It’s my favorite part of the skit right then, it’s when Madison struts up to me. I push Steven aside and grab Madison’s hand in the center of the gym. The music fades and we slow dance to the opening notes of “It’s Time” by the Black Eyed Peas. She raises up on her toes and kisses my helmet. We break apart, she stays in front while the team huddles behind her and the song changes again to “Ice Ice Baby.” Madison is shaking her ass around us, and all I can do is watch knowing every eye in the gym is watching my girl’s ass.
I’m not surprised. Madison Thomas is every guys dream girl.
Get a good look boys. I’ll be watching it bounce on my dick later.
Jesus. Steven has taken over my brain.
It’s then the music is fading again and we’re almost done with our part of the pep rally. It’s a good thing because this is a lot of work. I’m not cut out to be a dancer. I can run drills all day on the field but you ask me to shake my ass for longer than a four-minute song and I’m winded.
I take Madison by the hand as the original “Time Of My Life” from Dirty Dancing comes on and we slow dance. Landon breaks us apart. He dances with her for about two seconds and pulls back to look at her, then looks to Macy and smiles, pretending like he had the wrong twin. There’s not much difference between Madison and Macy, to most, but to us, there are plenty of differences.
Landon and Steven grab the girls and the entire gym goes wild when the lights go dark.
We end with “Teach Me How To Dougie” and attempting to teach the girls how to play football in a skit. They make one play and the crowd goes wild, if they weren’t wild before. We definitely blew the roof off of the school with this pep rally.
We’re out of breath when the gym goes black and Coach Mitchel enters the gym shaking his head. “How ‘bout them boys?” They’re screaming in response, hyped beyond belief. I’ve never heard them this loud and it’s reassuring that every one of these screaming faces will be there tomorrow night when we stomp Lake Oswego.
Coach places his hand on his hip and gives a nod to me and the boys. “Thanks to the trio for the special show.” He laughs, then eyes Landon, doesn’t even respond to the theatrics of his floor hump. He wants to but doesn’t.
I move my head from Madison’s shoulder and yell over at Coach. “You’re welcome!”
He laughs and shakes his head at me. “Is everyone fired up over this game, or what?”
Our school gives him what he’s looking for, the loud thunderous screams.
He laughs, smiling. “I’ve coached here at Canby High School for the last twenty years and this team, this group of players is one of the best I’ve ever had with an undefeated season heading into the championship game. We need a great seed like we have right here and I will assure you the boys will play and win the championship game tomorrow.”
After school Steven, Landon, and the other starters went with the coaches up to Portland to check out the field. It wasn’t that we needed to, but it was all about unity and building bonds together. They wanted us together as much as possible. From early August until now, we’ve been with each other more than anyone else. I haven’t even seen Madison as much as I’ve seen Steven and Landon. Which sucks because seeing their naked asses after practice is not how I want to end my day.
When you play high school football the coaches’ goal is teaching you how to one, play the game, but more importantly how to play it right. They want to teach you conditioning and skills, unity and bonds that last, respect for the players, coaches, and the game. What you learn in those years from peewee football all the way up to the last game of your senior year stays with you. Believe me.
After we leave the stadium, Coach stops us in the parking lot, his eyes watchful of us. “You’re getting a text later, boys. You’re required to show up.”
We knew that meeting was coming but it didn’t put a damper on our plans for tonight with the girls. It’s only for the starters and its location and how it’s presented is a secret. We have no idea what he’ll talk to us about but we could just about guess. Commitment. He wants us dedicated to the win.
If anyone is dedicated to bringing home this state championship to this small town, it’s me and my boys. For twenty-two years they’ve tried, we’ve tried, and it’s never been done. This season we’ve led them through an undefeated senior year. This is that once in a lifetime shot at this. If not now, when?
It’s rare, okay, it’s basically unheard of for three players to get scholarships to the same school. Given our season and being the talk of the town, it tends to lend well to recognition.