I own none of the characters of October Road or the song "Boys Of Fall" by Kenny Chesney
When I feel that chill, smell that fresh cut grass
I'm back in my helmet, cleats, and shoulder pads
Standin' in the huddle listenin' to the call
Fans goin' crazy for the boys of fall
They didn't let just anybody in that club
Took every ounce of heart and sweat and blood
To get to wear those game day jerseys down the hall
The kings of the school, man, we're the boys of fall
[Chorus:]
Well it's, turn and face the stars and stripes
It's fightin' back them butterflies
It's call it in the air alright yes sir we want the ball
And it's knockin' heads and talkin' trash
It's slingin' mud and dirt and grass
It's I got your number, I got your back
When your back's against the wall
You mess with one man, you got us all
The boys of fall
In little towns like mine that's all they got
Newspaper clippings fill the coffee shops
The old men will always think they know it all
Young girls will dream about the boys of fall
[Chorus:]
Well it's, turn and face the stars and stripes
It's fightin' back them butterflies
It's call it in the air alright yes sir we want the ball
And it's knockin' heads and talkin' trash
It's slingin' mud and dirt and grass
It's I got your number, got your back
When your back's against the wall
You mess with one man, you got us all
The boys of fall
[Chorus:]
Well it's, turn and face the stars and stripes
It's fightin' back them butterflies
It's call it in the air alright yes sir we want the ball
And it's knockin' heads and talkin' trash
It's slingin' mud and dirt and grass
It's I got your number, got your back
When you back's against the wall
You mess with one man, you got us all
The boys of fall
We're the boys of fall
We're the boys of fall
Knights Ridge, Massachusetts is a small town. Sure, there was a college in the center of town but to the residents of Knights Ridge, the college wasn't the big draw. It was high school football. From the end of August until October practically every conversation had to do with the high school football team. As soon as the season started, newspaper clippings could be found hanging up throughout the town. Most of the businesses closed down early on Friday nights when there was a home game so they could pack the stadium to cheer on their beloved team, whether they were winning or losing. Last year, the Knights Ridge Knights football team came in second place for the league title so this year, the whole school and town were convinced that they would not get second place. They would snag the league title and then they were going to become state champions.
The main reason everyone was convinced that this was the year they would become state champions could be found wearing the number eight jersey; Eddie Latekka. He was one of the best players the town had seen in quite a few years and this year he was the captain. During the team's practices over the summer, Eddie had shown lots of potential so the entire town was looking forward to this year's football season.
It was the first Friday of the school year which meant it was the first home football game of the year and the excitement was evident all around. The football players wore their jerseys. The cheerleaders wore their uniforms. The band members wore their band tee-shirts and everyone had gathered in the gym for the pep assembly. One thing the high school did not lack was school spirit. The gym was covered with banners and balloons. Every student was wearing the blue and white school colors and among them one could see blue pom-poms and a lot of blue spray painted hair.
Once the principal finally got the students quiet he introduced the Knights Ridge High School Marching Band. In some schools there is a stigma about marching bands; everyone in the band was a nerd and were referred to as Band Nerds but not at Knights Ridge High School. In this high school, the band members were almost as popular as the members of the football team. They had a phenomenal band with anywhere between one hundred twenty to one hundred and fifty members. This band not only played great, upbeat and current tunes they had the most amazing marching formations and dance moves to go along with the music. They have won every band competition they had competed in over the last three years and this year, they planned to make it four years.
The band marched into the gym, playing an upbeat song, getting the students moiré hyped than they already were. The next point of business was introducing the fall sports team. The student body cheered for the volleyball and track teams and cheerleaders but it wasn't who they were waiting for. They wanted the football team; the boys of fall and when the football coach came out the gym erupted with cheers.
