Unraveled - 8. Homecoming

The season was speeding by for the Mon Valley High School football team. In the first four weeks of the season they had already defeated the Leopards, the Wildcats, the Tigers, and the Wild Cats. A win on the last Friday of the month at homecoming against the Lions would put the Warriors in prime position in their division, setting up a showdown with Central Catholic for first place at the end of the season. Brenton Baker was proving himself able to back up his confidence with excellence on the field. And Ryan Crawford had caught four touchdown passes in those first four games. School spirit was at an all-time high as the days led up to the big game.

“Our team hasn’t started 4-0 since 2003,” Brenton said, encouraging his team at the end of their last practice of the week. “Tomorrow night, at homecoming, we’re going to prove we belong at the top of the league. We’re not getting any respect from anybody, so we’re going to have to take it from them!”

The boys cheered and shouted in agreement with Baker’s speech. Coach Rush offered more words of encouragement, and then told the team that they were expected to support the band at the pep rally at school the next afternoon.

“They’ve supported us every step of the way. I expect the same from you. We’re one school. We are the Warriors!”

The locker room was a chaotic and joyful scene. The boys were in various states of undress as they headed toward the showers. Ryan Crawford sat at his locker as usual, head down with the playbook in front of him. He wasn’t really studying the plays. He was trying to keep himself from studying the boys all around him.

Brenton returned from the shower, towel wrapped around his waist, and sat next to Ryan at his locker.

“You keep studying that book they’re going to make you offensive coordinator,” Brenton said.

Ryan lifted his eyes from the book just in time to see Brenton loosen the towel and toss it aside. He quickly looked back at the book until he was sure Brenton had slipped on his boxers.

“The water’s going to get cold if you wait too long,” Brenton said as he tugged on his pants. “You know, usually the starters get to shower first.”

“I just want to get my routes right on those mesh plays,” Ryan replied, blushing.

Brenton pulled on his shirt. “Look, Crawford… I know guys like you who used to be super skinny can get embarrassed about hitting the showers. But you really don’t have anything to be ashamed of. No one is going to make fun of you for being slender.”

“Thanks,” Ryan replied, blushing even more. Though that wasn’t why he was waiting to shower, that was a good enough excuse for now.

“You’re what, a hundred fifty-five pounds now? That’s a good wide receiver weight. Don’t be so shy. It’s not like you’re checking the guys out or anything. Anyway, you going to the homecoming dance after the game?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Ryan said. “I’m not really into… dancing.”

“No one goes to a high school dance to dance,” Brenton laughed. “It’s a party.”

“I’ll think about it,” Ryan said.

Ryan was not, in fact, going to think about it. He already had plans that night that involved a trumpet player, a hot tub, and something a lot more fun than dancing. And the fact that Ryan was looking forward to the evening after the game rather than the game itself was something he hadn’t planned for. Ever since they’d started actually doing other things with each other besides sex, Ryan was starting to enjoy Danny’s company. It was almost like being in a relationship again.

Ryan finally stripped off his pads and uniform and headed for the shower. Once again he allowed everything going on in the world around him to fade away as the water cascaded over him. Once he turned the water off, he noticed the sound of the shower behind him. He rubbed the water from his eyes and once again found Jerome showering. Ryan didn’t say anything. He just wrapped the towel around himself and slipped away. As he was finishing putting his clothes on, Jerome joined him at the lockers.

“You’re friends with Danny Rossi, right?” Jerome asked quietly.

Ryan gulped. He’d been waiting for the time when Jerome was going to bring up that information. “Yeah, I guess,” he replied.

“Do you… I mean… Does he…” Jerome sighed. “He’s in charge of the LGBT Alliance, right?”

Ryan felt the back of his neck get very hot.

“Yeah. Why?”

“It’s just… They meet when I have another meeting. I was hoping I could talk to him about maybe having a meeting outside of school hours.”

Ryan wasn’t sure he was hearing correctly. “Wait, you want to be part of the Alliance?”

“Maybe,” Jerome replied. “It’s just… There aren’t a lot of role models for guys like me to look up to around the school. I heard the band director’s gay, and I know the principal went to one of their meetings. But guys our age… It’s hard to find anyone who understands. I feel like the only one.”

Ryan listened intently. He wanted to find some way to encourage Jerome without revealing too much. “You’re not alone,” he said. “I’ll talk to Danny and see what he can do. And…” Ryan wanted to say so much but he just couldn’t. “I think you’re really brave telling me.”

