Close Behind || Aaron Minyard

13

"Anything else, coach?" Neil asks, his voice brings Naomi back to reality with a flinch.

"This is a big deal," Dan insists. "You don't understand."

"The Jostens found out when Kevin did," Wymack says. Naomi wills herself not to look when she feels Andrews eyes. "I already had the talk with them, they understand just fine. No, there's nothing else. Abby, they're all yours. Do what you will."

Both of them are on their feet and rushing towards the door as soon as Wymack is dismissing them, Naomi is a few steps ahead of Neil because she'd been rearing to leaving since the word 'no' left Coach's mouth.

They break outside and Naomi stalls for a second, breathing deep and fully, waiting for Neil to catch up to her entirely.

Except, they aren't alone. Renee is a stride behind Neil and catches up with them. "Unfortunately this news means Andrew can't give you a ride back. Kevin needs him right now and that trumps whatever agreements you may have. If you're okay waiting, though, you're welcome to ride with us. There's plenty of room in Matt's truck."

Naomi doesn't find herself able to say anything as she's holding off a panic attack. This is the first thing Renee has said to her and she'd rather her not have to see this break down.

She'd rather no one see it. Not even Neil.

"Why does Kevin trust Andrew?" Neil asks.

"Because he knows he can," Renee says with a smile. Her eyes flit to Naomi in a loaded way she's not able to understand right now.

"With so much at stake," Neil presses. Naomi sees him falter slightly, and she knows the thoughts are catching up to him too. "With so much at stake he honestly thinks Andrew is enough?"

"Neil," Renee holds a hand out to him like he's a scared animal. She looks over at Naomi, who's been retreating this entire time. "Naomi. Please, wait for us?"

"No," they say in unison.

"We know the way," Naomi says, her voice sounds too harsh to be hers.

"Thank you," Neil says for them.

Naomi folds her papers up a few times and shoves them down in the pockets of her jean shorts, Neil rolls his into a tube, they turn and start off to the dorms together.

To her credit, Renee doesn't call after them. As soon as they reach the edge of the parking lot Neil starts full out sprinting and Naomi does too. Except, Neil is two inches taller than her and has longer legs so she's a pace behind him the entire time.

They don't slow down though, not for each other and not for themselves. Naomi feels her breath stutter, not from excursion, but from the painful reminders this brings her. All she can think about is them being in California, in St. Peters, in Portland, in Brighton, running just like this. With or without their mom, who was always behind them because she didn't have their youthful agility.

It's like a downward spiral, she shuts her eyes and lets her body take over to follow after Neil. She's done this a million times. The images of other lives hit her like a truck. Christopher with his black hair. Alex with sand blond hair. Stefan with the same brown hair but green eyes.

Neil leads the way into the Tower, pushes the doors roughly and doesn't need to hold them for Naomi because she's only inches behind him. They sprint up the stairs until they're on the third floor where their dorms are.

For a second Naomi just stands there, lost on what to do because she hasn't even been in her dorm room yet. She has nowhere to go.

Just as she takes a step back Neil grabs her wrist with a terrified, animalistic look in his eyes. She understands instantly that he needs her as much as she needs him. Even if it hasn't felt that way the last few days, Neil needs her.