Each football player was introduced by name starting with the freshman. When the coach got to the seniors their football pictures flashed on the gym wall. When the last picture the gym flashed up on the wall the gym erupted in cheers, mainly from girls because the picture on the gym wall was none other than Eddie Latekka. Ninety percent of the girls in that gym had a crush on the football player and dreamed of walking down the hall holding his hand and this year it seems like more of a possibility than ever before because over the summer he and his long time cheerleader girlfriend broke up. Besides the fact that he was the hot captain of the football team, he was genuinely nice guy which made him much more attractive to all the girls. When Eddie got to the middle of the gym floor, he high fived and fist bumped his best friends, Owen Rowan, David Eichcorn…A.K.A. Ikey, Nick Garrett who were also football players and "Physical" Phil Farmer who was the streaker; the student who painted himself in school colors and ran the sidelines with a giant Knight Ridge Highs School flag whenever they scored a touchdown. The bond between the boys was evident and the girls just went ga ga over that bond. It showed a loyalty that girls loved.
"Hey everybody." He spoke into the microphone. "I'm Eddie Latekka, captain of the Knights Ridge High Knights football team." The gym cheered and Eddie had to wait until it quieted down before he could speak again. "Tonight we play against the Ellison Panthers." Boos filled the gym. The Ellison Panthers was Knights Ridge's biggest rivals. "Tonight we are going to show The Panthers that WE ARE the better team. The Panthers will not forget their visit to our home turf. We are going to show them and everyone in the stands that we are the best team in Massachusetts." Everyone in the gym agreed with Eddie's statement and yelled and screamed to show it.
An hour later the school had ended and most everyone got out as quickly as they could to prepare for the game. Janet Meadows, a senior band member was walking down the hall, holding two of her books, folders and notebooks for her weekend homework in one hand and her purse and flute in the other when Eddie barreled around the corner and right into Janet, knocking her books out of her hand.
"Oh crap Janet. I'm sorry." Eddie gasped as he regained his balance.
"No problem Eddie." At the same time, they both bent down to pick up her fallen books and they hit their heads.
"OW." They both cried, standing up rubbing their heads.
"Are you okay?" Eddie asked his voice full of concern because Janet's blue eyes were filling with tears.
"Yeah. It just has a punch to it."
"Stay put. Let me get your books."
"I'm not going to argue." Eddie laughed as he bent down to grab Janet's books.
Janet was one of the few girls in the school that wasn't falling all over herself to get Eddie's attention. Like most of the girls in the class, she had a crush on Eddie and when she was younger she dreamed of being Eddie Latekka's girlfriend and then she came to her senses. She knew Eddie Latekka; the coolest guy ever would never date a girl like her. She wasn't the typical popular girl but she wasn't sitting at the bottom of the popularity chain either. She was a pretty girl with a great sense of humor but was slightly overweight which made most girls her age judge her but Janet never let that bother her. She was happy with her life; she was confident in herself and it showed to those around her. She had plenty of friends and never had to eat lunch alone and over the years she had even had a few boyfriends but those relationships never amounted to anything. Her best friend was cheerleader, Hannah Garrett. The two of them clicked back in kindergarten and have never grown apart.
Due to the friendship between Janet and Hannah, Janet got more interaction with Eddie than a non-cheerleader normally would. Hannah had been dating Nick, Eddie's best friend since their freshman year and because of that friendship and the two of them hanging out with their friends Eddie and Janet had gotten to hang out with each other. Janet never acted all girly and giggly around him. She laughed and joked around with him and Eddie laughed and joked right back with her. It was relaxed and neither of them felt any pressure to be or act like someone they weren't. They were themselves.
"Have you ever heard of a backpack?" Eddie joked, handing Janet her books and notebooks.
"I left it in the band room and it's already locked. I'll get it later."
"Would you like me to carry your books?" He asked as they walked to the door.
"I wouldn't want you to hurt your back."
"Ha Ha. Very funny."
"Not trying to be." Eddie got to the exit door before Janet and he opened the door for the two of them and let Janet walk out first into the rain.
"Oh crap." Eddie groaned. "I hate playing in the rain."
"Try marching in the rain."
"Hopefully it will stop."
