Strangexbutxtrue- I love making people laugh and I am always so happy when people enjoy the comedy parts. I like a good balance of comedy and drama. Thanks for the review.

Klinoa- I am so happy you like Kylah. I have worked so hard to develop her character. Drunk Silky has to appear in all my stories from time to time. It's my own rule, lol. And I am so happy you liked that line. I love responses like that!

Kat L- Thanks for the review. Here is another update for you. I like Rizzo too. And Verchota is fun to write.

Meadow567- Drunk Silky is so fun to write. I loved that line myself and was so glad people liked it too.

B- Thanks for the review! I am so amused that people are already making predictions about pairings in this story.

Moi- Thank you so much for your comments about the end of Jimmy/Georgy. You'll just have to wait to see who the pairing is! Lol

Killerkeanegirl- I am so glad you enjoy the comedy. I like Silky and Verchota too. Sometimes I laugh while writing them! Hope you enjoy the rest of the story, I love your reviews.

Shelbers- Thanks for the review and the advice. I am so glad you like the story so far and hope you continue to do so.

Nikkd03- You'll just have to be patient on who the pairing is! LOL Yay for the banter.

Emador- Calm down and take a breath. I loved your review. You were so excited about the last chapter that it was fun to read your review! Hope you like this chappie too!

Love the reviews! Thank you! Keep them coming! Peace and Love!

Minneapolis, MN
June 1979

I pulled up in front of the building the USOC had told me I would be living in. I saw Craig Patrick unloading boxes from the back of his car. I got out and was immediately blasted by the heat of the June weather.

"You made it in." Craig called to me. I walked over to where he was.

"Yeah. How are things going here?" I asked.

"We're all moving in. A lot of the boys are running around…helping each other and the ones who didn't attend Minnesota are learning where things are." Craig said.

"That's good. How did the packing in Detroit go?" I asked.

"Pretty good, but I've already thought of a dozen things I need to buy. I'll probably go shopping tonight or tomorrow." Craig said.

I chuckled. "Me too." I looked back towards my car. "Well I guess I should get moving in."

"If you wait a few minutes until I move the last of these boxes in, I'll help you get your stuff inside." Craig said.

"I don't wanna be a bother." I said.

"It's no bother, I'm glad to help. Besides, we're living next door to each other up here." Craig said. Behind him I saw Dave Silk and a blonde teammate walk by to one of their cars, and pull gym bags out of the backseat.

"Well, let me help you with the last of your boxes here." I said, lifting one from the ground.

"You don't have…."

"Hush, I wanna help." I said.

"Okay, follow me." Craig said, lifting two boxes and heading towards the building.

"Hey Kylah's here!" I heard from somewhere. I looked around but didn't see anyone. "Up here!"

I looked up and saw Buzz hanging out a window yelling down at me. I waved up to him. Then Verchota peered out of the window too.

I followed Craig into the building and onto an elevator.

"We're staying on the same floor as the team." Craig said. "The university is giving the USOC this entire floor. The boys are paired up and living together in the dorm rooms. You and I have apartments at the end of the hall. I guess the apartments are for the RA's."

"Oh, are they nice apartments?" I asked.

"Not huge, but for one person they are fine." He said. "I hope you don't mind living with a bunch of boys."

"Oh not at all. I would rather be with the team. That way I know first hand what I going on and can be quick to respond with accurate knowledge when a situation occurs." I said.

We stepped off the elevator and headed down the hall. I could hear the boys talking, moving furniture; boxes and bags were scattered in the hallway.

"This reminds me of a college move in day." I said with a laugh.

"Been a long time since I moved into college." Craig laughed. "Oh, the building manager left your keys with me."

"Great, I was wondering where I needed to go to get those." I said.

Finally we reached Craig's apartment. It was furnished with just the basics. I was relieved to learn earlier in the week that I wouldn't have to haul large furniture. Craig had several boxes and bags of his own scattered around.

"Is my apartment similar to this?" I asked Craig.

"I dunno, I haven't looked in there. Let me get the keys and we'll go take a look." Craig said.

I nodded and set the box I was holding on a table. Craig plundered through his pockets and pulled out two keys and handed them to me.

