Tales of the Underground: Velocity - 2. Chapter 2

I woke up the next morning full of energy. This is it! My first big break! The 18+ league may as well be a joke compared to the 20+ one, hell you need an invite just to get past the guards at the underpass and I finally have mine!

I ran down the stairs ready to take on whatever challenge the day has to offer. There is no doubt about it, lifes finally looking up again and I’m not letting anything get in my way! I was getting my things together so fast my 4 sisters couldn’t help but give me shit for it. I laughed, played along with their jokes and made sure to give the youngest of us a pat on the head before hoping on my bike and speeding off to school. Usually I ride with them to make sure they get there safely but today my lust for speed seemed to be more than usual. Maybe the adrenaline from last night still hasn’t worn off yet or maybe it’s just nerves in anticipation for tonight, whatever it is I never want this feeling to fade!

The first few classes of the day went by fast. Of course that tends to happen when you spend 50% of class time sleeping. Hey! What did you expect? The races don’t start until late and even then I’m easily out until around 3 AM. Almost all my teachers have already written me off as a failure anyway. They all say the same thing “Jamie, if you studied as much as you sleep you’d be the smartest kid in school.” That line always makes me laugh, if only they knew the real reason I slept so much during class! My grades aren’t even that bad, besides I have no interest in being the smartest kid in school, that title belongs to Jacob and what kind of best friend would I be if I took that from him?

Finally the bell rang and it was time for lunch, I took my usual seat in-between Matty and Jacob and prepared to plan for tonight’s big event.

“So what time are we leaving for the races?” Matty asked. I haven’t seen him this on edge for something in a while.

“I was thinking that maybe I should go alone tonight” I didn’t even have the balls to look him in the eyes as I broke the news “It’s just, I don’t want to drag you two down with me if something happens tonight” I continued.

“Nothings gonna happen” Matty replied

“No, that actually makes sense” Jacob added “What if something does happen. The rumors of The Kid explicitly say that he’s always joined with 2 kids of the same age. There’s no way anyone would actually believe that The Kid would show up without both his entourage and his car.” Jacob finished smiling to himself

“You shouldn’t believe every rumor you hear Jacob, maybe I’ll start flying solo. Damn, that would save me so much money” I joked

“The Kid might be able to survive without us but we all know Jamie wouldn’t be able to” Matty replied.

“I wouldn’t bet money on that” I said giving him a quick jab to the side with my elbow.

It’s funny, I know we’re just kidding around but it almost felt as if they were actually scared that I would leave them one day. If only they realized how much I needed them, they’ve stood with me when I’ve felt the most alone and believe me in a house of 5 kids it’s hard to feel alone!

“The three stooges up to no good again?” I heard a high pitch voice chime in

“Oh fuck off Eli, We don’t have time for your glittery shit” Matty spat without even looking up.

I’ve known Elijah almost my whole life. We first met playing hockey as kids, we were even close at one point but everything changed when he came out as gay. Truth is I kind of always blamed him for me being in the same shoes. I never once thought a guy was cute until 6^th grade when we won the triple A hockey championship together. I still remember looking at him after that game, his blonde hair that somehow always seemed to be messy yet put together, those icey blue eyes filled with so much life and a smile that could cure depression. Even today a whole 3 years later he still has that look. Boy puberty has been nice to him, I swear the girls in this school would do anything for a chance to make him straight even for just an hour.

Woh! What the actual fuck Jamie?! Calm it the hell down! See he’s doing it again! Maybe this is how gay spreads, they make it seem like they’re your friend then they go in for the kill! I can’t take any chances around him, distractions will only slow me down and if there is one thing I can’t handle its going slow.

“Now now, that’s no way to talk to an old friend now is it?” Eli said staring right at me.

“What the fuck are you looking at me for? Mattys the one who said it.”

“I just assumed you were all up eachothers asses so much you controlled what one another said” Eli said coyly laughing to himself.

“Yeah of course you would think about dudes being up each other’s asses you fucking queer.” Jacob added without even skipping a beat

“Alright, everyone relax.” I said trying to gain control of the conversation

“Just spit it out, what do you want Elijah?” I was hoping to get this over with as fast as possible. I couldn’t chance Eli sticking around for too long, his gaydar might out me or something.

“Well Hockey tryouts for the freshman team start this weekend and I was hoping to see you there for old time’s sakes.” I could tell he was being serious now

“C’mon man you know I don’t play hockey anymore.” I said hoping he would just disappear already

“I need my left wing back, everyone else sucks. We were the best one two combo in the state, my mom can even give you rides to practices and games if you need.” I could tell he wasn’t about to give up.

“Look man I’ve got too much on my plate as it is, I just don’t have to time to take a stroll down memory lane and figure skate with you” I said with my voice starting to fade with each word that came out of it.

“Look Jamie if this is about your mothers passing, I get it but she wouldn’t want you to just quit like this”.

The second I heard those words come off his lips I could only see red. “What the fuck did you just say to me?!” I felt matty grab my arm to hold me back “Don’t you ever fuckin tell me what my mother would’ve wanted for me, what gives you the right you freakin fairy?!” My mind was racing, I tried to get free of Mattys grip but there was no chance

“You know what Elijah. How about this. You go and fix whatever in you that is broken enough to make you like guys and then I’ll go skate around with you” The second I put those words out there I knew I had crossed a line. Sure he might’ve crossed the line first but at least he was coming from a good place. I could see the tears swelling in his eyes. He opened his mouth but nothing came out.

“Just leave me alone, okay? I’m not that kid you used to play hockey with anymore.” I sighed and just like that Eli scurried away.

“Real classy Jamie” Matty said letting go of my arm “

You can’t blame Jamie, Elijah was asking for it” Jacob said rushing to my defense just like he always did.

The rest of lunch was silent, all I could do was replay the conversation over and over again in my head.

My Mom passed away from cancer around a year ago. Watching her wither away in a hospital bed was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. The wound is still as fresh as the day she passed. There’s nothing she loved more than watching me play hockey. Win or lose after every game she would always take me and Elijah out for ice cream. She would always call us her little ice kings. The more the memories came back the worse I felt. She loved Eli like he was her own; she was even one of the few parents who didn’t care when he came out. It hurt her when I hung up my skates and stopped talking to him but she would never tell me. She always let me do what made me happy. I wonder how ashamed she would be if she saw me today.

Shit, this day isn’t going at all like I thought it would. I just want to be at the underpass watching the “big kids” race already. God I’m sick of being Jamie, I wish I could be The Kid all year round.