It was the last Saturday of summer vacation and the Westdale boy’s locker room was filled with the tired young players of the Warrior football team.  Practice had lasted only three hours today.  Coach Neilson mercifully decided to let them off early for good execution.  As the guys started out the doors to make their way home, coach emerged from his office.

 “Taylor”, he called.
 
The trailing group of guys turned around.
 
 “Yeah Coach”, one of them answered.
 “Come into my office for a minute”, Coach ordered.
 “Sure.  Nick, take my stuff out to my truck, I’ll be there in a second”, he said to one of the other boys.

The young man made his way into Neilson’s office.

 “Close the door.  Have a seat”, the coach insisted.

He did.

 “What’s up coach?”  He asked nervously.  “Did I run a play wrong or something cause I can work on it.”
 “No, no you did good out there today.  I just wanted to talk to you about something”, Coach replied.
 “Okay… what?”

Coach Neilson rose from his chair and started pacing around the room.

 “School starts on Monday, and I just want to make sure that you’re ready to hit the books”, he explained.
 “Look Coach, if this is one of those “take your education seriously” speeches then don’t bother.”  The young man had obviously heard this before.  “I know what I have to do”
 “Do you?  Do you really?  Cause I’m not sure you do.  I don’t think you realize what’s at stake here Jason.  You and Trey have a golden opportunity this year.  If you two play the way you did last year again this year, you guys got a shot at a full scholarship to a major university.  But, if you don’t get the grades to go with it, then you’re not going anywhere.  You’ll be lucky if you’re playing for some community college somewhere.”  There is a short pause, as Coach Neilson glares at his young star.    “Now, when school starts you’d better get your head out of that gutter it’s been in all summer, stay out of trouble, and pay attention in class, you understand me?  Cause if you don’t, and you pull the same $&!# you pulled last year, you can kiss that scholarship goodbye.”
 
Another short pause.

 “Alright, you can go”, he granted, returning to his desk.

Jason got up to leave, but was stopped as he reached the door.

 “I meant what I said about last year Jason.  You keep your boys out of trouble ya here”, Coach said in a demanding tone.
 
Jason said nothing as he left.  A couple minutes later he reached his truck, where a few of the players were having a few laughs.

 “So what did Neilson want”, one of them asked as Jason approached.
 “Nothing”, Jason replied as he got into the driver’s seat.
 “Come on man, what’d he say?  What, does he have a secret crush on you”, he laughed.
 “Hop in and shut up Joey”, Jason answered angrily.
 “Sorry.  Sounds like somebody wore their jock to tight”, Joey mumbled as he climbed into the back of the truck.
 
The engine started and loud rock music burst through the air.  The guys in the back shouted and screamed like animals as the truck pulled out and drove off.

 Later that night, Jason and the gang were hanging out in the local burger joint’s parking lot.  Not a very exciting place, but when you live in a small town, you do the best with what you’ve got.

 “Man, Coach told me that I’m good enough to make the All-American team.  And that if I did, I could get a free ride to practically any college I want.  You know what that means, Ohio State here I come baby!”  Trey shouted.
 “I’m gonna go get some more burgers, you guys want anything”, Joey asked as he climbed out of the truck.
 “I would ask you to get me something but you’d probably eat it before It got here”, Nick smiled.  “I’ll take a chocolate shake though, and don’t drink any of it this time man, that’s disgusting.”
 
Joey just shook his head as walked off.

 “So, what about you Jason?  Where do you want to go”, Trey asked.
 “I don’t know, haven’t really thought about it”, he replied.
 “Come on man, you can’t tell me you haven’t thought about it.  I mean, there’s got to be one place you want to go more than anywhere else.”  Trey took a bite of his burger.
 “I don’t know, maybe ASU”.  Jason leaned against his truck.
 “Alabama?  What the hell you want to play in Alabama for”, Trey asked.
 “Arizona you dumb ass.  ASU is Arizona State University”, Jason replied as he threw his empty cup away.
 “Oh…well, why you gotta call me a dumb ass man?  I didn’t know ASU was in Arizona”, Trey replied.
 “Forget it Trey”, Jason pleaded.
 “I’m not gonna forget it.  Do you know how many states there are that start with an A?”
 “Okay, Okay, I’m sorry man.  I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”, Jason replied sarcastically.
 “Thank you.  You know how sensitive I am”, Trey mumbled.
 “Why do you want to go to ASU”, Nick asked, taking a drink of his soda.
 “Why not?  Beautiful weather, beautiful girls, it’d be awesome.  Plus, they got a good program down there.”, Jason answered.
 “You sure it’s not because of Paul”, Nick asked.
 “What?  No…that has nothing to do with it”.  Jason’s head lowered.
 “Look man, you can’t keep blaming yourself for what happened.  You weren’t even driving.”
 “No, but I’m still responsible.  I should have never let him drive that night.”  Jason pushed off his truck and took a few steps away.
 “That may be, but that’s in the past.  He’s dead, you’re alive, you don’t have to fulfill his dream and go to ASU just because that’s where he wanted to go.”  Nick looked down at his disgruntled friend.
 “It’s not because of him, really.  I did some reading up on ASU and I liked what I saw.”  Jason rested his arms on the side of the truck.
 