Ryan walked out of the school and to the student parking lot. He was surprised to find Jake’s car was there, jacked up with someone’s legs sticking out from under it. Jake, Danny, and Mr. Reilly were all gathered around it.

“What’s going on?” Ryan asked.

“Nothing. Just my fucking car has decided to die… Again…”

“Is there anything you can do, babe?” Mr. Reilly said to the man beneath the car.

“You’re screwed, Jake” the man said.

“Ryan, this is my husband, Billy,” Mr. Reilly said.

Billy slid out from under the car and Mr. Reilly pulled him to his feet. He nodded at Ryan and then gave Jake the bad news. “She’s dead, Jake. You’re going to need a whole new engine.”

“Perfect,” Jake groaned.

“Yeah,” Billy said. “Did you ever change the oil in this thing?”

“Constantly,” Jake replied. “It’s been leaking like a sieve.”

“That makes sense. So what happened is you busted a rod, and that punched a hole right through the engine block,” Billy explained. “You’re lucky it happened here and not on the road. You’re going to have to get it towed somewhere. Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful.”

“I’m just glad you were here to pick up Mr. Reilly,” Jake replied.

“Billy missed his calling as a mechanic,” Mr. Reilly said proudly.

“I don’t like to get dirty,” Billy said.

Jake grabbed his phone and called his father.

“The mailbox of the person you are trying to reach is full.”

“GODDAMMIT BOB!!!!” Jake shouted. He resisted the urge to toss his phone across the parking lot. He stormed up to the car and kicked the fender so hard he left a foot-shaped dent. “Stupid motherfucker…”

“Do you need a ride home, Jake?” Mr. Reilly asked.

“We’ve got him,” Danny said.

Jake was still raging and didn’t even hear the conversation.

“I told him it was leaking oil! I knew it wasn’t supposed to be making that sound…”

Jake was still muttering to himself in the back seat as Danny drove him home.

“I guess it could be worse…” Ryan offered.

“How could it possibly be worse?” Jake snapped.

Ryan thought it better not to reply.

Danny parked in front of Jake’s house and helped Jake carry all of the stuff that had been in Jake’s car inside.

“You want us to stay with you until…”

“No,” Jake interrupted. “I just want to be alone. I told that motherfucker there was a problem. How am I supposed to go out with Kyle next week?”

“We’ll figure something out,” Danny replied.

Alone in his house, Jake called his father again and again until he finally answered.

“Jake, I’m in the middle of something very impo…”

“The car’s fucking dead! Not fixable. Dead. Dead, dead, dead!”

“Jake…”

“I told you there was a problem! I told you it was leaking oil! I told you it was a fucking problem! And did you listen? No! And now it needs to be towed because of some stupid rod thingy and the engine block has a hole in it or something.”

“You blew the engine?” Bob asked.

“NO! The fucking engine blew itself! I told you it needed fixed! I…”

“And I told you to check the oil!”

“God fucking dammit, Bob! I didn’t have to check it! I could see the oil laying in a puddle on the ground every goddamn day!”

“You need to calm down, Jacob.”

“And you need to not be such a fucking moron!” Jake replied.

“Don’t talk to me like that,” Bob replied.

“Fuck you,” Jake replied. Then he hung up.

Jake paced around the house, still muttering about the car. He felt like the walls were closer than usual, like they were closing in on him. He needed to talk to someone who would understand. He called Kyle and was surprised when he actually answered. Lately, Jake had just been going right to voicemail.

“Jake, we’re in the middle of getting ready for Ohio State…”

“Are you available to talk? I really need…”

“I only have a few minutes. You called during a break…”

“My stupid fucking car died. Can you believe it?”

“Well from everything you’ve been complaining about it, yes.”

“I don’t know how I’m supposed to get around! We have homecoming tomorrow and we’ve got that date next week. And now I’m going to need to have my mother drive me everywhere. It fucking sucks!”

“Jake, why don’t you just ask your dad for another car?”

“You’re kidding, right? I wouldn’t ask that mother fucker for a fucking bicycle at this point.”

“Well, I can just pick you up for our thing next Saturday.”

“Really?” Jake asked, as if hearing something that made sense for the first time in his life.

“Yeah. But now I really have to get back to practice. I’ll call you later, okay?”

