Page 31 of Topping the Jock
Now, it was my turn.
***
The next morning, Monty caught my eye from across the hall as the students moved to the gymnasium for the pep rally. He stood with the assistant coach, and my heart pounded in my chest when I saw he was dressed in a suit, tie and all. Looking way too damn good. The coaches—and football team—always dressed nice on game days.
My confidence from yesterday was shot, and I found myself looking away from him in embarrassment. I had thought I was prepared to face him after the jerk-off session, but my nerves took over, proving me wrong.
So much for being on top.
I was so full of shit.
“Up the stairs, guys,” I told the students, guiding them up the bleachers in the gym. They talked to their friends in excited whispers, happy to be out of class. I then stood near the railing beside Sherry.
“Morning,” she said to me, before snapping her fingers at two boys who were playfully shoving each other behind us on the steps. “Sit down! Both of you. Don’t make me send you to the principal’s office.”
The boys snickered and popped a squat on the nearest bench in the stands, still bumping against each other. They were freshmen by the looks of it.
The band walked in next, taking their seats in the chairs set up in rows on the gym floor. They had their instruments with them, and I smiled when I saw the tuba, thinking of Reed. He’d given up tuba after high school.
“I blow something else now,”Reed liked to say to me anytime I mentioned his band nerd days.
Gwen entered the gym minutes later, grabbing a microphone from the band director. “Good morning, Blue Harbor High!” she exclaimed, showing off her bubbly personality. “Who’s excited for the pep rally?”
Students hollered and clapped. Any reason to get them out of class was something all of them loved.
“Please stand for the National Anthem,” she said, then faced the flag as a student walked forward carrying it on a pole.
Rustling sounded in the bleachers as all the students stood. I turned toward the flag and put my right hand over my heart as the band started to play. It took me back to my days in school. I remember standing in the bleachers and smiling down at Reed as he blew into a tuba almost bigger than he was, his cheeks puffing out as his face turned red.
Monty had been there too, of course. Even before the football team came onto the floor, I’d see him standing in the doorway, hand over his heart as the anthem played.
I didn’t know what possessed me to do it, but I looked over at the same doorway. And there he was. Standing exactly the same as he had for all those years. Except things were different now.
So much different.
I returned my attention to the flag and then joined everyone else in applause once the song ended. The rest of the pep rally went as expected. Gwen talked to the students about school spirit and showing support for not only the athletes, but also the cheerleaders and kids in band who worked hard every day. The cheerleaders then ran onto the floor and performed, throwing two girls up into the air at the end, and then they got into formation for a dance routine.
Finally, the football team rushed out, greeted by shouts and claps.
“Good morning,” Monty said, after Gwen handed him the mic. “How’s everyone doing?”
The cheers were louder that time, and if I’d heard correctly, it sounded like more girls yelled for him than when the players came out.Figures.Monty had always been popular with the ladies—though, now that I thought about it, he’d never actually dated many of them.
“I’m so proud of these guys,” Monty continued, waving a hand at the football team standing side by side in a line down the floor. “I’ve never seen such drive and determination. They come to practice and bring it hard every time, giving it their all. Tonight is the start of a season that I know will be great.”
He then went down the line and introduced them all, saying their names, jersey number, and what position they played on the field.
The cheerleaders came back out to do a final set of cheers and threw plastic footballs into the stands. One of them bounced off a student’s hand and smacked me in the back of the head.
“Sorry, Mr. Beck!” the girl exclaimed. “You can keep it.”
I picked up the plastic football and turned it in my hand. Then, my skin tingled… that same magnetic feeling I always got when around Monty. I glanced over to see him standing at the edge of the group, a smile on his face as he stared at me.
Had he seen me get hit in the head?
Great.
By the time Gwen walked back out and ended the pep rally, there were only fifteen minutes left until lunch. The students were instructed to go to class. What was left of it anyway.