Joey suddenly emerged from the store doors with a bag in one hand and a drink in the other.

 “Here’s your shake.”  Joey handed the cup to Nick.
 “Damn Joey!  How man burgers did you get?”  Trey grabbed the bag as Joey climbed back into the truck.
 “Well, I was only going to get two, but there was a special that if you bought four you can get one free.”  Joey reached for the bag.
 “So you got five?”
 “No, I got ten, anybody want one.”  He unwrapped one of the burgers and took a huge bite.
 “No thank you.  I think I just lost my appetite.”  Nick gulped down some of his shake.
 “You guys ready to bail”, Jason asked as he hopped into the driver’s seat.
 “Yes please.”  Nick jumped off the truck and slid into the passenger seat up front.
 “Where the heck do you put all that food”, Trey asked as he sat down in the back.
 “I don’t know.”  Joey’s response was hardly discernable due to the large amount of burger that filled his mouth.
 “That is sick man.”  Trey shook his head and braced himself as the truck pulled out.

 Monday morning came around and school was set to begin.  The Westdale campus hadn’t seen this much liveliness in months.  Hundreds of students now littered its grounds, and teachers were preparing for their classes.  Sitting at one of the many tables that were scattered around the schoolyard, were some of the members of the cheerleading squad.  Vanessa Dodson and Chanel Summers were introducing their newest member, Amanda Connor, to the wonders of Westdale High.

 “You are going to love being a cheerleader Amanda.  It will definitely be the most fun you’ve ever had in your life”, Vanessa smiled as she ran her comb through her blond hair a couple of times.  “Besides football, it’s the only thing anyone pays any attention to around here.”
 “That’s fine by me”, Amanda replied.
 “Yeah, and don’t worry, this place may seem a little dull right now, but that’s only because it’s the first day of school.  I’m telling you, as soon as the rust wears off, this place is gonna be jumpin.”  Chanel had a habit of explaining things in a more exciting way than most people.

As she finished, loud music could be heard getting closer and closer.

 “Speaking of which.  Here come the boys now.”  Vanessa put her comb away and looked in the direction of the music.
 “What boys?”  Amanda followed Vanessa’s gaze to a truck pulling in.
 “Those boys”, Chanel smiled.

As the truck pulled into the parking space, it seemed like everyone in school stopped to observe.

 “Okay, if you’re going to be a cheerleader, you’re going to have to know who they are.”  Vanessa leaned over to Amanda.  “The big guy in the back, that’s Joey Franklin, and that sexy guy with him is Trey, he’s Chanel’s boyfriend.”
 “Yes he is, and that blond guy getting out now, that’s Nick Benson, he’s Vanessa’s man”, Chanel smiled.
 Amanda spotted Jason emerging from the driver’s side.  “Who’s that?”
 “That, my girl, is Jason, the quarterback, and one fine piece of man”, Chanel says with a smile.  “If I didn’t already have a man of my own, he would definitely be on my “to do” list if you know what I mean.”
 Vanessa laughed.  “Yeah, he’s probably the most normal of the group.  Even my Nick is a little crazy sometimes.  But they all know how to party.”
 “Just keep your lunch close to you when Joey’s around”, Chanel warned.

Amanda laughed at the comment as the boys approached the table.  Nick plopped down next to Vanessa.

 “Girl I missed you so much”, he said as he kissed her neck.
 “What are you talking about?  You saw me last night”, she replied.
 “Yeah, but that was a long time ago to me.”  Nick turned her head to face his and kissed her.
 
The rest of the guys gathered around the table.

 Joey turned to Amanda.  “Who are you?”
 “Joey, what have I told you about talking?”  Chanel glares as Trey’s arms wrap around her.
 “What’d I do?  I just asked who she was”, Joey whined.
 “This is Amanda.  She moved here over the summer, and she’s going to be a cheerleader”, Vanessa revealed.
 “Uh oh, another victim”, Trey joked, and received an elbow in his side for it.  “I’m only kidding, welcome to Westdale.  I’m Trey, that’s Joey, Nick, and Jason.”

