Out of Bounds by Carolyn Keene

accident!”
    â€œI guess I’ve been on edge lately,” Lonnie mumbled. Turning to the coach, he added, “It won’t happen again, I promise.”
    â€œThen keep your nose clean, Price,” he grunted. “Because if you can’t take the pressure, you can take a walk, know what I mean?”
    Coach Novak’s threat panicked Lonnie. “I can take it, Coach. Really I can—don’t bench me, please,” he begged.
    â€œYou sure you’re all right, Dennis?” the coach asked.
    â€œYeah, I’ll be okay,” the player answered weakly.
    â€œTake the day off,” the coach told him. “As for you, Price, don’t let me catch you losing your temper again. Is that understood?”
    Red-faced, Lonnie looked down at his cleats and ran a hand through his glossy black hair. “Understood.”
    â€œCome on, DiVito,” the coach said to Dennis. “We’ll have a look at those bruises.” The two of them walked off toward the locker room together, the coach holding Dennis up.
    His dark eyes full of shame, Lonnie turned to Nancy. “Sorry I came at you like that,” he said as they walked out from under the bleachers. “I don’t know what got into me.”
    â€œI don’t, either,” Nancy said, genuinely confused. For someone who had just been so threatening, Lonnie was acting pretty gentle and kind.
    â€œListen, please don’t say anything about this to your friend George, okay?” he pleaded. “I don’t want her to get the wrong idea about me.”
    The right idea, you mean, Nancy thought. “Look, I have to go,” she said, pulling her purse up over her shoulder. “I’ll be late for work.”
    With that, Nancy trotted off to the parking lot, relieved to escape Lonnie and his mean temper. As she got into her car, Nancy found herself mulling over Lonnie’s outburst. What had made him react so violently? And then made him sosweet afterward? She decided then and there to warn George to be careful. Lonnie Price was unstable, at best.
    The car radio announced it was four o’clock. In a panic, Nancy realized she was already late for work! She drove to Touchdown as fast as possible without breaking the law. The last thing she needed was to be fired from Touchdown just when things were heating up.
    The minute Nancy stepped through the door of the restaurant, she sensed she was in luck. Pete was nowhere in sight.
    â€œThe boss is out,” said Mark, playfully checking his watch as Nancy dashed into the restaurant. “You’re twenty minutes late, though.”
    â€œSorry,” said Nancy, stepping around the counter area and inside to the kitchen where the staff kept their green and white jerseys.
    â€œDoesn’t bother me,” Mark said with a laugh. “Pete’s in charge of employee efficiency, not me. He told the corporation I had nothing to do with it.”
    â€œWell, I’ll get to work right away,” said Nancy, pulling on the Touchdown jersey and hurrying to her position behind the counter. Not a minute later Pete walked into the restaurant.
    â€œThat was close,” Edgar Chessman whispered as he passed her on his way to the soda dispenser.
    Nancy smiled out of sheer relief. “Hi, Pete,” she called out as he approached her.
    â€œHow are ya?” Pete asked, not waiting for an answer as he walked past her toward his office.
    â€œHey, Nancy, I need you to do me a favor,” Edgar said.
    â€œSure, Edgar,” Nancy said, still glad she hadn’t gotten into trouble for being so late. “What is it?”
    â€œSomeone needs to restock the ladies’ room, and, well, since you’re the only girl working right now . . .” Edgar fumbled.
    â€œSay no more.” Nancy chuckled. “Just show me where the stuff is.”
    Edgar pointed out the stockroom and covered for her while she headed for the ladies’ room. She