Steve’s eyes narrowed. “The worst possible moment for you or Kevin? What are you thinking, David? Now you’ve got me concerned.”
Shaking his head, David swung his backpack over his shoulder. “Nothing I can put my finger on, and there’s no reason for my mind to go where it seems to be directing me. Forget it. You and Kevin are obviously right. I’m just overreacting. Maybe it’s a long-term side effect from the locker room attack at the last meet. As long as John keeps his hands and his stupid bigoted remarks to himself, I’m going to try to put my suspicions aside.”
“Sounds like a good idea.” Steve had his coat on and his messenger bag slung across his shoulders. “After I drop you off at school, I need to finish an article for The Hartford Courant and fill out some final paperwork before the meet.”
Nodding his understanding, David started to follow Steve down their short hallway toward the door to their apartment. Before he took more than a couple of steps, his father squeezed his shoulder and David turned to face him.
Rob bit his lip and then took a deep breath before he began to whisper. “Son, if you’re experiencing gut feelings about John, don’t deny them. They may be unimportant, but keep your eyes open just in case.”
“What’s up, Dad? Why do you suddenly look worried?” His father’s reaction surprised David. None of this seemed to stress Steve and Kevin.
“Let’s just say, I sense in you some of the same skills I have as a reporter. You just know when something isn’t as it appears, whether you understand why that’s so or not. It’s what makes you a good reporter for the school paper and why they’ve given you more space with each article you submit.”
“Are you sure it’s not just because they need to fill the space before they publish?” David started to chuckle but it was lost in the piercing look from his father. “Dad, do you really think there’s some credibility to the strange feelings I’m having about John?”
“Be careful and be aware. That’s all I’m saying. And try not to let my crazy reporter’s concern stress you out, but I couldn’t keep my thoughts to myself.” David’s father gave him a quick hug. “It’s probably my ‘first year as a full-time parent’ kicking into overdrive. I’m still learning how to find a good balance in my new role in the dad department.”
David nodded once but noted his father’s unspoken words and tense body language. “You’re doing great in the dad department. Better every day.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, David.”
“No problem.”
Steve bellowed from the doorway. “Are you coming? If we don’t make all the traffic lights, you’ll be late.”
“Gotta go, Dad. Try not to worry.”
“I’ll try, but it’s in the job description.” Rob and David both laughed as David jogged toward the door to meet Steve.
“Glad you could make it, buddy.” Steve looked past David, in the direction he had just come from with his father. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, I think so.” David was sure he was far from convincing but was glad Steve didn’t take the opportunity to question him any further. Rolling his lips inward, David wondered if his ability to detect possible signs of trouble was inherited, and if it could possibly be more accurate than he would like to acknowledge, in this case.
Chapter 23
DAVID SCANNED the crowd. The spectators were filling the stadium, coming to see the first official track meet of the season, a meet that pitted three of the top teams in the state against one another. He couldn’t believe how many people were interested in the sport. Previously, David had associated track and field with spring and summer, but in the competitive world, there were meets through the winter as well. This was the first of several, leading into the second half of his sophomore year.
“Why are they all coming out to see high school sports? I expected it to be nearly empty, the only people in the stands being relatives and friends of the team members.”
Steve smiled at David. “These are people interested in getting in on the ground floor of the next Olympic track team. Several of you”—Steve locked eyes on David—“and yes, I’m including you, are capable of making history in a couple of years if you keep going at the pace you demonstrated at the exhibition. All of these people want to have been there at the beginning of your journey to the heights I’m sure some of you will achieve.”
“Holy shit!” David couldn’t contain himself. He wasn’t sure if he was more impressed with the dedication and determination of the onlookers or of Steve’s indication of his ability, along with the skill of the other guys on his team.
“You’ve got that right.” David was glad Steve didn’t resort to chastising him for his language. “Now enjoy the thrill of competitive sports.” Steve patted David on the back and started to turn toward the section designated for the West Hartford team. The head coaches from all the schools were also present, further lending credence to the importance of this first meet.
Before Steve went too far David called after him. “I haven’t seen Kevin since I left the locker room. Do you know where he is?”
Steve shook his head. “Why don’t you head back and tell him to stop sweating the small stuff and get his butt out here to lead his team to victory?”
“I like how you think. I’m on it.” David slowly jogged toward the locker room to find out what was taking Kevin so long.
He opened the door and heard raised voices. Since the room was almost completely vacant, it was easy to distinguish who they were coming from.
“Is this what you’ve been hiding all along?” Kevin’s tone sounded like a cross between anger and exasperation. “David had a feeling something wasn’t quite right. I should have trusted his instincts.”
“You can’t imagine the pressure I was under. It was too much, and I shrank to their level. I needed to feel part of the team.” It was John fucking Lewis.
