The Road to L.A.

by Buchanan, Gina

  Carly climbed out of the passenger seat of Amanda’s car and smoothed the folds of her cheerleading uniform. She hurriedly pulled her long hair into a ponytail. Several feet away, she could see crowds of people hanging around the stadium bleachers, talking and laughing excitedly. Everyone knew the Panthers needed to win this game tonight in order to make it to the playoffs. Carly wondered how Jake was feeling at the moment, the weight of the game heaviest on him. She knew the coach wouldn’t expect anything less than a win tonight, and everyone in Clanton was counting on the quarterback to send the Panthers to the playoffs. The electric charge was heaviest nearer the stadium and Carly felt it wholly. This prompted a strange apprehension she had never felt before. She looked around her and suddenly felt dizzy. Amanda looked at her friend and placed her hand on Carly’s shoulder.

  “You alright?” Amanda asked.

  Carly nodded, but was uncertain whether this was the complete truth. The fact of the matter was, Carly had no idea if she was okay.

  “I think I need to go to the bathroom,” Carly said meekly. She excused herself and hurried to the public restrooms.

  She was immensely thankful that no one else was in the restroom at the moment. She leaned against one of the sinks and stared at herself in the mirror. She lifted her hands and noticed her fingers were shaking slightly. Turning the cold water on, she splashed some of the cool liquid on her face. Before lifting her face to look at herself in the mirror again, Carly took a few deep breaths and suddenly heard female voices reverberating on the other side of the restroom door. She quickly swiped a paper towel from the dispenser and wiped her face before the door flew wide open. Susan entered with several members of the cheerleading squad in tow. She stopped abruptly when she saw Carly.

  “There you are. I was starting to get worried, " Susan said in her usual sweet, diplomatic tone. Then, without warning, her demeanor changed drastically as she assumed a defensive stance. "So, I heard you were over at Jake's the other day...alone.” She said the last word with added emphasis.

  “We’re just friends, Susan. You have nothing to worry about,” Carly sighed with all too evident exasperation.

  “I don’t know if I can believe that. You guys spend an awful lot of time together. Time he should be spending with me."

  Carly simply rolled her eyes.

  “Just remember, Cabrerra, he belongs to me,” Susan retorted, hands on hips.

  “I think the game’s about to start,” Isabel cut in, poking her head outside the restroom door.

  Susan acknowledged Isabel’s observation and herded the squad out of the restroom and onto the field.

  All the while Carly couldn't help wondering why Jake had involved himself with this superficial tyrant. Thankfully she didn't have too much time to brood over this because her official cheerleading duties had just begun. She faced the ebullient crowds seated above in the bleachers, told herself to put on a smile, and worked to rile them up.

  By the fourth quarter the panthers were losing to the Cleveland Harris High School Highlanders. The score was 14 to 0, and it was already nearing the end of the fourth quarter. The Panthers had the ball. Jake was already on edge, and it didn’t help to ease the tension when his father started yelling from the sidelines for them to keep their heads in the game.

  “Goddamn it, Jake!” Coach Harmon screamed, all the while casting peripheral glances at the clock, which showed that time was running out for the Panthers to score.

  “Williams!” the coach screamed at Roy, “Gain us some yards out there, boy!”

  Roy nodded and stepped up to Jake.

  “Bro, give me the ball. I’ll score us a touchdown,” he advised Jake.

  Coach Harmon continued his rant. “What the hell is wrong with you boys? Goddamn it! Your pansy playing is gonna cost us state!”

  Harmon tossed his clipboard to the ground, prompting one of his assistant coaches to step aside lest the clipboard strike his foot.

  Jake looked at one of the assistant varsity coaches, who was signaling him from the sidelines, then turned to the rest of the Panthers on the field.

  “Guys, we’re gonna run it in. Roy’s getting a hand-off.”

  Pierce, a Panther fullback, looked at the scoreboard and shook his head. He said gloomily, “Jake, even if Roy scores, we’re not gonna win. We’re behind by two touchdowns.”

