Lia06- I once had a cousin who was 18 and married a woman who was 36 with 3 kids. It was weird but they later split up. I am not sure what that has to do with anything but your review made me think of it!

Meadow567- The suggestion. I am definitely anxious for your thoughts about this chapter.

Strangexbutxtrue- I am an out of the closet NASCAR fan. 24 all the way! I hope you feel this chapter better.

Klinoa- So glad you're back, I missed you so much. LOL I appreciate the review, it wasn't bad. Hope things slow down for you.

Prettypinkcheer5- I hope your classes are better. I hope you continue to enjoy the story. Craig was a shock, but there are more shocks to come so hang in there.

Emador- Janny is always fun to write. I hope we get to talk soon. And how soon is the 15th? LOL

September, Saturday
Minneapolis

(11:00 AM)
My phone was ringing off the hook when I came back from a morning walk. The air was crisp and refreshing so I couldn't resist walking around campus.

"Yes, hello what is it?" I answered the phone.

"Kylah, I am so glad I caught you. What are you doing tonight?" I heard Janny on the other end of the phone.

"I don't have any plans. What's up?"

"We're having a big party tonight. We're combining Buzzy and Johnson's birthdays and getting drunk as hell." Janny said. "Can you make it?"

"Sounds like fun. Where is this keg party?" I asked.

"We're having it at the lake. Baker and Ramsey are going to build a big bonfire and Rizzo's making meatballs." Janny said.

"Sounds great, since I am drinking, have one of the boys pick me up." I said.

"Sure, I'll send one of the designated drivers. And one more thing….if Verchota comes to see you today, don't let him in and ignore him."

"What's going on with Phil?" I asked.

"Well, Phil has decided his birthday gift for Johnson is to get him laid; now he just needs to find the girl. As you can imagine, Johnson's blushing so bad his face is about to burn off." Janny laughed.

I giggled. "Well if I were going to screw around with one of the team, Johnson would be near the top of the list."

"Because we all know, I top that list!" Janny said.

"Yes Janny, the world revolves around you." I said, sarcastically.

"Glad you realize that. I'll see you tonight; you might want to dress warm." Janny said.

"Thanks, I will." I hung up.

(7:30 PM)
"Kylah, where are you?" Pavelich called through my apartment. "Janaszak sent me to take you to the party."

"I'm coming now. I just had to finish getting dressed. Took me awhile to dig my long underwear out of my bottom drawer. I didn't think I'd need it till hunting season." I said as I walked into my living room.

"We should probably get going. Verchota was thinking about challenging Silk to a drinking rematch." Pavelich said.

"If they get drunk and fall in the lake, they're on their own. I can't swim that well." I said and put on my jacket.

"Where's Craig tonight?" Pavelich asked as we walked out.

"Doc and his wife were taking him somewhere. I am not sure where though." I explained.

(8:00PM)
"Kylah, you're here. I am so glad you could make it." Verchota said and hugged me.

"I wouldn't miss a birthday party. I was so excited to be invited." I said.

"I need a favor." Phil started.

"I am not having sex with Johnson." I said.

"Oh come on. The guy hasn't had sex in so long, and he's so shy. And you're cute. And Johnson practices good dental hygiene." Verchota said.

"As important as brushing and flossing is…I think its best if Mark arranges his own dates and such." I said.

"That's what I said." Ramsey said walking up to us.

"Rammer, you just don't want anyone getting laid so you won't feel as bad about being a virgin." Verchota said.

"There's nothing wrong with being a virgin!" I said.

"It's okay for you to be one, Kylah. You're a girl. Guys shouldn't be." Verchota said.

"Ignore him Mike. He's a caveman." I said. "And Philip, answer me this….if men aren't supposed to be virgins and girls are…who are the men having sex with?"

I walked away to find the keg. The bonfire was rolling and lit up the area around us. I found the keg sitting on the tailgate of Baker's pick-up.

"Kylah, nice to see Craig let you out of your cage to play with us." OC said.

"He doesn't keep me in a cage." I said.

"I would if I were him." OC said and walked away.

"What's that supposed mean?" I asked as he walked off.

"Don't worry about him." Rizzo said. "OC thinks that because you're so pretty and Craig is older that Craig needs to keep a close eye on you to keep some other guy from getting you away from him."

I rolled my eyes. "Everyone's got their own ideas I guess."

Janny walked over to us. "Kylah, glad you made it. Rizzo, would you go talk to Bah…..he's drinking awful heavy. I am starting to worry."

