Run for It All

by Carolyn LeVine Topol

  Maybe he was being a bit overly dramatic with his judgment of the first few weeks at West Hartford High. After all, no one was actually rude—the kids just ignored him, and the teachers treated him like every other student. As David sat back and ate the sandwich he had purchased in the cafeteria, he reflected on how much he missed his friends in New York City. The sandwich wasn’t half-bad and because they sold food a la carte he could buy whatever he wanted, not have to worry about packing a lunch like he had to do daily in the city, and he also had the option to choose to sit anywhere on the large school grounds.

  “Hi.”

  The sudden appearance of a girl who approached quickly, holding an apple in one hand and her backpack over her shoulder with the other, brought David out of his thoughts. Looking at the smiling brunette as she walked closer, David thought she looked familiar but couldn’t place the face. She was small, with an olive complexion, and big, dark brown eyes. She was wearing fitted jeans, a tank top, and flip-flops. David could tell she would be the type who would be popular with any group she chose to hang out with. David wondered why she was approaching him. He hoped he wouldn’t have to deal with his lack of interest in girls in what would be his very first conversation, other than brief inconsequential passing words, with another student. There was enough crap to deal with on a day-to-day basis without adding that to the mix.

  “I saw you this morning in homeroom and then in English class. In fact, I’ve kind of been watching you since school started. You’ve been looking kind of lost, metaphorically speaking of course.”

  English class and homeroom—that’s why her face was familiar. “I was. Well, to be perfectly honest, I still am.” This didn’t feel like she was making a play for a date, more just trying to be friendly.

  “You’ll have a hard time finding your way if you sit out here by yourself all the time, rather than joining everyone in the cafe.”

  David shrugged, not knowing how to respond because the girl was obviously right, but he wasn’t sure he was ready to admit it.

  “I’m Jesse. I think when Mr. Hatcher calls the names on his attendance roster, you respond to David. Am I right?”

  “You heard and noticed correctly.” David looked around to see if Jesse had any friends with her and was surprised to see no one in her wake. “Do you always go on missions of mercy to greet new students when you could be in the cafeteria having lunch with your friends instead?”

  Jesse laughed. “You have an off-beat sense of humor. I like that in a man.”

  David rolled his eyes. Maybe this was going to get awkward. Perhaps she was on the make, looking for a little action with the new guy; the new guy who would never be interested. “Umm.” David didn’t know how to respond, so he shut his mouth before he said something he’d regret.

  “Relax. I’m not interested in jumping your bones. I like an off-beat sense of humor in all people, women too.” Jesse smiled and David found himself smiling back.

  “That’s a relief.” David snapped his hand over his mouth. “Damn. I can’t believe I just said that out loud.” He lowered his head.

  “Get a grip. I can tell you’re not interested. My brother, Kevin, has schooled me in the fine art of detecting gay versus straight guys. It saves a lot of time and energy.”

  “Your brother is an expert?” David chose to play dumb so he didn’t say something wrong because of unfounded assumptions.

  “He’s been honing his gaydar since he came out in eighth grade. He’s a junior now. We’re only a year apart.”

  David nodded. Somehow knowing he wasn’t the only gay boy in the school was a comfort. It wasn’t as if he had assumed he was alone; it had just felt like he was until this moment.

  “I bet it’s hard coming to a new school when you’re fifteen. Is your family in the military, or did one of your parents get a new job here?” Jesse sat down and bit into her apple.

  “My mothers and I live in Manhattan, but they have an extended work assignment overseas so I’m living with my dad and his partner for this school year.”

  “Cool.” Jesse giggled.

  “What’s so funny?” David furrowed his brow.

  “You’re a second-generation gay guy. You should be the poster child for DNA predicting sexual orientation.”

  “I’m not sure if that’s an insult or a compliment.” David took a bite of his sandwich and looked toward the football field below.

  “It’s neither, just a statement of fact.”

  After swallowing, David ventured to ask the question he had been thinking about ever since Jesse arrived on the scene. “So why are you here? You never really answered me. Don’t you have anyone better you’d rather be with during lunch?”

  “I have plenty of friends, if that’s what you’re asking. I even have a boyfriend, although he can be a pain in the ass sometimes. He’s on the football team, and they started practicing before the school year began. Now they hang out together as if they’re glued at the hips, or shoulder pads.”

  David nodded, grinning at the image of the football assholes Jesse painted for him.

  “I also happen to think you looked like you could use a friend and a little warmer welcome. This town isn’t some small-minded, witch hunting, New England community. We actually have flush toilets and use smartphones on a regular basis.”

  “Do I give off the vibe of a complete snob?” Jesse’s response was eye opening.

  “Not a complete snob, but a guy who doesn’t really know where he is and how to become a part of his new setting.”

  “And why were you elected to seek me out, or call me out, whichever the case may be?”

  “Because you look like a nice guy with a lot of potential.” Jesse smirked. “And because my brother pointed you out this morning when we walked into school. He thought you were kind of cute, and I’m extremely protective of him. There have been too many jerks who have hurt or disappointed him, and he’s too young to add another self-involved prick to his list.”

