So here's a new chapter that I wrote over the break, and I'm almost finished with the chapter that follows this one, so look for that within the next week or so. Thank you for being patient between my updates, but I do try to make them worthwhile. If there's anything, questions, comments, constructive critiques, please put them in a review!
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The next weeks were filled with celebration and the team just being crazy as usual. Alan had gotten a video camera and was recording their antics in and out of the locker room.
Maddie's favorite part of one week had been when Sunshine tried to teach Blue some Tai Chi. She was learning too, but thought it was hilarious that Big Blue could be so graceful. Every time she would get into a pose, she would have to stifle a giggle.
One day, for revenge because of all of his taunting, Maddie made a football covered with double stick tape and wrote "DON'T DROP ME" in big, bold letters and presented it to Petey, sticking it on his jacket.
She loved the annual car beat-up. She helped the boys paint it, writing "HAWKS" all over it in spray paint. She was surprised when the boys gave her the honor of the first strike.
"Guys, this hammer is heavy…" she whined, knowing that she would shock the new boys with how she could swing it.
"Aww come on Baby Face, just hit the car," said Petey, using one of the many nicknames he had created for her.
Alan was standing back with Gerry, "How much do you think Petey is going to flip out when he sees what she can do?"
"I can't wait to see his face," said Gerry.
Maddie grabbed the hammer with both hands and brought it to the side, using all of her strength and her bodyweight to her advantage, she swung the hammer into the side of the car leaving a massive dent. Then she went around and busted the head and taillights before returning the hammer to Petey.
"Damn Miss Thang! I never thought you had it in you!" Petey exclaimed.
Sunshine was standing back with Julius, "Remind me never to make her mad," he murmured.
Julius gave a chuckle, "Yeah, 'cause there goes your car if you do!"
The Titans continued their winning streak. Everyone could tell that they were taking it in stride and really starting to loosen up. One game, they even danced with the cheerleaders. The dance ended with Gerry picking Maddie up over his head and spinning around.
Maddie watched in gross astonishment as the boys had eating contests at local restaurants that would serve them for free.
After one game, Coach Yoast came up to Sunshine.
"Good game," he said.
"Thanks," Sunshine replied.
"Ronnie, I know there is something between you and my daughter," he said sternly.
"Yes, sir," he said. "She is a very special girl."
"Yes she is," Coach Yoast agreed in a protective voice, "You're a good boy, and I've seen how happy she's been these past few weeks," he said, in a softer tone.
"What are you saying, Coach?" Sunshine asked.
"As long as you don't hurt her, we won't have a problem," he said.
"Don't worry, Coach. I'd never hurt her," Sunshine said.
"Well, good. As long as we're clear," he said.
"We're clear," said Sunshine.
"Oh and Sunshine?" asked Coach Yoast, "We're not going to say anything about this little chat to Madison, are we?"
"I wouldn't dream of it, Coach," Sunshine said with a smile.
"Good, because the last thing I need is her mad at me and terrorizing the house," Coach Yoast said with a chuckle.
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The next night was a banquet to announce the coaches nominated for the "Hall of Fame". Cheryl, Madison, and Coach Yoast all got dressed up for the occasion. After a long period of debate, Madison finally decided on a plum colored dress with three-quarter sleeves and a hemline that was just past knee length. The dress was simple, but classic and had a small belt around the middle to define a waistline. Cheryl, of course wanted to wear pants, but Madison put her foot down and Cheryl ended up in a dress.
The dinner was stuffy, and Madison grew tired of wearing her fake smile while being introduced to people that she would never be able to remember the names of. She made it look like she was having a good time though, so that she would not disappoint her father. Cheryl seemed to be having a great time, bragging about her father to all of the other attendees.
Madison was walking back from the bathroom when she heard her father and some other man talking.
"Heck of a season the Titans are having, Coach. Too bad it's got to end," said the man.
What is he talking about? Thought Madison. We've still got another game and then state.
"Oh we're still in it Lyle, Taber's boys are pretty good, but I… I think we'll take them in the regional," said her father.
Lyle… what's his last name? He's on the voting committee. Thought Madison, struggling to remember his name from when they were introduced earlier.
"Well not if we have anything to say about it," said Lyle.