  “Look, we are not going down without a fight. We never give up!" Jake pressed. Yet he himself knew it would be impossible to win this game. There just wasn’t enough time.

  “What we need is a miracle,” Chad remarked grimly, shaking his head.

  The teams lined up and Jake hiked the ball. He turned and Roy took the ball from Jake’s hands. Harmon could be heard yelling from the sidelines, urging Roy to step up his speed. Roy ran as fast as he could, keeping the ball securely tucked in his arms. The crowd grew wild as it appeared with definite certainty that he would make it to the end-zone. His speed and agility seemed to make it impossible for any of the Highlanders’ defenders to halt his fierce charge. Coach Harmon continued his frantic rant, his assistant coaches joining in. Just before the clock ran out, Roy made it to the end-zone and hammered the ball to the ground with a hard thud. Roy scored the touchdown for the Panthers, but it just wasn’t enough. The Panthers lost the game by a single touchdown, and in the process lost their chance at the state finals.

  As Jake trudged dejectedly off the field, a player he barely knew from the opposing team walked past and said, “Looks like you’ll never be as good as your dad was.”

  Jake’s blood immediately began to boil. He turned and charged at the Highlander. Without thinking about any of the painful consequences that were sure to follow, Jake threw a hard punch into his opponent’s helmet. The force behind the strike was so fierce and powerful that it sent the Highlander flying backward into another one of his teammates. Suddenly, the field was a battle zone as Cleveland Harris Highlanders charged the Clanton Panthers. Carly shrieked with dismay at the sight before her, and she was pushed back a safe distance by one of the cheerleaders. Aaron and Amanda looked down at the field and gasped in sheer bewilderment. Amanda immediately scanned the field for Roy and Jake to make sure they were okay, but she was unable to locate them amidst the chaos. The Highlanders’ coach looked at the scene before him, unable to decide how to proceed with this unruliness. He glanced at Harmon, who wore a dark scowl on his face. Harmon summoned his assistant coaches and said, “What on God’s green Earth just happened out there?”

  “I think your son just started a war with the Highlanders,” one of the assistant coaches proffered, then quickly shut up when he saw Harmon’s scowl deepen.

  Coach Harmon caught sight of the referees and shouted, “Get these idiots off the field, now!”

  Gradually, the field was cleared and both teams moved to their respective locker rooms. In the Panthers’ locker room, Harmon stood unmoving, glaring at each and every player seated on the benches and on the floor. The silence was near deafening. All five assistant coaches leaned against the wall, their eyes traversing the downtrodden and beaten boys.

  “The vestiges of pride we still had after being beaten like pansies on that field tonight are long gone now. I am deeply disappointed in this team. I wanna know what the hell happened out there tonight?”

  Continued silence was the answer Harmon got, so he reiterated in a booming voice, “I wanna know what the hell happened! Somebody better speak up!”

  Chad spat out the blood that had accumulated from a cut inside his mouth before answering, “One of the guys from Harris ran his mouth and we had to shut him up.”

  “That’s your answer?” Coach Harmon asked incredulously. They all could tell he was trying hard to control his anger. "We lost a game tonight that cost us a spot in the state finals. Then on top of that we looked like idiots on that field because somebody on the other team offended one of you?"

  “Look, dad…”

  Jake immediately caught himself, but not before Harmon threw his son a r
eproachable glare.

  “In my office, now!” Harmon demanded.

  Jake did as he was bid and followed the coach into his office. Harmon closed the door behind them and turned to face his son.

  “Don’t you ever address me like that again. When we’re here, I am not your father, I’m your coach. That’s how you will address me. Do we understand each other?” Harmon’s voice was surprisingly very calm, but harsh nonetheless.

  Jake bit back against a string of curses that longed to be expressed. He glared at his father and replied in the most bitingly sarcastic tone he could muster. “Sorry, Coach, didn’t mean to disappoint you.”

  With that Jake flung his helmet against the far wall of the room and stormed out of the office. The coach followed his son.

  “Harmon, get your ass back in here!”