Amanda’s eyes fixated on Jason’s.  It was obvious to everyone that they were interested in each other.
 
 “So boys, how about a victory party at my place Friday.  My parents are out of town for the weekend”, Vanessa offered.
 “I’m there, as long as your parent’s king size bed is too”, Nick smiled.
 “What about you Jason, you coming”, Vanessa asked curiously.
 Jason looked from Vanessa’s face to Amanda’s.  “Sure. I’ll show.  Besides, someone’s gotta give all you drunks a ride home.”
 “Good, party begins as soon as the game’s over.”  Vanessa and the girls jumped up to leave.
 “By boys”, Chanel waved.
 “It was nice meeting you all.”  Amanda’s eyes never left Jason’s
 Jason smiled.  “You too.  Maybe I’ll see you at the party.”
 “Maybe.”  Amanda teased as she turned to catch up with her friends.

Jason smiled again as he watched her leave.

 Trey turned to him.  “Man, that Amanda girl has got it goin on.  Don’t you think so Jason?”
 Jason snapped out of the daze.  “What…oh, yeah she does.”
 “She’s got the nicest butt I’ve ever seen”, Joey blurted out.

Trey, Jason and Nick looked at their overweight friend.

 “What?  I thought we were pointing things out”.

 It was now Friday night, and the Westdale Warriors were humiliating the Brentwood Cougars 35-0.  Westdale had the ball, 1st and goal at the nine yard line.  Jason called the play, and his teammates got into position.  He got under center and shouted the cadence.

 “Blue 22!  Blue 22!  Set! Hut!”  Jason received the ball and dropped back.
 
Trey came out of the backfield, and found himself wide open.  He began waving his arms, but it was to no avail.  Jason didn’t see him, and instead threw the ball to Nick, who was heavily covered.  Surprisingly, the ball was a perfect bullet, and it soared between two defenders and into Nick’s outstretched hands.

 “TOUCHDOWN!”  The announcer’s voice boomed over the field.

The crowd went wild, and the players cheered.  Jason ran to Nick and congratulated him on the catch before making his way to the sidelines, where Coach Neilson was waiting.

 “How’d you like that pass Coach.”  Jason smiled as he pulled off his helmet.
 Coach glared at him.  “I would have liked it better if it had been to Trey, who was completely uncovered on the other side of the field.”
 “I’m sorry, I didn’t see him.  What does it matter anyway?  We scored didn’t we?”
 “This time yeah, we scored.  But if you throw into double coverage like that in College, it’ll be picked off in a second.  That’s the kind of stuff scouts look at son.”  Coach was obviously a little angry with him as he turned away.  “This games over, you can sit out the rest of the way.”
 Jason was shocked.  “What!  But Coach, it’s only the third quarter.  I don’t want to come out yet.”
 “You got a problem with it Taylor?”
 Jason was so angry that he felt like telling the old man exactly what kind of problem he had.  “No sir.”
 “That’s good.  Tell Garner he’s going in on the next series.”  Neilson returned his attention to the game.

Jason angrily made his way to the bench and sat down next to Zack Garner, the back up quarterback.

 “Your in next series”, he said to him in a frustrated tone.
 “What?  I am?”  Obviously, he wasn’t expecting to get in this early.
 “Yeah, you’d better go warm up.”
 “Oh, yeah.”   Zack got up and walked off to get ready.

Jason just sat there in disgust for the rest of the game.  He didn’t even notice how much time had passed until the announcer’s voice announced the end of the game.

 “AND THE FINAL SCORE IS: YOUR WESTDALE WARRIORS 56, AND THE BRENTWOOD COUGARS 10…”

 Later, at Vanessa’s party…

 “A hundred and sixty yards and three touchdowns baby.”  Trey roared in approval as he downed a gulp of beer.  “All-American my ass.  I’m going for All-world this year.”
 Chanel reached over and grabbed his drink out of his hand.  “I think you’ve had enough to drink for one night baby.”
 “What you talkin about girl?  I’ve only had two…or four”, he smiled.
 “Exactly.”
 “Aw come on Chanel.  We just won a football game.  We’re celebrating”, Nick said as Vanessa sat on his lap.
 “I don’t care what you just did.  I don’t want to have to put up with your drunk asses all night.”  Chanel sat down on the couch next to Trey.  “Where’s Jason?”
 “He’s out on the porch in one of his moods”, Vanessa answered.  “Amanda just went out to talk to him.”