“Okay,” Jake replied. “I love you.”

“Me too,” Kyle replied.

Feeling better, but still anxious, Jake decided the thing to do was to go for a run through the neighborhood.

“Was that Jake from State Farm?” Roger asked as Kyle joined him on the way to the band room.

“’Fuck you’ was who it was,” Kyle replied, laughing.

Kyle was having a great time at Penn State. The team was undefeated, and Ohio State was on the horizon on Saturday at home. Everyone in the band was convinced the team had a real shot at taking down the Buckeyes that year. Everything was going great for Kyle. He was even doing well in his classes. He felt like he had built on what he had accomplished in his senior year and was becoming a new version of himself. He had friends. It had taken him years to make real friends in high school. Kyle had felt so homesick when he came to State College. Now, he barely even thought about the Mon Valley. In fact, he was only going back next Saturday because he’d promised Jake he would.

And what bothered Kyle was that he almost didn’t want to go back even for that.

     ***

When Ryan scored his third receiving touchdown of the homecoming game, the whole Mon Valley seemed to shake with excitement! Every single aspect of the game went better than anyone could have imagined.

“Baker to Crawford, complete for thirty-five yards and the touchdown,” the Warriors announcer proclaimed to the raucous crowd. Because the band was in position to perform the halftime show, they were all lined up near the end zone. Ryan raised his arms to encourage the band and the crowd to cheer louder. Then for an extra bit of fun, he handed the ball to Danny before jogging off to the sideline to celebrate with the team. Everyone in the band booed when the referee asked Danny for the ball back.

Danny didn’t realize how much he was blushing until Andrew mentioned it.

“If you turn any more red you’re going to stop traffic,” he said.

“Shut up, Andrew!” Danny replied. He could only enjoy the moment a little bit longer before the half ended and Jake brought the band to attention.

“Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the Mon Valley High School Marching Band under the direction of Mr. Brett Reilly. Field commander Mr. Jake Finnegan. Auxiliary assistant Mrs. Sarah Thompson….”

The introductions continued as the band marched through the end zone and onto the field. Homecoming at Mon Valley High gave band members from previous years the opportunity to come back and play the fight song and the alma mater with the high school kids again at the end of the show. There were more alumni than there had been in previous years. Most of them were from Mr. Reilly’s era. Jake felt a twinge of disappointment because Kyle wasn’t there, but he was getting ready for the big Ohio State game. Still, it was good to see people like Lydia and Justin who had graduated along with Kyle last year. Jake had seen Danny and Lydia chatting and he was happy to see they were getting along like old friends and not like ex-boyfriend and girlfriend.

The field show kept getting better each week, and the band pulled out all the stops for homecoming. Mr. Reilly added “Can’t Stop the Feeling” to the 2010s-themed show. As the show closed, Mr. Reilly asked Mr. Butler to direct the band’s performance of the alma mater. Jake was glad that the younger kids were able to appreciate the contributions Mr. Butler made to the band after he’d led them through band camp.

After half time, the alumni joined the band in the stands for the second half of the game. Jake chatted with Justin about college life at Pitt. After sitting next to him for three years at band practices, performances, and games, it was nice to catch up. He explained his car’s untimely death to Justin.

“Didn’t your dad give you that piece of junk?” Justin asked.

“Don’t ask,” Jake replied.

The second half of the game was run under mercy rules, which meant the game clock ran continuously except for timeouts. Ryan and Brenton only played for the third quarter and then were pulled for the second-string players to finish up the game. The game ended with the final score of 41-0. On to the Cougars next Friday, and then Jake would finally get to see Kyle again on Saturday for their date. Jake was counting down the hours until he could finally be with his boyfriend again.

Jake was waiting in the hallway for Danny to give him a ride home when he saw Billy coming into the building, and more importantly who Billy had with him.

“Is that Betty?!?” Jake asked excitedly.

Billy smiled. “She just came to pick up her dad.”

“Can I… Can I hold her?”

“Not only can you hold her, you can hold her while I go in and tell Brett I’m here to pick him up. He’s going to flip when he sees I’m by myself,” Billy laughed.

Billy handed Betty, who was bundled in enough layers she could barely move, over to Jake and walked toward Mr. Reilly’s office.

Just as he walked into the office, Danny walked out.

“Hey, Mr. Roberts,” Danny said as they passed. Then he saw Jake holding the baby. “Jacob… Is there something we need to talk about? Did you switch teams? Does Kyle know?”

