This Is Me

Part 7

Sean refused Mark's offer to drive him home again. He couldn't believe them. Between Stacy plotting things behind his back and Mark trying to get a rise out of him... He just didn't have the energy anymore. He told Mark that he'd go home with Stacy. Then as he gathered up all his stuff, minus his skates, he told Stacy he was getting a ride from Mark. He was going to fool them both and walk home. Slipping out the door with Mark, he stopped to lean on the buildings wall. Mark continued to tell him how to care for his feet and how much rest he would need, before he finally drove off. With a smug grin, Sean waved him off. Although, as Mark's car drove out onto the main road, Sean turned his wave into giving him the finger. He couldn't believe the day he was having. It just didn't seem to get any better. Pulling his coat tighter around himself, Sean started off down the side walk. 

As painful as it was to walk, he continued on. He had made it quite a ways, when a little red Volkswagen slowed down beside him. Taking a deep breath, he turned to give Stacy an innocent smile. Stacy shook her head at him, scolding him. "Don't smile at me like that, you stubborn ass! The building has security cameras, you know." Sean smirked a little, playfully stating back. "So, you are watching me too now?" Stacy glared at him, grimly growling out. "I was trying to make sure that you two weren't going to kill each other in the parking lot. It's bad for business." Sean rolled his eyes, starting to head around the car to get in. The inside of the car was warm and it did his feet good to get off of them. Stacy got the car going again, telling him much calmer now. "Sean, I know you must think that I've lost my mind... but I saw no other choice." Sean looked at her, telling her very softly. "What are talking about? Did you know about Quentin too?"

Stacy raised an eyebrow, glancing at him briefly, before answering. "No. What does he have to do with this?" Sean shrugged, muttering out. "Nothing. Why did you see no other choice, but to call him here?" Stacy straightened up in the driver seat, gripping the wheel tighter as she told him honestly. "Don't take this the wrong way... Ok? But... Sean, you're spiraling out of control and I needed him to get through to you." Sean stiffened up. He hadn't expected this. He didn't feel like he was spiraling, nor did he think Mark could help him. Stacy took a shaky breath, continuing on quickly. "Hold on. Let me finish. I've always been your rock. I've always believed in you, but Sean... Mark was always there too. I'd pick you up and Mark would encourage you to run."

Sean huffed to lighten the mood, retorting defensively. "Don't defend him." Stacy stopped at a light, then looked at him to snap out seriously. "You think I'm wrong? You blame him for what happened. I get that. He was an idiot. But do you know how many things in my life that I want to take back? Life is a series of mistakes that you learn from. He made ONE mistake in all the years that you've known him! Can you look me in the eyes and tell me that he doesn't deserve a second chance? Was he such a bad friend to you?" Sean averted his eyes to look out the window. He needed to think. The car started moving again and Stacy added in her normal gentle voice. "I called Mark here, because you're both too damn stubborn to admit that your scared." Sean jerked his head in her direction, when Stacy told him bluntly with her eyes still locked on the road. "You're scared, because you love him. And despite what he's done to you... Your heart has forgiven him. However, you mentally fear that he never loved you at all."

Sean was speechless. It was almost scary that she knew him so well. It was only when she stopped the car by his house that it clicked. Staring at her for a long moment, he asked her solemnly. "Is that how you felt... knowing what I did with him." Stacy inhaled loudly, turning to look at him with slightly watery eyes. Her voice never faltered though as she told him sweetly. "We're not talking about me, right now. My point is... give him a chance, because he's your only shot." Stacy leaned over to open the glove box, pulling out a magazine to give to him. Sean took it, uncertain with why he should care about it. Stacy's hand touched his wrist, telling him gently. "Read that when you get the chance. You'll see." Sean nodded, slipping from the car to head back into his house. Wincing all the way back to his foot bath, he refilled the hot water in it and sat down.