  “Wow. You are something else.” David envied Kevin having such a fiercely loyal sister in Jesse. He missed having someone his own age to look out for him.

  “Don’t get me wrong. Kevin can take care of himself. I just love him too much to ignore his obvious interest if I think he might be walking into a minefield.”

  “I’ve never been compared to an evil explosive device before.” David smiled and took another bite of his sandwich, followed by a sip from a bottled water.

  “And I hope you won’t need to be ever again.” Jesse nudged his shoulder with her own. “Like I said, just checking you out.”

  “And what’s the verdict?”

  “You’re a nice guy who needs to be a little more open with his body language and actions so he can make friends, unless you’d prefer to spend the entire year alone.” Jesse tilted her head.

  “You think you have my type nailed, don’t you?” David bit his lip. She actually did point out how snobbishly he was behaving. David was isolating himself, not allowing anyone else to get too close and possibly hurt him first.

  “I know I do.” Jesse finished her apple and tossed it into a paper bag she pulled from her backpack. Standing up, she offered David her hand. “If you’ve had enough of that soggy sandwich, I’ll take you back into the building and introduce you to some of my friends before it’s time to head to our next class.”

  It took David less than a second to agree. While Steve was a great resource for getting involved in after-school sports, Jesse was just the person he needed to feel comfortable. “Is, uh, is your—” David’s voice trailed off, not sure how to ask the next question.

  As they walked toward the rear entrance to the school, a door David knew would lead directly back into the cafeteria, Jesse paused and turned toward him. “Is my what?”

  “Is your brother in there now?” David pointed toward the entrance.

  “He does have lunch now, but he’s talking with his coach. They’re starting to intensify their training this afternoon with today�
��s practice.”

  “Oh.” David tried to hide his disappointment. If Kevin looked even the slightest bit like his sister, David wanted to check him out.

  “Are you going to try one of our teams on for size? Most everyone is on one team or another. I’m on the cheerleading squad and during the off-season, I play baseball.”

  “I was thinking about track.”

  Jesse stopped directly in front of David, facing him. “Then you’re in luck. You’ll meet my brother later today. He’s one of the 10,000-meter runners. Kevin Ringer.”

  “Ringer?” David grinned at the irony of the name.

  “Yeah, fitting isn’t it. We’ve been kidded about it since we were little. It’s a good thing we’re both pretty good at most of the things we do, and I’m not boasting—it’s another statement of fact.” Jesse turned away and opened the door for David, leading them back into the bustling cafeteria.

  Chapter 8

  DAVID STOOD on the track behind his temporary high school, dressed in his dry wicking tank and running shorts, along with the rest of the newcomers and team wannabes, most of whom were freshmen.

  He spotted Kevin Ringer instantly. He was a tall, lean, muscular, masculine version of his sister. David had to work to control the hard-on he could sense was going to build just from looking at the godlike figure in front of him.

  “Good afternoon, boys.” Steve’s voice brought David out of his poorly timed thoughts. “It’s great to see so many new faces interested in finding a place on our team.” Steve scanned the group. “You’ll all be considered members of our team until the time you demonstrate you can’t cut it on an ongoing basis. Some of you will still be able to hold a place on the junior varsity team, but I’d welcome some new runners on our varsity team. We lost several strong and fast seniors last year and could use some new blood.”

  Steve paused as some of the newcomers shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. “I’ll be fair with all of you. Whether you want to run the longer distances or the short sprints, I’ll do my part to get you moving the fastest you possibly can, but you have to put in the practice time, follow my instructions, and eat a healthy, balanced diet. At the end of our first practice, I’ll hand you a recommended nutrition plan to follow. Take it home and share it with your parents. While they may do the shopping, you have to be the one to make sure you eat properly and take responsibility for what you put in your bodies. Shabby diets make for slow, sluggish runners, and that’s one thing we don’t need or want.” Steve turned toward Kevin and gestured for him to stand by his side.

  “Now I’m happy to introduce you all to Kevin Ringer, the track team’s captain.” Steve chuckled, as did the rest of the group. “I can assure you all, that ringer is a true misnomer. He most certainly is the real deal and doesn’t pretend to be anything but the highest level competitor. Kevin can run the 10,000 faster than anyone in Connecticut, and he hopes to take it outside the state for more regional and national competitions in the future.” All the novices, including David, nodded with eyes trained on their captain.

  David looked at Kevin and thought he noticed him nod at him and smile, although it was probably just wishful thinking. “Hey guys. Good to see you all. I look forward to expanding our team with some strong sets of running legs. If you’re willing to give it your all, this team is for you. Remember, whether you run the 100 or a marathon, we’ll be your family, and support you, as long as you earn our loyalty. If you get lazy, no matter what your intentions, you’ll be walking home after school without a place on this team.”

