Modern Family: New Life
Chapter 147: Visit to Mater Dei

Chapter 147: Visit to Mater Dei

After dropping Lily off at the Dunphys’ house, where Claire was already waiting with a smile, the trip to Mater Dei High School officially began. It was 9:17 in the morning.

"Pay attention, kid. This will be the route you’ll have to take every day," said Jay as he turned onto an avenue, keeping an eye on the rearview mirror.

Andrew nodded and, without saying a word, pulled out his phone, opened the stopwatch app, and started it. He wanted to know exactly how long the commute would take.

The school was located about 25 kilometers from their house. Traffic was light for a Friday morning, and Jay, a seasoned veteran of California streets, knew exactly which roads to avoid.

The trip took exactly 31 minutes.

At 9:48 AM, they turned onto Edinger Avenue and pulled into the visitors’ parking lot of the impressive Mater Dei High School campus. The main building welcomed them with its distinctive modern façade and its iconic rotunda with round columns at the front entrance.

Jay turned off the engine and Andrew got out of the car in silence, observing. The first thing he noticed was the order. Everything was clean, spacious, professional.

To the left, he could see perfectly lined baseball fields, and a bit further away, the football field, presumably just the practice one, not the one used for Friday night games with bleachers and TV coverage.

To the right, a row of well-kept trees lined another parking section. Even from there, the indoor pools of the aquatic complex were visible, and in the distance, what appeared to be a gym with sleek dark windows.

"Baseball fields..." Andrew muttered, more to himself than to the others.

He counted at least two. And that was without even seeing the basketball, swimming, track, or weight training facilities. Everything was on another scale. It was much bigger than Palisades.

Curiously, both schools had a similar student body: around two thousand students.

But there was one big difference. Palisades was a public school. Mater Dei wasn’t.

Here, each student paid more than ten thousand dollars a year. And even so, the classrooms were full. Andrew let out a small whistle, impressed, and walked with Jay and Cam toward the entrance.

"So I’m a snob now?" he asked, half-joking, half-curious. "I mean, I guess going to a school with tuition over ten grand qualifies, right?"

Jay snorted. "You’re not. You have a scholarship, thank God."

Cam turned his head toward him. "And you shouldn’t think like that, Andrew. Not everyone who comes here is a snob. Make friends. Don’t judge them too soon."

"Yeah, yeah," Andrew said, raising his hands in surrender when he noticed Cam’s serious tone, which was rare.

Jay, without breaking stride, added, "Though if one day you start talking with an exaggerated British accent and wearing loafers without socks... I’ll take back the car I’m going to buy you and give it to Haley."

Andrew burst out laughing. "Then I’ll stick to my sneakers and regular accent, thanks."

"Good choice," Jay murmured with a half-smile.

They entered the central hall of Mater Dei High School. High ceilings, gleaming floors, red and white banners, framed photos of past champions, honor plaques, and trophy cases from various sports. Lots of trophies. To their left, a pristine white sign with black letters read: Admissions Office.

Upon arrival, a stylish woman in her forties, impeccably dressed and holding a folder, was already waiting for them, even though they had arrived nearly ten minutes early.

"Welcome! You must be Andrew, right? And your family," the woman said, recognizing Andrew. It wasn’t hard, considering he was likely the "star signing" Mater Dei was bringing in this year, and Andrew had a well-known YouTube channel.

"Yes, hi. This is my father, Cameron, and my grandfather Jay," Andrew greeted politely.

Cam greeted her with barely contained enthusiasm. Jay was quieter and more observant, as usual.

"I’m Mrs. Moore, the admissions director. A real pleasure to finally meet you. And you..." she said, looking at Andrew with a broader smile, "You’re even taller in person. Congratulations on your season. What you achieved with Palisades is incredible, undefeated regional and state champions, that’s not common. It’s been a headline-worthy year. We’re truly excited to have you here."

"Thanks. I’m happy to be here too..." Andrew replied with a slight smile, although he felt more at home on the field or playing video games than receiving compliments.

Mrs. Moore nodded, understanding. "I know you’re here for football, and rightfully so. But at Mater Dei, we want our athletes to be well-rounded students. That’s also part of the commitment."

She opened her folder and flipped through a couple of documents. "We saw your grades from Palisades. They’re solid. It’s clear you’ve taken your studies seriously, and that’s important. Still, Mater Dei is more demanding. We have a rigorous curriculum, very committed teachers, and a more structured academic pace. Nothing to worry about, but it is something you’ll notice."

Andrew nodded silently, processing the warning. He already knew. It wouldn’t be as relaxed as Palisades, but if he wanted to make it to a top football college, good grades were part of the deal. There was no alternative.

His solid academic performance wasn’t the result of long nights of studying. The truth was much simpler: he had already been through this. In his previous life, he had completed all these grades, ninth, tenth, even eleventh, the year he died.

So, for now, studying had never really been a problem. He didn’t consider himself a genius or a nerd, but he wasn’t a mess like Reggie or Haley either.

"To make your transition easier," Mrs. Moore continued, "you’ll be paired with a volunteer tutor or student mentor during the first few months of the school year. It’s something we do with all new students who come in through the athletic program. It’ll help you adjust both academically and socially."

"That... sounds great," Andrew said, trying to sound convinced.

In truth, he didn’t care much about "social integration" at Mater Dei. He lived far away, was coming for football, and already had a solid group of friends.

He wasn’t going to be rude to anyone, he wasn’t that kind of person, but he wasn’t looking to build deep new bonds either. The comment about "snobs" had been a joke... though not without some truth.