What was that asshole giving Kevin a hard time about? David hoped after John had been given a second chance he hadn’t done something to sabotage their team in favor of his old school, Trumbull Academy. David crept quietly toward the voices, taking care to remain hidden behind rows of lockers separating him from their view. He thought of calling for help but didn’t want to leave Kevin alone in case some of John’s old buddies showed up to finish what they had started weeks earlier.
“I don’t give a damn what kind of pressure you were under. It’s no excuse for dealing with this kind of stuff the way you did. You could have damaged David’s running career, let alone yours and mine. And now this! You must think I’m insane if you think I would even consider anything like this.”
“Think about it. It’ll be worth your while. I promise.” The nearly pleading tone of John’s voice struck David. It was strange to say the least, almost desperate.
Despite his extreme curiosity, David knew time was of the essence. Kevin had to get to his team, so staying hidden was no longer an option. David stealthily worked his way back to the door of the locker room and opened it again, allowing it to swing shut behind him with a bang.
“Hey, Kevin, are you in here? Your team needs their fearless leader to guide them to victory.” David waited for a response as he walked farther into the room. He found the two of them dressed in their track uniforms facing each other. It was a little too much like a moment from the movie High Noon for David’s comfort, and he was glad he chose to interrupt them before whatever was happening got out of control.
“What’s up with you two? We have a meet to win.” David tried to keep his voice steady, attempting to mask the obvious tension in the room.
“Nothing,” Kevin replied calmly. He then turned back to John. “I hope we’re done.” He glanced at David and then back to John. “I’m your captain; you can trust me with your confidences, but I expect this to be cleared up immediately.”
John nodded. Kevin quickly headed for the locker room door with David close behind. David was just near enough to John as they exited the locker room to hear him mu
tter under his breath, “Not quite done yet, Kev, not by a long shot.”
David shuddered at the strange and ominous tone of John’s voice but knew Kevin wouldn’t share a confidence he had committed to keeping to himself. It was one of the reasons Kevin was such a good leader and one of the reasons David admired him.
Focusing solely on the meet ahead and his hopes for a better celebration with Kevin than the disaster after the previous event, David put the conversation out of his mind. David caught up with Kevin, hoping to run the best times he had to date.
Glancing to his left and to his right, David took a deep breath. The first scheduled race of the day was the 5,000 meter. This would allow those few runners who would attempt both the 5,000 and 10,000 to recover between races as the 10,000 was scheduled to be the finale. David had been preparing for this moment for nearly four months. He had run every day, following Steve’s advice to get used to the feeling of running, making it a natural part of who David was. It had worked. On the rare occasion, when David could only squeeze in a short run of about a mile, primarily due to time constraints, he felt incomplete. It was as if something was missing from his day.
David knew he was ready. He just hoped he was more prepared than the rest of the guys flanking him on both sides. Having the best time in the state going into the meet, established at the exhibition, Kevin was awarded the innermost lane on the track. David was in lane four and hoped those around him wouldn’t block him in. He knew they were starting in good positions, being in the front row of the group. Due to the length and nature of the race, a large group would begin the run, two deep covering all seven lanes of the indoor track. David liked to start out on the heels of the lead runner in the pack, so he was relieved he was in the first tier of runners. He hoped it would be Kevin. They made a great team, and the pair had every intention of coming in first and second.
Having John added to the long-distance list added another twist to the race. Although he was on their team, David felt no allegiance to John, nor did he care if he placed at all. If anything, he hoped he would be lost in the pack and ultimately lose his spot on the team. The burden of seeing John every day in practice was getting to David, and the bizarre interaction he partially overheard in the locker room wasn’t helping to ease his concern.
Allowing himself one last moment to take in his surroundings, David glanced into the stands. He noticed a large group of people wearing West Hartford High School sweatshirts. Amongst the large pack of supporters, he immediately spotted his father and Jesse waving and cheering as the anticipation of the gun to begin the race grew ever closer.
Shaking out his arms and legs one final time, David stood in position awaiting the call to begin. Before he could devote any more time to thinking, or overthinking as he was prone to doing, the gun blasted and he was off. Focused only on Kevin, his own personal prize, David quickly moved forward as Kevin took his usual place, setting the pace. Finding his stride naturally in the immediate shadow of Kevin’s was virtually automatic.
The cool, climate-controlled setting of the indoor track made the run seem easier than David had remembered from all his outdoor practice experiences under a variety of weather conditions throughout the fall season.
Within the first 1,000 meters, David sensed the pack had already significantly thinned. He chanced a quick look over his shoulder and learned he was correct. More than half the runners were nearly a quarter of a lap behind the leaders.
David was surprised after the 3,000-meter mark when he realized there were still six runners in the lead pack. Kevin was in his usual position with David at his heels. In addition, John wasn’t far behind, along with two runners from his former prep school and one from Farmington High School.
The pace was fast, although nothing David couldn’t handle. He knew they weren’t going to break any records, but the ease of the pace led David to believe, if needed, he could add a kick at the end to propel himself forward. Steve had given David some good advice on how to reserve just enough energy should a final surge for the finish line be needed. It was advice David took to heart and had practiced during some of his longer outdoor runs.