Speaking of which…

 “Hi.”  Amanda said as she closed the door behind her.
 Jason looked up at her from the swinging chair he sat in.  “Hey.”
 “Good game tonight.”  She felt really stupid.
 “Thanks.”
 Amanda noticed the disappointment in his eyes.  “You okay?”
 “Yeah.  I’m fine.”
 “Oh…want some company?”
 Jason looked up at her again.  “Sure.”

Amanda took a seat next to him.  She noticed that he was drinking soda instead of the beer that everyone else was throwing down.

 “Not a drinker huh.”
 Jason looked down at his soda.  “No, not anymore.”
 “You used to?”  Amanda replied.
 “Yeah, I used to drink with the best of em.  But, like I said, not anymore”, he answered.
 “So, why are you out here instead of inside with your friends?  Is it because of what happened at the game?”  Amanda suddenly realized that she might be making it worse by bringing it up.
 Jason sighed.  “Yeah.  It just really bugs me you know.  I mean, I didn’t do anything wrong, and it’s not like we didn’t score the touchdown.  I just don’t know what Coach wants from me.”
 Amanda felt bad for him.  “I’m sorry for bringing it up.”
 Jason smiled at her.  “Don’t be, I know you’re only trying to help, and I appreciate it.”

Amanda smiled.  She was falling for him more and more each second that passed.

 “You busy tomorrow”, he asked her suddenly.
 “No, why?”
 “Well, I’ve got practice, but, after that I don’t have any plans.  Sooo, I was wondering if you’d like to spend the day with me.”  Jason looked at her nervously.
 “Sure, I’d love to”, Amanda replied.
 Jason smiled.  “Great, I’ll pick you up after practice then.”
 “I’ll be waiting.”  She looked into his eyes and wanted so badly to just jump on him right there.

The moment was interrupted as Chanel burst out the door.

 “Jason, you’d better get in here.  Nick and Joey are wrestling again and they’re really drunk,” she said disgustedly.
 Jason rolled his eyes.  “God, not again.”

Jason jumped up from the chair and made is way into the house.

 She smiled as she reached the truck.  “What took you so long?”
 Jason chuckled.  “I couldn’t find the place.  I don’t come to this side of town very often.”
 “Oh, well you’re forgiven then”, she grinned as she got in the truck.  “So, where are we going?”
 Jason looked at her and smiled.  “Well, I thought we’d go see a movie, and maybe get something to eat.  After that, I don’t have the faintest idea, but I’m sure I’ll think of something.”
 “Sounds good.”  She was so captivated by his smile that she could go with him to a 7-Eleven and have the greatest time of her life.
 
Jason turned his eyes to the road as he pulled away.

 A few hours later, Jason and Amanda were sitting in a booth at Joe’s Diner, which was what passed for a nice restaurant to the local teens.
 
 “That movie was so corny.”  Amanda took a drink of her soda.
 Jason nodded in agreement.  “I know.  I mean, if the victim is running, and the slasher guy is walking, how come he’s always right behind the person he’s chasing?”
 “Exactly.  And have you ever noticed that in every slasher film, the girl always tries to hide from the guy instead of running out the front door?”
 “Or go through the window.”  Jason added.
 “No, cause then the window would come down on her and trap her”, she explained.
 “Oh yeah, forgot about that.”  Jason put a French frie in his mouth.

Amanda’s gaze turned to the window they sat in front of.

 “The sun’s going down”, she pointed out.
 Jason nodded.  “Yeah, that pretty much happens every night around here.”
 Amanda gave him sarcastic look.  “I’m talking about the sunset.  I’ve never seen one before.”

Jason put his burger down and rose to is feet.

 “Where are you doing?”  Amanda asked.
 “Come on.”
 “Where?”
 “Just come on, we don’t have much time.”

Amanda gave him a curious look, but said nothing as she grabbed her coat and followed him out to the truck.
 
 A few minutes later, they were traveling down a dirt road that broke off from the main highway out of town.  The ride was bumpy, but worth it.  They came to a stop near a cliff over looking the entire town.  Off in the distance, was the incredible sight of the immense sun passing into the wayward fields.  Jason turned off the engine.

 He looked over at Amanda, and smiled.  “There’s your sunset.”

Amanda was speechless.  It was the most breathtakingly beautiful sight she had ever seen.  It was like an oil painting brought magically to life.

 “Come on, let’s get a better look.”  Jason opened his door and climbed out.

Amanda followed his lead, and joined him on the hood of the truck.

