Guide My Reins
No one ever likes doing things they're bad at. Ever. That's just a fact. For example, I'm okay at math, but that doesn't mean I want to be thrown into a calculus class and be expected to know it better than anyone. Because I'm bad a calculus, but that's probably cause I haven't learned how to do it yet. Once I do, I'll be all over that shit, yo.
I'm bad at sports. That's a fact too. I could probably be better at sports if I could just simply learn how to play the game. But Its really hard to do that in high school, especially my high school. Why's it hard? Well its really hard to try and get involved when no one wants you involved in the first place, and rather than teaching you and showing you all the wonderful tips and tricks, they throw the ball at your face, trip you, and just be dicks. But that's not to mention that pretty much everyone there is a rough, ruthless, senseless, and hormonal reindeer.
So I will eternally be bad at sports, and I will always hate being forced to play them during P.E. That's a fact.
Yet, here I am, standing on the field actually putting in some effort. I don't know why, but I was like "You know what, I'll show them I can do it, I'll be the little reindeer who fucking could." And what a better way to do that than guard first base in baseball. It really was all up to me if you think about it. The ball would probably be hit to center, it'd get passed around from player to player til it finally got passed to me. And I could be the one who gets the batter out.
It was all up to me.
Someone stepped up to bat, I couldn't really see who it was but I could tell he was some big shot cause all their cohorts were cheering him on, clapping and shouting "Dash-Er Dash-Er!". Dasher, huh. I didn't really recognize the name. Must be new or something. He waved his hand back and everyone fell silent, only the wind could be heard. I could see the pitcher tense up slightly; he rolled neck and prepared for the throw. After what felt like 5 seconds, he reared up and threw the ball.
The ring of the ball hitting the aluminum bat pierced the air, and the ball whistling as it flew through the air. I thought for sure this would be an easy home run, but the ball didn't really get much air and landed in center field shortly after. Alright, this is it Rudolph, you can do this man. I prepared my mitt, and got in stance, I could here the aluminum bat drop to the ground and the pitter-patter of someone running up my way.
I watched the ball attentively as it quickly got thrown from reindeer to reindeer, eventually reaching second base. Somehow, 'Dasher' was still not at my base, which seemed really ironic.
It was at that moment that I realized how cold my hands were, I could barely bend them in the mitt and even if I could, I wouldn't have felt em. I really should get some mittens, wait, was that a pun? Why did I just make a pun in my head that's not even funny. Was that even a pun to begin with? I have a problem. You know what, I don't have a problem. This cold is just messing with me. Wait, what am I doing again, oh yeah the ball. Who had that last? Guess you could say I'm really dropping the ball here. Christ.
I didn't realize it, but everyone was yelling something to me, and they were pointing to the base.
"THE BASE, TOUCH THE BASE!"
At first I was confused, last time I checked you don't just touch bases for no reason. You had to have the ball. That's when I looked at my mitt. By some fucking miracle I had actually caught the ball. I don't know If I managed it in my sub-conscience, or it landed in there by luck.
Then it all hit me at once, quite literally.
I realized that now I had the ball and I was going to get Dasher McHotshot out and I would be the best reindeer to ever grace this planet for about a minute, but still I was. However, before I could even finish turning around, someone rammed right into me and I tumbled to the ground.
"Hey good hustle out there man!"
"Haha, thanks it was pretty easy honestly."
"Okay, to be fair though, we would have totally won if Rudolph wasn't at 1st base."
"Yeah, the weirdo zoned out or something. Didn't even listen to us, asshole." That last part was specifically called out to me, but they were just salty cause they lost.
"Good job out there, Rudork." Someone one said as they purposefully bumped into me. Some reindeer laughed and other chuckled at the joke and gave the guy high fives.
"Wow, haven't heard that one before." I was feeling pretty salty too.
The only good part about the game being over, was that I could take a shower and begin the process of healing my hand from the frostbite that I was sure I acquired. I usually just kept walking around the lockers or hid in the bathroom stalls til the bell rang and everyone else dispersed before I even thought about showering. Lets be honest, only bad things could come from being in a room full of reindeer who hate me. Especially naked reindeer in a shower room. Plus I always felt uncomfortable being around the other reindeer without any clothes on. That doesn't happen often, but still.
After a few more snarky remarks to me, and only a few middle fingers, everyone left the locker room and I had the showers to myself. I stripped down and threw my clothes in an empty locker, and made way for the warm showers ahead.
I turned the valve all the way to the left, and immediately hot water gushed out of the shower head. I spun around and rubbed my body and fur, my hands got those weird prickles your appendages get when they're really cold then get really hot too quick. I'm sure I'd know the scientific term if I didn't always fall asleep in science, although Mrs. Bickering wasn't the most exciting teacher ever. But now wasn't the time to think about science, it was to enjoy this moment of actual calmness and relaxation.
I usually spent a long time in the shower room, P.E. Was my last class, so I didn't have anywhere else to be. The coach didn't mind either, he really didn't care about what anyone did clearly since he has witnessed how terrible everyone treats me.
