New Girl in Town Pt. 16

"He's not worth it, Jamie," Jake tells him as he continues to pull the large teen from his ex-friend. "He doesn't even know Marie's name. He's just being an asshole because that's what he is. You punch him now and you lose. Not him."

Antoine rounds the corner of the lockers upon hearing the commotion. He grabs Jamie's other arm and helps Jake pull him away from Patrick.

"Listen to Jake, man," Antoine tells Jamie. "Patrick runs off at the mouth about a lot of things that he knows nothing about. Don't let his mouth get you in trouble anymore."

"It figures that the two of you would puss out and not let that big dummy take a swing at me," Patrick taunts gathering his bravado back now that Jamie is being restrained. "I think I'll take a run at your little bitch, Jamie. Show her what a real man is like I showed that Jenny whore of Jake's. Then I'll get Jessica and..."

That's all he gets out before a fist solidly connects with his jaw. The force of the punch slams him back into the lockers and he slides to the floor, holding his jaw and looks up at Jake standing over him. Patrick isn't sure what's shocked him more, the punch itself or the person who threw it. Jake is rubbing his right hand absentmindedly but his eyes are glaring down at Patrick's nearly prone form.

"That was for what you did to Jenny," Jake tells him. "Make sure that you keep Marie and Jessica's names out of your damn mouth from here on out."

"What in the hell is going on over here?" Coach Yates asks as he and several team members rush over after hearing the clang of metal as Patrick slammed into the lockers.

"Jake punched me!" Patrick says immediately as he points accusingly at Jake.

"That's not what I saw," Jamie states with a grin. "Patrick slipped and fell into the lockers.'

"That's what I saw, Coach," Antoine backs him up. "I think he hit his jaw on the bench when he fell."

"That's bullshit!" Patrick yells. "He punched me!"

Yates looks at Jake, Jamie and Antoine then at Patrick before making a decision.

"Patrick, be more careful in the future," He tells him. "These floors can be slick. Everyone else, let's get to the bus. It's a long ride home."

****

Saturday

"How's your hand," Jessica asks as they sit at a booth in Smitty's with Staci and Ray.

"It's still fine," Jake tells her before popping a fry into his mouth.

"Why couldn't someone get a video of that?" Staci asks as she sips her hot cocoa. "Jake punches out Patrick and no one saw it!"

"Jamie saw it and so did Antoine. Man, I hate that I missed it, Jake," Ray says as he unwraps a hot dog from it's wrapper. "They said the look on Patrick's stupid face was priceless."

"It was pretty great," Jake admits with a grin.

"Can the two of you stop praising him for punching out Patrick," Jessica asks them as she pulls a fry from Jake's tray. "He does the smart thing by keeping Jamie off Patrick but then he punches him and risks getting suspended himself. He cannot do something stupid like that again."

"Once was enough, Jess, believe me," Jake assures her while giving her puppy dog eyes. "No more punching from me."

"Better not be," Jessica states waving the fry at him. "You are on track for at least a couple of scholarships. You can't throw them away over something dumb like fighting."

"I promise no more dumb stuff," Jake assures her with a wink.

"I'm remembering that you said that, Jake" Jessica teases him.

The door to Smitty's opens and in walks Jamie arm in arm with Marie followed by Jennifer holding hands with a guy wearing glasses. Jamie spots them and gives a wave followed by the others. Marie and Jennifer give their orders to Jamie and the other guy then walk over to the foursome's booth.

"Hey guys," Jennifer says. "It's kind of funny running into you all here."

"They have the best fries," Jessica comments as she pops one into her mouth.

"Oh my god, I know right!" Jenny exclaims. "Marie here has never had any. Can you believe it?"

"Help yourself, Marie," Jake says as he nudges his tray towards the girls. "You too, Jenny."

Marie hesitates for a second but Jennifer grabs a couple and hands her one anyway.

"Still a sweetheart huh, Jake," Jenny says then pops the fry into her mouth.

Marie takes a bite and her eyes light up at her first taste.

"Wow, these are yummy," She says as she eyes Jake's plate.

"Go ahead," he tells her.

She reaches down and grabs another. Staci reaches over and grabs one for herself.

"Not you, Staci," Jake laughs.

"Payback, Jake," Staci laughs.

"I cannot get over you guys, you two especially," Jennifer says at Jake and Staci. "I never thought that I'd see a day where you two were friends but you two went well beyond that! My eyes nearly bugged out of my head when I saw you kiss him at that volleyball game!"

