1/4 of the story 3/4 to go! Chapter 25, enjoy. Only 1 chapter this time around. I promise I haven't forgot about this story, life has just been super crazy and I haven't had much time to write!

"So what is her punishment going to be?" Eric asked, breaking Tami from her thoughts.

"I have no idea," Tami said putting her head in her hands. "I guess ground her again, maybe make her do some extra chores," Tami suggested. "But i feel like that isn't enough punishment, Eric she went to and party and drank, she's 14 years-old."

"Maybe make her do some community service, I could make her clean the football stadium after games," Eric suggested.

"Not a bad idea," Tami agreed. "What did we do wrong?" Tami asked.

"I think we raised her right, but these friends she hangs out with are clouding that with their own bad habits and upbringings," Eric thought out loud.

"I guess you might be right," Tami stated. "And what Julie said a while back about her acting out to fit in has a lot of truth to it. Maybe we should put her in a private school? Like a faith based one."

"I don't think that's the right move," Eric stated his opinion. "She is going to have to learn to handle these pressures and temptations. or it is going to be even harder for her when she goes off to college."

"Yeah I guess you are right," Tami agreed. She got up from her spot on the couch and made her way to Gracie's room where she invited her youngest daughter to return to the living room.

"Your mom and I have discussed your punishment," Eric started with a serious tone. "You will be grounded from your phone and laptop, there will be no going out with friends or even your sister. Nad finally, you will be cleaning the football stadium every Saturday after the game." Gracie just sighed, she deserved every but of it but that didn't mean she was happy about it.

"For how long?" She finally worked up the courage to ask.

"Until further notice," Tami answered. Gracie sighed and mumbled under her breath.

"If you don't like your punishment, then maybe you should make wiser choices," Tami said sternly. Julie, who had been asleep during this morning's events, came staggering out of her room with a sleepy yawn and messy hair. He looked to her parents who were sitting on the couch in a stiff position and Gracie standing before them.

"What's going on?" Julie asked, her voice thick with tiredness.

"Go ahead Gracie, enlighten your sister," Tami commanded. Gracie turned to look at her sister, once they made eye contact Gracie nervously looked down at her feet.

"I went to a party," She mumbled.

"Gracie I warned you," Julie scolded in a low voice.

"What?" Tami asked, shocked.

"Nothing," Julie tried to cover it up.

"No, tell me what you said," Tami demanded. Julie sighed.

"I said that I warned her," Julie confessed.

"So this isn't the first time?" Tami asked, popping up from her seat.

"No..." Gracie admitted, ashamed. "It was just one other time."

"And you knew about this and didn't tell me!" Tami accused "I can't believe this!"

"I didn't find out until after the fact," Julie explained. "So I told her not to do it again or I would tell you."

"Well, for a future reference: come to me first," Tami instructed. Suddenly, Jason came wheeling into the living room, interrupting the "family meeting."

"Ok, I think we've established the new rules of Gracie's grounding and that Julie will tell us the next time she knows about it. So Jason and I are going to try and light a fire under my player's asses and maybe get them excited about football," Eric stated excusing himself and Jason.

At the field house later that day, Eric checked the clock for the third time. It was 10:30, 30 minutes after Eric told the players to be there.

"Maybe they're just running late," Jason stated optimistically.

"30 minutes late?" Eric asked. "I don't think they're going to show."

"Sorry," Jason mumbled.

"It's not your fault," Eric replied with a tone of defeat. Back in Texas, all the players showed up to Saturday practice. Sure they might occasionally be late or grumbled about being there, but they would show up. "These boys are just so different from the boys I coached back in Texas," Eric added, shaking his head in defeat.

"Would you ever go back?" Jason asked.

"Maybe eventually, but Tami loves her job here," Eric told him.

"I heard the University of Pennsylvania is looking for a new offensive coordinator.I have some connections, I might could plant a bug in their ear."

"My track record at the college coach level isn't the best," Eric replied. "i didn't last a full season with TMU."

"You also had a new baby and you were commuting from Dillon to Austin."

"I don't know Jason, it was always my dream to coach D1 football, but it wasn't all what I thought it would be."

"So you want to stay at the high school level?" Jason asked.

"The perks about D1 is those boys are dedicated," Eric answered, avoiding Jason's question.

Hope ya'll enjoyed.