In My Father's Shadow

by JL Paul

  “Damn it,” Cole muttered.

  “It’s not your fault, man,” Jamie shaking his head and filching a cigarette from RJ.

  Cole ran his hands through his hair. “I should have never told that psycho Jennifer that I’d take her to the dance in the first place.”

  “Wouldn’t have mattered, dude,” RJ said. “She’s been telling anyone who’ll listen that she was going to get you back this year, no matter what.”

  “There’s no chance of that ever happening now, not that there was to begin with,” Cole said angrily.

  “I doubt they’ll kick her off the team since they need her now that Ally can’t play. Plus, I don’t know how’d they’d ever be able to prove she did it on purpose,” Jamie told them. “All she has to do is say she slipped or something.”

  “I can’t believe some chick would get this psycho over a dance,” Ren said from beside his brother.

  Cole tossed his cigarette into a bucket of sand. “Well, she got her wish. Ally’s not going to be able to go to the dance with me now.”

  ***

  The next afternoon, Jamie found Cole crossing the campus on his way to the girls’ dorms.

  “Cole, can you take this to Ally?” Jamie asked as he thrust a green folder at him. “It has all of Ally’s assignments from her classes. I’d take it to her but I have to get to the locker room.”

  “No problem, bro,” Cole said. “Good luck tonight.”

  “Thanks,” Jamie grinned, a little green. “And if you want to hang out with Ally tonight – keep her company, I’ll understand.”

  “I don’t know what the plan is yet,” Cole said. “But we’ll see.”

  Jamie grinned and dashed off toward the football field. Cole resumed his trek to the girls’ dorms and convinced a sophomore to open the door for him. He knocked softly on Ally’s door and hoped it was unlocked so she wouldn’t have to hobble across the room and answer it.

  “It’s open,” she shouted and her face lit up as he stepped through the door. “Hi.”

  “You look a lot better today,” he said, placing her homework on her desk. “Jamie got your assignments from all your classes.”

  “Thanks,” she muttered. She looked at him, unsure what to say next. He dropped to her desk chair and grinned. “So, anything interesting happen today?”

  “Not at all,” he said as he leaned forward and studied his hands. “I’m sorry this happened to you, Al.”

  “No,” she protested “Don’t you dare apologize. It wasn’t your fault.”

  “She did it on purpose, didn’t she?”

  Ally bit her lip and nodded, looking away. “But don’t even think about retaliating. I’ll take care of it and I mean it, Cole.”

  “For now,” he said firmly.

  Her head snapped around and she sighed. “You are impossible.”

  A tiny smile curled the corners of his mouth. “So you keep telling me.” He gestured at the floral arrangements crowding her dresser. “Hmm, I thought about bringing you flowers but it looks like someone beat me to it.”

  She pointed to a huge arrangement of red carnations. “That’s from my parents.” She pointed at another assortment of what Cole guessed to be wildflowers. “That’s from your dad. And those and those are from Richie and Uncle Mark.” She rolled her eyes, smiling. “Oh, there’s some in the bathroom from my grandparents and Uncle Ethan.”

  “You must be very loved, princess,” he said, his eyes shining.

  “Good thing I’m not allergic,” she said. “And don’t call me that.”

  “So, Al, I’m really sorry I can’t take you to the dance Saturday.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Who says you can’t?” she asked.

  “You’re supposed to keep that ankle elevated all weekend.”

  She snorted. “I’m not staying in this room like a prisoner! My cousin is playing in his first Varsity game tonight. At quarterback! I’m not going to miss that.”

  He got up from the chair and sat next to her on her bed. “Al, don’t you want it to get better? You need to do as the doctor says so you’ll be fine for basketball.”

  She turned her head away from him. “Basketball season is most likely shot, too. Doctor said probably eight weeks in a cast and then at least another two weeks of rehab before I can play any sports. Conditioning for basketball starts after Thanksgiving break.”

  He touched her cheek and she turned to him, disappointment in her eyes. She was as passionate about sports as he was about music and it had to be a big blow to her. He cupped her face and rubbed his thumbs over her cheeks, avoiding the bruises under her eyes. He leaned in and brushed his lips over hers softly at first but gradually applying more pressure.

