Clayton 'Clay' Beretta ► Resident ► 22 ► Zach Gilford
I want to fly, can you take me far away? Give me a star to reach for, tell me what it takes and I’ll go so high my feet won’t touch the ground. I stitch my wings and pull these strings. I bought these dreams that all fall down.
Has no idea of the supernatural forces at work in the town
After being forced to drop out of LSU as he could no longer afford it without the scholarship, he picked up the job of football coach at Maddox High after the old coach retired
Despite having been friendly with the entire town when he grew up, he’s been awkward around everyone since coming back about a year ago, never really thinking he’d be back in Maddox
Clayton was the kid that was supposed to make it out of Maddox. He was the kid that parents would talk about from the sidelines, saying how he was going to be successful in whatever he did, no matter what is was. But that was just how small towns worked, in each year, each graduating class there was that one kid that was expected to make it big, that the success of the entire class was based on. If you just had that one kid that did good, then the entire class would. It was a lot of pressure, obviously. But Clayton never minded it. Honestly, it just made him better, the pressure pumping him up rather than making him nervous, especially on the field. While football was never a huge sport in Maddox, when the Cougars won, the entire town celebrated, and with Clayton as the first string fullback, despite his small stature, they won often.
While this was no Texas and it wasn’t as if football players were Gods, Clayton was pretty popular, as most athletes were, but also because he was generally a sweet, goofy, guy, though he was definitely much quieter than a lot of the other rambunctious jocks. His parents were sweet people and had most definitely raised him right. When you talked, he listened. If you needed a friend to come to, he was your guy. He was dependable and always there when you needed him.
But his childhood growing up was football football football, nothing else. His parents had seen his talent, and his father, a southern man born and bred, was desperate to have something in common with his son that was so different from him so he pushed the topic. It was all they talked about, at dinner, on the drive from and to school or church, every part of the day. They talked about how he could become better or faster or stronger. They talked about plays and positions. Nothing else. No ‘how was your day’ or ‘did you do well on that test’. For Clayton Beretta, football was all there was. It was his ticket to a nice school, maybe, if he was lucky even to the pros. In short, it was his ticket out of Maddox.
But unfortunately for Clayton, after being recruited by LSU, which was considered to be in the top ten college football teams (number nine, to be exact), and playing for them for two years…Disaster struck. Well, disaster to a football player. 11 seconds left in the game, 15 yards from the opposing team’s goal line and a game that would decide whether the LSU Tigers would be going to the playoffs. The ball was snapped by the quarter back, Clayton caught it with ease and was literally feet away from a touchdown when the opposing team’s heavy hitter at 320 pounds absolutely obliterated him. His team mate had been unable to block the giant and Clayton went down…Hard. In the tangle of limbs, Clayton not only tore his ACL, but he damaged his PCL and MCL as well, giving him what is more commonly known as a ‘blown out knee’. They tried surgery, they tried physical therapy, but there was just way to avoid the unavoidable: Clayton’s short lived football career was over.
With his scholarships gone what else was there to do except come back to Maddox, tail between his legs? The only way it could get worse was by the fact that his parents had decided to retire and move to Florida, not only to be closer to him in Louisiana but because they too wanted to get out of Maddox. On top of that, they had moved Mrs. Beretta’s mother into the house as it was a one floor house and they thought it would be much easier on the old woman. So it was up to Clayton, he either had to get a good enough of a job to afford his own place, or…Or he got to live with his grandma. Well, he got a job, but definitely not one that could let him pay off medical bills, loans, and rent. Being the high school football coach really didn’t pay that well.
Clayton, or Clay as he prefers to be called, is a really good guy. He’s genuine in whatever he does, believes in old fashioned manners. He works hard and really believes in the idea that if you put your mind to it you can do it. But ever since he blew out his knee, unable to play football, he’s seemed a bit lost, unsure exactly who he is without the game. He’s even more shy then he was in high school, and generally doesn’t like hanging around town, feeling as if everyone thinks of his as a failure or pities him, saying ‘that’s the boy that could’ve made it big.’ If he’s not on the football field training the team, or in his office reviewing game tapes, he can usually be found in the park maybe strumming on his guitar or reading.
Had a crush on Jo Groves during high school, but now she’s one of the only people he grew up with that he would consider one of his friends now. It’s weird though, seeing her married and with kids, really punching him in the face with the fact that they’re all growing up.
Used to be friends with Thai Chase, who was also on the football team, but where as Clay used to love his loud and out there personality, he shies away from it now.
Friendly with Addison Carmichael. He feels much more comfortable around the newcomer than a lot of the people he grew up with.
Was always interested by Asami Kashima. During high school, she always seemed above it all, very sophisticated, though Clay has never really spoken to her in fear he’ll just sound like a dumb jock.
Was on the football team with Smith Black, and honestly, he never really liked him, the boy was just always so cocky and arrogant. Though, Clay can see after he stopped being the high school football star, he sorta fell off a wagon of sorts, and Clay, knowing the feeling, feels bad for him.
Is glad to see that Caleb Summers is still in town, having been on the football team with him for a year as well as coaching him for a bit, he knows the kid has a really pure heart, something that is, what is seems to be at least, surprisingly hard to come by in Maddox.
Status: Taken by James (EST)
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