Something to Believe In

CH 10: Confronting Gallows

       Putting aside the fact that none of what he's said is true, of course, I can see how Luke might come to that conclusion with my recent behavior. I ease the door closed and stand in the hall, deep in thought. What can I do? If I confront Gallows about what he's said, then he's probably going to be even more paranoid. I don't want to make things worse. Without a plan in mind, I push the door open and stroll into the locker room. Gallows breaks off whatever he's saying and glares at me. "What?" I ask, in my best innocent voice.

It's Serena who approaches me, though. She's wringing her hands as she asks, "Is it true?"

"Is what true?" I counter. "If you mean the rumors about me and Hardy, or me and McCool, then the answer is no."

"So you're not planning on her joining the straightedge society?" Serena says.

"Oh, that." I sigh. "Well, yes, that part is true."

"But why?"

I look from Luke to Serena and back again. "She's going through a tough time, Serena, and she needs guidance. Look what straightedge has done for you. We need to share this gift with the world."

Serena says, "Really, Punk? You're going to preach to me like I'm some kind of mark?"

I smirk. "She does need help. She turned to drink, and that didn't help, so she agreed to try straightedge. That's all."

"What about the draft?" Gallows asks.

"Creative hasn't made a decision yet, or so I was told."

"If we get split..." Serena says, "then what?"

"I don't know," I tell her. "Then we spread out on both brands until we can reunite."

"Right," Gallows says, eyeing me. "We might have bought that a month ago, but you're spending all your time with McCool and Hardy, even now." He turns to Serena. "I say he's trying to break up the straightedge society and we're better off jumping ship as soon as we can."

"You've been plotting against me for weeks now, Gallows," I say.

"I've been trying to determine where your loyalties lie, Punk," he counters. "And they damned sure don't seem to lie with us."

"What do you think, Serena?" I ask her quietly.

"I don't know," she confesses. "When we started out, you spent a lot of time with us. Now you're spending it all with Matt and Michelle." She bites her lip. "I don't want to be left out in the cold, Punk. If she joins us, then what's going to happen to Luke and I?"

"Nothing!" I say, running a hand through my hair. "You two are vital to the straightedge society."

She nods. "Are we going to get dinner tonight? The three of us?"

I sigh. "I can't. I've got a mess to clean up."

Gallows gives me a stony look as he says, "You're always too busy any more, Punk." He slips an arm around Serena's shoulder. She looks away from me. "But don't worry about us. We'll figure something out." The smile that follows those words chills me.

"Look," I say, "tomorrow night. I should have everything worked out by then."

"And if you don't?" Serena's eyes lift to meet mine. "What then, Punk?"

"Then he'll blow us off again," Gallows says. "Come on, Serena. I'll take you out to dinner tonight, and tomorrow night, too. Regardless of what our fearless leader is doing." He walks past me, knocking our shoulders together when I don't immediately move. "May want to watch your step, Punk. I hear it's a long fall from the top."

"Are you threatening me, Gallows?" I ask in disbelief.

"Consider it more of a promise," he answers, and then he and Serena are pushing their way out of the locker room, leaving me alone.

"Great," I mutter, grabbing my street clothes so that I can catch a quick shower. It takes under ten minutes for me to shower, dress and head back to catering. Most of the room's cleared, but both Hardy and McCool are still there, sitting at the same table, but as far apart as they can get. They're not speaking, or otherwise acknowledging one another in any way. They both look up as I enter. "Let's go," I say.

"Where?" Hardy asks.

I frown at him. "I'm talking to her."

He smirks. "And I'm catching a ride with you two. You owe me, Punk."

I sigh. "Fine. Whatever. We'll grab a late dinner somewhere. But so help me, if the two of you get rowdy, you're walking back to the hotel."

"Fine by me," Hardy says. "So where are we headed?" He stands up and grabs his gear.

"The last place anyone would expect us to go," I say.