nowhere (24 page)

“Let’s huddle up,” Coach shouted, entering the locker room. We all fell silent as we gathered around him.

“Listen up. You’ve all worked hard for this moment. There’s no reason why we can’t win this game tonight. I’ve seen some remarkable plays out there on the practice field. Also, in all my years as a coach I’ve never seen a team that has as much passion as you. Your teamwork is what sets you apart from all the other teams. Win or lose, I’m proud of your accomplishments. And you should be too.” He glanced at us in turn. “As for you seniors, this is your last chance to beat the Spartans on your own turf.” He paused. “Now, are you ready to go kick some ass?”

The roar in the locker room was almost deafening. Everyone shouted and banged on the lockers all at once.

“What are you waiting for?” Coach yelled over the noise.

The team shouted again. Everyone grabbed last minute equipment and rushed out to the field. During the commotion, Coach patted me on the back and whispered, “The scouts from Texas Tech are here tonight, son. Do your best.” He smiled encouragingly. 

“Thank you, Coach.” I just hoped I could pull this off.

The stands were full. She had to be here, I thought. I scanned the crowd, trying to find her. It would be impossible to pinpoint anyone. Then a  smile broke across my face when I spotted her sitting in the bleachers near the fifty-yard line. She was easy to find after all. She was wearing purple in a sea of green and white, our school colors. She looked right at me. Instantly I knew how stupid I’d been. I couldn’t just give her up. I wasn’t protecting her at all by lying to her. As soon as this game was over, I was going to find her and tell her the truth. I loved her and nothing else mattered. I just hoped it wasn’t too late.

The first half of the game passed quickly. We were in the lead, 14 to 7. I was playing well. Tyler and I had practiced hard this summer and it showed. So far we’d mostly run the ball, but for the second half Coach wanted us to throw. He wanted me to have the opportunity to impress the scouts.

Things started to really heat up in the second half. Before I went back out on the field I looked up and saw Mikayla still sitting there. I knew I could do this. I sprinted out on the field and took my position. We were receiving the ball. It was snapped back and I ran like hell twenty yards down the field and then cut sharply to the left and hooked back around. I looked for the ball and it landed in my outstretched hands. I crossed into the end zone and scored. The stand exploded with cheers. The score was now 21 to 7.  Our defense was just as strong as our offense and we stopped the Spartans in three short plays. The rest of the game pretty much followed the same pattern. The final score of the game was 42 to 7. The fans were ecstatic, rushing the field.

My only thought was to find Mikayla. I had to talk to her. I tried to slip away, but Coach approached me with a man wearing a Texas Tech jacket and matching hat. “Dooner,” he called. I turned around. “I want to introduce you to the scouts. They want to talk to you.”

“Hi, I’m James Muldoon. Everybody calls me Dooner,” I said, shaking their hands.
Well, almost everybody.

“Great game. My name is Cole Johnson. Is there somewhere we can go to talk? It would be nice to sit down and discuss things with you and your parents.”

“I’m already eighteen and my parents aren’t a part of this decision. We can talk now.” I’d already made up my mind. I wanted to do this. The sooner it was done, the sooner I could find Mikayla and try to convince her to give me a second chance. Over the scout’s shoulder, I saw her and Pops congratulating Tyler.

“You can use my office,” offered Coach.

“Perfect,” answered Cole Johnson.

The meeting didn’t last long since I knew what I wanted. I happily agreed to their terms. My dream was coming true. I’d be playing for Texas Tech in the fall, far from home. Soon I was walking out to the parking lot alone. The rest of the team had already changed and gone off to celebrate on some dirt road. I wasn’t joining them. I had other, more important, plans. I was going to find Mikayla. 

When I looked up, I was surprised to see Mikayla leaning up against Old Faithful, looking amazing in a short jean skirt and the purple hoodie I’d seen from the field. My heart skipped a beat. I couldn’t believe she was waiting for me. Maybe things would turn out okay after all. I was ready to tell her that I made a huge mistake. I smiled shyly.

Suddenly the still night was filled with the sound of squealing tires. I quickly turned my head. A truck was headed right toward Mikayla, moving way too fast. I yelled for her to move, but instead she froze like a deer in headlights. I knew I wouldn’t be able to reach her in time. I dropped my bag and sprinted, running faster than I ever had in my life. I had to protect her. Her scream pierced my heart.