"That’s wonderful!" Cam clapped, visibly excited. For him, this was everything he had dreamed of: an elite school, both athletically and academically, with structure, support, and seriousness.

Jay added in a dry tone with a half-smile, "Then they better squeeze him dry."

Mrs. Moore chuckled lightly, amused. "That’s the plan," she replied with a professional smile, closing the folder. "Now, if you’ll follow me, we’re going to meet with the head coach of the football team: Mr. Bruce Rollinson."

Andrew raised his eyebrows slightly, recognizing the name. "Bruce Rollinson..." he repeated under his breath, respectfully.

Even Jay nodded, "That man’s been making high school football history for years."

Jay wasn’t wrong.

Bruce Rollinson was a standout player at Mater Dei in the 1960s and continued his college career at USC: one of the top colleges when it comes to football.

USC has a long-standing tradition in college football, with numerous national championships and a legacy of legendary players and coaches. Many of their athletes have gone on to play in the NFL.

Bruce was named head coach at Mater Dei in 1988, and from then on, his legacy began to take shape, game by game, practice by practice.

His golden era came in the 1990s: under his leadership, the Monarchs won multiple CIF-Southern Section titles, particularly standing out in the years 1994, 1996, 1998, and 1999. During those years, they not only lifted trophies but also earned statewide and national respect. The 1996 season, with a perfect 14-0 record, was etched into history as one of the most dominant in the program’s history.

Now, in 2010, eleven years have passed since that last championship. Eleven years without lifting the section title. And yet, no one dares to speak of decline. Because the program is still strong. Solid.

Their seasons are still competitive ones, their name still carries weight on every schedule, and their jersey still strikes nerves in their opponents.

Bruce Rollinson never let the hunger fade. Despite the trophy drought, his team continues to reach the playoffs, facing off against the best high schools in California. His approach remains the same: discipline, character, pride. "Pride. Poise. Courage." It’s not just a motto. It’s an identity.

As of 2010, Mater Dei may no longer be the king of the state as it once was, but it’s still a giant. And Rollinson, though his hair has turned gray and the years are starting to show on his face, is still at the helm.

’Well, I guess it’s time to end that drought...’ thought Andrew, as if it were only natural that he would be the one to do it next year.

As they began to walk down one of the side hallways, Moore led the way confidently, proudly recounting the school’s academic history, until a voice called out from the left.

"Just in time, thank goodness!"

The group stopped.

From a side hallway emerged a middle-aged man, impeccably dressed in a light gray suit with a perfectly pressed shirt. He held a folder in one hand, and his stride exuded energy.

The knot on his tie was still fresh, and his slightly hurried pace suggested he was just coming from a meeting. He looked to be just over thirty-five, though his presence carried the authority of someone who knew exactly what he was doing.

Mrs. Moore pursed her lips slightly, not in irritation, but with the elegant resignation of someone well accustomed to these kinds of unannounced interruptions.

"Principal Simmons," she greeted politely, though she couldn’t hide a brief side glance that clearly said: Again...

"Ms. Moore," the man nodded, then looked toward Andrew and his family.

"A pleasure to have you here. I’m guessing you’re Andrew’s family," he said, extending his hand.

Both Cam and Jay shook his hand with polite expressions, a bit surprised by his enthusiasm, especially coming from someone in such a formal position.

And then, Simmons looked at Andrew with a smile and extended his hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Andrew. I couldn’t miss this. I had to greet you myself, as the principal of the institution that," he added with a wink, "I’m sure will have you among us next year."

Andrew shook his hand with measured firmness, a bit surprised by the enthusiasm. Maybe the principal was a football fan, or maybe he was just playing his official role. "Thanks... It’s great to be here."

"My son is eleven. You have no idea how big a fan he is of your channel. He’s been following you for months. He even asked me to buy him a jump rope because he saw you using one in a HIIT circuit, and to buy him protein. Protein powder!" he repeated that last part like he still couldn’t believe it.

Everyone chuckled a little, even Jay, who mumbled something about "the power of the internet."

"Yeah... the protein powder myth," Andrew said with a slight smile.

In some of his vlogs, he appeared making protein shakes, explaining their benefits, and making it clear they weren’t for everyone. But he understood how it worked, a kid doesn’t hear the nuances. They just see their idol and want to copy him. He had been the same way in his past life. If his favorite player ate oatmeal with banana, then he added that to his own diet, too.

"There’s no exact age to start using it," Andrew explained in a relaxed but informative tone, "but honestly, at that age, ten, eleven, twelve, the best way to get protein is by eating properly. Meat, eggs, legumes, dairy. All of that is more than enough if you’re growing and exercising. Protein powder is useful when you’re already training hard every day and can’t get enough from food alone. But it never replaces a healthy diet."

"That’s what I told him," said Simmons, amused. "But you know how kids are... if their idol says it on the internet, they’ll listen to him, not their boring old dad."

"Well, in my defense," Andrew smiled, "I do say it. And I try to teach that the most important things are eating well, sleeping, and staying consistent."

Simmons nodded in approval, clearly impressed by the maturity of their future star. "So, a field star and an educator," he said, giving Andrew a friendly pat on the shoulder before taking his leave. "I’m glad to know you’ll be with us. Good luck with the tour. I’m sure you’ll be impressed with our facilities."

He then said goodbye politely to Jay, Cam, and Mrs. Moore before disappearing once more down the same hallway he had come from, with the same quick stride.

"Well then," said Moore, smoothly resuming the walk, "As you can see, it’s not just the coaches who are excited. Now, let’s head to the field. Bruce is waiting for you."

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