Marcel Is Not His Name

Chapter Six: Old Friends and New Ones

"Sage?" The third boy said. All I could do is sit and stare. "Is that you? It's been way too long." Suddenly, he stood and wrapped me in a huge hug. "How have you been?"

Throughout all of this interaction, I kept my mouth closed and just looked at him.

"Well. I was going to introduce you guys, but it seems like you already know each other." Cassie said wearily. "How exactly do you guys know each other?"

"We're... old friends." I barely said, it was more of a whisper.

"She speaks!" He exclaimed. "I was worried you went mute."

I wanted to smile, but I couldn't.

"I didn't, Sebastian. No need to worry." I gave up and tried to smile, but I'm pretty sure the tension in the air caused it to drag down.

At this point in time Cassie interjected, saving me from my awful fate. "Sage, remember we said we would help with concessions for the first quarter."

Glad, I jumped at the excuse to leave. "Oh yeah! That."

"Bye guys." Cassie said.

"Bye Cassie." The three boys said in unison with Sebastian adding in "Bye Sage."

When we got up to leave, I practically ran to the concession stand. Cassie was a few feet behind me and I was dragging her along rapidly by the arm. Once we reached the concession stand, Cassie jerked back from my hold. The tables soon turned, and it was she that was dragging me. Turning the corner, she began her huge rant.

"What the hell was that!? How do you know him? Why haven't I heard about him?" Cassie began questioning with wide eyes.

"He's a guy from my past." I put simply. She didn't need any details.

"Sage, we have been friends ever since... I don't even know. Forever. How could I--" Her eyes widened in realization. "Do you know him because of--"

"Yeah. I do." I said, not wanting to continue the conversation.

"I can tell you don't want to talk about it right now... but if you ever want to talk about it I'm here. " I nodded.

"Okay. Let's just go watch the game now."

---

Our team won with a score of six, Cameron shot four of them. He was truly the best lacrosse player I knew. Halfway through the game, Cassie left me to hang out with those three guys from earlier, but she bought me a popcorn, which kinda made up for it. Although, it was still quite awkward to sit alone on a park bench. Before she left she notified me that the team and some extras were going to Sonoma Bar and Grill after the game. After the first big win, more people are likely to come. Right now Cameron was talking over the game with his team and his coaches. When they finally went there own ways, a few of them the same way as Cameron, I went over to join him.

Once I reached Cam and his crew, I stood next to Cameron silently. It didn't take him long to acknowledge me and pull me into their small conversation circle of all the same guys that he introduced me to in math.

For most of the conversation, I tuned out since I didn't know anything about Lacrosse. It was until my phone beeped with a notification that I decided to remove myself from the conversation. Flashing on my phone screen was a Facebook notification. Marcel Styles has sent you a friend request.

---

Cam decided that we would meet the guys at Sonoma's, but made it clear to me that he didn't want to stay for long. His parents divorce was still weighing down on him. I wished that he would let me be there for him, but he wouldn't let me. Everytime I tried to bring it up he would just say, "Stop." Because of his crazy behavior and his resentment to getting my help, I decided that he will be throwing a party at his house that weekend with the Lacrosse team.  He was less than pleased when I brought it up to him, but I would not take no for an answer. He needed this. Needed to be like a normal highschooler, and hosting this party would do that for him.

Even though me and Cam had tiny disputes about him not wanting to talk about it, in the end he still decided to sleep at my house. I guess it was better than the alternative. When we got back to my place after spending an hour at Sonoma's, I searched the house to find that neither of my parents we home from work. It wasn't surprising—they normally don't get home until later when I'm going to bed. I texted mom telling her that Cameron would be sleeping over. I knew she wouldn't have a problem with it because she loved Cam.

I grabbed Cam and I some spare blankets from my closet and set them on the bed. I could have set him up on the couch, but since I was filled with lassitude, I was too lazy to do so.

"Cam, you okay if you crash on the bed with me?" I asked yelling so he could hear me from the bathroom.

"Yeah. That's fine."

I layed down on the left side of my bed with my laptop open to The Vampire Diaries on Netflix. Cameron came into my room halfway through an episode and said nothing as he threw the blankets I had got him on the floor and casually climbed into the bed.

"Sage, your room is a sauna."

"I know. The A.C. is broken. Mom has a guy coming over tomorrow."

Completely comfortable with his body, Cameron decided that my room was to hot to wear a shirt. He was now bare chested, only wearing a pair of loose fitting basketball shorts. He cozied into my bed once again and laid on his back, staring up at my ceiling.

"We won," he said.

"Yeah."

"Winning the first game of the season is usually good luck."

"I'm sure you and the team will keep going strong. Right?"

"Definitely."

Silence filled the room once again as Cam turned on his side and sighed, saying, "Goodnight, Sage."

"Night, Cam."