FanStory.com - Life's Twisted Road - Chap 8by Begin Again

END OF CHAPTER 7

"Everything okay, Dion?" Confused, Coach looked around. "Thought you were talking to someone."

Lost in his thoughts, Dion hadn't heard the Coach approaching. The sound of his voice startled the quarterback. "Just arguing with myself, I guess."

"Anything I can do to help?" Coach wouldn't push, but he wanted all his players to know he had an open door, anytime, anywhere.

Dion tipped his head back and closed his eyes, wondering if he should tell Coach. A pain shot through his arm. He rubbed it and then made his decision. "My throwing arm is giving me fits today. Thought maybe I should get some PT done so I'll be ready for our big game next week."

Coach was no fool, but he understood Dion well enough to know the teenager wouldn't skip practice unless he had a good reason. "Yeah, sounds like some sound thinking. Go ahead."

"Thanks, Coach." Dion walked toward his car, head hanging.

Coach watched him and then called out, "Dion, — I'm here if you need me." The troubled quarterback returned the coach's wave and continued walking.

CHAPTER 8

The passenger seat of the silver-gray Dodge Ram pickup was littered with two empty pop cans, a half-eaten box of Oreo cookies, a Dorito bag, and a Snickers candy bar wrapper. A small cooler sat on the floorboard. The driver leaned against the headrest mindlessly munching on one of the cookies. His system was on overload, short-circuiting. One moment Dion was positive he knew everything to know about his best friend. Seconds later, he felt as if Jason was a stranger. Conflicting thoughts swirled inside his head like a tidal pool.

After leaving the gymnasium, Dion made a quick stop at the neighborhood Kwik Trip, thus the array of snacks scattered across the seat of his truck. He'd cruised the town's streets, past Gabby's house, then Natasha's and Becky's homes, hoping to spot Gabby. He wasn't sure what his game plan would be if he found her, but it didn't stop him from searching.

Two hours later, he found himself sitting in his truck, parked across the street from the Planned Parenthood Clinic. He wasn't sure why he was there, or what he expected to do. He felt compelled to do something, but what? As the quick-thinking, powerful quarterback, he always knew the game plan, but this time, the game was different. He wasn't sure what team he was supposed to be on or even what the rules were. The only thing clear was that Jason had fumbled the ball, leaving Gabby without a defense.

"Damn you, Jason. It was your responsibility to protect her, not mine. What if —" Dion shuddered, trying to shake the thought from his head. "Oh, man, how is she going to keep this from Bobby?"

Dion stared out the windshield, then pounded his fist against the steering wheel. It couldn't be, yet somehow his thoughts of Bobby had conjured up the man.

Bobby and a woman Dion didn't recognize were strolling down the sidewalk, arm in arm. Her bleach-blonde hair was lopsided on top of her head, with runaway strands blowing everywhere. She wore an extremely tight short skirt and a tank top which was at least two sizes too small. A pair of hoop earrings glittered in the sunlight. They stopped outside "Bottom's Up", Bobby's favorite bar, and locked lips. The scene sat like a greasy cheeseburger in Dion's stomach. Gabby's father would be drunk tonight and, according to Jason, that was bad news.

Dion chugged the remaining Pepsi and tossed the can, watching it roll across the floorboard. He sighed, taking in the trash scattered across the seat. He wasn't a clean freak like Jason, but he tried to keep his vehicle somewhat presentable. He gathered up the wrappers and cans, opened the driver's door, and jumped out. He could see the green trash barrel near the hardware store entrance, two doors from the bar. Not wanting to bump into Bobby, he tossed the trash and hurried back to his truck.

That's when he saw her. She appeared to be reading a sign in the window of the clinic.

Dion stepped off the curb and jogged toward her. "Gabby."

She spun around at the sound of her name, terrified. She hadn't wanted anyone to see her outside the clinic, but she had questions and no idea who else to ask. At the sight of Dion headed her way, the young girl sprinted down the sidewalk and into the park.

"Gabby, wait." His long powerful legs quickly closed the distance between the two teenagers. He reached out for her arm, but she tugged it away.

"Go away, Dion. Aren't you supposed to be at practice?"

