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  Brice is kneeling by him with his phone pressed to his ear. He mouths to us that he is on the phone with 9-1-1. Jana and I run over to Cal and Brice motions for us not to touch him. A crowd is starting to form around us in the bathroom.

  “Oh, my GOD. Who would do this to him?” Jana cries out.

  Brice ends his phone call. “No one was in here when I came in.” He looks over to Egon, who is standing nearby. “Bro. Go outside and wait for the ambulance.” Egon nods and leaves.

  “This is my fault. I insisted we all go out tonight. If I didn’t do that, he wouldn’t be here,” Jana cries into my shoulder.

  “It’s not your fault. It’s the asshole who did this to him,” I try to soothe. I hold her for a few moments, rubbing her back.

  “Paramedics are here,” someone yells.

  Egon ushers the paramedics into the bathroom. They check Cal’s vitals and ask us a few questions before placing him on the stretcher. Jana rides with Cal in the ambulance, while I ride with Brice and Egon to the hospital. We pace in the waiting room when the cops come to take our statements.

  “Did he have any arguments with anyone at the club?” Cop number one asks.

  “Yes, he did. With someone from the Cougars,” I explain.

  Both cops let out a whistle. “What about?”

  “Someone bumped into Cal. He stumbled backward and bumped into the guy. The guy got upset and called Cal a lot of derogatory names. Cal apologized, but he wouldn’t let it go. The player made some comments referencing Cal being gay.”

  “Is he?” Cop number two asks.

  “What difference does that make?” Jana asks in annoyance.

  “Then it becomes a hate crime,” Cop number one answers.

  “Yes, he is. Cal had a run-in with members of the team a few weeks ago on the field.”

  “Was that same person he had the argument with part of that altercation as well?”

  “Yes,” I answer truthfully. Brice places his arm around my waist, pulling me into him. I feel myself relax under his touch.

  “What is this player's name?” Cop number two asks.

  “Kevin. Kevin Shore,” Jana responds.

  Brice’s hands tighten around my waist. I place my hand on top of his, and he relaxes a bit, kissing the top of my head.

  “Whew.” He does a low whistle, “Kevin Shore? The defensive tackle?” Cop number two says.

  Jana nods her head as a doctor walks through the swinging doors and ambles towards us. “Are you with Calson Deysine?”

  “Yes, we are. How is he? Can we see him?” Jana asks.

  He looks hesistantly at us, “Are any of you his family?”

  We each look at one another and shake our heads.

  “Well then I’m sorry, I won’t be able to discuss his condition with you.”

  I open my mouth to protest but Brice holds me in place and speaks.

  “We understand, but his family won’t be here until tomorrow. We are the closest thing he has to a family. Can you please make an exception?”

  The doctor’s eyes narrow and then recognition hits him. “Are you Brice Walker? Quarterback for the Cougars?”

  Brice nods slowly. “Yes, yes I am.”

  The doctor moves forward and shakes his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He pats him on the shoulder, “Good game last week. Looks like you got a real shot at the championships.”

  Brice smiles and nods. “That we do.” He gives me a gentle squeeze, “About my friend?”

  The doctor looks behind him and then back at Brice. “I shouldn’t be doing this but I don’t see any harm in letting you know. He has a concussion and two broken ribs. You can see him, but only for a few minutes. He needs to rest.”

  “Thank you, greatly appreciated.” Brice shakes his hand and we all follow the doctor through the swinging doors to where the patients’ rooms are located, and head into Cal’s room.

  Cal looks so small in the hospital bed. One of his eyes is swollen shut, and his face is a patchwork of bruising.

  “How are you feeling?” My voice takes on the tone of a person who is in a library, afraid to disturb others, even though Cal is in the room by himself.

  “Not too good,” Cal responds in a barely audible whisper. His good eye settles on the cops standing at the foot of his bed.

  “Are you okay to answer a few questions?” Cop number one asks. Cal nods slowly. “Did you see who did this to you?”

