Wow. Guys, this is the longest chapter so far in this story. I have been in a crazy mood all night (in a good way) and that has impacted my writing heavily, hence this one's length. We are also building up to a key point in my plans. (Other key points I have notes on were the Homecoming game and the Dance to give an example of past 'key points'.) I don't have much else to say other than I love all of you and I am itching to know what you guys think. Comment/review and all those things.
Love ~~~ CB always.
Chapter 12 – It's All Out Now
Being an away game, there were not as many students from our school at this game as there were at the Homecoming game. Rave and I sat down a few rows up from the bottom of the bleachers. Neither of us wished to be right in the front due to the inability to see anything when the cheerleaders were cheering. Rave preferred to be able to see the whole field, to get a better vantage point of the goings on of the game. We casually spoke to some of the other students who came to watch the game who sat around us while we watched the students from the rival team fill their bleachers on the other side of the field.
Both teams had made it out to the sidelines of the field and were warming up while the cheerleaders giggled off to the side, watching the players. Rave grunted. "One thing I dislike about games like these. The cheerleaders." I looked from Rave to the girls clustered just to the side of the players. Nazz, however, was talking and laughing with Kevin and Nat, away from the rest of the cheerleaders.
"I see nothing wrong with them, Rave. They are just excited about the game right? As are we all." Rave let out a bark of laughter and pat my shoulder gently.
"Oh, Edd. Sometimes, for a genius, you really are naïve." I gave him a soft glare. Rave did have a way of saying whatever was on his mind without being concerned with how it came out. "I just mean that these girls aren't just excited about the game. They enjoy watching it for many reasons. Especially that QB over there." He nodded toward Kevin and he started laughing at my expression. I believe my glare may have been a little stronger than normal. "I'm just telling you how it is, Edd. While I know Kevin cares for you, it doesn't stop the girls from being drawn to the captain of the team, for the same reasons you are drawn to him."
I scoffed and shook my head. "I care about him because he is a nice and sensitive and gentle person." I crossed my legs and my arms and straightened my back to make myself appear resolute in my statement. Rave grinned slyly but turned back to the field.
"Uh huh. His physicality has nothing to do with it. Sure." Before I could respond and defend myself the referee blew his whistle for the teams to take the field and for the coin toss to begin the game. I turned and watched as the two teams took to the field and the game began.
Kevin stood front and center for the coin toss with Flynn standing across from him. "You're on our turf now Barr. Get ready to eat dirt." Kevin rolled his eyes and remained silent, not willing to fall to his taunts. I'll show him who's going to eat dirt. The ref took the coin and flipped it into the air. "Call it, loser." Kevin nodded.
"Alright, tails." The ref caught the coin and revealed it. It was tails and Kevin grinned. "Go a head and kick it for us, Flynn." Flynn muttered under his breath and tossed the ball to his kicker and the teams split up to take their places for the start of the game. Nat jogged over to Kevin and looked at him.
"So how's our dear friend doing today? Still sore about his loss from our last match?" Kevin nodded, knowing how obvious it was that Flynn was still steaming from their last game. "I suppose that's what happens when we kick it into high gear to show them a thing or two about being polite to strangers. Strangers like our two onlookers in the bleachers." Kevin turned to glance up toward the stands and saw Rave and Edd watching them closely. Edd waved to them excitedly and Kevin grinned, not that Edd could see that from where they were. He gave a nod to Edd, something he knew Edd would see, in acknowledgment of his wave. Rave simply watched even when Nat waved back to them. Kevin was pretty sure he could see Rave roll his eyes even from where they were standing. "Aren't they just the cutest Kev?"
Kevin sighed and took his place on the field and pushed Nat in the direction of where he should be positioned. "Focus, Nat. We have a game to win." Nat nodded and grinned through the helmet. Kevin turned his focus onto his opponent across the field and noticed that Flynn was looking off the field as well, but in the direction of the Peach Creek bleachers rather than the home team bleachers. Kevin tried to follow Flynn's gaze to realize that Flynn was looking up toward Rave and Edd as well. "Just great. Is he going to start something this game, too?" He sighed heavily and waited for the ball to come in their direction. When it finally did, the game began.
The game continued on, but Rave and I did not leave our seats when the halftime break started. Rave said the break would not last long since the game was on a Friday and the officials knew that students would have other things they would want to do after the game. He was right. The halftime break was only about ten minutes long. Just long enough to give the players time to catch their breath and rejuvenate and prepare for the second half of the game.
