Page 17

“Well, Pioneer fans, the whole season comes down to the next twenty seconds. South Mountain has steamrolled through the first two playoff games, but tonight we have watched two evenly matched teams go head-to-head in the district championship. The Pioneers will have the ball on the Eagle Rock High thirty-yard line, with a fourth down and trailing 28-24. Coach Bianchi has relied heavily on Tyquan Carter, who has been spectacular in the playoffs, including two more touchdowns tonight. However, it looks like Gunner Weston will have to make a play or two if this season is going to continue.”

**********

“Gunner!” He twisted to his coach. “Gunner, what do you think? We have no timeouts and only twenty seconds. I need to know what you’re seeing out on that field, son.”

Deep breath.

He peered around the huddle as his teammates looked on. The glares from the stadium lights stung his eyes.

Focus.

His body was hurting. His shoulder was starting to throb with each movement, but most of all, he was frustrated. He knew he had struggled all game to be consistent, as the protective padding under his shoulder pads was throwing off his balance.

“Gunner!” He snapped back to his coach, who was adjusting his visor. “I need to know what you’re seeing out there, son!”

Gunner’s breaths were coming fast and quick, the sweat rolling down his neck causing a chill when it hit the crisp November air.

They know I can’t make the throw.

He shook his head and glanced down.

“Coach.” Ty’s voice cut into his helmet. “They’re bringing pressure every play. They want to hit G, make him throw on the run with his shoulder.”

They’re succeeding.

“Gunner.” He kept his head down. “Gunner, I need you to look at me.” His coach’s voice was stern but encouraging enough to bring his head up. “Son, can you make the throw?”

Maybe.

The sharp bursts of pain in his shoulder with each breath said otherwise.

“G!” Ty grabbed his facemask. “G, I know you can make the throw! I know you can make it, G.”

Gunner inhaled, staring directly at Ty, who nodded at him.

I can make the throw.

He shifted to each player in the huddle, all of them nodding to him in agreement.

I can .

“I can make the throw.”

Andy slapped Gunner on the helmet as the team started to shout.

“OK!” Coach Bianchi’s voice brought everyone closer. The crowd erupted at the referee’s whistle, and the whole stadium shook. “We need to get the ball to the sideline so---”

“Coach!” Gunner jumped forward. “They’re going to expect us to throw something short, to try and get the first down and stop the clock!”

He was acting on sheer adrenaline and instinct. Gunner got down on a knee, staring up at the rest of his teammates.

“I think we play to that and run JT straight down the middle. It will pull the defense, and we can sneak Andy out toward the sideline.” He threw his helmet over his head, feeling the steam roll up around him. “JT has been killing them all night, and that safety doesn’t want to let him get behind him. AG, run right to the pylon, and I’ll put it on you. Just remember, if you’re not in the endzone, get out of bounds!” Gunner pushed his helmet back on and pointed at Andy, who nodded at him. “Coach, what do you think?”

Coach Bianchi had moved away, allowing Gunner to go over the play.

“Sounds like you know what’s going on. Make it happen, Gunner.” He adjusted his visor one more time.

I got it, Coach.

Emilio’s yell pulled everyone in, and as they broke the huddle, Gunner grabbed Andy, who was buckling his chinstrap.

“AG!” His yell echoed over the frenzied screaming of the crowd. “I’ve been high all day with my throws. I don’t know---”

“You just throw it.” Andy slapped the side of his helmet. “I’ll go get it. ”

The referee blew his whistle again, and Gunner peeked up to the scoreboard.

Just throw it.

“Here we go, folks, fourth down on the Eagle Rock thirty-yard line. Gunner Weston gets behind Emilio Cortez, who bends down, grabbing the football. Weston calls out the cadence and surveys the defense. He takes the snap! Weston drops back to pass and immediately has pressure from an Eagle Rock defender off the left side! Weston moves to the right, and what a block from Tyquan Carter! Weston now has some time and is going to throw deep down the right side. He is looking for Andy Green and…OH MY! WHAT A CATCH! Andy Green went up and got it! He was able to get his feet down before getting shoved out of bounds at the two-yard line. What a spectacular throw and catch by Gunner Weston and Andy Green!”

Finally!