  Cal looks at the cops, and then over at Brice. As if he is trying to make a decision of what to say. “No. I didn’t get a good look.” Jana and I both gasp audibly, not believing what Cal has said.

  Both cops look warily at Cal, clearly not believing him either. “Are you sure? We were told that you got into an argument with a Kevin Shore earlier. Was it him?” Cop number two asks.

  “No. I said I didn’t see the person. Look I’m tired. Can we finish this another time?” Cal says, closing his eye.

  Cop number one places his card on the table next to Cal’s bed, telling him to call if he remembers anything, and they both leave.

  I sigh heavily. “Why did you lie to the cops? I know you saw who did this to you. I see it in your face.” I try desperately to reign in my emotions, and look at it from his point of view, but still come back to the fact he should’ve been honest with the cops. Why would he lie to cover for Kevin?

  “Leave me alone. I’m exhausted.”

  I open my mouth to argue, but Jana shakes her head. The room suddenly becomes so silent you can hear the clock on the wall ticking away. Perhaps counting the seconds that his attacker goes free.

  “Fine, I’ll drop it for now.” I spin around and rush towards the door. Jana places a kiss on Cal’s forehead and walks out behind me, Brice and Egon close behind. “I don’t understand it. Why would he lie?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe he’s scared,” Jana cajoles.

  “So we just let that animal get away with it?” I rage as Brice pulls me into his chest.

  “Listen, do I feel he should have told the cops, yes. But whatever his reasons are, we have to respect it. Give him a few days,” Brice says to me as he strokes my hair.

  A part of me knows that Brice is right. I need to respect Cal’s decision, but it doesn’t make it feel right. I exhale, letting out the pent-up tension, but not the hurt and anguish that my friend is laying in a hospital bed.

  I lean deeper into Brice's arms and give in to the fact that this feels good. Everything with him feels right. The last of the wall that was standing between him and me comes crashing down around my feet, leaving the two us standing together.

  But still, in the back of my mind, I can’t help but wonder if it was Kevin Shore who did this to Cal.

  Chapter 9

  Brice

  Cal has been in the hospital for a few days, and still has not told the cops who did this to him. Favor and Jana have been working on getting him to talk to the police, but he refuses, for whatever reason. His parents are now in town, waiting for his release from the hospital, to take him back home to Virginia so he can recuperate there. The cops spoke to Kevin, and of course, he denied having anything to do with what happened to Cal.

  Rumors are swirling around in the locker room about Kevin being questioned by the cops. Coach had a team meeting and addressed the issue of some of the team making derogatory remarks about gays. We are scheduled for sensitivity training in two weeks. The coach and school are taking what happened to Cal very seriously as they do their own investigation into the incident.

  Egon walks into the gym and watches me finish my reps on free weights. Placing the weights back in its cradle, I grab my towel to wipe the sweat off my forehead.

  “Going at it kinda hard, bro.” Egon leans on the wall, smirking at me.

  “Yeah. Gotta keep pushing myself.” I stand and grab my bottled water.

  Egon sits on the bench and starts lifting the weights. “Did Cal come out of the hospital yet?”

  “No. From what I hear, he should be relea
sed soon.”

  “He still not talking?” he grunts as he pushes a weight above his head.

  “Nope. I think Kevin did have something to do with it. Just not sure why Cal won’t say something.”

  “Maybe he’s scared? Or maybe he didn’t see anything.”

  I give Egon a look, shaking my head. “Scared, yes. But he saw the person. That I’m willing to bet on.”

  “Well, one thing is for sure, bro. No one can make him talk unless he’s ready.” Egon places the weight into its holder before standing and grabbing his towel.

  “Yeah. Just wished I understood why he wouldn’t want to say something. Why protect the person?”

  “Who knows, but he has to have his reasons. Hey, you remember when we were in the seventh grade, and that girl that had the stutter?”

  I think back for a moment, and then the image of her face pops into my head. “Oh yeah. Katie…or...” I try to remember her name.

  “Kathy. Remember how some of the kids used to pick on her.”

  “Yeah, I remember. On the school bus. They used to pull her pigtails or something.”

