CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Friday night lights in the stadium of Hershel High were in full swing. Troy had gathered with his team in order to give them a last-minute pep talk, “ Tonight boys is our night. We have worked, pumped iron, ran the field and scrimmaged up and down these long yards. We are ready, we are willing and we are prepared. No excuses, no excuses, come guys let me hear it, no excuse, “ the team shout ed along with Troy as the final minutes before taking the file.

  Everything was set and in a matter of two and a half hours or so the first win by the Hershel’s Cougars would be wrapping up. It would be a night of celebration not only for all the team players, but for Troy’s first game at the helm. Troy was a little nervous as he walked fast through the long tunnel leading out of the locker room area as his team filed out ready to play. He was met with whistling, clapping, and a lot of yelling and cheering as the team took their place.

  Troy turned to see Becca sitting with her parents and other football moms and dads all cheering on their favorite player. He nodded his head at her as she threw him a kiss and jumped up and down with excitement. It took only long enough for a few announcements which after the Star Spangle Banner was sung and the team’s captain met in the center of the field for the coin toss. Then they were off, and the game was under way.

  The noise from the crowds, ban music and the cheering on the teams could be heard all throughout the town. What had started out as a celebration that everyone looked forward to soon would bring a new meaning to the ending of a game. This game would leave something very harsh, heartbreaking and unbelievable to the town of Hershel. The fabulous high football team and the memories that no one wanted to hold on to would be long standing in the minds of all of those who had attend the first game with Troy being the head coach. This night would be a night that no one would soon forget.

  Across town Hazel stared out of the kitchen window not really looking at anything in particular. She had a thousand thoughts going through her mind and wanted to speak to her daughter Janice. Hazel already knew that things were never going to get better for her especially because Hank was being so difficult and stubborn.

  There was nothing left to talk about or to negotiate about leaving Hershel and the hardware store. Everything had been said that could be said and Hazel was just tired from all of the arguing. She wanted out with or without Hank and that was definite for her. Picking up the phone she dialed Janice’s number and waited on it to ring.

  Answering the phone Janice’s pleasant voice could be heard, “ Hello” she answered.

  “ Janice, hi , it’s mom. Are you busy sweetie?” Hazel asked with a little nervousness in her voice.

  “ Why yes om, always. What’s going on? Everything okay?” Janice inquired.

  Hesitating a second Hazel began to speak holding nothing back from her daughter. It was time to let it all out and she did,” I really need to talk to you. Janice, I want to come to Florida and live with you and Ron and Patricia. Can I come?” Hazel asked hoping that Janice would be happy for this move.

  Janice could tell by the tone oof her mom’s voice that something wasn’t right. She remembered that just a few months ago they had spoken about selling the hardware store and moving to Florida. Hank had eventually decided not to sell or move leaving Hazel very disappointed. “ Mom, are you alright?” Janice inquired thinking about how sad Hazel sounded.

  “ No, not really Janice. I need to get out of here, before,” Hazel hesitated thinking carefully how to word her feelings, “ Before I completely lose my reasoning power. So, can I come?”

  Hazel and Jancie would spend another thirty minutes talking about Hazel’s decision to leave Hank. After a long conversation it had been decided that Hazel should perhaps try an extended visit just to see how things went.

  All that was left was for Hazel would be to explain to Hank her choice in making this move. Hazel turned to walk outside and begin the hardest talk that she would ever have with her husband of almost fifty years. She knew that he wasn’t going to be happy, but at this point in her life she no longer cared to put Hank’s needs first.

  When the darkness rises it spreads its talons outward, wrapping the long, thin tentacles around all those who harbor unsecured sanctuary of their soul.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Cheering from the football stadium could be heard almost through the entire town as the game was in its final minute. The Cougars as predicted had the lead and there was not enough time left to overtake the score. Troy stood on the sideline yelling out to his players to keep their eye on the cornerback. He was already wishing the game was over. It had been a spectacular game as his boys had executed every play without fault.

  Everyone was standing cheering on the players as the last few seconds counted down. Becca stood up cheering from her seat in the stadium as she watched Troy take off his hat and jump up and down with joy as the horn sounded the finale of the game. She threw him kisses as she was so very proud of her husband knowing how much winning this first game of the season was for him.

