Page 12 of No More Jocks

“555 765 7689.”

“Hold on, I always accidentally hang up when I do three ways, so just stay on the line and don’t say anything. I’m on his side, Marcus, so you’re only hearing this conversation because of my ineptitude for all things technology.”

“Okay,” I waited on the other line for what seemed like an eternity, and then I heard his voice, and I sighed in relief.

“Hello?” Caleb said.

“Hey, this is Kim. I’m Marcus’s best friend. He asked me to call to make sure you’re okay. I have him on the other line; he wants to speak to you. Are you okay?”

“I’m all right.”

“I’m relieved. Marcus told me what he did, and I told him he was wrong for making you wait on a roof. If you don’t want to speak to him, I’ll hang up. He’s on the line, but I told him to shut up and let me talk.” A deafening and lengthy pause followed. I wanted to interrupt the silence, but realized I needed to give him time; he needed to think about this because I was in the wrong.

“It’s fine,” he said finally.

“You’re better than me; I’d make him suffer.”

“Trust me. I thought long and hard about it. Thanks, Kim, for asking my permission. That was kind of you.”

“Anytime. Marcus, you can talk now.”

“I’m going to put the phone down, so I don’t hear your conversation,” Kim said.

“Hey Caleb, I just wanted to say I’m so sorry. I came up to check on you, but you were gone. I got worried when I didn’t see you in your first-period class. I called you multiple times and sent you a text last night, but you didn’t respond.”

“Dude, I had to jump off the roof when your mother came to look out the window. That jump caused me to sprain my ankle.”

“Damn Caleb! I’m so fucking sorry. I feel horrible.”

“I’m at the school nurse, getting my ankle wrapped.”

“Don’t go anywhere; I’ll be right there.” I hung up the phone and ran down the hallway at full speed. I’d hurt Caleb, and it was all my fault. I had to make it up to him. I barged into the nurse’s office, and there he was, sitting in one of those metal folding chairs that make your butt cold during winter.

He and I were the only ones in the room. I threw my backpack on the ground, sat beside him, and caressed his hand, hoping he would open it and hold it. I leaned over and whispered in his ear.

“I’m sorry, Caleb. I fucked up, and whatever I have to do to make it up to you, I will do.” He smelled like the Abercrombie and Fitch store, and I wanted to rip his clothes off in the middle of the nurse’s office and lick every inch of his body. “Are you just going to ignore me, Caleb, like I’m not here?”

He pushed my hand off his and folded his arms across his chest.

“Oh, you’re going to make me beg in the nurse’s office?” I looked around again to ensure we were the only people in the nurse’s office and then got on my knees, grabbed his left foot, and lifted it to my mouth. “You want Daddy Marcus to kiss your boo-boo and make it all better?”

I looked up at him and watched the anger fade from his face. When he smiled, it was like no one else existed. I kissed his ankle and then kissed up his leg. His skin tasted like peaches and cream.

“Marcus, stop, or we’re going to get caught.”

Just as I was about to reply, I heard someone coming in. I quickly moved away.

“Caleb, I’m out of crutches, so you will have to limp to your classes unless you want a wheelchair.”

“Give him the wheelchair; I’ll push him and make sure he’s okay if you give me a pass. It’s my fault he’s in this situation.”

“I don’t need a wheelchair.” Caleb stood up on his feet but immediately fell, but not before I caught him.

“Get the wheelchair, please,” I replied. Nurse Nancy looked at Caleb to confirm it was what he wanted, and when he nodded and gave her the okay, she went to get it.

“Aren’t you concerned about what the other people will think when you wheel the openly gay boy down the hall?”

“Nope, because to everyone, it’s just going to look like I’m wheeling my good friend and tutor down the hall to his classes.”

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