CHAPTER 7
Shelby raced over to the school and ran to the football field. She hurriedly scanned the players looking for her number 21 guy. She didn't see that number out on the field and started to panic. All kinds of negative thoughts were running through her mind as she figured Scott had been expelled from school. She knew this meant bad news at the Barringer home front. Martin would probably be thrilled that this happened because then it would mean that she had to leave. She hung her head and walked slowly back towards her car. She heard a bunch of laughter coming from the pick-up/drop-off area of the school. She looked over and saw the cheerleading squad hovered around a guy sitting on the stairs. Once she heard the voice she knew immediately who it was. Scott had a very unique voice that could be picked out of any crowd.
"Scott," Shelby called out.
The group of girls all turned as Scott stood up. "Shelby you're early. You're not suppose to be here for another hour."
She came closer and saw the discolored swollen shut black eye. "I heard that you got in a fight today and I came to see if everything was alright. I didn't see you on the practice field so I thought maybe your dad came and got you. What's going on?"
"No I convinced them not to call my dad. I'm just not practicing today because I can't see out of this one eye yet. I should be able to play in the game tomorrow night though. Hopefully I'll be able to open my eye tomorrow. Great now that you're here we can go. Bye ladies," he said to the group of girls that had been hovering around him giving him sympathy for his injury.
Shelby couldn't help but notice that Scott was enjoying all the attention that he was getting from them. She also couldn't help but notice that they all seemed to be checking her over. This really bothered her because it was like they were trying to rate her. Shelby threw her hands on her hip and spoke out. "What? Do I look like I'm from another planet or something? Why don't you take a picture it would last longer." The girls didn't say anything.
Scott laughed and grabbed Shelby's arm pulling her away. "That's funny Shel." He turned to the girls and said, "This is Shelby, she's my ticket out of here. Let's go before a cat fight brakes out." They walked over to the car and got in. Scott was driving and looked over to her and said, "What the hell was that all about?"
"I'm sorry Scott but did you see the way that they were looking at me? It was like, you're not good enough for him."
"Shelby that 's not true. You are just being paranoid. They probably were just jealous because you are so much better looking than they are."
Shelby smiled and sarcasticly said, "Well aren't we trying to kiss up here? You must really have a guilty conscience about something."
"I do not. I just don't want you getting jealous every time another girl talks to me."
"Scott there is a difference between talking and having someone hang all over you."
"They weren't hanging all over me. They were just being sympathetic because of my eye."
"Right and I'm the Queen of England," she turned her head to look out the window.
"Well your highness, how would you like to parade your holiness with me at the homecoming dance next week?"
Shelby turned and laughed. "You want to take me to your homecoming dance?"
"Of course, why not? I want you to be the most beautiful girl there. Come on Shelby. I want to show you off. I have to go anyway because I'm on the homecoming court."
"What? What the hell's a homecoming court?"
"Man Shelby, didn't your old high school do anything? It's a group of students both guys and girls that the school nominates to be honored at the homecoming festivities. They vote who are to be crowned King and Queen of the ball. They get escorted out on the field at halftime and they ride on the float in Saturday mornings homecoming parade."
"Sorry Scott but this sounds so cheesy to me. I know that it means something to you and I'd be honored to be your date but doesn't like the King and Queen have to be together or something?"
"Well that's where a little problem comes in. There are 5 guys and 5 girls to be on the court. They do have to pair up but they don't have to go to the dance together. Laura asked me to be her escort and I told her that I could but I couldn't take her to the dance because I already had a date. I just need to be her escort for the activities. If we happen to win the King and Queen than I'm required to dance one slow dance with her and that's all. Do you think you could handle that?"
"Sure why not. By the time the prom comes around I'll be to busy changing diapers and feeding a baby. This might be my one and only formal high school dance with you."
"Oh no, you aren't going to get out that easy. The baby is due in April and the prom isn't until June. I'm sure that we can find plenty of babysitters. Besides by then I hope to present you as my wife and not girlfriend."
Shelby turned to him with tears in her eyes. "This is all really happening isn't it? Look at us. We are both going to be parents and married by the time we graduate from high school. Do you realize that it is less than a year away? Do you ever question if we are doing the right thing?"
"No you don't question it or doubt it. You just make it happen and it will. I've never doubted our relationship. We are too much alike and we've been through more trials than most people see in a lifetime. I couldn't imagine myself with anyone else. We've better get home. I need to come up with a good story to give my dad about this black eye."
Shelby was so touched by the words he had just spoken. But he sure could change the subject fast. She leaned over and kissed him. "Why don't we tell your dad that I socked you because you were being to fresh with me."
