5. Tobias
5
Tobias
Something felt off about the way the guys were acting after practice today.
After our showers in the locker room, they all kept snickering to each other over something on Harry’s phone.
“What’s going on?” I asked Logan as he was stepping into his jeans.
Logan gave me a hesitant look before continuing to put on his clothes. “I don’t know, man. It's some dumb prank Harry’s been working on. It’s stupid.” Logan shrugged his shirt on.
I gave him a confused look. He was acting weird, too.
“Okay, everyone.” Harry clapped his hands together, gaining everyone's attention.
“We’re all going to meet back here at 6 pm tonight. No ifs, ands, or buts. This is important.” Harry looked over at me specifically. “That means no ditching tonight, got it?”
I looked around me to see everyone looking over at me. Why was I being singled out?
“Yeah, got it.” I shrugged.
“Is there a problem here?” A chill ran down my spine at the voice coming in behind me. I watched as everyone resumed what they were doing, avoiding eye contact. I looked behind me to see Derrick, my father, arms crossed, looking down at me like I was something foul stuck to the bottom of his shoe.
“No, sir.” I shook my head.
“If the boys want to go out tonight, you go out tonight. Got it?” He said in a low, biting tone.
I tensed my jaw. “I got it, sir.”
“Great job today, boys,” He called out to the rest of the team as he locked his fist around the back of my neck. “Let’s go. I’ve got to talk to you.” He said, dragging me out of the changing room.
“What’d I do wrong, dad?” I asked in a hushed voice.
“Be quiet, " he huffed. I know he doesn’t like talking to me in public until we’re behind closed doors, but I couldn’t help it. I was worried. I was trying to be so good. What did I do?
When we finally reached the coach's office, he slammed the door behind us. Shoving me into the chair, he sat on the edge of his desk to look down on me.
I lifted my head and breathed deeply. Whatever was coming wasn’t going to be good.
“Dad–”
“Shut up.” He spat. “My turn to talk, you understand me?” He barked.
“Y-Yes, sir.” I nodded. This must be serious since he wasn’t waiting until we got home. Maybe I should be thankful we’re still at the school.
“Your guidance counselor decided to have a little chat with me today about your grades.” He gritted his teeth. “You got a D on your last test in science class.”
“I wasn’t able to study for that test. Y–you came home and–”
“Oh, so this is my fucking fault?” He yelled in my face. I shut my eyes as tightly as I could. Derrick gripped my face tightly between his fingers, pinching my mouth shut so tightly that I could taste blood. “You worthless little piece of shit. You couldn’t handle one goddamn test, and what? You want to blame it on me, huh?” He spat in my face. I could feel the saliva dripping down my chin and smell the scotch already on his breath, which made me want to gag.
“No, sir.” I struggled to get out.
“You’re so fucking pathetic. All of this, for what?” He hissed. “You’re not getting into college. You know that? No one will take you now. Let’s face it.” He released his hands from around my face and gripped my shoulders, still forcing me to look at him straight in the eyes.
“You’re a dumb piece of shit that couldn’t even do the one thing you were supposed to do. What am I going to do with you now?” He said, roughly tapping me on the cheek. He suddenly slapped me so hard on the side of my face that I could feel my ears ringing. “I said, what am I going to do with you?” He barked.
“I don’t know.” I groaned. I was so dizzy from that smack I had to refocus myself. “I’m a dumb piece of shit.”
He let out a laugh. “See? Good. You at least know that much.” He said, straightening back up.
I attempted to wipe my face off, but he caught my wrist before I could. “No, leave it.” He muttered under his breath. Wiping his mouth off with the back of his hand. “I want you to feel as disgusting as I feel how I look at you.”
I felt sick.
“I thought I could make something out of you.” He sighed. “Your mother left you with me for a reason. She trusted me to teach you how to be a great man. Contribute something to society.” He let out a venomous laugh. “What a joke. You can’t even keep your grades high enough to keep a football scholarship. It’s sad. You’re sad.”