 “It’s incredible”, she smiled.
 “Yeah.  Me, Nick, and Paul used to come up here all the time when we were kids.  Mostly to get away from our parents when we were mad at them, or did something wrong.”  Jason leaned back on his hands.
 “Who’s Paul?”
 Jason’s face went from happiness to somewhat solemn.  “He was my older brother.  The coolest guy I ever knew, and the best friend I ever had.”
 “What happened to him?”  She asked hesitantly.
 Jason sighed.  “He died in a car accident last year.”
 Amanda wished she hadn’t asked.  “I’m sorry.”
 He smiled at her.  “It’s alright.”

There was an awkward silence before Jason hopped off the truck.

 
“How about some music?”
 “That’d be great.”   She was just happy she hadn’t ruined the mood.
 
Jason disappeared within the truck and a few seconds later, the sound of music pierced the air.

 Amanda smiled as Jason returned.  “I love this song.”
 Jason hops back onto the hood.  “ “I’ll be”?  This is one of my favorite songs.”
 Amanda looked at him in surprise.  “Mine too.”
 “Well, It seems we have a lot in common.”

There was another awkward silence.

“So uh…what do want to do with your life?”  Jason asked, breaking the silence.
“I don’t know.  I always wanted to be a writer, so, maybe I’ll do that.”
 “Really?  What do you write about?”
 “Whatever comes to me I guess.”
 “Oh…well, ever thought about writing about a…high school quarterback who falls in love with a new girl from out of state who becomes a cheerleader?”
 Amanda smiled.  “Maybe.”
 

They stared into each other’s eyes.  The entire day had been nothing more than a joyful preamble to this very moment.  The moment when the entire world seemed to freeze as their lips edged closer and closer.  Jason’s hand met the side of her face as they kissed.  And, as they lay back, the only outside sound, was that of the heartfelt song that emanated from the radio.

 The next morning, Jason’s truck once again pulled up to Amanda’s house.

 “I had a really great time.”  Amanda smiled as Jason pulled her closer and kissed her deeply.
 “Can I call you later”, he asked.
 “Sure.”  She opened her door and climbed out.

They exchanged good-byes and Amanda watched as Jason pulled away.   She had just had the most wonderful night of her life.  So, she did what every normal teenage girl would do after something like that.  She headed straight for her phone.
 

 About a month later, football fever had once again taken over the Westdale campus, and the now 6-0 Westdale Warriors were battling the 5-1 Lincoln Knights.  It was almost half time, and the warriors led 21-14 with a minute left.  Jason tossed a short pass to Nick, who caught the ball along the sidelines.  Nick’s foot had just barely landed out of bounds, when, from out of nowhere, one of the opposing players came charging, and drove his shoulder into him.  Nick was launched into the opposing team’s bench.  Nick got up, ignoring the taunts of the players, and attacked the guy who hit him.

 “What the $#@& is your problem man?”  Nick pushed the guy, who wore number fifty-six.
 The other guy pushed back.  “I don’t have a problem man.  What’s yours, can’t take a hit.”
 “Yeah I can take a hit, legal ones!”  Nick, now enraged, grabbed the guy’s facemask and wrestled him to the ground.

It was now that everyone came to break it up, and it was Joey who ended up pulling his teammate from the fray.

 “What the hell are you doing man!”  He was barely able to keep Nick from wrestling free.
 “I’m trying to kick that guy’s @$$.”  Nick was trying his hardest to get away from the large arms that held him.

Jason came running.

 He grabbed Nick by the facemask.  “Let it go Nick!  It’s over, you’re not helping the team any.”
 Nick looked at his friend with angry eyes.  “I’m gonna get that jerk.”
 “You’re not doing anything, you hear me!  It’s over!”  Jason was furious.  He had never seen his friend lose control like this before.

While the players were arguing, the refs signaled that Nick had been ejected from the game.  This infuriated him even more.

 “What!  What about him?”  Nick shouted as he was led off the field by his teammates.
 Coach walked up to him.  “Shut up Benson.  I hope you know you just hurt your team by acting like a child.  Not only are you out of this game, but you’re also out next game too.  I hope you’re proud of yourself boy.  Get the hell out of my sight.”

Nick slammed his helmet into the side of the water container, knocking it over.  He cursed himself continually as he headed for the lockers.

 Jason walked up to Neilson.  “Forty-two seconds left Coach.  What do you want to run?”
 Neilson looked down at his clipboard.  “Okay…run a twenty-two sweep right.  Tell Trey to get his butt out of bounds.  We don’t have any more time outs.”

