Rabbit and Annie

An Exhibitionist Love Story

Part Four

by G. Lawrence

A Note For the Readers

This romantic comedy is intended to be fun, rambunctious, and mildly naughty. The purpose is to entertain. It's also a sports story. None of the events are intended to be realistic. This is part 4 of 6 parts, two chapters each. All characters are over 18 years old. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.

* * * * * *

Chapter Seven

The Halloween Bet

Wednesday was a day to dread. At 2 o'clock I would be posing for Judith's art class for the first time. At least I didn't worry about what to wear. Annie knocked on my dorm room door at 1:30.

"Ready?" she asked with a big grin, her green eyes wide with amusement.

"As ready as I'm going to be," I said, finding a sweater for the late September weather.

"You're overdressed," she teased. "Walk to the art building nude. Show everyone you're not afraid."

"I'm not walking to class nude," I replied, mildly irritated. Not that it phased her. "And don't steal my clothes like you did to the Sig's at the bar."

"The Deltas stole their clothes, though I would have if I'd thought of it first," she giggled. "Watching them walk back to Greek row wrapped in cardboard boxes was a hoot. Why? You're not feeling sorry for them, are you?"

"No, I wouldn't say that," I conceded.

"Okay, let's go," she urged, walking down the stairs with me out into a drizzly Indiana afternoon. Students loitered nearby, but other than the usual Rabbit acknowledgements, I received no special attention. We found the Fine Arts building off the main quad just past the library. I paused for a deep breath.

"Come on, this is no big deal," Annie encouraged.

"You can pose for me," I suggested.

"Well, that will never happen so don't get your hopes up," she answered.

"Never?" I questioned.

"I have never lost a naked bet. No one will ever see my cute pink ass in public because I accepted a stupid dare."

Judith's class was on the second floor. She had a low platform cleared off with a screen to change behind. There were eight easels arranged in a semicircle and six more on a raised level behind them, all of the desks pushed to the side.

"Welcome, Mr. Harding. I was afraid you wouldn't show," Judith greeted with an upbeat grin.

"You knew I would," I countered. "That doesn't mean I didn't think about ditching."

"Just relax. You'll have plenty of time to get acclimated. We're in session for 90 minutes today."

Ninety minutes? I thought. The class was usually 60 minutes. Students began to arrive, taking off their coats in the locker area and putting on their smocks. I wished I had one.

"Hi, Rabbit," several said trying not to smirk.

"Looking good, Rabbit. And about to look better," Chuck Devers said, one of only four men in the class.

"You will mind your manners, Mr. Devers," Judith admonished. "This is a professional environment and you will conduct yourself accordingly. Unless you want to be next week's model."

Chuck shut up and hid behind his easel. Annie led me to the changing screen.

"Take a deep breath," she urged. "Remember, millions of people pose nude every day. Usually pretty women, so you're special. Now strip."

She just stood there watching. "Can I have a little privacy?" I asked. She laughed.

"How many times have I seen you naked?" she questioned.

"Not in public," I foolishly replied.

"I've seen you naked in public," she reminded. She almost teased me more, then decided to let up. At least for a moment. I put my shirt and sweater on a hanger, took off my shoes and socks, and put on a white bathrobe before removing the rest. The robe was designed for a woman barely covering what it needed to.

"Are you ready back there?" Judith asked.

"Yes, Judith," Annie answered for me.

I walked out from behind the screen half expecting to see a hundred gawkers leering at me. There weren't. It was the usual group of students. I stopped at the low platform where Judith had placed a tall stool.

"Calm down, Josh. Models do this all the time," Judith advised. Was she able to hear my heart pounding? Annie came up behind me and drew off the robe. I was standing there fucking nude before a whole room full of people trying to cover myself. Judith had me sit on the stool facing sideways, the artists viewing my arms and thighs. Annie went to her easel taking my robe with her.

"We are experimenting with pencil and chalk today," Judith said. "Note the lines of musculature. Be sure to capture the proportions. Josh, arch your back a little. Let the artists see the muscles stretch along your rib cage."

It was so strange. Sitting there. Being watched and totally vulnerable. After a few minutes I stopped panicking, trying to shut out the noise in my head. From time to time, I glanced around the room. Other than Annie, I just seemed to be another model. Annie couldn't hide her unbridled joy in my situation. A sense of victory. Had it been Annie's idea for Judith to suggest this?

I had just grown complacent with the modest pose when Judith had me turn around. There was nothing modest about the new pose. I was standing up, facing the group, a hand on the stool and the other at my side. Every time I tried to cover myself, Judith told me to drop my arm. I was getting red in the face, and a little excited. From the looks of the women, art was not their only interest. I was finally given a ten-minute break.

"If you're afraid of being stimulated, I can help with that," Annie offered when we were behind the screen. She was holding my robe without letting me wear it.

"What do you mean?" I stupidly asked.

"I can give you a blowjob. Or a hand job, if you're shy," she eagerly explained.

"In front of the entire class? We'd be arrested," I replied.

"They won't see us," she assured me, taking my semi-erect member in her petite hands. "Though they'll probably hear us."

"No, that's too much," I objected. Though the situation was getting worse. She soon had me fully engorged. Stroking. Sprouting. My arousal was mixed with humiliation and dread. I found the entire predicament totally inappropriate and seriously erotic. Then Annie stopped.

"If we can't solve your problem this way, I have a backup plan," she announced. She disappeared for a moment and returned with an insulated pouch.

"Shut your eyes," she said. I closed my eyes, heard the bag's zipper, and a second later, screeched so loud the entire building heard me. Annie had pressed a bag of ice cubes against my balls. When I lurched backward, I hit the screen, both me and the screen toppling over on the floor. I looked up to see the entire class staring in surprise. Needless to say, I was no longer aroused.

