Chapter Twenty-Six
Channing
A warm burst of wind was slamming me in the face, cooling the band of sweat around my hairline while my feet pounded against the pavement. I was on the track, running with the other teammates while we struggled to complete the 16 laps that the coach had assigned us at the end of practice. He was giving us three rounds of exercises, squats, jumping jacks, and more than 200 grapevines. My arms were aching, and my calves were burning.
I was relieved when the coach clicked his stopwatch and yelled out my time. I ran back into the locker room and changed out of my clothes to hop into the shower. I heard the door open behind me. “Bout to get that hundred, boy,” Jason called out.
“What are you talking about?” That was one of the other players, Jake.
Jason turned on his shower. “Got a date tonight. Dude, she’s all up on it.”
I went stiff. He couldn’t just talk about Ava like that, but there was nothing I could do about it, not with everyone around.
“Nobody’s going to believe that shit.” Jake turned on his shower.
“Doesn’t matter. It’s true.”
“No, it’s not.” I heard Sam walk in. “She’s not talking to any of us.”
“Watch, you’ll see.”
The guys laughed and walked into the shower. I didn’t feel like sticking around much longer, so I raced through, soaped myself, and rinsed off. Then I grabbed a towel and went back to my locker, where Mike was getting dressed.
He let his towel fall and pulled out a gray pair of boxer briefs. He looked back when he saw me walk up. “Fucking Coach, man.”
“I know.” I let my towel fall and pulled out a pair of underwear. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jason running out, his hair still dripping wet. He turned to glare at me when he walked past.
“What’s his problem?” Mike asked.
“You hear this shit?” Sam walked up to his locker and motioned back towards the showers. “That asshole’s going around telling everyone he won the bet.”
“He’s fucking stupid.” I stepped into my shorts and pulled on my shirt.
“Maybe he’s broke or something; I don’t know.”
“What’s up with that?” Mike turned back to me.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, people are starting to talk.”
“I—what are they saying?”
“I don’t think you’re spending much time with Carla,” Mike said.
“What? That girl isn’t giving it up.”
“Then how come you two are always together? You ain’t gotta lie.”
I pulled my pants out and stepped into them as fast as I could. “I think you’re seeing things, man.”
“Dude, if you won the bet, why won’t you say something? Are you really gonna let Jason walk around claiming your territory?”
“She’s not territory.” I started to close my locker and walk away, but when I looked back at the end of the row of lockers, half the team was standing there staring at me. I pushed past them and ran out as fast as I could.
I heard feet following me down the hall and sped up, but Mike ran around in front of me to stop me. “What is wrong with you?”
I tried to sidestep him, but he blocked me, grabbed me by the wrist, and pulled me into an empty classroom to the right. He turned the light on and leaned against the door so I couldn’t leave.
“Let me go.” I tried to pull him away, but he stepped back and kept one hand on the door.
“Why are you lying?”
“I’m not lying.”
“Don’t you bullshit me. I’ve been your best friend since elementary school. What is going on? Are you in love?”
“No, I—I don’t know.”
“So, you’re with her, then? Why are you lying about it?”
“God,” I leaned back and rested my head against the door. “You can’t say anything about this to anyone; you got that?”
“Of course.”
“I took her out to dinner, and we’ve been seeing each other since, but it’s not something to joke about. Mike, she’s different. She’s smart and funny, and she doesn’t care who I am or how rich I am. It’s just about us, two people being together. I can’t find that with anyone else.”
Mike smiled and nodded his head. “You’re getting caught up in something you can’t handle.”
“That’s not for you to say.”
“Oh, yes it is. You’re acting like this is a religious experience, not a love affair.”
“It’s not an affair.”
“Then it’s a relationship, and that’s even worse.”
“What are you talking about? We’re happy.”
“I don’t care if you’re happy or not. You’re just starting to catch up with school. Now you’re jumping into bed with the school shut-in.”
I shook my head and clenched my fists. “Don’t you talk about her like that.”
“You don’t have time for this, Channing. It’s a huge distraction.”
“I’m passing my classes, and I’m winning us games.”
“I’m winning games. You’re passing me the ball.”
“I don’t care.” I pounded my hand into the door. “I’m doing fine.”
“Why are you keeping it a secret? You can’t be hiding something like that from the rest of the school.”
“She doesn’t care.”
“She will when she finds out what you’ve been doing.”
“No, she won’t. She wants me, that’s it.”
“Think about it, Channing. She’s the least popular girl in school, the nerd, and that’s not an insult. It’s her social standing. When she finds out that you’ve been keeping her a secret, she’s going to think you’re ashamed of her, and why shouldn’t she? A guy like you doesn’t get with girls like that. She’d have every reason to doubt you.”
“I don’t think she will.”
“Fine,” he shrugged. “Don’t listen to me.”
“You better not say a fucking word.” I put my hand out to block the door before he opened it.
“I won’t.” He pushed my hand away and walked out.
My phone was vibrating when I walked into the hall. “Hello?”
“Hey.” It was Ava.
I walked out to the end of the hall, into the courtyard, where I found a quiet corner and sat down. “Are you ready for tonight?” I asked.
“Uh,” she laughed awkwardly. “I guess.”
“You guess?”
“I’m a perfectionist. That’s one thing you will learn about me. I go over and over things just to make sure, and I’m never fully satisfied.”
“I’m sure it’s perfect. What are you making?”
“You’ll have to find out.”
“Hmm,” I chuckled. “What about dessert?”
“I didn’t ma—ooh,” she laughed. “Well, you already know what’s on the menu.”
“I do,” I sucked in air sharply through my teeth. “I’m gonna get dressed. I’ll see you in a bit.”
“Okay.” I could tell she was smiling when she hung up.
I didn’t need anyone to validate my relationship to me. People always liked to push their way in and cast doubt on a good thing. Maybe Mike was jealous, or maybe he was legitimately concerned. Either way, Ava and I were happy. Nothing else mattered.
I took my time to get dressed and take a proper shower before I left. The water pounded over my cock, leaving the tip bright red and aching. I couldn’t help it. I had to stroke my hand down the shaft. When I did, I couldn’t stop, so I turned the water on cold and let it fall over my body to get rid of some of the pressure.
I was looking forward to a night of nothing. There’d be no books, no friends, no wild parties—just me and Ava, together the way we were meant to be.