Chapter 52: Introduction

July 13, 2012

Northridge High Football Field

"Navy 22! Titan iron!" Charles yells and the ball is snapped to me, I skip back and look for Russ, shit he's blocked. Brent's on defense and he just speared my guard.

Crap , crap, CRAP!

Whoa!

Finally my running back is open…before Brent can sack me I pass it to Daniel.

BAM!

Brent's tackles me. When I get up, Daniel is 37 yards from the end zone.

30!

20!

10!

SHIT!

Daniel's tackled on the 11th yard line.

I take an exasperated breath and jog to the new scrimmage line.

We get in our three point stances and…

"Silver 45, jet jet!" Charles shot gunned the ball to me. This time I gun it. Players are tackling and running everywhere.

I dodge the defense end and cross over the 5 yard line. The defense's tackle is coming straight for me, I make a false move and cut across a defense player. My tackle blocks the outside linebacker and I hit the end zone!

FINALLY!

The Coach Sanders blows his whistle.

"Good, offensive players, defensive players! Good job!" Coach says, "Now that you've been placed in positions, I expect you to sharpen your skills. We'll meet tomorrow morning at 8!" he blows his whistle again.

Oh my God, practice was…tough. I haven't been this sweaty since...training with Joe.

Aginald talked to coach last month and we were recruited along with other guys. We've been training Monday through Friday for about six weeks now. It's different from training with Joe.

With Joe we practice how to fight.

With Coach Sanders…well, we run up and down the field. We do hard drills and practice in our positions on the field.

Aginald was right about the position we'd play in. At the beginning of practice everyone practiced every position to see what position was best for them.

I'm good at being the offensive quarter back. I understand the position well. Brent, he's the defense tackle. Brent's a hard hitter. Even with our pads on, he can knock the wind out of you.

I thought Russ would be a tight end but he surprised me when he caught most of the passes. Coach placed him as wide receiver. He earned it.

We just started practicing in our position three weeks ago. When we first were recruited on June 5th, all we did was drills.

We did speed training with a wind chute. We had to run 100 yards with a parachute strapped to us. It was hard at first but after I did a hundred yard run a few times, I was faster than before.

Coach had us train on an agility training ladder, high step agility trainer and other equipment. We've been doing that for the first few weeks. It's a good thing I'm a fighter, otherwise I would have dropped the first day.

"Hey jackass, you knocked the spit out of my mouth." I joked with Brent and ruffles his hair.

"Yeah, I did kick your ass." he jokes. We went to the locker room to shower and changed into our clothes.

"Training was awesome today." Russ says appearing from his locker.

"I know right? I felt a surge of energy with the passing touchdown and running the ball myself to the end zone." I smile. Being out there did get my mind off Lexi and I blew off a lot of steam.

"Does it sound crazy that I enjoy tackling offensive players?" Brent joked.

I laughed and put on my shirt. "Dude you were on fire!" I said, we packed up our gear and took our equipment bags out to our cars.

My top is down, it's too hot to leave it up.

"Hey Rob, I saw Jade at the gorilla club a couple months ago. I think I can handle some of those stunts, you guys up for it?" Russ asks.

"I went there twice and it…I was embarrassed by Jade. But sure man, let's go whenever." I'm cool with that. Maybe I'll try the balls of pain.

Maybe…

"Good, Friday night?"

"Sure." I say as I start my car.

"Later guys…" I say and pull off. It's after 1 and traffic is already heavy.

By the time I get home it's 1:48.

That's a shame. Weekend traffic should be light.

"Hey! I'm home!" I call out.

"Practice went ok?" Unc asks from the sofa.

"Yep."

I open the refrigerator and drink out the orange juice jug.

"Get a glass…" Fi says and playfully smack my head. I smile and get a glass.

A big glass.

After filling it and gulping it down, I went upstairs.

"Rob, a package came earlier." Unc calls from the living room. I stop in my tracks.

Why am I doing this?!

"Ok…" I say and go to my room.

It's on my desk. I sit my equipment bag on the floor near the closet.

Staring at it wouldn't make this feeling go away…

I hate this feeling.

Ok…

I'll just send it anonymously…yeah, they won't know who sent it. Carefully I cut the tape and open the box. Under the packing material is an azure giraffe.

