Close Behind || Aaron Minyard

26

When they pull back into campus the place seems haunted. The last time she'd seen it at this time of day there had been streamers, ribbons and banners everywhere in that hideous orange color. They were all gone now.

Instead there were black banners on lamp posts, and Naomi Josten knew exactly why. She thinks that Seth Gordon would roll over in his shallow grave if he saw this and she barely knew him.

It was probably in poor taste to think things like that, but she was Naomi. At eighteen she'd seen plenty of people die. Plenty of people she deemed worth more to the world. She had voted for him all those months ago. She feels a little bad about it now but not a lot.

Death is a familiar foe, Naomi knows her well and intimately. The death of Seth Gordon the Saturday before, by an accidental overdose, should affect her more than it is. Thats her brother roommate, her teammate, her roommates sort of boyfriend. Still, Naomi felt nothing. Keeping herself and her brother alive was more important.

None of them in the car seemed all that effect, except for Nicky Hemmick but he was effected by almost everything in his life. They weren't looking forward to the days practice, it was Wednesday when Coach Wymack had decided to call them back to the court to return to schedule.

It would be the first time they'd all be back with the upperclassman since they'd returned on Sunday from Columbia. Even Naomi, whose roommates were the upperclassman, hadn't see them since Matt Boyd and Andrew Minyard had gotten into a brawl. The fight was stopped by Dan Wildes grabbing her boyfriend. Naomi standing between them and Neil helping Nicky talk Andrew off an edge. She'd been sleeping in the cousins dorm room since then. Dan had been furious at her for apparently siding with the Monsters.

Bean bags weren't great to sleep on, she almost missed her bed but Naomi couldn't bring herself to face Allison Reynolds. Not until today. Wymack had been keeping them all entirely separated, he'd even taken Neil to stay on his couch. Ignoring her qualms about it because he had also deemed her part of the Monsters, she had torn him apart for not letting her go with her brother. She didn't want to apologize to him, and she wouldn't, Naomi hadn't said more than a few sentences since they were separated.

The only good thing about going back to practice today was Allison wouldn't be there, Naomi wouldn't have to face her yet. It was no secret Naomi had hated Seth, but she liked Allison. They were inseparable at times, Naomi tended to be her mini me on multiple occasions. Allison was given Seth's urn, it would be in their room, and Allison knew how much Naomi disliked her boyfriend. Ex-boyfriend. Having to face her, knowing the truth behind what happened, sounded like a nightmare.

Their next game was in two days and if Allison wouldn't play they wouldn't just be the smallest time, they'd be the smallest allowed to still field. Nine players was the minimum, any less and they'd have to forfeit.

When they got to the entrance of the stadium Naomi placed herself firmly at Neil's back and looked at the door with him. Pictures of Seth, black ribbons, notes from teachers that couldn't have been more disingenuous is they tried. It was a tribute but no one seemed to take it seriously.

Nicky pulled out of the parking lot once they'd gotten out to drive to Redfin Medical Clinic for Andrews once a week therapy session with the team psychiatrist, Betsy Dobson.

They all knew why Wymack had called them back to Wednesday afternoon practice. Andrew wouldn't be there when they met back up with the rest of the team. It was no secret Seth was their least favorite member, it was no secret Andrew didn't care and it was no secret his meds old only exasperate that fact.

She found a little fun in the password for the door being part of the team doctors, Abby Winfield, phone number. Naomi prides herself in actually being observant of everything, unlike her brother who only sees the bad things. If the team was still unaware of Kevin Days father, they'd never see the confirmation of the doctor and the coach sleeping together.