Episode 15

“I'm sorry, Jason, but I need you today,” came the phone message.

“Sure, boss, I'll be there.” The call ended, and with it, Jason's hopes of seeing Brennan play in that enticing uniform vanished.

“If you want to go to the game, go ahead,” his mother suggested gently.

“No, Mom. Mr. Michael was clear—if I don't show, he'll replace me. I need the job.”

“Jason,” Shara touched her son's face tenderly, “I can go back to work, and you can start having a normal life—the one all teenagers deserve.”

“No, absolutely not. You’re to do what the doctor said. Once everything's settled, you'll work again, and like you've said, I’ll be a regular teen.” Jason forced a smile and embraced his mother.

“I love you, kiddo.”

“Love you too, Mom.”

---

Locker room tensions were palpable, mixed with the sweat and adrenaline of the boys about to play a defining game—semifinals of the inter-school championship. Amidst laughter, high fives, and friendly tussles, one player at the end was lost in thoughts of the sweet lips he'd kissed the night before.

“Look, Brennan, your sweetheart's here,” a teasing voice jarred him back to reality.

“What?” Brennan's scowl showed his displeasure with the jibe from his teammate.

“Chill, Bill. Trevor's a moron,” Jack said, slapping his back, both getting dressed again.

“So, who tops who, Brennan?” Trevor prodded, eager to needle the brunet further.

Bill stood, strode over to the pair high-fiving, and shoved one against the locker with a reverberating clang that commanded everyone’s attention.

“Who cares,” Bill snapped, jaw set and teeth clenched.

“Relax, Brennan. Besides, you’re not my type,” Trevor jeered, inviting laughter and escalating hostilities.

“Come on, Bill, let it go, Daniel advised, grasping his friend’s shoulder.

“Trevor, he’s just joking—why get worked up over something so stupid?” Trevor said, smirking, feeling the tension thicken.

Bill raised his fist, blood boiling, longing to silence that mocking laughter.

“It's none of your damn business, idiot,” he hissed.

“Calm down, and shut your trap, Trevor!” Jack yelled.

Breathing deeply, Bill lowered his fist, resisting violent urges for the sake of the game.

“You know, Trevor, I considered hitting you, but I won’t lose my chance to play just so you can replace me.” Trevor's smile faded, and his expression twisted with spite—he resented Bill always coming out on top, on the field and off, particularly with one girl.

“I know you're used to my leftovers, but I won’t hand you this game, just like I didn't with Brithany," Trevor sneered, breaking free with a swipe and spitting venom.

“Quit your yapping, Trevor!” Daniel pulled on Bill, ushering him away.

“One more ass to chase,” Bill’s arrogant smile dismissed his own cruel words. They struck a chord with Trevor, who was seething, always second best in his eyes.

“You bastard!” Trevor lunged at Bill, but the team broke up the impending brawl, the hostility tangible.

“What’s going on here?” The coach’s interruption halted the fight.

Everyone returned to their business, silent.

“What happened? I asked a question!” the coach demanded again.

“Nothing, sir. Just made a joke that rubbed my friend the wrong way,” Trevor said, trying to catch his breath.

“Then quit wasting time on nonsense and finish getting ready. We’re hitting the field in thirty minutes."

“What got into you, Bill?” Jack inquired.

“Didn’t you hear what he said?” Bill shot back.

"Didn't you hear what he said?" the brunette shouted angrily.

"Better," Daniel's voice broke into the conversation.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Bill asked, annoyed, pulling his hair back.

"If they're making fun of you, it's because they believe in your relationship."

"Even so, Daniel, no one has the right to judge who the hell I'm with."

"Well, Bill, calm down. Anyone would say you're taking the game too seriously."

Bill just shook his head and continued getting dressed.

What had happened only sank deeper in his mind, because he was so bothered by the insults towards Jason. It wasn't the fact that they thought he was gay, but hearing Trevor call his boy a faggot really cut deep, and that bothered him even more.

The game started, and Bill kept looking at the stands for those beautiful blue eyes that had him so confused.

"Brennan, get your head out of your ass and catch the ball!"

Bill heard one of his teammates' voice and ran as if his life depended on it, grabbing the ball in his arms and not stopping until he reached the goal, dodging one, two, three players from the opposing team before throwing himself down, hugging the ball.

The whistle blew, and he felt his teammates pile on top of him.

