Fourth Down - 3. Chapter 3

The next few weeks seemed to have just flown by. I was paying more attention in class. Things also became easier to understand after Dale would explain things in ways that he knew that I would get. As our tutoring sessions progressed, I felt us becoming closer. It was just easy to talk to him. I still grabbed us coffees every now and then, and we would sit and people watch on the steps just outside the library. During our chats I found out that he was close to his family, that they were pretty well off, and that he was a bit of a geek.

“So do you guys have any plans for lunch?” I asked both Dale and Vicky as we were getting our things ready to leave after our first class of the day.

They looked at each other, then Dale looked at me, he said, “No, not really. We were just going to go to the cafeteria and grab something there.”

“Cool, why don’t you guys join me and my friends there. We usually meet for lunch there just about every day.”

“Sure, we’d love to!” Vicky replied rather excitedly. Almost jumping up and down. I guess they really like me. That’s so cool, I really like both of them as well. Dale for some reason looked a little red.

As we were heading to the cafeteria Vicky asked, “So are you seeing anyone, Hunter?”. For whatever reason this caused Dale to glare at his girlfriend. I didn’t think it was an inappropriate question, I wonder why he thought it was.

“No, I am relatively unattached as they say.” I responded

“So is there anyone who has caught your eye, or are you just playing the field?” she asked

Laughing I told her, “No, not interested in playing the field, that is not really my thing. As for whether or not someone has caught my eye, I would say; ‘yes’, but that is as far as I am going to say.” I smile at her.

For whatever reason this caused her smile to grow even wider, and her eyes to sparkle with joy. As for Dale, he just looked more like a tomato. I wonder if his girlfriend's questions were embarrassing to him, not that I could see a reason why. She was just trying to get to know me better as new friends do.

We each grabbed what we wanted to eat, then I led them to the table I usually sat at with my friends. We were just chatting about what we had learned in class thoday, when I saw both Madox, and Olivia walk in, hand in hand. After grabbing their desired choices for lunch they made their way to our table. I then proceeded to introduce Dale and Vicky to my friends.

“So you’re the guy who has been tutoring our beloved quarterback.” Madox said to Dale, “I hope they are compensating you, as I am sure it is tough just trying to teach this guy what 1 + 1 =.” he says with a cheeky smirk in my direction.

“Oh come on, everyone knows that 1 + 1 = a window.” I deadpan. I have jokes, just not very good jokes.

Dale laughed at my dumb joke, well at least he thought it funny. “No, he has been good, and seems to get what I am telling him. It also helps when he comes with coffee.” Dale answers.
“Ah I see, he’s been bribing you with coffee.” Madox smirks, “Already trying to butter up the teacher are we.” he teases me. I just roll my eyes in response.

“So how long have you two been together?” Olivia asks of Vicky

At this both Dale and Vicky burst into a fit of laughter. “We are not an item, just very close friends.” she says after she has calmed down enough to answer. “I am also most definitely not his type.” She adds with a smirk in his direction. Hmm interesting, I wonder what his type is, I wonder if I’m his type, sigh, not that that could ever happen.

“Oh, well you’d make a very cute couple.” Oliva says.

“Oh I know, it’s just that I lack a certain appendage that would be necessary for a relationship to work with us.” She sniggers

At this Madox sprays his food with the drink he had just taken a sip from, and proceeds to laugh. I am just left confused, what appendage was she talking abou… wait. Is she saying what I think she is saying?

“So you like the mens?” Madox asks with a playful grin and a waggle of the eyebrows at my new friend.

“Yup, I like ‘the mens’.” laughs Dale.

Wait, he is gay? OMG Dale is gay. The cute guy I have been crushing on is like me, but unlike me, he is out. That is not something I see changing in my near future. Hopefully one day.

Hm I wonder if Olivia’s food is off. She has a disgusted look on her face, and has pushed her food away. It must be so bad that it has ruined her appetite. We chat for a bit longer, Olivia must not have been feeling well, as she barely partook in the conversation. Madox really seemed to like the new people at our table, as he was asking questions and telling bad jokes that had everyone laughing except for Olivia. I hope she feels better soon.

