That was the main reason I would rather not have Brook or, for that matter, any of my female friends go on recruiting trips with me. I didn’t want to worry about what would happen in situations like this. All I had to do was remember last year when Missy and Tami had had bad experiences. Missy, we’d found out of it in a room with a fraternity guy. Tami had encountered Brandon and been raped thanks to the drugs Brandon had surreptitiously put in her and Alan’s drinks.
I wasn’t worried that Brook would stray. It was more that college parties could get out of hand, and alcohol-fueled emotions led to bad decisions.
We ended up having a great time, though. I was able to meet several players and found them to be a great group of guys. I kept my promise to Brook and didn’t talk much football. Not talking about it at all, though, would have been impossible after the big win Clemson had. Brook spent time with several of the player’s girlfriends when we would talk too much about sports. I would get the hint and pull her out onto the dance floor.
Tim and Wolf were glued to the sisters, which irritated me. To this point, it was just flirting. I knew for a fact that both Tami and Sarah weren’t above doing the same thing. What made me nervous was that I felt responsible for all this. Maybe they could get away with it, but I knew that people watched me like a hawk. It wasn’t uncommon for them to video or take pictures of me. I’d spotted people doing it at the party. I’d surrendered to the reality that there was probably someone filming at all times when I was in public. With that in mind, I was careful about what I did or said. Tim and Wolf didn’t get the same scrutiny.
I’d also grown up in a small town. Even before I’d become a celebrity, I knew that bad news would always beat me home. Something like Tim and Wolf spending time with two Clemson coeds would find its way back to their girlfriends. If the girls didn’t hear it from someone else, I might end up letting it slip. Tami was a human lie detector when it came to me. She would know something was up and start digging. It was only a matter of time before she would find out.
◊◊◊
Terry gave Brook, Chuck, and me a ride to the little place just out of town, where he claimed they had a hangover cure. We arrived at a little joint that was packed at one in the morning.
“What should we get to prevent a hangover?” I asked.
“My roommate is Polish, and he turned me on to pickle juice,” Terry said, and we all made faces.
He laughed and explained.
“I know, it sounds weird, but believe me, it works. I asked one of my professors about the science of it. He said that it contains vinegar, salt, and water, which can help rehydrate and replenish electrolyte and sodium levels. I do a shot of it, and I swear it helps.”
“There has to be something else,” Brook said.
“Eggs. They are chock-full of hardworking amino acids like cysteine and taurine. Taurine boosts liver function and may help prevent liver disease. Cysteine breaks down acetaldehyde, the yucky headache-causing chemical that’s left over when the liver breaks down ethanol,” Terry explained.
“Are you planning to be a doctor or something?” I asked.
“Chemist. Sorry, I probably sound like a nerd.”
The waitress recognized Terry and didn’t even bat an eye when he asked for three shots of pickle juice. Chuck hadn’t been drinking and wasn’t willing to join us.
While we ate, I resumed thinking about leaving home and going to college. I felt that Clemson might be a good place for me. It was located in a small town, and everyone I met had been full of Southern charm. They were also becoming a national power in football. My only concern was the level and amount of competition I would face here. Not all the quarterbacks would end up staying if they saw they weren’t going to get playing time. If I happened to be one of them, I didn’t want to have to sit out a year waiting to play somewhere else. I thought that rule was outdated since they allowed immediate playing time to graduate transfers.
The question was, was I willing to risk it? I was confident that I would show I was the best, but that didn’t mean the coaching staff would see it that way. The difference between top quarterbacks sometimes didn’t show up until they hit the playing field. It might be that I wouldn’t get the chance to show what I was capable of.
When we got back to my hotel room, Brook had good advice.
“It’s a good thing you’re struggling with where to go. It means you have choices. I know Michigan would be a good place for you to play. Wolf and Tim both liked it too. I think Clemson just surprised you. I could see you having a great time both taking classes and playing ball here. Be patient, because you might find other places that would fit as well before you’re done.
“When it’s time to make a decision, I know you’ll get plenty of advice. You have people around you that you can trust. In the end, you’ll have to decide. It doesn’t have to be today, though.”
◊◊◊
