Off The GridIron

Chapter 31: Catching Up

Monday January 13th, 1992

8:30am

Chris

I left Leon's place over on the corner of Somerset Drive & Rodeo Drive and headed down towards Dorsey High & it was about a 15 minute walk. About halfway there I was walking and saw a police car go by, it slowed down a bit and I saw that it was Luther. I haven't seen Officer Walker in a minute, I hope things wouldn't be awkward with me and him especially since me and Leon were together and all.

"Hey Chris, how have you been doing?" He asked after he rolled his window down.

"I've been good, I'm just on my way to school and all, I can't be late." I told him. "My classes are going good, I've been keeping my grades up and all so that's a good thing." I said.

"Well see that's good man, that's good. Hey, you want to catch up sometime?" He asked. "Now look I know you and Leon are a thing and all but that doesn't mean that me and you can't be cool you know?"

"Well I mean I guess it's cool and all, you know."

"Yeah, well what are you doing after school?"

"Nothing, I'm off work today."

"Alright well how about I pick you up after you get out of school?" He asked, I hesitated for a second. "Like i said i know y'all together, look it'll be me and you, just two old friends catching up, nothing more man i promise." He said.

"Well alright, I guess that's cool." I said. "Hey I got to go, I don't want to be late." I told him.

"Alright man, well I'll catch you later on Chris." He said.

I was thinking to myself that this might not be a good idea but then again it's just two friends catching up, well two friends that use to be an item and all so i don't know how well all of that will go. I needed to talk to someone about this but i didn't know who to talk to about the entire situation. I got to the school around 8:45am, i had to clear my head, i'm thinking that i should have rode to school with Leon instead of walked. I had to think about how to approach this situation. I walked up to Danyelle and she was talking to Veronica.

"Hey Chris, how are you?"

"I'm good, just have something on my mind Danyelle, hey can i talk to you for a second, it's pretty important." I told her.

"Alright. Hey Veronica I'll be back, if not then I'll see you at Lunch." She told her.

"Alright, sounds good." Veronica said as me and Danyelle walked off.

"So Chris what's going on?"

"Well I don't know how to approach this situation..."

"What situation?"

"Well I was walking to school this morning like I usually do and I saw Officer Walker and he pulled up beside me and asked if we could catch up over dinner or something after school."

"I'm gonna tell you now Chris, I know that Officer Walker might mean well but at the same time with you and Leon being together, this could be bad, this could stir up a whole bunch of drama and you really don't need all of that in your life right now." She said, "Now if i wasn't concerned i wouldn't say nothing but i am, i don't want to see you end up with all that on your shoulders and not only that but you could end up hurting Leon, that dude really cares about you, he love you and the last thing I'd want is to see both of you with your hearts broken because of an ex that's trying to come back into your life." She told me.

"Yeah you're right, i was thinking the same thing but i just didn't know, i guess i had to hear it from someone else in order to make my decision. When i see him after school i'm going to let him know that i shouldn't keep in contact with him and that i'm with Leon, i should stand my ground. Thanks for that Danyelle I appreciate it, anyway i got to get to class and i'll talk to you and Veronica later on." I told her.

I spent a lot of time thinking about things and how they could play out. I hate this whole situation, it seems like when I try to be happy or find happiness something or someone has to come along and ruin it, it's like I'm not meant to be happy. Maybe I'm overreacting but the more I think about it, why would Officer Walker want to hang out with me if he's not looking to get back into a relationship with me, i mean that could be the only thing on his mind, but then again maybe i'm overthinking it too much.

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12:15pm

Leon

"Yo yo what's up Rel?" I said as I went into his hospital room.

"Not much just recovering, you know how it is, taking things one day at a time and all."

"Right, right, well maybe this will help you out." I pulled out some food from the restaurant I worked at and a smile lit up across his face.

"Well that definitely beats this nasty ass hospital food." He said, laughing.

"Yes sir, it sure does. So what have the doctors said about your knee?"

"Well I can tell you my playing days are over, I don't need a doctor for that. The good news is that they've reset my leg, readjusted it and put a small metal rod in it." He said.

"Ouch well damn dude that's messed up. I'm sure that's gonna cost you some major cash too."

"Well that's the thing, the school said they'd cover the cost."

"Well that's a good thing, but now that your playing days are over what are you going to do? I mean this is our senior year, this is how we were gonna get out of here and go to college, I mean, is there any time left for you to major in something?" I asked him.

"Well yeah i mean i've been majoring in marketing and business which is a good thing, i'm still going to go to college, i'm just going to have to pay for it, i could work a job or two, maybe three, i don't know yet but i'm not going to deny myself a higher education."

"Right, hell yeah dude you can't do that." I told him. "I should have blocked for you though, i mean i...."

"Look Leon you did everything you could man, the other guy was just faster than you, that's not your fault."

"Damn dude i don't know how you can be so understanding, that couldn't have been me man, i don't know if i would have had that same outlook if it was me in that bed." I said laughing. "You're a level headed guy and that's a good thing."

"Yeah I guess so. Anyway, shouldn't you be at school?"

"Yeah but coming to see you was an important thing for me man, for real."

"I appreciate that but we'll catch up, once i get out of here in a few days or so we'll catch up." He said.

"Alright, well then i guess i'll catch you later on, you be safe man and you take it easy Rel." I got up and gave him a bro hug and then I left. I felt bad because this whole situation was my fault, I wanted to make it right. He said I shouldn't worry about it and that the school was paying for all of this but I still couldn't help but wonder what I could do to help.

End Of Chapter 31