"Right Shel, he'll just say that you should have hit me a long time ago."
They arrived at home for Scott's mom, Susan, to fuss over him about his eye. He told her that he was standing behind a door picking up a pencil he had dropped and someone came plowing through the door and the doorknob hit him in the eye. Of course she bought the story because she had no reason not to believe it. Scott and Shelby went upstairs work on homework until dinner- time. An hour later Susan called them both down for dinner. She had already told Martin about the eye.
"Let me see your eye Scott." He walked over and let his dad examine it. "I hope it didn't do any damage to the eye itself. I guess we won't know until the swelling goes down. You need to be a little more careful."
"Right," was all Scott had to say about it. He turned towards Shelby and raised his eyebrows, grinned and gave a thumbs up gesture. He sat down and the Barringer's began to have a nice family dinner together. They talked about how their day went and Shelby mentioned how Scott was nominated to be on the homecoming court.
Scott added, "Yeah mom I want to take Shelby to the homecoming dance and she needs a dress. I want her to stand out among everyone as the most gorgeous girl."
Shelby looked surprised and just said, "Scott"
"Can I take out some money from my savings account so . . ."
He never got to finish because his father rudely interrupted him" Absolutely not."
"Why not," Scott whined.
"Because that is your college found and you are not touching it until then." Martin was looking at Scott a little weird and said, "You want to tell me again in your own words what happened to your eye at school today?"
"What? I was hit by a doorknob. Didn't mom tell you that?"
Martin had a disgust look on his face. "Than explain the bruises on your knuckles. You were in a fight weren't you?"
Scott didn't say anything. Susan looked over with concern, "Scott, were you in a fight today?"
Scott looked over at Shelby for support, which he knew that she couldn't give him. Martin got up from the table, "You just love to lie to me don't you? Come here." Martin exited the room and Scott followed dragging his feet. Any kind of serious talking at the Barringer house seemed to always take place in Martins den.
He motioned for Scott to sit down. "Why must you keep on testing me? Did you not think that I would eventually find out the truth? Why can't you stay out of trouble?"
Scott who had his head down before, raised it up and looked at his dad. "The school is not going to call home."
"Why not?"
"Because we worked it out already. Everything is fine. I just didn't want you worrying about something that was already taken care of."
"No that's not the reason. You just didn't want me to find out because we had a deal for you to stay out of trouble and you didn't keep your end of the deal. Am I right?"
Scott didn't have any worth while comment to that remark. He just looked away.
"What are we going to do about your temper Scott? What did the other guy look like. I'm I going to be getting a law suit from someone's parent's?"
"No."
"You're grounded. You are not going to homecoming."
Scott set up quickly and objected. "But I have to. I'm on the homecoming court."
"You tell the school tomorrow that you decline and they can just pick someone else."
"But that's not fair."
"And how fair do you want me to be when you have already broken our deal? Have you been fair to me?"
Scott knew that he wasn't going to win this battle. "No, I'm sorry."
"Not as sorry as I am. I really had faith in you that you could show me that you could be a responsible person. It looks like you are going to have to work a little harder."
Scott just shook his head. He left the room with tears in his eyes and went straight up to his bedroom. He flopped down on his bed and cried. He wanted so much for this to be a special day for Shelby. Why is it that whenever someone abuses him, than he must be the one to suffer. A few minutes later he heard a knock on the door. He really didn't want any company but he heard the door open anyway.
Susan came over and sat down on the side of his bed. He was on his stomach with his face burried into his pillow. She stroked the back of his head to try and give some comfort. She softly spoke, "Scott you want to talk?"
"No" came a muffled sound from under the pillow. She could tell that he had been crying because of the way his body heaved. "Come on Scott, turn over here and lets talk.
After a few minutes Scott was able to pull himself together and turn over. His one eye was red and puffy from crying and the other eye was just turning colors.
"Why does he hate her so bad?"
Susan was a bit confused. "Who hates who sweetie?"
"Dad hates Shelby. The only reason why he is grounding me is because he doesn't want me to be seen in public with her."
"That's not true Scott."
"Yes it is. He never talks to her and he never even looks at her. He is so ashamed that it is killing him. He can't control my life forever. You know he didn't even ask me."
"Ask you what?"
"He didn't even ask me why I got in a fight. He just always assumes that it was my fault."
"Tell me Scott. What did the other guy do to you?'
"You see mom. That's the difference between you and dad. You asked what did the other guy do to me and dad asks what did I do to the other guy."
"You know Scott, your dad loves you very much. You are his only son and yes he is afraid of losing you. He's just not ready to give that relationship up to someone else. You need to let him know that you still need him. When was the last time that you and your father spent time together just the two of you? You guys used to go out all the time before. Why don't you spend some time with him and let him know that he hasn't lost you ok?"