  She deepened the kiss and relaxed into him, releasing a quiet little sigh. His fingers brushed through her soft tresses as he broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers.

  “I’ll figure out a way to take you to the game tonight, Al. But just for the first half,” he promised.

  She smiled and planted a chaste kiss on his lips. “Or we could stay here and do this all night.”

  He grinned and kissed her quickly. “Yeah, we could do that. But wouldn’t Jamie be disappointed?”

  “Mmm, who cares,” she said as he kissed her over and over again. “Ally wouldn’t be disappointed.”

  He pulled away to laugh at her. “I have a better idea. How about if I take you to the first half of the game and then I bring you back here and we can…umm…continue this conversation?”

  “I always knew you were smart, Cole, I just never realized you were brilliant,” she said, her eyes sparkling.

  He smirked and winked. “I’m full of surprises, princess.”

  She glared at him, puffing out her chest, preparing to verbally assault him. “Don’t call me…”

  He grabbed her face and kissed her before she could say another word. She melted into him as the words she’d been about to say evaporated. She edged back briefly. “One of these days I’m going to kick your ass, Cole,” she warned.

  “I know,” he told her earnestly.

  “I mean it.”

  He leaned forward and kissed her, smiling against her lips. “I know. Until then, shut up.”

  She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him toward her when the door banged open, startling them both.

  “Oh, come on,” Jeana groaned as she dropped to her bed. “Is this what I’m going to see for the next eight weeks?”

  Ally grinned and laced her fingers through Cole’s. “I certainly hope so!”

  Cole shook his head in amusement and squeezed her fingers before rising from the bed. “Al, you’re terrible.”

  “No, just honest.” She frowned. “Where are you going?”

  “I have to go get ready. I’ll come back for you in about an hour or so.”

  He flashed Ally a quick wink and smile and left the room, Jeana’s high-pitched squeal piercing his ear. He laughed, knowing Ally was about to endure a very long, draining interrogation session. He sighed as he bundled his jacket against the cool wind. He’d go back and rescue her soon.

  Chapter Twelve

  Jeana helped Ally to wash, drawing a bath so she could sit in the tub and hang her aching leg out of it. Jeana washed Ally’s hair and helped her to dry it, leaving it hang down her back.

  Jeana propped Ally up at the desk and opened what looked like a toolbox but was actually a makeup case. Ally didn’t dare peer inside – she was too scared. Sure, she dabbled a bit with makeup but she wasn’t very good with the stuff. But she sat patiently still and inserted the proper response as Jeana described what she was doing. When she finished, Jeana stepped back and beamed. She rushed off to the bathroom and returned with a hand mirror.

  “You look great, Ally,” she exclaimed, shoving the mirror in Ally’s hand.

  Ally peered cautiously but was surprised at the outcome. “Wow,” she said. The purple bruises that had marred her nose and under her eyes were barely visible - the blue in her eyes see
med brighter and her cheeks rosy.

  “Is it okay?” Jeana asked.

  “It’s perfect,” Ally said, setting the mirror on the desk. “Thanks so much, Jeana, for all your help.”

  Jeana hugged her carefully then bounced away to get dressed.

  Ally frowned as she pulled on a boring pair of white sweatpants, jealous that she couldn’t wear jeans. But sweats were the only things that fit over the pesky cast, unless she wanted to wear a skirt and it was too cold for that. She topped off her outfit with a navy Woodsedge Academy sweatshirt and waited patiently for Cole to arrive.

  Jeana left just as Cole walked through the door and Ally’s heart rate tripled. He was dressed as usual, jeans and a hooded sweatshirt, but he looked better than ever to Ally.

  He eyed her outfit, trying to hide his smirk. “Ready, princess?”

  She picked up a crutch and shook it at him. “I have a weapon now. I’d watch it if I was you.”

  He rolled his eyes, holding the door for her so she could hobble out of the room. “I’ll try to keep that in mind.” He pressed a quick kiss to her temple as she brushed past him. “You look beautiful, by the way.”