Jason nodded his head and ran onto the field.  He reached the huddle and filled in the rest of the players on what the play was going to be.  The cadence was called, and the ball hiked.  Jason spun around and tossed it into Trey’s waiting arms.  He hit the corner, and turned up field.  Suddenly, a linebacker came lunging at him.  His helmet crushed into Trey’s leg.  He yelled in pain as the popping sound of a bone breaking filled his ears.  His eyes filled with tears of agony, but his heart was still as determined as ever.  Pulling away from the linebacker, he hobbled his way to the out of bounds marker and dived over it, stopping the clock.  The pain became too much for him, and he collapsed to the ground.  His teammates came running as they heard his cries of pain, but were held back by the coaches and doctors that now surrounded him.

 Coach Neilson knelt beside his fallen star.  “You’re gonna be alright son.  Just keep still and let them help you.”
 
Trey’s eyes were filled with terror, and his teeth were gritted together.  All around him, players from both sides, were kneeling down in prayer for the injured.  A few minutes later, an ambulance made it’s way onto the field, and Trey was helped into it, bringing cheers from the crowd.  Order was soon restored, and the game continued.  Forty seconds later, as the whistle blew signaling halftime, an attempted field goal sailed wide right, as the warriors failed to put any points on the board.

 Inside the locker room, Jason sat alone.   He wanted so badly to just leave, without finishing the game, without anything, and go see Trey.  Jason looked up just in time to see Nick passing by across the room.  He was now fully dressed, and looked over at Jason.  He said nothing, only lowered his head in shame, and walked on.  Jason’s eyes hit the floor as well.

 “You okay son?”  Coach Neilson plopped down next to him.
 “Not really coach.”  Jason didn’t even raise an eye at him.
 “Look son, when you’ve been around football for as long as I have, you see some tragic stuff.  Now, I know you’re scared, maybe even terrified about what’s happened tonight.  What you’ve got to ask yourself now is, do you give up and quit on your teammates, who need you now more than ever.  Or, do you continue playing the game?”  Coach rose to his feet.  “Think about it.  When you’ve come up with your answer, I’ll be waiting on the field.”

Jason continued to stare at the floor as Coach Neilson walked away.  In his head, he pondered the question.  It would be so easy to just quit, like Neilson said.  But, in his heart, he knew only one answer.  He reached for his helmet, and strode out to the field.

 The next day, after practice, Jason went to visit his friend in the hospital.  After a little searching, he finally found his room.  He knocked a couple times before entering.  He thought a smile would be great for a moment like this, but the sight of Trey lying in bed with a huge cast on his leg, and a look of sorrow on his face, quickly ended that thought.

 “Hey.”  It was the only word that came to mind as he approached the bed.
 “Hey”, Trey replied sadly.
 “How you doing?”
 “Never better”, Trey replied sarcastically.
 “So uh…what’d they say…about you leg?”
 Trey’s eyes lowered.  “They said that uh…they said…that I’ll never be able to play football again.”
 
Jason couldn’t think of anything to say.

 “I don’t know what I’m gonna do man.  Without football…how the hell am I gonna make a living?”
 Jason looks at Trey confused.  “What are you talking about man?  There are plenty of things you can do.”
 “No there isn’t.  Paying football is the only thing I’m good at.  Without that scholarship, there’s no way I’m gonna get into a college with my grades.  How the hell am I supposed to support a family like this?”
 Jason lowers his head.  “I guess…you’ll just have to hold off starting a family, at least until you get yourself in order.”
 Trey shakes his head.  “It’s too late for that man.”
 Jason raises his head.  “What do you mean?”
 “I mean, Chanel’s pregnant.”
 The shock hits Jason like a tidal wave.  “Why…why didn’t you say anything?”
 “Yeah right, Coach would have my ass if he found out I got a girl pregnant.”  Trey’s frustrated gaze turns away from his friend.
 
Jason looks at his troubled friend.  He wishes there was something, anything that he could say or do to ease his pain, but nothing came to him.

 “I’m sorry man…I really don’t know what to say.  But…I promise you…I won’t leave you hangin man.  You’re my friend, and I’ll never forget that.”
 Trey turned to him and smiled.  “Yeah I know.  You just make sure you get that scholarship and make it to the pros okay.”
 Jason leaned over and gave him a hug.  “You got it man.”

Jason turned to leave.
 
 “Hey, what happened in the game?”
 Jason looked over his shoulder and smiled.  “We won, 63-17.”

Trey grinned and Jason left.

 Later that day, Jason was sitting at home watching some TV, when his phone rang.