I hope this won't send the wrong message, hopefully she won't remember the conversation we had in 10th grade.

Last thing I need is for her to think I care.

Which I don't.

I DON'T!

Why am I mentally screaming at myself?


11:39 pm

Grant Residence

Cat wakes up as a wave of pain engulfs her. Her lower belly has been bothering her for a couple days. The baby had already dropped and Cat could breathe a little easier for a few days. For days now discharge has left her body indicating her mucus plug has slowly dissolved. She groans as hard cramps lay waste to her. She gets to her phone and dials Jade's number.

Once her phone call ends she does her best to get up and go to get Wayne. He flies out of bed and goes for

Emily. In twenty minutes everyone was on the way to St. Mary's. Once they got there Jade, Tori, André, Beck and the Vega's were all in attendance. After arrival the nurses place Cat in a gown and onto a bed, then wheels her to maternity. The following hours proved to be the hardest she'd ever gone through. All though the night Cat pushes as she's instructed. As the sun rose in the next morning the child passes through her mother. As Jade and Tori's constant presence and comfort were unwavering, a child passes through the birth canal. Holly, guided Cat all throughout the labor and delivery. Her words helped Cat out so very much.

Jade and Tori smile and cry with Cat and the baby. They are telling Cat how much they were proud of her and how beautiful the baby is. All Cat can think about is the wailing of the child.

Her child…

Once the wails where heard, the men along with little Emily all came in the room. Cat holds her daughter as Wayne looks over them. Even his presence does the not phase the new mother. As Cat gases at her child, she marvels in wonder. The little girl is wrapped in a hospital issued blanket and a matching hat to keep her head warm. As the child breathes Cat counts everyone breath until she loses her place. She caresses her smooth skin and as the very idea of being a mother enters her mind.

She takes a breath of relief as she finally has use for the little onesie she bought when she was fifteen. As the nurse and staff move around them, the only word Cat has thought of is finally.

Finally I have something all mine, someone no one can take from me.

July 14, 2012

St. Mary's Medical Center

I promised myself I'd send it anonymously. I'm such an idiot.

What the fuck am I doing?

I'm wearing my training jersey and sport shorts. I have a hoodie on so no one would recognize me.

"Hi…maternity ward?" I ask quietly. The desk clerk told me to go to the 5th floor. It's 7:30 in the morning.

I found out that…she had her kid. I swear, I don't know what's wrong with me.

I get to the 5th floor and go to the nursery.

Wow…

They're so small…

"Which one is yours?" a nurse asks me from behind.

"Oh, um…none of them. I'm just here to drop off a gift." I said as I clutch the azure giraffe.

"Oh well that's kind of you. What's the name?" she asks and looks at the clipboard. I swallow the lump in my throat. Hopefully she doesn't know her.

"Valentine…" I murmur. The nurse nods.

"Oh…yes, Ms. Valentine had recently given birth about an hour ago. She had a rough birth, we thought we would have to do a C-section but she made it through." She smiled. "Do you want me to tell her little Ashley has a visitor?"

"No…no thank you. I'm just gonna drop off this and umm be on my way." I hand her the giraffe.

"You can give it to her yourself…" she walks away and opens the door for me.

"Um, ok." She brought me to a little bed where a pink unicorn blanket swaddles her…

"She's beautiful…" I trail off.

"Yes she is."

On the name tag I see her real name.

Ashley Jadelyn Victoria Valentine…

"Is she healthy?" the nurse nods. "I could just put it in there?"

"Yes of course…"

I put the giraffe in the little hospital bed.

"Um, thank you. I should probably go." When I get out the door she calls to me.

"Aren't you going to see the mother?" she asks with a confuse expression on her face.

"I'm just here to drop off the giraffe…thank you for letting me." I turn back around and jet out.

When I reach the main exit by emergency, I spot Jade with a bag from Inside Out Burger.

Shit my hood is off…

She stops in her tracks. She looks like she's trying to see if it's really me. I throw my hood back on and quickly walk out.

I rush to my car and leave the property. Once I was on a main intersection I took a breath of relief. I don't think she recognized me.

If she did, she would have chased me out.

I need a nap…


A/N: Turns out Rob has compassion, more than he would admit. He had that giraffe shipped from Canada just for the baby. Speaking of the baby, we read that little Ashley is finally here. Cat is officially a mother.

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