Pyrrhic Victory

Pyrrhic Victory

by. Jaxjack1980

Author's Note: The following story is entirely fictional and come from the author's imagination and creative efforts. Any resembles to real-live people, living or dead, or to any real-life places. businesses, events, or situations (Aside from the use of University of Michigan football team and its stadium along with a very real-life inspiration of an embarrassing defeat they experienced.) are entirely coincidental and do not truly reflect them in any way. All characters engaged in sexual activity are 18 years of age or older.

Additional note: This is my first story submission and I am sure it is full of grammatical errors and improper sentence structure, tenses, etc. I hope the spirit of the story shines through and can be appreciated by open-minded, thoughtful readers. Also as my first story, some formatting and text layout may not come out as intended. Apologies in advance and hope it doesn't pose too much of a problem. All well-intentioned feedback and constructive criticism are welcome. Like any newbie writer, positive comments would be a great motivator to continue.

For those who want to point out how wrong, stupid, lame, unoriginal, etc. my story is, I'll save us both some time: You are entirely right and I bow before your big brain and bigger ego. Truly, you possess a dizzing intellect that goes unrecognized every day!

Lastly, this is mostly an intended slow-burn story with no real sex in the beginning but will hopefully be entertaining nonetheless. Future chapters will try to make up for those who stick through the tame beginnings. Also, this story hints at a relationship in trouble but no real cheating occurs but may or may not happen in the future. Please skip this if you cannot stomach any such thoughts.

Part I: Taking the Longshot Bet

One hour prior to kick-off: The Big House aka University of Michigan Stadium at Ann Arbor; inaugural home game of #3 nationally ranked University of Michigan

"Don't ya worry none sweethearts, once Odean gets his chance, he'll give y'all plenty reason ta scream today," hollered Odean Moorehead, the cocksure backup QB of the South Texas Christian University @ Dallas (STCUD), Marauders as he gawked shamelessly at the team's young, nubile cheerleaders while leisurely stretching his dark, muscular form. "Yes, yes, yes, Odean da Machine'll make sure youse all have plenty to be happy 'bout before da days through..."

"Ya run yer mouth pretty good fer someone whose job today is warming the bench," shot back Samara Bennett, one of the cheer squad's captains as she guided her charges through their own warm-ups. "Only screams, you'll cause will be from massive disappointment, which I think 'yer' more than an expert in," she added tartly, her dark caramel-colored legs bouncing seductively as she dropped them into a pair of picture perfect splits before proceeding to continue her stretches.

"You tell him Mara," encouraged Zoey Malik, a slightly lighter tinted individual, as she followed her friend and mentor's example. Her mix of Dutch European and Indian heritage was visible as she smiled her encouragement toward her teammate. "You could make plenty of people 'happy' now by shutting up and letting us all focus on warming up properly," she offered faux sweetly.

"I'd be more than happy ta warm ya up properly girl," Odean replied confidently while getting closer as he looked Zoey up and down lewdly. "Know all sorts of ways to get both of our blood going, yeah? Luv to help put ya and da girls into da right positions, ya hear me," he grinned as he looked over Samara and the rest of the cheer team.

"Matter fact, the only dis-poit-ment gonna be felt 'round here will be by da unlucky ladies who do't get ta 'periene The Odean Dream Machine up close & personal tanight. No needs ta frets tho, 'cuz there's plenty of Odean ta go 'round ladies... no needz ta fight 'mong yerselves. 'Specially ya ma Ebony Queen. I'll always make time for ya, ya feel me," Odean finished his proclamation with an provocative wink.

Samara looked ready to serve up another hot serving of humble-asshole pie when a gentle hand came to rest on Samara's and Odean's shoulder, separating the adversaries. "Mara, would you do me a favor and help wrap up our stretches, I'd like to have a word with Odean privately," Desi "Dee Dee" Keane announced somehow in a way that came off as both an order and request to the both of them. The brunette junior cheerleader possessed an alluring and captivating demeanor that led many to follow her without a second thought. She received a silent nod of agreement from her fellow captain as Dee Dee guided Odean away to the nearby sidelines for a private conversation. Odean offered little protest as quietly welcomed an opportunity to spend some alone time with the comely blue-eyed coed.

A number of Dee Dee's fellow cheerleaders kept one eye on the unlikely pair, noting how closely huddled they were engaging in an animated conversation. Utilizing her considerable charm, Dee Dee seemed to be getting the better of their exchange as Odean grinned and nodded along while appearing to give her his full attention. As their interaction appeared to be winding down, Dee Dee looked to end it with a friendly handshake. Odean took this opportunity to lean in and whisper something in Dee Dee's ear as he gestured to the field.