Don't get me wrong or anything, I'm not emo, goth or whatever kids are doing these days. I'm actually a pretty happy guy, despite actually despising the athletic crowd. I do have a few friends that I really do enjoy being with, and I'm okay with just hanging out by myself and doing what I want to do too. Having some space and privacy is good. I know I should probably be more upset by the guys who pick on me, but I've gotten over it honestly. If I was stronger, manly, and just as popular, I would probably be the same. But not everyone can be like that, some reindeer have to be the weaker ones and take some hits for the loser team. It could always be worse.
I got out of the shower room, now I was feeling relaxed and ready to go home and play video games all day. Then it hit me, not quite as literally this time, but I realized I didn't even grab a towel before coming in here. I nervously peeked around the corner and scanned the empty rows of lockers, trying to find a towel laying on the ground. I wasn't going to be picky. Of course there weren't any that I could see. I knew then I was going to have to make a mad dash for my clothes and hope I don't bump into coach, or worse, any jocks.
Dashing out of the shower room, I quickly ran to the locker I left my clothes in; ducking between rows and keeping an eye out for anyone, there was no way I wanted to be seen like this. To be honest, its a bit hard to run when you have both of your hands covering your crotch like a bumbling fool.
I made it to my locker, and whipped it open to reveal,
"Christ." The locker was empty.
I began feeling panicked as I quickly thought about where I put my clothes. I was pretty sure that I put them in this locker, but I am a bit spacey and could've easily misplaced them or something. Oh great, some asshole is probably pulling a prank on me. Before even taking a step away from the locker, I heard a door open.
"Hahah, alright, alright, guys! I'll be back in just one second, I think I left something in my locker." The door shut and I could hear footsteps coming.
You know that feeling of absolute impending doom? That feeling you get when you know there is a test today, and you knew you should've studied last night. But rather than that, you thought you could just get away with studying on the bus ride to school and magically pull that shit off. That's every moment of my life.
So here I was, standing naked in a locker room and some guy was probably going to bust me and totally embarrass me in front of his friends. Although, that really wouldn't be anything new.
Desperately, I ran around the corner, trying to make it to the shower room just so I could hide away until he left. Of course this plan never works at all ever, and I managed to slip and land on the cold hard ground.
"Oh shit, are you okay?" Called a voice, I personally was expecting a laugh and maybe a joke. I could hear footsteps running my way, and a figure pulled up into view and stood right over me. I couldn't see his face cause the light was casting down on him, but I could tell by his broad shoulders and general physique that I could be in trouble.
"Hey dude, you're uh.. You know, thing is kinda danglin' there." He awkwardly pointed to my crotch.
I felt my face grow bright red and burn like fire, I had completely forgotten about that. Banged my head a bit too hard I guess. I tried to rise up from the ground, it wasn't an astounding success since I had my hands planted firmly on my crotch.
I could clearly see him now, although I couldn't recognize him. He was way taller than me, I was only about 5.9 but this guy had to be 6.6 or something. I could clearly see his defined body through his v-neck. His ashy gray fur glistened in the light and he had a nice brown stubble growing on his chin. Two rather large antlers were sticking out of his head and were much bigger than mine. I had never grown very large antlers, they were always smaller than everyone elses. But the most interesting features were his eyes, they were a piercing dark blue that looked absolutely stunning.
"Oh man, I am so sorry you had to see that.. You see I was just li-"
"You're Rudolph aren't you." He chuckled, completely ignoring my apology.
"Uh..." At first I was confused on how he knew this, but then I realized it could be one of two things. Either his jockey friends talked about me a lot (Not in a good way of course), or it was the fact that my nose was glowing bright red right now. Most likely the latter.
Everyone got over the whole "Oh snap his nose glows" thing a long time ago, hell, even I got over that. It goes off quite a lot anyways, but you begin to just ignore that bright red light in your face all the time.
"How'd you guess, hehe..." I spoke shyly.
"Heh, well, where are you clothes dude? I'll go grab em for you." He took a step closer to me. "Oh, that's right... are you okay? You had a pretty nasty fall..." He tilted his head slightly and looked at my body.
"Y- Yeah, hah, I'm fine..." I said, feeling really uncomfortable with how he was looking at me.
"Are you sure? I can take you to the nurses, once we find your clothes of course." He reached his arm out to touch my shoulder. I of course, being the weird little shit that I am, I moved away from his kind gesture. He wasn't necessarily creeping me out, he was just acting way different than I thought he would. He wasn't laughing at me, he wasn't grabbing his friends to come see me in such a defenseless moment, but rather, he was trying to help me. He was actually concerned.
"Oh sorry if that was weird... You are all naked and stuff." He pulled his arm back, I was probably looking at him really weirdly, cause he the look of 'god I am such a creeper' on his face.
"No, its fine, heh, I just... You know, wasn't expecting such hospitality..." I muttered.
"Here, I'll go grab your clothes. What locker?" He said reassuringly.
"Well, I think that my clothes might've been stolen." I was really expecting some laughs now.
"Ah, no problem man! I have some gym clothes you can sport." He said to me as he walked to his bag a row down from me.
"Ar- are you sure? Thank you so much, I'll pay you back or som-"
"Don't worry about it," He handed the shirt and shorts to me, "Sorry if they're a bit baggy..." A large grin grew across his face.
"I just need to get home, I think I'll be okay." I nodded my head and smiled back. "Thank you again, uhhh.." I gestured for a name
"Dasher," He grabbed my hand and shook it tight. "and you're very welcome."