Something Real (Andreil)

Chapter Five

Andrew watched as Neil left the court, the plexiglass doors echoing close behind him. For a while, all Andrew could hear was the distant humming of the fluorescent lights and the impatient tapping of Nicky's foot. Andrew tried to slow his breathing to the rhythm of it.

The foxes were all looking at him now, yet Andrew would rather gouge out his own eyes than look at them. Preferably, he'd gouge their eyes out first. He knew what he would see in their faces, in their expression. He would see worry and confusion and some type of assumption tied together with a pretty little bow.

"What the fuck?" Aaron blurted.

Andrew gave him a bored look. Unsurprisingly, Aaron was the safest to look at. While the foxes had genuine concern plastered across their features, Aaron looked annoyed from lack of information. Always the knowledge seeker, Andrew thought.

"Explain yourself."

"You'll have to be more specific." Andrew challenged, his arms crossing in front of his chest.

"I think he means what just happened with Neil?" Nicky provided. Aaron shot him a look that said 'butt out'. Nicky bowed his head and took a step back. The other foxes did too, except for Kevin.

"Well, to me it looked like a panic attack. But what do I know? You're the future doc."

"Not that." Aaron started, then switched to German without missing a beat. "I mean how did you even know what to do? And why are you suddenly hanging out with Neil?"

Andrew contemplated shoving Aaron into Nicky. He could see it now, Aaron wouldn't be able to brace himself and Nicky wouldn't catch him, and they would tumble into the foxes like dominos. He'd sneer and say something along the lines of 'And why are you suddenly hanging out with Katelyn?' Because Andrew knew. Of course he knew about the cheerleader and all the measures Aaron took to avoid that confrontation. Andrew knew and he wished he didn't.

Instead of shoving Aaron, Andrew buried his anger like he buried everything else. Some place where it's claws only hurt Andrew. "Let's see, thirty-two panic attacks? Give or take."

"What?"

"That's how many panic attacks Kevin has had while at Palmetto. I knew what to do because I've done it before." Andrew turned away then, intending to leave the court.

"And Neil?"

Andrew didn't bother with a response.

Andrew marched into Wymack's office to find Abby and Bee sitting on either side of Neil. The three of them sat on a wooden bench while Wymack stood in the corner, his hands in his pockets and his back leaning on a file cabinet. Andrew saw the inside of Wymack's office on two separate occasions. Each time, it seemed to grow dirtier. Old coffee cups and mountains of paperwork cluttered any desk space. Andrew noticed a couple of the coffee cups had pink lip stains around the rim. So, the rumors were true then.

When Andrew walked in, Abby was taking Neil's pulse, Bee was talking, and Wymack looked a bit awkward where he stood. All four of them stopped what they were doing to look at Andrew.

Wymack sighed. "Hey kid, you can't barge in here right now."

"It's okay. He's—it's okay." Neil said, his voice back to normal.

Wymack looked from Neil to Andrew and shrugged. "Alright, whatever you say."

After a moment, Bee smiled warmly. "Neil? How about we pick this up tomorrow? I think right now the best thing you can do is rest." After a nod from Neil, Bee left with Abby.

Wymack sighed again, long and heavy. "You tell me if it's too much, you hear?"

"Yes Coach."

"Don't just 'yes Coach' me. What happened today does not happen again. You tell me when you need a break. I'd rather you miss a practice than collapse on my court, got it?"