the team would be out there if I thought they couldn't take care of themselves, but I expect everyone of you to look out for your teammates. Let's leave it at that." Coach said as "Click, click"s were heard going around the room. "So, we'll try to get everyone in for a play, but no promises at this point. Just remember, everyone is a part of the team, no matter how loud your click is, it may be the one that makes it all work. You've got a few minutes until they come for you. I hope I don't have to tell you ALL how proud I am of you." Coach said as he finished his comments at the three coordinators all nodded in agreement. The four men all were back in the Head Coaches office to hear the assessment from upstairs just before the end of the half and security came to open the doors for the players to make their second half entrance. The "booth" thought they should open the receiver corps a little more using 2 wide receivers more often, as they had in inter-squad scrimmages. Gerry Granahan, a sophomore who red-shirted his freshman year and only practicing with the team, had looked good in scrimmages. He had separated his shoulder a year before in his first freshman practice and it was found he had done that twice before and had become chronic. With a proper PT and conditioning program he looked like he might be able to step up a bit. They (the booth) wondered why he hadn't seen the ball yet. All agreed it was time to open up the offense a bit more, and with Tim Waters down it seemed Granahan's time had come. The second half opened with NEAT going on offense and Coach wasted no time in getting June Bokue into the game lining her up wide out and calling for a 26 Hot Pass. June ran the pattern textbook just as Tim Waters had with the same result. After a quick fake left she turned right a met a whistled bullet from the arm of Marv Hudson. She stopped quick and barely toed the sideline before straightening herself and getting one stride in before being roughly pushed out of bounds by the BC defender. She stayed on her feet and flipped the ball to the ref and headed to the huddle. She was disappointed to see Granahan trotting in and tapping her, signaling her out after her 4 yard gain. There was a flurry of fist bumps along the sideline as she came back in. She was happy to get her first play out of the way. After Boge Hollins had gained first down yardage on two consecutive plays going wide, a triple option with Kemmer flipping the ball back to him, and then a quick pitch from Hudson and suddenly they were 1st and 10 at mid-field. Coach Winslow opened the offense a bit more calling a 971 Pass play. It's run from a double slots formation with Granahan, lining up as a flanker going in motion left, drawing the defense that way and going into a dead sprint at the snap. The other wide out shoots deep drawing attention to the long pass and filling those zones. The motioned flanker cuts hard over the middle 10-12 yards out to take a pass in the vacated middle. Marv Hudson and Gerry Granahan executed it deftly for a 14 yard gain and June Bokue came in to spell Gerry with a play to try to reestablish the running game inside where Winslow wanted to be strong. On third and one Jared felt he was safely in field goal range and would risk a play to challenge the execution skills of his backfield. Marv Hudson felt a little nervous for the first time of the second half as he called Rope One. Rope was simply short for Roll-Out Option and One was right. Lining up in the I both Kemmer Brooks and Boge Hollins ran patterns right out of the backfield with the right guard pulling. Marv faked the ball to Kemmer as he slipped past him as he rolled right and defense clustered as it looked like the two backs would pick off defenders to open the running lane for Hudson. Just as Marv was about to tuck the ball and make the turn to find the hole to get past the line he saw The Junebug, June Bokue, virtually by herself without a defender in sight. In full stride he threw a perfect spiral that June ran to as it lofted in her arms and she crossed the goal line, unfettered. As the ball settled in her hands then nearest defender was 10 yards away, trying to right his missed assignment. Not every person in the stands was totally aware that the receiver was a female, but the bench was going absolutely nuts, so happy for their teammate and realizing the gravity of what just happened. The defense was inspired from that point to protect the 24-20 lead and the NEAT offense controlled the clock with their running game. Even though they were shut down on the scoreboard, they kept the ball for a better part of the half eating short yardage plays up the middle and a few quick "outs" to support the run. Two Oksana Cushman punts left BC deep in their own zone twice and Brian Faraday added a 38 yard field goal to make a 27-20 victory for the NEAT Green Aggies over a BC team that would have been heavily favored if it were not a "scrimmage". Boston College certainly hadn't played it's best squads the entire game, but Jared Winslow was quick to remind the press that two of his biggest offensive forces, Junior Contralco and Tim Waters hadn't played whole games, with Contralco seeing but a few plays. The other NorthEast 10 scrimmages played that day were not attended as heavily as NEAT's game, nor was there much beyond local press coverage. These fans were hungry for a winner and Jared Winslow brought new hope for that. National media coverage was there for the hype of "girls playing a boys game". Although Jared Winslow and the NEAT Administration hoped that newness of co-ed football would wear off once it was apparent they "belonged", it was certainly the big story today. Two things that should have been headlined were the strength of the arm of Marv Hudson, the bump-less conversion of a soccer star to Division One football. They were both glossed over in the media frenzy and that was fine for all involved. The less pressure the better. The less attention paid to the talents of Jared Winslow's two new stars, the better. It was "only" a scrimmage that counted for nothing but experience, but it meant a lot to the 70 plus young men and women who made up the team that represented the New England Agricultural and Technical school. ------- Chapter 24 There were six NorthEast 10 teams playing scrimmages against out of conference teams that weekend. For many of them it was a chance to go and see a big named team play the local college and maybe see some of the names that lit up college highlight films. With the exception of the NEAT game, most drew little attention. Coach Winslow had no intention of doing a press conference after the game, since it was a scrimmage, but Ann Comeche, his SID insisted that too many outlets requested time for him not to. At that post-game press conference almost all of the questions were about the co-ed team and locker room. Jared explained quickly that he would not discuss the gender of his players. All members of the team were just that, members of the team, and they belonged on the field. There were certainly many questions about their fine performance. June Bokue had 3 catches and a touchdown, Oksana Cushman made 6 punts, all high, good, hanging kicks for at least 39 yards. One sports outlet interviewed the high schools coaches of each of the girls, even Julie Mercer, the back-up place kicker who had not got into the game. Each of the coaches expressed their full confidence in the girls they had coached and knew they could perform at a higher level when they left. Jared was glad that less attention was paid to Marv Hudson who had certainly made his mark and proved himself. Coach Winslow hoped to intensify the play schooling of the young quarterback over the next 2 weeks for the first conference game. Jared was looking for a neat and polite way to end the press conference when the door opened and Meaghan and Declan slipped into the room. As soon as Declan saw Jared sitting alone at the table he broke from his mother and ran behind the table to hug the coach. Laughter broke out among the reporters of whom one of them asked, "Is this your son, Coach?" "No, I've never been married, but he certainly is a special little guy in my life. I think he wants to go home and to tell you the truth, we've all had a long day." He answered as he stood up and Meaghan came over to him as well, blushing deeply over her sons actions. There were camera snaps at the trio and unanswered questions as to who the mother and son were, but Jared exited the room without further comment. "Thank God you guys came in and let Declan steal the show! I didn't want to do a press thing for a scrimmage game and make the girls a circus, but Ann insisted. God, didn't they see the game? It wasn't a stunt, they can play!" Coach said letting out a sigh. "You should hear what I hear in the stands." Meg said. "Things like, "I see he only recruited the good looking girls", or "Why didn't he recruit any girl linemen?" I guess there's an ESPN story about a girl who was a big star at some Texas High School and she was never drafted. She's apparently a large girl, all-state wrestler, and a defensive lineman." "Well, you can always say that I didn't recruit ANY of the 3 girls. Matter of fact, Oksana came here on a academic scholarship with hopes of trying out for Woodard's team last year and he wouldn't even consider it. Both of the other girls, who were the ONLY other girls, were also walk-ons. This was why I didn't want any gender questions and also why I don't want any reporters in the locker room, although I won't be able to avoid that eventually. They all want to make a story that isn't there." Jared said as they pulled from the parking lot and headed home. "You don't have any privacy issues do you?" Meg wondered. "No, we don't even have, nor do I think we need, a matron as of yet. The dressing part of the girls locker stall is private and the rest of the team is instructed to dress back in their stall. The boys near the front lockers where the girls are have a privacy shield as well. The whole team knows that if there's any screwing around, they are gone! End of story! They've each proved they EARNED their place on the squad. Now, lets not talk football anymore. This is going to be a short week for us ending with a two-a-day on Sunday leading into our first conference game prep week." He explained. "So after you give the team report card tomorrow and work with the playbook, you're free for the rest of the day?" She asked. "Yes, we work out on Monday, practice early Tuesday, late on Wednesday, early game prep Thursday, fly out Friday to play. We get back late Friday night and have Saturday off except for team report card, then a two-a-day Sunday, our last. After that it's a normal game week schedule." Jared said exhaling deeply, exhausted about talking football. Their next pre-season scrimmage was Friday against Appalachian State at a neutral site for a Blue Ridge Mountain Days festival. It was near the campus in Boone, North Carolina and something App State did yearly for the local community to promote the festival and give the fans a taste of that years team. Jared liked the opponent, but not so much the venue, a minor league baseball stadium near the festival site. It would, however, be a trial run at going on the road, getting used to air travel for those who had not experienced it yet. They would take an almost 3 hour flight into Boone's private airport on two charter Canadair CRJ-200 commuter jets. It would be whirlwind trip flying out of Burlington at 7:00 am Friday, playing a 3:00 pm game and be back in Vermont by late Friday night after a bus ride from Burlington. As much as it was a test for the team as a traveling unit, it was a test of the travel crew. Coach Winslow had already had long discussions with the App State coach, an old friend, who assured Jared that this was not a game for blood nor money. It was a scrimmage where he hoped the risks of injury would be slight. They had already had 2 of its star players hurt in practice and were simply ironing out some wrinkles before their Southern Conference opener. Jared agreed it would be a "scrimmage" in the full sense of the word. He would bring only the one red shirt player, App State said they would use 3. The stories of "co-ed" players at NEAT already had a lot of excitement going for the game. Part of the gate proceeds were for charity so all agreed it would be a good thing although Jared hoped there wouldn't be a circus atmosphere to it all. In Jared Winslow's mind, over anything else, he intended to get Marv Hudson as many game snaps as possible and Brian Faraday as many game opportunities as possible. He already felt that Oksana Cushman was not a problem, the way she handled her first game as if she had been playing D1A right along. June Bokue, as a red shirt, would play in scrimmages, but would not appear in any of the 12 season games. Barring injury he could hold her out and still use her for 4 full years of eligibility. She was at one position he seemed to be well equipped, wide receiver. She, as well as Oksana, had plans for a 5 or 6 year academic career. The other thing to accomplish in this game was to get Junior Contralco as many minutes as possible on offense. He could sub as an option quarterback and take a pitch and throw, but they had to get him snaps as a tailback, a tight end or even wide-out. He had been held out of the first scrimmage in case Marv got into trouble, Jared wanted to make sure if Marv was overwhelmed he could get him out before there was damage to his psyche. Junior was possibly the most savvy player on the offense besides Boge Hollins and he wanted to get his brains and talent into the game. Jordy Alford would work full time all week getting Mark Freeman accustomed to the offense and the playbook. Freeman had 3 years experience running an offense in a big program, even though he wasn't a prolific thrower. He could easily be a competent back-up once he learned the offense. The teams win today may have fooled some people, but it didn't fool Jared Winslow. His team at full strength did not belong on the field with Boston College at full strength. Boston College came in knowing this and wanted to have a laugher. Jared Winslow was not going to let that happen. By the time BC had all of the looks at their team they had come for, the score was close and their best players were on the bench and the team on the field was probably seeing their first and only action together. They had no intention of risking injury trying to pull out a scrimmage win. Coach Winslow had to risk a little more to get some experience for some of his key players. He was lucky in one area, he had a lot of 2nd, 3rd and 4th year players who by simple virtue of having a new, more positive, system under them, they felt good about the team. Although not every fan and player knew it, The NorthEast Ten Division of 1A football was not going to get off the ground until they could draw players who WANTED to be there and not SETTLED to be there. By virtue of their spanking new high tech stadium, NEAT was a prototype to build from. Other schools in the division were building better venues and making better hires, but NEAT was first to build and be ready for the upgrade in class. The NCAA encouraged them to hire Sherm Woodard to make a name for the school and draw some of the better high school players to the division. Unfortunately when Sherm came in he lacked the patience he had as a younger coach and as a successful NFL coach to mold a team from recruits. Joe Barber saw by the third year of Woodard's tenure that he had hired the wrong man. Jared Winslow's local reputation was sure to cause local excitement, but Winslow's name came up with every major college job opening and he had become a national phenomena with his record of winning and always the rumor of his moving on to bigger and better things. Although his name was mentioned many times for high profile openings, he usually never even returned a call. The call from NEAT intrigued him because of the situation in his personal life. He was also aware that once he immersed himself into a project he could make things happen and this would be just the challenge to lift him up and out of the depression he was having over his relationship with Barbara Gaynes. Everything fit well and Joe Barber was savvy in many of the ways Winslow himself was. He knew how to approach Dean Crawford, not with the idea of bringing in Jared, but, to walk into her office WITH Winning Winslow himself with an entire plan laid out start to finish all tied up in a little package with a pretty bow. Crawford liked Winslow because he dealt in reality and didn't hide behind hype. He told her there would be bold things happening to move the program along swiftly, but he had to admit that going co-ed was never even a thought. The fact that Oksana Cushman was good enough to walk into almost any D1A camp and make the team, coupled with the fact that no one seemed to care, opened his eyes when other females came along. Now, Jared Winslow wasn't jaded enough to think his team belonged on the field with top flight D1A programs, but he was confident enough to believe they only needed proper guidance and experience to get there. Not looking foolish without destroying ego's and confidence between those two reality's was his job number one. He may not have been able to put a team on the field as fully loaded with talent as Florida, Alabama or UCLA, but he could put one on the field with as much fire and heart. For the fans, fire and heart sold tickets, built the base As much as he didn't want to think about football, his mind reeled about the team on the ride home. Meaghan looked over and saw his furrowed brow and the tension in his face. As Declan occupied himself in the back seat of her SUV she reached over and put a hand on Jared's upper thigh. His racing mind came to a screeching halt as he felt the warm hand near his "equipment". He looked up into the mirror and saw Declan playing and looked back to Meaghan and smiled. He put his hand down over hers and smiled. "Thanks. I needed to get off that train. Reality is a nice place to be." He said with a smile. "I'll show you a nice place to be once we get alone tonight." She said softly, smiling back knowingly. "Can we have pizza tonight?" Came the voice from the back seat. "Mommy wouldn't let me have pizza at the game." "That was because we had a good lunch at home and we didn't need pizza just because you saw somebody else have it. How about if we make pizza tonight and you help us?" Meg said turning to her son in the back. Declan looked up from his toy and smiled at his mom, nodding his head. As Jared observed, he knew this was a part of his life that he was missing and wanted to be part of permanently. Taking this job and having it lead him to Chicago to find Meaghan had been a fate well planned out by the spirits that be, and Jared thanked God every day. Once home Jared gave Declan the key and let him run to open the house as Meg came around the vehicle to take Jared's arm and walk to the door. From the adjacent yard a call of "Good game, Coach. Nice show for the fans." Came from Mike Denault who was raking the first of the early fall falling leaves in his yard. "Thanks Mike. It's good to get that one out of the way." Coach responded as he plucked the keys that Declan had left in the door and went inside. "Before you sit down to relax I should warn you, Declan is going to want some attention. Mike's kids all went to their Grandmothers for the day with their Mom." Meg said, as a warning. "Just as well. If I sit I'll go into crash mode and be asleep by 8 o'clock." Jared conceded. He no more than took off his team blazer when Declan came out of his room, his arms full of play choices. "Coach, do you have time to play with me for a while? You can show me how to kick the football like that guy at the game, or we can race radio cars in the driveway. If you're tired we can stay in and do Play Station." Declan asked irresistibly. "We just bought batteries for the cars, let's use them for a while. We can play video games later when it starts to get dark." He replied as he took a car and controller from Declan's arms. While the men busied themselves with driveway car races, Meaghan busied herself in the house getting back into the routine of being a wife and a Mom. She loved keeping a house and cooking for her men. It was something she missed so when she became a single Mom after throwing Matt out. She had feminist friends who would frown on her thinking, but it was what she loved. As she prepared her stand mixer to make pizza dough she flushed at the thoughts going through her head. For the first time in a long time she felt life was good again hearing the cheering and cajoling of her man and her boy in the nearby driveway. As the sun disappeared behind the tree ridge overlooking the campus she had to switch on the kitchen lights and knew the driveway racers would be in soon. No more than a few minutes later she heard the clamor from the side door as they came in. "Mom, can I watch the Sponge Bob Show?" Came the holler from little Declan. "What does Coach think, are you guys all picked up?" She asked loudly. "Yes, he wore me out, but we have all the cars and controllers inside." Jared responded smiling as he came in to the kitchen and kissed Meg on the back of her head as she worked the mixer. "OK, watch Sponge Bob, but then come right in here if you want to help make the pizza. The dough will be ready then." She told the boy. She pulled the ball of dough from the bread hook and rolled it in flour before wrapping it in a warm towel and placing it in the oven that she had just warmed above room temperature to let it rise. She turned from closing the oven door and fell into Jared arms. "Forgive me for saying this and don't let it scare you, but if and when you decide you want to get married and make all of this permanent, my answer is yes, yes, yes." She whispered into his ear as tears began to form in her eyes to go with the catch in her throat. "What brought this on? You're not afraid I'm unhappy in any way, are you?" He whispered back with some concern. She pulled back in his arms and looked him in the eye, just a few inches apart, her eyes welled, but a cute smile washing over her face. "No, no. It's just I look outside and see the two of you playing and enjoying each other and I know he loves you and I can see you could be such a good Dad. I'm in here starting dinner, keeping our house, just like I used to fantasize about in High School and even after you went to college. I know when the bedroom door closes I'm your little fuck bunny and you're my hard cock stud and there are pleasures we haven't even found yet. Inside, I'm 18, horny for you constantly, carefree, and in love. On the outside I'm in my thirties, I'm a responsible adult whose just as constantly horny for you, basically carefree and ever so much in love. I..." " ... and none of that will have to ever change." He added as he put a finger to her lips to stop her next sentence. "Remember back when we were kids and I promised to marry you?" He asked while she nodded remembering the night, making love on a blanket outside of his car near their homes. "I really want to keep that promise. Just let me find the right time and place to ask you again, OK?" He said while she broke into tears and hugged him closely, almost biting at his shoulder. Then she whispered something that shocked and surprised him. "You know, you promised Barbara you would marry her, you told me that. This promise is different, isn't it?" She said through tears. "Meaghan, you and I have made love and talked more in the last few weeks we've lived together than Barbara and I did the last 3 or 4 years together, and that is no exaggeration. If I had given her a single bed in a room with a TV and left, she wouldn't have known I wasn't there for weeks. Don't ever think my promises are empty." He chided her. "I never thought that, but you told me about that promise and it's always bothered me." She admitted. "All I can say is that you will see and I hope I have nothing to prove to you." He said to her cautiously. "Just prove you love me as often as you can by making love to me." She responded "Not to worry, if Declan were outside, I would fuck you silly right here on the counter." He assured her. Meg broke away and cupped her pussy, squeezing her nether lips. "Ohhhhhh, I'm so wet now, it'll be hard to last till tonight. Don't plan on getting to sleep early, I want your cock everywhere!" Jared moved behind her as she flushed and he slipped his arm around her front and slid his hand under her sweats and panty and stabbed her smooth pussy with his middle finger. She swooned back against him feeling his hardness press between her cheeks. "Careful Declan doesn't come in ... ohhhhhh ... mmmmmmmmmhah!" She muttered as her breath caught as he stroked her. She pushed back into him hard threw her head back into the crux between his head and shoulder whispering hotly, "I wish you were all the way up my ass now, while pinching my clit like that." Jared was about to break out of his pants when a call came from the front room. "Mommy, can we get some Sponge Bob cereal?" Declan cried out as they heard his little feet padding toward the kitchen. Meg and Jared broke their clinch and each of them flushed looking at each other with knowing, promising eyes. Before their gaze went to the kitchen archway Declan was about to come through. "Sponge Bob cereal?" Were his only words. "Declan, that's all sugar and not very healthy for you or your teeth." His Mom told him. Jared sat down to hide his erection and pulled Declan to him. "See these four teeth?" He asked pointing to a side of his mouth. "These are implants where the dentist had to go in, pull out my rotten teeth, put stuff in to make the bone grow, them he had to drill into my mouth and put steel screws in and then screwed these fake teeth in ... all because I ate too much sugar candy and sugar cereal when I was a little boy like you." He warned. Declan threw his hands to his mouth. "Screws in your MOUTH! EEEEEeeeeew! I want MY teeth!" He yelped and ran to the TV again. Meaghan sighed deeply after somewhat of a close call and sidled up to Jared, saying sexily, "Screwed in the mouth? I wouldn't mind THAT at all!" "Hey, this thing just started to calm down, don't encourage him." Jared said rubbing his still prominent erection. "We can take care of some of those wants and desires later." Meaghan laughed and patted Jared's hand over the hand that rubbed his problem and got back to her preparation of the pizza. It wasn't long before the 3 of them were in the kitchen lending a hand with the pizza dinner promised to Declan. In no time they were all glued to the big screen TV watching the Pixar video of Cars. It wasn't apparent what Meg and Jared enjoyed more, the movie, or watching Declan belly-laugh and giggle until he fought off sleep. It wasn't much after 9 o'clock when Declan asked if he could finish watching the movie in the morning. Jared picked him up and took him to his bedroom with Meaghan close behind to undress him and get him into pajama's. He could barely keep his head up during his prayers and he was fast asleep without a fight. Although the two lovers were worn out from the emotions and busy nature of the day, they both knew it would be a while before they gave up their hunger and passion for each other to go to sleep. Jared had just finished securing the house when he came into the bedroom and saw Meg had already turned on the baby monitor from Declan's room. She was in the bathroom, wearing only a t-shirt, rubbing some sort of cream into her forehead. She saw him in the mirror as she finished and turned to hug him. He reached behind her and squeezed hard at the balls of her ass, lifting her. She slipped onto the bathroom counter as he stepped forward. He broke the kiss and whispered for her to lay back. The counter was wide enough at this juncture by the sink and mirror for her petite torso to fit, head to tailbone. He lifted her legs that she thought he wanted to part but he held them together and folded them up until she was an L. She crossed her feet and reached up to lock her hands behind her knees. Her little pussy was like a pink, split top, delicious muffin. As he worked his sweat pants down he bent and drew his tongue up from just above her exposed asshole right through the neat crease of her sex. She swooned as he tasted her fresh juices but quickly stood and took his excited cock and placed it to her slice that seemed to devour his length. "OH! Jared!" She squeaked, her voice clogged by the sudden puncture into her sexual being. He pressed himself deep, feeling the instant wet warmth of her buttery pussy, as he peeked around her legs locking his neck around one of her legs. His eyes were closed in pleasured passion as he pressed fully into her. When he opened them she was looking up, her face still flushed from the near orgasmic pleasure of the sudden filling. "Fuck me. Fuck me silly! I want you so bad!" She said, her voice still squeaking from emotion. "I'll fuck you GOOD!" He said as he drew out of her and plunged hard to emphasize his word. He immediately began to jackhammer in and out of her with a passioned force that she ate up with an eyes closed series of Ooo, Ooo, Ooo's as he hit bottom each time. Suddenly her face turned a bright red and her panting stopped as she held on for a hard orgasm, her eyes rolling back until she exhaled deeply the breath she had bore down on. "GOD! You make me crazy!" She screamed as loudly as the situation might let her as aftershocks from the big pleasure ball she passed wracked through her. He took her legs from her stiffened grip and parted them, letting them fall to each side as he watched her through them. She quickly reached and locked her arms behind each knee, holding herself wide open and prone to his assault. "In my ass, fuck your naughty girl in her ass! I put the jelly in there! Fill me up!" She commanded. Jared was already in a sexual wonderland with his loving nymph taking all he could give her when he heard her demand. His eyes averted to the lube bottle on the counter, its applicator tip still on with a tissue over it ready to wipe it clean. She clearly wanted hard core sexual release and was intrigued and excited by the forbidden. Just 24 hours earlier they had tried it and it was too painful for her, but she was ready to get back on the horse already. Jared wanted to stop and tell her this wasn't necessary to prove her love or devotion, but he was too taken in by the passion of the moment. The cute round little ass he watched, squeezed at every chance, and admired, was being offered to him again. She was determined to get her wish this time and he was just in the right sex buzz to do it. Meaghan was just the woman every man seemed to want, a lover who knew no bounds once the bedroom door was closed. She wanted to satisfy every fantasy and urge of her lover, as well as her own. Lying back with her legs bent and held by her arms lock, her cute little anus was a winking dimple below the deep pink slice of her smooth wet pussy. Light reflected off the slick exterior of the little rose proving her claim of the deposit of jelly. His dick was already sopping from her pussy as he moved himself to the slot where she wanted him. With a small nudge she opened and he slid into her, with a loud report coming from her mouth, a seeming sigh of relief and scream of surprise combined. "Screw your little fuck bunny, make me the bedroom whore I want to be for you. Make me cum! I'm going to CUMMMM!" She growled through gritted teeth. Meg through her head back with a light clunk on the counter, but it seemed to make no difference in what her body was experiencing. Her hands went further through the crux of her knees to her tits and they squeezed as she turned red and puffed hard through pursed lips. After her breath caught for a moment she swooned aloud and went a bit limp. Jared took the opportunity to slide from her and pick her up in his arms. He stepped out of his sweats and brought her from the bathroom to the bed where he set her down and she quickly flipped to all fours, sticking her pretty round behind up. Jared placed the head of his cock on her asshole once more and began to fuck her in earnest, holding the round buttocks her so worshipped. He couldn't resist slapping it once on each side and she encouraged him to repeat the slaps. "Spank my ass, spank your naughty little whore while you fuck her ass." She hissed as he flailed away at her tiny hole. He didn't need her words to excite him any further as he felt his orgasm approaching and he gripped her hips even tighter than before. Without a word from him except for a hard hissing growl he pumped his cum into her insides as he was sure she was cumming herself. When he was through depositing his load in her he fell forward forcing her to her stomach and then he pulled her to his side in a spoon as they both puffed to get their breath. Jared must have fallen asleep because the next thing he knew she was walking back into the bedroom from the bath. "Look who passed out on me! Am I too much for you?" She teased as she slid in beside him. "Your big cock is going to give my little hiney a bit of an ache tomorrow I bet, but it was worth it. You were an animal tonight and I like that, ... A LOT!" "Ohhhhh, you're going to kill me with sex, but what a way to go! Let me get up and pee and wash off." He feigned as a complaint. When he returned to the bed Meaghan had a hand between her legs massaging her clit. "Did I NOT do my job?" He said with a smile. "Oh, you did your job, but mostly on the inside. I had deep orgasms, but my little button is buzzing and you have to do nothing more than watch, I know I wore you out." She said with a light panting and a smile. Meaghan scrunched up her knees and closed her eyes, smiling. "Whenever I think about the time I came to visit you here for the first time. In bed you smelled so clean and sexy and you fucked between my breasts, and then my mouth. Then after you flipped me over and screwed my pussy raw you slid yourself into my ass for the first time. I know I asked for that, but in my little fantasy replay, you just did it!" She said panting louder and louder as her fingers began to get furious between her legs. Worn out or not, the scene had Jared hard as a rock as she began to edge up to her climax. He had been kneeling on the bed preening her hair watching her and thinking he might want to take over for her or dive his mouth into her engorged lips as her fingers fast movements had drips of her juices flying onto her belly and the sheets. However, she was so centered on what she was doing he didn't want to interrupt at all. He couldn't help but take his penis into his hand and begin to stroke it in unison with her. Jared hadn't let on to what he was doing and was thoroughly enjoying her diddling as she flushed white and then beet red as a high pitched cry came from deep in her throat. Once quick squirt came from her pussy and her eyes flew open in a startle at how deep her orgasm was. She exhaled deeply and drew her eyes down to the hand stroking in earnest on her lovers cock, seeing he was close to orgasm himself. She thrust two fingers deep into herself once again and used her thumb to pinch her clit between the fingers and thumb as she bent up to put her mouth over him to get his orgasm. Jared could hold back no longer and he sprayed one quick volley of cum as his second load of the night. It hit just below her eye, beside her nose just before she got her mouth over him to get any more he might ejaculate out. She sucked him lovingly to get any more he could muster from his balls, but if there were any, it was little. She bobbed a few more times and then sprung up as the cum dripped down her face. "THAT WAS AWESOME! We just about came together! I could have had you!" She said with a triumphant smile as she wiped the sperm load from her cheek and held it up. "Too snotty to eat, like spoiled cottage cheese. Yecccchh." She said as she wiped it onto a towel she had by her side. "Then you're lucky you missed it." He laughed as he looked for his underwear. "No, right from the tap, it would have been fine. Hahahahaha!" She laughed as they heard Declan stir on the monitor. "Damn, I bet we were too loud. I better get him up to pee to make sure he doesn't wet." She said quickly putting on her Mommy hat and slipping into a sleep shirt. Jared marveled at the quick change and went to the bathroom to see if he could pass something after cumming. He was tucked into the bed when Meaghan returned from bringing Declan into the hallway bath. "I don't think we woke him, he just had to go. He's almost passed the bed wetting, I don't want him to have an accident, he gets so embarrassed. "You're a good Mommy, ... and a deliciously naughty one too!" He said kissing her goodnight as she slipped in beside him. "Mmmmmm, don't forget that either. Sometimes I need a good spanking and bottom fucking." She said with a sexy giggle He wanted to add a comment, but he was so tired his mind would not work and he slipped into deep sleep in but a few minutes time. ------- Chapter 25 Two busses waited for the team as they de-planed in Boone, North Carolina. Bench Essential Personnel for home games became the Travel Facilitators for road games. Both were just fancy names for team roadies, but with the advent of a co-ed team their jobs and importance became more essential. They had to make sure that the privacy stalls were the last thing on the plane and first thing off. If there were a problem with their arrival or the fitting, the girls might have to dress in another location and the coaching staff wanted the group to always be together if at all possible. Today's venue was a minor league baseball stadium and there was probably going to be stall sharing, so this was really going to be a logistics test for the crew. The team all traveled well without any first time, or nervous flyers. The Canadair jets were common charters and quite efficient for short distance travel, 3 hours and under. For longer flights they became cramped, but it was not a worry with most NorthEast 10 travel. Logistically, the roadies made everything work well with no glitches. As Coach Winslow had promised to Joe Barber, by the kick-off of the 2nd game he knew each member of the BEP team and any additional roadies. He made sure they were all fed once their basic work was done and they waited to break down and go home. Even in the cramped baseball stadium he made sure they had a room to eat and decompress in with a table of food. While winning every game was important, for this day, this scrimmage, winning really wasn't at the top of the list. Looking respectable, smoothing out the offense and defense, the running in and out of plays, the solidifying of positions and building confidence were at the top of the list. Fans wanted to see their local Mountaineers, and were quite curious about the "co-ed team" coming in. When they left North Carolina that evening they were on the wrong end of a 23-18 score, however for the most part, the team was mostly happy and satisfied with what they accomplished. At the end of the first half, with mostly App State starters, they were only down 14-12. Once Marv Hudson had moved the ball inside the 30 yard line they were shutting down the air attack and utilizing the running game. His longest pass was 16 yards and the whole day was intended to give him a lesson in eating the clock and controlling the pace. It gave Brian Faraday 6 opportunities that he converted each time with ease. Marv Hudson used short passes and Boge Hollins to keep the Appalachian State defense on their toes all through the first half. By the second half Junior Contralco was getting most of the running assignments to give Boge some time off that he used constructively picking Coach Winslow's brain for strategy as he play called. Kemmer Brooks and Tim Waters were given little opportunity to break free being used for just short yardage pass plays and blocking assignments. Coach Winslow was truly using the scrimmage to iron out and highlight some problems his inexperienced quarterback was having. Actually, if not for a freak score to close out the first half, NEAT may have won this game. In one on the few times the NEAT offense totally stalled they were on their own 31 yard line and Oksana came into punt. She got away a dandy that looked like it might pin State behind their own 20. However the first Green Aggie defender tried to make a high hit on the receiver just after he tucked the ball to his body. He spun away and found a key block and he was off to the races with only one NEAT pursuer in his way, Oksana Cushman. A long diving tackle took the ball carrier down at the Green Aggie 7 yard line. She bounced up after the tackle and headed for the bench while her teammates surrounded her in support. She made it clear she was here to play the game and whatever it took, she would do. She didn't want to hear "nice play, for a girl." Unfortunately, the defense wasted her effort when NEAT lined up for a goal line stand and the State quarterback faked a hand off and rolled out, sneaking in on the right side. Frank Ruffen sputtered aloud and openly on the sideline about not preparing his defensive backfield for the play. NEAT opened the second half offense with Mark Freeman at quarterback and June Bokue at wide receiver, a move to satisfy the fans. Freeman kept the offense conservative completing short yardage passes to June on consecutive plays. Then he used Kemmer Brooks lined up at fullback with a full backfield of Hollins and Contralco, using the bench play-call of a 33 Lead to get the first down. Coach then sent in a 33 Lead Keeper where the 33 Lead unfolds as normal but the Quarterback keeps the ball and follows the fullback and looks for a hole. Freeman got through for an 11 yard gain and a first down. State then tightened up their middle defense and bottled up the running game. Hoping to catch lightning in a bottle, Freeman missed his receiver on a disappointing third down Flood Pass. The Flood Pass puts four receivers running same side patterns, usually left, as the Quarterback rolls that way. If no one is open he has the option of running, but with 4 receivers in the same zone, it's unlikely. Junior Contralco running from the right side tight end position and June Bokue from the left side wide-out were both open, but Freeman over threw a wobbly floater to the sidelines. No matter the outcome, it was going to be Mark Freeman's last set of downs for the day, but Jordy Alford was mad at himself for convincing Jared to run the play. He felt Freeman was ready to succeed with it, but Mark threw off the wrong foot and lost control. Freeman came to the sidelines dejected but Coach Winslow put an arm around him to encourage him and kept him with him as the defense worked 4 quick downs. Mark thought Coach would send him back in when the offense took over, but he kept him at his side. He verbalized all of his thoughts as he called the plays for Marv Hudson, letting him know his strategy on each play, showing him where it might have failed, and where it could have been more successful. He told Mark that he thought he was competent and could run the offense in a pinch. While Freeman had been dejected at being pulled, when he finally got to sit on the bench he was happy with his role of understudy and felt his coach had confidence in his abilities. After the failed 3rd down Flood Pass and Oksana Cushman's Green Aggie punt, The Mountaineers of App State seemed to borrow the strategy of Winning Winslow for the rest of the day, keeping the ball on the ground and controlling the clock with short passes mixed in. They kicked 3 field goals and dominated the clock for much of the rest of the third quarter, while NEAT did much of the same for the fourth, but only managing 2 field goals and a lost opportunity on a fumble. The Green Aggie defense got a lot of the workout it needed against the running game and short pass. Despite the final score it was apparent that Coach Winslow, his assistants and their staffs were all happy on the flight home. The only part of their game they hadn't worked out under game conditions was the long gain pass play. They all knew that Marv Hudson was deadly accurate and only needed to teach him not to hurry or be over confident. In intra-squad scrimmages he had learned that he had a great corps of receivers with good hands and moves. Learning to use them wisely would come. Winslow would feel better holding back using this facet of their game until their defense put them in the kind of hole where they HAD to score quick and often. Until they established themselves, showboating and running up a score was out of the question. For now controlling the clock and the ball was his objective. After getting home and the team settled on the bus from Burlington back for the last leg of their trip, Coach told the assembled team that Saturdays report card would be pushed back to 1:00 pm from its original 11:00 am. "Get some sleep and be here for 1:00 o'clock. A workout is not mandatory, as it will never be the day after a game during the season. Don't worry, I won't even check who does or doesn't. You all put in a great day today, we can pick it apart a little tomorrow. Get some sleep." Jared said with a little knowing smile. He was sure there would be a little steam letting before some of them got to bed. Coach Winslow got to his office at 11:45 on Saturday to prepare to meet his coaches at noon before the team report card. He no more than sat down at his desk when Ira Pressley came in with Julie Murcer. "Coach, can we have a few minutes?" "Sure, come on in and close the door." "Julie came to me last night quite disappointed that she hadn't gotten into the game yesterday. She felt it might have been her only chance to see some action and was quite upset. I let her know it was logistics and not any doubts of her abilities." Ira started, speaking for Julie and himself. "I don't want to be on this team just to be a roommate for Oksana. You have June here now, put her on the squad and stop ... well, I should just say that I feel I'm being jerked around a bit." Julie interjected before Coach could respond. "Julie, I told you when you made the team that playing time for a back-up place kicker would be little if any, but it was a position I had to fill. I could have recruited among the ranks and found SOMEONE who has a little experience, but I wanted YOU. Number one, because you're very good, and number two, because of the situation with Oksana." He started. "But YOU said... " She jumped in before Coach raised his hand in a stop motion. "Let me finish! I told you that you would get the next PAT shots and just because we didn't get any touchdowns in yesterdays scrimmage doesn't mean I'm going back on that." He promised. "So I'll get all the kicks in the inter-squads, that still won't get me a click!" She spat as she sat back in her chair and crossed her arms defensively. "No, I mean in next weeks league game. When we score a touchdown the PAT is yours." Jared said with a little grin. "The first game, the first touchdown? That should be Brian's. He earned it." She said softly. "No, he came to me and said he wants you to have it. He says YOU earned it for all the help you've given him. Coach Nietczyk can beat his brains in on the mechanics and all that, but you put it all in perspective for him. He's a great athlete but he's had doubts and you've made it look so easy for him. I'm sorry it didn't work out for you in North Carolina, but I wasn't going to let you down." Coach told her, sure he made her happy. "I was worried I'd be the only one who didn't lose their cherry, get my domino." She said exhaling deeply in a sign of relief. "Excuse me? What... ?" Jared asked, startled at her words. "Easy Winnie, it's just a figure of team-speak. As each player got into a game Boge and Jazz were giving out dominos to put on their dressing stalls. They called it losing their cherry. I'm sure the National Organization for Women would like that." He explained, finishing with a sarcastic tone. Julie burst out laughing saying, "They don't understand how we can all be in the same locker room with out being raped, so I don't think they would understand that." Coach Winslow startled a moment and then spat out "You actually haven't been questioned by them, have you?" "I think a reporter or some group fished for a story when we deplaned in Burlington last night. Oksana, June and I were all stopped and asked the same two questions at different places in the airport while we waited for the busses." "WHAT QUESTIONS?" Jared demanded. "Don't get all crazy coach. We ALL know NOT to say anything to anyone unless it's sanctioned by the school. They asked "Are the boys having a good time with you in the locker room?" and "Have you seen the pictures of you undressing on the internet?". A different person, but always a woman, asked each of us and NONE of us said anything, not even a "no comment". It wasn't a big deal. We know it's going to happen and we aren't going to let anyone ruin what we've done." Julie said evenly, showing she was undaunted by any outside pressure. "I'll speak to the whole team and make sure we keep this stance. I have to get with Ann Comeche and have her choose an outlet to bring in to see we have it all under control. Julie, would you be offended if we had a matron, a sort of overseer, in the locker room? I trust my team and I don't think we have anyone that any of the girls has to worry about, but it has been suggested." Coach asked. "Right now I would think it might send a signal to the guys that we thought there was a problem, and none of us feel that way. Besides some of the kidding, you know ball-busting, and that goes back and forth, it's been respectful to everyone. We've each been asked out on dates by guys on the team and we've all refused, just saying that during the season it can't happen. Boge overheard one guy ask me and I think he's talked to everyone. These guys, well all of us, really look up to him. His Dad is awesome too. He introduced him to all of us after the BC game." She said measuring her words to the Coach to be sure he understood her feelings. "Alright, it sounds like we're all on the same page here then. You girls just have to know that what we are doing here is unprecedented and it's not going to happen elsewhere, at least not right away, if anything goes wrong. To give you your own locker room would cause some dissension and make it a "my team, your team" situation. We'll talk it over after the report card today." Coach said wanting to finish up the meeting. "Coach Winslow, Coach Pressley, thank you both for hearing me out and understanding, and making me happy. Our high school program in Oklahoma consisted of all people I knew and grew up with, and right here I think we're closer as a group with a goal. Thanks!" Julie said as she got up to get ready for the meeting. "Julie, one more thing," Coach Pressley wondered, "How did you handle the locker room in Oklahoma?" "There were two of us girls, me and a lineman, ha! — linewoman. We had to change in the girls room and meet in the team room, outside the boys locker room. After games we had to go home to shower. It was OK, nothing like here with our own shower room." She said before walking down the corridor. "That WAS the COACHES shower, you know!" Ira Pressley hollered loud enough with a laughing indignance. Despite the fact they were grading a loss, a scrimmage loss, the report card meeting was mostly positive. Defensive lapses were the most prevalent complaint and Frank Ruffen took the brunt of the blame saying he should have prepared them better inside the 10. He didn't feel he fully explained jobs, duties, and key things to watch in some of their defensive sets. He spent a few minutes explaining the difference between 3rd and short in the middle of the field and 3rd or 4th and goal inside the 5. i.e.: the key positions to watch and movement inside the signal call. Jared acknowledged that Julie had been the only player not to get into a game and he was rewarding her by giving her the first PAT in a season game as requested by Brian Faraday. The whole team cheered for her before she was pelted by a volley of socks from the very lockers they sat in front of ... It was a team thing Boge and Jazz came up with when a team member got a chance to "puff up" as Boge called it. Boge came across the room with a domino and gave it to her. "Here's your domino, just keep it in your helmet until you can put it up on your locker." He said with a fist bump and a smile. "We all know you'll earn it." Hand claps and cheers of "click, click, click" came from the assembled players. Once calm was restored Coach got serious. "Now we have to talk about a problem that cropped up last night in Burlington and will probably dog us all year..." Coach went over the policies of speaking to anyone about the locker room situation and everything Julie had brought up in her private meeting. If anyone was not in agreement with the university's stand, the coaches' stand, or even the girls' stand on the situation, they didn't let it be known. "A workout today is optional, just keep in mind the last two-a-day is tomorrow and then it's a regular game week schedule. As you know, we open right here against Maine State University one week from today. We'll go over what we know about them during the week, but I do know they are a team with few freshman and they scored a lot of points last year. So they have experienced players. Coach Alford and I will work with our offense to open it up a bit more this week and also get Mark Freeman some snaps so he can take over if necessary. Through our practices, inter squad scrimmages and 2 scrimmage games we have set most of our positions. I've been really happy with the defense, you guys have made a ton of progress and all you need now is playing time together to gel. Now we have to fine tune a bit and recognize problems, work on areas where we seem to come up short. Overall I'm happy on both sides of the ball. Now, we may get worse before we get better, but unless I'm missing something," He said, pausing and looking around the room at each face of each player who sat on a stool in front of his or her locker, "We will win more games than we lose." Smiles broke out on faces around the room as they exuded confidence. Jared Winslow felt sure he had prepared the team quite well for the week before their first game. The Sunday two-a-day was going to be a day of game situations, drilling basics into everyone with constant position rotation. By Mondays afternoon practice they would be ready to concentrate on their first opponent, but Sunday was going to be a long day. The weather had been typical Northern New England for early Fall with cool nights and days that barely flirted with 70 degrees. Leaves, especially the maples, were already turning and a few were falling. This particular Saturday, however, was turning into a throwback to July with temps in the middle to upper 70's. The weatherman already warned of cool air from Canada about to make a plunge across New England for the next few days, sure to paint the foliage and begin to fulfill the dull graying promise of winter. To many Vermonters it meant a last chance to be out in a summer situation and the Saturday timing of this last gasp of summer filled local parks and lake shores with families. When Jared got home from the Stadium he found Meaghan putting the finishing touches on a picnic lunch she had prepared and was packing into the SUV. When Jared walked into the house his senses perked up with the smells from the kitchen. "Wow, I smell your mothers fried chicken, it feels like Sunday dinnertime at the Mahaffey house." He said as he came up behind Meg and kissed the back of her neck. "When I told my Mom we were going to picnic today she emailed me the recipe for you. I bet we had fried chicken on 3 Sundays in 4 back then, and you never missed a chance to get an invite. I got a butterscotch pie, lots of veggies, chips, dips, macaroni salad and a Cole slaw all packed." Meaghan said turning to hug her man. Jared laughed and looked around, asking "Where's Declan?" "He's in his room doing a time-out. He had a temper tantrum because he's going to miss playing next door. I guess Mike Denault is getting a bouncy house, or what ever they call it, for his daughters birthday party tomorrow. Mike told the boys they could use it today because they have to leave the little girls alone tomorrow for the party. The Mom of the other little boy Declan plays with is bringing the boys to see a movie tomorrow to get them out of the way." Meg explained. "So Declan, Mike and Tracy Denault's son, and the Fletcher boy are going to the movies so they don't terrorize the little girls birthday party? Does this mean we're going to be alone?" Jared said doing a u-turn from heading to Declan's room. Meaghan blushed knowingly and nodded, adding, "If I don't have to warm Declan's butt, he'll be going. He's on notice right now that if he has one more outburst he'll be getting a spanking and be grounded all day Sunday. You better talk to him and let him know some of the rules. He thinks he's on vacation here, I think." Jared walked to Declan's room and found him sitting on his bed pouting. "What's this I hear about you giving your Mom a hard time? Don't you think she's had enough problems to do that? Don't you want to go with us on a picnic? It'll be the last one this year." Jared said somewhat sternly, letting the boy know he was disappointed. "I want to play in the bounce house. Why can't I stay here?" He said boldly. "If you stay here, who'll play Frisbee with me, or go to the petting zoo in the park with me? Your Mom and I want to do things as a family, and if you stay here, how is that a family?" He asked trying to reason with Declan. "I'LL MISS THE BOUNCY HOUSE!" He yelled back defiantly. Jared closed the door and went to Declan. "If your Mom hears you being bold and having a tantrum she'll come in here and spank you and you'll be home tomorrow when they go to the movies ... and you'll go on the picnic anyway." "I'LL JUST STAY IN THE CAR!" He growled back. Jared took his arm firmly to get his attention and put his face in his face. "BUT YOU'LL STILL BE ON THE PICNIC, GET A SPANKING AND MISS THE MOVIE! DO YOU HEAR ME?" Jared said firmly hoping he got through to him as he heard Meaghan approaching down the hall. Jared got to the door before she did and he slipped out, putting his finger to his lips in a "shush" to her. He closed the door behind him and shooed her back up the hallway. "Let him stew for a second before you go in there. He knows the situation. If he acts up and gets spanked and grounded, it will have been his choice. Let him think on it for a minute." He said quietly. "Don't think I beat him, he gets 3 slaps on his bare butt and that's what I call a spanking. My Dad used a Bo-Lo paddle on me, never more than 3 swats and on my bare butt till I was 8 or 9. Then I got it over my drawers. I hated that damn thing but I suppose it kept me in line. It hurt my feelings more than anything, but it worked." She said defending her methods. "You too? My folks used the Bo-Lo paddle as well, but never on my bare ass, but a lot more than 3 for sure." Jared said with a chuckle as he heard Declan's door open. A tear-eyed young boy went to his Mother and crooked his finger for her to come near so he could whisper. "Mommy, I'm sorry for being a brat and hollering at you. I don't want to get spanked and cry in front of Coach. I'll be good." He whispered before kissing his Mom. Then he pulled his Mom near again. "If you get married to Coach, can I call him Dad? He's a good explainer." Meaghan tried to hide her smile at his cute remark and nodded. He wiped his tears and walked past the Coach trying to avert his eyes to hide his tears of shame and embarrassment. "I'll get the Frisbee and some other good picnic stuff Coach. When do we leave?" Jared held back his laugh at the scene until little Declan got out of sight. Meg came over and hugged him, not telling him what Declan asked, but she was so happy. Jared Winslow's joy over his team and the joy of the little family he seemed to be melding into made their picnic on the late season warm day an afternoon to remember for a long time. Declan was thrilled to have Jared to play with and teach him things. He was the full service Dad he hadn't had before. His real Dad pawned him off on his grandparents all the while professing his love for him, but that he had to work. Even Declan had figured out that his Dad was a phony. After a long afternoon of playing hard together the trio gathered back at their picnic site and gobbled down the goodies Meaghan had prepared for them. The fried chicken was just as Jared remembered and after the meal they all laid out in the waning sun to enjoy the air and digest a well deserved meal. Once Declan fell asleep the two love birds necked on the blanket laid out in the sun, occasionally climbing on each other to grind and wish they were alone in private. However, that would have to wait for later after the day was done and they were back home. Once home, knowing Sunday's two-a-day would be taxing, Jared tried to get to bed as early as he could. But early to bed didn't always mean early to sleep for them right now. Rising early Sunday Jared managed to get out of the house without disturbing the sleeping Declan and only kissing Meaghan goodbye. Team Worship was at 8:00 a.m. before practice in Coaches Hall. He was happy to see such a good turn-out, over 40 for the start and by 8:45, the entire tam had straggled in. Whether they were there for the worship or to make a show for the coach, Jared didn't care. They all made the effort and perhaps they would hear something that morning to inspire their lives. Ira Pressley led the group this day and talked of the "Power of Prayer", an essay he wrote and read at least once during each season. He followed it with a short video on the subject from an NFL friend of his who showed it at clubhouses in the league each year. If nothing was gleaned from the words or the video, the fellowship of one group together to make an effort to thank God for their existence and well being was fruitful. When the group broke up and went to the locker room the blackboard had been prepared already by Coach Winslow. "Good Morning! Full pad workout. Dress and sit." Right away it was apparent this was not going to be a two-a-day like the ones at the start of practice. The morning was just going to be a workout after hearing from the coach. Ninety minutes of exercise to stay in game shape and build body tenacity for the upcoming schedule. Then there would be a light lunch and a playbook A to Z. The afternoon schedule was game condition play with player rotation, giving everyone a chance to be in a game-like situation. The assistant coaches and their staffs gathered in the hallway just outside of Jared's office and when one of them came back from the main locker room saying "they were ready" Jared came out to lead the group into the locker room. The players quieted down as soon as they group entered and Coach Winslow leaned on a podium set up for just such a talk. He said "Good Morning" and a thunderous volley of reciprocal "Good Mornings" came from the group followed by a round of "Click"s. "We've had lots of talks and I don't think I need to tell any one of you how proud I am of you as a group. Before we work-out today I wanted to let you in on a few things you might not know about yourselves. You're all individuals with goals in mind and aspiring dreams that go from leaving this school after graduation, getting a job and settling into a career that your schooling prepared you for, to maybe a career in professional sports. I know some in this room may dream of playing in the NFL, or maybe another professional football league. Some of you may have dreams and doubts about what you can be. You should all know that to succeed you have to set your goals high and always strive for them. I don't accept "just good enough" or "OK, I guess" in my life and it has brought me great rewards. One of those rewards is to stand in front of you today and know that in some way I am shaping your life to make it better. There are some among you who have been scouted to play professionally, have read about yourselves in newspapers and magazines, heard talk shows or the like where your name is mentioned. The first step you have to take, to be among those who have experienced that, is for you to WANT it. The fact you are on this team means that you have the chance to excel. If you sell yourself short, so will everyone else. No matter how insignificant you think your place on this team is, someday your "click" can be louder and heard more often, ... if you want it. I had a walk-on at Vermont Valley who was my 2nd string center and back up punter for 3 years. He was on the kick-off and extra point defensive taxi. I didn't have a player who worked any harder or believed in himself more. He became my first string center his senior year. He ended up being drafted 220th, the last pick of the NFL that year, because he was deemed the perfect size for a center, played every game his senior year and performed extremely high in Position Specific Drills for the NFL Combine. To this day he wonders if there was someone with his same name he may have been confused with. He went to an NFL camp and immediately saw how over-matched he was, but he didn't quit. He didn't look at the fact he was drafted last after 219 other picks and some 56 or so sandwich picks. He looked at the fact he was drafted, someone saw something in him. He knew desire was his driving force and he played off it ... He got kicked around to 3 camps that year but finally stuck with someone. 3 years later, 2 years ago, he was the holder for the Super Bowl Champions on all their kicks, as well as an emergency quarterback, and 2nd string punter. His short 3 year NFL career was ended a few days ago when he was cut and no other team seemed interested in him. He was just asked to join the coaching staff of the Ravens as an assistant offensive line coach. This is what he's always wanted ... If you have a dream, keep it. On the other hand we have someone among us who was drafted in the first round by the NFL, even though he told them he had no interest. Ger Nietczyk is embarrassed right now by my pointing him out, but he turned down a lot of money and sure fame to pursue his real dream of owning and running a ranch to raise llama and bison. His dream is coming true as we speak here. He has one of the largest llama herds in the Northeast and he's just begun raising bison. He had a dream and used football to help make it possible after his college career by making instructional videos, tutoring and coaching. Never discount your dreams, never sell yourself short. As long as you believe in yourself and show that, you can sell yourself to others. Now let's go get a good workout in. Then we'll shower up, get into your new team logo sweats that will be in your lockers when you come back. We'll eat lunch and then get up close and personal with the play-book for a bit and this afternoon we're ALL going to PLAY FOOTBALL." The group broke up and were led to the field by the assistants while Jared went to his office to check messages and tie a few loose ends up before joining in the workout himself. The light on his phone flashed with a message and he quickly pressed the button to retrieve it. It was Meaghan: "Jared, I have some great news that I want to share as soon as you can call me!" He quickly redialed the call and she answered on the first ring, waiting for his call. "Jared honey, I just got a call that made my day. I know we talked about this and you're not sold on it, but; I just got a great job offer and I'm going to accept it!" She bubbled with a little anticipation. "Meg, I told you that we don't need you to work, are you that unhappy?" He said quickly, skeptically. "You know I'm not unhappy in any way, but I'll feel so much more complete if I can get back to work. I love teaching and a great opportunity just came up and I want to take it. The Superintendent has been trying to call me since Friday and he finally caught me home today. I got my National Teaching Certificate back during the months of the trial and transferred all my credentials to Vermont and they were accepted on Friday. I didn't want tell you I had done all this because I figured it would take a while for things to get rolling, but there's an opening in Northern Vermont Central Schools Math Department. The former head is leaving to work in the State Department of Education and I have the resume and credential to take it over. I have 60 days to oversee the system and teach. If the Board of Ed likes me, the head position is mine. Using my National Teaching Certificate, my tenure with Chicago Schools is good to put me way ahead of any other in-house candidate. What do you think?" She told him with a new radiance in her voice he hadn't heard in quite a time. "If it makes you that happy ... have you thought about the effect on Declan?" He asked, trying to be devils advocate. "Declan was always with his Grandparents or MJ when I worked and now he'll be in Kindergarten for part of the day and he can come home with little Mikey next door, they're both in the same class, and stay there. Mike's wife, Tracy, works out of the house, so she's always home. She said taking Declan would be no problem and didn't even want any money, but I insisted." She told him. "So, you've been cooking this up for a while, hoping to get a job. What about your thoughts of being my agent?" Jared said with a curled lip she could only imagine by his tone. "You didn't sound too receptive to that offer and my only pay was going to be in the bedroom and I can get better that 10% in there without working." She kidded. "I've told you that you don't need to work to support this household, but if you think you need this for yourself, I'm all for it." He said giving in easily. "I love being a housewife, but I do need something else Jared. This gives me a chance to make something of myself besides being a bubble headed homebody and ending up like our mothers. A housewife could be a little more fulfilling in Chicago, or New York City I suppose, but out here in Gods country I'm afraid I'll end up a little too vapid. It was different for our Mom's, it was a different time. You understand how I feel, right?" She pleaded for him to understand. "Don't worry, Meg, I get it. As long as you're doing it for yourself, not for me. Is the money worth your while?" He wondered. "Well, compared to Chicago, I'm taking a 20% hit and if I were a department head there, it's about a 40 or 50% hit, but I'll be happy if I'm teaching kids. I'll have high school advanced math students, and I'll bet they aren't as much as trouble as the teens I had in Chicago and Wilmette schools." She explained avoiding a specific. "How MUCH, my dear?" He asked, thinking she was avoiding the answer. "About 47K to start. If the board votes to accept my tenure and I get the department head, one begats the other, it will be 60K after the 60 days." She said with a sigh. "Meggy, if you're happy, I'm happy. Umm, ... do they know you live with me?" "NO! I GOT HIS JOB ALL BY MYSELF!" She shouted into the phone, clearly insulted at his assumption. "HEY, HEY, hey, hey!! Don't get too huffy. It was just a question, and a fair one at that. I'm just making sure you have both eyes open and both feet entrenched in reality." Jared defended his query. "You haven't fucked my brains out yet and I doubt you're going to ... but I won't stop you from trying." She laughed. They exchanged goodbyes and Jared was off to get a little work-out in for himself. Jared picked up the tail of the group as they jogged up and down the steps of the Stadium. He was with the linemen and he liked their pace, which in a jog was not that much slower than the front of the group. They were just completing about 15 minutes of "steps" when he joined them. Soon they were on the field for upper body stretches before agility ladders and sleds for the appropriate position players. Before long some were sprinting on the field, some paired in groups for repetitive exercises and some were in the weight room. After all the practices and training they had been through, this workout was a happy one compared to the aches and pains many went through in the first days of camp. Today was a stamina test for all, a way to see how prepared you were for the season. By 11 o'clock they were all headed back to the showers. When the training table bell rang for lunch they were a happy group. They were all donning brand new team logo sweats when they came out of the locker area to sit down for a carb and protein lunch. As they lined up with trays to go through the line the coaches were there to remind everyone that they would be back on the field for a game in two hours or so. "Remember, puke kills the grass and we want it to look nice for the first game." Ira Pressley shouted out to which they all laughed. "Yeah, don't eat like it's the free last call buffet before they close the Union. You're not going to lie down and watch Letterman and go to sleep. We're going to play ball!" Frank Ruffen piped in. If this were going to be a raucous lunch session, the two people who came in to join them quieted the bunch down. Dean Crawford and AD Joe Barber slipped through the doors to the players cafeteria hall and immediately the group quieted. Meredith Crawford was happy to see the whole team in the new colors and logo and Joe Barber himself seemed to glow over the fact she was so happy. They worked their way to the coaches table and exchanged pleasantries with all of them before Jared stood up to greet them. They said their hellos and Joe leaned into Jared to whisper, "Get one of the staff to prepare a tray for each of us and we'll sit and eat with you. Meredith wants to soften her image." "See those fella's at the end of the line? Get behind them and fill your own trays if you want to make some points. She's not the queen, only the Dean." Jared said quietly under his breath as he quickly sat down to be sure the suggestion wasn't negotiable. Barber was a bit miffed, but took Meredith's elbow and led her towards the line. Coach Winslow motioned for some of his staff to push down to make room for 2 seats. Dean Crawford knew right away what was going on when Joe said to her, "We should get our OWN trays." As soon as they got into the line the mood and noise level began to escalate in the room and suddenly no one was uncomfortable. The staff scrunched down a bit and Jared had empty chairs on either side of him. He would divide and conquer the pair making sure no whispering would go on and any questions or answers would be off the cuff without prompting. Meredith's ever present lawyer was not there making Jared feel he could ask questions. When Meredith and Joe came back with their trays they hesitated when they saw the separated seats, but sat down anyway. "What ARE we eating?" Meredith said to Jared leaning in, but not seeming too uncomfortable. "I believe this is Monterey Chicken on an herb waffle with non fat gravy. The mash is actually South Beach Mock Potatoes, it's whipped cauliflower with butter and non fat half and half. Half the players probably don't know the difference. The soup is tortellini and the green beans are almondine. We have great carbs and protein without a lot of fat and when they suit up to play later they won't feel logy and should be re-energized after the morning workout." Jared told her. After looking at the food from a somewhat horrified angle, Jared's confident description made it a bit more appetizing to her and she tried a bit of the chicken over waffle. "If you're a good girl and clean your plate, they pass out ice cream bars for dessert." Jared said with a smirk before turning to whisper to Joe Barber. "I just figured it out, you colored your hair, you vain, vain old man." Jared kidded. Joe flushed with embarrassment at first but then leaned in to say, "I may be vain, but my wife's is also the same color now, at least it looked that way when I left her exhausted in bed this morning." Jared grinned widely and looked to Joe, extending a hand to shake. "Things working out, then huh?" He asked. "Don't remind me how stupid I was. We're good again and I feel 20 years younger." Joe said leaving it at that, knowing he would elaborate when they were alone and could talk. As they all continued eating Jared noticed that if Meredith Crawford had any aversion to the food, she wasn't letting it show as she ate. She noticed Coach watching her and she looked up from her tray. "All of this is good for you and not too fat? I do 4 miles on a treadmill every night to get rid of the fat and calories I eat each day. I have a gourmet chef at the house and if I go out, which is often, we don't go to health food places. I worry about cholesterol." She said frankly. "We trust them to eat well for most meals, we actually only make meals different from the student cafeteria on practice days, and game days. Joe here can explain NCAA rules about providing meals over and above regular student meals and how they are billed, it's all a red tape mess, but the NCAA is very strict. This meal falls right into their regular student meal plans, the same cost, probably less." Coach explained. "This is all very good. I'm tasting food instead of fat and rich sauces and if I could look like any of the girls on your team, ... well! ... and that's part of the reason we came down here today. Umm, you knew there had to be a reason." She said, continuing to eat. "Yes, I did, but I'm glad you got to taste the food. Why ARE you here?" He asked politely. "You seem to be hesitant to let anyone into the locker rooms to see how the girls are treated. Stories of how female cadets are treated at the Air Force Academy have scared some of our benefactors. They wonder if it's the good old boys network in the locker room." She told him. "Do you mean towel snaps, initiations, and all of that?" Jared said getting a little indignant. "I know there is nothing going on, but I can't convince them." She said. "Tell you what; today after our lunch we're going to use Coaches Hall for some playbook study. At 2:00 o'clock they'll be going back into the locker rooms to suit up for the afternoon session of practice. You go down and sit in one of the girls locker stalls where they undress, and you can listen. The stalls come in twos because we need 4 walls, so there's an empty one. You sit and listen, and when the girls come out to sit on their stools to get into their cleats, you do the same and watch and listen and then tell me how offended you might be. This is a good respectful bunch. They have fun as a team without getting into the Animal House stuff. If there are any off color comments or gags, they are all in good fun and no one is offended." Jared suggested. "Oh my God, I could NEVER do that!" Meredith said, startled he suggested it. "Well, you're welcome to, whenever you want. I plan on letting a reporter with a photographer in eventually. I just waiting for the right one, and they will only get in AFTER everyone is dressed. That's always been my policy and nothing will change that. At Vermont I wouldn't let a female reporter in before showers and I got hung in the local press. So now NO ONE gets in before all are dressed. To tell you the truth, if they want a press conference after each game, win OR lose, I think we'll make the locker rooms off limits altogether. However, my invitation remains open for you." He said remaining set in his policy. "OK, I take you at your word that there are no problems. That's good enough for me. Those with questions will have to be satisfied." She said with a smile as she got back to her lunch. The usual horseplay and ball busting went on around the Dean and the AD and they were happy to see the team in such a mood and not worry about being judged. Joe Barber recognized that the team, and the staff was loose under Coach Winslow's watch, something he hadn't seen under Sherm Woodard. ------- Chapter 26 The playbook session went smoothly as the staff added variations and sets to existing plays they had set up and ran in the previous scrimmages and scrimmage games. With additional plays in the book it was complete and today the coaches would man the huddles again with the play outlines around their neck to go over for anyone unsure. Jordy Alford would call the plays and line up, Frank Ruffen would read the set the defense. Coach Winslow would critique the sets and then back off and let the plays unfold. They would do this for 30 minutes of actual "game time". Then for the second 30 minutes of game time they would simply march up and down the field as the offense and defense permitted with Marv Hudson and Mark Freeman calling their own plays. Reading and setting defenses were solely the responsibility of Jazz Carey and Thurmond Smythe. After each play they would be told whether or not the call was good or bad and why or why not. It was a great exercise to be sure they were thinking quickly and on their feet. Watching the fast maturation of Marv Hudson was such a joy to Jared Winslow he had to stifle the bubbling he felt inside. The slingshot set-up and release style he had weaned him on suited him as well as any other he had seen try it, maybe the best he'd seen use it since Joe Namath. Others he had try it usually morphed into their own style as they got more comfortable with themselves. Hudson kept the basic idea of straight drop back and shoulders planed with the hash marks that left only your eyes to read where the ball may go until the release sequence. The strength in his wrist and arm had already built to where he could roll right and flick sharp passes left while on the run. He only needed as many snaps as he could get, ... and confidence. He had to be able to trust his arm and instincts, even after a failed or broken play, or an interception. The first "half" went as smoothly as anyone could have expected. Using variations of original playbook plays they already knew and used, they learned the execution and afterwards, sometimes on a re-set of the same play, coaches walked them through the "why's" of the play and what to anticipate from either side of the line. During these sessions the experience of major program high school players shone brightly, especially Boge Hollins, who appeared more than ready to start the season as the workhorse back. He had quickly earned the coaches confidence and respect for his talent. While getting enough work to prepare him for the season, he hadn't seen anywhere near the percentage of carries he would actually get during the season. Even with a strong armed quarterback, Boge Hollins would still be the centerpiece of the offense. Jared anticipated a heavy workload for Boge and was satisfied he was in shape to carry that, so the scrimmages kept him in shape, but he was well aware of the beating his body would take during the regular season. In his last game before his suspension, an All-State championship play-off, he had 37 carries for 258 yards. He was the horse of the offense all season averaging 22 carries a game. His father saw the beating his son took that day versus Joliet Catholic and for the first time he saw some of the same things he saw the day after an NFL game in his son. A star back in his senior year was being drained of all he could offer. His Dad knew from his talks with Coach Winslow that would never happen under his watch. After a 20 minute break they began the second "half" of the their game, but this time players were ferried in and out of the game in heavy rotation with no one playing more than 4 downs in a row. Marv Hudson was on his own, but he did have instructions from Coach Winslow to try to score quickly, eat up the field in big bites on the first few sets. He hit Kemmer Brooks over the middle for a 28 yard gain just inches from the outstretched hands of Scott Claxton who immediately tackled Brooks. Claxton was mad he was beat, but was already aware of the dead aim accuracy that Hudson served. On the next play Marv hit Tim Waters alone in the end zone for a score leading to a long clock stoppage as Frank Ruffen was infuriated by missed assignments and he tore into his team. On the turn-around kick-off Mark Freeman was at the helm and ran consecutive keeper option plays for short yardage. He was doing what he knew best. On the third and three play he began to roll as he had the previous play but pitched to Brooks who followed a block by Hollins for the first down. Ruffen again excoriated the players on the field for the mis-read. On the ensuing play Freeman rolled right while a guard pulled to form a moving pocket and Freeman threw a perfect pass over the middle to Junior Contralco but Scott Claxton came out of nowhere to tip the ball where it was intercepted by Rich Boyle, a little used cornerback who spent most of his time on special teams. While Jordy Alford could find little wrong with the execution of the play, he did scold Freeman for throwing a risky pass into traffic, especially when his arm was no match for Marv Hudson's. "That's a play Hudson can throw 19 out of 20 times, he lasers the ball in there. You made a good call Mark, but you tried to do too much." Alford told him as he sent him off the field for Marv Hudson to come out with a load of other changes to keep the players fresh. Resetting the ball on the 20, Hudson called 3 consecutive pass plays, moving the ball into the defense's zone on their 48 yard line. The next ferry of players brought Junior Contralco and June Bokue into his huddle and he called a Flood Right Draw, where all 4 receivers line up right side to draw as much coverage as possible, but as he passes his blocking back in the drop, he punches the ball to him. Junior gained 13 yards leaving Frank Ruffen livid that his defensive quarterback was not anticipating the plays. Ruffen decided to shadow his middle linebacker saying right in his ear what he saw on the offensive set. He then quickly backed out of the play and let the clock go. Marv now knew he had to make sure Ruffen wasn't reading his mind. He lined his troops up looking like a Flood Pass again, with 3 receivers on one side and one flanked tight. It was the same set you might use for a reverse. At the line Hudson checked off moving the right flanking receiver to the same side as the other 3. As Frank Ruffen barked into Jazz Carey's ear about what he read, Carey shouted out for a 4-4 defense or Stack defense as Frank patted him on the back. The "Stack" is designed to stop the wide running game as well as the short passing game. However Marv had checked off to a Hitch Pass where the closest lined receiver, in this case Tim Waters, simply turns on the snap and takes a bullet pass from Hudson and heads into the pocket of defense his other 3 receivers made for him. June Bokue had tied up a linebacker enough for him to slip through for 7 yards. Ruffen knew it was going to be a short pass play and Marv Hudson had anticipated that in getting the ball to Waters before he took a step. Marv Hudson brought his offense out of the huddle in the same set as the previous play, and then the same apparent check off, but he had called a Hitch and Go in the huddle. On the snap Marv stood and faked the instant pass to Waters, letting his momentum turn him around left and drop straight back. Where Bokue had tied up a linebacker on the previous play, she flew by him leaving only one safety and herself in the deep zone with the other safety running hard to catch up from his side. She was about to go head to head with him, a battle she would surely lose, when she broke hard to the left and took a hard pass, almost in her face, and headed for the goal line corner. Both safeties knew they were beat. Frank Ruffen frowned and then turned a thumbs up to Marv Hudson. It was the last touchdown score of the "game" as the defense bucked up and shut down any long gains for the last 9 minutes of playing time. Scott Claxton and "Tee" Smythe each intercepted passes, both from Marv Hudson who was showing signs of tiring at the end of a long day. Neither interception wavered Hudson's confidence as he was throwing into traffic where if it were an actual game he might have been more prudent. Back in the locker room after the long two-a-day, as players showered and cajoled each other, 3 tired soldiers sat at their lockers in undershirts and under pads, exhausted. Marv Hudson, Mark Freeman and Whiskey Daniels, the starting center, were probably in more plays this day than each would see in two games. Daniels had insisted on working with both QB's and saw 75% on the play, giving in from time to time to Jimmer Erving, a cornerback who was also the long snapper. Jimmer had come to NEAT hopeful of being a star in the defensive backfield after a strong High School career. However he tore up a knee as a Freshman. It greatly hindered his lateral speed for the position. He volunteered to do the long snapper duties under Sherm Woodard and proved quite deft at the job. When Coach Winslow came for a walk-through to make sure no one was hurt and congratulate some players he looked into the far corner where the 3 were just lockers apart. "You guys don't need the trainer's room do you?" He said with a little chuckle. "I know it was a long day for you. Drag yourselves into the shower and get under that hot water and you'll feel better. You all did yourself proud today. Whiskey, you played as if they weren't red shirted and I give you lots of credit. These guys ought to buy you a Coke." "Yes sir, I could use a cold one." Jack "Whiskey" Daniels said as he got up to head toward the showers, giving the Coach a little grin, both knowing he didn't mean Coke. "Just be smart, Jack." Jared said, knowing some players, although legally underage, would tip a few from time to time to get the edge off. "Don't worry Coach. I have too much to lose and too many friends to remind me. We take care of each other." He said as the rest of his pads came off and he walked toward the showers peeling the rest of his under clothing off to pitch in the hampers lined up before the showers. "You both called some nice plays out there," Coach complimented the two signal callers. "Mark, Coach Alford was right when he told you not to try and make passes like you tried. Don't try to compete with Marv. You have your own style and he has his. You're here to back him up, not be him. I know you wanted to play more, but as a safety you'll see little playing time unless there's an injury or two. I can live without a 5th safety and taxi squader. I NEED a back up Quarterback and it'll be great on your football resume'." "I know Coach. I've never learned so much about the game in the past 3 weeks. I'm just hungry for game snaps. I never worked much over the middle into traffic, but I'll learn to do just what I'm capable of." Freeman said excited just to have the chance to play at this level. "What you have to remember is the kind of offense we run. When you get called into a game for Marv if he's sick, shaken up or hurt, we can't just throw away the playbook to suit you. You have to pick up with the same mix and style. We'll probably run the Quarterback option with Marv once or twice all year. You ran it twice in a row and used the same set on the pitch back..." Jared started. "That was a 23 Lead Pitch with Roll, one of the ones we went over today." Mark quickly added. "But on your next call, the one that was intercepted, your left side end and guard were pulling for the 4th straight play. You can't keep showing that, it'll tip the linebackers every time. On your last two sets you mixed the plays well." Coach added. "Boge helped me out there, he was telling me a lot of the same things you are now, I think I get it." Freeman said as he got up to follow Daniels into the showers. Marv Hudson was the last of the 3 to get up to join the rest of the team, some of who were now straggling out of the shower. Marv stopped and turned to the coach as if to say something and he hesitated. "What is it Marv? Something bothering you?" Coach asked him. "I've been dating June. She says it might be a problem. I don't want you to hear it from anyone else." Marv said sheepishly. "Define "dating", Marv. Is it a hot, torrid, exclusive relationship, or are you just having fun together." He asked him. Marv Hudson blushed deeply and turned away from some of the other players who began to walk by in towels. "My girl is away at school in Ohio, her boyfriend is in Oklahoma. We just need someone to talk to and ... you know. What they don't know won't hurt them." He said, a little embarrassed, maybe almost ashamed. "Does the whole team know?" Coach asked dejectedly. "No, it's all private. If we're out with the team we don't hang with each other. Her friends on the team and my friends on the team aren't really aware. She told Julie and that's who told her it could be trouble." Marv admitted. "Marv, if you're just bangin' around it's one thing. But, I don't see how you can't help getting involved. You're both just too handy for each other. If it turns into a problem you could both end up off the team if it causes dissension. I don't like it." Coach told him firmly before walking away to the front of the locker room. He went to the assistants who were mulling around the door to their locker room and said "Call me when they're ready. We'll have a few words. If I don't get a chance later, thanks for a great training season. I think we all did a great job." Three girls in long terry robes passed the coach in the hallway on their way from their showers to their dressing stalls. He was uncomfortable and made no eye contact with any of them. The first game had yet to be played and the first problem with a co-ed team had surfaced. For the first time he doubted his decision to go with it. In his office he called Meg to tell her he would be another hour or so and got about to doing his expense reports, never letting the Marv Hudson-June Bokue problem out of his mind. He began to wonder if he