Chapter Twenty-Three
Adam made it through the rest of the day with only a single text from Ru. At least he promised to call. When Bas introduced Adam to Michelle, they hit it off and talked for a long while about the importance of the column she wanted to begin in the Northern News. He agreed to do the awareness half, but argued over the advice part of it. In the end he agreed to try it, and if it became too awkward, the section would be cut.
He was on his way out when he ran into Nate. In fact, he’d forgotten all about the homecoming game until that moment. “Hi, Nate,” he grumbled as he passed the footballer in the hall.
“So you’re going, right?”
Did he really have a choice? “To the game, yes. I will be sitting in the stands with Bas and Michelle.” Michelle would be covering the game for the paper. She was crazy enough about sports to make him shake his head and gladly leave that portion to her.
“Michelle? She your beard or something?”
“She’s my editor. I joined the paper. You’ll check out my first article, won’t you? It will be in next Wednesday’s issue, about bullying.”
“I’m not bullying you.”
“Yeah, you are. It’s just another form of blackmail. ‘Do this my way or I’ll hurt you.’ But I’m not just talking about me. I’m talking about how you make fun of Bas in the lunchroom and the little person every time she passes your locker. I’m writing about how you ignore yourfriendswhen they hurt other people. Including last year when you knew Hank was going to beat up Bas in the bathroom. Did you get in a few licks yourself once Bas had been beaten unconscious?”
Nate paled. “I’ve never hit anyone. Your boyfriend hit me. I’d say he was more a bully than me.”
Adam shook his head. “Believe what you will. But yeah, I’ll be at the game.”
With that, he walked away. His dad was waiting in the parking lot to take him to the community center. Just because Ru wasn’t there didn’t mean he could skip out on running. And knowing he had to show up to watch a team he hated because he was being blackmailed, only made him more jittery.
When seven thirty rolled around and Bas appeared in the driveway to take him to the game, he was feeling pretty calm. Ru hadn’t called yet, but Bas had forwarded him a text with a link to an interview Ru had just done. The guy had all-out admitted to being crazy in love with him.
Tommy had been there too, talking about how he was leaving Vocal Growth, which made Adam wonder what had happened. He hoped they were both okay.
Michelle insisted they sit near the bottom of the stands, close enough to see the plays and the players who sat on the bench. She was pretty intense to watch the game with, shouting and jumping up all the time. Adam even had Bas switch seats with him. Bas just seemed amused by her jostling. During halftime, Adam headed to the concessions area, not wanting junk food but hungry enough to eat anyway.
“Want something?” he shouted to Bas and Michelle over the music of the marching band.
Michelle shook her head.
Bas handed him a five-dollar bill. “There’s a pizza truck by the parking lot; just get a large whatever. We’ll share.”
“Pizza’s good,” Adam said and headed off to find the truck. He put in his order and leaned against the truck to wait. Everyone was in the stands cheering on the band. The parking lot in front of the school was eerily quiet despite all the noise in the distance.
Nate appeared at Adam’s side. He was sweaty and still in uniform, but smiling wide. “You came.”
“Yeah. I told you I would. What are you doing out here? You should be on the field.”
“There’s another ten minutes of the band playing. I’ve got time. I wanted to talk to you. See if maybe you want to get together after the game and hang out.” Nate glanced around. They were alone, standing off to the side of the pizza truck. Adam really hoped his order would be up soon so he could grab the food and head back to his seat. He felt strangely vulnerable out here with none of his schoolmates or teachers around. Uncomfortable.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. Don’t you have to go to the dance with your girlfriend?”
“She won’t mind if I’m a little late.”
“Late? I thought you said you wanted to hang. Never mind. I keep forgetting I’m talking to you, and you never make any sense. You should probably get back to your team. The coach may have some last-minute advice for you,” Adam said.
Nate leaned forward, shoving into Adam’s personal space. Adam took a step back, but found himself pressed to the wall. “Did you see me score that last touchdown? We’re going to win tonight. Thanks for coming.”
“You’re welcome. But you know this makes us even, right? No more talk about Ru.”
“That guy is not good enough for you. He’s not one of us.”
What did that even mean? “What the hell, Nate? I don’t get you at all.” Adam slid away along the side of the truck, slipping around the side and to the front of the truck, not liking how Nate stalked him. “I think you need to go.”
“You need to be here waiting when the game is over.”
