Tales of the Underground: Velocity - 26. Chapter 26

People come out as LGBT+ in many different ways. For me it was kind of like an avalanche, once it started falling down the mountain it couldn’t be stopped. But that’s how I like it. I prefer to live fast, even if it means putting myself in uncomfortable spots.

“Come again” My dad said, still in shock

“I’m gay dad.” I said starting to breathe heavier “Eli and I have been dating since last week. Right when we started to become friends again.”

My dad let out a big sigh, he sat back and opened his mouth but quickly shut it.

“Dad, I’m sorry if you’re mad but I can’t control it, I swear” I said starting to cry

He waved his hand “No its not that” he said “I mean, sure I’m caught off guard, but your mom always thought you might’ve been”

“What?” I said tears streaming down my face

“Your mother, she always thought that you could’ve been gay, but I told her that you were too young to know. I tried to hide from it but I guess there are just some things you can’t run from”

“Tell me about it” I said sitting down

“Hold on a second” he said getting up and heading to his room in the back of the house “your mom gave me a letter” I could faintly hear him at this point. He walked back holding an envelope in his hand “Before your mom passed she wrote a letter for me to give to each one of you guys, she told me to wait until the time is right, and I can’t think of any better time than now” he put his hand on my shoulder “Look, I’m not going to lie, its gonna take me some getting used to, but if you’re gay you’re gay. Your mother always accepted Eli for it. She would be ashamed of me if I didn’t accept you.” He hugged me and held me close for a few moments before handing me the letter.

“Thanks dad” I said wiping my tears away. I stood back up “I think I’m gonna read this in private”

He nodded and gave me a pat on the back “I love you buddy”

“I love you too Dad” I said relieved that everything had gone so well. I headed up into my room and laid into my bed. I looked over the front of the envelope “Jamie” it said in my Mother’s handwriting. I immediately started crying again. With trembling hands I opened the envelope and took out the letter inside.

“Dear Jamie,

My beloved son and little wild fire, if you’re reading this it means that I’ve moved onto the next life, wherever that may be. I’m not sure how old you’ll be when you’re reading this, maybe you’ll be 20 or 30 maybe even still a small kid but I want you to know that I love you and always will. Nothing made me happier than watching you and your best friend Elijah skating up and down that damn ice until you could both barely move. My little ice kings. Some of my best memories are watching you two goof around together. I have no doubt in my mind that you both will get back to being friends at some point. I know change is scary and Elijah being a little different is scary, but he’s still the same kid he was before he came out. It’s funny when you two were younger I could’ve swore you were the same, hell maybe you are, there was just something about the way you two looked at each other and treated one another. It was almost as though your souls were made to be together, whether it’s just as friends or something more, that doesn’t matter to me, but I know you both belong together. Your dad tried to convince me that that’s just how young boys played, and maybe it was, but I love you no matter what you are. Please look after your sisters, your father can’t manage alone, I know it’s not fair but we need you to grow up fast, I know you can handle the challenge. You always have. You’re my sweetest child and most creative little man, from the second you could start talking me and your father knew we were in for a handful. You instantly started cracking jokes and cursing, we tried everything in the world to get you to stop but nothing worked. You were set on always being you no matter what. I couldn’t be more proud to be your mother, you were the greatest gift I’ve ever received, I’ll miss you and the girls more than anything you can ever imagine. But you have to be strong for the both of us. Stay true to your heart Jamie, you’re destined for amazing things.

I love you now and always,

Love,

Mom”

I couldn’t stop crying, I read the letter over and over again before finally putting it back down. When the envelope hit the desk a picture immediately slipped out. I quickly picked it up and saw it was the same picture from Eli’s mantle. Eli and I proudly holding up that damn trophy. The tears only seemed to pour out faster and faster. I held the photo tight in my hands, I love him mom, he’s my whole world. I’ll make you proud, I swear.

That night I dreamt I was back in the championship game, Eli streaked down the left side of the ice and we scored the same damn goal from that fateful night. I looked up at my smiling mom. I did it mom… I did it. I woke up with a smile on my face and quickly hide the letter and picture so my sisters couldn’t find them. My dad will show them their letters when the time comes, but for now it’s better they don’t know. After I showered I rummaged through all the bathroom cabinets.

“What are you looking for you freak?” Jess said staring at me

“Do we have any like face paint or something?” I nervously asked

“Yeah, why?” She asked staring at me like I was crazy.

