Blood Bath

Chapter 15

Throughout the night Colton kept fumbling the ball and getting tackled. They were only dreams, but when he woke, he was disgusted. As he thought about it, he realized that he was trying to prepare himself for the possibility the Loons might lose.

The papers were again on time and he listened to the audiobook "Two for the Dough" while making his deliveries. Colton's mood improved as he listened to the silly antics of Stephanie and Lula. Stephanie's grandmother was becoming a new favorite character. A gutsy old woman who loved to hang around funeral homes to meet widowed men. She made Colton think about Mrs. Hoffstarter and all the troubled characters she met during her years working as a psychiatrist.

Colton finished the last chapter of the novel as he drove into the school parking lot. He wore a white shirt with a black jacket and tie, which he put on before leaving the Jeep.

Today the students were being released at 11:00am. Before they leave, the band will walk through the halls playing the school song, followed by the football team.

As Colton walked toward his locker, happy faces and good luck pats on the back greeted him. There was a can-do mood in the school. Even though Colton had doubts about winning tonight, he could see that his fellow students had no questions about how good their team was. It is true, school spirit is contagious.

Aden was standing next to his locker talking to his girlfriend, Kathy Dorsher.

Kathy yelled to Colton, "Are you ready to win tomorrow?"

"Yes! And after regionals, we're off to the State Championship. Isn't that right Aden?"

"Damn straight, Colton. We're ready to show everyone how good our team is," Aden said.

All the students who heard him cheered. Colton knew this would be a wild and crazy morning at school.

Lacie walked up to Colton and hugged him. She turned to Aden and wished him good luck.

"Luck is just part of the formula, Lacie. Our skill is what counts."

"Well, good skills to you," She said with a huge grin.

Colton led Lacie to her locker. "Are you ready for today? I think it's going to be crazy. You can feel the excitement in the halls. I hope we can do a good job tonight. So many people are rooting for us, and I'd hate to disappoint everyone."

She held his hand and said, "You won't disappoint anyone. Even if you lose, you guys have won our hearts as the greatest Loons team."

***

The bell rang, and the hallways emptied. Colton gave Lacie a quick kiss. "See you after school," he added. "Remember, we're having lunch with Mrs. Hoffstarter."

Jerry interrupted Colton and Lacie to show them the new business website he created. Colton loved it. "You did a great job, Jerry. Did you have time to do your site too?"

"It's almost done. I set up a storefront so I can sell online. I need more products to sell and I need a credit card account. Do you have one for your business, yet?"

"Working on it, but not yet," replied Colton. "Lacie, look at my website. Jerry worked magic, again."

Lacie checked the site out and agreed with Colton.

Colton asked Jerry to stop by the business office in his garage "We should be back around two, so we can meet then. Seth will also be there. We want to go over the progress we've made so far." Jerry agreed.

After third hour, Colton went down to the locker room with the football team and lined up behind Coach Talbert and the high school pep band. There was an announcement telling the students to line up along the halls and watch for the team.

The band played the school fight song as they paraded down the halls followed by the cheerleaders and then the students. They lead the students out of the building to the busses.

Seth and Beth wished Colton good luck, and Lacie hugged him. "I'm so proud of you, Colton," she told him.

Seth told Colton he would be at the meeting later, and he and Beth left for lunch.

Colton took Lacie's hand and together they walked to his Jeep