Playing It Out Straight

by Andrew McQuinn

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah. You gonna try out for any other sports this year?”

  “Not sure, I’ll see how I feel after the soccer season is over with. Sorry you didn’t get the goalie position.”

  “It’s okay, there’s always next year.”

  “In my opinion, I think the goalie we have now sucks. You’re much better.”

  I perked up. “Thanks Stephen.”

  “No problem. Hey man, the bus will be here any minute,” Stephen said, walking down the hall.

  “Okay, I’ll be right there.”

  I quickly shovelled cereal down my throat and downed it with orange juice. I ran down the hall and grabbed my backpack and joined Stephen to wait for the bus. I began to feel jittery.

  “Do I look good?” I sarcastically asked, not totally worried about my appearance.

  “You look fine. What do you think people will think?”

  “About what?”

  “The fact we’re twins.”

  “They’ll probably want a threesome,” I said. “I don’t know, I’m sure there are plenty of twins at our school. It’s not small like MDIHS.”

  “I know,” he said.

  “I think people will be more interested with our age than anything else.”

  “So, are you going to start dating?” Stephen asked.

  “Are you?” I asked.

  “Touché.”

  I turned toward him, smiled, and adjusted the straps of my pack and looked back down the road. Slowly a yellow bus turned down our street. My heart picked up with excitement, I was about to get on the bus and start my first day of high school in a new state! The bus came to a rest with a hiss and tss and then the doors opened. The driver, who must have gotten too much sun in his youth looked down at Stephen and me. Stephen walked on first. Three seats back I saw Emilie, sitting alone.

  “I’m surprised you’re sitting alone,” I said, as I plopped down next to her, tossing my bag to the floor. “Morning by the way.”

  “Why? And morning,” Emilie said.

  “You’re a pretty girl and you’ve got a cool personality.”

  “You’re about to find out, not everyone thinks the same as you. Most people think I’m the crazy bitch with frizzy hair because they can’t handle my bluntness.”

  “Hmm.”

  I sat back and listened to her talk about her weekend. The trip took thirty minutes. When we pulled into the parking lot, I thought we’d made a wrong turn. The school looked more like a modern looking museum or high-end hotel, rather than a high school. I watched as kids poured out of other buses. They all looked… the same cookie cutter perfect. Kind of made me sick. It also made me glad to have Emilie —the frizzy haired bitch, respectfully— as a friend. As I stepped off the bus and followed Emilie inside, I heard groups of girls chattering with each other. The valley girl accent was prominent throughout.

  Once inside I followed Emilie past the sophomore lockers until we reached the junior section. We were assigned our lockers and given the combination last week. There was one other kid with the last name McKinley, her name was Britney. She was to my left and Stephen to the right. Emilie’s was a few lockers down. I watched as Stephen walked toward me, talking to a couple of girls. He looked at me, smiling. As the girls walked ahead, he pointed at them, then gave two thumbs up, smiling wider. I rolled my eyes and smiled back. I slammed my locker door shut and turned toward Emilie, when I bumped into a tall, lean, guy. I saw a flash of red pass and looked up quickly. He had the build of either a football player or a surfer, in California you never knew.

  “Watch it, faggot.”

  “Sorry.”

  He shoved me into the lockers. I heard them rattle as I watched him walk away. I brushed it off and walked over to Emilie.

  “I was just called a faggot,” I said, chuckling at the absurdity of it all.

  “Get used to it. It’s not bad here, but there are people who will say it.”

  “Grand. So, who should I watch out for?” I joked, following her into the flow of traffic.

  “See that guy right there?”

  She pointed to a handsome guy who looked familiar. He was wearing a red flannel shirt, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. As we passed him, I noticed the edges of his sleeves were torn to shit, and there were patched up holes in his stone washed jeans. At a quick glance he reminded me of Bender from The Breakfast Club. I looked up and saw him glare at me. I looked back at Emilie.

  “What about him?”

  “His name is Shane Austin. He’s one of the school’s biggest bullies.”

