We both lay still. I knew we were deep in thought over what was next for us. Life was hard. Now I knew why Dr. Sapp preached about having an education so much. I needed to make something of my life so I would not have to scramble all of my days.
Ella exclaimed, “We need to get food stamps and subsidized housing.”
“Don’t be silly.”
“We can figure this out. We can’t go back to the school and squat. I ruined that by letting Coach know what you were doing,” she said in a gloomy tone.
“You saved me by letting Coach know. I’m going to college on a football scholarship one day, and you’re going on an academic one. We can do this. We’ll figure out a way to hold on. I’ma go to the front desk and see if they have any toothpaste and toothbrushes ’cause I want a kiss,” I said, hopping up. I put on my kicks and rolled out the door.
I texted Coach and wrote, “Wanted to let you know I was good. No need to worry. I’ll be getting my things out tomorrow.”
Soon as I hit send, I wanted to rescind my action. Where would I go? Landon was my only option, but would his parents let me stay there?
When I got back to the room, Ella played her messages. Her parents were so worried. That warmed my heart.
I said, “You need to call your mom. And I can get outta here so she won’t trip about me being here.”
Ella hugged me and said, “No, you are going to be safe and stay here tonight. I can have her meet me down the street.”
After we said our good-byes, I headed to take a shower. Honestly, I wished Ella was with me, though the thought of her reconciling with her mom was better. As the water rushed over my head and body, I hoped the plan of what to do next would rush over me too. I needed a total cleansing in my life. Thankfully, I could crash in a safe place, even if only for one night.
I ended up taking a cab to the Strong’s home. Coach was so disgusted with the hour I arrived that he simply let me in and went on his way. I tossed and turned all night. Being a guest in the Strong’s house was the last thing I wanted. While being there was extremely comfortable physically, it was an emotionally tortuous situation. I had made the decision to put myself out of my misery, even if sleeping under a bridge was my only option. I was moving on.
Mrs. Strong was not making it easier when I smelled the delicious breakfast. I headed down to the kitchen, but I hoped she was not in there. I did not feel like being looked at in a demoralizing way any more. As I neared Blake’s room, I was stopped dead in my tracks in the hall as I heard Coach Strong shouting louder than I’d ever heard him do in practice.
“Blake, I’m sick and tired of this, son. You have responsibilities. You don’t do what’s asked of you. Do you have a brain up there, son?” Coach shouted. He paused and continued, “Oh, you gonna look at me and try me? Boy, I will jack you up, up in here!”
I do not know what Blake did not do. I just did not think a man should be yelling at his son so brutally. Maybe that happened a lot when I was not here. Maybe that had a lot to do with why Blake was engaging in destructive behavior.
Before I could get around the corner, Mrs. Strong rushed into her son’s room. “Bradley?”
“Just stay out of this. I’m the one who has to make him a man,” Coach said to his wife.
I was so sorry that I did not tell her that Blake was the one doing the things she had accused me of. It was clear that though I was in a beautiful house, this family had some ugly stuff going on, and I did not need to add to it. When I passed by Blake’s room and saw that Coach Strong had his hand on Blake’s throat, I rushed in and said, “Coach?”
Blake grabbed his things and ran by me. Coach did not say a word. He just looked at me like I was next but walked on past me, ashamed. Blake got in his rental car and drove away. Coach got in his car and drove away. Good thing the bus had not come. I certainly was not going to let that good breakfast go to waste. I gobbled down some eggs, bacon, and French toast. Thankfully, I got outside just in time to get on the big, yellow ride.
At practice it was funny because Blake was going full speed. When the running back was running the ball, Blake was the defender and tried to take me out. Though he had muscles, the brother could not compete. One time he hit me so hard I wanted to pick him up by his knees and slam him down on his back. I thought about all the possible things rolling around in his head, but the knot that was still visible from his accident, so I just took what he was dishing out.
