Chapter 2: Know your contemporary ally
"He moved here two days ago, I seen him as he was walking in." Sky said
"What's he like Sam?"
Sam studied the youth for a moment, then said, "Likes rock, punk rock. Minor rap fan, plays some sport. And judging by the calluses on his hands, he either plays an instrument, or jacks off a lot."
The other two laughed. Sam stopped the guy.
"What's your name?" Sam asked.
"Jack, as in 'go jack yourself off'." The guy replied
Sam chuckled, "I don't need to, I got the real thing."
The guy replied, "Your mother doesn't count."
"No, but your mom does."
The guy hesitated for a moment, then smiled. "Kevin, Kevin Allan."
"Sam Portnoy." the two shook hands.
Introductions were passed, then Sam led Kev through the halls of Townsend High.
"Where ya from?" Sam asked.
"Around Atlanta. My mother got a job here as manager of Horehound Foods. Better pay."
"I see. Ever lived in a small town before?"
"No."
"You should get to like it here. It's peaceful, quiet, somewhat private."
"What do you mean?"
"If something leaks out, then everyone finds out about it. If you, say, fuck the hottest chick here, 24 hours later, damn near every person in the school will find out about it. So, if you have secrets, keep them to yourself."
"Thanks for the info."
"No prob, any siblings?"
"A sister, two years younger."
"Sophomore?"
"Junior."
"I take it you play an instrument?"
"Guitar and keyboard. My sis plays drums."
Sam chuckled, "Odd."
"You play?"
"Yes, guitar. I also sing."
"No shit, you got a band?"
"Yes, called Stranglehold."
"Nice, speaking of nice, that chick back there. Who is she?"
"Sky, she is nice man."
"I'd like to have her. She a virgin?"
"No, I took her cherry three years ago."
Kev laughed, Sam harden his look a bit.
"I'd still like to have her. She's fine."
"You can try man. Just be yourself."
"Ok."
The two stopped by a trophy case. It was full, awards for football, basketball, baseball, and academics. Kev noticed Sam's picture and a plaque for his football achievements.
"You were on the gridiron?"
"Only a year. I'm a legend, most yards rushing in a season and career, most touchdowns, and most punt and kick returns for a touchdown."
"Damn, what happened?"
"First season game last year. Us against Brant. I take a run down the middle, for the TD. I jump and land. Touchdown. Two guys come down on my right kneecap. Shatters it. In a cast for 3 months. 7 surgeries later, in March, I'm cleared to play sports again. By that time, I've decided to give up on it. My leg still hurts like FUUCK from time to time."
"Damn dude. Sorry if I pissed ya off back there"
"It's ok. I prefer a good exchange of insults now and then."
The bell rung. Everyone started to their homeroom.
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Sam took a seat in Jack Thorne's Biology and Physics room. Thorne was his favorite teacher, and he was glad to have him as his homeroom and physics teacher this year.
"Welcome back, y'all." Thorne said as he walked through the door.
Jack Thorne was about 60 years old, with lightly graying hair and fine rimmed, square glasses. A former high school football player, Thorne had never lost his physical health. On most Fridays, you could see him arm-wrestling the football players in his class. Most of the time, he won. His lively personality, coupled with his "straight and fat free" way of teaching, earned him the respect of students and Most Popular teacher award year after year.
"Alright," Thorne said, glancing up from a roll call sheet, "looks like your all here, except for a Kevin Allan."
At that moment, Kev walked in.
"You Kevin Allan?" Thorne asked.
Kev nodded.
"Alright, take a seat Kev."
Kev sat behind Sam.
"Ok, I'm gonna pass out your schedules and book contracts. Contracts back by Wednesday. We play Woodside Friday at home."
Kev looked at his schedule. Algebra 2, English 11, Government, and Physics.
"Same schedule." Sam said, looking over at Kev.
"Is that good or bad?" Kev asked.
"You'll find out." Sam responded.
The intercom buzzed, and the voice of guidance counselor Stacy Levine announced, "At the sound of the bell, students will report to their first block class."
