Varsity's Princess ~Adam Banks

Trusting Adam

I wake up the next morning and get dressed in this:

As I go to breakfast I hear a car pull up. I look and see Adam. I smile when I see him. He gets out and runs over to me. He picks my arm up and pushes the sleeve of my hoodie up. "I knew you probably broke it, " he says looking at me. "I need to talk to you during my free period, " he says seriously. "Why?" I ask. "I just want to talk to you about something in private. Also, do you know how this whole varsity thing will play out, " he says as we are walking to the lunchroom. "Well, they will give you a letterman jacket, another jacket, a warrior sweatshirt, and of course jerseys. They will make you sit with them, hang out with them, and everything you do, you have to do with them. Your whole life from now on with revolve around varsity or the players on the team. Don't worry I'll help you, " I say as we enter the lunchroom. As soon as we walk in, the varsity players wave him over. "Alright. Go get them, tiger, " I say pushing him forward. He glares at me when I do. I grin back in response. As I'm getting my breakfast I notice that Adam is walking towards me. After I get my food, he falls in step with me. "You are not leaving me with all of them. Please say this is a joke, " he says looking me in the eye. "Nope, it's not a joke. Just wait until the cheerleaders get involved. That's another rule-type thing. If you're on varsity, you have to date a cheerleader, " I say as we walk over and sit at the other end of the varsity table. "I'm not dating something that will fuck anything that walks, " he says stubbornly. "Sure, just wait until you see them in their skirts. You will do a complete 180. Everyone who joins varsity is like this at first, but they slowly become just like the rest of them. Well, Scooter hasn't, but this is only his second year on varsity. He made it as a freshman too, " I say as I pick up my chicken and bacon biscuit. "Well I'm not either, " he insists again. I nod and keep eating. "As for your free period, I'll meet you like we did yesterday, and we can go back to my dorm to talk, " I say after I finish chewing. He nods.
     The bell rings and we get up. I kiss him on the tip of his nose and hug him tightly. He doesn't say anything, but he hugs me back and kisses my cheek. Then he walks off. I just shake my head and go back to my dorm. I finish all my school work surprisingly early. I feel sleepy so I fall asleep. I wake up to someone shaking me. I open my eyes to reveal Julie. "Hey, I brought you lunch," she says grinning. "Thanks Jules," I say grinning. We eat and talk about our day. "So, I saw what happened with Banks," she says smirking. "Well, that's how we say goodbye, " I say rolling me eyes. "Does he know?" she says smiling gently. "No, because I don't want him to leave, and I don't want to burden him, " I say frowning. "Hey, if he leaves then he wasn't worth your time, and you are not burdening anyone," she says coming to sit next to me on my bed. I nod and hug her tightly. "Thanks Jules," I say smiling again. "You're welcome Ry," she replies. She has to leave and go back to class. I start reading my book again.
     I look up and realize I have to meet Adam. I get up and go to his classroom. I wait for him. He instantly looks for me. He smiles when he sees me. He hugs me again. I hug him back and take in the way he smells. We walk back to my dorm in silence. When we get there, I sit down and he sits next to me. "Banksie. What's wrong?" I ask as I grab his hand because he's fidgeting so much. "I know, " was all he said. "Know what?" I whisper. "Cut the crap. I know about the lung cancer, I know about your mom leaving, and I know that you're not getting better, " he says crying. "Adam.." I say trailing off. "My dad told me when he found out that you were getting worse from your dad. Why didn't you tell me?" he asks standing up. "I haven't told anyone, but close friends and family. I'm scared to tell anyone else, " I say standing up with him. "Why?" he asks stepping towards me. "Because I didn't want you to leave me. Because my mom left because of it. Maybe because my dad doesn't even come home because he's afraid that he's gonna find me dead. Maybe because I didn't want to ruin our friendship. Maybe because I don't want a reason to stay, " I say crying. "What?" he asks. "Maybe because I didn't want to hurt anyone besides the people who had to hurt. Maybe because I was scared. Maybe because your parents have taken me to my radiation appointments. Maybe because I knew that you would treat me differently. Maybe because I knew that I was going to lose you either way so I decided to be selfish and wait for as long as I could. Maybe because without you I would have given up a long time ago. I didn't want you to have to hurt too!" I yell in frustration. "Ryan, you are not a burden. Did you think that I wasn't going to hurt regardless, " he yells back.  "I just thought it would hurt less if you didn't know because I didn't want you to feel what I feel. There were some nights that I would stay awake and watch you sleep so that I could see you because I don't know if I was gonna wake up the next day. I didn't want you to have to worry about whether or not you were gonna wake up with the news that it had killed me, " I say crying even harder. "You were always there for me. Why didn't you let me be here for you?" he asks stubbornly. "You were there. You never left me like everyone else did. You did more for me than some of the people who knew. You did it all and you didn't know you were doing it. Why do you think I  held on this long?" I yell. "You did it for me? You went through all of the pain so you could stay here for me?" he says walking toward me. I nod. He wraps his arms around me and picks me up. I wrap my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck. I snuggle into his neck while his body is wracked with sobs. He lays us down. "Please do not ever leave me, " I say. "Never, " he answers. Julie comes in and sees us. "I got done with class early. I'm guessing he knows now, " she says. I nod. "Fyi. She didn't tell me. The school did because I'm her roommate, " Julie says. "I have to get everything for Varsity's practice-ready. You wanna help Bubs, " I say. Adam nods. He puts me in his back and we go to the rink. I wave to Julie as she shuts the door.