"No alarm, everyone. I'm just helping Rabbit not embarrass himself," Annie claimed. I was really glad Judith hadn't allowed cameras.

Starting to get up, I turned completely to the right for the first time. And heard gasps. What was that about? They couldn't see my junk. Yet eyes were wide. Astonished.

Then I got it. They were able to see the large purple bruise on my left hip, and another high up on the rib cage below my left arm. Souvenirs of my recent game against the Beavers.

"Fuck," I heard one of the guys whisper.

"These are nobly earned battle trophies!" Annie declared, helping me to my feet. "Because Rabbit is the ultimate warrior. Without great power, or great strength, and not even very smart, he carries us to victory."

Annie put me on the tall stool. Judith checked to see if I was okay. The session resumed. And I did find myself more relaxed, lounging to Judith's direction without much thought. I don't really know what the artists saw at the time. I would find out later, for Judith had a mischievous nature.

"Thank you everyone, thank you. This has been wonderful," Judith beamed as she eventually wrapped up. I made a run for my clothes before Annie could disappear with them. As the class dispersed, I was taken aside.

"You did fine, Josh. With a little seasoning, you'll do much better," Judith advised. "We'll work on getting those butterflies out of your system so you don't fidget so much."

"What are you saying?" I asked.

"Oh, I'll need you to do at least two more sessions this semester. One in October and another just before Thanksgiving," she answered. "Maybe bigger classes. I had to turn down a lot of applications this morning."

She was so pleased that her art classes were finally getting the attention they deserved. I guess I was happy for her. Sort of. Okay, not really.

* * * * * * * *

The team was having a great season, and so was I. Every game I expected a collapse with the whole Rabbit thing becoming a joke. It wasn't working out that way. We did finally lose a game on the road to the Trouble Town Titans, and I didn't score a runback on a kickoff, breaking the streak. But I did gain 120-yards on returns, kicked an extra point, and a field goal. The final 29-27 score was a tough loss. We won the next two games and had a by-week, bringing our season record to 8-1. Between our coaches coming up with new plays and solid teammates providing blocking, I was making a lot of touchdowns. Rabbit fever was not dissipating, which had its disadvantages. I found myself autographing hats, shirts, and on one occasion, an excited woman's breast.

I had a busy week following our road win over the Loomington Leopards 54-21 in their fancy giant stadium. A team the odds-makers thought were better than us. I scored a runback in the 2nd quarter and Deke used the end zone decoy trick to give me another touchdown. The fans were cheering, and they weren't even our fans, being on the road. When they witnessed a Rabbit Run, they went nuts. I was enjoying the victory party until receiving a text.

"We're moving your next session to a bigger venue," Judith messaged, saying my second modeling session was scheduled for October 25th. Two days before we were to play the Lock Loman Rascals at home before a sellout crowd.

"What are you complaining about?" Annie admonished on the bus ride home from Loomington. "You're the most famous football player in Indiana. Maybe the whole Midwest."

"For one, that's silly. And for two, Judith is signing up more students for her class. I'll be posing in the lecture hall. Thirty or forty artists!"

"Probably more than that," Annie mentioned. "The Kappa's are telling students that if they register for Judith's courses they'll get to draw Rabbit naked. Did I mention Judith is a Kappa alumnus from Rappahannock University? She's going to have the most popular class on campus."

Not to beat a dead horse, but this was really getting embarrassing. I don't think Judith intended that, and efforts were being made to avoid photography, though cameras are easy to conceal.

That Wednesday I snuck across campus to enter the Fine Arts building from the back, hoping not to draw a crowd. I undressed in the locker room and entered the hall in a white bathrobe with a longer hem than my earlier one. The crowd was bigger than expected, and excited. I had avoided Annie so far but suddenly she was there in front of me. Frowning.

"I'm your coach," she insisted, arms crossed.

"Did you tell Judith to get a bigger venue?" I asked.

"What if I did?" she answered. "After today, we're going to sell more Rabbit merchandise than ever. A sports chain in Chicago is offering Rabbit souvenirs."

"I'm not going to allow that," I protested.

"The profits are going to Children's Hospital," Annie answered.

Damn it, she knew there was no way I'd say no to that.

I approached the new platform with a changing screen nearby. There were at least sixty or seventy students. My heart was in my throat. I was going to walk out in front of all these people totally naked? As if it was a natural thing to do? Annie, of course, was in her element. We listened as Judith gave instructions, outlined the work for the day, and eventually introduced her model. Me! Oh, my God!

Annie drew the robe off my shoulders and I stepped from behind the screen. There was complete silence. At least there was no laughing. I looked back, seeing Annie with a huge smile. She bundled up my robe and tucked it under her arm.

"Over here, Mr. Harding," Judith waved. She was having a good time, too. I know she was fond of me. Humiliation was not her goal. Because she'd had hundreds of models pose for her, she thought my embarrassment was cute.

The art session went well. With the bigger attendance, Judith didn't go out of her way to shame me, staying with classic poses. Not that I wasn't showing a lot. The artists and various casual observers smiled to see me flinch each time I was called upon to change position. More thigh. More buttocks. Flex those shoulders. A bit more ... Well, I gave plenty of that, too. A few of the aspiring Van Gogh's were fascinated by my black and purple bruises, highlighting them in their works. One young lady painted only the bruises, leaving my body completely off her canvas. There was polite applause at the end. Annie stole my clothes from the locker room, as I had long feared, making me walk back to the dorm wrapped in a Rabbit banner. I decided it was time for payback.

* * * * * *

"Thanks for inviting me to Alpha House for Halloween," I said. "I hear it's going to be the biggest blowout on Greek Row."

