Chapter 31
1734words
"This isn't about you," mostly. "Look when we get there I need you to emphasize that we're just friends ok? If my dad thinks we're more
than just friends on the same team I'll never hear the end of it"
"We're barely even friends Shane so I'm sure that won't be a problem, but why does it matter if he thinks we're—"
"I just need you to do this one thing for me, all right?" I find myself snapping at him and try to calm down, "I promise I won't ask for anything else"
"Okay Shane," he chuckles at how I'm acting, "but stop worrying all right? Whatever it is you won't have to deal with it alone anymore... I've got your back now," turning to him as I'm driving on the empty highway I stare at the expression on Gentry's face, he looks at me and just smiles.
I want to believe him when he says he'll have my back but no one is a match for my dad, not even my mom who has tried her best to protect me against him.
The closer we get to my house the more anxious I get, of all the people I could be bringing home, Coach Packer knew what he was doing sticking us together.
"How were your parents so ok with you not going home?"
"I'm a middle child," Gentry answers with a lax attitude as if I'm supposed to get what that means. Staring at him waiting for an explanation he continues, "when there's seven of you and you're dead center, you tend to go unnoticed. Plus, my older brother Dexter's a doctor, and my sister Paige is a model so they're kind of the priority at any family holiday."
"That's sad," I stare at the dark road
He shrugs, "not really... we're all pretty close so it doesn't bother us"
"I've always wanted a little brother or sister, but I never wanted my dad to be anyone else's dad" "That's selfish," Gentry snorts
"No I mean because he was an asshole to my mom and I... I didn't want to wish that on anyone else" "Oh," Gentry quietly responds, "he's that bad?" I nod and he asks, "is it because you're gay?"
"He's a pretty old guy so he has old people values,"
Nodding as if he understand Gentry goes quiet for a moment like he's thinking then says, "my little sister Julia's gay," turning to him after
he says that Gentry smiles and nods staring at the shocked impression on my face. "I was the first person she ever told"
"Really?" He nods, "that's amazing, how old is she?" "She's 12,"
"Do your parents know?"
"My dad knew first but then we all convinced her to tell mom because she hates finding things out about us from other people—"
"What?" I ask confused by the statement
"I know she's weird... but anyway Julia told everyone but my mom so after she told her, my mom got mad that everyone knew before she did." I hear his quiet laugh and look over at Gentry, his face changes as he looks down and with a quiet voice he says, "I'm kind of sad I'm
not going home actually, I really miss them."
Unsure of what to say to make him feel better, I sit staring at the steering wheel until a question pops up in my head. "Have you told Julia about me?"
Looking at me Gentry asks, "how'd you know?"
"If I had a sibling who could relate it'd be the first thing I did."
"I did tell her about you and how I royally fucked up because I panicked" "What'd she say?"
"That I'm very fucking stupid," he chuckles and I smile, "knew that one would get you" "Shut up," I quickly stop smiling. "Julia sounds smarter than you"
"She is."
Turning into my street I stare at the houses as I slowly drive by, I seriously need to loosen up I can tell Gentry can feel how tense I am.
Pulling into my parents' driveway, I park behind my mom's car. Taking the key out I shut my eyes and take a deep breath, when I'm ready I turn to Gentry.
With a smile and a soft chuckle he says, "you need to relax Shane," patting my shoulder Gentry adds, "it's going to be fine I promise."
He gets out before I do, still reluctant about everything I slowly lead us to the front door after we get our bags. Unlocking my house door I walk in followed by Gentry
I watch as he scans the entire foyer then turns to me, "it's really quiet"
"Yeah, that's how she likes it" I reply dropping my bag, "MOM!" I scream walking further into the house, "ANYONE?!"
