Junior Year Box Set

On the drive home, Jan admitted the party was at Tracy’s. They had everyone tell me that it was at my house as payback for letting Precious in the house. I guess the cat got scared and disappeared for the day. After school, Brit had gone to my house, and the troublesome feline had decided she wanted to go home. When we pulled up to Tracy’s, Jan used my phone to text Mona. Mona came out and smiled when she saw we were getting on. Who knew, maybe Jan and I would end up as friends.

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Chapter 7 – How Did Things Get So Bad? Saturday September 5

Today marked the first day in which the guys and I started to get serious about the recruiting process. Our first step was to go to the Stanford–Northwestern game. We were interested in both schools for similar reasons. Academics were high on my list, and both had a lot to offer in that regard. I also felt that I wanted to play in one of the power conferences because it would put me in a position to play for a National Championship. Last year the ACC, Big 10, Pac-12 and SEC were all represented. I predicted a similar mix would make up the list of four teams this year, with an outside chance that Notre Dame might finally become relevant in the National Championship discussion again.

We had debated whether or not to skip another trip to the Northwestern campus, but when we looked at the schedule, they were the only team within driving distance that was playing an opponent we wanted to see. Stanford was ranked number 21, and Northwestern had a good team.

We all planned to meet at the high school and then caravan to Evanston. Brandon, my new PA, had organized everything. He had coordinated with the guys and worked with Northwestern to get us tickets and hotel rooms. By NCAA rules, a school could give a student-athlete on an official visit three tickets to a game, plus airfare, food, and lodging. On an unofficial visit, you could only receive three game tickets. I reserved my extra two tickets for Brandon and Alan. Jim planned to take his mom and dad, and they had purchased an extra ticket so his sister Suzanne could go. She had hooked me up with her roommate last year. I didn’t plan on a repeat performance, because I had forgotten most of the night after I’d done beer bongs and Goldschläger shots. I wanted to at least remember what happened this trip.

Alan had been very persuasive when he suggested that we go to Granny’s for breakfast before we met up with everyone. He could talk me into anything I really wanted to do. I hadn’t had a cinnamon roll in ages and needed my fix. When we arrived at the restaurant, I was surprised to find Tami waiting for us. Alan wouldn’t look at me, so I knew he was responsible for this. Tami just cocked her head and dared me to object. I simply smiled and walked past her to Granny, who had spied me as I came in.

“David! Welcome! Come meet some of your fans. Your game last night has been a hot topic of conversation,” Granny said, and she guided me through the restaurant.

I spent the next ten minutes going from table to table with Granny, meeting her customers. Most of them I knew because we were a small town. The benefit of the meet-and-greet was it gave me time to come to grips with Tami going with us. She and Alan were two of my best friends, after all. I really would like to go to college with them, even if she and I were not together. When I finally joined Alan and Tami at the table, there was already a plate of hot, just-out-of-the-oven cinnamon rolls there. I focused on putting some butter on mine so it could melt before I ate it.

“Alan tells me you had a good game last night,” Tami said.

I had my mouth full, so Alan talked for me.

“He was showing off last night because there was a bunch of recruiters in the stands.”

I swallowed.

“No, I did it for you, so you could claim to be an undefeated head coach.”

Tami watched as Alan and I traded jabs at each other as we ate our breakfast. I noticed she had my promise ring on a silver necklace. She winked at me when she caught me looking at it to let me know she’d seen me check it out. To say I was uncomfortable with Tami going with us to Northwestern was putting it mildly. It had only been a couple of weeks since Tami had told me she wanted to date other guys. I would have to have a long talk with Alan about him inviting her without talking to me first. It could’ve been she had invited herself, but a heads-up would have been appreciated.

We finished our breakfast and drove to the high school. Tami had called shotgun, and when we came to a stop, Alan jumped out of the car. Tami reached over and touched my arm to stop me from getting out. It was as if she and Alan had planned this.

“Hang on. I think we need to talk,” she said.

“Why are you here?” I asked.

“Are we not still friends? I thought our plan was to go to college together,” Tami said reasonably.