Chapter 4: Smoke Signals by Star

Portman's POV

Our dorm room is silent. We've had our stereo confiscated.

I think they're regretting letting us room together. Fulton was sharing with Mike, a scientific genius. They had nothing in common, and Fulton woke him up constantly with getting up for early practices and coming in late from games.

Well, that's Eden Hall's reason for letting us room together.

The real reason is politics. We're now a winning team, they want to keep us happy. And I'm not complaining.

Except about the lack of stereo. Fulton really should have told me the walls were paper thin before letting me play Rob Zombie.

"So, what have I missed so far this term?" I ask to break the silence.

He snorts. I've been back ten days and it's only just occurred to me to ask what I've missed. I'm a 'live for the moment' kinda guy, and right now this moment is boring me.

"Very little," he says, then reconsiders. "Well, a few things. Banks made Varsity—"

"I bet Charlie was thrilled about that," I interrupt, and he gives me this look. A kind of baffled, yet all-knowing look.

"Yeah, big fight."

"I can imagine Charlie's reaction. First he loses Coach Bombay and then his bo—best friend." Damn it! Careful. I'm probably the only person on the team who's noticed, and I don't want to be the one to set of rumors. There were plenty after the Junior Goodwill Games. I don't think they were actually together then, but after spending the past ten days observing them, I'm pretty sure they are now.

I don't want to start rumors. I think if they are together, good for them. It will come out eventually, but not from me. Could you imagine the reaction? Big Dean Portman makes an offhand comment and all of a sudden I'm a gay basher. That's how it would go. Guys like me aren't supposed to have brains or sensitivity. We're supposed to knock people about on the ice and sweet-talk a girl into doing our homework.

There's no way that any comment from me would be understood as supportive.

"Yeah. You should have seen them fight during our unofficial grudge match. It was totally personal," He agrees.

"But they've made up now."

"Yeah," he nods. "Closer than ever."

I give him a look, and wonder if Fulton has noticed it too. I'm thinking maybe he has, bearing in mind he's got an 'oh hell, did I say that out loud?' look on his face. It's on the tip of my tongue to ask him to define his comment, but I decide not to.

He shifts uncomfortably and I realize I'm staring at him. "So, who was the chick waiting for Charlie?" I ask, trying to break the discomfort. "And why did he run off at the speed of light?"

Now, see, I tried to change the subject, and still here I am. I'm not obsessed. But it would be fair to say it was more than idle curiosity.

"Linda?" He asks. "Some girl he got talking to, I think he was trying to make someone jealou—" He stops and shrugs. "Just some girl."

Jealous? Who would he make jealous? I haven't seen Charlie with anyone but Banks. I don't think anyone else has either. Which means, a) I'm overlooking something; or b) I'm not the only person on the team with eyes.

I've got to get myself a life. Here I am, Sherlock Holmes-ing about a team-mate's possible homosexuality. Maybe I should redirect my inner detective towards myself. And my lack of girlfriend. And my lack of interest.

Or not. "Who was he trying to make jealous?" I obviously don't want to ponder my own life for the time being, so I'll revert to Charlie and Adam's.

Fulton shrugs and gets up. "I'm probably way off. Why don't we go see the Dean, see if we can get the stereo back if we promise him a win in our next game?"

I sigh. He doesn't want to talk about it. "Nah, I'm comfortable," I reply and sprawl back on my bed.

Strangely, he sits back down on his bed. "Well, who do you think he was trying to make jealous?"

Ok, the ball is back in my court. "I've only ever seen him spend much time with one person," I say casually.

"Well, it was probably that person," he tells me. "Or at least, that's what I think."

I sigh again. If I wanted subtext, I'd watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Still, despite my irritation with the situation, I'm not exactly falling over myself to ask him out loud, am I?