"Stop yelling boy we can hear you" I follow my dad's voice into the kitchen, stopping at the entrance my jaw drops when I see our kitchen table and island. "Yeah your mother went crazy"
"What did you do?" I ask slowly stepping in as my dad picks off the food on the counter
"I have two strapping boys coming, I wanted to be prepared," my mom turns from the stove with a big grin. "Hi baby," she comes towards me arms open for a hug, "I missed you so much!" She squeezes for a second then stops, "oh gosh you must be..." she lets me go as soon as she sees Gentry
"Gentry, nice to meet you, Mrs. Visser," he shakes my mom's hand
"That is the cutest name I have ever heard, nice to meet you too sweetheart, but you can call me Olivia. Mrs. Visser is his mother," she points to my dad who finally decides to stop stuffing his face and come to me.
"How you been?" He stops in front of me with the driest welcome
"Good dad, you?"
"Yeah same only been a few months nothing new," looking from me to Gentry he asks, "and you are
his—"
"Friend dad," I quickly finish before he asks the obvious
"Gentry's his teammate Steven, remember I told you earlier?" My mom asks and he nods "Right I forgot," why wouldn't he forget?
"Thanks for welcoming me into your home," Gentry smiles at them and I roll my eyes walking away more interested in the food.
"Oh, you're very welcome, Gentry." "Can we eat now?" My dad asks
"Yes, Shane can you guys wash your hands and join us?" Nodding I walk to Gentry yanking out him of the kitchen heading to a bathroom down the hall
"So far so good," he stands next to me in front of the sink "Give it an hour."
Dinner starts off quiet and simple, but of course, halfway through my dad decides that's not enough for him. "So how's the baseball team?"
"It's fine dad,"
"I was asking him," he points to Gentry, "you any better than he is?" Both Gentry and I look at him then Gentry turns to me, "I'll take that as a no" he scoffs
"Actually Shane is one of our best players, did you not go to any of his high school games to know that?"
"Ask him where he was when I was at those games," my father replies. Both he and Gentry look at me and I look down at my plate avoiding the question, "you're actually playing then... that's good"
"I won us two games," I say looking at my dad, "proud of me yet?" With his eyes in mine I can tell he's about to say something shitty but my mom doesn't give him the chance
"So Gentry, where are you from?" "Seattle"
"Not too far that's convenient, have you been home to visit your family yet?"
"Yeah" he nods, "I go back often."
"Often?" She asks confused, "Is this not your first semester like Shane?" "Oh no it's not, I'm a sophomore"
"That's nice, making older friends Shane?"
"He's only a year older," I reply already over dinner. After my parents finish grilling Gentry they finally release us and I take him upstairs.
Walking into my old bedroom I find everything pretty much untouched except for my bed, I can tell my mom made it, Gentry drops his bag gawking around. "Your room is fucking giant" he reacts as he continues to stare around, "I grew up sharing a room with two brothers while
you had all this to yourself? Not fucking fair," he shakes his head.
Ignoring him I walk to my bed dropping on it, exhausted ready to lock my door and shut out the world, but I couldn't do that just yet.
"So which side is mine?" Gentry walks over asking, "it's a pretty big bed I'm sure we can share" "We're doing what?" I quickly sit up, "no we're not, you have your own room"
"I do?" Nodding I stand leading him to the door, "why can't I stay in your room with you?" He asks as we're heading down the hall towards
the guest room far from mine
"Because my dad would shit a brick, and because I don't want to be stuck in a confined space with you at night again." Stopping at the room I open the door for him, "this one should be good... um, bathroom's right across the hall, those double doors by the stairs have
towels and other crap you might need. If you need anything else figure it out, I'm going to bed" Turning around I'm in the hall when Gentry calls my name, "Shane?"
Looking back at him I see him smile and I sigh, "what is it?"
"I hope this works, me being here I hope it makes us friends again" "Friends? What about winning over my heart? Gave that up already?"
"Never" Gentry shakes his head, "I don't give up so easily, but I'm fine starting over as friends for now"
Shaking my head I turn as I say, "you're relentless" "Good night, Shane"
"Whatever." Walking into my room I shut the door and strip to my boxers, not bothering with any nightly routine I climb in bed and try to
not think about the hell the next few days are about to bring.
