“He just smiled back, like the knowing one, like he was part of ‘the boys’ club’.”
“And then what?”
“The guy just patted him on the back and said something like, ‘Man, talent and looks, what I’d give to be young again.’ Then he told Johnny he’d be hearing from him. It was like Johnny signed up to live a lie.”
“Oh, Shane, I don’t think so. I mean, what’s he going to do, start dating girls? He wouldn’t do that.”
Shane merely shrugs, his eyes still locked on the grass in front of us as he picks at it, pulling it out piece by piece.
“He’s the one who wanted to come out,” I remind him.
“Well, not anymore. After tonight, he doesn’t think colleges will want to take on that hassle, and if it gets out, it will hurt his chances.”
“But that is insane. He can’t base that on the one guy he talked to tonight.”
“I know, but that doesn’t change how Johnny feels. He thinks they are all the same.”
I start to rub his back again. I have no idea what to say. “I’m sorry, Shaney.”
“Stop.” He pulls away from me. “Don’t say that. It just makes it even more real.” Shane kicks at the dirt in front of him and swipes his palms across his eyes.
“He’ll come around. It’s just fresh right now, what that guy said. You know he loves you.”
“Yeah, but he loves football more, and he needs a scholarship.”
“I don’t think that’s true, about loving football more.”
“You saw him with that girl.” His eyes finally meet mine, and I see the pain in them. I want to wipe it away, but I know I can’t. Then his gaze quickly shifts back to the pile of grass he picked that’s now in front of him.
“Ashley, you need to come with me.”
I look over to see Blythe. She’s out of breath and seems flustered, which is completely out of character for her. The look on her face instantly sends up my alarms. I didn’t notice the shouting inside, not until Blythe interrupted us.
“Ashley, now.” I hear the panic in her voice, and my stomach drops.
I glance at Shane, noticing he’s getting up, too.
“Go,” he says to me as he follows.
As soon as I walk into the house, I can tell the air is filled with tension. The music is still blaring, but it’s a much different vibe than when Shane and I left.
Todd is in Casey’s face, and Ryan is trying to hold him back. Brian has Casey pulled back with his arms behind his back. I step between them both without even thinking.
“What is going on?”
“Ask him!” Todd shouts, lunging forward and almost causing Ryan to lose his grip on him.
“I just came over to play a friendly game of ping-pong,” Casey says innocently.
Brian tightens his grip, and I see Casey flinch. He’s slurring his words, revealing how drunk he is. I have never really seen Casey like this before; he’s usually so in control.
“It’s true,” the girl from earlier—Viv, I think—speaks up. I can already tell I don’t like her. I know Todd, and I know that wouldn’t set him off like this.
Sure enough, at her words, he lunges again.
“Yeah, right,” Todd spits out. “Figures you’d hang out with liars,” Todd shouts to Casey, but there is no mistake it’s directed at his girlfriend or whatever she is. “Why are you even here, Casey? This isn’t your school; these aren’t your friends. You need to leave.”
Mark Conner steps in next to me. He walks up to Todd and rests his elbows on Todd’s shoulders so their foreheads are almost touching. “I invited him, but do you want him gone?”
Ryan is still holding tight. He knows as well as I do that if he lets go of Todd right now, Casey is in trouble.
“I want him gone. He won’t leave Ash alone. He’s an asshole, and he’s nothing but trouble.”
As some of Casey’s friends step forward, I squeeze my eyes shut. I know Todd has a lot of friends here, but Casey’s friends are making it known they are ready for a fight.
Mark turns to Casey. “What the fuck, Case? You said you’d back off and be cool.”
How does Mark even know Casey? Stupid sports again? Worse still, how could Mark know about me? Does he know what happened at the game?
Casey tries to break free. “I swear, Mark. It’s cool; we’re cool. We’re all cool.”
Mark looks back at Todd, and I can tell he’s never seen this side of him; most people haven’t. Then his eyes land back on Casey and his group of friends, who are still tense but have already visibly backed down.
“I think it’s best if you leave,” Mark says with a calm and authoritative tone.
“That’s bullshit, MC!” Casey shouts back.
I catch the exchange as Brian looks to Ryan to get the go-ahead to release Casey, and when Brian gets the signal, he loosens his grip on Casey. Casey is finally able to break free, but he’s still lunging forward with his full force, so he stumbles and almost falls.
“Sorry about that,” Brian says, but nothing in his tone is apologetic.
Todd is still struggling to break free, and Ryan has to tighten his grip.
“Go.” Mark pushes Casey square in the chest.
“This is bullshit!” Casey screams in Mark’s face. Then he gets in Todd’s face. “You’re an asshole, and you don’t deserve her.” He points to me, and I feel my cheeks flush red.
They are fighting about me? Still? Why?
I don’t even see it coming, but either Todd broke free, or Ryan let go. Either way, Todd slams his fist into Casey’s face.
Casey gets in a good hit or two, and I can see Todd is bleeding.
I start screaming, “Stop!”
Before I know it, Casey is on the ground, and Todd is on top of him, throwing and landing punch after punch.
“Stop him, Ryan!” I scream at my brother, but he just calmly smiles at me.
“In a minute. He needs this, and Casey deserves it.”
“Ryan! Please,” I plead.
All of Casey’s friends have stunned looks on their faces as they back away, even Viv. So much for being good friends. It’s as if it’s unspoken that this is just between the two of them, and no one gets involved.
My stomach is in knots. I don’t want either of them to get hurt, and now they both are.
Ryan gives Brian and Mark a glance, and then they all go over.
“All right, that’s enough!” Ryan shouts in Todd’s ear as they pull him off Casey.
Casey is a bloody mess as his friends come over to help him up while Ryan, Brian, and Mark surround Todd. I can see he has a pretty big gash above his eye.
“Oh great, just great.” I feel Sid’s hand on my shoulder.
Everything happening around me is in slow motion. It’s as though I’m watching a movie, and none of it is really happening to me.
“My dad is going to kill him.” Sid shakes her head as if this is a regular occurrence, which I guess it kind of is becoming one. I can’t think about that now, though.
I run up to him.
The boys are still holding him back, but his eyes lock with mine, and his bloody hand comes up to my cheek to wipe a tear away. I didn’t even realize I was crying. His touch is so gentle, which is crazy after seeing his fist slam into Casey’s face.
“I’m sorry, Ash. I couldn’t help it.”
“I know,” is all I can say.
“Ash, not now. You should go.” I hear Ryan’s voice and feel Blythe and Sid’s hands pull me back. Regardless, I want to be with him. He’s bleeding and he needs me.
“Come on, Ash. He’s fine. Let the guys take care of him,” Blythe says as she continues to guide me away from the commotion. “There’s nothing to see here, people,” she shouts out to the crowd that’s gathered, trying to clear the area.
“That’s right, people. Move it.” Shane takes one look at me and jumps right in to distract everyone. He signals to the guy who is DJ’ing to turn the music up.
I can’t believe I’m crying. I don’t know why exactly, but I can’t seem to stop.
I glance over to see Casey’s friends surrounding him. He is holding his head back and someone gave him a sweatshirt to use to stop the bleeding.