"One is for the front door to get you in the building. The other is for your apartment." Craig said. "Let's go get some of your stuff and get you moved in."

I followed Craig next door to my apartment and I opened the door. We peeked inside. It was similar to Craig's. It had a small kitchenette in one corner. A small dining room set, a small living rooms area. A bathroom was off to the left, and to the right was the bedroom.

"I like it." I said.

"You're a girl so you'll have this all nicely decorated within a week." Craig winked.

"And is your apartment going to be the typical bachelor pad?" I laughed.

"More or less." Craig said as we started back down the hall.

"KYLAH!" Verchota yelled and jumped into the middle of the hall. "How is the sexiest thing to ever come out of the south?"

"I dunno, I've never met Tom Wopat." I rolled my eyes.

"Hey Coach Patrick." Pavelich said walking out in the hall.

"Hi boys, you all moved in?" Craig asked them.

"Yeah, it didn't take us long." Verchota said. "You need any help?"

"If you're willing to help carry some stuff, I would appreciate it." I said. "Coach Patrick is helping me too."

"Sure no problem." Verchota said. "Hey Buzzy, come help Kylah move in!"

Buzz poked his head out of the door across the hall. "Hey Kylah, you need help."

"If you want to, I don't wanna be a problem." I said.

"Nah, I'm done unpacking. Although Harrington is still sorting through stuff." Buzz said, joining us in the hall.

"Well, this many of us should have all my stuff in my apartment in no time. Sorting through it is going to be the rough part." I said with a laugh.

We rode the elevator downstairs and walked out to my car. I unlocked the doors and trunk as the boys started pulling boxes and miscellaneous items out.

"Kylah, which one of these suitcases has your lingerie in it?" Verchota asked.

Craig started coughing and turned away.

"Just carry them upstairs!" I said, rolling my eyes.

"Kylah, don't take Philly the wrong way. He's a good guy, but acts like a jackass sometimes." Buzz said.

"Oh, I like him. He makes me laugh." I said.

We were able to get everything out of my car in only 3 trips. Finally, Craig and the boys left me alone to unpack and sort everything out. There was so much to sort through.

I had left my door open so I could hear and see the boys coming and going. Most of their doors were open. It was much like being back at college. I heard a knock behind me. I turned and saw Rizzo, Silk, Cox and a boy I didn't know standing in my doorway.

"Hey guys, come on in. Sorry about the mess. It's gonna take me a few days to get everything in order." I said.

Suddenly the boy I didn't know burst out laughing.

"Something funny?" Cox asked.

"That pretty face…and then she opens mouth and out comes that accent. She sounds like she just jumped out of the cornfield on Hee Haw." He said.

"Come on OC, she talks just fine." Rizzo said.

I couldn't tell if OC was making fun of how I talked or not.

"I'm sorry. If it bothers you, I'll hide my accent when you're around." I said a little confused.

"You don't have to do that. I like your accent." Silk said. I chuckled remembering his statements at the bar.

"Come on Silky. Don't you get the feeling that Dueling Banjos should be playing in the background." OC said. "Did you star in the movie 'Deliverance'?"

I scowled at him. That movie was completely a misrepresentation of country folks.

"No, and I'd appreciate it if you didn't stereotype me or judge me by how I talk." I told him.

"OC, what's the matter with you? You just meet her and start in on her?" Rizzo asked.

"She's been hanging around with the Minnesota boys all day, and in Colorado." OC said.

"So what? They're on our team and living here too." Cox said.

"I have unfinished business." OC said, crossing his arms.

"That's not Kylah's fault." Rizzo said. "And whatever your problem with Mac is, you shouldn't degrade how she talks and where's she from."

"I'm outta here, you wanna stay and hang out with Ellie Mae Clampett, go ahead. See you around hillbilly." OC said, and walked out of my apartment.

I was so stunned; I didn't know what to say. No one had ever attacked me quite that way before.

"Do you all really think I'm some country bumpkin?" I asked, suddenly unsure of myself.

"Oh no, not at all." Rizzo said. "Jack is just very angry at McClanahan right now and has taken the attitude that you're either with him or against him."

"But I don't even know Jack…how could I be against him?" I asked.

"Give him time, he'll come around." Rizzo said.

