Sensuality

VI - 3

The next day Mick is stressed out of his mind. He fidges and he plays with his earlobe a lot.

I can't even imagine what I would do if I had an appointment with the principle in a few hours. Contrary to Mick, Andrew is more relaxed than yesterday. I would have guessed he would be jumpier than yesterday since the bully was pointed at him. But nope. He is even confidently walking over the campus. Not like 'I own the world' but like the confidence you emanate when you have an excellent day.

I am glad for Andrew and for me as well. With this attitude, I am not so worried when Andrew parts way with Mick and me. Sports is the only class I don't have with Andrew and the only class I have with Mick. And it could not have been better timing. Mick has to do something, really burn off all the energy he has to calm him down.

It is the start of the semester and even though the class has almost the same attendance as last semester coach starts small. All of this is a warm-up for Mick so I stay a bit longer after the class has ended and run a few laps with him. When we get in we are the last ones there.

Sweaty all over we undress and hit the showers. I soap myself and rinse quickly. I want to be out of here before the next class comes in. Mick doesn't seem to be in such a hurry. He stands under the jet of water and stares into a void. I sigh. The appointment with the principal is still on his mind.

I let my shower finish its cycle and then step up behind Mick. I wrap my arms around his shoulders.

"Would a message help?", I ask.

"I don't think so", he whispers. Regardless of that, I start kneading the muscles of his shoulders. Here and there I release a little bit of energy to relax him more. After a minute or so, he falls back leaning against me.

"The worst thing is at this point I am more anxious about meeting my brother than what the consequences of me beating up that kid might be."

Yesterday before I went to my part-time job, Mick had tried to contact his brother but failed. When I came back home in the middle of the night he told me dozily his brother had agreed to come.

I don't know where his brother works except that it isn't in this city, so for him to come all the way from wherever ... I don't actually know what that implies but it doesn't feel like something good. Maybe the situation is worse than we think.

"Are you meeting him at the principal's office?", I ask and he nods.

"He sounded very angry yesterday. I think after the conversation with the principal he wants to have one with me."

"Andrew and I will wait outside the office."

"Don't. Just go home and wait for me there, okay?"

"Why?", I ask a little hurt that he doesn't want me there.

"I don't know how long it will take and ... honestly, I don't want to cry in front of my brother. With you both waiting for me there that is almost certainly going to happen. Just wait at home for me so I can cry in peace curled up on the couch", he admits.

He lets his head fall back. The water has stopped falling onto us and it is getting cold. I let go of his shoulders and grab our shampoo bottles. Then I lead us out of the shower toward our lockers. I get his towel and dry his hair. He just stands there and lets me do it.

"Don't worry too much. You said your brother is a good lawyer?"

"Yeah, one of the best."

"Then he will get you out of this and afterward you come home and Andrew and I will be waiting with comfort food and a couch you can curl up on if you need to."