Back to the boys

Alex sighed to himself as he stole another glance at Joey stretching and chatting with Taylor and Nicole in a little group away from the rest of the cheer leaders in between shots at the rim. Every time he looked their way, Nicole seemed to hold his glance and this time she waved at him, he couldn't help but catch Taylor's quick glance of surprise either. "Seems like someone caught Nicole's eye huh?" A voice belonging to Cole Smith said from behind. Cole was the captain of the basketball team, which was more of an informal role at this stage in their careers, but he still demanded the respect of the team. He was taller than Alex, maybe around 6 foot 5, but other than that unremarkable, but Alex's description may have been marred by the jealousy that came flooding back as he glanced at Joey across the gym.

"Guess so." Alex said dismissively, trying to end their conversation.

"You know, I'm having a party on Friday at my place to celebrate the first week of college being over, you Matt and Taylor should come." Cole said forcing Alex to turn to face him.

"Just because you're dating Joey now, doesn't mean you need to try so hard Cole." Alex said more bitterly than he wanted to.

"What did you say to him bitch?!" A voice said as Alex saw a fist flying towards the side of his face from his peripherals. Next thing he knew, he was on his butt being glared down at by Devin Knies, the resident college bully and the self appointed protector of Cole. The next couple of seconds were a mass of moving parts, as Cole pulled Devin back, and Matt tried to get in his face and stand up for his brother. Alex thought he saw the girls start over, but soon the coaches were there to break everything up.

"Knies, Jones, my office now!" A portly man with more gray in his hair and beard than black yelled at them as he led them to his office. The man was known as coach around these parts, to his students, that's they name he gave. He was a legend around these parts for bringing the program to the state championship five times in his thirty years of coaching, but never winning. He had coached Alex and Matt's father, and was a known figure around town.

"What was that about? I would've expected something of the sort from the girls, but from you boys?" He shook his head.

"It was just a simple misunderstanding coach." Alex said trying to ward off an opportunity for Devin to get a word in and make things worse.

"Is that so?" Coach looked between Devin and Alex, and it seemed Devin had the good sense to keep quiet. "Well if that's all, Devin, get back out there and run ten laps around the gym." He said, but kept me in the room with a gesture. "You remind me of your dad in some ways, you and Matt both." The coach said warmly. "He would've done something similar in that situation, though I'm sure you did it more for your own benefit than that of your teammate, but baby steps." Coach said and gestured to a chair for Alex to sit.

"I heard about you and Joey from your mom, is that what that was about?" Coach asked.

"Something like that." Alex sighed out, it seemed that the whole town knew about it now.

"Ah, young love." Coach sighed. "I remember when Alice and I would steal kisses in college and meet up for secret rendezvous at night without anyone knowing. We were young and in love, now we're old and we don't have that spark we once did. This is all me trying to say, don't get hung up, there are many other fish in the sea, just don't tell your mom I told you that, I actually gave that same advice to your father. Somehow she found out, I almost feared for my life." He chuckled dryly. Go on out there, and run your ten laps, I think practice is over now anyways. Go get showered and get to class, it doesn't look like your face will bruise too much thankfully."

Alex excused himself from the coach's office and made his way back to the gym. Matt was there waiting for him and quickly checked in to make sure he was ok before hitting the showers. Devin had just finished his laps and spoke quietly with Cole as he went to the showers with a strange look at Alex. Cole came over and jogged with Alex around the gym. "I'm sorry about Devin Alex." He started,

"Don't be, I came off as a bit of a jerk." Alex admitted.

"I don't blame you really. Devin was just telling me what went down in the coach's office. You could have thrown him under the bus, but you dusted it under the rug instead, gave Devin another chance, he or I won't forget that you have my word." Cole said. "My offer still stands about the party Friday night, if you want. I understand if you pass though obviously. Just think it over." He said and patted Alex on the back before running to the locker room to get ready for class. Alex couldn't help himself thinking that maybe Cole wasn't so bad a guy after all before his thoughts were interrupted by a familiar perfume wafting from the open girl's locker room door. He looked up and there stood Joey alone just looking at him. He stood there panting after the exertion of running his laps and she walked over to him carrying her books with her backpack strapped over her shoulders.

She raised a slightly trembling hand to trace the red mark on his face where Devin's fist had made contact. He reached up and held onto her long fingers. "Coach said it should be fine, shouldn't leave any bruising." He told his ex. When Alex thought of talking to Joey for the first time after a summer without contact, he couldn't imagine this being the reason.

"That's good she said with smile, allowing her fingers to be caught in my embrace for a moment longer. Wouldn't want the girls to be turned away on the first day." She joked with that musical laugh of hers.

"Seeing you this morning was hard, and hearing that laugh was-" He said and broke off by reaching down and resting his hand on the side of her face lovingly. She savored his touch but then pulled herself away.

"I can't Alex, I'm with Cole now and-"

"I know, it was stupid."

"No! It wasn't, I know how you feel. We didn't leave things off well, it's only right that we have unresolved feelings, we just have to accept that we have both moved on." Joey said taking a breath to compose herself.

"Cole invited me to his place for the party on Friday. I'm guessing you'll be there?" Alex asked.

"Along with half the school probably, Cole's place is huge, almost as large as Taylor's." Joey said, but there was a note of something there in her voice. Joey never was a real party person, she preferred time spent more intimately with her friends.

"Well, I should get going, or I'll be late for class." Alex said.

"Hey we'll talk again soon ok?" Joey assured him. He just smiled and walked back to the showers. He got dressed, got his books and bag and headed to class.