Chapter 1 - A New Beginning
*****
Dan took in the scorching heat of the water as he stood in under the showerhead, letting the warmth ease his muscles after the intense training session. Others from his gay rugby team stood naked under the other showerheads, chatting animatedly and lathering themselves up with shower gel. The noise of splashing water and cheerful banter echoed off the tile walls.
'Pints, tonight?' Martin asked the room, expectantly looking around at the showering men.
'Nah, man, got a date,' Pete said, strolling out from the stream of water he had been using.
'You're passing up an evening of drinks for a guy?' Martin did a pseudo-shocked face. 'You ho.'
'Of course, I need something to fill my hole, seeing as you weren't doing a good enough job,' he stuck out his tongue.
'Bitch,' Martin ran after Pete and smacked him on the butt with a beefy hand. The two guys had been dating, but had split amicably. Luckily for them and the team, they had stayed good friends, never one to pass up the opportunity for some catty banter.
'I don't know why you two don't just get back together,' Felix, finished with the shower, followed them out to the changing areas, along with a few others.
Dan closed his eyes and exhaled, allowing himself to enjoy the relaxing powers of the hot water as he drowned out the noise of the chit-chatter going on as his teammates dried off and dressed.
His mind went blank as he let his head go at ease and follow the swirling colours against his eyelids. He didn't know how long he had been standing there when Eric popped his head around the corner and yelled, 'Alright ladies, think of the polar bears in the Antarctic. Don't waste all the hot water.'