While we waited for the game to start up again, I gave a small wave to Kevin as I saw him take his helmet off to better get a drink of water from a large water bottle seated next to a cooler. From where we sat it was easy to see the sweat that had coalesced on his body and made his bangs stay on his forehead from his helmet hair. I could not help but giggle at his appearance. He smiled back and gave a slight wave of his hand just before a stick thin girl in a short skirt and midriff revealing top with bouncing curly hair jumped in front of Kevin.
I could not make out what was being said, but I watched them closely. I could tell that Kevin was uncomfortable as he rubbed the back of his neck and leaned back, resting on his dominant right leg. He always rubbed the back of his neck when he was embarrassed or uncomfortable. I noticed him do it a few times when we hung out and spent time together. The cheerleader's giggles could be heard from where we were sitting, however.
"Why the sober look, Edd?" Rave's voice snapped me out of my analysis of the two figures down on the field in front of us. I turned to look at Rave and was met with a knowing smirk and collected brown eyes looking back at me through smooth magenta bangs. I crossed my arms and looked away from him. "Now Edd, don't pout. I warned you about the cheerleaders, didn't I?" I sighed and shook my head, the strands of my hair tickling the back of my neck. I rubbed them away. "You're picking up his habits. Careful, don't fall too fast."
My entire face flushed a vibrant red to the point where my neck was red as well. I dropped my hand quickly into my lap and clasped my hands together. "I do not know what you are talking about, Rave." I cleared my throat and tried to steady my breathing and my blood flow in my face. "As for the cheerleaders, I just assumed they would be like Nazz. You know, friends." Rave chuckled but I kept going. "But that one is clearly flirting with Kevin, even if I cannot ascertain what it is they are saying to each other from here." Rave nodded in agreement but did not interrupt me, letting me sort through it on my own. "You're lucky, Rave. They do not appear to be flirting with Nat."
Rave grunted. "I don't know if that means I'm lucky. They do flirt with him occasionally, and he loves every moment of it, but he doesn't hide that he prefers my company. No matter how irritating he may be." He shrugged and leaned back. "They don't know any better when it comes to Kevin, though. As far as those girls know, he's as straight as an arrow and as free as a grocery store sample." I raised an eyebrow at him and could not help but to burst out laughing. He crossed his arms and smiled, satisfied with himself. The referee blew his whistle to announce the end of half time and the game's restart.
The games conclusion was a stressful one, as the West Creek Woodchucks and our Peach Creek Cobblers were tied with each team having a score of twenty-four. There was only two minutes left till the end of the game, but the Cobblers had the ball. I looked to Rave. "Rave, there is not enough time for them to adequately cover the distance they require to make a touchdown." Rave nodded in agreement but he had a knowing grin on his face.
"Don't worry about it. I know what they are planning. Its an easy play, all they need to do is shave some of the distance without losing the ball." I tilted my head, unsure what he meant but we watched the game continue. With thirty seconds left to the game the Cobblers had safely made it to the Woodchucks' thirty-yard line. They altered their line formation and called over another player. "Exactly what I thought they were going to do. That's Goldberg coming up next to Kevin." I watched where Rave was talking about and nodded. I could see Nat's jersey with his last name clearly displayed across his shoulders. "He's the best kicker this side of the state. No one has a better kick than Nat does. They're going to make the punt from there. Assuming Nat doesn't mess it up, they'll gain three more points and that will be that for the game."
I smiled, finally understanding what Rave was talking about. This game had more rules and tricks than I had at first thought possible. The last few seconds were beginning to tick down as Nat jogged back to take his place. He then flew forward so fast that he appeared as a blur and the ball he kicked moved no slower. Attendees held their breath, myself included, while we watched the football soar through the air. I looked over to the scoreboard where the timer was ticking down on the last seconds. I turned just in time to watch the ball fly between the poles granting the Cobblers another three points. The final buzzer went off and our bleachers erupted into a roar of cheers. The team jumped in the field out of excitement and the crowd on the bleachers surged to the field.
Rave and I went down to the field with the rest of the onlookers. The cheerleaders rushed to the team, all cheering and hollering. Nat ran up to Rave taking his helmet off with a big grin on his face. They stood there for a beat, looking at each other, and then Rave rolled his eyes and hugged Nat, not caring that Nat was still in his uniform and sweaty. "Good job Goldberg. Seems you're good for something after all." I gave a small smile and just watched them, but when my eyes went wide and I blushed, I had to turn away. They started kissing right there for everyone to see. I looked around the crowd and no one really seemed to react. Maybe Rave was right; everyone already knew how those two were.