“Yeah, G!” Emilio sprinted with Gunner down the field. “Nice throw!”

Not really.

He shook his head and watched as JT and Andy celebrated ahead. Ty quickly joined Gunner as they drew near.

“Hell of a block, Ty. Thanks for giving me time.”

“I told Coach you could make the throw,” he smirked. “I had to at least give you the chance to throw it.”

The two celebrating wide receivers joined the rest of the team in a huddle.

It’s not done yet.

Gunner immediately turned to the sidelines to get instructions .

“Gunner! Five seconds! You have one chance.” Coach Bianchi was motioning the play in, calling for a run to Ty up the middle.

He can get it.

The crowd was screaming, the noise reverberating all around him as he nodded to his coach.

“Got it!” He shot a thumbs-up and ran back to the group---all eyes on him.

“OK, one play, guys, no timeouts.”

Gunner peeked at the opposing team, which was getting into formation. All their hands were on their hips as they gathered around the football, which sat two yards from the endzone.

They know the play.

He leaned over Emilio, hitting Ty on the helmet.

“Look, these guys think we’re going to run Ty right at them. In fact, this entire stadium thinks we’re going to do that.” Ty was staring forward, focused. “So, let’s mix it up. How about we run Tight 22 wham with a boot action right.” Ty’s eyes shot to Gunner, questioning. “Don’t worry.” He smiled at his best friend. “You carried us this whole game, Ty. We got you…I got you.”

He called the play again and sent the team to the ball.

“G!” JT caught him before he could fully spin around. “I can get you a block, but the corner…if he doesn’t bite on the fake to Ty, well, he might be waiting for you.”

Gunner threw on a smile.

“I’ll take care of it---I’ve got this.”

He winked and sent JT on his way .

Just breathe.

Gunner set behind Emilio, watching the entire defense clutter to the middle of the field. He smirked at all the green jerseys pointing and screaming at Ty, and as he shifted his attention to the sideline, he saw that his coach’s head was down, not watching the play.

One chance.

He inhaled and looked toward his sister, who was no longer in line with the other cheerleaders. She looked nervous.

One moment.

Finally, he found his mother, who had her arm wrapped around someone in front of her.

Hailey.

She was clasping her face, eyes glued to the field.

I’ve got this.

“Here we go, first and goal from the two-yard line. This is the last play of the game. Weston settles behind Cortez. He calls out the cadence and looks over the defense. Weston takes the snap and hands off…no, it’s a fake! Weston is heading around the right side! He gets a block from Jefferson Taylor! Weston has one man between him and the endzone! He runs toward the pylon and dives…”

The force of the ground knocked the wind out of Gunner’s lungs. The second bounce brought shooting pain into his left arm. He could feel the ball still sucked tightly against his chest as he peered up into the black sky.

Did I get in?

Screams were echoing all around, but he could not tell which sideline they were coming from.

“He’s in! He’s in!” The referee was next to him, shouting and throwing his arms into the air.

Touchdown.

Gunner exhaled, and the stadium exploded. The ground shook underneath him like a tremor after an earthquake.

“G!” JT was standing over him. “You did it!”

He tried to speak but was still gathering air in his lungs.

“G! You crazy ass!” Emilio picked Gunner up. “I knew you could do it! I knew you could do it!”

The force of his friend ripping him off the ground brought another wince of pain.

“Be careful with him!” Andy was screaming as Emilio lifted Gunner higher, almost throwing him into the lights.

“I’m fine, AG!” he finally shouted, the sideline emptying as the whole team ran onto the field.

I am so fine!

“WE’RE GOING TO THE STATE SEMIS!” Ty was yelling by his side, repeating the phrase over and over.

“Damn straight!” Gunner’s lungs finally filled as he screamed, throwing his head back.

His whole body began to ache, but as he collapsed into Emilio’s arms, he felt a wide grin stretch across his face.

That was for you, Dad.

********* *

Hailey waved to Gunner as he pulled out of her driveway. The headlights of his car slowly disappeared as he rounded the corner. There was no question what was going on now, and it was getting harder and harder to say goodbye to him each night.

Originally, she was worried about her father and how he would handle the time they spent together. However, he hadn’t brought it up, and he even seemed to trust that Gunner would have her home by curfew each night. And while this was something she appreciated, it also appeared that Gunner really wanted that trust and would do anything to keep it. They were always together, but he was taking things slow.

