Chapter 28
'Till Death Do Us Part
Nicole and I sat in disbelief over what had just happened. They weren't going to state. It was over. No more practices, no more games, no more parties after the games. This was it.
I looked down onto the field to see Donnie laying on his stomach, fists pumping the ground in anger and Mike on his knees with blood staining the front of his jersey, looking around in disbelief. Donnie got to his knees, still unable to grasp what has just happened. Brian came over to them and bent down beside Mike, comforting his quarterback. The coaching staff was on the field patting everyone on the back, or helmet, assuring them they did a good job.
I sighed, and tears started to cascade down my face. As I was wiping them away, I caught eyes with Charlie, who was sitting a few rows down from us. He nodded at me, then left the stands and walked onto the field.
"What'sssss he gonna do?" Nicole asked.
I didn't answer her; "Come on, let's get out of here"
Charlie walked up to his son on the field and hugged him, slipping his Texas State Championship ring on his son's finger.
We waited outside for at least an hour for the guys to come out. People walked past us and would point or stare. Some of the other girlfriends of the players would apologize to us, sympathetically. Coach Gaine's wife and daughter walked past and smiled, knowingly; "It will be okay girls" she whispered.
"Thank you Mrs. Gaines" I replied, looking up at her.
"You have a ride back to town?"
"Yes ma'am" Nicole, who has continued to sober up, replied.
"Well you girls have a good night then" She stood there for a moment, then walked away slowly, comforting her daughter.
"I feel like we're a part of the Salem Witch Trials or something" I joked.
Nicole sighed; "No jokes right now, okay Kelly?"
I scooted over to her and leaned on her. The one thing I wanted to do more than cry at that very moment, was hug Donnie and see how he was doing. I didn't know what to say though. Sorry? You did good? Would he even want to talk? We had a long drive back to town. Maybe it would be better if we just waited until tomorrow to talk? I closed my eyes and tried to relax, I was getting a headache from all the goings-on.
A few minutes later Nicole noticed the buses pull up to the stadium, they must have gotten word that the team was ready to leave. The parking lot was pretty deserted, just some security guards and a few stragglers. We stood up and walked over to the buses, hoping to see our guys before they left town.
Brian was one of the first people out of the locker room. He noticed us and walked over, with his duffle bag crossed over his chest and over one shoulder, and his hands in the pockets of his leather jacket; "Hey" he said, nodding to us.
"Hey Brian" I said, almost whispering.
"Mike and Donnie will be out soon" We didn't say anything and Brian nodded, looking over his shoulder to the bus; "Late night tonight"
"Us too" Nicole spoke up.
"Don't be sad alright?" he asked in the most gentle tone.
I nodded, and tears started to fall from my eyes again; "I'm sorry Brian"
"Don't be" he shook his head; "I'll see you guys tomorrow"
"See ya Chavez"
A few minutes later Mike and Donnie walked out. Mike was wearing basketball shorts and his jersey, and was shook up. He almost walked past us, but Donnie grabbed his arm and pointed in our direction. Donnie was wearing jeans, a dark blue t-shirt, and his red baseball cap. They both walked over to us, their heads hanging; "Hi" Mike said, standing in front of Nicole.
"Hi" They stood there awkwardly for a few minutes until Nicole wrapped her arms around him and I could hear him sobbing on her shoulder, a few minutes later, Nicole joined him.
Donnie dropped his bag at my feet and immediately gave me a big hug when he saw me; "Hey baby"
I squeezed him back just as hard as he was squeezing me; "How are you doing?"
He sighed; "I uh... don't want to talk about it"
"Yeah" I was kind of relieved he had said that. I wasn't quite ready to talk about it either, or cry my eyes out again; "How's your shoulder?"
Our embrace ended and he stood in front of me, holding my hands in his; "Hurts" he replied, in his rugged, manly voice; "A lot"
"I'm sorry"
"Me too"
"For what?"
"Losing"
"Donnie..."
"It's not just a game, Kelly" he said, looking down at the state ring his dad had given him; "It's...well it was so much more"
"Yeah. I got that now"
Coach Gaines was out of the locker room now and doing a head count to load the buses; "I gotta go" he said and took his baseball cap off; "Here" he placed it on my head over my messy hair; "I want to see you when I get home tonight. It will be late though"
"I'll be up. Tap on the basement window okay?"