was making more of it than was necessary. Jordy Alford stuck his head in Coaches door and simply said, "They're ready." Jared came into the locker room and shushes came from both ends. Coach smiled and began as he took a place in front of his gathered staff. "Ladies and Gentlemen you've all just completed your first training camp with me. I've had guys tell me that my camps are the hardest they ever went through, and others tell me that they loved the loose, relaxed atmosphere. So I guess it's all perception. I have to honestly tell you that this has been my most satisfying camp of all I've done, even going back to when I picked up towels for my father's high school camps 20 years ago. If the term "rag tag" ever applied to a group, it was all of you. The returning players came from an unorganized system that was only saved by the staff the previous coach kept. The rumors flew about that I would bring in all of my own people within a year or so, but I can tell you, you could not be in better hands than you are with these guys behind me. Tomorrow we start our first game run-up. Game weeks will typically be late light work out on Monday and early scouting on our opponent, practice early Tuesday, late on Wednesday, early Thursday, light work out on Friday and game strategy. Game on Saturday and report card Sunday. With that schedule, you'll have to study hard and make up classes when you can. You know the rules, nobody skates on marks. Talk to each other, help each other. Our doors are always open. Good Luck and Gob Bless You ALL! See you all at 4:00 tomorrow. Dismissed." "Thank YOU Coach, this has been a great experience." Boge Hollins said in a loud voice as he began clapping and the rest of the team joined him. Coach Winslow felt his eyes getting wet and he smiled, nodded and waved before heading to his office. In a short time he heard everyone leaving, team and coaches alike and soon he heard feet shuffling to his door and he looked up to see June Bokue. "Marv told me he talked to you, please let me explain. I'd rather have you cut me than see anything happen to Marv." She said, obviously embarrassed. "Sit down June, don't close the door and let me make sure we aren't the only ones here." Jared said as he checked up the hall and saw Laundry staff and 2 players in the trainers room as well as Jordy Alford doing paperwork in the coaches den. "Jordy, I'm having a conference with one of the girls. Don't leave me alone, OK?" He asked his friend. "Sure, I understand." He said looking up from his own expense report. Back in his office June spoke first. "I'm not sure what Marv told you, but we are NOT boyfriend and girlfriend. Besides football talk here, we barely speak here. He's a real nice guy and all, but not my type. I can trust him and that's what I do. School and Sports are stressful and being away from home hurts all the more. He's my pressure valve. We talk, and ... we roll around a bit, but we don't sleep together. That is NOT going on." She said clearly embarrassed, not making eye contact. "Marv is the sweetest guy and he wouldn't do anything like that to hurt his girlfriend. If I wanted to sleep with him, he wouldn't. You know, he's kind of a goober, but still, he's smart and thoughtful, easy to talk with and I don't have to worry about him talking about it. He only told you when he heard it might get him in trouble. Don't punish us, especially him." She pleaded. "June, I'm not punishing anyone. I frown on relationships because of the trouble they can cause. If there are no problems, I could care less, but they can cause problems. I've never had a co-ed team before, but I've had gay problems, and problems with 2 guys seeing the same girl. Dissension can tear up a team. That's my only concern. So, for the time being leave me out of this, but I might also add, don't take advantage of Marv because he's a bit of a goober. I've only got him living in the players dorm instead of home so he can get a few more social skills being away from the farm." Jared explained as he stood to signal the end of the meeting. "Everything will be OK, I promise." June said before she left. Jared Winslow had enough for the day and couldn't wait to get home to escape football for a few hours. He knew the roller coaster of his season was just reaching the top of it's first peak and soon it would plunge him and his life through violent twists and turns causing him to feel a myriad of emotional highs and lows. He checked his inbox as he left and found his informational scouting report on Maine State University, their first opponent of the year. He tucked it into his briefcase and was off to home to forget football for a short time and devote his time and energies to Meaghan and Declan. He felt like a NASA pilot the night before lift-off, confident, but always with a bit of fear lurking. At home Declan and his little playmate Mikey Denault were playing on swings when he pulled into the drive. Declan ran over to greet him and was quickly back to play with his friend. Inside he found Meaghan in her bra and panties in front of a closet and boudoir mirror trying on clothes. "Damn, some of these are a little loose on me since June. I lost more weight than I thought during the trial. I need new clothes." She said talking to herself as Jared came in the room. "A rack of ribs, a quart of Cherry Garcia and some bon-bons would be cheaper and make them fit just as easy." Jared said as he came into the room. "I don't want to look frumpy when I go over there tomorrow!" She said without greeting him. "Believe me, nothing about you is frumpy and if you went in that bra and that little panty you'd walk away with more than the job." He told her as he looked her up and down. She walked over and kissed him and quickly turned to go back to her closet. "This look is only for you, I want to look professional, but not sexy." She said as she pulled out another outfit and held it up to herself. "Honey, you're always going to look sexy, unless you put on a burlap bag, just try not to flaunt it." He commented. "I KNOW that, I've had horny teenage boys in my classes for a while. You think I've never been propositioned by some young boy who thinks he has the first denim covered hard-on I ever saw?" She said as she fingered through hangers. "Maybe the burlap bag isn't such a bad idea." He joked. "No," she said as if taking him seriously, "I think it's going to be the dark blue business look for tomorrow, then the yellow, the teal green, and the light brown for the rest of the week. Friday is conference." "You're not going to start teaching tomorrow are you?" "No, they have a sub who'll pick up the week for them. The man who left was scheduled to leave at the end of the year for this state post, but the person who was retiring from that position passed away unexpectedly ... ummm I guess it's always unexpected, but anyway, it ends up being a great situation for me. I have four days to get settled, get a curriculum put together and get it accelerated to make up for the 6 days I lost." She prattled on as she arranged the clothes. Just because you're coming in after 6 days of classes, how can it make that much of a difference for a whole school year?" He said with a little chuckle, thinking she was feeling a little self-important. She turned and looked at him saying nothing, but letting her eyes tell him he had made a mistake. Then she turned back to the closet before speaking to herself. "I suppose he could have canceled a couple days of his training camp in the last month. What's two days in a whole season?" She said speaking loud enough for him to hear, but not specifically to him. "OK, OK ... touché, you made your point. I'm sorry." He said half heartedly. "I worked my ASS off getting this teaching credential, my education and the National Certificate. They don't interview us on ESPN or make a big deal about us in the papers when we switch jobs or get a new one, but in the long run what I do will have a more lasting impact on students life's than what you do. So don't give me your attitude. THIS is WHY I want to work, to BE someone in a young persons life, to make a difference." She said turning with fire in her eyes and striding right up to Jared. Jared was without words as he drank in her fierce rebuttal to his flimsy apology. "Uh ... err ... a ... I am SORRY Meaghan! I really didn't realize how much this meant to you. I was thinking that you wanted a job just to get a paycheck and say you made a contribution to the household. I didn't really realize the passion you held for it. I've been a selfish jerk, and I'm so sorry for hurting you. YOU KNOW I never want to cause you any pain. You're my soul mate and always want to make you happy. I lost you once through my pride and ego and I never want to do that again. I want you to be with me forever." He said, with his voice cracking with emotion. Her stance softened and the scowl drained from her face. She stepped into him and put her arms around him, pressing her ear to his chest. He draped his arms around her near naked form and rested his chin on the top of her head. She pulled back and looked up into his eyes, her eyes as wet as his now. "A good lawyer would say you just proposed to me, ... did you?" "I planned on making it a much better scenario to remember, maybe at Christmas or New Years, but YES, I guess I did. Must be my heart didn't want me to wait." He said, his voice wavering with emotion. "The where or when doesn't count, I know it came from your heart and I accept. You can wait to get me the ring and announce it at Christmas, but THIS is the proposal I want to remember, OK?" She said smiling before readying her lips for his kiss. The sound of the screen door slamming ended the moment as Jared went out to meet the boy as he closed the door to leave his nearly naked fiancé to her clothes fitting. "Hi Coach, where's Mommy?" "She's getting dressed, what's up?" "Mikey is going to the library with his Mommy. Can I go too?" Declan asked. "Did they ask you?" "Of course!" Declan answered as Jared went out the back door to meet Tracy Denault and her son coming up to the door. "Hi Trace, are you sure taking Declan wouldn't be too much?" "No, Jared. There's a story hour at 4:00 every Sunday. I have some research to do and the boys will be fine." She answered. "Declan, you mind Mrs. Denault and behave at the library, ... promise?" Jared asked as he squat down to look him in the eye. "I promise Coach. You'll tell my Mommy I'm going?" He asked. Jared gave the boy a pat on the butt and smiled as the 3 left to get in the station wagon and go across the campus to the library. Jared had a bounce in his step and he strode back to the bedroom hoping to use the free time to seal his proposal with a little "alone" time with Meaghan. ------- Chapter 27 The schedule for a student-athlete is an arduous one and most always, Sunday nights are study nights, especially after a long practice session like the final day of training camp. With few exceptions, most players were huddled in their dorms catching up on studies and decompressing from an action packed few days. All of the male players were housed in Ethan Hall. It was a living arrangement they had no choice in during the season and could only change after the Holiday Break when they returned in mid-January. It was a "Coach Winslow" thing, he felt the players could look after one another as far as curfew and party control. The 3 female members of the team were in Allen Hall. It was once part of the Ethan Allen Concourse, Pavilion, and Dorm. The 2 buildings were joined by enclosed walk-ways at either end with an open pavilion area in between for gatherings. It became a major venue of partying in the 80's and the walkways were dismantled and a sidewalk was paved down between the building making a short cut from administration buildings to the class auditoriums. June Bokue sat studying in her small room watching outside for darkness to fall. Once it was dark enough to move outside without drawing attention she picked up her cell phone and dialed Marv Hudson's number. "Marv! Did you tell Coach that we were sleeping together! I told you to leave well enough alone!" She barked as soon as he answered. "NO! I didn't say that, and if he found out we got together from someone else it would have looked bad and might have been a mess." He retorted quickly. "Well, it's dark out, why don't you come over so we can talk about this, figure something out." She said, her tone changing. "I'll be over in a couple minutes, leave the outside door open." He said. "Oh you're so damn paranoid. Lots of us have boyfriends over, don't sweat it." June said without a worry. "Crack the door, please?" Marv said before hanging up. June's dorm was the last one downstairs on the end, one of the few that wasn't a suite. A private room was almost a privilege, but she would have preferred a suite. However, for having a man in your room, it was private. She did as Marv asked and went out through the vestibule and cracked the privacy door so Marv could open in and slip in without buzzing. She let her own door close leaving the deadbolt hammer out so it wouldn't click shut. She no more than got settled back on her bed in front of the TV when Marv came in and re-closed the door, fixing the deadbolt. "Thanks Junie! ... and don't give me that pissed off look. I know you want to see me tonight." He said casually coming in and grabbing one of the two dinette chairs turning it backwards and straddling it between her and the TV. She wanted to scowl at him, but she couldn't help smile at him. "You're just the cutest little farm boy! I'd be the horniest girl on campus if I didn't have you." She said with a grin. "Just WHAT makes me a farm boy?" He said feigning indignation. "I live in a big city in Okie, but I know farms boys. Farm boys are shy and try to charm the pants off you. City boys get you drunk and take them off. But you, ... YOU were extra shy. I had to flash my titties at you to get you to notice what I wanted." June said with a smirk. "I was just being a gentleman. I wanted to fuck you from the time I laid eyes on your butt in jeans." He said boldly. "Listen to potty mouth! I told you we could play, but we won't be doin' any screwin'." She said making sure she reinforced the rules. "Wantin' and doing are two different animals. I wouldn't even be here at all if you didn't seduce me." He said defensively. "Oh, and don't be surprised. I'd like to fuck every girl I see who looks good in jeans. I'm a healthy All-American boy!" "I know you are. I may have been a little forward, but you sure went along pretty easy." She said shifting on the bed as her body began to react to her own anticipation. "Coach thinks we're playing with fire." Marv said watching her shift uncomfortably. "Listen farm boy. I have a ring that says I love my man and I'm only letting HIM in. He knows I play with myself, he just doesn't know I have a live sex toy, that's all." She said laying back on the bed and moving to one side. " ... and don't judge me about being forward. You were willing to come over here the first time with out an argument when I asked you. Your girlfriend would be just as unhappy as my boyfriend no matter WHO started it. Now come over here and see me." "Is this what it's ALWAYS going to be? Me servicing your titties and playing with that tight little pussy of yours? I can jerk myself off." Marv said suddenly showing her he might not be quite the goober she thought. "Left to your own ideas, where would you take it?" She said, suddenly wary that he might have ideas she didn't think possible. "God, Junie, I'm not going to rape you or anything. Get that look off your face! I just thought we could expand our horizons a little and still not do the deed. Nothing happens you don't want to happen." Marv said, still without moving a bit from his straddled seat on her dinette chair. "Just because your girlfriend won't put it in her mouth, don't think I'm going to. If that's what you're shooting for, it's something you should work out with her." She said indignantly. "First of all, she DOES suck it for me, and quite well, I may add. I was talking about eating that pussy of yours and REALLY getting you off. My baby says there's nothing better than my tongue between her legs. Oh, ... and don't forget I SEE your face when you're jerking me off and I know you thought about going down on me the last time I was here, you almost drooled on me." He said, surprising her with the male bravado he suddenly showed. June blushed deeply at his words and knew she was found out, she WAS tempted the last time she invited him to come service her. "Don't be embarrassed June, ALL girls like to give head, no matter how disgusted they act at the suggestion of it. If they give head, they know they get head ... and they know they won't get pressured into taking the risk of screwing either, ... if they take care of his business." Marv said confidently. "Marv, where is this coming from? Where's the shy farm boy?" She said, a smile curling her lip. "I WAS a shy farm boy, but I was seduced by a woman who showed me what a woman likes and she told me to keep the persona if I wanted to meet the ladies. Needless to say, I do and it works." He told her, he himself blushing. "Are you trying to say that I didn't seduce you, you seduced me?" "No, I didn't say that at all. You DID seduce me. I really had no intentions of any of this happening. But, I do jerk off a lot thinking about how much I miss my Sammie. When you took off your top that day and asked me how I liked them, I was seduced." "So are you saying now that you won't come over here on the bed unless I agree to get and let oral happen?" "I didn't say that at all. What we've done is exciting and relieves a lot of stress, but if the only rule is that I can't get inside your pussy, I understand, but there's a lot more fun to be had and I thought you had other ideas." Marv said smiling. "You better leave Marv. You've made me feel uncomfortable. I'm not mad at you or anything, it's just coming at me a little faster than I ever expected. I'm supposed to be engaged and suddenly I'm feeling guilty, I think. We're friends and I want to stay that way, so I don't want anything to happen I haven't thought through. You understand, right?" She said suddenly sitting up and putting her feet on the floor. "What ever you want, Junie, I understand. Don't feel bad. I thought a lot about what I was going to say before I came over today. I wanted to be honest about what I wanted, where I thought it might go. I'm not sorry for anything we've done, and I hope you're not." He said standing up. She assured him she was not sorry for anything that had happened. They hugged and she showed him to the door. It was early and Marv Hudson went to the Ethan Hall kitchen to make a microwave popcorn. He didn't feel bad for asking for more in his liaison with June Bokue. He was pretty sure he knew what she wanted, at least at that moment when she eyed his erect cock in her hand as she stroked it. She looked at him, then back to her hand and almost leaned forward, but stopped herself. Just a few minutes before that, as he knelt beside her fingering her, he wanted to dive into her slit face first. She had already cum twice and her slice was sloppy with the juices he loved lapping up. Moments after that hesitation he shot all over her belly and breasts as they both giggled. Once she let him go and they both caught their breath she bounded up from the bed and wiped herself off, throwing him a towel. Then they both got dressed, she in her pajamas and he into his shirt, pants and coat so he could leave. She thanked him as if he had just helped her with her homework and he did the same, letting himself out. It was an amicable arrangement, or so it seemed. But now the thought of them sampling each others goodies had him wanting more from her. He also knew a phone call to his girl Samantha could be just what he needed, as long as she was alone in her dorm. Armed with his popcorn he went back to his room and called his girl at her OSU dorm, but instead he got one of her roommates who said Samantha was at the library. He took out a text book he needed to study and immersed himself in that for the next hour or so, until his phone rang. "Hello, have you done the deed yet?" June asked him. "What?" He queried, stunned to hear her. "The DEED! The thing I'VE done for you the past couple weeks or so." She said impatiently. "No. I tried to call Sammie and she was out. I'm studying." He told her. "If you want to come over we can rock each others worlds. You caught me fair and square the other night. I was going to go down on you the other night, but I was afraid you'd think I was a little slut, and I guess I am and I like being one when I'm getting off. If my boyfriend was here I would be his little slut, so I'll be yours instead. I could use what you said you wanted to do to me." She said quietly, but determinedly. "Say it." He said. "Say what?" She said, not fully understanding. "Say what you want from me. I want to hear you say it." He insisted. "So much for farm boy charm, huh? Haha! I want you to come over here and eat my pussy until you have to dig my fingernails out of the ceiling. How's that? ... and how about you?" She said boldly. "I want you to give me head, suck my cock until I cum." He said frankly. "You're cute Marvie, kinky, but cute. Now, get the hell over here." Although they ended up eventually alone in their own beds, Marv and June slept better than they had in the weeks since school started. Except for passing each other once between classes on Monday, they didn't see each other all day until practice where they exchanged friendly hellos. If either of them had an emotional hangover from the new sex the night before, it didn't show. It was all about getting off. Players dressed for their full-pad work-out all swapping stories back and forth. As Marv and Mark Freeman talked Jimmer Erving joined in and the talk turned to girls. "Hey, I saw that chick "June Bug" today in the cafeteria. I always thought she was kind of "moosey", but she fills out a pair of jeans pretty well, huh? She looks like a guy in uniform." Jimmer said. "Hey, hey, not too loud, you'll have the PC police on you. But, yeah she does have a nice bod on her, even if she is taller than me." Mark Freeman exaggerated with a chuckle. Marv took the comments in and smiled, shaking his head, knowing he knew more than he should about her. Just then she came out of her stall and sat on her stool to lace up and they caught eyes. If eyes can truly smile, hers did, but the glance was fleeting. Marv was convinced all was fine. Ben Elgart and Barry Wicker, from the defensive staff walked through counting heads to be sure everyone was there and moments later Coach Winslow came out. "All right boys and girls," He shouted above the din as it faded when he came in the room. "Let's make it an easy day today. This will not be a long session, we're only going to smell and taste, we're not going to eat. Captains will lead stretch's and we'll do a lap and then the steps in Section 4. We'll take a breather, then run the ladders and hit the field for a light scrimmage to let the Quarterbacks air it out a bit. The backfield can hit the dummy maze and with Coach Alford and Coach Ruffen will take the linemen to the sleds Coach Pressley will take a long snapper and a holder and let Brian and Julie get some kicks in, as well as Oksana. Anyone down the depth chart who wants to try long snapping, see Coach Alford after practice. I can use someone. Before you shower we'll go to Coaches Hall where I set up blackboards with some scouting on Maine State. We'll run over that and tomorrow at 9:30 we'll start busting hump for their game. Get some sleep tonight so you don't fall asleep in afternoon classes! Everyone — BE IN TOUCH WITH YOUR TUTORS THIS WEEK!" "All right Captains, take your teams out." He shouted as he stepped aside with the coaching staff as Boge Hollins and Jazz Carey loudly led their groups onto the field. After Sundays two-a-day the Monday practice session was simply a mild tune-up to keep stamina. The run and the stair climbing strengthened legs to condition them for the season, the ladders sharpened agility, the sleds kept the linemen tough and loose. Once the QB's and receivers had a chance to air out a bit there would be a short scrimmage to stay tuned and remember that playing the game was just that, playing and a game ... you were supposed to have fun. For those hungry to play, the days practice was a tease, what the Coach had described as a taste and smell. When they all got to the scrimmage, where they could air out a bit, the team was loose and having a good time, kidding each other and making small challenges across the line. The coaching staff knew they had a loose bunch who were confident and not about to be intimidated or afraid of any opponent. They had to keep this attitude no matter what the outcome of each game. If they lost every game, but gave every team a fight, at least they could hold their heads high. But every coach on the team knew this team wouldn't lose every game, there was just too much talent. During the scrimmage the team got a visit from Eddie Arnsberg, their transfer and hope for a great 1-2 backfield with Boge Hollins for next year. Eddie had been held out of practice and scrimmages for 3 weeks with grades problems. It was obvious he had made many friends in the short amount of time he had spent on the practice field with the group. It was clear early on that he hadn't taken his studies seriously and before he could get any deeper in trouble he had been suspended from sports programs. He came to the days practice with a letter from his counselor and the AD saying he was scholastically fit to resume practices. He only needed Coach Winslow to approve his return. While Arnsberg glad handed his mates, many of whom he hadn't seen since he moved out of athletic housing, Jared read the evaluations to make the final decision. Jared called him over after saying his hello's and asked him to wait outside of his office and they would speak after practice and before the team met in Coaches Hall. Eddie took his letters and quietly walked away to do as Coach had asked. He was very much aware that he was pissing away his last chance and hoped Coach Winslow would give him the OK. The sun was getting low and the air was quickly cooling prompting Coach Winslow to blow the whistle to end the scrimmage. Mixing the cool air with the sweaty bodies of his athletes didn't seem like a good idea. After getting the attention of the team Coach Winslow raised his voice for all to hear. "Take a 10 and get out of the cool air. Loosen up what you have to and get comfortable and meet us in Coaches Hall in 15 minutes from ... NOW!" He said pointing to his watch, as if starting a stop watch. Jared made his way in through the tunnel and found Eddie Arnsberg sitting in a chair just out side of his office. He invited him in and closed the door. "Eddie, I had big plans for you, but I will tell you, it was all up to you. We worried about behavior and attitude, not scholastics. But, plain and simple, a problem student athlete is a problem student athlete. I stuck out my neck for you and you kind of let me down. I can never get your scholarship reinstated if you don't show me you're serious about school. You seem to be back on the beam as far as studies go, but I'm going to hold you out of practice for 2 more weeks. You were Deans list at Illinois all last year, despite your unhappiness with the program there and how you were used. Next year you and Boge will have the bull by the ass if everything works out for both of you. You'll still have 9 or 10 weeks to practice with us, get to know the program and prepare to jump in for next year. Get yourself on the Deans list for this semester and you'll make my job getting your scholarship transferred here easy. Dean Crawford wanted no part of you and I went to the line for you, prove me right. Don't think of this as punishment, because in so many ways it's not. This is for you. You never know where your football career will go, you have to have your diploma to fall back on. Don't be disappointed, nothing in our plans has to change." Coach Winslow told him straightforwardly. "OK Coach, I understand. I'm not happy with your decision, but I'll live by it. I guarantee, YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY FOR STICKING YOUR NECK OUT!" Eddie said standing up and offering his hand. Jared gathered his clipboards and went to Coaches Hall to find the team just settling into chairs looking at the blackboard easels. "This coming Saturday we will be facing a team as hungry as we are. Last year they had their first .500 season and lost only 4 seniors. The key to beating them will be to stop the running game. They have 3 very capable backs, but none have breakaway speed. They slug out yards and keep the ball. Their short air game is suspect, but they surprise you with a long gain after lulling you to sleep on the ground. With a full backfield blocking they give their QB a lot of throwing time and leave a screen option they use very well. They'll work hard at splitting zones, so we'll work at trying to cover them man for man. We won't alter our offensive game plan at all for them. As we've shown we can do, we'll keep the ball as long as we can, stay conservative inside their 30, and leave the element of surprise open for long air gains ... Coaches Alford, Ruffen, and Pressley will run through each of these boards with you right now to familiarize you with the opponent." "We'll start work at beating them tomorrow and we'll have video later in the week. Gentlemen?" He said as he gave the floor to the assistants. Each Coach gave a few minute synopsis at what they might be working on for the week just to give them each food for thought. It had been a tough last week of training and today was supposed to be an early night, getting done by 7:00 pm. They all had to cram some study in to catch up. It was a new challenge for first year players and an old regimen for veterans, but nonetheless, it was not easy. Marv Hudson was near being overwhelmed with his study load, but knew once his tutors saw him Wednesday morning and Thursday after classes he could be caught up. He had immersed himself in read-study when his phone rang. "Hi Marv! It's June! We didn't talk all day and I just wanted to thank you for last night. I had been so tight around my neck and shoulders, you just broke a dam of stress." She said, her tone expressing her relief. "Well, I unloaded a lot myself, ... ummm ... stress that is." "Yes, ... it was a lot. Ha ha. I just wanted you to know I appreciate you. I felt like I ignored you today and it's not because..." She started to say but then lost the words. "June, sex without emotions means there will be awkward moments like this. I've figured that out. Don't worry about it. We're still OK. I don't expect emotion and neither should you. I've really got to get back to studying." He said curtly, not wanting to hurt her feelings, but just wanting to get back to work. "I should tell you something." She said quietly. "I told Julie, I'm sorry." "JUNE! What is wrong with you? WHAT did you tell her?" "I told her what we did last night. I was just so ... I guess the word is "high" on it all. I know it was stupid, but you have a right to know. She won't tell anyone. We share things, we're BFF's. I'm telling you because she's a good times girl and said she might look you up sometime. I told her not to dare to, but..." "Fuck you June! I agreed to this arrangement because it was private. When you told her we dated she told you it could get us in trouble, and now you tell her this." "It'll be OK. I promise." "You promised not to tell anyone." "Oh come on Marv!" June said losing her temper. "Do you mean to tell me that you haven't told ONE person that I gave you a blowjob? I know male pride and you probably couldn't wait to brag." "I guess this proves you DON'T know male pride. I wouldn't demean you like that and I'm NOT going to argue with you now. Just remember about "loose lips", OK?" Marv said, trying to keep his cool. "OK Marv, I'm sorry. Good night." She said, hanging up abruptly. As much as Marvin Hudson liked his alternative to lonely masturbating he wondered if it was all worth it at that moment. His priorities were football, college, sex, and Samantha but he wasn't sure what order they were in and if that order didn't change at his convenience. Right now college was at the top of that list because without good marks, he wouldn't have football, without good marks the plans he and Samantha made might not happen. But he also knew he hadn't discussed the possibility of a football career with her. Life's little problems were beginning to build up on Marvin Hudson, and that was where sex came in. It made him forget and relieve that stress. Despite what happened the night before, he missed Samantha and wished she were there right now to relieve his frustrations. He wanted to tell himself that the arrangement with June was a bad idea from the start, but the dividend was great for him. He got to enjoy the sexual company of a woman and then go home and go to sleep unencumbered with the stresses of life. He got back to his studies without the problem at hand weighing on him. When he caught himself falling asleep repeatedly, book in hand, he knew it was time to give up for the night. Marv was up early to make a 7:15 appointment with a Prof for a tutoring session to catch up on 2 classes he would miss for the week. Seven other members of the team were there as well, including June Bokue. Marv was already seated when she walked into the room and she came right up to him. She approached and touched his hand causing him to look up. "Mind if I sit here, MY FRIEND?" She said emphatically. "Yes, please do, MY friend." He said with a smile. "Everything will be fine." She said under her breath. "I told her how pissed you were and she said not to worry. Julie is my friend and is rooting for you big time." Marv looked at her and raised his right hand and touched his forehead like a salute and then touched his heart. June recognized it from a lecture they both heard early in the semester where raising the right hand is a sign of trust, as the right hand is your weapon hand and raising it says you trust they will not harm you as you won't harm them. Touching the heart shows that it comes from there. It had something to do with the reason soldiers salute with their right hand. June smiled. Theirs would become a friendship of trust, as odd as it may have seemed. They shared few friends, and none if you took away the team. Their common interests were few. But when they needed someone to vent, whether it be just talking or in a sweaty sexual tryst, they were there for each other. Few, if any besides Julie and the Coach, were aware of their arrangement. They held few expectations from each other, except the trust that they be private. At 9:15 they passed each other in the locker room with hardly a word between them and began their first day of real game prep as members of a Coach Winning Winslow team. As the week progressed the practices became more intense and more focused on a specific opponent. At one point during the week Jared Winslow made it apparent that THIS was the game they had to impress with. Win or lose, make a statement. ------- Chapter 28 When the coaches talked with the players about the strength and weaknesses of their upcoming opponent they also stressed another point; Maine State College was doing the same thing with their team. Jordy Alford had his offense taking a breather at one end of the field, sitting on their helmets listening intently at Wednesday's practice. "Right now a team is preparing to play us, ... beat us, ... and do you know what THEIR coaches are telling them?" He asked as he raised his left hand and took the pointing finger in between the pointing finger and thumb of his right hand and shook it before them as he paced. "Number One, they have an inexperienced Quarterback who can be rattled in tough situations." He said slipping his grip to his left middle finger. "Number Two, they have a hot shot running back from the street gangs of Chicago who has to be taught a lesson." He said slipping his grip to his left ring finger as he exhaled deeply and turned on his heel to pace the other way. "Number Three, their best returning back plays behind the Chicago hot shot and is the 3rd or 4th receiver." He said before stopping and putting his hands on his hips to face them. "Lastly, they haven't been able to move the ball in scrimmages once they get inside the 30. They settle for 3 instead or going for 6 ... Are these all fair assessments?" He asked rhetorically. "If the shoe were on the other foot, ... yes... , I WOULD say all of the same things. BUT, we have to prove them wrong on every count. We can prove them wrong because the only thing that's actually true, ... it's that our Quarterback is inexperienced, ... BUT HE'S GOT NERVES OF STEEL AND A SHOTGUN FOR AN ARM AND ALL THE TIME HE NEEDS TO SET UP, DOESN'T HE, LINEMEN?" He shouted to make his point. "Yes, SIR. Yes, SIR CLICK! CLICK!" Could be heard from all assembled. "Just keep those things in your head. THAT'S how they will try to beat us. We'll try to show them something new this week, and we'll try to show something new every week. Now, are we all ready to get back to preparations?" He asked calmly. "Yes, SIR. Yes, SIR CLICK! CLICK!" Could be heard from all assembled once again. The same type of speeches were made to the defense and the special teams in an effort to inspire each unit to excel after realizing their own weaknesses, whether real or assumed. The media assumption that Boge Hollins being a thug was cutting to the heart of a team that had embraced him. He was one of their captains and had shown nothing but leadership to all. When he was elected captain he had a heart to heart with the team and explained his background, the truths and falsehoods that were part of his story. He had been frank about everything and faced his demons head on. He had become a true leader on the team and when things appeared in the press about him they knew to be untrue, it only inspired them more. On Saturday morning as the team assembled for their first game together, only roster eligible players dressed, so June Bokue, Ben Breen, and Eddie Arnsberg (who was serving academic suspension anyway) were asked to sit in the booth with the spotters in hopes of learning that much more about the game and it's inner workings. June had become such a big part of the team in scrimmages that this almost seemed a punishment, but she hardly was wishing for an injury to get on the roster. She knew she had 4 years ahead of her and that by the time she got into games next year she would be extremely experienced and know the system through and through. Ben Breen, who had come as a walk-on, worked diligently to get better and better and it had become apparent that he could probably beat out Julie Murcer as the back-up place-kicker the following year. He probably had 15 to 20 yards more distance than Julie. Eddie Arnsberg knew the score of NCAA Division One football and it's workings, he just needed to sit out his transfer year. Coach Winslow wanted them to all feel a part of the team so watching the spotters work with the coaches he hoped they might learn something. New England Meditek Stadium was filled to capacity for the first home game on a bright 60 degree sunny New England Fall day. The Maine team ran onto the field through an arbor held by cheerleaders and mascots and lined at the bench as they were introduced on the stadium public address. Then each Green Aggie was introduced as they came individually to the field through their own arbor and makeshift tunnel onto the field. Boge Hollins, Oksana Cushman, Kemmer Brooks and Coach Winslow each received the longest and loudest ovations. Maine won the coin toss and elected to kick-off much to the delight of Coach Winslow. Rich Boyle and Junior Contralco were the deep men as a long booming kick, aided by the wind, settled in the arms of deep man Boyle as it drifted to his side. He caught the ball and thought of returning it, but instead knelt, electing to let the Green Aggies start on the 20. As Marv Hudson drew a deep breath and passed Coach as he settled his helmet in place, Jared Winslow whispered to him "11 Draw". Hudson ran to the field as if Coach had said "Go get 'em" or some other encouragement, but his mouth was going dry wondering why he would call a draw on the opening play. They talked all week of opening early with a short air game and then controlling the ball with running plays and short passes until we saw holes in their defensive backfield. "A draw is a way of slowing down the defense. It's a way of attacking the defense when they're doing a good job blitzing you or putting pressure on you." He remembered Coach Alford telling him. "It's supposed to look like a pass play, and then suddenly, you hand the ball off to the running back, and he should burst through the line of scrimmage." He recalled 11 Draw was the number 1 back through the number 1 hole. Their version used 4 wide receivers and generally looked like a pass play and most defenses would line up a 4-3 defense and not use a nose guard, thus opening the middle off the centers first block. As soon as Boge Hollins heard the call he smiled to himself, already glad he opted to play for Coach Winslow. Maine worked on shutting down the air game all week and didn't want to let NEAT establish it, especially early. It was an unorthodox call, but Boge liked it. Marv Hudson took the snap and used his quick, short, choppy steps back into the pocket and held the ball out for Hollins to take as he passed him. Whiskey Daniels turned his man out and Boge slashed through the hole and went into the flat cleared out by Tim Waters splitting the linebackers on a dash toward the far corner. Boge was untouched for 7 yards and then broke a tackle and was off to the races. Junior Contralco, who had crossed 8 yards in front of him, was now a deep pick on the last defender who may have a shot at Boge. Hollins heard footsteps and did a full striding stutter step that changed his line and cruised into the end zone for an 80 yard touchdown run. To say the Stadium went wild would be an understatement. Marv Hudson almost beat some of the trailing defenders into the end zone to hug Boge as the offense marched off amid high-fives and fist-bumps. In the aftermath of the exciting run and score it took a moment for the crowd and the defense to notice little Julie Murcer coming onto the field to kick the extra point. She had been standing with the long-snapper and holder on the sidelines and as soon as Boge crossed the goal line she pushed her helmet on her head and trotted out with the rest of the kicking taxi. Before the crowd was back into their seats the ball was snapped, put down and drilled through the upright for the extra point as Julie raced off the field, both arms raised in the air as if signaling the kick good. But her exhilarative raised arms and fists were for a lot of other things. It was for females who never got the chance, it was for herself and her own pride at never giving up after an illustrative high school career that usually marked the end for female footballers, it was for Coach Winslow for having faith in her. Finally it was for the team, the young men and women she worked so hard with and cheered for. If her season ended today, the whole effort would have been worth it. Not one player missed slapping her on the helmet when she got back to the bench. She jumped in Brian Faradays arms to thank him for stepping aside for the honor. It had been a courageous call to make to open a game and Boge Hollins has risen to the occasion and set the bar high from his first carry. The defense shut down a stunned Maine team until the waning moments of the first half when they kicked a 32 yard field goal to get onto the scoreboard, going into the locker at the half with the score NEAT 16, Maine 3. Brian Faraday had kicked three field goals and Marv Hudson had managed to control the ball with short passes and hand-offs primarily to Boge Hollins, who, with his 80 yard run, had already gained 142 yards in the game. In his half time words Coach Winslow only warned of over confidence and keeping the game plan. "We'll stay within ourselves and keep working the ball as long as we can. They've been tough inside their 30 and there's no reason to get greedy to break them down. Our defense has held them tight and cut off their passing game and stunted their run to get us the ball back. If we keep doing that, we control the clock and the game. We haven't had any deep looks and Marv hasn't taken any chances, and that's good. 13 points is a good lead but it's not as comfortable as 16. They're getting the ball to start the half and shutting them down would be a nice way to start the half." Were the only words Coach had. The team expected a longer pep talk and perhaps a bit more criticism but instead that got the pat on the back and an "Atta Boy". Jared Winslow knew that sort of confidence boost could go further than any other words as long as they stayed within themselves as they had. They hadn't set the world on fire, but they hadn't made any grave mistakes. In the words of some old philosopher, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." The second half didn't start as Coach wished, the defense broke down on the kick-off and let them return the ball to their own 49. Again it was a defender trying to make a high decisive hit, forgetting a low tackle on the legs is a sure tackle. Frank Ruffen fumed on the sidelines and couldn't wait for the offending player to come to the sidelines. Maine hit for 6 yards on a screen and then 8 more on a draw play. Defense called a blitz on a line up with 4 wide receivers and were burnt on a second screen for 14 yards. Suddenly Maine was moving the ball at will and quickly lined up with no huddle leaving the NEAT defense scrambling, which was obviously their intention. They pulled off a double reverse using a halfback option pass towards the end zone. The pass wobbled a bit giving Scott Claxton just enough time to get a hand on the ball before it fell into the arms of the receiver. The ball popped straight up and apparently into the arms of another Maine receiver, but Claxton, in full stride after his tip and turn towards the ball, took it off the Mainers fingertips and raced 97 yards for a score. The tip and interception left the Maine Offense stunned as the kicking taxi quickly assembled on the field for the extra point making it 23-3 and putting the tired Maine Offense back out onto the field. The lead took away their running game as they had to put points on the board quickly, but they only managed 10 more on a well executed passing drive to open the 4th quarter and an on-side kick recovery on the ensuing kick-off. That drive resulted in a Maine field goal making the score 26-13. With just over 12 minutes left Maine needed two scores to go ahead, but Marv Hudson kept the ball for 9 minutes on two drives, each resulting in field goals. NEAT delighted their home fans with a 32-20 win. Boge Hollins had run for 246 yards and Marv Hudson was 16 of 19 and Brian Faraday had kicked 6 field goals. Oksana Cushman had but one opportunity, but she represented herself well and marked the first time 2 women played in one game for one NCAA team. The offense had run on all cylinders this day and were sure to get an A. The defense ran into a bit of luck with the greedy Maine offense. Once Maine began to put it all together they tried to do too much, too soon and blew the opportunity. That, combined with NEAT's ball control, seemed to stifle any Maine uprising. Amidst the raucous locker room celebration Coach Winslow came in flanked by his 3 assistants. When the stood at the head of the room the group quieted down to hear his words. "I'll keep this short. To say that I'm proud of you would be an under statement, and I think I speak for all 4 of us and the staff. Savor your win and we'll all get together tomorrow, as usual. Celebrate, but be smart. This isn't the end, it's the beginning, we have so much more work to do. The media may want some of you, remember, we only talk about this game. Thank you all so much." With those words Jared was off to meet the press himself for the post game presser. Before he went in to meet with them he took Ira Pressley aside. "Go back and tell Oksana and Julie that if they want, they can come in and sit with me to answer a few questions. It's a big moment for them and I think they should. Give me 10 minutes and come to the door." He told him. "You want them in uni's or streets?" Ira asked. "Up to them." He said as he went in to the loud press room. PRESS: Coach, is this your most satisfying win ever? JW: Certainly one of them. PRESS: You've always insisted that the co-ed team wasn't a stunt, what was having Julie Murcer kick the first extra point, if not a stunt. JW: She's my back up place kicker. I wanted to get her first shot out of the way. She could have made every kick today if called upon. Getting the first was a reward for her hard work helping convert Brian Faraday. It was Brian's idea. PRESS: Where did you dig up the two girls? JW: Do your homework. They were both All-State in the schools they came from. PRESS: Marv Hudson looked pretty cool out there. Were you happy with his first game? JW: Marv had Boge Hollins to keep the heat off him all afternoon. He knew when to use him. Isn't anyone going to ask about Boge Hollins? PRESS: (laughing) You obviously don't have any regrets about recruiting him, how good can he be? JW: He may be the best college running back I have ever seen with my own eyes, but don't let one game form an opinion. He's a leader, and he's a horse. He would take the ball every play if you asked him. PRESS: With the troubles this team had in the past, why wasn't Scott Claxton in the defensive backfield before? JW: Scott worked very hard this past summer to get where he is now. I think you'll see him mature even more as the year progresses. A door opened at the side of the room and Ira Pressley stuck his head in and got Jared's attention and nodded to him, stepping back to present Julie and Oksana in their team logo sweats. Jared smiled and stood extending an arm to welcome them into the presser, seating them on either side of him. JW: Everyone wants me to introduce the women that are making a difference on this team. We're here to talk about the game, nothing more. If the talk turns into a grilling, we're through. I only have one microphone so we'll have to pass it. PRESS: Have either of you ever been seriously hurt while playing and do you feel like the boys gun for you. OKSANA: I'll take this one. As a punter, you're wide open for serious injury. It's a position that is something like spitting into the wind. You pick your spots and if the rush is too heavy you eat it. I've always have pretty good protection. If anyone has a problem with a woman playing a (making finger quotes) man's game, (chuckles) once they see what you can do, that you can play, it's not an issue. I can handle myself. PRESS: Julie? JULIE: Uhhhh, ... what SHE said. (laughs) Seriously, you EARN respect and we both have it here, and I think we will around the conference. Okkie will have more chances than me, but when I'm called upon I'll show I belong. PRESS: Julie, you were pretty excited after your kick. Did you ever imagine doing this at this level? JULIE: I sort of thought I might get offers from smaller schools for football, but New England Ag is where I wanted to be scholastically. I only tried out for football on a lark. PRESS: What of the locker room situation being co-ed, there are rumors... JW: Fellows, we agreed ONLY THE GAME so... JULIE: Coach, if I could? We have the utmost in privacy and respect here, ... and being a journalist you should know the first word in the definition of rumor is either "unfounded" or "unverified" depending on the source. I feel disrespected that you would think so little of either of us that we would be a part of what is being circulated, ... on the internet no less. OKSANA: On that note we're out of here! Both girls got up from the chairs flanking Coach Winslow and left the room leaving the reporter asking the question embarrassed as the camera's turned towards him. JW: I haven't read what some frat boy supposedly told a left wing feminist blogger, but have heard about it. I would hope my own reputation and that of the University might precede us and tell you not to believe crap like that. I know it's not all of you, but I'm disgusted too... Jared picked up the notes he had brought to the table with him and stood and left unceremoniously, leaving the room stone silent for a moment. It was a situation he hoped he wouldn't have to deal with so straightforwardly, so soon, into the season. Jared had a friend at Sporting Illustrated whom he felt could deal with the problem swiftly and truthfully. It would go to the top of his to-do list. He wouldn't let the incident ruin the good feelings he had for the team and the school at the time. Once back in his office some of the staff let him know that the team watched the presser in the locker room and made a pact that none of them would talk to anyone to show solidarity with their co-ed teammates. They were cheating themselves out of their own 15 minutes of fame, but the group felt very unified over the situation. Jared Winslow pumped a fist to himself as he looked up the number of his friend Mikki Martin, a female photo-journalist he knew at SI. She was a journalism student at West Virginia when he went there. She interned in the Sports Information Directors office with Jared after he was cut from the football team in his sophomore year. She later had been the assistant SID at Vermont Valley Tech for 2 years before moving on to Sporting Illustrated. She covered mostly women's athletics, and mostly Olympic women. He was sure she might jump at this chance. After catching up on old times and friends he proposed the story and laid out what he was looking for. "Mikki, I want a positive story, but I want you to write a truthful story. I'll give you free reign in the locker room and with the team, but I need your word that I get to see the finished product before you submit it. I feel confident there are no problems here, but should you dig something up, I don't need to be blindsided. The story is you and you alone. You propose it to your editors that way and let me know what you come up with." He said, hoping she might get the OK from the magazine. Over the next two weeks the Green Aggies would split two road games, losing 27-17 to UMass West, but beating Pennsylvania Polytechnic Institute 36-10 the following week. Turnovers plagued the offense in the UMass game and they never got the ball control game in gear until it was too late and the defense was victimized by 2 kick-off runbacks that quickly thwarted any momentum the offense was building. (UMass had a "super-gnat" punt and kick-off return specialist who was demonizing the conference.) In the PPI game, after 3 first quarter field goals, Brian Faraday got a charley horse that he could not work out. Coaches thought too many practice kicks into the net each time they got in range had worked against him. In any event, it gave Julie Murcer 2 chances in the 2nd period that she converted of 23 and 28 yards that put NEAT in the half-time locker room with a 22-3 lead on the strength of the 5 field goals and a Boge Hollins 46 yard run for TD. In the second half Marv Hudson worked his ball control game, but when he got to third down inside the 30 he wasn't rolling over to give way to his kicker this time. He connected for 2 touchdown passes to Kemmer Brooks and Tim Waters showing he was quite capable of directing the team on decisive scoring drives. Oksana Cushman had quickly established herself as one of the better punters in the division over the first 3 games and quickly wore off the "girl kicker" tag. Julie was not so lucky, in as much as her diminutive size made her a novelty when she came onto the field. But from 30 yards and under, she seemed pretty confident and dependable. National interest had built enough to pique Sporting Illustrated to want to do a story on the Division One oddity. As the team prepared for it's second conference home game Jared Winslow had to prepare his team to be invaded by an outsider in the locker room. He felt confident he had chosen the right person to do the right job. "As we prepare to meet Providence Tech, who is still undefeated, we are going to have an extra person in our midst. Mikki Martin is a photo journalist for Sporting Illustrated and she wants to get a clear picture of how we handle the co-ed situation in the locker room, on the field and in our heads. She will have full access to all of you, so if there is anything you don't want to appear in the pages of a national sports publication, watch your words and deeds. I don't want you to put on a false front, just be yourselves. We all know the truth about our team, and I hope it shines through the falsehoods, lies and rumors that have been perpetrated upon us. So, to that end, if there is anything I don't know about, ... that you feel I SHOULD know about, ... you can meet with me privately or in front of the group." Coach Jared said finishing his Sunday report card after the PPI game. "What about drinking?" Came a voice from the back of the locker room. "If anyone has a drinking "problem" I'm not aware of it. I'm a grown man who went through college and I know that college kids drink. I've asked all of you to avoid drunken frat party's, or keggers, to avoid trouble and I hope that is being adhered to. While it is campus policy to NOT have alcohol in the dorms I'm not so naïve to think it doesn't happen and I'm quite aware of the need to relax and let loose a bit. I would hope you all heed my warning to "be smart and look out for each other" in those situations. We don't need this story to start a national scandal. Does that answer the question or is there something I should know about?" He asked. The room stood silent. Driving home he hoped that he hadn't made a mistake using someone he trusted to do the story thinking she may have more access that a stranger. He only hoped he would see the finished product exactly as it would appear before it went to press. Pulling into the driveway he remembered that Mike and Tracy Denault had taken Declan along with their son to a museum show on snakes, to be followed by the story hour at the library. He hoped Meg wasn't steeped in work so they could have alone time. He didn't hear her at all as he walked in the door and expected to see her sitting Indian style on the bed with graded papers strewn out over the covers. Instead he saw the beautiful image of her doing her ballerina discipline, the earbuds in her ears and ipod on her arm were all she wore. Her curves and muscular tone spelled femininity in it's most glorious tone. While a picture of her naked form would exemplify "woman" in a biology book, certainly most male students and a good many females would find themselves aroused at her bodily and facial physiognomy. Even the most suggestive of clothing hid the beauty of her skin, the lines of her frame, the mouth watering appeal of her bright nipples and pink biological perfection of her smooth vagina. She was woman. It was apparent that the music in her ears drove the intensity of her moves as her body flowed gracefully through stances, leg lifts, torso bends and arm angles. Her eyes caught the voyeuristic leer of her lover and a slight smile curved her lip momentarily as it was apparent the music in her ear was reaching its climatic end. Her arms rose as she went to the tip of her toes and drew up one knee and then gliding out that leg parallel with the floor and then bending to almost touch her nose to her extended leg. Her foot went flat to the floor and she drew up straight, her arms extending the heavens where she once again bent and let her extended arms embrace her extended leg where she froze momentarily. She held that pose for a moment and then exhaled deeply, relaxing her other leg to the floor and standing straight with arms akimbo, as if waiting for applause. She pulled the earbuds from her ears and spoke; "I often touch myself and have an orgasm as that piece finishes, but when I saw you I could only think of your mouth where I usually touch myself. Would my lover indulge me?" She said in the character of the proper ballerina. Without waiting for an answer she backed to the edge of the bed and sat, then lay back and drew up her knees whilst spreading them wide to display her sex. Jared had yet to say a word but knew what he must do to satisfy both of their hungers as he rushed to the side of the bed and knelt putting his mouth to the inner deep pink sex she displayed. He lapped the salty musk she had secreted, an action that only caused her deeper wantings. As her head turned and she silently mouthed oooh's and ahhh's her breath finally caught and a cry came from her lips as he pleasured her. She sighed and whispered urgently, "Jared my lover, lick me, suck me, devour me. Soak your finger in my pussy and slide up my bottom. Fill me, eat me, ohhhhhhhhh!" Jared did as she requested and hungrily pursued her orgasm, searching her pussy with his lips and tongue while plumbing the depths of her asshole with a long finger. She mewled, squealed, and screamed under her breath as he found her climax as she wrapped her arms around her legs and pulled them to herself, bending her lithe body in half pushing both plundered orifices into his mouth and finger. Finally her breath caught in a hard grunt as if she were punched in the stomach. Her face turned bright red as she vibrated, unable to breathe or lose the rigid grip of her pleasured spasm. Then a seeming death throe escaped her mouth as she let go her legs and spread them wide to reach with her hands to push him away and roll out of his reach as she puffed and whooped softly with each new breath. The trials, tribulations and worries over the 70 players he oversaw were no longer at the top of his mind. The tightness in his pants was causing great discomfort as he stood and looked adoringly at his satiated lover. He undid his belt to relieve the pressure within as he pushed his pants and underwear down, kicking off his shoes in the move. He stripped his shirt over his head and began to move to kneel before her on the bed to impale her, make love to her, but she, signaling through a hand over her sex, didn't want to disturb the electrics still passing through there. "Kneel here." She whispered with a wanton look of hunger and satisfaction as she patted a spot before her face. Like a puppy waiting to be fed or petted he bounced from her slippery font to her mouth where she simply opened her lips for him. He bent and aimed his painful, hard, curving penis to her mouth and she hungrily enveloped him as he sighed a long relieving breath from his dewy lips. He pushed as much as she could take into her mouth before relenting and started to slowly fuck her face. She adjusted herself to push an arm between his legs and press her palm over the cleft of his ass and push him into her mouth. She turned her head slightly to line up her throat to him and he felt the tip of his cock enter her throat as her tongue came out and touched his balls. She held him there until she could stifle her gag no longer and pulled her mouth off him, a long thick trail of saliva trailing off him as he looked down at her watered eyes. She half smiled and engulfed him again, inviting him to fuck her face as he had before. After another 10 or 20 thrusts she pulled him to her throat again, this time seeming deeper as the end of her tongue lolled to top of his ball sack. A loud coughing choke forced her mouth off him and she quickly tipped her head and repositioned her shoulders to get under him and take his balls in her mouth, first one, then both and sucked at them, trying to will their load through their walls. She let them out and stretched her neck a bit more forward and licked at his taint before rimming his butthole and then eating it as he had eaten her pretty snatch. She was consumed with passion. She continued licking at his ring and moved her hand to his shaft and stroked it until he bore down on her face a bit and shot his load all over her breasts and belly. When he let up she pulled herself out from under him and aimed his dribbling member back to her mouth until it stopped exuding his semen. She pulled back a bit and looked up in his eyes and they smiled at each other. Simultaneously, unscriptedly, they mouthed "I love you" to each other, laughing after doing so. The school house clock in the living room range 5 times signaling that their time alone was about up. She frowned a bit and wordlessly got up laughing as his semen ran down her body. She went to the back of the bed where he knelt, now facing away from her. She pulled him back, tipping his head all the way to the flat of the bed. She kissed him passionately with their upside down / right side up mis-matched mouths exploring their odd juncture. Then she stood and went, without words, to the shower. Jared looked out the window and saw the Denault's mini-van pulling into their drive. He rolled off the bed and picked his pants and shirt from the floor and put them on. He had just pulled his shirt over his head when he heard the back door slam shut. "Mommy, Coach! I got to touch a snake!" Declan shouted as he waved a rubber snake in the air. Declan ran and jumped in Jared's arms. "Where's Mommy?" "She's washing her hair. She'll be out in a minute." He told him as Declan clung tightly to him. "That's OK, I love YOU too!" Declan oddly said as he hugged Jared hard, nestling his head on his shoulder. "I can't wait until you're my Daddy." Jared was overjoyed at the words, he hugged him back as hard and then set him down so they could have their eyes meet. They each smiled happily. ------- Chapter 29 The Wednesday morning before the Providence Tech game Jared drove to his office as he always did to begin to chart out his opponents possible game plan along with his own. As he turned the corner in the hallway to his office he saw a tall brunette woman sitting in the chair outside his office. As he got closer he realized it was his old friend Mikki Martin looking much more feminine after losing a lot of weight and adding a coiffed hair-do and some make-up. He had always thought she was butch looking and supposed she was likely a lesbian, but it had never made a difference to him and how he felt about her. She was always a good friend to talk with, have a drink with, and confide in. They exchanged a short hug and air kiss and went into his office to discuss her story. "Mikki, let me be frank with you, if you have any preconceived notions about how our situation should be handled, or have received any coaching from any organization about this, we aren't going to get along to well. I want an honest story, but I don't want any covert sneaking around, baiting or any crap like that. I want to be able to trust you." Jared said laying his hand out immediately. "Jaydubs, ... does anyone here still call you that old nickname?" "NO!" He interjected emphatically, always hating the JW or Jaydubs nicks he had in college. "OK, Jared ... I'm planning on doing this as human interest, and then doing a lot of interviews to see if I can get an angle. I read the blog-post you told me about. Some of the PC Police have picked up on that and I think it's probably all bunk made up to promote an agenda. They want to have a matron in every locker room and separate everything including different rules for the females. Let me snoop around a little and talk to some of the team. Do I get access to the locker room as well?" She asked as she jotted notes. "I have a fourth locker stall for another female. You're welcome to sit in there before anyone comes in and listen. Hell you can even dress in uniform if you like and go onto the field with them. That's my ... um ... fiancé's idea. Buddy up with them and get an idea. It's up to you." Jared said trying to give her free reign. "Here's the thing, if teams can add a female player to their team without a lot of extra expense and trouble they (females) have a chance on lots of other teams. We got by fairly cheap, designing special moveable locker stalls that have privacy for them to bring on the road. They shower in our old coaches shower and we have a strict code of locker room conduct as far as respect goes. Friendly horsing around that is common between teammates is OK, but there are lines drawn." "Jared, I feel there's an 800 pound gorilla in the room and you're not noticing it." She said dropping forward and putting her elbows on her thighs and averting her eyes from his. Jared sighed and sat back in his chair, watching her uncomfortable feeling personify itself. "Ohhh God, since you brought it up. I don't ask this question to my friends, obviously. Have you come to terms with your sexuality? The last thing you said to me was that you were "confused". " He said averting HIS eyes. "Yes, I'm decidedly straight. For years I let my big fat belly, fat ass and dowdy look make me think I was butch and I got a lot of come-ons from other women like me. I was never happy and hated myself enough to consider suicide. I didn't want to love other women, I wanted to be with a man. I always knew, partly from being friends with you back in school, that I was straight and wanted normal relationships. You were kind and your friendship was unconditional. I never told you I had a crush on you. You didn't treat me like other guys did. I damn near starved myself losing the weight and learning how to present myself, but it's easy now and very fulfilling. I have a serious boyfriend and we're thinking of moving in together. I feel so, ... so, normal now, and I really wanted you to know how much you made a difference. I had all those cows knocking on my door and I was so attracted to you, I knew in my heart I was straight." Mikki told him, red faced. "Well, I may not be as fair thinking as you think I am, but I never had a reason to think any less of you because of your looks then or now. We were friends and we worked together and we did well. I'm happy you've worked things out personally and professionally." He told her. "Thank you Jared. Now let me take a few hours to decide how I want to tackle this. You've given me a couple options I hadn't considered. Do you have a place I can sit and work things out?" She asked. "I'll set you up in the meeting room next to this office." Jared went about his business and left Mikki to herself where she talked things over with her editors on her cell phone. As Coach read accounts of all of Providence Tech's games so far he looked for a game plan to give them a good fight and maybe even end their undefeated season. He had DVD's of their last 2 games but wanted to check in with Mikki before he went to the video room and met up with the rest of his coaches at noon. "I'm going to be tied up for a couple hours in about 15 minutes. Is there anything you need me for?" He said sticking his head in the door. "Well, let me tell you how I would like to do this. I'll take you up on sitting in the locker room undercover today. I'd like to get pictures of the empty room this afternoon. After they have gone out to practice I think I WILL wear a uniform and try to work out with the women, after you've introduced me. Then if you could introduce me to the whole team and I could spend a few minutes with them and pick a few of them to interview. To be fair, I will not take any pictures candidly. They will know when I have a camera and when I don't. I do want to spend some time with each of the 3 girls alone and together. I would hope to have something worked out by Sunday when you do your review or report card, whatever you called that. I want everyone to know what's going to be in the magazine, if the editors buy it. Umm, you guys winning this week would help that a lot." Mikki said decisively, hoping he would buy her take. "Having the chance to see what is going in the story is more than fair and will help you a lot in getting candid remarks, but I think it's only fair because you are dealing with persons who still have to answer to parents and friends at home. As far as winning this week, we always strive for that, but if you think waiting for a post win weekend to submit it would help, I have no problem. However, win or lose, your access is gone on Sunday. Fair enough? My SID will be by in few minutes to get you set up and help you with anything you need." Jared said, making clear his feelings. "More than fair, Jared. Thanks so much!" She responded happily. Jared Winslow took a deep breath and hoped he was doing the right thing, allowing a reporter such access to the team, but pressures had built from within as well as outside to see how they made this work. While fielding a co-ed team was never his intention, he never felt that denying a player the opportunity to play because of their gender was a proper road to take. Giving each a fair chance was all he sought to provide. He knew more female's would try out for football the next spring, not only at NEAT but also around the NCAA. He only hoped that now with two, possibly 3 legitimate real players playing there would be no more stunts that would cheapen the experience for a female student athlete. Meeting with his coaching staff late that morning through the afternoon, talk of the imbedded reporter never came up as they worked to strategize to come up with a game plan for Providence Tech. All four coaches were at a consensus that opening the offense up early to throw them off a game plan was the best way to beat them. In each of PTI's 3 wins they controlled the ball early with long successful scoring drives. If the Green Aggies could strike early and match them on the scoreboard and get them back onto the field as quickly as possible they might wear down and frustrate them. If the Green Aggies could get a lead they could begin to beat them at their own game, ball control. It would mean establishing a wide open air game early and letting Boge Hollins show he could dominate when he got the ball. Marv Hudson would have to make a large step in his maturation process and stay within himself when failure stared him in the face. He had the talent to get up off the mat and go again, he just had to be convinced of it. "Frank, your defense will have to avoid a lot of the past mistakes, that will mean the more experienced players keeping the freshmen within themselves on the field. Key your best junior/senior players to constantly remind these kids of assignments. Ira, if that kid Yanni, what's his name, um ... Jon, goes for one more high hit on a kick-off and misses to give up great field position or a score I'll personally bench him. He's got a great talent, but he's got to stay within himself. He's all hot dog, but he tries to apply too much mustard. He's hurt us 3 times being over aggressive. He's fast and he's rough, but he doesn't have to kill someone to impress me. I know he wants a shot in the backfield, but it's not going to happen this year unless 3 guys do down ahead of him. If he wants to make an impression on me tell him to LISTEN what we've all been telling him. If he pulls that shit again and you don't bench him, I will. He's a freshman on a small scholarship but, I KNOW HE'S HERE! LET HIM KNOW THAT. He doesn't need to make a statement every time he goes on the field." Jared said, rattling off a short little tirade that was most unlike him, but it was the first criticism of any coach he had issued and he was already mad at himself for doing it in front of the others. Ira Pressley had been sold on the freshman, Jon Yanni (who fashioned himself an offensive back), from day one and knowing the backfield was full, he knew he would have him as a special-teamer all year. Frank Ruffen had hoped to talk the boy into thinking about the linebacking corps, but at under 6 foot he didn't try to hard to convince him when he seemed to balk at the thought. Now Yanni would have a face to face, heart to heart with Ira Pressley. Ira was easy going and reminded most people of a Southern TV Evangelist, but if you got in his dog house, you usually stayed there. Young Yanni's lack of discipline had gotten on his nerves, but the young man's talent overshadowed his mistakes, no matter how large. Ira knew if Jared benched the kid, it would be a long splintery ride, no matter how much of an impact it made on his special teams. Jared Winslow didn't get where he was by letting young players make the same mistakes over and over again. To err is human, to keep doing it brings no divine forgiveness. Jared believed that the best way to learn something was to do it the wrong way and see the consequence first hand. It may seem harsh, but that's why they scrimmaged at each days training session. Not that they didn't try to win every game, but Coach Winslow was making PTI a priority. They were getting TV coverage as the second game for the regional out of market coverage. It meant only a couple cable systems would see it where a regional game wasn't sold out, but it also meant there was a network video record of it and if anyone on the team excelled, the highlight reels would pick it up. Jared Winslow had seemed fairly easy going and even tempered for the most part in his short tenure at NEAT. He had lost his cool a few times with other coaches and staff, but had been easy on the players. He was actually going through a process he called "gauging". He had done it each year at Vermont with freshman and transfers, but now he doing it for the whole team. He never pushed any player beyond his limits, as long as he was performing at the level Coach felt he was capable. He didn't accept stupidity, laziness, and loathed apathy. He expected you to think of consequences down the line as you made game decisions. With Game 4 of the season on tap Jared was about through gauging most of the team and at practices this week he began to see blips in continuity that he didn't let pass or wait to speak to a coach about. While watching pass protection drills he watched one of the safeties, Shane Iairace get beat 3 times in a row and he remembered him being beat badly a few times in games. "Eye-Rossi!!" Jared shouted out his name phonetically. "How many times have they told you to lead with the other foot when your man moves to your inside?" Shane stopped in his tracks and looked back at Coach Winslow, "Umm lots, Sir." "WELL, WHEN IN HELL ARE YOU GOING TO START DOING IT!!" He screamed as he went up and got in the players face. "You're losing a half step with your cross-over and I know you're fast enough and smart enough not to get beat this much. Do you think Coach Ruffen is just exercising his vocal chords telling you that? The young man stood stunned for a moment and then straightened his back and looked the coach in the eyes. "No SIR!" He semi-shouted, almost in a military fashion as full realization of the implications Jared made hit him. The principle was simple. You have the talent, but unless you apply yourself and prove your worth to be on the field on a regular basis, others are waiting for their chance. It was a point that Coach always wove into his team meetings and lectures. When you sat on the bench and wondered how another was playing where you envisioned yourself, knowing you were more talented, start taking inventories. You may have more talent, but until and unless you show you can use it to execute the plays, don't complain. Just take advantage of the opportunities when they come up. In practice, everyone got their chances. Coach Winslow had earned the respect of all of the players by his treatment of them and his personal interest in their lives that he made evident by his off-season visits. Now he was beginning to get a bit tougher, in a tough-love sense. He was going to be the respected, but loved, father figure and all could see there were no exemptions to his wrath no matter where you stood in overall importance to the team. With clipboard held to his chest and whistle in his mouth he stood behind the offense as it lined up running plays and situations in preparation for PTI. Jordy Alford was flanked just to his right furiously flipping through plays and notes they had taken together after "scouting" PTI game films. Coach Winslow called for Rope One. Rope was simply short for Roll-Out Option and One was right through the one hole created by the right guard, Rope Two was left. The Quarterback could either push the ball into the arms of either back as they passed through the hole or continue rolling left or right (as the other guard pulled with him) and find an open receiver or drop your shoulder and turn the corner. Option was the key word. Marv Hudson had used it 2 times in scrimmage games and once vs Maine and it had worked well each time. In this practice the backfield was Hollins and Freddy Murray and the right wide out was Gerry Granahan. Marv looked out over the defense and when he took the snap he turned left and let both backs pass and he spun around completely and rolled right as the guard slid in front of him. The defense was drawn to the middle momentarily as Granahan turned hard to the sideline where he was a step open, but his defender pushed him out of bounds before both feet planted in with the ball. Two plays later in the practice, with Brooks and Hollins in the backfield and Waters in the wide out Jared had Marv run the same play, with the same option. The same result ensued. The receiver had the step but got pushed out too soon. "HOLLINS!" Coach yelled. "WHAT is your assignment on the Rope One if you don't get the ball?" "I, ... I ... I get past the linebackers and look to get open for Marv." He responded without much conviction. "WAS THAT AN ANSWER OR A QUESTION?" Coach demanded as he looked at the playbook card Jordy passed him. "Let me see the playbook and see where I should be." Hollins said as he began to trot towards the coaches. "THIS is MY playbook! Go down to your locker and get yours and bring it out here and show me your assignment on that play." Coach Winslow said as he turned to Jordy to get the next play. "But Coach, you have... " Boge started to say when Jared turned to him. "Go down to the locker room and get your playbook and bring it out here and show me your assignment. If you don't have it here, go to your dorm and get it and bring it back here, I'll be waiting." He said firmly as he turned to his bench and yelled, "Murray, in for Hollins." Boge turned on his heels and went in a dead sprint to the locker room. As the offense ran off 2 more plays Boge was sprinting back to where Coach Winslow stood, playbook under his arm. "Coach I have my playbook, and as I look at the play I should be tying up the linebackers to allow more time to get the flanker open. I see my mistake." He said dutifully, knowing he was wrong and was rightly called out by his Coach. "Good job Boge, you read that play just the way we wrote it. Next time, remember it and execute it. Bring your playbook back to your locker and get back out here, you're missing practice!" "Yes SIR!" Boge shouted as he broke off into, again, a full sprint. No member of the team missed the fact that it didn't matter what your stature with the team was, right was right and wrong was wrong and errors would not be tolerated. Best of all, Boge Hollins understood the whole drill and knew he had been a bit too cavalier. If anyone thought there was a country club attitude with the "star" players, it had been squelched. Missing assignments from the playbook was not tolerated and now it was seen that no one was exempt. Coach Winslow's training camps, pre-game preps and practices hadn't been easy, or laid back by any stretch. But, he had been slow fused until now, as he gauged out what players needed what degree of wake-up call. Everyone knew he had been tough, but everyone knew he left behind a long line of players who loved him and would do anything for him and most importantly ... HIS TEAMS WON!! This was a coalescing moment Freddie Murray and Gerry Granahan. They were two players each a little discouraged by their lack of playing time. As pre-game practice weeks piled up they saw that every player was getting a chance to show his talents and a players position on the depth chart made no difference when they screwed up. If you kept hustling and you truly were the better player, your time would come. It had always been true, but sometime during that days practice, it became obvious. Here were two players who had seen little playing time, suddenly in the thick of big game prep. It was all part of the "click" theory, each team member getting his opportunity to knock down the next domino towards a win. It wasn't lost on the players, and it wasn't lost on Mikki Martin who was preparing her story, jotting notes and speaking into a hand held tape recorder. She thought of interviewing both Murray and Granahan for a story on Winslow himself, should he be successful in turning this program around. As players filed out that day after their post-practice shower and return to campus life Coach Winslow finished his meeting with coaches and staff and settled into his office to complete notes and go home to his new "family". Players, some saying their goodnight's, passed the Coaches Room where assistants and staff worked within their cubicles and then past Winslow's office. If they offered a goodbye or other words he acknowledged them, other wise he worked without looking up. The concrete cavern of the lockers and offices seemed quiet, except for the key taps on laptops and the low murmur of voices coming from the Coaches Room. A lone pair of feet clicked their shoes as they strode up the hallway and decidedly stopped at Coach Winslow's door. Jared looked up to see Humphrey "Boge" Hollins. "Coach, do you have a minute?" He asked. "Sure, Boge. I'll always have time for you." Jared said pointing to a chair. "I just wanted to say that I was sorry for this afternoon. You embarrassed me in front of the team, but I had it coming. I know we're friends but on that field I know it's different. I never wanted to show you up or anything like that. I don't want any special treatment beyond what my teammates give me as captain. I felt like I let you down, and after letting down my father for so long I know the feeling of making him proud and that's a lot more satisfying." He said softly and sincerely. "Thanks Boge, I'm glad you realized what transpired out there. I felt a bit of inner remorse myself because I think so much of you, so maybe, in a way it was a good thing to show to the team that there is no caste system here. No one gets special treatment." Jared said firmly. "If anyone thought that, they don't now. We all know you're sucking up the pressure of this weeks game, trying to keep it off of us. This is our chance to be taken seriously. If we win and Miss Martins article is published it will give us all some street cred, and that would be nice." Boge said, his brow furrowing. "You just worry about playing your best game, all the time. Every game is important and as long as we get 100% from everyone, the result is inconsequential. I see pride in some of your faces, but I see doubt as well. We have the game plan to win, but we have to execute." Coach said, not wanting Boge to feel any added pressure. "We have a couple more days to work on it Coach." Boge said as he shook hands and left the office. Jared felt he had done all he could for the day as he got up and walked to the Coaches Room and told them all to go home and get some rest. When Jared pulled into the driveway of his home he was surprised not to see Meaghan's vehicle there. Declan was playing next door where he stayed while they worked. Tracy Denault waved acknowledging Declan had been retrieved as Jared hollered "Thanks Tracy!" "Mommy called and said she would be late. She said you turned off your phone." Declan said as he jumped in Jared's arms for a hug. Jared set him down and went to his phone holster only to discover that he had indeed forgot to turn on his phone. She had probably tried to call during the practice and left a message on the office phone. He probably hadn't noticed the flash. He sent Declan off to the TV room and went to pull towels out of the dryer and move a fresh load from the washer in. As he cursed himself for his phone faux pas he heard her pull into the yard. She was not smiling as she clicked up the drive and opened the rear screen. "How can I call you if you don't turn on your phone and leave my messages untouched in your office. I had an issue at school and couldn't leave, thank God Mike and Tracy didn't have any plans." She said tersely. "Hey, what the hell Isabel? You come home 2 and a half hours later than usual and you snap at me? I'm sorry about the phone. I heard it log off when it needed a charge and after I plugged it in I just forgot it. What kept you until 6:30?" Jared asked defensively. "I had a difference of opinion on the direction the Math Department should go and had a battle to fight..." She said as she looked to see if Declan was in earshot. "The bitch who thought she should have my job is fighting me tooth and nail. Thankfully the Superintendent backed me 100 percent and damn near fired her on the spot for how she went about her, ... her..." "Attempted coup?" Jared interjected. "I guess THAT is what you would call it. DECLAN!! Doesn't Mommy get a kiss?" She yelled into the TV room. Declan ran like a shot and jumped in his mothers arms as she kissed him and sat down in a kitchen chair to look him in the eye and pat down his hair. "How was school today? Did you have fun?" She asked. "It was OK. When can I stay home with you?" He said with a long face. "Oh honey, we always have Saturdays and Sundays and the summer, but you need to go to school so you can learn and grow up and maybe even play football with the Coach." She said hoping to cheer him. "It'll be OK when it's cold, but me and Mikey would rather stay home." Declan said dejectedly. "Don't worry, you'll grow to love school." She said hoping to encourage him as he ran back to the TV room. "So, did you manage to defeat the coup?" Jared asked. "Yes, the Superintendent realizes that Chicago schools are a little ahead of Vermont and the books we have right now are, to be polite, a little outdated. There are grants we can take advantage of if we upgrade, especially if I'm head of the department. My National Teaching Certificate puts us in line for that. She'll either have to swallow her pride or get her resume' out there. Superintendent Myerson really likes me. He's just a couple years from retirement and wants to leave at a higher pay grade, this might help him. Now, let's not talk about work, ... either of us. Ummm ... would you mind if I skipped the game Saturday? This place is a mess and I've spent so little time with Declan..." She wondered aloud. "How about we hire a housecleaning service to come in a couple days a week. With both of us working it will free up some of our time." Jared suggested. "Am I doing that bad of a job? Come on, it's only been a few weeks." Meg apologized. "No, no, no, please. We keep this place clean and tidy, it's just that there is no sense having to worry about it when we can easily afford someone. You need your Saturdays to relax and do things with Declan." Jared reasoned. "There was a time I would have argued with you over this, but, ... OK. I have to admit that I spent a part of my day today wondering when I would get home and work the wash." She said giving in easily. "I got that going, we just need to fold the towels and get the next load in the washer." He told her to update that situation. "You are the BEST! If my little monkey wasn't in the house I would show you how thankful I am." She said suggestively with a wink. "REALLY! ... I'll take a rain-check. You know something in writing, if you don't mind." He said smartly. "Oh, ... like we don't do OK in that department. Don't pull the neglected act. I have another little "monkey" you seem to play with quite a bit. No one is hornier than me and I'm pretty well satisfied." She said rolling her eyes, as he returned a Cheshire grin. ------- Chapter 30 Thursdays practice focused more and more on their opponent and what they would do to stifle their game plan. This was the first time with this team that they focused more on their opponent than themselves. The offense and the defense would coordinate to work to the same end. Score quickly to get the PTI offense back onto the field and play the 50 yard line like the goal line. It was a risk to play it out this way, but PTI appeared to be the most disciplined team in the division and Winslow knew of no better way of stunting them than upsetting their game plan and formula. Luckily, Fall had taken hold quite dominantly in New England keeping the 9 a.m. practice cool and less of a drain on the players. The 3 hour game prep saw 2 offense line ups and 2 defense line-ups testing each other while players were shuttled from team to team. Coach Winslow commanded the wide open offense squad trying to move the ball efficiently and quickly while still remaining prudent. Jordy Alford commanded another squad that worked it best ball control offense against the defense to prepare them for the PTI team. By the time the players hit their afternoon classes they all knew that it would be an early night to assure recharging their bodies. Friday before a game was only a light work-out with more time spent in Coaches Hall watching video and seeing plays unfold on chalk boards. Red shirt roster players were exempt from the Friday pre-game sessions meaning that June Bokue would be trying to burn off her nervous energy in her dorm bed Thursday night with a certain Quarterback. Marv was anxious to hear her call for him as he too was stressed and needed to bleed the pressure valve. When her call was made she was anything but polite or lady-like in her request. "Marv, get your cute ass over here. Little Junie is soaking wet and needs a good mopping." She said