Chapter 79: A New Challenge

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"Watch carefully. I am only teaching this once."

Nolan settled into his usual throwing posture. His body opened like a classical javelin thrower from an Olympic mural, and the football left his right hand.

The spinning ball traced a perfect arc through the air and struck the crossbar fifty yards away with a clear metallic sound.

That was Nolan’s favorite cannon throw.

"Learned it?" Nolan asked Reese.

"Uh... a little."

Nolan took another ball from the basket and handed it over.

Reese spat into both palms, rubbed them together, weighed the ball, stepped back, aimed, and threw.

The ball flew sideways toward the cheerleaders at the edge of the field, drawing a burst of startled cries.

Nolan looked that way and noticed the cheer squad rehearsing in front of the empty stands. The south stand had a special protruding section that seemed deliberately built or modified.

"Just some student-section stuff," Reese said. "The football team used to be bad, so the student section mostly showed up for baseball and basketball. This time is different."

Nolan assumed it was normal cheering and did not think too much about it.

He did not see Sarah in the crowd. She probably had another acting job. He did see Amy and Naomi. Since the last time, the three of them had not found a private chance to meet.

For the next twenty minutes, Nolan taught Reese several key throwing points by hand. Reese did not have much football talent, but at least his accuracy improved compared with before.

After training ended, Nolan changed immediately and left the locker room.

Lisa was taking him to visit her friend tonight. She should already be waiting near the school entrance.

Sure enough, Nolan saw her familiar long Lincoln outside campus.

The moment he sat inside, a fragrant body slid into his arms.

"Why have you not called me these past few days?" Lisa’s voice was sticky with complaint.

"I just called you."

Nolan’s hands soothed her automatically.

"That was work. Not life."

Lisa pounced with the hunger of someone who had been waiting. Then she lifted her head by chance and saw several people leaving the school through the window.

One figure in the middle was familiar.

Lisa immediately told the driver to go.

Too late.

Reese had spotted his mother’s car and walked over. He knocked on the window.

A few seconds passed before the glass lowered.

"Mom, why are you here..." Reese froze. "Nolan? You?"

Nolan sat across from Lisa with his eyes closed, looking as if he had been quietly thinking the whole time.

"I am taking Nolan to meet a friend tonight," Lisa said. "We have business to discuss. Is there a problem?"

"No. No problem."

Reese shook his head quickly, remembering the scolding from before.

"Mom," he said in a smaller voice, "your blouse is unbuttoned."

"It was hot in the car," Lisa said, fastening it with an awkward smile. "Your classmate is here. I should watch my image."

"The air conditioner is on full blast. You are probably dressed too warmly."

"Exactly. You are right. Nolan and I have things to do. Driver, go."

Lisa raised the window.

Reese watched the car leave.

They were just discussing business. Nothing could happen. Nolan would definitely go home by himself tonight.

Reese tried to comfort himself with that.

"That was dangerous," Lisa said, still rattled. "I should come to school less often."

"How can you? The final is coming. Reese is still the backup quarterback. If you do not attend, what kind of mother would that make you?"

"This cannot stay hidden forever..."

Lisa shook her head. She truly did not know how to start that conversation.

"As his father figure," Nolan said, "I will treat him better."

"At least he keeps his backup quarterback job. As for the rest, that depends on you, Lisa."

"What am I supposed to do?"

"When you become a mother again, the matter is settled. Everyone will have to accept it."

Nolan lunged like a wolf.

"Did you plan this from the start?" Lisa suddenly realized.

She remembered the first time. Back then, she had thought Nolan was inexperienced and careless. Only now did she realize the little bastard had meant it.

"Is there a better way?"

Pressed from both sides, Lisa sometimes said yes and sometimes said no, and it was impossible to tell which answer belonged to which thought.

In the end, she cursed Nolan with great enthusiasm.

Late that night, Lisa sent Nolan back to the motel.

He was satisfied with her arrangements. The two of them had eaten with a female FX executive who had known Lisa for years. Because the executive was a woman, their friendship was probably normal.

For Lisa’s sake, the executive called a program supervisor connected to Fox’s sports operation and Prime Ticket right in front of them. From now on, if Lisa came forward, Nolan could get more exposure opportunities.

Of course, all of it depended on Nolan continuing to perform on the field.

It was help, not magic.

Over the next few days, Nolan designed new offensive looks and routes around each Normans player’s strengths. Most of the remaining practice time went into timing.

For an offense, the quarterback’s call before the snap and the process of lining up happened while the play clock ran. In games, Nolan would not have time to explain every route to every player one by one.

That was why short code-like calls existed. Practice turned those calls into instinct, so the players could execute Nolan’s instructions without confusion.

Thomas also gave Nolan targeted guidance on St. John Bosco, the Southern Section final opponent.

Every football team had three parts: offense, defense, and special teams. Special teams had a unique role, and many of those players also came from offense or defense. Leave that aside.

Offense and defense were like spear and shield. A football game was two warriors clashing head-on. A sharp spear meant little if there was no shield to protect it. A wall-like shield meant little without a way to score.

The Normans were a typical strong-offense, weaker-defense team.

St. John Bosco was the reverse.

Their offense was respectable, but their defense was the best in Southern California.

That was not gossip. The data supported it. The St. John Bosco Braves allowed the fewest points per game in the region.

This season, several offensive playmakers had also transferred in, which was why Santa Ana had treated them as a major threat. Most outsiders had expected Santa Ana and St. John Bosco to fight for the final invitation into the broader California title conversation.

Then Nolan Callahan appeared halfway through the story.

Thomas rated St. John Bosco around Santa Ana’s level, only with their strength concentrated on defense.

For Nolan, this was a new challenge.

After practice, Nolan prepared to find Katherine. She was already waiting in Century City.

As he left the school gate, he saw staff carrying stacks of brand-new, unopened T-shirts into the school hall.

The shirts were bright orange, matching the orange on the Normans uniforms.

Rachel from the school paper was there, counting them.

"Who are those for?" Nolan asked.

"You will know when it is time, big guy." Rachel smiled and kept the secret. "All you need to do is play well and bring this school its first championship trophy in thirty years."

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