Ride The Wind

Chapter Twenty Five; Andy

(Up top/to the side fort Payne Alabama stadium and school)

As we landed I told Bret "We are staying in the Days Inn hotel, my mom used to work there it's near The Waffle House and Ryan's" I gave him keys to a car the coach had gave us to use, and smiled "How are you five gonna go to the school?" Bobby asked, I laughed "I got us a ride" I said, as a horn to a beat up Toyota beeped and Hank Williams played from the radio blaring I threw my hands up "Palmer!"
He stopped, and turned the truck off, a brunette six foot one line backer got out and he grinned "Cortez!" He ran towards me and got me up in a bear hug I laughed and he set me down "Zack!"
He grinned "Who is you friends?" He asked, I laughed "Zack. This is Liss, Rikki, Luca, Bobby, Bret and my boyfriend C.C." I said, he froze "Wait, whoa" he grinned "Poison!" Bret chuckled "Looks like we are known here too."
They shook hands "I'm Zack Palmer, line backer for Auburn."
I grinned "You got in?" He nodded, and reached in the chrome toolbox in the back of his truck bringing a Auburn helmet out, I laughed "Thats great!" I yelled, as Bobby and Bret got the bags and went to the car we went to his truck, Lissa and Rikki got up front, Zack pulled his back window open by pushing the sides in, he grinned "How does it feel to be back?!" He yelled, I laughed "Great."
We got to the high school and got out, seeing students everywhere we went and walked to the gym, I saw a familiar gray headed coach wearing a FPHS jacket with the wildcat, I sighed and crossed my arms "You still wear that old thing?"
Clack Bayard turned and chuckled "Brings us luck every year" Zack grinned and I laughed "Except against Valley head" I said, he sighed "Can you please stop."
Lissa laughed "What happened?" She asked, I smirked "He tackled the referee because he said something about a girl quarterback." C.C. laughed and Rikki chuckled, Kyle Bayard gave me a playful glare "I've missed you Andrea."
I hugged him as he hugged me and sighed, I've missed my coach.

I was on my knees looking out at the field, I sat on the FP in the middle of the field and looked out trying to remember that awful day when I got hurt by Lee and my final touchdown.
"Johnson! I want you covering Andy! Lovine on her left and Andy" Coach Bayard ooked at me "Down the middle" he said, I nodded "And break!" He said as we clapped our hands together, I got into starting line behind Palmer who held the football, as he yelled to where I couldn't hear he threw me the ball I did a left sweep of a few football players and ran the middle, then out of nowhere, the quarterback for Sylvania hit my side sending me flying go in the air the football in my hand, I reached out and put the football in the Touchdown.

It was after the game that I was walking home and saw Lee, I started to run and their quarterback pushed me down "Girls shouldn't be quarterbacks" he said, and grabbed a ballbat. I held in the pain as they beat me, and heard one whisper "You ever think of playing again, we will make it worse than that."
Coach Bayard found me and at the hospital they said I should quit playing for awhile, I was broken and my dad didn't make it easier and as he threw whiskey bottles at my head every night.
I remember what he said and I wanted to cry "You shouldn't of played football anyway, a girl can't be a quarterback!" And he was the one that told me to do it.

"Andy."
I opened my eyes staring into C.C.'s "Baby, you okay?" he asked, running a hand through my hair, I nodded "Just remembering when -" do I want tell him? I was on my back and I raised up shaking my head "Never mind. I will explain later" then I smiled "Two days until the big game."
He smiled and kissed me "Your gonna do so well."
I laughed and said "Maybe" he kissed my head "Baby, your okay, and your gonna be okay. I love you, and can assure you nothing will or is gonna happen" he said, I looked at him and kissed him as he leaned back on the football field, and I grinned against his lips.
We laid back on the field and stayed silent for awhile.