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Chapter 7: Double Key




      "Yo Bleeds," grins Fas as the BBHS band plays the national anthem before the Mountain Valley Conference game against Ridge High School. "I saw Mickie and Little Charch come out of the auditorium together."        

"Big fucking deal," Blaine growls, irritated at the interruption to his favorite part of pregame rituals. "Let's stomp these rich kids."

"No argument here," Fas replies about the team from the wealthy suburb of Basking Ridge on the south slope of Third Watchung Mountain. "They got it coming."


__________



    "Blaine, I have to talk to you," whispered Mickie leaning into his shoulder beside his school locker.

"What is this, instant replay?" he laughed, hooking her arm and leading her to the back door to the auditorium stage.

They glanced both ways and ducked into the dark backstage when they thought no one was looking.

     "I know you've been talking to Karma," she began, reaching up to touch his shoulders.

"What?" he exclaimed louder than intended, standing up straight and pulling back from her.      

"It's okay Blaine," she continued, "she told me all about meeting you in the Park and talking after the Harrison game."

"It's nothing," he cried, his voice rising, "but sorry if that hurt you."

"I need to apologize too," she whispered with both eyes moistening as he leaned down to hear. "It was Karma that I was riding around with that time."

"Jeez," he softened, pulling her into his chest as tears streamed down her cheeks.

 He hardly heard someone else slipping in through the back hallway door.


___________



    "Yo Bleeds, you just hit two hundred yards and it's still the third quarter," exclaims Fas slapping him on the helmet in the Bound Brook huddle.

"Who gives a shit?" Blaine wheezes, leaning forward with hands on knees. "Just keep moving it down the field."

     "28 sweep on two," calls the quarterback on first down from the Crusader 35-yard line. "Bleeds, you jump to halfback for this one. They're double keying you so Fas'll pull from guard and get the outside linebacker and I'll take out the cornerback."

He takes the snap and pitches the ball to Blaine who cuts inside Fas and finds an open stretch of green down the right sideline. He tries to turn on the speed but his legs won't go faster. It seems like he's running in slow motion as the Ridge safety sprints from across the field to drag him down from behind.

"Let's go Bleeds," huffs Fas running over to help him up. "Time to put them away."

"My legs," coughs Blaine trying to roll to his knees but giving up and falling onto his back. "They won't move."
Box Score


1Q
2Q
3Q
4Q
Total
Ridge (2-5)
0
0
0
15
15
Crusaders (6-0-1) 
18
18
18
0
54

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