SALEM

Chapter 7

Max

"I'm Mathew by the way" this very handsome dude stretched his hands for a handshake. We were done with football practice but I'd seen him watching us practice all through.

"I'm Max" I shook his hands trying understand this dude's game. He just came out of nowhere but I've definitely seen him around school, he's one of those familiar faces that you just don't know their names.

"You guys are good" he complimented as he looked at me straight in the eye.

This just got weird, I've never met the guy before but there's something familiar about him like we've met before, I just can't explain it.

"Do I know you?" I asked, trying to remember where I knew him from

"I doubt it, I and my siblings just moved down here" he answered

"Oh..." I scratched my head

"I'll see you later" he smirked and walked off

He's brave I'll give him that, people don't just walk up to me and open their mouths but he did it with confidence and I think he was low-key flirting with me with his body language.

The two new guys that joined the team; Damon and Stefan were totally something else, they played the game with ease and their endurance was entirely on a whole new level, I think they're on steroids even my teammates are suspicious about them. Although they are great assets to the team so I can't exactly go report them to coach especially when I have no proof of anything.

My dreams are getting worse, sometimes I'm running in what appears to be a tunnel but I can't figure out what exactly is chasing me, the dreams come in bits and pieces every night and I can't seem to make head of anything.

"What's up Plato" May said out loud as she opened the passenger door for me to get in.

"Huh?" I asked with a confused face

"You looked like you were lost in your thoughts, is there something wrong" she asked with concern etched on her face.

"No, nothing at all" I quickly answered, not wanting to disclose my dreams to her, she knows a lot about me already.

"If it's about a guy, you know you can talk to me right?" She asked in a hushed voice

"What! No! Of course not" I laughed nervously, I'm still tense about this whole sexuality stuff.
I've always known I had no sexual attraction for girls, I mean I admire their beauty but I don't see myself ever sleeping with one but when it comes to guys, let's just say that my soldier rises.

"Max is normal to have feelings, there's nothing wrong and you know we're just pretend dating right?" She continued trying to make sense of what's going on in my head. I love May but sometimes she can be a bit too nosy just like my mom.

"I swear to God May, when I start eyeing a boy, you'd be the first to know" I chuckled with my mind going back to my interaction with Mathew.

"Speaking of guys, there's this player on your team who's taken keen interest in me" May said nervously as she put the car on reverse.

"Really? Who?" I said a bit too harshly.

"Damon, he just moved to Salem" I was dumbstruck, first they interfere with my team and now my girl.

"You're kidding me right? May those guys are bad news, I think they're on steroids or something, I need you to stay away from him and besides I'm still your boyfriend" I said voicing my frustrations

"Wow Max, first of all, you can't tell me who not to hang out with and second, we're not even really dating. Also I just said he's showing interest in me, I've not even hung out with the guy" May said angrily

"We had an agreement May, I told you I'm not ready to come out, what would people say when you start hanging around this guy, they would think you were cheating on me!" I spoke, my eyes turning glassy.

"This is the 21st century, literally no one cares about that stuff and you need to stop thinking anyone really cares about what you do and I think maybe we should break up" May sighed as she parked in front of my street.

"Please don't do this to me May, you know I'm not ready for this, I have a scholarship and a career in football and no one is ready to scout a gay kid" I pleaded with her

"I'm sorry Max" she said with her mind made up

I got down from the vehicle and made my way indoors, this day can't get any worse.

"Hey hunny, how was practice?" My mom asked me as I opened the front door.

"Fine" I muttered before heading upstairs.

I took a quick shower and layed on my bed trying to calm myself down, May just broke up with me, I know we were never really dating but it still hurts as hell and she's about to start dating a guy no one even knows about.

I felt the tears roll down my cheeks and it was like flood gates were opened and I couldn't stop crying. I'm on the verge of losing everything I've worked hard for, my football scholarship might as well be considered gone.

I cleaned as I heard a knock on the door.

"Mom, not now!" I yelled as she continued knocking

"Max, it's me, can I come in" it was Annie behind the door, I wonder what she wants.

"Come in" I said and she opened the door and walked in

"I'm sorry to disturb you Max but something has been bothering me all day and I wanted your opinion about it.

"Go ahead" I told her and she took a deep breath before responding

"What would you do if someone shared something extraordinary with you, like something unnatural" she asked nervously trying to word her question

"I don't understand" I was confused about her question.

"Like what if someone shared something secret with you and this person might be a freak, like really dangerous" she sighed trying hard to make sense of her question.

"I'd call the police" I said as a matter of fact after hearing the word dangerous.

"Not that type of danger and besides this person is a friend" she muttered

"I guess I'll just keep the secret, I mean there's no use telling anybody especially if this person chose to confide in you" I said

"Thank you Max, I think I got it" she said getting up and ready to leave the room

"Annie, who's this friend?" I asked curiously

"Nobody" she answered and left.