  “Yeah, and that time when we were in the cafeteria, that same group knocked her food out of her hands and made her pick it up, only to knock it out of her hands again.”

  I do remember that. Egon and I went over to her when they wouldn’t stop harassing her in the lunchroom that day. I nod my head at him.

  “Remember when the principal asked her who was doing that to her. She said she didn’t know.”

  “Yeah, I do. She was already being teased about her stutter and didn’t want any more attention.”

  Egon gives me a shrug. “Not to compare the two exactly, but it could be slightly the same thing. I don’t know, but people have reasons for doing things.” He grabs his gym bag, and we stroll towards the exit.

  I wonder if Egon might be on to something after all. Later in the day, after we showered and had lunch, I decide to go over to the hospital to pay Cal a visit. Egon comes along with me. Not so much as to check on Cal, but because he saw a really hot nurse the night we came here before, and he wants to see if she’s on duty. Some things never change.

  I knock on Cal’s room door. A woman’s voice says to come in. I walk in and introduce myself to his parents. Instantly, his parents sit upright in their seats.

  “So, you’re a friend of Calson?” his mother asks with a slight southern lilt.

  “Yes, ma’am. How’re you doing Cal?” I ask, switching my attention.

  “Getting better, I guess. I should be released tomorrow, hopefully.”

  “Yes, we’re bringing Calson home with us to recuperate,” his mother adds, as she pats Cal’s shoulder.

  Cal’s father frowns at me. What did I do to him? I turn my attention back to Cal. “Good. Have Favor and Jana come by today?”

  “Oh, those two girls are so sweet. They come here faithfully every day, and sit with Cal,” his mom chimes in.

  “Yes, they came earlier today. I think Favor is supposed to be coming by again later. Jana has cheerleading practice, so she won’t be able to.”

  “I have practice later tonight, also.”

  “Cheerleading? How exactly do you know my son?” Cal’s father stands abruptly, his hands clenched.

  “Dad, he’s just my friend.”

  “I’m speaking to him, not you,” he growls out.

  “Umm, sir, I’m Cal’s friend, that’s all. I came to check on him.”

  “Dad, he’s the quarterback for the Cougars.”

  Cal’s father looks me up and down, almost questioning his son’s words. “It’s true, sir. I am. I was the one that found Cal that night also.”

  “Oh my,” his mother cries out.

  “Just friends?” his father accuses.

  “Yes, sir. Just his friend.”

  His father looks me over again, then back at his son, before he exits the room. Cal’s mother gives me a sad smile. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll check on him.” She leaves the room.

  I stare at the door, not believing what I just witnessed. “Sorry about that,” Cal says, as he shifts himself on the bed.

  “Are they always that intense?”

  “Yes.” Cal lets out a sigh. “Thanks for coming. I never got a chance to thank you for that night.”

  I hold up my hands. “Nothing to thank me for. Sorry I didn’t get to you quicker, or else I could’ve caught who did this to you.”

  He looks away and stares at the wall.

  “Do you remember anything yet?” I press him.

  “No, nothing.” I may not know Cal well, but I can see that he is hiding the truth.

  I shake my head. “Cal, I have the feeling that you do know who did this. You shouldn’t let this person get off without some type of punishment. Listen, your friends are here for you, no matter what. If you want, we can all be with you when you talk to the cops.”

  Cal shakes his head violently. “No. I told you, I don’t know who did this. Why can’t everyone just leave me alone?”

  “Alright. I’m sorry I didn’t mean to make you upset. I’ll drop it.”

  He bows his head. “Thanks.”

  His room door opens, and his mother walks in. “Cal, you really should be getting some rest.”

  I turn to look at her and nod my head. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to stay so long.” Turning back to Cal, I continue, “If I don’t get a chance to get out to see you before you leave, hope you feel better soon.”

  Cal smiles and nods his head at me as I leave the room in search of Mr. Loverboy Egon.