"Celebrity has its advantages," Brad explained as we walked across campus. "Having Rabbit there is a big score for us. And quite frankly, you're well-liked among the brothers. That doesn't mean we're sorry about the Red Horse Tavern, but we admire your guts."

"It was all in good fun," I replied, trying to get past it. "What is this about a costume contest?"

"There are prizes for best men's and best women's costumes. Some can be pretty elaborate. Last year, Alan had a zombie costume made by the same make-up artist who worked on The Walking Dead. Roberta had a Tinker Bell outfit that glowed green in the dark. She was half-naked."

"Sounds like fun. How do I sign up?" I requested.

"You want to try for best costume?"

"I don't see why not. Is it permitted even if I'm not an Alpha?"

"For Rabbit, an exception will be made," he promised.

It was our 10th game of the season, at home, against the Lock Loman Radicals. They had defeated the Badgers a year before 54-7. There was a lot of pressure to do better.

It was the last Friday in October and the fans shouted excitement as we waited in the tunnel. I was nervous as always. I was also charged up. I don't know exactly why, though I suspected my last modeling session had something to do with it. Being stubborn, I won't say that I was getting used to standing on a platform naked. Nevertheless, between the enthusiastic response of the class, Annie's encouragement, and support from Rabbit fans, being the subject of so much attention was getting my adrenaline going.

We lost the toss, the Lock Loman Radicals pushed downfield, and Jed Schwarner, their kicker, booted a marvelous 45-yard field goal to go ahead 3-0. They now had to kick to us. I waited as the ball fell from the sky, caught it, and stood still as the Radicals closed in. They looked confused until I suddenly burst to my left, cut right, ducked under half a dozen reaching arms, and took off down the middle of the field. Dash gave me a block, Ray provided another. I twisted, turned, danced, and was suddenly in the open, only Schwarner between me and the goal line. I made a little jig to slide past him for a touchdown.

They didn't know it, but the Radicals had already seen the highlight of their game. Our whole team was playing like pros. I had another runback late in the 2nd quarter and returned a punt at the beginning of the 4th. Deke was hurling touchdowns. Eldon caught a pass on the 50-yard line and ran it into the end zone. The final score was 50-17. Our loss from the previous year had been avenged.

Tuesday was the Halloween party, though it was a big holiday throughout the campus. Midvale was planning a major bash in the Commons that I briefly visited on my way to Alpha House. I passed Sig house, finding it quiet.

The Alpha's huge meeting room was decorated with orange and black streamers, ghosts, skeletons, witches and ghouls. There were hundreds of elaborate costumes. I was wearing a pullover sweatshirt, khaki slacks, and a lime green beret with a duffel bag under my arm. Annie ran up.

"Rabbit! You're here," she greeted, eyes bright. She was dressed as a pirate girl with a loose shirt, baggy pants, and tall leather boots.

"I was invited," I assured her.

"This is going to be a great party. You'll love it," she gushed.

Brad walked up, shook my hand, and gave me a beer. "Glad you could make it, Josh. I don't think you're going to win the costume contest dressed like a golf caddy."

"What? You think you can win the contest?" Annie said with astonishment.

"I'm willing to bet on it," I answered.

"Oh? And what are you willing to bet?" Annie asked.

"The question is, what are you willing to bet?" I responded. By now we were drawing a crowd. Carol and Jenny. Eldon, Dash, and Ray. Twenty others.

"I'll bet you anything," she sassily dared.

"Very well. The loser will run down to the heart of campus, through the Commons, touch the flagpole, and then run back. Naked."

"A streak? You're betting a streak?" Annie huffed.

"Yes. How far is that? A mile each way?" I mentioned.

"At least," she confirmed. "You realize the brothers and sisters here decide who wins the contest. My brothers and sisters. If you make this bet, you're a fucking idiot."

"I take lots of chances these days, thanks to you," I answered, getting laughs.

"You're on, Rabbit. And I'm texting everybody down at the Commons. There will be a thousand people waiting for you," she boasted with a gigantic smirk.

"Just so you know, this isn't my costume," I warned. "My costume is in the bag. I'll be asking a volunteer to help me get ready."

"I volunteer!" Jenny shouted.

"Me, too," Carol joined in.

"Good, I might need both of you," I agreed.

The party proceeded. I saw zombies, swashbucklers, princes and princesses, enchantresses and warlocks. One young man was a dead ringer for Gandalf from Lord of the Rings with a staff capable of emitting fire. Another wore a metal suit so realistic he looked like a real robot. Tough competition. I had another beer and circulated among the crowd, getting congratulations for the Lock Loman game and some ribbing about the nude art class. I took it in good spirits.

"It's time for the contest," Brad announced from a makeshift stage. It was a little after 9 o'clock with about 200 guests squeezing in. "Contestants line up over here. We'll do the women first. Rabbit, you may wish to get ready."

I slipped into a backroom with my duffle bag, Carol and Jenny following. We could hear the festivities.

"Josh, you know you're not going to win," Carol warned. "Annie is texting everybody."

"Not that we're complaining. Seeing you naked never gets dull," Jenny added.

"Oh, I don't know. I have a chance," I suggested, dumping the contents of the bag on a table. The women stared.

"What the fuck!" they both exclaimed.

Marylou Colter won best women's costume for Beatrix Kiddo from Kill Bill. Apparently an impressive sword demonstration was involved. Jenny went to check on the men's contest while Carol helped with finishing touches. Brad said it would be okay if I appeared last.

Finally, it was time. The whole room was anxious with expectation. Annie was front and center having had three beers. Jenny and Carol entered first, clearing the way for me. I emerged from the backroom to take center stage. There was a collective gasp.

I was naked, hands cuffed behind my back, wearing a leather collar, and covered in paint splotches. Green, red, blue and yellow. Exactly as I had been that night the Alpha's had chained me to the flagpole after the Red Horse debacle and thrown paint balloons at me. The audience began to clap, and howl, and stomp their feet. Annie was staring in complete shock.

