Black Leather Jackets: College Bound

Introductions

One month later
Toni's POV
My entire coaching staff is set. We're walking into Riverdale High to get familiar with some of the boys.
"Anyone wishing to play varsity football next season go meet in room 127 right now," we hear as we enter the school
We set up in room 127, we're all wearing our NCAA or NFL jackets.
Boys pile in and coach comes in 5 minutes later.
"Topaz you leading?" He asks
"Of course coach sit down," I say putting our slides up "boys, I know some of you from practices and I'm sure most of you know that I am going to be head coach of the bulldogs next year. For those of you who are somehow unaware, I played 2 years of varsity football winning every championship and back to back global titles. I played 4 years of NCAA and won 2 national titles, I joined the military out of college and ya. It's quite likely that you don't know some of these guys, but Furthest from me in the Stanford jacket is RJ Morgan he's our defensive coach, wanna talk about your stuff?" I ask
"Sure, I was 2x All-American, 2x All State in university, in high school I played for Oklahoma.."
Boos fill the room and I laugh.
"RJ we don't like OK here," I laugh "but he's old and wasn't on that team,"
"Anyways, I won three state titles. Never won Nationals but I wanna do that here,"
"Next are Will and Austen Taylor, they're both the athletic therapists and trainers on our bench and will he working on getting you guys in better shape," I say
They say their piece of their football history.
"Reggie isn't very important, so next is Mox Wilson,"
"Hey!" Reggie says
"Reggie's going to follow me around and ya," I shrug
"That's not my actual job," Reggie says over the laughter
"That was your job when you played for us," coach jokes
"We're kidding Reggie. Mantle will be my assistant coach and I skipped him because everyone knows him,"
We go through everyone else and head out.
"Topaz wait up," coach says
"What up?" I ask
"You put together an amazing staff,"
"Thanks coach,"
"I'm proud of you Toni,"
"Thanks coach," I laugh "and there's always room for you,"
"You've pulled enough people,"
"You'll come back,"
He laughs and pats my back.
I leave and meet up with Cher.
"Hey baby,"
"How'd your meeting go?" She asks kissing me
"It went good,"
"Good I'm glad,"
"And how's my baby girl?" I ask picking Alex up
"Mama," She says
"Oh my gosh," Cheryl says
"I love you baby," I say kissing Alexis's head
"You're a good mother," Cher says kissing me
"You're a great mother," I say kissing her back
"Glad you two never stoped being gross," Will says from behind us
"William," Cher laughs "glad to see you,"
"You too Blossom," he says
"Ah ah ah, it's Topaz now- you were at the wedding,"
He rolls his eyes and hugs her.
"Why are you both crying?" Austen asks
"This cutie just said her first word," I say kissing Alex's face again
"I thought she was too young for that," Austen says
"She is, but she's a Blossom- fast learner and over achiever," I laugh
"She's a Topaz," Cheryl giggles
"You two are still like this?" Mox asks
"All the time," Reggie says coming into the conversation
"You're rude," I say
"Well give me my niece," he says
I hand him Alexis and she smiles and kisses his cheek.
"Hi Lexi," he says "I haven't seen you in a long time,"
She high fives his face and smiles back at me.
"Little Topaz has an attitude like Cheryl," Mox jokes
"You don't know that half of it," Ty laughs "that kid lived with Cheryl alone for 2 months and had her personality down pat- then when Toni came home she attached to her,"
"Clingy? Oh she's definitely like Cheryl,"
"She's also like Toni, because she cries until she sees Cheryl," Reggie says bouncing her
"Mama!" She says looking at me and then back to reggie and pointing "Mama, Ba ra ma,"
He hands her back to me and we go inside Pops and sit down.
Alex starts crying and I bounce her.
"Baby give her to me," Cher says
I hand her over and she calms down right away.
"Mama," she smiles
Cher hugs her and bounces her
"Yo we all on Topaz's bill?" RJ asks
"When are you not?" Cher laughs "Reggie hasn't paid for a meal since junior year,"
Everyone laughs and Lexi looks at me off Cheryl's shoulder with a confused look.
"What's wrong baby?" I laugh moving her hair out of her face
"Na ma!" She babbles
"You're silly," I laugh kissing her cheek
"Babe I'm gunna try and get her to sleep- I'll be right back," Cher says
"Okay babes," I say kissing her cheek
She leaves and we talk for a while about football and stuff.
Cher comes in and tells me she's going home.
"Okay C I'll come too,"
"No it's alright, stay here,"
"Okay?" I say confused "why don't we all come over and sit outside?"
"Oh okay, whatever," she says
We ride home in an uncomfortable silence.
"C why do you tell me to stay back if you're coming home to do something with Alex?" I ask
"No reason babe, I just want you to have fun,"
"You should have fun too,"
She sighs and nods.
"I just know your life changed so much when you came home and didn't have your leg so I wanted to let you feel normal," She says "I'm sorry,"
"Baby I want to help out and I don't want you to worry," I say "I might have bad days but I want to be with you,"
I kiss her and she smiles against my lips
"Okay, I'm sorry,"
"It's alright Cheryl,  I just wanted to know if you were okay,"