bluntly in a voice you could take in no other way than sexual. "God June, you can sound like such a little whore, ... and I love it." He answered with a chuckle. In a matter of minutes he got out of his building and into the side door of Ethan Hall and Junes dorm room. She was sitting Indian style on the bed in just a long t-shirt sipping a glass of wine. "You better not drink tonight, you know Coach's rules." She said with a smile. "He probably wouldn't want me cavorting with young harlots either." He said smiling as he shucked his sweatshirt, bearing his chest as he walked to the bed. "Harlot? You're not calling ME a harlot are you? I'm just looking for a hot mouth to make my pootie happy. When my pootie is happy, I'm delirious." She said innocently. "You know how to make me crazy Junebug." He said as he stood up onto the bed right in front of her. She smiled and reached over to set her wine down and then looked right into his crotch. "You want a little preview before I do the deed, or do you need it now? I thought I was the one who was past being "ready". I made the call, remember?" She said in a low voice, still going for effect. Marv said nothing and made no moves, he just looked down into her eyes. She reached up and folded down the waist of his sweat pants to reveal he had no underwear on. She smiled and gave him a quick look and then pulled his pants down to mid-thigh. His penis sprung up when let out of its hiding place and brushed against her cheek. "We have to watch I don't drink too much some night because I'm getting to want this cock someplace besides my mouth." She said disgustedly in a low voice he barely heard as she kissed the tip and ran her tongue around the corona. Marv hissed and closed his eyes at the sensation which inspired her to take the whole head in her mouth and pull her lips off of it with a sucking lollipop kiss. She gave him a little smirk and pushed her mouth onto him taking a few inches over her wet tongue before bobbing a few times while one hand cradled his balls. She looked up and smiled around his girth before pulling her mouth off. "Get down here and suck my pussy, farm boy. You're not coming until I do." She growled at him. "So far tonight you said I had a cute ass, and admitted you want to fuck me. Now you want to insult me, calling me farm boy? Apparently there's something about me you appreciate." Marv said as he slipped his sweat pants off he rest of the way and knelt at the foot of the bed. June smiled and scooted her butt down until she lay flat. "The top too, I want to see them titties." He said pointing as she struggled to lean up and pull it off. They both giggled as Marv slid his hands up her thighs and framed her pussy with his hands and with thumbs on either side of her vulva he opened her as she swooned as the texture of his tongue swathed over her engorged clit. The sounds in the room from that point were nothing but muffled groans and throat catches until Marv drove June over the top as she emitted a high pitch squeal and grabbed his head to move him. She drew 5 or 6 deep breaths to revitalize herself before she rolled to the floor and crawled to the foot of the bed on her knees. Marv was still crouched over the spot where she had lain, breathing heavily into the arms he had crossed in front of him. She leaned over him and kissed his back causing him to begin to sit up, but as a hand pulled at his bent knee. He spun and lay back, his knees bent and open to allow her access to his most needy parts. She smiled and reached with both hands to cradle his balls and hold his penis. She didn't see his facial reaction, as he was laid back with his head almost off the other side of the narrow bed, but she heard his suck his breath in. Wordlessly she fumbled his full sack as she knelt up a bit more and ran her hand off his cock and over his flat rippled stomach. She could not deny an affection for Marv as she looked forward to making him happy with her mouth. She also couldn't deny that the temptation to climb onto him and rut her pussy on him was great, but that would ruin a great thing they had going. They each had heavy emotional investments with other people that they would regret throwing aside and cause great resentment later. Instead she leaned over him and began to kiss and nibble at his balls and eventually up his cock until she could get it in her mouth to suck and stroke him to orgasm. She fantasized he was her lover as she lovingly addressed his needs. As he began to get close he finally picked up his head and pulled himself up a bit until his arms could reach out to her head as he ran his fingers through her hair as he spent into her mouth. She thought it was obvious that, he too, was fantasizing that she might be the someone else he was emotionally attached to. As the rigors and pressures of playing NCAA football and maintaining a strong education built, these two had found a way to relieve themselves by enjoying one of life's most basic needs together. But they both were well aware of the tightrope they walked over the pit of emotional involvement. It was a pit they wanted to avoid because they already had deep emotional commitments to others, but each found it easy to look beyond that guilt and enjoy their dalliance for what it was. In another dorm not far from Ethan Hall Julie Murcer lay crying, curled up naked on the edge of the bed she had just shared with Brian Faraday. "Julie, you knew coming in that we couldn't use that word or get involved. I've got a girlfriend back home and she's coming to spend the last half of her semester as an exchange student at Dartmouth. While she's that close and I see her, at least on the weekends, we can't do this. END OF STORY! You know if I thought at the start of the school year she would be here at all I wouldn't have taken up with you." Brian said trying to calm her down after he lit into her for saying she was falling in love with him. "I didn't WANT to fall for you! I just wanted a good time. I'm a good time girl and I've always pulled it off with no one suspecting I was a..." "Don't call yourself any of those names. You're neither a slut, a tramp or a whore. If every girl on this campus who slept around a bit thought of themselves that way it would be a sad state." Brian defended her, cutting her off in mid sentence. "I'm not pissed of at you as much as myself." Julie spat out, facing away from him. "On the night I decide to tell you that I think I love you, you were telling me it's over until she goes back. That makes me at least your mistress-whore no matter how you put it." "Julie, remember when you would just show up, or give me a call and we would tear up the sheets? I never wanted any more than that and you said the same thing. You even laughed at friends of yours who couldn't do it..." Brian tried to reason aloud. "I know, I know, but I guess the closeness of the team made me feel like we really..." She started before she stopped and swallowed hard and gathered herself. "I'll just hook up with other guys if I need to. When your girlfriend goes back to Wales, look me up if you want." She said as she found her bra and slipped her arms in arranged herself before snapping it and looked for her panties. "I don't have to look you up, we play on the same team and we're together 7 days a week. Julie, you're one of the best friends I have here in the States, I just made the mistake of shagging with you and letting it get too cavalier. You took it as something else, and it was never anything else." Brian insisted. "Brian, I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at myself. I'm the one who seeks the good time and doesn't get involved. Then I go and allow myself to develop these feelings. I'll be OK. We'll be OK and it won't affect the team, but I have to ask you one question and I need a frank, honest answer." She said as she pulled her jeans up over her round little butt. "Does anyone else know that you and I have slept together, and damn it, be honest!" She demanded. "No one, I promise you that. When Boge went through that whole "loose lips sink ships" speech after we made him captain, I took it to heart." He swore. "OK, I should tell you that both of the other girls know. I wasn't bragging to them, I was covering myself. I can guarantee you that they do not pass along stories." She said before she thought and spouted, "ALTHOUGH, I'll bet Marv Hudson knows. He wouldn't be a problem." "It's easy to see why the Coach frowns on relationships." Brian said as Julie got her coat, said goodbye and left his dorm room. If Jared Winslow knew what transpired this evening before the final practice before, what he considered his biggest game the year, the air would be rife with " I told you so" over and over again. Although it hadn't really caused a big problem with the whole team, the seeds had been sown. Julie knew the problem was hers and nobody else's and had no plans to hurt anyone for spite. For Marv and June there was one test their relationship hadn't passed; After they saw their significant others would that action measure up to what they had developed? Thankfully, the football season would be over with by that time. The pre-game practice and intense preparation for the Providence Tech game was the most intense the team had undertaken in it's young season. All of the plans in the world, all of the X's and O's scribbled and erased on a blackboard, every possible strategy for every possible situation never add up when you're trotting into your locker room at half time on game day and you're at the wrong end of a 24-9 score. Winslow's plan to come out with quick hitting scoring drives never got off the ground as PTI's deep coverage never gave Marv Hudson a chance to make a prudent pass. Providence had done their homework well and knew quite well of the deadly accuracy that Marv wielded. Not only was PTI well versed at keeping the ball once they got it, they also knew how to shut down the long gain. NEAT saw themselves down 14-0 early having been stunted twice on consecutive possessions. Only strong punts from Oksana Cushman saved the day each time to pin PTI behind their own 20, but each time they methodically worked their way up the field to a score. Marv Hudson began to utilize the running game hoping to create more passing options, but as they closed in on the goal line PTI became tougher on the inner line making the NEAT offense bog down and settle for field goals 3 times. For the half, Providence had 6 possessions and four scores on 66 percent of the clock. Boge Hollins had 81 yards, but Marv Hudson was but 4 of 10 having to unload the ball out of bounds with no one open 5 times in their first two possessions. Frustration was obvious on the NEAT sideline as the booth heard shouts from both Coach Winslow and Jordy Alford as they tried to solve the pass coverage. Having allowed 24 points, it was hard to say the defense had done well in the half, but they had been on the field for long periods of time and just wore down inside on two goal line stands. PTI's longest offensive gain was 8 yards and their passing game was at only 4 of 6 as they churned away at the clock. The usually upbeat locker room was just quiet murmurs as the players filed in prepared to get excoriated by Coach Winslow for letting him down. Staff tended to sore muscles and those who needed uniform change did so. Once given the chance to take care of nature calls and re-hydrate, the team waited on their stools for the coaching staff to come out. The wait was short as Coach Winslow burst out of his office with all of his staff following. "I don't want to see one head hanging in this locker room. If you think this game is lost, then watch the rest of it in the stands." He hollered forcefully enough to let all know he meant business. "We actually accomplished a lot of what we practiced for, we just had no idea their pass defense would be so tough. To Marv's credit, he didn't make risky passes into impossible coverage. To the teams credit, we still moved the ball when we got it, but inside the 20 they got damn near impossible. We're going to try something to open up the passing game a bit. Once we can convert in the air, we stay on game plan and pull this out." Winslow barked determinedly. "OFFENSE!!" Jody Alford shouted as an assistant who was fitfully scribbling on a black board turned it toward the team. "We all know the Roll Out Option Pass. We're going to call it several times when we get the ball on this kick-off. We're running this play as we practiced except for number one and number 2." He said pointing to the Quarterback and Fullback with an eraser in his hand. "QB doesn't roll and this back doesn't fetter out into the flats." He said was he used the corner of the eraser to take off the directional lines of those two positions. "The back makes his block and goes straight for the linebacker. QB drops straight back and gets set quick, a lot of his blockers have left the backfield. On a count called in the huddle the back turns to receive the ball being delivered ... and it's got to be delivered instantly, like a bullet. It could be crowded in that middle. It should draw more coverage to the middle and open up the wide receivers. We'll show it a couple times, then run the play as designed at least once in there and keep the pass honest with runs in there." Jordy explained as he arms flailed pointing to movement he envisioned on the blackboard. Suddenly everyone felt the rush of air into the locker room as Stadium Staff reopened the player door that led to the locker and meeting area. Half time was going to be over in just a few seconds. Both Captains took their cue and stood to lead out their charges. "We know our jobs?" Boge shouted. "Gut check, gut check!" Jazz Carey bellowed. The teams began to trot past the two captains yelling "Click, Click, Click" as they made their way onto the field. Coach Winslow had already grabbed Marv Hudson and walked with him talking as they approached the double doors. When they met up with Boge, Jared looked Boge in the eye. "Getting the ball and keeping the ball is your goal. Don't worry about your route until you get the ball, and you know it's coming from a gun. I hate to woodshed a play, but we've got to show something different." He said dead seriously as he put a hand on Marv's shoulder. Boge smiled and winked at Marv who put up a fist to bump with Boge. The coaching staff and the booth were both convinced that the original game plan could work as long as they could solve the pass defense. They simply had to draw more coverage to the middle and confusing the linebackers and busting some nice gains in the middle might do that. Boge yearned to carry the team on his back and he was being given the opportunity. He knew Marv Hudson was the guy who could deliver. He threw harder and more accurately than anyone he had ever played with or seen. The fact he was just a baby to the position gave reason for doubts, but Marv had become quite the taskmaster once given a job. NEAT received the kick-off on the 2 and returned it to the 24 as Marv Hudson led the team onto the field. He had the play sequence from Coach Winslow and drew the huddle. "34 TRAP" He barked as the huddle broke. It was a key play for Boge Hollins. He liked the half back lead to open the hole as he slashed back through the 4 hole after getting the ball. If Kemmer could get one linebacker to cross step, Boge could get his break. The linebacker didn't bite as hard as he wished though, but still got through for 4 yards. For second down a 25 Trap was called with Marv dropping back as Boge passed under him before Marv stabbed the ball to Kemmer hitting the hole Boge had opened. Five more yards, third and a little more than one. Everyone in the stadium expected Boge Hollins to bust for the first down but now was the time as a wide receiver switched out and brought in the play. It was ROOP 24. The team came out of the huddle a lined up for the Roll Out Option Pass, with the ball going to the Fullback, or number 2 and the count was 4. In the cadence call Marv and Boge would continue 4 counts. The ball left his hand on the four, it was to Boge a split second later. As guards pulled and wide outs flew and the 3 back sprinted for the flats Marv Hudson dropped straight keeping the cadence in his head 1-2-3-and 4 As the ball sizzled off his fingertips to the number on the back of Boge Hollins. Boge spun and took the torpedoed football just under his neck, lucky to get both hands on it. Fluidly he turned and kept momentum past a linebacker who reached for him and drove another 6 yards for a total of 14 yards. They were near mid-field. Gerry Granahan ran in a play and tapped Tim Waters to the bench. There would be no waiting for 3rd down, the call was ROOP 26. Boge had nearly sprained a wrist and had the breath knocked out of him on the last reception, but was eager to go again. Junior Contralco had replaced Kemmer in the back field so he had two fresh receivers. As Marv counted 1-2-3-4- he saw Boge veer a bit left a avoid contact and the ball spun off his fingertips on the 6 count. Boge, not having to turn back for the ball after his veer left, had the ball pounded into his side as he broke a tackle and pushed a defender aside. He looked up to see but two possible defenders between him and the goal line and Junior Contralco was crossing to tie up one of them. He knew he could beat anybody to the corner of the end zone and he barreled over the line waking up the full house as they pulled to 24-16 with the extra point. Winslow's reasoning for giving them the ball back as soon as they could was to wear them down and frustrate PTI to go off game plan. They really thought they could match them, score for score. But they couldn't give them the ball back fast enough, and if you hadn't scored, you didn't want to give it up. The Providence offensive line were, as Frank Ruffen had put it, "like a fucking tarp roll going up the field" and the NEAT defense had just not faced such a steamroller. Running two Rube Goldberg versions of ROOP wasn't supposed to upset the PTI game plan, but apparently someone in the play call chain thought it wise to come back as hard as they had been hit, Maybe they thought the defensive backfield had been lulled to sleep by their constant pounding the ball into the line. They thought wrong. They ran their version of 971. The 971 Pass has three receivers all coming across the quarterback's line of vision at varying degrees of pattern depth. Their version had the third receiver in motion at the snap, giving any strong armed QB a good shot at hitting one of his targets with the defense trying to compensate for the motion. They weren't prepared for Scott Claxton to be biting through his mouthpiece waiting for some action. He knew how bad Coach Winslow wanted the win and he wanted to be a big part of it. Jared had opened his eyes and made him realize his potential. When Scott saw the flanker in motion he recognized the 971 right away from their own scrimmages. He fully expected the flanker to reverse the direction of the motion once he hit the line and he waited for the cross as coverage slid with the other two receivers. Like a fox laying in wait, once the ball was thrown, Claxton pounced. He flew inside and literally took the ball from the air as the receiver began to feel it in his hands, the pick was that clean. By his third stride he was at full speed with just the PTI Quarterback having any chance of stopping him. He dove for Claxton's legs but managed to get just one, tripping him. Claxton stumbled and regained his stride to finish his 27 yard interception return. Brian Faraday pushed through the extra point to make it 24-23 after the PTI Quarterback was carted from the field. His last hope dive had earned him a knee or foot in the side of the helmet and a concussion was suspected. It was, however, a new game. After the kick off the NEAT coaching staff watched a confused PTI offense struggle to get to the mid field stripe before stalling and having to punt. Losing their Quarterback, Rob Ojeser, to injury had slowed their offense considerably. His roll and pitch, fake and follow style had worked well for them and now they had to compensate. Their backfield was strong, but Ojeser kept defenses off balance. It was easier for NEAT to key the runners now and unless the back-up QB varied that offense much, the second half would be a long one. As PTI lined up to punt the ball away Marv Hudson sidled up to Coaches Winslow and Alford. "Go back to our normal offense, control the ball and the clock?" He asked. "Yes, ... give Hollins a lot of work. Watch the defensive backfield and listen to your receivers. If the booth sees a breakdown we'll send it out." Jordy Alford said as Jared nodded as Marv trotted out putting on his helmet. Marv Hudson fashioned a 7 minute, 16 play, clock eating drive. Boge Hollins saw the ball 10 times, once for 14 yards as they passed mid-field. He had passed only twice, once on a screen to Contralco when everyone else was covered, and once to Tim Waters on a short down and out. With such a conservative offense the huddle did a double take when Marv called "26 Hot Pass Flicker" at the 14. Gerry Granahan knew this was his number and was excited to know Marv had the confidence in him. From the 14 it would simply be a quick turn to the sidelines, get a fake from Hudson and race to the corner of the end zone to get the ball. It's designed to look like a failed or broken play. When Granahan turned out he was open by a step or two but Hudson just pumped making the defender commit. When Granahan turned to the end zone Marv didn't have to lay the ball in front of him, he was wide open. As Gerry looked back over his shoulder for the ball to wobble into his arms he saw the bullet headed for his numbers. He was in the end zone when he caught it. After the conversion it was 30-24 NEAT. The defense had to go to work and keep the score plus at 6. As they went into the 4th quarter PTI was moving the ball much as they had in the opening sets of downs, but once they got to midfield they stalled once again. With a 3rd and 5 facing them, Providence had little choice but to try the air. PTI set a fantastic pocket but they could not find an open man. Scott Claxton was lurking, looking for a dump-off screen so the Providence offense ate the ball and had to punt. Marv Hudson utilized 3 different backs on 9 runs and 2 receivers on identical short look-ins as they ate the clock and settled for a field goal with 3 minutes left. Marv Hudson was a little frustrated with himself for not making a key 3rd down pass. He was content to hand it over to Brian Faraday to put them 2 scores ahead, insuring PTI had to make 2 drives to regain the lead. PTI never had a clear chance to get on the board in their last drive. They gave the ball up on a 4th and 2 near the 50 where Marv Hudson had to only take the snap and kneel to run out the clock. ------- Chapter 31 The flurry of fist bumping, back patting, hugging, high fives, whooping and congratulations being passed out in the New England Green Aggie locker room was a joy that every coach loves to walk into after a game. Jared Winslow had been stopped twice on his trek off the field for quick interviews that he quickly begged off of. He blew a whistle in the locker room to get the attention of the group who quickly stopped and turned to hear his words. "Before I go down to the press room, I just want to tell you how proud I am of each and every one of you (voice cracks and he swallows hard). The heart you showed today makes it worth every second we spent preparing since the first day I drove onto this campus. The men and women on that field today can be called one thing that describes all you work for. That word is TEAM. One group working together to bring one common end. We got some breaks today and you took advantage because you never gave up. Enjoy yourselves, celebrate smart and I'll see all of you tomorrow at noon, OK?" He finished, still filled with emotion. "CLICK! CLICK!" Began the chant almost simultaneously as Jared began to work his way out of the room and the players continued their celebration. By the time Jared, Meg and Declan trudged into their living room and plopped on the sofa they were each drained in their own way. Jared was emotionally drained, Meg was physically drained having cheered hard throughout the game and then rush to the Boosters Lounge to take glad hands for her future husband and then find her way to his office all the while keeping Declan occupied while in tow. Declan was just worn out from the cheering, the food and need for a nap. "Mommy, I know it's early and I'll miss some of my shows, but can I go to bed?" The young boy asked in an almost pitiful tone. "Come on, Mommy will tuck you in. I think the Coach and I will be going to bed early too. You were a busy boy today." Meg said dragging herself off the couch as Declan hugged and kissed the Coach good night. "G'night Coach. You were great today. Sometimes I get bored, but it was real good today." The boy said as Jared chuckled at Declan's frankness. Meaghan returned in a few minutes and cuddled right next to Jared on the sofa. "Alone at last. This was the worst week yet. You were never home and that reporter calling 10 times a day ... there were two days when I never saw you awake. Either you or I were up and out before the other was up and you came home late twice." She said exhaling deeply. She slid her hand from where it rested inside his knee up to his crotch and rubbed his package. "I missed you, you know." She said with a whimper. "I missed you too." He said pulling her tighter. "If I didn't have Declan while we waited for you to shower at the Stadium, I would have went in there with you. That's how much I missed you this week." She said as she fumbled with the zipper on his pants. "THAT would have been a first, as well as giving the other coaches some thing to talk about. The showers are private, but the dressing room isn't." He chuckled. "I think sucking your cock in this living room is a first too." She said as she shifted up and pulled his penis out the pocket on his briefs. "I love when you're naughty." He said as she bent and took him in her mouth. She bobbed on him deeply a few times and pulled her mouth off to speak. "So naughty that you'll have to redden my ass when you fuck me with my ass in the air?" She growled before swallowing him again. Jared could only groan in response as he looked forward to the move to the bedroom. In another campus bedroom June Bokue was making a booty call to her secret oral lover, Marv Hudson. "Hi Marvelous! After we celebrate with the team tonight why don't you stop over?" June asked, glad she had caught him before he left to join the team celebration. "Uh ... uh, you know we aren't leaving the dorm. Coach has us meeting at noon tomorrow. I think he wants to be sure we don't party too much. I want to go to the party." Marv said, making sure she understood he wanted to be with the team and he wasn't trying to avoid her. "Oh no, no ... I'M going to the party at Ethan too. I just wanted to hook up afterwards. I'm not going to drink much, plus you know I always have wine in the room." June said making it clear she wasn't forgoing the party. "Boge makes sure no one drinks too much anyway. He and Jazz are like Den Mothers at these things. Are all three of you going?" Marv wondered. "Oh yeah! As long as that reporter is around we'll all go together and leave together, even though I think she's done with the story. She was at the game today, but I didn't see her afterward ... So I'll see you at the party?." June asked him. The party at Ethan Hall was in the Hall kitchen and adjoining study room where you could eat something quick you made or have morning coffee. It was a players only get-together with only small amounts of dorm-banned alcohol. It was usually a bottle of Jack Daniels or the like, a jug of wine and maybe a couple cases of beer. Few knew who provided the booze to the mostly underage crowd, but as long as it didn't get rowdy and the party didn't seep onto the rest of the campus, no one seemed to care. Like Hudson had told the June Bug, Boge Hollins and Jazz Carey made sure no one got out of hand. Glassy eyes or no-shows at the report card meeting would mean a strict crack down. Coach Winslow kept the Sunday meeting time flexible to assure there were no plans made around it. Altogether about 40 players jammed the party room to celebrate their win that afternoon. Many of the rest of the team were with girlfriends or parents who came to the games and took them out afterwards. The three female team members were treated as "one of the guys" in the celebration and were never exploited, but never left out of good natured kidding and what ever off color antics went on. On this particular night the beer was Blue Moon Belgian White and the "keeper of the beer" required all those wanting a fresh one to stand on the chair and "moon" the party. Two of the girls drank wine, but Oksana liked her beer and had "cheated" the system by having someone get a beer for her. When it was noticed she had a beer and hadn't mooned yet, a chant went up, ... moon, moon, moon! She willingly went up to the keeper, requested a beer, stood on the chair and lowered her team sweats revealing her thonged "moon" to the good natured cheer of the crowd. She was willing to be a sport, despite her embarrassment. The team was tightly knit and getting more so each game. By eleven o'clock the little beer, booze and wine left was cut off and locked in a storage closet, an apparent requirement of whomever provided it. Little by little the party broke up with no one getting too out of hand. The three female Green Aggies left together in a good spirit singing out a laughing off key version of Pink's "Its just You and Your Hand Tonight". However, for at least one of the girls, it would someone else's hand, ... and tongue when Marv called June to have her door open and ready. Marv waited until he was sure every door on his floor was closed before he snuck out the side door and ran avoiding the spotlight at the top of the Quad. He slipped in the propped outside door and into June's dorm unseen. Some of the girls in the dorm may have heard things coming from June's room, but most of them may have had their own private moments as well. "You had an awesome game today Marvie! I was hot for you like a cheerleader all during the 4th quarter." June exclaimed as soon as he got in. "You're not one of those hot pants groupies are you?" He said with an exaggerated hip swivel. "OH GOD! Marvin Hudson you are such a hick some times!" June squealed. "Yeah, like I'm SERIOUS June. Get out of those sweats and I'll show you what you like." Marv said as he peeled off his shirt and loosened his sweats to let them fall to reveal his boxers. June took off a button up pajama top to reveal a sheer cropped tee shirt and pushed her sweats down to show a small white thong before plopping on the bed, spreading her legs and leaning up on her elbows. "I'm getting my period in a day or so and my nipples are tender. Would you like to kiss and suckle them for me?" She asked matter of factly, almost like asking for extra sprinkles on her ice cream. "Uh, ... ummmm, SURE ... you have beautiful titties. You usually aren't so personal." He said after hesitating. "Didn't we agree to take care of each others needs? ... and my nipples need some loving." She said as Marv knelt between her legs and leaned up over her body using both hands to push up her crop-top before leaning on them and giving her breasts the treatment she wanted. "God Marvin, don't bite my nipples, I told you they were tender! That feels so good, my pussy's running like a faucet!" She sing-songed in a gritty voice. Marv kept moving from one boob to the other enjoying her rock hard nipples before he got down to the deed he so enjoyed, slurping her wet slice. He lifted his head from her chest and rose up over her, his face over hers. He was just going to smile and make a crass comment before diving into her pussy, tongue first, but she pushed her face to him and locked her lips to his. The kiss was long and deep, much more than a friends kiss, no matter what the relationship. Marv was enjoying it but suddenly realized it was more than he bargained for and broke it without comment. He sat back on his haunches without making eye contact and reached to each side of her thong and began to pull it down as she raised her legs to accommodate him. The thong was about at her ankles when he held her knees together with both hands and bent to lick the wet pussy framed before him. June's arms shot up and locked around her knees to hold herself in the position Marv put her in. Her pussy was like fresh fruit, her lips pink and puffy in this position with her clit like a little pink cherry that he sucked after gathering the juice the position squeezed from her over ripe fruit. She held her breath as her first spasm came and fulfilled her. When she could stand no more she exhaled hard and swooned dropping her legs hard to the bed, spread as far as they could go. Marv dove in hard with his face and fingers to feed on the nectar he craved. June quickly felt a new orgasm building as Marv worked feverishly to help he get there as well as fulfill his own little pussy eating quirk. He knew of no other way to make a woman eat out of his hand, or more particularly, eat out from between his own legs with all the fervor he applied. She flexed her hips up either to meet his mouth harder or push him away, he wasn't sure, as her pleasure crested. Suddenly she half screamed into her mouth and pushed his head away startling him to sit up and see what she wanted. June scrunched up her legs and quickly flipped over sticking her ass in the air while spreading her knees far while burying her head into the pillow. "You know what I want, Marv, GIVE IT TO ME!!" She ordered him as he looked down at her spread eagle cheeks and legs fully displaying her pussy and pretty asshole. He needed no coaxing to bend forward and lick from her clit all the way through her split over her taint and swabbed her little butt notch before stabbing it with his tongue. His action made her yelp and jump and twist from the position and turn with fire in her eyes. "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING? I WANTED YOU TO FUCK ME YOU SICK BASTARD!" She yelled at him. "Fuck you? NO! We agreed and I promised I wouldn't do that. I thought you wanted your butt eaten, and you've got a sweet one!" He said half shocked, while trying not to laugh. "WHO did you promise?" She demanded. Marv Hudson turned red and looked away for a moment, but then faced her, eye to eye. "Samantha knows I'm getting a little help. She knew when I stopped having phone sex with her. She doesn't know who I'm with and I won't know who she might be with, but we share details. I know it sounds kinky, but it works for us." He said softly. "It sounds a little weird, but at least you're coming to terms with the guilt part. If my boyfriend knew he would be gone in a snap ... you're really into butt hole sex? I mean, you eat her there?" She said as her face turned from soft to wonderment. "You have to admit it felt good, a little strange but pretty sexy. There are some times of the month when the other side is off limits, so we play in the back yard, so to speak." Marv said with an embarrassed grin. "Well, I'm not THAT. I'm sorry if you got the wrong idea. Uhh ... she doesn't know it's anyone on the team, right?" June asked with a worried voice. "Listen, she was pissed at first, but glad I was happy and she knows I love her. She said she understood and can live with it as long as we keep it like it is. She claims she has had the same situation since, but I think she's trying to keep me on guard. It's all weird. But to answer your question, she has no clue WHO." Marv said as June pulled down her crop tee and struggled with her thong and sweatpants, pulling them up. Marv slid off the bed and looked for his shirt when she sat on the edge of the bed and looked up to him. "I'm not throwing you out. Come here, I'll do you." She said with an excited voice. "No, you don't have to. I'm sorry I ruined the mood." He said politely. "Marv, I'm going to stick a finger up my puss and get your hot cock in my mouth. I'm SURE I can recreate the mood for you." She ordered him as he moved in front of her. She pushed his sweats down and slipped her hand through the slash in his boxers and drew out his cock and then fished his balls out as well. "There. A nice package all for me, and look, he's getting in the mood already." She said as she held up his cock to his belly and kissed the underside of the head. Soon the room was full of his gratifying hums of approval and her muffled squeals from around the man meat in her mouth. His breathing quickened as he put a hand on her head, something he knew she liked. Spit, slurp and cum oozed from the edges of her mouth as Marv grunted his load to her. He near lost his balance as he went to step back so he turned and plopped down on the bed as she did the same. He looked at the clock and saw 12:30 and closed his eyes for a moment. The next thing he knew it was 5:45 and he got up, covered her, pushing her legs onto the bed. He slipped out, went home and set his alarm keeping a mental reminder to call her so she didn't miss the report card meeting later that day. He fell asleep thinking how nice it would have been to fuck June, but glad he had kept his promise to Samantha. June was 6 inches taller and 30 pounds or more heavier than his girl and he was sure she was a tiger with a cock in her. He smiled as he drifted off knowing he could have had her, and he had tasted her ass. That, coupled with Saturday's win cleared his mind for a satisfying 5 more hours of sleep. ------- Chapter 32 Waking Sunday morning after the win was one of the joys of coaching. Jared only wished Meg had felt better the night before. She wondered if she had eaten something bad at the game, but was unable to pin it down. Jared had fallen asleep massaging her troubled belly hoping to calm it enough for her to fade away herself. As his eyes adjusted to the room he realized he was alone in the bed and the clock read 10:10. He heard the din of the TV and knew Declan had gotten up and probably woke his Mother. He quickly played the game back in his head and enjoyed every millisecond of the condensed playback. He peeled back the cover to jump from the bed when he saw a towel laying over a spot just midway just midway on Meaghan's side. He picked it up to reveal a large blood soaked stain on the sheet and most likely into the mattress. "Damn", He thought to himself, "She must have gotten her period over night, obviously sneaking up on her." Jared made his way top the living room and found Declan watching his TV shows with Meg reclined on the sofa, half asleep. He tousled Declan's hair and gave him a kiss on the top of the head and went and kneeled by Meg's side. ""Mommy doesn't feel good Coach." Declan whispered as she opened her eyes. "Curse snuck up on you huh? Was that what had you sick last night?" He said low for her. "Yes," She said running her hand up his arm to pull him nearer for a kiss on the cheek. "And I was about 5 days late and a little worried too. This was the first new patch from the ones with this doctor, new brand, new dose, and Meaghan's plumbing is apparently having a bit of a snit with it." She said, speaking of herself in the third person. "God, I was a mess and what you saw was WITH a pad. When I first woke up I wondered if I was having morning sickness! Then I had wicked cramps and even wondered if I was miscarrying. I mean, I NEVER have bad periods. I've been flowing heavy and passing clots, what a mess. I'm sorry to gross you out and ruin our day." She apologized. "For God's sake, don't apologize. I worry about you, are you OK now?" He asked. "I think so, I even called by new gyno's service and spoke to them, explained it and he called me back already, saying I should have gone a month without anything before starting again. He made the call back then and I agreed to it. My period usually only lasts a day or two and we have sex right through it and you wouldn't barely know it, most of the time." She said as her face brightened and pulled him closer to kiss again, this time on the lips. Holding him closely she smiled and confided, "Don't worry, I'll still take care of you later when we have our Sunday "alone time". I don't want either one of us to miss that." She said with a sexy smirk. "You worry about feeling better, I can wait for that. We have our whole lives." He said with a smile, pulling back. She pulled him closer quickly. "I WANT that, feeling close to you. That WILL make me feel better!" She said sincerely. He grinned and winked before moving away to let her rest as he went to the kitchen to find breakfast, with Declan padding behind. "Mommy made oatmeal with "cimmanin" maple, and raisins, and I left some for you on the hot spot." The boy said, pointing to the pot sitting over the warming circle. "Mommy left the pot on the table and went to lay down, so I put it up there for you." He said proudly. Jared picked him up, hugged him and thanked him before serving himself a bowl of the Vermont specialty. He had enough time for breakfast and a shower before meeting with his victorious team. At 11:45 players and coaches began to drift into the locker room area and meeting rooms at Meditek Stadium. At about 5 until noon Boge Hollins and Jazz Carey began going down a roster list to see if anyone was missing. Jazz stood on a stool and called out names of faces he didn't see. "Whiskey? Anyone seen Jack? ... and Benny, has anyone seen Ben Breen?" Jazz hollered over the low din. Barry Wicker, a defensive line coach and assistant spoke up. "Jack was excused for a family thing they have today, his whole family flew in and Ben's Mom is real sick, he went home Friday. He asks you remember her in your prayers, if you're so inclined." Barry said as he was taking his own roll on a clipboard. Ben was one of 3 red-shirted players who didn't practice on Fridays before games or suit up, but were required to be at all team meetings. The sound of Coaches coming up the hall made Barry Wicker turn to the assembled players and yell, "OK, stools, stools everybody!" The room quickly quieted and each player sat at the foot of their locker looking to the podium. As Jared stood before them and began to grin uncontrollably, the players began to applaud as if on cue. As the applause died shouts of CLICK again waved over the room. "Thank you everyone, but it's YOU I have to applaud. Big hearts, big plays, ... a real smart game. There's not an ounce of give-up in any of you. Superb execution of a game plan even if we had to tweak. Above all, taking advantage of other teams mistakes. They give you breaks, you take them. It's the sign of a great team. I think we're headed that way. We're going to make some noise and your efforts are not going by un-noticed. Mikki Martin's article is being picked up for Tuesday's edition of SI and we'll be on the cover barring any last minute sports bulletins. She just called me and faxed the copy of the story. Someone is out making a copy for each of you and we'll get the magazine for all of you when it comes out. I'll read the whole thing to you as it stands right now. She assured me that this is the full copy, things may get cut, but nothing added. So, here goes..." (Reading aloud from a faxed copy) Although having female members on a NCAA Division One football team has been done before, it has always been nothing much more than a stunt. For one of the most successful coaches in Division Two Football to graduate to Division One and try to add not one, but two women athletes, and to even red shirt another, it again seems like a stunt to draw attention to his program. But for Coach Jared "Winning" Winslow, nothing could be further from the truth. When 2 women come in and flat out beat any men vying for their positions he had no other choice but to add them and they are already paying off dividends for him. Amazingly, his third female footballer, who is currently red-shirted to leave 4 years of eligibility intact, could easily walk on and take a position on the team. As a matter of fact, in the event of a serious injury, she's quite prepared to do just that. Meet Oksana Cushman, Julie Murcer and June Bokue, the 3 female student athletes currently involved with The New England Agricultural and Technological Schools Division One NCAA Division One football program. (3 short biographies of their school and sports experience will appear with High School yearbook photos) None of the 3 are intimidated by walking into a locker room with 67 other male athletes to dress for the days practice schedule. The only difference from the other almost 70 locker positions is that they have a private shielded area in which to change, but still hear the teammate chatter and cajoling that comes with playing the sport. They even come out to lace up their football shoes on their stools as the others dress. A plastic shield hung in the middle of the room protects the other players dressing stalls that are in eye reach. The footballing ladies only restriction is walking freely beyond their spot in the locker room. "Being all together reinforces the "team" concept. We know what's going on with everyone else, know all the team jokes, you know, the "inside" stuff. The kidding, ball-busting ... well, maybe that's a bad way to put it ... but all the things you might expect from a large group of 60 or 70 young college kids." Julie Murcer told me as I sat beside her lacing up my own cleats to go out and have a work out with the group. I sat in the fourth unused stall, 20 minutes before players started showing up, trying to figure out what pieces of equipment went on where as I dressed to take part in Wednesdays workout and practice session. Once the team arrived I sat quietly and listened, unbeknownst to the rest of the team, to get an inkling in the locker room gabbing if any of the damning internet chatter that has appeared in blog-posts about what goes on in this co-ed locker room were true. After doing that, then going out onto the field with the team to work out and later talk with several members of the NEAT squad I came to one conclusion; Everything you've heard and read is false. The respect these players have for each other is tremendous and if co-captain Boge Hollins had an inkling of any such activity it would stop immediately. Although only a freshman, he has quickly made an impression on his teammates to be a leader and inspiration. Even Seniors like Jack "Whiskey" Daniels have conceded overall control of the team heartbeat to Hollins. The Senior players on the team saw a changing of the guard with the new head coach and then were bowled over by the leadership Hollins exhibited. They all agreed to forego the traditional playful hazing of freshman players. "Boge Hollins came from a high school football program that was as intense as any in this conference, at least up until now." Said the stand-out offensive center Daniels. " He quickly changed a lot of the attitudes we had here. I didn't know what to expect when I read all of the things about him and his background. When he came in here he laid all of his cards on the table and he has given us no reason to doubt his heart or talent. Once it became apparent that we would be a co-ed team he was the first one to talk about a hazing ban because of the implications that might be drawn when it involved any of the girls. He's been victim of rumor and innuendo and so, keeps a sharp eye on the horizon. He's earned all of the admiration any of us have for him." Jack Daniels feelings were echoed by other players I spoke to on the team. There is far too much respect for each other on this squad to think that anything written on the internet could be anything but fabrication. Coach Winslow has instilled a goal, a mission in each of them. Kemmer Brooks is a junior and was the offensive star of this team before Boge Hollins got here to take the brunt of the running duties and Tim Waters became the quarterbacks favorite target. But Brooks can do everything on offense, and do it well. He has a chance to go in the 1st to 3rd rounds of the draft when he graduates, at least that's what NFL touts are talking right now. He's the ultimate all-purpose back. He was the diamond in the rough picked by former NFL and NEAT coach Sherm Woodard to be the horse of this team. Losing the limelight hasn't bothered Brooks at all and is a prime example of the T-E-A-M mentality of the group, plus he knows he'll be able to showcase all of his skills in his last two years. He was philosophical when we spoke; "We know we aren't going to be a national champion or anything, and at least this year, maybe not even be the best team in our conference. But, as long as we earn respect in the NorthEast Ten and give each team a run for the money each Saturday, we can look in the mirror and know we've improved that much more with each game. We've felt that way with each game so far, win or lose. We keep surprising ourselves. Coach Winslow has a way of bringing out the best in everyone. We aren't fooling ourselves to think that we can play with established conferences, with the Longhorns or Gators, but our time will come and those teams will have to move over eventually. I know one thing, they have no more heart than we do." Of the three females team members, the one who expected to feel the most pressure was June Bokue. While the other two co-ed's on the team are kickers, June is a wide receiver and will take time away from an established male player once she cracks the line-up. But, her teammates see that she works as hard or harder than any player every day she practices. June is being red-shirted for the year, not playing in any official games, although she did play in scrimmages in the practice season. Her school studies will require 5 years, maybe 6 to complete. She will have practiced with the team, been with the team for a year when she comes in next year and should have no problem making the squad. She's not a small girl, but not husky by any stretch. At 5' 9" she looks somewhat masculine in her uniform, she's sneaky fast and has great hands. Walking around campus in her jeans and a crop-top tee all the guys make no mistake about her being "feminine" as she can easily turn heads. Of her situation with the team, June says: "The team had no punter any where near as skilled as Oksana, so it was easy for the team to accept her. It was obvious that Brian (Faraday) would be the predominant place-kicker in the conference and not many guys are going out for 2nd string place kicker, so Julie also adapted easily. But I know, and I've proved, that I can play at this level. I'm not trying to push anyone to the bench, but as good as this team gets this year, I'm very confident I can make them better next year. I wanted a chance and they busted my butt for the first week of practice to break me and I'm still here. Everyone has been fair and respectful all of the time. My high school program was run by Gary Gray, a disciple of Coach Winslow, so I knew what to expect." Julie Murcer came to the team on a whim and was asked to take it more seriously by Coach Winslow and Brian Faraday. "Administration paired me up with Oksana during Freshman Orientation because of our backgrounds. I was with Okkie when Coach Pressley called her and told her to be sure to try out this year, that there was a new regime. I went along as somewhat of a joke, almost a dare. I helped Brian work out a few kinks in his style (as placekicking was new to the soccer star) and before I knew it they asked me to suit up and take a few shots. That's the short version, but pretty much the way it happened." I'm a sports reporter who has covered mostly female Olympians, but not exclusively. I've been in lots of locker rooms. Most were "all female" in an Olympic setting. Whenever I was in a traditional male locker room, as soon as I stepped in there were hoots and cat calls from the back of those halls and shower rooms. "Smooth-bottom in the house", "The other team is here", "Cover 'em up, peeker on board" and "Lady shopping" are just a few of the things I've heard trying to get an interview, or background for a story. I've had to swallow my pride and hold my journalistic integrity up like a shield to get my story. This locker room was not like that. Men and women came and went through this locker room as equals with a common goal amongst them. They respect each other. Are there sexual innuendos and sexist comments tossed about? These are college aged young men and women with hormones raging, what would you expect? Is any of it done to hurt or disrespect any one person or group? Not a chance. As a reporter I was told where I could and couldn't go in the room to avoid personal embarrassment,. But I was not restricted in any way, it was my choice. When I sat covertly in an empty women's dressing stall and listened to the work-a-day proceedings unfold for a normal practice, I heard nothing to make me think there were any problems here. I wondered if there were any male/female relationships that developed among the team. Coach Winslow made it clear to all that such relationships were unhealthy for the team and if they developed he would only deal with them if problems arose. I got the feeling that if anything wanted to develop, the players involved would hold their hormones and urges at bay until seasons end. I did feel there may have been a few casual encounters among the team, but nothing overtly advertised to the team or public eye, just as they may occur in any workplace, or co-ed dormitory, for that matter. From what I know and what I've seen from talking to male counterparts who cover college football exclusively, I have to ask one question; If any of these women were in the Big Ten, Pac-10 or any other Division 1A schools, could they crack the line-ups? While not a consensus, the answer is probably YES. Naysayers worry about the hits, whether a woman can take it as well as a man. The women themselves insist they can and show no outward fear. While not as tall as some of her male counterparts, Oksana Cushman seems to be as sized and skilled as any punter, her average yardage and hang-time at or near the league lead. Julie Murcer lacks the size to be considered seriously, however, consider that while playing in one of the toughest high school conferences in the country she never missed an extra point or field goal of 35 yards or less. While 2nd string place-kicker seems a thankless job, there are probably none anywhere in college football as skilled. June Bokue seems to be another story altogether. Players and coaches alike tell me she could step in and be the key receiver on this squad, and many others as well. While certainly feminine in her street clothes, she has the size, the speed, the moves and the hands of a gifted receiver. In scrimmages versus real opponents and intra-team play she wouldn't give anyone the impression she "was a girl". She was smart to avoid the limelight of being "the girl" on this team because of the intense pressure it would bring. Unless the team really needs her, she plans on keeping her 4 years of eligibility for her last four years of the program she is taking. Oksana Cushman has successfully broken the female player stigma, at least in this conference, as an everyday player making great contributions to a team effort. June Bokue wants to jump on that same train. " ... and then there will be a wrap-up paragraph, updating the fact that we WON YESTERDAY." Coach Winslow said as the group cheered and "clicked" before Coach put up his hands to quiet them. "There will also be an inset article on me, I'm proud to say." He said pausing for more cheers to his embarrassment. " ... and there will be another small inset on Brain Faraday, noting the fact he also plays on the Soccer squad while being in the National Collegiate Top 10 in scoring..." He added to more cheers from the group around a red-faced Brian. "I hope this squashes some of the blog rumors that were passed around and shuts up the PC crowd who want to protect persons who don't need protecting. I like to think that every member of this team feels they are treated fairly and with respect to any issue they have in life, be it their country, color, religion or gender or even gender preference. If anyone doesn't feel that way you know you can find an open door at my office, with the AD or even Dean Crawford to discuss any one whom you think is not giving you a fair shake. YOU are a great bunch of young men and women and I can say after a short time here, despite my years at Vermont Valley Tech, as a group you are the best team I have ever coached. Rebuilding a broken system is tough, but I've never had a group of young people who WANT respect as badly as you do. Workouts today are voluntary and no attendance will be taken. Relax, enjoy your day and be ready to go to work tomorrow at 3:00. We go to White Mountains U in New Hampshire next Saturday. They are 1-3 but did give Providence Tech a scare in week 2, so don't expect a pushover. Unless anyone has an issue?... (Pause)... (silence) ... DISMISSED!" Jared finished with a shout. Most of the players gathered some personal things and were off to enjoy the late fall spring-like weather. Not having to work out or study playbooks was a real treat and everyone appreciated it. The stadium was empty in the matter of a few minutes with just a few janitorial people working the kitchens and shower areas. Jared sat at his desk and reflected a few minutes on the win and the fact he would have the afternoon alone to tend to Meaghan once Declan went to the neighbors to play and then go to story hour at the library. Before he left he wanted to go out and look at he field and let the thrill of the previous day's before victory wash over him again. He walked up his hallway and into the kitchen and food prep area and through the access door into the stands where the vendors began hawking their goodies. As he scanned out over the field, leaning on the rail, something caught his eye in the mezzanine overhang where the broadcast, scorers, and spotters booths were located. It looked like a woman with long blonde hair lying on one of the tables in one of the booths, and a man was bending over her. His interest piqued, he took a small digital camera from his brief and used the zoom to bring the image closer. With only a 3X zoom he did confirm that it was a woman with long blonde hair lying prone, legs in the air, and a man (presumably) with long ponytail, with his face between her legs. While chuckling at the situation, he wondered how they got into the stadium and took out his house pager and pushed the "all stations" button. "Security, this is Coach Winslow. We have a breach up in one of the radio booths. Apparently a young man and his girl making whoppee." He said chuckling. "I don't know how they got in, but we should be interested how." "Copy that, we're on our way up. There's only two of us so hang around, OK coach?" Came the response, almost immediately. Looking back over to the booths, he saw movement and by the time he got his zoom fixed on the spot again the couple was gone. "They're on the move! Can they hit any exit?" Coach said into the "all stations" key. "No, every exit except players and kitchen are key bolted and alarmed." Said the guard, obviously huffing and puffing a bit, talking as he ran. "We're going up the express escalator shafts to the mezzanine. God I wish they were on." He said with a chuckle. After 4 or 5 minutes the call came over the pager that security had found no one, but they must still be in the stadium. "I'll go to the players and kitchen exit then." Coach said into his unit. Jared backtracked through the vendors egress and the kitchen to the players locker area to where he could see both exits that were unlocked at the back of the stadium. He just got to the outer vestibule when he ran into Joe Barber and his wife Belle. "I heard your call on the pager as we were walking by. Have you found anyone yet?" Joe Barber asked. "No, did you see anyone outside?" Jared asked. "No!" "Keep an eye on the back exits, I'll get back with security!" Jared told him as he turned and retraced his steps. He was just getting to the vendors area when he stopped dead in his tracks. "Joe and Belle?" He thought to himself. "It sort of adds up. He's fixated on looks and even though they've both dyed their hair, were they wearing wig hats and role playing?" He saw an intercom phone and noted the number. "Joe!" He called on the house pager. "Call me on intercom 134." Moments later the phone rang and Jared answered. "Joe, before we tear this place apart looking for a couple of bare assed hippies, is there a blonde wig and a ponytail headband in that bag you two are carrying?" Jared asked in a wry tone. "Hang on," Joe said as he turned to Belle, "Belle, you go ahead home, I'll help Jared track down the intruders." Jared heard her say "OK" and the door swing open and shut. "Yes Jared, that's what in the bag." He said sheepishly and embarrassed. Jared took the house pager and pressed "all stations" again. "Let's call it off, Joe Barber saw a couple streaking through the parking lot and get into a car as he and his wife were walking by. Whoever they were, they got away." Jared told the security staff. "Joe, I'm going to pull rank on you here, IN MY OFFICE, NOW!" Coach Winslow said in a way he thought he may never speak to the man who hired him. The two men walked into the office and Jared slammed the door. "What are you?... 18 and in high school? You breach security, get two guards racing around the building so the two of you can get your jollies off? Don't you have a bedroom?" Jared asked with his hands on his hips. "We really didn't think anyone would be here today and it was for the excitement of it. Since we've gotten our act together again we're like newlyweds, or rabbits." He said with an embarrassed grin. "Do you mean to say that getting her to dye her hair and drop a couple pounds has made you horny as a teenager again? For Crissake, she's been humping anything that looked at her twice trying to get attention. Hopefully nobody was stupid enough to screw the AD's wife behind his back. I could have had her at the picnic last fall. She hiked her pants up so tight in her sisters living room I could see she was shaved and she ran her finger through it. You needed her to dye her hair to see she was hot? Turn off the fucking lights in the bedroom and make her anyone you want!" Coach told him, no matter how much it hurt. "You don't have to tell me I was stupid Jared! My head was up my ass to far I couldn't see the light of day as bright as she tried to shine it. When she said she was leaving, it hit like a ton of bricks. She told me she led a lot of guys on, but wouldn't really have done anything until she left me. I almost lost her Jared!" Joe Barber snapped back. Jared just shook his head and wanted to laugh, but was still too upset over the calamity they could have caused. "She wanted me to eat her on the scorers table in long blonde hair like she used to have and me in my pony tail. What can I tell you, she gets kinky and I get nuts for her." Joe said as a smile crept across her face. "Way too much information Joe, but just be careful! If you didn't have the house pager with you today, you would have been caught. THAT would have been embarrassing." He warned Joe. "Thanks for bailing me out. I'll be more discreet on campus. Thanks for understanding." Joe told him as he stood and shook Jared's hand. "Understand? Nah! I'm not even married yet. Hang on to those wigs, maybe I'll need them someday." Jared said with a laugh as they walked out together. Jared got into his car and dialed home on his cell to be sure there was nothing Meg needed to get through the day. "Hi lover!" She answered seeing the caller ID. "You sound a little more chipper than this morning. How are you doing?" He asked. "A lot better, it feels like the worst has passed. Declan just left to go with Denault's. I'm going to get in the shower and wait for you. Will you be long?" She asked with an unexpected sexiness in her voice. "Are you sure you're not rushing things, maybe you should take it easy." He warned her. "I'll see you when you get here." She answered in a sexy lilt and hung up. Meaghan was just getting out of the shower when Jared came into the bedroom. She was in a silk robe she liked to wear when they were about to get sexy. "Meggie, my little sweetheart, you don't have to do anything to "service" me if you don't feel well. I'm not, and we aren't, deprived in that department." Jared said going to her to hug her. She hugged him back and pulled back to look him square in the eye. "If I wasn't in the mood for you or didn't feel up to anything, I would tell you right away honey. We have some alone time during the week when we make it for ourselves, but these Sunday afternoons are exquisite, like when we were single, err ... like when I was single and we dated, ... you know what I mean. I like having you all to myself, and more importantly, you having me all to myself, not having to worry about waking him or him walking in. No, we can't make love like we normally do, but I think I can make you pretty happy, and pleasing you is important, and very sexy, to me." She said as she stepped back and let the silk robe slide off her shoulders to reveal she was only wearing a small pink thong that covered her mound and little more. Her full breasts hung perfectly, her tender nipples were pert and bright from her hot shower, and possibly a little pulling trying to solve the ache her period had caused. She looked so delicious that he would have loved to eat through her thong to taste her pussy and drive her to orgasm, but the red surprise her thong hid stunted his hunger. Nonetheless, he swept her into his arms and laid her on the bed, taking one of her nipples in his mouth to soothe and suckle before moving to the other. All the while he kneaded and squeezed her shapely ass. "Oh God, Jared! You're driving me crazy! Let me have at your cock! I want to taste it and feel it throb in my mouth. You're driving me crazy!" Meg said a she squirmed away from his mouth and hands and slid to the floor. She knelt up and reached for his shoed foot and pulled him nearer, untying the lace on one and then the other shoe, taking them off. She peeled each sock off as he swung his legs over the side of the mattress to either side of her. She put her hands high on the inside of his thighs and ran them up over his pants until they trapped his package and she could lightly squeeze his balls. "We can't fuck, but I won't miss the chance to be alone with you and show you how much I love you. We shouldn't waste our alone time while we have it." She said as she reached one hand up to fumble with his belt buckle. Jared reached down and helped her get his pants undone and once they were she pulled them down with his underwear as he lifted his butt to help her. She smiled as his already excited cock and balls came into view. Once his pants were out of the way entirely she stroked and fondled both of his sexual play toys while fixing her eyes to his and licking her lips. "Remember when we would sneak off in my grandfathers maple grove? We sixty-nined on that blanket so many times until I got on the pill..." She reminisced as she played. She knelt up straight off her haunches, keeping her eyes on his and her smile wide until her mouth went over the seeping head of his cock. Jared's torso fell back flat onto the bed as the sensation overtook him. He quickly propped back up to watch her hungrily slide her mouth over and over him. He never knew a woman who didn't love to suck, but none loved to suck more that Meaghan. Once her senses were piqued by the smell and taste she became almost feral in her hunger, something he knew well from his own reactions to tasting her pussy, especially since she started keeping it smooth for him. Looking down over her, past her busy head, her hips swayed in a sexual rhythm making her round cheeks seem to hump the air as the pink patch of her thong that showed above the tempting cleft of her ass rolled with her. Her muffled little squeals told him she was getting more pre-cum as she relished in the taste and thought of him exploding in her mouth. Then she suddenly lifted her head from him and smiled wide with a devilish grin. "You can't fuck my pussy, but I've GOT to have you inside me. Get what we need to bottom-fuck me. I want to feel you pound me with my ass in the air." She said with determination, knowing he might try to talk her out of it, knowing her female condition. He looked at her questioningly and she just nodded to him, determined passion in her eyes. His saliva wet cock wanted satisfaction as he slid open the top drawer of the dresser that hid a selection of lubricants, condoms and sex toys. He sometime wondered if they were sex obsessed when he would see the array of colorful condoms, flavored lubricants, plugs, vibrators and the like. But, they both had been in highly charged sexual relationships that went down in their own ways leaving each of them without the natural release of partnered sex. Reviving their relationship left each of them with a sense of "catching up", as well as making sure their mutual love was evident to each other. Jared took out a lubricant specifically made for the pleasure they sought and picked up a blue hard gel toy with 5 graduated bulbs made for stretching just the place he sought to be. "No, honey. Just you tonight. I'm sure the meds I'm taking for coping with this damn curse have me relaxed a little. I need to feel YOU!" She said as she looked back over her shoulder as she placed herself on the bed. She knelt on the edge of the bed with her knees together, self conscious of the string that dangled out of her pussy and the mini-pad pasted in her thong. She had pulled the gusset aside to allow him access to her little rosette. In this position she felt he would be less likely to cause a mess with the result of her flow. Jared put the toy back in the drawer and turned to see the round split of the ass he adored with her looking back to him with a devilish grin. "THAT'S how you want it?" He asked "I don't need to display the badlands. You know how cute my pootie is when it's well." She said anxiously. Jared flipped open the tube and drizzled some of the super slick lube into the cleft between her pretty cheeks and used his middle finger to follow it's path until he reached her little notch where he pushed into her, surprised at how easy she yielded. "Oooo yeah, baby! Get naughty with your little ass whore" She yelped as she craned her neck up before looking back to him and smiled. "You know I don't like you calling yourself those names!" He said as he busied himself plugging his middle finger in and out of her. "Maybe you should spank me for being so bold." She whined breathlessly, getting used to the intrusion. Instantly, his other hand rained down with a full hard slap on her bottom. "Oh God, Jared! Get in me! Spank your bad little girl!" She cried out as his finger slid out of her and he added more lube to his hand to coat his cock with. When he finished he rubbed the excess on his hands over the roundness of her ass, giving her bottom a sheen to increase the sting of the next full hand spank he applied to the opposite side he cracked moments before. She cried out and sucked in her breath, lowering her head arching herself up to offer herself to him. He held his cock and drizzled a little lube on the tip and then straddled her legs, using one hand to zero in the target and the other to place himself at the entrance to her warm rear channel. She made no sound except for the catch of breath as he entered her and held himself to her. The two remained silent until she relaxed her back and shoulders seeming to melt into the bed covers. "I needed you sooo much right now. I wanted to share your joy today and was afraid I couldn't, but now it's all right. Make love to me." She said as her face rested on one cheek and spoke softly to him. The naughty school girl act asking for a spanking, the hungry whore act, they both melted away having served as the tease to excite and incite her lover. He bent and held her tightly before relenting his hold to begin to rut on her as his movements began to affect her. Her fingers gripped the bed covers and her back would steel as the waves leading to her orgasm began to come over her. Her one hand had snuck under her to hold her pussy over the patch of thong that protected it. The press of her fingers to her mound and clit served to connect the deep vaginal and anal stimulation of the associated ball of nerves to make her orgasm rise. Soon the room filled with just the animal sounds pleasure from their mouths as he pounded her for his own pleasure that she felt rise. Her shoulders rounded and her back stiffened as she moaned before deep a guttural scream or squeal came from deep within her chest as he straightened and slapped hard at her haunches with his hips as his orgasm drained into her being. In moments the room was silent except for the sound of heavy breathing returning to normal and the rude sounds of air passing through the gurgle of escaping semen from where he deposited it. They held each other tightly until they garnered the strength to get up and go to the shower together to rinse and clean themselves before her son returned. The victory had become sweeter; his mission at University had become more qualified being able to share it so passionately with the woman he loved so. A life that had seemed to be missing so much, was beginning to fill in even faster than he had ever expected. ------- Chapter 33 Mid-November brought on the first snows of a Vermont Winter and stadium crews were busy clearing the field so Jared Winslow could take his 5-4 overall, 4-3 in conference, Green Aggies to the field for Thursdays practice. Despite the pressure on the crews to get the stadium ready for Saturday's full house against Jersey State U, Fridays forecast promised more snow. Temperatures wouldn't get much below 28, but they probably wouldn't see the sun anytime before Sunday, so a melt off was likely out of the equation. There were hot spots built into the stadium seating where if you moved snow in that area it would melt and drain off. Otherwise it was moved, piled or trucked out. It was an arduous task but the staff was up to it. They knew getting the field clear for practice was job one, and it was done. Jared sat behind his desk and fantasized what a 7-3 finish would be in the conference. Providence was 6-1 and had a softer schedule to finish, so thoughts of finishing at the head of the conference were probably folly. He really felt that 7 wins would almost guarantee him a secondary bowl invitation. With 40 bowls broadcast on National Television and another 5 or so broadcast regionally, certainly the factors of having female contributing members and (currently) the nations leading scorer, not to mention a top 3 rusher, all added up to some interest. Bowls led to money for the University and the more well known the bowl, the more it meant when recruiting. But, there would be no 7th win without the 5th win and that was his goal for the moment. Jersey State was only 2-5 after being touted as a conference powerhouse. Injuries had broken their season, but they were getting players back this week to help them offensively, but probably not enough to spell a win for them. Jared knew that for them to win he had to keep his team within itself and their game plan without being over confident. No one would have guessed that the poised quarterback that was calling half of his offense' own plays was playing in just his 10th game at the position. Marv Hudson was so natural at the position, and as a leader, he no longer needed the push from Boge Hollins to force himself to trust his instincts. Calling a play while looking intently into Boge's eyes for a nod of approval was a thing of the past. Boge intentionally made no eye contact with him during the huddle to show his trust. If left to his own mind, Hudson would open a total air assault offense, he felt so confident, but he trusted the better judgment of his coach. The balance of showing what he was capable of and the constant threat of Hollins breaking loose kept defenses on their toes and second guessing. Third down plays where he wanted to go for the big score, Coach would send in a conservative choice, happy to settle for the "sure 3" rather than risk the interception in the smaller scope of playing field. Coach Winslow knew the talent that Hudson had and wanted no chance of breaking his confidence with interceptions at this early stage of his maturation. He had more college years to spend his talents while he learned the intricacies of the position in his nascent stages. Frank Ruffen was working his defense as hard as he ever had in preparing for the Jersey State game. Jerseys backfield would be playing only their third game this season as a whole unit after losing their Quarterback and key running back in a botched reverse during week 2. A blitzing defender and both Jersey State players met at one time resulting in severe neck and shoulder injuries. Frank didn't think they would be playing with the same flair they were known for, but still he wanted to prepare his squad. One constant reminder was footing, and that New England Ag could practice on the frozen and slippery field and get to know the quirks of how you might react to sudden moves. "On pass plays anticipate where that ball should be when it's passed. There's bound to be missed steps and balls flying to places where nobody ain't." Frank said in his homey way. "When you're playing the ball it's easy, but when you're in that 10 yard zone from scrimmage and you're playing the man and he loses the step or goes down, GET THAT BALL!" He told them each day after the snows hit, convinced that his boys who practiced in the cold and snow had the advantage. Where there would be heaters on the sideline for the game, Jared insisted on practicing without them. He felt it eased the pressure you felt in practice all week and got your head more into the game and less worried about the conditions on game day. Defensive Assistants Barry Wicker and Ben Elgart were going through the whole team man for man, all squads, showing them ways to keep warm and what you could wear that wouldn't impede your game. Both of them played their college ball in Minnesota and each did parts of seasons in the NFL in Green Bay and Detroit. They knew the cold and how to handle it in case anyone was new to it. By game time on Saturday conditions had improved a bit, with the promise of sunshine during the first half, but they had gotten an additional four inches of snow late Friday afternoon. Bulked up crews with lots of student and alumni volunteers got the field and stands ready for the sell-out crowd. Most of the players were in early, not quite knowing what to expect. Some were already dressed and on their stools as others arrived. It was obvious there was a quiet nervous air about the clubhouse. Julie Murcer had just stripped down to her panty and realized she had forgotten to bring an anti-friction cream she used for her breast and nipples before she put her protective Zena gear on. She slipped into her shower robe and went back from her privacy panel to her bag next to her stool. As she bent to get the tube she needed her robe fell open. She panicked at first but realized she was pretty much alone in the front of the clubhouse locker room area as she pulled the tube out and closed her robe to go back to behind the privacy panel. When she looked up Gerry Granahan stood there with a grin on his face and instead of being embarrassed, she just smiled at him before slipping back around the panel. She hadn't been with a man for weeks since Brian and she had broken off their affair and suddenly she felt naughty and happy she had made the faux pas. During pre-game warm-ups, cool down and Coach Winslow's pre-game talk she tried to make eye contact with Gerry, but he seemed aloof and disinterested. She hadn't meant to overtly flirt and apparently he hadn't taken any unintended bait. Brian's girlfriend wouldn't be out of the picture in the States until after Holiday break, she didn't want to wait that long for some sexual relief, but she had to be careful as well. Jersey won the coin toss and wanted the ball first, hoping to come out with their refurbished offense and make a statement. On their first play from scrimmage they connected for a 47 yard pass play that brought them deep into NEAT territory. From the 33 they used a draw that was good for 11 yards more down to the Green Aggies 22. Frank Ruffen and Coach Winslow were screaming mad on the sidelines about missed assignments. On the next play Jersey ran a little turnout, fake inside and turn out for the ball in your chest as you went out of bounds. On the inside fake the receiver went down on one knee as "Tee" Smythe thundered past the flailing receiver and picked the ball in full stride for an 80 yard scamper to the end zone. The Green Aggies had played sloppy and got a break. Brian Faraday begged off the extra point try, saying he felt sick. It was a move Julie felt was a peace offering for her, but if it was he played it to the hilt, vomiting near the end of the bench while she converted to the delight of the fans. While Marv Hudson took his offense on to the field Frank Ruffen was tearing new anal openings for the line backers and linemen. "You take our defense to THEM!" He bellowed. "You're sitting back waiting for a mistake and you got lucky! PRESSURE, PRESSURE!! Read him at the line. He ran that play because he thinks he can pass at will. If he gets confident he'll walk all over you." Frank said sputtering, he was so mad. He schooled them all week on how good the Jersey State Quarterback was, one Verne Ferry, whose nickname was "Elway". He was coming back from a partially separated shoulder and strain and warned not to let him get too comfortable. Meanwhile Marv Hudson was fashioning one of his patented 10 plus play drives, eating up the field in small bites and converting 3rd down plays. At the Jersey 29 with 2nd down and 6 he looked to see if Brian Faraday was warming up. He wasn't, but he was up and walking. Marv didn't want to go to a third down where Coach would send in a play designed to put them in position for the sure field goal. When Marv called "26 Hot Pass Flicker" for Gerry Granahan's number he looked up to Boge and Boge just rolled his eyes and smiled. Successful for not, Coach Winslow was going to tell Marv he was showboating. With the lead, it was a very un-Marv call as he had been trained. If other teams watched game films as intently as the Green Aggie staff did, he wouldn't be able to make this call the rest of the year. He had done it twice already in like situations. As he flicked his wrist on the fake to the sidelines, Granahan's defender slipped in front of him and then fell on the sloppy turf. Granahan got 5 big strides in before turning over his left shoulder to see the ball spiraling into his arms. While Brian Faraday was trying to convince Ira Pressley and Coach Winslow that he was OK, Julie Murcer converted her second extra point of the day. Jordy Alford and Coach Winslow lauded Marv for his execution of his play call, but he was ripped to shreds for making the play near unusable in any similar situation. For a Jared Winslow offense it was an unnecessary risk inside the 30 when you already had the lead. With a sure footed kicker Jared had made a successful career of eating the clock and taking things in 3 point bites. He liked to show long air gains in the middle of the field with the lead. "Let them know you have the gun, but keep it in the holster until you really need it." Marv ran the offense in just such a manner for the rest of the half as the defense tightened and the Green Aggies went into the locker room at half time with a 23-9 lead. Brian Faraday apologized to the team for getting sick. He insisted that he had not drank too much the night before, but had had a large dinner with his girlfriend and she had made him breakfast that morning and warm-ups had brought it all up. He had gotten some good natured ribbing, but since he had punched through 3 field goals in the half he was easily forgiven. The sun had come out near the end of the half and Coaches warned everyone that the field may be getting slicker. "Jersey is going to make adjustments on the field to try and make up the score so keep your head about you. I'm guessing they'll work more on the ground game and try to see what pass defenses open up. We'll do our best to keep the ball as long as we can and force them into mistakes. If we can add points when we get the ball to open the half they will need 3 scores to catch or tie us. They'll take risks, that's where we beat them. We keep to the game plan and we try to make the field conditions work FOR us." Coach Winslow said in his closing remarks to end the halftime. The game plan may have been to keep the ball as long as possible, but someone should have told Boge Hollins. On the third play from scrimmage, after a short return, a third and one play, Hollins broke free for a 73 yard touchdown run after spinning free from a would be tackler after cutting right after breaking the line. Green Aggie defense tightened after consecutive pass play advances and made Jersey settle for another field goal. At 30-12 the NEAT lead was comfortable but not at the "3 score" threshold where Coach felt comfortable. However, on another 3rd and short yardage play Jersey, while apparently trying to over compensate for Hollins line breaking power, let him slice through the line and go untouched for another touchdown, this one for 56 yards. The rest of the day was textbook ball control and tight deep defense as Jersey tried to get back points quickly in a failed effort. The final was 40-19. It brought them up to 5-3 in conference and instilled an instant air of confidence as they trotted victoriously off the field. The cold and slippery field had worked to their advantage until Jersey adjusted, but still they proved to be the dominant team. They knew they were well coached, well prepared, and had solid leaders on the team from the locker room to each end of the field. One realization swept over the team that day. The magic of Jared "Winning" Winslow was not in his head or heart, it was in theirs. It was his ability to make them believe in themselves and reach into your own inner depths to gather the confidence to succeed. Surely, certain players made it look easy, they had that special talent. Humphrey "Boge" Hollins, Brian Faraday, and Oksana Cushman were all first year players with the team who excelled quietly by just "doing their job". While the spotlight often found Boge he never took advantage of that off the field. The press tried to create a Terrell Owens type of figure, but it never got off the ground. He did his talking on the field. Once the glad handing, back patting and press interviews were over, the team "closed" the clubhouse for a final reflection. Jazz Carey and Boge went to the coach's podium and a round of clicks went around the room that fell into silence. "No party at Ethan tonight." Jazz said as the group groaned. "There's Open House tomorrow and we have to be good boys and girls." He said with a grin. "Coach says we meet at two o'clock tomorrow. Be smart tonight. There's a band at "The Union" tonight, but I think it's going to be dry because of the Open House." Boge chimed in to a loud round of groans and boo's. It was true that whomever the good times benefactor of the small team beer parties at Ethan Hall was, he or she had let it be known that it was too risky this week, to supply the goods, and Dean Crawford had instructed the Student Union to not serve on this night so visiting prospective students could all attend. The rule was normally, 18 to get in, 21 to be served and only 1 beer at a time. A lot of the team agreed to meet at "The Union" and there were rumors that "airline" bottles of booze may make their way in. Still, there wouldn't be too much of a rowdy crowd. "The Union" was an on campus nightspot in the Student Union that served basically beer, soda, coffee, pizza and sandwiches. It went dry on Sunday nights and served as a study social. With Open House the University wanted to show its best side and banned alcohol this night to allow underage prospective students in to see the slice of campus life it provided. True to the rumors, there were little bottles of vodka and whiskey passed around, but no one seemed to be out of hand as a local band favorite "The Kelvinators" played for people to listen and dance. Any team members who went chose to be in the far corner, standing by and occupying a few tables. Julie Murcer stood swaying and foot tapping to the music as she watched the musicians intently while sipping a liquor laced soda. She had come with Oksana and Jack "Whiskey" Daniels. Whiskey seemed to have a small crush on Oksana, but hadn't acted on it, besides some meeting up for a drink or study. Oksana took the Coaches rule about inter-team dating seriously and vowed not to get involved with a team member, even though she was a bit sweet on Jack. Her breasts were near falling out of the top she wore, making Jack the envy of any guy who was alone that night. Julie looked at it a little differently, if she hooked up with a team member, she knew who she was with, they all passed physicals and were accessible if anything came into question. She wasn't looking for a love relationship. She had a steady boyfriend back home and already felt guilty for getting involved with Brian when she promised Coach she wouldn't. She also got emotionally involved with Brian when she promised herself she wouldn't, but that heartache had passed already proving to herself it was just over familiarization. The clamor behind her as more teammates showed up made her turn and acknowledge with a wave or a hug and when Brian Faraday came in with his girlfriend she expected to feel a pang, but all she missed was the sexual comfort he had brought to her. She was happy that he was with his love from home; she only wished she would share what he had between his legs when she wasn't around. She even laughed at herself for proposing to Brian that she may be falling in love with him. If others on the team were aware that she and Brian had an affair, none made it known. All she knew right then was that when she got home to the privacy of her bed a little battery filled friend would give her some relief. A look to the table where Brian and his girl sat made it obvious to her that the couple was special to each other and in love. Julie was happy for them. A short round of claps greeted another arriving teammate, Gerry Granahan, as he mingled and shook hands. He came up behind Julie and she turned and said "Nice catch!" and clinked her glass with his. He, in turn, seemingly added "Nice kicks!" as he turned away. However she didn't quite make out what he had said and asked, "What was that?" He stopped and leaned into her ear and repeated "Nice tits!" and walked away, turning to grin back at her stunned face. "Oh my God!" She thought to herself, "Had he told everyone that he had seen her opened robe and said it was an intended flash?" She waited a moment to approach him when he was alone for a moment to ask him. "You didn't tell the whole team that you saw my breasts as if I flashed you on purpose did you?" She asked, almost indignantly. He looked up and could not have been more sincere when he responded. "Of course not, that was a moment, although unintended, that will remain in my memory for quite a time. I wouldn't share it with anyone. I can be very discreet and if you don't think so, try me again sometime." He said with a wink and slipped away again. Julie stood stunned. "Was that a come on?" She thought to herself. She had already trusted one teammate with her horny side, should she trust another? She went to sip from her drink, but it was empty. She went up to the bar and raised her hand to the bar tender, but Gerry took her hand from the air and brought it down to her side and he put his lips to her ear. "Get a Coke, I've got Jack Daniels in a bladder." He said as he backed up and pulled his blazer open a bit to show the leather bladder slung over his shoulder. She felt uncomfortable, but she did what he said and followed him to a table with a few other players. With his back to the crowd he was spiking other drinks with a long squeeze of the hooch. When he looked over his shoulder he put out his hand for her glass and she offered it. He smiled at her, but his look quickly changed when a black hand came into view. It was Boge Hollins. "Be a little more careful. If you're caught you can get suspended." He said as a warning to him. "I don't have very much left Boge; it was only a pint in there." Gerry said nodding his head to him. With that, he spiked hers, then his own drink and it appeared to be the end of the booze. He looked for Julie and saw her at the front of the circle around the dance floor watching the band play. She saw him from the corner of her eye but pretended she didn't know he was coming. She was unsure of his intentions. "I sense you're afraid, I can be very discreet as I said. I'm not looking for anything serious." He said softly into her ear, looking as if he were commenting on the band to anyone else. "Look, I'm not afraid. What you saw was NOT intentional and I was NOT coming on to you." She said back, not wanting to send him away, but wanting to set the record straight. "I know, but the look on your face said you weren't sorry it happened." He said smugly. Gerry was a good looking guy, and he knew it. He fashioned himself a Don Juan of sorts, never having much problem getting some female company. This was especially true at college, being on the football team, he had his share of propositions. But Julie was a conquest and the smile that went with her locker room faux pas told him the door was at least a little ajar. "Listen Gerry, you got a free look, and nothing