"My arm's been tight, so Coach told me to get so PT." Not quite the truth, but it would serve the purpose.

"If I'm not mistaken, the hospital is four blocks from here."

"I know, but —"

Before he could finish his sentence, Gabby ran across the park, determined to get away. Twisting her head, she checked behind her to see if Dion was following and unceremoniously collided with another jogger, knocking her to the ground.

"Ahh me goodness. Now I've gahne and dahne it." The older man tugged at his neatly trimmed beard. "Are you 'oehrt, wee lass?"

"No, no! It's my fault." Gabby's face was flushed with embarrassment. "I was looking for my friend and didn't see you."

At that moment, Dion arrived on the scene, kneeling. "Are you okay, Gabby?"

After a day of turmoil, humiliating herself in front of Dion and the Irish jogger trumped and tears spilled down her rosy cheeks.

"Ahh, I'm sahrry. Please dahn't cry. Do you want me to get ya sahmethin?" The older man's face was filled with concern.

Sniffling, she shook her head. "No, please, I'm okay."

Dion put his arm around her waist and lifted her off the ground, brushing a stray leaf from her shirt. "She'll be fine. My trucks right across the street and I'll get her home."

The Irishman extended his hand to Dion. "Me name's Paddy."

I'd be 'appy to 'elp in any way." His eyes twinkled when he smiled at Gabby. "I'm naht de kend to be tramplin over de yooehng lasses."

Paddy's sincerity struck a chord with Gabby and Dion. They both returned Paddy's smile. Gabby offered her hand, "I wasn't looking where I was going. It's me that should be apologizing."

Paddy squeezed her hand and nodded. "Well den, I'll be ahn me way ahr me wife'll be wahnderin abooeht me." He tipped his flat cap to them, adding, "Yooehng man, you take good care o' de lass. Good day to ya."

With a wave, he continued down the jogging path. Dion and Gabby looked at each other and burst into laughter. The earlier tension between them dissipated.

"My truck's parked across the street. I'll give you a ride home unless you'd like to go somewhere and talk."

"I'm guessing you've talked to Jason, right?" Gabby scowled. "He shouldn't have burdened you with our problems."

"Neither of you are a burden, Gabby. We're friends. I want to help if I can."

"I doubt there's much anyone can do, Dion. I've got to work this out by myself."

"Sometimes it helps to have a friend to lean on." Dion smiled at Gabby. "No pressure."

"Well, I was going to go into the clinic to pick up some pamphlets. See exactly what my options might be."

"That's a good start. Mind if I go with you?"

"I could use some moral support, I suppose. If you don't mind, I would like you to come with me."

*************

Thirty minutes later, the two teenagers walked out of the clinic. Everyone was very kind and understanding. They'd given Gabby three pamphlets. The first discussed pregnancy and prenatal care. The second detailed options about adoptions or parenting. The third gave a brief outline of what she could expect if she decided to end the pregnancy. The nurse told her that regardless of her decision, she would have to attend one meeting with a doctor to discuss every available choice.

With her reading material in hand, she felt relieved for taking the first positive step, regardless of what she decided to do. As they crossed the street and headed to Dion's truck, Bobby and his date exited Bottoms Up, both past the limit of social drinking.

The blonde squealed and pointed at the teenagers. "Bobby, that girl coming out of the clinic is a spitting image of that picture you showed me of your daughter."

Bobby dropped her arm and delivered a string of curse words. His face turned scarlet red. He muttered, "I'll kill him."

Drunk or not, Bobby's adrenaline surged through his veins as he rushed toward his daughter and Dion. Catching the unsuspecting teenager off-guard, Bobby took advantage of his strength from his years in the iron foundry, slamming his shoulder into Dion's back. He stumbled and turned, allowing Bobby to deliver an uppercut to the boy's jaw. Still hurting from slamming the wall earlier, pain shot through the boy's arm as he grabbed his opponent's flannel, bringing both of them to the pavement with punches pounding against each other.

Horrified, Gabby screamed for help. "Stop! Someone make them stop." The blonde, Bobby's drinking partner, stood on the curb, cheering and encouraging him to "teach the boy a lesson."