"ok"
" I think that if he can realize that you still need him than maybe he'll learn to accept Shelby more. Think about It." she got up and left his room to give him some time to dwell on what she had said.
After awhile Scott went down stairs and saw his father sitting on the coach reading the newspaper.
"Dad?"
Martin looked up from reading, "Yes son?"
"I was wondering when you said that I was grounded if that just meant just for the dance or for home too?"
"What do you want Scott?"
"Well I was wondering if you weren't busy that maybe we could go play some tennis at the country club because it's been a long time since I've played and I wanted to see if I still have my form."
Martin looked a little shocked at the invitation but accepted it with open arms. "Sure I'd love to go play some tennis with you. Maybe I can still whip your butt."
"Dad you've never whipped my butt. I've always whipped yours."
"I feel lucky today."
Scott turned and looked at his mother. She gave him the approving nod.
At the courts Scott and his father played some really good matches. They had a great time together because a lot of stuff was in the past right now. Neither one of them worried about what was really going on in there lives and they enjoyed letting go and braking free from the problems even just for a little while. A neighbor came up to chat with them.
"Hey Martin, hey Scott. It's been a long time since I've seen the both of you out here. So Martin what do you think of Scott getting Gary Wilson kicked off the football team?"
Martin looked confused "What?"
"Man if Scott were my son I would have personally gone over to Gary's house and kicked the shit out of that kid myself. Nobody sets my kid up for a gang rape by a bunch of fags and gets away with it."
Martins mouth just dropped open and he looked over at Scott. The other guy sensed that something was wrong. "What you didn't hear about it? Scott didn't you tell your dad?"
"No"
"Well why the hell not?"
Scott just looked the other way and said," Because he never asked."
Martin grabbed Scott's arm and excused themselves from the other man's presence. They got in the car and Martin started interrogating Scott regarding the situation at school. Once Martin heard the whole story he became compassionate to Scott's feelings. They got home and Scott ran in the house with a bounce in his step. Susan and Shelby were watching T.V. Susan looked up and said, "So how'd it go?" Scott handed her a credit Card. "So what's this?"
"It's a credit card mom. Dad says that you can go buy Shelby a homecoming dress." She smiled and gave him a big bear hug.
Shelby raced over to the school and ran to the football field. She hurriedly scanned the players looking for her number 21 guy. She didn't see that number out on the field and started to panic. All kinds of negative thoughts were running through her mind as she figured Scott had been expelled from school. She knew this meant bad news at the Barringer home front. Martin would probably be thrilled that this happened because then it would mean that she had to leave. She hung her head and walked slowly back towards her car. She heard a bunch of laughter coming from the pick-up/drop-off area of the school. She looked over and saw the cheerleading squad hovered around a guy sitting on the stairs. Once she heard the voice she knew immediately who it was. Scott had a very unique voice that could be picked out of any crowd.
"Scott," Shelby called out.
The group of girls all turned as Scott stood up. "Shelby you're early. You're not suppose to be here for another hour."
She came closer and saw the discolored swollen shut black eye. "I heard that you got in a fight today and I came to see if everything was alright. I didn't see you on the practice field so I thought maybe your dad came and got you. What's going on?"
"No I convinced them not to call my dad. I'm just not practicing today because I can't see out of this one eye yet. I should be able to play in the game tomorrow night though. Hopefully I'll be able to open my eye tomorrow. Great now that you're here we can go. Bye ladies," he said to the group of girls that had been hovering around him giving him sympathy for his injury.
Shelby couldn't help but notice that Scott was enjoying all the attention that he was getting from them. She also couldn't help but notice that they all seemed to be checking her over. This really bothered her because it was like they were trying to rate her. Shelby threw her hands on her hip and spoke out. "What? Do I look like I'm from another planet or something? Why don't you take a picture it would last longer." The girls didn't say anything.
Scott laughed and grabbed Shelby's arm pulling her away. "That's funny Shel." He turned to the girls and said, "This is Shelby, she's my ticket out of here. Let's go before a cat fight brakes out." They walked over to the car and got in. Scott was driving and looked over to her and said, "What the hell was that all about?"
"I'm sorry Scott but did you see the way that they were looking at me? It was like, you're not good enough for him."
"Shelby that 's not true. You are just being paranoid. They probably were just jealous because you are so much better looking than they are."
Shelby smiled and sarcasticly said, "Well aren't we trying to kiss up here? You must really have a guilty conscience about something."
"I do not. I just don't want you getting jealous every time another girl talks to me."