Both Samara and Zoey noted the slight change in Dee Dee's posture, indicating she had been caught off-guard by his words. Taking a quick look at the field, Dee Dee shook her head and appeared unsure all of a sudden, returning her gaze downward instead of meeting Odean's. He pressed his advantage, gripping her extended hand and drawing her in closer, whispering more urgently. Noticing that they were drawing attention, Dee Dee nervously smiled and returned Odean's gaze with a slight nod. Smiling triumphantly, Odean spoke a few more words and after releasing her hand, jogged back to his teammates with a swagger in his step.

"Girlfriend, what was that about," inquired Dee Dee's BFF Danielle Nakatomi as she returned to resume her stretches with the rest of the cheer squad. Danielle's tanned and smoothed skin creased into a frown as she looked expectantly at her best friend, her dark, silky smooth hair shaking slightly.

"It's nothing, just Odean being Odean," Dee Dee replied as she hurried to catch up and finish her stretches. Her eyes did not meet Danielle's and seemed more focused on making sure her kicks were the appropriate height instead.

"Sure didn't seem like nothing. He sure seemed happy as he was walking back on the field," observed Danielle shrewdly. The two of them, looking back at Odean, couldn't help but miss the suggestive gestures and immature gamesmanship involving him and his teammates while a number of them took the opportunity to leer openly at the lovely ladies in question.

"Well, you know guys with big egos. The best way to pump up their spirits is by appealing to their arrogance and letting them think they're in control," Dee Dee said with a knowing smirk.

"You better watch out for him, Dee Dee, he's dangerous. There's a lot more to him than you think," Samara warned as she and Zoey joined their conversation as their warm-ups ended. "He's got a way of manipulating things to his benefit and he's not above using any means of getting what he wants. He's got a history of getting in plenty of girls' panties and word is, he takes a perverse pleasure in bedding the attached ones. "

"Don't worry guys, I know guys like Odean and their bark is worse than their bite," Dee Dee dismissed cooly. "He's not the first big dick swinging jock who tried to press his advantage. Besides, I'm totally committed to Geoff and wouldn't dream of openly disrespecting him like that. "Trust me, there's no chance someone like Odean gets one over on me... no matter how big a game they may boast they have," saying the second part quietly to herself...

****************

Part II: Mixed Results

10 minutes into 2nd quarter: Visiting team sidelines at Big House (BH) @University of Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor

"Oh shit..."

Dee Dee cursed to herself as she and the rest of the visiting team delegation watched the training staff help their starting quarterback, red-shirt senior Jordan Baker, onto the emergency medical cart and wheel him towards the locker room. Things definitely weren't going their way and looked to be taking a turn for the worse...

"Talk about adding salt to the wound," muttered Samara, looking on glumly. The rest of the sideline unfortunately matched her dour mood. She and a few others glanced back up at the scoreboard, briefly holding a delusional hope that the numbers had miraculously changed in the last few seconds. Reality stared unyieldingly back at them: 24-0, Michigan still leading by an embarrassingly comfortable margin.

"Silver lining looks like we get to see Odean put his oversized foot-in-his-mouth, Mar," Zoey interjected, summoning her best attempt at gallows humor. "Only potential bright side of losing our third straight game to start the season...."

"Wait, Odean's going in?..." queried Dee Dee in a slight daze, still in a state of shock at the improbable series of events rapidly unfolding.

"Yeah, I can't believe it myself, sister," Danielle replied sourly. "Hopefully, we'll all get some much needed laughs watching that douchebag fall flat on his face in front of a national TV audience."

Her mind catching up to current events, Dee Dee's piercing blue eyes went wide at the realization. Odean going into the game... their pre-game discussion... that ridiculous, longshot bet of his...

"... OH...

One second until half-time: visiting team end zone, The Big House

... SHIT!"

Dee Dee and the rest of the cheerleaders exploded into screams of unrestrained joy and started waving their arms and legs with frantic glee, extolling their previously muted fanbase to make some noise. They finally had something to celebrate. Odean, for all his bluster and over-sized cockiness, had delivered big time, uncorking a 69-yard strike downfield for the score with barely any time remaining until the half. Sure the deficit remained large, they still trailed 24-7, but at least they would be heading into the break with some much needed momentum on their side!