 He picked it up.  “Hello?”
 “Jason, we got a problem.”  Joey’s voice sounded serious.
 “What is it Joey?”
 “It’s Nick.”
 Jason sighed.  He hadn’t spoken to Nick since the game.  “What about him?”
 “He and a couple of guys went over to Lincoln after practice.  They jumped that guy, the one Nick fought with.  I heard they messed him up pretty bad.  I heard he had to be taken to the hospital.
 Jason was pissed.  “I’ll take care of it.  Just keep it quiet for now.”
 “Sure.  Man, I don’t know what’s gotten into him.  He never used to be like this.”
 Jason let out a deep sigh.  “Yeah I know.  I’m going now.”
 “Alright, bye.”  Joey hung up.

Jason slammed the phone down and hurried out to his truck.

 A few minutes later, Jason pulled up to Nick’s house.  He noticed that the van Nick had recently bought was gone, but he didn’t let that stop him from at least checking.  He strode up to the front door and knocked.  After a few seconds, a woman answered the door.

 She had a surprised look on her face.  “Jason!  It’s been so long since I’ve seen you.  How have you been?”
 “I’m fine Ms. Benson.  Is Nick around?”
 Her eyes suddenly looked saddened.  “No, Nick hasn’t returned home since he left this morning for practice.”
 Jason was a little worried.  “Is every thing alright Ms. Benson.  You seem a little…I don’t know…worried.”
 She sighed.  “It’s Nick…I think he’s…on drugs.”
 Jason’s heart stopped.  “What…how…how do you know?”
 “Wait here, and I’ll show you.”  Ms. Benson disappeared from the door.

Jason paced about the porch.  His head was swirling.  His best friend, the guy he’s known since they were in diapers, was on drugs.  No, he couldn’t believe it, he wouldn’t.  There had to be some other explanation.  Ms. Benson returned with something in her hand.

 “This morning, after he left, I was putting his clothes away, and I found this.”  She opened her hand and there inside, was a tiny plastic bag filled with a white powder-like substance.
 Jason was shocked.  “Are you…are you sure that it’s um…what I think it is?”
 Her hand once again closed around the package.  “Yeah…I already tasted it to make sure.”

Jason turned away and leaned on the railing of the porch.

 “Talk to him Jason.  You’re his best friend, he’ll listen to you.  Get my boy off this stuff.”  Tears began to stream down her face.

Jason turned and held her as she cried.

 “I’ll do everything I can Ms. Benson.  I promise.”

 About an hour later, Jason sped down the highway.  In front of him was Nick’s van.  It took a while, but he had finally tracked his friend down.  He sped up and pulled up beside the van.  He looked over at Nick, who waved back.  Jason motioned for him to pull over, and Nick acknowledged it with a nod.  A few seconds later, the vehicles had pulled safely off to the side of the road.  Jason climbed out of his truck and quickly walked up to Nick as he climbed out of his van.

 “What’s up Jason.  Where you been?”  Nick was obviously high.
 What the hell are you doing Nick?”
 “What are you talkin about, I’m goin home.”
 Jason was furious.  “You’re high aren’t you.  What the hell are you driving for, you wanna get killed or something.”
 Nick shrugged his shoulders.  “I feel fine man.”
 “Really?  I bet that guy from Lincoln wouldn’t say that.  Actually, I don’t think he’s saying anything at all right now.”
 “Oh come on man, we only roughed him up a little.  Besides, he’s the one who started it.”
 “Bullshit Nick!  He called you a name.  A #@$@# name and you put him in a hospital.  Doesn’t that seem a little extreme to you?  You could have killed him!”
 
Nick lowered his head and remained silent.

 “What the hell has gotten into you Nick.  Is it the dope you’re on?  Is that what’s been making you act like this?”  Jason glared at him.
 Nick eyes rose in a hurry.  “What?  What are you talkin about man, I aint on no drugs.”
 “Dammitt Nick, don’t lie to me.  Your mom found the bag.  She showed it to me when I went over there looking for you.”
 Nick’s face hardened.  “I swear to you man, I’m not on any drugs.  I was just holding onto it for a friend.
 Jason sighed in disgust.  “How come I don’t believe you Nick.  How come, for the first time since we were babies playing in my backyard, I don’t believe you.”
 “I’m not lying.”

Jason lowered his eyes for a second, then returned them to Nick’s.

 “Fine, if you’re so sure that you’re telling the truth.  Look into my eyes and tell me.  Look into your best friends eyes, the guy who has always been there for you no matter what kind of trouble you got yourself into.  Look into my eyes, and honestly tell me that you’re not on drugs.”

Jason stared into his eyes.  In them, he could see sorrow and fear.  Nick didn’t have to say a thing. Jason knew he couldn’t do it.  He couldn’t tell him that he wasn’t on the drugs, because he was, and had been for almost a month now.