else is going to happen. Besides we play and practice almost everyday together. It wouldn't be right." Julie said, not exactly slamming the hook-up door in his face while keeping a friend. "If you think there isn't one guy on that team who wouldn't love to get in your pants, you're wrong. You're cute, you're smart, you do your job flawlessly and make the perfect teammate. On top of all that you've got a killer body that makes them all forget their girlfriends at home. Brian's girlfriend over there is a goddess and HE says he'd like a shot at you. Don't sell yourself short." Gerry said thinking he was giving her a compliment. "Gerry, if THAT was supposed to flatter me it's no wonder you're out sniffing around to get a little. That was rude and sexist and given me the mind to just leave right now." She said walking away, gulping down her drink and heading for the door. She found her team coat and began walking back to her dorm building with a tear in her eye thinking that all of the team saw her as something less than another player with a job on the team. She heard foot steps quickly gaining on her and before she could wonder who it was Gerry called out to her. "Julie, please don't go away upset. I'm sorry if I said something stupid." She heard Gerry call to her as he caught up. "It's too late! I'm already upset and all that's come out of your mouth was stupid. All they want to do is get in my pants, huh? Where the fuck where would you guys be if Brian wasn't here, like in the first quarter today?" She said, letting her pride get the best of her. "It came out wrong Julie, please! I said we all respect you as a teammate and performer on the team, you just happen to be very easy on the eyes to a bunch horny athletes. I'm sorry if I can't word it any better than that. We don't look at you as some ... object. Please don't make me explain it any more. I'm just getting deeper and deeper in the shit." He said wishing he could have the last 5 minutes back. Julie looked at him in the streetlight glow and let a long silent pause grow more and more uncomfortable for both of them. The ball was certainly in her court, but the throwing down of her second Jack and Coke was definitely going to her head at the moment. "Walk me back to my dorm, would you? All of a sudden I don't feel so good." She said unexpectedly. "You're not going to get sick are you, ... I mean ... throw up?" He asked concerned. "No, it's just I'm not used to drinking liquor and it's going to my head fast." She answered wanting to lean on him as they walked. Julie started getting philosophical as they walked, all of a sudden feeling a closeness beyond the physicality of having his arm around her to steady her. "That locker room is an infestation of hormones. You talk about a bunch of horny guys; the three of us girls are the same way. Studying and practicing piles the stress right on and sex is the best relief. Most of us are having sex alone, but any sex is good sex." She said, wishing she hadn't, but his physical closeness was comforting. "No doubt," Gerry added, "but I do pretty OK outside of the locker room without having to whip up my own cream." Julie laughed at his words, adding "If that was supposed to be a subtle metaphor, it wasn't." "There goes my big mouth again." Gerry said disgusted at himself. "Here, use your mouth in a more constructive way." She said as she suddenly kissed him full on the mouth. Gerry took her into his arms and continued the kiss as she slipped her arms around him and they stood kissing on the sidewalk near her dorm building at Allen Hall. They broke the kiss and she looked at him a little stunned saying, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." before she put her fingers over her lips and turned away embarrassed. "It's okay!" He said pulling her closer. "It's been a long emotional day and the booze didn't help or hurt." She pulled him out of the street light and into the shadow of Allen Hall before kissing him again. He responded by pulling her tighter and slipping his tongue into her mouth. She gave in to him easily, loving the feeling of him running his hands over her round little ass. She broke the kiss again and pulled him to the back corner of the building where a transformer hummed low and the dryers vented from the laundry on the other side of the wall. The evening bordered on brisk, but it was warmer at that spot. She stood about a half foot from the wall and leaned against it and smiled hoping he could see it in the darkness. She put her hands behind his head and pulled his mouth to hers. They kissed furiously, his hands slipping around her waist and to her ass again. He pushed his hardness to her middle and ground at her. She pushed back at him raising two fingers to his chin to push his mouth away. "No one ever hears about this! If I even think you kissed and told I will have your balls so tight in a vice you'll beg me to cut them off." She whispered in dead seriousness. "Don't worry." He said as he moved a little closer tipping her head back to where he was a full head over her kissing down at her. One hand came up from her butt and slid over her left breast and over inside her jacket to her right. He squeezed the breast through her thin bra and massaged the nipple as she groaned through her kiss. She held onto him tightly as she pushed her dampening crotch to the front of his pants. Gerry took the pressure of his mouth from her and stood back pulling the zipper of her coat down and filling both of his hands with her breasts as she squealed into his mouth enjoying the tease to her sensitive nipples. He slid a hand down over her crotch and pressed his index and middle fingers through the valley of her pussy as her breath caught and she put a hand behind his head to keep their mouths tight. He took the moment to unsnap her slacks and draw down the zipper. He shuffled his feet to almost be beside her so he could slide his hand inside her pants and into her little panty. He delighted to find her smooth and wet with his middle finger sliding over her clit few times before he pushed into her pussy causing a deep growl-like sound in her throat with her mouth still pasted to his. He began to saw his finger in and out of her pussy as her loosened pants began to slide over her hips. He pulled his finger from her and pushed aside the gusset of her panty and pushed into her again as she groaned approval into his mouth. As one hand finger-fucked her he pushed her pullover shirt up and slid his hand under her bra pushing the cup away. As soon as it was free he took his mouth from hers and filled it with her freed breast and nipple. Julie panted heavily as she began to have her first stage of orgasm, relaxing her shoulders to the wall and giving herself to his hands and mouth. Soon a long "OoooooohhhGOD" came from her throat as she began to shake uncontrollably trying to move her hips in rhythm with his stroking to no avail. She dropped her head to his shoulder and growled into his coat, almost biting it as her orgasm passed over her. When she could no longer stand the intensity she almost jumped and pushed his hand from her pussy and removing his mouth from its suckling. She fell into him holding him tightly, her head to his shoulder as she panted enjoying the waves that passed through her sexual being. He hummed "Mmmmmm" in her ear and hugged her tight as she came down from her high. She brought a hand to his crotch and felt his straining cock through his pants. As she felt for the tab on his zipper he whispered in her ear. "Why don't you suck my cock and make me happy now. Make me cum like you did." She moved back a bit from him and looked at him with a coy smile. "I'm not sucking your cock Gerry, I barely know you outside the locker room. I'll do for you what you did for me." She said with a bit of irritation in her voice as she pulled down his zipper and fished her hand in to easily find his penis as he had no underwear on. She pulled it out as he groaned some relief and looked at her hopefully. "It's not going to happen Gerry. Don't beg and be happy." She told him as she intently started to handle and stroke his cock. "Why don't you lean over the transformer there and let me fuck you?" Gerry asked. She pulled her hand from his dick and got close to his face. "Do you want me to make you cum, or are you going home frustrated? You're not fucking me. Who made you think I was that easy?" She asked. "No one, but you don't know if you don't ask." He said as she moved to his side and took him in her hand again. She slid her other arm around him and he put one over her shoulder as she put her head in his chest and watched her hand work him. "You've got a nice cock Gerry, no wonder you're so popular and I hear those stories." She said whimsically to his delight. "Really?" He said as he began to enjoy her stroking. "Some girls talk like some boys talk Gerry. But, you'll never speak of this just like I won't right?" She said squeezing his cock tightly to make an exclamation point on her statement. "No, No, ... don't worry Julie. God, you do that good, you've almost got me there." He said, his words making her shift to the front of him and take his balls in her other hand. "Let me know when you're going to shoot, I don't want it all over my clothes or me. Feels like you have quite a load in there." She said shedding any innocence he may have thought she had in her refusal to suck him. In just a few more strokes and ball caresses his knees seemed to buckle. "It's cumming!" He said as she moved aside and let his balls to swing free. A deep groan escaped his mouth as his knees rebuckled and a long splash of cum shot from him, followed by two short shots that seemed to glow in the pale moonlight. "Ohhhh that's good. So gooooood." He said panting as she slowed her stroke and tried to work the last drops up to and out the head. "There now, wasn't that a good one, just like you gave me?" She said happily as she held him until he shrunk small enough to tuck him back into his pants and work up the zipper. He reached down and helped her and noticed her slacks were still halfway down her ass. "You're going to be a little cold unless you adjust those." "Don't worry, you had it hot enough to keep me warm for a while." She said as she began to pull up her panty and slacks. She stopped when she realized she had a blob of his cum on the side of her index finger. She looked at him and sucked it off, swallowing it right down, and smiled. "If you're a good boy and quiet about this, there might be a next time and other things can happen. It's going to be a long lonely winter." She said teasingly to him leaving him unsure if she was serious or not. They walked from behind the back of the building and to the front entrance where she kissed him on the cheek and said good night. "See you at the team meeting tomorrow. Thanks for a good time even though I said some asshole and stupid things back there." Gerry said regretfully. "We both could have gotten laid and you'd be inside right now, ... if not for your mouth." She said with a teasing smile. "Maybe there'll be another time." She kissed him again on the cheek and went inside. ------- Chapter 34 Meaghan and Declan had missed the game while visiting her parents for the weekend in Burlington. Her Dad had been in the hospital for a "minor procedure", as her Mom called it. It was actually having his gall bladder removed but her Mom felt it was something he could have avoided had he kept a better diet. She was somehow embarrassed. It was one of the "little things" that drove Jared crazy about his future mother-in-law, being worried about what others may think or assume, so he made it a point to stay away at times like this. When Coach Winslow arrived at Meditek at 1:30 for the "report card" there were around 30 prospective "student-athletes" waiting just inside the players' door with their student "guide" whom today was a senior athlete, Greg Alusik, a stand-out offensive lineman. After he introduced Coach he began a spiel about the team and Coach Winslow. "Pride is the core of any student-athlete, but especially our football team players. Coach has brought us out of adversity and shown us what hard work can do. After yesterdays game we are guaranteed of having our first ever 500 season, but we plan on working hard to get to 7 wins in our conference. Any student-athlete who chooses New England Ag and Tech can expect to leave here a better rounded person prepared to meet the challenges of life and if athletics is your goal, Coach Winslow is only an example of the leader you will find in every sport here." Alusik said as he walked the group into the head of the locker area. "Sundays are pretty much for yourself on the football squad. One requirement is to show up for Coach Winslow's report card on the previous days game. Win or lose we hear about the good, the bad and the ugly of our Saturday. I can answer any questions you may have now." Greg said as players flied in mostly one by one, apparent that most had just gotten up. As Alusik answered questions two of the assistants were checking off names to make sure everyone was there. On this particular Sunday no one was excused, it was going to be full squad. By 5 minutes before 2 all had arrived and most were sitting in front of their lockers. If Gerry Granahan and Julie Murcer had bigger smiles on their faces than anyone else, they never told the reason why. Coach Winslow addressed the entire group of players and Open House attendees with a rah-rah sort of talk before the outsiders were escorted out, with Alusik passing the group on to another "guide" so he could remain. It was then Jared Winslow made the real report card talk he wanted to give. "A lot of you may not think we did much wrong in winning by 21 points yesterday but the one thing we had going for us was luck. The defense came out cold and if not for the field conditions, the momentum swing may NOT have gone OUR way. We can't come out asleep like that. Coach Ruffen and his staff prepare you; drill you, work you and you come out flat. I don't care who thinks any opponent is horseshit, you can't come out on auto-pilot. You missed assignments left and right and lady luck shone brightly on you. They gave us 14 points. Take them off the board and they would have played the 4th quarter a little differently. We won't have one team left on the schedule that will give you another game like that. No game is won until the last tick of that clock. Offense, you ALL aren't getting the best grades either. Offensive line, you get an A plus, as does Boge. Humphrey Hollins had a superior game with two break aways. Play calling ... Marv, you can't go to the well in the same situation and expect to be successful each time. The 26 Hot Pass looking like a broken play has worked 3 times for you. They shouldn't have been surprised by it. It's not a surprise if you do it every time the situation fits. Cy Hilton was working the phones with Coach Ruffen and I yesterday trying to figure out positioning. He was standing next to me charting a play while we watched and talked. As soon as you broke the huddle and he saw the line up he elbowed me and said "He's gonna use that goddam "26 Hot Pass Flicker" again! Too many times at the well!" We have a game plan and we like to stick to it. I don't like getting cute, getting ballsy inside the 30, it's too easy to turn it over and passing turnovers in that zone become 6 points. I applaud your confidence and if you were a third year quarterback in your 30th game I could live with it. Reel it in a bit. That call comes from the bench, and the bench only. Special Teams, you all get A's except for the leading scorer in the nation. Yes, Brian Faraday, I can find fault with you. It's a great thing you have your girlfriend from half way across the world here, but you can't upset your game day routine for her. You've made a commitment to this team and your teammates depend on you. Without Julie, who is always raring to go, I would have had to send you in puking or made other choices. You put us in a bad position. When these are the only things I can find wrong, you know you're doing well. But these are all things that can lead up the road to a bad game. Don't think I'm nit-picking here because if you look back at the score changes, we never put this game away until late in the 4th quarter and this was a team that was capable of scoring lots of points quickly. We're starting to get respect now. Teams will begin to gun for us, prepare better. This week we have U Delaware Dover at Dover. We'll be leaving here in buses on Friday morning to Burlington, flying charter to Baltimore-Washington and bussing once again to Dover. Flight arrangements had been poor all season for charters to Dover for FAA reasons. If all connections are made we should be there by 3 or 4 in the afternoon. Their field is ours until 6, we'll do a light workout, maybe a few light drills. Remember there will be the usual press rush to get a story on our co-ed existence. As usual, what do you tell them?" Coach asked as he ended his mini-diatribe "Read the SI story." They all shouted in unison, laughing. Coach shook his head and laughed along with the team, turning to smile back at his assistants before holding his hand up to restore order. "I STILL think you are the best bunch I have ever coached despite any criticism I bring up. It's all to make you better as players and men and women. You all make me so proud. Don't forget, you have to make up your Friday classes so start to work on that. Enjoy your day. DISMISSED!" The usual team line on the co-ed situation had always been "no comment", but apparently the captains had drawn up their own new response of "Read the SI story" and that certainly amused the coaches and staff. As the coaches left and the players mulled around Marv Hudson went to Boge Hollins. "I'm glad the play worked out, but I guess Coach is right and it was a risk. If I do anything like that again I'll run it by you and get your take." Marv said in an apologetic tone. "You knew when you called it you were going to get some shit. You saw me roll my eyes. I'm not going to knock you down in the huddle once you've made a call. You pulled it off, be happy with that. But Coach is right, with 10 games under your belt..." "I know, I know. Even old Cy read it on the line-up, I was lucky they didn't see it too. Dumb mistake, good result." Marv said shaking Boge's hand and glad they ironed it out. Brian Faraday stood up on his stool and yelled loudly in his Welsh brogue "My teammates, I'm afraid I've done you a bit wrong by showing up sick when it could have been avoided. I upset my normal game day routine knowing my stomach is in knots before each game. Soccer I'm comfortable with, your football, not so much yet. Please accept my apologies." Chuckles and back pats came Brian's way from his teammates who understood that what transpired was hard to foresee. Nerves plus pre-game stretching doesn't add up to having a full stomach of rich food beforehand. But, having a beauty like his girlfriend there to offer that food might make it hard to refuse anything. As nervous as he felt putting on the Green Aggie uniform to play, his competitive juices flowed once he got on the field. In a sport he was really just learning, he was leading the nation in scoring. He made it look easy because of his soccer background, but it was not without a lot of hard work learning the intricacies as he applied his skill to a new sport. "Hey, Hey Y'all!" Boge shouted to the assembly as he jumped up on a stool to make himself heard. "Nobody should be down at Coach's words today. He made a lot of good points and we could have gone sour real quick out there. I don't think we're taking winning for granted, but I think we might think it's a bit mechanical. We can't stand by and wait for the other guy to make the CLICK. We EACH have to make the team effort to make them fall our way. 5 wins may have been the goal, but now we can make the statement." Jazz Carey popped up on his stool and quickly added, "I can accept losing, being beaten by a better team, but when we beat ourselves and hand the game away, it doesn't sit well. We were good enough to take the game when they wanted to hand it to us yesterday, let's not be that team, ever!" He shouted to cheers and clicks. The Sunday staff opened the double doors that led to the exits, anxious for the team to leave. They wanted to finish cleaning up and having their own Sunday respite. The players began gathering a few things and leaving, pairing off in the groups each hung out in. "Whiskey" Daniels made his way to the front of the locker area seeking out Oksana. "Hey, do you think we can sit together for the Dover trip?" He asked her with a guarded smile. "Jack, we have to talk about something. I have to jump over to the Union to hit the ATM and pick up a few things at the Bookstore. Can you meet me for coffee at the Seattle Coffee Lounge there, say at 3?" Oksana answered with a doubtful tone. "Hey, if I'm just bothering you don't be embarrassed to say, I don't want to be a pain in the neck. It's just..." He started to say before she interrupted him. "Jack, if I didn't want to talk to you why would I ask to meet you? If you can meet me, fine. If not, I'm going there to read for a quiz I have tomorrow." She said swiftly turning and going towards the door as she slung a back pack on. "Damn!" Jack thought. "Another mixed message. Just once I'd like to like a girl and have her like me back as much." John Davis "Jack" a/k/a "JD" or "Whiskey" Daniels was a Senior with almost 4 years of NCAA football under his belt. He had never missed a game and was almost sure to get a look from lots of NFL teams come draft time next year. At 6' 3" and 210 pounds he was a handsome bulky tough guy at the line who always seemed to have a one or two day growth of beard on his face, although neatly trimmed. Many girls on campus had tried to flirt with him and made several come-ons, but he always turned them away saying he was committed to a girl "back home" Although many of the ladies who offered themselves to him said it was "sweet" he was so faithful, he shouldn't worry, they weren't the kind to kiss and tell. Still, he shunned their advances, but actually it was for a different reason. He felt he was inadequate in the "man" department. When he looked around the shower he had always felt he was small and that other guys were laughing at his stubby penis. He was sure that women would be disappointed and spread the word that Jack the man was just a boy where it counted. In truth, given his physiognomy, no man in his right mind would ever laugh at Jack, fearing reprisals, and that most team mates were locker room veterans and had long since grown out of that silly phase of locker room humor. Still, Jack was self-conscious that he didn't show as well as other guys. Thinking that porn movies showed "average" men, he didn't realize that when he was erect, he was as big as most guys. Still it was something that constantly ate at him, leaving him a nervous puddle when in the company of women. Oksana was different from other women he met and liked, but eventually shied away from. She wasn't a "petite little thing". Okkie was between 5' 11" and 6 foot and pushed 170 pounds. She was attractive in her own way. She was no Amazon, but unless the occasion called for it, dressed in a way that might look masculine to some. Clothes made especially for women her size were expensive so she usually shopped the men's department. She was often mistaken as being a lesbian, a situation that made her Bible belt upbringing boil. She was no saint, but thought THAT was disgusting even though she accepted homosexuality. Jack probably felt more comfortable around her because he might not be asked to "perform" and her expectations would be less. Unbeknownst to most, Oksana was a sexually charged woman who had her share of affairs who, out of her clothes, was a well proportioned shapely woman. She even had an off campus boyfriend during her freshman year. Few of her friends knew of her relationship and when he transferred out of the area it was about the time Jordy Alford had called to tell her tryout for the team under the new regime. She knew that football and having a boyfriend would interfere with her studies, making his leaving an easier pill to swallow. Whiskey packed up the rest of his things and made his way to his dorm to drop off his backpack. He grabbed a book he needed to study and headed for The Seattle to meet Okkie so she could, in all likelihood, issue her restraining order on him. He had chased another away. When he got to "The Seattle", as they called it, Oksana sat in a corner booth alone with a book open with a notepad, her phone and a tall black coffee. When she looked up and saw Jack Daniels walk in she smiled widely and quickly scooted over to make room for him. "Sit down, big boy, I think we need to iron out a few things." She said very invitingly to him, making him feel much better than what he felt was coming. "I think I know something about you that you're trying to keep quiet, and I want you to know you're safe with me. I really don't care." She said shocking him. "What do you mean? Who told you ... How did... ?" Jack stuttered out, confused. "Jack!" She said firmly putting her hand over his and looking into his eyes. "I've flirted with you, tried to come on to you in every way I know. You've never taken the bait, but you still want to be my friend, hang out with me. Uh ... being gay isn't a deal breaker for our friendship. I won't... " She started before Jack threw her hand off of his and sat back hard into the booth. "GAY! I'm not gay! What in hell made you think I was gay? Are you fucking crazy starting a rumor like that? Some of the guys thought you might be gay until we started to go out and NOW you accuse ME of being GAY!!" He said almost too loud for others NOT to hear him from other tables. "Jack!" She exclaimed in a loud whisper while almost lunging to get face to face with him. "Be quiet!" "What do you expect when you accuse me of being ... THAT!" He said almost on the verge of tears. "Jack? We've been out together about 4 times, with the team and without, had a good time each time, got along well and you walked me home alone each time and you've never, ever tried to kiss me, lay a hand on me. I was thinking there was something wrong with me. I stand in my bathroom after a shower and look in the mirror and I know there's nothing wrong with how I look. I'm tall, but I'm not out of proportion and shorter than you. I've never had a problem seducing any man that I wanted and you're just not interested. What else do I think?" She said embarrassing herself at her frankness in explaining her conclusion. "You said teammates shouldn't get involved with each other so I was respecting your wishes." Jack defended. "But you kept asking me to go out!" She answered. "I thought my boobs were going to fall out of the top I wore Saturday night and you had no interest. No one has seen you out with a girl, besides me, and you said yourself that some suspect I'm gay. When was the last time you had a date?" "I don't date, I'm just shy around women." Jack said averting his eyes. "You weren't shy around me!" She retorted quickly. "You acted like you liked me, you flirted." He said softly. "AHA! You at least admit that I made it known to you that I was open to your advances. Jack if you're gay and don't want to make it known, I'm not the one whose going to out you or anything like that. Just admit it to me so we can go on being friends and I can devote my quest for male companionship elsewhere." She said firmly while reaching out to his collar to make sure she had his attention and he knew she was sincere and serious. He sighed loudly and his face filled with disappointment and then he gritted his teeth in anger. "I'm NOT gay! I have other issues that make me shy around women." "OBVIOUSLY! What is it that you demanded I tell you who "told" me when I first made that accusation. You said "who told you" and started to say "how did you find out". If it's not gay, WHAT IS IT?" She demanded. Jack got a terrified look on his face and slid out of the booth and stormed off leaving Oksana confused and mad at herself for the confrontation. She had too much studying to do to go after him now, but a second confrontation was not far off. At the "Grand Grocer" supermarket Jared Winslow shopped for the dinner he planned to have ready for Meg and Declan on their return. Meaghan was quite the cook, but after a long drive, he wanted to surprise her with a good hot meal. Stuffed pork chops were a specialty of his own and were fairly easy for him to put together. If he had it in the oven by 4:00 they could be eating by 5:30 or so and he expected her before 5. Her trip to Burlington had proved one thing to him; he missed Meaghan dearly when she wasn't home. It was his first game of the season without her there to be his buffer, his outlet. He missed sharing their endearing affection. He felt empty despite his success on the football field. It was a feeling he hadn't felt since his early years with Barbara Gaines. In time, the football field became his escape from her, leaving a gaping hole in his person that had so much love to give. Jared busied himself in the kitchen as an extension of his need to express his love for his new "family" and was just preparing to heat the oven when he heard the familiar sound of Meg's SUV in the drive. He went to the door to see a happy to be home Declan run to jump in his arms. "Coach, coach! I saw Grandpa in the hospital and it scared me, but he said I could help him drive the boat next summer. Grammy made cookies and let me bring some home, you can have some too!" Declan said excitedly as he hugged Jared. Meaghan lagged back stretching and opening the back of the SUV for Jared to unload her bags. "Why are you home so early, I didn't expect you for another hour? Not that I'm unhappy to see you. Everything OK?" Jared asked. "My little monkey in your arms there used the cell phone to call Mikey to tell him he might drive his Grandfathers boat next summer and he asked if he was going to be back in time for Story Hour at the Library. You figure the rest out. Mom wasn't going to make dinner anyway, she was going to eat with Dad at the Hospital. He's getting out in the morning. He's fine, no complications with the gall bladder coming out. You or I would have been out-patients." She said as she wearily walked up and hugged Jared around her son. "You go wash up and put on a clean shirt so you can go with the DeNaults." She said as she grabbed him from Jared's arms and kissed him before hugging Jared tightly and letting out some pining hmmmms in his ear before whispering "I missed you." She broke the hug and asked, "Can you hold dinner until he comes back? We can keep busy, I'm sure, until then." "Did you come back for Declan or for um ... US." He asked suspiciously. ""Believe what you might." She said with a big smile and wink before trodding off to see how Declan was doing. Declan had his face buried in a wash cloth, getting water all over everything, but he was making the effort so his Mother didn't complain. They heard the door bell ring and the side door screen open with Tracy Denault calling out. "Hello? Is Declan ready? Mikey is in the car and ready." Jared came to the kitchen threshold and welcomed her in as Declan ran up the hallway looking for his jacket. "Hi Tracey. He may be a little antsy from riding for the last few hours, but I bet he'll fall asleep during the story time. Make sure he behaves. DECLAN, did you hear that? You don't behave, you won't go again." Meaghan said as Declan rushed by her to the car. "Don't worry, the boys are always good for the story time. The guy and gal who read follow the story with the pages projected on the wall and the kids are all mesmerized at the way some of them can actually read the words. It's great for discovery, ... and you two behave while Declan is gone." Tracey Denault said with a knowing smirk. The guilty smile was still on both of their faces when Meg turned back to Jared and said "I have to get in the shower and get the road grit off me. Give me a few minutes and join me, huh?" Jared nodded and kissed her before turning away and went about turning off his pre-heating oven, secured the food in the refrigerator and locked the doors to insure privacy. He heard the shower come on and he made his way into the bedroom and took off his clothes, slipping into the open bathroom door. As she busied herself washing her hair Jared brushed his teeth and quickly ran his electric razor over his face to be sure it was smooth for he might be rubbing it into tender places. As Meaghan leaned back into the shower to rinse her hair Jared pulled aside the curtain and stepped in. Meg straightened up and put her arms around his neck nuzzling her face into his chest. "After all the years I had lost you one might think I could stand a few days away from you, but it was hard. After the win yesterday I really wished I was there to share with you. Declan, Mom and me stood by Dad's bed and watched the post-game interview with you and I wanted to hold you so bad." She whispered to him as he cornered her in the shower square. He faced the corner with an elbow on each side wall and pushed his face into hers as they devoured each others mouths. Their kisses were both hungry and passionate. She dropped one hand from his back and reached before her to feel his stiff cock jutting up. She broke the kiss and slid down the shower wall. He stood with his feet apart and elbows still propped to the walls as her mouth fit over his urgent cock. He immediately started to move his hips in a thrusting motion to fuck her mouth. With his hardness riding over and over her tongue as she sucked and pleased him her pussy tingled knowing it would get the same treatment soon. His thrusting was gentle, but quickly urgent. His end was soon. As his breathing quickened and his eyes closed he suddenly stopped and she took her mouth from him to look up into his eyes. One long spurt of his cum hit her square in the face as he drew a deep quick breath and bore down on his orgasm. She quickly took the head back into her mouth to catch the second and third reports from his dick as he sighed and moaned looking down to see the water rinsing the cum he sprayed in her face. She smiled up to him when she was finished and stood to push him back. "Let's finish in here quick before we lose all the hot water. My pussy really needs attention." She said urgently as she quickly finished washing and rinsing. In just a few quick minutes Jared finished washing and rinsing in the cooling water. Freshly washed and now dried he went to the bedroom to see Meaghan lying back, her knees up and spread with a finger between the lips of her smooth little pussy. She surely felt him get onto the bed, but her actions didn't show it as she intently rotated a finger over and over her clit. In one motion he pulled her finger from her quim and replaced it with his tongue. She threw her head back into the pillow and cried out from deep in her throat at the pleasures he was bringing to her. "Ohhh God Jared, I've missed you so much. Not just for these two days, but for almost 10 years. No man does what you do to meEEEE!" She whispered, ending with another jolt from her sex as he slid his middle finger into her pussy. "Shhhhh" He said lifting his mouth from the font of her juices. "Don't confess your heart in the heat of passion. Leave well enough unsaid." He whispered cautiously before resuming his ministrations. "I loved you everyday and was his prostitute." She whispered with stunning calm before an electric like shock ran through her sexual being. Jared slid his sopping finger from her pretty pink lips and slid it through the trail of her juices and his saliva to her asshole and pushed it in to the hilt. Her breath caught as she jolted again and pushed her hips up to his mouth, her pubic bone almost hurting the bridge of his nose. She wailed out undistinguishable words in hiccoughed whispers as sexual pleasure riddled her. He lifted his wet face from her and saw the taut muscles of her legs holding her hips to his face relax. He let her push his finger from her pretty wrinkled nether hole and he moved up over her and slid his rampant cock between the wetness of her pussy lips and drove into her while planting his mouth hard to hers. It was a case of he wanting to ram her as hard and fast as he could and she wanting to get it so impatiently that she drove her hips up to meet his. The resulting slap of flesh almost seemed violent and in a minute it was over with both of them wailing aloud their pleasure as he filled her with his cummy splash of love. They lay together with mouths locked while their sweaty bodies melted into each others until the need to fill their lungs with a long fresh breath caused a break and Jared fell over off her to the tune of a long sucking squish from her pussy. He looked over to her when he heard her sobbing. She didn't wait for the question why to reply. "I've been wanting to say that ever since I got you back, that I missed you EVERY day and that what I felt for Matt was a shadow for how I loved you, pined for you. Any time, any way we had sex was another way to close my eyes and fantasize it was you. Don't let this change us." She told him through a confessors tears. She smiled through her tears and snuggled up to Jared wishing they could just fall asleep together, but the clock came into her view and she reached to pet his face. "Speaking of my little angel, he'll be back soon. While I want him to know how much I love you, I don't need him to see this. Let me rinse off in the shower and put these sheets in the wash. If you start the dinner you planned I'll watch it while you clean up." She suggested as she peeled herself from the wet spot they had made together as semen dripped down her leg and her hand darted to catch what might fall to the floor as she waddled to the bathroom. ------- Chapter 35 Preparing for U Delaware Dover would be, perhaps, the hardest the team had worked all year. UD was a team strong in many ways, but lacked a defined execution style to be consistent. They were young, with only 2 seniors and 8 juniors and a whole new coaching staff, but they were finding themselves week by week. Coach Winslow wanted to go at them hard on their first offensive set before using his normal game plan. "We'll try to show them our explosive fire power with Marv's arm and our receiving corps in hopes of knocking them off their game plan. They're going to key Boge and Kemmer and if we can get ahead in the air, early, and then get about our normal game, I think we can upset them. I hate the oddsmakers, but they have UD a 4 point favorite, they're coming off a big win over UMass West, who beat us." Coach Winslow said opening Monday's workout. "When we come back and start prep on the blackboards, the coaches have got a tough job to prepare you. They've gotten better every week, just like us. Pay attention and be ready for me to kick your butts all week." Jared warned. As the players shuffled out to workout in the cold late fall afternoon air, they were glad there was no snow to deal with. The long range forecast didn't call for any precipitation until beyond the weekend and that promise, although sometimes fickle in a Vermont winter, made their job look easier. In the shuffle of shoulder pad to shoulder pad trudging to the field with helmet in hand, Oksana Cushman caught Jack "Whiskey" Daniels eyes and smiled sweetly at him, hoping to get an understanding nod or wink from him. He only turned his eyes away. She gritted her teeth at her self and saw why Coach Winslow frowned on inter-team relationships. Monday afternoon workouts were always tough, knowing it would end with a long note-taking study session with coaches play-acting the importance of knowing your job. Seeing Coach Winslow take part in all the exercises including the lap of the field perimeter and the up and down of the steps of section 7 made the whole trip easier, but not less tiring. The workout was a typical Monday session with most of the contact with training equipment, dummies and sleds. Both quarterbacks stretched out with long toss and then a short session of hitting receivers in motion until darkness began to take over. It was more a physical preparation for the strategical practices they would take part in during the week. The later blackboard session was just as intense as Coach had advertised with the scouting staff seeming to have as much information on the UD Destroyers as they knew of themselves. Little used plays and defenses were dusted off and promised to be used in practice all week. For the first time for players wearing a Green Aggie uniform, they were protecting a winning record. Coach Winslow's magic was rooted in self-pride and team-pride. The promise of winning was one thing to profess, once it became reality on the scoreboard the belief in yourself was easy to buy and spread around the locker room. The session broke up around 7 after the kitchen delivered an array of healthy sandwiches for the players to bring back to their dorms to assure they each had dinner while making it an encouragement to go back, settle in, and study. Most picked up a sandwich or two along with offered bottles of Gatorade and cartons of milk. By eight o'clock all student athletes were in their dorms, or off campus apartments, hitting the books. While no active player was on academic restriction, a few were nearing a warning level and Coach offered tutors to any who needed it. Being seen out of your dorm on Monday night of a short study week would certainly insure scrutiny. There was one exception that night. Oksana Cushman was not in her dorm room at Allen Hall. She had quietly slipped out and went across the concourse to Ethan Hall where most of the male team members were housed. She knocked at Jack Daniels door. He opened the door and saw her, rolling his eyes. She pushed her way in and let the door close behind her. "What are you doing here, pushing your way in?" Jack said, surprised by her straightforwardness. "Jack, I thought we were friends, real friends. You took off on me yesterday when we still had a lot to say, and today you avoided me like I had cooties, or something." She said in an accusatory tone. "Yeah, well MY friends don't go around accusing me of being a queer!" Jack said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Okkie exhaled deeply and looked into Jack's eyes, hoping he would see the compassion she held for him right now. "Jack, ... if you are gay, it isn't a deal breaker with me for our friendship, and I would never, under any circumstance, tell anyone. "BUT, GODDAMMIT, I'M NOT GAY! What makes you THINK that?" He demanded. "Jack, we've been through this. Lot's of guys like petite women, but I think I'm pretty well put together. If I took off my clothes, you would shit your pants, at least I'd hope you would. When you first asked me out I was really, really happy. I had a little crush on you already. I did everything I know how to do to show you I wanted to advance our relationship, until I realized you asked me out because I was probably gay too, and safe." She explained in a soft voice meant to show him she meant nothing mean by her assumptions. Jack exhaled deeply and looked her square in the eye. "I have another personal problem that makes me shy away from relationships and women in general. It's funny, I asked you out because I thought you wouldn't want an intimate relationship, and after we dated the team guys who thought YOU might be gay, all recanted." Jack said calming down and again seeking to have an ear he could trust. Oksana stepped into Jack's arms and hugged him tightly, until he finally reciprocated. "Jack there couldn't be anything that would make me shy away from wanting to get to know you better and more intimately, you big teddy bear." She whispered in his ear. "I'm not ... I'm not much of a man." He said, even shocking himself. "You're WHAT!" She said stunned as she broke the intimate hug. Jack's eyes welled up and he began to turn away, but she wouldn't let him. "From the time I started showering in locker rooms, I was made fun of because I was ... small." He said hesitating, not believing he was confessing. "Since college guys are a little more mature, I don't hear the teasing. But I've seen the porno's as well as other guys in the locker room, I know I'm small and couldn't satisfy a woman." "MEN and their fucking cock obsession!" Oksana said disgustedly, totally dropping her arms from him. "Jack, all a woman wants is to be treated special, respected and made to feel part of something special between two people. When they want to show that affection and devotion to each other, just make her cum. Sorry to be blunt, but it's all we want. Spend less time worrying about your dick and more time making us cum, satisfying us and she won't care if you're 3 inches or 12, well 12 would hurt." Oksana turned away, embarrassed at what she said. Jack stood stunned, wanting to run out of the room rather that face more of her wrath. " ... and another thing, you vain, vain member of the male species, If you worried so much about your dick why didn't you go to the library and study up on it? I know a lot about animal anatomy, but I've gleaned a little human anatomy. The penis is attached to the superior ramus, I think it's like part of the pubic bone. It's attached there on every man. The more weight your carry the more the body provides protection of the area with soft fatty tissue. During copulation the fatty tissue squishes back and the females get the entire length, no matter what shows. So how big your cock is when it hangs in your pants, NOBODY FUCKING CARES!!! When I think of the Goddam heartache I've went through over you ... ARGGGGGHHHH!! It makes me scream ... worried about how big your precious penis is YOU SELF CENTERED JERK!!" She railed at him as tears filled her eyes as she turned towards the door. "Okkie I'm sorry, I..." Jack began to say before she turned and lashed out before she opened his door to leave. "Don't apologize to me Jack!! I'm the fucking idiot who cared about you, even fucking masturbated over you, thinking it was ME that had a problem. You're a psychiatrist dream!!" She said opening and slamming the door shut behind her. Jack stood stunned already worried how this would play out in the locker room. He knew she wouldn't make a public issue of it, but surely she had a confidant she might tell the story too. Could he look everyone on the team in the eye without wondering if they were the one she might tell? Suddenly it struck him like a lightning bolt. "She left here upset and confused, and all I can think about is myself and what effect this has on ME?" He thought to himself. "Maybe I AM as big of a self-centered jerk as she tried to say I was." Jack had chapters to read before he retired that night, all the while thinking what words he could use to fix this rift with Oksana. Coach Winslow's evening was the most hectic he had spent in a while. He had planned a family night with Meg and Declan, but a FedEx package of game videos that arrived late waited for him at home. The DVD's were of U Delaware's last game Saturday and he had a last minute meeting with his 3 assistants, the video editor, and his den. Once dinner was finished Ira, Frank and Jordy were coming to work strategies. His new modified DVD video editor allowed him to load 4 discs and watch them on 2 split screens on two 42 inch flat screens in his den. Normally this was done all day Monday before that afternoons practice, but late is late and Meaghan already knew there were some parts of a Coach's life she wouldn't like, this was one of them. As the Coach and his assistants modified their game plan and prepared the video package for their staffs to comb over, Meg kept Declan occupied until his bedtime. She still had study plans to fill and still knew she would go to bed alone. She was beginning to see the obsessing side of Jared as the season wore down and she accepted that as part of his job. When Jared finally came to bed, sometime past midnight, she thought of rolling to his side once he seemed settled beside her, but the next thing she heard was the morning alarm. They both had been exhausted. As Jared sat up in the bed to be sure he didn't fall back asleep, she crawled up behind him and draped herself over his back. "I missed you last night. I thought about making love to you all day." She whispered. "I'm sorry, Meg. Some days are going to be like that, but we'll have plenty of time soon. I think we can make a date for tonight, I'll be on time." He said reveling in the feel of her warm body on his. "I have Parent-Teachers meetings tonight, but I should be home by 8:30, we can catch up then?" She sighed as she put her mouth over his shoulder and sucked at it, commenting, "God, you taste so good, I can't wait for tonight already." Jared felt a stirring in his loins at the feel of her mouth and her whispered words and knew he should get going before something started they wouldn't be able to explain to Declan when he got up to his alarm soon. He stood and turned around to kiss her before going to the shower ignoring the nagging urge he felt. Despite what they both considered an active sex life, sometimes there was just not enough alone time. They both knew sexual urge would wane, but, as of yet their hunger for each other hadn't faded. No more than a few days of each week went by when they weren't active. This day was an early practice day and he quickly let thoughts of football strategy dull the need in his loins. Flying to Delaware and going at a team with a new game plan was the typical type of challenge that made Jared's creative juices flow. He was always one to stick with what worked, but he saw a lot of his own team in this UD team, youth and talent coupled with a factor that the team did not know or realize how good they really were. The Green Aggies were just beginning to gel as a squad and as that realization became apparent from teammate to teammate, they play got tighter. They could make small mistakes and overcome them without assessing blame. There was a time to point out errors and mental discrepancies and prevent them from happening again, during the game was not it. Win as a team, lose as a team and keep the finger pointing constructive and inside the locker room. Jack Daniels didn't sleep well Monday night. He had hurt someone whom he had feelings for after she had poured her heart out to him. He didn't really know if he could salvage a relationship from what they had left, but he wanted her to know that he did realize the error of his ways. He was up very early and showered and sat by the phone searching for the words he wanted to use. In the spirit of wanting to start all over again, he dialed her number. "Hello?" "Good Morning! We both take football together and I was wondering if I could buy you a coffee this morning before our early class. I would love a chance to get to know you." Jack said play-acting brightly, hoping she didn't hang up in his ear. The line was silent, but Jack heard her draw a deep breath and stay on the line. "If anything, you have to give me a chance to tell you how sorry I am for being such a self-centered jerk and hurting your feelings. If this is all we have left, I understand. I don't deserve another chance. Just let me say the words to your face." He said hopefully, still not understanding what her silence meant. She drew another long deep breath, almost sounding like a sigh, before she spoke, "I'll be at The Seattle at 7:15. I'll wait out front for you." The clock on The Union turned 7:13 as both Jack and Oksana walked up in front. "Can we sit out here and talk first?" Jack said showing her the bench out front. Oksana said nothing and sat facing him. "I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am for being such a self-centered jerk, not just yesterday, but for a while. When you left in tears yesterday I felt all self-righteous until I realized I had hurt you. It was a real stab at my heart of hearts because it became apparent to me that I really care for you, and do not want to lose you as a friend or whatever else we might make of this. If you tell me to take a hike right now, I understand and don't blame you." Jack said softly, sincerely. "Jack, I ... haven't had the best luck with guys. I've done a lot of things I'm sorry for, a lot of things I'm ashamed of, and had my heart broken a few times. When you never moved to any of my advances, never even tried to kiss me, I made assumptions that anyone would make. When two people care for each other, they accept everything, warts and all. Your worries are so shallow, it's beyond my comprehension. Here I was ready to accept you as my dear friend, even when I thought you were gay because a friend is a friend. But you were going to reject me over ... stupidity!" She replied with little emotion. "Oksana, I don't want this to be the end of us. I think we have something to save, to at least try." Jack said hopefully. "You realize that if we date again, it still has to be the way it was, low key. You know how Coach feels about relationships." She warned. "I only have a few games left and then I'm done anyway, but yes I know." He nodded. "I'll agree to go out on a date or two with you, see what happens. Don't think this means that I'm going to get intimate ... at least not right away ... if ever. I came to a few realizations myself in last nights introspection. Don't kiss my ass and fall all over me trying to win me over. I'm saying we can be friends and maybe something will become of that, nothing else. I'm going to have a hard time looking at you and not see a guy who obsesses over his genitals. Your character took an awful blow." She said with some reluctance. Jacks eyes welled a bit and said "I understand. I'll try..." "Jack I'm begging you, don't TRY anything. Just be yourself, the Jack I got to know that I wanted to be my friend. I don't know if I can ever see that person in you again, but I really, really want to." She said as she got up, signaling the end of the conversation. She extended her hand to him and he took it and stood up. "Get me the coffee you promised me, and we have to get to practice." She said with a little sly grin. Tuesdays practice was what everyone called "killer". Coach Winslow and his 3 assistants all huddle over Monday night's notes while their staffs ran them through exercises and drills. While most would think the staff would be easier on the team, they were in fact harder and more vicious. When ever one of the Coaches would come out for a mind break and watch what was going on, they wanted them to see a hard working unit. There would be no finger pointing if any player wasn't ready, or tuned up enough. At 10 o'clock, when they usually broke, showered, ate early lunch and went to the war room for strategics, the 4 coaches came out and asked them all to gather before going back to lockers. "We could easily have our toughest game of the year on Saturday. We've looked at their last game video and they've turned a lot of their plays and strategies around and we suspect they are doing the same to prepare for us. This leaves them a little vulnerable because they are still trying a lot of new offenses and defensive sets, we've beat ours into you so much, you probably dream about them. We may not have executed every page of the playbook in a game, but we all know what we're doing. We're going to go into this game with a wide open offense. That's a little risky, even the best laid plans can go to hell once the ball is in the air. Defensively we may have to fight back early. Once we've established ourselves, shown them what we are capable of, or at least willing to do with the ball, we'll slow down the offense and try to keep the ball like we've proven we can do, and be patient. You guys and gals never get down when we're on the bad side of the scoreboard and we expect you to stay that way. We don't think our defense will have their hands as full as we might have to for some other teams. Not that we should take these guys lightly when they have the ball, we just see a lot of glaring discrepancies. If we work hard this week, we'll be ready for them." Coach Winslow bantered on as he paced before the assembled bunch. "Now I know you're all dying to hit the showers and eat, but if I may indulge you for another half hour. I want to line up offense and defense and call plays for Marv and Mark. No tough contact, I know you're all tired and hungry, but don't let tempers get the best of you. Is everybody in? Anyone have to beg off?" He asked. Jazz Carey popped up and put his helmet on. "I got a CLICK here!" He yelled. Soon all helmets were sliding down over tired faces, but all shouted excited "CLICKS". Everyone got into the action except the kickers, who retrieved footballs for the scrimmage. Every player was run in and out of the faux play-sets. Jared called the play for the offense, in the huddle, and when they lined up the defense read what they could and reset when necessary. It wasn't rough and tumble play, but it was taxing. By the end of the half-hour and they did their trudge into the lockers, all were dragging. One highlight of the session were Marv connecting on a Renegade Pass, a play where both tight ends fly up the field to stretch out the defense after a run fake slows the linebackers and isolates the safeties. He connected on a pass that he could have hit either receiver with some 40 or more yards out. Having Boge Hollins in your backfield doesn't hurt a bit when he's such an offensive threat. Another surprise was Mark Freeman calling 52 Hot Pass on consecutive plays and showing the same set-up on third down while Coach called an "Out and Up Pass" that consists of a 52 Hot Pass fake with a turn and go. Freeman lofted a ball in front of Kemmer Brooks that he simply ran to un-accosted. After the play Frank Ruffen shouted down his defense, "Expect to see that Saturday, they did it twice last week!! They try to set you up!!" Every pass defender knew that if Mark Freeman could connect on a long pass against them, they would be easy pickings if they didn't see the trend of plays. By the end of the short refresher and mind-testing session, everyone knew they had needed it. As they all got into the locker room Coach Winslow walked up and down the locker line asking everyone not to dawdle. "We lost a half hour of blackboard time and eating time. You still all have classes at 1:05 so let's go. We're going to start the boards as we finish eating!" He kept repeating as he went down the aisle and around the back and into the showers and up. He knew he had pushed them and now he wanted them to push a bit more so they could finish up and get everyone to class on time. Wednesdays practice would be late and it was getting darker earlier and earlier and taking time off the practice field and he wanted more. Coach was hoping they were getting as excited as he was about the challenge of Saturday's game. Jared Winslow lived for the rush he felt as it all came together on weeks like this. Not that every week wasn't a challenge, but this week was a special challenge, it was a test. Critics sat back and saw what he had done at Division 1, but now he was meeting UD Delaware, the other rising star and attention getter in the league. They had 2 ex-NFL assistants and 2 Big 10 assistants running the show and they were getting a little more sophisticated each week. Jared was convinced their field talent was nowhere near his, though. The college football world already knew Boge Hollins was the real thing, but he wanted Marv Hudson to get his own star, a confidence car if you will, to ride in. Oksana Cushman was no longer an oddity, she was one of the better punters in the league, and Brian Faraday could only be limited by lack of opportunity if he were to lead the conference, if not the nation, in scoring. The intensity level each day at practice was palpable as they prepared for the trip and the game. As much as players wanted to seek out relief from the stress of school and sports, they had little time to let temptations manifest themselves. Study-wise, Friday would be a lost day and even the false promise of "I'll study on the plane" was rarely invoked when put into reality. Jack Daniels had hoped to sit and spend the few hours in the air with Oksana, but flight arrangements called for Special Teams to be split with Defense and equipment. Jack was careful not to make his quest to be with her too obvious, so he let it go. However after both commuter jets landed at BWI in Baltimore-Washington and they boarded busses for the 2 hour ride to Dover. Jack had sprawled over one seat on the bus and hoped to sleep for the bus ride, but saw Oksana get on and begin to look for an open seat. Jack scooted up against the window and looked out, not wanting to make his wish too obvious. Oksana planted herself next to Jack as if she intended to do that from the time she got on the bus. Jack smiled widely inside himself, so glad he didn't have to ask or beg her. "The steward on our plane said we're going to fly out of Annapolis. They just got permission from whoever they had to pull strings with. They won't let private charters fly into Dover, at least at the Air Force Base. I guess their regular airport is small and undergoing renovations or something. Annapolis cuts an hour or more off the trip home." Okkie said as she settled into her seat and checked the others around her. "That'll be great, losing and hour; I just can't really sleep on a bus. Some of these guys can sleep anywhere and I just get bored." Jack said hoping to strike up good conversation. "You have to learn to relax Jack. You let petty things cloud your mind. Let go! We're young and have a whole future ahead of us and we have it pretty well planned out. I have friends working at Wal-Mart, living at home because they don't know what they want to do. You're probably a shoe-in to get drafted and ADM (Archer-Daniels-Midland) has been on campus to recruit anyone in your field, and you're Deans List. You should sleep like a baby at the drop of a hat." Oksana said as she turned in her seat to him and looked at him square. Jack was silent, but looked into her eyes for something to say. She leaned into him and whispered, "You're a smart man, a talented man, a good looking man with so much going for you. Why do you think I'm attracted to you and so disappointed at what you told me you're worried about? You need to take an inventory." She touched his hand before pulling it away and sitting back in her seat to take a deep breath and settle in as the bus went into gear and began rolling on its 2 hour trip. After about 40 minutes, in which Jack mostly reflected within himself considering her words, Oksana fell asleep and her head rested on his shoulder. He liked the warm feeling of closeness it conveyed. As the bus rolled into Dover, Jordy Alford, who was the only coach on their bus, stood up and blew a whistle. "OK, Sleeping Beauty's, let's start to wake up and get sharp here. Our equipment was mostly on the first bus and I'm guessing they beat us here by a little bit. Hopefully we can be on the field by 4 o'clock and get a little workout in. We're not going to kill ourselves, but make sure you get totally loose before drills. Riding can get you a little crampy, as you know. We're staying just off campus at a new Marriott that actually opens on Sunday. We'll eat dinner and breakfast there but keep in mind we are practice guests, so be patient. Over-nighters are rare, so I'm begging ALL of you to stay out of trouble." He said with a grin. A low sing-song of, "Yes Dad. Don't worry Dad. You have to go to sleep SOME time, Dad." Came from the back of the bus to which all laughed. They were a loose, confident bunch. It was a cool dry day for late in the year and the promise of the weather holding was good through Saturday. The field was in tremendous shape and the workout with drills went off without a hitch. Two trainers walked the locker room afterward and were happy they could find no work. Coach Winslow came out at exactly 6:30 as the dressed players sat and waited for him in front of the visiting lockers. "It was a good trip, no delays, and the field is in perfect shape. I think we'll have a great game tomorrow. We'll go out and play hard and hope that things work our way. The busses are out back and they will bring us back to the Marriott. Remember, this place isn't open to the public, so they know every person there is from New England Ag, so let's not give them anything to talk about. I couldn't work it so we could order off menus, so we're using the catering menu tonight. You'll have a few choices. It'll be good. Ummm ... I'm going to curfew you to the building tonight. Wake up is 7 o'clock. Breakfast is 8 o'clock and we leave for the Stadium at 9:15. Any questions?" Jared asked after laying out their next 12 hours or so. "Why the curfew?" Gerry Granahan asked from the back of the locker room. "The Mayor of Dover said they couldn't lock up all the girls and it would be easier to keep you inside." Coach replied to the raucous laughter of all knowing Gerry's reputation. "Seriously though, your wake up call is 12 hours from now. After 4 hours of travel and the work-out you all need rest. It protects you from yourselves. Trust me on this one. Dismissed!" Jared said as players began to shuffle past him and the other coaches assembled behind him. It was a quiet and uneventful evening without a hitch and almost before anyone had a chance to think about it, they were rolling into the stadium parking lot at 9:45 Saturday morning. In a half hour they would have trainers hustling around them taping up ankles, wrists, and whatever knees needed attention. You pull on a practice jersey without your shoulder pads and then one by one the players straggle out to the field for stretching, playing a little catch, making sure all of your pads were comfortable, your cleats fit good and provide good traction in the turf that day. It wasn't a cold day, but some players may find it cool enough to change into thermal tights under their uniform. As a rule, unless it was bitter cold, as long as the sun is out - thermals aren't needed. Plus you could always change into them at half-time if needed. Equipment managers and trainers roamed the field during stretching and warm-up making sure everything felt comfortable, nothing too tight or too loose. Players from both teams socialize, sometimes catching up with old friends. (Inter-fraternization was once frowned upon before a game, now it's common.) Then it's back to the locker room for adjustments, a team prayer and a few minutes to gather your thoughts before putting on your shoulder pads, pulling your game jersey on and going out to the field for pre-game warm-up drills. No matter how many of the team squads you play with, you always have one that you stretch and drill with. After drills they usually run through 10 or more standard plays to get the feel of the field and just see how you feel that day. Coach Winslow preaches "visualization" to each of his players, especially during the pre-game warm ups. "Put yourself on the field, you're in the game and the final score depends on YOU. You're going to pull the team up. As you pull in that practice pass in, throw that ball, make that block, plow through that line ... visualize yourself at the time of the game when it all lands on you. Know how you have to feel to make that play, know you can do it." Coach Winslow would say as a mantra before they went onto the field for pre-game. Every coach would keep reminding them, "Visualize, visualize!" After about 30 minutes of the full pad drills, practice and warm-ups the team heads back to the locker room. You have 15-20 minutes to get anything retaped, get your fluids, use the toilet, gather your thoughts, double check your playbook and do some personal reflection or prayer. With 10 minutes until kickoff and you assemble for The Lord's Prayer, get a final word of encouragement and faith from Coach Winslow and charge onto the field as warriors. Players are well aware of the behind the scenes preparation that goes into putting together the production of the game as the fan sees it. They know from everything they see all week "backstage" so to speak. But on game day, they have one concern, the team. While the whole production is being built around them, they dress, they prepare, and the hit field and BOOM there are 40 thousand people or more in the stands, 100's of support personnel, scores of NCAA officials and refs, and your personal staff of coaches, assistant staffs, trainers, go-fers, and equipment managers all waiting for you to perform. Using the "backstage" reference is quite apt as you are in a 4 act play that can build to an exciting conclusion with a strong story to keep the audience' attention. You have a script, but you write the actual "play" as you go using fate as your pen. It's kick-off time. Act One is about to begin. Delaware won the toss and elected to receive. Brian Faradays kick-off sailed long and high into the end zone where it was caught and downed to be brought to the 20 yard marker for The UD Destroyers to start. Delaware began a long steady, but slow, march up the field to the Green Aggie 48 on 10 plays with 3 first downs. They did it on a series of line slashes, sneaks, and short passes. Frank Ruffen stood beside Coach Winslow and pushed his head phone up saying, "They're playing your offense and want to see how YOU stop it. We have to tighten that line to make them pass." "What they haven't figured out yet is that they haven't got Boge Hollins, and he can't be stopped." Jared said with a confident smirk. Frank smiled back and turned to the bench and shouted, "Borchers!" A freshman linebacker wannabee, Kyle Borchers was probably the last name to make the abbreviated travel squad and the last player expected to get into the game early on. Kyle ran up, helmet in hand, to the coaches side. "For Tee Smythe, hold that middle!" UD had just slashed the middle for 3 yards to the NEAT 45, 2nd down and 7 when Borchers tagged Smythe and the switch was made. Tee Smythe ran right to Coach Ruffen's side. "Tee, line up right over the tackles and bust at the hole the center leaves. He's breaking and rolling open the hole. Let's force them outside, or make them throw. They're trying to see how WE would stop US. I think. That's OUR offense out there!" Ruffen shouted as they watched UD use the Stand and Turn version of 26 Hot Pass for another first down. Tee hustled in and tapped Borchers for the swap and barked into the quick defensive huddle. Jazz Carey smiled to himself as he suspected what was happening on the other side of the ball. He smiled because he knew the UD Destroyers didn't have Boge Hollins. Hollins goes through people; he didn't think UD had a runner who could do that consistently. On first down Tee Smythe met the UD fullback at the line and backed him to the ground for no gain. Second down they tried another 25 Trap in the 1 lane instead of the 2 lane and they met the same fate as Smythe and the guard pinched off the lane. On third down they used their own version of a 52 Hot Pass, but Scott Claxton batted the ball away, and almost intercepted it. Delaware converted the long field goal and took a 3-0 lead, but it certainly left their offense a little confused. After a short kick-off return NEAT took over on their own 23 with a full backfield in a Power I formation, looking very much like a run play. It was a classic Double Fade, a long gain pass play, in reality. Using two tight ends you hope to lull the defense into using a single safety in anticipation of the run, but the ends quickly penetrate the defensive backfield, one with single coverage and the other all alone. Hoping to cross the Destroyers with a change of game-plan worked perfectly as Freddy Murray was quickly all by himself. Marv Hudson showed a quick fake hand-off in his drop to make the cards fall his way and tucked the ball into Murray's hands some 23 yards out and gave him a nice sprint to the end zone. The score was quickly 7-3. When Delaware came back out they appeared to stick to their original game plan of emulating the NEAT ball control offense, but the Green Aggies knew all too well how to shut it down if you didn't have a Boge Hollins, and that was to force you to the air or the outside where the Green Aggie defense shined either way. When NEAT got the ball back Marv Hudson once again took to the air on first down. He called a Flex Pass using Boge Hollins alone in the backfield. The tight and wide receivers on one side run hook-out patterns, the tight and wide from the other side run slants of varying depths. Your tight end checks to be sure there is no blitz before he runs his hook-out and you've left the safeties scrambling and kept the linebackers busy. It was good for a 54 yard gain to leave NEAT on the UD 19 yard line. On the first down Hollins hit the line 6 yards and then on an identical play he broke the tackle and scored, Green Aggies 14, UD 3. For the rest of the game Marv Hudson and Coach Winslow ran their usual ball control offense, letting Boge Hollins pile up yards and Brian Faraday amass more points. The UD at Dover Destroyers learned that you can't change a game plan like putting new shoes on and off. Do what you do best and avoid getting beat trying to be someone you aren't. Final score New England Ag and Tech 29, U of Delaware at Dover 10. What should have been a competitive game ended in a rout because an over rambunctious coaching staff tried to solve their opponent by emulating them, instead of simply playing their game. The College Football Network carried the game as their weekly feature for black-out markets and one announcer dubbed the Marv Hudson and Boge Hollins combination as Flash and Dash. The media loved the sound of it and suddenly NEAT was getting a few page two and below the fold headlines. It was a slow start, but the NorthEast Ten was getting a little recognition. ------- Chapter 36 June Bokue was in the parking lot at Meditek waiting for the buses to come in since 8:30. She couldn't wait to congratulate the team. By 9, all of the players who hadn't made the trip or were non-roster red shirts were waiting, each excited for their teammates and all feeling they, too, were a part of the victory. Coach let all of them know that their contributions in practice were invaluable. A few hundred fans joined them and cheered as the busses rolled in. Glad hands and high-fives were exchanged between many before Coach Winslow thanked the crowd for showing up, but the team was anxious to dump their things and get to their dorms. The 12:15 start at Dover and shortened bus ride back to their charter, topped off by a win on the road, made the trip back to New England Ag seem a short one. They were in their home locker room just after 9 o'clock. Coach Winslow kept his words for the team short and sweet, everyone was anxious to celebrate a little. "Ladies, gentlemen, ... great win today. We'll talk tomorrow at 2 o'clock so you can all sleep in. It will be short. Behave yourself tonight. No drinking and driving, no hangovers tomorrow. A win isn't a license to be stupid. Be responsible for each other. The team doesn't dissolve when you leave the locker room. We've bought pizza and wings for you; just let The Union know where you want them delivered. Have a great night." Jared said with a big grin as he and the coaches left for their own little celebration in one of the team rooms before going home. Boge and Jazz stood on a locker bench and held their arms up to get everyone's attention. "At Ethan at 10, and like Coach said, no driving afterwards. Have your boyfriends, girlfriends stay over or walk home." Jazz said as Boge nodded agreement. June made sure she stopped at Marv Hudson's locker to congratulate him. "You're going to Ethan tonight aren't you?" She asked with a wink. "Sure am, I'm going to see you there?" He said winking back. Marv and June's little trysts had cooled a bit in the past few weeks but both were anxious to "relieve a little pressure" before the push for mid-terms came around after the last regular season game. Gerry Granahan made sure he made a stop at Julie Murcers locker before going to his car as well. "Are you stopping at Ethan tonight for a drink?" He asked. "Probably, but I'm not drinking as much as I did last week." She said coolly hoping to stop him from sniffing around her. "Was THAT comment so over-bearing and blatant, you have to be rude to me?" He whispered. "We may hook-up again someday, but it will be on MY terms, OK?" Julie answered without looking at him and walking away. Gerry smiled to himself and then rethought the situation and went out the door after her into the parking lot. "Hey Julie, wait up! I hate to disappoint you, but I wasn't putting the hit on you, I was TRYING to be friendly. Remember, it was YOU who seduced me, nor were you falling down drunk at the time. Don't pull the innocent act with me." Gerry said as he caught up and she turned to hear him out. Before she could answer him, he turned and went to his car, got in and drove off. Whomever was the booze benefactor for the Ethan Hall "Win" parties, they must have been pleased with the victory that Saturday. In the Hall kitchen at Ethan they found 2 full cases of Stella Artois Belgian brewed beer, a large bottle of Jose Cuervo pre-made Margaritas, and a large bottle of Sutter Home wine. Not really enough to put anyone on a bender, but enough to give everyone a smile and a little buzz. About 35 players, a few with girlfriends showed up for the party. Many of the others had family in town or lived close by and just didn't partake. It was mostly mingling and glad handing that broke up by midnight. When Julie saw Gerry there she wasted no time to go to him and apologize for being what she called "a snot". "I'm sorry. I guess I had it in my mind that you were going to be after me, but... " She said apologetically. "I'm OK, I was just disappointed that you would treat me that way after... " He started to say, but trailed off, knowing she knew what he meant. "Pals?" She said offering her beer bottle to clink a toast. Gerry clinked his glass, nodded and smiled, while running two fingers under his nose, as if sniffing and winking at her. She winked back and turned away to mingle with others, not letting him know that his finger sniffing gave her a tingle right where his fingers pleased her the previous week. June Bokue and Marv Hudson passed each other a few times at the party, saying polite hello's while both knew they would be getting more than personal real soon. If anyone suspected the two were having a sexual tryst, no one ever let on. Although, it was probably a safe bet that each of the girls on the team kept each other up to date on who they had affairs with. They knew they were outnumbered on the team and could be the victims of rumor. They could easily separate the wheat from the chaff on that score. Knowing the truth always gives you the edge. Jack Daniels was afraid to ask if Oksana was going to show up for the party. He made a point to make sure she was in the room and was paying attention when Boge and Jazz invited everyone. He knew she had been to other parties and even jerked off with the image of her dropping her shorts to "Moon to get a Blue Moon" after the Providence game. She had circumvented the prank requirement on her first 2 beers but when she got her third a good natured chant got her to stand on a chair like the others and quickly show a thronged "moon". Jack was a favorite of most everyone on the team so he was approached by nearly everyone for a handshake at one of the win parties. He was on his second drink when he had given up hope she might show. Although happy with the win and the glad-handing around him, he had just sighed in disappointment when someone tugged at the back of his shirt. "Good game "Whiskey Jack". Are there any more beers?" Oksana said as he turned quickly to see who it was. She gave him a friendly hug and looked around the party at the green bottles of Stella in hand and tried to locate the "beer-keeper". "Wow, Stella is about my favorite. Who's got it tonight?" She said as her eyes scanned the crowd. "Kemmer, over in the corner, is keeping the beer. They've got Margaritas too!" He said, excited to see her. She quickly slipped away and Jack resisted the urge to follow her and keep his distance unless she sought him out. He was paranoid about being too anxious and it was driving him crazy. He begged the gods to give him a sign that he should make a move. "W H I S K E E E Y!!!!!" Boge Hollins hollered in his ear as he placed both hands on either shoulder and shook him in a move of great admiration and affection. "How is the rock and keystone of this team doing tonight? Great game!! You are like a fuckin' automatic DOOR for me to go through. I don't know HOW we'll replace you next year. Barring some off the wall bowl bid, next week is your last game and you haven't missed one in four years. Congratulations!!" Boge said with the utmost sincerity, knowing quite well how a running backs bread is buttered. "Thanks Boge, you've done so much to make this team gel, I appreciate the props." Jack said, almost embarrassed at being singled out. "Awww, they write articles about us, the backfield, but we KNOW it's the grunts that get it done for us. You'll play in the NFL before me, for sure. My Dad says you're the best he's seen all year Jack! I know we've been solid all year, you and I, but I just want you to know how I feel. I hate seeing seniors go and you're one I'll miss as long as I play at any level. I say this in front of everybody, because I don't want to get too emotional other wise." Hollins continued until they fist bumped and Boge moved on. Jack and Boge had been 2 of the closest of friends on the team and Boge would have had a hard time saying what he said as a friend. He wanted it in the admired teammate context so Jack would better understand what he felt. Jack was proud to be a friend of Boge's, but as soon as he moved through the crowd, Jack's eyes scanned for Oksana. He saw her talking with June and Julie. Jack moved through the crowd to get another beer before the Stella's were gone. June, Julie and Oksana laughed and were joyful over the victory. Practicing with the team and not being able to play in games was taking a toll on Julie on road games, but knowing she had 4 years of eligibility left tempered her yearn. The 3 laughed and cajoled each other and were about to break out and mingle when Julie asked a question they often asked of each other. "So, any hook-ups? Everyone safe tonight?" She asked scanning the area to be sure there were no eavesdroppers. June half smiled and flushed a bit in embarrassment saying, "I'll probably have my usual, we're safe and cool, no BIG deed going on." "Jack will probably walk me home, but nothing more. He's ... he's ... just not that interested, I guess." Oksana said regretfully. "Really?" Julie asked. "I thought he was into you." Oksana shook her head and chuckled somewhat wistfully. "He hasn't been into me yet. I could use it though." "Is he shy? God, that's been here four years, you would think he would have a lot of notches in his headboard. He's a hunk in a jock sort of way." June said looking past Okkie at Jack getting a beer from Kemmer in the corner. "Not really shy. I guess the word is "protective". I think he's afraid of being hurt, I don't know." She lied creatively. "But I'll work on it." She finished with a sly chuckle. "I guess that leaves me," Julie said, "I don't have any prospects tonight, ... yet. I've got somebody who's interested and discreet, but he expects me to just WANT him, and that pisses me off. Am I a slut for just wanting to get naughty and feel the earth move?" Oksana leaned in to keep her response private. "Do you feel guilty afterwards?" She asked Julie. "Not even a little bit. I feel freed and relieved and in no way attached to who I was with." "Then you're fine. Feeling guilty and hating yourself afterwards, even though you know you're going to do it again is a slut, wanting to be used." Oksana rationalized. "I have a boyfriend at home and I know I SHOULD feel guilty, but if he wants me to be happy ... and he never finds out. I mean, if he asked me I would admit it. I'm just charged that way. I love getting naughty." Julie said introspectively before laughing at herself. "I hear you, girlfriend!" June said with an evil smile putting out a hooked pinky for Julie to hook and shake. "I mean, I was banging this guy and he sent me packing because his girlfriend came home and I expected to be hurt and to pine over him, and ... nothing! I could have cared less for him. I missed the sex, not him." Julie cautiously whispered back. "OK, you two are making me hornier than I already was; let me try to get the big Center to notice me." Oksana said as she winked and peeled off towards Jack. Where guys think that they are the only ones who obsess and think about sex all of the time, the opposite sex is just as formidable in carnal thoughts. That was the conclusion these 3 came to early in the season while talking about their favorite subject. Being in a testosterone filled locker room almost every day didn't dull the thought process either. "So Jack, how was your trip home? I guess I missed your bus and your plane back. As soon as we filled a bus, we were gone! Special teams and scrubs didn't have as much dirt and tape to scrape off. They gave me and Julie the Coaches shower and had a matron escort us. I was more afraid of her than any guy sneaking in for a thrill." Okkie asked trying to break the ice with Jack. Jack didn't know what to think. He thought he was going to get the cold shoulder for a while from her, but she seemed to want to open up lines of communication and carry on from where they left off. He feared making a move on her would make her shut down with an "I thought I told you NOT to... " Poor Jack was confused. While the two made small talk and seemed to monopolize each other, Julie was mingling with most everyone, all the while keeping Gerry Granahan in her sites at all times. The fact he was confident and not wanting to have a relationship intrigued her all of a sudden. There would be no beating around the bush. A no-frills fuck to leave them both satisfied. What burned her was that if she approached him he would think "I KNEW you would be back, you little whore." Also, she was NOT going to oral him. She had sworn to herself that she wouldn't do Brian Faraday that way, but gave in to the temptation just the same. But that was after more than a few meetings. She had a feeling Gerry wanted a girl on her knees before him to prove that he knew her place. The party started later than usual because of the travel so it was near midnight when the alcohol, what little was left, was pulled back and locked up. Whomever provided it had rules and the players in Ethan made sure they were adhered to. This was a great perk they didn't want to lose. They made sure no one left in a frank drunken state or got out of hand. As the group straggled out, saying goodnight and shaking hands, Julie sidled up between Gerry and Greg Alusik and appeared to be asking the group, "Anyone going down to The Union?" A round of "No's" followed from the mostly exhausted crowd, but Gerry Granahan said that he was. "Meeting someone?" Julie asked. "Yup." Gerry answered smartly, and then added "I just don't know who yet." They walked out of Ethan and soon they were the only two headed past Allen Hall towards The Union. June had rushed to her room at Allen to get ready for her visitor and Oksana lagged back at Ethan hoping to entice Jack to walk her down. "Want me to walk you down? Looks like a lonely walk tonight, not much going on." Gerry said in a friendly tone. "Ummm, OK ... but I could save you the trouble if you want to come inside." She said as she stopped in front of the main door at Allen. "Before you answer, if you come in it's MY rules and you leave before morning." Julie warned him. "No offense, but I can jerk myself off." He said smugly enough that she wanted to tell him to fuck off. She hesitated and sighed, dropping her shoulders in the resignation that she was too ready to send him away, saying "You'll do better than that if you're not so arrogant." "Arrogant?" "C'mon Gerry! You know goddam well what I'm talking about!" She said poking him in his gut. Gerry laughed out loud and reached out to hug her. "I'm sorry. I know I can be a shithead. I didn't really think you and I would ever hook up so I felt obligated to be a smart ass. One of the sororities calls me Charlie Harper because of the horseshit lines I've given to some of them. You know ... the guy on Two and a Half Men show?" Gerry apologized. "Well, I hope you don't think I'm a bimbo like the girls he picks up." She said breaking the hug and folding her arms and pouting. "Julie," He said taking each of her elbows in his hand as she pouted, "Lot's of us are far away from home, lonely, homesick, stressed out ... and horny. Sitting and pining in our rooms doesn't help much. I have a few girls I see back home, but I never made any promises to anyone and no one is waiting for me. I'm a good looking guy and take advantage of it. Some girls think I'm a pig, and if they want to think that, I'm OK. I don't string anyone along, I don't make any promises. I don't think of women as things and I don't get involved with anyone looking for more than I can offer. Maybe someone will steal my heart someday, but until then I'll keep letting members of your fair sex make me happy, AFTER I've made them happy. My street is never one way. So invite me up if you like, or have me come back later so I can sneak in, but I've been to more than a few rooms in this building. Oh, and by the way, I'm always prepared and I'm always safe." Julie's pout stayed on her face as she stared at the ground while Gerry spoke, seemingly from his heart. She turned her pout into a smile as she looked at him saying, "I give you credit for being honest and straightforward to me. I was prepared to bag a lot of your shit. I thought our first little meeting was fun, even though you said all the WRONG things to me to create the situation you wanted. Ummmm ... I don't want anyone who is watching us to think you've picked me up. Why don't you come by in a half hour or so and try to be discreet. My dorm room is..." "I KNOW which room is yours. See you in a bit." He said with a sly smile before kissing her cheek and running off towards The Union. Back at Ethan, in the room where the block lettered sign read simply "Hall Kitchen", Boge Hollins, Jazz Carey, and Jack Daniels cleaned up any evidence of an alcohol party. The cooler and what was left, along with the empties, were put into a storage closet. Once everything was put away Boge hung the key inside the closet and closed the door that locked when clicked shut. The key would turn up under one of their doors after a win. If Boge or Jazz knew who provided the little party, they never said. They only knew the reasoning was to keep the players on campus, out of cars and safe, while still having a good time. Oksana Cushman pitched in while obviously waiting for Jack. When they finished Jazz and Boge quickly left to go to their rooms. Jack thought both of them had girlfriends waiting for them and turned to see Oksana sitting and waiting for him. "Why don't you walk me to my room, we can sit and talk more. I enjoyed talking on the bus; I think we have more to iron out." Okkie said as she slipped her arms around Jack and hugged him. "So, you still want to see me?" Jack asked as if confused. "Jack, I've ... I," She started to say before shaking her head and sighing. "Listen, I've thrown myself at you in as many ways as I know how and you seem to act interested, then disinterested. I thought I figured out you were gay and you vehemently deny that. Then you tell me that it's you're not man enough for me, or any other woman as far as you think. That pissed me off and infuriated me so much, and I told you as much, that I walked away crying my eyes out for a couple hours, ... yet STILL, here I am. Do I have to hit you over the head to make you see how I feel?" She broke the hug and took Jacks hand and pulled him towards the door. When they got outside of Ethan she slipped her arm around his waist and pulled his to go around hers. They walked slowly with her chattering all the while about how she wanted to get to know him and discover things about each other. "If you really like me and want to get to know the me inside of me you'll have to trust me. I won't judge you by anything besides your character, and I think you're a warm loving guy with a great faithful personality. Trust me with your heart. If, for any reason, we don't hit it off it will be apparent to both of us and it won't be for any physical reason. THAT is something I PROMISE you." She said as they walked slowly to the front of Allen Hall. "Now, you've never tried to kiss me goodnight, and I want you to, right now." She said as she stopped near the landing for the door and leaned on the building and pulled him to her by the collar so his face was right in front of hers. He hesitantly pushed his lips out to meet hers and pecked at her lips. He began to pull away and she pulled him harder to her face as she kissed him hard. He seemed stiff at first but relaxed and began to get into it a bit before she broke the kiss. "Now wasn't that nice!" She said smiling. "Now I'm going to kiss you", as her hands ran up to his cheeks and pulled his face to hers and she kissed him open mouthed, encouraging him to do the same. Her tongue snaked out and he quickly got the idea. The kiss became long and heated with tongues swirling and faces twisting at each other before she broke it again. "Is that the first time you ever "necked" Jack?" She asked with a smile. He turned red and put an embarrassed smile on his face. "Yeah, I guess it was. You won't tell anyone ... right?" "John Davis Daniels! What have I told you about trust? Why do you worry about such pettiness? Kiss me again like that and it will be a little easier and then the first time