Autumn - 9. The River

“CJ! Bruh, thank you! The weekend was insane. Your dads are the bomb! I hope they liked me. I wanna hang out at your place like all the time! You’re so frickin’ lucky. You don’t have to put up with little sisters like I do. Bro, they try to walk into my room at the worst times. I have to lock the door whenever I’m in there. They almost caught me naked last week. And forget about hanging out in boxers around the house, mom would kill me!”

Harley was walking in circles around CJ, jumping up and down to emphasize his comments, grinning ear to ear, talking a mile a minute as usual. CJ just grinned at the boy he was becoming so fond of and kept nodding in acknowledgment. He liked his new friend.

“Glad you had a good time, bud. The dads liked you. They said you were fun to have around. They’re both on this kick of getting me to have friends my own age―you’re golden.” The hyperactive boy slowed down and walked next to CJ, a look of amazement on his face.

“You serious? They honestly liked me? Oh man, that’s awesome! I was scared I’d talked too much. Like maybe they were used to you and expected the same from me? I mean, you’re like always so quiet!” Harley turned his head to look at CJ and realized the boy wasn’t there. His friend had stopped a few steps back; Harley, lost in his monologue, hadn’t noticed.

“Harley! I ain’t quiet, bud. It's just hard to get a chance to say much around you!” CJ thumped his friend in the arm and started walking again. “Did ya ask the rents about going out on the boat?”

“Yeah! They said it was fine, but Mom’s gonna call Cap anyway. She wants to make sure the invite isn’t something you and I cooked up. Mothers!”

 

During lunch, CJ sat with the GSA crew once again, surrounded by the same group of girls who’d been flirting with him on and off for the past two weeks. He was polite and smiled, but did nothing to encourage them. They still stuck around him. He was wearing a black t-shirt with the Batman logo printed on the front, and one of his “groupies” kept telling him how much he looked like the Dark Knight himself. Girls!

CJ was tired when he got to school in the morning. The previous night he had started Fahrenheit 451, the second book on his English class reading list. He’d planned on a few pages before going to sleep but was unable to put the damn thing down once he got into it. He kept thinking, just one more page, and soon enough he was more than halfway through the story. Bradbury became one of his favorite authors then and there; he’d be searching out other works by the legendary author. Lunchtime with his friends kept him awake, but now the afternoon loomed ahead, and sleepiness was gaining ground. CJ was distracted, not paying attention to details around him, as he headed towards his locker to switch out the books in his bag. He missed seeing the tall, athletic guy walking towards him, and was caught by surprise when he was bumped hard, and knocked against the wall of lockers.

“Dude, what the fuck?” CJ had dropped his bag when he’d been shoved; he looked up at the guy while bending down to retrieve it.

“Why you chasing my girl, fag-boy?”

“Huh?”

“You heard me, fag-boy. I don’t like you being so chummy with my girl.”

“Geez, what’s your problem, man? I don’t know you. I have no idea who your girl is.”

“I’ve heard them talking about you, fag-boy. The new hot guy with the pretty blue eyes. The sexy boy from Miami. I’ve seen my girl and her friends sitting with you and the gay group at lunch every day. I don’t like it, fag boy. So back off.”

CJ tried to remain calm but the big guy was starting to piss him off. He was tired and his mood was rapidly going down. He wasn’t going to stand there and be abused―especially with the crowd already gathering around them. His training taught him violence was a last resort, to be used only in self-defense, but his temper told him if this idiot wanted to pick a fight, he was going to teach him a lesson.

“Listen muscle head, maybe if you had some brains you’d realize we had a nice group of friendly people at the table. It’s a free country, anyone can sit wherever they want. If you have insecurities ‘cause you can’t keep your girl happy, it ain’t my problem. Now get the fuck away from me so I can get to class.” Harley stood with the group of students watching the confrontation. CJ had put his hand up when his friend tried to move forward, to stop him from getting involved.

