Junior Year Box Set

Everyone looked at me, and Mike had a big smile on his face. I had just picked my best friend to coach us.

“I take Coach Diamond with my second pick.”

“Since the offense and defense all start with him, I pick Tim.”

Alan grabbed my arm.

“I need a moment to confer with my idiot friend,” he said.

Alan and Tim joined me on the side of the room.

“I can’t coach this alone,” Alan warned.

I grinned and pointed at Tim and then at me. Tim was the leader of our defensive team, and I could run the offense.

“Coach Hope is going to flip out if you don’t at least take Coach Zoon,” Alan almost pleaded.

“We don’t need no stinkin’ coaches,” Tim said with a big grin. “Take Jim and Wolf next. Defense starts in the center.”

We came back, and I bowed to Mike who had the next pick.

“I take Coach Zoon.”

“Jim.”

“Ty.”

“Wolf.”

“Jake.”

“Bryan,” I picked.

“Ed.”

“Brock.”

“Bert,” Mike chose.

I now had the front four on defense and was only missing Neil for a full offensive line. My other possible choice would be Yuri to complete a front six of starters on defense. I called a time-out so we could discuss our strategy. Mike was busy talking to all the skill players. I explained my dilemma.

“Coach only said you had to take the second stringers, he didn’t say you had to play them,” Alan said, and we all looked at him, confused. “David, you play linebacker.”

I liked how my new head coach thought. I should have staged a coup before this and put him in charge. We came back, and I picked Neil.

Mike got smart and took Yuri. I again surprised everyone when I picked my half brother Phil, and then with the next pick, I selected another freshman, Roc Pearson. These two were going to be my wide receivers. I also picked up Moose and Coach Stevens as my last two picks. When we were done, Coach Hope told us we had to use the playbook. I think he was worried I would try and change the offense. I would never do that.

◊◊◊

When I got out to my car to go home, I found Halle had waited for me.

“Give a girl a ride home?” Halle asked.

“Of course,” I said, and opened her door for her.

“Always the gentleman.”

“Where to?” I asked.

She gave me the address.

“Do you know where that is?” she asked.

“I do; a friend of mine used to live there. I hadn’t realized the Hollidays had sold their mini-farm. It’s a beautiful piece of land. Do you have horses?” I asked.

“Mom has been talking about getting some if we stay.”

“I didn’t expect that was possible. I figured you’d head back to California when Trip got better,” I said.

“We might, but my mom is looking for a place more laid back, and where I can go to school and be normal. I guess I talked about you a bit, and Mom decided to move us here. I hope that’s all right with you,” she said.

Her admission had me a little on guard. The last we had talked, we were just going to be friends. There was no doubt I was attracted to her, and the more I had gotten to know her, the more I liked her. The last I had really talked to Halle was when she visited me in New York. I wondered what had changed. I didn’t get a chance to ask her because we pulled up to the farm.

“Come in. I want you to meet my mom,” Halle said.

Rita James was an icon in the movie business. I would do just about anything to meet one of my favorite actresses. I didn’t want to come across as a typical fanboy, so I took a deep breath and followed Halle to the front door. I was surprised when it was locked. I knew I had left my parents’ home unlocked when I left this morning. It was probably a bad habit I needed to break. We simply never had to worry about things like that. I expected that in Hollywood, it was different.

When Halle got the door opened, we were met by a man that I can only describe as dangerous. He was six feet tall and looked like he could crush rocks with his bare hands. I would guess him to be in his late thirties. He had sandy-blond hair and blue eyes that missed nothing. The man moved like he had trained in some form of martial arts. I recognized it in Cassidy when she stalked me at the dojo. I hadn’t realized I’d gone into a defensive stance and placed myself between the man in the entry hall and Halle.

Halle moved to go around me, but I put my hand out to stop her. She suddenly recognized what was going on and put her hand on my shoulder.

“David, this is Fritz. He’s responsible for Mother’s security,” she said, and then addressed Fritz. “This is my overprotective friend David.”

“David Dawson?” Fritz asked in what I assumed was a German accent.

“Yes, sir.”

“May I see some ID?”

I relaxed when he rolled off the balls of his feet and stood flat-footed. I handed him my driver’s license. Fritz nodded and handed it back.

“You are on the approved list. I would like to talk to you before you leave,” Fritz said, and then disappeared into the house.