“I want to draw Eli’s number on my face before I go to the game” I said with my face turning red

She rolled her eyes “I have some in my room, come on I’ll do it for you” I followed her and she pulled out the red and gold face paint she wore at football games. “Hold still, what’s his number again?”

“26” I stated proudly

“Oh that’s right, you two fought tooth and nail over that number. You both wanted to be just like Patrik Elias” she said laughing. She wasn’t wrong, Elias was our favorite devils player growing up, we fought for a week before he finally won the number in a game of 3 post. I got stuck wearing 14 for the rest of the year.

“Can you blame us, hes freakin awesome”

“Stop talking, your making this hard, I’m gonna put 26 on each of your cheeks. It’s weird thinking that I’m painting your boyfriend’s number on your face, but then again I should’ve seen this coming. You two were like meant to be or something”

“So I’ve heard” she smacked me on the head for talking and almost messing up her masterpiece. When she finished I took a close look at it in the mirror, she did a good job, not too girly but not too weird looking. I hugged her, ran out to the car and took off for the rink. I raced there worried I was gonna be late. When I got there I sat right next to Stephanie who had been saving me a seat.

“What no Jacob today?” I teased

“Says the boy wearing face paint” she teased back, I couldn’t help but laugh. I saw some parents give me weird looks but I didn’t care. Suddenly Eli’s mom appeared out of nowhere and gave me a huge hug.

“So Eli tells me things between you are different now.” She said barely being able to contain her smile

“Yeah” I said nervously “We’re dating now”

“I know!” she exclaimed “Me and your mom always thought you two would wind up together.” I couldn’t help but laugh at her enthusiasm “It’s gonna mean the world to him that you’re here”

“I know” I said with a smile “I love him more than I could ever imagine” she gave me one last big hug and went back to her seat.

The teams took the ice and I recognized Eli immediately from his bright stick tape, he skated by the boards and slapped the toe of his stick against the glass to signal that he saw us. I would do anything to find out what was going through his head. Eli skated around a little bit longer before gliding to center ice to take his first big faceoff. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that moment. I watched as his blond hair barely peaked through his helmet, and the C on his jersey glowed in the lights. Eli won the draw and the game kicked off. The first few minutes went by fast with no one taking control. Suddenly Eli poked loose the puck and started skating with his fast familiar stride. He made a quick move around the opposing winger but made the mistake of keeping his head down and got punished by the dman. I held my breath as he laid on the ice for a quick second before finally getting back up to his feet.

“Head up Eli, don’t make it easy for them” I screamed, Stephanie gave me a look like I was crazy but I didn’t care.

The first period ended with the score still 0-0. Eli stepped back on the ice for the second and won another draw. The team sat back in their defensive zone before finally breaking out, the winger fed Eli the puck and he weaved in and out of the neutral zone, finally he lost one of the dman and had a 1 on 1 chance. I watched immediately knowing what he was thinking. He dragged the puck back carefully and let the dman lean in to try and poke the puck away. With the flick of his wrists he dragged the puck around the foreign stick and used him as a shield to block the goalies views. He let the puck fly off his stick and beat the goalie right over his glove. Eli swung at the air celebrating his first big high school goal. I couldn’t help but laugh he’s only gotten better at hockey and yet his celebrations still suck.

Stephanie grabbed me by both shoulders and shook me “Well look at that, your boy scored”

“Of course, was there ever any doubt he would?” I said with excitement in my eyes. I looked back and nodded at Mrs. Warren.

The game resumed with more hard hits and action. At one point towards the end of the 2^nd one of the bigger players started to get under Eli’s skin, the bigger player grabbed onto his jersey and I could see Eli faintly shaking his wrists ready to drop his gloves at any second. Make no mistake Elijah is kindhearted and gentle but the second he steps on that ice he’s a hockey player to his core. One of Eli’s bigger teammates stepped on and accepted the fight for Eli. It’s a common thing in hockey for players to fight in place of their team’s stars, and I guess Eli was the star of this team. I watched as Eli got back to the bench and began barking orders to his teammates. Every now and then when his line was out you could hear him yelling out what to do. He was a natural leader on the ice, and the perfect fit for a captain. After the second ended the varsity captain came over to me and Stephanie.