"We won, we won."

Bill came back to his senses, being hoisted on his friends' shoulders, celebrating the glory of winning. All he wanted at that moment was for Jason to be there to see his feat, but instead, he only spotted a familiar figure who waved from afar… Magy.

Everyone headed to the locker room, and before leaving, Bill once again faced Trevor's venom.

"What happened Brennan, your bitch didn't come to see you?"

"Son of a…"

Jack's arms grabbed him, and Trevor walked away with a sneering smile.

It was past 10 at night, and Jason was looking at his phone. Bill hadn't responded to any calls or even read his message congratulating him on winning the game. Magy had nearly made him deaf when she told him they had made it to the final.

Was he mad? Jason shook his head, thinking about his own stupidity. Why would Bill Brennan get mad?

But then his name popped up on the screen, and Jason's eyes lit up.

"Hello?"

"Was it that hard for you to come to the game?"

"Bill, what happened…"

"That's the only thing I asked for." You could hear he was somewhat drunk, and the background noise made it hard for Jason to hear clearly.

"Are you drunk?"

"What do you care? I've never invited anyone to see me play, and the one time I do, you don't even bother to let me know you're not coming."

"Bill, let's talk tomorrow." Jason tried to calm the evident anger.

"Right, because I don't matter to you, after all, you don't need me anymore."

That was the last straw. Jason was tired of feeling the pressure on his shoulders, his mother's illness, the money, the sleepless nights, and yet he always tried to please everyone, even at his own expense.

"What the hell are you talking about! You know what, you're used to everyone kissing the ground you walk on, well I don't have a damn moment for myself, let alone to cater to your bratty tantrums."

"Jason, listen to me." Bill realized he had messed up, and the slight intoxication faded as he heard the trembling voice through the phone.

"I don't want to hear your shit. Go celebrate with your friends. I'm working to pay you off; don't worry, I won't owe you a single cent."

"Jason, Jason" – the sound of a call ending abruptly hit the darker-skinned boy hard.

"You messed up."

Bill turned and found Cameron shaking his head while opening a beer.

"Look who's tending the place." Trevor's voice echoed in the store as he walked in with his team jacket, his blonde hair slicked back, and that arrogant smile that characterized him, followed by two teammates who just waved at Jason since they knew him from sharing some classes.

"Becker, how can I help you?" Jason asked with annoyance and unwillingness, still upset from the argument a few hours earlier.

"Well, I came for some beers, but now that I've found you, maybe you could give me what you give to Brennan." Becker walked up to the counter, running his fingers along one of the gondolas.

"Don't mess around, get what you want and leave,"

"Oof, you're such a bad employee. You should make the customer happy, unless you want a complaint."

Jason took a deep breath and walked over to the drinks. Trevor watched his firm backside and, making a gesture at his teammates who silently disagreed, understanding that whatever was about to happen was going to be a big mistake on the blonde's part.

Trevor ignored them and got so close to Jason that he jumped.

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Come on, don't tell me you're shy. I've got Bill's authorization."

"What?" Jason's eyes widened even more.

"Well, he said you were just another ass today in the locker room, and since he always takes the asses he leaves behind, I don't think there will be a problem taking this one." He said, pinching Jason's firm behind.

A sharp punch echoed in the space, and Trevor literally flew against one of the merchandise shelves, knocking everything down.

"You damn fool," he got up, holding his chin and licking the blood running from his mouth.

"Let's go, Becker,"

"Let go of me!" he yelled as one of his teammates held him by the arm.

He adjusted his clothes and stared into the disheveled blue eyes a few meters away from him. Jason was breathing heavily, so upset and exhausted that he didn't give a damn about anything anymore.

"You better leave, Becker, or I swear I'm going to break your face!" He yelled.

"I'd like to see you try!" the blonde lunged at Jason, but he didn't know that Jason had practiced self-defense and other martial arts for years. Shara, terrified that her son wouldn't be able to defend himself after losing his father, provided him with all the necessary tools so her "little treasure," as she called him, could protect himself.

Jason's punches landed on Trevor's face, and although the blonde tried to hit him back, he didn't land a single blow. His teammates stepped in and dragged Becker out of the place, apologizing to Jason, who was still trying to calm down. The place was a mess, and it definitely needed to be cleaned up. And without a doubt, his boss would charge him for every bit of damage.

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