Chapter Two: Saracen Vision

She slowly pulled up to the spot and got out of her car. She could see the fresh spot of dirt in the distance and knew that was his. Her knees shook as she walked closer and closer. She noticed a small stone with his name engraved on it and pictures and flowers surrounding it and began to cry.

She rested her head on his stone, and moved her finger across his name. It was fucked up. Everything was fucked up. How could she let this happen to him?

She looked around the graveyard to see if anyone was around. If anyone would be able to see her laying here, dirt covering her freshly shaven legs, her mascara running down her face. She couldn't find anyone. She wasn't sure if she was happy no one could see her like this, or more upset that no one would come and tell her everything would be alright.

After a few minutes, she stood up and made her made to her car, wiping off the dirt that covered her legs. She took one last look at his small stone in the distance before she started driving away.

She creid all the way home.

Matt spotted Julie at her locker and slowly walked up to her, trying his best to surprise her. It didn't work, as she spotted him and smiled.

"Happy birthday," he said, wrapping his arms around her in a hug.

"Thank you," she responded, noticing that he was sort of out of it.

"I take it you didn't have any luck getting through?"

"No. I tried three times last night and I got nothing. I don't know if I should even bother anymore."

"You know you don't mean that. Did you leave a message at all?"

"And like that would do any good?"

"I take that as a no?"

"No, I didn't."

Julie rolled her eyes, let out a moan, and shut her locker. Matt knew what was coming.

"And you wonder why you never get through, why you never get any calls back. No one is going to answer a call from a number they don't know, you know that." She grabbed a hold of both of his hands and looked him right in the eyes. They might have worked things out and gotten back together, but her touch still sent shivers down his spine. Still made him nervous to be around her. He didn't want to mess this up. Again.

"You are not going to ruin this day. You are going to call at lunch, and leave a message, and that's final. I don't care if I have to stand in front of you to make sure it happens. You might get lucky tonight if things go well. I hear this restaurant is really nice."

Matt laughed a little and leaned in.

"You bribing me or something? Cause it sounds like your bribing me."

"I have very good persuasion skills. Maybe you'll learn a thing or two some day. And you can try it out on me some time."

Matt leaned in some more and lightly kissed Julie as he heard the bell ring.

"See you at lunch?"

"Yep. Bye Jules."

Matt smiled a little as he walked to class. He was going to wait until lunch to call, but this couldn't wait any longer. He walked pass the room he had to go into and found an empty corner in the courtyard. Dropping his bag to the ground, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and quickly found and clicked on the same name as before. He was relieved and also completely terrified to hear the woman's voice on the other line.

"Hi mom."

"Garrity!" Tim yelled out as he watched Lyla walk down the hallway. She may have heard him loud and clear but she didn't bother to stop walking.

"Hey, Garrity!" Tim yelled out again as he got closer. He went to grab onto her should when she turned around to greet him, her body language practically screaming that she wanted no part in whatever conversation was about to take place.

"What do you want?"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you what?" Lyla felt like turning around and walking away.

"That you weren't doing the radio show anymore? This new chick has nothing on you."

Lyla had enough of Tim's antics and turned around to walk to her next class. Tim followed.

"It is because you broke up with him? Can't be around him anymore? Is that it?"

"It had nothing to do with that. And I suggest you mind your own business. I have to get to class. Goodbye Tim."

Tim watched and Lyla continued walking down the hall, but he had just one more thing to say.

"You know, I thought good Christian girls weren't supposed to lie. Why are you lying to me?"

Lyla turned around to look at Tim. She wanted to say something to him, anything to make him leave her alone. But she kept quiet, and walked to class.

Tim wasn't sure if he got the answer he was looking for.

Smash walked towards Coach Taylor's office and slowly knocked on the already open door.

"Hey Coach, can talk to you for a second?"

"Of course, come on in."

Smash walked in and grabbed the piece of paper from his pocket before sitting down in the chair in front of Coach's desk. He held it out for Coach to take.

"I wanted to show you this."

Coach opened up the bent piece of paper to see a TMU logo at the top. He felt his stomach drop. For some unexplainable reason, TMU wanted Smash back, full scholarship and all.

"I don't know what to do," Smash told Coach. "I'm supposed to be signing with Whitmore next week."

Coach looked at the letter before handing it back to Smash and letting out a huge sigh.

If Coach was looking to relax for the rest of the afternoon and try to fight the cold he was getting, all that went to hell.

Matt looked at his phone and smiled before placing it back into his pocket.

Well that went well.

He didn't get to enjoy the moment before he heard someone sit next to him.

"Thought you'd still be out here."

Matt turned his head to see Brett next to him, bag of popcorn in his hands.

"You hungry?"

Matt nodded and grabbed the bag, showing a small little smile.

"So who's the girl?" Brett asked.

"What girl?"

"The girl you've been talking to for almost an hour. I had to cover for your ass because I saw you walk right on by. I knew something was up. So tell me, where did you find her?"

"I wasn't talking to some girl you ass!"

"Dude, I was joking. I'm not that stupid."

Matt rolled his eyes. Sometimes, he was that stupid. And since he was here, Matt might as well tell him.

"I was talking to my mom."

Brett nodded his head, surprised that Matt would tell him something like this. They might have been buddy-buddy, but Brett was sure that this was the kind of stuff that you would only tell those that were really close to you. Brett wasn't in that club. Probably never would be either.

"That's pretty cool. How Mrs. Saracen doing these days?"

"Besides the fact that she isn't Mrs. Saracen anymore, she's doing okay. I guess. Still won't come down from Oklahoma to see me though."

"Why's that?"

"I wish I knew. I was hoping that it would work this time. Guess not."

"You know what Matt; you got to fight for what you want. If you really want her to come down, then you got to beat it into her head until she can't say no. Otherwise, the same thing is going to happen again and again."

Matt took Brett's words to heart, because he was right. Matt always let it slide when his mother said no to come visit him. But he couldn't, and he wouldn't let it happen again. And if he had to get angry with her to get her to say yes, then so be it. He'd apologize for yelling at her when she got here.

Brett knew his little talk was a success and stood up.

"So, you call her back and let me know what happens. Are you coming to the weight room after school today?"

"Yeah, I'll be there. Thanks Brett."

"No problem buddy. It's that Saracen Vision going off. I know when you could use a good pep talk."

"Saracen Vision? What the hell is that?"

"I don't really know. It sounded good in my head so I said it. You know how I do."

Matt laughed as he watched Brett walk away, before he took his phone out of his pocket and found the same number as before.

"Hi. It's me again."

/tbc/