Invincible? Chapter one

Ronny "Sunshine" Bass ducked out of the way as an offending green pillow sailed past his head, hitting the back of a retreating Louie Lastik. "You know, Blue, one of these days you're just going to have to admit it. No one can beat Lou's mamma jokes." Sunshine smiled at the larger Titan as he plopped down on the floor, leaning against the couch.

A few of the guys had taken up Gerry Bertier's invitation to an after-game party at his house. It had become a tradition of sorts, the host changing, depending on who had the empty house. Sometimes they wouldn't begin until late into the night, and last well into the next. Other times, when games were lost, they would just sit around, snapping at each other and licking their wounds.

Tonight it was just seven of them. Blue and Rev were sitting on one couch, trying to get a decent station on the radio. From the sounds of it, Louie was hunting up some party food in the kitchen. Julius, Gerry, and Alan were going over the game, trying to find anything in the plays that needed improving.

As much as Sunshine loved football, their conversation was boring the hell out of him. Reaching over Rev he snagged the green pillow's twin and lobbed it at the back of Julius' head., with just enough time to pretend he was watching the TV. Big Ju turned to look at sun.staring him down in his one and only way.

Sunshine tried to look innocent, but when his mouth started twitching into a smile, he decided he had better distract him.

"So where's Petey? He never misses the after-games." That was true. For more than just the party. Some of the other team-mates had taken to calling the eight of them the 'inner-circle' as a joke, for it was rare you would see one without another. The entire team was close, but the inner circle were family.

"He said he might be late. Wanted to talk to Coach Boone about something"

Sunshine nodded and turned back towards the TV. He saw the pillow out of the corner of his eye, too late to avoid it

"Oww". The blonde smoothed his hair. So much for distracting Ju.

"Hit him again Ju!" Sunshine stuck his tongue out at the owner of the voice, standing in the doorway.

"Pete! You're supposed to be sticking up for me!"

"Not against Big Ju, bro. You're on your own with him." Petey ducked back into the kitchen "Come on in man, they're not going to bite". A dark- skinned boy, a little taller than his friend, followed Petey into to the living room.

Blue snickered. "Well, Sunshine bites, but he usually asks permission fist.." Sunshine smacked Blue on the leg.

"Guys, this is Randy Smith. He used to play QB on my old team. Coach's going to give him a try-out during our next few practices. Randy, you know Rev. And this is Blue, Sunshine, Alan, Gerry, and Julius." Each of them nodded a greeting as their names were called.

"And that's Louie" Louie slapped Randy on the back as he passed him, throwing the boy slightly off balance.

Randy grimaced. "Hi."

Petey perched on the arm of the couch, while Randy grabbed an empty chair, studying the blonde football player on the floor.

He reminded Randy of a dog he once owned. A flea bitten mutt that had gotten run over by a car. 'Sunshine', that even sounded like a name for a dog. Sitting there at ,Blue was it? What the hell ever happened to normal names? Sitting there at Blue's feet like a loyal puppy. God, it was embarrassing him, and he wasn't even on the team. Yet. He didn't know how the other guy's stood it. Well, he did actually. They didn't have a choice. Sunshine was the best quarterback they had. They couldn't afford to kick him out on his ass with the game on the line.

"So, you're trying out for QB? You must be good if Coach isn't waiting 'till summer training."

"I'm pretty good." 'better than you'.

"He's more than 'pretty good'." Petey added. "Might even give you a run for your money Sunshine."

Randy caught Sunshine's eye and had to hide his scowl. He forced himself to smile at the other boy instead, but quickly turned away. He looked at Gerry. "You got anything to drink around here?"

"Yeah sure, there should be something in the fridge. Help yourself."

Rev looked up from the radio. " Hey while you're up. Grab me something."

"Me too?" Petey added.

"Lazy bums." Sunshine pushed off the floor. "I'll help you with the drinks. "

"Hey Sun, since you're up."

"Yeah, yeah. Get you a drink. Sure thing Alan."

In the kitchen Randy leaned against the refrigerator, his smile melting instantly. "I want you to quit the team."

Sunshine blinked in surprise. "Eh, excuse me?"

"I want you to quit." Randy talked slowly, as if explaining to a child. " If.. when. I join the team Boone's just going to bench me. Wouldn't want it to look like he's favoring his people, after all." He let a sneer of contempt momentarily cross his face.

"I don't know what you're expecting from Coach Boone, but he's not like that. If you're any good, he'll let you play."

"Not while you're around he won't." Randy's voice rose, but he was careful to keep it low enough so he wouldn't be heard in the other room. "See, Boone didn't piss off enough people by just letting the blacks and whites play together. He had to go and let a faggot play for his team too."

Sunshine clenched his fists, feeling his nails bite into the palm of his hands. His voice, deadly calm as he got closer to Randy. "What did you jus- "

"Hey guys, ya'll get lost in- what's going on?" Petey had only seen that look once, and from Sunshine, that look was never a good thing. Randy's sneer vanished instantly.

"Nothing. We were just talking about football" Randy's smile was brighter, and faker, than ever. He pulled a six pack of drinks out of the fridge.

"Football?" Petey caught the drink thrown to him.

"Yeah.football." Sunshine looked at his watch. "Hey, Petey, I got to go." 'No I don't.' "Promised my dad I'd be home early."

Petey looked less than convinced, but didn't challenge the remark. "All right. I'll see you tomorrow though?"

"Yeah. Probably."

"Hey, Ron" Sunshine froze, his hand tightening around the door knob.

"Yeah?" He stared at Randy's reflection in the window, refusing to turn and look at him.

"Think about what I said."

"Whatever." Sunshine left before Randy could say anything else.

The faded red curtains hanging on the door we're still swinging when Petey got his thoughts straightened out. He looked over at his friend. "What was that about?"

Randy shrugged, looking as confused as Petey felt. "I don't know. I was just telling him I couldn't wait 'till I got a chance to play for the Titans. And he just got. really defensive about it." Randy smiled slightly, joking, "Maybe he feels threatened."

Petey laughed, though it fell hollow. Sunshine was always so laid back. It was rare to see him upset about anything, and he had looked ready to jump the other boy. "Well, that's Sunshine. You never can tell what mood he's going to be in. Come on, let's get these drinks to the guys, before they die of thirst."