Page 16 of Jockstraps & Newspapers
Chapter eight
Gossiping in the locker room
Cassiopeia
Casssat,backtothe gym wall, notepad propped up against a bench to her right, laptop in her lap, pen between her teeth, as she typed furiously.She'd gotten a significant amount done.It was baffling and refreshing as she'd gotten a head start on her'SportsBall for Dummies'article, and even had time to do research into grubby grabber Stevie the slimeball.So far, the working title was'Hidden Harasser: The Enemy to Your Favorite Players'.She was fond of it but also fully prepared to have it come out with a different title.Cass wouldn't tell Mr.Pearson that she was working on it until she had enough research.The difference between defamation and an award-winning article was research.However, currently, she was working on the framework for Elliot's piece and questions for Coach Renner's final season interview.
The coach in question poked his head into the room and found the journalist scribbling fast."Newsie, we gotta lock up shop."
"Huh?"She spat out her pen and glanced up.An empty gym floor surrounded her.She'd tuned out their noise, it was just background sound to keep her focused.Cass found she wrote faster with enough noise to fill the air but not too distracting noise that she had to look up or look at it.Craning her neck, she checked the large clock on the wall.5:00 pm.Oof.She grabbed up her pen and closed her laptop.
"Burning the afternoon oil," Coach Renner teased, dropping onto the bench next to her.He was an older elf with no hair on his body.No eyebrows, no beard, no hair, just a smooth skull and pointy ears that made daggers jealous.He had those lovely lines beside his eyes that showed he spent most of his life laughing.Cass liked that he was missing a singular tooth, it gave his smile lovely personality.He offered a meaty hand and helped hoist her up to her feet.Cass tucked her laptop, notepad, and pen into the crease of her elbow.
"I was getting a lot done.And, since we're going to be indoors tomorrow, I was wondering if you'd let me get ahead on your interview?"
"Absolutely, let's say about noonish; I've got a few calls in the morning while everyone's warming up, then I need to check in, make sure we're heading in the right direction.Then I'm all yours for about an hour?That sound good?"
"Fantastic."She beamed.
She followed his lead, weaving out of the stationary equipment.Earlier, every machine and bench was taken.Players were paired up, working through sets and talking amongst themselves.Between popping in to check in on her, Elliot seemed to be doing rounds more often than strength training.Like a schoolteacher, the minotaur stopped at every station to check in with everyone.Then, he'd join Toad and Tens to do a few rounds himself.And the routine would repeat.She'd grown so used to it, for the hours she was working, she could tell it had been an hour when he stopped in to plop down on the bench next to her.Doing good?Did you take a sip recently?Take a stretch with me?She'd declined the last two stretch offers as she'd been inches from finishing something.However, the majority of them, she took his offered hand to get up and walk the room.Her legs were thankful for the movement.
It was strange to her how easily it came to him to care.She'd never felt so…paid attention to before—was that even a thing?It was an effort.That's what it was; Elliot Bonesaw made an effort with his team, and it showed.It was nice, everyone always brightened, no matter how tired they were, when he came by to give words of praise and accomplishment.He made the team eager to pump more iron, that's what Tens said.Not that Tens said much, but Cassiopeia had written that line down to quote later—what a great subheading!Renner seemed to agree as he made checks, but mostly was doing paperwork.He'd make sure everyone was taking care of themselves, but was more of a passive observer.
Cassiopeia stood outside the gym doors as Renner closed up the equipment floor and locked it.He gave her a two-finger salute, striding off in swooshy pants and a ballcap.Wait…why was she—oh!her stuff!She would have figured it out when she inevitably tried to leave and didn't have her cellphone.Cass wheeled to the left and followed the nice scent of freshly scrubbed pits and clean laundry into the locker room.As much as she'd gone nose blind to the stench of metal and sweat, the clean scent of people having showered off was refreshing.She took a deep inhale as she slipped inside.Coming around the first corner, she could hear a singular shower going off with no other noise.Someone was humming a soft, bouncy lullaby as they lathered up.The music from earlier was gone, leaving the gym hollow, except for the sweet, deep sounds of someone jamming out to the music in their head.