"Jake just can't resist these lips of mine," Staci says with a big smile. "He loves me."

"He should really love you," Jessica states. "You did flash him after all."

"She did what now?" Jennifer asks.

"Flashed him. Showed Jake my goodies. Gave him a little peek behind the curtain so to speak." Staci giggles.

"I definitely didn't see a curtain," Jake states flushing red but with a grin teasing the corners of his mouth.

"You saw everything else though you stud," Staci teases him.

"Ray accidentally saw me, uh, naked one night so Staci thought that the guys should be even," Jessica explains to the confused Jennifer and Marie.

"So I yanked my robe open and let Jake get a nice, long look at me," Staci smiles. "Even shook my tight little booty at you didn't I, Jake?"

"Strange things happen when you stay the night at Staci's," Ray adds.

"Wow, it really sounds like it does," Jennifer comments.

"What does, Jenny?" the guy with glasses asks as he joins her with a plate of food.

"It was Ray that said it, I was just agreeing," Jennifer tells him. "Guys, this is Tommy. Tommy, that's Ray, Staci, Jake and Jessica."

"Nice to meet you all," Tommy says. "Jake? That would make you Jenny's ex, right?"

Jake nods. "I am. Jenny's a really special girl, Tommy. You take good care of her."

"No doubt," Tommy nods.

"Wow, I never thought I'd hear you say that about me, Jake," Jennifer tells him.

"Probably never thought that he'd punch Patrick out over you either, Jenny, but one shot and POW! Patrick's on his butt and holding his jaw looking up at Jake," Jamie says as he joins them.

"Jamie, I just told these two to not glorify Jake punching Patrick and here you come," Jessica tells him.

"Sorry, Jess, but it was just too perfect," Jamie apologizes.

"You... you really hit Patrick?" Jennifer asks.

"He really did," Jamie answers. "I was about to but Jake stopped me. Patrick said... well it wasn't a very nice thing and then, Wham! He stood over him and told him that was for what he did to you and to keep Marie and Jess's name out of his mouth. I freaking loved it!"

"You said that, Jake?" Jennifer asks and Jake nods at her sheepishly.

"Wow, things really have changed this year," She states then gives the table a smile. "We should eat but it was great seeing you all."

"Nice seeing you too and great to meet you, Tommy," Jessica says.

"Yeah you guys should eat while it's nice and warm," Jake tells them.

"Especially the fries," Marie giggles.

"Definitely the fries," Jamie says as he walks over.

He looks at the table where the group is sitting and notices the salt and pepper shakers along with the ketchup bottle and a few packets of sugar are lined up like a football play.

"Anything I should be worried about, guys," He asks with a grin.

"Jake should be the one that's worried," Ray answers. "He's the one that's gotta try and run it at practice in front of Yates and Pennington."

"No spoilers then," Jamie laughs. "I want to see this develop in real time."

"It's not that bad," Jake says as he slides the salt shaker out of position then back. "Okay, maybe it's kind of bad but I think it could work."

"Well I for one will take that brain and arm of yours over Patrick's any day of the week," Jamie tells them. "Now, I gotta get into these hot dogs or something bad's gonna happen."

"See you guys later," Jake says and gives a wave to them as they take a seat at their table.

"I don't know about you guys but I am ready to hit the road like now," Staci states.

"You just want to get back to your house and get Ray naked," Jessica laughs.

"I'd like to get Jake naked too," Staci teases. "He does owe me a little peek after all. You know, now that I think about it, Ray here owes you a little peek himself."

"Oh no, not happening," Ray tells her.

"What he said," Jake laughs.

"You guys had better bring your A game to the strip Jenga tower then," Staci laughs.

Ray nudges Jake and laughs.

"Good thing I've been catching your crappy passes all year, Jake," Ray states. "These hands are golden."

Jessica shakes her head and holds up her hands. "These are Golden hands you goof," She laughs. "You two will be naked and complaining in no time!"

"Big talk, Jess," Jake says with grin. "You know how distracted that you and Staci get when we're kind of naked. We've got this, Ray."

"Heck yeah we do," Ray laughs.

The pair high five as they get up to leave. They all waves towards the other foursome before heading out to find out just which team are the strip Jenga champions.

****

Tuesday

On the auditorium stage Patrick is running through his lines with Ms. Simpson and his understudy after school while Jake is seated up in the balcony with his laptop running through a lighting sequence when Ms. Simpson calls out.

"Okay, both of my football guys need to get moving," She says. "I promised your coaches that I'd have you out of here so you aren't late to practice."