"Sure thing." Rizzo said and walked to the other side of the party.

"What's going on with Harrington?" I asked Janny.

"He's just decided tonight to get so drunk he passes out." Janny shrugged evasively. "Good news is, Silky is well on his way to drunk as usual. Thank goodness he decided not to drink against Phil tonight. I couldn't stand them both drunk again."

"Hey Kylah, where is the boyfriend?" Mac asked me when he walked over to us.

"He's out with Doc tonight." I said. "Why is everyone so interested in Craig?"

"Just wondering why you weren't with him." Mac said.

"Take it easy Robbie. We've already had OC spouting off his mouth." Janny said.

"I wasn't going to say anything…I just thought with it being date night and all, Craig and Kylah would be together." Mac said.

"Can we talk about something else for a change?" I asked.

"Sure, why not? I am sick about hearing about Craig anyway." Mac said and walked off.

"What's up with some of the boys? Did Craig do something at practice that a few of the guys didn't like? I mean I know Herb has been running you guys hard, but everyone seemed to turn to Craig for support." I said.

"Don't worry about it; some of the guys are just tired. It's been a long week and they're all drinking." Janny said.

As the party continued, I sat with a few of the boys talking. It was fun but a few of the boys acted distant. I chalked it up to being drunk. Verchota had started asking the team if they had any sisters he could hook-up with Johnson. Not only did the boys who had sisters not take kindly to that, but Johnson looked like he wanted to crawl under a rock.

"Kylah, let's go for a swim." Silk said, flopping on a log next to me. He was drunk as usual.

"Silky, it's freezing out here and that water is probably cold as ice." I told him.

"But I want to go swimming!" Silk whined.

"Well tomorrow, when you sober up, why not go to the Y? They have an indoor heated pool." I said.

"And then I could sing the Village People." Silk said, somehow it made sense.

"Kylah, are you sure you can't fool around with Johnson, just a little bit?" Verchota sat down on my other side.

"Couldn't you just buy the guy a card like a normal person? Yes, I am sure I can't fool around with him. Even if I agreed to your shenanigans, Mark wouldn't go for it. So give it up." I said.

"Oh Johnson would go for it…….he thinks your cute." Verchota said.

"So does most the team." Rammer rolled his eyes.

"Shut up virginboy." Verchota told him.

"You know something, if I weren't with Craig, I'd screw the hell out of Rammer just to shut you up and get you to leave him alone." I said.

Rammer blushed but smiled.

"I'll keep that in mind should Craig and you split. Rammer's birthday is in December. Ho, ho, ho!" Verchota said.

Before I could say anything, Silky let out a yell. I looked and saw he wasn't next to me anymore, but had gotten up while I was talking to Phil. He was doing his best Tarzan yell and running towards the lake.

"Someone stop him before he gives himself pneumonia!" I yelled.

It was too late; Silk ran into the edge of the lake and then tumbled face forward into the water. His head came up out of the water a moment later. He was sitting in about 3 feet of water.

"Silky get out of there, that water has got to be freezing!" I yelled, running towards the lake.

Silk then started splashing around in the water and singing off-key. "It's fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A!"

"Oh dear, why did I mention the YMCA to him?" I muttered.

"Silk, why do you always have to get drunk and act like a moron!" OC yelled.

"Silk, get out of that water. You're going to be sick. We need to get you dried off and warmed up!" I yelled.

"Silky, come on……there might be sharks in there!" Rizzo yelled.

"It's a lake." I said.

"He's too drunk to care." Rizzo shrugged.

Slowly Silk stood up and trudged his way back to the bank where we were yelling for him. When he got closer I could see his lips were blue and his teeth were chattering.

"Come on, let's get him by the fire and strip him out of these wet clothes. Look through the vehicles here for any dry clothes, towels or blankets." I said.

"Kylah is going to strip me!" Silky yelled as I led him towards the bonfire.

"Silky you asshole. You're always causing a scene." OC said.

I got Silk to sit on one of the logs around the bonfire. I started unzipping his jacket while Rizzo worked on getting his shoes and socks off.

"Lift you arms Silky, we need to get your shirt off." I said.

Silk lifted his arms. "I'm getting naked for Kylah."

I rolled my eyes and touched his skin. It felt like a corpse. Baker came back with a blanket. Pav had an extra sweatshirt.

"Great, now we need some dry pants for him." I said.

"Kylah, you can't take his pants off him." Rizzo said.

"Yes, she can. I allow her." Silk said.

"Why not? He needs to be dry." I said.