He smiled; "I will" he kissed my cheek; "Love you"
The boys boarded the buses and Nicole and I found her truck in the parking lot. Since Nicole had drank more than I did I was recruited to drive the six hours home. I was hoping to get some sleep on the ride before meeting Donnie in the wee hours of the morning but...I guess that's what first period is for.
December 19th, 1988
3: 34 a.m.
I arrived at my mother's house around two thirty a.m. I took a shower and changed my clothes then laid down to get some sleep. Donnie tapped on the basement window about fifteen minutes later, just as I was passing out. I grabbed my book bag for school, and snuck out.
Donnie was waiting for me on the curb, leaning against his father's car; "This should be against the law" I teased and got in the passenger seat.
"I just wanted to see, alone, before I saw anyone else" Donnie said, starting the car; "Thanks for coming"
I turned to him and smiled; "No problem" I threw my book bag in the backseat and noticed there were some pillows and a blanket back there; "Where are we going?"
Donnie smiled as he leaned back in his seat and drove through town in the pitch dark. His headlights shown on the empty street ahead of us when he stopped at a stop light in the middle of main street. The ceremonial "Gone To The Game" signs were still hanging on business doors, and some white and black balloons were still tied to lamp posts and parking meters. The helium in them had started to drain so they were drooping; "I feel like we've let everyone down"
I turned to him and my heart was breaking. Always the partier, and always focused on football, Donnie never showed much emotion; "You didn't let anyone down" The light turned green and Donnie kept driving, not saying another word. We finally arrived at our destination. Ratliff Stadium; "What are we doing here?"
"Just wanted to come here with you one more time" he said, taking off his seatbelt; "I can't believe the season is over"
"Yeah. Me either" I sighed; "It was a good season though"
He leaned his head on the seat and looked over at me; "A good season?"
"Sorry Donnie..."
"You know I knew football was important, that's why I played but. I knew everyone was counting on us too...it just really hit me when...when they won. We let everyone down. Coach, my dad, you...everyone"
"Me? You didn't let me down. You could never let me down, Donnie"
He rubbed his eyes; "It's just a lot to have on your shoulders"
"I can't imagine"
We sat there in silence for a few minutes, both of us nodding off. Donnie woke up suddenly, a few minutes later and slipped off his shoes; "Get in the back" he said, squeezing my knee.
I jumped awake, and squinted at him; "Huh?"
"Get in the back"
"What? Now? You wanna-"
"Sleep?" he interrupted me; "Yeah, I wanna go to sleep" I took off my shoes and sat in the back seat. Donnie sat on one side and slouched, propping a pillow against the window. He patted his lap and I laid down, my head rested on his leg. I draped the blanket over me and tried to get comfortable; "You okay?"
"Perfect"
"I love you beautiful"
"I love you too, Don"
"Just think" he said, adjusting himself, taking the hat off my head and put it on himself, coring his eyes; "One good thing about the season..."
"Yeah?"
"You and I get to do this more often"
I yawned; "Hopefully in your bed, though"
"Yeah. Hopefully" he laughed.
I woke up a few hours later, much to my surprise, already missing my morning classes. I made Donnie get up and drive me to school, and I snuck in just in time for my afternoon classes. There was plenty of talk going on around the school. Gone were the 'Goin To State In 88' signs that hung on almost every wall and the decorations on the players lockers. A few people wore Permian t-shirts, but most just talked trash about Dallas. Not having Mike or Donnie in school didn't help any. The angry fans, who feel that the team did let the whole town down, took their anger out on Nicole and I giving us lots of not so nice messages to relay to the team.
Brian was one of only a handful of players who showed up for school that day. He met Nicole and I out in the parking lot after school; "Hey!" he said running up to us; "Your coming to the stadium right?"
"Again?" I asked under my breath.
Nicole, who knew where I was last night, laughed; "Stadium? For what?"
"We have to..." he replied, sighing; "Clean out our lockers"
I looked at Nicole who shrugged her shoulders; "Yeah, I guess we can wait in the car while you guys do that"
Brian nodded; "Just meet us in the parking lot"
Once again, Nicole and I were outside a stadium, waiting for our boys; "I thought these days were behind us" Nicole joked.
"Me too. So how are you and Mike doing?"
"Good. He called me this morning before school. He's still pretty upset they lost but..."
"But...what?"
She turned to me and smiled; "He's kind of glad the season is over. He can relax a little bit now"
"Relax and focus on you two, right?"