Coach Grey, the defensive coordinator, got in my face. “Why are you being weak? He doesn’t have on the green flag. You can tackle him. The team we play this week may not be that good, but next Friday night that team has a quarterback bigger than Blake. What are you going to do then?”
“I’ll be ready, Coach,” I said, wishing he knew the whole story.
“Practice how you intend to play,” Coach Grey shouted back.
When I saw Coach Strong looking on, I said, “I just don’t feel like the bigger man should intentionally hurt a weaker guy.”
I jogged back into position, hoping Coach Strong got the point. Everyone knew football was an aggressive sport, and to play it—probably even coach it—you had to be a little loony. Maybe Coach Strong needed to get some counseling. Though it was not any of my business, he did need to know how I felt about what I saw earlier. I really did not care what he felt about it. I had already planned to leave his house, and he needed me to be on his football team, so what could he do?
After practice Landon and I grabbed a bite to eat from Church’s Chicken.
“You okay? Why are you quiet?” Landon asked.
We would always break down what happened at practice. We would talk about what our team needed to do to get ready for the upcoming game. We would be transparent with each other. But at that point, he could not see what was going on with me.
Tired of being too prideful, I just came out and said, “Look, I don’t want to stay with the Strongs anymore. Do you think your Dad would—”
“Yeah, man,” Landon uttered before I even got the chance to finish asking. “I told you a long time ago that you could stay at my place. With Coach Strong’s bipolar butt, you don’t want to be around all those rules anyway.”
“It ain’t like Pastor King doesn’t have rules,” I said, letting Landon know I expected to adhere.
Being sarcastic, Landon vented, “Yeah, he’s got them. He just isn’t there to enforce them.”
“Still, can you ask?”
“No telling when he’ll be home.”
“Let’s call him right now.”
“You want me to ask or are you going to ask?” Landon asked me.
“You know him. What’s best?”
“I’ll just ask him.” Landon picked up his cell and called his father.
At the same time Landon was taking care of finding me a new place to live, I noticed the Axes were coming into the restaurant. Since I was not talking a lot, I was almost finished with my food. I could actually just throw away the box and jet out before trouble started. Landon was the slow eater and had only eaten one of the three-piece mix he bought. He still had okra and half of his corn on the cob to gobble up.
I moved my fingers around in circles, giving him a sign to hurry the heck up. When I looked back over by the door where the Axes were, they disappeared. I heard laughs over my shoulder. I turned around, and they were right behind me.
“You ain’t trying to leave, are you?” Shameek asked. Then he pushed me a little.
I stood up and towered over him. With everything going on, I think I was growing. I had to be six foot four now. Shameek was not at all petrified.
“Shameek, what’s up, man?” Landon said with hype to try and deflate the tension.
I appreciated my friend so much, but him caring was moot. I could tell by the look in the faces of Shameek and all his cronies that he was not done flexing his muscles at me. As he bumped me, I knew he wanted trouble.
Frustrated, I said, “What, Shameek? What you gotta say? What, what do you want
? What now?”
If I could just get him one on one, his tail would not come around me no more trying to act all tough. However, I had already learned that with twelve against one, odds were not in my favor, no day, no way. He had already flexed his muscles. He had already showed the world he could get the best of me.
“Bruno, what you think? Should I take him right here and finish what we started?” Shameek teased. “Come on, give me a reason. Hit me. Push me. You thought you were the man, stepping in the way of stuff that wasn’t your business …”
I just stood there. I was not going to let him get to me. I was not going to let him rattle me. I was not going to let him get under my skin.
Then he surprised me and said, “Or do I need to go take it from your little cheerleader?”
The Lockwood Lion came out of me at that moment because I practically roared in his face. I pushed him hard. Landon grabbed me and pulled me out of the way as the restaurant’s security guard came toward us.
“How does he know about Ella?” I said to Landon as we got outside.
“Get in the car,” Landon said. “Let’s go.” There was no way I wanted something to happen to her. I was going to have to figure this out and fast. I needed Ella to be left untouched, never threatened, and firmly secure.