So slow…

That thought made Hailey pull her coat tight. The hug of the leather helped slow her heart rate. While she knew Gunner was still piecing his life together and needed time to figure it all out, when they would practice close, she could not help but be a little selfish and want more.

By the time she got to the door, her pulse had normalized. She took one more final breath to steady herself before entering, and she let her mind settle back on that day’s practice. It was amazing how far they had all come. The musical was falling into place perfectly, and even though the boys continued to win football games, they never missed a day on the stage.

I guess it’s all up to me now.

Focusing on the rest of the cast was a nice distraction. However, as the performance approached, it was becoming harder for her to envision herself right in the middle of it all.

She fidgeted with her keys, thinking about the lights. She could feel their heat gleaming down, could imagine all eyes settling on her the first time she stepped onstage. She pictured the young girl from the drive-in.

Are you going to wear the dress ?

Hailey tried to push the memory away. She unlocked the door and stepped inside to a warm greeting from Ellie, who jumped on her leg. Even though it was late, she figured her father was probably still at school, preparing for the game. It was, of course, the state semifinal.

Melissa?

Hailey inched in. The reflection in the TV showed her sister sitting on the couch.

She is still up.

Hailey laid her keys down softly and dropped her backpack by the door, wincing at the accidental thud against the hardwood.

“Hey sis,” she said, as quietly as she could, while removing her coat. “What are you doing up so late?”

While things had been going better recently, she could not help the concern that crept into her voice.

“Just watching some TV,” Melissa whispered.

OK?

Hailey maneuvered through the darkness of the rest of the room and took a seat on a chair near her sister.

“Did Gunner drop you off tonight?” Melissa sounded fine now and shifted to face her.

“Yeah.” Hailey switched on a nearby lamp, illuminating the room and her sister’s face.

She is smiling.

“We stayed a little late after practice to rehearse a few things.” The dry warmth of the house made Hailey’s mouth feel cottony.

“Fun. How’s everything coming along?” Melissa crossed her hands over her knees and regarded her with attentive eyes.

Well.

Hailey glanced down at the floor.

“Good, I guess. Almost everything is coming together.”

“Almost everything?”

Crap.

Hailey turned, trying to avoid the conversation and hide her obvious uncertainty.

“Hails?” Melissa was not going to let it go---she could always read her in situations like this.

“Yeah, well, I mean…we just have a few things we need to take care of. And, of course, the walkthrough and all.”

She was rambling. Her hands strangled the plush cushion on the chair.

“Hails, come take a seat with me,” Melissa said calmly.

I don’t want to.

The hesitation was met with a defiant head nod from her sister, and Hailey knew she really had no choice.

“It’s nothing…” Hailey finally stood and made her way over.

“Really?” Again, Melissa read her so well that Hailey could only curl up against the arm of the couch.

Ugh, I hate this.

She took a deep breath as the steps of each number replayed in her head.

I know this musical .

In fact, she knew every line, every step, and every particular place she and the rest of the cast needed to be at every second of the performance.

But I do not know if I can do this.

Being onstage with Gunner was easy; he made it easy. But she would not always have him on the stage with her. She had no idea how she would react the first time she stepped back onstage, by herself in front of everyone.

And that dress.

“I don’t know. I guess, I guess I am just…I haven’t been on a stage since…Mom and---”

A warm, calming sensation engulfed her left hand. Melissa had moved over next to her and was now holding tight.

“Hails.” She squeezed. “Mom would be so proud of you.”

Melissa laid a photo, one Hailey did not remember packing in California, between them. Their mother’s smiling face after one of Hailey’s performances shined brightly, even in the dim room.

I miss her so much.

“I don’t know, Melissa. I just---”

“I do, Hails. And do you want to know how I know?” Her sister rubbed her shoulder. “Because I’m so proud of you.”

Really?

The words soothed her tension. And while she wanted to respond immediately, her mouth was still dry, and she was worried she might burst into tears if she spoke.

“Hails.” Her sister nestled next to her with the picture. “When we first moved to this town, I was…I was not in a good place. ”

In a split second, Hailey’s unease returned.

