Like Pulling Teeth
Dedication : I want to dedicate this chapter to my friend Ashleigh. She helped me create this OC. Also, to Joyful for giving me the idea of bringing in an OC. He is mine, and mine alone…hopefully his appearance will spark some angst.
Koon's POV
I was walking down the hall, and I saw the hockey team congregating in the hall. It was kind of strange for them all to be in one place at this time of day. There was no way through them, so I had to wait until they were done. I couldn't help but hear a bit of the dilemma. So, Adam and Charlie were gay…no biggie, right?
The conversation had set me thinking…Only a year or two ago I had been homophobic. The thought was hard to grasp. Maybe it was denial. I wasn't about to deny myself now. I was bisexual. My masculine side had chosen to prevail up until this point. I dreaded the feminine, and its arrival.
I saw Ken. Ken Wu. I knew him from Advanced Chemistry. He sat in the front pew. I was a considerable bit taller than he was, and my hair was contrasting to his. Mine was brown, dusted with blonde tips. Spiked, naturally. I'd gotten my braces off almost three years ago, and my smile was flawless, or…almost. Ken's was flawless as well. I love smiles; they're so…expressive.
I poked my way through the crowd. Ken and I met up on the other side. He smiled, and I smiled back. I slipped the navy suit coat up over my shoulders, and headed towards class. Advanced Chemistry. I suppose Ken and I must have something in common, if we were taking an accelerated chemistry class. I sat near the back of the classroom. I hadn't known anyone when it came time to chose lab partners. I got stuck with a kind of geeky kid. He wore glasses that you would probably think had to be in layers they were so thick. Naturally, with wide black rims.
I should have sat with Ken.
I wasn't obsessed, not at all. A mere admiration. He seemed so dedicated to his sport. I didn't involve myself in athletics, unless you call bodybuilding a sport. I guess it kind of was, but it was occasional, so…it didn't count. I had on a custom dress-shirt, made of expensive textile. Matching navy dress-pants as well. I hated uniforms. I still do.
I observed the back of Ken's head. He had jet-black hair…in a certain light, it looked almost as if it had a blue tint to it. That alone fascinated me. I was easily amused. My little brother looked up to me, mostly because he had to. My parents, and the entire of my family, was short. Somewhere, there must have been a tall-gene, because I got it. I stood 6'4''…And I was slightly interested on a short guy…nice.
The teacher entered, and the phone rang. He looked around the room, and frowned. After muttering a few "yes" and "no" responses, he set down the speaker.
"Mr. Capuano…please go to the administration."
I nodded, frowning too. Capuano…of all the names that Italy held, I had to get Capuano. It was a nice name, I suppose, but it was so not me. It didn't match my first name at all…My parents decided to go anti-ethnic with my name. It also seemed kind of, rich…like, for a wealthy family. Oh well, I wasn't about to change it any time soon. I made my way through the classroom, intentionally brushing Ken's shoulder, and unintentionally brushing the girl's shoulder on the other side of the isle. She frowned, and looked at the front of the class indignantly. Girls…I thought to myself.
I left the room.
While walking down the hall, I looked into a few classrooms. No harm. I was already known as a smooth, slick, suave, and dirty fox. My name was whispered, as if people didn't want to say it out loud, or their tongues wouldn't allow them to. This bothered me. Big time. I didn't want to be treated 'special'. I wasn't.
I stroked the stubble upon my chin, and cheeks as I peered into the final classroom before the admin.
Inside the room, where a few people I recognized. Julie, Les, Adam, Luis and Charlie were in there. I knew them all from being on the Eden Hall Ducks' Varsity Hockey Team. Ducks, ay? Ducks.
Charlie was captain. He'd changed a lot from the year before. He kept more to himself now. He used to be outgoing. He had sandy-brown hair that swept over his forehead, in a wild manner. His smile was far from flawless, but he wasn't too-too bad looking. It was more the air of confidence that you got from him, or being around him. He seemed kind of, well, cocksure. He spends a lot of time with Adam. Adam was the star hockey player. The best on the team, he was. I didn't know much about hockey, but I knew enough to see that this kid was good. I was surprised to see that he was still here after last year. Now, there was a kid with a lot going on for him. He had a dark shade of golden-blonde hair that he parted in the middle. He'd cut it shorter than it was in his first year, and it made a huge difference. It defined his forehead, and brought his eyes out more. He was strong for his age, with a definite athlete's build.
I'm thinking of becoming an image consultant. People get the idea that I'm vain because I notice what people look like. It's kind of a skill that I don't have control of. When I look at a person, I see all these things, without thinking.
Julie was the goalie of their team. The starting goalie, anyhow. She was an attractive Maine-girl. She didn't have the accent though. I found it hard to believe she was really from Maine. I didn't have an Italian accent either, although I was born in Sicily. I'd worked hard to rid myself of that distinguishing accent, and it worked. She had hair a bit lighter than Adam's, and she was perfect in most aspects of the word. She was athletic, and although she played hockey, she was no tomboy.
Les was one of those people you laugh at, and didn't notice much else about them. He had reddish curly hair, and wore glasses. He was a smart-ass. He didn't know when to keep his mouth shut. He once called me "All brawn and no brain." He'd received his punishment, and that was the last time he ever thought of making fun of me. I didn't like him. I wasn't the type to forgive and forget.
Luis was obviously Latin. He was not dreamy, though a lot of the female population seemed to think he was. I found him annoying. He was an actor, definitely. He could pretend to be innocent one second, and the next, when you turned around, he'd be jeering and making fun behind your back. He was hotheaded, and a major annoyance. He roomed with Adam, but didn't seem to like him too well. He seemed resentful towards the rest of the Ducks.