"Not likely. The weather report I saw this morning said it's going to rain all night and drop in temperature."
"Well aren't you a ray of sunshine?"
"Not tonight." Janet quipped and Eddie rolled his eyes.
"You're on a roll aren't ya?"
"I'm just getting started Latekka." Eddie grinned at her and the door opened behind them.
"This sucks." Hannah announced seeing the rain.
"Just a little honey." Nick agreed.
"You ready Janet?" Hannah asked.
"Whenever you are."
"Let's make a run for it." Hannah kissed Nick once more.
"I gotta run too." Eddie said. "See a Janet."
"Good luck tonight Latekka."
"I rock. I don't need luck."
"A little luck never hurt anyone."
"By the way you guys sounded great today."
"We're going to sound even better tonight."
"Can't wait to hear it."
"Come on Janet." Hannah grabbed Janet's hand and the two girls ran squealing to Hannah's car. Nick and Eddie laughed and ran to their own cars.
The sun had gone down. The stadium lights were on. The home bleachers were packed. There wasn't an available seat for anyone and the hoards of people in the stands were cheering for their team. The band played their opening show and they had never sounded better and now they were in their seats patiently waiting for their team to run out onto the field.
"Now Ladies and Gentleman, let's hear it for our Knight's Ridge High School Knights." The announcer called. The band played, the crowd cheered as the football team ran out onto the field. Everyone in the stadium and everyone down on the field was pumped for the game. "Now please rise and face the flag as our band plays the National Anthem." The crowd stood towards the flag and the men removed their hats. The players in the field turned to face the flag and placed their hands over their hearts as the music played.
When the song was over, Eddie walked out to the middle of the field along with the captain of the other team for the coin toss. The visiting team called heads and the coin landed on tails and Eddie opted for his team to have the ball. After jogging back to the sidelines and getting some last minute instructions from their coach the game began.
Nothing phenomenal happened during the first two quarters. The ball was moved up the field to the appropriate end zone by both teams. Eddie was throwing the ball perfectly and he was only sacked once. It was a good game with a few key plays that benefited the home team. By halftime Knights Ridge was up by seven. It wasn't a huge lead but it was a lead that everyone was confident could be maintained. As the boys ran off the field, the crowd let them know what a great job they were doing.
The home crowd was very respectful of the visiting team's marching band. They gave them attention and cheered when they were done. When the home team's marching band stepped onto the field, the reception they received was as lively as the football team received. The town loved the band and was looking forward to their performance. The band was announced, the crowd clapped and cheered and the show began and they did not disappoint. The music was fantastic and perfect and they marched in perfect harmony. When the show was over, the crowd gave them a standing ovation.
As the band was marching off of the field the Panthers were running onto the field. The appropriate thing to do was to wait for the band to come off the field before running onto to it or at least run around the band but the Panthers decided not to follow football etiquette. The actually ran right through the middle of the band formation, knocking a few of the members down in the process. Everyone saw what happened and immediately the people in the stands started booing. The boys on the field saw it and responded by running over to them.
Janet had been knocked down right into a giant mud puddle. It was so crowded that she hadn't been able to pull herself to her feet. Suddenly, an arm reached down to her. She grabbed the muscular hand was pulled to her feet. "Are you okay?" Eddie asked her.
"Nothing hurt except my pride and my…flute." Janet held her flute out that was now in two pieces.
"I'm sorry." Janet shook her head.
"It wasn't you." Eddie nodded and took off running, with most of the team following behind him over to the visiting Panthers.
"What in the hell was that?" Eddie growled at Mark, the captain of the rude Panthers as the crowd cheered him on. It was no shock to anyone that Eddie was up in Mark's face. Eddie had gotten thrown out of a few games over the past three years because he defended a teammate; usually a smaller guy who was getting bullied on the field by a bigger guy and right now, their band was the smaller guy that Eddie was defending.
"I don't have a clue what you are talking about." Mark sneered.
"You led your guys right through the middle of our band."