“Quiet, smartass,” Jake replied.

“Hey, don’t say bad words in front of the baby,” Danny scolded.

Mr. Reilly came darting out of the office and turned a shade of red when he saw Jake with Betty.

“Oh, thank Jesus!” Brett breathed a sigh of relief. “He told me he left her in the car!”

Billy emerged from the office laughing. “The look on your face, babe!” he said.

“I’m going to kill you. I swear to God,” Mr. Reilly replied.

Jake handed Betty back to Billy while Mr. Reilly closed up his office. “She’s adorable,” he said.

“Now,” Billy said. “We’ll see about two-thirty in the morning. You’re very good at holding a baby, Jake.”

“I have a half-brother who’s two years old now,” Jake explained.

“Are you boys going to the dance?” Mr. Reilly asked.

“No,” Jake said.

“Yes,” Danny said at the same time.

Jake looked at Danny in confusion. “I thought you were going to drop me off.”

“I am,” Danny replied. “After we go to the homecoming dance. We’re seniors. It’s our duty to go.”

“But I hate dances,” Jake replied.

“So do I, but it’s our duty, Jake,” Danny said seriously.

“Whatever…” Jake sighed. He knew there was no use arguing with Danny over these things, and he had no way home. So he walked with Danny down the hall to the gym, where the pounding rhythm of the music was already thumping through the walls.

The atmosphere was raucous after the dominant win by the football team. Everyone was looking forward to when the team would arrive to celebrate with them. There was a large and empty dance floor, and lots of tables set up around the gym where everyone was gathering to hang out. Danny found the tables where the Alliance had gathered, right next to where the members of the band were. Danny sat with the Alliance, right next to the band and Jake sat beside him.

“What was up with Crawford giving you the ball?” Andrew asked.

“That was really funny!” Gina said. “Especially when everyone booed the ref.”

“It was just a joke,” Danny said.

“Here comes the football team,” Jake said, sparing Danny from any further explanations.

The whole team came into the gym together, to the cheers and applause of everyone. The music stopped and the DJ gave Brenton the microphone.

“We just want to thank everyone for coming out and supporting us tonight! Next week, we’re going to kick the Cougars’ butts!”

Everyone cheered.

“Thanks to everyone, especially the band, who I heard kicked ass tonight!”

More cheering from the crowd. Danny looked at Jake and rolled his eyes.

“So come out next week everybody. Enjoy the dance and remember – We are the Warriors!”

“I swear the guy’s gonna run for office someday,” Danny said.

“He’s a hell of a quarterback though,” Jake replied.

“The offensive line makes him look better than he is,” Danny said. “He has enough time to catch a bus when he goes back to pass.”

Danny got up to get a drink and passed Brenton and Ryan on the way.

“Good game tonight, Bakes,” Danny said. “Even I’m starting to believe in you.”

“Go away, Rossi,” Brenton said.

“Of course, when you’re throwing the ball to Crawford, he’s going to make you look good. Thanks for the ball, by the way,” Danny said to the blushing Ryan. “Too bad the ref took it back.”

Danny got a Pepsi for himself and Jake and returned to his table.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with that guy,” Brenton said.

“It’s just Rossi being Rossi,” Ryan replied.

“You played a hell of a game tonight, Ryan,” Brenton said. “Seven catches and three touchdowns in basically one half. That’s MVP material.”

Ryan blushed all the more. “Well I have a great quarterback.”

“We have a great team,” Brenton replied. “I’m glad you decided to stick around for the dance.”

“Well, my ride won’t be here until late,” Ryan said, lying just enough to sound legit. In fact, his ride home had insisted on staying for the dance, despite Ryan’s protests.

The boys returned to the tables where the football team had gathered. Ryan couldn’t help but glance across to the other side of the gym where Danny and Jake were sitting with the Alliance. Ryan wished he could be brave enough to walk across the gym and join them. He had been a part of the Alliance when it first started. He’d gone to the first meeting at the end of his freshman year. But then the band camp incident happened and he never went to another meeting. He was that close to being completely open about himself. But then he became the football superstar and now he was trapped deeper in the closet than ever.

As Ryan was pondering how differently his life had gone since that first meeting, Jerome sat beside him.

“That was really cool tonight,” Jerome said.

“What was cool?”

“When you handed the ball to Danny,” Jerome replied.