I walked into the office, after computing the information into my mind. I smiled, putting my hand on the desk and eyeing the secretary behind it. "You called?"
"Kyle Capuano?"
"Koon."
"Forgive me, Koon Capuano?"
"Yeh, that's me."
"Your mother's on the phone."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yes, here." She handed me the phone, and I pressed it reluctantly to my ear.
"Hi mom."
"Hello dear," She cooed.
I groaned softly, "Is something wrong?"
"Well, your father and I are heading back to Sicily. We wanted to let you know, so that you don't get into trouble, and come home early." She had a strange fear that I would get suspended, or expelled. I hadn't done either for the 1 3/4 years that I'd been there. "We'll be leaving tomorrow, and we'll be back the week before you get out of school. Your father's associates are closing a deal, which will take a while, then we're on vacation. We'll be home in time to see you."
I sighed softly. They were always away. The fact that they'd see my come home meant nothing. My father was an important businessman. He didn't talk about his work, not that he ever saw me so he could, but I didn't know anything about what he did. He was too 'secretive'. My mother didn't even know.
At least I had parents, right?
"I love you, Kyle…We'll see you when you get out of school." She sighed.
"Yeah, right." I snapped bitterly.
"Kyle, please don't be like that."
"So, after you get back, when are you leaving next. How long will you stay home this time?" I realized that I was raising my voice. "How long will you stay put until he runs off again?"
"Kyle Geatano Capuano!" She only used my middle name, which I loathed, when she was offended and wanted to make a point. Her voice trembled on the other end. "I will not have you insulting this family's business ordeals over the phone. Your father and I try very hard to provide for you." It was the classic 'appreciate me' speech. "We'll stay home as long as we can, but I can't make any promises. They're already talking about calling a meeting in Rome in late June. We'll do what we can."
I felt a rush of anger sweep me. It took all my strength to keep from breaking something. They'd broken yet another promise. We were supposed to spend the summer together…we hadn't done that since I was six.
"Great, mom. Why bother come home then?" Oops! Did I just say that? I really wanted them to come home…that wouldn't help.
"I thought you wanted to see us."
"I do!"
"Then -"
"I want to see you, yeah. I want you to want to see me. I don't want you to treat me like another associate that you're just flying over to visit for a week. I want us to be a family."
"Would you rather we move back to Italy?" She snapped, knowing what my reaction would be. That was one thing I was consistent with…not wanting to go back to Italy.
"No! I just wish - oh, never mind. It doesn't matter what I want. I'd give up everything that you've 'provided me with' just to have real parents." These words I spat like venom. It was emotional, but I'd been through this so many times before, that I didn't even bother with the crying part.
"Kyle…" I slammed the phone down. I didn't want to hear another speech of hers. I'd heard them all before. She was the only person that I tolerated using my first name. Or my middle, come to think of it. I wouldn't even allow my father to call me Kyle. He'd call me 'Son' or 'Mr. Capuano'…when he was angry.
I smiled briefly at the secretary, acting as if nothing had happened. "Thank you." I muttered.
"Have a good afternoon."
"Yeh…"
As I rounded the corner, I bumped into Charlie. He had his hockey gear, and I'd spilled it all over the floor. He bent down to pick it up, and I gasped. I really loved to tease this kid…
I picked up his hockey stick, smiled, and twirled it in the air, like a ninja would. He frowned at me, and put his hand out for it back. "Give me the stick, Koon."
I smiled innocently, still twirling the stick. I noticed a puck on the ground next to him. Keeping that in mind, I pointed to my ear, shrugging. "Me no speak-a no English."
He glared at me.
I took the puck from next to him with the board side of the stick. I flipped it into the air, over his head, and back to the ground. He sighed exasperatedly. "Okay, Capuano, you win."
I smiled, handing him the stick, after flipping the puck into my hand. I pressed it into his hand with a smirk.
He'd begged me to try out for the hockey team the year before. He thought I had potential in the field. He still wanted me to. "Thanks." He sighed, picking up his bag.
"Any time Conway." I smiled as I walked down the hall. He turned around, and threw the puck at the back of my head. It his my shoulder, and I turned around. I cocked my head, picking up the puck, before sprinting at him. He did a crow's hop, before turning on his heel and running in the other direction. This kid was great!
He dropped his hockey stuff, and ran down the hall. I caught him half way down the corridor, and pinned him with a smile.
"I win again."
He laughed and squirmed. I let him up. We walked together to get his stuff. I thought what an odd friendship this was. I was friends with most of the team, really. Charlie, well, he was really my best friend. I knew I wasn't his best friend, but that didn't bother me much.
I helped him pick up his stuff, and handed him the puck. He nodded towards the arena, I understood. He really never did give up on the 'me playing hockey' idea, and he always tried to bait me. We walked to the arena together, and just outside the door he turned to me, smiling.
"Doesn't the fact that I'm gay bother you?"
I shook my head. He didn't know I was bi. "Not at all…Why should it?"
He shrugged, and opened the door. "You really should think about hockey."
"Nah, it's not my sport, ducky."
He shrugged again, smiled, and disappeared through the door. I walked back to my dorm, bored now.
Maybe I should play hockey…
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AN I know this is a long chapter, but I had to introduce a lot about him. I know he seems a bit cocky in this, but he's really not. I know the name is weird too, but you'll find everything out in time…if he stays. Please tell me what you think of him…If he's really bad, I'll try again with a new OC. FEEDBACK PLEASE! lol thanks.
