Chapter 2

"Christine, I can't believe you just said that. He sat with you for twenty minutes, chatted you up, asked about your school and family, and even asked you on a date. Does that sound like something a guy would do if he had no interest?" demanded Melissa. "You need to get out more, Baby. You're going into your senior year. I know your grades are important and you want to get into pre-med at Stanford, but you need to have fun Sometimes, too. You'll do even better in your studies if you're happy and enjoying life. Mitchell seemed like a really nice young man. He didn't ask you out because of some pity he felt for you. I saw him looking at you before he realized we were headed to your table. Believe me when I say this: he liked what he saw. That much was obvious."

"Yeah, Sis. I saw it, too. I was just kidding about getting you different clothes, and him not being interested in you. I'm sorry I said that. I was just jealous that he was sitting with you instead of with me. I don't know how you could have turned him down flat. You should've left yourself some room to reconsider, like get his phone number and promise to let him know tomorrow or something."

"Well, there is a very slight chance that I Will be going to the dance with him Saturday," admitted Christine. "He made me promise to go to the dance with him if our football team won the game Friday night. I guess he must be a member of the team. He acted awfully confident."

"If we win the game?" repeated a stunned Hailey. "Eagle won the league championship last year. They beat us by thirty points in the first game of the season last year, and our quarterback and half the offensive line graduated last spring. It looks like you'll be staying home Saturday if our team has to win Friday."

"That's just what I told him, Hailey. That's why I finally agreed to go out with him if they won. It was way easier than just telling him that I wouldn't go out with him," suggested Christine. "It lets me off the hook without seeming too cold, or bitchy."

"Christine. Listen to yourself," responded an exasperated Melissa. "Not many girls your age would want to get off his hook, given the choice."

"Mother." proclaimed Hailey and Christine simultaneously.

"I'm just saying." laughed Melissa. "It sounds to me like he was very determined to secure a date with you, Christine. It might be prudent to formulate a plan B for Saturday. He might win that game all by himself, just so that he can take you to the dance."

Mitchell had gone to the mall to pick up a few items for the start of school. He was excited about attending a regular high school in the United States and about playing football in his senior year. He knew it would be a big adjustment, but it was one to which he looked forward. He was considering getting some fries at the food court when he first saw her.

Mitchell had seen lots of pretty girls in the mall. He recognized and appreciated beauty the same as any normal 18-year-old boy would. That said, he was still pretty flabbergasted when he saw the dusky brunette beauty sitting alone in the food court. She was wearing a Stanford sweatshirt and loose-fitting jeans. As Mitchell appraised the girl more closely, he realized that the clothes could not totally conceal the nice figure beneath.

Her long hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail that hung more than halfway down her back. Now and then she would gaze around the food court observing shoppers as they rushed about their business. More than a few times, Mitchell saw a small smile break out on the girl's face. She seemed stunned by the actions of the crowd. Gradually, Mitchell realized that it wasn't just the girl's beauty that had so charmed him, but also her confident, good, humored outlook on the world. She didn't appear to take herself, or life, all that seriously. She was comfortable being herself. Then he noticed the book she was reading and took a chance.

Christine was killing two birds with one stone as she waited for her sister and mother to finish up their shopping. She was going to finish the final novel assigned for her honors English class as well as observe the people around her. She intended to become a doctor, hopefully a surgeon, and knew that the more she learned to notice what people were saying with their actions as well as with their words, the better she would succeed in her chosen Field.

She saw him just before he pulled up a chair at her table. He had to be over six foot three and two hundred and twenty pounds. He had his hair short. He appeared relaxed and confident. Then she looked into his eyes.

"Hi. I'm Mitchell Kays. I see you're reading "Lord of the Flies" and I was wondering if you're in Ms. Lyons's honors English class?" asked the boy as he held out his hand.

Christine had no idea how long she had been immobile, but she suddenly realized that she had been staring. She broke the trance and finally noticed the hand extended to her.

Taking the huge hand in hers, Christine struggled to form a response. She had to replay what her mind had just heard to determine what she had been asked.

"Hi. I'm sorry about being so confused for a minute," apologized Christine. "I was reading, and you surprised me. To answer your question, I am in Ms. Lyons's class. My name is Christine Leonard. How did you know Ms. Lyons assigned this novel for summer reading?"

Mitchell was reluctant to release the hand of the girl sitting across the table. Her voice was strong, yet feminine and her smile was intoxicating. He suddenly realized that he had been staring and quickly released the girl's hand. He went on to explain that he had enrolled at Highland over the summer and had been informed of the reading assignment for his English class. One thing led to another, and soon Mitchell had learned Christine had two sisters, the older of which was incredibly beautiful, in Christine's estimation. That was when Mitchell decided to risk rejection and ask Christine to the dance.