"Unbelievable!" someone shouted.

"Fucking awesome!" another exclaimed.

"That takes real balls," Eldon praised.

The whole room was electrified. Gesturing. Laughing and raising their beer mugs in homage. I suspected my costume would have an inherent advantage with the Alpha's. After all, they had designed it. I turned, showing I was truly handcuffed. A leash dangled from the collar. I leaned forward to show the green tint in my hair. I was tracking yellow footprints.

"Brothers! Sisters! I think we have a winner," Brad called out above the mayhem. "Do you agree?"

"Yes! Yes!" many yelled.

"Rabbit! Rabbit!" more chanted.

"No!" Annie objected, jumping on stage. "This is wrong! This isn't a costume!"

"It looks like a costume to me," Brad disagreed. "Brothers? Sisters?"

"Fabulous," Jenny said.

"The best costume in years," Raymond chimed in.

"Rabbit is the winner," dozens of others insisted. "The winner! The winner!"

"This isn't fair," Annie moaned. "It's not a costume."

I remained quiet throughout, not being a member of the fraternity. Annie looked at me, realizing what this meant. Jenny removed the handcuffs and gave me a wet towel to wipe off the watercolors. Carol had my clothes ready.

"I recall someone made a bet," Carol suddenly said, causing Annie to turn on her with a frown.

"No--" Annie started.

"Rabbit won the bet," Jenny said. "Time for your streak."

"Shut up, you bitches," Annie answered. "Josh, I don't really have to--"

"A bet is a bet, sweetheart. Best to get it over with," I happily interrupted.

"I'm afraid those are the rules," Brad agreed, his heart going out to her.

She looked around at 200 expectant faces and dropped her shoulders. The wager had been heard by all. Midvale's traditions were well-established. She went out on the porch followed by a mob and began to strip. Jenny and I stayed close to ensure there were no stray hands.

I didn't want to feel too pleased, but after all the times Annie had instigated my nude adventures, it was hard not to feel some satisfaction. She took off the loose blouse, dropped the baggy pants, and kicked off the heavy boots. Last and with the greatest reluctance, she unhooked her bra, dropped it to the ground, and slipped out of her white panties, standing naked before the throng. There were chuckles and smirks. Annie didn't wait for an official start, running down the steps toward the street. Many phones were taking pictures.

Brad, Eldon, Jenny, Carol and I followed from a discreet distance, admiring her wiggling pink ass while making sure she was safe. She was holding her ample breasts to keep them from bouncing. Her long auburn hair bobbed behind her. Greek row gave way to a residential street, then apartments, a strip mall, and then the campus. Annie was making good time. I had no idea she could run so fast barefoot. That doesn't mean she wasn't getting plenty of attention. Couples walking their dogs. Employees getting off work. Patrons on a restaurant patio. Cars honking as she crossed streets before stopped traffic.

Suddenly we were on campus going past the engineering building toward the quad. The library appeared, and then the Halloween party in the Commons. Annie had been wrong about the count. There weren't a thousand students. There were at least two thousand waiting for her, lined up making a path. It was Annie, after all, who had texted them about the streak, convinced it would be me. She put an arm across her tits and a hand over her womanhood, ducking her head as the flash photography lit her route. She charged through to reach the flagpole, briefly dropping a hand to touch it.

"Should we give her something to wear?" I asked, starting to feel sorry for her. Carol handed me a pink sweater. I went to the pole where Annie had once handcuffed me.

"That's good enough," I suggested, holding the sweater out.

"No, a bet is a bet," she replied, pushing the sweater away. "From the house and back again."

"Annie?" I questioned.

She didn't run back through the Commons, skirting the administration building, across the parking lot, and past the dorms. It was largely empty, though when we finally returned to Alpha House, the audience had not dissipated. She quickly dressed, breathing a sigh of relief. The crowd went back inside as I sat down next to her passing a beer.

"You did great," I encouraged. "But you didn't need to run back naked."

"Yes, I did," she said, taking a deep gulp.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because the next time you lose a bet to me, I don't want you making any excuses," she answered.

* * * * *

Chapter Eight

NIGHT OF THE JACKELS

We were approaching the end of the football season. The Badgers would be playing the Juniper Jackels in their home stadium on November 4th, the Symington Sabers at home on the 11th, which was also Homecoming, and wrapping up the schedule on the road in Pennington against the Pirates. The team was having a great year and so was I. I would also have my final modeling assignment in the middle of the month, and then that humiliating Greek play after Thanksgiving. I thought the next few weeks would be embarrassing but relatively simple. I was terribly wrong.

It was a two-hour bus ride southeast on the 65 Highway to Juniper, an old industrial city on the far side of Indianapolis. Along with two team buses there were cheerleaders, alumni supporters, and scores of cars, vans, and private charters coming to see the game. Many were flapping Rabbit banners. I had no idea how much money the Kappas were making selling their merchandise but knew most of it went to charities so I didn't stress over it. It didn't surprise me that Annie was the CEO, having a gift for marketing.

Jackel Stadium was a little rundown but larger the Midvale, seating 50,000 fans. Spirits were high in the locker room.

"Rabbit, we've got an idea,'' Coach Wilson said. Eldon, Dash, Raymond, and Jeter were pressing close. My Four Horseman who provided picket lines and blocks. For all the attention I was getting, none of it would have been possible without them.

"I can't take a knee just because things look tough, Coach. It's not in my nature," I warned.

"Yeah, we all know that," he replied. "These Jackels know you've scored on the first kickoff of half our games. It's a league record that no one is ever going to break. So, they are going to be cautious. Holding back. Waiting for you to commit."

"And?" I asked.