That evening after my football practice, Dale and I were sitting on the steps of the library with our coffees, when he asked, “So it doesn’t really bother you that I am gay?”

I look at him, a little shocked at his question. “Of course it doesn’t bother me.” I respond. Truthfully I am a little excited at the prospect of him being gay. Though I am not gonna hit on him, cause even though I know I am gay, and that I fancy the pants off this guy. It would not be right to try and start something when I am still in the closet, he doesn’t need that stress.

“Oh, that’s good. A small part of me was worried about how you might react.” He says looking down at the ground.

“Well it doesn’t.” I smile at him. “My best friend is gay.” I inform him, though I am not sure why I did not include myself in that statement. Maybe I am just not ready, or am I worried he’ll think I was coming onto him.

“I’m your best friend eh?” He says with a big smirk on his face, while giving me a playful shove with his shoulder.

I laugh. “Well you’re definitely becoming a good friend.” I laughingly respond, while playfully shoving him back.

“So what’s this best friend, who is also gay like?” he asks

“Probably the best person anyone could hope to find in a friend. He is compassionate, caring and helpful. He can be very forgiving, and I should know, having done some seriously stupid shit when we first met.” I tell him.

I told him more about Evan, and what shenanigans we would get up to, how he was like a brother to me. Checking the time on his phone, he noticed that we needed to start our session. So we got up, threw our cups away and headed into the library to study.

Getting back that night I noticed that I was home alone, so I sat down to watch some tv before bed. Talking about Evan made me miss the guy, So I grabbed my phone and sent him a text, “Sup.”

“ Definitely not your iq that’s for sure. :P”

I smiled at his usual response. “Was just thinking of you, How’ve you been?”

“Pretty good, been studying and checking out some of the eye candy here on campus, how bout you? Still crushing on that guy in your class?”

“Well I did find out his name when he was assigned as my tutor, and get this.” I text back.
“He’s gay.”

“Oh so you actually have a shot with this guy ”

“If I was out maybe. I since I am not, I’m not going to be starting anything.”

“Worried about how the team might take it if they find out you’re gay?”

“Yea.”

“Well hopefully it won’t be too bad.”

“I just don’t really want to take the chance. Football is the only reason I was ever able to study here. What if their reaction is so bad I am forced off the team. If I am not on the team, I can’t go to school here.”

“Yea that would be shit, but I’ll always be there for you regardless”

I smile at this. Evan has always had my back.

We carry on texting back and forth for the next few hours talking more about school, and guys we like. For me that is just talking about Dale. After having to relieve myself in the bathroom, I return to the lounge to find Mayson, with an odd look on his face, standing near the couch. Sitting down, I grabbed my phone, which I had left on the arm of the couch and continued texting Evan. While engrossed with my phone, I noticed Mayson had gone into the kitchen, when he returned he had two opened beer bottles in each hand. With a smile on his face, he offered me one of the opened beers. Taking the proffered beer I ask, “What brought this on?”

He sighs, rubs his hands through his hair, and says, “I have been total dick to you these past few months, and I want to make amends.”

“So this is a peace offering of sorts?”

“You could look at it that way,” he says, “and I’m sorry for the way I have been treating you. That was not fair on my part.”

So holding out his drink, he says, ”To starting over.”

I was not really expecting him to apologize. He must have been really stressed with school,and was lashing out at the closest person to him, me. I can forgive this can’t I? Sure I can.

“To starting over.” At this we both take a sip of our drink, and just hang out. It felt like how it was when we first met. Just us hanging out and playing Mortal Kombat together.

I woke up the next day with one of the worst hangovers I have ever had. What was strange was that I was still on the couch, but completely naked. Trying to sit up to find my bearings, I wince as a stinging pain radiates from my ass. Grabbing my phone, I notice that I have missed my first class of the day. I would be missing my afternoon class as well, as it was well into the afternoon. Another thing I noticed was that I had a message from Mayson. Opening the message I see that he has sent me a video clip. Playing the clip my blood just froze from what I was seeing and tears started forming in my eyes.