Bombay shook his head, staring up at his ceiling. The boy is dead. Hung himself. The boy is dead. No matter how often Colin's words rang in his head, it still hadn't quite registered. Charlie was just 'away,' he'd come back. He'd fly back to them. He was part of the flock. No, he flew the flock.
"Hey Coach?" Charlie began nervously, hanging behind the locker rooms late after practice. Bombay spun round with his hand upon his breast.
"Frightened the life out of me, Charlie!" He gasped, eyeing the boy still dressed in his hockey gear, "What are you - I thought you all cleared off by now," He joked. "What's up?"
"My mom really likes you, you know," Charlie, seated, started to remove his skates. Lending his attention to anything that would act as a distraction if he was to have this conversation. He was adamant he would call Bombay on it. "You went out at the start of the week and she was really happy, Coach."
"Yeah?" A lazy smile pulled on Bombay's lips.
"Uh-huh. Then you never called her back Coach." He added casually, removing his Ducks jersey from his head. Bombay watched him undress and then frowned, realising how weird it seemed. He was innocently staring off into space, thinking of Casey and smiling. "What?"
"Nothing, Charlie. Anyway, did your mother say anything?"
"No."
"She didn't say... anything? Maybe that she wanted me to take her out again? That she enjoyed herself?"
"Look, Coach, I'm real happy she found someone she likes, it's even better that's someone I actually like this time believe me," He tried to sound enthusiastic, "But my dad's not around and... you'll probably laugh but I've to be the man around the house," He explained, ducking his head as a red flush came to his cheeks.
Bombay stifled a laugh, "Charlie," He folded his arms, tongue-in-cheek, "Are you trying to tell me to do right by your mother or so help me God I've got you to answer to?"
Charlie glared up at him, "She's all I got."
"No, no," He shook his head, "I wasn't offending you. I mean, obviously having to deal with you after messing her about, well I'd be shaking in my boots," He raised his hands, as if trying to keep Charlie at bay, "Which is why I don't ever plan on hurting her. I'll do right by the both of you, Charlie. Promise."
Charlie managed a quick sheepish smile, before standing up. He walked towards the door, pivoted and looked Bombay up and down, "Thanks Coach."
"Aw, it's my pleasure Charlie," Bombay sniffed hard. "Why the - how in goddamn hell did I end up failing the both of you? She was my girlfriend, you were as good as my kid!" He broke down again, screaming to the empty house. "You weren't Colin's, you were meant to be mine goddamnit it! You were meant to be mine!"