Chapter 17

Saturday dawned crisply. Kevin could see his breath on the air as clearly as the net at the end of the field. In the back of his mind, he knew Edd and Wilhelmina were sitting in the stands, wrapped in a blanket, probably sipping coffee, and waiting for the game to begin. But he couldn't think of that now. Chris and Jake were standing at center field for the coin toss, and Kevin was stretching to keep his muscles loose and ready.

Coach's pep talk had been awkwardly focused. "Now, you boys know I don't care what goes on in your personal lives as long as you leave it on the sidelines when the whistle blows. Lately, some of you haven't been; you've been distracted. I'm telling you now: leave it there today, for God's sake. Opinions, stress, family problems, relationships, leave them behind and show me what it means to be a team."

Kevin was trying to do just that, but Chris had tripped him as they walked onto the field. When he offered a gloved hand to help him up, he hissed a venomous, "Fag." Much as he hated to admit it, Chris and the rest of the guys on the team were in his head.

A silver flash, barely noticable, flipped in the air and the referee pointed toward their end of the field. They'd be on the offense. Kevin nodded and looked at Coach for direction.

"Okay, you know your positions. Let's do this right boys. It's the closest we've come in years and I don't intend to go home without a good fight. Everybody ready?" A collective nod around him. "Then get to your places and make me proud."

Kevin took his place at center midfield. He bounced his shoulders nervously and waited for the whistle to blow. Jason stood at the front, ready for the kick off. He nodded to Kevin and Kevin prepped himself to receive a pass as soon as the whistle blew. He took a deep breath, and as he let it out, a shrill blast split the air. A cloak fell over him and everything else went out of his head, his mind found the zone he played in. He caught the pass with his right foot and kicked it out to the sidelines where Marcus awaited. He sprinted up the field, ready for the rest of the play.

Edd and Wilhelmina sat in the stands, wrapped in a blanket, sipping coffee, as Kevin thought they would be. "How as Kevin last night?" she asked once they were situated, huddled together against the November cold.

Edd shook his head. "It took hours to get him calmed down. He was so wound up, I believe there is a bare spot in our carpet from where he paced."

She nodded sympathetically. "Jason was the same way. He's really afraid that Kevin's going to quit the team after the game today." She stayed quiet for a moment and took a sip from the paper cup. "Do you think he will?"

He shrugged. "I hope not but I honestly could not say one way or the other. He said they aren't playing together as well as they were and he thinks he's the reason. I know that he and the coach had a discussion earlier in the week. He wants an answer by the end of the semester." He fiddled with the cup in his hands. He didn't particularly want the drink, but it felt nice between his palms and kept his fingers from freezing.

"I know. That's part of the reason he was so nervous. He thought that Coach would be able to convince him to stay, but well, he didn't even try. He just told Kevin to make a decision and well...God you already know. I'm sorry I'm babbling."

He smiled. "Are you alright?"

She chewed her lip. "Yeah. Just nervous I guess. I uh—well you know, I'm just—" She shook her head and went back to the cup.

"Wilhelmina?"

She smiled. "I want them to win. I want him to be—I want him to be happy tonight."

He raised his eyebrows.

"We haven't um—slept together yet. I was hoping tonight—I mean, I thought maybe, if he were in a good mood, we might."

He nodded with a small smile. "That makes sense."

"When did you and Kevin first?"

He blushed. "We haven't, not yet at least. Because I haven't—ever." His face felt hot and he chewed on the rim of the paper cup. "It's not as if we don't want to but—I uh—that is—I'm rather nervous and—he well, he understands but—"

"Oh god. I'm sorry. No, I knew you hadn't before but I just—I thought with him, since you've known each other so long—shit. Sorry I didn't want to make you feel awkward. God I was trying to gauge a normal relationship, because I'm so obviously fucked up with them and—don't think I'm a slut, okay?"

