Two Boys in Love

Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

I took a few deep breaths as I sat on the couch, and finally got my composure back after a couple of minutes. All I could think about was Don's hand on my leg and the beer on his breath and his implication that he will hurt Mom if I say anything about what happened. I then thought about Adam. What should I tell Adam, or SHOULD I tell him? Adam and I had pledged to not keep secrets from one another, and we both told each other things that we would never tell anyone else. This was his dad, though, and I was scared at how he would react. Would he hate me? Would he hate his dad? I wanted to tell him right away, but I also didn't want to tell him. I had never been this confused about anything before. And what about Mom? What should I tell Mom? She told me in the hospital that she's in love with this guy, or whatever. How would she react? If she confronts him about it, will Adam find out? Will Don tell her about what Adam and Maddie and I do? Will she tell me I'm lying, or that I misunderstood him? This was all too much for me to think about.

Eventually I got up and hobbled into my room, did my homework, ate dinner, and went to bed early. The next morning I woke up depressed and miserable. I had to use the bus with my cast on for the first time, and all the kids on the bus giggled and snickered while the stupid handicap platform was lowered for me. When I got into class, I made sure to put on the bravest face on that I could. Adam had a knack for knowing what I was thinking, so I had to make sure that I kept on a brave front.

I sat at my desk as the other kids were filing in, and Mrs.Tronik put a chair next to my desk for me to prop my leg up on. As she was doing that. I saw Adam come into the room. He had on a white Disney World t-shirt and his blue soccer shorts, he looked so sweet. I smiled at him as he sat in the desk next to me.

"Gooood Murnin' to ya!" He said in his fake Irish voice as he sat down with a huge grin on his face.

"Whassup?" I said in what I tried to pass off as a funny voice. I saw his smile dim just very slightly as he looked at me. "Oh no, he can tell something is up." I thought.

Adam was by my side all day like glue, helping me with my crutches as best as he could. At lunch we were mobbed by a bunch of other kids again, but not as much so as yesterday. After lunch I hobbled outside with Adam next to me. I didn't want to deal with the stairs that went down the hill to the play areas, so Adam and I sat at the top of the steps instead of at our usual spot.

"Why didn't you IM me last night?" Adam asked. Adam and I would usually IM each other at least once in the evening if we were both home.

"My leg was hurting a little, so I went to bed early." I said.

"So is that what's wrong?" He asked. I turned and looked at him. He looked so worried and I wanted to put my arm around him.

"Yeah. I guess I'm just mad about the cast and missing baseball this year." I said, after hesitating for a second.

"You might be able to still play some after you heel." He said.

"It'll still be too late for All-Stars. I'll just wait until football." I said. We then both looked out at the kids playing on the field. After a minute or so, Adam turned to me and I turned and we looked into each others eyes.

"So does your leg hurt a lot?" Adam asked with a sad look on his face. "It does sometimes." I said. "My leg also feels all gross under the cast and it itches."

"I'm sorry about that." He said as he turned away. "I wish I could do something to make it feel better for you." Adam was seeming really glum, like he was feeling all of my pain and then some.

"You make me feel better just by talking to me and being my friend. You stayed with me in the hospital and you came to see me every day last week. Nobody's ever done anything like that for me before." I said.