Disclaimer: I'm sad to say that i do not own Remember the Titans, the characters, the directors, or anything associated to the movie. The wonderful world of Disney owns all that good stuff. I do own Isabelle Brooke, her family, and that Clive Henry thug...but that's about all. I unfortunately have NO relations to Ryan Hurst either...but Christmas really isn't that far away now that i think about it....YUMMY! :)

Chapter 3

"What happened to *you*?" Julius asked the next morning in front of the high school. The campus was less crowded, with not so many protesters, parents, and reporters swarming about them. The weather was same as before, but somehow; it was more enjoyable. But, not to Gerry. He couldn't enjoy the weather after what he was about to do.
"Didn't get any sleep last night. Stayed up thinking about Emma and Isabelle," he answered, rubbing the back of his neck. "And I made a decision."
Julius nodded. "I hope you made the right one. It was tough, I know. Emma and Isabelle both seem really great." He looked up ahead and saw Isabelle getting out of her car as she waved to Sunshine and Rev near the entrance of the school. "Well, there she is. I gotta go talk to some of the guys about practice later on. Good luck." With an encouraging pat on the back, Julius took off.
Well, here goes, Gerry thought. Don't blow it. He cleared his throat nervously and called Isabelle's attention. She turned around and smiled, making her way towards him. They greeted each other and he swallowed hard. This was going to be tough. In all the hours of trying to decide on what to do, what to say to Isabelle hadn't entered his mind. He glanced up and saw Julius, Rev, and Sunshine sneaking peaks at the two of them. Having an audience makes this even easier, he bitterly thought to himself.
"Good morning, Gerry," she greeted cheerfully.
"Uh, yeah," Gerry responded anxiously. His eyes darted around campus and he caught sight of her concerned expression. "Listen, there's something that I, uh, need to tell you. . . and it ain't easy for me." She looked up with a gentle gaze, encouraging him to go on.
Might as well just get it out in the open, he thought, his heart pounding faster and faster. He felt a sense of dread coming over him, and for a minute, he contemplated on not going through with it. But, he thought of Emma and couldn't bare to betray her. "Isabelle, I. . . I have a girlfriend. And I'm sorry if I led you on."
He looked down at her blank face, as she processed this new information in her mind. Her mouth dropped open slightly and she looked up at him, her eyes narrowed and her shoulders tensed. Her eyes started to glisten over and he reached out to her when she was snapped out of her daze, her eyes suddenly blazing. "You hope you didn't lead me on too much?!" she hissed. "You almost kissed me! And your flirting?! What kind of "not leading on" was that?!" She closed her eyes and pursed her lips before staring back at him. "Why didn't you tell me? Why did you let me make a fool of myself? Why did you let me think that. . . that we. . . we—forget it."
"I'm so sorry, Isabelle," he said, his heart truly breaking. "I. . .I don't know what happened!"
"Well, I do," she spat. "A girl opens up to a guy, thinking that he could maybe be someone special, and then the guy just tells her that it was an act. I really thought you were special, Gerry. I guess I was wrong." She shook her head and started backing away, before turning around and speeding off.
"Isabelle, wait!" he exclaimed, starting to run after her. He watched her fly into the school, past his friends, and before Gerry to walk through the doors himself, Julius and Rev stopped him.
"I'm going to go see how she is," Sunshine volunteered, entering the school.
"Didn't roll over too well, huh?" Julius sympathized. "You did the right thing though; telling her about Emma."
"You heard us?" Gerry guessed, collapsing onto the steps and slouching against the railing.
"Yeah, loud and clear," Rev admonished, "what were you thinking?!"
Gerry jumped up in his defense. "I wasn't, okay? I couldn't think straight last night."
"She's new to Alexandria, and *that alone* is making her sensitive and vulnerable. You just made it a whole lot better, didn't you?"

"He just. . . he just led me on!" Isabelle exclaimed, violently arranging her books. "He could've told me that he has a girlfriend; it wouldn't have killed him!" Sunshine patted her back as she stuck her head into her locker and mumbled, "I really like him, Sunny." The tall, blond quarterback smiled ruefully at his nickname's nickname. "I mean, I really felt a connection. Maybe I should fight for it. . .?" She peaked out of her metal chamber with a look of hope on her pretty face and saw Sunshine shake his head.
"Gerry and Emma are a special couple; they're like the IT couple here. Especially back at their old school. They go way back and they really love each other. Some even say they should get married."
"Married?!" Isabelle cried out, slamming her locker shut. "That's a little out there, don't you think?"
Sunshine shrugged and put a consoling arm around her depressed figure. "Virginia's quite different from California, isn't?" He felt her lean her head on him and heard a defeated sigh escape from her. "Some advice from one surfer to another? Don't get involved with Gerry like that. Just don't."
"Why," Isabelle started, her humor slowly returning to her, "does someone else like me?"
He laughed and they continued down the hallway, "Plenty of someone's like you, believe me. But, besides that, getting in the way of Gerry and Emma could really burn a lot of bridges around here. I'd stick to being just friends with him." He smiled. "And with our first game right around the corner, his position as captain's really gonna kick in with lots of stress. The last thing he needs is a distraction like you." Feeling better, Isabelle playfully punched his arm.
"Thanks, Sunshine."