"After catching the ball, just stand there. Wait for them to commit first," Wilson explained with an evil grin. "Eldon will run point for you. We'll have three screens ready. Heavy on the left, your favorite, another on the right, and everyone ready to close to the center if you go up the middle."

"We've set a record doing this?" I questioned, not really paying attention to stats.

"You have set a record, Rabbit," Wilson clarified, narrowing his glance. "We're a team, and I know you respect that. Every time reporters ask questions, you never talk about yourself. You always credit your blockers. But no one else in this division has ever put the moves on the way you do. It's like magic. We want to be part of the show."

"Coach, I still think this is all just a fluke," I answered. "This Rabbit thing has the other teams psyched out. And that's great. Let's use it. But I'm not forgetting who makes it possible." I looked at the guys, letting them know how I felt. We were comrades in arms.

We won the toss, which had the crowd excited. Everyone wanted to see a Rabbit Run. Or see a Rabbit Run stopped. It was like a baseball player coming to the plate with the crowd hoping to see a homerun. I actually like baseball a lot, though I was no homerun hitter. The Jackels kicked off. The ball sailed, dropping to the 15-yard line where I stood. The stadium was silent. Holding their breaths. It was surreal.

The Jackels held back. Waiting. It only lasted a few seconds but felt longer. Like the western gunfights popular on TV. The crowd was watching. Waiting. Maybe the Jackels' strategy had some merit, though as Coach Wilson suspected, it provided me with time to see everything like a chessboard. And I wasn't a bad chess player. I charged toward the middle, faked a cut to the left, let Eldon give me a great block, twisted across the field to my right, and twirled to break a tackle. And then I saw my opening.

Like a jackrabbit I was off to the races. I don't remember ever running so fast on a football field, sprinting past defenders who thought they could catch me. Arms reaching out. Players diving in my path. By every reasonable expectation they should have caught me. None even touched me. I was past them in a blur, accelerating like a rocket into the end zone before anyone could take a deep breath.

The stadium went crazy. They had seen a Rabbit Run. In my opinion, it was due to a bad defensive strategy, but none of that mattered. Cheers roared all around us. Midvale fans were waving Rabbit banners. My team knew not to grab me or make a demonstration. That wasn't my style. Their pride was there, nevertheless. They surrounded me as I walked off the field. In the front row behind the visitor benches, I saw Annie and her sorority sisters. I walked up and handed Annie the football. That wasn't allowed. I would probably be fined.

"This is for you," I said. "It's all for you."

Annie stood up holding the ball, her green eyes hot with passion. I'd get lucky that night if I wasn't too beat-up to perform.

"Rabbit, you are fucking amazing," she said, leaning over for a passionate kiss.

Carol and Jenny were making smirking faces. Dan couldn't understand how his former introverted roommate was with the most vivacious sorority sisters at Midvale.

I wasn't a big part of the game despite what the reporters wrote later. Deke threw three touchdowns. Eldon scored a 25-yard run. Jet Lasky caught a scoring 50-yard pass. I made good yardage on several punt returns but only kicked a short field goal that any idiot could have made. We won 45-16.

I was limping a bit on the way back to the locker room, having taken several strong hits. Nothing serious, though I'd need to nurse the knee for a few days. Most of the guys weren't looking forward to the long bus ride back, the traffic going through Indianapolis tiresome. Many of us decided to wait an hour until the highways cleared, finding rides with fans. Brad offered Annie and I a lift in his van.

There was an old saloon on the outskirts of Juniper. No generous license for drinking under 21 like Midvale College enjoyed, so I would be having ginger ale. Brad, Annie, and several of the Alphas ordered beer, though Brad only had one, being the driver. It was a fun environment, with country music and dancing. Many team members joined us. Rabbit fever wasn't such a big deal here. Most of the patrons didn't even recognize me. Maybe because I was wearing clothes.

Annie had changed from her Rabbit outfit to a knee-length black dress with a low neckline and no sleeves. It was very sexy. We danced, hung out at the tables with the victorious players, and had a wonderful night.

By 10 o'clock, it was time to think about heading back. The guys were getting text messages about an all-night party in the Commons with a bonfire and kegs. I was tired and a little beat-up, thinking I'd slip away for a good night's sleep. I noticed Annie had disappeared.

"Annie had female necessities to attend to," Carol explained. "Her bag is in the van."

I didn't ask more questions but did grow concerned when she didn't return. I wandered out into the parking lot. The door of Brad's van was open making me wonder where Annie was. Farther back, I heard noises. A muffled screech. I went forward, the area not so brightly lit. Annie was standing among three large young men. She didn't look happy. Then one of them tore her dress open far enough to expose her bra. She pulled back, trying to cover up.

If I hadn't left my phone in the nightclub, I might have texted someone. That wasn't an option. I walked forward, attempting to assess the situation. Annie looked frightened, the three guys clearly having her under their control. The thickest brute had hold of her arms. Another had a hand gripped in her long auburn hair. The last one had loosened the belt on his pants. I looked around, wondering what options I had.

"What's going on?" I asked, walking up to them. They were clearly bullies, each six-foot tall or bigger, probably in their early twenties. I was fairly sure of taking one down, but three? That wasn't promising.

"Mind your own business, runt," one said, dragging Annie toward a pick-up truck at the back of the lot.

"This woman is my business," I replied. "She's my girlfriend."

"This hot slut is your girlfriend? I don't think so," a second thug denied. "No hot piece of ass like this would be hanging out with a weak-dick like you."

This wasn't looking good. They could have Annie in their truck in seconds hiding her under a camper shell. Maybe drive off before I found help in the nightclub. That wasn't going to happen.

"I must ask you to release her," I said. "This behavior is inappropriate."

"Inappropriate? Are you a fucking professor?" the third asked.