will be a long forgotten memory, surely nothing to talk or worry about." She whispered in exasperation. Jack needed no urging to paste his mouth to hers and she let him be the first to open his mouth to explore hers. He slipped his arms around her and pulled her tight as his kiss intensified. He let her up for air and she smiled and said, "See, isn't that fun and easy? All you had to do was offer your lips and I've wanted to kiss you for a long time to show you how I felt. Now you know, and I think I know how you feel. Isn't that a nice expression?" She whispered softly to him. Jack just smiled widely and looked deep into her eyes. This was a position he never thought he could comfortably be in. He kissed her softly again. "Now Jack, this is where I say to you, "Would you like to come inside for a few minutes, I could put on some coffee." "I don't drink coffee this late." He said smiling. "I don't have any anyway." She said taking his hand and reaching in her pocket for her entry key. Jack was tentative as he followed Oksana to her room. Once inside he was nervous as he pushed the door shut and she turned to him. Her dorm room was small, one room with a bathroom. It had a small kitchenette, a desk and she had a patio furniture loveseat that sat at the foot of her bed. She had a bedspread over the loveseat with two pillows on it. She flipped the two pillows over to the bed and sat on the loveseat, patting the space beside her for Jack to sit. Before he had a chance to think about what move he should make she draped her arms around his neck and put her mouth to his to continue necking. Little by little he began to move his hands over her back, rubbing and stroking her, being careful not to move below her waist. She wore just a long team jersey fleece tee with a sports bra under it and form fitting jogging pull-ons. The jersey tee shirt hung well below her waist hiding her mid-section which, if exposed, hid little with the skin tight fit of the running pants. Oksana sat back and looked at Jack and smiled. "Your hands feel good. Would you like me to lose some of these clothes, change into some thing else?" She asked while stroking his face and looking him sincerely in the eye. Jacks eyes bugged out for a moment and said "No, no, you don't have to do that!" "Jack calm down. I'm not mad, I was trying to help you out. Don't be embarrassed if you aren't sure what to do. You're with ME, remember. Trust, remember?" She said kneeling up on the love seat and holding his cheeks in her hands she kissed his nose, then his forehead. Jack began to get nervous and a look of fear crept across his face. Oksana wasn't about to let him get up and walk away now. He hadn't made any moves on his own before and she didn't trust him to make any now. "Jack, would you feel better if I turned the lights off altogether? I have room darkening shades and it would make you more comfortable. I won't be able to read your face. You have to chill out. I want you to be comfortable with me, hold me, squeeze me. We can make each other happy, but I can't have your "13 year old caught with a dirty magazine look" looking back at me. We can get you through this. I'm not a powder puff girl, but I've been with a man a few times and know my way around." She said softly and sexily, trying to make him feel at ease. "Are we going to have sex?" He asked nervously. "We're not going to fuck, Jack. We need to talk and be prepared for that. But it can happen sometime if we get close like I'd like to. Let me turn off the light and I'll be back. Relax Jack. I really like you a lot and want to show you how we can make each other happy, OK?" She said in the same soft voice as she pecked him on the lips and got up to secure the shades and turn out the light. When the light went out it was pitch black, as she liked it to sleep. He softly called her name just as she sat right beside him again. "I'm here Jack. Hold me again." She said as she attached her face to his as before and began to probe his mouth with her tongue. His hands went again to her back and stroked, but she interrupted the kiss to talk. "Run your hands over my ass, fell how smooth and round it is. Go up under the tail of that shirt." She said as she lay across him with her arms around his neck. He fumbled with the long tail of her shirt, but was soon running his hand over the globes of her ass, squeezing and stroking while she hummed approval. After a few minutes she pulled back up to her knees next to him. "I'm going to take my shirt off now Jack, and my bra with it. Sit up a bit more." She said as he heard the rustle of her clothes, getting more excited by the second. On her knees on the seat she sought out his face again. Just before she kissed his lips she whispered low and sexy, "Feel my breasts, fill your hands with them." Her mouth probed his as he tentatively raised his hands to feel tits and she moaned into his mouth as he felt them and, instinctively, even pinched at the nipples. She squealed through her necking kiss and then pulled her mouth away and knelt up straight, pushing her chest up towards him. "Suckle my nipples, they ache to be kissed and sucked." She said with urgency. Jack brought a hand up to hold one of her full breasts and put his mouth over the nipple. He may have been new to being with a woman, but he knew how to make her happy as she moaned and squealed her pleasure. "Oooo, that feels so good, Jack. My baby Jack sucks my titties so good." She moaned in a low voice Jack had never heard as he switched from one boob to the other. Jack was, very quickly, getting the hang of this woman pleasing stuff, and obviously enjoying it as he adjusted his sitting position to manage the growing urge in his pants. As Jack suckled he heard Oksana whisper one word to him as she put her hand to the lump in his pants. "Relax." She said in a pleasured whisper as she enjoyed his mouth on her tender nipples as she ran her hand over his hard penis trapped in his pants. She knew enough about an over-excited man to know that if she got him too excited too fast he might cum right in his pants and she didn't want him to have to deal with that disappointment. She knew she had to deal with his psyche as well as his sexual needs. She needed him to go home tonight feeling like he was normal and not some short-changed freak. "Oh, it feels like you've got a nice cock in there Jack. I hope my hand feels as good as your mouth feels on my boobies. You stay busy and let me explore now." She said as she pulled the string on the cinch on the football warm-up pants he was wearing. Undone, the pants easily pulled away from his waist and she ran her hand over the bulge in his briefs and searched for the waistband and slid her hand under to grab hold of his cock. "JACK! You've been embarrassed about this?" She said surprised as Jack grunted and groaned over the nipple he was servicing. She put her thumb and forefinger around the root of his cock next to body and held the whole of it in her hand saying, "You have a nice fat cock that isn't small at all, Jack honey. It feels nice to me." He lifted his mouth from her tit and said, almost ashamedly, "It's small when it's soft, too small." He said. Okkie had all she could do not to lose her temper, but instead squeezed him hard to make a point saying, "Who cares, Jack? You only use it for peeing when it's soft. Don't be so vain." She stroked him very slowly feeling every inch of his manliness not wanting to get him off quite yet. She knew she was soaking wet and needed relief soon. With one hand around his cock she put the other to his chin and lifted his head from her breast. She kissed him and whispered, "Put your hand on my belly ... no, palm side on me ... now slide your hand down under my pants." She said as he followed instructions. "I'm not wearing any panties and I don't have any bush down there, so be gentle. Run your fingers through the lips of my pussy. Feel how wet I am. Ohhhhhhhh ... you caused that Jack. You're loving me up so good!" She said building his sexual ego. She stopped pulling on his dick so she could concentrate on getting her own pleasure as his fingers explored her vagina. "Just put your middle finger in me ... Ahhhh ... now pull in out a little. Do you feel that little bud, that hard little bunch? That's my clit and I need you to rub it, just like you rub your cock to make it feel good." She said as breath caught as he touched the tender little tab. "Oh God, Jack. That's it! Stroke right over it, just like that!" She said as Jack had seen enough adult movies that he knew what to do to get her off at this point. Oksana began to shift her knees a bit and move her hips as Jack began to bring her off. Her breathing was coming in quick, hurried breaths. "Oh JACK, you're going to make me CUM! Don't stop keep going until, ... until, I cummmmmmmmmmmm!. Don't stop, don't stop. Oh, Oh, Oh, you're doing so good Jack!" She said as she moved forward to put her head on Jack's shoulder and moan in his ear. Suddenly she got to where she was too sensitive to take any more. "Hooo, hoooo, Oh ... oh ... no more, no more. Just hold my pussy in your hand!" She said as she panted onto his shoulder, still holding his cock in her hand. After about a minute of her panting and moaning and telling him how good he made her feel, she sat back and leaned up again to place her mouth over his. She kissed him deeply and started to say something, but she hesitated, then kissed him again. "Oh Jack, you made me so happy, and ... now I want to make you happy." She said as she let go of him and he felt her move off the love seat bench. She tugged at his pants and he lifted up to let them come down and then felt her hand go around his cock. Her other hand lifted his balls a bit and held them as she stroked him lightly. "Now Jack, you aren't the first man I've been with and I know how to make a man happy. This is something I've done before, but never the first time I've been with someone. You're very special to me and I want this night to be special. So do you trust me?" She said as she softly stroked him and fondled his balls. "Yes! Oh, Oksana, it feels so good. You've made this night ... HEAVEN!" He said almost with a cry at the end of his words. "See how normal you are Jack!" She scolded him. "Silly worrying and carrying on over nothing, but I'm glad I'm the one whose doing this for you. Maybe it's fate you saved it for me." "Maybe!" He said in a nervous cry again. He felt her shift a bit and heard her say in a low voice, "Here's what's special for you." Oksana kissed the head of his cock and then filled her mouth with the head and ran her tongue over it before popping it out with a smack. "Mmmmm" was all she said as she put it back in her mouth and bobbed her head a few times. "There Jack, is that good? That's how good you made me feel. I don't want you to cum in my mouth, so let me know. Let me make love to you and show you how normal you are and how happy a woman can make you feel. Jack's mind reeled about in circles for a minute as he realized that he was really, really getting a blowjob. He always fantasized over it and loved those parts of the porno's he watched and now it was happening to HIM! "Oh Okkie, that's so good! Why are you being so good to me after I made you cry?" He said in an emotional voice, still near tears. "I've tried to show you how I felt about you and you never reacted. NOW you know!" She said lifting her head and then went back to sucking and stroking him. Jacks first blowjob was a wet sloppy blowjob by someone who really enjoyed it. Oksana knew how to make a man happy this way and loved the empowering way it made her feel. This was especially satisfying to her since she knew it was Jacks first and she wanted to make him see how special she felt towards him. "Jack, I can taste a little something happening. Are you going to cum?" she asked precautionary after she had given him a long pleasurable sucking. "It's there, but it won't HAPPEN!" he cried out frustrated he couldn't finish. She lifted her head from him and used the thumbs and 3 fingers of both hands on him and lathed her tongue over the underside of the head she had been sucking. "There!" He bellowed as she pulled her head away and shot a long volley of lubricating pre-cum just below her chin followed by big splashes of cum she aimed at her chest as it ran down her tits and dropped to her belly, her pants and the floor. Jack just shook as his ass came to the edge of the seat and his whole body trembled. She continued stroking until she was sure he was through ejaculating and ran her fingers up and over his little slit to clean all the cum away. She bent and kissed the head, sucking it in give him one last jolt. She hadn't planned on him having one last blob of cum to push out from the excitement she added, but she pushed it out her lips as soon as he deposited it on her tongue. He was making sounds or unintelligible words, she wasn't sure but probably apologizing for the cum in her mouth. She knelt back to the floor and waited for him to come around from his sexual high. "Jack? I'm going to make my way to the light and turn it on. Stay there so you don't stumble or anything. I'll clean you up." She said as she found the light and fixed her fingers around the knob. "You're going to see me almost nude and I'm going to see that delicious cock of yours. Are you ready?" She said as she turned on the switch, not waiting for an answer. Oksana's beautiful round breasts and bright pink nipples with cum splashed on them were all Jack could focus on. There was more cum on her flat belly and the whole crotch of her pants looked as if she had wet them. "My God Okkie, you're beautiful! So pretty!" He said breathlessly. "Thank you, Jack, and might I say you have a wonderful package there yourself. I knew you had a cute ass, but a nice happy organ as well!" She giggled. "Here, you'll see the rest of me now. I've got to get out of these wet pants. See what you did to me!" She said as she peeled her pants off and Jack saw her shaved pussy. She used the pants to wipe the cum from her breasts and belly and then turned to go to the bathroom to get a towel to wipe off Jack. She stopped to turn and see if Jack was watching her. "You like my ass? I think I have a nice behind. It's a little big, but I'm big. You like?" She said proudly. "God, you're gorgeous!" Was all he could say. "Come here, Jack. Take off your clothes, you got to see me nude. Take it all off and jump in the shower to rinse off. It's not big enough for the both of us." She said as she turned on the shower to adjust the water. Jack bravely got up and stepped out of his undies and pants and pushed his shirt over his head. He walked to her bathroom and stepped into the shower as she held the curtain for him. She soaped a sponge glove and had him turn so she could do his back. "You do have a cute ass!" She said as she slapped it and continued washing him. She had him turn and she washed his chest and then ran the sponge over his genitals, glancing back into his eyes. "There's nothing wrong with that cute little fellow. He'll do any woman just fine, but I hope you save him for me." She said as she finished off and let him rinse. She handed him a towel to dry and stepped in herself. She turned to look at him as he dried, but his eyes were fixed on her. She handed him the sponge glove and said, "Do me now?" He took the glove and she turned to let him do her back and butt, not getting too personal. Then she turned and he did her front, enjoying her boobs and then running the sponge glove between her legs a few times. "That's good Jack, just a rinse for now. I'll get to use one of the tubs up the hallway in the morning for a good bath and shower to do my hair." She said turning off the water and reaching for a towel. She dried as he watched the first live girl he had ever seen fully nude. She put on a long thick terry robe and turned to him. "You probably shouldn't stay tonight. We have things to talk about before we decide to sleep together, because sleep doesn't mean sleep, it usually means fuck." She said laying out some basic rules. He nodded in agreement and went to search for his clothes. As he went to pull his briefs up she came over to him. "Wait Jack." She said as she squeezed a tube into her hand. "I can't let you try to pull those skivvies up over that hard-on you've re-grown. I caused the stiffy, and I'll take care of it." She said as she put a lube filled hand around his cock and knelt before him. Jack went to pull away, but remembered her mantra of trust. "You didn't have to this just because I got..." He started to say before she interrupted. "Shhhhhhh, you think I don't like playing with this? I had it in my mouth, didn't I? I'm the one who should be afraid of your cock, not you." She said looking up to him. She smiled and he smiled back suddenly enjoying thinking of himself as a cocksman, having someone worship his dick. "I enjoy oral sex, but don't usually do it with some one I haven't gotten to know in every other way. I want you to know how special you are. I'll have to show you how to eat my little pussy, would you like that? We can 69 and then you'll cum in my mouth while I cum in yours." She said in a gristled-like voice thinking of the act. "I think you'll like that." Those words were all Jack needed to hear to get himself off this night. "Oh God, Okk, I'm gonna cum again!" Oksana pulled the towel he had dropped and held it in front of Jack as he spurted a quick white load into it. She continued stroking him until she was sure he was through. She took the damp towel and finished wiping him off and wiping her hand as well. She reached for his under-shorts and had him step into them. As she pulled them up, just before she pulled them over his package, she kissed the head of his cock once more for the night taking about half the head into her mouth and swirling her tongue over his slit. Even though Jack was just the third man she ever had oral sex with, she had enough experience to know what they liked. "Good night my little friend, I hope we get to know each other a lot better." She said with a smile as she patted his penis, stood, and let him finish dressing. She went and stood by the door when he finished and he came to her side. He initiated the long kiss they shared and when they broke it he hugged her tightly and whispered in her ear. "Thank you so much for teaching me something about life and myself tonight. I never realized how much you cared for me and all that. Sorry for being so stupid, ... about everything." "Jack, don't apologize. What's passed is past. Let's move on. I want to be a part of your life and see what develops." She whispered back and kissed him on the cheek. "OK, we'll work on that. I'll walk you down to Meditek tomorrow. See you at 1:30?" He asked. "Sounds good." She answered as she clicked the door shut behind him. ------- Chapter 37 In his quest to finish 7-3 in the conference Jared Winslow had to beat the only team he played twice this season, White Mountain University/New Hampshire. In the 10 team conference each team played one in-conference team twice to round the schedule, he was happy that it was a team who had beaten them earlier. Avenging a loss would be all the reason to keep the team up for the final game. The loss to White Mountain U was painful because they turned around an 11 point lead to a 3 point loss in the matter of 13 ticks of the clock. A fumbled field goal hold was picked up and returned for a touchdown and when WMU kicked off, they kicked on-side and picked a ball that bounced off a lineman's hands, never touching the ground, returning that for a score. NEAT downed the ensuing kick-off in the end zone and let Marv Hudson, Boge Hollins and company try to use the final 28 seconds to manufacture a score from the 20. A would be touchdown pass to Tim Waters was called back on a hold flag threw on Boge Hollins. Boge swore to no avail that he hadn't had the fist full of jersey the ref claimed. Hollins was a superior pass blocker, who hadn't been flagged before or since that game, but he was the first, publicly, to say that calls go good and bad for both teams and they would get it back. Privately he seethed because the game meant 3 wins in a row, and eventually would have been 4. Only the loss to New York State U at Buffalo, where the Green Aggies came out flat and never got going, prevented them from going for 5 in a row now. NYSU@Buffalo was leasing Ralph Wilson Stadium until their new home digs were ready and they were playing Saturday night home games. Coach Winslow privately blamed that loss on the NEAT travel office who should have booked them on flights from Burlington to Buffalo, NY. Instead they bussed to Albany, NY, a trip of 3 hours, only to miss the miscalculated commercial connections to Buffalo and having to bus 5+ more hours to Ralph Wilson. What was supposed to be a 6 hour bus and plane trip to Buffalo for a night game at Ralph Wilson Stadium before 50,000 fans, turned into a nightmare 9 hours on 3 buses. They got to the Stadium at 4:30 for the 8 o'clock game. The team played like they were still on the bus, losing 31-19, and it was never even THAT close. They got there almost 6 hours later than they had planned. The incident resulted in Winslow and AD Joe Barber coming to an agreement that any flights would be charters out of Burlington and any trip over 5 hours would be overnight. Penny-pinching and cost cutting were noble, but when it came to the team travel, comfort and promptness had to take precedence when being noble hurt the end result. All these things poured through his head as he prepared to meet his team for "report card". He knew that he and the coaching staff would have a tough week preparing and making sure no clip of video was missed in plotting a game plan. Weather was of a concern, 6 to 7 days out a major snow storm was probable to hit New England. Jared hoped for a change in the storm track, but the first few practices would have to take the probability into consideration. By Thursday they would know if it would affect game time. Today, however, was about telling the team how proud he was and giving kudos to the team as a whole for it's performance in Delaware. At 1:30 Jared and the assistant coaches met in Coach's office to preview the game plan for the next week. They really hadn't seen new video yet, but they knew from the first game what a lot of their game was like. They all jotted down salient points they remembered from the earlier game and at 2:00 they went out to meet the team. Ben Elgart met the trio in the hallway, ""Everybody's here Coach. They all saw the long range forecast on the board and most everyone is going to workout. They don't want to lose a day. They all want this one." Coach Winslow smiled at their spirit. The little winning streak had them hungry and they still felt the sting from the earlier loss to WMU. "Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen! Let us begin by giving you a big hand." Jared said as all three coaches and any of their staffs who straggled in clapped for the team. "Your weekend performance was exemplary, traveling, sleeping in strange beds and conducting yourself like professionals who mean business, business, business. You had a mission and you executed. You continue to improve each week, I'm sorry the season has to end now. If we get this last one, we may get an invite to a bowl, but don't let that be your carrot. We want to win this one for ourselves and not get beaten by any team a second time. But, no matter what happens next Saturday, it won't take away from the great season we've had. This team has gone from mediocre to very good in a short time and I credit your heart and your drive. Let's keep the workout brief today, just enough to stay sharp. We don't want to leave it all on the practice field and go out flat on Saturday. We'll do another light workout tomorrow afternoon and then work on strategy. I guess Coach Ben and Coach Barry will lead the workout with the captains. It was a typical workout in training shoes and sweats. They did a few minutes of stretching, then laps on the field, took to the steps to strengthen the hammys. Then some hit the weight room and a few threw around the football. If you asked any player why he worked out when it was strictly a voluntary task, most all would say they just wanted to stay sharp. The team was on a roll and no one wanted to change the mojo. Everyone was showered and out by 3:30 to let the stadium staff finish up and go to their families as well. Jack Daniels looked like the cat who swallowed the canary the whole afternoon and he managed to wink to Oksana a few times in the locker room. Most of the team knew they were casually seeing each other, so it didn't seem out of the ordinary. Inside Jack's head, his mind swirled about the sex, the fact he defeated an inner phobia and maybe found the relationship he had been looking for. Hopefully Oksana would act as a cruise control for the relationship and get him to pace it. On the other hand Julie Murcer and Gerry Granahan went out of their way not to let their eyes meet. Both wanted to squash any rumors that they may have spent the night together. They knew the who, when, and how of what happened the night before and it was nobody else's business. Their paranoia was unfounded as no one suspected the two to have hooked up; they were a quite unlikely pair. For Green Aggie players and coaches the next 12 days were to be the most pressure packed of the season. There was the final game of the year, the wait for a bowl bid, Thanksgiving, and the press for exams before the Holiday Break. For some, there was a harried trip to wherever they called home to spend a special time with family, some near, some far. For others it was beating the loneliness of spending a traditional family Holiday away from home. Coach Winslow would make sure that each player who wasn't able to get home would spend their Thanksgiving with him and his family in a makeshift "living room" at Meditek Stadium. There would be multiple TV's for football games and others set up for video games. The smell of turkey and the big meal cooking would waft throughout while pies cooled nearby. It wouldn't be "home" but it would be as close as many could come to it. It was something Jared had started at Vermont Valley and he planned to always provide as long as he coached. Meg was disappointed that she wouldn't be with her family, but a Sunday "Thanksgiving" was planned at her family homestead with Jared's parents in attendance as well. As players trickled out of the workout Oksana Cushman waited for Jack Daniels to come out the player's door into the vestibule at the rear of Meditek. He came through the doors hoping to see her and smiled, a gesture she returned. "Can we stop at The Seattle for a coffee? We can relax and talk for a bit, then I have a gang of studying to do." She told him as he nodded. The Campus Shuttle, nearing capacity, waited outside the fence for them to come and board but Jack waved it off as they intended to walk the mile onto the campus proper near the main quad where The Seattle and The Union were located. The hand holding walk was slow and introspective. On the way to Meditek they hadn't mentioned the night before except through a few mutual glances and smiles. Now on the way back she broke the ice with a question. "Any regrets about last night?" She asked. "Oh God NO! I'm just sorry you had to walk me through the... " Jack fumbled out. "Don't be sorry, don't thank me, don't do anything like that. You had walls you couldn't break down and I walked you through them. You're on your own now. I have deep feelings for you and I wanted to express them, hoping you might reciprocate. I hope I won't always be the one to initiate acts of affection. Let your feelings go and don't hold them inside any longer. A woman likes to feel cherished and appreciated. Expressions of affection and sexual gratification should be spontaneous. As far as your fears and phobias Jack, it was all foolishness and paranoia. I don't want to hear another thing about it." Okkie said taking a firm stance. "But when my..." He started. Oksana stopped in her tracks and turned to him and put a finger to his chest. "I have a sore jaw from what YOU think is a small penis. If it WAS small, and it's not, do you think I'd have a sore jaw from trying to show you how much I cared for you?" "N ... n ... NO!" "Then this foolishness ends now or I walk out of your love life. We can still be friends, but I will not be involved in an intimate relationship any longer no matter how much it hurts me. You don't seem to realize how special what I did last night was. I've had a lot of boyfriends and you're only the third I've done that with. Lots of girls pass out head like Hershey Kisses. I DON'T! I consider it VERY personal for obvious reasons. I broke my own morals code to prove something to you. If you still don't get it then our first night is our last night. Don't give me any more reasons for me to hide my heart so it won't get broken. Last words on the subject!!" Oksana said poking her finger in his chest to emphasize her last 5 words as her face turned redder and redder until she finished. She turned and stormed away leaving Jack standing there for a moment, stunned. He was about to call out her name and chase after her when she turned from her huff and hollered back. "I'll meet you at The Seattle!" She said firmly before turning and power walking ahead of him. If she meant to leave him to walk and ponder her words, he got it. "God!" He thought, "I think she just told me she loves me, in as many words, and I'm being quite the Dilbert about it for someone whose felt that way about her for a while." As he walked along reflecting the last 15-18 hours it finally sunk in what she had done to ease his phobias and clear his mind and let him see the promise of what a relationship could mean. Suddenly the image of her on her knees, her white robe open, and her beautiful breasts displayed for him while she stroked him, made him realize that she only wanted him to be happy and confident so that he could make her happy. She wasn't repulsed or wishing he was someone else as he feared she might be. She accepted him, why couldn't he accept himself. A quick personal inventory of his situation,... 1. a senior in college 2. good grades 3. a chance for an NFL career (or steady job if that failed) 4. a woman he obsessed over throwing herself at him ... hit him like a hard slap in the face. How stupid can I be? He picked up his pace to meet Okkie at The Seattle. Julie Murcer lagged back in the locker room after her shower. She dressed slowly and moved into the front of her locker where she neatly slid up her pant leg to roll half knee-highs up her foot and ankle before sliding her foot into her shoes. She looked back to see Gerry Granahan sitting on his stool lacing up what she considered "combat boots" that he wore to protect balky ankles. Gerry, a guy she loved playing on the same team with, but hated for the way he assumed he was the reincarnation of Valentino, had gotten to her. She had given in to his good looks and brazen charm once in a bout of the "hornies", and now a second time where he teased and pleased her body like he had designed it for his own pleasure. As he went to leave in the early morning hours of Sunday she seized all the willpower she had to act aloof and unimpressed, happy to see him leave. He, on the other hand, seemed anxious to want to get a promise of a return match. If not for the sleep it would rob her of, she would have granted him total access to her body once again right then! Freddie Murray and Kyle Borchers both stood from just beyond Gerry and walked up the line stopping to ask Gerry if he was going to catch the shuttle back to the Ethan Allen Quad. "Nah, I think I'm going to walk. My hammy is a little tight and I've got to do some dynamic hamstring stretch walking. If I can get 4 or 6 reps in it'll cool down, so I'll walk. I look like an idiot when I go into it, but I don't want to miss this last game." Gerry explained before Freddie and Kyle pulled on their backpacks and filed out leaving that whole side of the locker room vacant except Gerry and Julie. "Hey Julie, you want to walk back to the Quad with me, do some stretches?" Gerry said, packing his back pack into his locker. "That's the poorest pick-up line I've ever heard." She answered sarcastically. "No! I'm serious! Can't I ever be serious?" He defended. "You're not taking your pack with you?" She said as she stood and put hers together. "No, nothing I'll need until practice tomorrow. I need both hands free for the dynamic walking." Gerry explained. "So, ... what's the dynamic walking?" Julie asked wondering if it was some sort of come-on. "It's the perfect total stretch of your hammys. You stand erect and extend your leg out, straight out, almost like a goose-step, and you bring both hands together underneath, while not bending your head and neck, or pecking. You do ten consecutive steps like that and repeat it every 5 minutes until you have like 6 reps. I'm going to be hurting by tomorrow if I don't do them. Come on, you can laugh at me and I won't care." He joked. In her mind, she would have done anything to spend time with Gerry. She hated herself for letting him get to her. He was actually a sweet guy and the most caring lover she had ever been with. She knew he would break her heart, but she felt something special for him. "Alright, I guess this means you won't even be a gentleman and carry my pack then, huh?" She said acting as if she were going out of her way so he could have a walking mate. "Yess!" He said to himself, hearing her assent to the walk. Few girls meant anything to him once he had teased them, pleased them, as well as himself. Julie had grabbed onto something in his heart and she wouldn't let go. As they walked and talked nothing was said of the previous nights tumble in the sheets, mostly small talk, and her chuckling at his dynamic walking and how it reminded her of the "ministry of silly walks" bit from Monty Python. "So, are you going to the movie over at Chandler Hall tonight? Supposed to be a major Hollywood sneak preview, trying to get college audience reactions." Gerry asked. "No, I hadn't thought about it. I have a lot of studying to do, anyway. Why, are you asking me out?" She asked as somewhat of a trick question. "Ummmm, ... no, no! Just wondering, that's all. I thought if you were going I would walk down with you. I think I might go." He stammered out. "You mean like a date?" She asked, smiling to herself. "No, NO! Like a friend just wanting to..." He started to say and lost the words. "Just wanting to be with me?" She said hoping to finish his thought. "Yeah!, I mean NO. Well if you wanted to go, I'd walk you." He retorted, scrambling for cover. "Would we sit together?" She asked hiding her smile. "Well, we could, if you wanted. What difference would that make?" He said trying to be aloof, all of a sudden. "Would you walk me back to the Quad?" She asked, clearly strutting in her mind. "Yes, if you wanted me to." He said as he paused and began the third rep of the dynamic walking. "Hmmmm, sounds like a date to me, and I don't date. I have a boyfriend back home." She said with a smile to herself. He almost stumbled doing his walk at her answer. "You FUCK, but you don't date?" He incredulously asked. "I fuck for the physical and mental release of stress. Dating would mean I want to move my heart from a place I'm quite happy with at home." She answered, hoping to keep him on the ropes. "So, if you were interested in a guy back here you wouldn't even consider a date to see if he might make a better home for your heart." He asked trying to show her the bad logic of it all. "Depends on who it was!" She said stopping and looking right into his eyes. "Suppose it was me!" He asked, almost demandingly. "So, you were asking me out on a date?" She asked, finally showing a bright smile. "Yes, godammit, I was asking you out! Big fucking deal!" He said rolling his eyes to his admission. "I didn't think you got involved with your conquests, you know, Teflon heart and all?" She asked as if standing over her conquest, her foot on his chest and her arm raised in victory. "For Chrissakes, are you trying to get me to admit that I like you and that you've gotten into MY heart. Well, YES, I do!" He said clearly flustered. After a long pause she quietly looked him in the eye and said, "I kind of like you too. I think I'd like to explore a bit. But, I'm not going to date you if you're going to chase every wet pussy on campus when we aren't together. I don't want a commitment, but I don't want to be made a fool of, either." "Sounds like commitment to me!" He snapped back. "So if you call me to go to a 7 o'clock movie I can say, "can we make it 8:45, I'm fucking one of the linebackers at 7, I'll want a chance to freshen up." That would be OK?" Julie asked sarcastically. "NO! I don't want to share you like that, ... uh ... just like I guess you don't want to share me. Ummmm ... you got me on that one. Can ... can I tell you something? Since the night we uh, "played" behind your building, I haven't been with anyone else. I can't get you out of my mind and can't THINK about anyone else. No ones ever stood up to my and put me in my place and had sex on their terms with me. You aren't weak. I like that." Gerry sheepishly admitted. "Well, as long as we're admitting things, it wasn't a coincidence that I was still there and the last one to be ready in the locker room today. I wanted to see if you ask me to walk or ride with you. You've been getting to me too. I was a real bitch when you left last night. I shut you out and made you think nothing special happened. For a nickel I would have let you tie me up and hide me in your closet for a week. I wanted to drag you back into bed and go again and again." She shamelessly admitted. Gerry smiled at her and moved to hug her and they both embraced and she whispered to him, "I'm not trying to change you, unless you want to change. Just don't lie to me. The truth will hurt less than a lie." "Let's play it by ear for a while. I don't want to hurt you, but I've always been a jerk with women. You're different, strong in ways I'm not accustomed to." Gerry said to keep her from getting her hopes up. Back at The Seattle, Jack Daniels dragged himself in and looked to see Oksana at a table with two cups of coffee. She looked up and saw him come in and smiled and Jack went right over to sit. "You know, I could be falling in love with you too. It's just I don't know how to handle the feelings. I have nothing to go by." He said, letting her know he understood her roundabout admission from earlier, as he sat down. "I'm glad you picked up on my feelings. I didn't want to come out and say it and frighten you away. I knew if you felt the same way, you'd get it." She said with a guarded sigh. "Please don't fall in love with the sex, we're more than that." She added with Jack nodding to her. While the locker room was turning into a Peyton Place with the affairs building around the team, Jared Winslow was coming home just as the DeNault's car was leaving the driveway with Declan in tow for Sunday afternoon story hour at the library. Time was tight during the week with Meg's job and his own piling pressure was filling their schedules, but these Sunday afternoons were getting very easy to get used to. When he went into the house kicked off his shoes and hollered for Meg he was surprised when she stepped from the hallway into the kitchen wearing the slightest of bikini panties and nothing else. "Well, Hello stranger!" She cooed as she strode right up to Jared and unzipped his coat and pushed it off his shoulders. As she began to work on the buttons of his shirt she kissed his mouth, his cheek, and then nibbled on his ear. "Mmmm, you smell good; you must have just got out of the shower too!" She whispered as she pulled his shirt out of his pants and peeled that off his shoulders as well. She stood back and undid his belt and unsnapped his pants, and pulled at the zipper, letting them fall to his ankles. "There! Now we're even, just skivvies for each of us. Can I tell you what I've been thinking off all morning?" She asked as she looked him over. "Please?" He asked calmly as he felt a thickening in his groin. "Me, on my knees with my face and shoulders buried in the pillow and you plowing the shit out of my hungry pussy." She said with a sexy zest in her voice. "THAT, is a fantasy I can fulfill." He said with a sly smile. "Will you let me taste my pussy and your cum off your cock when we finish?" She growled in his ear. "As long as you're my dirty girl, you can do what ever you want." He whispered back. "I can't wait anymore. I'll be on the bed waiting for you!" She said breathlessly. ------- Chapter 38 Julie Murcer had one problem that bothered her mightily, she had gone back on her word to Coach Winslow about getting involved with teammates, and in particular Brian Faraday. It hadn't affected the team at all and the only male member of the team who knew was Brian Faraday. Now she suddenly had an interest in Gerry Granahan and by the off season it would probably become apparent to other members of the team, assuming it lasted. She didn't want to be known as a trouble maker and was unsure how it would all be parsed. She felt her position on the team was very stable and they would, in all likelihood, carry two place-kickers. Would her relationship with Gerry, if it continued through until next season, be the reason that Ben Breen made the team ahead of her? Ben was a classic style kicker who had been very slow to the ball, but had honed his skill and could easily take over the back up job. He could power the 15 extra yards that Julie couldn't. As long as June made the team next year, she would be the female road roommate for Oksana and there may be no reason to carry Julie, unless only as a red shirt. Although she didn't really have the time to go to the sneak preview movie at Chandler Hall, she did want to go just to be with Gerry, if only to see another side of him. She knew him to be a hard, diligent, student and player. He also held a high opinion of his skills as a lover liked to share them with any campus cutie willing to open her legs for him. She might be able to satisfy her own needs in that department with him, but, she had found another side of him that made her want to get to know him better. However, she was not going to share him if he intended to keep to his old habits. She had just taken out clean sheets to put on her bed before she showered for her date with Gerry when the phone rang. "Hi Julie, it's Gerry. I've been thinking and maybe I shouldn't go to that movie tonight. I'm a little buried with study work and have a lot of reading to catch up on. We probably won't get back from the movie until after 9:30 and I just can't pull an all-nighter to study for an 8 o'clock class with a pre-exam quiz. I'm sorry." He said with regret. "I really don't have the time for it either, I was just going to be with you, really. We'll be able to make more time maybe during the week. I'll be thinking of you, though." She said with a little promise in her voice. "It's not like we won't see each other a lot all week anyway, at practice, even though I know you want to keep that cool. Can I call you later, for a study break?" He asked. "I'd like that a lot. Bye" She said hanging up. She sat wistfully on her bed, the soiled sheets from the night before rolled up in a ball in her lap. She brought them to her nose to smell the sweat and sex she shared with him the night before. She drifted off in thought. "What causes the cross of the thin line between love and hate?" She mused. "Two weeks ago I would have spit in his face if he ever came onto me. I heard all the stories, I know what he wanted and what he looked for. He was a pig! As a guy I played football with, I respected his talent and his work ethic, but otherwise he was human debris. That night at The Union I reacted just as I thought I would when he came onto me. If not for crowd around, the drink in my hand would have went in his face! When he came after me I was surprised he cared enough about my feelings and how I felt about him. I don't know what came over me when I kissed him. I wanted to puke when he asked me to blow him or even fuck him, but I couldn't leave him like that after he had made sure I was taken care of. It wasn't like I was an innocent being forced to do what I did. Underneath all that horse shit is a real decent man, if I can get him to keep it in his pants around other women, and that may be a challenge. I understand the attraction, he is so fucking beautiful!" She surmised in her head as she smelled their sweat and sex. She put the sheets in her hamper and went to get the clean ones from the laundry basket in the closet. After making the bed she took out her books and theme tablets and sat at her desk and began the work she knew she needed to get in. If Julie had one thing she did better than kick a football, it was study. She could read and absorb, all the while taking notes that served as mind markers that brought everything back to mind, if she doubted her thoughts. She had a goal and planned to keep it and her grades only served as proof of her determination. Playing football was icing on the cake, but even the previous year when it wasn't in the picture, she was a happy, high GPA student. This year with male athletes around her pheromones ripened her sex drive and she quickly found it easy to keep what happened at school, at school. She had a boyfriend at home but really doubted how serious they would be after she finished school. After 2 hours or more she broke the furrow in her brow from reading too long and stretched her cramped fingers that were wrapped around the pencil she was scratching onto a legal pad. She pushed her chair back and stretched hard before standing up and stretching once again. "Hmm, almost 10:30 and no call from Gerry. I'll bet he finished studying and went down to The Union to check out the action. Why did I ever think I could trust that butt sniffing dog?" She said to herself, just as the phone rang. "Hey Julie, how did the study go? I got 3 chapters in and I started a paper for Biology. I'm going to reread the chapters though, THAT'S what the quiz is on. I can't believe how stiff I am." He said, obviously just finishing a stretch himself. "I got 5 chapters in with a lot of notes and noting to review. I got Prof Garrett in the morning and he does oral quizzes. He jots down notes all the time you answer the paragraph he poses to you. I'd love to see his notes he takes, it's what he marks us on." She reported, sorry she had doubted him. "Oh, is he the one who reads a short piece and then looks up and says "Comments?" and calls that an oral exam?" Gerry asked. "Yup, that's Prof Garrett. I guess it's how he finds out if you really studied. You can't fake it with him." She explained before hesitating and continuing. "I guess I really didn't think you were studying tonight. When you didn't call earlier I figured you were at The Union." She admitted. "Julie, I'm a lot of things, but I'm not a liar. I've fed a lot of girls a lot of bullshit, but never any they didn't expect to hear. You're the first girl, or should I say "woman" who made me want to see you as something different than a sex partner. You're real, you're honest, and you don't take any shit. You're not a phony." He told her. "I have the feeling you could recognize a phony easily, being one for so long." She said still doubting him. "I don't expect you to trust me Julie, I know I have to earn that. I know that you could see me as a phony and I may have been, somewhat. Just remember that I got what I was looking for from any chick that passed it out. You should know that from what's happened between us." He replied hoping to make his point. "I guess, ... I guess you should know something. When I was finishing eight grade, just as I turned 14, I played soccer and I was really good, the best player around Oklahoma and over the summer before I went to high school I was recruited to play on the varsity team at my high school. We broke a million scholastic sports rules, but I practiced with them a lot that summer and one day this really hunky guy asked me if I could kick a football as well. That was the beginning of my football career. That guy was just like you. He was the quarterback of the varsity football team and before I went to my first class in my freshman year, he was fucking me. I didn't know he was screwing all the girl's in cheerleading and any who had a pair of tits at school. You see, when I was a freshman, I looked just about like I do now and I thought he was all mine. When I ended up with the clap I found out what an asshole I was. He got it from one of the other bimbo's he screwed and gave it to all of us." She said, confessing in detail. "I'm so sorry, Julie. I wish I was there to hug you." Gerry said quietly into the phone. "I got rid of the clap in about 10 days and swore I'd never have sex again until I got married, but I didn't keep that promise too long and made my way through a few other senior boys until I got the clap again. This time instead of hiding it from my Mom, who is my best friend, I fessed up and was on the straight and narrow for a long time with her help. Having to go through that the first time, without her and deceiving her, hurt a lot, the hiding and lying. I became sexually active again with a guy I met when I was a senior. He's a sweet guy and we promised to keep true to each other when we went to different colleges. I was a good girl last year when I wasn't around guys that much, but I got the hornies wicked this year playing football around all you guys. Now, you know why I hated you and the type of guy you are. Unlike the high school football hero who screwed me over, you have a conscience, a personality, and a goal in life besides worshipping yourself. I've known I was attracted to you for a few weeks now and everything I know told me to stay away from you. This is why I treat you like I do, and why I'm afraid to trust you." She said in a low voice, ashamed of her past. "I understand how and why you feel like you do about me and I can just tell you that I'll try real hard not to hurt you. I will not lie to you, that is a promise." Gerry said soberly. "I didn't mean to be such a buzz-kill, but I just thought you deserved an explanation why I could be so mean to you, and then get intimate with you. I really am attracted to you, but just don't want to get kicked in the teeth." She said quietly. The line stood silent as both Gerry and Julie drank in the situation. "I should get back to my paper and study some more. What's your schedule Thursday afternoon?" Gerry asked. "After practice I have one class at 1:15, then I'm free." She answered. "Me too! Can we meet some place, maybe off campus, to talk and spend time together?" "We can try that. I'd rather not meet together ON campus, at least right now." Julie said. "Do you know where "3 W Dot Coffee" is? It's an internet café on Arch Street. The campus shuttle goes there." Gerry wondered. "I've been there a couple times. How about 2:30 or so?" Gerry agreed to the time and they said their goodbyes, tempered by the fact they would see each other at practice after classes on Monday. As the clock ticked toward 11 pm Sunday evening Coach Winslow was just finishing some strategy work in his study when Meg came to the door, leaned on the jamb and watched him for a minute before speaking. "Can you finish that in the morning? I've got my lesson plans done and we should go to bed." She asked with a smile on her face, a leftover from their lovemaking earlier. "Sure, I was just going to go get you." Coach said as he stood and walked to her, kissing her and putting his arm around her waist to walk her in. They looked in on Declan who fell asleep in front of the TV before 8:30, his bedtime. "He was pooped after stories and dinner. He's excited for his first field trip tomorrow, going to a bakery." Meg said smiling as they watched him sleep for a moment. "Come on, we should join him in Dreamland." Jared said as he pulled her away. After taking turns in the bathroom, brushing teeth and washing up, they met in bed and Meaghan rolled to him, spooning. "You were a bad boy before, spanking my ass and pounding me so hard." She whispered as she noticed that her bottom still tingled and her pussy still had an afterglow. "Seems to me I was just following orders." He said as a grin came over his face when he felt her hand reach over him and grab his cock and balls. "I have to tell you what I want, don't I? Besides, we get so busy during the week we lose time for this." She said emphasizing her last word with a squeeze to what she was groping. "I'll have plenty of time in a few weeks, and then you won't get ANY sleep." He laughed rolling to his back. "Ooooo, he's getting hard already. Would you mind if I made love to him with my mouth? I'd sleep better with warm cum in my tummy." She said as she slid down in the bed, not needing an answer. Jared lifted up to let her slide his boxers down. His balls filled her hand as he felt her hair fall just below his stomach and her mouth cover the head of his cock. She slowly sucked and fucked her mouth over him, truly making love to him. She would stop and stroke him, looking at her prize in the dull light before filling her mouth again. She sensed when the time for his delight was near and picked up her pace in earnest. His quickened breath, pleasured grunt, and loving hand to the back of her head accompanied his flood of seed into her mouth. She let it wash around the head of his cock while she wiped her tongue over it to excite any last drops he might produce before she swallowed his love juice. She kept her nursing until he became too sensitive and quivered too mightily under her. She rested her head near his hip and watched him deflate as she caressed his sack and hummed her satisfaction at making him happy. When she was almost falling asleep herself and sure he was no longer awake, she sat up and moved to her pillow drifting away quickly knowing she had loved, and was loved deeply. Jared awoke Monday morning hoping to find Meg beside him but she was already up and showered and getting Declan ready for the bus. Under the covers his boxers were still below his knees, as he recalled the night before. "Honey, are you up so Declan can give you a kiss goodbye?" Came Meaghan's shout from the kitchen. "I'm up. I'm coming!" He yelled back. Before he could get out of bed Declan rushed in. "Goodbye Coach, my bus is coming. See you tonight!" He said as he quickly kissed Jared and ran out the door. He heard the door open and slam shut and the growl of the bus approaching, then leaving. Meaghan came in and kissed him good morning as he gripped her hand as she went to break away. "Why don't I give you something to remember me by the rest of the day before you leave?" He said with a grin. "Jared! I'm dressed and ready to leave!" She said breaking away. "You grab the edge of the dresser and I'll neatly fold your dress up and make you smile all day." He said as he pulled her close again. " ... and have you running down my leg all morning? I'm late already, I have to set up a video for class today Jared. God, I'm going to be horny all day just thinking about it. Besides, I think I'm getting my period, and that's a good thing. If you get home at a decent hour tonight, maybe we can play in the back yard. (swishing her ass) That should keep you excited all day ... ummmmm, turnabout is fair play!" She said as she pulled free from him and headed out the door. Jared shook his head and hoped he could get home at a decent time, but he also knew he had late practice and would be tied up until around 9 o'clock going over video's and play boards with the team and assistants. Fresh off a win and looking forward to their last game, every student-athlete was also aware of exams coming up. While football seemed to be their lives, they all knew the big picture was school, but taking focus off of either meant that one side of the balance sheet suffered. It was easy to understand where students, even those you might least expect to have affairs, found quiet corners of the campus to relieve the mental and physical stress of a young twenty-something. For most it was what Jong called the "zipless fuck", ie: anonymous sex with a perfect stranger met over a bar or table, or now, perhaps even the internet. For others it was an acquaintance looking for the same release and pleasure, but with a certain assurance of knowing the source. Some, however, found the tendrils of love entwining their thoughts and feelings for their partner. While that is good when it works out, it can be bad when the oil and water seemed to mix when shaken, but then left to stand dormant after the shaking is over, is two distinct layers not meant to be combined. Getting to Meditek Stadium at 3:30 on a Monday to dress and be ready for a light work out and no pad drills may seem easy during most of the school year, knowing your classes have been arranged to fit. But, with exams coming up and catching up for anything missed seems impossible, the idea of using the word "play" in conjunction with football seems out of place. How could you find time to "play", when everything seems like "work"? Somehow, everyone shows up and despite the feeling of screws being tightened down, you're out on the field and letting some pressure go, tuning your body up for the team you're going to study tonight and each day this week. Luckily there are those who know how to handle the pressure and take it off their teammates by their attitudes and actions. They can walk in the room and you happy you showed up. They'll handle the pressure, lead the charge, and make you feel like the domino in the run waiting for your turn to click. On this team Boge Hollins is certainly the ring leader at picking up the whole team. Jazz Carey, Jack Daniels, Kemmer Brooks, and Greg Alusik are all leaders in their own ways as well. Tee Smythe, a freshman, is quickly picking the mantle and will be a leader in years to come. The one team member no one ever expected to become a positive influence was Scott Claxton, but week by week he has built his stature among the team. Those who come to practice feeling down and out are quickly picked up by any of the aforementioned and make it all more pleasurable, positive experience, rather than a "job". This late afternoon, a lot of the players who had dragged in, left for the field gung-ho and smiling as they were led out for work-outs. They were able to put the pressure of study and exams behind and have a laugh, share a moment with friends and teammates. Coach had worked hard at establishing an open the door, close the door attitude, week to week. The Sunday report card meetings were the way to close the door on last weeks win or loss. Monday was always the new day and you prepared for your next foe. While Julie and Gerry, Oksana and Jack shared friendly smiles and inter-team cajoling with each other, they never let on to anyone that serious relationships could be developing. Except for the people explicitly told that Marv and June were having a sexual affair, no one was aware of their trysts. An outsider who just saw the team in the locker room and the field might even think they either didn't know or didn't like each other. In reality, each had gotten a little sweet on the other, but in the end, June clearly thought of Marv as her stud. The work-out and light drill session was loose and everyone felt good afterward as they all basked in the glory of their winning season. Coaches and captains drilled that into everyone that day making them all feel a sense of real accomplishment. Early that evening when they all sat in front of the chalkboards ready to prepare for their last game Coach Winslow wanted to get one point across that he saved from his earlier words in the locker room. "Sometimes you lose games for no apparent reason. You outplay a team and when you look at the score board, you're short. Against White Mountain U we were going for a field goal to give us a 14 point lead with little time left. It had been misting, but not really raining. When Jimmer Erving (the long snapper) set up over the ball he noticed it was a new one, as you might see on a rainy day. Signals were being called when his fingers told him that the ball hadn't been wiped with the tacky towel. The tacky towel has a light coating on one side of a waterproof sticky spray, the other side of the towel is still thirsty cotton. One side dries, the other takes off any film or what they call manufacturing dust. It was too late to stop and he made a good snap to Freeman. As Mark was turning the laces right, he lost grip and all hell broke loose. Even later when we seemingly had come back to win, we got the hold call on Boge. How many times has Boge been called for holding? That was the first and last. Boge knows he didn't hold, but as they say "stuff happens". We know we weren't outplayed that day, but we were beaten. The best team doesn't always win, but it will this coming SATURDAY! We'll win because each one of us IS GOING TO... ?" "CLICK, CLICK, CLICK, CLICK, CLICK, CLICK, CLICK, CLICK, CLICK!" Came the chant from the seated players who were fired up enough to win already. "But we aren't going to win just because we want to, have the desire to. We'll have to work hard this week, so let's get started. As you recall, when Jersey State U played us they had just got back their offense and weren't quite ready for full execution. In the ensuing weeks they got it altogether and last week they put their best first quarter of the year together against White Mountain, passing at will and eating up yards like the monster we all thought they could be. When they cm out for the second half WMU started rushing and extra man, rushing their quarterback, making him deliver faster. Jersey caved to the pressure and never recovered fully and got beat in the last few minutes. I think they'll try the same thing against us in passing situations. I know something about our quarterback and our rushers that they might not know. We hit the line quicker than anyone, because Marv sets up so fast whether he's handing off or passing, and when he's passing he loads and fires faster than anyone in the league because so mush is wrist and inertia explosion. If they use the extra rusher tactic, it will only mean we have an extra man downfield and if that happens, I think we'll use it to our advantage. So, let's get offense and defense split up to work the blackboards. Special teams, you know where you're supposed to go. LET'S WORK!" There was the usual flurry of notes being taken as assistants rolled out blackboards with sets on them. Coaches pointed to situations and turned to their charges and pointed out specific players to show them execution plans. Players on the offensive side were distracted at times from the other side of the room as Frank Ruffen would slam the chalk tip to the blackboard with loud clicks shouting "This is you! This is you!" as he turned and pointed to an individual. Coach Winslow floated between both sides of the room jumping in where he saw points that he wanted to make. These initial game strategy sessions were well orchestrated and the script they would work all week. Each coach, each staffer, seemed to have worked a bit harder dissecting White Mountain U in hopes of beating them. Coach Winslow and all three coordinators kept reminding them that WMU was doing the same thing trying to insure there was no revenge for their earlier win. Jared had worked his team as hard and as complete as he had ever worked a squad and by Thursday mornings practice he felt they had the best attitude they had all year. In practice drills it was common to hear a long hard toot blow from his whistle and have Coach strut into the middle of the play just ran with one arm in the air to signal stop and the other arm wagging as if wiping something clean, spitting out his whistle saying "Let's have a look here, let's have a look here." Thursday, the group heard it but once, and not at all for the last 45 minutes or hour. He was happy with everything he saw. They had but a Friday workout and last strategy review session left before Saturday's game and he felt they were ready. After Thursdays practice Gerry Granahan gathered his notebooks and went off to his Physics lecture. It only lasted 40 minutes so he decided to walk off campus to Arch Street to meet Julie at 3 W Dot Coffee. Julie, on the other hand, ran late and had to wait for the next shuttle outside Grover Hall. She was frustrated to be late, getting there at 2:45, not wanting Gerry to think she was standing him up. She panicked at first, not seeing him, but he was in a corner, behind his laptop. "Oh thank God, I thought you may have left, thinking I stood you up!" She said sliding into his booth. "Chill out, Julie. My lecture was short and I used the time to categorize my notes. If you didn't want to see me today you had all week to tell me. I figured you ran long." He said barely looking up from what he was typing. She settled into the booth and signaled to the waiter ordering a latte and some shortbread cookies. "They'll make you fat." He said without looking up from his keyboard, but with a definite smirk on his face. "You pretty much studied, blueprinted, and noted every nook and cranny of this body on Saturday night, find any fat, smartass?" She asked in aggravated tone, although whispered. He stopped what he was doing and looked out to nowhere as if pondering her query. "No, as a matter of fact, I don't think I did. Proceed with the cookies!" He said with a smile. "Can I do something I've been aching to do since Sunday?" She asked. "Umm ... I suppose." He said looking to her. As soon as he turned to look at her and just as the words left his lips she placed her mouth over his for a long tonguing kiss, not at all like he expected. She broke the kiss and kept a close stare at him waiting for reaction. "I wanted to do that too, but wasn't sure if it was appropriate to our relationship yet." He said with a little grin. "I've been so close to you all week and had to pretend I didn't want to kiss you ... and then you never CALLED!" Julie said with suspicion in her voice. "Call? Come on, Julie. I was basically with you all week. I've been studying my ass off all week. If I wanted to go out and get laid I could have knocked on your door. I really want our next time together to be as nice as our last ... and don't think I didn't know you had the time of your life that night. You didn't have to tell me. You treated me like shit, but I knew you were ready to spout champagne from every orifice. I can be a caring, considerate lover when I really care for someone. I had to act coy with you to get a chance." Gerry said smartly "OK, OK! The Valentino act is the part of you that makes me hurl, makes me think of my own mistakes of the past." Julie warned him. "So tell me about your high school football career. How big of a program did you play in?" "I was All-City every year after I made Varsity as a Sophomore." He said proudly. "I was All-Oklahoma for my last 3 years and an Honorable Mention as a Freshman. If it wasn't for Marlon Nesbitt, the kid tearing it up for the Georgia Bulldogs, I would have led the state in scoring my last 3 years. Unfortunately no one was recruiting women or little people. Coach Pressley got me a scholarship here, and Coach Woodard told me to stay in the dorm and not to bother. He never gave me a chance, but I got my first year paid for anyway. Now, as long as I try out I'll get at least get half of it." Julie said to one-up him. "You know Julie, you don't think I respect you, I guess. I admire you for a lot of things. I know it must have been very hard for you to make it as an accepted member of your High School team and then to excel and handle yourself so well is an accomplishment. To get the offer to come here and then be shut out must have been very deflating. You could have gone elsewhere but this is where you wanted to go for the education to mold the life you planned. Swallowing your pride when the second chance came, knowing you would never be the starter, shows that your ego doesn't depend on the notoriety you got back in Oklahoma. I've never played with anyone so well adjusted to a roll they know will always be unappreciated. While I may seem shallow seeking out the bimbo's and party girls, I've had my eye on you for weeks as someone I would like to get to know and be with." Gerry confessed. "Why didn't you just come out and ask me out on a date then?" She wondered. "I've broken down the wall now, but 3 or 4 weeks ago if I called you and asked you to go to a movie you would have shot me down so fast, thinking you knew what I had in mind. When I ran you down to catch you that night after I insulted you I was going to confess all of this and then you came on to me so heavy to satisfy your need for a fling, I decided I would try any door you opened for me ... Now this is uncomfortable to say and please don't take any offense to it but, after I had you and saw your most beautiful body, what a responsive and remarkable lover you were, I was smitten. I had sex with you, not for physical gratification, but to show you how much I cared for you. You tried to hide it, but I knew I was getting the same back. If you hadn't accepted this invitation to meet here I would have been a little crazy all week. This week's game has been important, but THIS is what I've pined for all week. I had to tell you this." He said pouring out his heart. "What happened that first night was simply me wanting to get bad, and heading home to do just that by myself. I had been fantasizing about you for a few weeks, but I was mad that you were the way you were. More often that you can imagine, I kept saying to myself "what a waste of a great looking guy with so much going for him", because I saw the same waste of space I gave my virginity to. I wanted you so bad, but knew you could just break my heart. That first night I saw my opportunity to be with you and satisfy my urges and forget you. You probably didn't know it, but I tasted your DNA that night just to prove that I had you and you hadn't used me like the others. I just didn't know I would really yearn for you more, not less." She confessed as her mea culpa. Gerry took her hands and squeezed them, smiling and almost crying, his eyes welled so. Julie actually thought she saw the old Gerry wash away at that moment, so she added something she wasn't going to tell him. "And let me say, that you have the most beautiful body yourself. When you undressed and came to me, I shivered, I was so excited to see you like that. I wanted to eat you alive. (then she leaned in to make sure these next words were very private) Your chest and arms glowed, they were so hard in the dim light and with your penis so rigid and aching for me, ... I melted altogether." "God, I'm just as hard right now. We really have no place to go in broad daylight. We couldn't use either of our dorms." He said excitedly. "I know, and I'm just as wet as then too. We'll have to save it for a better opportunity." She added. Although uncomfortable, they finished their coffee drinks and snacks and took the shuttle back to campus. Alone on the bus they shared a kiss or two and got off at their respective stops and, without saying so, went to their rooms to take care of the business at hand. It wasn't perfect, but it was the best they could do for now. ------- Chapter 39 As soon as Julie got back to her room from her "date" with Gerry, she stripped down and jumped on the bed and cocked her knees back to fully feel and squeeze her pussy. She ran her fingers up and down the lips, toying with them, pinching them, making her clitoral mound fill even more with blood. She pinched it down with her thumb over the hood and three fingers squeezing her slit and letting the middle finger slide between to toy with her clit. Her mind drifted back to Saturday night, actually Sunday morning 1:15, to be precise. She had just begun to think that maybe Gerry had changed his mind as she listened for steps in the hallway. She lay on her bed reading, already changed into the pajama top and sweat pants she slept in. She thought heard a little tapping and even held her breath to be sure what it was, looking up from the book she was reading. "Yes!", she thought, "but is that my door?" She went to the door and looked in the peephole and there stood Gerry, his collar turned up and hat pulled down. She opened the door and he slipped in. "Good Lord, I thought you were sleeping, are you deaf?" He asked in a fit. "Well, it's been an hour! I gave up on you coming." She defended herself. Then as he produced a bag from inside his coat he began to empty it. "Do you know how hard it is to find champagne and glasses on campus?" He said as he produced 2 splits of bubbly and 2 plastic champagne glasses. "Why Champagne?" "Because I think you're special and being with you is special." He said, hinting around what he really wanted to say, she thought in hindsight. "Oh, turn it off, Lothario. You probably have a case of this back in your dorm." She said hoping to knock him down a peg or two. "That's not true, I went through hell to get this, now, do you want some?" He asked, trying not to let her words deter him. "Sure, I'll have some." She said still wary of him, but hiding the excitement of his being there. They sipped the bubbly sitting around a small café table on the two chairs she had and made idle team chit-chat for a few minutes until he stood and went behind the wooden chair she was sitting in and put his hands on her shoulders and began massaging them. "You have to learn to relax and go with this flow if you want to enjoy our evening. You're so uptight; I think I need to remind you of something, you invited ME up here. Remember I said I was going to The Union and you said you would walk down with me. Then I said I was meeting someone, I just didn't know who, and YOU said you could save me the trouble." He recalled trying to beat down the wall she was erecting. Julie exhaled hard and nodded, visibly letting the tension in her shoulders go as he worked them with his fingers. He worked her shoulders and upper back as she sat enjoying his fingers. He worked over the top of her shoulders and she let her head drop back. He just started the front of her clavicle when a hand slid inside her pajama shirt and cupped her left breast. She jerked her head up quick, but he was quick to squat and whisper. "You're not relaxing." He sing-songed into her ear as his other arm went around her and crossed his right arm to hold her left breast as the top button of her PJ top came undone. After working her breasts to the song of the hums and moans she let out he spoke again. "Why don't we get you out of your clothes and onto the bed?" He said pulling his hands from her shirt and immediately working the last 3 buttons loose. She stood and let the top fall off her shoulders as she turned to him and draped her arms around his neck and kissed him hard, throwing her tongue into his mouth. He stood a full head over her and bent to meet her mouth, bending her neck back so he could run his hands down her side and push her pants over her hips. He broke the kiss from the uncomfortable position and picked her up, sweeping her into his arms, her sweat pants hanging onto one foot. He lay her on the bed and put his fingers in the side of her little panty and pulled it down, as she lifted herself to accommodate him. "My God, you're more perfect than I imagined. So tiny and delicate, but so strong and toned. Julie, you're a gift from God." He whispered. "God, please save it." She moaned sarcastically, hoping her words hurt him as he sunk to the floor beside the bed. He leaned over her to kiss her lips and then moved to her breasts, kissing and teasing her nipples with only his tongue before his tongue danced a line between her breasts to her belly-button. When he went lower she tensed and half sat up. "I'm naked, and you should be too." She said as he stood and started to remove his clothes. He asked to use her bathroom and she heard him urinate and run the water to wash. When he came from her bathroom he was just lit by ambient soft light of the bath and her reading lamp. "He's beautiful and golden." She thought as her eyes drifted lower to his stiff cock jutting from his body with an achy curve towards his stomach. Both his cock and balls seemed prominent in their urgency. She stared as he approached the bed and she propped up on one elbow, fixing her eyes on his package and then darting to his eyes. "Lie back on the pillow, that's not yours to have yet. I've got to take care of you first, and you look delicious!" He ordered her as he tossed a packet on the end of the bed before he covered her body with his and kissed her mouth. Before she could respond to his kiss he moved from her mouth down to her neck as he shifted just as she was going to reach for his cock. He took her arms in his hands and pinned them back as his mouth bathed her tits and nipples. Her arms went limp as she stopped trying to resist being held and he moved down her body. It seemed he kissed and licked every square inch of her belly and across her lower abdomen, all the while working her legs further open as he got her knees cocked back to fully splay her genitalia for him. Julie's muscular little body trembled in anticipation and what Gerry began to sense as fear. As he began to kiss and use his mouth on the tender smooth skin on either side of her mound her nervousness increased. "Calm down, I'm going to make you happier than you've ever been. Have you never been like this?" He asked in a soft whisper. "Yes, but not like this, not so ... God!" She squeaked out just as his lips touched her nether lips. Gerry gave her whole pussy a bath with his lips and tongue as he tasted her sex and the copious juices she was churning out. He shifted a little as he began to concentrate on her clit and slid a long index finger up along the upper inner wall of her vagina as if to push her balled clit to his mouth, and then he began stroking. He was looking for her g-spot, something he found more prevalent in thinner women. As she began to catch her breath and jerk under him he knew he had found, what he called, an "electric woman" who would probably squirt if he could get her over the edge. He intensified his tongue and sucking lips on her hard bud and pressing, stroking harder on the spot inside her. She suddenly bounced hard into his mouth yelping "You're going to make me pee!" He anticipated the bounce and had been careful to keep his teeth covered with his lips so he wouldn't let her hurt him or herself. He paused for a moment but then resumed what he had started and she began to start a noisy orgasm with a long low squeak or squeal as she trembled hard and pushed herself to him. She tried to sit up or roll over under him saying once again something about "wetting on him" He stopped the motion of his finger and just licked at her clit a she began to climb the orgasm ladder again. As she neared the top he began to stroke again, looking up to catch her wanton eyes. "Let the urge come and go, don't resist it, it will be wonderful." He said to her wide eyes and blood filled face. When he put his lips to her clit this time the stroking of his finger sent her over. "Ahhhhk, ahhhhk, ooooooooo, gnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!" She grunted out before holding a long unintelligible syllable as all of her blood seemed to rush to her middle. Gerry felt a gush underneath his tongue and tasted the sweet-like milky dew she bubbled. He knew she was ripe and lifted his mouth and pressed just slightly harder with his finger. Her breath caught hard with a loud, very short shout and she tensed as every ounce of strength went to her pussy to fulfill this orgasm. A long squirt of fluid hit Gerry just below his chin and he dipped his mouth to her font and slowly slipped his finger out. She came two more times dribbling out the fluid before she seemed to just relax under him. He sat back on his haunches, his hard dick curving and sticking straight up as she lay splayed and motionless before him. Gerry reached under him searching for the condom he placed on the bed. He quickly found it and tore open the package. She just began to open her eyes and look around for him as he peeled it on. He scuttled up and bent over her, putting his cock to her pussy and moved over and her sliding into her as she clasped her arms around him, letting out a long moan. "Ohhhhhh, you're fucking me ... fucking ... me ... Your cock is so big!" She said as she just babbled in her near orgasmic state. She caught her breath and then seemed to focus on him for the first time in minutes. "Godddd, I'm so wet, it doesn't hurt. Your big cock doesn't hurt!" She panted out to either to him or herself. He felt her clutch his back hard and hold as she grunted and seemingly cried ending with a "Whoa!" as he sat back, pulling from her, to prepare to go for his own gusto now. "Too wet, too wet" He said, almost as if to himself as he stroked his sheathed cock to get some wetness off to increase the friction. He moved to re-enter her and she curled up quickly. "No! Don't cum in me. I can't, my pussy is so tired anyway." She said as she rolled into a ball with her face in the bedspread and her ass in the air with both hands over her pussy. Her round little ass cheeks looked like they had been spanked, they were so red from bouncing and rubbing on the bedspread, he saw the little knot of her asshole and bent to lick and drill at it with his tongue. "Ahhh, ahhh, Noooo! Don't lick me there, God, it feels so good." She cried out to his oral attack on her most private place before just groaning to the ass eating she was getting. Finally he relented and she rolled back quickly, still covering her pussy, but clearly embarrassed she had enjoyed the back-licking she had taken. "Take off your rubber and let me suck it for you. I really can't let you ... fuck me ... anymore!" Julie said as she began to sit up. As Julie thought more and more about Saturday night into Sunday her playing between her legs grew more and more intense. This replay in her mind was so clear and proved something to her that she hadn't realized that night. Gerry was doing all of this to really show her how deeply he felt, not to show her how he could master a woman or be super macho and get what he wanted. He had, sort of, held her hand all through everything and always stopped when she told him to. He never went against her wishes and hadn't hurt her. He really was worshipping her. Now she was glad she had finished him like she had, although she had been a little regretful at the time. As she sawed her fingers hard into herself with one hand and let the other rub her clit she knew she was about to cum as she recalled how she finished him. Gerry unfolded his legs from in under himself and stretched out with his cock sticking straight up as he grabbed the roll rib at the base and snatched off the condom. Julie quickly sat up and stroked him a few times, one hand after the other, trying to get the rubbery/latex taste of his cock before she put her mouth on him. She knelt crouched beside him and put her mouth over him and went as low as she could and came up with a sour look at the rubber taste and spit into her hand, before wiping it on the spread. Running her tongue over her lips she again went down on him and began to bob her head over him. Julie enjoyed oral sex, loving to give and receive it, but she had quickly learned tonight that what she had gotten before as "head" was nothing. Her boyfriend, who had just started doing this for her, usually held her clit between the thumb and forefinger of each hand and tickled his tongue over her. He was new to it and only did it because she was so happy to go down on him. Julie hadn't gotten much out of her "rape relationship" with the high school football stud, but one thing she knew, giving head was painless, the receiver was happy, and she was in control. She learned a lot of sad lessons from being so naïve and stupid at 14, but learning to give head was a positive for her. It made her feel sexy and in control. As Julie bobbed over him and worked her fingers on his cock and felt the heft of his balls, Gerry sang her praises. "God, that is so good, ... Mmmmmm so good. You look so beautiful doing it, your breasts swaying so sexy." He said as he reached over and pulled a bit at her legs, urging her to lie next to him as they both moved to their sides. As he did so he began to flex his hips to stroke into her mouth. This was something new to her, but she reveled in the action, feeling his big vein coarse over her tongue, tasting traces of pre-cum. Suddenly he pasted his mouth to her pussy again as it lay spread beside him. She wanted to pull back, but his mouth felt very nice as his hand gripped her butt and he stroked at her mouth. As he lapped at her his stroke felt long to her, but she knew he was only pushing an inch or so in and out of her mouth. She was about to cum under his tongue when she felt him get a bit jerky in his stroke and she felt a long spray of pre-cum fluid hit the back of her throat. She was about to choke, but knew what was next and pushed her mouth over him letting squirt after squirt, then pulse after pulse of his ejaculate seep into her little mouth. When it could hold no more she let it leak out the side as he finished and relented from her pussy to lay back and groan his pleasure at her mouth. She pushed herself up on one elbow releasing his cock and looked at him, letting more cum leak out. When just a bit remained she swallowed and looked down at what was just in her mouth. She bent and gave it one more suck, getting a bit more before swallowing again. She almost smiled at him, but it hit her that she was supposed to be cold and not attracted to him, although she would have done anything for him at this point. She rolled back over and got up from the bed and went to the bathroom to pee. As she sat on the john and pondered the revelations of her body he had uncovered she knew she couldn't walk out there and make him proud of what he had done. She finished her pee and gently wiped her tender pussy, wishing he could finish her orgasm he had begun to lick from her and fuck her silly once more, but that would be a victory for him. She flushed and got up and walked her perfect tight body out to pick up his pants and drop them on the bed next to him. "Get dressed and try not to make any noise leaving. I have to get some sleep." She said going over to her small refrigerator and taking out a Snapple to clear her mouth. She folded her arms over her breasts and watched him get dressed. When he finished and walked away from the bed she went over and pulled up the spread and slid in. "Lock the door behind you. I'll see you at Meditek at two." She said coldly as he looked back wishing there was some post-coital talk, a chance to commit to feelings, at least a goodbye kiss. Once he left she cried, she ached to tell him how she felt, but she was sure she had just been used. Now those feelings had changed. Her early Thursday evening masturbating over Gerry had done little to solve her yearn for him. As she lay on the bed, her pussy a little raw from the rubbing, she wished she had given him a chance to lay out his feelings that night, but she had to be cold, not wanting to give him a chance to laugh and say he got what he wanted as he figured he would. She really thought he was incapable of feelings at the time. Although still somewhat guarded, her opinion was changing. She knew she had to study for a Friday quiz and took out the books she needed along with her notes. It was hard to get started in a study groove in her mood and she tinkered with the idea of calling Gerry when her phone rang. "Hey, it just wasn't the same, being alone, was it?" Gerry said knowing she had done the same thing he had. "No, it wasn't, but it let me clear up my head a little so I could study, but I still can't get going. I have a few things bothering me. I've been so dishonest in the display of my real feelings, I need you to trust me that what you get now is real. I won't play games. After replaying the other night in my head," she started to say and hesitated as she searched for the right words, " ... you saw that I can be a very bad girl. I should be ashamed that you..." "Stop!" He interrupted her. "Don't do this to yourself. When two people let passions flow and get behind closed doors there is no right or wrong, no judgment, as long as both agree to what is happening. Think of the most straight-forward man or woman you look up to and know that either is just like you in that same situation. We are animals in so many senses and we have this great need for pleasure and when two people put meaning behind it ... you see what it can bring. You are just the woman I thought I was getting to know, and thankfully even more passionate. Now before you get me going again, I HAVE to study. We'll have time soon." "OK, ... and thanks. Goodnight. I'll see you at practice." She said, hanging up.