"Want me to save you a seat, Bertier?" Louie Lastik called out during lunch. He saw Gerry and Emma side by side, and Gerry shook his head grinning down at Emma.
"We're gonna spend a little more time together, all right?" He led the blond beauty outside to the grassy, shaded area outside the cafeteria to where they were going to have lunch together. Their relationship needed a lot of repairing. They both agreed to try and understand one another's views to work through their problem together. They picked a spot under a tree and were settling in, when he looked up to find Isabelle sitting alone on a bench, reading a thick textbook, and a feeling of guilt washed over him. Maybe I can introduce her to Emma? Gerry thought. But, he saw Blue and Julius passing Isabelle. They stopped and sat on either side of her, startling her. They laughed a little when Julius picked up her books and they led her to a patch of grass not far from Gerry and Emma, where most of the football team sat and ate.
"Look at the new girl," Emma said to him. "She's sittin' with them for lunch? Wow." A look of disdain hugged her delicate features and Gerry felt a churn in his stomach. "So, Gerry," she continued on cheerfully. "Let's work this out. . ."
As she went on and on about their relationship and it's value and history, he kept an eye on his teammates. Isabelle seemed to be having a great time with his friends; laughing and horsing around with them. She seemed to fit in perfectly with them, and even got in on their football conversations. Sure, she asked lots of questions, but his friends seemed amused and fond of her to be patient enough to explain everything to her.
"Gerry?! Gerry, aren't you listening to me?!" she exclaimed. He looked startled and smiled at her and kissed her cheek.
"I'm sorry. I was; keep going."
"Ok, so anyway, I was thinking, how this could be. . ."

"Excuse me?" Isabelle demanded, jumping up from her spot on the ground. She glared up at the boy in front of her. Like everyone else, he was taller than she was and could flatten within a minute. But, that didn't stop her from defending her new friends. "I suggest you was your mouth with some strong soap and get a new attitude. Something a little less arrogant and ignorant."
"Oh, yeah, hippie girl?" he snarled back. "I can say whatever I want to say. And I suggest to go elsewhere with your little hippie boyfriend," he jerked a thumb at Sunshine, "and mind your own business."
"Take your own advice," she snapped.
"Uh, Isabelle," Petey said nervously, standing up behind her with Julius, Sunshine, Rev, Louie, and Blue. Alan hurriedly stuffed a potato chip in his mouth before standing up with the rest of them. "Maybe you should just—"
"No," she exclaimed. She turned back to the big thug and his friends. "I won't back down! This guy shouldn't even talk; he's completely dense and impolite. He goes around insulting people without even introducing himself."
Alan stepped forward and whispered in his ear, "His name is Clive."
"Clive," she repeated. She looked him up and down. "Think I can take him?" Suddenly, she heard all the guys burst into laughter. She reeled around and glared at them.
"Sure, honey, I'd love to take you—somewhere secluded," Clive said suggestively.
Isabelle's eyes widened and she lunged for him if it wasn't for Petey, quick as he is, who held her back.
"Feisty," Clive mused. "I'll see you later." With that, he turned around and walked away.
Isabelle wrenched free and turned to face all the guys. "Why didn't you say anything to that jerk when he said those thing about you?!"
Julius put an arm around her and smiled. "We *were* but somehow, you just got there first." She laughed and turned pink, burying her face in her hands. "But, we appreciate your efforts."

"Isabelle," Gerry said breathlessly, jogging towards her locker. He had his backpack and equipment slung over his shoulder as he leaned against the locker next to hers. "What happened at lunch? I saw you and Clive about to go at it."
She pointedly ignored him, as she picked out her school books and notebooks that she would be needing that night. She briefly glanced up at Gerry and then went back to her locker. She's giving me the silent treatment, he thought. He groaned and poked his head right in front of her locker.
"Isabelle," he pleaded, "please talk to me!"
"No. I might lead you on to thinking that we should be friends." She threw a math book in, barely missing Gerry's head. He instinctively yanked his head back and shook his head in amazement. This girl was unlike any of the quiet, reserved girls he knew in Alexandria. What exactly was in the water in California?
He looked down at her, his feelings very injured from her frosty words. But, when she looked back up again, he saw that the hurt in her eyes ran deeper than his own. "I'm sorry, Isabelle, I really am. I want to be friends!"
She shut her locker and glared at him. He saw little tears starting to collect in her eyes and she silently pushed past him.
"Isabelle!" he exclaimed, starting to run after her. He chased after her until she reached her car. "Please don't do this to me!"
He looked down and saw her face lighten up a little and she nodded to something behind him. It was Emma.
"Gerry?" she asked, glancing at Isabelle with a suspicious and curious look.
"Emma, this is Isabelle Brooke. Isabelle, this is Emma Hoyt," Gerry introduced. He felt the thickly tensioned air push down on his body as the two girls shook hands.
"Well, I gotta run." She looked at Gerry, and then smiled at Emma. "I have a date."
"Really?" Emma asked, silently breathing a sigh of relief. Now that she was sure that this new girl wasn't after her boyfriend. . . "With who?"
"Yeah, with who?" Gerry asked, his eyebrows furrowing. He leaned forward and saw Isabelle smile with fake sweetness.
"Oh, I'm sure you know him. He's on the football team." She watched as his jaw dropped and continued, "Now, run along or you'll be late for practice."

"She was probably kidding," Alan advised Gerry in the locker room. He had come into the room with a tight expression; it looked as if he was out for blood and if he didn't get an answer, whoever he was blocking would be seriously injured.
"Really?" he asked, his face skeptical. But, Sunshine came over and sat next to him, picking off some dirt on his helmet.
"She wasn't kidding; she has a date with Ray tonight." He smiled at Gerry's stunned face. "But don't worry," he winked, "he's got nothing compared to you."