Before he knew it, David could feel the pace increasing. Kevin had picked up speed and so had everyone in the lead pack. All of them had clearly been instructed well on how to maintain the appropriate distance from the leader so as not to get left in the dust. The leaders had already lapped three of the slowest runners. David expected he would never see them in a distance run at future meets.
The pace continued to accelerate, and David could feel the sweat dripping down the sides of his face. Rather than making him feel overheated, it gave him the strength to move on. He loved the feeling of his legs carrying him farther and faster than he ever thought possible. The fact that he was doing it all on his own added to his inner fire as did hearing the crowd cheering wildly as he entered the final lap.
Although he could be mistaken, David thought he heard his father yelling his name over and over. A smile spread across his face as the knowledge he was supported so strongly spurred him on. The final key was Kevin risking his energy level so close to the end to say one word. They had planned to go for it all at the end of their races, with the hopes Kevin could keep them in the lead. Nearing the final turn, Kevin breathed out, “Now.”
David felt himself instantly respond. He remembered learning about Pavlov’s experiments with the dog reacting to the bell. Kevin sounded David’s own version with his one-word utterance. With nothing and no one barring their way, David allowed himself to let go and ran, using the skills Steve taught him. He felt more alive than ever as he let go, flying past all the runners, including Kevin.
Within thirty seconds, David allowed the screaming from the spectators in the West Hartford section to filter into his mind as he crossed the finish line. Slowing to a walk, David looked around him in disbelief. He saw several of his team members approach, each patting him on the back vigorously. Joined by Kevin, who risked hugging him, although completely platonically, in front of everyone.
Scanning the stadium, David rested his eyes on the digital timer board, hanging far above the track. There it was, the best time he had ever run, with Kevin’s time just two-tenths behind. They came in first and second, but in the opposite order than expected. David had won. He had never expected, or intended, to take first in any event at the meet and here his team was, escorting him to their waiting coach.
David risked gazing into Kevin’s eyes as they walked side by side.
Kevin forced out a chuckle, his breath nearly back to normal. “I know what you’re thinking. I’m not mad. I’m proud. If it had to be anyone, I’m glad it was you.”
His eyes wide, David searched Kevin’s face, wondering if he was being completely honest. David was relieved to see nothing but genuine support, caring, and admiration in Kevin’s eyes.
Steve jogged over to meet the boys as they approached. From behind, David heard his father call out as he must have abandoned his seat to come and congratulate his son up close. David looked in his father’s direction and saw a man and woman following right behind calling out to John. He assumed they were John’s parents.
“You were both amazing! I’m so proud of you guys.” Steve put his arms around the shoulders of his two winners. David felt Steve turn slightly to one side. “Not a bad showing, John. Hopefully, we can collect all three podium positions at the end of the day.”
Taking a second look at the times on the board, David noticed John had come in fifth. John had a pretty impressive finish for a guy who had recently joined the team under less than ideal circumstances. Glancing at Kevin, David hoped there would be no ill feelings from him as a result of the surprising order across the finish line.
“Why don’t you guys wash your faces and cool down in the locker room for a few minutes. The awards ceremony for your race won’t be for another twenty minutes.”
David nodded at Steve, as did Kevin and John. As the three walked toward the locker room entra
nce, David’s father took him aside. Kevin and John continued on to their destination.
“I know I’m being selfish, but I just had to give you a big hug and a kiss before I let this moment pass.” Rob gave David a bear hug and a big kiss on the cheek. “I figured it would be more acceptable to do this away from the peering eyes of all the spectators.”
Smiling, David laughed. “Good call, Dad.”
“Are you mad I pulled you away? I couldn’t contain myself. I’m so damn proud of you. You’ve shown your determination, and you’ve inspired me to be braver too.”
Shaking his head, David gave his father one last quick hug. “Not mad at all, but I do want to get inside and have a minute to splash some water on my face. I feel kind of gross.”
Rob took a step back. “Go ahead, kiddo. I can’t wait to text your moms. They’ve been waiting to hear how you did.”
“Thanks. I think they’ll be pretty happy.” David thought of his last chat with his moms. “I’m pretty sure they’ve been amazed at my interest in sports and would love to hear it wasn’t just a way to meet other guys.”
Laughing, Rob pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and turned toward the bleachers.
Entering the locker room, David heard an unusual muffled sound coming from the area where the sinks were running. He approached the line-up of lockers flanking the sinks and gasped.
David was shocked to see Kevin plastered against a locker with John’s lips practically devouring Kevin’s.
“What the hell is going on here?” After blurting out his words, David was ready to bolt out of the locker room faster than he had run his race. His stomach churned, feeling as if his trust in Kevin was all based on a sickening charade.
Chapter 24
Run for It All Page 13