Since he had nothing important to do on such a cool and tranquil Saturday, Leo found himself in the perfect mood. He grabbed his notebook and left his house. The eighteen-year-old high school senior didn't have many friends to begin with, but it didn't bother him very much. He always enjoyed being alone. Being an aspiring writer in his spare time helped in seeking isolation in the right moments. And today, the young Japanese-American man chose his own school campus as an environment worthy of strengthening his everlasting encouragement. It would be a location destined to provide him with a stronger imagination for his work in progress: a science fiction novel that included aliens, spaceships, and a rebellion led by humans and robots alike.
It didn't take long for Leo to reach the high school, since he lived only two blocks away. The school remained silent and certainly devoid of human activity. In fact, the entire city of Monrovia gave the impression that it would seldom be overwhelmed by stressful times for the entire day. The streets had illustrated minimal commotion from both human and automotive behaviors. Los Angeles County, as well as the rest of Southern California, could very well benefit from this rare phenomenon.
Leo entered the campus and seated himself on the bleachers in front of the football field. He looked around to see the clean green pastures free from unwanted intrusions, from birds to beggars. On the left side, the distant foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains added just a little more serenity to this peaceful suburban terrain. Leo couldn't help but smile. Everything seemed to work in his favor. He wrapped his dark blue jacket around his waist and let the cool breeze of the early spring jumpstart his savory intellect. He opened his notebook and skipped to the tenth page. He had already written an enormous battle sequence last night, and he received the same inspiration just by the peace and quiet alone. He intended to finish the sequence today.
He sat alone on the bleachers as he continued writing on his notebook. He spent the next fifteen minutes envisioning a conflict between missiles and lasers before narrating it on paper. He didn't even realize that someone else had entered the field and started his weekend exercise on the tan-colored running track surrounding the football field. Leo looked up to see one of the P.E. teachers wearing the appropriate apparel for jogging. A black shirt and a pair of dark blue shorts was all he needed for his personal activity.
At thirty-six years of age, Roderick appeared even healthier than before. Leo spent all four years at this school while keeping a close eye on the brawny white man. Roderick kept his powerful strapping body intact since Leo's freshmen year. The Japanese twelfth grader didn't notice at first, but his fascination bloomed in his senior year. Leo expressed his attraction towards the same sex with his cousins and classmates, but he never revealed the truth to any of the staff. It wouldn't matter if they knew, anyway. And for the past three months, Leo approached casual logic with uncertainty.
He watched Roderick completing the first lap during his weekend jogging. The young man sat in silence. He didn't even keep his eyes on his notebook. Observing the P.E. teacher had proved to be an effective distraction from his already planned schedule. Leo could watch him run all day. He wanted to smile, but he didn't want Roderick to receive unwanted curiosity if he ever had the chance to look straight at the one student who didn't feel ashamed of having such a dirty mind after all.
As soon as he finished three laps without stopping for a rest, Roderick finally ceased his activity for a breather. He grabbed his water bottle which lay on the grass and took a seat on the bottom bleachers. Leo, who sat on the other side, needed to ignore eye contact. But his failed attempts at shielding his inquisitive eyes from the older adult could give away his position at any moment. He slowly spun his pen with his fingers as he eyed Roderick from top to bottom. He started to wonder if the teacher had any interest in partners who were much younger. He would have asked, but it would have been an idiotic move in the first place.
Roderick finally turned his head to spot the young man seated on the opposite end of the bleachers. Leo gave him a little smile for a brief moment before finally looking down at his notebook.
Roderick didn't say anything until he stood up and walked right past the silent student. Leo expected him to keep his mouth closed, but Roderick stopped right in front of him.
"So what brings you back here? Shouldn't you be hanging out with your friends? This isn't a weekday, you know."
Leo chuckled. "I'd rather be alone today. This is a good time for me to write a few more chapters to this novel that I'm writing."
"So you want to be a writer?"
"That's right."
"I hope you'll make it big."
"I hope so, too."
Roderick didn't say anything else. He just nodded his head and left the field. Leo watched him leave for the gym. The man had the keys, so it would be smart for him to use the building to his advantage. Leo didn't want to stay on the bleachers any longer. He brought his notebook along as he followed Roderick into the gym, where the basketball court was still available for use.
Roderick kept the door open, which led Leo to step inside the building without feeling so uncertain of himself. He watched as Roderick grabbed a basketball from another room and dribbled it onto the floor. Leo leaned against the wall and opened his notebook once again. He kept his eyes on Roderick who attempted a free throw and succeeded. It must have been so simple for him to do, since he had been highly recognized on campus as a marvelous basketball player when young and more vibrant. Now, he had become calmer and more calculated not only with his athletic abilities, but also in his overall demeanor. His deep baritone voice blended well with his unbroken composure.
Leo respected him even more when discovering his history and his well-adjusted behavior. The Japanese student was no longer interested in writing of an epic battle sequence at the moment. Instead, he wanted to describe one of his main protagonists just a little more. He used a blank page to start a new paragraph. He kept looking up at Roderick, who now began to shoot three-pointers, most of which made it to the basket. Leo wrote the first few sentences, describing the protagonist as a tall handsome man with a well-earned reputation in his field. Leo made him out as a powerful captain who led a group of rebels to defend against absolute evil, namely an alien race destined to colonize Earth. Leo wanted the right personality, so he wrote that the protagonist held a calm and calculated personality, just like Roderick. In fact, the character would have the same qualities as Roderick's: athletic, decisive, and highly respected by many.
Leo couldn't resist the similarities between fact and fiction. Even if he didn't know Roderick very well, the young man could only be certain that his judgment had been well-intended. He recognized the positivity surrounding Roderick's demeanor and status. He continued to write his descriptive passages, only to be interrupted by the abrupt silence in the building. Leo looked up to see the P.E. teacher giving him an inquisitive look.
"I hope you're here because you're tired of the sun, because you're making me feel a little suspicious."
Leo replied, "It's all right. I'm not a threat, and that's a promise."
Roderick kept the basketball close to his side. "What brings you here?"
"I'm just writing the next chapter. That's all."
"What exactly are you writing about?"
"It's a science fiction story, and it has all kinds of action and adventure in it."
"I'm never interested in aliens and spaceships, but of course, everyone's different."
"I hope you'll like it when I publish it."
Roderick nodded. "Well, if I ever am in the mood to read about outer space, then maybe I might buy it online. What's your name?"
"My name's Leo. I'm not in any of your classes, but I wish I was. You seem like a great teacher. That's all I hear about on campus."
Roderick smiled. "You'll see that I deserve all the talk that's going on around here."
Leo eyed him from top to bottom for one second. "I think I already know."
He didn't see a wedding ring anywhere on Roderick's fingers, which made Leo breathe a little sigh of relief.
Roderick asked, "Do you play basketball?"
Leo shook his head. "I'm not that much into sports. I'm only into bowling and watching baseball with my father."
"You should be more athletic. It'll do you some good."
"I think I'm fine the way I am."
