Herndon was supposed to be the easy win, the guaranteed victory but the whole night they had been on our tails. We were leading but not by much and they were gaining on us. It was Homecoming night and the biggest game of the regular season. We couldn't lose. Losing was unthinkable. We had to come up with something to get the crowd and our boys motivated. Ready? Okay!

Put your hands up in the air!

Like you just don't seem to care!

Cause we're the best around, and we show it!

Yeah, yeah, you know it!

Our team can beat anyone!

You know this game will soon be done!

Cause we're the best around, and we show it!

Yeah, yeah, you know it! Go Titans! "Come on Rev!" I screamed.

We turned back to face the crowd and just seconds later the commotion started. I couldn't see exactly what was going on out on the field but I knew it had to be pretty serious when Coach Boone ran out. Within minutes I saw Rev on the ground wincing in pain. It looked pretty bad and I knew he was hurting. The trainers carried him to the bench and I knew instantly that his season as quarterback was over. Coach Boone chewed hard on a piece of gum. He had a decision to make and it had to be quick.

"Ronnie Bass!"

"Yes sir."

"You're in, son."

"In? Rev's coming back, right Coach?"

"Not in this game and not as quarterback. Come on son, your team needs you."

"But Coach, I can't make that pitch."

"Yes you can. Ronnie listen to me. When I was just a boy I lost my mother and my father in the same month, Ronnie, the same month. Now I had twelve brothers and sisters and even though I was the youngest they were looking towards me."

Ronnie took a deep breath before running onto the field. I looked over at Rev who was nursing a broken wrist.

"I don't know what happened Rev. I swear I called it", Louie said, almost in tears.

"Well I didn't hear it that's for sure", Ray shrugged.

That's when it hit me. It all came to make sense like abstract pieces in a complicated puzzle. At warped speed my mind traveled back to the day Ray had called me from football camp. As plain as day I heard the words over and over when Ray told me he wasn't going to block for Rev, that he was biding his time. Now Rev was hurt, out for possibly the whole season because of a block Ray had missed. I looked over at my boyfriend and it was like looking in the face of Satan himself. There was something cold and remote and eerily satisfying about the look on Ray's face. That's when I knew...

Like a true leader, Ronnie rounded up the troops and led them to victory. Homecoming was saved and it was all thanks to "Sunshine" Bass. People gathered around to congratulate the guys but I went straight ahead to the ladies' locker room and changed into the pretty pink dress Mama had bought me for the dance. I carefully applied make up and put my hair in some fancy up do. All that was left to do was go join my prince, my knight in shining armor. I knew Ray would be waiting for in the gym where they were having the dance but there was something I had to do first.

I nervously walked over to the men's locker room. The guys were still showering or whatnot and I heard Coach Boone award the coveted "game ball" to Ronnie who in turn passed it off to "the real king" Rev. I couldn't help but smile. Rev would be out a few games but at least it wasn't permanent. I waited a while outside that locker room hoping Ray wouldn't see me. Finally I saw Gerry.

"Wow, Mary-Courtney, you look great. Old Ray ain't gonna know what hit him. He should be out in a minute, I can go check for you..."

"Gerry wait! I didn't come here for Ray. You're the captain of the team, right?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Well I need to see you and Coach Boone...in private. And you can't let anyone else know I'm here."

I knew Gerry didn't understand but he sensed the urgency in my voice and ushered me to a room on the side that Coach Boone used as an office. Within minutes he and the Coach were in front of me.

"What can I do for you, young lady?"

"Coach Boone, my name is Mary-Courtney Davis", I said clearing my throat. "I'm Ray Budds' girlfriend, sir. I don't know how to tell you or Gerry this but I think you should kick Ray off the team."

"I have a policy, Miss Davis", Coach said, arms folded. "This is a public school program and I will never cut a player that comes out to play for me."

"Coach, Ray missed that block on purpose tonight. He told me a long time ago that he didn't want to block for any of the black players, Rev especially. I thought it was just talk at the time and lately he's seemed to change so I didn't think nothing of it but tonight...he did it on purpose, I just know he did. That's not right. Rev is my friend and now he's hurt and it could have been a lot worse. It's hard for me to tell you this but it's the truth and I think you ought to know."

After I said what I had to say, I walked out and closed the door behind me. There was nothing to do but wait at the gym. A few minutes later there was Ray all smiles running up to me in his wrinkled suit.

"Hey sugar, aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" he grinned.

"Hey", I said softly.

Just then we were joined by Emma and Gerry, who looked rather uneasy. Gerry sent us girls inside saying there was something he had to talk to Ray about. It took less than two minutes for Ray to come storming inside madder than a hornet.

"Mary-Courtney, let's get out of here!" he huffed.

"Ray, what's going on?" Emma asked. "What happened?"

"Emma, we're out of here."

"But it's Homecoming. Geez, Ray all your friends are here..."

"And a few ex friends too", Ray sneered at Gerry.

"Man, I'm sorry you feel that way", Gerry said, straightening his tie.

"Hey screw you man! If you're willing to throw away years and years of friendship for them, then fine! I'm out of here! Mary-Courtney!"

Ray stood expectantly waiting for me to follow him but my feet wouldn't move. "Mary-Courtney, I said let's go!" Ray yelled again.

I shook my head and slipped off Ray's class ring from my finger.

"Here's your ring back", I said softly. "I'm not going anywhere with you Ray. It's over."

"What? What the hell are you talking about?"

"I know what you did out there on the field tonight to Rev. That was wrong Ray and you know it. I thought you'd changed. I believed your pathetic lies and that's all they were Ray...lies. You haven't changed a lick. You can't change. It's not in you. It's like you're a monster sometimes. Well I can't deal with it anymore and I'm not gonna. I want out...for good."

"Fine! Fine! You know what? Screw the both of you! Yeah you and Gerry! I don't need this shit and I don't need you two. I'm out of here!"

And then he was gone and I knew this time it was forever. Ray Budds had walked out on me for the last time.

"You okay, sweetie?" Emma asked as she put an arm around me.

"Yeah", I sighed. "I'll be fine. It's all for the best anyway, I suppose. I'm just sorry if I ruined anyone's night. You guys try to have a good time, okay?"

"Mary-Courtney, wait! You can't leave. It's Homecoming! Stay here and have a good time with us." I certainly didn't feel much like having a good time.

"Thanks guys but go on and party without me. I don't think I'd be good company tonight anyway." "Of course you would", Gerry said putting an arm around me. "You're here with all your friends, your real friends and that's all that matters. We want you to stay."

"Yeah Mary-Courtney it wouldn't be the same without you. Please stay."

Finally I gave in and Gerry went off to get us some punch. I wasn't in the best of moods but I decided to stay on anyway. Ray Budds had taken a lot from me and I wasn't going to let him steal Homecoming night as well.