"They were in our way."
"You are such a tool. You want to pick on somebody, pick on those of us that are out here on the field with you; those of us that can fight back." Eddie reached out and shoved Mark back.
"You wanna go Latekka? You wanna fight? Why are you getting so corked over this? They are just a bunch of band geeks." Suddenly, Janet's heartbroken face looking at her broken flute flashed through his mind and Eddie became furious. Before he realized what he was doing, he drew back and clocked Mark right in the jaw and he did not regret it for an instant. Owen was standing right next to Eddie and when he saw the lineman standing next to Mark raise his fist, Owen responded, hitting him first and it went downhill from there. The boys were all over each other and the coaches and referees were all over them and they managed to separate them after a few minutes.
"It's about respect you jackass." Eddie yelled as his coach pulled him away from Mark.
"Shut your mouth Latekka." The coach yelled at him.
"But what he did was…"
"We all saw it and we know it wasn't right. Now march your sorry butt over to the ref and apologize for starting this riot and maybe, he won't eject you."
"I shouldn't be the one thrown out. They started it when they ran through the middle of the band."
"Get over there NOW." Eddie gave up arguing with his coach and with his head held high, he walked over to the referee.
"Excuse me sir. I would like to apologize for my actions and the actions of my team."
"That's all well and good Latekka but you're out along with Rowan."
"But sir, I started the fight and I should be the only one ejected."
"Rowan threw the second punch."
"Is anyone from the Panthers being ejected?"
"It will be handled."
"That is such a load of bull…"
"Stop while you are ahead Latekka before I throw your whole team out."
"Yes sir."
"Now return to your bench."
"Yes sir." Eddie returned to the bench while the referees conferred with each other and then to the announcers.
"Due to unsportsmanlike conduct number eight, Eddie Latekka and number twenty seven, Owen Rowan are ineligible to finish the game." The home crowd jumped to their feet and gave those boys a standing ovation for defending their band. "Due to unsportsmanlike conduct the Panthers will begin the third quarter with a twenty five yard penalty." The visiting crowd booed while the home crowd cheered.
Unfortunately, the Knights Ridge Knights were unable to keep their lead. They did their best and kept it from becoming a blow out but in the last four seconds, the Panthers intercepted the ball and ran it down the field, scoring a touchdown, winning the game but that didn't stop the home crowd from stopping and giving their home team a standing ovation. They may not have won the game, but they made their town proud by defending the band.
It was nine thirty by the time Eddie was leaving. After the post game lecture from the coaches, Eddie had his very own berating in the privacy of the coach's office. While the coach understood why Eddie did what he did, he made it very clear that was not an acceptable way to handle the situation and finally, he was reminded how his actions affected the rest of the team; they lost the game. He walked out of the door that led to the student parking lot and out of the corner of his eye, he noticed someone sitting in the dark, alone. He moved closer and realized who that someone was.
"Hey Janet."
"Hey Eddie." Janet replied.
"What goes on?"
"Just waiting for my dad." Janet was one of the few seniors without a car. It was just her and her dad and they had a lot of medical bills from her mom's cancer before she passed away and last year, her father was laid off from the machine shop he worked at. He has been back to work for the last six months but he was unable to afford to buy his daughter a car. It was hard enough for him to come up with the money for band camp so Janet worked and was saving for a car and helping out at home when needed.
"When will he be here?"
"He gets off work at ten and he's only about fifteen minutes away this time of day." He heard Janet sniff and saw her wipe her nose.
"Are you okay?" She nodded and he noticed that she was shivering. The rain had finally stopped but the air still had a chill to it. "You're freezing." She was still in her wet muddy clothes.
"I'm fine."
"No you're not." Eddie did some quick thinking. "Hang tight." He dropped his gym bag on the sidewalk and jogged to his truck. He returned a minute later with clothes in his hand. "Here." He handed her the sweat pants and tee shirts.
"What am I supposed to do with these?"
"Go put them on."
"Are you kidding me?"