  “Oh him, were best friends,” I joked.

  “He’s the one who called you that word?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Better not let him find out it’s true, he may beat you.”

  So? “Okay, I’ll remember that.”

  “The group over there are the wannabe cheerleaders.”

  She pointed to a group of five girls, all of them wearing the same red booty shorts and tight white T-shirts, tied at the belly button. They looked like they were applying to Hooters or waiting to be casted in a Baywatch reboot. We pushed our way through the double doors, I was blinded by sunlight until my eyes adjusted.

  “The real cheerleaders are actually sweethearts. Those girls are brain dead bitches waiting for a call from Hooters, clearly.” I chuckle as Emilie continued, “That’s Ken and Barbie.”

  She pointed to a guy in a deep blue polo. He had short spiked bleach blond hair. Next to him was a girl with waist length, wavy golden blonde hair. They were holding hands.

  “It’s just their moniker, they’re two of the most popular kids in school, he’s the basketball captain, she’s just a cheerleader. They don’t have a head cheerleader here. Anyways, they’ve been together since like the fifth grade. There’s your football players.”

  I eyed a group of guys, all crowded around two picnic tables, talking to some girls. They all seemed cool and approachable, nothing like how the stereotypical football players. They reminded me a lot of Kip. The tour ended at what was known as The Quad, which was an outdoor square of grass with a few trees and scattered on the perimeter were a few coffee stands. The bell rang and everyone scattered to get to class.

  “I got to get to class, see you at lunch?” Emilie asked.

  “Sounds good, thanks for the tour.”

  § § § §

  I got my tray and ventured into line and checked my phone for probably the fifth time and stared at the text from Scotty I still hadn’t responded to. His message had distracted me from paying attention in class.

  I think we’re due for a reunion, it’s been too long. Because you know twenty some days is an eternity. Hehe W

  My finger hovered over the reply button. I was about to write back when the tip of someone’s tray drove into my back, bringing me out of my daydream. I turned around and stared at a burly chest. I looked up at that Austin kid and rolled my eyes and turned back, stepping forward.

  “Hey, don’t ignore me,” he said, shoving my shoulder.

  “Who said I had to talk to you? Is it written anywhere? Did I sign a contract?”

  Some girls ahead of me giggled. I looked up at them and smiled. I took a step forward and felt him grab the hoodie of my sweatshirt. I was pulled into him and felt the collar of my shirt constrict around my neck.

  “Listen up faggot.”

  “There’s that word again. Is it the only one you know?” I choked out.

  Shane shoved me hard against the wall. The corner of my tray drove up and under my ribs. I dropped it and started coughing. I felt him tug at the hood of my sweatshirt, I tried to pull away but failed. He dragged me close to him and wrapped his arm around my neck, pulling me into a head lock.

  “I’m not someone you want to mess with,” he spat into my ear.

  “Hey! Leave my brother alone,” Stephen yelled.

  Stephen walked up beside us, we struggled, and I felt myself get lightheaded.

  “You’re not always going to have your brother
around to protect you,” he whispered into my ear. After a moment, he released me. “Fags,” he mumbled, walking away.

  I picked up my tray. “Thanks.”

  “Look at you,” Stephen said smiling and dusting my shoulders off. “Getting into a fight on your first day, my boy’s growing up.” He dug his knuckles hard into my head.

  “Ow! Yeah, so how’s the food?”

  “Amazing! I swear to God it’s all organic.”

  “Nice.”

  I paid for my meal then joined him and his new friends. I surveyed the cafeteria for Emilie, she was nowhere to be seen. I followed Stephen and sat down next to him. I looked at all his new friends, they all seemed nice.

  “My brother just got in a fight with the kid over there while waiting for food.”

  “Shane Austin? You don’t want to mess with him,” a guy with a girlish voice said. I looked across the table, he grinned at me.

  “It wasn’t really a fight,” I said.

  “Oh, don’t sell yourself short. I heard some of the stuff you said,” the girl next to me said.