There was a terrible clash of metal against metal. The truck that had been heading right at Mikayla was now wrapped around a light pole not two feet away from where she was still firmly planted. She didn’t have a scratch on her. I almost collapsed with relief.

Reaching her, I said, “Oh my God, Mikayla, are you okay?” I wrapped her tightly in my arms before I quickly checked her over to make sure she was really okay. She was trembling with shock, but other than that she seemed fine. 

Her eyes locked on the driver. “I think so. Is that….is that…your dad?”

For the first time, I paid closer attention to the truck. “Yes, it is,” I exclaimed. What had he almost done?

Carefully, I moved her out of harm’s way. “Stay here. I’ll be right back. Call the police.”

I approached my dad’s truck. He was bent over the steering wheel, blood running down his face. He smelled awful. He was banged up, but unfortunately he’d live. His eyes opened. 

He immediately zeroed in on Mikayla, who was standing off to the side at a safe distance. Pointing at her, he said, “I told that stupid bitch yesterday when she came by to return your shirt to stay the hell away. I warned her what would happen if I saw her again. She didn’t think I was serious. When I came out of the game, she was waiting for you by your truck. I knew it was up to me to make her understand. You’d never have the guts to let her go, you’re nothing but a pussy. You’d rather throw away your chance at playing ball. I wasn’t about to let that happen.” His face was full of pure hatred. 

“You’re an idiot, Dad. She has nothing to do with whether or not I play college football. I already signed the papers. I’m playing for Texas Tech next fall. Who says I can’t have my dream and a girlfriend too? I love her, Dad. And she loves me. Something you’ll never understand.” Looking at him with disgust, I continued, “You’re going to be locked up for a long, long time.” Sirens sounded in the distance. They’d be here any minute. “You’ll never be able to hurt me or anyone I love ever again.” 

The cops arrived and loaded my dad into the back of the squad car in handcuffs. We’d have to go down to the station in a few minutes to give our statements, but before we did that there was something more important I had to do.

Walking over to Mikayla, I took her in my arms. “How come you came tonight?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

I shook my head no.

“I couldn’t stay away. I knew how much this game meant to you. I wanted to see you play. Even though I’d never been to a football game until tonight, it was easy to see how talented you really are. Pops was sitting next to me, and I began to worry that he was going to have a coronary the way he kept getting so excited every time Tyler would throw you the ball and you’d catch it, even when it seemed near impossible,” she gushed, blushing. My heart practically exploded at her words. Usually I got embarrassed when people complimented me, but this felt right. “I had to congratulate you,” she added in a quiet voice.

“I couldn’t have done it without you. As soon as I saw you sitting in the stands, I knew everything would be okay. It is going to be okay, isn’t it?” My hands were shaky. I couldn’t lose her now.

She stared at me with her big brown eyes. “I don’t know. Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.” I nodded my head for her to continue.

“And I want the truth.”

I nodded again.

“Are you in love with Liz?”

“What?” I choked. “Why would you think that?” I hadn’t expected that question, and I wasn’t sure where it came from.

“Emma said that she saw the two of you making out in the secret hook-up corner while I was home puking my guts out.” In all that had happened these last few weeks, I had completely forgotten that Liz had tried to kiss me. 

“Yes,” I answered honestly, and I felt her stiffen. I rushed to explain before I lost her for good. “I was looking for Coach in the gym, when I ran into her. She was totally wasted and she came on to me. She kissed me, but I didn’t kiss her back. I couldn’t get away fast enough. I’m sure from where Emma was standing it looked bad, but I swear that’s the truth. I love you, not her.” 

“Then why did you say that you were in love with someone else?” She questioned further. I could tell by the look on her face she wasn’t completely satisfied with my answer. I had hurt her and she was trying to figure out why,

“I thought it was the only way you’d let me go.”

“You’re still not making any sense. Why would you want to break up with me?”

