Lauren has been sent to stay with her aunt and uncle who live in “the-middle-of-nowhere Oregon”.  Haunted by family secrets and empty promises from her mother, Lauren hopes to start over and make amends.  During one of her “Bugle runs” to the local Jiffy Mart, she chances to meet the local football hero, Colby.  The two seniors quickly discover they have similar interests and goals.  With pressure from a football-obsessed father, Colby takes pleasure in finding an unexpected confidante in Lauren.  The two young lovers are destined to a bright future until tragedy strikes the small town and injures Colby’s best friend Benny, dashing any hope of a football scholarship and college.  Now Colby desperately clings to his coach’s mantra, “I believe.  I believe in myself.  I believe in the team.  I believe it’s our time.”  A young girl’s affection and the pressure of a winning season weigh heavy on his shoulders as he attempts to take his team to the high school championship and bring hope to a small town.

The chapters are alternately narrated by the main characters, Lauren in poetry; Colby in prose.  The distinctive approach allows each character to express him/herself in a manner that reflects individual personalities and charisma.  Readers looking for a story about love, friendship, family, and forgiveness will be rewarded by an unambiguous plot and endearing characters.