Speaking of sides, Dee Dee found herself battling some ambivalent feelings as she waved her pom poms as she fell into a well-practiced cheer routine. Her mind on auto-pilot as she performed the sequence, Dee Dee allowed her eyes to wander to catch Odean and a few other players conduct their own stylized celebration. Finishing with a borderline, lewd gesture, Odean locked eyes with her and with a self-satisfied smile on his face, gave her an exaggerated wink. Those mixed feelings fluttered back into her stomach as Dee Dee blushed in response. Her mind muddled and clouded by what was unfolding, Dee Dee could only find her thinking one re- occurring, dangerous thought...

"... Oh...

10 minutes into the 4th quarter: visiting seating section, The BH

... shit..."

Silence descended on the visiting fan section like the final curtain of a production's closing night's performance, a funeral-like finality coming down on those who had valiantly stuck through til the bitter end, The apparent final dagger, a 77-yard pick-six return by Michigan's Malcom Butler Jr., seemed to be the final coup de grace on STCUD's lingering hopes of a comeback victory.

For a brief, enthralling moment beforehand, it had appeared that Odean was successfully mounting an improbable comeback. Another long TD throw (victimizing the previously mentioned Malcolm Butler) right out of the half along with two long field goals by their strong-legged Irish kicker, Riley "Me Left Foot" O'Brien, had reduced Michigan's lead to a manageable 24-20 score.

Then, Odean had been driving his team toward a go-ahead score by getting them near Michigan's 25-yard line. Unfortunately, disaster struck next. Butler stepped in front to intercept the next pass and sprinted unchallenged all the way across the opposite goal line. Now, instead of relishing in the possibility of having the lead, rather STCUD now found itself down by two scores, 31-20, with only five minutes left to play. Defeat, it seemed, had been tragically snatched away from the jaws of victory.

While most of their sideline appeared zombie-like at the sudden reversal of fortune, Dee Dee found herself roaming in front of the bleacher searching for Odean's familiar form, uncertain feelings reflected across her face. Like an answer to her unsaid prayer, his dark, muscular form appeared before her, unbowed and rallying his teammates around him despite their dire circumstances. Almost as if feeling her gaze, Odean once again found Dee Dee's and gave her a confident look. "Trust me, I got this," his dark, majestic eyes seemed to say as they fixed on hers. Unable, unwilling to tear her gaze away, Dee Dee felt herself swaying slightly while falling into a surreal, hypnotic state; only one thought was present in her mind...

"OH...

One minute after end of regulation time: visiting team's sideline, The Big House

"... SHIT!"

Everyone held their collective breaths as the referees gathered to discuss their conclusions and go over the video review before the head referee, having reached a decision, activated his microphone to deliver his announcement:

"Upon review, the original ruling that the runner (Odean) had successfully extended the football over the goal-line prior to being contacted down by the opposition is confirmed. Result of the play: Touchdown STCUD! Replay confirms the play concluded with no time left on the clock and thus marks the end of regulation play. Final score 32-31 STCUD over #3 Michigan..." the announcement was broadcast over the stadium speakers and also relayed through accompanying sports broadcast teams.

Pandemonium erupted all around Dee Dee as she and her fellow cheerleaders exploded from their positions kneeling in anxious supplication, hands locked together in solidarity awaiting the news. Dee Dee found herself in a throng of blue-and-white clad figures as the celebration continued on the sidelines. They had done it! Something that had not been done in their long-standing 101-year university's humble history! No matter what, this would be a day that she would remember for the rest of her life! A favorite tale to regale Geoff and her future children and grandchildren... The unimaginable euphoric bliss was intoxicating as Dee Dee, eyes glazed over, nearly drunk with excitement, gave fierce hugs to her fellow cheer mates and random teammates alike, ignoring the occasional grope from some overly friendly hands.

After finishing a particularly satisfying crushing clinch with her fellow captains, Samara and Danielle along with "lil Zoey", Dee Dee finally managed to disengage herself from the crowd to give herself a breather and gather her head. Her intended respite would not last as she hoped however.

As she found a quiet, isolated corner, Dee Dee caught an imposing figure out of the corner of her eye, approaching at an alarming pace... Odean, with his helmet off, eyes locked straight at her. A hungry, predatory look, topped by a maniacal grin, flashed across his face, eyes fixed on their target: the unsuspecting, supple, attractive form of Dee Dee Keane. Alone and out in the open, vulnerable and defenseless, without any defenders; nowhere to hide. Ripe for the taking...

Dee Dee knew she stood no chance of evasion, knew deep inside her soul that she would soon become his next victim. Knew that resistance was futile. She had time to have one last train of thought before he fell upon her with a hungry pounce...

"... oh shit... oh shit... OH SHIT!!!..."