Madison felt herself getting madder by the second, her boys had worked so hard and now the voting committee was trying to use her father's possible position in the Hall of Fame as blackmail to get them to lose? I could just punch him right now.
"You just leave this to us, Bill. Boone's out and you're head coach again. And all roads lead to the Hall of Fame," Lyle told her father.
Madison had heard enough, she knew her father was an honest man so he wouldn't fall to his offer, but if the committee was going to be that way, then the Hall of Fame was more like a Hall of Shame to her and she wanted no part of it.
After they had gotten home, Madison went out to her father's office to talk to him.
"Daddy?" she asked.
"Yes sweetheart," he said, motioning for her to have a seat.
"I heard you and Lyle talking," she said.
"You did," he said.
"You're not going to lose at regional are you? I mean, if the Hall of Fame is going to be like that, then it's not worth being in it anyway. It's corrupt, Daddy. Why would you want to be a part of something like that?" she asked.
"I don't," he said, "Well, not now anyway, but I've wanted to be in the Hall for a long time. And Cheryl, she wants it more than anyone I know."
"Yeah, I know, and I've wanted the Hall too… but Dad, now it just seems so, so dirty," she said.
"Don't worry, sweetheart, I won't let it interfere with the boys, I know how hard they've worked… we've all worked to get to state and I'm not going to let it go without a fight. State is important to this town, to the school, to the team, and more important to me than getting in the Hall," he said, squeezing her hand.
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The regional game was tough and the referees calling bogus penalties didn't make things any easier for the Titans. Every time a penalty was called, Madison had to bite her tongue to avoid getting an "unsportsmanlike conduct" penalty for the team. Cheryl however, made her discomfort known to all of Virginia with the way she was shouting.
Finally, her father walked out to the field and talked to the referee. When he game back to the sidelines, Petey walked away and Alan was put in. When she saw her boys take the field, she knew whatever her father said must have had an impact because they were playing a hundred times better. And when Gerry went up to the opposing team's coach and pointed at him, she knew there was no way in hell the Titans were going to lose this game. With every touchdown scored, Madison grew louder. Cheering the boys on. When the game was won by a massive margin she knew there was going to be a lot of celebration that night.
When they got back up to her school, she went up to Sunshine.
"If you don't mind, I've got to talk to Gerry about something… but I'll meet you later at your house ok?" she asked.
"Is everything ok? What do you need to talk to him about?" he said looking at her, concerned.
"Yeah, everything's fine. It's just about my dad and the Hall of Fame and stuff. I just want to tell Gerry first, but I'll tell you what's going on tonight, I promise," she said.
"Ok," he said, "I'll be waiting for you." He leaned down and gave her a quick peck on the lips.
"You played wonderfully out there today by the way," she said giving him a quick peck on the lips.
"Thanks," he said.
"I should go find Gerry," she said, "I want to catch him before he leaves."
"Yeah," he said, "Bye." He lifted her up in the air and gave her a hug.
She loved his hugs, "Bye," she said, kissing him on the cheek before he set her down.
When she found Gerry, he was talking to Emma. He started to walk away, but Madison ran up to him.
"Gerry, can I get a ride with you? I need to talk to you," she said.
"Are you ok? Did Sunshine do anything?" he asked, his protective streak showing.
"No, no, nothing like that," she said.
"Well what?" he asked.
"Can we go to the old field and talk about it?" she said, biting her bottom lip.
"Sure," he said, "Anything for you."
They got in the car and were driving out of the school.
"Great game by the way," she said, "I'm so excited about state, we're going to win, I can feel it."
"Yeah, I know, we've come too far to let it all come to waste. Besides, it's my senior year, do you think I'm going to let this pass by?" he said smiling.
"Not in a million years," she said.
They were driving through town smiling, waving, and on occasion, laughing at those who were cheering and their antics.
"Look at you superstar, it's like you're Elvis or something," she said, still laughing.
He laughed back, "I know, how does it feel to be in the company of greatness?" He asked her.
She just busted out laughing.
They were driving around the square when Gerry revved his engine so that he could screech his tires. Madison saw the truck first and screamed the most blood-curdling scream anyone has ever heard before she blacked out from hitting her head on the window next to her.