"No I'm not. You're uniform is soaking wet and you're covered in mud. I'm not going to let you sit out here and continue to freeze."
"How come you just happen to have sweats in your truck?"
"I'm crashing with Nick tonight and I was going to sleep in them."
"If I take your pj's then you will have no choice but to sleep in your underwear or…"
"Don't even go there Meadows." Eddie said with a grin. "Nick owns sweat pants that I can sleep in. Now go change." Janet was so cold that she decided not to argue with him. She stood and Eddie grinned triumphantly.
"Thank you." She said softly.
"No problem."
Fifteen minutes later Janet came out dryer and warmer in Eddie's sweats and tee shirt. "I'll wash these and get them back to you on Monday."
"No rush." Eddie glanced at his watch. It wasn't quite ten o'clock yet. "Can I give you a ride home?"
"No thanks. I can't get a hold of my dad and he will be here soon."
"Well come on then."
"Come on where?"
"My truck. I have heat and you can warm up."
"I'm fine out here."
"Do you have to argue about everything?" Janet grinned. "Just shut up and get in my truck."
"Fine." Janet left her uniform on the bench and followed Eddie. When they got to his truck he opened the door for her. "My, aren't you a gentleman?"
"My mom raised me right." He shut the door and then climbed in the driver's side.
"You played a good game until you got thrown out."
"Thanks."
"Thanks for getting thrown out for us."
"Anytime. Is your flute going to be okay?" Janet shook her head.
"No. When I got knocked down some jerk stepped on it and broke it in two pieces."
"Could it have been someone in the band?"
"Have you seen our shoes?" Janet lifted her foot and showed him her band shoes. "Only the cleats you guys wear could have broken my flute."
"Can it be fixed?"
"I don't know but if it can I'm sure it won't be cheap."
"I'm really sorry about that. Those guys are such jerks."
"Jerk isn't the word I would use."
"I would agree." Silence fell in the truck so Eddie began to fiddle with the radio.
"Okay I gotta ask." Janet suddenly announced.
"That's never a good thing."
"Why did you and Rory break up? There are so many rumors and I want to hear it from the horse's mouth." Eddie sighed but felt comfortable sharing with Janet.
"It can't leave this truck." Janet nodded. "Over the summer I caught her with Ray Cataldo."
"Big Cat?" Janet asked in amazement. She couldn't imagine cheating on Eddie with Big Cat if she was dating him.
"Yep."
"When you say caught her do you mean you caught her?"
"Oh yeah."
"That sucks. I'm sorry." Eddie shrugged.
"It happens."
"It shouldn't. You deserve someone better."
"I'm looking. If you see her will you send her my way?"
"Absolutely."
"Look, I don't want you waiting out here after the games for your dad anymore so starting next week I'm going to take you home."
"No you're not."
"Dammit Meadows. Do you really have to argue with everything?"
"Yep so if you're going to start taking me home you better get used to it." Eddie laughed.
"You are such a pain in the ass."
"I know." The two passed the next fifteen minutes until Janet's father arrived in comfortable conversation. They both were actually secretly disappointed when she had to leave; especially Eddie. He really enjoyed having a down to earth conversation with a girl who wasn't all giggly, flirty and trying to impress him.
"Thanks for the dry clothes and heat. I appreciate it."
"No problem." Janet climbed out of the truck. "Have a good weekend Janet."
"You too Eddie."
On Monday morning, Janet turned the corner in the hallway where her locker was she was surprised to find Eddie leaning against the row where her locker was located. "What goes on Latekka? Waiting for Lindsey?" Lindsey Freed was a cheerleader whose locker was two away from Janet's.
"No. I'm waiting for you." Janet reached into her backpack and pulled out the shopping bag that held his sweat pants and tee shirt. She tossed him the bag and he easily caught it with his free hand.
"I was going to get these back to you. You didn't have to hunt me down for a pair of measly sweat pants."
"These sweat pants are not measly. They rock."
"Sure they do."
