Chapter Four: Someone Call An Ambulance ('Cause Something's Not Right)

Drip, Drip, Drip, Drip

Matt ran his wet hand over his face before grabbing a towel and wrapping it around his waist, making a beeline for his room. He dried himself off and got dressed in a simple tee-shirt and sweatpants. Like lighting speed quick. He grabbed any dirty clothes that were on the floor and threw them in the basket near the corner of the room, before heading to the kitchen and starting dinner as Grandma watched TV.

Once dinner was finished, Matt worked on the rest of the house, as Grandma took a short nap. He was moving from room to room so fast he thought he would fall over his own feet. The house needed to look perfect when his mom arrived, and there was just too much to do. So he grabbed his cell phone and called both Landry and Julie, pleading with both of them that he needed help.

Landry, although less than reluctant, arrived first, and began working on the room that Carlotta once stayed in.

"I'm not going in there," Matt told him as he grabbed a pile of old newspapers and threw them in the trash.

"I guess she showed you a few good times on that bed didn't see?"

"We're not talking about this right now. Or ever. Now just get in there already."

"I'm going, I'm going."

Julie arrived a few minutes later, once the conversation on Carlotta finally died off. It was a topic she discussed with Matt when they began talking again, but haven't touched since. It was better left in the backburner where it would fade away and never come back.

The three of them worked together for almost an hour before things looked good enough to Matt. Julie was near the front window when she noticed a car pulling up in front of Matt's house.

"Matt, do you know what kind of car your mom drives?"

"Uh, not really. Why?"

Julie watched as a tall blonde woman got out of the car and made her way for the door. She looked youthful, energetic, and confident. Could this really be her?

"Because I think your mom is here."

Matt could feel his eyebrows shoot up towards his hairline as he made his way to the front door. And Julie was right. There was his mother, walking up the steps towards him.

"Surprise!! Come give your mother a hug!!"

Matt opened the door and let her inside, hugging her on the way. It was good to see her again.

"Turns out I can't stay as long as I thought, so I figured I'd come a day early and surprise everyone." Matt's mother immediately saw Julie and let go of her son.

"And you must be Julie. Oh my God, aren't you just gorgeous."

"Thank you. It's really nice to meet you."

"Oh, sweetheart, it's my pleasure to finally meet you. Matt talks about you all the time."

Julie watched as Matt's face went crimson red almost instantly. Of all the things Julie imagined Matt's mother to be, this was something she never expected.

"Landry!! Oh my how you have grown. Look at you!!"

"Hi, Mrs. Saracen."

Matt's mother grabbed Landry and hugged him tightly.

"Oh honey, you don't have to give me that 'Mrs. Saracen' nonsense. How are you? How are your parents doing?"

"I'm good, they're doing good too. How are you?"

Matt's mom looked at all three of them as she spoke.

"I'm doing wonderful, just wonderful. Matthew, your mother is back in the dating game, and she has met the most amazing man. He's a keeper if you know what I mean." She winked at Julie, who had no idea how to respond. So she didn't.

"Do you want me to go get your bags, Mom?"

"Oh yes, that would be great. You two can go while I chit-chat here with Julie. Come here beautiful."

Matt and Landry walked outside to grab her bags as his mom grabbed Julie by the hand as sat down at the kitchen table. Landry didn't wait one second once he was outside to say something.

"WOW! Well, that was – she seems really happy to here."

"I know. I didn't expect it to be like this at all. She's never acted like this before. She wasn't even like this on the phone when I talked to her about coming here."

"You think it's that guy she talked about?"

"I don't know what it is. She never mentioned him to me before."

"Maybe she's drunk. Or high. Isn't your mom a smoker?"

"She's not high you idiot. But whatever it is, it's making her happy. So as long as she stays this way, everything will be great."

Smash sat at the kitchen table, looking at the letter he finished writing, doubling checking to make sure that everything was spelled right, and that it didn't sound too harsh.

"Brian, what are you still doing up?"

"I'm just finishing up this letter Mama. I'll be right up."

"I wish you'd stop worrying about that silly letter. You're doing the right thing. They'll understand. And if they don't, then they aren't people you want to be around anyway."

"You're right. I think I understand that now. Goodnight Mama."

Smash grabbed the letter and headed for his bedroom. He'd write it out as an email tomorrow. Get it over with already, and finally focus on the important stuff. It would be easier on everyone.

The Next Day… February 28, 2008

Smash walked into the computer room during his break between classes, finding Matt ending his conversation with his dad.

"Oh, hey Smash. Didn't see you coming in."

"What's up Matty boy? How the old man doing? Your moms come yet?"

