I leaned over and held my knees as I panted out some short breaths. Sweat was dripping from my brows, and I had to wipe them, because that last game was a killer. Man was I tired. That guy I had gone up against was good, and he had just kicked my ass over that set of five. I was supposed to be the king of squash, but this little skinny guy just came in and beat me three to two. I almost had that last match, but he snatched that victory out from under me right at the last moment. Now I've got to give him a free six-month membership to the center. Anyone that beats me here gets that one time offer, but...I ain't looking forward to it. Almost no one beats me at my own game. Son of a bitch, he worked me over good.
My name's Dane. I'm twenty-six, white, six-foot-one and broad shouldered with some good muscle from years of weight-lifting and sports. I've got brown eyes with short, light-brown hair that I like to keep a little ruffled on top. For this match I was dressed in my red sport's T, the kind with the breathable air holes, along with my white shorts, socks, and sneakers. I like to play light and fast in my games. Keeps me from overexerting myself.
I help my older brother run the community center here in town, and we get a lot of students coming in from the local college, and I'm pretty sure this guy that just beat the shit out of me is a student from there.
He was a skinny thing, white like myself, probably a couple of years younger than me, about five-eleven, with a good athletic muscle-tone to him. He had a thin, really effeminate face and a higher-pitched voice than I was used to, but whatever. He had blue eyes, ocean blue, I guess; I'm not into dudes, but those eyes were memorable, really stood out. He had short black hair that was really spiky on top, that kind of style you only see in those Japanese cartoons, the kind where their superheroes knock down buildings with their fists and shit. Not a mullet, nothing like that. His hair was short all around his face except for on top, and that style also stood out, memorable like his eyes. He had a little diamond stud in each earlobe, something I wouldn't fucking do, so he had balls, that's all I can say. I wouldn't look like that out in public.
He was dressed in a blue tank-top with a big white #1 on it and matching blue shorts with white stripes down the sides. He had on blue socks and blue sneakers, so I guess his favorite color was blue...Red vs. Blue...Funny. I mean, he dressed like a normal jock, so at least he had that going for him.
All I know is he had moves when it came to my game, and I had thought I was the best at squash. I had been considering entering some tournaments, but I guess I'll have to put that on hold until I improve my skills. If some rando off the street can beat me, that doesn't say much for me, huh?
"I did it!" grinned this guy, this skinny little turd. "Now pay up, my man. I get a free six-month membership."
"Yeah, yeah," I said as I stood back up and waved him off. "You'll get it...You're a cocky little shit, you know that?"
This guy just laughed at me, shook his head a couple of times, and gave me a wide, irritating grin. He offered his hand a second later, and I shook it out of courtesy...Man, even this guy's wrists were thin around, like little twigs that somehow held his slender hands together with his body. Nevertheless, he had a firm grip. Can't fault him for that.
"I'm Robin," said the guy after our brief handshake.
"I'm Dane," I huffed out. "Rob, huh? Well...nice to meet you...although I want a rematch."
"Anytime," smiled this guy, Robin. "That was a good match. I thought you had me in that last game."
"That makes two of us," I frowned, but he just laughed.
"It's all good," he said. "Just part of the game."
"Yeah," I nodded.
Rob picked up his black duffel from the back of the court, I snapped off the light, and we walked out of the court and into the hallway. There was no one here right now because it was past closing, past ten, so only the hallway and the court lights were on. Our set had lasted longer than I'd thought it would, and my brother must have closed shop while we were still here, but that was fine. He knew I sometimes went over schedule. Rob and I could just shower, I'd give Rob his new membership, and then I could escort him out. I could lock down the place after that.
"Come on," I said as I went toward the men's locker room.
I led him down toward the men's shower. He followed closely behind, but I don't think he quite knew where we were going.
"Uhhh..." said Rob in confusion. "I thought the front desk was that way."
"Yeah," I said as I opened the men's locker room and flipped on the light.
It was your typical locker room with blue lockers set up in rows upon grey concrete, wooden benches lined up in front of six rows of those lockers, three lockers on top of each other for multiple use. The walls were tiled in light-green, the floor stark grey concrete, with the showers at the back of the room. My brother and I had a set of eight shower nozzles on the back wall in that open area for easy use.
I went to my own personal locker, put in the combination, and pulled out four towels. I threw a couple to Rob, and he caught them, but he had a confused look on his narrow face. He was just standing there holding his duffel with the strap over his bare left shoulder.
"What are you doing?" he asked me in a nervous pitch.
"We're taking a shower," I grunted. "You don't want to go out in this heat without showering off first. We're both covered in sweat, and it's center policy to ensure the safety of anyone who uses the facility. You did read the rules before you came in, right?"
"Y...Yeah," stammered Rob. "So what do I do? Do I just go to the other lock..."
"You get undressed and get in the shower, you dork," I snorted. "It's first grade."
"Yeah, but..." started Rob.
This guy, I swear. What the fuck? It's not rocket science.
"Look, I'm taking a shower," I said, cutting off what he was going to say.
I took off my red sport's T and tossed it in my locker. I was going to have to wash that right away. Man, was it soaked with sweat. I had to smell like a fucking horse by now.
I looked over to Rob, but his face had gone red. What the fuck was wrong with this guy?
"You want me to shower in here?" he asked.
What the fuck? Was he stupid or something?
"It's not rocket science, genius," I snorted out. "Just strip and get in the shower. What the fuck do you think is going to happen? It's not gonna kill you...Look, I'm not trying to sound rude or anything, but you just kicked my ass at the sport I'M the king at. I'm kind of irritated by that right now...Still...I recognize the fact that you've got moves. You won fair and square, so don't worry; you'll get your membership. I'm not going to renig."
My red bag was in my locker with a change of clothes in it, so I normally just took off my sweaty ones and tossed them into the back of the locker. It was easier that way.
I sat down on the bench and took off my shoes and socks. Man, my socks were soaked. Those were going in the wash first thing, too. I stood up and took off my shorts and underwear, tossed those in the locker with my shoes and socks, and stood there fully naked in front of him.
I could feel his eyes on me, but I didn't care. He was either going to have to man up and get in the shower, or I was going to have to escort him out without one, but I was going to make damned sure I had him put it in writing that he refused a shower. I was not getting in trouble with my brother for this shit.
I decided to walk into the shower and stand there for a sec, but Rob just stood there near the lockers. I shook my head, turned on the shower, and let that hot water run over me. It felt good to get that sweat off, and I wasn't waiting for him.
Rob was still standing there between the locker rows, still looking at me, and that kind of creeped me out, but I figured he was just nervous. Shit, you'd think as athletic as he was, he'd already seen other guys in the shower before.
I decided to just have a normal conversation with him. Maybe that would get him moving.
"You from the college?" I asked.
"Y...Yeah," stammered Rob. "Yeah, I'm a senior there, but...uhh...is this okay, man?"
