This was a mistake.
I felt like I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The school’s track and field team was in the gym after school, working on some machines. I even checked the door twice to see if there was a sign up that said anything about the gym being reserved for the team today. But I didn’t see anything that pointed to a reservation, nor did I see Hollis. Disappointment and dread washed over me.
I thought he said he was in the gym every day.Why couldn’t just one thing go my way? Was that too much to ask for? I decided to try to make the most out of being here. Being in the gym kept me from being at home, plus I might be able to build more muscle. That way whatever I learned in karate might pack more of a punch when I used the moves on Sebastian and Eli.
With my paper in hand from the library, I kept my head down as I read and then re-read the description of the exercise. Then I’d look up and walk around a bit to try to find a station that matched the exercise. I made sure I stayed out of the areas where the track team was at, but I was getting really frustrated because none of the machines seemed to match the exercises on the paper.
I was staring at the paper when the atmosphere suddenly changed. I smelled the clean, fresh scent that I’d known since last month as Hollis. Moments later, I heard his voice.
“Hey, Patrick.”
Not only was it his voice, but he was talking to me and had said my name. I quickly turned around to face him and plummeted headfirst into his fresh scent. It was really him. Seeing him right there made me grin.
“Hey, Hollis.”
He smiled and kept his eyes on me as he reached across his chest to scratch his bicep that bulged the fabric of his sleeve.
“How have you been?” That was one of those questions people often randomly asked friends or family. I was neither to him, yet he was asking me as if we were friends.You have no clue, Hollis.“I haven’t seen you lately.”
Were you expecting to see me somewhere? Where? Oh! The gym, maybe? Or was he asking because he was concerned that I was out of school before Christmas break? Why would he be?
Lie.
“I’ve been good.”God, how I wish that were true. “I was out of school for a few days before Christmas break with a sore throat. I’m doing better, though.”
“That’s good,” he replied.
We talked about Christmas break, which led to me telling him that I was looking forward to karate starting back up soon. Of course, he was excited about it too.
“What do you have there?” he asked as he gestured to my paper.
I explained what it was and realized I was surrounded by his fresh scent. Hollis looked it over and then showed me a stack of fliers by the door to the gym. It showed exercises that could be done with the machines here. This looked much more helpful. I was happy to have had the small conversation with him and gain the insider info on the machine exercises, but then he offered to show me around and show me how the machines worked. I took him up on his offer because this interaction might never come my way again.
“Do you want to meet after school tomorrow and work out together?” he asked me.
“Tomorrow?” I asked, making sure I heard him correctly.
“Yeah. I like to work out every day. It got cut short today because I met with a study group for biology. I have to be home for dinner,” Hollis said and then smirked. “My mom is big on all of us sitting down to dinner each night.”
He sounded as if he didn’t think I’d understand about parents wanting to have dinner with their family.What I wouldn’t give to be wanted at a dinner table.
“So, tomorrow,” Hollis said again.
“Tomorrow,” I agreed.
Sixteen years old/10th Grade/January
Dammit.
I turned my head several ways as I gazed at the blue and purple bruise that was already forming on my face. Fucking Sebastian.
I balled up my fist and wanted to hit something… or someone.
Sebastian started in on me the second I got in from the gym last night. I didn’t want to deal with him today. But he followed me to my room where we pushed and shoved one another around and fought. I let him have his way pretty easily because I wanted him out of my room and to leave me alone for the night.
When he finally left, I slammed the door shut and flopped back onto the bed. I had been on such a high from the workout with Hollis and his invitation to go over to his house that even Sebastian wasn’t going to ruin my mood.
For once, I looked forward to something this weekend. I had karate first and then tonight I was going over to Hollis’ to watch the TCF event. I’d never actually seen a TCF fight, but Hollis constantly talked about it. Mixed martial arts was his passion, and that seemed to be his goal in life. I was looking forward to tonight because I’d get to spend time with him. He’d warned me about his youngest brother being really hyper, but I didn’t care. This was my chance to be like other normal kids.