"But you're a girl." Rizzo said.

"I am sure he doesn't have anything out of the ordinary, no matter how much he brags about 'inch-age'!" I said.

"Kylah, don't you think that would be…weird?" OC asked.

"It's better than him getting sick!" I said.

"We'll get him changed." Jimmy said. "Come on Rizzo. Kylah, you help keep everyone distracted so it's less awkward."

I walked over to where a few of the boys were standing together.

"Kylah, you're not drunk yet?" Strobel asked me.

"No, but plan on being that way. Pavelich is making sure I get home okay." I said.

"What if Pav takes advantage of you?" Broten snickered.

"Pav? I don't think he'd know what to do with a drunken girl." I laughed. "Even if he did, I'd never know it. I don't remember anything that happens when I am really drunk."

(TPPOV)
(2:00 AM)
"I am going to kill Pav for leaving early and not taking you with him. Damn Bah for getting so drunk he puked everywhere." Buzz said as he practically carried Kylah down the hall to her apartment.

"Buzzy, I'm drunk!" Kylah said and wrapped both arms around him.

"I know you are." Buzz said. "Where are your keys?"

"My pocket." Kylah whispered and then giggled hysterically.

"Will you get them for me?" Buzz sighed.

"No, you get them." Kylah said and stuck out her hip.

"But……will you just get them for me?" Buzz said.

"Nope…you want them you have to…" Kylah leaned in close. "Go in deep."

Buzz shook his head. "You're going to be the death of me."

Buzz, as delicately as he could, reached into Kylah's front pocket and got her keys. All the while she was giggling.

Buzz went to unlock her door. "See, that wasn't so hard." She laughed.

"You have no idea what's hard." Buzz sighed again. "Okay, in you go. Home sweet home."

Kylah walked two steps into her apartment and then reached for Buzz's hand and pulled him in with her.

"Kylah, what are you doing?" Buzz asked.

"You can keep me company." She giggled.

"I think I better get Coach Craig to come take care of you." Buzz said.

"No can do, Buzzy. Craig is spending the night with the wise old doctor!" Kylah smiled and then started giggling again.

"I must be in a nightmare." Buzz groaned.

"It's so hot in here." Kylah said as she struggled to get her boots off.

"That's because you're wearing two layers of clothes." Buzz reminded her.

"You're right!" Kylah exclaimed and jumped in front of Buzz. "Strip me down!"

"About a month two late, don't you think?" Buzz asked.

"What?" Kylah frowned.

"Nothing, you're so drunk." Buzz sighed a third time.

"And hot." Kylah said as she took her shirt off.

Buzz swallowed. "I should go."

"NO, you should tuck me into bed." Kylah insisted and grabbed Buzz's hand, pulling him towards her bedroom.

"Do you act this way with Craig?" Buzz asked.

"I don't want to talk about Craig. Craig, Craig, Craig. He's all you boys want to talk about anymore!" Kylah said.

Kylah pulled Buzz into her bedroom and proceeded to throw herself into her bed. Buzz watched as she climbed around until she was seated on one of the pillows at the top of the bed.

"Are you ready for bed yet?" Buzz asked.

"No, I have to take off my jeans." Kylah said reaching for the zipper.

"But……Coach would kill me if he walked in now." Buzz said as he couldn't help but watch Kylah struggle out of her jeans, leaving her in just her long underwear.

"Buzzy, will you come sit with me?" Kylah asked.

Buzz hesitated, but walked towards the end of her bed and sat down. Kylah scooted closer to him and took his hand.

"Did you have a happy birthday?" she asked.

"It was fine." Buzz said.

"You know that list I told Janny about….you're way at the top of it!" Kylah giggled.

"What list?" Buzz asked, totally confused. Kylah only giggled in response.

Buzz looked down at her, wondering what the right thing to do was.

"Kylah, are you happy with Coach Craig?" he asked.

"He is very special to me…I am not exactly sure what I feel for him, but it feels good." Kylah said.

Buzz traced his fingers across her knuckles where she was clenching his hand. She giggled and then sat up.

"You were my first crush of the summer back in Colorado Springs." Kylah giggled.

"You never said anything." Buzz mumbled.

"I was very confused for awhile this summer….and it was worse not having Jake to talk to about it all. But I guess its okay now." Kylah said.

"You should get some sleep." Buzz said. Kylah lay back down.

"Goodnight Buzzy. Thanks for bringing me home." Kylah said.

"G'night Kylah." Buzz said. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. Then walked out, turning out the lights behind him.