I could feel the pressure building behind my eyes. I hated when he said this stuff about my mother. She took her own life after I was born, and he’s been making me pay for it ever since. I think about her every day. I think about how much she would’ve hated to see what he’s become. There’s no way he was like this before I came along.
It’s my fault—her leaving me. Him turning into a monster. It’s all my fault.
“You became…nothing.” He leaned down over me, squishing and rubbing his spit all over my face with the palm of his hand. “You… are …nothing…” He spat some more spit on my face.
I squeezed my eyes shut as he gripped my hair on the top of my head, forcing me to angle my head up at him as he hovered over top of me.
“Say it.” He demanded.
“I’m… nothing.” I breathed out. I couldn’t hold my tears back any further. I could feel them slipping out along my face and into the sides of my hair.
“Say. It. Again. I don’t want you ever to forget it.” He curled his lips as he spoke. I hated when he got like this.
“I’m nothing,” I repeated.
“What are we going to do with you now?” He asked, lightly smacking me on the face. He looked over my face as though the answer was in my tears. You just need some correction. This summer, I’ll correct you. You’re gonna learn.” He gripped the back of my hair, making me tense at the pain. I looked up at him and clenched my jaw.
Please, no.
My mind raced with all the possibilities that could mean. My body has just started to heal from the last time I fucked up and needed “correction.”
He breathed in a long breath of air and stood up straight. “Get the fuck out of my office.” He said, pushing me back in my chair.
I didn’t need him to tell me twice. I stumbled out of the room, running as fast as possible to the nearest bathroom.
It didn’t take long to throw up what was left in my stomach.
I hated him. I hated him so much.
***
Considering I was on thin ice with my father, I didn’t want to make the situation worse by not meeting the guys tonight.
I noticed that whatever they were planning was related to the art showcase. Based on the posters all over the school walls, I knew it was happening tonight.
My stomach twisted at the thought that this had something to do with Elijah. This night couldn’t get any worse.
Walking up to the entrance, I could see the group of my teammates. Joining them at the back, I squeezed in next to Harry. “What’s the deal? What are we doing here?” I asked.
“The deal, my friend,” He wrapped his arm around my shoulder. “We’re going to end this school year off with a bang. This is one of the best pranks I’ve ever done, if I do say so myself.”
The boys beside us laughed as if this was the funniest thing.
“Why don’t I know about it?” I asked.
Harry’s smile dropped as he looked at me. “I had a feeling you wouldn’t approve.”
I looked at him, confused. “Why? Harry, what’d you do?” I felt my throat tighten.
A sinister smile crossed his face as he looked inside the gym.
“Oh shit, it’s starting.” Harry smiled, rushing inside.
The rest of the boys followed suit. I looked around but didn’t see Logan. If he didn’t have to be here, why did I? I remembered my father and my stomach started feeling sick again.
I shook off the feeling and followed them into the crowd.
The gym was decorated so nicely. If we had been here under any pretense, I would’ve enjoyed this event. It's not like anyone else would know this, but I really did enjoy this stuff. It was cool seeing what someone's mind could do.
My stomach twisted at the sight of the back of Elijah’s head. He looked…really good in his black-on-black suit.
His hair was parted and slicked back, much like my own. Of course, he still had his strands of hair that loved to dance their way in front of his eyes.
I gulped. If something was to happen to him tonight…
I tried to ignore those worrisome thoughts, but the closer we got to the middle of the snowflake, the more uneasy I felt. Looking beside me, I saw Harry and the boys hovering around his phone. I squeezed my way through to stand beside Harry.
“Who’s Tristan?” I asked, looking down at his phone. I could see he was in a conversation with Elijah. Why?
“Oh, this is going to be so good,” Harry laughed. I looked up to see Elijah chatting with the group. He looked so nervous, looking around at all of us. I listened to his words and felt a deep pain. He never spoke to me much about his mother when he was younger. I know she left him at a young age, but that was about it. This was obviously a very vulnerable piece of art for him to share.
I licked my lips. Whatever was about to happen, it wasn’t going to be good.