By Friday they had studied the plays, run the plays, analyzed the plays, and worked hard to keep their bodies in shape to execute the plays. Today they would tune up and then sit down with the coaches and, once again, mentally run through the game and their opponent. The team wanted this game more than any game on it's slate now. This was their report card to themselves. A win would place them second in the Northeast 10 and a chance for a minor bowl bid. A loss would drop them to a possible 3 team tie for third or fifth, depending how you looked at it. They were already guaranteed to have a better record than 5 teams. The mood in the locker room before the workout was positive as they all sat at their lockers waiting for the day's instructions. Coach Winslow (in his workout sweats) came out with his 3 assistants for a little address to the team, as was usual for a Friday mid-day workout. Most everyone had 2 classes in the morning before coming to Meditek for the workout. After they would eat together as a team and then go into one of the team or coaches rooms and go over strategy. Most had an afternoon class or tutor session and had the evening to themselves. There was no official curfew, but if you were seen on campus after 10:00 it might be questioned. "We've worked hard all week and I don't think we left anything out of our prep for this game. After lunch we'll do a straight run-through of the game plan we worked all week, open the floor and then get everyone out for their 2:15 classes. You'll be overjoyed to hear that the freezing rain they had predicted is going to stay on the coast and not move inland and we might even have a warm day, as far as November is concerned, for tomorrows game ... in bright sunshine! (cheers)" Jared said before turning and nodding to staff to open the doors. As the team filed out in various sweat shirt/sweat pants variations of the green on white and white on green they talked and cajoled each other. While Julie wasn't paired with Gerry, or Jack with Oksana, both couples looked to their partners several times and exchanged glances, winks and the like. Most on the team knew that Jack and Oksana was becoming an item, but no one ever suspected that Gerry had any more than fleeting interest in any woman, let alone Julie. His tastes were of the bimbo or busty cheerleader variety. As always, the team was happy to have the Coach workout with them, keeping the mood loose as the captains led the workout and the assistant's staff looked on and made sure no one lagged or seemed to be limping or favoring anything. Jared liked to keep in shape so he could keep up with Meaghan. She was still quite sexually charged and kept him wanting for more. Her job may have tied up a lot of their free time, but when playtime there, she was ready to go full-steam. He didn't know if she got her stamina from her yoga or her ballet, but since she got to his home on campus she had become a much more sleek body. Friday nights had become raw sexual marathons since the season started and he looked forward to the night. Besides their 7-3 record and finishing in second being on the line a few other things could get wrapped up with Saturday's game. Brian Faraday was easily the top scorer in the conference, but he led the nation in scoring by 12 points. The next points he scored would probably give him the cushion to get that title, unless a certain back from UCLA ran for more than 2 scores. Boge Hollins was a cinch to lead the conference and to be one of the top 3 rushers in the nation. He lagged the leader, Marlon Nesbitt, by 120 yards, but his Georgia Bulldogs were playing Saturday as well. As players paired off and headed for classes Gerry Granahan and Julie Murcer both headed for the Champlain Media Center where they each had lecture reviews in different auditoriums of the 3 pronged venue. Opting to walk instead of waiting for a shuttle, they both took up a military pace (100 strides a minute, approx 4 mph) so they could be on time. "Win or lose, are you staying with me tomorrow night?" She asked hopefully. "Depends, are you going to call your boyfriend home and tell him you've moved on?" He asked, surprising her. "What brought THIS on?" She asked, taken aback by his request. "Last week I was stud service and I accepted that. Now that you know how I feel, I don't want to be used." He said, shocking her even more. "After all the girls you've used you can say that with a straight face?" She laughed. "I never used anyone. They wanted something, they got it. If they got emotionally attached, they weren't mature enough to understand what was happening. I never led anyone on." Gerry said, confident of his words. "Would I be leading you on if you spent the night without my calling him?" She asked. "You would be what you thought I was before last Saturday night." Gerry said stopping altogether to confront her. Julie stopped and walked back to respond but had no words. "Well?" He asked. "Are we sure we have something real here? Are you just infatuated with me?" Julie struggled to say. "I've been infatuated for about 5 weeks with you, as I get to know you better, it's not infatuation. Then it's fascination. When you flashed me I figured you were trying to tell me the same thing. You all but told me to come on to you." He said looking at his watch and beginning to walk again. "THAT was an accident!" Julie said as he dashed to catch up and continue the pace. "Freudian." He added bluntly. "Gerry I know we both think we have something here, but do I have to burn bridges to show you I'm serious about trying to ... Oops! I guess I answered my own question, didn't I?" She said knowing he won the verbal duel. "Call me tonight!" She asked as they both arrived at Champlain and went to opposite sides of the triangular building. Back at Meditek Stadium the phone on Jared Winslow's desk rang. "Honey, are you through for the day?" Meg's voice almost sang. "Yes, I'm just sending everyone home. It's been a crazy week and..." He started. "The heating system malfunctioned and they're sending everyone home here. Everything after last bell is canceled and they want us to go home. Tracy was taking the boys to see Snow White at the library this afternoon, we can be alone until 5. I can be home in 25 minutes, lover." She said, tempting him. "Oh my, I just showered too." He said letting his tone answer her request. "I'll see you at home as soon as I can get there." Meg said before hastily hanging up. Jared packed his notes and game clipboards into a briefcase and got ready to dash home. The only time they had made for themselves was Monday night, knowing the rest of the week would be hectic. She had just gotten her period but was still horny for him, so they used the anal option she had suggested. Watching her body quiver and vibrate during anal sex made Jared crazy knowing her was giving her such a different orgasm while he enjoyed the snug pull of her body as they started and the hungry openness of her cute little ring as they finished and he deposited his load into her. Her bottom cheeks were bright pink from the playful slaps he rained on her, as she encouraged more. Today's gleeful attitude however, from the tone of her voice, meant that the monthly curse was over and she was randy and ready. Friday nights were always special for them after putting Declan down for the night, but now he could get an early preview and test drive. They would be the only times between now and Saturday when the game wouldn't be on his mind. Oksana Cushman was waiting at the bus enclosure for the Campus Shuttle to arrive, hoping Jack would be out of the locker room in time to New England Center Quad. They each had classes there and agreed to ride together, but she didn't know what was holding him up, he had to be the last one out of Meditek. Finally, just as the bus rumbled by to the turnaround he came out of the double doors with a long white box in his hands. "Hurry Jack, they won't wait if they don't think you're hustling." Okkie yelled, knowing most of the drivers didn't stand for dawdling to the bus. He got there just s the bus pulled up and got on behind Oksana. "For Gods sake, what took you so long, you were the last one out!" She asked. He sat down with a big smile and handed her the box. "One of the maintenance guys did a favor for me, these are for you." He said waiting for her to open the box. Oksana looked at Jack hoping there weren't flowers in the box, and opened it to see 6 long stem roses. She smiled and looked to Jack and kissed him on the cheek. "Jack, I know you had the best of intentions in getting these for me, and the thought and effort don't escape me, but what am I supposed to do with flowers going into class? We need a broader definition of our relationship for a gift like this. I really, really like you and want to develop a serious bond with you, but this isn't me, isn't us, right now. You don't have to win me over with gifts that bear your feelings, you already have me. I think I showed you the other night how much I cared for you, how serious I am about being with you." She said as she saw his smile drop off and his eyes begin to turn away as they welled up. "Jack? Don't take my words the wrong way. You are the only man I have in my life right now, and the only one I want. You have to realize that while I might be the first girl, woman, to take you and patiently walk you through the affection stage of a relationship, you don't have to do things like this to keep me close. Outward material signs of your affection are not necessary, a simple kiss and a hand squeeze is all I need to know you care." She softly explained. "I got them because you're so pretty and I think you're beautiful, just like they are." He said softly, defending his action. "All you ever have to do is say that, and I'll take it to heart, knowing it came from you. I'm just not a flower type of girl, nor am I a jewelry type. Already I know that I want to dress more feminine for you so I can be your flower. I know you see me in jeans and a sweatshirt a lot, and (leaning over to whisper) I told you you'd shit your pants if you saw me naked. But, I want to look like a woman when we go out and you'll see a different side of me and you'll see I don't need flowers or jewelry to gussie me up." She said defending her words and explaining to his naivete. "You really do care, don't you? I'm not too good at reading that and I want you to know how I feel." Jack said, almost apologizing. "Jack, my sweet. You'll always get the real me, I swear." She said kissing him and then whispering in his ear, "I don't go around doing what I did the other night for anyone I casually care for, that's pretty serious stuff and I made sure you saw it as loving, not dirty, like those movies I'm going to break you from." Jack smiled and blushed, knowing she knew that if he hadn't had a girlfriend in all this time, he must have seen a lot of porno's to get off and stay sane as a growing man. "Now I'm going to take these flowers and bring them in The Seattle on the way to class and put them in one of the vases of flowers they have in the window. My feelings for you will last a lot longer than they will. We're almost at my stop; I know you have to go to the back of the quad. I have to study tonight and start a paper. I'll see you at the game tomorrow and we'll go out together afterwards, OK?" She said with a wink. Jack smiled as she got up and stepped off the bus. She sent him an air kiss from the curb as the bus pulled away. All seemed to be going well in Jack's new world and for once he didn't feel like things were going to blow up in his face. ------- Chapter 40 Saturday morning most of the team was in the team locker room at 9:00 am, almost a full hour before Coach asked them to be there. Playbooks were open and different members of each coach's staff were going over plays drawn up the day before in their final cram for the game. Some were in the video room watching game tapes of WMU's last game, but no one was sitting idly. Trainers hadn't even gotten there yet, so most players waiting to be taped, wrapped, or bandaged, hadn't dressed beyond sweat shorts and t-shirts. The sun shone brightly in Northeast Vermont with a sky so blue it was hard to fathom. For New England November, 47 degrees was balmy, and in the stadiums seats it would seem even warmer as the bowl of Meditek Stadium reflected the sun's rays. The mood in the locker room seemed that of confidence as players, now prepared by the trainers, began to pair off and go onto the field in front of the near empty stands to loosen up for the afternoons game. White Mountain players were also out and many renewed friendships and acquaintances before equipment managers came out with bags of balls for light throwing and general loosing up. As trainers finished up their work inside they made their way to the field to help certain players stretch. Trainers' assistants took orders to key on certain players and certain muscles, with special attention paid to the hamstrings of receivers, runners, and kickers. At 10:45 the gates opened and fans began to trickle in with an hour and 20 minutes until kick-off. With initial stretching and loosening done amongst the jocular mood before returning to the locker room to put on game-face, players began to take a deep breath almost as if getting ready to go underwater when they re-entered the clubhouse. Now it got real. They would be back out for light drills in full pads soon. As everything was taking place overhead, Jared Winslow sat in his office in the bowels of Meditek Stadium going over last minute notes and ideas, preparing clipboards and making sure that all in the booth were briefed. He had notes for his pre-game pep talk to the team and was going over his words when a security team member came to his door. "Coach, I have a woman at the back gate who insists on seeing you and will not relent. She says if we tell you that Barbara Gaines is here, you would allow her in to see you." The security man said. "Ohhh God! Ummm, OK, let her in, stay with her and stay at the door while she's here. She shouldn't be trouble, but I owe her this much." Jared said tentatively. Not knowing her state of mind Jared wondered if he were to send her away what she might do. He didn't need the distraction or embarrassment during the game. As he pored over possibilities of her reason to show up today he heard the click of heels in the hallways and the instructive voice of the guard showing her the way. He looked at as she appeared at the door. She was in a long black coat, opened to reveal a bright green dress. She was sleek as ever, her long black hair framing her pretty face. Barb was 6 foot in her heels and she smiled brightly at seeing Jared. He stood from behind his desk and stepped out to hug her and exchange an air kiss. "Jared, so nice to see you. I wanted to congratulate you on such a great season and wish you the best of luck today." She said brightly stepping back from him. The guard stepped back and remained just outside the door as Jared leaned back and sat on the edge of his desk anticipating she had more to say. She looked behind her and saw the guard had moved out of sight and she smiled softly while flushing embarrassment before speaking. "I never thought I would say this but, thank you for waking me up, waking US up to the fact we had grown apart. I went through a lot of hell before I realized the sense it all made. I met a man, a single father of one of my students, whose daughter got through her challenges and is in college now. He came to thank me and we sort of hit it off. It's been 3 months now and he's got me jogging, exercising, and really taking care of myself again. I'm revitalized and don't spend my free time buried in a book or in front of the TV. You and I had a great run, but good seasons come to an end sometimes, and ours did. I wanted you to know that I was happy, I see from the TV and newspaper stories that YOU are, with Meg your old school sweetheart I heard so much about. I'm happy for both of us. My life would have never been the same if I had not met you, been with you, and I'll always love you in a special way and I hope you feel the same way too." She said with a bright smile and a little tear she brushed away. "That's so nice of you to say. You know I'll always have a special place in my heart for you and I still cherish our time together. I'm so happy for you and glad you came today. I see you're wearing our colors, too." Jared said smiling brightly, glad for the break in the pre-game tension. "We'll be rooting! So, umm, thanks again for everything Jared and maybe we'll see each other again if you ever get back to town to visit." She said shuffling her feet and looking for the right words to part with. She opened her arms and they kissed on the lips and hugged tenderly and then she turned to walk out, gave him one more small wave, and left up the hall with the guard. Knowing Barb had moved on eased Jared's mind a bit as he wondered how she had been making out. He was also taken by how stunning she looked, refreshed from the last time he saw her. Her hair was shiny like it was when they first got together and she wore make-up to highlight her stunning features. He couldn't help but notice her legs as she walked away and knew those long legs went up to form a beautiful ass. He wasn't wanting for anything with what he had in Meaghan, but knowing he used to screw such a pretty woman made him proud. Suddenly the importance of the game came rushing home again and he smiled to himself, surprised that he was so easily distracted. The sound of footsteps in the hall made him turn and he saw Joe Barber coming. "Hey Coach! Just wanted to say congratulations on a great season, win or lose today. It's truly a whole lot more than we expected coming in and the attendance is phenomenal. When we open season tickets for next year we think we'll have a waiting list. Plus, I'm being told we are on 3 lists for bowl bids, a win today couldn't hurt sewing up one of them, but having the choice of the 3 would be ... Ohhh, Dean Crawford would flip! Seven overall wins gets us opportunities, but 8 would get us at least some sort of at large bid. They seem to think next year they can get a sponsor for a Northeast 10 Championship Bowl of some kind." Joe said smiling as he slapped a program in his hands. Jared's relationship with Joe had been a little strained since their run-in over Joe and his wife screwing on a scorer's table and causing a ruckus with security. Jared wanted to smooth that out, but the team had just gotten fully dressed and was heading out for warm-ups and drills and he had to hit the field. The training staff handed Jared an evaluation sheet of any possible injuries to be watchful of and he was happy to see everything was minor. Brian Faraday complained of a tight hamstring and they were suggesting Junior Contralco kick-off. Junior had kicked off many times in high school and a few times this season. It was no big deal, Junior had no problem lofting the ball to the end zone. As coach made his way down the hall and out onto the field the first player he saw on the field was Faraday. Brian was always reluctant to let the trainers stretch him too much, fearing injury, he had always done his own warm-up. He had just turned one trainer away. This day Coach Winslow was having none of that. "Brian!" He barked, "You let the staff work that hammy and don't let me hear any of your foolishness. Soccer is done and you're not out on the field as much as the summer. That tightness is the coolness in the air and the fact you're not in every play. You'd never have a training staff as competent as this group in club soccer. Let them do their job!" He said as he pointed to other players getting stretched and the trainer obviously just turned down by Faraday "Yes sir Coach, I understand. If Junior boots off, that will take a load off my mind." He said as he trotted to catch up to the trainer he had just turned down. As Jared watched players pull on helmets and begin to gather near the home sideline, other coaches and assistants began to converge toward him and he just gave a simple nod to all of them and they scattered to assemble squads to line up for drills. Soon the sound of pads clicking and player shouts and hoots filled the air as fans watched both teams line up and rehearse basics among themselves. Julie Murcer and Brian Faraday were pummeling balls into catch nets as they tuned their timing. Oksana Cushman was kicking balls away with ease to be sure she was stretched out and had her timing down. Junior Contralco peeled off the offensive sets to join her and get away a few punts himself. Although he hadn't been used all season, he was the number 2 punter should Oksana not be able to play. Nunzio "Junior" Contralco had been an option type quarterback all through high school where he led his conference in scoring by performing at all levels of the game, even serving as the punter. Soon officials' whistles blew and both teams began to clear the field so staff could make sure the playing surface was ready, all chains and measuring devices were operational, and any on field TV cameras were properly placed. Players gathered at their lockers as trainers made their rounds making sure everyone was game ready and no re-taping or bandaging was necessary. Jared had started to shake hands with some of the support staff he might not see after the game, making sure they all knew how much he appreciated their help and support during the year. He checked his watch and knew he'd best get inside and as soon as he did the big double doors closed and the assistant coaches found him and gathered behind him like a mother duck would lead her brace of ducklings. Everyone couldn't wait until the game started and no-one wanted the season to end. It was a cross between tension and relief and hard to put a finger on. When Jared approached the podium silence fell on the room and each player sunk to his stool and waited for his words. "When I think of the first day I stood before you to open training camp, ... well, I have to tell you, I'm a little taken aback. I knew I had a lot of talent here, but I just didn't know how or if we could make it gel. I knew if I made you believe in yourself the end result could be something we ALL could be proud of. It didn't HAVE to translate into a winning season, it only had to translate into a season where we got respect. We got respect alright, we got game! (a round of CLICKS from the assembled team) There were circumstances that made this team special, drew attention to us, added more pressure and you all said, BRING IT ON! You've got great leaders amongst you, guys and gals who pick up the torch and light the way, just when you think it's all darkness. I've seen that time after time. One domino to make the rest of the run fall into place (another round of CLICKS from the assembled team). On times we've failed there was no finger pointing, we win as a team, lose as a team and respect the fact that sometimes the best team doesn't always win. Make your best effort and respect yourselves and your opponent. As a team I could not hold you in higher esteem. Today we go out as well prepared as we have been for any game. Do all you can do to win. Do that and you can hold your head up no matter the outcome. It's all I can ask of you, all you can ask of yourselves." He said, his voice choking up a bit After a pause to compose himself he looked out over the team and clasped his hands together, intertwining his fingers, and put his hands over the edge of the podium and lowered his head. "Can we all bow our heads? Dear God, be with us in this game today. We pray for courage to face and conquer our own fears, and for your protection from injuries. Lord, I ask for strength to play to the best of my ability, and for strength of spirit to be a leader to others. May I be strong and triumphant over those who try to stand in our way. Please guide the coaches in making wise choices and help them be the kind of leaders you would have them be." Jared recited from memory of hearing his Dad say the same prayer before any game he coached. The assembled players stayed silent, adding their own intentions in their prayer. Just then the double doors leading out to the field opened and a rush of cool air filled the locker area. It was time to go out to the field. Jared opted for a full team charge out, instead of player introductions, he only asked for seniors to stay back. They would be introduced one by one before their last game. As a "click" chant grew from the back of the locker room to the front, the sound of cleats going from the soft locker room floor to the concrete of the apron leading to the field filled the room. Jack Daniels, Greg Alusik, and Jazz Carey were the 3 key seniors leaving who played all four years. Three others, Nick Noren, Hank Silvera, and John Leja, played parts of 3 seasons as linemen and special teamers. All 6 were popular with the die-hard fans of the team and all received nice ovations starting from Noren, Silvera and Leja. Then as Alusik was announced the fans began to get to their feet and by the time Jazz Carey and Jack Daniels were announced the whole stadium rocked in standing tribute. Few players played as hard and were as dedicated as Daniels and Carey, not taking away from any of the other 4. What the 6 players weren't aware of as they came out on the field, their families had been brought in at Coach Winslow's expense to see their last game. Six sets of parents and their available siblings, 20 in all, met the seniors as they were announced. In a short 5 minute ceremony Dean Crawford and Joe Barber presented the players with large bunches of roses to give to their mothers, thanking them for all the rides to practice over the years, washing all the grass stained uniforms, and putting up with all the demands of a budding football player. There would also be an open house reception at 7:00 pm for the players and the families at the Alumni Center on campus. It was for the team, boosters, and all students and faculty. Although the 6 players were surprised to see their families, they were anxious to get to the business at hand. Junior Contralco's kick-off was long, high and booming, being downed in the end zone and brought out to the 20 yard marker where White Mountains U would begin. They opened with an air game with 2 passes, into zone coverage, being batted away by Scott Claxton. One was nearly batted into the arms of Tee Smythe and he slapped his hands together hard and stomped his feet for missing the ball. As he stomped his way back to the defensive huddle he heard Coach Ruffin screaming at him, "next play, NEXT PLAY! It's OVER!", a reminder to stay within himself and "spare the self-persecution" as Coach put it. On third down everyone expected another pass play but as they faked a draw Jazz Carey thought he had read it perfectly and left his zone to move up to make the tackle. As soon as the middle opened WMU hit an open receiver for a 12 yard gain, right over the middle. Carey was livid at himself for being deked and was shouting "FUCK! FUCK!" at himself as they got back into the defensive huddle. The usually quiet John Brooks, who had battled his own demons to get another chance at NCAA football, reached out in the huddle and grabbed Jazz by a fist full of the number on his chest. "Jazz! It's the game, not you! Your family's here! WE NEED YOU!" He shouted at him to bring him back to reality. Jazz realized he had let his emotions get the best of him and put a hand out to John's shoulder and nodding. "OK, OK, my bad. Let's line 4-3, they're staying in the air." The Green Aggies had the size, strength, and quickness necessary to run a 4-3 defense. Besides the usual four down linemen (2 DTs and 2 DEs), there are three line backers, lining two to the inside and one at the outside flanked just off the Tight End. Two cornerbacks and two safeties are your pass defense. If you show this set a lot you may have to defense runs to the weak side, but Jazz was aware of that. WMU came out of the huddle and saw the 4-3 and their Quarterback hesitated as he set up, but the instinct to check-off at the line passed and he started his cadence. He dropped and set up to pass once again! John Brooks saw all 4 receivers line wide and disappear in his peripheral vision and immediately blitzed from his weak side linebacker position. He took a direct route to the QB, unimpeded, and just as the QB was unloading a long pass Brooks came through the air, got hand on the ball and laid out WMU Quarterback Corey Slinqer. The ball fell harmlessly in the short flats as John bounced up and extended a hand to help Slinqer up. Corey got half way to his feet and dropped to one knee. Brooks knew it was best to leave the scene at that point and left Corey on one knee. When John got back to the defensive huddle he got an earful from Jazz, "Big chance you took Brooksie, thank God you weren't burned with a screen." "Any relief valve was too deep in the backfield, it was just instinct." John said, embarrassed he took the chance, but glad. "Is he hurt?" "No, just had the wind knocked out. I got him high in the pads. I just wanted the ball, he stepped into me." John said as they all leaned in as WMU huddled after Slinqer recovered. "4-3 again, watch for the screen. DON'T leave the middle open!" Jazz said looking at Brooks. The same exact play developed as this quarterback was going to show he couldn't be deterred. However there was no open man and a dump-off screen hit the intended receiver in the back of the head as he had barely gotten out of traffic to turn and look. As the defense huddled Jazz looked to the bench and Frank Ruffen held his clipboard to his chest showing a closed fist. An open hand with fingers extended was "blitz", the closed fist was to "show blitz". Jazz relayed the instruction and kept the 4-3 set. The NEAT defense showed jittery backs ready to rush the line, safety's moving up and back ready to blow in on the snap. They all heard Corey Slinqer check off at the line and fell into position on the snap. Corey rolled to hit a scurrying back on a flare type of screen, but everyone was covered and Slinqer tucked the ball and tried to turn the corner at the end, but was tackled with a 2 yard gain as WMU sent in their punter for 4th and 8. White Mountain U had tried to come out smoking in the air and show dominance moving the ball and they had been thwarted. The Green Aggies had been challenged and they had played within themselves and were ready. Now their offense had to establish the ability to keep the ball and move it down the field and eventually score. If anyone told Boge Hollins that he would carry the ball 41 times this day he would have been in uniform waiting at the gates for them to open at sun-up. He was a workhorse and enjoyed the role. He also proved to be a superior pass blocker and receiver throughout the year, But, this was to be his day to shine as the unstoppable force in the backfield gaining 211 yards. Marv Hudson mixed his plays going to the air just 17 times for 14 completions and giving the ball to his other backs, Kemmer Brooks and Junior Contralco, but 14 times. Despite all of the domination over the ball, NEAT led just 30-17 with a bit over 3 minutes left in the game as they kicked off to White Mountains after Brian Faraday's 3rd field goal of the day. Once The Aggies got inside the 30 yard line Coach Winslow would not allow Hudson to put the ball in the air. He still had a great fear of the disastrous turnover and the effects it would have on his young quarterback. WMU's pass defense was the best in the league and only the heavy running attack had let Marv get what he had. Boge had bulled his way for three scores to go along with Faraday's boots. But, all that mounted to just 6 successful drives, even though they were other long, time consuming, drives against the vaunted WMU defense. The longest drive, as far as the clock was concerned, ended with an unsuccessful 4th and goal Quarterback Sneak that came from the bench. Jack Daniels had opened a hole for Marv, but a leaping linebacker went over Jack and pushed Marv aside and, although many thought the ball passed the goal line, they couldn't get the call. Now WMU was in the same position they stood in the team's first meeting with NEAT; with enough time to pull out 2 scores and snatch victory away from New England Ag and Tech. Although no NEAT player would admit it, thoughts of déjà vu entered each of their heads as they kicked off. Junior Contralco's booming kick went to the end zone, but WMU's deep man elected to run the ball out and with a key block and broken tackle brought the ball out to their own 35 yard line. Jazz Carey knew they would go to the air and probably try to eat up the field in big bites. He used a modified zone that left the middle open if they decided to run. He only hoped they could contain a runner to the middle of the field and make them use more of the clock or a time-out. WMU came out smoking with 3 three short passes of 11, 14, and 9 yards for a couple first downs, all with no huddle, before they used their first time out. Frank Ruffen sent in a replacement player with instructions to use a 4-4 defensive alignment, or in Frank's words, "The Stack". The Stack can tame the short passing game with four linemen, four linebackers, two cornerbacks, and a safety. If they decide to go long you must be confident of your pursuit from the cornerbacks and safety, and NEAT possessed wiry quickness at both positions. Frank liked to show the 4-4 in this situation because it forced the run inside and kept them away from sideline clock stoppage. Slinqer took a deep drop on first down and then punched the ball into the numbers of his blocking back on a draw and the back rushed for 18 yards up the middle before Jazz Carey contained him and made the tackle on his own 13 yard line. The first down run shocked the defense and suddenly they were reeling as WMU set up without a huddle, almost forcing NEAT to use one of their time outs. Jazz saw them lining up without a huddle and he checked off the 4-4 Stack, yelling "6-5, SIX-FIVE!" A 6-5 defense is usually a goal line stand defense and at the 13 there was just about enough room for another set, but Jazz panicked. He had 6 men rushing the offensive backfield and if Slinqer dropped to pass, the middle two linebackers (who remained back) fall back to the end zone in zone pass coverage occupying the middle, while the outside two linebackers retreat to cover the corners of the end zone. The Safety reads the quarterback's eyes and plays the ball. Slinqer dropped deep and his blocking broke down under the heavy rush and he rolled out of the pocket, tucking the ball and aiming for the sidelines near the line of scrimmage, wanting to run out and avoid being tackled. Scott Claxton, who had been the safety in the 6-5, was cornering down on him to force him out. He assumed the step-out and pulled up a bit letting Slinqer lunge forward and gain an extra 4 yards. Scott seethed at himself as he got back into the defensive huddle as Jazz Carey tried to re-group his troop. "OK, we stay 6-5. Clax, get your head back in here. THAT PLAY IS OVER! Next time we take him out, sidelines or not." Jazz said knowing he had to be brief and get Scott Claxton's head out of the past and back in the game. As the defense began to get set Jazz had one moment to speak privately into the ear hole of Scott's helmet. "You're the best I have, forget it!" After being the team Sad Sack for his fear of contact and "just OK" performance, Scott had become one of the most feared defensive backfield players in the league. He built his confidence and ego up to a point where he assumed the fear with this quarterback, Slinqer, and didn't blow him out of bounds when he should have. As the ball was snapped Slinqer again dropped back straight and deep. With one pump fake and he averting his eyes to a different zone, Scott Claxton assumed he had no one open and instinct took over and he made a bee line for the QB. Slinqers pocket broke down and he scrambled out looking for a place to dump off the ball and regroup. He was just about to raise his arm to throw the ball away when Scott Claxton hit him low and from behind. Had his arm been raised Scott planned to go for the ball, but he made the commitment to the tackle instead. The ball flew from his hand and went into the air landing on its hard tit and popping straight up. John Brooks who had circled out of his zone when Slinqer left the pocket was in full stride toward the action when the ball popped up right in front of him. He got in 7 or 8 full strides before he felt his hamstring tighten. His adrenaline had gotten the best of him, and though he would have loved to ignore it and finish his run for touchdown, he pulled up and went to the near sideline. He was satisfied they had the ball back and in good field position. He tried to walk, but was limping heavily as two teammates got under either shoulder and took him back to the jubilant Green Aggie bench. "Sorry I couldn't bring it in Coach" He yelled as they deposited him on the bench with trainers and medical staff swarming him. A trainer rushed up with an "ice sling" to lay his hamstrung leg in, knowing the faster it was iced and immobilized the faster he would recover. John looked through the maze of players, coaches, and staff and saw the offense rushing onto the field to try and use up as much clock as possible. From the maze Coach Winslow came through pulling his headset down to talk. "Brooksie, it would have been heroic to carry that ball in but you did the smart thing. Tell me you didn't hear it snap." Coach said pulling his hand on his shoulder. "No, just a twinge, then some pulling. I've snapped one before and this was just a pull." John insisted. "No weight on it and keep the ice as long as you can stand it. That sling works if you get to it quick. If we win I'll carry you around myself!" Winslow said as he patted his shoulder again and went to the sideline, putting his phones back on. Boge Hollins and Kemmer Brooks both ran for short gains and a first down, keeping the clock going, forcing WMU to call a time out before the 2 minute warning. On the resumption of play Marv Hudson called a draw to Junior Contralco, who had replaced Hollins for the down and Junior gained 9 yards, putting the ball on WMU's 27 yard line. On second down and one Marv kept the ball and slid through a hole opened by Jack Daniels for the first down. The first, second and third down plays were straight 34 Traps to Kemmer Brooks, leaving NEAT short of the first down, 4th and 2 from about the 19. WMU called their last time out as Brian Faraday warmed when Coach called Julie Murcers number. Julie was watching Brian warm and did a double take for a minute, but Brian quickly gave up the warm-up net for her. She had time to get a couple practice kicks in, as she did throughout the game, before rushing onto the field with the kicking team. Brian came over to Coach Winslow to hear the news he wanted to hear. The spotters in the booth had told him that J.D. Brockley, the back from UCLA had run for 3 touchdowns, but that game was over and the scoring title was Brian's. He had asked Coach to use Julie if there were any sort of cushion and a situation came up. Boge Hollins had easily led the nation in rushing with his big day and with just 38 ticks on the clock left, it was going to be a great day for all. The capacity crowd went wild when Julie ran out onto the field; most knowing it meant Brian had already won the scoring title. Julie was a sentimental favorite of the home crowd and she was overwhelmed by the ovation she heard for Brian and herself. Mark Freeman called the signals to Jimmer Erving, the long snapper, and got a perfect snap. As he spun the laces away and held the ball for Julie her little, powerful foot came through and punched a dead perfect shot through the center of the uprights giving NEAT a 33-17 lead with just 31 seconds left. Little Julie Murcer's head rung from the numerous helmet slaps she got from her teammates as she ran off the field. She met Brian Faraday as he was going out to kick-off, somewhat of a victory lap for him as the crowd greeted him to celebrate his accomplishment. He stopped and put a hand on either side of her helmet and kissed the top of it. She wasn't sure what he had done, but from the crowd's reaction, she guessed as he hollered "Thank you for everything." WMU downed Brian Faraday's kick-off in the end zone. When they lined up and snapped the ball at the 20 Corey Slinqer just knelt to run out the clock. The game had been won. ------- Chapter 41 For some, it would be the biggest victory of their life. For others, it would be just a primer of what was coming in their sports careers. Anyone who was a part of THIS team had special memories of what they did, together. Even the special teamer who saw but 5 or 6 minutes of action all year would someday be walking through the Wal-Mart, standing in church, or even changing a diaper for their son or daughter, and the memory of the special feeling to be part of what they did might come fleeting by to bring even the smallest wrinkle of a smile to their face. For a moment they would stop what they were doing and take even the shortest of deep breaths and fill with pride to recall what THEY had done, as a team, together. Every little piece, each "click" was a part of the whole of what was to be some of their crowning moments as each domino DID fall as planned when they were set up. As the players left the field Coach Winslow was doing an on field interview for ESPN when he was picked up and carried away by his team. It wasn't in their mind to carry off Boge Hollins, Marv Hudson, or Brian Faraday. They all knew who the architect was that molded the team, led the team, and gave each domino the courage and confidence to make their click without hesitation. Through all the ups and downs of the season, Coach Jared Winslow was a constant. The locker room was full of joy. Although they had won nothing more than the game, they knew what they had accomplished this day and cumulatively for the football season. Jared requested the locker room be closed to all outsiders for 15 minutes following the game no matter what the outcome. Once the doors were closed and all were inside Jared conferred with his coaches and then went to his podium, still set up from the pre-game pep talk. "If you could give me a few minutes for a few words before I go for the press conference. If you hold any cheering or clapping until I get done it would save time. I'm like the rest of you; I really want to get home to celebrate this. So... To fathom what we have accomplished here is mind boggling. A 5 and 5 season would have been a victory for the school, the fans, and the team. It was what I wanted to shoot for. What with working with new players, new coaches and staffs, I expected there to be many ruts in the road. I had little to do in the recruiting of players for this team, but my predecessor did a great job at recognizing character. For that I thank him. I hope you all walk away from this experience having a better understanding of the word "can't" and the dynamics between "can't" and "won't". I was told you CAN'T have female players on the team; they CAN'T compete with the men. I was told you CAN'T get through to some players no matter how talented you think they are, they just refuse to excel, and they don't have the guts. I was told you CAN'T take a chance on players with troubled pasts, let them be someone else's problems. I was told you CAN'T take a young gifted athlete who has never played a sport before and expect him to perform at a high level. I was told you CAN'T bruise an ego and still have that person and their ego to sacrifice day in and day out for the good of the team. Finally, I was told you CAN'T have student/athletes who won't end up being athlete/students." Coach said before stepping back and letting his emotions get the best of him as tears flowed from his eyes. The room stayed eerily silent as Coach Winslow gathered his emotions and turned to the group again. "It was the character of each and every one of you that flipped every one of those CAN'T's. Character is doing the right thing, even when no one else is looking. You all have that. I had but one scholastic counsel for the whole year, no outside trouble, no late night phone calls and not once did I have to explain to an irate parent, local citizen or neighbor or even a faculty member that boys will be boys, or that girls will be girls. (group chuckles) Now, here's something you have to keep under your hats until tomorrow; for all of your efforts I have just been informed by Athletic Director Joe Barber that we have closed the deal and will be taking a trip to Tampa, Florida on December 19th to play under the dome in the United Banks and Finance Bowl. Our opponent that day will be the SunBelt Conference Champion and that looks to be Florida International or Florida Atlantic. This means a tremendous amount of prestige and leverage for future recruiting, and it means a sizable sum for the University, which is the reason they have supported us so richly as we adapt to Division One. So now, you all held it in so far, CELEBRATE!" He said as the room finally erupted after giving Coach the floor for his words. "IF I COULD?" Coach said trying to get their attention for another moment. The room quieted again as Jared wanted to add to his words. "I'm going up for the post game presser. Once you're dressed you can come up and join me at the table, all of you or some of you, however you decide. Once you join me, remember, only game questions, no personal stuff. We protect each other and our personal lives. If you are uncomfortable about a question look to me and I'll either help you or tell the media it's out of bounds. Umm ... Tomorrow, here, at 3 o'clock ESPN will be here as they announce the bowl bids and opponents. Let's have the whole team here, you might get your mugs on TV, and we'll discuss the practice and work-out schedule. Remember the bowl bid is "team only" info for now. When asked just say that we are hopeful. DISMISSED!" He said laughing and continuing to shake hands as he made his way out. There was a lot of celebrating and glad handing going on in the locker room after Coach Winslow left. The rest of the coaches, as always, left the team to themselves to talk, hold their little kangaroo courts to police themselves. The two captains talked privately to each other and then stood on their stools to signal they were ready to start their post game ritual. "This is my first year here, and Jazz is leaving, so, ... we think one of the third year players should make the decision about the press conference thing. Who do you want?" Boge said loudly above the noise. The team began to look around at the third year players and there was a murmur as a few guys were pushed towards the back of the room where Boge and Jazz stood. The juniors began to look at each other and move some of their brethren to the front until, perhaps the quietest of the group, Kemmer Brooks was singled out and pushed to the stool where Jazz Carey stood. Jazz stepped down and Boge reached over to help him up. Once he stood above his peers, Boge stepped down. "Geez'um, I don't know. Coach has always hand-picked a couple of us to come up and answer a few questions ummm ... let's make a statement. How about we all shower, put on our greens and all go up? He'll have 6 seats at the table, sit the seniors there and we outnumber the press lined up behind them." He asked quietly waiting to hear reaction. Some of the scrubs and unsung linemen started to chant in the back, "we all go, we all go, we all go," and soon the whole locker room filled with the chant. "OK, quick showers and greens! LET'S GO!" Kemmer shouted, all of the sudden liking the "leader" position. Jared usually gave the press 30 minutes and up to an hour depending on how much media was there. Asking for certain players to join was his way to give himself a break and begin to wind down the presser. Today there were live cameras from sports networks and national feeds from affiliates to support the story of leading rusher, leading scorer, and female players' angles. At the front end of the locker room Oksana and Julie were quickly undressing and getting into robes to go to their showers while June Bogue, who hadn't dressed for the game, was changing into her greens. "What in God's name am I supposed to do with my hair?" Julie yelled over the top of their enclosures to Oksana. Oksana laughed, "You aren't supposed to be Barbie, you're a football player. Put it under a ball hat until you can come back to dry and fix it up. Are you ready to go?" "Oh God, yes, let's go." Was her response as they both walked out in their robes and went to their shower unnoticed to the clamor of the rest of the locker room where 60 players were trying to rotate quickly under 40 shower heads at the opposite end of the room. In under 25 minutes over 60 players lined up in the hallway outside the media room when Kemmer showed his face in the glass to get Jared's attention. "OK, guys," Coach said to the assembled media, "I've see a few players have come up for questions. Nothing personal, OK. Don't make me end this." Jared said as he signaled Kemmer it was OK to enter. A seeming never ending line of players came through the door, by height, and began to crowd in three lines behind the table as Jared sat shaking his head and laughing. Once they were all in and settled in the lines Tee Smythe spoke up, "Well, any questions?" The room broke up in laughter at his deadpan and the media clamored to be called. Jared pointed to the first questioner. "For Brian Faraday, is football your number one sport now?" Jazz Carey pulled a microphone off the stand in front of his seat and handed it back to Brian. "Today, right now, of course! I've lived and breathed soccer all my life, but I'm so glad to have used my soccer skills to help my mates get to where we are." He said in his Welsh brogue. "Don't forget his athletic skills, Brian is a fantastic athlete, not just a kicker." Coach Winslow added before he pointed to a female reporter. "For Julie Murcer, we saw Brian hug your helmet and then kiss it, what did he say to you? It was a nice moment." Julie blushed and then started to answer, but stopped as Brian was passing the microphone to her. "I was in the helmet, so I didn't see this kiss, but we've helped each other a lot during the year. Early on I helped him with his style, saw flaws, and helped him iron out a few things. He showed me a few things to develop more power. I never expected to make this team, but was glad to be a small part of it and help Coach Nietczyk transform him into the scorer he became. A lot of lies were published about this team, early on, and I'm glad we were able to prove them all wrong." She answered nervously recalling to herself the hidden affair with Brian. "Oh, and to answer your question, he just thanked me personally." "Julie could kick for most any team in the NCAA, her size scared a lot of teams away. I trust her in any situation. She's proved she can handle herself quite well." Coach added before pointing to another reporter. "For Boge Hollins, was that your biggest game, and did you ever expect to play at this level?" "I always knew I could play at this level, but I got mixed up with the wrong crowd, messed up my priorities, made a fool of myself and let my own stupidity scare most teams away. Coach Winslow came to my home, sat me down with my Dad, and laid out the whole deal to me. He opened my eyes and made me see where my priorities should be. He's been like another father or big brother to me and I can't wait to play 3 more years for him." Boge answered, pausing while almost getting over-emotional. "Yes, this was my biggest game, it was something I know Coach wanted to prove himself, and I owed my best effort to him." "You won't be tempted to enter the NFL draft?", came the follow-up. "NO, I'm going to finish my education. If my Dad didn't have his education to fall back on after he was hurt, he wouldn't have had a way to support us, he hadn't played long enough for any pension. With football, you never know when the ride will end." Boge answered smartly. "For anyone with any doubts," Jared added before directing the next questioner, "Humphrey Hollins is a fine, fine young man. I saw him leading young boys away from trouble on the streets and teaching them how they could use football to further their educations and make their lives better. He has been an exemplary student, teammate, and leader here. I don't mean to embarrass him, but there have been many lies and misleading stories written about him and the truth should be told. There are 60 or more people in this room who know the real man and would back my words up." Jared pointed to another national reporter. "For Jack Daniels, do you have a preference to what team you may be drafted by?" "Just as long as it's a team that needs a center right away. I don't think I could sit on the bench waiting for a start. But, obviously, I'll sign with whomever drafts me and try to prove that I can do the job." Whiskey answered. "For Oksana, PLEASE!", came a woman's voice from the back of the room and Jared pointed to her. "You skipped football in your freshman year, even though the team needed a punter badly, was that your choice or someone elses?" Oksana took the microphone and glanced at Jared looking for direction, but opted to give her own answer, "Umm, let's just say that this year there was a new regime here and I was asked to go out for the team with no guarantees." "Was your athletic scholarship honored?", came as a follow-up. "I am, ummm... "happy" with the arrangement that worked out for my education and I'm overjoyed to be playing for Coach Winslow and I love my teammates. My education is my priority and football is just the cherry on the sundae." 'OK, OK," Coach Winslow said, "It's getting hot in here, ladies and gentlemen and the team and I are going to go back and celebrate a little together and then get back to work. It's hot in here." He said as he stood and led the team out of the media room towards the locker room. "TODAY WAS THE LAST GAME, WHY ARE YOU GETTING BACK TO WORK?" "Did a bowl bid come through?" "Which bowl did you draw?" "Is there an announcement coming?" "Will there be a press conference?" As the team filed out behind Coach they all smiled as reporters wildly asked questions and checked their Blackberries for breaking news. In a few minutes it would be news from ESPN when they would announce that NEAT would be part of the Bowl Bid Announcement Show on Sunday. Coach Winslow enjoyed tweaking the media and this was just another chance. They had printed unsubstantiated stories about his team based on scurrilous blog posts and he would never be too forgiving for that. Going back to the locker room to put on street clothes Oksana and Jack brought up the rear and they spoke cautiously. "Am I going to see you tonight?" She asked. "I don't know. My whole family is here and I don't know where or if they're staying." Jack said, clearly undecided where his priorities were. "I'll call you as soon as I know what's going on." Oksana leaned over to his ear as they were about to turn into the locker area, "I can't wait to kiss you and hold you." In the meantime in the locker room Julie Murcer's eyes were seeking out Gerry Granahan. Since the game ended and they got inside she hadn't seen him to catch his eyes to tell him she wanted him. Suddenly she felt two hands on her shoulders as she peered down the line. "Looking for anyone in particular? Me, I hope, or did you think I skipped out on you." Gerry said in a low voice to her. She quickly stepped aside as if he was only asking to get by and she smiled at him coyly, saying "I was thinking a lot of things, but that wasn't one of them." June Bokue, who had watched the game from the spotters booth with her fellow red-shirts, sat in front of her locker now greeting and congratulating her teammates. She was watching and waiting for Marv Hudson to come by. He had stopped just inside the inner locker doors to talk to one of the offensive assistants. Just as he finished up June stood up and picked up her duffle and headed toward him and the doors. "Great game Marv, do you know what time the party is tonight?" She asked. "Uh-huh, as soon as I walk in your door." He answered quietly. "No!" She blushed, "The kitchen party!" June said feigning knowledge of his intentions. "Oh, I thought you meant the one where I'll be serving and then looking for something to eat." He said knowing his words would get a reaction. June blushed again as her pussy tingled at the thought as she brushed passed him, mad he was so playfully blunt with her. In Jared Winslow's office his phone rang as he sat with his 3 assistants enjoying post-game banter. "Hello?" "We're going to get away tonight." Meaghan answered in a smoky, determined voice. "Declan is staying next-door and we're staying at The Residence Inn up the interstate in a two-bedroom suite. We'll fuck in both beds until the sheets are sweaty and I think the sofa pulls out as well. Sound like a date?, ... and Oh, ... and don't worry about dinner. I know what I want to eat and I'll have something for you. Sound good?" "Sounds great!" He answered. "I have a bag packed and I'll pick you up at Meditek in a half hour. I'll have everything we need, lover. I love you!" She said before hanging up. Right away Jared knew that the night would be special. He would be away from phones and questions while celebrating privately with his true love. His job and obsession with this team had taken so much time away from he and Meaghan, they would have a chance to make some of it up. Back in the locker room Jack Daniels was hanging up his cell phone and seeking out Oksana. Finding her just getting her things to leave he took her aside; "Okkie, Coach flew all the seniors families into Burlington, got them here and put them up in the Days Inn just off campus. There's a charter bus taking them all back to Burlington tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock. They have an 11:15 flight to Chicago to make the connection to Indianapolis. I'm going to go with them and have dinner, spend some time and say my goodbyes. I should be back around 11 or so. Is that too late? My Mom says you should come along, though." "No Jack, I couldn't go. You spend some quality time with them and come back later. I'll be up then. They haven't mentioned any party yet, but if there is one, we might even still be there. You come to my dorm no matter how late you get back, OK?" She told him. Just as Jack thought he might try to talk her into going with them Jazz Carey came through the locker doors and sought out Jack. "Jack, I just got the call. We party in The Hall Kitchen at 9 until midnight. Do you know if Coach is buying food?" Jazz asked him. "No, at least he didn't say anything. Maybe I'll ask him. If not, we can all kick in a few bucks." Jack said as he went past the privacy lockers and to Coach's office. "Excuse me, Sirs," Jack said interrupting the happy talk in the open door celebration in Jared's office. "You didn't mention anything about food tonight, before we order our own we..." Jack said before Jared stopped him. "Don't order, The Union has an order and is waiting to hear from you. I told Boge, but I think he's Skype-ing his father on my laptop up the hall. He was pretty anxious to talk to him." Coach told him. Just as Jack was heading back to the locker area he heard Boge call his name. "Whiskey, wait up. My Dad says to say "hey" to you. He had a whole crew at his house to watch the game on the satellite. They're having a ball. Did Jazz hear if we have stuff for a party? Coach is buying food." Boge said as he came up the hall. "Yes, we're all set!" Jack hollered back as Boge dropped Jared's laptop back to him. Boge caught up to Jack and they embraced on the win, exchanging congratulations. "So, just WHO is buying the beer and stuff for us?" Jack asked. "Can't tell you, man, ... and if I did, you still wouldn't know who it was." Boge said mysteriously as he made his way to the back of the locker room. Moments later Boge and Jazz were on their stools announcing the time of that nights party with all the usual warnings. Then little by little the locker room began to empty as players and staffs alike were on a high that the University had never known. Winning was fun for everyone and they all felt a part of it. The post-game time was usually spent getting dinner, getting a rest, or meeting with friends to celebrate a win or talk about a loss. On this Saturday night June Bokue was back in her dorm room showering and trying to avoid masturbating to relieve the itch she had in her loins. Something about watching Marv lead the team and then his suggestive double entendre had her hotter than she had felt in a while. She looked outside to see if it were dark enough to summon him over. The sun had set at 5:45 and at a few minutes past 6:00 darkness had settled into New England. A few small groups were out walking to dinner, but for the most part the sidewalks and quads were empty. Marvin Hudson's phone rang just as he was about to lie down and catch a quick power nap. "Marvie, it's Junie! Why don't you come over and we'll celebrate early. I really can't wait until later." She said, her voice quivering her sexual impatience. "Aww June, let me get a power nap in, just an hour or so." Marv protested, as much as he wanted to be with her she would still be there in an hour. "Come over here and we can nap together afterwards and maybe have a do-over." She purred in a way he wouldn't resist. "Umm, OK. Fix the side door and when it's clear, ... you know the drill." He said hanging up. June always acted in a way that was a cross between aloof and excited. Marv knew she didn't want him to think she was falling for him or wanted him in any way except as a stud service. He also knew she had begged him to "do the deed" on more than one occasion but he had always satisfied her with his mouth, tongue and fingers. He already knew he was going to have to remind her that he planned to keep his penis for one pussy, Samantha's. Sam knew he was getting goodies elsewhere as long as he kept his promise to stay at least that much true to her. Samantha had told Marv she was doing the same to relieve her own sexual tensions, but Marv still doubted that. Marv would actually love to plunder June's tight muscular body, but a promise was a promise and he had to live with his conscience. He had made vague suggestions that he would consider back-door sex with June, but she had rejected that from the start. He checked outside and confirmed it was dark enough to go from his building to her side entrance without being seen once a small group walked past. He slipped out and stayed close to his building until he was out of the light and crossed to the Allen side of the complex and rushed to the outer door, pulled it open, and pushed the skewed door to enter. June's room was the first and it was cracked, he was in unseen. "Come and lay with me. I'll warm you up!" She said as he turned and saw her in the bed already. "Every time I've come over here, EVERY TIME, you've been sitting on top of the covers, perched to give me a "farm boy" insult. Tonight you're under the covers, and not wearing much, I presume. I don't want to go through this game where you try to get me inside you. There's only one way that will happen." He warned her. "I know, I know! I guess I think maybe I'll catch you at a weak moment and I don't know why I try. I can't even say I'm not satisfied when you leave either..." She said stopping in mid-thought. "You just want the power over me, to say you made it happen. God June, it's not that I don't want to." Marv said hoping she might understand his dilemma. "Power? You talk about wanting power? YOU want to debase me and bring me down to your level!" She countered quickly, feeling insulted, "Wanting to stick that thing up my butt!" "MY LEVEL!! What makes you think you're so much better than me? Do I need to remind you WHO is sucking MY dick, licking MY balls, and eating MY cum?" Marv said hoping to insult her and bring her down from her high horse. As she heard his words, the echo of them bounced back as a mute ring in the room. They both stared at each other in silence, both remorseful at their words. "Look at us, intimate friends who share our most personal pleasures, trying to hurt each other with words. I'm sorry for trying to insult you Marv. You're so special to me. I should respect you for being decent enough to keep your word to Samantha while we split the hairs of fidelity. What we do isn't right and that probably makes it that much more exciting. At least you're honest with her. I have to live the lie, although I don't have any regrets." June said soberly. "But I still worry about what happens when Sam and I see each other face to face. Attitudes might change, but I do still love her. I just fear she may not have the same respect for me she had. If it's something she can't cope with, I may have regrets. But you don't have any?" Marv wondered. "Not really. Although I ache for him at times, if I wasn't satisfying my needs this way I would hold contempt for him not being here. I know it's hard to explain, I know it's not his fault. Just get in the bed with me!" She said impatiently. "Sit up." Marv said as he walked to the bed and she sat up, covering herself. "No, let the covers fall. I want to see your titties." She let the covers down and as Marv suspected, she wore nothing else. As she sat in bed her white breasts and dark nipples glowed from excitement against the fading tan of summer the rest of her body had. Marv pulled the drawstring on his team sweats and pushed them down along with his briefs as he brought one hand up to hold a breast and she turned to let him get his other hand on the other. She filled her mouth with his cock and let out a sigh of relief through her nose as Marvin moaned at the sensation. She shifted and put her arms around his ass and fucked her mouth over and over him, just letting the tip begin to enter her throat. This was something definitely not new to her, it was probably the blowjob she saved for her true lover. Tonight Marv was going to get it and she hoped he might be able to cum twice, if not three times before he left. She wasn't letting the buns she held in her hands loose until his sweet juice was in her mouth from this blowjob, that was for sure. The sensation of touching the back of her throat and the warm bath of spittle that produced, as well as the tip of her tongue just touching the place where his ball sack and cock met brought Marv to the brink of orgasm in just a few minutes. The gagging click sound her voice box made each time she bobbed her head added to the rhythmic slurping song that played in the room. He quickly felt his orgasm rise and he popped it into her mouth as she didn't miss a beat or stroke, only adding a long growl of satisfaction as his juice pulsed down her throat. When she was sure he was through she pulled her mouth off leaving a long string of saliva and spittle between her mouth and him as she looked up, with a watery eyed smile. Swallowing hard and wiping the spit string off she smiled up to him and cleared her throat. "I expect no less of an effort, farm boy." She said in a kidding tone as she smiled wide and wiped the dew that leaked from her eyes as she turned and scooted down the bed to lie flat. "That was amazing! Where did THAT come from?" Marv asked, still weak kneed at the side of the bed. June flushed embarrassment at first, but then stiffened her lip. "My boyfriend gets that after he's been very, very good to me. You got it before I knew how good or bad you were going to be to me tonight, so you would know you better be very, very good to me ... My pussy needs special attention tonight." She said sternly, but softening to a sly smile after the pause. Marv got out of the rest of his clothes and knelt on the edge of the bottom of the bed. June brought up her knees and spread her legs, sliding both hands over her flat belly to cover and squeeze her pussy, relieving it as it filled with blood in anticipation. Marv crawled up and her hands slid away and grasped her breasts, pinching the tips of her nipples between her thumb and forefinger as Marv's tongue swiped her slit bottom to top to get any dew collected there. June could only moan in nervous anticipation. "I ... I, ... was holding out with that. That's special, do you have anything special for me?" She asked as she nervously tingled from his first lickings. "You've never even told me his name," Marv said as his thumbs held her open for his tongue to wipe away her excited dew. "I prefer not to give you a name or an idea to what he's like, it helps me deal wi ... Oooo! GOD, you're driving me crazy ... Let me leave him out of this. Ohhhhh!" She said in varied breaths as he continued to short circuit her sexual electrics. "You didn't answer the question!" "You want "the animal", do ya?" He asked looking up from her open smooth labia. "You're driving me crazy NOW! What's that?" She asked, her breath catching. "A lot more tongue and fingers, ... in a lot more places. You won't regret it, but you have to trust me." He warned her as he pressed his lips right onto her stubby clit. June threw her head back into the pillow at the sensation his kiss induced, making her pinch her nipples even harder. She blew out her breath hard at the jolt that ran through her. "OH GOD!! Do whatever YOU WANT! Just make me CUM!" She yelped knowing he was going to places she hadn't been. Marv continued licking and stimulating her clit and pussy, but slowly turned the attention away from her prominent clit to her pussy itself, spreading it wide and penetrating her as deep as his tongue would allow. He hunched up his shoulders pushing her back a bit and licked at the bottom of her slit as she rolled back a bit to allow him more access. Her breath huffed and puffed as he gave her the order, "lock your legs", which she quickly did, locking her arms around them, thus opening her most private areas wide without having to use his thumbs to spread her. His spittle and her juices ran copiously across and past her perineum and over her little asshole which had been pinched shut, but now seemed to relax. As he licked at her pussy his middle finger now was collecting their combined juices as they ran from one hole and past her other. He brought them back up over the pert little wrinkle as she pinched and slammed it shut. He didn't try to violate her there, just rub his fingertip in the slippery excretions from his mouth and her pussy. Eventually the wrinkled pinched little muscle smoothed out as he massaged it. It was then that he drew a line to it with his tongue and began licking her there. She almost seemed to cry out at first, but gave in to the new feelings of pleasure she was getting, despite her reluctance. After some tongue diddling he felt and tasted her little dump knot open. As she hummed her pleasure at being eaten there he lapped a bee line to her pussy again and slid his middle finger through her asshole as he sucked her hard clit. She wanted to buck him off but all of the sensations she was feeling overwhelmed her as she pulled her legs tighter and gave him more access. He was lapping her pussy and finger fucking her asshole as she prepared to cum once again. She was moaning loud in rhythm to his finger pokes as he began to pull her to her side and he was shifting his body. He pressed his face hard into her slit as she shifted and gave up the arm lock on one of her legs as he moved her to where she was almost resting her full weight on his mouth. It was then she stretched out and was on her hands and knees straddled over him. She was moaning and cumming every few moments it seemed until she opened her eyes and realized his cock was almost in her face. With his finger plumbing her bottom and his tongue tingling her clit she vibrated and shuddered in sexual bliss. Fitting her mouth over his renewed erection seemed only natural to her. Although she couldn't come up with a rhythm to suck him, she used it as a pacifier knowing he would get pleasure from her warm mouth and tongue. She never felt dirtier or more naughty than she was right now and that somehow increased her pleasure, letting her inhibitions go. Suddenly she felt his middle finger slide from her rear and she felt empty, almost wishing he would go back there, when his fat thumb wiped from below her pussy, up her taint and plunged hard into her. Just as she lost her breath over the sudden intrusion, Marv's tongue dove deep into her slit sucking hard on her clit, almost holding in a suctioned kiss. Her mouth fell hard over his cock, gagging her to where she had to pull up and instantly a squeal came from her throat as her clit throbbed and she orgasmed twisting off of him and rolling into a fetal ball with both hands over her pussy and rear hole. She puffed hard and made an almost squeaking sound as she caught her breath. Little by little she opened her eyes and became cognizant of everything around her, seeing Marv laying back and smiling beside her, his wet cock still standing proud and curved over his stomach. She sat half way up, one hand going to her sore jaw while the other stayed between her legs. "Jerk it off, relieve yourself. I want to see it, taste it again, and be your cock-whore. As long as I live I'll remember this. I thought I was going to die, have a heart attack or something. Come ON, jerk it!! My jaw hurts too much to suck you, but I want it!" She commanded. Marv had held control over her and now suddenly she had taken the baton. He closed his eyes and took his cock in his hand and began to stroke it. "I'm thinking about fucking you Junie. You know I can't, but don't think I don't want to. I would fuck your gorgeous round ass right now, but I want you to experience that with your lover now that you know how you can get pleasure there." He said as he stroked, trying to conjure the right thought to push him over. He opened his eyes to see her bending over him, waiting for his orgasm. That was all it took to bring him off. "There! I'm gonna cum!" He grunted as she lowered her mouth and just covered the tip. He didn't think he had much to offer, but it didn't decrease the pleasure he felt. He heard her swallow hard a couple times and saw her draw her mouth off to see if he had more to squeeze out. A small drop appeared and she lapped it off and fell back to her side and she seemed to fall asleep instantly. He rolled to his side and closed his eyes. When he woke again it was early in the morning, just before 5 a.m. They had missed the after-game party and celebrations. They were lying ass-cheek to ass-cheek with heads at the opposite ends of the bed, naked and uncovered, apparently sleeping almost 10 hours after sexual exhaustion. He had an incredible urge to pee and got up trying not to disturb her, but it was impossible on the small bed. When he came from the bathroom she was sitting up, gathering her thoughts. "Oh God, everybody probably put two and two together and figured out where we were and what we were doing." She said with regret. "I think you're being a little paranoid. A lot of parents were here for the game and I bet there were more than just you and I who missed it." Marv said as he looked for his clothes. "I know I've made a lot of jokes, poked fun at you and all that, but you should know, I think you are one of the sweetest guys, and such a tender lover, and GOOD lover! Samantha is one lucky woman to have you, and for that reason, we probably shouldn't do this anymore. I could fall in love with you so easy and I really shouldn't screw up what I have at home. He's just going to have to come up here to visit after graduation. He gets his diploma in mid-January and if he cares at all for me, he'll have to get up here every so often. After tonight, I can't do this anymore and try to suppress my feelings. Don't be mad at me I..." She admitted before he interrupted. "Stop, I feel about the same way. We got a little too involved and tonight proved it. I think you're fantastic and such a good friend, always there with an understanding ear and our little arrangement has been wonderful, but I can't do it anymore either. We just got too deep and tonight, well ... I agree with you. Your guy is a lucky guy and he shouldn't lose something as good as you. I should really get back before it gets light, we can talk more later." He said as he pulled on his pants and jacket, heading for her door. "Meet me for coffee later?" "At The Seattle, say around 10? I won't sleep much more anyway." "See you there." She said as she pulled some of the covers from the floor and fell back into the bed to sleep. ------- Chapter 42 Jack Daniels woke up about the same time June and Marv had stirred, but Jack wasn't going anywhere. It would have taken him an hour to wipe the smile off his face. After all of years of waiting, being apprehensive, lacking confidence and just being afraid, he was waking up next to a woman. A nude woman, a woman he had made love to the night before, a woman who told him that he had made her happier than any man before him. He didn't know HOW he had done that, she was the first woman he had ever been "with". Yes, she had coached him a little bit, but he had masculine instincts and nature told him what to do. All the years of penis envy in the locker room, worry that he wouldn't satisfy a woman, were all for naught. At one point, as he rutted on her like an animal, she whispered, "I'm not going to be able to walk tomorrow, your cock is so fat." Those words made him go faster and even more animal. Too fat! He always worried about how long it was! He smiled to himself and rolled toward Oksana in the little bed and put his arm around her so they could both fit in the twin bed. She half woke up and smiled at him and turned her neck to kiss his arm and then laid her head back to fall asleep. His machismo started to go to work as he felt a little "chubby" starting in his loins, but he quickly fell asleep next to her. Jack's time with his family earlier had been nervous and fleeting as he was preoccupied with thoughts of Oksana. He knew if he got back and played his cards just right, tonight was going to be the night. The family took him to The Spinning Wheel, a local steakhouse, where they spent time catching up, congratulating him, and telling him how proud they were of him. He patiently let them have this time and when they had exhausted every possible subject, his Mom asked him if there were a curfew for the athletes. Instantly Jack said, "Yes, we have to be back on campus by 11 o'clock. What time is it now?" "My God, it's almost 10. I keep seeing the restaurant people milling around, they probably want us to leave so they can clean up and get out of here." His Mom said. Jack used that cue to begin to say his goodbyes and wish them a safe trip home on Sunday. He told them he wasn't sure of making it home for Thanksgiving because of the bowl bid even though the Holiday break started the day before. He would have the practice schedule tomorrow and let them all know then. He may have been wishing his family the best, but he was thinking of Oksana naked and wanting him. Shuttle buses left from the little shopping district near the YMCA every hour until midnight and it would take about 10 minutes for it to get to the bus shelter in front of the restaurant. He made sure he was on that bus. When he got to Ethan there were 2 stooges at the front door to make sure it was players only (as well as a certain list of girlfriends) and to make fair warning if faculty or coaches showed up. The "stooges" were actually freshman plebes to Zeta Psi and they were sure to get the job done. A lot of the senior Frat athletes who lived in Ethan would move to the Frat House as the season ended. The party was smaller than most with plenty drink for all. Jack grabbed a St. Pauli Girl as soon as he walked in and saw Kemmer Brooks as the keeper of the beer. "Hey Whiskey, pizzas are on their way, Boge and Okkie just went down to get them. We got started late. Dean Crawford was here with a couple of suits to show the dorms. Ann Comeche called ahead and had us clean up a little. They're trying to get some heavy alums to pay for a players dorm building, you know work-out rooms and all that." Kem said. Jack mingled with the 25 or so team members there until Okkie came back with Boge and then everyone seemed to gather around the pizzas while Jack and Oksana stepped out into the hall to exchange a kiss. "Don't drink too much, you'll need your strength and stamina for later." Oksana said leaving Jack a little dumbstruck. "What's the matter Jack, cat got your tongue? ... or don't you want to go home with me?" She asked with a big smile as she walked back into the party. Jack didn't know how anyone could top his first night of sexual awakening with Oksana, but apparently she was willing to go the route with him. He knew all along during the day it would unfold like this, but now reality was setting in. Oksana acted coy the rest of the night at the party, but when things began to break up she started to get close to Jack and even sort of latch on to him, taking his arm, when he stood still. As Boge was putting the last of the leftover beer, wine and the near empty bottle of Jamesons away in the storage closet, they were the only 3 left on the kitchen. When Boge was out of earshot she put her mouth close to Jacks ear and said "Take me home and make love to me." Jack all but lost it when he heard her words and tried to act cool, but Okkie knew she had really stirred his soup. As they walked outside and hit the cold air on the way to the Allen Hall dorms she stopped and put her arms around him and pulled him close. "Don't ask me a question, don't look for a lead, you're a man, my man, and you'll know what to do. I want this to happen." She whispered to him. Jack pulled her tight and they walked slowly together to the door and went in going right to her dorm room. When her door clicked shut she turned to him and put her mouth to his, a move to signal that she was his to do as he pleased. He shyly kissed her and then felt her loosen her hold on him and begin to fall away. He took the hint and pulled her close, sliding his hand down her back until he gripped one side of her ass as he pushed his groin to hers. She responded by pushing her tongue into his mouth and Jack was off to the races. Jack kissed her hard and used his hands liberally over her back and to grip and knead her bottom. When he finally broke the kiss he smiled to her and encouraged her to walk with him to the bed. They sat on the bed and Jack proceeded to kiss and feel her until they eventually lay together and, as Oksana predicted, Jack knew what to do. Eventually with her top pushed up, her bra askew, pants and panties pushed down and hanging on one leg, Jack was lying on her. His pants were pushed below his waist and when he felt the lips of her pussy almost kissing the tip of his penis, he slid into her. "OH MY GOD! YOU'RE SO BIG! WAIT!" She cried out, startled at how he filled her. "I know I'm nowhere near..." Jack began before she threw her arms around his back hoping to stop him from starting to thrust. "SHUT UP JACK! It feels like an arm in me! Don't move, I have to get accustomed to this!" She said, losing all patience with him. Jack laid on her, impaled into her, his head next to hers on the pillow as his arms held his full weight off her. "Jack, if I didn't want you so bad I would push you off me for even beginning to say what you were going to say. Your dick is HUGE! You worry how long it is, you're so WIDE!" Oksana said not changing her demeanor. She heard Jack sigh and loosened her arms around him saying, "Look at me!" Jack lifted his head from the pillow and pushed his body up and looked her in the eyes. "Jack, I think I love you, but I'm not going to live with you thinking I'm somehow unhappy with how BIG you are. Not AGAIN with this talk! I'm not that shallow and it disturbs me to think you might be. What matters is that you are inside of me, making us one!" She said softly, hoping her words sunk in. "Really? I think I love you too. I just want you to be happy with me." He said, a tear forming in his eyes. "Love me Jack, just love me!" She said pushing her hips to him. Jack Daniels took the cue and started to move within her. Right away she began to feel new sensations at the way he filled her. Jack closed his eyes and could not believe the sensation of her warm body wrapped around his manhood. The thousands of times he fantasized and masturbated about being inside a woman were dwarfed by the pleasure of the actual act. He adjusted his knees to thrust deeper and harder as he felt urgency to climax. Oksana was feeling the same need, but hoped it was the first of many. She knew he might be fast to finish and had it in mind to be patient with him. "Oh Jack, don't cum in me. I'm protected, but don't cum in me. Uhn, uhn, uhn, uhn!" She vocalized as she met each of his strokes. The thought of where he would cum hadn't crossed Jack's mind, he stupidly admitted to himself, later recalling it as a "duh!" moment. However the "if" he would cum was solved but a few moments after her warning as he pushed up and slipped from her pussy and brought his hand to his cock and stroked but twice before a trio of cum volleys spewed from him reaching to her neck and down her breasts and stomach. He sat back on his legs panting as he looked out at the scene before him, ready to apologize for making the mess he had, when he saw her playing in the puddles of cum with her fingers. "We had to get that out of the way." She said smiling back at him. "I thought you might be a little anxious, but now you'll have the time to make me real happy. Let's get undressed and wash off." She said as she bounced up and kissed him before jumping off the bed. She gingerly took off the rest of her clothes, trying not to get as little semen on them as she could before she went to him and helped him pull his shirt up and over his head. She helped him get out of his socks and pants and then took his hands and looked him up and down before smiling at him. "See? You did great and plastered me with your cum. If you came inside you might not enjoy licking my pussy later, because I'm going to teach you ALL the ways to make me happy and I bet you have a few things to show me too! OK?" "You won't tell anyone that it was my first time, will you?" He asked sheepishly. "Would you stop worrying about what other people think about anything? You are who you are and the sum total is what I love. Look at what you missed sitting and fretting over the silly things you worry about. I love you AND your big fat cock and how it feels in me. Should anything else make a difference?" She asked him as she pulled him closer. "No, I guess you're right. I'll get better, I promise." He said smiling and pulling her closer mashing the cold cum on her body to his. Although the shower was small in her dorm and showering together was near impossible, they managed to wash each other and learn a bit more about each other's bodies before drying off and moving back out into her room. Okkie sat on the bed and motioned him over and he started to sit beside her but she stopped him and put her arms out to hug his stomach close to her face as she kissed it and moved down to tongue his belly button. She looked up at him shyly as she spoke. "I hope I didn't freak you out the other night when sucked you in the dark. I really like oral with the right person, and you ARE the right person, for sure. This time you can watch me, but don't cum too soon, I still want you inside me." She said cautiously as she sat back a bit and lowered her head over his cock. She bobbed her head over him for a bit, popping her head up to see his reaction and to smile at him before going down for more. She knew she was exciting him towards the brink and she went as deep as she could before coming off and looking up at him. "Now you get on your knees right here, I have something for you." She whispered. Jack knelt down and Okkie rolled back, her legs in the air, and she reached for the back of his head as she leaned up. "Put your mouth on my pussy Jack, kiss it and lick the folds and find my clit, make me happy. You'll know what I like." She whispered. Jack had watched enough porn to know he should like this, but he had some trepidation at first, not knowing what to expect. As Oksana began to purr and shiver at his first try at oral he began to get into it, instantly liking, then loving it. There was a feral reaction as he tasted and smelled her freshness and her copious juices that flowed. He remembered a line he heard from a friend when they were sitting around telling lies about each other's conquests, "you can rule a woman with your tongue, as long as you do it with the gusto you like it done to you. She'll do whatever you want after that." Oksana wasn't a woman he wanted to rule, instead he wanted to express love for her like she had loved him and judging from the reaction her body was having to his tongue, lips, and mouth, he was doing a great job. She had become very loud and vocal even after pulling a pillow to her face to combat the thin walls of the dorm. Finally she bucked violently at his tongue and pushed up onto her elbows to command him; "Fuck me! Fuck me!" She said forcefully as she pulled herself back onto the bed further as Jack leapt to his feet, his aching cock in need of relief itself. Jack knelt between her legs and aimed his stiff prong at the wet slice of her pussy, pushing in as hard as he could and began pistoning in and out of her with abandon. Being suddenly filled to the hilt with his width caused Oksana to push back into the bed and eyes roll back into her head as he urgently jack-hammered at her. She seemed to lose her breath for a moment and then she focused on his eyes and smiled. Instantly she began to orgasm again and again as she raised her hands to his arms and nearly dug her finger nails into him. Then suddenly he blurted out, "God, I'm gonna cum, I'm gonna CUM!" Although she was using birth control she put a bit of a panic on her face and ordered him, "Pull out, Pull out and cover me!" Jack was stunned by her urgency and leaned back to take himself out but he popped out, she was so slippery, and before he could grab himself he was spurting wildly onto her face, breasts, and stomach. He held onto himself and stroked the last few drops onto her belly while they both laughed at the wild spray. Before she could reach for something to wipe herself of with Jack fell onto her, once again mashing his load between them. They kissed and necked before he could break their lip-lock to tell her he loved her. "I love you too Jack Daniels! Weren't you the silly one for thinking you would be less of a man with me. I've never been loved so hard or well, my big stud." She said giggling and hugging him tighter and tighter. Jack had no words to answer her as he reveled in the feeling of being so loved and satisfied. His only worry now was that he might get another erection if they showered each other off. He didn't know if he could do it again! "Come on and let's wash each other off one more time before we go to sleep." She said pinching him on the butt to get him off her. "What if I get all excited again?" He said cautiously, worried she might think he was some sort of sex addict or other silliness. "Don't worry, it'll be hard again, and I'll take care of it." She said looking at him with a straight seriousness. As Jack lay there in the early morning hours basking in the reverie of his special night of love, lust and revelations with Oksana he faded back to sleep recalling just how she "took care of it." The sight of her riding on him as he watched her breasts bounce and jiggle to her movements and the looks on her face as orgasm shook her made him fill with male emotions of being the "stud", as she called him earlier. After a particularly long and intense spasm, she pulled off him and quickly took him in her mouth and stroked him to finish. It was an intense orgasm for him, filled with the "good hurt" that a third shot of the night brings, making his fat cock quickly soften and fall asleep as quickly as he had. It was a special night. Across the quad at Ethan Hall another pair of footballers were coming to terms with their feelings for each other after a similar night of love. "Gerry, I don't want to go back to my dorm alone." Julie said waking him up. "Huh? Oh ... what time is it? I told you I'd walk you back." Gerry Granahan said, not realizing they had fallen asleep for a few hours. "No, not that. I don't want to be alone in bed. It's almost 5, we fell asleep." She said knowing Gerry wasn't quite awake. "No, I'm not kicking you out." Gerry said, still not sure what was happening. "NO! Gerry!" Wake up! I KNOW you're not kicking me out, but what happens when I'm here in the morning? It's after 5, you know." Julie insisted, getting him fully awake. "Oh, OK, I got you. Are you that embarrassed about being seen with me?" Gerry asked. "No, I just don't want them to think I'm the latest member of the bimbo of the night club." She said sarcastically. "Then we have to "out" ourselves. I don't want to hide it." Gerry insisted. "Damn right we can't hide it. I'd like the campus to know you aren't available!" Julie said sternly. "I know I have to earn trust, but wait until you have reason to worry. Now come back to bed." Gerry whined. "Gerry Granahan, I swear that if you make me sorry for trusting you I'll turn your balls into a bowtie." Julie said as she got undressed. "Julie, if you only knew how much and how long I wished I could be your boyfriend and all the promises I made to the Gods if it would only happen. Take me as a bullshitter if you like, but I wouldn't fuck this up for anything. I thought the first time I was in your bed was the most incredible night I ever had, but tonight was even more intense and satisfying because I know how happy I make you. Not that you held back on our first night, but tonight ... WOW. You just... " He started to say before she stopped him. "I need to tell you,..." Julie looked away and then down at the floor and then took a deep breath. "I made the call this morning. I told him there was someone else, that it was my fault, and I couldn't go on cheating on him. He took it better than I thought, I think he suspected it. He wanted to move on as well. Now I've trusted you with my feelings and broken off the only true relationship I've ever had. I felt free and empowered tonight but when I feel like you're sending me home so as not to be seen, I question what I've done." Julie said quietly. "Julie, it wasn't ME who wanted to scurry away in the middle of the night, it was YOU. I want you to stay, especially now. I don't care who knows, but Coach may be a problem. I'll have Boge talk to him when the issue comes up, but that won't be until next year. Now come get your warm little butt in here." Gerry said holding the covers open for her. "And let me make one thing clear to you." Gerry continued, "There could be a number of reasons why you might be sorry for being with me, but TRUST won't be one of them. You are the woman I WANT to be with. OK? I'll work every day on this relationship to make it work." Gerry said as if they had been going together for years. "OK, just remember I trust you because I feel a magic with our relationship. If I felt for one second like one of your sluts or bimbo's I wouldn't be here. When I stop and think of who I'm with, my mind wants me to run, but something won't let me." She said as she slipped in beside him and her body took in his warmth as she pressed herself to him. He put his arm over her and pulled her tightly to him as he whispered "You won't be sorry" in her ear. The hour must have been one to be restless. The light of Jared Winslow's laptop computer woke Meaghan from her deep sleep. "Jared! I thought we came here to get away from football, and frankly I thought I screwed you into a coma. Get back to bed here with me!" Meg said, more than a little disgruntled that her man had chosen studying football stats over sleeping next to her. "I couldn't sleep wondering which of the Florida teams we would draw for the Bowl. This game could mean more to us than anything I've done. I'll be back in soon." He said defending himself. "Is this what it always is for a coach's wife? You never stop working, games or not, in season, off season? I don't know if I can share you that long. I thought it ended today." She said voicing feelings she had been hiding for a while. "Honey, after this game I promise that besides some recruiting and whatever the agent that Ann is hooking me up with finds, I'll be home." He said looking back to her lying in the bed. "Ann got you an agent?" "She couldn't manage all the requests and do her job for the rest of the University too. Don't worry, he has ground rules. I have to pre-approve everything. I will be what I said I will be, basically at home for 6 months every year. I'm yours baby!" He promised. "Just know, I will not live all year like this. I enjoy not having to worry about money, working for the satisfaction, not for having to eke out a life, but I love you and want you here to be my son's father and my husband. I'd rather we both sweep floors if we can spend our time together and be Declan's parents." She said sternly from the bed. Jared got up from the hotel desk where his laptop sat open and went to the bed. "Meaghan, don't ever doubt my commitment and my word to you. You sound like you've had enough already, but this is just the beginning. The seasons will get more intense, but I still will be home for half of every year, like I said and I WILL be a great father to Declan." He insisted as he worried at her tone. "Just tell me that seasons DO end. I expected to wake you putting your cock in my mouth, instead I find you checking scores at 5 in the morning. Doesn't sound quite as sexy, does it?" She said staring him down before rolling away and pulling the cover up. Jared pulled the covers back and slid in beside her. "Don't be pissed off at me or my job Meg. You're making more of the situation than there is. I woke up to pee and not knowing who we drew as an opponent was bothering me. Once I saw who it was I just wanted to check a few things to sleep on. You know that the two of you are more important than anything to me. My job makes all the good things we provide possible, so you have to cut me some slack." Jared said defending himself. "We could have stayed home and done that." She said seeming to cry. "A lot of other things we did last night we couldn't do home, with Declan there." He reminded her, knowing how she let loose with her vocalizations. She turned back to him and smiled while blushing as he said. "When you growl and moan as I fuck your ass, and you tell me how good my balls feel up on your pussy." "So don't say we wasted this trip just because I got up to pee and look in my laptop. Even the racket you have to hold down at home when you fuck my face with your pussy is impossible unless we're alone." He told her, knowing he was inciting her. Meg rolled to him with a teary smile and threw a leg over Jared to straddle him. "I'm sorry for getting all over you. It just seems sometime I feel like 2nd place. But I know I'm first and when you remind me with those sexy words and you make my pussy run like a faucet." Meg said as she tried to fit herself over his thickening dick. "Meaghan, you ARE my life. This job has become the vehicle to make it all possible." Jared told her as he slipped inside her. As she rode them both to a fourth orgasm of the night Jared thought of his words and realized they were indeed true. Somewhere along the line as he strove to better his career and make a name for himself and prove that he was his own man and not just the son of his father, love had changed the priority. Since their likes had filled the private parking lots at Meditek Stadium since 2 o'clock, TV people ran rampant through the halls and rooms underneath the structure. Jared Winslow used every wit of patience he had within him to not drive the lot of them from the premises. Although none of the network talking heads would be "live-in house" Jared had made it perfectly clear to all their representative minions that unscreened questions would be handled as if the satellite were shot down. They could poke as many microphones as they wished into the faces of his players with questions beaming through a faceless speaker, but there would be no ambush here today. The Sports Network was not happy that they were not the rule makers and let Jared know that the schools face time could be cut if there were no cooperation. "We're playing a bowl game in Tampa on December 19th against Florida International whether you put us on the air or not. YOU made this team a media star in the last 24 hours and created the buzz for fans to want to watch us get our bid. If you want to suppress our face time, I really don't care. There will not be an open press conference with my players today, PERIOD!" Jared shouted over a conference call with a network head, the Bowl Bid Show host, Ann Comeche and Joe Barber. "Now Jared, I promised cooperation with..." Joe Barber began to tell Jared in hopes of him bending a bit in his dictum before Jared shot back. "Joe you can promise all you want, you run the program, but I run the team and unless you change that, I'm not budging. They know as well as you that WE are swinging the hammer and it's our way or the highway. If you want to play their way, you go ahead, but I'll take the team and go to Pizza Hut and have our party there, you can be all by yourself on the show." All four ends of the conference call remained silent for almost 10 seconds waiting for someone to blink when a fifth line, an extension in Joe Barber's office picked up. "This is Dean Meredith Crawford, let me break this stalemate and it has no bearing on who runs what as far as the team goes. I do not want Coach Winslow's specific rules on the questioning of players usurped. He's running the show there today and we, the Coach, the AD, and SID, will meet to hash all this out on Monday morning. Are we all clear on that?" After a moment of silence there were two distinct click-offs followed by 3 soft voices saying "Yes ma'am, Monday morning." Before they hung up as well. Moments after Jared hung up his phone lit up again and before it rang he answered it. "Coach, this is Frank Corcoran, host of the Bowl Bids Show this afternoon. I'll give the producer there the list of questions and who I would like to ask. You leave 4 or 5 on the list and they will get asked to you and you can handle the microphone as you requested. Does that work?" He asked quietly with somewhat of a sarcastic tone. "That works perfectly, and ... thank you very much. If you call me tomorrow afternoon we can discuss this further and I hope to make you understand why it has to be this way." Jared said hoping that they could bury the hatchet. Joe Barber was burned to a crisp inside and wanted, quite badly, to jump all over his boss, Dean Crawford, for standing him down in front of the SID and his Coach. Before he could think of a way of doing so without being fired, Dean Crawford spoke. "All 3 of the girls are having inter-team affairs. Nothing salacious is going on beyond what college age men and women do when left alone behind closed doors. These are consensual and monogamous little love affairs and nobody's business but their own. If I were able to find out about them with a couple of private snoops, ESPN probably knows too. Coach Winslow has an unwritten rule forbidding them, but if they do not cause disharmony he will not say anything. I believe he is aware of them as well. If any one of them admits to them, it will make all of the gossip and rumors that we squashed earlier this year seem to be true. I believe THAT is why Jared has been so adamant. So Joe, I ask you to let his play out. Whether it looked like it or not, I back you 100 per cent." Joe no longer wondered why Meredith had come to his office just before 2 o'clock to "be part of this whole thing today". She knew this phone call was going to take place sometime before the camera's turned on and she wanted to be there when it did. As soon as she explained herself to Joe Barber she got up with her constant companion and counsel on such university affairs, Jerry Sussman, and proceeded to Jared Winslow's office. It was 2:45 and the segment of the show they would be on was for 3:20. He had just finished editing the 5 questions to submit to the producer and was about to go address the team when Dean Crawford knocked on his door, and without waiting to be asked in, walked and shut the door. She sat down and smiled at him and then her face turned serious. He saw the look and sat back in his chair and exhaled deeply and shook his head. "As soon as I heard your voice, I knew that you knew. I didn't follow anyone. I just heard a rumor and saw the same faces in the crowd, so to speak. I worried it was an interloper, but you showing up in Joe's office told me it wasn't. However, if you think like me, there still could have been one." Jared said, relieved. "But, you can't take that chance. WE can't take that chance, that's why I backed you. You should tell all three that you know, it would only be fair. They were discreet. I doubt the rest of the team knows, except with Daniels, the senior. You have no reason to be punitive, and let them know that it's because they were smart and discreet about it. But if inquiring minds want to know, they will. OK?" She told him, feeling he agreed whole heartedly. "We're on the same page and ... Thanks Meredith. Thanks for being there and thanks for being more hands on than I ever thought you would be. You see how much this can do for us, the whole bowl thing." Jared said shaking her hand. 