The guy squinted, almost hiding his eyes. His cheeks tinged with red. He dumped his book bag on the floor. Then he pulled back his arm, telegraphing the intention to throw a punch. Before he could get his knuckles even close to CJ’s face, he lowered his arm, hugged his mid-section, and slumped to his knees in front of everyone watching―who were most likely expecting the new guy to be the one on the floor. CJ had leaned back and thrown a kick with such speed, force, and precision, it ended the altercation a second after it started. Those who blinked missed his move.

“Stop!” shouted someone as they pushed their way through the crowd of students. Everyone stopped, raised their gaze from the guy on the floor to the man who had spoken, and moved aside, making room for him to approach the boys involved in the confrontation. “You two, to the Principal’s office. NOW!”

 

“CJ, Lance… Would one of you like to explain what happened in the hallway by the lockers?”

CJ spoke first. “Sorry, Mrs. Edwards. It was my fault. I got angry at him and lashed out, kinda kicked him in the stomach. I apologize.”

“Lance? Anything you’d like to add?”

The principal noticed the athlete was visibly surprised at what the other boy had said. If he had picked a fight, he’d underestimated CJ physically, and had also underestimated the kid’s sense of right and wrong. Based on what the teacher who brought them in said had taken place, Lance was going to lose some status with the jocks. Might be a good thing for him.

“Actually, Principal Edwards, it was my fault. I thought he’d been hitting on my girl, I bumped him and called him a few names.”

“I’m impressed, both of you are willing to accept responsibility, very noble of you. But I think the person who started the altercation is the one who needs to be punished. Lance, this isn’t the first time your personal relationships have gotten you in trouble. I won’t mention any previous incidents in front of CJ, but I think you know what I’m talking about.”

“Yes, ma’am,” said the apparently contrite blonde boy.

“As for you, CJ, you forget I’m well aware of your capability to seriously hurt someone if you want to. I do not, for one second, believe you just kinda kicked him in the stomach.” Lance looked at the younger boy, his mouth open in surprise, most likely realizing he may have bitten off more than he could chew.

“I do not condone violence most of the time, I consider it a measure of last resort in self-defense, and that seems to have been the case here. CJ, you’re free to go. Lance, two hours detention every day this week. Be happy I don’t suspend you as I should.”

“But, Miss Edwards, I’ve got baseball practice after school. The coach will bench me for the next game if I miss all those days. I can’t do that, I’m scheduled to pitch.”

“Tough, maybe you’ll think twice next time before you start a fight. Especially with someone who could have seriously hurt you. You have the coach come see me if he has a problem.”

 

By the time the two students returned to their respective classes, the entire student population was aware of what had happened―good ole high school gossip network. The good-looking sophomore from Miami had dropped the BMOC[1] with one kick to the gut. The king is dead; long live the king. Walls had a new Alpha boy.

“What the hell are you doing here, fag-boy?”

“What the fuck, dude? Give it a rest. You keep calling me fag-boy and you don’t even know if I’m gay or not. Is there something going on with you I should know? Do you have a deep itch you’d secretly want me to scratch?”

“Fuck you, fag-boy.”

“Nah, ain’t happening. But you’re kinda cute, so I’d be happy to do you if that’s what you really, really want.”

“Go to hell! I’ll give you this, man, you’ve got guts. Damn, but you pack a punch. My abs are going to be hurting for a while!”

“Sorry about hitting you so hard.”

“Nah, it’s cool, I guess I deserved it. I know I can be an ass sometimes. I’m kinda jealous and I’ve been known to go a little overboard. You put me in my place and I gotta respect you for it.” He extended his fist for CJ to bump. “No hard feelings?”

“You got it, man! And to answer your question, I figured I’d keep you company and do my homework here instead of at the house. I called one of my dads, told him I was staying a little later, and asked him to pick me up on his way home from the Pentagon.”

“Dads? Pentagon?”

“Yeah I got two dads, they’re definitely fag-boys,” chuckled CJ. “And one of those fag-boys is a Captain in the Marine Corps.”

“You’re fucking kidding me. Goddamn! That’s insane! I’ve got a question for you.”

“Shoot!”

