Disclaimer:Sorry, I don't own Remember The Titans or the characters, but I do own the ones that you've never heard of, because I made them up.
Summary: This story is a look into the slightly minor characters of RTT; Alan, Sunshine and Rev. Beyond football madness and into their more personal lives outside and inside of the team after the stadium lights shut off every week. Each one is an OC pairing.
Beyond The Titans
Jerry was completely exhausted when he arrived home. "Grandma?" He called into the seemingly empty house.
"I'm here, baby." She answered from the kitchen. Rev set his things down and poked his head in the doorway. He smiled, seeing her get an early start on dinner. Mrs. Eulah Harris was a short, plump woman of her late sixties. She was a mother of five, grandmother of nine, and the love of Jerry Harris' life. He stood next to her, looking into the various steaming pots and pans and kissing her on the temple.
"Hey, grandma."
"Hi, baby. How was school?" Jerry reached into the refrigerator and made himself a glass of ice water.
"It was okay." He answered, sitting at the kitchen table. "They ain't protesting as much."
"Don't you worry none about them folks, Jeremiah. Soon as they find somethin' else to fuss over, they'll let yall be."
"I hope you're right." He sighed.
"That girl Tonya called." She said, attempting to lighten up his blatantly solemn mood.
"I'll call her later, grandma."
"But she called you today, baby." She answered, joining him at the table. "You should talk to her, Jerry, she's such a sweet baby." She said, pinching Rev's cheek.
He laughed. He knew she was lying. Eulah Harris never thought any girl was good enough for Jerry. That especially proved true when he started high school and the football team. But, more importantly, she also hated to see him upset and would do anything to change it.
"Did your father bring that bag of rice when he came in?"
Rev chuckled again. "Gra'ma, dad left two days go, remember? He's at a revival at Langley Baptist with mom." Eulah smiled, shaking her head lightly.
"Yes, I remember, baby. You hungry?" She asked, standing from the table, and returning to the stove.
"Yes, ma'am!" he nearly yelled.
"Then go upstairs and change outta them school clothes, gra'ma will fix you a plate." Jerry wasted no time running upstairs and showering quickly. He hurried back down, dressed in his house attire, and was all to happy to see a plate of smothered chicken in front of him. Eulah couldn't help but laugh seeing him inhale the meal.
"Is it good, baby?" She chuckled.
"Mhmm." He answered with his mouth entirely full.
"I just wish your daddy would hurry and get back with my rice." She said, stepping to the living room to peek through the blinds for Reverend Harris' car. Rev looked up as she reentered, swallowing slowly as his grandmother smiled at him.
"What is it, baby?" She asked, sitting back down next to him.
"Granny…" Jerry said, putting his fork down, "Dad is gone, he's in Langley."
"Oh." She said, stroking his hair. "You know my memory ain't too good, Jeremiah."
"But I just told you—" he began to say as the phone rang. He stood from the table and exited to the living room.
"Hello? Oh hey, Louie. Listen, can we postpone tonight? I think I should stay home. You sure? Good, thanks, I'll see you next week." She listened to her grandson on the phone. He hung up and sat back down, pulling his chair up.
"Who was that?" She asked.
"Oh, just a friend that I tutor."
"Well what you stayin' home for then, Jerry, if he need tutorin'?"
"I just thought I'd stay and… look after you for a while." He smiled as she let out a laugh.
"Well baby, I can take care of myself. I don't need no lookin' after." She assured him softly, placing a hand on his.
"Well… I just want to spend some time with my favorite lady." He said smiling. She grinned back at him and his heart glowed, all the while a strange flow of doubt began to course through him.
TBC