  She blushed, pleased, and made a mental note to send Jeana flowers.

  They walked quietly together to the football field, the weather cool but not as frightful as it had been. A true Indian summer was approaching – nature’s last gift of warm weather before the cold, blustery winter began.

  Off to the side, by the gates, stood a pickup truck with a trailer full of wood they’d use after the game for the Fall Festival bonfire. Ally slowed her pace on the uneven ground; afraid she’d stumble and fall flat on her face. Cole walked beside her, ready to steady her if she should trip.

  They made it to the flat, even concrete surface without incident and Cole next worried that the mass of people would bump her or knock into her injured ankle. He began to doubt his plan for bringing her to the game as he searched frantically for the others. He spotted RJ and Ren up near the top of the stands and groaned at the thought of her hopping up the concrete steps.

  “I see RJ,” she said as she reached the steps. She handed him one crutch and grabbed the railing to help pull her body up the stands. He walked right behind her in case she should fall.

  “Aren’t you supposed to be resting your ankle?” Ren asked as Cole helped Ally settle on the bleachers.

  “I’m not missing Jamie’s first game,” she said as she dropped her crutches and winced.

  “He won’t be happy,” RJ warned.

  “He’ll get over it,” Ally said between clenched teeth. She tried to position herself on the bleachers as comfortably as possible, but nothing seemed to work. She screwed her face up in concentration as she tried to figure a way to prop her throbbing ankle. If she sat sideways and propped it on the bleachers next to her, her back would be aching by kickoff. She couldn’t prop it in front of her because it would be lower than the rest of her body and she was afraid someone would bump it.

  Cole sighed and straddled the bleachers next to her. “Lean into me and put your foot up on the bench,” he ordered. She did as he asked and wiggled into his chest, his body supporting and warming hers.

  RJ sat on her other side, near her ankle. “Lift the ankle, Ally, and rest it in my lap.”

  She did, biting the inside of her cheek, the pain flaring until she settled it in RJ’s lap and it began to fade. She smiled at him.

  “I love you guys,” she gushed.

  RJ rolled his eyes a bit of pink touching his cheeks. “We know.”

  Ren sat behind them and was soon joined by Parker and a friend of his. Right before kickoff, Ally spotted Alec climbing the steps with a few of his friends. He glared at her as he sat down.

  “You’re supposed to be resting in your room,” he said.

  She snorted. “I’m only here for the first half. I wanted to see some of Jamie’s first game.”

  “He understands why you can’t be here,” Alec persisted.

  “Dude,” Cole cut in before the discussion could escalate into a full blown argument. “I’ll keep an eye on her. If she’s hurting, I’ll take her back to her room. Don’t worry.”

  Alec nodded and Ally sighed in frustration. “How come he’s okay with it if you say it’s okay but not if I do?”

  Cole peeked at her over her shoulder. “What?”

  “Never mind,” she muttered as the ref blew the whistle and the game started.

  She tried to concentrate on the game but she was constantly aware of Cole’s arms wrapped around her waist and his breath gently blowing her hair. And the pain was easing into her ankle again. But she didn’t want to let on that she was starting to hurt or else Cole and RJ would insist she return to her room.

  At the start of the second quarter, her ankle was on fire and she was focusing so hard on keeping her breathing even that she nearly missed Jamie’s first touchdown pass. The crowd around her cheered but she couldn’t even muster an excited smile.

  “You’re ready to go, aren’t you?” Cole asked softly, not wanting to attract attention.

  She nodded, afraid to speak as tears threatened to fill her eyes.

  “Can you make it back?” he asked.

  “Yeah,” she muttered. “Just let me get out of here on my own, okay?”

  “Sure,” he said as he eased out from behind her. “RJ, I’m taking Ally back. I’ll catch up with you later.”

  RJ nodded and helped Ally get her casted leg on the ground.

  Alec leaned forward, concern etched on his face. “You okay, Ally?”