  “We heard you. Pretty clever, someone needed to stand up to him,” someone else added.

  “My brother is just being modest.”

  I blushed and looked down at my food, nibbling on my burger. I glanced up, looking at the guy across the table. His piercing green eyes stared back at me. I had to look away before I became hooked. I peeked back and tried to make up an assumption for my unexpected attraction. Maybe it was his vivid green eyes, were they real or fake? I stared as he spoke again.

  “Trust me,” he said. “He picks out his target and until he’s found someone new, he’ll pick on you. I should know, he’s bullied me for the last year and a half.” He paused. “What are you looking at?”

  “Sorry.” Good one Kyle. “Was trying to figure out if you’re wearing contacts or not.”

  He chuckled and slid a contact over his eyes, revealing a smoky greyish blue iris underneath. I thought it an interesting eye color for a Latino boy. He reached across the table. I watched the contact shift back into place.

  “My name’s Chaz,” he said behind a smile.

  He had a sweet smile, beautiful honey tanned skin, and his emerald eyes complimented everything. I smiled back.

  “Kyle, I think you know my friend Emilie Meyer?”

  “Ah yes, I love her! You must be the boy she worked with this summer.”

  “Guilty. What did she say?”

  “You’re a sweetheart and in need of a few good friends,” Chaz said with some sass.

  I smiled and went back to eating, he turned to the girl next to him. Stephen leaned over and tapped my shoulder.

  “Psst. See that guy across the table.”

  “Yes Stephen, I have eyes.”

  He nudged me in the ribs. “Wise ass, he’s you know.”

  “Gay?”

  “Yeah,” Stephen loudly whispered.

  “I know, he’s friends with Emilie, the girl you saw me with this morning. I told you, when I’m ready to date I’ll date. Just because I haven’t met a girl yet—” Stephen interrupted.

  “Kyle, stop lying to me.”

  I glanced up and saw the guy smile at me. My heart picked up slightly as I thought back to Scotty and looked back at Stephen.

  “Not interested, he’s not my type,” I lied. Truth was I was attracted to him, I just wanted to date Scotty.

  “Oh, so you have a type?” Stephen asked.

  “There’s someone else,” I shot back.

  “Who? Scotty?”

  Before I had time to answer Emilie walked by and caught my attention.

  “Kyle! There you are,” she said.

  I said my good-byes to Stephen and his new friends and joined Emilie at her table. She was sitting with her boyfriend and some other people from our English class. She introduced me to everyone. They asked what Maine was like, and what part I lived in. I told them all about where I lived, how in just a five-minute walk from my doorstep I would be at the base of a mountain and in a national park at the same time. They were blown away when I told them I grew up on an island, and three quarters of the island was a national park. What sunk in for them was saying the population of Seal Harbor was probably the size of our graduating class. Once I finished my story I went back to eating.

  “I see you met Chaz,” Emilie said.

  “Yeah, he seems nice.”

  “And single,” she said.

  I chuckled. “First my brother, and now you. Why is everyone suddenly trying to play matchmaker.”

  “We just want to see you happy and with someone.”

  “Well I’m still trying to figure it all out, I don’t think now is the right time to start dating someone,” I whispered.

  “Is it because you’re still hung up on Scotty?”

  “Yes.”

  “He lives a busy life. This may be a harsh truth, but he may not have time to see you for a while.”

  “I thought the same, then he texted me out of the blue. He wants to see me.”

  The class bell interrupted me, and we all stood up at once, I pulled Emilie aside.

  “I need to talk, some more advice,” I said.

  “Okay.” She turned to her friends who waited. “I’ll catch up with you all in a minute. What’s up?” Emilie asked.

  “I’m thinking of telling Scotty,” I paused. “I like him.”

  She lit up and hugged me. “It’s about damn time. I’m so proud of you!”

  “I just don’t know what he’ll say, what do you think he’ll say?”

  “That he’s been into you this entire time and has patiently waited for you to reciprocate. I don’t know, there’s only one way to find out.”

  “Yeah I guess you’re right.”

