Junior Year Box Set

I smiled when Bill and Ridge arrived in suits. They looked good dressed-up. I wasn’t as happy when they both asked Zoe to dance before I got a chance with her, but she seemed to like the attention. Zoe didn’t have much experience with guys, and Bill and Ridge were both good-looking. Tim and Tracy joined our table. I was surprised he’d asked her to the dance, but I figured they must have hit it off. I was happy Tracy had found someone she seemed to like. Wolf and April joined our table to fill it up.

Zoe came back to the table after dancing with Ridge. I hid a grin because he was a terrible dancer. I’d gotten Zoe a glass of punch and turned to ask her to dance when Bryan Callahan showed up out of nowhere.

“May I have this dance?” he asked Zoe.

I stood up and glared at him. Zoe touched my arm.

“David, it’s okay. I’d be happy to dance with him,” she said, and he guided her out to the dance floor.

I sat down and decided that it wasn’t worth getting mad about. Ridge and Bill wanted to talk about the game. They were as bad as I was when it came to being a football junkie. I enjoyed our conversation because they understood what was really going on. I was in the middle of explaining my read progression on a play when Zoe came back and was immediately asked to dance by Yuri. I guess I wasn’t going to get to dance with my date tonight. Then Ridge said something that brought me back to our discussion.

“Coach was impressed with you tonight. He told me that I could tell you that USC has decided you’re worthy of an offer.”

“He’s just trying to pay you back for kicking his ass at football camp,” Bill said. “Coach couldn’t stop talking about how you played. You’re more than worthy of the offer. I admit that I was worried I’d made a mistake when everything was going down with our previous coach. We don’t know who’ll be in charge next year, but I love USC.

“I think you’d like it. For sure I like the weather better. The only thing I had to get used to was that USC is in the heart of LA, and it seems there are people everywhere. I miss the quiet at times. I’d love to have you around and play ball together again.”

“I’d love to go to school with you, too. USC is one of the schools I’ll definitely consider, but I won’t make any decisions until spring of my senior year,” I said.

“That’s a good plan. I committed to Alabama before I was ready, and it turned into a mess when I switched to USC. Don’t make a decision until you’re 100 percent sure,” Ridge said.

I looked up and saw Wolf lead Zoe onto the dance floor. I needed some air, so I got up and walked out of the gym. This reminded me too much of my freshman year when Cindy and Suzanne had their ex-boyfriends show up. I was glad Zoe was having a good time, but she was my date, and I like to dance. I didn’t come to be ignored.

I found Peggy Pratt leaning against the wall.

“Oh, David, thank God,” she said.

It was plain to see something was wrong. When I got close, Peggy reached for me. I took her hand, and then she leaned into me and groaned. I looked down, and the ground was wet.

“I don’t think you’re going to give your crown away tonight,” I said. “Do I need to take you to the hospital?”

“Yes, please,” she said, and I took her to the parking lot.

I’d borrowed my mom’s Cadillac because it was Homecoming. I’d learned my lesson when I took Angie to the hospital. I found a blanket in the trunk and put it in the passenger seat. I then called my mom.

“Hey, Mom. Can you call the Pratts and tell them that Peggy’s gone into labor? I’m taking her to the hospital and will meet them there,” I said.

“I thought you were at the dance.”

“I was. Peggy was last year’s Homecoming Queen. Her water broke outside the gym,” I explained.

“Okay. I’ll call Angie, and we’ll meet you there,” Mom said.

I hung up, and Peggy gave me a weak smile.

“What’s your date going to think?” she asked.

“I doubt she’ll even miss me. She was busy dancing with everyone but me tonight,” I said.

Peggy dropped it when she saw the look on my face. The more I thought about it, the more I realized finding Peggy was probably the best possible outcome for me. If I saw any of the girls or their dates, I’d probably regret what I would do. It was good that I had only been dating them. It would make it easier to walk away.

◊◊◊

David William Pratt was born at 11:59 and weighed seven pounds even. I’d held Peggy’s hand as she had him. Her mom and dad were out of town, so I stepped up and was there for her. He had a little head of red hair like his mother’s.

When I came out of the delivery room, I was exhausted. Watching Peggy have a baby was almost as much work as playing a football game. I needed to get home because we were going to Notre Dame tomorrow. I came out to the waiting room, and Angie handed me my suit coat and cell phone.

“This thing has been going off all night.”

“Why didn’t you answer it?” I asked.