Nicole smiled from ear to ear; "Finally"
We waited in the car for what seemed like forever. We were so bored we started doing our homework while we waited. Every couple of minutes a player or two would walk out carrying a duffle bag or a box with all of their belongings in it. Donnie, Mike, and Brian, were the last ones out of the stadium. They walked over to our group of cars, Brian wearing his team jacket, carrying a duffle bag, Donnie wearing his leather jacket and red baseball hat, and Mike holding a football. Mike caught eyes with Nicole and winked at her.
"I love him" she said quietly, and closed her math book she was doing homework out of; "So much"
I looked at her and rolled my eyes, knowing that the two of them would be making all of us very sick with their mushiness over the next few months.
The boys stopped walking just before they reached our cars, and looked back at the stadium. Brian shook his head; "I'm gonna miss the heat" he turned to Mike.
"I'm gonna miss the lights" Donnie added.
"Yeah me too" Brian agreed. The three of them stared at the stadium a few moments longer. Their past four years at Permian High School has been centered around one thing, and that's football. The comradery, the brotherhood, and the loyalty of a team. It's easy to let the parties, and the glory go but letting go of a bond consisting of fifty five teammates - and friends - was a lot harder. Especially when letting go was forced upon you by a no good team from Dallas.
"Stay low boys" Brian said, looking at both Mike and Donnie as he walked away; "Keep those feet moving"
"Hey Chavo" Donnie said, stopping Brian from walking; "Be perfect"
Brian smiled and turned back to Donnie and Mike; "You be perfect"
Donnie turned to Mike, who was still focused on the stadium; "See ya Mike"
Mike turned his head slightly to Donne; "See ya Don" Mike watched as Brian got in his car; "See ya Chavo" he nodded.
I got out of Nicole's truck and got in the passenger seat of Donnie's car, planning to spend the night at his house. Mike stood in the parking lot by himself, still staring at the stadium as Donnie and Brian pulled out of the stadium parking lot for the last time.
Inside his office, Coach Gaines was busy taking the magnetic name plates of the seniors off his depth chart...replacing them with next years.
Mike gripped the ball in his hands and looked around. A group of middle school aged boys were playing a disorganized game of football in the field next to the parking lot. He watched them for a minute, then called out to them; "Hey!" He got their attention, then dropped back and threw a pass to the group of boys. They all jumped up excitedly, to accept the pass. A boy dressed in head to toe black and a number twenty jersey caught the pass.
Mike turned around and looked at Nicole, the biggest smile she's seen all season was stretched across Mike's face. It was good to see Mike finally smiling.
January 15th, 1989
The Carter Cowboys did go on to win the Texas State Championships, but were later forced to forfeit their entire season when it was discover that an academically ineligible player had been allowed to play...after his grades were changed just so he'd be cleared to play. As if not making it to state was bad enough, that was salt in the wound.
Christmas came and went. Donnie got me a nice heart shaped necklace, and I was right about Mike and Nicole, their hand holding, kisses, and lovey nicknames were making everyone sick. We all got tired of seeing it after a while.
Brian and I have become good friends, and today he and I were sitting inside the country courthouse together; "This is insane" I said shaking my head.
"I can't believe we're doing this"
We were at the courthouse together to be witnesses at Mike and Nicole's wedding. Yes, they were getting married today. We both got calls late last night asking us to meet them, but we weren't told why. They knew if they asked us to be witnesses beforehand, we wouldn't have done it; "Did he pay you? I got twenty five dollars out of the deal"
He smiled at me; "I got fifteen"
Mike and Nicole walked out of the office where they were signing papers and getting ready. Mike was wearing dress pants, and a shirt, with a matching tie, and Nicole was wearing a plain and simple light pink dress; "Ready?" Nicole asked, looking at me, excitedly.
Brian and I exchanged glances; "Yeah. I guess"
As much as I opposed their wedding, and their reasoning behind it, they were both eighteen and could do what they wanted. I couldn't stop them, and I didn't want to ruin her day. Brian and I stood at the alter and watched Mike and Nicole exchange vows, but not rings. They didn't want to draw attention to themselves, especially when no one knew they were getting married in the first place.
After the ceremony they changed back into their normal clothes and we went to eat at Buddy's Burgers. How romantic, and to think, just so they can both go to the same college.
Who knows where this will lead...