“How did Miss Edwards know of your Kung Fu shit?”

“It ain’t Kung Fu, and it’s a long story. The principal’s husband, Colonel Edwards, is the marine’s boss. I spent some time with both of them over the summer. She was the one who talked me into coming to Walls.”

 

“I talked to King today about you adopting CJ, babe.” César and Brett were in their room. CJ had gone to his to finish some homework, so the two men had decided to watch a little TV in bed.

“Easy or hard?”

“Should be fairly easy. The District of Columbia allows second-parent adoption for residents. There’s usually a six-month waiting period after one parent relinquishes their rights. Lourdes did that in May, so sometime before the end of the year.”

“Damn, that would be a great Christmas present!”

“There’s one little issue you may have a problem with.”

“Really? Is it bad? What is it?”

“CJ’s old enough he gets a say. You think he’ll want you as a father?”

“Asshole! You scared the crap out of me.”

“Ohhh… Come here, Jarhead. I’ll give you some lovin’ to make it up to you.”

 

“Morning, Harley.” CJ had been standing outside the school, saying hello to other students, while waiting for his friend to arrive.

“CJ! Bruh, you ready? Do your dads know you’re running in the election for Student Government today? We didn’t talk about it last weekend. You’re so gonna win. Are they taking you out to celebrate tonight? I’m so pumped to go out sailing this weekend!” The smile faded from Harley’s face momentarily when he realized his friend was staring at him with a big smile on his face. He hitched his backpack up on his shoulders, clutched his skateboard to his chest, and stared down at his kicks. “I’m doing it again, ain’t I? Talking too much? I’m sorry.”

“Yes you are, but it’s okay. There’s no need to apologize to me, bud.” CJ chuckled at his friend’s unending energy and constant happy disposition. “And to answer your questions: yes, no, I know, I hope so, maybe if I do, and I’m glad. I think I got those right.”

Elections for the student government open seats would take place during homeroom; the winners would be announced after lunch period. CJ was optimistic about his chances.

“Cool! Bro, you’re going to win today for sure―everybody knows you. They’ve all been talking about how you beat up Lance on Monday, you got a rep, bro.”

“Yeah well, if I win I hope it isn’t ‘cause I got a lucky kick in on someone. Hey, about this weekend, I was gonna invite Thiago to come with. The rents said it was okay and promised to take us out to dinner Friday at this place all their friends hang out at.”

“Dope!”

 

“What up, gay table?” Kenton had been coming to sit with them all week so far. Replies to his greeting had become ruder by the day; the kid grated on people's nerves.

“Go sit elsewhere, Kenton.” The unflappable Harley was the most honest and vocal in his dislike for the guy.

“No! Harley, scoot over so Kenton can sit between the two of us.” CJ smiled at the others around the table―who were staring at him in disbelief―and discretely winked at a couple of the girls whose facial expression spelled out their disgust with the obnoxious guy.

“Bruh… Really? You’re gonna let jerkwad sit between us?”

“Yeah, Harley, scoot over. Come on, Kenton, sit here next to me.”

“What’s going on, pretty boy? Why are you asking me to sit next to you? You aren’t going to kick me in the stomach the same way you did with the jock, are you?”

“Nah, come sit down. Have lunch with us. Why would I wanna beat you up?”

“’Cause jocks like you always pick on me?” The boy hesitantly approached the open space, placed his tray on the table, and looking back and forth between Harley and CJ, sat down with some trepidation. “You guys either ignore me, or you yell at me. Like bean pole just did.”

“Ever wonder why that is, Kenton? Ever wonder why people treat you that way?”

“I don’t know.”

“Dude, you got into Walls, you can’t be that stupid. Come on, why do you think people don’t like you?”

“Wadda you mean people don’t like me? It’s not only the jocks? For real?” Kenton looked around the table, apparently surprised he wasn’t as popular as he thought he was.

“Come on, Kenton. You have to realize many of us don’t like having you around. Why is that?”

“You don’t like me either? Is it because I wear glasses? Or because I’m a little short and skinny? Are you sure you’re not going to hit me?”

