Hey same disclaimer.
Chapter 57: Back to School
Narrator's PoV
"She looks beautiful today doesn't she?" Star asked walking up to Dean.
"She does." Dean answered.
"Matt's shown me pictures of her but today she just stands out." Star said.
"Yeah. I don't know if it's the dress or the atmosphere but I'm stunned. Don't get me wrong she looks sexy in just about anything but god she's glowing today."
"You don't have to butter me up. I'm already on your side. Who said I'm trying to see how you treat her when her brothers aren't around?" Star asked.
"Nobody. You just mentioned how great she looked and I couldn't help but agree." Dean said.
"Good evening everyone." Lizzy said standing on stage with a mic in her hand. "For those of you who don't know I'm Lizzy Jacobs. My boyfriend Dean Portman, the groom's brother, and I wanted to present our gift to the happy couple. A bunch of songs sung by yours truly. I do hope you enjoy this spectacle as I don't normally get up in front of a bunch of strangers and embarrass myself like this. May your love last a thousand lifetimes. This first song is called It's your love by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill so here it goes."
Lizzy sang the song with all her heart, her eyes never leaving Dean. Though she was supposed to be singing to Krista and Jeff she couldn't help but sing to Dean as well. Lizzy followed up the song with Love without End by George Strait then Angels Among Us by Alabama.
"Now before I perform this next song I'd like a little help from Jeff." Lizzy said. "Dean told me this song has a special meaning for you."
Jeff jumped up on stage and had a feeling which song it was. When Lizzy told him Jeff nodded. He got a mic and together he and Lizzy performed I Swear by John Michael Montgomery. It was the same song that had been playing at his bar when he had first seen Krista walk through the door.
"I see the questions in your eyes
I know what's weighing on your mind
That you can be sure I know my heart
"`Coz I'll stand beside you through the years
You'll only cry those happy tears
And though I make mistakes
I'll never break your heart
"I swear by the moon and the stars in the sky
I'll be there
I swear like a shadow that's by your side
I'll be there
"For better or worse, till death do us part
I'll love you with every beat of my heart
I swear
"I'll give you everything I can
I'll build your dreams with these two hands
We'll hang some memories on the walls
"And when just the two of us are there
You won't have to ask if I still care
`Coz as the time turns the page, my love won't age at all
"I swear by the moon and the stars in the sky
I'll be there
I swear like the shadow that's by your side
I'll be there
"For better or worse, till death do us part
I'll love you with every beat of my heart
I swear
"I swear by the moon and stars in the sky
I'll be there
I swear like the shadow that's by your side
I'll be there
"For better or worse, till death do us part
I'll love you with every beat of my heart
I swear, I swear."
After that song, Jeff went back to dancing with Krista and Lizzy sang a few more songs mixing both pop and country. With some prodding from the guests Lizzy did three more songs to include Jealous Guy by John Lennon.
As they called for more Lizzy shook her head. "I would love to continue to sing for you but I have a plane to catch because I have class tomorrow. I'm so sorry." Lizzy stepped down off the stage and walked back over to Dean.
"Do we have to leave right now?" Dean asked.
"No, not right now but I did want to dance with you a few more times before we had to leave." They danced to a few more songs before Nora walked over.
"Hey kids," she said.
"Hi, Mrs. Portman." Lizzy answered.
"Please do call me Nora sweetheart. You two need to get to the airport to make your flight. There's a car waiting at the house for you so you can go from there. And remember Lizzy, Lissy did say you could keep the dress."
"Thank you for your wonderful hospitality Mrs. Nora. I may not have had as much fun as I would have liked but you are amazing and I can see how much personality Dean gets from you."
"Such a graceful young lady. Dean you must bring her back sometime and we'll make sure your time is much better." Nora said. "Now go on."
Dean nodded and escorted Lizzy out. At the house Lizzy changed into a pair of Gopher sweats and a big t-shirt then hung the dress on a hanger and hung it on Lissy's door. She may have told Lizzy to keep it but Lizzy didn't want to chance making her dad angry. Then she took her hair down and her make up off and rushed outside to the waiting car. When they landed in Minnesota, Lizzy took Dean's hand and lead him through the airport to baggage claim. After getting their bags they headed for the exit.
Lizzy's PoV
As we headed for the exit to find Fulton I spotted a head of dark hair and a very familiar bomber jacket. I smirked, dropped Dean's hand and raced over to the guy. I jumped on his back and to his credit he didn't stumbled a bit.
"Lizzy you shouldn't jump on strangers." Dean scolded.
"Just because he can be strange at times doesn't mean he's a stranger." I said.
Fulton turned around and looked at Dean. "Thanks." Fulton said wrapping his hands around my thighs to keep me on his back. "How'd you know?"
"The hair and the jacket. Plus I've seen those shoes before. Only pair like them." I said.
"Do you want to tell me what happened in Chicago?" Fulton asked.
"No, not really."
"Don't I deserve to know?" Fulton asked.
I bit my lip then sighed and nodded. "Alright." So I explained what happened as he carried me and Dean carried our bags out to my car. I told him about what happened with Mitch and about the fight with Dean and about the wedding and Tyler but left out how we made up and what he had to do for me.
"You can't use the word babe, can you?" Fulton asked Dean.
"Not until Monday after practice."