"She was supposed to come today but she surprised me by showing up last night. She's gonna stop by at work today. You'll get to meet her. My dad is doing alright too, I guess. It's a long story. What are you doing here?"

"It's a long story. Can I tell you later?"

"Yeah. I'll see you at lunch."

"Later Matt."

Smash watched to make sure Matt left the room and closed the door behind her before he opened his inbox and began writing:

Dear Coach Parker,

I am very honored that you and the athletic department of Texas Methodist University have decided to give me a second chance to join your football team. I have been thinking about this ever since I received your letter, and I have come to the decision to not join the team in the fall. I have been offered a spot at Whitmore, and after going over everything, I believe that Whitmore is an all together better fit for me, and a school that will help me along in the future. I hope you can understand my decision, and I thank you for giving me the chance.

Brian Williams

Smash doubled check the letter and then hit "send," before getting up and walking out.

Coach walked into his office and sat down at his desk, coughing up a storm. Even after a week, he was still sick. And it only felt like it was getting worse. He didn't think anything of it though. The medicine just wasn't working. He'll stop at the drug store on the way home and buy something better.

He looked at the files on his desk. Stats on some players coming up from JV, letters from different sports magazines all across the country wanting to interview him for something or another, games tapes that needed to be watched, ideas on new plays for the next season. No matter what, it kept coming at him, a never ending pile of crap. What good was the off-season if he couldn't take a break from it all? And this damn cold wasn't making things any better.

Coach watched some of his players coming in and out of the locker room, using their breaks to work out in the weight room. They looked… happy. Like they had no cares in the world. Coach hoped that his guidance on the field would help them outside of it, and that he didn't disappoint any of them with his past actions. Were any of them still bitter that he left last year? For most it was hard to tell, but Coach would never know unless they told him. Not everyone on the team was Matt Saracen.

Coach tried going back to his work again, but his nagging cough only got worse. And it made him feel dizzy, and like he might vomit. Before, he just though it was some kind of nagging cold. But now? Something didn't seem right about this at all.

He got up from his chair to make his way for the guidance office. Maybe Tami was right.

Smash quickly walked into the computer room before lunch to see if he received a response from Coach Parker, surprised to see that one was waiting in his inbox. But even more surprised to read what Coach Parker wrote him back:

Brian,

Well, I don't know whether I should be upset or embarrassed that you are going to play for Whitmore over TMU. Your future with us would have been great, but now that you're joining such a crap team, I'm not so sure about that one anymore. Good luck getting any NFL recruiters to take you seriously.

Smash deleted the message from his inbox as soon as he finished reading it.

He's glad his mother was right about all this. Because now he knew that TMU was a place he wanted no part of.

Coach walked into Tami's office and plopped down on her couch, practically passing out while doing so. Tami can tell something wasn't right considering he didn't look the way he did now when they both woke up that morning.

"Honey, you don't look so good."

"You were right. I have to go and see a doctor. Find out what's wrong with me."

"That sounds like a good idea. And I hate to do this but I got kids waiting to see me."

"Yeah, I'm going. Thanks babe." Coach sat up but felt so dizzy that he feel right back down, almost falling to the floor.

"Whoa, babe, you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, just a little –"

Coach couldn't finish his sentence before he was running for the trashcan, where he puked his brains out.

"That's it. I'm taking you to the hospital."

Tami carried her husband out of her room as students and teachers alike stared at both of them.

"Sorry y'all. Little emergency that needs attending to. Come back tomorrow and we'll talk. I promise."

Tami brought Coach to her car and began driving to the hospital. Coach began complaining that he was cold, even though the windows were open and it was warmer than usual for the end of February.

"Oh, this is bad." Tami whispered to herself. She prayed that nothing was seriously wrong.

"Hang in there sweetheart. We're almost there."

Tim sat on his couch and drank another beer. Ever since Lyla told him off the night before, he didn't want to do anything. Maybe she was right. Maybe no one wanted to deal with him or take him seriously. But like it would make any difference. He could stop drinking right here and now, stop sleeping with whoever he wanted, do the things that would make Lyla notice him in a different light, but he knew, no matter what, it would never work. He would never be good enough for her. Not in this lifetime anyway.

So Tim decided he wasn't going to do anything. He was going to keep drinking, keep sleeping around, until he found someone who would like him for him. But it still hurt. Still hurt that Lyla would say the things that she said. He thought they had something together. He helped her get through Jason's injury, she helped him in Mexico. How could she act like none of that ever happen? She was a completely different person now. Tim didn't know if he wanted to deal with her anymore, but going through the pain Lyla gave him made him physically ill. He had to get out of this house. Had to think about something else.

Tim got up from the couch and grabbed his keys off the bar table, stumbling as he walked out the door.

/tbc/