  Turning around to shake her friends and the wives of other faculty hands she began to gather up her items so she could go down and meet up with Troy. As she turned around to leave her seat she watched in surprise as Kelley Brower ran onto the field a threw her arms around Troy’s neck kissing him on the lips. Without thinking Becca stopped in her tracks astonished at what she was seeing. In front of everyone in the stadium there was a seventeen- year- old cheerleader kissing her husband and the coach of the football team in plain sight of everyone. Despite Troy’s obvious surprise and pulling away from Kelley the minds of all those seeing this had already begun to develop their own ideas.

  No one could hear what Troy was actually saying, “ Kelley, what the hell are you doing? What’s wrong with you. Stop it. “ Troy screamed at her tugging at her arms that were still clinging around his neck.

  With a silly immature giggle Kelley leaned in only saying, “ Got you coach.” Before leaving Troy on the side- lines she leaned over and once again kissed him on his cheek then turned a ran off waving her pom-poms in excitement. Troy looked to the seats finding Becca standing there in total surprise. As he looked to his wife and then to all

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  of the others still remaining in the stadium, he knew by the expression on their faces what everyone was already thinking. Troy looked down at the ground below his feet knowing that this event no matter how innocent he was would not play out well for him. All he could do was to try to let everyone know that he was not involved with Kelley Brower nor had he ever been. The writing was on the wall and all that was left was for the shit to hit the fan.

  Becca did not wait for Troy to meet up with her as she had already been questioned about the kiss from so many parents and teachers. Even the Principal had asked if she knew what was going on with Troy, but Becca had no answers to give anyone. She sat in her car for a minute knowing that Troy would have to speak with his team coaches and the team itself. She made the decision to leave and head home. There would be no hanging out at the Tasty Treats café tonight to celebrate. Her heart was bursting in two as she cried all the way to her house.

  Troy wished he could just say a word or two then go, but he needed to tell the team how proud he was of their performance on the field and to encourage them to work just as hard for next week’s game. He wasn’t sure if any of the guys saw that display, but he would try his best to answer any questions he was asked. He had never thought to find himself in this position.

  Becca made a call to her parent’s home hoping that either her mom or dad would be there. After a couple of rings her dad answered the phone, “ Hello” Jack answered.

  “ Dad, hi it’s Becca. I need to come stay with you and mom. I have a situation and I’m not sure what to do. May I come over for a day or two?” Becca asked trying to hold back the tears.

  Jack turned to Shelley, Becca’s mom indicating for her to come next to him. He wasn’t sure what was going on, but he could tell that Becca had something upsetting on her mind. He held the phone out for Shelley to hear saying, “ Becca sweetie, what’s going on? Wasn’t the opening game tonight honey?” Jack asked in a calm voice.

  Becca didn’t answer right away as she looked out the front window of her house to see if Troy had arrived. Answering Becca simply said, “ I’m not sure what’s going on, but I need to talk to you and mom, without Troy. So, can I please come?” she asked again feeling so much sicker at her stomach than she had when she left the football stadium.

  Jack looked at his wife who was shaking her head yes then he replied, “ Okay honey if you think you need to come, then come on. We’ll be waiting. Do you need anything?” he asked.

  “ NO, not now. I just need to speak with you both. I’m leaving in five minutes. If Troy calls don’t tell him I’m on the way. Please.” Becca pleaded.

  “Sure Becca. Whatever you say. We’ll see you soon. Be careful and drive slow and safely, okay?” Jack responded.

  “ I will.” Was all Becca could manage to get out before her tears became uncontrollable. She could not face Troy right now and she was not sure she wanted to hear some made up story of what had just happened. She knew Troy was always overly friendly and perhaps there had been some sort of misunderstanding, but even so, she knew that Troy and Kelley would become the talk of the town and that could affect not only Troy but her as well.

