Chapter 52: Collision Course

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"More people keep coming." Katherine stood near the lowest edge of the bleachers and looked up.

At the last home game, the Normans had drawn around three thousand spectators. Tonight, half the seats were already full, and more people kept streaming in. By kickoff, the crowd would easily pass five thousand.

Katherine was here to watch the game, but she also had work to do.

She turned and saw a dozen students building the charity-sale station. Adam had recruited them. His girlfriend was among the volunteers, though Adam himself had gone straight to the sideline because of his injured ankle.

Seven or eight members of Highlights were setting up signs on the other side, with Rachel Burt supervising like an editor guarding a front page.

Mia negotiated with the hot-dog vendor. The cart had already been pushed up to the stands. Her job tonight was simple and absolute: handle the money.

Lisa had not arrived yet, but her driver had come early enough to claim front-row seats.

Everything was ready.

All they needed was kickoff.

"We are honored today to have football analyst Roy Feldman with us," the broadcast host said. "Mr. Feldman played defensive end for the Los Angeles Rams and Washington’s NFL franchise before retiring in 1988. Since then, he has worked as an analyst for CBS, FOX, ESPN, and other outlets. Roy, this is one of the biggest high-school games in Southern California this week. Give us the short version."

"Thank you," Feldman said. "The Normans have several players injured and unavailable. Santa Ana is healthier, deeper, and historically stronger. On paper, I would give Santa Ana the clear edge."

"I should remind you, this is Nickoll Field," the host said. "Our home field."

"Of course. Home field matters. Beverly Hills has a chance. But if we are talking roster strength, Santa Ana is ahead."

"Then we have to talk about the focus of tonight’s game. The Normans’ new quarterback made noise in the Los Angeles Times before the playoff draw, promising to take down Southern California’s high-school powerhouse. Since then, he has backed up the talk with real performances. Many people in this crowd came specifically to see him."

"I have watched him," Feldman said. "He posted a 127.1 passer rating last game. That is excellent. But he has only started two games at quarterback. I respect the courage. Whether he is truly special still needs a larger sample."

Passer rating measured attempts, yards, completion percentage, touchdowns, and interceptions. The NFL’s formula topped out at 158.3. A 127.1 was not ordinary.

"Either way," the host said, "this is a real test for Nolan Callahan."

On the sideline, Principal John Walsh chatted with Adam.

John would not have missed a game this big. If BHHS won, he would be the one congratulating the players on behalf of the school.

Still, the broadcast made him uneasy.

Nolan had talked too big. Even gifted players lost. Nolan had only recently stepped into football at all. If tonight went badly, the blow could follow him for years.

"Principal Walsh," Adam said, leaning on his crutches, "even if he loses, he will get over it faster than you think."

Adam understood Nolan better than John did.

"Losing is normal," Rice said, inserting himself into the conversation. "He is a new guy."

Rice was still technically part of the team and could move freely near the field. He badly wanted Nolan to lose. If Nolan fell apart, Rice might have a path back to the starting job.

At midfield, Sarah Michelle Gellar was lifted toward the top of a cheer pyramid.

She and Nolan had their own problems, but she was still a BHHS cheerleader. She wanted the Normans to win.

After hearing what had happened to the girls’ volleyball team, she wanted Nolan to hit Santa Ana even harder.

"The Normans are coming out!" Amy called from the edge of the pyramid.

"He changed numbers," Naomi said at once.

...

Jennifer Love Hewitt climbed out of the car before her father finished parking. She opened the front door and went inside.

"Honey, how did recording go today?" her mother asked from the kitchen, still in an apron.

"Fine," Jennifer said.

Earlier that year, she had signed with Atlantic Records and begun recording her second album, "Let’s Go Bang." That week had mostly been spent in Westwood at The Village, an old movie theater converted into a recording studio. Bob Dylan, Elton John, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers had all recorded there.

"I made dinner for you."

"I’m not eating tonight. I just need to rest."

Jennifer went straight to her room.

She was exhausted in a way sleep did not fix.

At ten, after a Texas talent showcase put her in front of scouts, her parents had signed her with a children’s agency. The whole family had moved to Los Angeles. At eleven, she appeared on Disney Channel. At thirteen, she released her first album in Japan. At fourteen, she worked on NBC’s Running Wilde. Last year came Sister Act 2.

Her teenage life had become auditions, rehearsals, recording sessions, and more auditions.

This year was no easier. The second album. A role on FOX’s Party of Five later in the year. And, somehow, six postponed exams waiting to punish her for being busy.

Whenever she thought about pausing her career, reality pushed back. Her mother did not work. Her father arranged performances for her and her sister when he could. Her brother was in medical school. The family needed her income.

Jennifer shut herself in her room and opened a textbook.

The words might as well have belonged to another planet.

Maybe she needed a tutor.

Annoyed, she closed the book and turned on the television. She meant to find something with actors her age. Instead, Prime Ticket caught her attention.

They were showing her school’s football game.

The stands looked packed.

Jennifer opened the cheese-flavored Doritos on her nightstand and started watching.

She did not care much about the game itself. What caught her was the atmosphere: the crowd, the school colors, the noisy, ordinary campus life she kept reaching for and never quite touching.

"The game is underway," the announcer said. "The Normans have the ball first. Quarterback Nolan Callahan keeps it himself. He slips two defenders, and now he collides with Santa Ana defensive end Alberto Rodriguez. That was a comet hitting the earth. Alberto brings him down."

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