"Two seconds, Ms. Simpson," Jake calls down.

"Jake," She calls back as Patrick hops off the stage and heads out.

"Seriously, two seconds," Jake answers then shows Bobby the sequence again.

"Dude, I got this," Bobby tells him. "Get moving!"

Jake nods but then points at another key sequence which gets his hand slapped. The noise resounds through the auditorium as Jake pulls it back, rubbing it.

"I owe you, Bobby!" Jessica calls out as she emerges from backstage with the Belle costume she's working on in her hands. "Don't make me come up there, Jake!"

"I'm going, Jess. I'm going," Jake calls out and makes for the stairs.

He hurries out of the auditorium and towards the locker room. Patrick smirks at him as he's exiting the locker room but Jake ignores him as he steps past him. Jake changes into his practice gear quickly and rushes out to the field.

"You're late," Yates shouts as Jake jogs onto the field.

"Sorry, Coach," Jake calls back. "Got hung up with play practice."

Yates nods then jerks this thumb towards the track.

"Gimme a lap for being late and make it a quick one," He grumbles. "Then get back over here and get your arm warmed up."

Jake nods, dons his helmet and starts to jog around the track. As he's running he passes the cheerleaders and their practice on the far side of the field when Staci calls out to him.

"Looking good, Jake," She says then giggles. "Not as good as you did Saturday night but I'll always have the memories!"

Strip Jenga, as it turned out, was not Jake's game. Jessica's Golden hands and Staci's taunting had him and Ray down to their underwear in record time.

"So will I, Staci," He calls back as he passes the squad.

The Jenga game wasn't a total bust for him and Ray however. They fared better in the second round and had Staci down to her pink thong and Jess in her white one before the game was called so the extremely horny couples could retire to the bedrooms.

Several girls giggle while Michelle and C.C. whistle appreciatively in his wake.

He shakes his head as he hears Staci burst out laughing before calling the girls back to practice. As Jake is completing his lap he notices that the whole team is practicing together as he jogs over. Coach Pennington grabs a ball and tosses to Jake as he walks up.

"Get your arm loose, Jake," He tells him.

"All of us together huh," Jake asks.

"We're going up against the number one offense and number two defense in the state, Jake," Pennington states. "We're pulling out all the stops for this one."

Jake nods and begins to toss the ball to one of the third string receivers.

"Jake!" Yates yells after a few minutes. "Get in for Greene!"

Jake nods and hustles onto the field.

"You guys miss me or what?" He asks as he gets into the huddle.

"We're running that play of yours this week right," Kendall asks ignoring Jake's question.

"Soon, Kendall," Jake answers. "Let's not get me kicked out of practice on my first play, huh? Shotgun formation, Cross out on two. On two."

The offense lines up and the defense shifts to cover a pass play. Jake barks out his signals and the ball is snapped. Des gives Monte a bump at the line which throws off his timing. Ray gets five yards down the field and curls back towards Jake. Mitch and Scott cross each others route which opens a small gap between them and their defenders. He steps up into the pocket and fires a strike towards Mitch. He snags it from the air and manages another couple of yards before he's tackled.

"Twelve yard gain," Pennington calls out. "Not great D! Pick it up out there!"

Jake looks to see if Coach Yates is going to send Patrick back in for the next play.

"Let's see another one, Jake!" Yates shouts out.

Jake nods and goes into the huddle.

"We gotta run your play now, Jake," Ray insists.

"Before Captain Wonderful gets put back in," Kendall agrees nodding towards an impatient looking Patrick. "Let's see what we can get out of it."

Jake sighs but nods his head.

"We'll audible into it. I call Cat two and we shift into position. Everyone remember what they're doing?" Jake asks and the offense nods. "All right, on Kendall's go then."

They break the huddle and Jake lines up in the shotgun formation with Kendall to his left. He looks over the defense and spots Jamie and Antoine cheating towards the line.

"Looks like they're coming," He says to Kendall who nods his head. "You ready for this?"

"Let's do it," Kendall says with a smile then puts his mouthpiece in place.

"Cat Two!" Jake shouts then jogs over to a receiver's position to the right of the line.

"What the hell is this?" Yates asks.

"Nothing I've seen yet," Pennington answers.

Antoine shifts over to cover Jake leaving an opening in the defense.

"Set," Kendall shouts and stomps his foot.