He laughed softly. "If I haven't yet, do you really think that I'll start to think of you so? I don't know what normal relationships look like, but—we've been going by hmmm...what feels right for us? I guess that's the best way to put it. Since I'm new to it all, slower is better. But you both have before, and not that it won't be special but I assume it's a least a little less nerve wracking when you know at least some of what to expect—?"

"It is. Kind of. It's hard to explain. I'm just really nervous I'm going to mess this up by rushing into it."

"I know what you mean. You actually like him, don't you?"

She shrugged. "Yeah, maybe. I don't know. He's different than other guys I've dated, and I like that. I don't want to say I like him too early, cause I'm not real sure, but he's got something special." She sipped her coffee and glanced at the field. "Oh look! They're getting into position. Looks like the game's about to start."

The whistle blew and they watched as Jason passed back to Kevin, who took it up the field a few steps before passing up to Marcus. Edd couldn't tell they had been playing poorly, they seemed to be reading each other's minds as they effortlessly took the ball upfield. Marcus passed to Harry who passed back to Kevin. Kevin wound back and made a shot on goal. A collective groan rumbled through the crowd when the goalie blocked and returned it to one of the opposing team's midfielders.

The opposing team managed to take the ball to the center line before Jason stole it back and passed up to Kevin, who took it back up field for a second shot on goal, this time to a thunderous appaulse when it arced high, brushing the tips of the keeper's gloves before sinking neatly into the net. The whistle blew and they returned to center field.

The game continued without another score until half time. The teams returned to their locker rooms, covered in sweat and mud.

"So when's your swim test?" Wilhelmina asked.

"On Monday."

"Are you nervous?"

Edd shook his head, indicating neither yes or no. "A little. Kevin says I'm ready, but I'm not as certain. The coach said I needed to know freestyle, back stroke, and the breast stroke to pass. My breast stroke is sloppy still."

"I'm sure it's not as bad as you think it is. Kevin wouldn't lie to you to save your feelings. Especially if his grade is on the line as well as yours."

He nodded. "I know. But he may not see things as clearly as someone else."

"You mean, you think his feelings might get in the way of seeing whether or not you're any good?"

"Precisely."

She thought on it, finishing her coffee with a gulp and a cringe. "Got cold," she said by way of explanation. "Anyway, I don't think he would. I'm sure you'll do just fine."

The second half started and there seemed to be a change on the field. Where the game had been tense in the first half, it now seemed to be angry and even dirty. It started innocently enough; a trip that may have been a foot misplaced while trying to steal the ball, a grab that could have been an accident, a shove that may not have been what it looked like. But as the minutes passed, the fouls became less and less covert. And the referee seemed blind to it all. Taking the ball upfield, Marcus received a blow to the ribs from the elbow of an overzealous defender. Kevin was tripped and actually tumbled head over feet at midfield. The other team managed to score after that trip. And in the last few minutes, a defensive player slide tackled Jason as he approached the keeper to take a shot on goal.

Wilhelmina screamed as fell down, and clutched at Edd when he stayed down. "He's going to be okay, right? Please say he's going to be alright."

The whistle blew and the crowd fell silent.

Edd shook his head. He didn't want to say it, but he did. "It looks like he's hurt."

On the field, Kevin, who had been closest, was kneeling next to him, obviously saying something but at the distance from which they watched it was indiscernable. The coach made it out, as did a medic. After several minutes consultation, Kevin and the medic helped Jason up and he limped off the field, obviously favoring his right leg, as he leaned heavily on the medic. The crowd respectfully apaulded.

The referee showed a yellow card at the offending player and indicated that Kevin would be taking a penalty shot for Jason from the site of the incident. When the whistle blew again, Kevin took the shot. It sail through the air toward the net, but it was caught by the keeper and tossed back out into play. The player who had tackled Jason caught the toss with his chest and took it up field, dodging players smoothly. Kevin chased after him, attempting to cleanly take the ball away, but he never got the opportunity. The defenders did their best, but as one got close the offending player, he passed. As the ball cleared the defenders, he ran past to take a pass and make a shot on goal. The ball caught in the net and the crowd groaned. The teams regrouped to another kick off but the clock ran out after two more minutes. They had lost.