"She's angry and angry Lizzy's think like Adam." Fulton said. I let out a big yawn and tried to stay awake. "Alright Lizzy, get down." Fulton said letting go of my legs. I nodded and slid down his back then crawled in the back seat. I was in no mood to drive so Fulton did. Back at campus Dean shook me awake but I knew I was fighting sleep and obviously Fulton could tell because he scooped me into his arms and carried me back to my room. Dean opened my door and the minute Fulton put me down I was out like a light.
The next morning I woke up and after taking a very quick shower I got dressed then as I walked to breakfast I ran across Goldberg. At first he seemed a little off but he snapped back to normal when he looked me over and saw that I was fine. Then at breakfast I got some unexpected news.
"Lizzy I have some bad news." Charlie said.
I sat down and cocked my head at my cousin. "What is it?"
"There's been talk of drugs going around the school. We're being drug tested today." Charlie said handing me the pass out of class.
"Drug tested? I was just in the hospital. They tested me for drugs and with the exception of the GHB the jerk put in my system and the medication I'm on, I'm clean." I snapped. Several of the team looked up at me.
"The school still has the right to test you." Charlie said.
"So they can tell me I'm clean too?" I asked.
"There's no way out of it Liz." Dean said. "Fult and I checked the handbook Adam gave us last night. It's part of your scholarship and you're on a school sponsored team."
"You've got nothing to worry about. You were checked out by a bona fide doctor." Fulton said.
"I guess." I shrugged.
Later that day as I walked towards the nurse's office with Connie she tried to reassure me saying that the only reason we were being tested was because of someone had let it slip to the school board. We met up with Julie and I opted for a blood test.
"Why?" Coach Orion asked when I told them.
"It's the way my doctor always does it when I'm tested before baseball season." I answered. "That way my doctor has proof I'm not taking steroids. We had accusations start when I was 13 and started pitching. However it also makes me sleepy."
The nurse drew blood then handed me some orange juice and allowed me to lay down and skip a couple classes. Adam and Russ came in after lunch and after they took their tests they both looked at me.
"Are you alright?" Adam asked.
"Yeah. I don't like doing the drug test the normal way so I give blood but I barely weigh 106 so it kinda drains me. It's also why I can't give during a blood drive. I don't weigh enough." I replied.
"I see." Adam said.
"Are you coming to class?" Russ asked.
"Yeah." I slowly stood and Russ grabbed my bag. Adam took the passes then offered me his arm. I took it and we made our way to Study Hall.
"Are you alright?" Fulton asked.
"Yeah I think so." I said sitting down between the two.
"Julie said you did the blood test instead." Dean said.
"Yeah. It's the way my doctor always does it three times a year. Once before I start taking my medicine, once while I'm on it, and once right before baseball season."
Dean nodded and wrapped an arm around me as he kissed my temple.
"Jacobs! Portman! I'm not telling you again. PDA isn't allowed." The monitor barked.
"Darn it." Dean cursed and let me go. He took my hand under the table. His thumb rubbed small circles on the back of my hand. Then they started talking about the revenge prank on Varsity.
The next day after classes let out we were called into the Dean's office. "I have the results." Coach Orion said.
"And the eligibility reports." Dean Buckley added.
"Welcome back Adam." Orion said.
"And now I can practice for baseball season." I smiled.
"Everyone currently on the team has been cleared. Ms. Jacobs we would like to speak with you. The rest of you may go to practice." Buckley said.
Charlie, Fulton, and Dean looked at me but I shrugged so they left.
"Your results have come back inconclusive." Orion said.
"Inconclusive?" I asked.
"It means that we couldn't prove or disprove steroid use." Orion said.
"And because it didn't clear it—" Buckley explained.
"You have to suspend me." I said knowing where it was going.
"We don't have a choice. My hands are tied." Buckley said. "Four weeks."
"I know I did my homework. Four weeks and then after that until a drug test comes back negative or a doctor proves otherwise." I said. "Can I get you to fax the results to my doctor? It'd make me feel better and it might clear it up."
Dean Buckley took the number I gave him and nodded. "Starting tomorrow at four p.m. I don't want you on this campus and no classes tomorrow. That gives you 24 hours to pack and get a flight home." Dean Buckley said.
I left his office and went to the sound booth. There I told Dean what happened and he was outraged but understood the only way I could fight it was to fly home.
"How long will you be gone for?" Dean asked.
"No more than a week." I answered.
"Then tonight I suggest we hang out and order pizza and watch movies."
"As long as we can invite the Ducks." I said.
"Sure."
Soon all the junior varsity Ducks were gathered in my room and we were eating. Then there was a knock on my door. I pulled it open to see Bastian and Sam standing there. "Hey, Coach Orion told Coach Matthews what happened. They can't honestly think you ... can they?" Bastian said.
"It's a mix up and it'll be fixed in about a week. Thanks for the concern." I said.
"Think you did what?" Charlie asked.
"There's just some mix up with the test thanks to what I went through this weekend. I'll get it cleared up and I'll be back before you know it and then we can deal with Linda." I said. "We'll do something and have her fall even more in love with you."
"Don't lie to me Lizzy."
"I'm not."
"She doesn't love me."
"Alright—"
"Just stop."
I shrugged and turned back to the ball players at my door. They told me they were going to invite me to dinner but saw that I was already eating and they left me alone.
Not so sure I like what I've got written out for this story may just summarize the next couple of months or so.