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1
David sped up at the sound of Dan’s screaming voice. Shit, shit, shit. He hurried around the court and groaned at the sight. Janie held back Dan as she screamed at one of the women in the opposing team.
“Say it again, I dare you.” She grit.
“Dan.” David grumbled inching closer and grabbing hold of her arm. “I’ll knock your fucking teeth in!” She screams ignoring him completely. Janie winced at his side. “I said you’re a fucking slut!” Shouted the player David recognized at Melissa Kenfeild a back liner of the Jackals. Dan yanked out of his grip and got crisp slap in before he caught the back of her jersey. “Hey!” He yelled, “Cut it out!” Melissa just gasped holding a hand to her face.
“You don’t deserve to be captain.” Her squeaking voice cracking as tears streamed down her cheeks, “You should be out by Molly’s swinging on poles and being fucked by old men!” Dan lunged again but David had her in a tight grip. “I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s how you got him to make you captain of your god forsaken team anyways.” She spouted. David was so taken aback by the statement he didn’t even hold Dan back, but this time the fist that shot out and hit Melissa in the face, wasn’t Dan’s.
Janie had decked the ginger so hard she hit the floor with a bang. Small, fragile, broken Janie. “Don’t ever say that about Dan again!” Surprisingly her small voice carried, “She did what she had to, and at least she isn’t so deep in debt her team can’t even afford to fucking keep her! If I were you Missy, I would focus on myself.” Her hands shook by her side, sleeves rolled up and scars showing. David wondered if the three had some kind of history, but David was also very fucking confused. Apparently Melissa wasn’t though, she had gotten the message. Matter a fact, she just whimpered and scurried away as fast as she possibly could, screaming “Coach!”
David sighed, messaging the bridge of his nose, a hand on his hip. “I’m sorry Coach.” Said Janie rolling down her sleeves, looking back at Dan who stood to the side with her arms crossed looking down at the floor furiously. “It’s fine, just go get ready. I’ll deal with it.” The woman nodded and headed back. As soon as the door closed he heard the sound of Dan sniffling. “Do you want to tell me what that was about?”
“She’s lying!” Cried Dan, but more a yell than a cry, the woman would be caught dead before whimpering and sobbing like Melissa had only moments before. “Sure, I stripped for a while to make money for my student debt, but I never did anything else.” She gasped, “Please don’t kick me off the team.” Wymack blinked, “What?” He walked toward the dark skinned woman. “Okay, A, I don’t care, B, I’d never kick a woman off my team for something like that, C, I don’t have a replacement for you, and D, go get your fucking equipment on we’ve got a game to play!”
Dan’s eyes widened, “Okay—yea—yes Coach!” She says before scrambling back in the direction of the others.
David just sighed.
—
2
The bang coming from his apartment kitchen startled him awake. The apartment that he lived in alone, for now at least, until Abby invites him to move in. Which he secretly hopes is soon. But still, the man lived alone, and it was three in the morning.
David jumped up, immediately snatching the bat from his bedside, he ran out of his room. “I have a weapon.” He said from behind the wall, his heart beating a mile a minute. Another clatter, bang, and then an unsettling laugh.
He turned the corner, “I said I have a—Andrew?” The blonde tuned looking caught like a deer in lights. He leaned against the wall a bottle of vodka in hand. “Hiya, Coach!” He smiles widely. “What are you—“ Andrew hand slipped and he went tumbling down, barely landing on the stiff couch, and hitting his head on the edge of the coffee table next to it. “Ouch.” He cackled.
“Are you fucking drunk?” Andrew was wearing a short sleeved black shirt and a pair of matching basketball shorts, a surprising choice of wardrobe especially in winter, and considering the walk from the fox tower to David’s apartment, because there’s no way the blonde could even manage to get in a car with how far gone he was. Not to mention Andrew wasn’t an idiot. Sure, the mood alteration pills had some toll on him, but not enough to get him a DUI.
Still what caught his attention the most was the fact Andrew didn’t have his arm bands on, giving him a clear view of the dozens of the long, jagged scars littering his forearms. So similar to Janie’s they had his stomach lurching. Janie that was gone, Janie who was Andrew’s polar opposite, and his twin at the same time. Small, fragile, broken Janie and Scary, thick skinned, killer Andrew. “Yes!” Andrew called out, then, “Put a shirt on you’re kind of turning me on.”
David made a face
“What the fuck are you doing here, Minyard? It’s three in the morning.” Andrew coughed and David finally let the bat drop. “Are you sick, kid?” Finally he noticed that even with the cold, Andrew seemed to be drenched in sweat and a concerning shade of pale. “No—no.” He said, but David had seen the look and turned to grab the trash can right as Andrew lurched forward and threw up. “Yes—yes I am.” He said then spit a glop of saliva in the trash can. “I’m sick and I want to die.” The hairs on his arms stood up.
“Don’t make that face, I’m just kidding!” He grinned. “Get me some fucking Tylenol, and take my pills before I get too happy and flush them.” David grabbed the boy’s bottle and trailed to the kitchen, grabbing Tylenol and some water on the way back. “Can you even have this with your medication?” He asked before handing it over. “I guess we’ll find out.”
“Andrew.” He warned. “Yes god, I’m not suicidal! Jesus, just pass the fucking pill bottle.” He opened the water bottle and was about to drink when he doubled back, and vomited again.
“Jesus Christ.” Muttered David. This was his Saturday—or—Sunday technically. Shakily the blonde opened the medication. “You don’t have Tylenol at your dorm?” He asked. Andrew broke into a fit of crunchy coughs. “Yes, but the AC is fucked.” The blonde managed.
“What?”
“It’s getting fixed tomorrow, and I can’t sleep without it.”
“You mean you walked all that way here, drunk, and probably with a fever, for my AC?”
Andrew chugged the water bottle. “Ding, ding, ding!” Wymack groaned and walked back to his room. Slowly he opened the closet and grabbed two blankets, and some clothes. On the walk back he stopped by the thermostat and cranked it lower. When he got back he dropped the blankets on the couch and set the clothes down on the coffee table.
“Now show me your arms.”
Begrudgingly, Andrew sat up and held out his forearms mumbling some shit about, him, “Minding his pay grade.” David didn’t respond that him cutting himself would definitely be in his pay grade, he also didn’t mention that even if it wasn’t, it was not something he would ignore. Ever. Luckily the scars were all old and David let out a sigh he didn’t even know he was holding.
“Wake me up if you need anything.” He said finally before retreating to his room.
Yup, this was his life.
—
3
“Coach, I need your help.” David stifles a groan. “Is it in my pay grade?” Allison pauses, she hums then shifts on her feet “That depends, do you care about my well being?” He just drops his head into his desk. “Come on, Dave this is time sensitive!”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Why?”
“What do you want?” He snaps.
Allison turns, her frilly white skirt flowing as she adjusts her matching beret. “So, you know my family is a whole bunch of prissy white rich people right?”
“Just like you, I’m aware.”
The blonde grins, “Oh you crack me up coach. The point is, even though they disowned me I still have access to a lot of their stuff, employers, Netflix accounts and shit like that.” She begins to pace. “The other day, I was trying to….okay don’t kill me.” Allison shook her hands out.
“Spit it out Reynolds!”
“—Deposit a small amount of money.”
David eyes went wide, “What the—oh my—Allison, I—“ He goes on to make a variety of baffled sounds. Then, “Are you fucking kidding me!?” Allison had the audacity to look up and groan. “Can you listen!”
David slaps a hand on this face. “Their accountant noticed.” He drags the hand down slowly. “So I need you to—“ As if on cue there was a knock at the office door. Allison went silent. David stood and opened the door.
A tall black woman stood before him. Her navy blue suit, perfectly tailored to fit her physique, and a large black afro sitting on her head perfectly. Yup, rich person identified. She walked right past him and into the office. Behind her David mouthed to Allison. ‘What the fuck?’ Allison just smiled, “Hello, Elle. Nice to finally meet you.” David brows drew together, then he finally realized. They had never met their fucking accountant.
Rich people.
The woman, or Elle, twirled a strand of hair in her afro. “Ms. Reynolds. Allison I’m assuming?” The blonde hummed looking down at her nails picking them in the bitchy way she did when she was trying to get you riled up. “That’s right.” She said. David closed the office door. “In my email, I specified that I’d like to have your father present.” She crossed her arms, “To discuss.” Allison responded by clearing her throat. “My father is a little busy at the moment. Probably thinking of hiring a new accountant as we speak.” Allison said, “Giving as you so rudely ignored him and barged into his office.” Elle’s eyes went wide as she turned back to David, who did his best to make an angry face. It wasn’t hard, seeing as annoyed and pissed was his resting expression.
“M-Mr. Reynolds.” She sputtered, “Oh my, I am so sorry.” Elle scrambled in her bag and pulled out a small notebook. Her hand shaky, he almost felt bad. Almost. “I just didn’t expect you to look like this.” She said, “Not that you look bad, you don’t look a day over 30 sir, but—“ He darkened his expression, but more so to not laugh then in actual anger. “I’m so sorry.” Elle repeated. David could just hear Allison snickering in the background. “I won’t take any more of you time, sir. I was just here to confirm the twenty thousand dollar transfer to your daughters account.” David inhaled sharply and shot a look to Allison. “Confirm it.” He replied. “Now—get out of my sight.”
Elle stumbled, “Yes sir.” She said before scrambling away. David slammed the door behind her. The man sighed “I am going to jail.” He nodded. “I am actually going to jail.” Allison jumped over to him. “Thank you, thank you, thank you~!” She squealed, then she held up a finger. “And don’t get your panties in a twist, he won’t even notice it’s gone.” David staggered, “We just stole 20k!” She placed a peck on his check. “Yes, we did!” The blonde said excitedly, then,
“Come on Dave, I’m going to buy you a Gucci belt!”
“I said don’t call me that!”
—
4
“I’m sorry.” The redhead croaked.
“He sounds like Neil, but he doesn’t look like him. I’ll take your explanation from the top and with-out a side order of bullshit, thanks.” Neil’s breath was ragged and his facial expression was utterly perplexed. Almost as confused as David was, like it was at the tip of his tongue. Then he practically gagged.
“No.” He said standing and tripping over to the bathroom door. David didn’t stop him, only followed to see what he was looking for. As soon as he turned on the lights and looked at himself, his knees buckled. His alarmingly now blue eyes filled with terror and panic, as he clenched his hands in his red hair. Hyperventilating, the boy dry heaved.
David knelt down, “Breathe,” he said, Neil continued to wheeze, but with more attempt to calm down. David begun to hit his fist on Neil’s back hoping he would inhale more air, the kid was turning blue. Neil latched on to the cabinet door and panted, he let out a sound too close to a cry for comfort. David didn’t know what to do, he was lost in the sea that was Neil Josten. Where had he been? Why had he gone? What had they done to him? David did the only thing he could think of, he pulled a lighter from his pocket.
At the click of the lighter the redhead turned. He took the cigarette David offered him and inhaled the smoke. Every breath more shaky than the one prior, Neil’s hand went to his torso holding in pain. Then he breathed in the smoke so deep he choked and broke into a coughing fit. Except in between the wretched frame shaking coughs, he laughed. He twisted and let out a suffocating sound, but he just kept laughing.
“Neil,” David said. “I need you to talk to me.”
“I think I pulled my stitches.” Said the boy, voice hoarse. “I feel blood.” Panicked seized through the man, a panic he immediately pushed away, he couldn’t risk to alarm Neil again. “Where?” David asked. “Everywhere?” Neil guessed, then attempted to undo his coat. David batted his hand away and began to undo the buttons as quickly as possible. He pulled down the zipper, and Neil helped him pull off his coat.
Then Neil’s hand rose to his mouth, biting off his glove. But the boy winced at the bandage pulling on his face. David reached up and peeled it off, he froze. “Neil, what the fuck is on your face?” The black ‘4’ tattooed on his left cheek bone gave David chills. Literal chills. Neil jumped forward hands gripping the sink so tight, he knuckles were white.
Before David could register it, Neil bolted. He chased as he realized Neil was headed towards the kitchen. Just in time he managed to get Neil from taking a knife to his face. But the redhead fought back, scratching and punching and—David was grow man. He slammed Neil hands on the counter and the knife went flying. Neil scrambled for it but David caught his arms and dragged him to the floor with him. His heart hurt for Neil, it did, but he would not have chopped flesh on his goddam kitchen floor.
He pulled Neil into his arms tightly, and finally he went limp. He felt Neil’s tired shaking frame breathing in ragged breaths of air. “Hey.” He snapped. “Hey. It’s all right.”
Neil sobbed, his grip tightened around David. What had they done to his fox? His player, his number ten, his kid. Seth, Andrew, and now this? The ravens where taking swings at his foxes picking them off the chess board one by one. But he wouldn’t let them win, Andrew wouldn’t, Neil wouldn’t.
“Neil.” David said.
The boy looked up, “Help me.” He cried.
“Let me.”
—
5
It was just another day in David Wymack’s office. He was alone making game plays, eating Slim Jim sticks, blasting music in his earbuds, all was well. Then he made then fatal decision to go out and fetch a water bottle. That’s when everything went to shit.
David pulled an ear bud out and let it hang while the other played music, he opened his door, walked to the storage closet, and screamed. It was not his brightest moment, but he thought he was alone. It was Saturday afternoon. No practice, no classes, even Kevin hadn’t come in. But low and behold Aaron Minyard was sucking face with his cheerleader girlfriend. Which, David actually wouldn’t know Aaron had, if she wasn’t in her uniform. For some reason..
David didn’t even want to know. At their alarmed looks he decided to ditch the water bottle and retreat back to his office awkwardly. His safe, warm office. Which he was only in for five more minutes before Aaron walked in and closed the door behind him. David caught his eye as he stood in front of him. Then he looked back to his computer.