 Jason shook his head.  “That’s what I thought.”

Jason turned away from his friend, almost too ashamed to even look at him anymore.

 “If you want to kill yourself, go ahead.  But if you do, you’ll have let down every person who’s ever believed in you, including me.”  Jason walked back to his truck, leaving Nick to contemplate his words.

As he drove off, Nick climbed back into his van and sat there.  Overcome with shame, he laid his head on the steering wheel, and cried.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 Monday morning came around, and Jason pulled into his usual parking space in the Westdale lot.  As he opened his door, Nick’s van pulled into the space next to him.  Nick climbed out and approached his longtime friend.

 “I…uh…I’m sorry…about everything.”  Nick couldn’t even look at him as he spoke.
 “It’s alright man.  Just don’t ever let it happen again.”
 “It won’t…I swear.  I’m through with that stuff.”  Nick seemed sincere.
 “Are you sure, I mean, you sure you don’t need any help or anything?”
 “No I’m…I’m okay.”

Jason looked at his friend and smiled.

 “It’s good to have you back man.  I’d hate to lose another friend.”
 Nick nodded.  “You’re not gonna lose me man.  You’re not that lucky.”

Jason chuckled at the remark, and hugged his friend.

 “I better not.  Who else is gonna catch my touchdowns?”
 Nick smiled.  “Well, there’s Trevor.”
 Jason’s face lit up.  “Trevor?  Please, the guy is slower than my mother.”
 “Okay, what about Jerome?  He’s faster than me.”
 “Jerome couldn’t catch a beach ball if it was already in his hands.”
 “You got a point there.”

The two friends joked with each other as they headed off to find their friends.

 That night, at around one o’clock, Jason was soundly sleeping, when his bedroom door opened.

 “Jason…Jason wake up.”  His mother’s sorrow filled voice awoke him from slumber.
 “Mom?  What…what is it?”  Jason was barely awake.
 “It…it’s Nick.”
 Jason sat up.  “What…what about him?”
 Her eyes lowered, and tears began to form.  “He’s…he’s dead.”

Jason made no movement, and his face bore a look of shock.

 “They found him in his van.  They said it was a drug overdose.”

Jason’s head lowered and his eyes closed.

 “I’m sorry son.”  Ms. Taylor turned and left, closing the door behind her.

Jason sat in darkness the rest of the night.

 The funeral was three days later and everyone showed up.  The entire football team, except Jason, wore football jerseys bearing the number eighty, which was Nick’s number.  Jason stood off to one side, away from the others.  Amanda sat beside Vanessa, whose crying drowned out the religious words of the attending priest.  As the father concluded his reading, and everyone started leaving, Jason strode up to the coffin that contained the lifeless body of his best friend.  His eyes were covered by the darkened shades he wore.  From under his arm, he pulled out a folded football jersey.  He unfolded it, and held it in front of him.  Written in green was the name Benson.  He carefully laid it over the coffin, and glared at it.  Amanda approached him from behind, and took a hold of his hand.  Jason looked at her, but showed no emotion.

 “You want to leave”, she asked.

Jason didn’t answer, but started walking towards the truck.

 A few minutes later, Jason and Amanda were sitting on the hood of the truck, over looking the town.  Amanda was clueless as to where Jason was heading when he pulled out of the cemetery, but had soon figured it out on her own.  He wanted go to the place where everything was perfect.  The place where nothing went wrong and unhappiness could be escaped.  And, as the sun started its decent behind the distant land, Jason spoke for the first time since he found out about Nick.

 “He told me that it was going to stop, that he wasn’t going to do it anymore.”  Jason’s expression turned angry.  “My best friend is dead and all I feel is hatred.”
 Amanda tried to comfort him.  “It’s okay.”
 Jason jumped off the hood.  “NO!  It’s not okay.  I hate him for doing this!  I hate…I hate…I hate him for leaving me.”

Jason collapsed into Amanda’s arms in tears.  It was the first time he had cried since he lost his brother Paul.  Amanda held her broken friend, and let him cry.

 Friday came along, and game time commenced as usual, though the excitement would never be quite the same again.  As the warriors sat in their locker room, preparing for the battle ahead, their leader, the heart of the team, Jason sat alone in the corner of the room.  As he sat, he thought back to what Coach Neilson had told him before.  When faced with a tough challenge, you can quit, of continue playing the game.  As Neilson called the players together to head out to the field, Jason figured out the hidden meaning in those words.  In life, one will face great challenges that will test you, and, you will be left with two choices.  Give up, or go on.  Quit, or continue playing the game.  And, as he strode onto the field, Jason made his choice.