“It’s complicated.” I took a deep breath to gather my thoughts and then continued. “The day that we made love, my dad saw you leave and he threatened to hurt you if I didn’t end things. He thought you’d distract me from winning the scholarship and any chance I had at playing pro ball. I thought I was doing what I had to do in order to protect you. I knew my dad would try to follow through on his threats. He thinks nothing of beating my mom. He used to hit us kids too when we were younger. That day he was so angry he punched me, but he quickly realized he couldn’t get to me that way any more.” She remained silent as I continued. “So he threatened to hurt me the only way he could. He knew hurting you would hurt me. I’m so sorry. When I think about what almost happened here tonight, it makes me sick. I lied to protect you, but all I ended up doing was hurting you. You could’ve been killed.” I paused to catch my breath. “I’m sorry,” I sobbed. “Can you ever forgive me?”

“I already have. I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you too.”

I wrapped my arms around her pulling her close to me. Vowing that I’d never let her go again.

Mikayla

Graduation day had arrived. I stood in my room getting ready to leave for the ceremony. When we first pulled into this town I couldn’t wait to get out. I hated the very idea of spending my senior year in Nowhere. I couldn’t believe how much had changed in the past 11 months. How much
I’d
changed! Now I didn’t want to leave. I’d be going to college in Michigan, a six-hour car ride from here, but Nowhere would always be my home. It’s where I’d found happiness and true love. 

Giving James my heart was the most amazing thing I’d ever done. We shared so many special moments together this past year. Some of them grand events, like when he stood by my side at the art show in New York City or when I went with him to check out Texas Tech. Other memories were more everyday events, like sitting at the kitchen table working on homework together or cuddling on the on the porch swing. We spent every free moment we had together, talking, kissing, and making love. He was my best friend.

I loved James with my whole heart, but it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Mostly because he suffered a lot of guilt for what his dad tried to do to me, blaming himself for not protecting me. I had to keep reminding him it wasn’t his fault. The trial was pushed ahead quickly, since everyone thought his dad posed a threat to the community, and after presenting the evidence, a jury found him guilty of attempted murder. It was a difficult time, but we got through it, and it made us even closer.

Going away to college would present new challenges for us. James signed a contract with Texas Tech to play Division I football, while I’d be attending Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan. We debated choosing colleges closer to each other, or even closer to home, but in the end we both knew that wasn’t the right decision. We believed that if we were true to ourselves, then the rest would fall in place. We planned to try the long distance thing and see what happened. If we were meant to end up together, then we would. Just like when we were fated to meet on that dusty dirt road so many months ago. It would be painful to be far way from each other, we were used to seeing each other every day, but to borrow one of Pops’ clichés – distance made the heart grow fonder (or so we chose to believe).

“Mike, are you coming?” My mom yelled up the stairs.

“I’ll be right down,” I answered, using the last bobby pin to secure the cap to my head, hoping it didn’t fall off before it was time to toss it in the air.

I walked down the steps and saw my mom, Emma, and Pops waiting for me.

“Wow, I can’t believe it. You’re graduating today,” my mom said, tears in her eyes. “It feels like yesterday you were starting kindergarten. I wish your dad were here – he’d be so proud.” My mom clasped me to her chest and gave me a tight squeeze. It didn’t seem like she was going to let go.

“Mom,” I said, exasperated.

Finally she released me, and I rolled my eyes. See, some things changed, but other things didn’t. My mom and I got along much better now than we did when we moved here, but sometimes I still got annoyed with her. Like right now. Being touchy feely still wasn’t my thing.

“You look smart,” said Emma, giving me a compliment. We’d probably always have our fights, we just had one yesterday, but we had learned to be friends. Sharing a room, and living in this small town, had changed us for the better. We both finally recognized how lucky we were to have each other to lean on when it counted.

“That’s my girl.” He winked. Pops didn’t have to say aloud that he was proud of me because it was written on his face. He knew I wouldn’t want him gushing over me too. That wasn’t our style. Instead he turned to Emma and said, “You better brush up on your trivia. Because once Mike leaves, you’ll have to follow in her footsteps and help me with the crosswords. I’m getting old, and I can’t remember stuff like I used to.” Pops didn’t need Emma’s help on puzzles any more than he needed mine, he was just letting me know it was okay with him for me to move on. Hopefully Emma would seize the opportunity and spend some time with Pops. He was of my most favorite people in the world and I’d miss him dearly when I was away at college. I looped my arm through his as we walked out of the house.