  Jake continued on, intentionally ignoring his father’s orders. He passed by his stunned teammates while his father followed, yelling, “Harmon! Jake! We’re not done!”

  Jake simply replied, "Fuck off.”

  Too blinded by rage, he failed to notice Carly waiting for him in the bleachers. She watched him, too afraid to approach him. Grabbing her gym bag, she got up and stepped down onto the sidelines. Suddenly she wished she hadn’t convinced Amanda to leave without her, because now she didn’t have a ride home. She had been so certain Jake would give her a ride. But with the dark, angry scowl marking his face, she had thought better than to ask him for any favors. Before she could leave to find a payphone, Roy and Chad approached her.

  “I’m so sorry you guys didn’t win the game,” she said.

  “Well, you don't win them all,” Roy replied, although she could tell he was having a hard time accepting his own words as evinced by his frown.

  “So, how are you guys getting home?” Carly asked.

  “You need a ride?” Roy asked. “I’m going with Chad. I don’t think he’ll mind taking you home, too.”

  She caught Chad’s eyes roving her bare legs and he replied in a devilish tone, "Damn right I don't mind.”

  “Thanks…I think,” Carly said to Chad. She then inquired, “By the way, what’s wrong with Jake?”

  Roy’s light-hearted demeanor suddenly mutated as the expression on his face turned serious.

  “He had it out with his dad,” Roy explained. “It probably had something to do with the fight out on the field tonight. The referees are saying that Jake started it.”

  “That whole thing was so crazy,” Carly said, shaking her head. “Too much testosterone out there tonight, I guess.”

  “Coach was pissed beyond belief. But I don’t care,” Chad said, “I’d do it all over again if I could.”

  He opened the door for Carly to climb into the backseat of his truck.

  “Did Jake say where he was going?” she asked as they pulled out of the stadium parking lot.

  Chad and Roy shook their heads. Roy said, “I didn’t even want to ask because he seemed so upset. I figured the best thing for the guy would be just to leave him alone.”

  “Yeah,” Chad agreed, “he looked like he was gonna murder someone.”

  “Well, Jake wouldn’t have gone home,” she remarked. She looked out the window while she contemplated his whereabouts. Suddenly she had a thought. There was definitely one place she could think of. It held a special significance for them since childhood. She smiled to herself as she thought back to the days when they had frequented the dusty baseball field at the edge of their neighborhood. Hadn't they called it the Dusty Diamond back then she mused. Memories of a particularly special day at the baseball field emerged, and they sent pleasant waves of nostalgia coursing through her. She could remember how that day had started. She had told her mother that Jake, the twins, and she would be meeting at the field to play. And as usual her mother had levied a very strict curfew.

  "Be home by no later than six o'clock for dinner, young lady," Lydia Cabrerra had instructed her 10-year-old daughter.

  She remembered being all-too-eager to escape from under her parent's supervision that Saturday morning. They were strict now, but back then they had been unbearable for their highly-independent young daughter.

  After fleeing through the patio door, she had reached the old baseball field at the same time Jake was pulling up on his ten-speed. The twins were mere yards away and quickened their pace when they spotted Carly and Jake.

  The old baseball field looked as though it hadn’t witnessed a game in years, which only added to its intrigue. It consisted of a mundane patchwork of green grass and brown dirt. Overgrown weeds had begun to dominate the ground which attested to the fact that the field rarely received any maintenance. The weeds strewn wantonly about the infield had grown around the weathered and yellowed bases, which were covered in a thin film of chocolate-colored dust. A worn wooden fence flanked one side of the deserted diamond, separating the expansive outfield from a row of residential backyards.

  “It looks pretty bad,” Jake had remarked.

  Aaron, being equally concerned, retorted, "Doesn’t look like it’s safe to play here. Look at it.”

  After a few moments, Jake had concluded that they could make it work. Jake's optimism and tenacity always brought forth action to get things done. That day had been no exception.

  With that, Jake had grabbed his bat while Amanda sprinted to the pitcher's mound with a baseball in hand. Aaron followed Jake reluctantly, all the while mumbling that he would much rather be reading in his room that afternoon. Even then it had been obvious that Aaron was made for educational endeavors, not athletic pursuits. He was always the kid picked last in P.E. class while Amanda was the kid picked first.