'Oh, when you put a dollar sign in front of it, I understand it a little better. Thank YOU! We'll make more money December 19th than I ever thought we could make this year. Go talk to your team." She said with a smile as she got up to leave. "Oh, and don't let them know that you know about the "player" parties. They'll have more fun thinking they're sneaking around. If I keep them out of cars, on campus, and control the amount they drink, it's less trouble." She said with a wink. "You?" Jared asked, a little shocked "Along with a helpful conspirator. The night one of them gets in a car it's over. They're good kids. That day in the cafeteria impressed me greatly." She said with a wink. "Well, I knew that..." Jared began to say when she stopped him cold. "No more about it. The less everyone knows the better. You, nor I know ANYTHING." ------- Chapter 43 Jared pared down the list of 12 questions to 5 and submitted them to the site producer as he went into locker room. The list was: 1. of Boge Hollins, Do you think there is a level of Division 1 where this team might embarrass itself? 2. of Brian Faraday, Leading the nation in scoring, does that make going to this bowl game more pressure packed for you, knowing you have to come up big for the team to win? 3. of Oksana Cushman, This team depended on you to leave your defense in good field position, do you think teams tried harder to get to you than if you were a male punter and did that somehow work to an advantage, forcing teams out of normal coverage? 4. of Marvin Hudson, Being a first year Quarterback, you seemed to rely on the kicking team once you got inside the 30 yard line. If faced with a large deficit to overcome could you rely on your arm and running game? 5. of Scott Claxton, Last year you were the punter, part-time place kicker and didn't seem to excel at anything. Now, you'll probably get at least honorable mention All American consideration in the defensive backfield and play in a bowl game. What's your secret? They had set up folding chairs for the team to sit as a group in one shot. Players were milling around waiting for some cue to get seated and be ready for the live TV cameras. As soon as Coach walked into the room they quieted down and looked to him for direction. "Alright ladies and gentlemen, why don't we all get settled into the shot so these guys can check their lights and whatnot while we talk. I think you all know by now that our opponent will be Florida International, when Frank Corcoran tells us as a group that we drew them, act surprised and happy. We'll work out 3 times a week for the next 2 weeks. Here's how we work the Holiday. After the workout on the 24th, there is no mandatory workout until Monday the 30th. However, someone will be here from noon til 4 Friday, Saturday and Sunday if you want to come in and work. I expect you all here on Monday the 30th at 3pm. It will be Monday, Wednesday, and Friday the week before and then starting on Sunday the 13th we'll begin our regular game prep. That gives us an extra day to travel and visit the stadium on Wednesday. We'll hold our final practices and work-outs there, inside the dome, to get accustomed to the surface, the lighting, and all that. I'll submit my 60 man travel roster to the NCAA but alumni will make sure that ALL of you go and be part of this. I'm going to need 6 of you to work with the media on practice days. I know who I want and I'll see them after we get done here today. I'll post exact work out days and times after our first one TUESDAY morning at 9:00 a.m. Do we all have that? Monday at 3:00 p.m., Tuesday morning at 9:00 a.m. and you'll get a time schedule then. But Wednesday and Friday will be practice days. Working out and studying, keeping the mind and body in shape." Coach said as he paced in front of the rowed players. A man in headsets with clipboards came up with a director wearing the same equipment and directed Jared towards his chair and lit the big lights to get a final reading on light meters. "We're going to open with a shot of the whole team and then pan left to right across the group until we get to Coach Winslow. Frank will have a short talk with Coach and then he'll tell you who you're playing. Applause, applause, applause, as we pan over the group and then Frank will ask Coach a couple questions and then we have 5 questions for individual players. Keep your answers concise and to the point and do your best to be interesting. The questions have all been approved by Coach Winslow so we are good to go." He said as he put a hand to his ear to center his earpiece. "I'm told they are in commercial and when they return we will be live here. They pushed you up one spot; we have a tech issue at another site. LET'S HAVE LIGHTS, keep your eye in the camera's red light if you want to look at your audience. 10 seconds... And in 5-4-3-", at which point he no longer vocalized the count but held up two fingers, then one and music played in the background as the red light came on. "We are in wintery Vermont to welcome New England Ag and Tech to their first bowl bid..." Began Frank Corcoran as he opened the segment and everything went as planned. The questions and answers revealed nothing new to the avid fan of the team but gave a better picture of the co-ed team to college football fans across the country. The whole production was over on 8 minutes and 30 seconds including a one minute highlight reel that the team could barely see on the 12 inch monitor they provided. Once the director swung his arm over the group and chopped down saying " ... and we are, OUT!", it was over and everyone seemed to be relieved. "I want all 3 ladies, Whiskey, Marv, and Gerry to discuss how we'll handle media for daily practice recaps. We'll talk in the Coach's room in 5, OK?" Jared spoke out over the group before they broke up and were dismissed. Jared spoke with a few assistants and other coaches and then went to the Coach's Room to wait for the 6. They each straggled in and when Gerry Granahan, the last, came in Jared asked him to close the door. "Gerry looked around and then at Coach and said, "We're busted!", looking a bit panicked. "Calm down. None of you are here for a dressing down, or even a reprimand, but you all know why you're here, I'm thinking. I didn't want any inter-player relationships because they can be a cancer, but each of you handled it smartly and never made a public thing about being couples. If I didn't already know that I had 3 little romances on my hands here, Dean Crawford just told me about them." Jared began, leaving each of the 6 with a shocked look on their face. "We think ESPN wanted to ask questions about at least one of the three couples in here and the Dean and myself made sure it didn't happen. If it had, it may have unfairly validated some of the rumors we fought off earlier in the year. We didn't want that. Listen, I can't help it, nor can I blame any of you for nature taking its course when 2 people become attracted to each other. Luckily, you haven't made a public thing of it and if we can keep it that way up through the bowl game and then over the off season you can let things develop as they may." Coach continued. "Coach, I told you up front what was going on and didn't try to keep a..." Marv started to say. "That doesn't make it any better than any other situation Marv! The one thing you don't realize is that break-ups happen, fights happen, and jealousies happen. Marv goes out with June and they break up because June isn't happy even though Marv is. June takes up with another team member and Marv is unhappy and it affects his play and does what he can, even if it's subconsciously, to make the other person hurt. Just UNDERSTAND WHAT can happen! If a barnacle grows on this ship, I WILL cut it off. I don't care how important a member of the team he or she is. So, KEEP YOUR FEELINGS IN CHECK ... AND PRIVATE!" He warned them. "Coach, I'm really sorry about all of this, I..." Gerry began. "Don't apologize. I told you all that you weren't here for a dressing down or reprimand and it may have sounded that way, but I just want you to understand MY situation, what I have to do when it becomes a problem. Be smart, don't wear your heart on your sleeve. I don't want any public displays of affection in uniform. Are there any more questions?" Coach said, holding his temper as he promised himself. "No Sir." Was the answer from each. "Just remember, I knew all of you were couples, the Dean knew all of you were couples, and ESPN or somebody will keep trying to find something they can write a story about, so just be smart. Remember Bill Clinton when he had his hands caught in the cookie jar, DENY, DENY, DENY! I will not speak publicly or in the locker room about the situation. It does not exist. Also, be aware! There are people who think having co-ed football teams is the first step at destroying college football and they want it stopped. They want reasons. We have to make as little of a deal about this as not to draw attention. There are goody two-shoes who would like nothing better than to save the world by getting you 3 girls out of the locker room. NOW, are we clear? Dismissed." Jared said as he got up and held the door open for each of them to file out, shaking their hands as they left. Up until the first actual pre-game practice on the 13th there would be no deep study of Florida International. Jared believed there was such a thing as over preparation and he wanted to avoid it. The workouts would be mostly staying in game shape and as weather permitted, light scrimmages and drills. These would aim at keeping the team loose and ready to slip into game mode. June Bokue had hoped to get home for an extended time over the Thanksgiving break to see family and face her boyfriend. Even though she wouldn't actually play in the Bowl game, she wanted to keep the team schedule to support her teammates. She would fly out the morning before Thanksgiving and be back Sunday night, even though classes didn't resume until Wednesday. She had been on again and off again with Tucker Gurney all through High School, but in their senior year they got serious. As time grew closer to leave for their respective colleges they spent more and more time together and with that, lots more intimacy. Sex had always been a fun recreation for June as she toyed with guys that flirted with her perky personality in hopes at getting a shot at her tight and tiny little body. When she would have an interested chaser hooked, she always found a reason to break off with Tucker so she could play with a clear conscience. In the end her feelings for him always won out, no matter how good the sex was with her new beau. As her plane descended into Salt Lake City that day before Thanksgiving she dreamt of the first time she had put Tucker on hold to seek the wild oats she might sow. It was her first stray from Tucker, the senior captain of the football team had asked her out repeatedly just as she was finishing her junior year. She hated breaking off with Tucker for the summer, but his family's cherry grove and business kept him almost too busy to see her every summer. His parents were growing older and that business would be his someday. Using the excuse, she "didn't want to be tied down" as he worked away the summer and while she and her family traveled to potential college campus' over the summer, she felt it best they cool their relationship. She was sexually curious and they had only delved into heavy petting and a failed attempt at real sex. June knew the senior boy was off to college and would forget her after the summer and she had heard from certain cheerleaders that Buddy Firestone was not only the star running back with the scholarship to Notre Dame, he was also able to handle himself at the local Lovers Lane. If she and Buddy hit it off it might also be a chance to get to the better parties over the summer. She knew what virtue she had left would be gone after dating Buddy and her sexual curiosity was what she wanted to satisfy. The way he asked her out, the tone of his voice, the look in his eyes, left little doubt as to WHY he was interested in her. Buddy took her to a movie and then to a burger joint where they talked and shared smiles, breaking any shyness she had around him. When they got back in his car she didn't ask where they were going, she just let him drive. After a 10 minute spin around town he asked her if she had a special time to be home and June just smiled and said "sometime before my parents get up." They cruised just past the high school to his family's Firestone Farm Store where Buddy pulled into a service garage after deactivating a security alarm. He turned off the engine and she heard the door roll down behind them. Service ads lit the garage with enough ambient light for her to see there were a tractor, hay wagon and forklift kept in the garage. Although she was a little afraid of what he had in mind, she was game as he leaned over in the roomy Range Rover to kiss her. She fell into his arms and they steamed the windows quickly as Buddy began rounding the bases getting his hands inside her shirt and under her bra. Soon he was rubbing her pussy through her jeans and moving to undo her belt. Experience-wise, she had been here before. Tucker had felt her up, chewed her nipples, and fingered her pussy. She had jerked him off a few times and kissed and put her lips on his cock, although not really putting it in her mouth. He would have actually fucked her except he had problems with the condom he brought and he came before he could manage getting another one sheathed. It was an embarrassing night for both of them, chalking the whole failed mess up to naïveté. This night with Buddy she had decided she would let all caution go, up until he wanted to actually "do it". She would resist as long as she could and see how insisting he might be. She hadn't envisioned what he wanted and before she had time to think out what was happening in her sexual excitement, her jeans were around her knees, she was on her back with her legs bent over her head as he ate her pussy. She had never cum so hard or so long and he hadn't even tried to put even a finger inside her, his tongue drove her over the top so many times she lost count. When she finally had to push his mouth away she was embarrassed that she was so flustered and naïve to the way her body reacted. He had opened doors she didn't know existed. After she caught her breath she sat up and kissed Buddy, holding herself to him as she still had sexual shivers. It was then she realized he had loosened his pants and his cock was sticking up through the slash in his boxers. He was big, much larger than Tucker and she instantly knew she could never allow him to put that inside of her, at least on this night. She looked back up to his eyes in the light glow of the garage nightlights and said, "Please don't pressure me to have sex, I'm just not ready for..." She stared. "Shhh, don't worry. I know that's a big step. We'd need to talk first about a few things." Buddy said as he planted his mouth on hers tightly and their tongues swirled about as they sucked each other's mouths, she tasting herself for the first time. They fought little tongue battles as she would giggle at the silly play. He eventually got her to open her mouth as he did and battle tongues until he sucked hers with an in and out motion. She thought it was so sexy and couldn't wait to turn the tables on him. When his tongue came out again he took her hand and put in on his cock that she took in her hand lovingly. She began to stroke him lightly and then more firmly as she became mesmerized by the thick, stiff penis she held in her hand. The tongue battle continued and then he finally let his tongue out far enough for her to suck at it. She moved her head to and fro over the stiff tongue he stuck out until he pulled it back to speak. "That's how you should do my cock, suck it in and out. Make me happy like I did you." He said boldly as he sat back in the seat leaving her sitting up with his cock standing up in his lap with her hand around it. June was dumbfounded. She hadn't really finished this entire act with Tucker for fear he might think she was "dirty" or a "whore". Kisses and little licks were sexy, but not a blowjob. Suddenly that stigma didn't apply. It seemed like a beautiful and natural act that, yes, would make her feel naughty, but not ashamed. She had felt naughty already tonight, and naughty felt REAL GOOD. Better than she had ever felt, sexually. As she bent forward she couldn't believe she was doing this with anyone, let alone on their first date. But she also couldn't believe she WANTED to do it. With his butt scooted toward the front of the seat and he sitting back his cock stood straight up and wondrously beautiful, tall and proud. "I've never..." She said before he interrupted her. "You'll be fine, you're so sexy, and I need relief so bad. Don't tease me." He said panting. "I'll try this for a second and stop if it grosses me out." She thought to herself as she bent forward and kissed the tip of his cock once, then twice and then a third time letting her tongue slip out a little. Her pussy still glowed from the treatment his mouth had given her and that made doing this all that much easier. Her nostrils flared from the animal scent his genitals gave off, expecting to smell urine or sweat, it was different. She opened her mouth to give it a more tonguing kiss and she tasted him for the first time. Not that she knew what sex was supposed to taste like, but this tasted like sex. She liked sex and all the sensations it brought to her, now she tasted it and as she inhaled the combo of sensations, it made her pussy throb. She opened her mouth and took the whole head in. She knew from "girl talk" what a "blowjob" was and what she was supposed to do and was surprised how natural it came, beginning to move her mouth up and down over the head and an inch or so more of his length. The hand that had been stroking him and now held it to her mouth began to move once again in rhythm with her bobbing. She was giving him sex with her mouth and she enjoyed it! Hearing him breath, sigh, and moan let her know she was doing something right and June got into it even more. Then suddenly the taste in her mouth changed, he was obviously leaking something. It was what she had read about, the pre-ejaculatory fluid that assisted sperm meeting the egg. The taste wasn't unpleasant, a little salty, and vaguely reminiscent of the smell of the fish oil capsules she put out for her Dad. It was then it hit her that when he had his orgasm he was going to burst forth with what she had stroked from Tucker more than a few times. Before she could decide how she might handle that, if Buddy would say something, warn her, a long spray hit the back of her mouth as he groaned loudly and pumped a heavy shot of creamy cum into her mouth. She gagged and choked, pulling her head away in panic putting her hand to her mouth as she instinctively swallowed. "Ohhh SHIT! WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY?" She said trying to spit what was left in her mouth out. Buddy had no reaction as he just brought his own hand to himself and finished stroking out what he had left in his heavy balls. "I'M SORRY, it happened so fast, you were doing it so good. I COULDN'T HELP IT!!" Buddy swore, defending himself. June expected to retch, but the taste of what she swallowed wasn't altogether bad, rather tasteless overall, like unset jell-o in texture, but she was upset with herself. "I can't BELIEVE I did that!! You'll tell everyone what I did and never see me again!" She said as she welled up with tears and turned to the door to cry. Buddy looked over and at the sight of her, shirt and bra pushed up and her pants almost to her ankles, and he slid over in the seat to her. "Junie, Junie, I wouldn't do that! I'm not one of those assholes, I promise. What happened here was we just got out of hand. I did want to kiss you, and neck and pet, but I just didn't think it would go that far. You were sweet and hot, I'm sorry I got carried away. We were bad, but it was beautiful. I'm NOT what my reputation says, despite what happened here." Buddy said, so sorry she was feeling so hurt and used. She turned and cried into his shoulder and he tipped her lips to his to kiss and then he spoke to her softly. "Let's get you straightened up here," He said as he pulled her bra down over her pert little tits and she followed with her shirt and then bent and pulled her pants up, stopping to arrange her panty. While she did that he tucked his penis back into his boxers and pulled his pants up. "I don't want you to be sorry for this, despite it all. I never had anything so spontaneous happen." Buddy said brightly. Dressed and composed now, June seemed to change from the regretful virgin to a woman nowhere near the just 18 years she was. "Let's face it Buddy, you're going away to college, and I still have to finish High School. I'll probably end up back with Tucker, but it doesn't mean we didn't have something special here tonight. We can have some fun over the summer, but let's not try to make anything more of this than what it is." Buddy was a little stunned. Usually it was he that had to let girls down easy, but here was one who was letting him know up front that she didn't have high hopes for a relationship past the summer. June didn't see Buddy exclusively over the summer as she and her family spent many hours on the road looking at college campuses. However, Buddy was the first man to ever be inside of her, despite the fact she never thought he would fit. She worshipped the giant in Buddy's pants many nights over the summer. The morning he left for South Bend with his parents he was functioning on just a few hours sleep. His balls had been sufficiently drained 3 times by the tight tiny little body of June Bokue, who was sleeping soundly in her bed as Buddy's family car drove past her house that morning. Not all of Buddy Firestone was going to Notre Dame to seek football glory that morning, 3 loads of his DNA sat in the belly and pussy of his summer romance. With the bump and screech of the wheels hitting the runway in Salt Lake she woke in a flustered state, reminiscing of her many nights riding the baloney pony of Buddy Firestone. She quickly put that out of her mind as she gathered her things to meet her family at the gate. She felt no guilt over the fact she gave her virginity to Buddy and not Tucker. The fact she stayed true to Tucker as far as anyone else being "inside" her since High School was enough to prove to him she was worthy of his love. However if she still "wanted" Marv after seeing and being with Tucker, she didn't know what she might do. ------- Chapter 44 Coach Winslow had been in his office going over talent pools and potential recruits to fill holes on his team for the following season when he looked up to see it was 2:55 and he knew from the shuffle of feet outside his closed door that his team was ready to start their prep for their Bowl date in Florida. He would keep his strategy of not being opponent specific in these two weeks of work-outs and scrimmage, just work at staying sharp and improving where it was needed. When he opened his door to go out and greet the team Barry Wicker was standing, waiting for him. Wicker was the Defensive backfield assistant to Frank Ruffen and left no doubt that he would love to be considered as Frank's replacement should he ever leave. Jared liked his eagerness to learn as well as help out. "Hi Coach, I hope your Thanksgiving was a good one. We are one short of the full squad right now. Tee Smythe must be running late. I know he's in town, I saw him this morning at The Seattle." Wicker reported as he handed Jared the roster list. "Thanks Barry, I'm sure Tee will be around. Let's get the rest of the staff and give him a few more minutes to be officially late. I'm not going to come down on a guy for these practices." Coach said as he led Barry to the Coaches room where assistants and staffs were laughing and talking about their Thanksgiving. As Jared stood at the door, waiting for the group to gather clipboards and the like, a flustered Tee Smythe walked past him. Coach looked up and smiled saying, "Oversleep?" "Nah! The damn shuttle runs Holiday schedule until Wednesday when classes are back. I sort of forgot that. I jogged here." Tee said, embarrassed to be the last one in. "Get changed quick, and we'll be out in 3 minutes. You can catch your breath then." Jared said as he patted Tee on the back and smiled. "I'm a little surprised we have everyone. It means they're looking forward to this as much as we are. I know a lot of the teams I've had would have had players trying to blow off these types of practices. When they're excited like this, we've ALL done a good job." Jared said to the group of Coaches and staff with a nod, smile, and a wink. "They's just rubbin the peach on their face and lovin' the feel and smell, but they all want to bite it and taste the sweetness." Frank Ruffin said with a big smile. Frank loved to impart his down home wordy sayings when they applied and they all chuckled. Frank scrunched up his nose with a grin and a wink, knowing he hit a home run. Each player and coach on the team knew when Frank meant business and when he could step out of his position to inject a little reality and humor into a situation. It wasn't just the players under his defensive tutelage that respected Frank, it was everyone. Early on in the first practices when no one really knew where they might end up with the team he schooled them; "Don't burn no bridges you think you might not need, you might be cutting off the only way to the end of the maze. Sometimes you gotta go back to go forward and to be standin' and lookin' at the trophy across the gorge with no way to get to it is stupid. If you want to see your refection in THAT prize, you hafta be standin next to it." Whether or not each player actually "got" his little sayings, they all knew the intention was to ease their nerves and remember to use common sense in their dealings. If they served that purpose Frank could wax poetic for hours as far as Jared was concerned. The series of work-outs, scrimmages and practices that led up to "Bowl Week" preparations became just what Coach Winslow wanted them to be. Relaxed and stress free was the name of the game and all of the players were coming in loose and happy. Although they were all preparing for exams, their sessions with their teammates were easing the tensions and building the camaraderie even more. They all knew their job and came in and did it. It was no coincidence that they were having fun. Oksana and Jack continued to build their relationship, as did Julie and Gerry. People who knew Gerry were amazed at the changes in him. Who knew that the "Charlie Harper" of the NEAT campus was really a lonely man inside a facade waiting for the right girl to steal his heart? As those two couples relationships grew, the arrangement of June and Marv had changed remarkably since the Thanksgiving break. June saw her boyfriend Tucker each of the days she was home and stayed with him 2 of the 4 nights she was home. Her parents were not happy with the arrangement, but liked Tucker and the fact he was taking over his family business after his graduation. He was with her family when she flew in and went to the late lunch they had for her at The Cheesecake Factory near their home. She rode with Tucker from the restaurant to her home, but not before a quick side trip "to see the new processing facility" his father had added. In reality they stopped at his apartment where he stayed when supervising the pickers, when they were "in season". With but a flurry of sloppy necking she hiked up her skirt and pulled aside her panties and bent over a counter to get what she had been missing since late August. They would have 2 nights for sensual love making, but this is what she needed right away. For all of the time spent at home she cherished every moment with Tucker and let him prattle on about the "we" and "us" of their future. While that all sounded so good, her affair with Marv ate at her at times. She wanted to feel tremendous guilt, but couldn't. This made her wonder where he heart really stood. She suggested to Tucker that he come to Vermont after his January graduation and spend time with her as a "vacation" where they could ski and be together around her classes. When he seemed cool to that, she asked if he was going to come for some weekends during the next 5 months she would be away and got another cool "maybe". On Saturday she pressed him on visiting and they ending fighting over it and, although she left on good terms, she spent her last night in her own bed at her parents. She would be home for Christmas to iron out these difficulties with Tucker, but for now she didn't feel the commitment she wanted to "reward" him for with her charms. Marv Hudson, on the other hand, barely gave a thought to June once Samantha stepped off the bus she rode to Vermont for the last leg of her trip from Ohio State. They hugged and kissed at the station, necked in his car until she said they best be going, it was a long trip and she had to pee. They drove to her family home and the two of them spent the rest of the day before Thanksgiving with her family, talking eating, laughing, and celebrating her being home for the first time since mid-August. As the day progressed Samantha began to look at Marv with the soft eyes he took to be her "love eyes" and suddenly the need to be alone with her began to affect him. He suggested they go out to meet with other friends home for the Holiday and she concurred, telling her Mom not to wait up, but she would be home at a decent hour to meet relatives who were arriving in the morning for the Thanksgiving Feast. As soon as they were alone in the car Marv suggested they go to his dorm room to take care of their "miss you, miss me" blues. "Oh, you want to love me in the same bed you satisfied your urges with your concubine?" She said snottily and unexpectedly. "Uhh, we were never in MY bed Sam, I would always go to hers, and I thought we wouldn't discuss this once you got home." Marv said with the urgency of a man who wanted to get laid, badly. "When you brought it up I was sure guilt would make you not go through with it, and if it didn't then, it would after you thought about it. I didn't think it would be a weekly thing, maybe just once to teach yourself how much you wanted ME!" She said getting more and more agitated and closer to tears. "You said you would do the same thing and then wouldn't feel so bad about it!" Marv defended. "I could NEVER look at any other man as a sexual tool without guilt. When I want you and you're not around ... I masturbate, just like all normal couples do. Did you really think I could go out and find a guy, suck his dick and then hold his head between my legs and not think I had betrayed you in the worst way?" Samantha said as she cried and turned away from Marv in the car, causing him to pull over. "Sammie, I never, EVER, meant to hurt you. I had so much tension and pressure built up that I HAD to release and going behind your back was not an option." Marv said thinking he made a great case for himself. "So cheating was OK, as long as I knew about it. I really thought you would come to your senses." She said as she broke out into hard bawling. "You didn't protest too..." Marv started to say until Samantha bolted up straight and turned thrusting a finger to his chest. "Did it ever occur to you, you prick with no conscience, that I loved you so much that I might do anything to make you happy, but giving you to another woman wouldn't be part of that? I thought once you got to the moment of truth you might think of me and stop. In fact, I was SURE of it. I stupidly sat in my dorm waiting for my phone to ring and hear you profess to me how you couldn't be with anyone else. I WAS A FUCKING IDIOT!" She said through tears and the drool that comes from trying to yell and cry at the same time. "Then I have to admit something else, something to hurt you more, but I love you and have to be honest. It was going on before I talked to you about it. I only talked to you when it became more than hand jobs. Please understand, at the time the woman and I had nothing more than contempt for each other. We both just knew we needed the outlet. I was selfish, but I swear, no feelings were exchanged. It is now, as it was always, YOU." Marv swore while admitting more guilt. "Sure, ME, while I'm sitting here in front of you. You go away to school and I'm not handy and it turns to "Poor Marv, he needs to get laid to cope." Well, FUCK YOU! You tell me right now that it's over or I'm through. I love you, but I hurt either way. I would just as soon move on than think of you with someone else, and don't give me that 'no feelings were exchanged' horse shit." She demanded while putting a finger to his chest. Marv Hudson was taken aback by the ferocity of her demand and the passion she showed. It was at that moment that he realized the how and why of a love relationship. He shrunk back into the seat and put his head in his hands to hide his welling eyes. "How could I have been so stupid to not know how much you were hurting? I feel so fucking stupid!" He said with a broken voice. "Don't go for the 'Poor Marv" again. It's not going to work now. Bring me back home and if I decide I can forgive you, trust you, and look at you without being disgusted, I'll call you. I thought I could put it all aside, but I can't get over the fact you've made this relationship all about your dick. I thought it was about us." She demanded, sitting back up straight and looking out the window so as not look at him. "But Samantha ... we have..." He started to say. "Another word will just get you deeper and deeper. BRING ME HOME!" She shouted at the window, still averting her eyes. Marv spent the next few days home in a heart-sick state realizing what he had done, what Samantha had meant to him. He stayed away from the campus and waited at home for the phone to ring. Just after getting home from Church on Sunday he got the call he had been waiting for. "Marvin, this is Samantha. My bus leaves from the Red Line Town Terminal for the Albany Airport at noon. I'm going to the terminal alone so I can spend some time talking to you before I leave. My parents are dropping me off at 11. If you think we have anything to save you should be there." Samantha said curtly and succinctly before hanging up. While Marv was excited to hear her voice, her message sounded dour. The last 36-48 hours had been hell and he barely enjoyed Thanksgiving as he thought about the possibility of really losing her. He realized that his cavalier attitude towards his own sexual needs and how he satisfied them with June was wrong, stupid, and most of all, hurtful to Samantha. On the other hand, if his relationship with Sam was over, he felt confident that if he wanted to begin a serious bond with June, they were very compatible at many levels and both of them were aware that their feelings ran deeper than either admitted. As he drove to the bus terminal with the thought that it may be to say goodbye to Samantha he felt a deep pang in his heart. It was the first clear sign from within that he could not bear to lose her. He realized that he had sped up and was in a hurry mode as he got closer to the small town terminal. He wanted to save it all. Sam was sitting in the first seat of a row of 6 tacky orange vinyl chairs in the small waiting area at the terminal. She sat leaning on the one large bag in front of her with her eyes fixed away as she watched people leaving the church across the street. Marv walked up to where she sat with her eyes affixed away and he said a quiet, "Hi Samantha." She turned her eyes back to him and it was apparent she had been crying, her eyes puffy and red. "Hello Marvin. So you decided to come to save us, or to say goodbye?" She said, cutting directly to the chase. Marv's jaw quivered and his throat seemed to clench. "I want to save us, if you think we have something. If you can forgive me, trust me." "Should I forgive you, and CAN I trust you? If you break my heart again, that's all. I can't take anymore." She said, her voice squeaky, as she tried to hold back tears. "I was operating under the assumption that what was going on was sanctioned by you." He said, already wishing he could take the words back. "Then you must think I'm pretty shallow, and stupid. Really, REALLY MARVIN? Did you really think that?" She asked, challenging him to admit to something he knew couldn't be true. "I did think it was too good to be true. I never wanted to think that you could do that. Well, I KNEW you wouldn't. That's why I wasn't threatened by my saying you could do the same." Marv said, a struggling man thrashing for the life preserver. "So, if I walked in on you and saw her sucking your dick you would have just casually said, 'Oh hi Sam, we're almost through here, then you can make the tag and be my girl again.' Is that how it would have been?" She asked, the sarcasm dripping off in floods. Marv dropped his head and turned and slumped into the seat over one from where she sat. "I'm so sorry for being so stupid. I guess I was riding my star car on the team and thought I could do whatever I wanted and it would be OK, because I was the hot shit. I'm embarrassed now as I look at it. What do I have to do for you to forgive me? It won't happen again." He said just above a whisper, the only voice he could find as his throat thickened, holding back the emotion. "For me to forgive you is easy, because I love you. Tell me you're sorry, stay true to me, and know that if I ever suspect you've strayed again, that's it. I can't live with it. These past months have been torture, wondering where I stood and how you would be when you saw me. Loving someone can be very hard sometimes, and you've made it torture. If you just dumped me it would have been easier than what I've been through. Longing for me and wanting to relieve that is only natural, I know. Masturbation with me on your mind is that same as making love to me. Can you accept that?" Samantha said, knowing she held the hammer and only her terms were acceptable. "I still believe that I want you to be in my life after graduation and beyond. My goal is to be in the financial situation where we can get married and become a family. I accept your terms because that's the way it should be. If I really thought I was cheating on you, behind your back, it would have never happened. I just need you to believe that." Marv said, almost begging. "Stop thinking with your cock head and start thinking with your brain head. Know that love is about sacrifice and patience. When I'm away from you I long for you, I long for sex, but one goes with the other. Are we on the same page here? My bus is loading and I need to know I can depend on you, forever." She said, beginning to choke up herself... "You have that promise, Sam." Marv said as he stood up to help her with her things to the bus. "Marv, I love you and wish you the best of luck in your bowl game. Call me every day, OK?" She said as she gathered her things and put her face to him to kiss. "Let's not make a big scene here, we can make up a little lost time when I fly to Florida for the game." She whispered with a bright teary smile as she backed away and made her way to the bus. Marv stood stunned at her words as she rushed to the bus and hopped up the steps. Once she was seated she looked out to see him standing there with a wide teary grin. She knew her actions and ultimatum had made an impression on him to take back to school. As happy as Samantha had made him at giving him a second chance, he already feared the pressure June might put on him when she would call for a liaison. But Marv didn't know about the guilt that was flowing in her relationship. But June's guilt had been in a completely different text than Marv's. She felt guilt over not being honest with Marv over her feelings for him, along with the guilt of almost forcing Tucker to come be with her at times to make her able to resist cheating on him. She was confused at the whole situation. Something about Tuckers attitude left her with an impression that he might not be all that committed to her. She was sure he knew she was screwing around. Each way she turned she found herself in a quandary of questions with no answers. Was Tucker using her? Was Marv using her? Was she using both of them? Were they using her? Her trip back to Vermont left sex the furthest thing from her mind for the last scholastic push to exams, Christmas and the big game. In her scattered mind she blamed sex for all of her problems and told herself she would be celibate until she got home for Christmas and only after soul searching and commitment would she submit to Tucker. Instead though, her first act on her return was to meet with Coach Winslow. She found him in his office late Sunday as some of the players worked out. "Coach, the pressures of campus life, personal relationships, and my studies, make taking the time to practice with the team and participate as an active member of the team, while I know I won't play and only offer moral support, all counter-productive. Should my grades suffer because of this I might jeopardize my chances of making the team next year." She said as she sat nervously in front of Jared. "June, your grades have never been an issue, is there something else that's bothering you? I like your spirit and you're an inspiration to your team. You won't have to triple with the other girls in Florida. Ann Comeche was going to ask you if she could room with you. If that wasn't going to work, you were going to be able to be alone." Jared said, thinking he knew she didn't want to be the 5th wheel. "No, no, that's got nothing to do with it. I've got some guy problems at home and I'm getting confused with my relationships here. I just need to get my act together and going with the team might make things worse in my head right now. If you're thinking me and Marv are having problems, you're wrong. We are fine and we both know where we stand. We're friends and we'll keep it that way, and nothing else anymore. I can promise you that." She told him, making sure this was no mea culpa and admitting that he "told her so". "If it makes things any easier for you, Ben Breen has a family issue with the game and can't go either, his sister is being married that weekend. With you and he being the only red shirts who dress, Eddie Arnsberg sitting out for scholastic reasons, I'm just going to say that red shirts aren't traveling. There won't be any questions, OK? Work things out. I want you here next year." Jared said with an understanding smile and a pat to her shoulder. As soon as she left Coach's office she called Marv, hoping he would be back in his dorm from the Holiday weekend. "Hi Marv, can we get together? We have to talk." She said unhappily. "No, I can't do that anymore June. I've got problems." He answered, glad he could get this out of the way. "No, no, not for that. I mean we really have to talk. Can I meet you at The Seattle?" She asked. "Ummm, sure. Give me 15 minutes, OK?" He said hanging up. June searched for the words to tell Marv, unsure of what his "problems" were. She really adored him, and didn't want to hurt or "un-friend" him. When he came in she had just got two coffee's and fixed his like she knew he liked. She motioned him over. "Marv, I'm really fucked up in my head right now. After seeing Tucker, my boyfriend home, I've realized a couple things. Number one, I was so wrong to cheat on him and although he knows nothing, I know he suspects and I really want to earn his trust and respect. If I lose him I'll spend my whole life wondering "what if". He's very special in many ways. Secondly, I haven't been honest with you. I fell for you in a big way, despite all the things I said about how unlikely a couple we were. You're a good man who I could be very happy with you in so many ways. I just really need Tucker, he will make my dreams come true. I still want to be your friend, but we really shouldn't be alone together anymore, at least for a while. I just can't deal with that demon. I was a stuck-up shit for treating you like I did, saying some of the things I did. It was all to mask the fact that I was falling for you. I'm sorry." She said, swallowing emotion from time to time. "If you changed some of the names around, I could make the same statement to you. We were selfish in some ways that neither of us are proud of now, but couldn't see at the time. I really need you as a friend too, but being alone together has to be avoided. We became all too familiar." Marv said, glad she had made this confrontation easy. "I'm not going to Tampa. I know I've earned the right in the team's eyes and all, but it would be a strain on both of us. I want to come into football camp next year with a goal and not have the strain of Coach worrying about inter-team affairs. If we end up together come 9 or 10 months from now, fine. But my heart tells me I should be with Tucker and I should grow up and curb my urges. We had a ball Marv, but I know now it was wrong for me to do." She told him. "Don't punish yourself it's..." Marv started to say before June butted in. "You won't change my mind. I'm not going and it's been discussed with Coach." June said adamantly. Marv didn't pursue the subject any longer and they finished their coffee's talking about their Holidays. They parted The Seattle amicably with no regrets, perhaps more intimately as friends. ------- Chapter 45 As a buzz began to fill the locker room wondering where "Junebug" was, Coach Winslow and his staff came out to greet the team. "Welcome back to all of you who got home for Thanksgiving. I hope you all had a chance to truly give thanks for all we have here as a team right now. Just to quell rumors and speculation, Red Shirts are not going to practice and travel for the Bowl Game as originally intended. The number of hotel rooms allotted to us is making it necessary for some staff to triple bunk as it is, so with exams coming up I thought it best we let our teammates stay back and study, and also offer any players and student-staff the opportunity to have space to study in their free time. Both Ben and June are amicable with the decision and send their best wishes and hopes for success." Jared began. "We will begin practices and work-outs tomorrow Tuesday at 9 a.m., and then Wednesday at 3 p.m. will be the beginning of Monday, Wednesday, Friday 3 o'clock practices with classes back in session. On Sunday the 13th, we will begin daily team specific preparation, although we'll have a couple head sessions before that after dailies. That Wednesday, the 16th, when the campus goes home for Christmas, at least those that do, you'll be flying to sunny Florida. Copies of the schedule are on the table on your way out today. Don't kill yourselves today, go out, stay loose, get back in regimen, let us know about any aches or pains. We'll hit it a little harder tomorrow and Wednesday will be a regular playbook practice-scrimmage like we did in August and early September." Jared rattled off as he semi-read and spoke from memory of the schedule. Then Coach took of his readers and wrapped both hands over the front of the podium. "I, uh, ... want you ladies and gentlemen to know how proud of you I am. I feel a special feeling for each of you and the way you've handled a very tough and taxing season. I know I've been adamant about who you've talked to and how we acted in public and now I think you all realize that there are many in the media who would think nothing of ruining you or us to get a story. Under all that pressure, you've blossomed like a weed growing through a concrete sidewalk. You couldn't be stopped. These are not just words I throw around lightly. You are the BEST group of men and women I've ever had the pleasure to coach. I've never been more surprised by the talent and character you've shown and developed. No matter what happens in Tampa in a couple weeks, that won't change." Coach said as he began to fill with emotion before turning and walking away toward the field. Ben Elgart and Barry Wicker, who normally led exercises, quickly moved front and center with Ben the first to shout out orders. "OK, it's almost 40 degrees and we have another half hour of sun. Let's get out there to stretch before we run and come back in to exercise." Ben yelled. "Don't be brave, you'll need hoodies to keep temperature in. No sleds or dummies today, just run and get some reps in the workout room. We're here tomorrow and Wednesday." Barry yelled as they waited for the group to fall in behind them after the coaching staff was already out on the field. This day was clearly to get back into the swing of things. Only those who were not fortunate enough to get home for Thanksgiving had kept regimen, and they were a group of less than 20. There were a few more aches and pains after the day's session and most all were advised to show up as early as possible on Tuesday to see what persisted so trainers could work on it. Marv Hudson just had one ache that he couldn't solve the way he was accustomed, he was horny. He longed for June's soft hands and sweet mouth but knew he would have to settle for Samantha's voice and his hand. It had been nearly 4 months since he had been with Samantha and it was going to be at least a few more weeks again. As much as he longed for June's substitutes, nothing could be sweeter to him now that to make love to Samantha. He realized it was just penance for his misguided actions with June. Coach Winslow pulled into the driveway at his home just ahead of Meaghan. He actually had thought she might be late, this being her first day back since the mini break. She looked at him longingly and he knew it had been a bad day for her. If she had any thought of Jared erasing her stress sexually, it was dashed by the slamming of the DeNault's door and Declan shout for joy at seeing his Mom and soon to be step-Dad. They all 3 hugged in the drive as Tracy Denault waved through the window thus passing the Declan baton to them. "God, what a day! What I wouldn't give for you to screw me into a puddle of absolute ecstasy." She whispered in the hug. "Bad day, huh? Rooms full of hormones thinking about Christmas?" Jared asked. "If I didn't strike a student today I never will. My patience has been tried. Handing out detention doesn't seem to matter anymore. I'm going to meet with parents if I can find any that care. Luckily, attitudes here in Vermont are different than in Chicago's suburbs." She said hoping that it might do some good. "Are they just brazen? Where do they get it from?" Jared asked as they walked in the house together. "I think it's the movies and TV they see when they're off for these long weekends. They come back with an attitude where I'd love to slap them. You hear the street talk that you know they didn't pick up around here, but let's forget about all that now. I'll pour wine and we'll make dinner." She said as Declan ran off to play and she put her things away. "Coach, can I watch TV?" Declan asked hopefully knowing his Mom had gone to change her clothes. "Why don't you read one of your books? You read so well and we bought you those so you'll be the smartest boy in class. We'll all watch TV together after dinner, OK?" Jared reasoned. "There are no cartoons on after dinner." Declan said as he walked dejected back to his room as Meg intercepted him. "Did you ask to watch TV? Mikey's Mom lets you watch for almost 2 hours and that's enough for now. Play a game or read!" Meg said firmly before meeting Jared at the top of the hall to embrace him. "If I thought he'd be occupied enough watching TV for us to get laid I'd let him, but that's just the horny teacher talking." She whispered in his ear. "Those 16 year olds get you that fired up?" Jared said with a chuckle. "No! Silly, it's you! When we've been apart all day I'd like to come home and get sexy with you. When I'm with you I don't think about the stress of work. Love is my drug of escape." She said as she snuggled up to him. "Well, I have to tell you that I see those young tight bottoms running around campus and they get me all fired up to come home to you. Nothing wrong with something else lighting the fuse as long as I explode it with you, is there?" He asked innocently. "I suppose not. There ARE a couple boys in my senior math class who know how to handle themselves, you know dress and act more confident. I look at them and know that if I were 20 years younger, I could be on the prowl." Meg admitted while stepping into Jared further and sliding a hand over his package. Jared's arms enveloped Meg as he ran a hand over the globes of her ass. Meg looked up into his eyes as a wicked smile came over her face. "Tonight, ... eat my pussy, fuck my ass and then cum in my mouth so I can taste your love." She cooed, making Jared's cock jump. Armed with her promise they peeled from each other and began to prepare dinner to hurry the early evening along as they glanced and winked at each other during their prep. For both of them the night dragged on as they anticipated being with each other. While Jared read along with Declan for his bedtime story Meaghan was in the shower. When she peeked in on Jared and Declan she saw Jared sitting on the edge of the bed. Declan had dozed off with the book he shared with Jared falling back and only in Jared's hand. Jared looked back at Meg saying, "Get the light, I think he's out." He tiptoed out of the room and switched on the monitor and closed the door. "You take a shower and I'll make lunches. I'll meet you in bed." Meaghan said with a wicked, sexy smile. Ten minutes later Jared was licking and sucking at the font of her sweet pussy a she writhed underneath him. "You've been so wrapped up in that Bowl game I was beginning to think you forgot about me!" She said as she shuddered under his tongue. Jared continued his licking thinking over what she said through her passion and although ill-timed, he had to comment. "Today I saw them confident and professional. They know the weight of it all. My worry isn't necessary. This is what I need." He said between lip smacks. As Meaghan rolled and rocked on the bed she was soon 69 over him on her hands and knees, girding him with her mouth and feeding him as his fingers found the tight rosette just above her slit and began to manipulate and dilate her with his sloppy spit speeding the process. Soon she had all she could handle of his tongue and lips and giving up her turgid lollipop, she flipped off of him, reaching under her pillow for the lube tube. Instead of handing it to him she flipped up the cap and filled two fingers with the red gel and reclined on her stomach like a cat ready to preen. She reached back and began to squish and push the lube into her bottom as she looked at him in the most suggestive manner, licking her lips and playing with her tongue over her upper teeth. Jared knew what she wanted. He rolled off the edge of the bed and stood just before her, his dick already near full mast as he pushed it before her to snag in her mouth as she lolled her tongue over and around it as she made noises of passion over him. Once again she had tasted his length and was sure he could be no harder she pulled her mouth off and came up on her elbows to reveal the tube that now rested between her breasts. She retrieved it and put a line of the gel along the shaft before taking her already gelled fingers to coat the penis she wanted to violate her. Once completely coating him she sensuously licked the strawberry gel from her fingers and then turned her head and laid it on the bed as she propped her hips up a bit. Without words she told him she was ready. As pleasurable as she found this, each time was like a first and that's what made it exciting. As he pressed into her it was like she had never felt such an intrusion before, but when he got past the muscle that keeps things in and slid up into her she felt so full, so taken, so much like an animal. When he began to stroke into her, the covers under her began to pressure her clit and the tingling of his thrusts began to vibrate through the walls of her pussy from her other wall. It was then she began to fly, a term Jared had taught her for the sensation of being ridden and feeling your orgasm rise and fall getting closer and closer to its peak each time. She closed her eyes and felt the sensation and her world stopped as pleasure was all she felt, all she lived for. It was all a blur. The sound of Jared's huffing and puffing as he worked closer to his orgasm, the squeals and chirps that came from her mouth as she found more and more pleasure and then the catch of breath, just a millisecond from the point where you panic because you can't breathe, even though you know your ultimate is right there, and then it hits! You enjoy the enormity of the pleasure and then suddenly she feels the void of him pulling from her to stroke out his orgasm. Quickly she goes to a scramble for her drying towel that was beside her as he plundered her rear. She turns as he moves towards her and she wraps the towel around his urgent cock and wipes the red gel streaks and any other excess he got from her and then covers the head of his penis with her lips as he strokes the cum from his balls for her to taste. She nearly gags at the first flood into her mouth, but she controls her swallows until she is suckling at the tip as her hand strokes the last drops over her tongue. His ecstasy becomes hers as she relishes in the taste of his cream, the load he boiled in her bottom. It's then carnal fatigue hits and he falls away and she turns her face to the mattress and closes her eyes to drift off in sexual exhaustion. She wants to crawl up and cuddle and embrace her lover, but she is spent with only the sound of their heavy breathing and the air he had pumped in escaping from her plundered and stretched hole. The room is awash in the exhaustive buzz of their light snores and the innocent rhythm of Declan's breathing over the monitor. As each day neared to Bowl Week the coaching staff found out more and more about their opponent in their research but still hadn't shared anything with the team yet. Jared was determined not to over psych anyone. They would work on basics, cover the playbook and when Bowl Week got here, prepare as they prepared for any team. Practices and workouts were loose affairs. The attitudes were jocular and loose in the fellowship of T-E-A-M. If they went to Florida and fell apart it wouldn't be for lack of preparation or over confidence. Boge Hollins had been to big games before. None that were as big as a college bowl game, but he had been to state and national championships. In his Captaincy he watched for over-confidence and fear levels in his mates and on the Friday before Bowl Week just after a practice before they went to shower he asked for a closed door meeting, team and staff, but no coaches. Staffs, the coach's underlings, were there to be sure coaches weren't being usurped. It was team to team and they looked up to Boge with confidence. "This is the last time we'll be together before Bowl Week starts on Sunday. We've all been in games that seemed like a spotlight was on us and we've all felt pressure from shit going on all this season. I can tell you from experience that going into the national spotlight is a different animal altogether. You never quite know if you're walking onto a stage where you may not belong, you can expect pussy cats and discover that it's lions. Just let me tell you one thing. If we go and play our hearts out, and still get beat, have no shame. Being beat by someone who is better than you is no reason to hang your head. You know that we've been on the field with teams that didn't measure up to us, as hard as they played. If we get put in that situation, take heart. I know myself, and I think I know each of you. We'll play hard and never give up. You've all met my Dad and he told me from his old NFL days that there was an attitude that was persistent in their clubhouse, and he knows ALL NFL clubhouses as well, and that attitude was ... Any Given Sunday. There was even a movie made using the idea. We've all seen odd upsets and wondered how they happened and it all goes back to, ... Any Given Sunday. Don't be over-confident and don't think there is no hope. Win or lose, there is a tomorrow and redemption is always a play away. Uhh, ... I played 4 years of intensely competitive nationally ranked ball, a lot of it with guys I knew all my life, and played sandlot with, grew up with. My homey's, as they say. We, as we stand here right now, are more close, more team, than any of those squads I played for. I thank you all for the privilege." Boge said quietly, humbly as he finished and stepped down from the bench he stood on. Scott Claxton stood before his locker and had a tear coming from a wet eye. He knew where he had been and where he was now as a player. He was moved by Boge's words and wanted to applaud him, thank him, but only started a chant. "Click, click, click..." He began as others heard him and joined. Soon, the whole clubhouse had the chant going, louder and louder. It was a team moment that could not be duplicated or re-done. Jared Winslow did not know what words Boge Hollins wanted to impart on his team, but he had trusted him with the task. As he studied play charts with his assistants he stopped and heard the chant. He smiled and swallowed hard his emotion looking at his other assistants. They all looked back, but not a word was said as they all fought back outward emotion. It was a great moment. There would be no cramped Canadair commuter jets for this trip. The sponsor was flying the team in on a 900 series 737 charter from Burlington. The team was in first class and 30 other N.E.A.T. guests and officials flew coach. The university was able to sell another 70 seats to the winners of a lottery to join the team on the trip with provided ticket. It might not seem easy for them to find 70 locals who could spend a week in Florida, finding their own accommodations on top of the $700 flight and ticket charge, but they could have sold 500 if they were available. The other 400 seats the University could sell went just as fast after the lottery winners took their seats. Some 500 New England fans hoped to drown out the 40,000 other Florida fans in the Trop. It would be a great experience for all. Each player had the printed schedule tacked up in his locker and in his dorm room; Bowl Week ; Sunday through Friday make no plans for anything before 5 p.m. Sunday (13): Team Worship (interfaith) 10 a.m. light workout at 11 a.m. and early scouting on our opponent after Mid-day meal. Full Practice early Monday, 9 a.m. with opponent specific game strategy. Early on Tuesday 9 a.m., Scouting cram after mid-day meal Travel to Tampa Wednesday. Light stretch and Stadium run-through Full Practice 9 a.m. Thursday with opponent specific game strategy. Light work out on Friday morning and game strategy session after mid-day meal. Game on Saturday, bus leaves hotel at 8:45. They all knew that the next time they walked into that room, IT WAS ON! Whether you looked at it with fear and trepidation, or with brave confidence, there was no turning back or anticipation. It was there. ------- Chapter 46 Tuesday night was not a good night for sleeping. As the 60 rostered players for the game itself lay in bed they worried about their job, their performance, the outcome, and for some who still not used to it, just the trepidation of flying. Certainly flying is safer than driving, but there is one subtle difference. When you get a case of the jitters in a car you can ask the driver to stop and let you out. That doesn't work well on an airplane. The truth is, if everyone knew the basics of flying, lift, drag and all that, you would know there is little to fear except human error and equipment failure. Flying is basic and simple. So simple, in fact, that a small private plane can become airborne at 40 miles an hour. Truthfully, most worried about the game, what secrets their opponent knew about the Green Aggies and how they planned to exploit them. Were the Golden Panthers of FIU cooking up a new offense or defense to befuddle the NEAT coaches and void all of the prep and practice? Despite wanting to uncloak an element of surprise, most all teams go to these games and play the kind of offense and defense that got them there. There may be a trick play in the bag somewhere, but for the most part, you know what you're going to get. Julie Murcer had her bag packed since Sunday as she anticipated the trip. Even though she knew her chance to get in the game would swing on an injury to Brian Faraday, she was hungry to show off her stuff for the national audience. She had paced around her little dorm room since she got home at 6:30. The Tuesday workout was perfect. The sun came out and it was near 40 degrees, but inside the confines of Meditek Stadium it felt almost 50 with the dish effect of the edifice seeming to magnify the heat. After stretching, exercises, and their run, the coaches came out with a bag of balls and soon there was laughter and play as little challenge games of cover and catch started. They were loose. Coach Winslow blew a whistle and all play stopped as they ran to gather round him. "It's pretty nice out here today. Before we go down in the catacombs and eat and try to tear apart our opponent, would you like to throw on the pads and have a low contact scrimmage? We can work on a few plays, or do you want to keep it loose until we get down there? I hadn't planned on scrimmage today, but it feels like spring." Jared said trying to gauge the mood. From the crowd around you heard quick responses, "I'll scrimmage!", "Me too", "Contact, baby, contact", "Let's go", "Playbook, playbook" It was pretty much a consensus that the teams nervous energy played well with the idea. So, in 15 minutes with pads fitted over their sweats, two 50 yard games were starting as coaches flipped playbooks and ran players in and out. For just about an hour, between the horseplay, and serious explanation and dissection of the playbook pages, this loose group convinced themselves that they were ready for any opponent. After showers and a hearty lunch they filed into the blackboard rooms where video rolled and they took notes in the borders of playbooks as they watched FIU execute on screen. Whether everyone was as nervous as Julie wasn't known to her, but she couldn't settle down. She called Gerry Granahan hoping he might have the right words to calm her. "Gerry, I've never been so hepped up, so nervous and anxious in all my life. I know it isn't like we're playing in a National Championship game, or one of the major Bowls, but this could be my last game. I'll have to make the team next year and Ben is pretty strong. You know, I don't hold that against anyone. God only knows who'll walk onto camp next year. I..." She started to say before it turned into an on and on blather when Gerry interrupted her. "JULIE, for God's sake get a hold of yourself! Your mind is running up to next year and we haven't got through the weekend yet. You had no intention or chance of making the team this year, and here you are. Let life play out. God, you'll be up all night worrying about things you can't control, at least now!" Gerry said trying to reason with her. The other end of the phone stayed silent for a moment before she spoke. "You always have the right words, Ger. I wish I were there to hug you right now." She said exhaling deeply. "Why don't you come over, spend the night here. I'll take your mind off things." Gerry suggested. "I'm all packed and ready to go for the morning." She retorted. "So, leave from here." He said calmly. "I want to shower in the morning and I'm sure I would look cute in the men's dorm shower." She joked. "Well, you wouldn't be the first woman, you can go in with a towel on and close the stall door, umm ... although most of the guys here won't be that modest." Gerry laughed. "Not happening, Ger. Why don't YOU come over here? Stay the night, then go back to your dorm and shower. Much easier for a guy. Bring your travel bag over and I can put it on the van when they pick up the luggage at 7:30. We have to be on the bus at the Union at 7:50. Leave here at 7:00 and meet the team at the Union. Okkie got them to leave a bellman's cart at the end of the hall for us because we have two staffers going from here too. Leave your bag on it when you leave to go shower." She explained. "Somebody wants to get laid pretty bad." He said with a wise-guy tone. "That's Gerry the bicycle seat sniffer talking. I thought I got rid of him. Can't I want to see you because I think I'm falling in love with you, or is this all about sex? I can get laid easily. I'll put on a pair of "fuck me" jeans and go to "The Union" tonight and have cum dripping from my pussy all the way to Tampa." She answered in a snippy tone that Gerry already understood. Julie had "saved" him from empty relationships and shown him what feelings were and how good they could feel. Now she was holding a mirror up to let him see someone he, under the surface, didn't care much for; the old Gerry Granahan. "OK, I get it. It was an asshole thing to say to someone I want to respect me and us together as a couple. You KNOW I meant it to be on a different level. You only have my word to trust me by and you don't have a reason to doubt me." He defended himself. "I know I don't Gerry, but every time I tell someone who asks who I'm going out with, I get the look, and they tell me to be careful. It's hard to keep your past out of the back of my mind, and when YOU keep putting it there, it's harder." Julie reasoned to him. Gerry didn't mind Julie "calling him out" in these situations, except for the embarrassment factor as if the person doing it were a third person doing it in front of Julie. His time with Julie had been the happiest and most settled of his life. She was the dot to his I and the cross to his T, never having felt so comfortable with any woman, besides sexually. "Jules, you know me much better than anyone ever has. You've seen my worst and my best as well. I want every chance to prove myself to you. Don't lose faith in me, that's all I ask. I'd love to come over and spend the night with you." Gerry said hoping she still wanted him. "Of course I want you to come and stay with me. I just don't like being treated that way by you, because if it shows up in public I look like one of your old bimbo's. Understood?" She said in a tone she hoped didn't sound too whiny. "I get it already, Jules. Beat me up when I get there. See you in a half hour." Gerry said hanging up. When he knocked on her door he was surprised to see her answer it in just a cropped t-shirt and little red panty. He was no more in the door when she presented her lips to his on the tips of her toes and then hugged her head into his chest. "I didn't want it to seem that I was beating you up, or beating you down. I just want the real Gerry to be with me. I'm sorry if I made too much of it." She said in an apologetic tone. "Don't worry, he's here." He said smiling as he swept her up in his arms and went to the bed in the little dorm room and sat with her on his lap. "You're so cute, so pretty, and so sexy. I'd just love to kiss you everywhere. You are my dream." He said with a look so sincere she couldn't help but melt. "I'm not stopping you!" She said with a giggly grin. While Julie was the first woman to come along and really steal Gerry's heart, he feared he might grow tired of her and was amazed how each time he made love to her he was still energized. He recalled ski weekends with a bunny of the week where he couldn't wait to get her home before Sunday afternoon came around because he had a phone number to use for Sunday night. No other woman was on his mind as he sipped the nectar from her pink little pussy. She thrashed under his mouth and stifled her shouts of joy, so as not to give away the fact she had a man in her room. If there were any doubt in her mind that this was not a fling, but a serious relationship, it was squashed on this night when Gerry, holding her tight later, with his cock buried in her pussy, was kissing her deeply, and broke the kiss to say "I love you, Julie". He himself was stunned at hearing the words come from his mouth. As Gerry's hips jack-hammered his cock in and out of her tight pussy she clenched her arms tightly around his shoulders as he breathed heavily in her ear. Her breath caught as her orgasm rose and only a long, low, squeak came from her throat instead of the scream of joy she wanted to let out. Her grip on Gerry was so tight it nearly pushed the breath out of him as he filled his condom with the juice from his balls. He stayed buried in her lithe little body as their muscles relaxed and he began to bear weight on her. She moved in a rolling motion as they turned on their sides and he slipped out of her. "Those words, ... Those words are more than something to say in a fit of passion." She mumbled as she looked in his eyes while brushing his hair back behind his ear. "They mean something, ... a commitment to the heart and soul of the person they are directed at. Don't use them lightly. I'm fragile that way. I'm sorting out my feelings for you that way too. This has been a fun trip so far, let's not jump in the deep end quite yet." She continued avoiding direct eye contact as she still combed his hair with her fingers. "I know it's soon, but I think I really mean them. Uh, ... I do, I DO really mean them. My heart, ... umm ... my everything soars when I'm with you." Gerry said in all seriousness. Julie paused in her thoughts and sort of froze, then smiled with a weird half smirk on her face. "Just WHO are you? ... and what did you do with Gerry Granahan?" Gerry averted his eyes from hers and said sheepishly, " I know, I know it's all a little weird, but you know the real me, the me not many have broken into. You're so magical to me. I keep waiting for it to wear off, and it keeps getting stronger." "Gerry, you're getting pretty heavy. Are you sure it's not just the sex talking?" She asked trying to sort out his words, his feelings. "Jules, I've had LESS sex in this time with you than I normally have. We talk, we do other things, we get into each other's heads, ... and we make love. When I look down at you with me in your mouth I see passion, I don't see that girl who wants to just be wild because she's not home anymore. There are a hundred of them every night at the Union bar. They almost scream out "Hey Mom, Hey Dad, you paid 25 grand to put me in school and I'm suckin' cock and gettin' laid!" It sounds so "touchy-feely' so say this but, ... you complete me. I don't want this to end, and I hope you feel the same way as well." Gerry admitted. "Oh God, Ger, I want to say the same things to you, but isn't there a lot more for us to get in line before we say those words and..." She started before he cut her off. "You don't feel it?" He asked incredulously. "Well, shit yes, I do, but..." She started to answer before a big hesitation. "Julie, I won't hurt you. Things may progress down the line and we may switch tracks and end up NOT being together, but I have to take this chance. I promise with all my heart I won't hurt you. I'll always be honest about my feelings. I've protected myself so closely that now I know it's time to take the chance. We don't need to tell anyone but ourselves. Julie, I love you!" Gerry said with wet eyes. Julie sighed in exasperation. "God Gerry, you make this so hard. I feel so special too, but I hate to even use the words "I love you" because of all of the trouble and heartache they've caused in the past. I won't lie to you, I've had a few "roll in the sheets" affairs here at school just for the sex of it and to let off steam, but this is VERY special and I think, ... I love you too." She said with a pixie smile as she flushed red. They held each other and fell off into sleep ready to face the world, and the big bowl game, with a new attitude towards their personal lives. Wednesday morning the green Ford van with the NEAT logo made its third stop of the morning picking up bags to stuff in the belly of the team buses that would bring them to the airport in Burlington. Each player was allowed two bags and one carry-on. Maris DelAire and JoAnne Zyrypski had meticulously explained, as they passed out numbered ID tags, that they should detach the claim stub and turn it in to them before boarding the bus along with unused bag tags. It was to insure they had a count on bags and all were stowed in the bus, for the plane. As the driver stuffed bags from the women's dorm he chuckled as he noticed the obvious masculine bag of Gerry Granahan, knowing some hanky-panky may have occurred the night before. As the busses rolled out of campus to begin their Tampa, Florida journey a throng of well-wishers saw them off at 8 o'clock. At 11:32 it was wheels up for the charter jet as the team zoomed away from the cold Vermont air and the promised snow storm due late Wednesday night. Coach Winslow did his best to keep the team loose and confident for the trip knowing butterflies would mount as the day grew nearer. He let players choose their seat-mate to be as comfortable as possible even though he knew the "couples" would end up together. He made it clear that there would be no roommate switching to accommodate the "couples". The jet stream was kind, as were the tailwinds as the chartered 900 series 737 touched down in Tampa a full 17 minutes before the scheduled 2 p.m. eta. Four buses of equipment, players, staff, and fans rolled out of the airport in less than an hour. Some were making the trip directly to the Hilton Bayfront, just a few minutes from Tropicana Field, but the team and staff were headed to the venue itself. While Coach Winslow took the team out to the field for a walk through, the road and support staff were quickly making the visitor locker room "home" for the Green Aggies. The Florida International University Golden Panthers had just finished their practice at 3:00 pm, leaving a few stragglers behind who anxiously ran over to meet their NEAT opponents. Once word got out that The Green Aggies were on the field, FIU Coach Jack Norton came out to meet Jared Winslow and his team, welcoming them to Florida. It was the first time they had met, but Norton was definitely excited to meet Jared and went through to shake each and every players hand. He seemed sincere in his excitement over meeting the team making everyone feel welcome. He had also recruited a few of the NEAT squad and seemed to happy for their success as they renewed acquaintances. As they all milled around and talked, Mason Powell, who coordinates the BEP team (Bench Essential Personnel), came onto the field and paged Jared who looked across the field to see Mason waving. Jared buzzed on his pager to hear Mason say, "Coach Winslow, all of the team bags are in place and the lockers numbered. The women's lockers shield fit nicely and the room is ready for you and the players." Coach went to Coach Norton and said they were going to exercise and that their locker room was ready. Jack Norton once again shook Jared's hand and wished him luck and then gathered the few of his own players who were out and they trotted off to their own locker room. Coach Winslow pulled the whistle from his sport coat pocket and gave it one short toot. "Our digs are ready. Let's all go down, change into sweats, get stretched out, and have a run. Then we can throw some balls around and kickers, get your feet into a couple, just so we can see how the ventilation and lights are going to play out. Then, your personal bags should be in your rooms at the Bayfront, we can go back and change and meet for dinner at 6:30. The NCAA has a nice feed set up for us. No excuses, we're all going. You're on your own until 11 or so, lights out at midnight, but no one leaves the Bayfront campus. There's a nice beach to walk just off the property, but there's also a beautiful pool area, I'm told. Remember, do not engage any reporters beyond, "I'm excited to be here in Tampa-St. Pete and look forward to the game." Loose lips sink ships." Jared said and finished with another short whistle toot, whereupon the two captains peeled off and went into a light trot towards the locker entrance with all of the team following. It was easy to feel "at home" in the locker area as it was very much like their own back at Meditek, very roomy, wide and long with showers in the back and coaches rooms off the front wing with showers where co-ed's could find privacy. The light work-out and run around the perimeter track went well, but when they went to move onto some stair climbs Coach Winslow blew the whistle again to stop Coach Ben and Coach Barry who were leading the workout with the captains. He spoke loudly from the back of the pack; "This surface is hard and I think your calves will need a chance to get used to it. Running up the steps will only start some shin-splints in some of you, so let's save the steps for a day or so. Let's get used to the harder surface. We've played on frozen turf, but this is even harder and has a little less give. We didn't come here to hold out players on Saturday because they can't run. Let's run back to the bench and get the balls out." Players were loose and happy as balls began to get tossed around before a quarterback drill began with all three quarterbacks throwing pattern drills to both offensive and defensive backs. Brian and Julie set up tees and began kicking balls from 40 yards out, then longer and shorter, while others just played catch and retrieved balls for the place kickers. Oksana asked for a volunteer snapper to judge the lighting and how it might affect her fielding snaps before booming away some impressive punts. She felt the ball had more hang inside the dome, wondering if the AC on or AC off would make a difference and would a full house change the ventilation system settings. The loose workout ended up being a real happy time for the team, almost a celebration of their accomplishments before settling down on Thursday for serious preparation for Saturday. After showers and a change back into street clothes they were off to check into their rooms. They had an hour until dinner and most took the time to set their rooms up and then take a look at the hotel itself. Many chose the sun lounge just above the pool to enjoy the view. Among those ladies being gawked at, checked out and crudely rated by the randy men was Meaghan Mahaffey MacDonald, the fiancé of their coach. She was the hot "older" chick with the "gorgeous" ass that Junior Contralco was pointing out to everyone until Jared walked out and met her, motioning to his watch that she might think about getting changed for Dinner. Junior flushed red, thankful that the Coach hadn't come out on the sun lounge, so he could have put his foot in his mouth. One of the other players explained the situation to Junior. They all knew she was pretty, but in her bikini she easily turned heads. Her parents had met Jared and she at the airport in Burlington to take Declan for the weekend and give them some time alone together in between Jared's football duties. The Coach was as randy as any of his younger players and now they all knew why. The NCAA truly did make the team feel welcome with a big feast of Florida seafood catch and local vegetables. All was topped off by a bounty of fresh fruit while officials from the NCAA made their little speeches and talked about "the student-athlete". It was a small price to pay for the bowl invitation and everyone tolerated the "horn blowing" they did. Afterward Coach Winslow addressed his team and told them that "The Trop" was theirs on Thursday from Noon until 6 to get accustomed to the building and prepare for Saturdays game. There would be a Friday morning workout and practice, as well as an early Friday evening strategy session. Then he concluded, "Now I was young once and know what it's like to leave the cold confines of New England weather and come to Florida with all your teammates to see the sun, feel the heat, and enjoy all of the "local sights". (smirking) So let's talk about curfews. (murmur of booing from the hall) We stay on this property and campus except to use the walk way to the ocean beach. Lights out at midnight and no alcohol stories. Anything to the contrary will be dealt with when I make up my list of starters. Thursday night, same rules and 11 o'clock, Friday night, ten. Watch out for each other and be smart." Most of the team spent the evening enjoying the warm air, wishing they could get in a little trouble. There was a little partying going on in a few rooms, but nothing to raise any eyebrows. Oksana and Julie had an "arrangement" and it didn't seem to break any rules of the curfew. A coin flip decided that Oksana could have the room to herself until 30 minutes before curfew. It probably was no coincidence that Gerry Granahan and Jack Daniels were rooming on the trip. Since Jack would be with Oksana until the agreed time, Gerry could have Julie stay with him till that time as well. A good part of the team was finding out about the relationships, but at least this way, they didn't have to blatantly broadcast it. So, it wasn't long after dinner and a short walk that the two couples disappeared. Although Jack was the least experienced in the Oksana-Jack tandem, Oksana quickly let him take the reins sexually. He quickly learned what made her happy and she was happy that he hadn't let his impressions developed from watching porn establish his "norms". She was an extremely sexual woman who enjoyed variety and wasn't afraid to experiment, but she also craved tenderness. While Jack seemed a bit oafish at first when it came to sex, he quickly became an understanding and sweet lover. He enjoyed her experience and never questioned her when something new came up in her repertoire. She had been attracted to his sweet innocence, but also his drive and personal determination. He was using both traits to solidify their bond and she wasn't quite sure if he was aware of it as they grew closer, their union seemed to mature so natural. "Wow, alone together in a hotel room seems, I don't know ... so ... naughty." Jack said after the door clicked shut behind them. "Naughty is hardly the word, Jack. Wouldn't sexy be more like it?" Okkie answered, giving Jack an inquisitive look. "If we were strangers it would seem naughty, but we've been intimate in beds before. It's just a little thrilling to have a couple plus hours to be alone together without worrying about school, football, and the rest of the world." She finished, stepping into his arms. Being alone with their lovers was not anything new to Jack and Oksana or Gerry and Julie. But, being alone in a double bed with crisp sheets and access to a full bath with tub and shower was. At 11:30 Jack Daniels slipped out of Oksana's room and went up the hall a few doors and knocked. When the door opened an embarrassed Julie Murcer slipped out wearing just a robe and slippers. She padded up the hall and went into the skewed door of the room she shared with Oksana. A NEAT staffer to one of the assistant coaches sat at the end of the hall with a clipboard checked off the names on his list. Everyone was accounted for and not even midnight. Julie looked to Oksana with an