Quandary ~Johnnyboy, Stevepop, Dal-Bit

Over!

Darry's POV, Monday, September 9th:
So here I am. Out in Athens, Georgia. No car cause I flew. Eight hundred and Fifty-six miles away from home. First practice, but we're about an hour early because Coach Poole wanted me to introduce myself.

"So this is our transfer from the Sooners. He came a cornerback, but he's a well rounded little doggie." Dammit he's country. "And y'all best be nice, not that I think you won't. But Darry came a long ass way to play for us and attend our school for bitching. So be sweet to our new puppy." He pats me on my back so I assume that this is my que to tell about myself. "Now, tell us something's about yourself. You can't be a stranger to a dawg."

"Um. I have two little brothers, but four others that I consider little brothers too because they're really close and they've been with our family for a very long time. I first started playing football when I was seven. I used to watch it all the time with my dad. He's really my best friend."

Wow, don't I sound like a loser?
My best friend my whole life has been my dad.

"I love that for you because family is important. It's great to surround yourself with people that make you feel at home. You're a nice looking fella,
who's your girlfriend?"

That's the one question that I never seem to be prepared for. But I can't lie, not on my first day here.

"I don't have a girlfriend." I tell him. I feel my ears burn red and my palms sweat. I wipe them down on my sides.

He laughs, "That question nerves you. I can see."

"Yeah." I nod.

"How come? Plenty of girls your age everywhere, all of them like boys that play football and you could find one just your type. So why's that such a nerve racking question?" Gosh dammit, why can't he let them like me first?!

I take a step back from him,
"Because-I-don't-like-girls."

"I guess it's time to blow my cover and tell you that. I knew that because I stalked your social media. Not to make you delete anything. Just to make sure you're not a liar when I ask you stuff like that. My little girl is transgender, and despite what you've been told, people down here in the south are actually pretty supportive. Unless they're really old bums. Now tell us about your relationship life, Darry." He nods.

I let out a sigh of relief,
"I have a boyfriend of five months. His name's Tommy, we used to play football together in high school, but he's a year older than me. I moved in with him in August. He's a labor and delivery nurse and we're fostering a baby girl. Her name's Makylee, she's two months old. I really plan to have future with Tommy, he's a nice guy." I explain.

"I'm happy for you, really, but give us something gritty what's a hardship you've had in your life?"

I try not to ramble as I begin, "I have anxiety and I was suicidal as a teenager. I hid my sexuality with girlfriends I didn't want and when I was fifteen I got with a girl that abused me until my family helped me leave her earlier this year."

Everyone seemed taken aback by this.

"Abuse is a big word." He focused on me more.

"She was seducing, drugging, or physically harming me into rape." It all comes out into one breath.

"Oh wow. That's awful, but again I'm glad you have a lover that's fulfilling your needs, respectfully. And now... let's play ball!" He rumbles and they all stand up and cheer.