I sort of felt proud about that. Me, sounding like a professor? I'd never had such a compliment.

"I am not a professor, but I must insist you let the woman go," I responded.

"Or what, you miserable piece of shit?" the first said.

"If you don't let the woman go, I will be forced to ruin your evening," I promised, already looking for my angles. I wasn't stupid enough to think I'd prevail against all three of these stooges. They were big and confident. But I could get Annie away from them. That would be my goal.

"Think you're such a tough guy?" the shortest one asked, waving me forward. I decided to call him Moe because of his curly black hair. I guessed him at 6'1.

"Josh, don't," Annie said through the hand pressed over her mouth. The second, a skinny 6'2 blond, I would call Larry. He was dragging her back toward their truck. Curly Joe, easily 6'4, stood between them, thick and jowly with a shaved head.

"Kid, what the fuck do you think you're doing?" Moe said as I continued to approach.

"Hoping you'll throw the first punch," I answered. "My brother says never to do that."

"Your brother is a fucking idiot, just like you are," he replied, stepping up and throwing a haymaker. Being so much taller, he needed to lean over to make contact. Figuring that met Kevin's rule, I ducked and punched him in the balls. He didn't go down, but it hurt.

I rushed past Curly Joe straight at Larry, launching into him shoulder first. He let Annie go, trying to grab me. Despite everything, I had taken them by surprise.

"Annie! Run!" I shouted.

Annie was no coward. She would have wanted to fight but knew that as long as she was there it would be harder for me. She started off until Curly Joe blocked her. A distraction was needed. I wailed into Larry, a hard jab to the nose, a gut punch, another jab, and then I shoved him back into the truck, pounding his head on the door.

"Charlie! Help me!" he cried out.

Curley Joe let Annie run past him, coming to his friend's rescue. Moe did the same, all three suddenly on me. I threw a punch. They threw three. I tried to slide sideways, seeking to get loose. Larry and Curly Joe held my arms, pinning me with greater strength, while Moe began working me over. There was a blow to my face. My midsection. I pulled up my leg to avoid being kicked in the balls, only to have the sore knee kicked instead. I wobbled, unable to stand. I tried to find leverage but they were too strong.

"Still think you're a tough guy?" Curly Joe asked, holding me up. I yanked an arm loose and used my elbow to hammer his nose. A backhanded punch caught his eye. Moe hit me in the gut so hard my breath disappeared. I yanked against Larry hoping to break his grip. Wanting to keep fighting. There wasn't much left to fight with. I was dazed and bleeding. One of them pounded the side of my face, I don't know which one. Everything around me was growing dark.

I heard yelling. Moe had been there one second and was gone the next. Larry's hold on my arm came free, allowing me to fall to the ground. I wanted to get up, to get back in the game. I could barely move.

There was a crowd now. Mostly a lot of legs blocking light coming from the saloon. Scuffling. Yelling. All I could see were moving shadows. Was I hearing punches?

"Stop hitting them! Save them for the cops!" a shrill voice yelled.

"He started it," one of my assailants answered.

"They started it," Annie objected. "They came after me. They threatened to rape me."

"The bitch was asking for it," Moe insisted.

There was another round of shoving and punching. I recognized Brad and Eldon. Deke and Dash. Ray, Jet, and Kareem. The stooges had me 3 to 1. Now the odds were 9 to 3 against them. It seemed a security guard was trying to restore order.

"You jerk-offs are going down," Annie replied. "Thank God Rabbit was here to save me."

The name spread through the crowd like wildfire. Camera flashes were breaking through the mob scene. I heard observers mumbling.

"Rabbit?" Curly Joe said with his nose still bleeding.

"That's right, asshole," Carol responded, pushing to Annie's side. "Rabbit took on all three of you and kicked your goddamn asses!"

Someone was helping me up. My eyes were swollen. Blood leaked from my scalp. I couldn't stand on the bad knee, needing support. More cameras.

"It is Rabbit," someone confirmed.

"Rabbit saved that girl," another announced.

"Rabbit the football player? He's so little," a third asked.

"And he beat the crap out of all three of those rapists," a woman gushed.

"He didn't beat us!" Moe shouted. "We beat him! We kicked the shit out of him!"

The crowd surged forward. More shoving. Someone punched Moe in the mouth though I couldn't see who. There were police sirens in the distance. Possibly an ambulance. I hoped I wouldn't need one. Suddenly Annie was kneeling at my side.

"Josh, can you hear me? Are you okay?" she asked.

I waved a hand but couldn't answer, spitting blood instead. Hopefully I hadn't lost any teeth. Eldon helped me sit up, making it easier to breathe. Many were using their phones as flashlights. There must have been fifty people watching.

"I'm okay," I finally managed to say, still unable to get up. The knee really hurt.

"Hold still. Paramedics are coming," Eldon urged.

"This is so messed up," Carol said, having found a damp cloth to wipe my face. "Annie, what happened?"

"I was digging through the van for my bag when those three jerks jumped me," Annie explained. "I tried to run. One of them grabbed me around the neck and said he was going to fuck me. He tore my dress. The skinny one said they should take me someplace private for a party. They almost had me in their truck when Josh showed up."

There was another camera flash. Brighter. Professional.

"Colton Jefferson, Indianapolis Daily Bugle," the reporter declared. "Is this really Rabbit Harding? Did he really just save that girl from kidnappers?"

"Yes, it is Rabbit Harding. He saved my life," Annie answered.

People were pushed back. Even Annie. A paramedic was at my side beaming a light into my swollen eyes.

"Can you follow my finger?" she asked, moving it back and forth. I wasn't saying anything, perhaps in a state of shock. I was lifted off the ground onto a gurney. It hurt. We were surrounded by cops keeping the crowd back.

"Where are we going?" I dared to ask.

"County General," the paramedic said.