"Well look who we have here." I turned to see players from West Creek walking toward my direction. I realized I was still on the outskirts of the group from my school, quite possibly an unsafe location for my small frame to be staying. I went to walk back into the group but his voice stopped me. "Aw, where you going little boy?" I turned around to see the brute from Homecoming walking at the head of his group of friends, or teammates, or Neanderthals. At this precise moment, I was not choosy with my nouns.
"Mr. Flynn, was it? I apologize for your loss. I suppose the more skilled team won, but you did play well also. You and your teammates played well. Now, if you would excuse me, I'd like to return to my classmates and my friends." I continued to turn away, hoping by some graces of civility that he would allow me to return to the safety of the crowd.
"I don't think so little fag. Why don't we have a little chat? And you can just go to hell for that skilled team bull you just spewed." He stepped closer, but his friends stayed behind him with a grin on their faces. "Now why are you even here? You don't seem to be the sport type." He looked me up and down. "Look more like a nerd who would rather hide out in his empty house rather than come out and enjoy the sun and sports. What? Did your parents never get you outside to play sports? Or did they just get rid of you when they found out you'd rather take the jock instead of be one?" I stopped short and stared at him. How could he know about my house? About my family being gone. I shook my head. He could not know. He was saying things that he thought would receive a rise out of me. That is how bullies worked. Find the sensitive points to push, then proceed to push deeper.
"What's the matter faggot? Don't have a smart mouth response this time do you? I'm right aren't I? You'd rather be done by the whole team than actually play the sport." This got his friends to start laughing and a sickening grin crossed his face. "Can always make that little wet dream come true gay boy." I paled and wretched at the thought of what he was saying. The pain from the dry heave made me follow with a coughing fit that elicited laughter from the other team. Flynn stepped forward a few steps before stopping.
"What's going on here?" I could feel his presence, radiating off of him like heat off of the Sun. I managed to straighten myself and control the coughing. I looked up to Kevin standing next to me, his helmet gone. I turned around to see the rest of the Peach Creek visitors all turning and watching us closely. They knew something was happening because Kevin had interposed himself into the situation. He looked down at me, noticing how pale I looked, my black hair a stark contrast to my skin I am sure. He turned back to Flynn, a spark of anger shining in his green eyes. I could see it in his expression. Flynn only grinned.
"We're only having a nice conversation. Nothing wrong with talking to other students from other schools, is there Barr? Isn't that the sportsman-like thing to do? Get to know people outside of our school?" He crossed his arms and stood casually, a malicious grin strung up on his face.
"Flynn, you wouldn't know what good sportsmanship was if it came and bit you on the ass." Nat stood on my other side, his arms crossed. The two football players on either side of me, still in their uniforms since we had not left the field yet, appeared like to solid walls guarding me.
Rave came up behind me and put his hands on my shoulders. "Edd, are you alright? You don't look too good. Let's go." He tried to pull me away but I remained rooted where I stood, Flynn's words still burning in my mind. Rave looked up to Nat, something unspoken going between them.
"Why don't you guys just go back to your locker room so we can be on our way?" Nazz walked up and stood next to Nat. "Don't be such sore losers. Its not attractive."
Flynn's lips curled and he turned his gaze onto Nazz. "What did you say, bitch?" He turned back to Kevin. "Collar your sluts, Barr." The level of tension radiating through this close group of friends around me began to escalate. I knew Kevin was not going to take what Flynn said lightly, but I was more concerned about Nazz's reaction. She can be frightening when she is angered.
Nazz went to step forward but Nat put his arm in front of her. He shook his head, knowing that this situation was growing far to quickly.
"Come on, Kev, show this big loser who's the boss." The curly blonde cheerleader walked over to Kevin's other side and put her hand on his shoulder made broader by the football gear. She pushed herself up against Kevin. I turned away, ashamed. I should have known better than to get my hopes up. A small sigh escaped me as I could feel a tear slide down my cheeks. What a fool I was to think I even stood a chance.
Rave gave me a soft shake as his hands were still protectively holding my shoulders. I looked up at him and he nudged his head in Kevin's direction. I turned to look over to Kevin and blinked, confused. The look on Kevin's face was not what I expected. Was that disgust? I looked up to Rave and he gave me a knowing glance, then returned his focus onto the opposing team in front of us. I heard Nazz scoff from my other side over near Nat. She was looking over toward Kevin and the other girl and rolled her eyes. She caught my eyes and raised an eyebrow. She mouthed something to me. It looked like 'Don't worry about it.'