"Scott there is a difference between talking and having someone hang all over you."
"They weren't hanging all over me. They were just being sympathetic because of my eye."
"Right and I'm the Queen of England," she turned her head to look out the window.
"Well your highness, how would you like to parade your holiness with me at the homecoming dance next week?"
Shelby turned and laughed. "You want to take me to your homecoming dance?"
"Of course, why not? I want you to be the most beautiful girl there. Come on Shelby. I want to show you off. I have to go anyway because I'm on the homecoming court."
"What? What the hell's a homecoming court?"
"Man Shelby, didn't your old high school do anything? It's a group of students both guys and girls that the school nominates to be honored at the homecoming festivities. They vote who are to be crowned King and Queen of the ball. They get escorted out on the field at halftime and they ride on the float in Saturday mornings homecoming parade."
"Sorry Scott but this sounds so cheesy to me. I know that it means something to you and I'd be honored to be your date but doesn't like the King and Queen have to be together or something?"
"Well that's where a little problem comes in. There are 5 guys and 5 girls to be on the court. They do have to pair up but they don't have to go to the dance together. Laura asked me to be her escort and I told her that I could but I couldn't take her to the dance because I already had a date. I just need to be her escort for the activities. If we happen to win the King and Queen than I'm required to dance one slow dance with her and that's all. Do you think you could handle that?"
"Sure why not. By the time the prom comes around I'll be to busy changing diapers and feeding a baby. This might be my one and only formal high school dance with you."
"Oh no, you aren't going to get out that easy. The baby is due in April and the prom isn't until June. I'm sure that we can find plenty of babysitters. Besides by then I hope to present you as my wife and not girlfriend."
Shelby turned to him with tears in her eyes. "This is all really happening isn't it? Look at us. We are both going to be parents and married by the time we graduate from high school. Do you realize that it is less than a year away? Do you ever question if we are doing the right thing?"
"No you don't question it or doubt it. You just make it happen and it will. I've never doubted our relationship. We are too much alike and we've been through more trials than most people see in a lifetime. I couldn't imagine myself with anyone else. We've better get home. I need to come up with a good story to give my dad about this black eye."
Shelby was so touched by the words he had just spoken. But he sure could change the subject fast. She leaned over and kissed him. "Why don't we tell your dad that I socked you because you were being to fresh with me."
"Right Shel, he'll just say that you should have hit me a long time ago."
They arrived at home for Scott's mom, Susan, to fuss over him about his eye. He told her that he was standing behind a door picking up a pencil he had dropped and someone came plowing through the door and the doorknob hit him in the eye. Of course she bought the story because she had no reason not to believe it. Scott and Shelby went upstairs work on homework until dinner- time. An hour later Susan called them both down for dinner. She had already told Martin about the eye.
"Let me see your eye Scott." He walked over and let his dad examine it. "I hope it didn't do any damage to the eye itself. I guess we won't know until the swelling goes down. You need to be a little more careful."
"Right," was all Scott had to say about it. He turned towards Shelby and raised his eyebrows, grinned and gave a thumbs up gesture. He sat down and the Barringer's began to have a nice family dinner together. They talked about how their day went and Shelby mentioned how Scott was nominated to be on the homecoming court.
Scott added, "Yeah mom I want to take Shelby to the homecoming dance and she needs a dress. I want her to stand out among everyone as the most gorgeous girl."
Shelby looked surprised and just said, "Scott"
"Can I take out some money from my savings account so . . ."
He never got to finish because his father rudely interrupted him" Absolutely not."
"Why not," Scott whined.
"Because that is your college found and you are not touching it until then." Martin was looking at Scott a little weird and said, "You want to tell me again in your own words what happened to your eye at school today?"
"What? I was hit by a doorknob. Didn't mom tell you that?"
Martin had a disgust look on his face. "Than explain the bruises on your knuckles. You were in a fight weren't you?"
Scott didn't say anything. Susan looked over with concern, "Scott, were you in a fight today?"
Scott looked over at Shelby for support, which he knew that she couldn't give him. Martin got up from the table, "You just love to lie to me don't you? Come here." Martin exited the room and Scott followed dragging his feet. Any kind of serious talking at the Barringer house seemed to always take place in Martins den.
He motioned for Scott to sit down. "Why must you keep on testing me? Did you not think that I would eventually find out the truth? Why can't you stay out of trouble?"
Scott who had his head down before, raised it up and looked at his dad. "The school is not going to call home."
"Why not?"
"Because we worked it out already. Everything is fine. I just didn't want you worrying about something that was already taken care of."
"No that's not the reason. You just didn't want me to find out because we had a deal for you to stay out of trouble and you didn't keep your end of the deal. Am I right?"