embarrassed blush and then sighed. "Shit, I don't want to be in love yet, but I can't help it." Julie said knowing she could no longer fight the feeling. "Don't mistake sex for love. I heard he's quite the happy maker." Oksana said, sorry for her choice of words, but still hoping she made her point. "It's not that. We didn't even have sex, ... well, we didn't fuck. We held each other, mostly, for the past 3 hours. I find words hard to come by when we're alone. It's spacey, but it's real. He's not at all what any of us thought." She said dropping her robe leaving her only in a long t-shirt as she slipped into the other turned down bed. "Jack is a big teddy bear, who knew that either? I kind of thought he was the kind of guy who would take you out, bring you home, sort of toss you around, wear you out and call you in a few weeks. I wasn't looking to fall for anyone either, but he's pretty special. He swept me off my feet and it was without either of us trying." Okkie admitted. "We should get some sleep. The next few days are going to be fun, but tough."Julie said as she curled up and hugged her pillow as she heard Oksana sigh and curl up as well. ------- Chapter 47 Although Wednesday night only offered the players a few hours of "free" time before bed check and they had to stay on the Hotel campus, the local "talent" found ways to meet up with players or at least arrange other liaisons for the next night. The warm weather and the bikini brigade had the young men interested, and frustrated. They had all been spoken to about being careful about everything from star-fuckers to STD's. They also talked about media outlets hiring "Annie's" to help get a story. The cry of "loose lips sink ships" hung in the locker room and was shouted by the coaches and captains constantly. Baseball has called these women "Baseball Annie's" for years, long before the Annie character surfaced in the Bull Durham movie. Jared's Dad referred to them as "Football Fannie's", but they both meant the same thing. Damon Runyon wrote about Baseball Annie's back in the 20's, 30's, and 40's when the casual fan had more access to the players, now these women searching for an athletic star are haunting the places where college athletes are around just because they are so accessible before they sign their pro contracts. Jared himself had thrown a stalking woman off a team bus and confronted her as to; why athletes? "Football players are big, strong, in shape, and who knows, he may sign a million dollar contract some day and look me up. Plus, look at the attention I get when I'm out with the star." She answered forthrightly, with no shame. Some players did disappear into rooms of women they barely knew thinking they were acting on the sly, but tabs were kept on everyone to be sure they were back where they were supposed to be by curfew. But even in the morning when the team paraded to the team bus to go to the "Trop", the lobby had more than its share of starry eyed women with doe-eyed grins and winks to see the players off hoping that the catch of an eye might mean a promise of a sweaty meeting later. While Coach Winslow and his staff did take an attitude of "boys will be boys" they took the morning meeting before practice to admonish their behavior. "Gentlemen, and ladies may listen to this as well, last night I was a little discouraged to hear that some of you visited the rooms of non-players at the hotel. Let me tell you, warn you, that you could have put yourself in a bad situation. In the future if you want to show someone your room, that is your prerogative, but please do not be visiting any room of a non-player. We have not banned fraternization with other hotel guests, but, please be aware that we did not come here to party, we came here to win a ball game. You all know right from wrong, and that you're morally responsible for yourselves. Use common sense." Coach told them, hoping that thought would prevail. Helping that thought prevail; was the fact that after Thursdays practice most of the players were too tired for extra-curricular activities, no matter how enticing the prospect. They got to the "Trop" just after 9 a.m. and didn't board the bus to go back to the hotel until almost 6 p.m. From the bus they paraded through the lobby into the Ponce Deleon Room for group dinner. By the time waiters came out with big trays of Bananas Foster for all, the room was quiet as exhaustion was setting in. While coffee was being poured Coach Winslow took to the podium. "It's been a long day. We worked hard and it shows now. Remember FIU worked just as hard today at their home field. Tomorrow we share the "Trop" with them. We get the field in the morning for a workout, and then they get it for the afternoon. After the workout we'll set up our lockers for game day and then go in for a hot meal in the visitor's cafeteria. There's a large media room we can use afterward for a strategy and video session. We should be back here by 6 or so. A lot of you have family coming in for the game and have expressed wanting to go out with them. I still insist that you do not leave the hotel campus. There are three restaurants on site to offer some choices and remember room curfew is 10 o'clock on Friday, and as always, no overnight guests." Jared said reinforcing the rules he had set from the start of the trip. After his words Coach settled back down at his table with his wife and other coaches and their wives. There was small talk as they sipped coffee and picked at their desserts as some of the players began to get up and mill around, some slipping out of the room to meet dates, or friends. Some may have been just exhausted and wanted to get back to their rooms. Across the table Jared heard a familiar cluck from Ira Pressley, something he used to get someone's attention. Jared looked up at him and Ira scanned his eyes around the room to make it look like his words were not meant for anyone in particular as he said, "If I'm midnight, you've got frick and frack at 6 o'clock." Jared knew right away what his cryptic words meant. Dean Crawford and her constant lawyer companion Jerry Sussman were in the room, headed his way. He hadn't expected to see her until game day, knowing she was flying down in her private jet, but nonetheless, he waited for the hand on his shoulder. "Coach Winslow! I just got into town and wanted to let you know how proud you've made the NEAT campus and the whole of the state of Vermont. I bring many well wishes sent to my office." She said as she nodded to the table. Jared stood and welcomed her and made sure she met all of the wives at the table. Then she reached out and took his elbow and tipped her mouth to his ear. "May I speak with you privately about one little thing?" She said in a tone that Jared didn't like. With her back turned to the house she spoke in a low tone to Jared. "I have people here who came down on the charter and I heard stories of some of our boys meeting up with local girls and being seen going into and leaving rooms other than their own. Are you aware of this?" "Meredith, let me speak frankly. I don't like the fact that some of the MEN, there are no boys on this team, were seen going into strange rooms, but as far as what's going on, they are grown up and responsible for themselves. Let me make this as clear to you as I did to them. If I even suspect the use of alcohol anytime between now and when this game is played, it will mean suspensions, no matter who it is. The bars and lounges are totally off limits. I spoke to them about having visitors in their own rooms and not going anywhere else. I have made them aware that they represent The University. Meredith, don't take anything I say as an assumption or accusation, but, I'm sure you were young once too and may have done things you may not be totally proud of for the sake of fun. These men, and women too, are under a lot of pressure and if some feel the need to let it off and the opportunity becomes available, as long as they protect themselves and know about the age of majority, I can do little. We can't police them beyond what rules we've laid down. The men are mature enough to know what they are doing. They know that what they do reflects on The University and their position on the team. Many of their parents will be here starting tonight and this situation will calm down. Being a student athlete where your grades actually mean something to the end product is very tough. I say we just cross our fingers and hope they make smart decisions. I don't mean to sound casual or be curt about the situation, but this is a case where nature takes its course." Jared told her, as if he had prepared a statement. "So, you're saying you approve of all of this?" She asked incredulously. "No, I'm saying there is little I can do about it but ask them to behave responsibly. I can't tell them who they can and can't socialize with. There are 50 other bowl games being played all over the country this Holiday season and I can assure you that very much of the same thing is going on at each site. We talk to the players about this, we really do. There's even a "No means No" card in their welcome packet" Jared further explained. Meredith Crawford let out a big sigh and looked at Jared, giving up. "OK, I'll take you at your word and hope it all works out. For the record, I can't say I ever behaved this way, AND ... I was always chaperoned at school functions." She said, covering herself, although Jared didn't quite believe her. It was obvious that Meredith was probably a pretty good looker in her day, not that she wasn't a handsome woman now. True to what Jared had said, a lot of parents and families showed up Thursday with Airport shuttles bringing them in since noon. There were also even more groups of girls around the pool and in the lobby making it look like Spring Break, rather than Holiday Break. There probably weren't any more girls, just more girls unattached on this night. One such unattached player was Mark Freeman, a back-up quarterback, the primary holder for Brian Faraday, and sometime running back. As a High School Quarterback he was a Georgia legend. He led East Point Central to a 10-0 season and was the MVP of the Peach Tree Bowl, a state-wide high school championship game played in Atlanta. In the classic option style, he ran for 4 scores and 170 yards. He wasn't heavily sought after by colleges because he lacked the size to be a great back and the arm to be a good quarterback. But he had a lot of savvy and that was the reason Sherm Woodard had recruited him. After dinner Mark had gone to his room and changed into a swim suit in hopes of getting a few minutes in one of the bubbling hot tubs adjacent to the large pool in the atrium. One was occupied by a family taking all four seats, but the other had but one older gentleman sitting on a corner seat. As Mark stepped down in the man turned his attention away from the TV screen had had been watching. "Help yourself to a corner, young man. I was just about to get out anyway. I got watching the news and it sort of blended into a sit-com and I've been here way too long." The man said, getting up. "Don't let me force you out, there's room for 4, easily." Mark said, being polite, sorry he had disturbed the gentleman. "No, no, I've got to get back to my wife upstairs. She's napping so we can go to the lounge for karaoke later." He said as he pulled a towel around himself and went to the window to inspect the view as he dried. Mark settled in and relaxed as the jets soothed his aching muscles. He wasn't in the tub for more than 5 minutes when he heard a giggle and opened his eyes to see two young co-eds looking down at him. "Mind if we join you? The other tub is full and..." "No, please, help yourself." Mark said. "There's plenty of room." The girls made small talk as Mark continued to relax, but he wasn't unaware of how easy on the eyes both young women were. Both wore bikinis appropriate for public swimming or sun bathing. "Aren't you Mark Freeman?" The cute blond in the azure bikini asked. "Yes, how did you know that? What's your name?" He asked quickly, amazed she knew who he was. "I'm Madacy. I'm from Athens. You alone embarrassed our team for the Georgia State Championship." She said. "You were quite the State hero. This is my friend Charlene, she's from Georgia too." "So what brings you to Florida? Football fans?" Mark asked. "Umm, sort of..." She said with a blushing smile. "We go to school at South University in Tampa We both are in the Associate of Science for PT program." "Trying to learn your way around the body, huh?" Mark said with a smirk. "No, we know that." Charlene said crossing her arms under her breasts as if to accent them. "We need athletes to practice on." "Oh really! Why athletes?" Mark answered to her smart-ass comment. "They have big ones." Charlene said casually while not really looking at Mark and appearing bored with the situation. "CHARLENE!!" Madacy screamed at her. "If you want to go to the Beach Party, just go! Don't sit here and embarrass me!" Madacy was obviously frustrated with her friend and Mark looked at her for an answer or explanation as Charlene pulled herself out of the tub and grabbed her towel and bag. "There's a club up the beach that's having a radio station sponsored party. She's 21 but I have a fake ID and I'm afraid to use it, it looks hokey." Madacy said. "You don't look 21, but that bikini would probably get you in. I can't go anywhere near alcohol, so count me out." Mark said thinking she wanted him to join them. "I won't even be 20 until April, and I don't want to go. She can go alone, and probably would rather. I'll meet her at the dorm later." Madacy said as she watched Marks eyes follow Charlene's ass out of the pool atrium. Mark turned back to Madacy and knew he was caught and half smiled. "Char's got a nice figure, but she's a bitch when she doesn't get her way. I wanted to stay here and get a chance to meet you. She likes dark skinned guys." She said casually. "Oh, I didn't know you were both shopping. Does that mean you're picking me up?" Mark asked bluntly. Madacy blushed deeply and Mark was sure he saw her nipples harden through her top. Madacy's embarrassment softened her for a moment, but she steeled her jaw, fighting fear with blunt bravery. "Yes! Yes actually, I'd like to. Is there somewhere we can go? I've wanted to be with you ever since that day of the Championship. I was an Athens cheerleader and you went out of bounds near us and you pulled up your helmet and winked at us. When I saw you were going to be here ... I've been here since Wednesday. So much that the day and night crews at the desk think I'm staying here." She said not believing she was saying the words. "So you were stalking me." Mark asked calmly. "Well, sort of. I mean, if you hadn't come around the pool I wasn't planning on trying to sneak into your room or anything. It's just, I've ... I've thought of you a lot of times and I saw you were going to be here with New England in the Athens paper when I was home last week. I saw you Wednesday night. You were up here checking out the girls in the outside pool. I was down there, I hoped you noticed me." She replied. Mark had reasons to be wary, but she was quite a looker, for sure. She didn't have anything with her but a small carry bag with a towel and if there were a telethon of innocence, she would be the poster person. "Just so there's no misunderstanding or trouble later, if we go up to my room, what are you expecting?" Mark asked smartly, putting her on the spot. He figured if he made her say it, she might decide it was more than she planned on in reality. "God, you're going to make me spell this out aren't you? I'm not planning on anything weird or anything. I'm not a freak." She said, reluctant to go any further. "Just tell me so we both understand." Mark said firmly. Madacy looked away as if checking to see if anyone else was listening. She couldn't say what she wanted while facing him, she was embarrassed. "Head, that's all. Head" She said in a low voice. "You don't want to get laid?" He asked. Yes, but I want you to finish ... you know." She muttered softly. "In my mouth. It's my thing, what I like. It's not like I'm doing guys left and right, just my ex boyfriend, a few others. You were just a fantasy from that day. There are girls here in competition to see how many guys they can bed down. I just want you so I can say I did, not that anyone will believe me." "This is just too weird, I'm out!" Mark said as he began to stand up and get his towel to leave. "Mark, please don't leave, and please don't turn me down. Just listen to me." She said a she stepped out of the tub and stand in front of Mark. "That State Championship Game was an amazing performance. Between cheers we talked about how confident you were, how you just took control. Remember I said you went out of bounds near us? When you turned to walk back to the huddle you pushed up your helmet and looked right at me, smiled and winked. I nearly creamed my pants you were so cool and in control. I fantasized about you for months. I'm not weird, or a freak, or want to hurt you. I've just played out this fantasy with you over and over. Take me to your room. Seduce me how you like." Madacy said making her plea. Mark looked Madacy over once again, her blue suit clinging to her tight little body. Her bikini revealed the swell of her sizable breasts and the gusset on her bottoms made it a given she was shaved, or at least tightly trimmed. Her hair clung to her pretty face as she let her looks and face sway him. 'Oh God, I'd be an idiot to walk away from you. Do you have something to cover up yourself?" Mark asked. "Yes, I have a waist-length sun robe in my bag." She answered as she bent and fished her robe out, making sure she bent from the waist to show off her peach of an ass. "It's 7:50," Mark said looking at his watch. "At 8:15 get off the Oceanside elevator on the 3rd floor. I'll be there to meet you." Marks roommate was Greg Alusik and he already knew Greg wouldn't be back until curfew. He was in a reception hall for players and players families. His Mother and sister came in during the evening meal and he left telling Mark the room was his for a while. Mark went up to his room on the 5th floor and freshened up, although he had just showered after practice, and went to the stairway and down to the 3rd floor and peered through the safety window at the elevator door he expected Madacy to walk out of. 8:15 came and went and at 8:20 he was about to give up when the door slid open and Madacy came out. She was alone, to his delight and he saw her face drop when Mark wasn't there. Mark smiled and opened the stairway door. "Over here, come on!" Madacy was thrilled that Mark took her hand and led her up the stairs. "We're going to do it in the stairwell?" She asked as they hurried up. Mark wouldn't qualify her question with an answer; he just opened the 5th floor access door and led her 2 doors up the hall to open his room. She walked in ahead of him and turned to say something but he responded by just planting his mouth over hers, proceeding to kiss her deeply. He ran his hands around her and held her closely beginning to deepen his kiss by slipping his tongue past her lips. She sighed deeply and melted into him. The kiss was long and sexy and served the purpose of avoiding any awkward words. Mark ran his hands over her back and over the round balls of her beautiful ass. He kneaded and massaged her cute buns until he worked his finger under the edge and ran his finger to the side where he felt a tie. He pulled it and one side of her bikini bottoms fell loose and she reached down to pull the other side loose. The little bottoms fell to the floor and after a moment's hesitation Mark broke the kiss and stepped back to look at her. She smiled at him and reached around her back and undid the fastener on her top. Her breasts truly enjoyed being freed as her pert nipples hardened to a perfect blossom waiting to be pinched or suckled. Just the impression of the fabric, that would soon fade, kept them from being just totally perfect. She went to hug him closer, or so he thought, but she let her hands ride the waist band of his trunks to the front where she undid the fastener that snugged them and pulled the sides down. "You probably don't believe that this is just the 4th cock I've ever seen in person." She said shyly, not taking her eyes away from it. "For someone who said it's her thing to enjoy the "happy ending", it is a little tough to swallow, pardon the pun." He said as his cock was getting harder by the second. "Fair enough," She said as she sunk to her knees, "but I was with one guy from when I was 14 until about a year ago when I went away to school. We didn't fuck until I was 18, so, to be blunt, I ate a lot of cum." She said as she took him in her hand. "This isn't very sexy talk." Mark said suddenly feeling urgent as his cock fully hardened in her hand. True to her words, Madacy did love to suck cock. Mark watched her as she relished the taste, texture, and feel of him in her mouth. She stroked, licked, and sucked at him, taking him deep into her mouth to the back of her throat where she would almost gag, come off and look at the prize in her hand, and then put it back in her mouth. He was enjoying her so much he almost didn't notice her other hand was busy between her legs and he put a hand to her head, saying, "If that's wet and ready, let me fuck you." Madacy smiled big and turned around on her knees before resting on her elbows with her creamy peach of an ass in the air. "I'll never have a woman as beautiful as you in my life. I feel guilty doing you.' Mark said as he dropped to his own knees and was about to line up his cock with her smooth gash. She looked back and turned to fall on her butt to talk face to face. "Most guys don't have the balls to approach me, thinking I would reject them. I know I had the same guy for almost 6 years, but when I set him free for screwing around on me I found out how hard it is for men to handle beauty. The only 2 other men besides you and he were guys who I had to seduce, much like you. My body likes sex. My fingers and toys just take care of so much. Now, do I have to go to another room?" She said turning herself back to him. Mark didn't hesitate to sink into her, causing her to gasp. "Fuck me, fuck me, FUCK ME" She wailed as Mark railed her. The slap of flesh was loud and crisp as it rang in the room and Mark felt his orgasm rising and came to a sudden stop. He pulled from her and she flipped over. "Are you going to shoot?" She said as she scrambled to his wet cock. "No, not yet. Let's get on the bed. I want to watch you cum!" He said as he sprung to his feet and offered her a hand. She slid onto the bed spread and opened her legs as Mark kneeled between them, putting her legs on his shoulders as he pushed into her once again, this time bending her in half. She whooped each time he hit bottom until the muscular knot of orgasm pushed her breath out, her face turned bright red and eyes rolled back into her head. Then suddenly she drew a deep breath and a long gravelly, earthy sigh came from her. It seemed to be the orgasm to end all, draining her of all strength. But suddenly she smiled and with an anticipatory giggle said, "Give it to me, fill my mouth with it. Cum for me!" Mark sat back and her legs fell from his shoulders. He was about to move up and straddle her chest to fuck her face when she bent up, quite agilely, and pushed her head over his cock, fucking it deeply, over and over, bobbing her head. She held his balls willing the cum to rise and she quickly got her wish. Mark growled deeply as he came in torrents that she swallowed and lathered over her tongue until he was through. She squeezed his sack and ran her hand up his length like getting the last toothpaste from the tube. She pulled her head from the tip and showed him the last little bundle she had drawn up. She smiled, swallowed, and giggled, pulling back to roll into a fetal ball. "God, you have an incredible body. You look so beautiful just lying there like that." Mark said feeling like a Missouri farm boy seeing the Queen Mary for the first time. "Well, you know what to do with it. That was incredible!" She purred. "Can I see you again?" Mark asked, his cock already jumping at the thought. "I'm not ready to be anyone's steady. I just need what you just gave me since I broke up with my boyfriend. By the time I go to bed tonight I'll hate myself for doing this, I always do, or at least I have the other 2 times. Someday I'll get over him, and you helped tonight. You were the only one I ever thought of cheating on him with, and that was all in that moment, that day ... uhhh, I should get going." Madacy said as she suddenly covered herself and looked for her bikini. When she was dressed Mark came over to her to kiss her. "No you don't want to kiss a cum-mouth. I have to go find Charlene. She'll probably get a cum-mouth too and we'll kiss and tell each other about our nights. Goodbye Mark, it was all I ever fantasized about, ... really." Madacy opened the door and let herself out. Mark Freeman probably wasn't the only guy on the team to have a zipless fuck that night. Both he, staffers and fans who took the charter were suddenly charged with November "Spring Fever" in the Florida warmth as it broke the New England winter bonds. How many acted on their urges Mark didn't know, but he knew not one man had a woman as memorable as Madacy. ------- Chapter 48 Jared Winslows Saturday morning wake-up call was for 6 a.m. That gave him plenty of time to get up and get his pre-game prep done over coffee and then go down to meet the bus and then the team for the ride to "The Trop". Friday's practice, work-out and subsequent video and blackboard session left he and the team confident that they knew how to compete with and beat Florida International. The only thing he worried about, and he spent the last 30 minutes of their session talking about it, was the home field advantage that FIU would enjoy. He stressed "taking the crowd OUT of it". As he dreamed in his deep sleep he fantasized of a beautiful woman devoting her oral talents to his cock and balls. She placed little kisses on his balls and then would take the whole length of him into her mouth, working her tongue to please him. Soon the sensations became all too real, too pleasurable to be a dream as he began to wake up to the realization that Meaghan was giving him the wake-up call of his life. "Oh my God, you naughty minx, where do you get such nasty thoughts?" He asked groggily through the morning slits of his eyes. She smiled around the penis in her mouth before pushing her face into his pubic bone and then coming up to speak. "You made love to me so sweetly last night I won't be able to even wear panties, my pussy is so tender and charged. You came once last night, and you'll cum again in a few minutes. I came 6 or 7 times last night, so I have to catch you up." She said holding his cock to her lips, almost like a microphone. She fit her mouth over him again and added one hand to the base of his shaft and the other to cradle his balls as she shifted her position to between his legs now that he was awake. Her hands and mouth were quickly bringing him to his climax. These few minutes before shooting, once orgasm became inevitable, were what he enjoyed most about sex. Whether cooking his cum load in her mouth, pussy, or tight asshole, the sensations of ensuing climax were nirvana. He almost felt his orgasm started at his brainstem and merrily rode a pleasure cruise down his body until he spurt it forth. Closing his eyes and shuddering, sighing and moaning his pleasure, all led up to the little hitch he put in his knees and hips before blast-off. Meg knew the program well as she softened her lips and tongue and added a bit more pressure with her thumb on the prominent vein running up his length. His breath catches and his neck buckles as he softly growls as his balls send his thick syrup into her mouth and stomach and the nerve endings in the head of his shaft intensify. Gently sucking pressure and running her tongue over and over the crown, she knows what pleases him. When she finally knows his font has subsided she gives it up, kissing the tip, and laying it on his stomach as she clears her mouth to move up to kiss him, whispering "I love you". He pulls her tightly to his body, her bare breasts pressing to his hairy chest as he runs his hands down her back to fill them with the round globes of her bottom. "No matter what happens today, I'm always winning if I have you here. You are my rock, my reason." He whispers. She smiles and hugs him contentedly, wishing she never had to let go. Coach Winslow's Bowl day had begun. Every player, every coach, every person who had anything to do with the game, and especially a game on the road, tried to handle this game as they did any other of NEAT's road games, but there was no denying that there was something special going on. They all realized that it wasn't exactly the Rose Bowl, or any kind of National Championship game, but, it was recognition for their team, their school, and their players. There were local New England sports writers who thought of some of the keystone members of the NEAT squad could easily play in any D-1 program. Today they hoped they could prove it. All year long it was thought in the ESPN and other "big sports" circles that the Green Aggies were a gimmick team. A team that used female players, the Welsh soccer player turned kicker, and the bad boy running back phenom to make its way to the headlines. While FIU was no Big Ten powerhouse they were consistently a team that was well put together that could rival any D-1 squad with the "any given Sunday" theory. Out of their division, they would not embarrass themselves. Some name writers and analyst wouldn't even talk about NEAT for those "gimmick" reasons and quietly said that FIU would drub them and send The Aggies home embarrassed. For those reasons Coach Winslow held another private meeting, as he had previously had done before their first game against real competition. The team was battle tested now, but they could come out trying to over-impress and get caught sleeping on one front or another and have to battle back early. When you're down and have to "battle back", it means you're going off your game plan, and that's a recipe for failure. As players queued up for the bus Ann Comeche went through the line picking out players who "needed a new head shot taken for their video profile for TV. Your school photo is too dark or light." She brought the players into a small Hotel office off the lobby. There sat Coach Winslow as the four she picked, Boge Hollins, Jazz Carey, Kemmer Brooks and Tim Waters filed into the room with Ann clicking the door shut behind the last one. "Gentlemen, we're having that same meeting again. This time we have a tested and true team, but after some of the criticism we've taken they may try to prove a bit more than they have to. So, once again, this meeting is closed and confidential. Jazz, if they win the toss they'll want the ball to start the game, at least they did that all season long. If we win the toss, we'll give it to them. In that defensive huddle you need to emphasize staying within themselves. There are no individuals on the field, just a team. Claxton may be the best pass defender on the field, but if he gets beat he may try the retribution tackle. That leads to mistakes. Remind him on the field that where the chain marks the ball is what he should worry about, not how hard he hit the receiver. If mistakes are made I'm going to rip the snot out of you on the sideline, you don't transfer it until the huddle. Got it?" Coach emphasized. "No problem Coach. Lots of back pats, no panic. I know the drill." Jazz replied knowing exactly what Coach wanted. "Now for the offense, I'm going to run this the same way we ran it back at the start. Whenever and wherever we get the ball we run at them 3 times, Boge, Boge, Boge. Kem, I expect you to be blocking with all you have. If we get the first down, Kem you're going to go wide with hopes of turning the corner and busting for some yards. Then we run Boge, Boge until we get a first down or punt. I'm not sending a pass play in until the third set. When I do Timmy, they'll be short slants to you, a couple of them so Marv gets his feet wet. Then we'll go to our regular game plan. Let's work at staying within ourselves. No matter what the score is, we don't change the game plan. If we get down even by 3 scores, we patch the defense and wait for the offense to catch up, they always do. You guys are my leaders and I expect you to keep everyone's head in this game. Losing this game is not the end of the world, however losing respect won't look good for any of us or the University. You know and I know we can win this game." Coach said finishing with a steeled eye and a convincing pointed finger that waved slowly like a gun site over the 4. "You'll get a game Coach!" Boge shouted as the four joined arms at the shoulder in a sign of unity. The team went through a normal pre-game, feeling to many that they were home. There was no long travel by bus or plane that day, they rolled out of bed and went to the Stadium. Knowing FIU didn't play their games here made the playing field seem to lose its tilt, despite the home fan support. There were, however, decidedly more media, even though it was not one of the "big" bowl games, it was one of only two on this day, so there was a large college football audience. Also there was a chance that they might really see a female playing, and playing well, amongst the men. Even on this day, when Jared was filled with pride over his team and he was questioned about the co-ed nature of his team, he couldn't wait until June Bogue got a chance to play next year. He felt she could mean big things for his team, and for herself. Once the team finished full pad run-throughs on the field and were prepped to start the game they made their last trip to the locker-room to use the toilet, adjust gear to game ready levels and get their last instruction. Coach Winslow stood at a podium in the front of the room, much as he would at home, with his staff right behind. He didn't call for attention, he just stood and waited. When the last player was settled in front of his locker, the room went silent. "I don't believe there are any words I can say that can inspire any of you to any greater heights than we've achieved this year. If you feel half the pride I do for each and every one of you, I know you're ready for this game today. Think one play ahead, listen to your captains on the field and your coaches when you come to the sidelines. Walk on and off this field today the same way, win or lose, with pride. If you lined up the whole of the NCAA on the first day of camp and told them we would be playing in a Holiday bowl game there would have been a pretty big laugh. But I took you seriously and you took yourselves seriously. Have a good time out there today and do yourself proud. You are all so far beyond any and all expectations ... Can we all bow our heads? Dear God, be with us in this game today. We pray for courage to face and conquer our own fears, and for your protection from injuries. Lord, I ask for strength to play to the best of my ability, and for strength of spirit to be a leader to others. May I be strong and triumphant over those who try to stand in our way. Please guide the coaches in making wise choices and help them be the kind of leaders you would have them be. Amen" Coach said with a bowed head of conviction. Boge Hollins started a chant of "click — click — click" as he put on his helmet and strode to the door with Jazz Carey and stood at each side of the door as the players went out to queue up and wait to run onto the field. With precisely 12 minutes before the kick-off New England Ag and Tech broke through the crepe paper logo ring and charged to the field. FIU followed from the other side of the field and with precisely 7 minutes to kick-off the captains met at mid-field for the ceremonial coin-toss. FIU had won the toss and were going to take the ball to start the game. Coaches waved little clipboards to staff as they pulled headsets up onto their heads and the teams assembled on the field. Once the red TV light went out the referee nodded to Brian Faraday and his foot put the ball in the end-zone as the FIU return specialist caught the ball and looked like he might try to run it out, but he chose to let his team start on the 20 yard line. FIU hit the middle twice with runs of 1 and 5 yards. On third down they tried a fake draw with the Quarterback rolling left and hoping to hit his tight end with a quick short pass, but Scott Claxton got a hand on the ball that needed to be pinpoint perfect. Kemmer Brooks took a fair catch of the 38 yard FIU punt on their own 36 and the Green Aggie offense took the field. Marv Hudson already knew the first two plays, both 34 Trap. They were curious calls because both sent Kemmer out of the backfield, looking like a lead block for Boge, but the fullback slashes back through the 4 hole. Kemmer had prepared to be the lead blocker for Boge on this first set and right away it looked like Coach was making FIU think about an option or screen pass after a slight feint for a sweep. Using Boge's ability to change directions quickly, the Trap was successful all year for NEAT. Boge slashed through for a 9 yard gain and with virtually no huddle, they ran the same play for another 5 yards to the FIU 49. Marv was sure a pass play would come in from the bench, but the switch of tight ends brought a 25 Trap to Kemmer. Boge sheers off at the snap as if leading a block through the 5 hole but the tight end ties up the outside linebacker as Boge passes him. The QB drops to pick up the other back as a blocker, but hands him the ball to slide out of the backfield in the vacated 5 hole. With the fullback appearing to run a pass pattern the other defensive backs can't commit to the run until it's too late. Brooks goes through for 7 yards and another first down. Simply the way the drop goes on this play determines how it unfolds when the arm of the QB and the speed of the Fullback are factored. It was a great call and executed perfectly, but now Marv wanted to let loose and go for broke. As the huddle formed and Gerry Granahan came in from the bench with the play Marv Hudson had the feeling he was the only person in the stadium who didn't know what was going to come next. He always felt a frustration with the "safe" play calling of Coach Winslow. Marv felt the risk was worth it, but Coach had led them to a real successful season. Even before Tim Waters whispered "314 Pass, twins right, my number" Marv knew what the play was. It really was déjà vu and he knew it when Boge Hollins didn't look him in the eye when they bent into the huddle. The 314 Twins Right lined both wide-outs on Marv's right and a tight end, Waters, on his left. Both backs stayed in the backfield to block. On the snap all 3 receivers sprint, stop, and cut hard left. The Quarterback takes his choice of open receiver. When Waters said "my number", Hudson knew what Coach wanted, and he delivered. Marv back pedaled into the pocket of his two backs, looked right and then side stepped left to fire off a pass into the gut of Waters as he stepped out of bounds. Tim liked to get the ball a step early in case a defender attempted to dive in for an interception or tackle. A rocket from Marv Hudson's hand at this close distance was near impossible to touch as long as Tim had a half step on a defender. If the defender committed as such, Tim liked to pull up and try to sprint for extra yards until the defense caught him. That wouldn't be the case today as the ball him Waters cradling arms and he had to stab his toes in-bounds to be sure of a catch. Gain of 7, 2nd and 3. The follow-up play was by rote of 2nd and less than five, same line-up, but it was a stand and throw play. Jordy Alford called it "long-distance hand-off". Marv took the snap and barely one full back-pedaled step and wrist-flicked a laser to Waters who had turned. The pass hit him so high in the chest that he lost his balanced but had the sense to do a little back-pedaling of his own as he got the first down while a frustrated defender tried to get an angle to knock him back, but it was too late. First down and so the drill would begin. Eat up the clock and the ground until you get to a 4th down situation and let Brian Faraday do his thing. True to the coach's thinking, a few minutes later it was NEAT 3, FIU 0. The NEAT defense played admirably throughout the first 2 quarters, but the ball control offense began to falter. With just under 2 minutes remaining in the half New England did have a 6-0 lead, but moving the ball had become arduous for the NEAT offense. Whether something had shown up in videos or if the eye in the sky had detected something, all of the sudden, holes were not opening for the running backs. The consistent 3,4, and 5 yard bursts by Boge Hollins were being shunted and when they tried to go to the air Marv wasn't finding open receivers and had become frustrated. Through all of this, Florida International had the ball more and more, giving them more opportunities to wear down what had been a stellar defense. Coach Winslow was getting frustrated with both Frank Enfante and Roger Dorn in the booth. "They plug every hole we try to run at and cover our receivers like they're in the huddle, THEY AREN'T THAT GODDAM GOOD!! What are we missing?" He shouted impatiently. "Maybe your play sequence in just getting too easy to read." Frank said, feeling the frustration himself. "Listen Frank, half the teams in the NFL couldn't stop Boge Hollins this often. They're reading something!" Jared shouted back. "I may have something." Roger Dorn chipped in. "I'm pretty good at some of this stuff and Boge may be tipping his plays, Marv too." "Well, it's 3rd and 6 on my own 24 and I'm sending in a 33 Lead hoping Kemmer can open a hole for Boge. I don't want to have to punt with under 30 seconds in the half!" Winslow said as he nodded to Gerry Granahan who would run the play call in to Marv. "Tell him LONG COUNT, LONG COUNT!" Roger Dorn shouted as Jared stepped out towards Granahan as he began to trot to the huddle. Long counts were a good ploy against undisciplined lines, but the FIU squad was tight and well coached, but Jared would try anything to break their rhythm. Gerry whispered into the ear hole on Marv's helmet as the huddle formed and they quickly broke to line up. Marv started his cadence, paused, and restarted with Florida not flinching. Dorn started shouting to Coach Winslow "TIME OUT, TIME OUT!!" Confused and wanting to question his order, Jared implored the ref just in front of him watching the backfield. "TIME, Ref, TIME!! Ref!" Jared shouted. A big blow on the whistle and a frantic arm wave stopped play just as Marv was to re-start his cadence, leaving a confused quarterback looking up at his coach as Jared waved him to the sidelines. As the commotion of the late called time-out played through in front of him, Roger Dorn was explaining in Jared's ear. "Boge is telegraphing at the line. On that play Boge went into his "set" with his forearms on his thighs, he's done that every time he's got the ball today. There's something wrong with him, he's not thinking!" Dorn said through the headphones. As Marv Hudson came over to the bench to see what the coaches called the time out for Jared turned to see his bench rotation knowing Junior Contralco was near. "Contralco, in for Hollins!" Coach shouted as Junior popped to his feet and had his helmet pulled three quarters down already before stopping beside Jared for instructions. "You know all of Boge's numbers, right?" He barked as Contralco nodded. "Go!" Marv Hudson looked confused at what he just saw, thinking maybe Junior was going in for him and had a questioning look as he got to Coach Winslow with his helmet pulled up like an open hood on a sports car. "Any sign Hollins is hurt?" Coach asked "No. He's cracking the line as hard as ever. They're just meeting him there, like they're in the huddle, getting good reads." Marv said, knowing the familiar crack of the pads and the grunts that come from the inner line. Boge Hollins stormed up right behind Marv with a protest in his voice. "Coach, what is it? What's wrong?" Boge said knowing something was up. His number was never checked out in a position like this. Instinctively, one of the trainers came over when he saw Hollins come off and Jared snapped at him. "Get Hollins in the clubhouse and ice his shins, then wrap them!" Coach Jared knew why Boge Hollins mind was not 100 per cent in the game. He had shin splints and was hiding it. While he valiantly tried to perform, his mind didn't have the discipline to tell his body to act normal, while he still played through the pain as his shins nagged loudly in his head. When he lined up, knowing he was about to get the ball, he was girding himself for the painful charge at the line, and it showed when he lined up. Boge hadn't heeded Coaches warnings at practice on the artificial surface, to start slowly and let your legs get accustomed to the hard surface underfoot. He had been gung-ho to set the example, lead his mates. He wasn't accustomed to the hard surface and that caused the problem and playing through the pain could only make it worse, sometimes even causing a stress fracture in the shin. "Coach, I can PLAY! Don't do this to me!" Boge hollered back as trainers and assistants ushered him to the locker room. Jared Winslow couldn't wait to talk to Hollins to be sure he knew that it wasn't anger that took him out of the game, it was concern for his well-being. "Keep the same play, a 33 Lead, Brooks as fullback and Contralco his front. If you get the first down have a pre-call for Double Slots line up, Stand to Wide, Stop." Coach as with his arm around Marv and he nodded and then trotted back to his huddle. Marv played it out in his head that they WOULD get the first down and then they would hurry to line up in a DOUBLE SLOTS formation with one WIDE receiver up right side. On the snap he STANDs and throws so the wide is the only person on the field who can catch the ball. Stop meant that they HAD to STOP the clock on the play, either let the ball go incomplete or catch it and fall out. Yardage made no difference, stopping the clock was paramount. It was a back of the book play from the play-book. No numbers, just words, all key words that everyone knew. No confusion here, no time to think about number assignments. Florida anticipated Junior getting the ball and after Marv turned to him and pulled the ball back to punch it in Kemmer Brooks belly one FIU linebacker faded to Juniors hole and when the line opened Kemmer had 3 solid strides before being brought down with no measurement needed for the first down. NEAT lined up quickly leaving FIU scrambling a bit to get to set. The double slots confused them for a moment and on a quick count Marv stood and fired a little high, making Gerry Granahan jump to be sure he buried the ball in his body. He made sure to drag both feet as he landed and was hit out of bounds. When Marv clapped his hands in the air he smiled and turned to the bench for his next call and Coach Winslow just nodded to him. It was to be Marv's call. He knew he had been stymied for much of the second quarter and he knew the booth had told Coach he tipped some plays. In the huddle he realized he didn't have Boge there to nod to, he was totally on his own. Coach had trusted him. He felt proud and suddenly responsible for the team's success. He wanted to grab the brass ring. He barked out for a 971 Pass along with the letters and numbers that would set his line for the execution he wanted. The 971 Pass is similar to a Clear Out Pass but the intention is not to take advantage of the middle zone that had been made clean, but to send the inside right wide out on a deep threat. The 971 Pass has three potential receivers all coming across the quarterback's line of vision at varying degrees of pattern depth. Defenders drawn out of the middle zone see where they have to pinch back to cover that zone thus leaving a flanker one on one with a safety. When that flanker is Tim Waters the Safety better be on his toes. Prior to the snap the left side flanker goes into motion to start the defenders moving. On the snap that flanker sprints directly back over the middle while both far wide outs run button hook and fade routes. The pocket formed beautifully for Hudson and he back pedaled gazing left to right, knowing where Waters would be. He set his back foot as his weight hit his heel and he sprung his arm to cock and unload with his weight shift powering the ball and his strong wrist setting its course. The Safety was 3 strides off Waters pace as he tried to catch up as the ball flew into Tim's hands like a hungry homing pigeon searching for its perch. Waters broke hard for the side line corner knowing if he were caught he wanted to get out. That wouldn't happen as the Safety over-anticipated the route and turned the wrong way. The half would end 13-0, New England Ag and Tech. On his way off the field Coach Winslow was besieged with reporters asking why he had benched Boge Hollins so suddenly. "He wasn't benched, it just became obvious that he was hurting, probably masking an injury. If you'll forgive me I really have to get down and see how he's doing." Coach said begging off abruptly. He went straight to the trainer's room where they were working on him only to hear him holler. "Coach, I can handle it. I HAVE TO BE OUT THERE!!" Boge shouted. "Humphrey Hollins, I made a promise to you and your Dad, along with every other parent on this team that I would watch over their sons and daughters. I KNOW shin splints and I'm mad at myself for not seeing you lining up so unnaturally. You were bearing down on your thighs with your forearms and rocking back onto your heels when you had to run, hoping to avoid the flashes of pain when you plant and power forward. Your muscles are strong enough to cause a stress fracture in there somewhere. If you want a chance on getting back in the game today, you better answer me honestly. When did you first notice them, ... the pain?" Coach asked. "When I did a little pick-up this morning to make the elevator. We were going down for breakfast. The door was just closing and did a little trot for 2 steps and I felt it for the first time. Then on the field in warm-ups it was bothersome, but not until I had to blast at the line did it become excruciating." Boge said, coming clean. "What do you think?" Coach asked, turning to the trainers. "Ice him and wrap him for a bit and let him try it out for a few plays?" "Well, we have the rest of the half-time for ice with them wrapped, and then we have to stretch those hammys and see how it feels. He won't be good for but a few offensive sets." The trainer said looking back to Boge, who didn't like the words he was hearing. "Boge, we aren't going to push it. If you end up with a stress fracture, it's something that could bother you for the rest of your career. This is one game. Let's wait and see how it feels later. We have the lead. If it holds then all is well. You've come too far to do something stupid to ruin what you have, are we clear?" Coach said in a decisive, almost fatherly, tone. It was the same tone he had used to convince him to leave Chicago and straighten out his life and Boge recognized it. "I'm with you Coach. I may not like it, but I know you know what's right. I won't push it." Boge said giving in to Coach Winslow. "OK, we tell the team he's fine, he just needs the ice. Get some uniform pants on him and into the locker room. The team needs to see he's OK. Uh, ... Boge you realize that when you lined up everyone in Florida knew you were getting the ball, holding yourself like you were about to walk across coals. When your head went out of the game and gave in to the pain, they read you like a book." Coach said giving instructions to the trainers and letting Boge know why he was stopped. Jared went into a locker room that was cautiously jovial in spirit, knowing they had the lead, although not a big one, but worried about their meal ticket, Boge Hollins. Upon seeing Jared come out of the trainer's room they quieted down quickly. "Boge will be here in a minute, it looks like he's just going to need some ice. Continue getting ready for the second half and I'll see you in a few minutes." Coach said as held up a clipboard in his fist to get their attention before he went to huddle with the coaching staff. True to Coach's word Boge sauntered in a few minutes later, glad handing everyone. He didn't appear to walk with a limp, but as soon as he sat down they reapplied fresh cold packs on his tightly wrapped legs. Once the team settled down and all of the trainers and tapers left the room, the water and Gatorade cart finished it's run, and the din from the half-time show had faded, Coach Winslow stood before them. "Well, this is the last time this year. It's a happy-sad occasion. We've accomplished so much and there's a little unfinished business out there. We stick to the game plan, stay within ourselves, and see how it works out. No matter what happens, there is no reason not to hold your head up. Keep doing what you've been doing in the first half. I'm not going to say any more than that. I've never been more proud of any team than I am of you. Let's go get 'em!" Coach said, not trying to burn a new strategy in their heads or newly discovered Achilles heel of their opponent. Jared figured he had said it all, all during the year. During the first half they had built a lead and they knew what they had to do to keep it and win. When the double doors opened the players waited for Boge and Jazz Carey to move to the front and they each glad handed their team mates as they filed onto the field. Coach Winslow took up the rear and walked with his two captains onto the field. "Boge, you let the trainers stretch your hammys out and I'll get you in as soon as I can. We can't let them know how bad you're hurt. With the wrapping and the ice it should feel pretty good, but don't be fooled." Coach warned him. While the FIU kicker waited for the ref to signal the start of the second half and appeared to lose his footing as his foot went through the ball, perhaps stepping on a seam that through off his rhythm. The ball flailed like a wounded duck to the 30 yard line where Greg Alusik, a would be blocker who normally sets up the "wall", took the ball and immediately looked over his shoulder for someone to lateral to, but he was clearly in the best position to just take the ball and run. The swarm of FIU defenders was on him quickly and he took one hard cut to avoid heavy contact and suddenly found himself somewhat open with Kemmer Brooks, who had hoped to field the kick-off, slicing past him to level a would-be tackler. Alusik cut back to the middle before being brought down on the FIU 46 yard line. For the first time in his short college career, Marv Hudson was marching to the field without Boge Hollins in his backfield. Boge had just gotten up from prone hammy stretches with the trainers and was now trying it out on the sideline. "Get up to a hard jog, then, turn it on for a few steps. That's all." Wally Graham instructed him as he watched him intently. Boge did as instructed and walked back to Wally with a little smile. "I feel it in my shins, but nothing like before. I wanted to scream then." Boge admitted as he turned to watch the first play from scrimmage unfold. Coach had sent Marv in to run The Fan, a pass play Marv was quite proficient at. Both backs stayed in the backfield and both wide receivers took deep patterns while the tight end blocks hard before peeling off and fading over the middle. If the pocket forms solid, both backs trail off as if in a screen, usually forcing the line backers to move cautiously leaving the tight end open over the middle. Marv loved the play because it left so many options open, as long as the pocket formed. Mostly he loved it because his number one receiver on the play, the tight end Tim Waters, was so sure handed and agile he could compensate for inaccuracies. As soon as Brooks and Contralco broke from the backfield the linebackers split and Waters flew through the slot with a lasered pass from the hand of Marv Hudson. Tim turned hard to the middle avoiding one rushing tackler and got 6 more yards to the FIU 30 yard line. NEAT was set up in field goal range already. A field goal would put FIU in a position to have to score 3 times to go ahead. Boge Hollins had sidled up to Coach Winslow in hopes of going in for the next down when Jared put his hand over Boge's number and his mouth close to his ear, appearing to give instructions. However, he did so with his clipboard under his arm, signaling Marv to run the same play. While FIU waited for Boge Hollins to come in, Marv broke his huddle quickly leaving Florida a step behind in preparation. Marv quick-counted the play and let it unfold as it had previously. The FIU safety moved up to fill the hole the linebackers created when they split this time. Marv Hudson pump faked once and then unloaded a streaking bullet to Gerry Granahan who took the pass over his shoulder at the 8 yard line and loped into the end zone. After Brian Faradays conversion it was 20-0, still leaving Coach Winslow uneasy in the fact that FIU could score 3 times and go ahead. There was more work to be done. Jazz Carey had incited his defensive squad even more, pressuring them to take up the slack of not having a Boge Hollins at 100%. The defensive backfield had all but shut down the FIU passing game forcing Florida to take to the ground where they ate up more of the clock than they wished, given the score. While New England was not giving up the long run, Florida was managing to move the ball and converted 3 consecutive 3rd and short plays leaving them on the NEAT 19 yard line with a first down. The Green Aggies were left totally fooled on a fake hand off and roll-out play that resulted in a Florida score, only to see it called back on a holding call. In the defensive huddle Carey was livid at the missed assignments in the backfield inspiring them to knock down two more passes on subsequent plays. But on 3rd and 10 Florida rushed for a 4 yard gain with a 5 yard defensive holding call and automatic first down. FIU was at the 10, first and goal. They ran at both sides of the Green Aggies line with little gain, but a third down a quarterback draw brought them to the doorstep of the end zone, less than a yard for the score. Their kicking team began to run onto the field while FIU Quarterback Scott Hollander began pleading with his coach to let him go for the score while trying to wave the kicking team off the field. The bold maneuver forced Florida to call a time-out and in the end Hollander won out bringing his squad back out for a try at the 4th and goal. On a QB keeper and a pile-up at the goal the referees sorted through the mass of football flesh and walked away signaling touchdown. Time had expired for the 3rd quarter as the play ran. It was 20-7 at the end of 3 quarters. Coach Winslow knew his defense was strong, but were slowly running out of gas. They fought hard to stifle the air and ground game, but now holes were opening. For his own offense, it was hard to balance an attack without Boge Hollins in on every play, but Boge had been pleading with the trainer and his coaches to stay in and just pass block. Not having to burst to full stride and run would save his legs, while still giving Marv the edge he needed. While the kick-off and return teams assembled during the TV time-out at quarters end Jared took Boge, a firm hand around his padded elbow and walked him to the trainers end of the bench. "Wally! Tell me that if I send him in to block and use him sparingly into the line we won't make this thing worse, cause any permanent damage." Jared asked making sure Boge was there to hear. Wally was a stickler for detail and knew his stuff inside and out. He was not likely to color any answer and just give the medical details. "Shin splint is a mis-nomer, it's actually a soft tissue injury where the muscle meets the bone. The non-stress fracture injury here with the associated pain may be due to micro tears of the muscle either at the origin or in the fibers themselves. This may occur because of repetitive traction or pulling of the anterior tibia muscles where they are attached. Repetitive loading with excessive stress, such as that caused by running on this surface, has played a role in this problem. He could end up with micro-trauma to the bone structure itself. He's going to have a problem on these surfaces for a long time. If he was to stay in and block he would cause less stress. With it wrapped I wouldn't give him the ball but a few more times. He's a very strong man with a high threshold of pain and there is no quit in him." Wally expounded as if Boge were not even there. Jared turned to Boge and put a hand on each shoulder. "Boge, you heard it. This game doesn't mean that much in the grand scheme. I'll put you in the next set to pass block, then come off and tell me truthfully how you feel. LISTEN TO ME, the NFL will NOT draft a gimpy, injury prone, back. Don't play with your future. I have a responsibility to your Dad." "I'll be straight with you coach, I promise!" Boge told him. Junior Contralco took the kick-off on his own 7 and returned it to the 33 and the Green Aggies were in a good field position Marv Hudson went out with a 52 Hot Pass to call. It was a play he could hit Gerry Granahan or Tim Waters with all day long. It was usually just a short yardage sideline pass, but if the tight end weren't open, the wide receiver button hooks as an outlet. Granahan and Waters usually alternated as Tight End and Wide Receiver to give the play a different look. With both backs staying in and looking like the set up of a run play, defenders usually kept their hands down and brought the linebackers in leaving the short pass a given as long as they had a step. Marv Hudson stutter-stepped back into a pocket after swinging the ball toward Kemmer Brooks and Boge. In a flash he set his back foot and unloaded a blur to Tim Waters who was immediately tackled for a 7 yard gain. Junior Contralco came in from the bench and tapped Tim Waters for a switch-out of Tight Ends. He whispered "52- Hot Draw" to Marv as Hudson set the huddle. This play set up just as the previous but after setting the pocket the half-back peels off with the fullback following having the ball tucked to him as he turns. It looks like a re-do of the previous play (after it had been successful) and they had only run it with Boge taking the ball. Boge hadn't expected to get the ball until he had pass-blocked a set of downs so he had little time to think. As Marv barked out his signal cadence he saw linebackers tentative just like he wanted them, hoping one would peel off to double team the tight end. Marv's quick feet set him into the pocket quickly as his back foot set and he leaned forward punching the ball in Boge Hollins gut. His first step behind Kemmer's block was tentative but when he saw daylight instinct took over and he burst through for nine more yards and bounced up to see Mark Freeman coming in. Freeman was the back-up QB who ran the option more often than not and sometimes served as a half-back or "scat-back" as Jordy Alford called him. When he came in it was usually to offer Boge a breather and he quietly went to the sidelines to Coach Winslow's side. Jared had the headphones on and was barking questions to the booth as he watched the huddle break and the 37 Sweep set up. It required a full backfield with 3 backs, Contralco, Kemmer and Freeman, with Freeman to follow the blocks and try to turn the corner. The play ran for 2 yards and Jordy Alford shuffled John Brooks in for Freeman as he nodded to Jared. John Brooks would line as tight end to provide pass blocking while the backfield would be Contralco and Kemmer Brooks. Jared looked at Boge and asked, "Well?" Boge hesitated and choked back a lump in his throat, "I ... I shouldn't be in there. I'm sorry to let you and the team down." Uncharacteristically in the public view, Jared hugged Boge saying "You've let no one down. Watch these boys win it for you. Go sit with Wally and I'll be there when I get a chance." His bravery no longer needing to be hidden, Boge hobbled to the trainers bench, in obvious pain and discomfort. Wally immediately set up ice trenches, designed for hamstring injuries, for both his legs, and then covered them with iced gel packs. Wally put out his hands for Boge's helmet and then wiped the sweat from Boge's head saying, "Great show kid, the best I've ever seen." The words did little to comfort Boge's disappointment as he sat hanging his head. Meanwhile, John Brooks brought in the play, a Double Fade, for Marv Hudson. It was the play he would have called if left to his own. Both tight ends leave the line at the snap and angle right at varied depths. The QB turns to fake a hand-off to the back on his left and rolls right behind the blocks of both backs. He finds the open tight end or continues behind his blocking. While he had thrown to John Brooks in practice and scrimmages, he hoped the other tight end, Gerry Granahan was open. He called him "Sure-hand" Granahan when going over plays in his head. Gerry had only a half-step on his defender and Marv was about to tuck the ball and run when he laid the ball out for Gerry to run to. Granahan dove and nestled the ball to his body before turning and hitting the ground on his side to insure impact didn't jar the ball away. Subconsciously, Marv's instincts took over his indecision of running/throwing and on that play his confidence grew. He had reached the "gunslinger" stage Jared had hoped he could master. A gunslinger only draws and shoots when he knows that he can hit his target before he gets burned himself. The Green Aggies had the ball on the Florida 31 yard line with a first down. Marv Hudson knew the game plan now. Keep the ball as long as possible, getting as close as possible, and then let Brian Faraday punch in 3 points. After wasting a down on a long pass through the end zone over well-covered receivers Marv was instructed to use Kemmer just as he might use Boge. After a first down at the Florida 20 the FIU defense got stingy and after 3 slogs at the line it was 4th and 9. Brian Faraday and the kicking team trotted out onto the field with Marv Hudson and Brian trading fist bumps as they passed. Jimmer Erving was the long-snapper and Mark Freeman held for Brian as they had done a hundred of times all season. But something went wrong here this day, this time. A new ball came out of the bag, and unlike all the other new balls used in a game, this one was apparently not wiped down. Manufacturing dust still coated it and most times it would make little difference. But this day as Jimmer snapped the ball it slipped a bit from his fingertips and the level bullet Mark Freeman usually fielded was turning crooked as he caught it and tried to right it as he set it down for the kick. An almost vertical ball went down for Faraday to squib like a whirling seed pod from an early spring tree. An alert FIU defender faded to the corner of the field, careful to field the ball in bounds and he ran, and ran, and ran. After the extra point it was 20-14 with just over 10 minutes to play, without Boge Hollins. Hollins had asked Wally Graham to let him out of his "ice jail" so he could talk to his team mates and Wally did so with the codicil that he would not try to, ask to, or attempt to play another down. Boge agreed and went up between Kemmer Brooks and Marv Hudson as they waited for the kick-off and to go out and begin the offense. "Kem, you're the old man in that backfield and I know you can keep them positive. We still got the juice to win this. Just keep Marv here in line." He said with a wink as he put both hands on Marv Hudson's shoulder pads and jostled him. "Don't worry Boge, we're still ahead, and that's where we'll stay." Kem said as he saw the kick-off drop into Mark Freeman's hands. Freeman waited for a block and broke for 17 yards from the 4 before he went down on the 21 yard line. The offense trotted out with a new confidence with Kem letting Marv lead the way. He gathered the huddle and before he barked out his play numbers, he looked around the group of 10 worried faces. "We're not going to let Boge or Coach down. I'd love to burn these guys with a quick score, but we have to just keep the ball, let our defense rest and make it a two score game. If we come up with at least 3 they have to score twice to beat us. Let's eat up the clock... 25 Lead, on ONE." Marv brought the offense to the line and he looked long out over the defense. He barked out, "Seventy Seven! (one of 4 numbers that told the line there were no audibles, no changes. Strictly a tactic. Any colors or numbers called afterward were for deception) RED-Seven! HUT!" It was a fairly quick cadence and snap. On 25 Lead the line is weighted right with a tight end, and both wide receivers sprint quickly and long, drawing back as much defense as possible. The backs are lined directly behind and in line with the Quarterback, one, two. The Quarterback drops past the number one back, and gives the ball to the number TWO back. The first back hits the FIVE hole, LEADing the way. Hence- 25 Lead. Although Junior Contralco didn't have the power and tenacious foot speed of Boge Hollins, the hole Kemmer opened for him gave him room to run and cut to an 8 yard gain. Using a series of like plays, like a 34 Lead, where the backs line up on either side, flanked just behind the Quarterback, like 1-2-3 and they plug the 4 hole on the left side, they managed to stay on the ground for 7 straight plays and eat up the clock getting up to Florida's 36 yard line. Marv knew he had to sell the air game if he wanted to keep moving on the ground and Coach Winslow was thinking just like him, as he sent in Mark Freeman with the Cross Buck pass pattern. Cross Buck is a play action pass play, where after running the ball so many times in a row, it's easy to sell again before passing the ball. Lining up in the I behind him, Marv turns a full half circle to fake hand offs to both backs who scurry from the backfield as the QB rolls a bit right picking up the block from his tight end who throws one block and takes off for the flats. This was how Marv liked to use it best, but once earlier in the year vs U Delaware Dover he was about to flick off to the Tight End in the flats when he saw Gerry Granahan, the left side wide out, loping free of any coverage deep waving his hands. Throwing off his front foot Marv lofted a "big cookie" to Gerry. In this case, Tim Waters had thrown his block and was heading to the flats when he came into Marv's view as he rolled past the defensive fence. He wanted to look long for Gerrie, but the sound of cleated warriors was too close. He zipped the ball into Tim's arms and he was being dragged down as soon as he caught it. He curled himself up as to not go out of bounds, despite the heavy push. Gain of 7 and inside the 30 yard line. Brian Faraday was warming up already. By the time Fourth Down rolled around it was an attempt from the 24 yard line and this time there were no mistakes. Faraday seemed to punch the ball extra hard to give it an exclamation point. New England Ag and Tech 23, Florida International 14, with 4 minutes 11 seconds left. Brian Faraday's kick-off was long and high leaving Florida no choice but to down it in the end-zone and start on the 20. Jazz Carey was already trying to rally his troops shouting in the defensive huddle. "No prevent! We've prevented them all day and we aren't giving them the short pass now! Keep the coverage tight and the line will add the pressure. BREAK" He shouted emphatically. It was true that they had stifled FIU most of the afternoon and to give in now to prevent a long gainer seemed foolish, even though most defensive coordinators would have done just that. Jazz had argued with Frank Ruffen about the situation and though it didn't take a lot of convincing, he went along with it. Jazz insisted they could either make them use up their time-outs, or the clock. True to Carey's words, although FIU was all the way out to their 41, it was done on running gains of 4 and 7 yards for a first down, then short bursts of 4 yards and a 5 yard scramble by FIU QB Scott Hollander when he couldn't find an open receiver. It was 3rd and 1 with just over 2 minutes left and all his time-outs remaining. With the Golden Panthers set-up to smash the middle for a first down, Hollander threw them a curve faking a hand-off to his fullback and putting the ball on his hip for a bootleg roll out looking for a long receiver. He found Larry "Big Rig" Shane, the 6' 7" wide-out with Scott Claxton shadowing him. Hollander unloaded a perfect spiral out in front of him he need only to run to, if Claxton didn't get there first. Just as Scott was about to bat the ball away he caught the edge of his special artificial surface running shoe on a zipper run or seam in the floor, falling into Shane. Even though it was unintentional and they were both going for the ball, the ref's flag flew out. First Down on the NEAT 21 yard line, FIU was set-up and ready to go. An inspired Florida International team took but 3 plays to push the ball over making the score 23-21with 1:51 remaining and every person in the state of Florida and beyond knew an on-side kick was at hand. New England had a hard time regrouping after the pass interference call. The whole squad knew the Claxton's faux pas was unintentional and maybe that was what made it harder to overcome. They barely had time to lick their wounds and FIU had scored. Now they had to prepare for the on-side kick. Quickly Jared Winslow, Ira Pressley and Jordy Alford were picking sure handed front men to handle the kick. "DON'T GET CUTE AND TRY FOR A BIG RUN — BACK! GET THE BALL AND FALL ON IT! YOU CAN'T RUN WITH IT!" Coach Winslow shouted over and over. The Florida kicker nubbed a low line drive, spinning end over end when it hit the surface. It made a terrific low bounce jetting to John Brooks who smothered the ball almost right on the 50 yard line like trying cover a live hand grenade. FIU's special teams piled on but nothing was going to separate the ball from Brooks. It was long for an onside kick, because it took the jetting hop and because it was just kicked too hard, too low. With no time outs left NEAT just had to keep the ball and make a first down around the 3 time-outs FIU had left. "Keep the ball in the field, make them use the time-outs!" Coach Winslow and Jordy Alford said in unison as Marv Hudson strode up to get his final instructions before going out on the field. Coach leaned in to Marv's helmet hole, "10 Draw, it'll give us an idea how they're going to defend us. If they stack the middle, check off to 10 Bootleg. Just keep the ball!" Marv wasn't totally comfortable with the call, wishing he had Boge Hollins in his backfield to take the pressure off, but when he went to line showing a Double Slots Formation (5 man line 2 wide receivers on each side) with the shotgun, Florida went to a 4-3 to offset the 4 wide receivers. Marv liked the look and was confident of the call. The one-up back goes in motion to the left and Marv takes the snap, pump fakes a quick pass, then tucks the ball away securely and sprints through the zero running lane (up the middle). He gained 6 yards and forced FIU to use the first time out. Marv went to Coach Winslow hoping to talk him into the same play, but setting lone back in motion right and taking a hand off or short pass. It was a play they ran in practice a few times, but never in a game. "If you had Boge in there, I wouldn't hesitate, but my first instinct is to run the same play again and I'll bet they stack the middle and you can get a few more yards wide on a check-off to 10 Bootleg. Stay in bounds and don't get hurt, use a chicken slide to avoid going out or contact." Coach told him as he ran back out waiting for play to resume. For all the confidence Marv had shown as he learned his position, he was sad to admit to himself he was afraid, afraid of making the costly mistake that would tear victory from them. As they lined up FIU had stacked the middle showing confidence in the presumption Hudson wouldn't risk a pass. Marv looked over the defense and shouted loudly down each side of the line "Green 19! Green 19!" As soon as he showed that line up the Florida defense didn't flinch, didn't make a move, calling his bluff, as it were. On the snap all of the line moved left as Marv faked to Kemmer Brook and tucked the ball on his hip and rolled right. He expected to look up and see running room but instead he saw a blitzing linebacker who must have been in the NEAT huddle. Here is where Marv made a tactical, newbie error. Instead of using the chicken slide to take the loss and try again, he doubled back hoping to see a wide receiver, but the linebacker was too fast and too inspired. Marv was tackled for a 14 yard loss. 'Fuck, fuck, fuck!!" He shouted aloud as he peeled himself off the turf and heard the whistle blow for FIU's second time out. They were now on their own 42 yard line and way, way out of Faraday range. He held his head down, too embarrassed to even take off his helmet, as he trotted to the bench to talk the 3rd down play over. Coach Winslow was livid with Marv as he tore off his headphone. "Don't you ever hang your head like that!! You're the fucking leader on that field!" He shouted into his ear hole. "Take that fucking helmet off and face me like a man. You made a mistake, we all do. We win or lose as a team!" The shout of disappointment from Coach startled Marv, but knowing he was disappointed in his character, rather than his play somehow steeled him. Coach could accept a lapse in performance, but not character when he was supposed to be a leader. "We'll run the 34 trap with Kemmer and take what we get, We..." He started to say when Oksana interrupted the two of them. "If you hurry, the A/C just cycled off. I've been watching the air ducts and they cycle every 8 or 10 minutes. With no air moving I can corner a punt and leave them in no man's land if we cover it. I played with it all yesterday and during warm ups." She said excitedly as Ira Pressley stuck his ear in to hear what his kicker was saying. "When the air was dead she was hitting high with little carry or resistance, I made note of it too!" Ira pitched in. Jared hated to concede third down before running the play, but the confidence Okkie showed encouraged him. Off the 34 Trap Kemmer broke a nice hole for 8 yards but tripped over a fallen defender. He was back almost to the 50. With their last time out now expended Florida waited to see if Brian Faraday would try an impossible kick to give them a chance for a run-back, or if Oksana Cushman would boom away one of her long punts to be downed in the end zone so they could begin a one minute drill and drive to the win from the 20. Marv Hudson trotted off knowing he had done his best to eat up the time-outs and the clock. Now it was time for the Special Teams and Defense to step up. Oksana Cushman stood about 14 yards behind the line of scrimmage as the blocking half-back called the signals. The last thing she checked was the duct overhead and the lone yellow streamer tied off its face. It hung limp and it filled her with confidence. With a perfect snap from Jimmer Erving she took 2 long strides before putting her foot flat into the face of the ball. It sounded like a basketball dropped from a 3 story roof onto concrete. The ball sailed tip up with only a slight roll. She hadn't kicked it, she launched it. The Special Teams coverage had a remarkable 7 seconds to cover the punt that was sailing down almost flat inside the 10 yard line near the left hash mark. Florida's return specialist Ziggy Barnum faded back and over and contemplated fielding it under pressure or letting it drop and hoping it would shoot into the end zone. He chose the latter and the ball landed and bounced almost straight up. When it came down Freddy Murray, a promising sophomore receiver who had been bothered by hamstrings most of the year, caught the ball and fell on it. Florida Internationals ball on the 6 yard line with 57 seconds remaining. Jazz Carey knew the drill but Frank Ruffen and Coach Winslow both ran it by him as he prepared to go out on the field for this final drive. Guard against the long pass, keep them in bounds as much as you can, give them the running plays inside. In the huddle he was adamant, "No flags, keep it clean, don't get turned around. They won't huddle if they don't get out, so be ready!" Florida worked from the deep shotgun and on the snap Hollander rolled a little right and threw a pass complete to the sidelines bringing them out to the 27. It was a pass hard to defend without getting flagged, but Scott Claxton was mad he didn't try harder to get a hand in, the flag be damned. Florida huddled and came to the line with, presumably 2 plays loaded if they didn't get out of bounds. Hollander took the snap and dropped back as the Green Aggies rushed only 4. NEAT was beginning to chase Hollander who was not able to find an open receiver. He rolled from the pocket looking for a short man or someone to over-throw out of bounds. Indecision got the best of him as he scrambled and just as he raised his arm to throw the ball out, the urge to run for open field overtook him. He charged past the few NEAT defenders and looked for the sidelines angling toward the 40 yard line with many in hot pursuit, unable to pick up a block. He got out of bounds, able to stop the clock hoping someone in the huddle found a man they thought they could beat long. It was desperation time, time to draw in the dirt, like in the sandlots "I'll be the bottle cap, you be the rock and go..." When they came out of the huddle, Scott Claxton somehow knew he was the target. The man he was covering, number 46 with the name Wenz on his back, had beaten him badly. He had gotten his feet tied up having mis-read what he thought was a down and out. He took an eye fake and turned giving the receiver a good 5 steps on him. In the defensive huddle Jazz looked at Scott and saw his clenched jaw. "You want the ball Clax, don't take it out on the man!" Jazz warned him after giving the defensive set. "It's me Jazz, it's me! I let him beat me on a fucking EYE fake. I'm mad at me!"Scott Claxton yelled. "Maybe they'll come after you again. Surprise them this time." Jazz said as the defense set up and Jazz gave him an encouraging pat. Florida came out in the same set, but this time Hollander didn't wait to see all of his receivers covered, he dropped and then rolled looking for an outlet screen but kept an eye long for number 46 who swore he could beat his man. Scott Claxton had taken the eye fake again, but only dipped a shoulder to make it look to Wenz that he had bitten. Clax was 3 full steps behind him, but nowhere near full speed. Hollander unloaded long and as soon as he cocked his arm Scott Claxton took to full stride and picked the ball from the air just as it was to settle into Wenz's hands. He circled back towards his goal and probably could have easily scored. As 2 Florida linemen came up to move on him he could have avoided them, but he slid in, like a quarterback avoiding contact. He bounced up and ran off the field with the ball held high in the air, thinking time had expired. Scott brought the ball to the jubilant bench and gave it to Coach Winslow. There were 6 seconds left on the clock and they were being penalized 5 yards for delay of game. Coach sent Marv Hudson out to kneel on the ball from the snap to end the game and Marv held the ball tightly to bring back to Coach Winslow. Jared hugged Marv and patted him on the back telling him how proud he was of him as the rest of the team began to queue around the coach and begin to move as a mass towards the locker room to celebrate. ------- EPILOG The runway to the locker room was pandemonium with New England reporters, the Sports Networks reporters, families, and friends, all trying to get in. When you added the team itself trying to run the gauntlet of people and three New England Ag security people letting just "team" in until Coach had words with them, it was a loud and raucous, but overall civil, mess. Once the entire squad was in and the doors sealed shut there was a mass hug-in of players passing well wishes and congratulations. Coach Winslow went back to the bench that the two captains shared and stood on it and hollered to get the teams attention. "We did it! We did it! I want to thank each of you for your contribution today and all season long. We truly did CLICK!! All of you depending on your teammates to make things happen. Unless anyone has a real problem with it, we're going to go to plan B and spend one more night in Tampa and go home tomorrow. Truth be told, I guaranteed the rooms another night on my credit card and would have lost my ass if we hadn't won, but I was pretty confident." (Lots of raucous laughter, then applause) I can't think of any other way to tell you about how I feel about each of you and the job you've done. When you look at the articles and box scores you may not see every name, but be assured I know the jobs that each of you do and everyone contributes in their own way. I've got to go find the Press Room here again, so give me about 15 minutes and then Joe Barber will send a bunch of you up to answer questions. I want all the seniors and whoever else the team picks ... Tonight celebrate with your families, your friends, either privately, or with the team in The Manatee Conference Room on the 3rd floor of the Hotel. We'll feed everyone there. Boys and Girls, NO PUBLIC DRINKING CELEBRATIONS. We can raise hell when we get home tomorrow. I know these words are tossed around all too easily, but I love each and every one of you. You committed yourself to a program and stuck with it. This was no National Championship, but it's a great testament to New England Ag and how committed we are to the Division One program. They're all going to hear about US baby!!" Jared said finishing with a big laugh and bright smile. Jared Winslow dropped his defenses for the first time at a press conference and got into long answers about his team and the struggles he had with the public and the press about the co-ed situation and the chances he took on Boge Hollins, using an inexperienced quarterback and the way he turned around "bad boys" (bad rep players who failed in other schools). "I don't demand respect for me and my coaches and staff, we earn it. We earn it by treating the players with respect for the commitment they have made. When a student says "I'm going out for the team" it isn't just a man or woman looking for a good time, a few laughs, and maybe a headline. This is a commitment to your studies and the school to devote yourself to do your best at two full-time jobs. Being a student first, and a representative athlete second. There are no free riders on any of my teams and they each know it and work hard." Jared said when asked how he turned so many players around. As he finished the answer Joe Barber stuck his head inside and motioned that the players were there to join in the presser. "My seniors, the captains, and reps that the team picked are here to answer a few questions. If they could let Boge get through, he's on crutches trying to relieve a case of shin splints that he tried to hide to stay in the game with. That's the kind of commitment this young man made to his brothers and sisters in the locker room. He hates when I embarrass him like this but he alone is an example of what you can do when you make a commitment and people believe in you." Jared said as he stood and hugged Boge before pulling out a chair for him to let him sit. "Despite all you may have read before, I can attest that this is one fine young man that I would want in a fox hole with me any day, any time. If I believed what you guys wrote about him, he'd still be back in Chicago. So, don't be surprised at my surly attitude with you guys sometime." Jared said smirking. Boge was embarrassed, but turned to hug Jared and it was clear there was a tear in his eye. The rest of the players all reached up and around to back-pat Boge in a sign of support. Jared pointed to a reporter with his hand up, who asked; "For the lady punter, where did you learn to make the ball hang like that and do you have aspirations for the NFL?" "Well, I'm not a lady punter, I'm the punting specialist who happens to be a woman. I got good kickin' the butts of men who didn't respect me" She said with a grin as the rest of the team applauded. "Seriously, I rode a lot of horses, built up strong legs, actually wanted to be a place kicker but the team already had one, so I just practiced and my Daddy kept me on the team once I proved I could do it. The NFL? I don't know. I have a career in mind with school and I do want to get married some day, have a family and that wouldn't go with a sports career." She answered smartly. "For Scott Claxton, How come you never played on defense before and how did you get so damn good?" A local New England reporter asked. "I never believed in myself until Coach here found my heart and saw something even I didn't know about myself. That's about all I want to say." He answered, a bit embarrassed. Jared pointed to the next reporter and he piped in quickly, "For Brian and Boge, if the situation arose and the NFL called to make yourself eligible for the draft, would you? Boge nodded to Brian to let him answer first; "I'm really a soccer player, but I love the opportunities that American Football has given me. My family has a ranch back in Wales, to be exact in Llanfair­pwllgwyn­gyllgo­gerychwyrn­drobwll­llanty­siliogogogoch. (he paused to get reaction of reporters trying swallow that name while the team chuckled) We call it Llanfair for short, and I'm here at school to learn how to run it, so I really don't think so." Brian nodded to Boge who answered, "Not me either, I'm going to be a ranch hand for Brian." He wisecracked, breaking up the room. "Seriously, I've answered this before and number one, it's premature, one good year does not a career make, and secondly I WILL finish school beforehand. It was my Dad's biggest regret and he won't let me make some of the mistakes he did." Jared looked into the back of the room and saw a tiny hand waving from a petite reporter and he called her saying, "The little lady struggling to get a hand in on these guys;" "Esquire Magazine is going to list the top 25 bachelors in sports next month and you, Coach Winslow, are on the list. Any reaction?" Instantly the razzing started from the players so Jared waited for the noise to die down. "No, no reaction, and it better go to press quickly, because I am engaged and it could happen any day now that I have the time." Jared said and then stood up, signaling the end of the presser. As other questions were being shouted he and the players filed out without comment. Back in the locker room everyone continued to get showered, dressed, and changed. They were all leaving as a group on the buses they came on. They knew there was a reception at the hotel with families and friends who had come down for the game. After Jared showered he dressed in the little locker room, anteroom that led to the visiting coach's office. There waiting for him with a big smile was Meaghan. "Could happen any day now? Wow, are you marrying anyone I know? I don't recall being formally asked myself." She said with a smile bigger than he had seen before. "Hmmmmm, well, maybe tonight!" He said as he made to walk out of the room before coming back to see her double take. "Meagan Mahaffey, truthfully now, from the time we were 16 was there ever any doubt in your mind that someday we would be married, even when you were married to Matt?" He asked her eye to eye making it clear he wanted a straight answer. "Was there ever a doubt? Yes. Was there a day when I didn't wish it could happen? No!" She answered bluntly. "That thought in the back of my mind was probably the wedge that drove Barbara and I apart, why I didn't get past the ring. I just never knew it. Let's pick out a ring this week and get married on the weekend. Just families and Declan." Jared suggested. "Is this a proposal?" She asked blushing and tearing up. "It is!" "Well then THIS is a YES!" She said as she kissed him hard and mouthy on the lips. "You know I began this year taking on a big career risk and I knew I was going to go it alone, alone for the first time in many years. My first shot at Division One trying to hold a team together and I couldn't even keep a relationship together. I had so many doubts about myself, starting this whole thing with a divided relationship. Everything we each had to suffer through to get to this point has been a test to see if we were worthy of each other. God wasn't going to let Declan dangle in the wind of divorce and confusion. I love you, but he's the reason we were brought back together. There were many tests to see if I, if we, were worthy of making the right life for your boy. I think we've passed them all. Winning today wasn't part of it, but I think it was a sign to make this step. We've seen all of the signs and we've read them and followed them to come back together. We can't let this one go by." Jared said, tearing up. As the team prepared for its celebrations, Meg and Jared prepared to go out and tell the world of their good fortune. To the readers: Finishing this story has been a long hard process to find the time. My personal life has taken on many of its own challenges since I got to about the half-way point. Updates have been slow and for that let me say I'm sorry and disappointed as much as any of you who have written and asked me why it has taken so long. Thanks for all of the encouragement and I hope your patience has been rewarded ... petty ------- The End ------- Posted: 2008-01-08 Last Modified: 2010-06-04 / 07:41:35 am Version: 1.10 ------- http://storiesonline.net/ -------