Stuck On You

chapter 39: weisz doesn't mind being a snitch

chapter 39: weisz doesn't mind being a snitch

~weisz~

       I watch the rest of my teammates sit, laugh, and talk by the bonfire, bringing an end to the second day of training. A second day of my team ignoring me and treating me like I'm not part of the team. As much as I love surfing, I don't even see the point of being on this team anymore. I'm trying. I don't know what else I can do.

       Reno walks over and hands me a mug of hot chocolate now that the sunset has allowed cooler weather. I thank him as he leans against the patio fence. "Are you doing okay?" he asks.

       I sigh heavily. "No, not really. This whole team bonding camp isn't helping at all. At least not me. Everyone else seems to be getting along just fine. Better than when we first came here. I don't know what else to do, Reno. I try talking to them, they ignore me. I try not taking frequent breaks, I pass out. No matter what, I can't just win. What else can I do?"

       "I don't think there's anything else you can do," Reno says. "Not unless you want to tell them about your cancer, but I know that's not something you want to do. But just know that you don't have to treat it like some kind of secret."

       "I don't. I just don't want people to treat me differently."

       "They're already treating you differently without knowing why. Maybe if they knew, they wouldn't be so harsh on you."

       Maybe Reno is right. Maybe he's not. Either way, I don't want to find out the answer. When I was first diagnosed with leukaemia, every single person apart from my friends pitied me. I could not do anything without someone trying to help me. Things were given to me when I didn't deserve it. I didn't ask for any of that. I didn't want any of that. I just wanted to be treated like I was before I got sick.

       And who's to say my teammates will stop treating me poorly if they knew the truth? Kyle knows, and he's saying I don't deserve to be on the team. That I only made the team because Freida felt bad. What if everyone else thinks the same?

       Kyle gets up from his spot by the bonfire, walking over to me and Reno. "I'm surprised you're not trying to make friends right now, Weisz," he says. "I mean, that's all you've been trying, and failing, to do this whole weekend."

       Before I can even say anything, Reno speaks up, "Are you asking to get punched? It sounds like you want to get punched."

       Kyle holds up his hands in defence. "Whoa, I'm just making conversation. Isn't that what Weisz wants?"

       "Not from you," I say. 

       "Fine, I won't talk to you, if that's what you want," Kyle says. "I came here to talk to your friend, anyway." Kyle puts his arm around Reno, who immediately shrugs off the contact. "I heard that Marina has taken a liking to you. I know you came here to support Weisz, but there's no reason why you can't get something out of it."

       "Not interested," Reno says. "She's not my type."

       "Really?" Kyle asks. "Come on, she's hot. Fit. One of the best surfers. If she's not your type, then who is?"

       "Tall, blond, obsessed with leather jackets."

       I sigh heavily. "I haven't said a thing about letter jackets ever since Paris. Also, stop telling everyone I'm obsessed with leather jackets." Don't get me wrong, Reno looks very hot in a leather jacket, but it's not like I think about him in one twenty-four seven.

       Kyle looks at Reno, then at me. "Holy shit. You were serious about having a boyfriend. No wonder this guy always wants to fight me."

       "No, that's just because you have a punchable face," Reno says.

       Kyle ignores Reno's comment, still looking at me. "You really need to pick a struggle. First, having cancer. Now, suddenly being into boys. You really want attention, don't you?"

       "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Reno asks. He desperately wants to fight Kyle. I can tell. But he's holding back. He's my guest. He doesn't want to cause any problems to me. I won't lie, a small part of me would love for Reno to punch Kyle, but I know I should be the bigger person.

       "Whoa, you might want to put a leash on your dog," Kyle says, which only angers Reno even more.

       Reno points a finger on Kyle's chest. Kyle smiles smugly, happy to get a reaction out of Kyle. "You better watch your fucking mouth before I bash your teeth in."

       I place a hand on Reno's shoulder and pull him away from Kyle. "He's not worth it. He's just trying to get a reaction out of you for whatever reason." Reno scowls and stands on the other side of me to get away from Kyle, crossing his arm over his chest. "I don't know why you can't leave me alone, Kyle. We're on a team. You bring my mood down, you hurt my performance, you hurt the team."

       "The team," Kyle repeats. "What even makes a team? People who work hard and deserve it? Or people who use sympathy to make the team?"

       "I don't know how many times I need to tell you that not only am I in remission, but Freida didn't know about it until after I made the team. So please, if you're going to keep thinking poorly of me, at least keep it to yourself. And definitely, leave my boyfriend alone." I walk off, grabbing Reno's hand and pulling him away with me.

       I've had enough of this. Kyle can say what he wants about my surfing, but now, he's being homophobic by implying I'm only attracted to guys for attention. The whole team is against me right now, but it feels like Kyle is the ringleader. If I want the rest of the surfing season to go smoothly, I need Kyle to leave me alone.

       Frieda sits at the dining table, going over the notes she had taken during practice. "Frieda, you said we can go to you if someone on the team is being a problem, right?" I ask.

       Frieda looks up at me. "Yes, of course. Who's being a problem?"

       "Kyle," I say. "He found out about my cancer and keeps saying I made the team as a charity case. And now he just found out that Reno is my boyfriend and said that I now like guys for attention. I just... I feel like he's the main reason why I'm not connected with the team."

       "Would you like me to talk to him?" Frieda asks. "I know he might end up seeing it as you snitching on him and that might make things worse."

       "I don't care," I say. "I just need him to leave me alone. We won't listen to me, so maybe he'll listen to you since you're our coach. Maybe tell him you really didn't know about my cancer until after I made the team."

       Freida nods and stands up. "I will. Trust me, I'll get him to smarten up."

       "Thank you."

       Freida walks outside to talk to Kyle. I have no interest in what Kyle will say to me after, at least not right now. I'm exhausted from training, so I lead Reno into the bedroom we're staying in. I flop down on the bed, and Reno lies down beside me. "I know it's never easy telling on someone, but you did the right thing," Reno says.

       "I really hope so," I say.

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it's surprising reno hasn't brought up the leather jacket fantasy since paris tbh. he'll never let it go.