She snuck past the shower curtain covered section for the washroom and ducked into the locker portion.All the lockers minus Elliot's were wide open.Her heart fluttered as she came to the conclusion that her mysterious musician was Elliot.Stepping in front of the lockers, she stilled enough to listen.Just a moment longer.Finally, she flipped her notebook open.As nice as his voice was, she needed food.Empty bellies were a danger to everyone.But Cassiopeia with an empty belly was a danger to society.Hangry wasn't even a good enough descriptor.
Her fingers reached up to the combination lock and stilled.Shit, how…how do I do this again?Fuck—it's been so long since school…I don't even remember using my fucking locker."Shit," she hissed.
Cassiopeia tried just turning the lock to each number and tugging.Nope.Then she tried going back then forward then back, nada.Worried she would lock it worse or get angry enough to rip it from the locker, she took a deep breath.It's okay, Elliot's here, he can open it.She just had to swallow her pride.Setting her laptop and notepads down carefully, she headed for the curtain parting the two rooms.Cass stopped just on the one side."Hey, uh, Elliot?"
"Ya-huh?"He called.
"Um, can you open the locker?"She grimaced, hoping he didn't ask.
"Can do!Just finishing up, be right there."Cass exhaled a heavy sigh of relief.She slumped back to the locker and leaned against the closed door.He had a point, his was significantly bigger.Crossing her arms under her bust, she stared at her laptop while she waited.There was a bit more research she wanted to do on Stevie before presenting the idea to Mr.Pearson.She had the video from Mumfords; it had been all over social media.Thankfully, everyone pitched it as 'Who picks on Elliot?He's the nicest guy!'. Not everyone who got harassed in public got the same treatment.But, there were a few other stories she wanted to validate to the best of her ability.Stevie McMatterson was known for harassing people.There was an open report from the Enforcers guild against Stevie that never went anywhere.Over five years ago, he grabbed both cheeks of a cheerleader.Serious sexual harasser, absolute grubby grabber, she couldn't stand seeing his face even behind her eyelids.But he didn't get to continue.Someone had to hold him accountable!And if she couldn't print it with Mr.Pearson, she'd find some online outlet who would ship it out anonymously.
Stevie McMatterson didn't get to make people’s lives a nightmare just because he was rich; she wouldn't stand for it.
Thankfully, her thoughts were ripped clean from her forehead at the swish of a shower curtain.She glanced up and everything inside her skull was wiped, empty,gone.Her mouth dropped open an inch.Elliot was in a pair of gym shortsonly.And they were the kind that made his legs look good enough to snack on.His hooves kicked off a pair of flipflops and he dried the top of his fluffy head with a towel.The sweet white fur with rusty red spots sparkled in the locker room lights.Don't ogle him like meat!Yet, she raked her eyes up his massive muscles, across his tree trunk stomach, through the thick forest of fur on his chest, and up to his face.He was currently wearing that goofy smile that made everyone swoon…and it was starting to work on Cassiopeia.
"Uh, the locker?"she squeaked, jabbing her thumb behind her.
"Yeah, sorry, I forgot to tell you how to spin it.Most people, the second they leave school just forget how to use combo locks.No stress, my newsie, I've got you."He swaggered across the room to the spot she was frozen in place.Cass peeled herself away from the lock as he broke down how to spin the lock.Spin to zero, click once to clear, spin counter-clockwise to first number, spin clockwise past the second number once then stop, and finally counter-clockwise to the last number then tug.It popped clear with ease.She sighed with relief.He chuckled, "Toad did the same thing when he first joined, couldn't remember which way for the life of him.Actually…not lying, but I think everyone forgets."
"That significantly makes me feel better."Her shoulders sagged softly.He stepped aside for her to reach inside and grab her bag."I'm glad you were still here."
"I wouldn't have left without ya," He flashed her another lopsided grin.
"I appreciate that."She tugged her bag free, and another bag came tumbling forward.Gasping, she rushed to grab it and they both fumbled the bag till it came tumbling open."Shit, I'm so sorry, Elliot."
He froze, staring up at her as her face blistered with embarrassment.Slowly, inch by inch, his face brightened in a shit eating grin.She scowled at him.Elliot beamed brighter, "It's all good, Cassie."
"You didn't hear me say that," She threatened with a finger in his face.
"Oh, you mean the big, nasty word that would never come out of my professional newsie's mouth?"he teased.
"Elliot, I swear I'll turn your article into a smear campaign," she warned, standing up to put her tote aside.