"Christine, I understand that the fund raiser for Tim Smith's brother next Saturday," began Mitchell somewhat tentatively. "Could I ask you to go with me?"

Christine was taken completely by surprise. No one had ever asked her out so soon after meeting her. In fact, only a couple of guys had ever even hinted that they would like to date her, and she had quickly dashed their hopes. Christine was very accomplished in her studies and was on track to graduate first in her class. She wanted to be a surgeon and she had long ago decided that fleeting emotional entanglements would not advance her career plans. She was also an avid reader and a born romantic. She was determined not to settle for some mundane romance. In fact, she would settle for nothing less than a love like Juliet had with Romeo. The boys that had shown any interest in her thus far had simply not measured up.

"I really can't, Mitchell. I have to study that night," replied Christine weakly.

Even as she said it, Christine realized how lame she sounded. Her usually calm demeanor dissolved as she struggled to think of something that would make more sense. Mitchell watched her closely for several seconds, and then smiled.

"If you have a boyfriend, I'll back off and apologize, Christine. I didn't want to put you on the spot. If you just don't want to go out with me, say so. But please, don't try to tell me that you have to study the Saturday night before school starts," laughed Mitchell. "I'm not very good at asking pretty girls like you out, and that sure doesn't do much for my confidence. I'm asking again, Christine. Will you go to that benefit dance with me Saturday?"

"Mitchell, the truth is that I don't think I want to go out with you. I must wonder why a guy like you would ask the class nerd for a date. The only reasons I can think of are that either it's a joke, or that you just haven't met anyone else from our school yet. Once you do, you won't want to date me. We both know that" finished Christine quietly.

"Okay, I see what you're telling me, Christine. I'm an idiot because I asked out the first beautiful girl I met. She's smart, funny, tall, sexy, and drop dead gorgeous, but I can do way better. I can find blonde cheerleader with an IQ smaller than her bust line that would look good on my arm. I shouldn't try for a poplar guy like you, or I can have the nerd like you."

Once again, Christine had difficulty initiating speech. How could this boy rattle her so quickly, and completely?

"Mitchell, I'm no poplar girl. I'm not a nerd, I’m a geek yes but not a nerd. Look at me. There are only two girls in the class taller than I am, and they're both stars on the basketball team. I'm ten pounds too heavy, and I'm going to be a surgeon one day. Ask any guy in my class. You'll regret being seen out with me within a week of school starting," concluded Christine.

"Or is it that you don't want to be seen with me, Christine? Are your standards too high for me? I'm not in with your crowd? Is that the problem? Or is it my appearance? The way I dress? The way I get all silly when I look at you?" grinned Mitchell.

"No. It's not you, Mitchell. It's me. I know what happens to girls that try to run with the wrong guys. They always get hurt. You'll be able to date any girl in our class, in the whole school. I'll bet some of the teachers Will even go out with you if you ask. You won't want me after you see what's out there," asserted Christine.

"We seem to be at an impasse here, Christine. I propose a simple wager. We'll leave it to chance. Let fates decide if we should go to that dance together," suggested Mitchell. "How about this? If Highland wins the football game on Friday night, you go to the dance with me on Saturday. If we lose the game, I won't pester you anymore."

"You do realize that we lost to Eagle by at least thirty points last year? They went on to win the league. We also had our quarterback and most of the starting offensive line graduate last spring. Highland can't win that game, Mitchell. We'll be lucky to win any games this year," predicted Christine.

"Then this should be a no brainer, especially for a 'brainiac' like you, Christine. Let's shake on it and we'll have a deal," urged Mitchell as he offered his hand to Christine.

Mitchell and Christine had just Green Bereted their wager with a handshake when Melissa and Hailey turned the corner in the mall and found them deep in conversation. Mitchell knew immediately that the two women approaching the table had to be the mother and sister that Christine had mentioned earlier. The family resemblance was obvious. As they drew closer, it occurred to Mitchell that Christine's mother would make a great ally in his, thus far wasted efforts to impress Christine.

Friday night found Christine sitting with her mom and two sisters in the visitors’ section of the stands at Eagle High. It was the first football game of the new season. Christine had mentioned that she might drive over to watch the game to her family the previous evening at dinner.

"I guess you will." laughed her older sister, Maddie. "Rumor has it that you have a lot riding on this game, Christine, like a date with an Adonis that suddenly appeared in Highland. If you don't mind, I'll ride over with you. I haven't watched a high school game since I graduated. Besides, I want to look this guy over. The way Hailey and Mom talk, he makes Brad Pitt look homely."

