The Swings

Toby walks down the Fisher High School hallway and spots him. Maneuvering his way through the crowded space, he shuffles as close as he can to the lockers on the left. David is standing on the right side with the other lacrosse players. Every morning they meet up in the same area and talk about training, working out, and girls. 

"Have you seen that new girl, Jessica, yet? Whew! Is she hot or what?" one of the guys says to the others. They nod in agreement and laugh.

"Man, has she got a rack! How much you wanna bet she'll be a cheerleader by Spring?" asks David. At this, Toby cringes and feels his heart convulse with grief. Though he knows David's straight, he can't help but hope it's all a facade for trying to fit in with his teammates. He tunes out of the conversation and admires David's lean body. His eyes go from his chiseled chin, to his buff arms, then back up to his striking green eyes, where he meets David's gaze. 

Toby silently shrieks and flies down the hallway, not bothering to apologize to anyone he bumps into. He runs straight to Mr. Alban's classroom and sits down. It's only then that he realizes he dropped the book they're reading, Pride and Prejudice. He walks over to the class bookshelf and picks up and extra copy, while making a mental note to return to the hallway after class to retrieve his copy. If it's not there, it might be in the Lost and Found in the front office. He sits back down and begins reading but soon hears someone clear their throat beside him.

He glances up and into those familiar emerald eyes. He quickly turns his head back to the book and prays David goes to his own seat. He feels the spine of the book press into his arm and hears David walk off. Toby picks up the book and looks at the inside cover. In it, he finds the name 'Toby Oliver' written. He smiles and Mr. Alban begins his lecture. 

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Toby packs up and stands to leave his English class but is stopped by David. He tries to move to the side and slide between David and the desks but David shifts in front of him. 

"You know, it's rude not to thank someone when they return something to you."

"Er, thank you..." replies Toby quietly. He looks up from the floor and sees David smirk at him. He nods and moves out of the way so Toby can pass. He starts to leave again but stops himself this time.

"How did you know my name?" Toby asks. David raises his right eyebrow in response and purses his lips. Toby shakes his head and steps forward to meet David again.

"I wrote my name in the front of my book. How did you know who I was? You wouldn't have been able to return it to me without knowing my name."

"Mr. Alban takes roll call every day. When he says 'Tobias Oliver,' you always raise your hand. I put two and two together. Jut because I'm an athlete doesn't mean I'm stupid," David laughs.

"No, no. I wasn't calling you stupid! I promise!"

"Sarcasm, Toby, sarcasm," David replies as he leaves the classroom.

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The next day, Toby walks through the school doors and David struts over to him, leaving his friends. They look at David with surprise and then at Toby with a scowl. 

"Hey, Toby! Wanna walk to class with me?" David asks.

"Oh, sure! Hey, I was wondering if maybe you wanted to hang out sometime? Like, go to the movies?"

Toby hears murmurs and catches the words "Gay," "F*g," and "Date." David looks over his shoulder to his friends and Toby knows the answer.

"Never mind, then," he says grimly. David tries to catch Toby's arm but Toby slips away, trying to hold back tears. For the first time, instead of going to class, Toby walks back out of school and heads straight to the playground of the elementary school beside Fisher High. He takes a seat on one of the swings. His hips and thighs are too wide to fit on the kids' swings but he doesn't care. The tightness around the outside of his thighs reminds that, though he feels dead inside, he is alive. 

"You didn't let me answer," Toby hears from behind him. He ignores David and begins pushing himself on the swing. David sits on the swing next to Toby and turns to him.

"I would love to hang out with you," David finishes.

"But just as friends, right?" Toby replies in a dismal tone. David stands and walks in front of Toby. He crouches down and holds Toby's head in his hands.

"Wrong," he says before kissing Toby's forehead gently. 

Reviews

[barleygirl]

This is a great story packed with social lessons well-crafted & yet brief for a quick read (many don't have the attention span for a longer story). I don't follow the exact mechanics of how Toby's book got into Toby's hands, thanks to David, but the idea works for this situation anyway. I love the way you write about multi-layered issues drawn from real life & your messages are always far more mature than many perspectives in writing can be! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie