Chapter Seventeen
Coach Maxwell stood just inside the locker room and looked around at the boys as they trash-talked Private. It was two hours before their first match against Smith’s College. His eyes found the boy he was looking for and he straightened up. “Kelley, in my office.”
The guys jeered and laughed as Kelley grabbed his shirt and pulled it over his head before exiting the locker room and heading to the Coach’s office. He knocked on the door and opened it, closing it behind him and sitting down in the single visitor chair in front of the desk.
Kelley wasn't sure why Coach had called him into his office but he had an idea that it might be to question his loyalties about that night's game. “Yes, Coach?”
“Why are you at Public, Kelley?”
For a moment Kelley didn't know what to say. “Coach … it’s a long story and personal. I’d rather not discuss it.”
“I’m not just your coach, Kelley, I’m also a person who has your best interests at heart. I care about every single player on my team.”
Kelley had been running drills and practices with the team for two months now and it seemed for the time being that Arlo O’Neill had pulled his head out of his ass. Kelley still didn’t really have friends but on some occasions, he sat with Lee during lunch, when Mason wasn’t there.
“Coach, if I tell you then you’ll have to call Social Services and trust me when I say neither of us wants that.”
“Shit, Kelley. What the hell is going on?”
“Coach …”
“I promise I won’t call anyone but I need to know that you’re okay.”
“I’m good, Coach, I promise. My dad kicked me out and I’ve been on my own since summer holidays.”
“Are you eating enough? Do you need money?”
“I’m okay, Coach. Just don’t call anyone, please. I’m keeping my head down, doing the work, I’ve got good grades but I can’t talk about what happened.”
Coach Maxwell looked at the handsome boy in front of him, the scar telling a different story, the scar showing that Kelley Alexander hadn’t always had a privileged life. “Promise to come to me if you need help, I don’t care what time it is or what troubles you have, okay?”
“Okay, Coach … and thank you.”
Kelley left the office and Coach Maxwell leaned back in his chair. Kelley was one tough kid, he’d seen tough kids before but somehow with Kelley, it gave him respect for the kid. He’d had a good life, a rich life and then he’d gotten kicked to the curb, took it in his stride, walked into the enemy camp and made the best of it.
Kelley headed back to the locker rooms and sighed as he reached his locker finding everything strewn on the floor. “Great team spirit, guys.”
A few of them laughed and one or two of them glanced over at Arlo. Seems like Arlo still had a grudge. Kelley picked everything up and folded his clothes neatly and placed them back inside his locker. The screen of his phone was cracked and Kelley gritted his teeth.
“What’s wrong, rich boy? I’m sure Daddy will buy you a new one.” Arlo’s shoulder brushed Kelley’s but he stood his ground because he was tired of everything.
“What’s your problem, Arlo?”
Mason looked up from where he sat on the bench in front of his own locker, busy pulling on his padding. He too was at his wit’s end with Arlo although he did understand his conflicting emotions. Kelley had been the enemy. They didn't know enough about him because Kelley kept to himself and tonight they were playing his old team. Even Mason wondered if Kelley had been feeding them information.
“My problem is you, Elite boy! Are you slumming it here for a year? Make yourself feel better?”
“You don’t know anything about me!” Kelley’s anger was evident in his eyes.
“I know you’re living the high life, coming to Public to do what exactly? Do you go home every night to your Elite family and laugh about us behind our backs? I’m sure your rich-ass Daddy just loves that.”
“You see this scar around my eye? My ‘daddy’ did that before he kicked me out of the house. Like I said, Arlo, you don’t know anything about me. Do you want to know how I beat the living crap out of my best friend because I found out he was screwing my girlfriend behind my back for a year? Does it make you feel better that I left my house with a bag of clothes and the car my mom bought? I’m not some little rich boy and if you come at me again I’ll beat the shit out of you too!”
Kelley slammed his locker closed and walked out of the locker room. Coach Maxwell stood to one side and Mason watched him. Coach hadn’t been all that shocked to hear Kelley’s words. He had been though. Everything he thought he knew about Kelley changed in that instant.
“Shit … I didn’t know.” Arlo looked the most shocked of everyone.
“Stop being an asshole to him, Arlo. He’s one of us and tonight he’s going up against his old school and we’re going to have his back, do you hear me?” Arlo nodded his head as Mason glared at him.
Kelley stood in the quiet, dark gym and took deep breaths. He hadn’t meant to say anything, not about his scar or his father or the fact that he didn’t have a home anymore. He didn’t want or need anyone’s pity.
The door on the far side slammed open and Arlo O’Neill stepped inside. Light from the hallway spilled inside and Kelley turned towards him. Arlo took determined steps towards him and Kelley balled his fists, ready.
“Listen, Kelley, I’m sorry about what I said back there. I didn’t think you could ever have any real problems. Private’s always been the enemy but Mason’s right, you’re Public now and you’re one of us.”
Kelley’s hand relaxed and he frowned slightly at Arlo. “What?”
“My mom used to hit me like that, up until my dad divorced her and took custody of me. She preferred these thick wooden sticks, she’d break them over my back, hit me with her fists, turns out she was always high when it happened.”
“I’m sorry, Arlo.”
“No, Kelley, I’m sorry. From now on, I’ll have your back, no matter what. You’re Public now and that makes you my brother. Clean slate?”
“If we’re starting over then you should know that Kirk favours the left side, he’s got an old injury to his right shoulder.”
Arlo grinned. “I’ll switch with Jason then, go in from the right because you’re a leftie so that’ll make it easier for you to swing around on the fake pass.”
Kelley smiled then and Arlo stuck his hand out. Kelley clasped it in his own and the two boys shook hands. “Cross defence, they won’t know what hit them because we’ve never played like this before.”
“Let’s go kick some Elite ass, Public boy.”