“You aren’t going to yell at me?” The blonde asked quietly fiddling with his keychain. “Are you sorry?” Aaron nodded. “Do you solemnly swear never to hook up with girls or boys in this locker room ever again?” Another quick nod. “Then no, but tell everyone that if I catch them they are running laps all practice.”
“Okay.” He swallowed.
“Then leave.” He gestured to the door and restarted his music. “Wait.” David sighed and took out his ear bud. “What?” He demanded, a little annoyed. “Please, don’t tell Andrew.”
“What?” David repeated.
Aaron groaned and stepped closer. “He’d kill her.” Another awkward silence. “ What? ” He asked again, just confused now. “Look it’s complicated, but we promised each other we wouldn’t date anybody until after college.” David closed his computer. “And if he finds out I’m with Katelyn, he’ll kill her.”
David busted out laughing, he was actually hysterical.
“Why—why are you laughing?”
He threw his head back chuckling. “You’re funny Aaron, now get out.” The blonde shook his head. “Coach, I’m serious!” That had his brows furrowing. “You kids are so fucking confusing sometimes.” David rolled his eyes. “With your deals, and arguments and all that dumb shit.” He snapped. Aaron just blinked at him.
“I’m not telling Andrew anything.” He grumbled. Aaron nodded. “Thank you.” Then he turned and grabbed for the door. “But between you and me,” David said, “I think you should.”
“I don’t want Katelyn to die.” Responded the twin as if it was obvious. “How long have you been breaking your deal, kid?” Asked Wymack. Aaron paused. “I don’t know? Couple of years, different girls though.” David held his hands out, as if to say, ‘So?’
“Your brother is one of the most perspective, attentive, watchful people I know. If not the most.” David said. “Do you really think he hasn’t noticed you fooling around all these years?” Aaron thought about it.
“Hell, he’s even with—“ David caught himself. He had said too much.
“What?” Grit Aaron
“No nothin’.” Said the man re opening his computer. “Wymack.” David shook his head. “Sorry Minyard, I am not getting involved in you and Andrew’s problems.”
“Do you know something?”
“I will not tell your brother about Katelyn, now get out of my office.”
“Wymack!”
David pointed towards the door. “Out!”
The blonde left slamming the door. That’s when David had the sudden realization, that he needed to stop not minding his goddam pay grade! Matter a fact, he caught Andrew and Neil just an hour later, who were rewarded by running laps on Monday. And if Aaron noticed, he didn’t say anything.
-
+1
David groaned at the sound of his phone ringing. Abby stirred as he reached over her to grab it. She used her pillow as an ear muff.
“Hello?” He said tiredly.
A monotone robot voice spoke, “Hello, this is call from York Country Correctional Center for inmate, Kevin Day. Say YES if you would like to accept this call.”
Finally Abby opened her eyes and looked at him confused. “Fucking hell, Yes.” He said. There was a beep and then. “Dad?”
“What the hell?” He said hushed. From the other line he heard a yell that sounded too similar to a certain blonde. “Get your pig hands off me!” A bang and then. “Andrew!” Another then. “Don’t fucking touch him.” From Neil. There was another slam then the loud sobbing begun, courtesy of Nicky. “Dad.” Kevin repeated. “What happened?” He asked alarmed and annoyed at the same time. “I don’t know.” Said Kevin. “I am really drunk.”
“Well sober up, because I need a fucking explanation, or I’m letting you four rot overnight.
“No, you can’t!” Kevin cried. “It was just a stupid bar fight, and,” he sniffled. “I can’t go to real jail!” There was rummaging, “What’s going on?” Abby’s whispered.
“Coach—“ Said Danielle, wait, Dan?
“I said to call your parents!” Yelled a man he assumed was a guard.
“She’s talking to him!” He heard Matt yell.
Dan just sighed. “Coach, we need you to come bail us out.” Dan spoke. “What the—how many of you are there?” There was pause. “Umm…Everybody?” David groaned and jumped out of bed. “I will take a fucking explanation now.”
“This dude and his group were talking shit.”
“And?”
“That’s it.”
“Seriously?” He grumbled. “Neil punched him, then his group ganged up on him, then Andrew stabbed them and we all jumped in because we were drunk, okay ?” She rambled.
“Fucking hell, are they pressing charges?”
“No, no, Neil and Andrew got pretty roughed up, and, Neil’s uncle is British and…loaded apparently.” She sighed, “He’ll send us the cash for the bail, but, you need to come get us.” David slapped a hand on his face. “Fine, fine! Crazy fucking children! All of you!”
He hung up. “Where are you going?” Asked Abby worried. Wymack snatched his keys from his table. “Our whole team got arrested.” The woman sighed.
“Let me get my medical bag.”
As much as David said he hated it, he would bail them out every night if he had to, every two hours, or every twenty minutes. Because they were his foxes.
And he’d do anything for his foxes, his players, his team.
His kids.