CHAPTER 6
Be Exact
As we pulled up at the Strong’s home, I said to Landon, “So, you sure it’s okay I stay at your place?”
“Yeah, man, I told you three or four times you’re straight. What? The Axes thing freak you out? They make you scare-ed.”
“That ain’t funny,” I replied, extremely bummed out that the tension with them was not over.
“Yeah, for real they are crazy,” Landon said, realizing this was still serious. “You better warn Ella to watch her back.”
“Yeah,” I said, having that very thing at the forefront of my mind.
“Hurry up, though, it’s Wednesday. My mom’s making a good pot of spaghetti, and I want to be on time.”
“You should eat faster. You wouldn’t be hungry if you’d have eaten all that chicken,” I said.
“Whatever, the Axes made me leave my grub. Them suckers probably eating it now. Besides, I looked up a bunch of D1 prospects. I need to put more meat on my bones, you know?”
“Do your thing.”
“I’m just hoping when we play basketball, I won’t run off all the weight I put on, you know?”
“Right, right. All right, I’ll be right back,” I assured.
I dreaded going up to the Strong’s home. I wished I had money to get flowers to thank Mrs. Strong properly for allowing me to stay at her place. Hopefully, just the thought that I was leaving would make her day.
I rang the doorbell and Lola let me in. She wanted to tell me about her day. The girl could talk. I did not want to be rude, so I listened. Thankfully, her mom called her, and I was able to get to the guest bedroom and pack up.
A part of me just wanted to walk out and call Coach Strong later and say, “I’m gone.” But my mom had raised me better than that. I owed the family a formal thank you and good-bye. Blake was not home. His car was still in the shop, and his insurance was so good that he was driving a rental. The brother had not missed a beat.
When I walked into the family room, I saw Mr. and Mrs. Strong watching the news. Lola was doing her homework.
I said softly, “Excuse me. Can I interrupt you for just a second?”
“Yeah, Leo, what’s going on?” Coach asked.
“I wanted to thank you two for allowing me to stay here. I feel like it’s time for me to go now.”
Coach immediately stood to his feet. “Leo, you don’t have to leave. Where would you go?”
I wanted to shout out, “Like you really care.” But I knew he did care. He had opened his home to me. While it was not fair to get accused of the things I did not do, I did not blame Coach and Mrs. Strong. Just then, I heard a door slam and knew Blake had returned
Deep down, I knew Coach Strong cared. His eyes said he felt bad about my decision. I was just as surprised when his wife stood up and came to me.
Mrs. Strong said, “Coach is right, Leo. I know we’ve been a little hard on you, but you cannot run from things. I know that all too well.”
“I know why he’s running,” Blake explained, cutting into the conversation. “He’s leaving because you guys were harsh on him for things he didn’t do.”
“It’s all right, man,” I said to Blake, not wanting to put my boy in any tough spot. His folks thought I did some things that he did. I had already taken the rap for it. I was leaving. No need to make this worse.
“What are you saying, Blake?” his dad asked in a tone that confirmed he suspected his son.
“I took the money that went missing. I drank your stash and another whole bottle. I was driving drunk, and I wrecked my car. Landon and Leo found me. All I really remember is being home the next day and finding out that Leo took the rap.”
“Oh, so you think it’s okay for other people to get blamed for your dumb mistakes,” Coach Strong yelled.
Mrs. Strong stepped to her husband and said, “Maybe your response is the reason why. He’s acting out. I told you he’s older now, Bradley. You can’t just scream at him like he’s two. And even then it would be abusive.”
“Like he’s gonna listen, Mom,” Blake complained.
“Why did you tell them?” I whispered to Blake.
“ ’Cause I was being a wimp. We got a game to win tomorrow night. I can’t throw my best defensive player under the bus. You stood up for me time and time again. I just haven’t done right by you. I got more balls than that,” Blake confessed. “Listen, punish me in whatever way you want, but don’t let Leo leave our house. The cold shoulder he’s been getting from the two of your guys has no merit. You have been nagging, telling him to straighten up.”