"Listen Flynn, get lost before you hurt yourself. And you say one more word about any of my friends, and I will have to deck you one." Kevin cracked his knuckles and the blonde on his arm giggled. He tried to subtly shrug her off but she remained attached like a leech. It was not obvious that he was trying to shake her, but I had come to learn his subtle and unconscious movements while observing him. I need a hobby.
Flynn shrugged in response. "Alright, alright, Barr. You win. We'll go. Just be happy you won this game, man. We won't let you win the next one." He turned and ushered his team away. "Come on guys, let's let the faggot lovers get back to their school."
I could hear grinding behind me and when I looked to see what it was, Rave's jaw was clenched so tight that his teeth were grinding. "Rave, that is not healthy for your teeth. I strongly suggest you desist clenching that hard."
Rave nodded and visibly attempted to relax his jaw. "Yeah, I know. I just hate people who talk like that."
"We all do." Kevin's voice was deep and consoling. He turned around to face me. "Are you really alright, Dork? What did he say to you? You really don't look too good." I shook my head. I did not wish to think anymore on what that ruffian had said.
"Aw Kev! That was great! This is why you're the football captain! Even if you're only a Junior." The blonde spun Kevin back around so that he was facing her and her peppy voice carried far enough that I am sure Flynn's team could hear her. "That big jerk had no idea who he was messing with."
Nazz walked over to me and whispered quietly so only Rave and I could hear, but by Rave's reaction he already knew who she was. "Don't mind her, Double D. Mickenna Tress, a senior. She likes to make her rounds through top performing sport teams, and at this point in the school year, our football team is doing really well, so…" She looked over to where Mickenna and Kevin were talking.
Rave laughed. "Pretty sure the only ones she has conquered on the football team have been Nat and Kevin. She knows better than to go after Nat."
Nat grinned as he walked closer to us. "Yeah, you would have her blonde curls melted down for paint." Rave rolled his eyes and before I could remark about how that was scientifically impossible, Rave continued speaking.
"And she's been saving Kevin for last. Season winning quarter back, so far anyways, and football team captain, she's saving the best for last." I looked down at the ground and Rave gave me another shake. "Hey, get out of your head. What did we talk about earlier and what did Nazz just say. She's nothing to worry about." I gave a weak nod but did not lift my head up from my downward gaze.
"Aw come on Kev, let's go celebrate your win!" Mickenna was happily bouncing in front of Kevin, sure she'd be able to nap the last one on her list.
Kevin shook his head. "Sorry, Mickenna. I have plans tonight. Nat is having a Halloween party we need to get to. It starts in a couple hours so we want to get cleaned up and changed." The lights in Mickenna's eyes could not get brighter if she had a high beam setting.
"A Halloween party! Oh, I'd love to come, Kev! Come on, I have the perfect costume idea so I can be ready really quickly!" She grabbed Kevin's hand and started to pull him back toward the bus that was due to take the team and cheerleaders back to the school. Nat gave Kevin a 'way to go' look and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Nazz put her hands on her hips and looked at Kevin with an eyebrow raised.
Kevin planted his feet and pulled his hand free from her grip. "Listen, Mickenna, I'm flattered, but I already have a date for Nat's party and it's a closed party. I can't just go inviting people since its not at my place." She turned and looked at Kevin, confused.
"Who are you going with then? You can't be going with Nazz, she already has a boyfriend." Nazz blushed at the mention of her relationship but she did not say anything. "And you haven't really been going around with any other girl, Kev." Mickenna put her hands on her hips. "And turning down a Senior is a bad move. So let's get going Kevin." She held out her hand, waiting for him to take it to follow her.
Kevin shrugged and shook his head. "Sorry, but my answer is no." He walked back over to us and stood in front of me. "Hey, Dork, you ready to go?" I looked up to him, blushed and gave a small nod.
"But Kevin, are you and Nat not supposed to go back to the school on the bus?" I fidgeted with my hands, feeling all the eyes of the onlookers fixated on us.
Kevin shook his head. "Nah, coach won't care if we tell him we are heading out with our friends. We just need to get our stuff off of the bus. Coming with, Nat? Nazz? You don't mind, do you Rave?" Nat and Nazz both nodded and Rave sighed and pointed to Nat and Kevin.
"You two need to at least get out of those uniforms. You can shower later when we get you back to Nat's, but my car is not big enough for you two to still wear those." Kevin laughed.