“Jamie right?” he said looking at me

“Yup, hi Ryan” I said shaking his hand

“Your boyfriends something else on the ice” he began “his goal was unreal. He’s like a young Patrick Kane.” I couldn’t help but laugh at his shock “I mean if he is your boyfriend, I just kinda assumed from the face paint and all”

“No he is” I said proudly

“Yeah well tell him if he keeps that up he’ll be called up to varsity in no time. I need a player like that on my line. “He shook my hand and went back to sitting with the other players.

I caught Stephanie looking at him “Steph, you have Jacob” I said faking disappointment

“Oh please, until we go on a real date I can look.”

“Last night wasn’t a real date? You’re gonna hurt Eli’s feelings if he hears that” I said still faking disappointment.

“Shut up, you know it wasn’t. I want a real romantic one on one date.” She said dreaming of what it would be like “Not some quick meet up at a pizza place, and definitely not with the likes of you there”

I raised my eyebrows. “I really don’t get why you don’t like me, you’re starting to date one of my best friends, and I’m dating yours” I gave her a friendly nudge with my elbow “You’re gonna be seeing a lot more of me, whether you like it or not.”

She let out a slight grown “Because I know you Jamie Free. Your selfish hard headed attitude gets people hurt, and worst of all when things get even the least bit tough or bent out of shape you run.”

I felt as though I had just been punched in the stomach “Things have gotten tough with Eli and I haven’t left his side.”

She gave me a disapproving look “Let’s just see how things play out from here. For all I know you could be planning to leave him for some other guy”

I gave her a serious look “I would never do that to Elijah. I don’t think you know me as well as you think you do.” I grunted

“Lest hope so” She said looking forward

Finally the 3^rd period started and the other team pushed back hard. A few minutes of them dominating went by before they finally scored. If Eli was pissed he didn’t show it. He stepped onto the ice, tapped the goalie with his stick to signal it was okay and lined up for a draw. The rest of the game continued with no one scoring, and it went onto overtime. Before big moments when we were younger Eli would always skate in the same pattern and chew his mouth guard, all these years later and nothing has changed. He lined up for the start of overtime and lost the draw. I could tell he was bothered by the bad start and nervously skated into the proper position. The first few minutes passed without anything exciting, I watched as Eli tried to rally his team up when he wasn’t on the ice, but nothing seemed to work. The other team had a good scoring chance but missed high. Suddenly Eli hopped onto the ice with his line and started playing his normal brand of fast paced hockey. I watched as he screamed at his teammates to pick up the pace. He picked up the loose puck and motored past a few players before passing it over a stick and right onto his winger’s stick who buried the golden goal to win the game. Eli didn’t even stop to celebrate. He quickly hugged the scorer and skated back to the locker room entrance, I could tell his mind was already on the next game.

Eli mom ran up and hugged me to celebrate “He’ll be out in like 20 minutes if you want to wait and say hi” she said with a smile

“Sure” I said returning the smile “My dad won’t be here to pick me up for a little while anyway, we can give Eli a ride home if you’d like” I lied

“That would be great! I should get home and start dinner anyway!” She gave me another big hug before saying goodbye.

Stephanie rolled her eyes and kept walking “ I can give you a ride too if you need”

“I don’t take rides from liars Free”

“You did last night when your boyfriend was in the car” I teased

She turned back for a second and gave me a dirty look before leaving. I walked out of the rink, into the lobby and sat on the bench for a few minutes waiting for Eli to get out. It took 20 minutes but finally they all started flooding out. Eli was still dripping with sweat by time he got out but the second I saw him I ran up and hugged him.

“You played great today babe” I said holding him tightly

He gave me a quick peck on the lips “Thanks, but we shouldn’t have went into overtime. We have to play better than that.”

I let him go but held onto his hand “It was your first game together, team chemistry will set in” I could see some parents beginning to stare at our open displays of affection, but I didn’t care. I’ve seen a million cheerleaders do this with football players after game, why shouldn’t I?

Eli shrugged and bumped into me with his shoulder “I guess” he looked around quickly “Do you know where my mom and dad are?”

“Your dad never came, but I told your mom my dad would give you a ride home” I could see disappointment grow in his face “Sorry kid, you’re stuck with me” I said swaying our hands back and forth.

He began to smile again “I knew I shouldn’t have invited you here. You’re harder to get rid of then lice” he joked holding my hand tight.

Damn straight I am, I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.