“Harley would love for me to beat the crap out of you, but I’m not doing it. And the reason I don’t like you isn’t because of your glasses or your size. I’m shorter than Harley and he’s thinner than me; we’re still buds.”

“Then why don’t you like me?”

“Because you’re obnoxious, Kenton. You’re obnoxious and extremely annoying.” Every single student at the table nodded in agreement. “Most of the girls have told you they don’t like the way you leer at them, but you keep doing it.”

“I don’t leer! I look at everybody the same way!”

“Bullshit! You don’t look at me with the crooked little half-smile on your face while licking your lips. You only use that one on the girls. If someone asks you not to do it, you need to be respectful and not do it. You’re so insecure you have to act up to get attention, but what you’re doing is making everybody dislike you. And why do you insist on calling him bean pole and me pretty boy?”

“Because you are?”

“Dude, Harley can’t help it if his weight hasn’t caught up with his height. And I can’t help the way I look.” The nodding heads around the table were now accompanied by smiles. “So here’s how it’s going to be from now on: you’ll never use your stupid look on the girls again, you’ll stop calling people names and making fun of them. And if you don’t, you can’t sit with us ever again.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it. I hate bullying and will always intervene, but you're asking for people to bully you by constantly acting up. Relax. Stop trying to be the center of attention and others will treat you okay. But, if you keep annoying me, you’re going to turn me into one of those bullies I hate. I’ll listen to Harley, and beat the crap out of you. Now shut up and eat your lunch.”

Kenton did as he was told, constantly looking from one person to the other as he ate. The rest of the group kept smiling, and CJ had to bump fists with every other guy at the table before he could finish eating.

 

When Principal Edwards announced the election results at the start of the first period after lunch, applause and cheers erupted in CJ’s class―he was declared one of the winners. Harley and Thiago waited for their friend in between periods and celebrated the victory by jumping all over him, acting like six-year-olds. Lance shook his hand and congratulated him when they ran into each other. So did Autumn, Danek, and others in their lunch group.

“Bruh, told you everybody was gonna vote for you! Kicking Lance’s butt meant every kid in school knows who you were!” Harley was more excited about the win than the actual winner.

“He’s right, CJ. You coulda run for president of the school and you woulda won.” Thiago, although more restrained, appeared just as happy as Harley with the victory by his new friend.

 

“Hi, CJ. Congratulations on winning one of the open seats up for grabs in the election.” Jae Thornton, CJ’s Social Studies teacher, smiled at his student when the kid walked into the room. The teacher had spent a lot of time in Jamaica while growing up. He learned the game of Rugby there, came to love it, and eventually played it in college. Now, he hoped to pass his appreciation for the rough-and-tumble sport to some of his students at Walls.

“Thanks, Mr. Thornton. Are we gonna have enough guys to start a Rugby team?” Due to its size and location on the campus of GW, Walls didn’t have athletic facilities; practices and games were held at the University or elsewhere. The interest in athletics at the school was not very large. “This summer, I watched friends of my dads practice with a team they belong to. I enjoyed it and I’d love to learn the game.” The Rugby Club’s initial meeting was being held in a classroom and as CJ spoke to the Coach, a few more guys and a girl had shown up.

“We’ll have enough for Sevens and there are a few other small schools in the area who also want to start teams. We’ll get to play a few games.”

“Mr. Thornton, another reason I got interested in rugby is I met Ben Cohen this summer.”

“Really? That must have been interesting. Cohen was a great player. He’s going to be here at the school leading a―wait a minute―Principal Edwards said he volunteered to be here because of his friendship with a student. Is that you?”

“Yeah, well, kinda. But, please don’t make any kind of announcement about it, okay?”

“Sure, if that’s what you want. But I’m not sure why you’d want to hide your friendship with him.”

“I don’t want to hide it. I just don’t want to make a big deal about it. It’ll be bad enough when he’s in town. I’ll have to do interviews with him and help lead the school assembly. But what I wanted to know is if it was okay for me to ask him to come talk to us?”

