The Story of E & A

12 YITF, Chapter 4: Hi Guys. He Owns You.

Drew POV

"He hates me. After being bestfriends since we were five, the awful coming out when we were twelve, dating at fourteen to breaking up at seventeen. All that history. And he hates my guts," I whined as I dropped onto Steph's couch.

"Don't you think you're being a little dramatic?" She sighed as she stood up from her desk to sit next to me.

"When have I ever been dramatic?" I questioned with a hand to my heart in mock outrage. Steph gave me one of her pointed looks that said everything and nothing at all. As High School as it sounds, Stephany Wright is my best friend. We met when I was 23 and in college not knowing what to do with my life after football. She was a tomboy who would be the first to sign up if a women's NFL was created. When I met her, Steph was already training to become a coach on a high level. She's only a year older than me, but she had a head start in the career department and was the reason I had my pick of teams when I finished school. She was also my assistant coach and the best one in the entire league.

"Fair point." I conceded and grabbed a throw pillow, "But he doesn't want anything to do with me, so it's practically the same thing!"

"We've been friends for a long time. I know it couldn't have been as bad as you think. Tell me what happened." She soothed and took the pillow I was hugging.

"The morning was good enough, but after showing him his office, everything kind of went downhill," I began and looked away from Steph.

After Ev had walked out his future office, I followed and tried to do damage control for the light bomb he dropped. Little did I know that it would be the first of many.

"Why do people call you Green? Mike said it and the article referred to you as that too,"

"You read the article? What did it say?" Ev answered back, slowing his pace.

"I'll answer your question when you answer mine." Ev sighed and stopped walking altogether. He turned to me and I could tell he wasn't in the mood for telling stories or talking about the past.

"My first job. My first time in the trading world. I was brand new to everything and I was mostly just running numbers. That went on for about a week. On the last day of the week, I went to deliver a report to a guy that was about twelve levels higher than me. When I gave him the report I mumbled something about how the trade he was looking at was a loser. Well, he overheard me and decided to take my advice."

"The next day, the stock went through the roof. When he called me back and asked my name, I told him my name but also said I didn't like it. He told me that I didn't have to use my name. I could always choose another name if I wanted. When we were kids, Ev was fine but I wanted an actual name that people would take me seriously with. So I looked at the skyrocketing green charts and told him that I wanted to be called Green. He offered me a mentorship on the spot and that's how I got my name. Very anticlimactic." I tried to tamp down my excitement as I listened to his story. I didn't want to seem too eager to talk, but I would be lying if I hadn't been curious about everything that had happened in his life.

"Thanks. I was going to tell you either way, but thanks for telling me." I let a light smile fall on my lips.

"So you can tell me what the article said now?" He pushed, sounding both annoyed and like he was talking to a child. Fine. I thought as I scanned his face for any signs of emotion. If he wants to act like that, then why should I be the adult here?

"It made minor details the entire point of the article. It talked about my coaching and playing career in football and your fast climb to the top of the stock world. Everyone is hoping this is a new opportunity for the Giants to finally go to the Superbowl for the first time in years. But no one knows we went to school together if that's what your worried about,"

"Great." He responded in the same emotionless tone.

"Do you even know where you're going?"

"I'll figure it out." Ev huffed as he turned a corner.

"This facility has over 300 rooms and most of them need an advanced key card to open. One of which you do not have. But fine. You can try to 'figure it out' and I'll come get you in five hours when you admit you're lost." I said to his back as he slowed to a stop. I heard him take a deep breath and turn to face me.

"Alright. You win. I wanted to meet the team if possible and then I have a meeting with the other board members." He explains looking at the floor.

"Do you want me to take you?" I smile as he pouts at having to admit defeat.

"Yes."

"And what's the magic word?"

"Drew..."

"Not there yet. Got it." I nodded and turned back in the other direction, "And you were going the wrong way dumbass. It would have taken you another two hours to find the meeting room if you went that way,"

We walked to the team meeting room in silence. I wanted to ask about the rest of his family but it was probably too soon for that. If we couldn't even talk about what happened, there was no way he would tell me about his family. Lily didn't count because she's practically my sister, but everyone else, not so much. He likes to pretend he doesn't but he loves his family to pieces. If we talk about them, we really are going to be good. As we approached the glass doors, I started to think of how I should introduce Ev. Mr. O'Brian? Green? I looked in and saw the head coach, Coach Houston talking the team through some plays. I knocked and he gestured for us to come in. I wanted to say something great and inspiring but I looked at Ev and then at the entire team all staring at me, and my entire brain froze.

"Hi guys. He owns you now and um bye," I mumbled and tried not to run out the door grabbing Ev's hand and pulling him behind me.