Suddenly, my breathing stopped. My eyes connected to Elijah; time stood still.
I could see panic rush over his face as his eyes drifted to the boys beside me. I wanted at that very moment to jump out and save him.
What was going through his head?
“Harry, what did you do?” I muttered.
Just like that, the partition to the rest of the exhibit came down, and there were photocopies of pictures of Elijah in front of us.
Some of them were of his top off, showing off his pecs and abs. Some of them were of him laying in bed, biting his lip. But it was the completely naked photos that made my stomach drop. Ones where he just out of the shower. His hair was all wet, steam filling the room. My eyes drifted to see him gripping his– oh, dear god. His dad is probably here. Everyone is here.
A burst of laughter from the guys beside me echoed through the gym.
“Mrs. Templeton, what is this??" an older gentleman barked. He must be a professor from another school or something since I didn’t recognize him at all. Quickly, I watched as Elijah sprung into action, tearing down all the pictures.
“Clearly, this is an awful prank played on Elijah. I ask everyone to avert their eyes and head to the other art segments, or you can head to the cafeteria for refreshments. This part of the exhibit is over.” Mrs. Templeton called out, ushering all of us back.
There were a few lingering eyes, but for the most part, everyone started heading out of the area.
I looked beside me to see Harry snapping pictures of the whole ordeal.
“You’re a fucking dick.” I spat.
“Excuse me?” He snapped his head towards me.
I felt my heart speed up. Oh no. Harry could tell my dad what I said. This isn’t good.
“That’s what I thought.” He smiled.
I looked back at Elijah, who was frantically tearing the photos down. Silent tears streamed down his cheeks. I hated the sight of this.
Without thinking, I tore Harry’s arm back.
“Delete the fucking pictures.” I barked. I was much taller than him. He was a small man and I could beat him a million times over. I wasn’t scared of him. Not about this.
“Make me.” He pushed me back. I tore the phone out of his hand and smashed it on the ground. “YOU IDIOT! You’re going to have to pay me back for that!” He yelled, looking at the broken equipment.
“I don’t care!” I pushed him back until his back hit the partition.
Mrs. Templeton rushed over to us, spreading us apart. “Boys! Boys! This isn’t helping.” She yelled.
I looked back over to Elijah, who burst through the gym doors at the back. I pushed past anyone to race after him.
“Elijah! Wait!”
“Get the fuck away from me!” He yelled behind him.
He ran through the hallway, but as a runner, I caught up to him quickly.
“Come on.” I pulled him into the washroom nearest to us. He had a lot on his brain, or he would’ve never let me do that.
“Fuck! Fuck! They ruined everything.” He cried out, hitting the wall over and over again with his fist.
“Elijah, I know this is bad but–”
“You know fuck all, and don’t pretend that you do.” He spat.
Okay, that hurt. But he’s upset right now, so I tried to push that aside.
“That was bad. I get that much.” I muttered, stepping closer.
He ran his hands through his hair, dropping to his knees. “Art professors came out to see me. I’ve been working on this forever, and it’s all ruined because of what? Because of dickheads who couldn’t just leave me the fuck alone.” He rubbed his hands on his thighs.
“Elijah, what can I do?” I breathed.
I wanted so badly to help. I don’t know why, but I felt at fault for this whole thing. The football team wouldn’t have such a fixation on Elijah if it weren’t for me always being protective over him. I just know it.
He looked up at me and leaned his head on the wall.
“I want you to leave me the fuck alone. I don’t want to talk to you. I don’t want to see you. I want you out of my fucking life. Do you understand me?” He bit at me, clenching his jaw.
“You don’t mean that.” I sniffed. Pain coursed through my veins. Here he goes again, putting a wall between us that doesn’t need to be there. Doesn’t he see how badly seeing him this upset hurts me too?
“Oh, but I really do, Tobias. You’re a coward. And you’re not my friend.” He crossed his arms over his knees and buried his face into his arms.
I took a deep breath in, taking in his words.
“Fuck you.” I breathed out before storming out of the bathroom.