“You think he’d do it?”

“Yeah, he’s a nice guy. He’ll be in D.C. the whole week, so maybe he can have breakfast with the club and talk to us?”

“Set it up if you can, CJ. It would be fantastic if you could get him to spend some time with us. And thank you!”

“No problem.” Three other guys were waiting to speak with Mr. Thornton, so CJ went to introduce himself to the ones already sitting, while they waited for the meeting to start. Once it did, it didn’t last long. Mr. Thornton distributed parental authorization forms, medical clearance forms, and a rules booklet.

“We’ll meet again next week,” he said at the end. “Bring your authorization forms back, and make sure you’ve at least scheduled an appointment with a doctor for your physical. We’ll spend next week going over game rules and school regulations. We’ll hit the pitch the following one.”

 

“CJ?”

“Yeah, Papa, we’re up here in my bedroom. But we’re naked so you better take your uniform off before you walk in here.”

“Asshole! Don’t make me bend you over my knee and spank you while your friends are visiting.”

“Don’t threaten me with a good time...”

When the smiling marine walked into the room, he found three teenagers sprawled on the king-sized bed. All three jumped up as soon as they saw the uniformed man at the door; CJ walked over to hug and kiss Brett on the cheek.

“Hey, bud. Hiya, Harley.”

“Hi, Cap. Thanks for letting me come over again this weekend.”

“Not a problem, kiddo. We enjoyed having you here.”

“Papa, the other guy’s Thiago. Thiago, this is my other dad, Captain Brett Davenport.” CJ had already jumped back on his bed as he made the introductions.

“It’s good to meet you, Captain Davenport. Thank you for letting CJ invite me to stay overnight, and to go out sailing with you tomorrow.”

“Papa, Thiago’s into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He’s hooking me up! Guess I’ll learn a new style…”

“Isn’t that what most MMA fighters use?” Brett had joined the teens on the bed, sitting on the edge of it as he removed his tie. The guys were once again clustered around the laptop they’d been looking at before he walked into the room.

“It is, sir. Jiu-Jitsu focuses on submitting opponents without using punches, kicks, or strikes of any kind. We all know Miami can definitely throw a good kick.” Thiago almost fell off the bed when CJ nudged him hard after mentioning he knew of his friend’s capabilities.

“Miami? Is that a new nickname for CJ, guys? One of yours, Harley?”

“Ummm, no it isn’t, Cap. Not sure who started it, but after what happened Monday, the entire school was talking about him being the new kid from Miami. Everyone started calling him that.”

“Monday? Did something happen on Monday you forgot to tell us about, My… ah… me…?”

“Ughh, I’ve got a big mouth…”

“Yes you do, Harley. Sorry, CJ, but you gotta be proud of what you did, homey. It was epic.” Thiago had scrambled back to his spot on the bed and kept glancing back and forth between the three other men in the room.

“Epic? I think I know what César and I want to talk about during dinner.”

“Fuck! See if I invite you blabbermouths over again!”

“I’m going to change, guys. I’ll see you downstairs at nineteen hundred, we’re gonna drive to Rogo’s for dinner.”

 

“Hey, Dad? Thiago wants to walk down The Exorcist stairs. Give us a fifteen minutes head start, then pick us up at the corner of M and Wisconsin, okay? Let’s go, guys.”

“Sir, yes, sir!” César’s reply was spoken to his son’s back, who was already opening the front door, without waiting for his dad’s agreement.

“Don’t start with me, dad.” CJ looked back over his shoulder to look at his father. “I’ll tell Papa to withhold nookie tonight if you pick on me. I’ve got these two doing a good job in that department already.”

The guys walked out onto the courtyard by the main entrance, chuckling. “I can’t believe how cool your dads are. They seem to be your friends even more than your parents,” said Thiago.

“Yeah, they were real good to me over the summer, right after I moved from Miami. We got real tight. The Elite Eight all treated me as if I was a grown-up instead of a kid.”