"It's not that bad. Let me catch my breath," I replied.

"Let's have a doctor look you over just to be safe," she insisted. The next thing I knew, I was in the ambulance. Jenny was with me. I got a quick glance at the stooges, now being questioned by sheriff's deputies. They didn't look as bad as me but they'd been in a brawl.

"Where's Annie?" I questioned as the ambulance left the parking lot.

"They want to look her over. She has bruises," Jenny said. "Now stay calm."

"I'm perfectly calm," I complained.

They switched on the siren.

"Goddamn it, turn that off," I demanded. "And drive slow. I don't want to get in a goddamned accident."

"You're a little on edge, Rabbit," the pretty young paramedic observed, giving me oxygen. They turned off the fucking siren. It was extra attention I didn't need.

We reached the hospital in record time. I suppose. Jenny was on her phone giving updates, and to no one's surprise, the story was going viral. They wheeled me into an emergency room, laid me on an examination table, and to my utter astonishment, began cutting off my clothes. All of them.

"What the fuck are you doing?" I protested, trying to keep my pants. And failing.

"Anticipating critical injuries," a doctor answered.

Critical injuries? I was conscious, alert, and did not detect any broken bones. Now lying naked before half a dozen doctors and nurses poking me without mercy. Jenny was there, too, standing back from the table. The dyed redhead with blue eyes had been in the Red Horse Tavern the night I was a nude waiter. She threw paint balloons at me while handcuffed to a flagpole. Watched me pose for Judith's art class. Always with a smile and smirk. She wasn't smiling now. She looked scared.

"Jen," I summoned, reaching out my hand. She rushed forward to take hold. "Don't worry. This isn't so bad."

"Rabbit, you're black, blue, bloody, and purple," she cried.

"I'm purple after every game. It's nothing new," I assured her.

I had no idea what the doctors were thinking but they loaded me into a big scanner, letting the white beams rake me from head to toe. Couldn't I at least get a hospital gown? An aide was taking photos with an official-looking camera. The worst part was that I wasn't nearly as embarrassed as I should have been. Was this getting old?

After the scanner, I was taken into a smaller room and set on a table. A nurse scrubbed my whole body with disinfectant. The cuts had picked up a lot of dirt and gravel. Another wrapped bandages around my ribs, knees, and elbows before sticking a patch above my left eye. One of them gave me a shot, supposedly a painkiller. A doctor was examining my right knee, shaking his head while looking at X-rays.

Finally, after a time that felt like forever, they put me in a bed under sheets and blankets. Jenny sat next to me providing orange juice. Whisky would have been better. I can't claim getting beat-up didn't have me disturbed. I was no hero. My insides quivered when I thought on it too deeply, but Annie had needed my help. I was clear on that. I wouldn't have done anything differently.

I must have dozed off. It was the next morning. Jenny was gone. Annie was curled up in a chair across from the bed. An IV tree was giving me some kind of fluid though I had no idea what it was. I felt good. Aware of my surroundings. Maybe a little sore.

"Are you okay?" I asked, seeing her rousing.

"Me? Am I okay? You're the one dressed like a mummy," she answered.

"Come on, it can't be that bad. Help me up so we can get breakfast," I requested.

Annie stood, tears in her eyes, and climbed into the bed next to me. "That was the bravest thing I've ever seen. You never stopped. Never thought of yourself for a second. You went straight at them."

"I suppose you got help from the guys in the bar?"

"You don't remember?"

"Not all of it. I was kind of busy at the time."

"Yes, the moment I reached the bar, I yelled 'Rabbit needs help.' A dozen friends were out the door. They wailed on those assholes before the cops got there."

"I'm not going to feel bad for them. But you're okay? That's what's important," I pressed.

"I'm fine. Please don't worry about me," Annie answered. She crawled up to give me a kiss. It was long, passionate, and desperate. "Josh, don't let this scare you, but I love you. I love you so much. Those times I've teased you about sleeping with other guys? It wasn't true. I haven't slept with another man since we started dating, and I won't. I need you to know that."

"I love you, Annie, even though you drive me crazy. Do you really need to get me naked all the time?"

She crawled under the sheet, pressing her body next to mine, and then pulled the bedding back. I wasn't wearing pajamas.

"You're not naked. Look at all these delicious bandages," she admired, running her hand over my chest.

"We can't be seen like this," I protested, reaching for the blanket. She sighed.

"Okay, another time," she conceded, returning to her chair. A nurse looked in two minutes later, smiled, and asked if I needed anything before closing the door.

"I spoke with your mother," Annie said. "She's really nice. And worried. I told her you are holding up."

"Let's not let anyone exaggerate this. My family shouldn't get upset."

"Your brothers want to burn Juniper to the ground. I hear they have a lot of friends willing to help," Annie mentioned.

"They aren't that rash, but Russ has a law degree. He could cause those guys trouble," I replied.

"They've already got trouble," Annie said.

"How's that?" I asked.

"Ronny King is the sheriff's son. Charlie Branson is the son of a city alderman. Junior Pennington's father is president of the Rutherford Country Club. They have money. The boys have been in trouble before and a friendly judge let them off. More than once. Now all hell's breaking loose."

Annie moved closer, showing her phone. The attack on Rabbit Harding and his girlfriend was national news. "Governor Prescott is under a lot of pressure to take action."

"How could all this happen? It's only been twelve hours," I asked.

"Social media, Josh. I know you don't pay much attention, but an awful lot of people do."

"What does it mean?"

"Hell, I don't know. And it doesn't matter. We need to get you better and get you home. Let's not worry about the politicians."

Annie may have been saying that but I saw the steely glint in her eyes. It was bad enough those three losers had gone after her, but they'd hurt me. Annie would not rest until they paid.