  Kevin paused briefly, glanced at Steve, and then scanned the group surrounding him. “We have fun, we train hard, and we’re determined to take this team to the top of the track pyramid in our state and beyond. If that’s not your goal, go home now. If you’re with us, take a step onto the track and let’s warm up with our great coach, Steve Garrett. Coach Garrett is the best; he doesn’t take any crap excuses, so save all of those for your teachers. We mean business, and we want trophies and medals.” Kevin turned toward the track and started to jog. He looked over his shoulder. “What the hell are you all waiting for? Let’s run. You’ll fill out your intent forms at the end of practice. And if you didn’t have your doctor send in your physical exam forms during the summer, you’d better have them in before next week.”

  Watching Kevin’s back as he started to turn the first corner of the track, David didn’t wait to see if the others made a move. He immediately jogged to the track and then began to pick up his pace. David and Steve had run together several times during the weeks since he had made his move to Connecticut, and he was starting to get a rhythm he hoped he could improve on quickly. This was one place he wanted to be. David could see himself finding success, and glancing at the back of Kevin’s head, he thought about the possibility of finding something more. David smiled as he cautiously picked up his pace just enough to stay ahead of the other new kids.

  David’s grin spread from ear to ear. He thought about trying to be one step closer to his first positive goal at this school. It didn’t hurt that he and Jesse had hit it off. David hoped she would support his new interest. He would find out one way or the other the next day when they met before homeroom as planned.

  Looking toward the middle of the track, David noticed Steve yelling toward some of the slowest runners, glad he wasn’t in the line of fire. He didn’t want to disappoint Steve, and somehow knowing that surprised David a bit. It was important to please Steve, not just as a coach, but something more.

  David found his pace and as he eased into a consistent rhythm allowed his mind to wander. Why was it he was more interested in succeeding for Steve rather than his dad? He had thought all day about having Steve as a coach and it didn’t bother him, yet he knew it would drive him crazy if his father was the man in the center of the track calling out instructions to the different runners, each moving at his own pace.

  Even more surprising, David hadn’t thought about his mothers since lunch. Had Jesse been such a great distraction or was it something else? David couldn’t understand why in just a few weeks he seemed to have developed a different set of priorities than those he had expected. Although he thought it would be a good opportunity to think about all the questions whirling through his mind, a tap on the shoulder as he was rounding another corner of the track brought David out of his reverie.

  “Hey, newbie, slow down. I see you as a distance guy, like me, but you’ll burn out in less than a mile at this pace. It’s not about passing today; it’s about form and natural talent coupled with motivation.”

  David glanced to his right to see Kevin running alongside him. He hadn’t realized how much he had picked up his pace as his thoughts overtook him, and now David became aware that he had an excessive amount of sweat dripping down the sides of his face. With the back of his hand, he wiped beads of sweat from his forehead and slowed his pace. “Damn, I hadn’t noticed.”

  “It’s good to find something to help keep your pace, especially at a meet, but today’s not about winning so relax a bit. No need to get an injury on your first day out.” Kevin smiled and David relaxed his shoulders, enjoying the new, more manageable speed. “Stick with me; we’ll run together.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate the advice.” David didn’t want to sound too forward but knew he had to find some way to respond.

  “No problem.” Kevin looked straight ahead as he spoke, his words hardly labored as he kept an even, yet respectable, pace. “You’re my sister’s new friend, aren’t you? She pointed you out when I saw her after we both changed for practice. They have a new cheer coach, so she wanted to make a good impression, otherwise she would have come around to say hello before heading to the gym.”

  “No problem. Jesse’s really nice. She introduced me to a few people at lunch today, and we have plans to meet before homeroom tomorrow morning.”

  “That’s my sister, a regular one-woman welcome wagon. If she ever entered one of those lameass beauty pageants she’d be a shoo-in for
Miss Congeniality.”

  David laughed, although it was a bit hard after continually running, his earlier pace beginning to catch up with him. Under most circumstances he might have quit, as several other newbies already had, standing in the center of the track with Steve, but David didn’t want to miss the opportunity to have some more one-on-one time with Kevin. “I’m David.”

  “That’s right. Steve told me you’d be trying out. You’re his partner’s son, right?”

  “Yep.” David looked at the increasing number of boys surrounding Steve. “Steve’s a great guy. My dad’s lucky to have him.”

  “Steve’s amazing and he’s helped me a lot. I was kind of shy in my freshman year. He helped me feel comfortable on the team and was a great confidant when it came to advice on more personal matters, if you get my drift.”

  David smiled. “Yeah, I do.” Now was the time to let it out, at least to Kevin. “I hope he can do the same for me.”

  “Stick with Steve, and me, and you won’t go wrong.” Kevin patted David on the back as they went down a straightaway. David noticed they were the only two still running.

  “I’d like that. Thank you.”

  “My pleasure.” David looked directly at Kevin in time to catch him winking. “I’m currently single.”

  “I see.”

  “Last boyfriend was too interested in exploring other guys. Not my style.”

  “I don’t have a style, but I’m sure that wouldn’t be mine either.”

  “Good.” Kevin grinned broadly. “Follow me; you’ve had enough.”

  David blindly ran behind Kevin as the two headed toward the group in the middle of the track. After Kevin’s words of encouragement, David couldn’t remember anything more Steve said at practice other than he had made the team and wouldn’t have to start at the JV level, while others still had to show their stuff.