Chapter 2

Part 3

"I'm quiet you know
You make a first impression"

"What the fuck is the matter with you?" Frank hollered clutching his jaw immediately after my fist made contact as Kyle, my leading offensive tackle, grabbed both my arms to hold me back as I squirmed in his 350 pound bulk.

I didn't say anything just continued to squirm as everyone in the locker room gathered around Frank and I to watch the commotion and Kyle continued to hold me back from him.

"What's going on here?" I heard a distinctly authoritative voice shout over the bustle and saw my coach push his way through the rest of the team to where I'd finally given up and fallen limp against Kyle. "Let him go Kyle," coach commanded as Kyle practically dropped me.

"Yes coach," he muttered respectfully as I stood slowly to my feet.

"Someone explain to me what just happened before you all spend the rest of the day running suicides," coach shouted his face rapidly skipping pink and turning purple.

Frank held his hand of his jaw silently so I took it upon myself to speak up. "Well sir I punched Frank."

Even coach seemed floored as I said it so simply and rationally still breathing slightly heavy from my struggle for Kyle to release me.

"And why?" coach dragged out suddenly looking very exasperated and frail.

I stopped and sighed. "He was talking about a friend of mine," I finally replied reluctantly.

"You two," he said sternly pointing at Frank and I; all sense of tiredness gone. "Come with me," he commanded marching through the crowd of guys toward his office. "The rest of you," I heard him shout as he pushed Frank and me into his office, "get the hell out of my locker room before I make you spend the rest of your lives in here."

He turned into his office slamming the door in his wake as I sat slouched in a chair and Frank still held his jaw while standing with his back pressed against the wall.

"So one of you tell me why I'm forced to sit here dealing with your petty catfights the day before our biggest game before I throw both of you off the team," Coach said quietly but still with the most fierceness I'd ever witnessed.

Frank just sighed and continued rub his jaw.

"Well sir," I began sitting up straighter in my chair, "Frank here was gloating in the locker room about his 'conquest' last night."

Coach looked over to Frank who continued to rub his jaw and didn't move a muscle otherwise.

"Do you two realize that I am not your babysitter?" coach asked rubbing his temples.

I nodded. "Yes sir."

Even Frank grunted a rough, "Yes sir."

"Is this something I'm going to have to suspend you two from the game tomorrow for?" he asked now shuffling papers.

"No," I replied hurriedly as Frank grunted a "no" of his own.

"Good. Now Frank you may go get some ice for your jaw," he said not even looking up from his paperwork until he heard the door close behind Frank.

"So Sean do you want to explain to me why you really punched Frank, who by the way is your teammate?" he said softly looking at me his eyes burning in disappointment.

"I'm really sorry coach," I muttered sliding my chair closer to his desk. "It's just… Frank… and this girl…" I couldn't get it out. No matter how hard I tried to articulate I don't think I understood what had happened well enough to tell my coach about it.

Eventually he leaned forward ending my vicious struggle with my tongue, trying to teach myself how to talk again. "Listen Sean I know how committed you are to this team," I nodded along with him, "so I know that whatever happened in there," he continued pointing toward the door of his office that led back to the locker room, "must have been a moment of pure insanity because I just got off the phone with NBC and they want to interview you today for tomorrow's game."

I nodded. "Yes sir. It's out of my system now."

I stood to go; pushing the door open to exit when his voice stopped me in my tracks. "Sean don't you want to know what the interview's about?" he asked his eyes shining again with their normal humor he has during our one on one chats.

I nodded solemnly turning to face him. "Yes sir."

He stood from his desk and walked over to me. "Did you not hear the news? You're the only junior left in the running for the Heisman, Jones got hurt in practice yesterday."

"Hello?" I asked into my cell phone as I received a foreign number.

"Cam?" a fuzzy male voice asked back.

"Yes," I replied. "Who's this?" I continued walking across the quad from my Chem. Lab back to my dorm.

"It's Frank," the voice replied slowly and I noticed his voice sounded pained. "Frank Rennings. From last night."

I smiled. "Oh, hey Frank. What's up?"

He chuckled over the phone. "Oh nothing that's worth explaining," he said his voice growing more assured and stronger.

"O-kay," I replied slowly sliding my ID through the lock on my dorm house. "Well what'cha calling about?"

His voice suddenly became almost cocky. "Just wondering if you wanted to meet for a movie or something after the game tomorrow."

I was a little surprised at that. No matter whether or not Frank and I had fun at the stoplight party I really never expected him to call and ask me about anything. In fact I don't recall ever giving him my number.

"Well my dad and sister are in town this weekend for the game so I'm kind of obligated to play with them," I said leaving it without a rain-check offer on purpose.

Suddenly the cockiness was gone from his voice and he sounded weak again. "Well some other time?" he asked obviously holding onto that final shred of hope.

"Maybe," I replied then winced for having left the line open for him. "Listen I can't talk right now. I just got back from class and I have to meet my roommate…" I trailed off as I reached my door and tried desperately to balance the phone on my shoulder as I searched through my keys for the one that opens my door. I mean honestly you need too many keys around this place.

"Oh okay…" he started as I tuned him out at the horrible gurgling sound I heard coming from inside my dorm.

"Alright," I said fake brightly as I finally located my key and attempted to shove it in the lock. "Bye then."

I quickly hung up as I opened to door to find Megan curled on our futon in a very desperate state.

Okay just so you know the Heisman is like a huge deal in college football. It's basically the MVP of all of college football. It normally goes to a senior but juniors sometimes win and when they do, it just means they're tht much better.

Okay one more part to this chpter! Yey!

"Senior review... oh you are so sexy my lover."