"He moved here two days ago, I seen him as he was walking in." Sky said
"What's he like Sam?"
Sam studied the youth for a moment, then said, "Likes rock, punk rock. Minor rap fan, plays some sport. And judging by the calluses on his hands, he either plays an instrument, or jacks off a lot."
The other two laughed. Sam stopped the guy.
"What's your name?" Sam asked.
"Jack, as in 'go jack yourself off'." The guy replied
Sam chuckled, "I don't need to, I got the real thing."
The guy replied, "Your mother doesn't count."
"No, but your mom does."
The guy hesitated for a moment, then smiled. "Kevin, Kevin Allan."
"Sam Portnoy." the two shook hands.
Introductions were passed, then Sam led Kev through the halls of Townsend High.
"Where ya from?" Sam asked.
"Around Atlanta. My mother got a job here as manager of Horehound Foods. Better pay."
"I see. Ever lived in a small town before?"
"No."
"You should get to like it here. It's peaceful, quiet, somewhat private."
"What do you mean?"
"If something leaks out, then everyone finds out about it. If you, say, fuck the hottest chick here, 24 hours later, damn near every person in the school will find out about it. So, if you have secrets, keep them to yourself."
"Thanks for the info."
"No prob, any siblings?"
"A sister, two years younger."
"Sophomore?"
"Junior."
"I take it you play an instrument?"
"Guitar and keyboard. My sis plays drums."
Sam chuckled, "Odd."
"You play?"
"Yes, guitar. I also sing."
"No shit, you got a band?"
"Yes, called Stranglehold."
"Nice, speaking of nice, that chick back there. Who is she?"
"Sky, she is nice man."
"I'd like to have her. She a virgin?"
"No, I took her cherry three years ago."
Kev laughed, Sam harden his look a bit.
"I'd still like to have her. She's fine."
"You can try man. Just be yourself."
"Ok."
The two stopped by a trophy case. It was full, awards for football, basketball, baseball, and academics. Kev noticed Sam's picture and a plaque for his football achievements.
"You were on the gridiron?"
"Only a year. I'm a legend, most yards rushing in a season and career, most touchdowns, and most punt and kick returns for a touchdown."
"Damn, what happened?"
"First season game last year. Us against Brant. I take a run down the middle, for the TD. I jump and land. Touchdown. Two guys come down on my right kneecap. Shatters it. In a cast for 3 months. 7 surgeries later, in March, I'm cleared to play sports again. By that time, I've decided to give up on it. My leg still hurts like FUUCK from time to time."
"Damn dude. Sorry if I pissed ya off back there"
"It's ok. I prefer a good exchange of insults now and then."
The bell rung. Everyone started to their homeroom.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sam took a seat in Jack Thorne's Biology and Physics room. Thorne was his favorite teacher, and he was glad to have him as his homeroom and physics teacher this year.
"Welcome back, y'all." Thorne said as he walked through the door.
Jack Thorne was about 60 years old, with lightly graying hair and fine rimmed, square glasses. A former high school football player, Thorne had never lost his physical health. On most Fridays, you could see him arm-wrestling the football players in his class. Most of the time, he won. His lively personality, coupled with his "straight and fat free" way of teaching, earned him the respect of students and Most Popular teacher award year after year.
"Alright," Thorne said, glancing up from a roll call sheet, "looks like your all here, except for a Kevin Allan."
At that moment, Kev walked in.
"You Kevin Allan?" Thorne asked.
Kev nodded.
"Alright, take a seat Kev."
Kev sat behind Sam.
"Ok, I'm gonna pass out your schedules and book contracts. Contracts back by Wednesday. We play Woodside Friday at home."
Kev looked at his schedule. Algebra 2, English 11, Government, and Physics.
"Same schedule." Sam said, looking over at Kev.
"Is that good or bad?" Kev asked.
"You'll find out." Sam responded.
The intercom buzzed, and the voice of guidance counselor Stacy Levine announced, "At the sound of the bell, students will report to their first block class."