Games People Play
This story's been running around in my head for some time, and I finally got it down on paper. There are real places used, but they are used simply because they are where they are. And I know some readers will find it difficult to believe the Bears actually are in a championship game (along with the Raiders), but after all, this is a fictional story. I hope you enjoy! And as always, votes and constructive comments are welcome...
Spencer Walker was one of a select group of people who, when they were young, not only knew what they wanted to do when they grew up, but actually accomplished it. From a young age, sitting with his father watching pro and college football, Spencer knew that one day he'd be the one people would watch on TV.
When he was old enough, his parents signed him up to learn the game in a Parks and Rec league. Pop Warner was next, and soon he was playing on his middle school team. From there he went to his high school and college teams. All along, his coaches commented on how fast Spencer picked up the nuances of the game. In high school, he became one of the highest rated players at his linebacker position; consequently, he had numerous offers for college scholarships and could play almost anywhere he wanted.
At the same time, growing up with him was his best friend BethAnn Simmons. BethAnn lived across the street from Spencer, and from an early age, the two were inseparable. Playing together, going to school together, attending the same Sunday school classes together, BethAnn and Spencer were deemed the 'perfect couple' by the time they were in high school. Not only were these two close, but their families were close as well, often taking vacations together and having each other over for dinners, barbeques, and pool parties.
Once in high school, it was much the same. They had numerous classes together, so they spent a lot of time studying with each other. As a freshman, Spencer made the varsity football team, although he didn't get much playing time. BethAnn had been taking dance classes for years, so making the cheerleading squad was a given. By sophomore year, Spencer was starting at linebacker and BethAnn was on the varsity dance and cheerleading squads. And even though they remained best friends, everyone around them could see their love for each other growing.
By the end of his senior year, Spencer had been named first team All-State twice, and was named his state's High School Heisman winner. He knew he had his pick of colleges, but wanted to be at the same school as his girlfriend. That decision became more difficult as BethAnn's father passed away from a sudden heart attack. Her mom had been a stay-at-home-mom for years, and suddenly had a very limited income. The life insurance he had certainly helped, as did the insurance through his workplace. But it also meant that BethAnn's choices for college became much slimmer.
"Spence, what am I going to do? I want to be with you at college, but the only one mom can afford now is a state school; I know we want to be together, but you have so many choices to play football, and I don't want to hold you back."
"You're not going to hold me back from anything. I've got a full ride scholarship at Iowa State, and they have a great football program. I know you want to go to vet school, and they have the best one around. And I bet you can get a partial scholarship for your dance skills; maybe you can get on their dance or cheerleading squad, or give private dance lessons."
"You'd do that for me? Give up a chance to play at Ohio State?"
"To be with you - yes. Besides, it's not as if the Big 12 is a slouch football league. If I'm good enough, the pros will see what I've got there as well."
So, it was set that the best friends would attend Iowa State together. But before that, they still had their senior prom and then graduation.
In the weeks and months leading up to the prom, BethAnn began to realize her feelings for Spencer were more than just best friends. Watching him in class, eating lunch, studying, or working out at the gym together, she began to feel something less than his best friend and more as his girlfriend. She knew he kept in great shape, and every time she saw him without his shirt on, she swooned. She tried to keep her emotions under control, but the final straw was when they were studying one night, he reached across the table to tuck a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. He barely touched her, but with that simple touch she was wet between her legs. And then she knew - she had to tell him how she felt, and hope that he felt the same.
Finally, it was prom weekend. They were going out to dinner together before the dance on Saturday night, with an after-prom party following. They were meeting at a friend's house to clean up and change clothes again, before heading out to an all-night diner for breakfast.
Spencer was picking BethAnn up at 6:00 for their 7:00 reservation. They both knew their mothers planned to take a ton of pictures, so they built that extra time into their plans. Finally, after all the pictures were taken, Spencer led his girlfriend to his car, hand in hand.
As they drove, Spencer had a difficult time keeping his eyes on the road and not on BethAnn. Her long brunette hair was curled around her bare shoulders; her makeup was done perfectly. When she first came down the stairs at her house, Spencer was speechless. Her long red dress fit her like a glove, and had a long slit up one leg. He could tell she was excited as well, as her nipples poked out the front of her dress.
"Spence, don't you think you should pay more attention to the road? I don't want to end up dead before I get to the dance."
"Sorry, sweetie. But I can't believe how beautiful you look tonight. I mean, you always look nice, but tonight you've taken it up several notches."
"Good, because that's exactly what I planned. I'm also wondering if you want to take things even higher."
"Higher? What do you mean?"
"Spence, we've known each other for all of our lives, and have been best friends that entire time. But recently I've began to think about us and our future together. Not thinking too far in advance, but more along the line of 'how do we really feel about each other'? I know how I feel about you, but I have no idea if you feel the same. I hope you do, so I'm just going to come out with it.
"Spencer, I love you. I think I have for a long time. I know we're both only 18, but I know I want to spend my life with you. And starting tonight, I want to be your only lover for eternity."
Spencer was quiet for a long time, gathering his thoughts. He knew how he felt about BethAnn, but was always too frightened to say anything, for fear she didn't feel like he did. But the truth was, he felt the same way about her as she felt for him.
Reaching his hand over and taking hers, Spencer smiled.
"BethAnn, I've been so afraid to tell you how I felt because I was scared that I'd lose you as a friend. But hearing you now, I know I was wrong. I love you too, BethAnn, and I want to be with you always."
Squealing in delight, BethAnn leaned over and kissed Spencer on the cheek.
"That's a down payment for later. Right now, I want to get to the restaurant and have my first meal with my soon-to-be lover."
Arriving at the restaurant, Spencer hustled around the car to open BethAnn's door. As she got out, Spencer was treated to the sight of his girlfriend's leg through the slit of her dress - a slit that ran almost to her hip. At the same time, BethAnn bent over enough for Spencer to see she wasn't wearing a bra.
"You can look now, but you can't touch until later."
Dinner was wonderful, and the two spent most of the time just looking at each other, smiling. Each knew they were with the best-looking person in the restaurant, and reveled in the idea that everyone was looking at their date.