Edd followed Wilhelmina quickly as she rushed down the bleachers and toward the enterance to the locker room where Jason sat on a stretcher. She leaned over the raised bed and kissed him, first on the lips then the forhead. "What are you still doing here? I was going to grab Kevin and the three of us were going to head to the hospital to see you.

Jason grimaced. His knee was bound and set. "I wanted to see the end of the game. Begged them to let me watch. Tough break on that last goal."

The EMT looked over. "You ready to go? If that's a torn ACL then we need to get you off as soon as possible."

"One more minute." He reached for Wilhelmina's chin and pulled her forward for another kiss. "Don't look like that," he murmured. "It's not that bad. Really, you don't need to worry too much. I'll see you at the hospital, okay?"

She nodded, kissed him one more time, and watched him be loaded into the ambulance. When they pulled away, she sighed and turned to Edd, who had turned away while they were saying goodbye. "Let's get Kevin and get over, alright?"

"Certainly. I wonder where he is. I'm fairly certain I saw the rest of his team departing sullenly moments ago."

Wilhelmina looked around and realized how empty the stadium had become. A few people milled about sweeping up garbage and generally closing things up. "That's weird. He wouldn't have left without us, would he?"

Edd shook his head. "Maybe Coach held him after to talk about next season? I'll try to call him." He took out his phone and dialed. It rang until voicemail picked up. "No answer. That's weird...he always answers, even if he's doing something, he'll text back immediately to say what's up." He tried dialling again and still received no answer. He chewed his lip and resolved. "I'm going to go check the locker room. Maybe we missed him on the way out or he's talking to coach, but something just doesn't seem right."

"I'm coming too."

Edd glanced at her as he walked in. "Are you allowed?"

She rolled her eyes. "Does it matter? Who's going to stop me?"

He nodded and they walked back.

The locker room looked empty as they entered. Half the lights were off and no one seemed to be around. "Kevin?" Edd called into the empty room. They picked their way through the rows of lockers and equipment, calling every once in a while to be sure he wasn't there and hadn't heard. As they neared the back of the room and the showers, they heard a groan. "Kevin?" Edd nearly shrieked into the showers. He half ran in, careful not to slip on the wet floor. "Oh my God," he gasped.

Wilhelmina came up behind him quickly and uttered a small scream.

Kevin lay on the floor, barely covered in a towel. He was bruised and bloody and Edd thought that his left arm looked like it was at an odd angle. His nose bled, pooling on the tiled floor, and his breath was raspy and pained.

Edd kneeled down next to Kevin. "Call nine-one-one," he snapped at his friend.

She was already half way there, pulling her phone out of her pocket. She walked just outside the showers so that Edd could adjust the casually thrown towel.

Before he could move the towel, Kevin seemed to come to a little. He groaned again and started to move, attempting to sit up.

"Don't," Edd said, pushing firmly on his shoulders. "Just stay still. We've called for help. We don't want you to hurt yourself more than you are."

"Okay," he gasped.

"I'm going to cover you better, you're towels is slipping." He moved to adjust the towel.

Kevin chuckled to himself but it sounded pained, almost like a bad winter cough. "If you wanted to see me naked, Dork, you could have asked."

Edd bit his lip and took his boyfriend's hand.

Wilhelmina stepped back in. "They'll be here in a few minutes."

They waited tensely until they heard the EMTs coming in the locker room. Wilhelmina ran to the front to bring them back as quickly as possible. As they moved Kevin onto the stretcher, he passed out again with a gasp in what Edd could only imagine to be pain. Edd didn't let go of Kevin's hand until they pressed him up into the ambulance. He stared after it as it pulled away from the curb.

Wilhelmina tapped him on the shoulder. "Come on, my car is just around the block. We'll meet them both there now I guess."

"He nodded. I'm sorry that your night with Jason is ruined."

She shrugged and bounced her keys at they walked. "It'll happen eventually. Or it won't. I'm not too worried about that right now. I think there are more important things right now."