  Chapter 10

  Favor

  Cal has been finally released from the hospital, and his parents have taken him home to finish his recuperating process in Virginia. Cal told me that Brice stopped by to see him and my heart was full when I heard. He was excited that Brice took the time out to go to visit him, and insists Brice is a keeper. I cannot deny that my feelings for Brice are growing more and more by the day.

  Friday night is here, and I can’t figure out what to wear for my date with Brice. I’ve been staring at my outfit choices, and just can’t make up my mind. I wish Cal was here. Jana and Regan step into the room.

  “What’re you doing? Going out tonight?” Jana asks, as she picks up one of my discarded choices.

  “Yeah. Dinner and a movie. Can’t figure out what to wear,” I say as I toss yet another outfit on the bed.

  She bounces on her bed. “Who with?”

  “Brice,” I respond absentmindedly, as I debate my outfits.

  “Brice Walker? Oh, my God.” She jumps up and down in the middle of the floor while Regan gives me a dirty look.

  “I don’t see what you see in that loser,” Regan snarls.

  Did that bitch just call Brice a loser? She better be careful because I am about to throw down in a minute.

  “Stop it, Regan. Brice isn’t a loser, and you know it. You’re just salty because he told you the truth. Everyone knew you weren’t dating Egon, but yet you were spreading the rumor around because of one night of sex.” I could kiss Jana at that very moment for defending my man. Wait. Did I just call Brice my man? Oh God, I need to push these crazy thoughts out of my head.

  “How could you be with someone that was mean to one of your closest friends?” Regan complains again.

  Is she for real? “Jana? Brice was mean to you?” I ask, as Regan gives me a pissed off look.

  “No, not me,” Jana plays along.

  “Well, then Regan, I don’t know what friend you are referring to because my closest friend just said no.”

  Regan stands up in a huff, opening the door with so much force that it slams into the wall before she slams it shut behind her. Good riddance.

  “Oh, my God. She’s pissed.” Jana laughs.

  Ehh, fuck her. “Really? I didn’t notice. Now help me pick out an outfit.”

  Jana stands up and rejects all my choices I left on the bed. She reaches into my closet and finds a dress I forgot I had. “Here. That�
�s the outfit.” She and Cal know my wardrobe better than I do.

  “Shit, you're right. It's perfect.” I put on the form-fitting black dress that hugs my curves in all the right places. I top it off with some black heeled boots.

  I spin around, and Jana applauds. “Amazing.”

  “Thanks,” I say honestly.

  “You know, since we’ve been roomies, I have never seen you go out on an actual date before.”

  I pout as I think about what Jana has said, and realize she’s right. I’ve never dated. My stomach now feels like it is being tied into a knot. “This is just two friends having dinner and a movie, that’s all.” I throw those words out in hopes of settling my now-bubbling nerves.

  Jana rolls her eyes and shakes her head. “Then why the extra effort of getting dressed?”

  “No reason. I like to look nice.” I bat my eyelashes at her in an exaggerated fashion.

  Crossing her arms over her chest, she huffs. “For a dinner and a movie?”

  “Yeah. I’m starting a new trend for everyone on campus to follow.” I shrug.

  “Riigght.”

  I jump at the sound of a light knock on the door. Placing my hand over my racing heart, I look over at Jana, who is all smiles. Oh God, it’s him. I glance in the mirror and see my chest rising and falling rapidly. I inhale deeply, and slowly exhale to calm myself before I hyperventilate and pass out. Fainting on a date isn’t exactly a good first impression.

  Jana stands behind me and gives me a reassuring squeeze. “You’ll be okay. I’m going to answer the door before he leaves.” I look up and see her smiling reflection in the mirror, and nod.

  She walks over to the door and holds the knob, turning to give me a thumbs up, and opens it. Brice murmurs a hello before walking in. I turn around slowly and set eyes on him wearing a heather-gray sweater and black jeans. He looks so damn delicious, I want to skip dinner and have a bite of him instead. I wonder if that could be an option.

  “Wow. You look stunning,” he says as his eyes rake over my body, and my sense of propriety slips another notch.