“It was just a joke,” Ryan insisted.

“Not to me,” Jerome replied.

Before Ryan could reply, Brenton sat down next to him.

“So, did you vote for homecoming king and queen yet?” he asked.

“Yeah,” Ryan replied.

“And who did you vote for?”

Ryan laughed. “You’re so desperate. You know you’re going to win.”

“I bet my little shout-out to the band really put me over the top. Most of them would have voted for Danny.”

“Is that the only reason you did that?” Ryan asked.

“No. But it doesn’t hurt, right? As long as Rossi doesn’t win it, I’ll be happy.”

“So what happened between you guys?” Ryan asked.

“Nothing,” Brenton replied. “We’ve just never been friends. There’s not some origin story or anything. We live in different worlds. I’ve always been an athlete, he’s always been into band and other stuff that I don’t care about.”

“So you didn’t, like, steal his lunch money in second grade or anything?”

“I probably called him a queer or something and he’s held a grudge over it.” Brenton replied. “I don’t know. He’s just annoying.”

The DJ asked for everyone’s attention to introduce the king and queen of homecoming. Everyone burst into applause when Brenton’s name was announced. As he stood on the stage, Ryan looked across the gym at Danny. Danny rolled his eyes and put his hand up to Jake’s ear to say something that Jake apparently found funny. The queen was some girl from the band Ryan didn’t know. The band seemed to be excited about her. Ryan took advantage of Brenton being distracted with king stuff to slip out of the gym. He wished he could have gone unnoticed, but that’s hard to do when you just caught three touchdown passes at the big homecoming game.

He texted Danny, “Can we PLEASE get out of here now?”

After a few minutes, Danny and Jake joined Ryan in the hallway.

“Everybody ready to go, then?” Danny asked.

“More than ready,” Ryan replied.

“Yeah, that was a big waste of time,” Jake added.

“Well, I had to stay in case I won. But after that game Bakes pretty much had it in the bag.”

Ryan slid into the back seat and Jake sat up front with Danny.

“I can’t believe my stupid car died. At least my dad got it out of the parking lot last night.”

After Danny dropped Jake off, Ryan joined Danny in the front seat. At last the two of them were alone.

“So what was the deal with the football?” Danny asked.

Ryan smiled. “I just saw you standing there and I thought it would be funny.”

“You’re a nut,” Danny replied.

“Yeah…” Ryan said. “I just… I feel trapped.”

“How so?”

“I see you and Jake, and the other kids in the Alliance. And you guys can just… be yourselves. No pressure from the whole town. No stressing out over what to say, or where to look, or how to stand. Everything about me right now is fake. I’m always performing. And one wrong move and the whole thing falls apart.”

“So handing me the football was just part of the performance?” Danny asked, pulling into his driveway.

“No,” Ryan insisted. “No… That felt like the only genuine thing I did tonight.”

Danny blushed. “That’s really sweet. But you did score three times and that was real too. Not everything you do is fake. And it’s not as easy on the other side as it looks.”

“Oh, I know. I guess I’d rather be judged for who I am rather than praised for who I’m not.”

“Well I know both sides of you, and I think all of you is awesome.”

Ryan closed his eyes to keep from crying.

“Danny…”

“Yeah?”

“I think you’re awesome too,” Ryan said.

“Of course I am!” Danny said.

“No… That’s not everything,” Ryan interrupted. “There’s more, but it’s really hard to say.”

“Okay.”

“Danny… I… I think I’m f…”

“WOOOOOO!!!!! GO WARRIORS!!!!”

At that very moment Danny’s sister Olivia pounded on the passenger side window.

“Oh my God! Shut the fuck up, Oblivia!!!” Danny snapped. “I swear ever since she became a cheerleader….”

Olivia walked into the house, and Danny’s mom approached the driver’s side window.

“Come on in, guys! I’ll make hot chocolate,” she said cheerfully. “Great game tonight, Ryan!”

“Okay… Just give us a second, for Christ’s sake!” a mortified Danny replied. “I’m sorry, Ryan. What were you going to say?”

Ryan was clutching his chest, still trying to get over the shock of Olivia’s surprise appearance.

“Nothing,” he said. “It wasn’t important. Hot chocolate sounds great. Let’s go.”

“And then afterward you can score for the fourth time tonight,” Danny joked.

Ryan smiled. They left the conversation in the car for another day.