“Bro, the Elite Eight? What’s that? I didn’t hear anything about it when I was over last weekend.” Harley had stopped at the top of the stairs and turned around to ask his question.

“Okay, quick explanation.” CJ led his two friends down the famous steps right next to his house. “My dads have this group of friends who hang out together all the time, they used to call themselves the Elite Eight. They’re the ones I spent most of my summer around. Soon after I got to D.C., Chip and Doc broke up, so the group went down to seven. But now Danno and Trip are kinda hanging around pretty often; I guess it’s up to nine. You’ll prolly meet those two tonight. You’ll meet Uncles Potus and Pope tomorrow. They own the PP.”

“Bro, you keep throwing all these names around, and I have no frickin’ idea what you’re talking about.” Harley held tightly to the railing as the boys flew down the stairs. “You gonna ‘splain them to us at some point, right?”

“Yeah, tomorrow while we’re laying out in the sun. Oh and speaking of nicknames, thanks but no thanks for calling me Miami and mentioning Monday, you fuckers!”

“Hey, it’s not like you started the fight. The dumb jock did that. I’m just sorry I missed it, but Harley gave me a great blow-by-blow!”

“That’s right, bruh. And remind me to ride with your dads next time. Those frickin’ steps are scary. So, what’s the place you said we were going to dinner at?”

“That would be Rogo’s, it’s sort of our hangout. Uncle Danno owns it.”

 

“Bro, that place was da bomb! No wonder you’re always surrounded by cool people. Your dads have sick friends! How do they know so many of them? And we got to park inside the owner’s house! How insane is living inside a warehouse full of cars? And I think I jizzed a little when I saw the sixty-nine Z28. How come―”

“Harley!” CJ and Thiago interrupted their friend simultaneously, looked at each other in surprise, and started laughing. Moments later, their fast-talking buddy joined in.

“Actually, I’m with you, Harley. The entire night was sick! But I do have a bone to pick with you, My… ah… me…,” teased Thiago.

“Fuck you! And stop calling me that, dork!”

“Fine. Harley and I will both stop calling you My… ah… me…, but you have to come clean on a few things.”

“What?”

“Picked up little bits here and there tonight, which left me wondering. I wanna hear about your step-father, and how come you moved to D.C. About this biker whose ass you kicked in front of a bunch of people. About meeting Ben Cohen―and obviously being the student who convinced him to come to Walls. About whatever it is some idiot Arlington cops did. And about why you didn’t tell us you’re gay.”

“You’re gay?” Harley appeared surprised by the revelation which made CJ and Thiago start laughing again.

“I didn’t think any of it was a big deal. Plus, I knew you’d hear about most of it sooner or later anyway. But okay, back in May, my step-father walked in on me while…”

 

“What do you think about CJ’s most recent fight, Jarhead? And about his handling of that other kid?” César turned on his side, and backed his butt up to his husband until Brett put an arm around him.

“I don’t know, nothing I guess. Sounded to me like all he did was defend himself with the jock and try to reason with the annoying boy, even if there was a veiled threat involved.”

“Figures a marine would see it that way. But that’s the second time a fight happens in just over three months. Shouldn’t we be kinda concerned about it?”

“Look, babe, it’s gonna happen again so you may as well be ready for it. The kid’s gay and he’s not ever going to hide in a closet. Some asshole’s gonna pick on him and CJ will defend himself. You have a wonderful―no, that’s wrong―we have a wonderful, smart son. We’ve already figured out he has a temper and we’ve talked to him about it. I’ll admit during the rally he provoked the biker, but he didn’t resort to violence against the priest, he talked his way through that confrontation. And according to what we heard tonight, he did it again with the obnoxious kid. The thing with the jock, it sounds to me as if it was all the other guy. If Martha Edwards had no issues with it, I’m not wasting time worrying about it.”

“There’s that, I guess… I know he’s a kid, I know he’s shown restraint so far, but I’m still going to worry. I wonder if there are any laws about people using their martial arts skills in fights…”

“Turn off the light and let’s go to sleep. We can ask Tommy tomorrow when we’re out on the river.”