"Just wait until you see Mitchell," interjected Hailey. "I know you think we exaggerated, but you'll see. Christine has the best-looking guy our school has ever seen chasing after her, and she's playing hard to get. It pays to be so smart. She's stringing this guy along before she snaps him up in front of all those prissy cheerleaders. There'll be legends about Christine handed down from mother to daughter for years to come."

"I don't know why everybody's making such a big deal out of this," lamented Christine. "We have no chance of winning the game tomorrow. There won't be any date, so there's no reason for all of you to go to the game with me."

"Christine, you only went to a couple home games last year. Hailey went to everyone that she could, and I attended a few with her," pointed out Melissa. "It isn't all that unusual for Hailey and me to go to a football game, and Maddie was a cheerleader when she was a senior, so I can understand her wanting to go. How is it that you're going to an away game now?"

"I'm a senior this year, Mother," replied Christine testily. "You're the one that told me I should enjoy my senior year more. That's all I'm trying to do."

"Sure. You just want to watch Eagle kick our butts up and down the Field. It has nothing to do with a certain stud football player that's blinded by your beauty," teased Hailey.

"I don't know if I approve of you going out with this young man, especially under these conditions. No woman should be forced to do something like this against her Will," reasoned her father. "Maybe I should have a talk with this Mitchell person and nip this situation in the bud?"

"Yeah, Dad. Every girl wants her father to "speak" to her hot date. Have you not been listening? He isn't taking advantage of Christine. If anything, Christine is toying with him. He'll chase her until she decides to let him catch her. Protecting Christine from the best-looking guy in her school is hardly necessary, and certainly not wanted," replied Hailey with vigor.

As the teams warmed up, Hailey turned and spoke to Christine, "Well, at least Dad decided not to come, so you don't have to worry about him giving Mitchell a talking to. Mom and I won't embarrass you too badly, but you know Maddie. When she sees Mitchell, she won't be thinking about how she's three years older than he is. Don't let her steal him away."

"Hailey, I don't know where you developed such a low opinion of me, but I would never go after any of my sister's boyfriends, and I expect the same from you. We're family and we support each other, and that certainly includes keeping boyfriends." insisted Maddie.

"I overheard Nate Chase talking to James Oliver at the refreshment stand a little while ago. Their sons are on the team and both fathers felt that this was going to be an exceptionally good year for the football team. They have a new coach, a new quarterback, and a very new offensive scheme according to those two. They said tonight's game Will be different than any game the team has ever played," recounted Melissa. "I asked them why and they just grinned. They said that they were sworn to secrecy, but I should be ready for a lot of scoring."

Highland won the coin toss and elected to defend on the first possession of the game. After the kick-off, Eagle had the ball on the forty-two-yard line. Their senior halfback, Will Ellis, had won the league rushing title as a Junior and immediately picked up where he had left off the previous season. Highland's defense worked hard, but Ellis managed to average five yards with every carry. Then he carried the ball in for a score from the fifteen-yard line. They tacked on the extra point and after five minutes of play, Eagle had a 7-0 lead.

"Uh-oh, Christine. You may be home reading your novel tomorrow night after all," worried Hailey.

"I just want to know what position your Prince Charming is playing," complained Maddie. "So far, I'm not very impressed with any of the Highland players."

Eagle kicked off and the nervous sophomore returner fumbled the ball. By the Time the dust had settled, Eagle had recovered on the five-yard line. Ellis ran it in for the score on the very next play. With just over five minutes gone, Eagle led 14-0. Again, Eagle kicked off, but this time the kid on the receiving end managed to hang on, although he lost five yards on his attempted run back. Highland had the ball on the 27-yard line when its offensive unit took the Field.

"There's Mitchell." yelled Hailey. "He's number 12. He must be the quarterback. He looks hot even with a football helmet on."

Melissa glanced over at Christine to see her reaction. Christine had her pocketbook straps twisted in knots. She was staring intently at the playing Field as she tortured her purse. Melissa smiled to herself and returned her attention to the game. It was plain that Christine had not been exactly truthful about her feelings for the young man that had asked her to the dance. As that thought crossed her mind, a roar went up from Highland's section.

Highland's running back had managed a rather good season the previous year. He was third in the league in rushing, and that was with a mediocre team. Everyone expected him to be the workhorse of the Highland offense. On the first play from scrimmage, Mitchell took the snap and turned and tucked the ball into the halfback's chest. The back hit the line hard and managed to gain some positive yards. That was when the fans, as well as the Eagle defense, realized that Mitchell still held the football. He looked left and pulled his arm back. Then he suddenly turned to his right and lofted a pass deep down the right sideline. Liam Tayler was at least ten yards beyond the defender as he gathered the ball in full stride at the twenty-yard line and raced into the end zone.