"Hey Coach!" exclaimed Bryan coming up to the coach with his girl. "This is Erin, my girlfriend." Erin was seventeen and in her senior year at Marshall High School. She was average height with a slender build. Her long, sandy blonde hair blew in the light, late, summer breeze and she brushed it casually with her hand to keep it out of her sky blue eyes. A perfect face she did not have, yet in its way it was spectacular.1

"Erin," said the coach Berry taking her hand and shaking it while gripping it almost painfully tight. "It's very good to meet you." He smiled regarding her with a direct stare into her eyes, which was nearly mesmerizing. After shaking her hand a bit longer than necessary, he released it. 2

"If you'd like, you can watch the practice from the sidelines," Coach Berry told her.3

"Oh, I'd love that. Thank you." Most of the people watching the practice were required to stay in the stands and only those authorized were allowed in the stadium which did include family and friends of the players. All the visitors had to sign in and were checked off against the guest list.4

"Good then. I'll suit up and be right out. Thanks Coach." There were a hundred and four young men who suited up to practice. They went through thirty minutes of warming up exercises and then began various drills. They were wearing blue with white or white with blue tops and white pants with full gear and helmets. Bryan was about the same build as Coach Berry. They were both about 6'2 and 220lbs. Both had dark hair, but the coach had brown eyes instead of Bryan's ocean blue and Berry was twenty years older. He was still in good physical shape for his age., though he did not work out as hard as the players.5

"You go in as quarterback," said Coach Berry when they began to run plays.6

"Thanks Coach," said Bryan. Bryan was on a full athletic scholarship. He hoped to be the first string quarterback and maybe go pro. This was his sophomore year. He was good, but he was not convinced in himself that he was the best quarterback on the team. He was putting his all into it, but so were the others.7

"He's pretty good," Berry said to Erin. Erin smiled proudly. Berry had been the college's head coach for five years. His team won more than they lost, but they had only made it to one minor bowl game. The school didn't have the money or the reputation of the other schools. They just couldn't get the draw they needed.8

Every time Erin came to practice, coach Berry let her sit on the sidelines. Bryan thought it was because he was being groomed for starting quarterback. He was partially correct.9

At one practice, Coach Berry said to Erin, "There may be something you can do to help Bryan's chances of becoming starting quarterback." Practice was nearly over.10

"What could I do?"11

"Could you come to my office at the stadium before practice tomorrow, say about one o'clock? Let's make it our secret. Don't tell Bryan until after we have had a chance to talk. Okay."12

Somewhat uncertain Erin replied, "Well, I guess that I can do that. I want to do everything I can to help, but I don't see what that could be."13

"I assure you. You can be a big help to Bryan's career."14

The next day Erin went to Coach Berry's office as scheduled. Practice was not until 2:30, so she came alone and the coach had asked her to keep it a secret from Bryan, though she didn't know why.15

"I'm so glad you could make it," said Coach Berry in his friendliest and most casual manner. He stood up and held one of the two chairs in front of his desk out for her and she seated herself in it. He then closed the door locking it. He sat behind his desk and looked at Erin intently.16

"You said there is some way I can help Bryan?"17

"You know that whether he is the starting quaterback or not has a major influence on his chances of getting into pro ball. It is up to me who starts and who sits on the bench, if you get my drift."18

Naively she responded, "But you yourself said that he is good."19

"Any gifted player can be good if, and I repeat if, they are given the opportunity. You can help him have that opportunity or he can sit on the bench."20

Understanding, yet not wanting to believe, Erin asked, "What must I do?"21

"I think you know," he said, leering at her with unmistakable lust in his cold brown eyes.22

"But I'm a virgin!" she pleaded with tears welling up in her eyes.23

"I'll be gentle."24

"I could get pregnant."25

"I'll use protection this time, but you will need to get on the pill."26

"My God! Do you expect to have sex with me more than once?"27

"Any time I want, if you want Bryan to remain lead quarterback. It's really a small sacrifice, don't you think."28

"You're an awful man!" Erin was sobbing heavily by then.29

"It's up to you. You make or break Bryan," said Coach Berry.30

Erin knew how much it meant to Bryan to be the starting quarterback. He had worked hard in high school and now in college at football. Football might have been more important to him than she was, but Bryan was more important to her than anything but herself.31

"What's the matter?" asked Berry savagely. "Saving yourself for marriage. Take my word for it, Bryan won't know the difference."32

How could Coach Berry do this to her and to Bryan. Bryan was a really good player and Erin felt that he deserved the starting position. Coach Berry stood up and walked around his desk and placed his hands on her shoulders. She shivered in fear and anger. "Alright, I'll do it," said Erin and she gave herself to him in body while hating him in mind and spirit.33

While it had been a small thing to Coach Berry it brought about a major change in Erin. She was noticeably different and Bryan wondered what had happened. Erin didn't seem as free spirited and cheerful as she had before. Bryan was worried.34

About once a week Erin met with Coach Berry and he coerced her into sex. It had gone on for a month when Bryan asked, "What's bothering you, Erin?"35

Uncontrollably Erin broke down crying. "I can't tell you!"36

"But Erin, you can tell me anything. I love you."37

Bryan held her in his arms and she continued weeping steadily for thirty minutes while he coaxed her to speak. "It just can't be that bad. Tell me. Is everything all right with your family?"38

"No, it nothing like that," she mumbled.39

Finally she told him what had happened with Coach Berry.40

"I'll kill him!"41

"NO! YOU CAN'T!" she pleaded.42

"THE BASTARD! We've got to go to the police!" he said.43

"I can't prove anything, and if I stop, he'll keep you on the sidelines."44

"I can go to another school," said Bryan.45

"Then I wouldn't be able to see you as often."46

"Damn it!" exclaimed Bryan with fury in his eyes.47

"Now, don't do anything foolish." said Erin.48

"This can't go on!"49

"You're not mad at me, are you?"50

"Of course not, Erin, but I could kill Berry."51

They talked and cuddled for a while as Bryan tried to comfort and reassure Erin of his love. "I think I have an idea," said Erin.52

"What's that?"53

"Let's go to the police."54

They went to the police and discussed the situation with them. The police were quite interested and agreed with Erin's idea. When Coach Berry scheduled their next encounter, Erin was wearing a wire. The police were close at hand.55

"I can't do this anymore," said Erin.56

"And why not, you little bitch?"57

"Because it is just not right."58

"I'll put your boyfriend on the bench and leave him there the rest of his career."59

"I don't care anymore," said Erin.60

"You stupid slut!"61

"I'm going to tell the police," swore Erin.62

"Tell them anything you like, it's your word against mine. Who do you think they will believe? I'll tell them you came to me offering to have sex if I would keep Bryan as star quarterback. I'll explain to them that I turned you down, but that I kept Bryan on because he was that good. Do you think for a moment they'll believe that I forced you to have sex with me?"63

"But you did!"64

"You know it, and I know it, but probably even your dumb boyfriend won't believe you."65

There was a heavy knock on the door and the lieutenent in charge said, "Open up, it's the police."66

"You whore!" Coach Berry swore under his breath. "You set me up!"67

"I'm not so dumb after all, am I?" said Erin laughing.68