  “Aaron, you’re catcher for now,” Jake informed the grumbling twin.

  Aaron gritted his teeth and feigned a smile. “No problem,” he lied. He really wanted to know how long this torture would last. Of course he'd play because he didn't want to displease Jake, the most popular kid in Clanton. But he wouldn't enjoy it and would be counting down the seconds before it was all over.

  Carly had been up for bat first and concentrated hard on getting her stance right. She knew this wasn't a real game because they lacked the appropriate number of players, but she wanted to impress Jake and hit the ball hard her first swing. The ball came hurtling toward her, and to her dismay she swung and missed. However, she redeemed herself by hitting the ball during her second swing, although Amanda skillfully caught it before Carly could reach first base. She cursed Amanda's athletic prowess and trudged dejectedly to the dugout. Aaron was up next, and he proved to be the direct antithesis of his sister. He swung the first time and almost spun all the way around, his feet tangling together and causing him to wobble shakily. Meanwhile, he had lost his grip on the bat and it slid across the ground.

  “I told you guys, I’m not good at sports!” Aaron yelled with as much embarrassment as frustration.

  “Come on, Aaron,” Carly replied in an attempt to encourage him. “Just try it again. You still have two more tries.”

  “You mean, two more times to look stupid!” Aaron threw his hands up in exasperation.

  “Let’s do this!” Amanda yelled encouragingly. She was becoming impatient and decided her brother needed some prodding.

  Aaron took the bat and swung. He missed again. Aaron turned to look at everyone and shot them an I-told-you-so expression. Carly flashed him with a heartening grin and proffered, “Three times a charm?” To that, he simply scoffed.

  Aaron executed the final swing. Carly let out a long disappointed groan as his effort went unrewarded. With slumped shoulders, the twin retreated to the dugout. Not having long to wait for his turn again, he groaned loudly when Jake called for him. Aaron's stubbornness surfaced as he decided to remain affixed to the bench.

  “I’m gonna drag him over here,” Jake grumbled, hands folded across his chest.

  “I think you should do it,” Amanda retorted playfully, tossing the baseball into the air and skillfully catching it with her other hand. Carly decid
ed she would attempt to coax the reluctant twin out of the dugout and sprinted to where Aaron was seated.

  “Come on, Aaron. It's just a game. Please.”

  She waited for a response, and when she got none, she continued. “At least you’re trying. If you never even try you’ll never get better.”

  Aaron sighed and shifted in his seat, but he still said nothing to her.

  “Just think of this as practice.”

  “I don't want to” Aaron finally snapped, annoyed that they were "forcing" him to do this. Were they not yet convinced that he simply sucked at baseball? How much longer did he have to make a mockery of himself?

  “If you do it one more time, you won't have to do it again,” Carly finally offered.

  Aaron turned to look at her. “Fine. One more time and then I quit.”

  Carly smiled and quickly pulled him off the bench. He took the bat from Jake’s outstretched hand and sighed mournfully before positioning himself. Carly could tell Aaron was tense, for he was grasping the bat so tightly that his knuckles were turning white. She held her breath as Jake pitched and Aaron swung with purposeful force.

  “Strike!” Amanda bellowed.

  Carly yelled, “Come on, Aaron, you can do it!”

  Jake pitched the ball for a second time. Again, Aaron’s attempt was unfruitful.

  “Come on!” Jake yelled encouragingly. “Watch the ball, Aaron!”

  He did as Jake told him and watched the ball. Carly crossed her fingers and silently prayed for Aaron's sake that he'd succeed during this last attempt. At the perfect moment he swung the bat. The aluminum sounded as he hit the ball hard enough for it to go flying clear across to the opposite side of the field. Everyone seemed arrested by its infinite flight and watched unmoving as it finally settled at the edge of the outfield by the wooden fence. Amanda broke the stunned silence and marveled excitedly, “Wow, Aaron, that was amazing!”