Tales of the Underground: Crestfallen - 24. Pinned!

When Perry walked into my room to wake me up I was already awake. He gave me a weird look before exiting to let me get changed. I had never felt so exhausted in my life, Eli’s scars left a nightmare in my head, but not as much as the idea of my dad orchestrated my underground debut.

I fought through the fatigue, got changed and headed downstairs. The second I walked into the kitchen I couldn’t help but let out an involuntary groan when I saw my father standing there. “Good morning to you too Aidan.” He reprimanded, unhappy with my attitude.

“Aren’t you going to be late for work?” I asked, too tired for manners.

“I own the company. I show up whenever I damn well please.” He reminded me, fixing his tie “Based on your appearance I guess you got your late night visitor…then again you usually look like shit.”

I let his insult roll off of me, too tired to care and looked him dead in the eyes. “I did. You realize if you get tied to this you risk going to jail. I’m no expert but I’m pretty sure illegally fighting your son for money is well illegal.”

“That’s why I won’t be attending.” He snarled back at me “And use your head once in a while, does it look like I need the fuckin money? No, we’re not accepting that, you’re just fighting to fight, and look alive because you’ve got your first Friday night.”

“Fighting to fight?” I repeated, trying to put the thought of a first fight far out of my head.

“Fine, fighting so you’re not such a god damn pussy.” He lowered his voice as he saw Perry walk up from the basement.

“Your car is warmed up and waiting as you requested sir.” Perry interrupted, sensing the tension in the room. My dad nodded and headed down the stairs without saying goodbye. As he shut the basement door I couldn’t help but stick my tongue out. “Master Aidan, that’s your father. Watch how you act.”

I rolled my eyes “Father is a strong word.”

Perry let out a sigh, understanding our relationship “Well sir at least he goes on a business trip with your mother this weekend.”

“Wait what?” I asked, starting to feel awake for the first time all morning.”

“He and your mother are staying in New York for the weekend to discuss expanding some businesses, and properties. I thought you knew this.” Perry said, a little less confident.

“No” I shook “but thank God.” I felt a small smile cross my face “I’m having friends over this weekend”

“Master Aidan…” Perry began

“That’s an order!” I spit with confidence “and you’re too keep it a secret from my parents.”

“You’re going to cost me my job one of these days Master Aidan” Perry teased, preparing breakfast.

“I hope you’ll remember to thank me when I do.” I forced back with a smile.

The rest of the morning I was quiet. I feel asleep during breakfast, on the car ride to school, and well during all my morning classes. As I took my seat at the lunch table I basically had to prop myself up!

“You look terrible!” Henry shouted from across the table

“Gee thanks” I let out, still exhausted

Jayden lightly poked me “Everything alright?” he quietly asked.

“Just fine” I grumbled, looking over at him “What about you?”

He shrugged his shoulders “Could be worse.”

“Oh by the way, you’re all coming over this weekend.” I tiredly exhaled.

Ivy gave me a confused look “Am I going to have to hide in the bushes again?”

“No” I sighed “My parents will be away, you can walk through the front door.”

“Oh shit!” Henry screamed “Last time we were at Aidan’s house without parents it was crazy!”

“You call that crazy?” Ivy exhaled

“Dude, we had a giant airsoft fight, then we watched a shit ton of movies, swam, played basketball, boxed on his trampoline…”

“We get it!” Ivy shouted, shutting him up “I dare you to go swimming in the cold weather…more importantly I dare you to try and box Aidan now.”

“I think I can take him” Henry teased, looking over at me. I shot him an annoyed look and he took it down a notch “Gee tough crowd.”

I rolled my eyes, and put my focus to my food “You gonna be there J?”

“Well maybe, I’m not sure…” he began

“You’re gonna be there.” I exhaled, too tired to take no for an answer.

“and If I’m not.” He teased

“Then we’re gonna come pick you up, so you really don’t have a choice.” I spit, half joking half serious.

He looked up to Ivy and Henry for help, but they both supported me “I guess I’ll be there then.” He laughed.