  She smiled through her pain in an effort to reassure her brother. “Yeah. Just starting to hurt so I’m going to go take a pain pill, ice it, and get some rest. Come see me tomorrow.”

  Cole walked in front of her down the steps so she could grab him if she should start to fall. Once they made it to the main concourse, he walked right beside her, pushing people out of the way if needed.

  As soon as they were away from the football field, he turned to her and smiled. “I know you’ll hate me for saying this but, I’ll carry you if you need it.”

  “I can do it,” she said, perspiration beading on her forehead. “Thanks.”

  They stopped in front of her building and he took the key card from the front pocket of her sweatshirt and opened the door. As soon as they entered her room, she made a beeline for her bed. She sat on it, letting her crutches clatter to the floor, and scooted her body back toward the headboard, wincing as fire shot up her thigh.

  “Where are you pain meds, Al?” Cole asked, his jaw tight. She pointed to the bathroom and he ran to fetch them. He returned and handed her two along with a glass of water. She swallowed them eagerly and he took the glass and set it on the small table by her bed.

  “Help me take this sweatshirt off, will you,” she asked, the pain making her warm. She wanted to get comfortable as she figured it was only a matter of time before the pain meds knocked her out.

  He raised a brow and smirked. “Honestly, Al, now is not the time.”

  “Ha, ha, ha,” she said with a sarcastic smile. “I have a t-shirt on underneath the sweatshirt.”

  He pulled her sweatshirt off and dropped it on the floor, next to her crutches. He helped her arrange pillows under her ankle then found an ice pack in the small freezer portion of her mini fridge. He placed it over her cast then settled next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as he grabbed the TV remote.

  “How about if we watch a movie?” he asked.

  She snuggled into his shoulder as the meds kicked in and relaxed her body. “You don’t have to stay. The pain meds will knock me out soon.”

  He shrugged and kissed the top of her head. “I don’t mind. Besides, I’m waiting for you to fall asleep so I can call everyone and let them hear you snore.”

  She punched his stomach weakly. “I don’t snore.”

  He snorted ruefully and flipped through the stations, stopping to watch the tail end of a movie. She slumped against h
im, drawing nearer and nearer to slumber and it made him smile. He’d sit with her a little while longer to make sure she was sleeping comfortably, make sure everything she needed was within easy reach, then he’d sneak out and let her rest.

  The movie ended and he resumed flipping through the channels, stopping on VideoMusic Television in time to catch the music news.

  “Tight Control kicked off a new tour this week amidst rumors that Jay Jones is planning to leave the band to pursue a solo career,” the newswoman said as a picture of the band appeared behind her.

  Cole bolted upright, rousing Ally in the process.

  “What?” she asked.

  “Shh,” he said, his eyes glued to the television

  “The band joins the ranks with the likes of the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, and Def Leppard whose music has spanned more than two decades. Rumors surfaced early this week alleging that Jay Jones plans to leave the band at the end of the tour to pursue a solo career,” the newswoman said in a solemn tone. “Neither representatives for the band or Redden Records confirmed these reports but an anonymous says that Jones has wanted to venture on his own for years and has finally decided to give a solo career a shot after he wraps up his latest tour. VMTV will monitor the story and report updates as they come in.”

  The newswoman continued with other items as Ally clutched Cole’s arm tightly. “It’s a lie, isn’t it, Cole?” she asked, sinking her stubby nails in his skin. “My dad wouldn’t leave the band, would he?”

  He shook his head. “No, princess, I don’t think so. I’m pretty sure your dad would have said something to you and Alec by now, don’t you? And the other guys would know. My dad hasn’t mentioned a word to me.”

  Ally’s eyes filled with fear but the exhaustion wasn’t far behind. He wanted to soothe her anxiety and get her back to sleep. “I’ll give RJ and Jamie a call and have them come over. We’ll see if they’ve heard anything and if they haven’t, we’ll see what they think.”

  “Thanks,” she said as he whipped out his cell phone.

  “Hey, when the game’s over grab Jamie and get over to Al’s room,” he ordered, flashing a wink in Ally’s direction. She smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes.