"It was. He could have ignored the situation, or taken advantage of me when I was vulnerable - but he never did. We didn't really stay in touch after we went our separate ways to college, but we kind of formed this weird bond. I wanted to come tonight to show my support."

"That's so nice of you, Janie. I'm sorry you had to go through all of that. " I feel like an idiot. I was completely wrong about what I saw so long ago. I jumped to conclusions without even asking.

"It's in the past now. I'm just thankful Jaxson was there for me. I wish everyone knew how kind and caring he was. It's a shame."

Sure is.

"It's nice that you're here for him tonight. Maybe one day, everyone will know the truth." I smile, "enjoy the rest of your night. I have to get going."

"You too, Sydney. Nice to see you. Sorry for chewing your ear off."

"Don't be. I was happy to listen."

Oh my God. What a story! All these years I thought Jaxson forgot about me in a heartbeat. Meanwhile, he was helping someone. He put aside his libido and a chance to fool around with a girl to be there for someone who needed him. I was so wrong.

Jaxson and I never saw each other again after that night. Griffin and Kelly hung out a couple of times after that - enjoying a final summer fling. He mentioned to me that Jaxson thought I just left the party, but he didn't really follow up to try and get answers. I didn't want to explain that I saw him with Janie - I didn't feel like I needed to. Besides, Jaxson would have had to explain what happened, and now I know, he couldn't. He obviously wouldn't have done that to Janie. He may truly be a good guy after all.

Chapter 3.

SYDNEY.

I wish Kelly was sleeping home tonight. We share a small house just outside of Mesquite's 'downtown'. Downtown consists of a small row of restaurants and shops. It's all of two blocks - but it's the heart of our town. We moved in here when we graduated college and have become more like sisters than friends. She knows me better than anyone. Sometimes, even better than I know myself.

I can't wait to tell her what I heard from Janie. It's crazy to think that for all these years, I believed that Jaxson just left me that night. It's not like we were dating - we weren't even friends - yet. Who knows what would have happened or if it could have led to something more between us? I'm sure it would have been a one night thing and I would have wound up hating him anyway.

It's too late to think about all of that. I can't change the past. Jaxson was just a crush and I got over it long ago. I moved on and he obviously never thought about me again after that. If he had, he probably would have remembered me tonight.

I lie in bed and thoughts of Jaxson flood my mind. I try to push them out, but I keep seeing his face - feeling his hands on me the way they were at the bar. I try to convince myself that just because he didn't something nice for Janie ten years ago, doesn't change who he is now. It's not working - not tonight.

I try to fight it, but I can't. I fall asleep imagining Jaxson and I together, his strong hands working their way over my body. I used to fantasize about him like this all the time in high school. It's familiar and fun and when I think about him this way. In my fantasy, it doesn't matter if he has a big heart. What matters is the size of his manhood, and from what I've heard, it's huge.

The thought of Jaxson naked, touching me, is too much. Oblivious to my own actions, I find my hand working its way down into my pajama bottoms. Two years without a boyfriend - or any man - and it doesn't take much. I'm already damp from nothing more than the visions in my head. I easily find my pleasure points. Using Jaxson as my ammunition, bring myself to climax.

I should be ashamed of myself, but I'm not. As long as I keep Jaxson James at a distance in reality, there's no harm in holding him close in my fantasies.

Chapter 4.

SYDNEY.

When Kelly arrived back home this morning, I filled her in on what I heard from Janie outside the bar the night before. She thought about it, but in the end, Kelly wasn't that impressed. We agreed that that was ten years ago - before he became a big shot football player. He was always full of himself back then - no matter what happened that one night. Judging from what we've seen and heard since, it's only gotten worse.

Kelly appears concerned as she listens to me go on in circles about Jaxson. She can tell that my new found information is giving me hope that he is a different person than I thought. As much as Kelly would love for me to have a little fun, she wouldn't want me to fall for the wrong guy again. She knows me well enough to know, I'm not into one nighters or meaningless flings.

She was with me from beginning to end through my last relationship. I completely blew it for no good reason at all. Ryder may not have been the best guy for me, but he didn't do anything to deserve the way I treated and distrusted him.

She'd love to see me hook up with Jaxson and have some fun, but only if I could do it without getting my heart broken. Knowing how in love I thought I was with him in high school, Kelly doesn't trust that I wouldn't fall back into love with him - fast. She kind of just blew off the whole thing and advised me to do the same. 'Leave the past in the past' were her final words of wisdom. As much as I'd like to do just that, it's impossible.

First thing Monday morning, students and faculty are already buzzing about school. Everyone is so excited to have a professional football player on campus to assist in coaching our high school's football team. They've gotten progressively worse over the last few years. Everyone is hoping Jaxson will be just what they need to get the team out of their slump.

It's like they all just forgot about Jaxson's reputation off the field. All of a sudden, he's the town's big hero. I'm sure many of the adults got to witness his display at the bar first hand over the weekend. I was surprised to see there was nothing about it in the paper - usually all of Jaxson James's escapades are front page news. Somehow, he managed to keep this one out of the public eye.

There is going to be an assembly after lunch hour so the school can have a meet and greet with Jaxson before he starts his first practice today. The football team has already made his acquaintance, but everyone else wants a chance now too, I suppose.

Everyone except for me. I won't be going. I went to high school with Jaxson. Those four years were enough. In fact, many of the staff members here went to school with him at some point. I guess not as many of them had a huge crush on Jaxson like I did. I'm quite sure that even if they did, he would at least remember them. No. I will not jump on the team Jaxson bandwagon. He can suck it for all I care.

My classroom is on the opposite side of the school as the gym and football field. Since Jaxson doesn't remember my name - or even know who I am - I assume I can make it through the rest of the semester and football season without bumping into him. One time was all I needed to remind me what a conceited jerk he was - and still is. Doing one good deed for Janie doesn't change the big picture.

I make some excuse about catching up on grading some assignments and successfully avoid the assembly. Even from across the school, I can hear the clapping and cheering. What a great idea - let's take time away from our studies to inflate this guy's head just a little more - if that's even possible.

Since I already told everyone I'll be working in my classroom, I decide to do just that with my free time. I might as well get a little bit ahead. We spent all of last week covering civil rights. From the looks of some of these quiz grades, I could have been talking about watching paint dry. I expect some bad grades, but nothing gets to me more than the sense of entitlement some of these students have. Some students think that if they play sports or have a 'notable' parent, I should just give them a passing grade. Sorry, not in my classroom.

I'm sure I'll hear all about it from them when I give these tests back. Hopefully, my students will look back one day and realize I'm doing them a favor by making them actually do the work. If not, maybe the rest of society will.

Chapter 5.

JAXSON.

I completely understand the things that are expected of me as a professional athlete. Training, practice, devotion - that makes sense. I just don't get how what I do when I'm off the field is anyone else's business.

So what if I like spending the little free time I have partying and getting pussy? It has never effected my performance. I never drink the night before a game. I'm also sure to always limit myself the nights before practices too. It's the same routine I've had since high school. Except now, I'm a whole lot more popular, so everyone is watching and judging my every move.

If you ask me, I would say they're jealous. Being on a football team is a blessing. It gave me automatic popularity status in high school and college and got me plenty of girls. Being the star quarterback was only a bonus - a big one. I was always well known and recognized wherever I went - even before going pro. It's just on a much bigger scale now.

In high school, girls would swoon over me. They crowded my locker and vied for the chance to be my date on the weekend. I had my pick of cheerleaders too. Going out with the most popular guy at school did wonders for their social status. They also got to spend a night with me, which has proven to be a gift in and of itself.

In college, the football team lived together for the most part. We lived on one floor in the dorms and off campus, several of the guys on the team shared a house. The football team was like it's own fraternity.

Once the jersey chasers - the girls that want to fuck any and all of the football players - knew where we lived and where the parties were, they were never far behind. The walk of shame in our house was more like a parade.

Now that I'm playing for the Arizona Rattlers, I can't say too much has changed. We practice longer, the stadiums are bigger, the parties are wilder, and the available women are infinite. Any pro ball player can get laid - any of them. It's crazy how women will throw themselves at you just because of who you are and what you do.

It's not just my status that's a draw though. In addition to my skills on the field, I'm now also known for my skills in the sheets - as well as the size of the 'rattler' in my pants. Let's face it, I'm also pretty easy on the eyes. Add some great hair and a smile that can drop almost any pair of panties, and no woman can resist.

None except for Sydney.

Sydney who wouldn't tell me her name. Sydney who I had to casually ask around if anyone knew who she was. Sydney who I haven't been able to get off my mind since she fell into my arms.

Shit. I've been with countless women in my life. The majority of them were beautiful with bodies near perfection. Something about Sydney makes her different. She's curvy in all the right places. Seeing her that night; her dark, wavy, mane of hair hung loose across her shoulders like she didn't bother to style it. I didn't notice too much make up either. She was just naturally pretty - and she wanted nothing to do with me. That must have something to do with my being drawn to her too.

But who doesn't love a challenge? Fighting for the win is what I do for a living. It's what drives me. Now I have a chance to do it off the field too - that is if I can find her. The only information I got was her name. I feel like I know her somehow, but how could I forget a girl like that? I'm confident our paths will cross again. This is a small town, we're bound to run into each other at some point - hopefully soon. I can only jerk off so many times to that face until I'm going to have to bust a nut all over it.

At least it's something to keep me going for a while. Coming back to my home town was not something I ever dreamed of doing. Then again, I'm not doing this by choice.

Because 'the image I am portraying to the public is not one that is deemed acceptable' according to my coach, my agent was requested to hire an image consultant to help me. Coach Taylor knew what he was getting into when I was picked for the Rattlers. I don't know what made him think I would change. It's not like I'm the only one on the team who parties like a rock star - I just get the most publicity.

In an attempt to clean up my image and improve my reputation, coach Taylor and Aaron Silvers, my agent, joined forces with Nadia Tate. Nadia is well known in her field and has worked with many of the stars in her career. She's a force to be reckoned with and doesn't take kindly to anyone that doesn't heed her advice. In her token skin tight black dresses and suits, she looks more like a dominatrix, which may be why everyone shuts up and listens to her. She's good at what she does. That's how I wound up back here in Mesquite.

The first thing Nadia did was make me take my partying down a notch. She made it a point to show up at every event and keep me under control. When she couldn't control me, she supervised those around me, making sure nothing I was doing would be seen on the internet. No phone snapping an inappropriate picture of me was safe from an 'accident' when Nadia was in the room.

It was her brilliant idea that landed me here in Mesquite to coach high school football. Well, that and I think this is her sadistic way of punishing me. I'm also pretty sure Nadia wants to get in my pants. She looks at me like she does. She gets a little too close to me sometimes too. It would be completely unprofessional of her though - and that's definitely not her style. Maybe she's punishing herself too by making me stay here.

Mesquite is close enough to where my own team practices. Unfortunately for me, our schedules work so that I can attend my own practices, games, and meetings, but still be here to coach the high school team. I'll be missing a couple of their games when I'm away for my own, but otherwise everything falls right into place. I couldn't be happier. At least that's what I have to tell the press - and myself, so I can make it through the season.

Too bad this town is so small. It means every move I make will be seen by someone and word will get around. Even if Nadia's not there, she will know everything. That's probably part of Nadia's chain of thought also. She's forcing me to back down. She's taking away most of my chances to fuck up. In other words, she's doing exactly what she was hired for.

Chapter 6.

SYDNEY.

Almost two weeks since the big welcoming parties and I haven't heard anything about Jaxson other than how wonderful he is. The boys on the team admire him, and from what I hear, he is a great coach and mentor to them. Without Jaxson's name all over the local news for his party stunts, they only know him as their coach and the famous football player that came to rescue them from their slump. What a hero - not.

My class's quiz grades this week aren't any different than the last. The questions weren't difficult, and most of the class did okay. At least I know it's not my teaching skills. If it was me, the majority would be failing. It's the same students as always that just don't seem to care. It's such a shame. What's even more upsetting, is that most of them aren't bothered by poor grades. There are only a couple who seemed disappointed or surprised.

"Ms. Hayes?"

I turn when I hear my name. Shit. What does he want?

"Yes?"

Jaxson's eyes light up and his lips curl into that crooked smile, "holy shit. I remember you."

A self satisfied grin appears on my face. Does this egotistical jerk finally remember me? I followed him around for years - he should.

"Sydney. I've been waiting forever to run into you again. I've been thinking of you since we met at the bar."

My heart sinks a little bit when I realize he still has no idea that we knew each other in high school. I don't know why I even care.

"I'm sure you have," I reply sarcastically.

"I may be a lot of things, but I am not a liar."

I roll my eyes, "I don't know about that, but I will agree that you're a lot of things."

Jaxson steps through the doorway and walks over to my desk. His large frame towers over me as I sit at my desk. I contemplate standing up, but I don't think it would matter.

"I like this whole porn star teacher thing you have going on," he comments giving me a once over.

"Excuse me?"

"You know, when porn stars dress like teachers?"

"Actually, I don't know."

"Crazy, because you nailed it."

I roll my eyes again and suddenly feel uncomfortable. I shouldn't. I've been wearing my hair in the same loose bun with a similar outfit since I became a teacher. No one has ever made a comment like that. I can't let this prick make me feel awkward just because he has a dirty mind.

"Is there a reason you're here? I'm busy," I reply, ignoring his remarks.

Jaxson looks like he forgot what he's doing in my classroom. He stands there for a few seconds trying to remember. Maybe it's not that I was invisible to him in school. Maybe all the hits he took to the head messed with his ability to recall information.

"There is a player on our team that seems to be failing your class," he replies, suddenly calling to mind why he's standing here.

"That doesn't surprise me."

He clicks his tongue, "he's one of the best players and has a real chance of making the pros one day."

"That's great," I say impatiently.

Jaxson looks frustrated, "if he doesn't pass all of his classes, he can't play. If he can't play, he won't be scouted. If he's not noticed, he will be stuck in this shithole of a town forever."

"Well, if he wants to pass his classes, I would recommend paying attention - maybe even studying," I reply equally as frustrated, "and as for getting stuck in this shithole? Some of us actually choose to stay here because we like it. Are we done here?"

"You're from Mesquite?"

"Born and raised."