"Are you sure? I mean, I've never been out of the south that much, and I've never had some react like that to me." I said.

"We like you." Silk said putting an arm around me. "You talk any way you want and ignore OC, I'll listen to you talk anytime."

I chuckled.

"And those stories you tell…..did your grandfather really run moonshine across the mountains into Tennessee?" Rizzo asked.

"Yeah, that's what got our family through the depression." I said.

"Kylah do you have make-up?" Verchota suddenly appeared at the door with Pavelich.

"What?" I was confused.

"Make-up, do you have make-up and fingernail polish?" Verchota asked.

"Well of course I do." I said. "Why?"

"Harrington fell asleep and we're gonna put make-up on him while he's out." Verchota said.

"Are we in 6th grade?" Cox asked.

"Its just for fun, can we use some of your make-up?" Verchota said.

"He'll wake up with you touching his face and hands." I said.

"Not Bah. I lived with him for two years. Nuclear Holocaust could start and he wouldn't wake up. He's a very sound sleeper. Whenever we had fire drills, I'd have to shake him awake." Pavelich said.

"Let me find where I packed my cosmetics." I said, shaking my head.

I searched around in a few bags until I found my make-up bag and box of nail polish.

"No wasting it, my make-up is expensive because I am allergic to some brands." I told them.

"Then come help us." Pavelich said.

"Yeah, you guys wanna come watch too?" Verchota asked the other boys.

Soon all of us were walking down the hall to the room Buzz was sharing with Bah. Sure enough, Bah was on his back, sound asleep. Mac, Janny, Johnson, Christian, Ramsey, Christoff, Suter, Broten, Baker, and Strobel were all crowded in there already. Apparently the make-up prank was something everyone wanted to be involved in.

"Who wants to paint his fingernails?" I whispered.

"None of us know how to do that?" Mac said.

"It's not hard just paint the nail with the little brush." I said. I pulled out a bright red shade of red paint.

"I'll try it." Buzz said.

"Here, use this color." I handed him the paint. "Who wants to do his toes?"

"Are we really gonna do that to him?" Baker asked.

"Sure, why not?" Verchota said. "I'll work on his toes."

I handed Verchota a bottle of pink polish for Bah's toes.

"I'll work on his make-up." I said and went about it.

If I had been applying make-up for practical purposes, I would've done it properly. But since it was a prank, I made Bah look like a hooker. I used lots of bright colors, that I hardly ever wore myself. Bah slept through it all. He snorted a few times, but never awoke.

"Nails done yet?" I asked, as I finished by putting bright red lipstick on Bah.

"I'm done, but it's a little messy." Buzz said.

"I'm done." Verchota said.

I looked down at Bah with his bright make-up on. "I wish we had bows for his hair. Or clip on ear rings!" I laughed.

"He's the ugliest damn woman I've ever seen!" Strobel said.

"Kylah, hide your make up stuff. Then Buzz you wake him up." Pavelich said.

I sat on the couch beside Silk and Cox and hid the make-up behind my back. We all kinda snickered as Buzzy went to wake up Bah.

"Harrington, wake up. We've got company." Buzz said, barely keeping a straight face. He shook Bah's shoulders. Slowly Bah's eyes opened.

Bah looked around. "Hey everybody…what's everyone doing here?"

"We were done moving in, except for Kylah, but we dragged her here." Verchota said. "We all just wanted to hang out a bit."

A few of us were snickering despite trying to stop.

"What's so funny?" Bah asked.

"Nothing, we've just had a long day." Christoff said.

"Did you have a nice nap Bah?" Silk asked.

"Yeah it was." Bah said. He yawned and stretched. It was then that he noticed his fingernails were bright red. "What the hell?"

We all started snickering more. It was getting too hard not too. Bah looked confused.

"What happened to my nails?" he asked again, then noticed his toes. "My toenails are PINK!"

We burst out laughing we couldn't stop. Bah wasn't so amused.

"Who painted my nails?" Bah demanded.

Mac sat down on the bed next to Bah. "Those pretty red lips make me long to kiss you." Mac said in a ridiculous British accent.

We all laughed more. I was actually starting to cry.

"What red lips?" Bah said. He leaped off the bed and ran into the bathroom. "OH MY GOD!"