Jake backs up and goes into motion towards the left side of the field where the other receivers are stacked up. He goes behind Kendall who shouts for the snap. The ball is centered to Kendall who, along with Jake, runs to his left. Antoine slips his blocker and is in the backfield. Kendall flips the ball to Jake as Antoine hits him. Jamie has slipped his block and is in the backfield. He spies the flip and makes for Jake who now has the ball. Jake turns up field, plants his foot and heaves a long pass towards a streaking Monte just as Jamie tackles him. Monte hauls in the ball in what would have been a touchdown.

"Jamie!" Pennington shouts. "What have I told you about..."

Jake is holding his hand up towards Jamie who grabs it and helps Jake to his feet.

"You all right, Jake?" He asks as Pennington reaches them.

"Man, you've hit me way harder than that before," Jake laughs then notices Coach Pennington there. "Hey, Coach."

"You all right, Jake?" He asks.

"Yeah, I'm great, Coach," Jake answers. "I was a runner anyway so Jamie was right to lay me out."

"I was very gentle, Coach," Jamie says with a laugh of his own. "Jake and Jess did me a huge favor so I kind of can't cream him like I used to."

"My gentlest tackle all year," Jake says slapping Jamie's shoulder pads.

"With your Jess I kind of believe you, Jake," Jamie jokes.

"She's a Wildcat!" Antoine shouts with a laugh.

Jake nods and laughs while Coach Pennington shakes his head.

"Jake, over here! Now!" Coach Yates shouts.

Jake nods, gives Ray and Kendall an I told you so look then jogs back off the field as Patrick jogs back on.

"What in the hell was that?" Yates asks Jake.

"Just this play that we've been working on after practice, Coach," Jake admits. "We thought it'd be fun to run."

"I'm not a fan of gimmick plays, Jake," Yates states as Patrick runs a simple sweep on the field. "That said, I'm not a fan of losing either so keep that play in your hip pocket for Friday night. We might just need it against these guys."

****

Friday December 8th

The pep rally for the football is a raucous affair that follows the team out into the parking lot and onto the team bus. Staci and the cheer squad seems to have tripled in number as hundreds of blue and orange pom-poms wave as the bus passes. The school had chartered three buses to take students and faculty to the game and it was looking like they could have gotten a fourth bus as well as the three started to fill up.

"You're sure that it's cool with your folks, Jess?" Roxie asks as she walks with Jessica to her families waiting SUV.

"Rox, have you ever been not cool with my family?" Jessica asks. "Besides once Sarah sees these Wildcats painted on our faces she'll demand one of her own."

Rox laughs and shakes her head. She had been one of four students that were painting either the school logo or a simple W on student faces at the student fair before the pep rally. Jess had asked for one from Rox that was a little different and she delivered in spades. On Jessica's face the school logo looked almost three dimensional with a snarling Wildcat on one cheek and a swiping paw on her other. Students that saw it being done started lining up and asking for one just like it.

"I see how it is, Jess," She states. "You're making me earn my ride to the game, huh? You're lucky that I love my little Sar-bear and that my arm isn't about to fall off."

"You've got a couple hours to rest it and I promise to have Jake give you one of his rub downs tomorrow," Jessica points out. "I doubt you could do a decent job of painting while we're bouncing down the highway."

"True," Roxie agreed. "And I want that promise of a rub down in writing I think."

"Wow, that looks so cool, Jessica!" Marie said as she approached the two girls.

"Thank you, Marie. I'm so glad you could make it!" Jessica says as she hugs her.

"Me too," Marie answers. "You're sure that it's okay with you that I catch a ride to the game?"

"Why does everyone ask me that?" Jessica asks.

"Because we can," Roxie laughs.

"Funny, Rox," Jess sighs and shakes her head. "Marie, my unfunny but amazingly artistically talented friend here is Roxie. Roxie, this is Marie."

Roxie extends her hand to Marie who shakes it with a smile.

"We sort of met last week at the game but I was too busy cheering to talk much," Marie says. "Sorry about that, Roxie."

"It's cool, Marie," Roxie assures her. "I was keeping Sar-bear occupied. She gets bored unless Jake is playing."

"Is he going to get to play more this game?" Marie asks.

"We think so," Jessica answers as they reach the SUV. "He said that Coach Yates wants to switch them out more this week and that they'll definitely need Jake."

"They better play Jake!" Sarah announces from her seat.

The three teens laugh as Jessica opens the door. She introduces Marie to her family again just to be sure that they remembered her from the last game.

"We're glad that you're riding with us, Marie," Jessica's dad tells her as the girls climb in. "Welcome aboard, Roxie. It's always great to see you, sweetie."

"Thanks, Mr. Golden," Roxie says as she sits beside Sarah.