  This night of all nights had quickly turned a heroes win to a coach’s night-mire that would become the news of a nation if it spread outside of Hershel. Reporters loved this kind of story where the headlines read, “HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACH CAUGHT KISSING SENIOR CHEERLEADER AFTER FIRST WIN”

  Becca wanted no part in anything of a sort and Troy would have some serious explaining to do in order to make this right. The worst part of all of this was now Whether Troy was innocent or not his entire career was in jeopardy. Troy had only counted on doing one thing in his life after college and that to teach and coach. The fall out of this messy night encompassed so much more than just Troy. Becca and Troy both were at risk and all for a cheap kiss from a giggly high school cheerleader.

  Things could get much worse Becca thought as she left her driveway heading for her parent’s house on the outskirts of town. Nothing in the world had prepared her for this garbage and she honestly did not know where to go from here.

  Little did Becca realize that the worst was yet to come. When the blanket of evil throws itself around you squeezing all good things in your life to death, there’s nowhere to go but down into the deepest, darkest abyss where evil prevails.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  The locker room was mostly empty as Troy gathered up his play book and his thermos picking up his keys from his desk. He wanted nothing more to go home and ease Becca’s thoughts about what had happened. He was furious that Kelley for whatever reason had decided to come down on the field and pulled such a dirty trick on him. The question of why had she done such a thing continued to roll around his mind. He had never given her any reason to ever think that he was the least bit interested in her.

  Troy knew all too well about Kelley’s poor behavior with the young guys in school. He had made the biggest mistake dating her sister Renee in the eleventh grad. It only took him two months to figure out the type of girl she was and it wasn’t good. Bloodlines run deep in some families and Troy could see that Kelley was just like her sister.

  Just like Renee, Kelley was all about herself and what made her look like she had all the power, fame and glory. Kelley could destroy anyone that stood in her way of getting what she wanted. She was nothing more than a trickster and that left little room for anything good. Troy had made it a rule to stay as far away from Kelley as he could and to have little to nothing to do with her.

  As Troy locked the office and turned to leave walking up the tunnel to the upper parking lot he was meet by Kelley once again. He couldn’t believe the nerve of this girl. After what she just did in front of almost everyone in town she showed up as he was leaving. How unreal could one person be Troy thought as he walked over to his truck.

  Kelley leaned against the back of the truck as Troy approached grinning at him as though she had accomplished something very grand.

  “ So, how’d you like your little celebration gift Troy?” she asked sounding very coy.

  Troy turned the key to unlock his door, throwing his possessions on the seat. He held the door open saying, “ You must be very proud of yourself Kelley. Taking your sister’s place, I see. Good job, just like her. Funny how so few people think about Renee except to call her nasty names.” He grinned back slapping her in the face with his statement.

  Kelley turned to look him straight in the eye explaining her reason in clear words,” Oh, you don’t get it do you Troy? All this was for your audience and wife and of course for those who hold higher positions than you. Let’s the principal, assistant principal, members of the select board for teachers. “ Kelley spat the words out at him as she continued, “ Renee never forgot how you just threw her away one week before homecoming. You just threw her aside for what? For Becca? My sister was far better looking, and so much more popular than Becca could have ever hoped for. Renee was the captain of the cheerleaders, and you were the start quarterback. It was supposed to be the two of you winning everything, every title, the perfect couple. Renee deserved to be the biggest star of all and you tossed her aside like she was garbage.” She shouted at him.

  Troy stood looking at this wretched person that so many people thought walked on water. She was more than a little crazy, she was a manic. He spoke with a clam voice making every word hit home,

  ” Renee was a monster in a human body. She treated everyone like cow crap and she had no heart at all. I only had to stand back and watch how she destroyed anyone that opposed her and her goals. I couldn’t wait to dump her on her head, as I knew that she would never wear the home coming queen crown. She got exactly what she deserved. I only wish that I could have made her senior year as miserable as she had made everyone else’s.” He slid into the truck closing the door and locking it. He cranks the truck up and with a wave he pulled off and left the parking lot.

  What Troy thought that he had left behind would only grow into a much bigger flame. Although his discussion with Kelley had ended and he figured out perhaps why all of this had happened he knew there was always another chapter to stories like this. He had only finished the first chapter of a very short story with a big surprise ending.