Relaxing, he opened up the rolled up magazine. It was the latest figure skating issue. Featuring an interview with Mark. Sean took a deep breath and opened it to that page. He usually avoided these things. They were mostly just hyped up drama. There was a thick envelope between the pages that he removed. He wanted to read the article first. The article ripped into Mark about his choice to come back as a coach. They slandered his name as a disgrace. Sean felt it was bit harsh, but they just dug in the blade deeper. A few skaters were interviewed saying that it's hard for him to return as a coach... If no one wants him to coach them. Quentin was even interviewed on it. To which he stated that Mark wasn't good enough to even think about coaching. That he was just desperate to stay in a world that didn't want him. Sean felt bad for Mark, picking up the thick envelope to finally open that.

Inside were many different answers to request letters from coaches. Stacy had been sending out requests to see if a coach would consider taking him on. All of them rejected him. Even his old coach had rejected him and told Stacy to convince him to just retire. They saw him as a flight risk. One nasty fall and he would ruin their chance at a season that could bring in higher pay and younger blood. Sean gritted his teeth, tearing up the letters and the pages of the magazine. He tore them into the smallest pieces he could, until he felt numb inside. The reality of this was all too clear. It was Mark, or retirement. No one else would even give him a chance to try. Who were they to say this kind of stuff about them? What made them so fucking special? As he was tearing up the last piece, he thought about what Stacy had said. Mark had screwed up... but that didn't make him a bad guy.

Getting up, he tossed the pieces of the article in the trash and rested his hands on the kitchen counter. He couldn't say that the friendship they had would ever come back, but he could understand wanting to do something that you loved. Mark desperately needed a skater and he needed a coach. They didn't have to like each other... but no one else would give them a shot. Acknowledging that to himself, he made his way to his bedroom. He'd make it work. Even if he had to butt heads with Mark to get his way. Sean dropped across the bed, but he was restless. Could Mark really help him? The question plagued him, until he grabbed his tablet to watch a few videos. When he finally fell asleep, he dreamed about the night Mark took him to his hotel room. The way Mark kissed him and ran his knuckles down his cheeks. It had been his first time with a man and Mark had been so patient with him.

Mark laid over him in the dream and Sean moaned meekly in nervously pleasure. He could still recall how he smelled and how he leaned down to whisper in his ear. Sean waited for him to tell him that he loved him... Instead, Mark whispered to him in a deep loving voice. "Wake up, Sean." Sean glanced at him confused, when his phone blared to life on the bedside table. Sean fell to the floor with a loud 'THUD', letting out a terrified cry. How had he managed to get so close to the edge of his bed?! He had been laying in the center last night. Gruffly climbing up onto his knees, he grabbed his phone. Mark was calling him. Sean pressed answer, yelling into it. "What do you want, Mark?! It's five am! Jesus Christ!" Mark yelped on the other end, then spouted back lightly. "WOW! Rough night, sweetheart? Get you ass up and come outside. We've got work to do."

Sean clenched his jaw, snapping into the phone. "Fuck off, Mark. Wake me at a decent hour. Like noon." Sean hung up, tossing the phone on the bed. He started to head for the bathroom, when his phone started ringing again. Storming back, he answered it, knowing it was Mark. Mark spoke quickly, ordering him calmly. "I'm out front. Just get your scrawny ass out here. Or should I phone Stacy for a spare key?" Sean hung up without a word and this time muted the call. After using the bathroom, he slumped back across the bed. He was just starting to drift off again... when the doorbell blared to life without end. The awful 'Ding Dong' ringing out loudly through the house, over and over again, until he finally couldn't take it anymore. Bolting to his feet, he ran to the door. Unlocking everything aggressively, he yanked open the door. He was ready to punch Mark across the face.

When Mark lifted a bag of fresh cookies and coffee into his line of sight. Sean's hand dropped, his eyes widening as his stomach growled. Mark smirked at him smugly, teasing him playfully. "Shall we get started?" Sean snatched the cookie bag, grumbling out. "You think buying me coffee and cookies is going to brush off how annoying you are?" Mark stepped away from the wall by the door, leaning in to whisper over his shoulder. "Of course not. There's a lot more where that came from... but what you should be concerned about is that... You're not wearing pants." Sean put a cookie in his mouth and looked down. He was only wearing underwear. Jumping back into the house with a deep red blush, he slammed the door in Mark's face. He could hear Mark chuckling on the other side, which only added to his embarrassment. So, he quickly got dressed. Then returned to the Mark to get his coffee and to reluctantly headed out with him. To Be Continued...