Love in the Shadows ~ Dean Portman x OC

Ch. 12: Old Dean is Punching My Head Right Now, Screaming

Pov: Dean Portman July 9th, 1994, Chicago Illinois
It's officially been two days since the end of the Goodwill Games. One day since the news came out of "Maple" and Adam officially dating in the press. Zero days since I've practically screamed myself to sleep. Zero minutes since I've read and reread her letter over and over again.

Like I get it. Adam is Mr. Dream Boy or whatever but he doesn't care about her. Fake or not she deserves better. She deserves someone who will treat her right who will make her feel good. Someone who isn't mean to her and lets her know how awesome she is. Someone nice. Someone like... Adam. Shit

I get up, groggy, and hear the TV on as I walk into the living room. I see two of my sisters, Jacklyn (9) and Casey (7 going on 8), sitting in front of it watching some cartoon. My dad is (thankfully) not home and my older brother, Sam (17), is in the kitchen on his phone while oatmeal cooks in the microwave.

"Oh hey hockey star, you look like ass what's up?"
"It's nothing" Rule #1 of the Portman household. The question "what's up" is not an invitation to tell that person what's actually up. It's a formality.
"No seriously what's wrong" Rule #2 the question "what's wrong" means yes tell me what's up but make it quick. Summarize
"Girl trouble. You know how it goes"
"How do you have girl trouble? What do you get her prego or something"
"Not yet" - It's a joke in the house because that's how Sam was born. Dad was 17 and mom was 15 - "She's seeing some other dude kinda"
"Beat his ass. If you need backup I got you"
"No it's uh-"
"What? Is he bigger than you?"
"Not even close"
"Taller?"
"Again not even close"
"He a gang member or something?"
"The only gang he belongs to is a country club"
"Rich guy? Please, you can take him so what's the problem?" Rule #3 if you respond to "what's the problem?" with "there is no problem" you're gonna get punched.
"The girl, she's like famous"
"You're bitching about some famous chick that doesn't know you exist. You've gotta be kidding me" He puts his phone down as if he's gonna get up and hit me

"She does know I exist actually. She was on Team USA but she's dating this other guy for attention"
"Man you don't need no hockey whore. Forget her. Call up one of my exs and you'll get over her"

I get up in his face "Don't you fucking call her a whore! She's doing it because..."
"Chop chop curly fry"
"She's Morgan fucking Tibbles! Americas teen sweetheart and of course she has to date some rich white boy with no goddamn care in the world for her instead of some trailer trash like me"
"Calm down. Don't get all soft on me Curly Fry. Morgan Who? You mean Maple Hart?" He pulls out a magazine. The magazine with her and Adam on the cover. "This bitch?"
"Her name is Morgan and she's not a bitch"
"Oh my god you cannot be serious right now. Man fuck her! She's never gonna go for a juvie junkie like you. Come on" He pulls out his sunglasses "Let's go and find some real women to clear your head ok?"

Rules #4 and #5, never get soft with anyone and if you say no to a two-man then you're a faggot pussy boy who will get ostracized from the whole family

I get my bandana and we end up in downtown. Women line the streets in tight short shorts and flowy summer skirts "God don't you just love when it gets hot"
"Yea nothing better than sweating my ass off all day for 3 months"
"Yea but the hotter it gets the shorter the shorts get" he slaps the ass of a random girl passing by and yells out "Damn mama! How much to tap that?" and he walks away.

I don't know if it's all the Minnesota hillbillies or if I've genuinely had a change in character but what he said rubbed me the wrong way. All I can imagine when he said that was someone going up to Morgan and doing just that.

Who would protect her?
How would Adam protect her?
Would he?
What if I was there to protect her?
I'd probably fight the guy
What if I got caught?
What if I went to juvie again?
How would she react?
How would the press react?
How would Mom react?
How could they ever look me in the eyes again?