Paper Hearts (boyxboy)

Enlisted

 Noah:

"I don't understand."

The guy huffs, sounding irritated "I don't know what to tell you. Ray Pember is no longer our head coach, he doesn't call the shots anymore. I'm in charge, and I say, don't show up for practice, don't play on the team."

"But sir, I--"

I'm interrupted by the dial tone. Well, that didn't go well.

There's a knock at the door. "Come in." I call out, sitting down in Heather's comfy chair.

"What'd they say? They'll make an exception for you?" Andy asks, creeping into the room.

I shake my head, disappointment slowly setting in. "Nope. No dice."

He slumps onto the bed. "But why?"

"The guy that signed me got fired, and this new dude wasn't willing to budge an inch with the rules. The fact is, practice starts in three weeks, and doctor Morrison said absolutely no football for at least two months."

He looks like he might cry. "So, you don't get your scholarship?"

I shake my head, rubbing the back of my neck. "It's probably for the best, anyway. I was astonished Pember even signed me in the first place, I'm sure as soon as they realized I'm gay they'd boot me right off."

"Don't say that." Andy whines. "What happened to the world growing wise?"

"Well, it isn't happening overnight. Can you think of a single college player who's openly gay?"

He crosses his arms. "Well that isn't fair, who watches college football?"

I raise my hand, hanging my head at my feet. This really blows. I can't believe my dream is crumbling right in front of me. I could've gone pro, I could've been the first openly gay NFL player. Imagine what a difference I could've made."

"Noah," Andy climbs over me, wiggling into the chair beside me. "It'll be fine. We'll go to school, you can still be an architect, you'll just have to take out a loan."

I sigh, nodding my head. "I guess you're right. No point in trying for any scholarships, I'm not smart like you."

"That's not what I said."

I shake my head. "No, I know, I'm just saying. It's too late for applying anyway. I'm just going to have to start our life with a mountain of debt."

"Noah..."

"Let's just stop talking about it, okay?"

His face is soft and concerned. "Okay."

*****

Andy:

"He said what?"

Mom looks up at me from where she's kneeling, helping John put his shoes on. "He said he was going to the mall."

I shake my head in disbelief. "No, I heard you. I just cannot believe he would go to the mall without me."

"You can't go there anyway, criminal."

Little John looks at me, laughing as he points. "Criminal!"

"Mom! Lüg nicht zu dem Kind!"

She looks at his sweet little face as he squishes it up, thinking. After a moment of formulating the words in his mind, he slowly says: "Ich bin schlau... und weiß Dinge!"