"I didn't come for the sweats. I came to give you this." Eddie held out a flute case.
"What is this?"
"My sister's flute."
"Why are you giving it to me?"
"Because your flute is now in two pieces and I may not play an instrument but I am pretty sure that you can't play a flute in that condition."
"Eddie I can't take this."
"Sure you can. Leslie doesn't play it anymore and hasn't played it in years and I am sure that she has no intention of playing it again. She's too busy being a sorority girl."
"This is really nice but I…"
"Quit arguing with me." He pushed the flute into her hand. "Just take it."
"I like arguing with you." Janet told him but she took the flute.
"My mom said that you can keep it; I mean if you want and your flute doesn't have any sentimental attachment."
"Thank you Eddie." Janet whispered tearfully moving past him to her locker.
"Janet I…" She looked at him with tears swimming in her eyes.
"Thank you." She repeated. Before he could respond, he was bombarded by the Lyons twins, Addison and Madison.
"Eddie." They purred linking their arms with his. Janet rolled her eyes and turned towards her locker and Eddie knew his conversation with Janet was over. "Walk me to class." Addison said.
"Me too. Walk me to class." Madison requested and being the nice guy he was Eddie nodded but as he was walking down the hall with a beautiful girl on his arms, he found himself wishing it was Janet he was walking to class.
Over the next five weeks, the football team won every one of their games and now the Knights Ridge Knights were in contention for the league title. If they won the league title then they would move on to the state playoffs and if they won the state playoffs then they would be the Massachusetts State High School Football Champions.
After each of those five football games that they won, Eddie took Janet home. After the home games, he was able to talk her into stopping for a late night pizza or burger and during those times they hung out with Nick, Hannah, Owen, his girlfriend Rachel, Phil, his girlfriend Crystal and Ikey with his current fling, whoever that may be. They talked, laughed and usually were asked to leave when they began to get rowdy. After the away games, the bus usually pulled in late and on those nights that sat in Janet's driveway, in his truck, talking until after midnight.
Homecoming weekend was always an event in Knights Ridge and this year it was an even bigger event because it was the league title game. The town adorned in blue and white. Pictures of the starters were strewn throughout every available surface in town. Inside of the High School was covered with blue and white and it looked like a Smurf had thrown up in the hallways and classrooms The school board was putting all of their busses in use so the town could travel to Ellison and support their boys. It was fantastic. What seemed to fuel the excitement was the fact that they were playing The Ellison Panthers for the title. Normally, the homecoming game was played at their home field but the party center where their dance was booked had to push their dance back a week so they were playing the panthers at their home stadium and tonight The Knights were going to stomp all over the Panthers in their home territory. They were going to make fools of those boys in front of their fans and the boys of fall were simply calling it payback.
Tensions were high on the field due to what happened during the first game. Each player wanting to knock the other members of the opposite team down a few pegs but they kept their tempers in check because they knew that their team could not afford to have any one member of their team ejected.
The game was intense. Both teams were playing their best. Throughout the game the lead went back and forth between each team until the fourth quarter. The Knights were down my four points with nine seconds to go. They broke huddle, positioned themselves on the field. Eddie was snapped the ball. He stood to throw it to Danny Adams but Danny was surrounded. Eddie's eyes darted around the field but there was no one he could throw the ball to so he made a split second decision. He had to run the ball to the end zone himself. It was a desperate and crazy move but he had no choice. He took off running and the crowd on both sides of the field was on their feet. The Panther side was silent and the Knights side was screaming. The Panthers realized what was happening and they all went after Eddie. He was almost tackled twice but managed to scramble out of them. He took a massive hit, almost went down but caught himself at the last second, regained his footing and kept running; never letting go of the ball. He was seven yards away from the end zone when a defensive lineman jumped on his back. There was three seconds left on the clock. Eddie kept pushing on and when the lock hit one second he crossed into the end zone with the lineman still on his back and fell. It was a Hail Mary that became known as a Hail Eddie that paid off.