  “I think he likes you. You have nothing to worry about.”

  “Here’s to hoping. Well I have to get going. I don’t want to be late to AP algebra on my first day. Lunch tomorrow?” I asked.

  “Of course, everyone loved you. Don’t be so shy next time,” Emilie said giving me a quick hug. “Again, I’m really proud of you Kyle. You better call me this weekend and tell me how everything goes,” she said. We hugged and said our goodbyes.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN: IF THERE WAS NO YOU

  My fingertips quickly ran over the keys, typing up an all-consuming thought I’d had in my head all week. It was time to tell Scotty how I felt about him. I was tired, physically tired of being silent about everything plaguing me lately. Since the CD he made for me, I had made one of my own but was too shy to give it to him. Until now.

  I heard a knock on my door. “Just a minute!” I hollered.

  There was no more denying my next move, the fever in my fingers died off as I finished the email to Scotty and hit send. I stared at the mixed CD I made for him and picked up the case. The door creaked open and I quickly swung around.

  “I said just a—” I stopped midsentence, almost dropping the CD when I saw Scotty leaning against the door frame, smiling. My heart beat fast, and I wanted to spring of my chair so bad, that I clenched the arms of my computer chair and instead said, “Scotty?”

  He looked remarkably more attractive if that were even possible. He was wearing dark skinny jeans, a white dress shirt; sleeves rolled half-way up and a black dress vest which hugged his chest and stomach in all the right ways. His hair was slightly shorter and dyed a darker shade of brown. I smiled at him, he grinned back and leaned slightly into my room as a silent way of asking if he could enter.

  “I just emailed you. I thought you were coming over tomorrow.”

  “I didn’t feel like waiting a day. Your maid let me in, nice touch,” he said grinning.

  I laughed on the inside. With both my parents working, and the movie’s schedule, they were able to afford some part time extra help a few days a week. I couldn’t help but smirk when I saw him smile.

  “Tell my mom, she’s the one who hired her.”

  “I’ll have to remember, so where is everyone?”
Scotty asked.

  “The movies I believe.” I looked at my phone. “I take that back. Stephen has a soccer game, first of the season. I didn’t feel like going so I stayed here to do homework instead.”

  “How scholarly of you,” he teased with a wink.

  I left my computer and flopped onto my bed, setting the CD on the bedside table. I stared at Scotty in the reflection of my phone. It was then I carefully made my next move. I sat up and leaned back against my headboard.

  “You can come in,” I calmly said.

  He looked down at the floor and pushed himself off the door frame with ease, closing the door behind himself, and walked my way. My heart skipped a beat with each step he took, while each step simultaneously made me want to tell him I liked him even more. He stopped in front of me and reached in his back pocket pulling out his Blackberry. I breathed deep a few times and licked my lips, moistening my mouth and set my phone on the bedside table. Although I was looking at the balcony, I really paid attention to my peripheral. Quickly Scotty sent a message and then joined his phone with mine.

  “For Scotty. Awe you made me a mixed CD?” Scotty asked.

  I blushed. “Yeah, I meant to give it to you a while ago.”

  “Well let’s put er in,” he said, putting the CD into my stereo.

  Dreams by Brandi Carlile filled the quiet air.

  “I love this song.” Scotty sighed.

  “I do too. I saw your Dreams and raised you one of mine,” I teased.

  “You’re a dork,” he said, eyeing me up and down before sitting next to me.

  We stared out at the balcony and watched palm trees sway in the window. Rain started to fall, pelting the sky light above, he looked up.

  “You’ll get use to that.”

  “I bet, so what do you have for homework?” Scotty asked, looking at me.

  “I have an algebra test to study for and some history.”

  “What are you learning in history?”

  “The battle at Gettysburg”

  “Ahh,” he said, pausing just a bit to look around my room. “What are you reading?” Scotty inquired, nodding toward the book on my bedside table.

  I laughed, looking at the book. “Romeo and Juliet, it’s for English.”

  “Shakespeare, classy.”