Todays a nice and scorching day. We were all gathered in the field to play capture the flag, or flag tag.
Separated into two teams, cabin one team and cabin two.
I would've been playing against all my friends, and in burning heat no less, but I came up with some excuse.
"I have asthma sorry I can't." I hoarsely announced.
"Go sit on the sidelines then, thats okay." The coach said, knowing if he made me play he'd be liable if I actually had an asthma attack.
I dont even have asthma, or at least I haven't since I was nine. Its still on my medical documentation, so its the perfect alibi for sports.
The sidelines were nothing but a single wood log bench, off to the side of the grassy field. There were ants on it, but I decided it was better than sitting on the ground.
It was funny to watch my friends play, not a single one of them taking it seriously. Sal and Larry obviously stuck together. They've been inseparable ever since they met all that time ago.
Larry kept tearing up grass and throwing it at people. That was the moment I knew sitting this game out was a good idea. I did NOT want to be up against him.
Sal wasn't even playing, he was just loitering around Larry and watching. His mask covered his expression but I knew he was having fun.
Cabin two was actually trying, I think. They had a couple more points than cabin one, and it was mostly thanks to Travis Phelps.
Travis... is a dickhead. Everyone knows that. He hates Sal and because of that he hates all his friends, including me.
Ive always gotten a little extra bit of hate though- being an openly gay kid in Highschool and all.
I swear Travis is fueled on insecurity and hate. Hes fucking aggressive.
Somehow Sal got the flag, it was nothing short of a miracle. He just needed to get it to the other side to score a point.
Larry being the good brother he is, guarded Sal as he ran across the field.
Like I said, Travis is fucking aggressive. He tried to tag Sal, but Larry blocked him.
Sal didn't even notice, as he was now across the field celebrating...
But Travis was on the ground, holding his knee and glaring up Larry.
Larry knew he fucked up, took a step back, and said "Sorry, man. Didn't expect ya to be so light aha..."
"You fucking cheated!" Travis yelped in reply. "Coach- he pushed me!"
Travis' knee was bleeding, nothing more than a typical scuff thank god.
"Hey man- I didn't cheat. I just, I said im sorry. Okay?" Larry groaned, assuming he was going to get written up again.
The coach came over to the two and decided that it was an honest mistake. Travis argued and scowled, insisting that Larry meant to hurt him!
The coach just shook his head as he bandaged Travis' knee, and sent him over my way with an icepack.
The game went on, but every now and then people glanced at me and Travis.
I made room on the bench for him. 'Kill them with kindness', I thought.
Travis sat as far away from he as he possibly could without falling off the edge.
"Great. Now I have to sit next a faggot. All because that fucking flamer pushed me." He grumbled to himself.
Ive heard it all, so I wasnt that shocked at what he said.
I shrugged and looked back to the game, not wanting to stare.
"You should probably rinse the wound."
"Im fucking going to. Im not stupid." He really had a way of hissing his words when upset. It didn't make him sound scary, no, it just made him sound like an upset little kid.
I sucked air in through my teeth- I really shouldn't have said anything. But I kept going. Itd be awkward if I just ignored him.
"Uh... Do you usually play sports?" I asked.
Travis took a moment to respond. Its like he didnt expect me to talk to him.
"I used to play soccer in middle school." He sounded defeated in a way.
I nodded, still not looking over at him. "Soccer...?"
Its hard to talk to someone nonchalantly when they've bullied you and your friends.
We- or at least me, I dont try and hold it against him.
He let out a deep breath, his knee probably hurt a lot.
"Yeah, soccer. I was good at it too."
"Why don't you play anymore?" I asked, genuinely curious.
He snaps "Stop trying to talk to me, you fucking nerd. Were not friends."
I think I struck a nerve, somehow. Or maybe the timer ran out. You know, the one that makes Travis insult someone every five minutes.
I didn't say anything back. I bit my tounge and continued to watch the game, not once looking at Travis. I didn't want to spark another outburst.
We sat there in silence for ten minutes. He would occasionally wince as he adjusted the icepack on his knee, but otherwise not a sound.
Sal and Larry's team won by two points. Meaning Travis and I's team lost.
It was probably because we were out two players...