By noon the doctors thought me well enough to be released. The staff gave me blue pajamas, fuzzy slippers, and rolled me out in a wheelchair. My knee was sore enough that walking wasn't an option. My ribs and shoulders were hurting, too. My face was bruised on the cheeks and purple above my left eye. There was a crowd of onlookers, reporters, and TV crews.

"Rabbit!" a journalist shouted. "What do you have to say?"

"Did you think you could beat all three of them?" another asked.

"Hey, kid, are you playing in next week's game against Symington?" a sports network questioned.

I had no answers for them. The doctors, not wanting to make mistakes, hadn't said much of anything except the usual; get rest, eat well, and drink plenty of fluids. Big help.

Midvale Valley College had sent a bus to take me back. Better than an ambulance. They'd rigged a seat to lay back for me. There was a doctor, a nurse, members of the Badgers, and a few cheerleaders along with Annie, Carol, and Jenny. A police escort helped us through Indianapolis, and then we were on the open highway home. Eldon took out his guitar, playing a new song. Everyone seemed to know the lyrics except me.

"Rabbit saw her danger there

Charging like a rabid hare

Throwing blows to left and right

Kicking ass to make the fight

And so those cowards felt his wrath

Cowering in their blood-soaked bath

While Rabbit sleeps with ears above

In the arms of his great love!"

It took me a moment to catch up.

"The song has gone viral on Tick Tok," Jenny said with a big grin, showing her phone.

"I wrote it, and it rhymes," Eldon bragged.

"It's terrible," I complained. "It sounds like I won the fight."

"All three of those jerks were dripping blood when the police led them away," Jenny insisted. "And Annie was saved. That sounds like a win to me."

"To all of us," Carol agreed, giving me a sip of root beer.

"I suppose. But let's not make a big deal of it. My mother can't be happy about this."

"Your mother is very proud," Annie corrected. "We're doing a zoom when we get back to your dorm."

Bound to a wheelchair, I hoped to sneak off quietly when we returned to the college, but of course, there was a big crowd. Several thousand. It was Sunday a little after 4 o'clock, the day overcast but moderate. Someone had set up a stage to make speeches. I wasn't going to be one of them.

Dean Witmore, Judith Sandavol, and Angela Farthington praised my dedication. Brad Willingford spoke for the campus clubs. Our quarterback, Deke Jackson, represented the team. Coach Wilson knelt at my side.

"How bad is it, Josh?" he asked.

"Not sure, coach. The doctors have been cagey. The knee doesn't want to bend," I replied.

"We're bringing Dr. Kenetta Carello down from Chicago. On loan from the Bears. She's the best physical therapist this side of New York City."

"Sounds expensive," I worried.

"Don't be concerned about money. Everyone is working hard to make sure you're taken care of," he encouraged. "Just work on getting better. If we don't get you back this season, we'll have you back next year."

"Do you think my season is over?" I asked, hoping it wasn't true.

"Let's see what Carello says. Nothing is carved in stone yet," Wilson answered.

The festivities finally ended. I refused to be lifted onstage in the wheelchair, waving from the sidelines as Dan rolled me away.

"Tell me the truth," Dan said on the path back to Blue Dorm. "A lot of pain?"

"A lot? I don't know. I get hurt every game and prefer not to talk about it," I answered. "Everybody loves this Rabbit business. I don't want to let them down."

"It must be hard being a legend," Dan consoled.

"Come on, I'm not a legend. This is a small school out in the middle of an Indiana cornfield. I made some good plays against a few good teams but nothing for the record books."

"You really need to read more," Dan chastised.

"No thank you," I replied. "Life is hard enough already."

* * * * * * * *

After the long bus ride and speechifying, all I wanted to do was rest the remainder of the day, though there were obstacles.

"You are so stubborn! Just use the fucking bedpan!" Mirry insisted.

"And make you empty it? I don't think so," I replied, trying to figure it all out. My arms were too sore for the crutches and the wheelchair was awkward to get in and out of for a short trip to the toilet. Sliding on my butt seemed easiest.

"You should have stayed in the hospital," Mirry persisted.

"Hospitals are for sick people. I'm not sick, just limited by all these bandages."

"Rabbit, please, for my own peace of mind, just use the bedpan tonight. We'll work out the rest later," Mirry pleaded.

It was so embarrassing. I'd have rather run nude through the quad, yet my body was tired.

"Tonight only," I compromised. "By tomorrow, I'll be able to use the crutches. One way or another."

"Are you going to classes in the morning?" she asked.

"Of course. I may be cheating to pass art and drama, but I still need decent grades in sociology and world history."

Mirry began texting, which had me concerned.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"You'll need the wheelchair for a few days and I can tell you don't want to. I've got Annie, Dan, and Brad on group text. They'll find others. I'm going to surround you with an army."

"That's not necessary," I objected.

"Want me to call your mother?" she threatened.

I fell silent. I didn't even know Mirry knew my mother. Another of Annie's plots?

"For a few days," I agreed.

By the next morning there was no want of helpers. Annie, Carol, and Jenny dressed me in sweatpants and a blue pullover. The wheelchair ride to my sociology class felt like a parade. Professor Dowds kept asking me easy questions, either to mock me or make me look brilliant. Lunch in the cafeteria was a zoo, students competing to buy my favorite macaroni and cheese.

"Everybody, please," I said, making a rare address. "This is all great, but getting so much attention is stressing me out. I love you all. Let's take a step back and relax. Annie needed help so I did what anyone else here would have done. I'll be better in a few days. This is all going to work out fine."

Sadly, I wasn't going to be playing against Symington at the homecoming game. With luck, I might close out the season against the Pennington Pirates two weeks later. That would be my goal.

* * * * * *

I'm currently editing Part 5 and trying to finish Part 6. Please give this story support if you like it.