“Why did you have to do that, son? What’s your problem?” Coach asked. “Drinking and driving? Didn’t you learn?”
Ignoring his dad’s question, Blake said, “Mom, I just told you part of my problem is me. And I’m not gonna blame you, Dad. I’m smarter than that. I have really been trying to analyze myself. Honestly, I’m not dealing with this whole cancer thing well. I lost my girl to my cousin. Every time I turn around, every player on the team is doing way better in your eyes than me. I threw a couple interceptions just to see if you would change your mean tune and get behind me to motivate me in a positive way, but you still kicked me to the curb. It’s like nothing I do is ever good enough for you. Drinking helped me cope. I gotta get it under control though, Dad.”
Coach reached out and grabbed Blake so hard it made me cringe. Then he pulled Blake to him and hugged him really tight. It was an intense moment. I could not believe what I was witnessing. In that neat father-son hug, I saw bonding.
Mrs. Strong came over to me and apologized profusely. I told her it was all good, and it was not her fault. Part of me just wanted to leave, but she grabbed my bag and practically begged me to stay.
“You’re good for my son. You’re good for my husband. God sent you to our family for this time, and I’m not gonna let you go. You stood up for my son because you didn’t want to put more on me. Your mom has raised a fine young man. Leo, I’d be honored if you continued to stay with us. Could you do that? It would mean a lot.”
“If that’s what you really want, I guess I can,” I responded. She hugged me tight.
When I was released from her embrace, Coach hugged me. Blake and I slapped hands. To feel wanted and a part of something—part of a family—felt good. I ran outside to tell Landon it was all good.
Stretching for the game, I noticed the cheerleaders warming up not far away. I did not want Ella to see me staring in her direction. However, I could tell she was sad. Ever since the confrontation with Shameek, I decided I’d pull away from her. While it killed me, I could not confirm Shameek’s hunch that she was my girl.
I was going to have to actually break up wi
th her, though, because she wasn’t getting my hints. I walked the other way in school. I took extra long to come out of football practice. I did not return her calls. I wanted her to get angry at me so she would leave me be.
When I saw her walking toward me with Hallie and Charli, I knew something was up. This was going to be hard. She was forcing me to break her heart.
Brenton and Amir were stretching nearby. When their girls went to chat with them, I knew I had to deal with Ella. In frustration, I put my hands up in the air. I hoped she would turn around so I could get in game mode. She did not.
Looking pitiful, she said, “Okay, what’s wrong, Mr. Steele? Clearly, you don’t want to talk to me.”
“I did not want to hurt your feelings, but it’s best if I don’t have a girlfriend right now. I thought this could work out between us, but I was wrong,” I said, lying and desperately wanting to hold her close.
“I didn’t mean to push you away,” she cried. It was killing me.
She came up to me and put her hand on my shoulder pad and got on her toes. Tough as it was, I had to step back. She looked like I had kicked her.
Unsure if the Axes were watching, I said in a tough tone, “I gotta jet.”
I felt bad seeing her cry. However, I could not comfort her. She meant more to me safe and apart than in my arms and hurt.
Amir caught up to me. “Okay, dude, Hallie could not stop talking about how you got her girl Ella all sad. I thought you liked her. What’s up?”
“I do like her. Man, I think I love her.”
“So why the distance? Getting a little smooch isn’t going to ruin your concentration during the game,” Amir joked, pointing at Brenton kissing Charli.
“It’s the Axes, man. Shameek cornered me this week and said he might go after my girl. I can’t keep Ella in my life. Staying with me could hurt her far worse than breaking up with me would,” I explained.
“Wow, dude, I hear you. We just gonna have to watch your back.”
“No, I have learned you can’t get involved or they will come after you too.”
“Well, that’s my decision. Twelve fighting one ain’t going down if I’m around,” Amir said.
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