Suddenly I heard a chair pull up next to me, and turned to see Eli sitting uncomfortably in a backwards chair “Hey rook, you ever hand in the mentor form from last week?”

“Yeah ” I grunted, not particularly happy to see him.

“Well my coach never got it, so tell your shit show of a coach to make sure he forwards it to hockey. What did they say about it not being finished?”

“Didn’t care” I exhaled, hoping he would disappear.

“Someone’s got an attitude today” he snickered.

“Gee I wonder why?” I shot back at him.

Eli rolled his eyes and sighed “You can be such a bitch sometimes.” Eli glanced towards the rest of the table and raised an eyebrow “You guys don’t really let him act like this?”

Henry shrugged his shoulders “In his defense he’s not usually like this, apparently you did something to piss him off.”

“I didn’t do shit but try and help.” Eli snickered “This is why I don’t get involved with people.”

As he stood up to walk away I got a wicked idea “Speaking of being helpful, why don’t you come hang out with all of us on Saturday at my place? I mean after all I have a wrestling match on our normal day, and apparently I’m super busy Friday night helping with a family thing.”

“No, we’ll just do it over the phone or something.” Eli grunted.

“Sorry I don’t own a cell phone.” I shrugged, beginning to get under Eli’s skin.

Eli zeroed in his gaze, and shifted his mouth “You’re not being cute right now.”

“I’m not trying to be. I just solved our small dilemma I mean unless you can’t make it, I guess I’ll just have to tell my coach you’re refusing to…”

“Fine.” He made a face and rolled his eyes once more.

“Karma’s a bitch.” I laughed as he walked away.

“Fuck you Aidan.” He spit, disappearing into the crowd.

“What happened to your phone?” Jayden innocently asked.

“Nothing” I spit with a smile “I just wanted to push his buttons.”

Jayden made a face, not quite understanding what I was doing, but I nudged him with my foot to signal I was okay. “So let me get this straight.” Ivy interrupted “Somehow Eli pissed you off, and your form of payback is to invite him over?”

“Yup, he hates being around people, and now he has to be.” I explained “and to be honest, it can only help him to start getting out of the house.”

“Yeah but now we have to actually talk to him.” Ivy nervously spit “and I don’t know about these two but he gives me the creeps.”

Jayden silently nodded his head. I looked into his deep brown eyes and giggled, knowing his real reason behind why he didn’t want Eli there. “I for one find him charming.” Henry added, trying to sound sophisticated.

“If you love him so much why don’t you marry him?” I teased.

“Sorry, I’m not about stealing your man.” He spit back. I faked a smile, and so did He. “However I would love to bring Brittany over.”

“Who the hell is Brittany?” Ivy jumped in, without missing a beat.

I rolled my eyes, and shook my head “Some girl Henrys chasing.”

“I’m not chasing her, I’ve got her hooked.” He confidently let out.

I looked towards Jayden and made a face “Yeah for what the next few days?”

“For the new few days” Henry mocked, trying to imitate my voice “Until I damn well please.”

Ivy turned and let a punch rip right into his shoulder “PIG!” she yelled “What the hell do girls see in you anyway?”

“Strength, and charisma.” He smiled, full of himself.

“No you can’t have her over.” I dismissed “This is not some couples hook up party.”

“What why?” he aggressively asked, acting as though he was offended “It’ll be great, you’ll have Eli, I’ll have Brittany, I’ll get her to bring a friend for Jayden, and Ivy…Ivy I don’t even know what you like.” Ivy wound up for another punch, but Henry scooted away.

“No!” I spit, with a little laughter.

“Come on!” he whined “Just look at you, you need to unwind and get some.” I gave him a death stare to signal he had taken it too far, and kicked him from under the table. He faked another smile “Fine, it’ll just be the squad then.”

I nodded signaling that he was finally in the clear. I slightly looked over my shoulder to make sure Jayden was okay, he was acting as though he didn’t hear any of the conversation. Finally the bell rang and we were off to finish the rest of the day. We had a test in history, and of course Jayden was the first one done, there was no doubt he had gotten an A. I tried my best to peer over at his test every now and then, but being in the front row ruled out any chance of that happening! As class ended I walked Jayden to his locker, and noticed he was even quieter than usual.

