Four years later...

"Between the goal posts and UNDER the crossbar, YES ladies and gentlemen we have our winning goal by the EAGLES!!"

Queen Ethel's Eurasian Eagles were all the hype, and for the first time in the Academy's history Issac was leading them to their first state victory!

Championships were coming soon and it's been a lot of work, years in the making. Sweat and courageous effort, Issac never felt more alive.

He still looks up in the stands to see if his mother happened by, but she never does.

Later he gathers at the R&C with his teammates and best friends.
Derek, Cole and Eric smother his body in Ale, which Margo places on the house.
These people became his family.

New student and fan, Dexter approaches and congratulates him as being one of the best players he's ever see . Immortalized by his admiring, the friends accepted him into their group.

They make their way to a bonfire out in the wooded area leading up to the Knot Hill.

If one looked onto, this group they'd see:
Charisma in Cole. Critical thinking in Derek. Free spirit in Margo. Forever Playboy in Eric. Wide eyed Eric so full of happiness.
Far cries from the boys who were sent off to the academy. Margo, though still pure sweetness.

This is how Dexter seen them. He seen this group and wanted to be part of it.
Even though he had a few drinks, he still had clear speech and thought as he expressed his desire for... more.

"My father the Alchemist, well high hopes he had and how sad he is when he sees me. I didn't follow suit in the Mennington ways. Cast off at a young age, I was sent to live far east of here in Lenxingburg.
My mother never bothered to pay attention and my skills in sport were considered a lack of discipline!
I was basically erased from the family name."

This telling tale of woe captured the guys, as they all felt the same way. They were all castaways, and yet hadn't connected with anyone new in a long time.
Derek put his arm around Dex and made mention of his familiarity. Dex told them the tale of his cousin and their family that died.

"He was like my only brother, we resembled one another."

We shall call you Dubs!! Said Eric as they all raised a cup.

As the night got longer people began to disburse. Dex seen charismatic Cole sneak into the bush, and so he followed.
A voyeur he was in the moment, as he captured Cole kissing another man.

The bushes caught fire quickly and the remaining people scrambled to put it out. Fear was in their eyes as the blaze raged higher.

The fire Marshall claimed it was deliberate, the friends had no idea Cole was in the bush.
The onlooker told no tales.