Scott didn't have any worth while comment to that remark. He just looked away.
"What are we going to do about your temper Scott? What did the other guy look like. I'm I going to be getting a law suit from someone's parent's?"
"No."
"You're grounded. You are not going to homecoming."
Scott set up quickly and objected. "But I have to. I'm on the homecoming court."
"You tell the school tomorrow that you decline and they can just pick someone else."
"But that's not fair."
"And how fair do you want me to be when you have already broken our deal? Have you been fair to me?"
Scott knew that he wasn't going to win this battle. "No, I'm sorry."
"Not as sorry as I am. I really had faith in you that you could show me that you could be a responsible person. It looks like you are going to have to work a little harder."
Scott just shook his head. He left the room with tears in his eyes and went straight up to his bedroom. He flopped down on his bed and cried. He wanted so much for this to be a special day for Shelby. Why is it that whenever someone abuses him, than he must be the one to suffer. A few minutes later he heard a knock on the door. He really didn't want any company but he heard the door open anyway.
Susan came over and sat down on the side of his bed. He was on his stomach with his face burried into his pillow. She stroked the back of his head to try and give some comfort. She softly spoke, "Scott you want to talk?"
"No" came a muffled sound from under the pillow. She could tell that he had been crying because of the way his body heaved. "Come on Scott, turn over here and lets talk.
After a few minutes Scott was able to pull himself together and turn over. His one eye was red and puffy from crying and the other eye was just turning colors.
"Why does he hate her so bad?"
Susan was a bit confused. "Who hates who sweetie?"
"Dad hates Shelby. The only reason why he is grounding me is because he doesn't want me to be seen in public with her."
"That's not true Scott."
"Yes it is. He never talks to her and he never even looks at her. He is so ashamed that it is killing him. He can't control my life forever. You know he didn't even ask me."
"Ask you what?"
"He didn't even ask me why I got in a fight. He just always assumes that it was my fault."
"Tell me Scott. What did the other guy do to you?'
"You see mom. That's the difference between you and dad. You asked what did the other guy do to me and dad asks what did I do to the other guy."
"You know Scott, your dad loves you very much. You are his only son and yes he is afraid of losing you. He's just not ready to give that relationship up to someone else. You need to let him know that you still need him. When was the last time that you and your father spent time together just the two of you? You guys used to go out all the time before. Why don't you spend some time with him and let him know that he hasn't lost you ok?"
"ok"
" I think that if he can realize that you still need him than maybe he'll learn to accept Shelby more. Think about It." she got up and left his room to give him some time to dwell on what she had said.
After awhile Scott went down stairs and saw his father sitting on the coach reading the newspaper.
"Dad?"
Martin looked up from reading, "Yes son?"
"I was wondering when you said that I was grounded if that just meant just for the dance or for home too?"
"What do you want Scott?"
"Well I was wondering if you weren't busy that maybe we could go play some tennis at the country club because it's been a long time since I've played and I wanted to see if I still have my form."
Martin looked a little shocked at the invitation but accepted it with open arms. "Sure I'd love to go play some tennis with you. Maybe I can still whip your butt."
"Dad you've never whipped my butt. I've always whipped yours."
"I feel lucky today."
Scott turned and looked at his mother. She gave him the approving nod.
At the courts Scott and his father played some really good matches. They had a great time together because a lot of stuff was in the past right now. Neither one of them worried about what was really going on in there lives and they enjoyed letting go and braking free from the problems even just for a little while. A neighbor came up to chat with them.
"Hey Martin, hey Scott. It's been a long time since I've seen the both of you out here. So Martin what do you think of Scott getting Gary Wilson kicked off the football team?"
Martin looked confused "What?"
"Man if Scott were my son I would have personally gone over to Gary's house and kicked the shit out of that kid myself. Nobody sets my kid up for a gang rape by a bunch of fags and gets away with it."
Martins mouth just dropped open and he looked over at Scott. The other guy sensed that something was wrong. "What you didn't hear about it? Scott didn't you tell your dad?"
"No"
"Well why the hell not?"
Scott just looked the other way and said," Because he never asked."
Martin grabbed Scott's arm and excused themselves from the other man's presence. They got in the car and Martin started interrogating Scott regarding the situation at school. Once Martin heard the whole story he became compassionate to Scott's feelings. They got home and Scott ran in the house with a bounce in his step. Susan and Shelby were watching T.V. Susan looked up and said, "So how'd it go?" Scott handed her a credit Card. "So what's this?"
"It's a credit card mom. Dad says that you can go buy Shelby a homecoming dress." She smiled and gave him a big bear hug.