“Everything okay?” I poked.

“Yeah, just tired I guess.” He sighed

“You know you don’t actually have to come on Saturday…I just really want to hang out with you is all.” I shyly spoke, barely having the confidence to look at him.

I heard him let out a small laugh, and could sense the red on his face “No it’s cool, I want to come. I was just joking around before.”

“Good” I laughed “I was thinking you could sleep over too, we’ve got a guest room and all, it would be totally awesome!”

Jayden uncomfortable shifted, and I saw the smile fade from his face “Oh…so it is…well…Aidan look I’m not the type of guy for stuff like that…not yet anyway…not ever maybe.”

Suddenly my face turned as bright red as his had slowly grown. “No! No! I didn’t! I mean no! Just no! Not that I don’t want to with you!” I nervously spit “I mean I don’t…not already…I mean unless you wanted to! I mean!” I got caught in a mental loop and had to shake my head to get out of it “I meant like literally sleep! Like I said, you in the guest room, me in my bedroom. I just wanted to spend time alone with you, and well let’s face it with Henry and Ivy around, that barely happens.”

I watched as relief spread across Jayden’s face “That sounds cool actually…okay yeah I’ll have to ask my mom and all, but sleeping over sounds good.” We both couldn’t help but laugh off the awkward exchange, for two people who are totally falling for each other we really do struggle to get on the same page sometimes! “Alright I gotta go catch my bus” he spit shutting his locker.

“Fuck that, I’m walking you to the bus.” I spit, not taking no for an answer.

Jayden rolled his eyes, but let me walk with him anyway. I could tell that he wanted to say something but was holding it back, as we finally walked out the doors into the parking lot he took a breathe and let it rip. “You know, if I’m ever like holding you back…if you want to go hook up with Eli…you can, and you and I can just be friends, I mean I totally get it.” He shyly let out.

“Never!” I defended “I’m all yours.” I whispered “I’ve said I’ll wait forever for you to find yourself, and I meant every word of it. Besides you called yourself a guy before.”

“I did?” he innocently asked, trying to recall his wording “I totally did!”

“Yeah” I confirmed “You’re such a spaz” I teased, pushing him towards his bus. He let out another, laugh and climbed on the bus, this time walking a little more confident than before. I headed towards the gym, and practiced my ass off. I knew it would take every second of practice to actually be able to perform in my match tomorrow…to prove my dad wrong.

Before I knew it Tuesday night changed to Wednesday night, and the bleacher were full of other students ready to cheer us on. I was able to look up and see Perry, Brooke, and the usual suspects there to support me.

“You’re up first kid” Jack spit, trying to boost my confidence “It’s crucial you at least get a few points. This is your first match so don’t do anything risky, or overexert yourself. Sure we want the best for you, but you’re still a freshman. Most importantly we believe in you,” he gave me a light shove on the back “go kill em kid.”

I strapped on my headgear, and moved towards the center of the gym. The wrestling set up was actually really awesome. One mat sat in the middle of the small gym, with a single light shining down on it. I looked up to the wrestling banner, which was decorated with years the school had won state titles. I’m gonna add a year before I leave this school I decided, taking a step onto the mat for the first real time in my life. My opponent wasn’t that much bigger than me, but looked like he had been in the position before.

Before I knew it, the ref blew his whistle and we were off. No introductions, no big moments…just wrestling. I tried my best to play my patient style of fighting, but being face to face when you start didn’t exactly help. Before I knew it my opponent charged me and took me right down. That’s 2 points I tracked to myself. I saw the referee drop to the mat to check my shoulders, and quickly reversed it. 2 points for me, we’re back even I tracked. Suddenly I felt myself getting picked up and slammed right back down. I gasped, trying my best to keep my back off the mat but before I knew it the ref blew his whistle. “No!” I couldn’t help but exhale.

“Victory by pin, Chatham High school.” The ref announced.

I quietly made my way to the bench and threw a towel over my head. No points and nothing but an embarrassing showing! I deserve what my father said this morning! I’m just a loser!