The Knights Ridge side of the stadium went nuts; naturally. The band started playing even though they wanted to be celebrating. The fans were hugging each other and the boys on the field were losing their minds. They pulled an exhausted Eddie off the ground, lifted him into the air, and marched him around the field while chanting Hail Eddie. It took thirty minutes for everyone to calm down and head to the locker rooms so they could make their way home.
The busses carrying the football team was the last to arrive back at the school. The town was waiting for them and the band was playing. Those boys felt like royalty walking off of the bus into the cheering crowd. Eddie was getting nowhere fast because he couldn't take a step without someone shaking his hand or hugging him with their congratulations but the one person he really wanted to see and hear congrats from was impossible to find in this crowd.
An hour and a half after arriving back at school most everyone had left and Eddie was finally showered and changed. He stepped outside and finally saw the girl he had been waiting to see since the game ended. Their eyes met. In three long strides Eddie was in front of Janet wrapping his arms around her and hugging her tightly.
"That was amazing," Janet said with a smile when they finally broke their hug. "I have never seen anything so amazing before."
"I did it for you." Janet burst out laughing.
"You are so full of crap."
"Seriously though, I have no idea what in the hell I was thinking. I just had to do whatever it took to win the game."
"You rocked it Eddie."
"Yeah I did, didn't I?" He grinned proudly. "Are you ready? There is a celebration party at Zach Cooper's house and we are going."
"You are not the boss of me Latekka."
"Don't start with me Meadows. You said it yourself. I rocked it tonight and I want to celebrate my rocking with my friend. Now let's go." Janet sighed and grabbed her flute and purse.
"Fine but I turn back into a pumpkin at midnight."
"Shut up." The two of them laughed as they walked to his truck.
It was twelve thirty by the time Eddie pulled into Janet's driveway. "I've been thinking." Eddie told her.
"Uh oh."
"You're just plain mean but anyways tomorrow is Homecoming."
"Thank you Captain Obvious."
"Vicious." Eddie said with a grin. "Anyways I'm going stag. You're going stag so let's go stag together."
"Huh?"
"We are both going to dinner with Nick and Hannah so let's go together instead of separately. I'll pick you up and we'll go to dinner and the dance together and then I will bring you home. We'll be together but not."
"Separate but together?"
"Yep."
"It's not a date." Janet wanted to be clear. She and Eddie had a good thing going right now as friends and she didn't want to risk screwing it up.
"No date. Two friends going to a dinner and a dance together."
"I'm paying for my own meal and I'm not paying for yours."
"Good. I don't want you paying for my food."
"Fine. It's settled."
"I will pick you up for our non-date at five thirty."
"I will be ready."
"No you won't. You're a woman and there is no way you will be ready on time."
"Bet me I won't."
"Good night Janet."
"Good night Eddie."
The next day Eddie showed up at Janet's house at five twenty, hoping that she wouldn't be ready and he would be able to give her a hard time but he was surprised when she was the one that opened the door. She was wearing a beautiful, simple ankle length satin dress that she had bought herself with her hard earned money. Eddie would never have pegged her for wearing red but he was glad she did because she looked gorgeous. Janet was surprised she wasn't drooling over Eddie in his black suit and tie. Since this wasn't a date, Eddie's mom bought him his boutonniere and Janet's dad bought her corsage and the two of them made a very handsome non-couple.
After meeting Janet's dad, they left for the restaurant. Eddie borrowed his mom's car so Janet wouldn't have to climb up in his truck in her dress. They enjoyed themselves at dinner and when they checks came, they each paid for their own dinners since it wasn't a date. At the dance, they hung out with each other, with each other and their friends and with just their friends without the other. For most of the dance they avoided the slow dances because it wasn't a date and they didn't want to give the wrong impression but when the last song played, Eddie wanted to dance with her at least one and he didn't care what anyone else thought. Through her protests he led her to the dance floor and wrapped her arms around her and the non couple swayed slowly to the music. As the song played, and they felt other's body pressed close; felt their heart beating; smelled their perfume/cologne something shifted in both of them and they were feeling more than friendly towards the other and those feelings terrified them. The instant the music stopped, they pulled away and did their best to act normal and hope the other didn't pick up on it. When Eddie dropped her off, she wouldn't even let him walk her to her door. She didn't want things to get weird, standing in front of her door deciding whether or not to kiss so she simply said goodbye and thank you.
