Kensley Panthers

Kingston Wells. I like to party; to have a good time. Life's too short not to. I learned that when I lost my grandpa. He told me to have fun while I can, and I intend to. Though sometimes when you're having a good time, you forget others may see you as irresponsible. And sometimes you screw up. I've definitely screwed up a time or two, but I'm still determined to have fun. I'm hoping I'll convince my best friend, Camden, to do the same along the way. He's too serious. Too focused. Too busy taking care of everyone to just relax. And that's where I come in. Camden Prescott I may only be eighteen and a senior, but I have too much on my plate to be a kid. Too many people depend on me, but I can handle it. I have to handle it. My mom needs my help. My little sister needs me. And Kingston, my best friend in the world-yeah, he definitely needs me. While he's busy having fun, I'm busy cleaning up his messes... along with everyone else's. It's not all bad though. He's there to make sure I occasionally have fun, and I'm there for him when he needs to take life seriously. Because that's what I am: the keeper.

Jameson Bates I have a secret. We all have secrets. I'm nothing special. It just so happens, however, that my sworn enemy also knows my secret. He's the absolute worst person to know this, and there's nothing I can do about it. What he does with this information is totally out of my hands and completely in his. This is why I've never let anyone in. I don't trust easily. I keep to myself. I'm closed off, angry-guarded. Garrison Dixon I shouldn't have seen what I did. I shouldn't know what I do. But how Bates can think I would ever say anything is beyond me. Everyone thinks I'm just a big, dumb football player with nothing more to him. The truth is I'll never say a word about what I witnessed. I don't care about it the way he thinks I do. I wouldn't hurt him. And I'd let him know that-all of it-if he wasn't so damn...guarded.

Travis Wyatt All I've ever wanted is to go to college and get out of Kensley. That small town is all I've ever known. I want to be free to be myself, not stifled by small minds in the football-loving town where I grew up. Then I blew my one and only chance. Now, I'm just stuck. Stuck in small-town life with the same small-town people I've always known. Stuck where I don't want to be. Constantly on the defense and hiding secrets about myself. To never be the real me. I'm lost, and I'm angry. But those people I was desperate to get away from, they don't stop. They insist on showing me that maybe it's not about my location. That maybe I can be free right where I am. Oakley Easton Travis is way too uptight. I don't know why. He has everything a guy could want-a steady job and friends who would do anything for him. A great, simple, small-town life. But I guess that's not what he wants. He's always been different. Better. Smarter. Stronger. Still, I find myself wanting to show him everything he's dreamed of is within his grasp. That he doesn't have to be so serious all the time. That he can be himself wherever he is, and I'll back him up. Because that's what I'm good at-on and off the field. I'll always be his defender. If he'd only let me.