Chapter 11: Troubled Waters
Monday morning when Emily and I headed out the door Rob was in the driveway. Getting out of his truck he grabbed his backpack and helped me down the porch.
"I'm going to drive y'all in your Jeep until you're better Bobby." I handed him my keys as he guided me to the passenger seat which he slid up so Emily could hop in the back and then helped me in. He took my crutches and wedged them awkwardly in the back by Emily before he started driving us to school. He held open any door that I needed to go through and kept asking me if I needed help to go to the bathroom, which I didn't. In the cafeteria he made me sit down while he came back with two trays. He was watching over me making sure I had everything that I needed.
"What happened to you Thompson?" I heard as I hobbled into history.
"Sprained my ankle." I replied, "I don't know if I'll be able to run Wednesday coach."
"Crap." Mr. Brown muttered. "Well, let's hope it gets better."
On Tuesday at lunch I was sitting at the table waiting for Rob to bring me my tray. Katie came up with Rob, took the second tray from him, and handed it to me before sitting next to me with a wink. I wasn't quite sure what that was about, but I thanked them both before eating.
Wednesday morning when I rolled out of bed I knew that my short track career had come to an end. I could put some weight on my ankle, but I could not put pressure on it, certainly not sprint. Rob's optimistic look faded from his face when he saw me come out still on crutches.
"I'm so sorry Bobby; I was really wishing you would be better." The disappointment in Rob's voice was genuine.
"Coach will find someone to take my spot, it's not that big of a deal, I was just doing track because I couldn't swim." I shrugged trying to brush aside his sadness. After lunch I hobbled to wish the track team good luck before they headed off to the meet. Rob was coddling me so much I was glad when he headed to practice. Emily headed off with a friend and I was in the library working on a college application when he came to find me after his practice.
"Where were you applying?" He asked as I saved my progress and shifted to look at him.
"William & Mary. It's a great school and not too far from the shipyard." I said as he helped me up and placed my backpack on his shoulder.
"They'd be lucky to have you." Rob said as he walked beside me to my Jeep.
I got a text from my friend on the relay team; they got second and qualified for the state meet. I congratulated him and was really glad that they pulled it off. The state tournament was the weekend before Christmas break, in the mountains at a university, and the football team would have their first round match at the same location. I decided I would go and support both teams if I could manage it.
The following Monday my foot was starting to feel almost back to normal. I went to school without crutches and was glad to be free from that burden. Monday was also my first day back that I would have to participate in gym. I went in to change clothes and headed out to the gym. It was cold and windy out so we were playing indoor soccer. I knew I wouldn't stand a chance on my healing ankle so I volunteered to be one of the goalies. Rob was on the opposing team and I tried my hardest to keep him from scoring. I faired pretty well only letting another on their team score. I blocked two shots from Rob, but I couldn't help but thinking he wasn't trying to score, as they both came right to my hands. I watched as Rob glided and maneuvered around the court, I was amazed at how Rob's body, built for football, ran around court. He was a true specimen and I let another goal in because I was distracted by Rob.
Leaving the hardwood, I was putting on my clothes dazed, thinking about how hot Rob was.
"Keep your eyes to yourself queer boy." I heard and I jumped realizing I had been staring at Rob. I saw Rob turn around and his face was red. "I knew there was something weird about you, took me a while to figure out you're a little fairy cock-sucker." Eric's voice was filled with venom as he spoke.
"Wha-, Sorry I was just zoned out." I said trying to cover my actions and anger.
"Chill out man, he wasn't looking." I heard Rob try to defend me.
"It sure looked like he was staring at your ass, practically drooling." Eric said as I hastily finished getting dressed. "You like him staring at your ass or something?" Eric asked Rob.
"Fuck no!" Rob said a little too eagerly.
"Hear that fag? Don't go looking at us while we change." Eric said as he walked over to me.
"I would never look at you asshole." I said as I stormed out of the locker room. I was furious. I couldn't believe I was so stupid that I let Eric catch me staring at Rob. I couldn't believe that Rob didn't do more to defend me. I skipped lunch at went to the library and tried to do some homework, but I couldn't focus. I was stewing. I decided in the library that I wasn't going to hide who I was anymore. In history class Rob looked at me with an agonized look on his face. I ignored him. I heard one of the guys who had been in the locker room whispering and snickering with another kid, and I knew they were talking about me. Rob tried to slide me a note; I just threw it away without reading it. When school ended I walked straight to my Jeep and Emily and I drove off, not waiting for Rob.
"Eric is telling everybody you're gay." Emily shared in a serious tone as we sat on our porch.
"I know. He's an ass hat. He's not wrong, but he's a shit turd." I said shaking my head.
"You need to learn how to cuss Bobby." She said chuckling at my vocabulary, which got a slight smile from me. "What did Rob say during all of this?" She prodded.
"At first he told Eric to leave me alone, but then when Eric told him I had been staring at Rob, and asked if he wanted me to be doing that Rob said 'Fuck no!.'" I said bitterly as I started to shiver from the cold winter evening.
"He didn't?" Emily said in disbelief as she held the door open and we headed up to my room to finish our conversation.