Two weeks later, the Knights played against the winners of the western league and they won that game but it wasn't easy. It was cold and wet. Three of their starters hurt themselves and were pulled out of the game. The Knights struggled through the last two quarters but by a small miracle, they managed to win by two points. Like always, after they game, Eddie took Janet home and both of them wondered if the new feelings that they developed during the homecoming dance had faded over the past couple of weeks since they really hadn't spent any time alone together since but those feelings were ever so prevalent for both of them.
A week after winning the league title, the Knights played their final game of the season. They were playing for the state title and they were playing for it in Gillette Stadium, the same stadium that was home to the New England Patriots. It was an amazing experience for the boys to be playing on a field that was utilized by professional football players. Eddie walked around in awe knowing that he was walking in the same place many of his childhood heroes had walked. It was a dream come true.
Since there weren't any bands in professional football, the Knight's Ridge High School Marching Band was placed on the field, behind their end zone. It wasn't the best place for them and the people in the stands probably wouldn't be able to hear them but the boys could hear them, and that's what mattered. They only opened up half the seats in the stadium for fans but half the seats were enough. One side of the stadium was blue and white and the other side was red and gold. Practically everyone in Knights Ridge was sitting in the stadium and if anyone would drive through Knights Ridge right then, they would probably think that it was a ghost town.
Two hours and twelve minutes later the game of their lives was over and Knights Ridge High School were the nineteen ninety six Massachusetts State High School Football Champions. It was a very exciting game. Both teams were very good and fourth down after forth down occurred without either team getting the yards that they needed and the ball ended up getting turned over to the next team. The Ravens scored a field goal in the first quarter and the Knights scored a touchdown in the third quarter and that was all the scoring there was and no one was disappointed.
After the final whistle was blown and hands were shaken, the celebrating began. The band was allowed to run out and join their team in the celebrating. They deserved it. Janet pushed her way through the crowd of band members and football players to Eddie. Her heart began to pound furiously when she caught a glimpse of his number eight jersey. When she got behind him, she yanked on his sweaty jersey.
"Hey." She yelled. It was the only way to be heard.
"Hey yourself." He yelled back.
"Congratulations."
"Awe shucks. It was nothing." Janet leaned forward and quickly hugged him.
"You played a great game. "
"Thanks." Then the two of them stood silently on the field, just looking at each other, wondering what the next step was going to be. Finally, Janet couldn't take it anymore.
"To hell with it." Janet said. Before Eddie could question that statement, she was throwing her arms around his neck and pressing her lips to his. This was going to make or break them, but Janet couldn't hold her feelings inside any longer and decided to risk it. For a few agonizingly long seconds Eddie did not respond but once he overcame his shock, he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulled her close to him and his lips began to respond in earnest. When they needed to breathe they finally pulled their lips apart but kept their heads together as they caught their breath.
"Finally one of us got the guts to kiss the other." Eddie told her.
"Well we both know you weren't going to be the one to make the first move." Janet told him with a soft smile.
"I totally was going to make the first move.
"You were not."
"Yes I was."
"I don't think so Eddie."
"Would you please quit arguing with me and shut up."
"Make me." Eddie smiled tenderly at the woman in his arms, leaned forward slightly, pressed his lips to hers and she finally quit arguing with him.
Standing on the fifty yard line with their arms wrapped around each other kissing was not how Eddie or Janet imagined the season ending; a state championship; yes but falling for each other never crossed either of their minds and at that moment in their minds there was no better ending to an amazing football season.
Thanks for reading. Let me know what you think