"You look great!" Rizzo yelled.

Bah walked back out. He didn't look quite mad, just stunned and like he wanted to laugh but couldn't because he was the punch line. We were still laughing.

"Who did this?" Bah said looking around the room. His eyes settled on me. "Kylah, you're the only one with make-up and nail polish."

"But you're so beautiful." I managed to get out between giggles.

"I thought you were a good girl." Bah said, with a smile.

"I am. You're the one who looks like he should put on fishnet stockings and stand on the corner!" I laughed.

Bah crossed his arms and went back into the bathroom. We heard water running.

"How do I get this red and pink off my nails?" Bah called out after a few minutes.

"Oh, I'll get you some polish remover." I said, still giggling.

After Bah had scrubbed all the make-up off his face. He followed me down the hall to my apartment.

"Sit down, and I'll clean your nails off." I said with a giggle.

"Who talked you into this?" Bah asked taking a seat.

"Verchota mostly." I said, looking for some cotton swabs.

"It was funny, just not when it happens to me." Bah said with a smile. I knew he wasn't angry.

I sat down and took one of his hands and went to work taking the polish off. "Glad you're a good sport." I said.

"Did you have a good drive in?" Bah asked.

"Yeah, I enjoy traveling." I said.

"By the way, I had fun bowling the other night." Bah said.

"Yeah, me too. Your advice on aiming for the arrow really helped." I said and smiled.

"I think the guys are going to see Rocky II this week. A few of the guys have been talking about it." Bah said.

"That sounds great. I have been waiting on that movie." I said. "Other hand."

Bah gave me his other hand, and I started cleaning off his nails.

"What else do you like to do in your spare time?" Bah asked.

"I like listening to music. I like reading. Back home I used to go to dances quite a bit. I watch a lot of sports." I said with a smile.

"Music, like country music?" Bah asked.

"I like all kinds of music. Country is close to my heart and I always listen to the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday nights. But I like Rock too." I said.

Bah smiled. "It's liked you stepped out of a cotton field and into our lives."

"Not quite." I laughed. "Before I clean off your toe nails, you don't have toe jam do you?"

"No, I showered right before my nap." Bah laughed.

I sat on the floor and settled one of his feet on my lap and began cleaning the pink polish off.

"You excited to start practices?" I asked him.

"Yeah, I mean I knew it's gonna be a lot of work. But so far the other guys on the team seem really nice." Bah said.

"You never did tell me how you got such a silly nickname." I said, reaching for his other foot.

"Well my older brother Joe is 10 months older than me…"

"10 months! Didn't your parents believe the doctor when he said they shouldn't have sex for 6 weeks after giving birth?" I was amazed.

Bah shrugged. "But when Joe was learning to talk, he called me Bah. My parents are pretty sure he was trying to say 'baby'. But the nickname stuck anyway."

"Brothers can be pretty special can't they?" I said with a slight smile. "There you're all done."

"Thanks Kylah." Bah said. "Well I probably should be getting back to my room. You still need to pack and you're probably tired."

I looked around my messy apartment. "I'll see you around?" I asked.

"Yeah….I'm sure we'll see each other. You can always come hang with me and Buzzy." Bah said.

"Thanks, you're always welcome here too." I said and walked him to the door.

"See you later." Bah said and walked down the hall.

I shut the door and was deciding if I wanted to unpack or shower when I heard a knock at the door.

"Who is it?" I asked.

"Craig." I heard Coach Patrick call out.

I opened the door. "Hey Coach Patrick."

"You can call me Craig." He smiled. "Tomorrow after practice, I am running to the store to get a few things, food among them. Would you like to go with me? You mentioned needing to go."

"That would be great. Thank you so much." I said and hugged him. "I don't know where anything is in Minneapolis."

"Me either. Doc said he'd give me some directions. And with the gas problems I thought that it'd be easier to just take one vehicle." Craig said.

"You're so great. Find me after practice tomorrow?" I asked.

"Sounds good, so I'll let you get back to unpacking." He said.

"Thanks again." I smiled.

"Kylah, if you ever need anything. Let me know, I'm right next door and glad to help." He smiled.

"Thanks, I will." I said and shut the door as he walked back to his apartment.