Rainbow Connection, AFTG ✔️

1.3

PORTER
CHAPTER THREE

Abby — she'd been insisting he calls her that instead of her proper title as a nurse — had a large home with enough room for at least half of the nine-man Fox team. Porter had been given an entire room to himself on his first night, but despite the exhaustion in his veins, he hadn't allowed himself to sleep until he dragged himself into Abby's room and passed out on the floor beside her bed.

When she cooked breakfast the next morning, Porter sat across from her and watched her eat. He didn't touch anything of hers that he could avoid, and he wouldn't dare eat the meal she'd placed in front of him. Halfway through a silent meal, she asked him why he slept on the floor. Porter blinked, then told her, "Ravens don't go anywhere alone."

"You should rest today," Abby had said. He had furrowed his brows in response and told her that Ravens ran sixteen-hour days, and he'd already woken up too late.

The first full day was hard. His body ached so horribly, and despite Abby consistently ordering him to bed, he followed her out the door and into her car when she said she was going to the stadium. When she sighed, Porter reminded her: he can't be alone, that's absurd.

"You're yawning more than you're speaking, Porter." She told him. He yawned, then turned on a Spanish radio station. He tried to smile, and his face burned.

On the Ravens, he'd played the Foxes once and never on their home court. The PSU Exy stadium was large, white, and covered in orange paw prints and letterings. They had a locked gate to the team entrance that Abby entered the code for, and when Porter began limping, she held her purse with one arm and him with the other.

"What the hell is he doing up and walking?" Wymack was by the door with Dan Wilds, both their arms crossed. She looked shocked and horrified at the same time.

Abby looked a bit peeved, letting her arm drop from around Porter, "He won't be left alone. At all. I'd like to speak to Kevin after practice."

Wymack nodded, but before he could speak, Renee Walker and a tall redhead walked into the room. Porter didn't know much about Renee — Andrew had taken over her spot in goal mostly, and Riko claimed she was an embarrassment to the sport. Still, he knew her face from studying stats so often. The same couldn't be said for the boy who was staring at him excitedly.

"Hi!" He said quickly, rushing over, "Renee didn't say she had a new player!"

"Does he look like he can play, Bishop?" Wymack snapped slightly.

Porter sighed, "I can play. They won't let me. There's a difference." He couldn't lift his arm enough to shake his hand, but he still introduced himself, "Porter Faye,"

"What is he doing here?" Renee asked. Bishop shot a look between Renee and Porter, seemingly putting together that she also didn't know they got a new player.

Wymack pursed his lips, "That's what the meeting is about. Get inside." Dan and Renee vanished into the lobby of the PSU home locker rooms.

"I'm Hayden," Bishop offered his hand, then cringed at the bruises over Porter's arms, "Hayden Bishop. I'm Renee's brother, I drive her sometimes, so you'll probably see me around! I'm on the Vixens, we cheer the Foxes on! If you need anything, Renee can give you my number! Are you living in the dorms? The Vixens are on the fifth floor, we can—well, I can show you around campus or something? Do you h—"