"Yeah, dude, no problem. We'll get the shoulder pads off and throw them in your trunk…"
"Kevin Barr! You will not ignore me like I don't exist like this! You're telling me you're going to that party with all of them? They aren't your date! You need someone like me to be date worthy." Mickenna was tapping her foot in irritation on the ground.
Kevin sighed and turned to look back to her. "I told you, I have a date already. And they are much more attractive, in my opinion." I do not think Mickenna could have looked anymore insulted if she tried. While fixated on Mickenna's morphing expressions, I did not notice that Kevin was leaning forward in front of me. "Double D, you're my date right?" My eyes went wide and I do think I saw Mickenna's expression get more insulted, and red. Very red.
"Well, you were the one who asked me to go, so…" I blushed and did not look back over to Mickenna, knowing it would be the end of me. "That would indeed make me your… Date." Rave let go of my shoulders with a shove, which pushed me into Kevin. He wrapped his arms around me, his smell exquisite, even after the game. I looked up to his face, his hair still stuck to his face.
Mickenna was shaking. "You have GOT to be kidding me, Kev. You canNOT tell me that you are serious about taking him to a party thrown by one of the wealthiest families in our town." At that I think I saw a prideful gleam in Nat's eyes, at least from what I could see from where I was being held. I did clearly see, however, Rave punch Nat's arm. "He's a nerd, let alone a boy! You're going to turn down going with a Senior to go with a nerdy Junior boy!? What is he, your pity project?!" Her voice was getting louder, but most of the other onlookers had already left, surely with better things to do on a Friday than witness this. There were a few still lingering, wanting to see how this event was going to end.
Kevin growled, but did not release his grip on me. "Listen here, Mickenna. This is far from a pity date." I felt a gloved hand tip my face up to look up at him. He smiled down at me and I smiled back up to him. Then I felt the warmth of his lips on mine and my eyes went wide with shock. Slowly, I relaxed and wrapped my arms around his neck and closed my eyes. Mickenna screamed in anger and stormed off to the busses, Nazz cheered and laughed, Nat and Rave high fived and both of them said "about time" at the same time. We pulled away slowly and smiled at each other. I was beat red but let go of him.
"Mr. Barr… Should we not be getting on our way? If so, you need to go collect your things from the same bus that senior stormed off to." Kevin swore under his breath, realizing I was right and Nat laughed. Nazz rolled her eyes and pushed Nat and Kevin toward the bus. She called back to Rave and I.
"We'll be in the parking lot in a couple minutes. We'll find your car, Rave." He waved in response and looked over to me. He nodded for me to follow him as we walked toward the parking lot and his car.
"Well, Edd, Feel better now?" Honestly, I had no words for how I felt in that moment. Nothing I could come up with could adequately and satisfactorily equate to the feeling I had at that moment. Rave grinned when I did not say anything. "Yeah, that's what I thought. Better get ready. Things are going to change now. There is no hiding from what's coming now." I nodded in agreement. He was right. Kevin had openly kissed me in front of many of our peers. There was no doubt in where we stood now. Yet, at the same time, Kevin had managed to anger a socially powerful Senior. Things were going to change.
Rave and I waited at the car for our three friends to meet us there. When they finally arrived, Kevin and Nat threw their gym bags into the trunk of Rave's car. Nat took the front passenger seat with a happy flop into the car. I sat in the middle of Nazz and Kevin since I was small in stature and would not easily be made uncomfortable. Nazz had only had two small bags. One that had her school clothes in it and the other had what she needed for her costume. She put them both on the floor at her feet. Kevin sat down in the car with his arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer to him. He still had on his jersey from the game, but I did not mind. I lie my head down on his shoulder and he smiled down at me. He wrapped his free hand with mine and kissed the top of my head through my beanie. Nat grinned and turned around to look at us.
"Alright you two, get a room!" Rave back handed him on the chest while he drove and Nazz kicked the back of his seat. Nat laughed harder and Kevin rolled his eyes. I relaxed in the crook of his arm and enjoyed his smell, his warmth. I was happy, blissfully at peace with my life, and surrounded by people that I knew I could trust. I would not change that moment for anything. The drive to Nat's place was far too short in my opinion, but we all had a party to get ready to partake in.
Flynn watched the altercation between Barr and that curly blonde cheerleader from behind the home team bleachers. He smiled as he reported what he saw to his friends in the locker room. "So Barr is gay and is attached to that little nerdy faggot." He laughed as he changed and showered in the locker room. His friends laughed as they all told jokes, but Flynn was focused on something else. He was too busy to pay attention to their jokes. "I'll make you pay, Barr."