“I’ve made some bad choices in my life. And for the longest time, I was, I was afraid to talk to you. To try and explain everything to you.”

You don’t need to explain, Melissa!

While Hailey wanted to speak, a mounting sob blocked her voice.

“Out of all the mistakes I made, though, the one that I regret the most...” She paused and looked down at the picture. “Was not coming home after Mom died. Not being there for you when you needed me. To help you get back on that stage and do what you were born to do.”

Her sister’s eyes lowered, filled with regret and sorrow.

“You see, Hails, when Dad asked me to come home, I was---I didn’t know what to do. He told me you were struggling, and I felt like he was turning to me for answers.”

Hailey was frozen. She had wanted to have this conversation for years but really had no idea how it would actually go.

“You needed Mom. She always had the answers, and I, I just couldn’t be her. I’ve regretted that moment for a long time. I started partying and drinking, just trying to forget about it all. But deep down, I blamed myself for you quitting theatre. I blamed myself for a lot of things.”

No, Melissa!

Hailey wanted to scream it at the top of her lungs, as she knew exactly where her sister was going with this.

It was not your fault!

It was something Hailey had been wanting to tell her since everything had happened. Since the night her sister had been raped by someone her father had trusted. She knew the weight her sister still carried from that night. The blame she placed on herself, no matter how many counseling sessions she had attended.

“Melissa! It was not---”

Hailey felt a tight squeeze, then her sister threw her legs off the couch and hugged her.

“I know.”

That simple statement meant more to Hailey than any curtain call or award. It was something she had wanted to hear for years, and now, as she pulled back and stared at her sister, she knew it was something she wanted to hold on to forever.

For the first time since it all happened, she actually felt like she was seeing her sister again. Sure, she was older and sported a different hairstyle, but her eyes were the same. It was her sister. The one who, when they were young, had let Hailey sleep in her bed when she’d had nightmares. The one who would secretly eat her broccoli when their parents were not paying attention. This was her sister. The one she had laughed with, the one she had cried with.

“I know now that all you wanted was me, your big sister. No matter how many mistakes I made. No matter how screwed up I can be sometimes.”

Yes!

Hailey could no longer hold back the tears.

“But sometimes…” Melissa was now also tearing up as she grabbed an envelope from the table nearby, “sometimes the big sister also needs the little sister. She can be the one who shows the big sister how to forgive. How to be strong.”

Tears ran down both their cheeks.

“Watching you get back onto that stage, Hails. Watching you make all these friends and how happy it makes you. I know how hard it has been.” Melissa pulled a piece of paper from the envelope. “You took back your life, Hailey. You’re the strongest person I know, and it’s time that I start trying to be more like my little sister.”

She handed the paper to Hailey.

“So, I decided to take my life back, too. I’m going to start taking classes again.”

What!?

Hailey moved the paper into the light of the lamp, reading through it and smiling wider with each word.

“Is this…is this real!?”

“I was so angry, Hails. Angry at what happened to Mom. Angry at what happened to me. I forgot who I was. I forgot who Mom and Dad had raised.” Hailey lunged at her sister and wrapped her arms around her. “I’m ready to take my life back,” Melissa continued, muffled by Hailey’s shoulder. “I want to be like you, Hailey. Strong and proud of who I am.”

You are strong, Melissa!

Hailey was fully bawling now but refused to relax the hug.

“I will not let one moment define who I am. I will not let someone take my life from me. I’m going to be strong, like my little sister.” Hailey abruptly began to hiccup, making them both laugh. “My sister, who is a star. Who was born to be under the lights; I want everyone to see the Hailey that I see every day!”

Hailey sat up slowly, looking directly into her sister’s eyes.

“I’m so proud of you!” she yelled, just as the door started to open.

Daddy!

Their father’s face instantly stiffened, and Hailey realized that he was probably experiencing a rush of anxiety at seeing the tears on his daughters’ cheeks.

“Girls!” He rushed over to the couch, his voice drenched with concern. “Is everything---”

Melissa stood up and hugged him.

“Dad.” Her voice was soft but steady. “I want to show you something.”

His eyes jumped to the paper that Hailey held out to him.

“Read it, Daddy,” Hailey said, grinning.

He eased onto the couch, and his daughters watched as he began to read.