The Guy on the Left (The Underdogs 2)

“Are you going away like you said?”

“Probably.”

“K.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll never leave you long.”

“A week, two tops,” Dante squeaks as if they’ve had this conversation before.

“Right.”

“And you’ll call me every day,” Dante reminds.

“That’s right. Every day.”

“‘Cause I’m your sun, and you’re my moon, and where I go, you’re right behind me.”

“Right.”

“‘Cause you love me.”

He pauses before giving a hoarse reply. “So much, bud.”

“Don’t be sad, Troy. One week, two tops.”

“Right.”

“I love you.”

“Love you too. Goodnight.”

Hand over my mouth, I race to the bathroom and turn the fan and shower on. I’m still crying uncontrollably a minute later when Troy knocks on the door. I can’t bring myself to open it.

“Hey,” I say, a clear rattle in my voice.

“Hey, when did you get in?”

I stifle my cries in my hand, knowing I’m taking too damn long to reply.

“J-j-just a minute ago…I wanted to take a quick shower before I tucked him in,” my voice cracks and I wince hoping he didn’t hear it. He pauses outside the door, and I know I’ve given myself away. He’s still punishing me, and for him, I’ll endure it, in hopes one day he’ll forgive me. In hopes that one day, he’ll look at me the way he did just weeks before. Parker told me today that he waited over six years for me to see him for who he really is. It’s now my loyalty in question and my own redemption I’m after.

“I have a shift later. I’m going to head out.”

“Okay, goodnight.”

“Night.”

Troy

The phone rings just as I get out of class, and I see Clarissa’s name and stop in the middle of the hall. She never calls anymore.

“Hey, everything okay?”

Silence on the other end of the line, followed by a sniffle, has me on high alert. “Clarissa?”

“Troy.” This cry is unlike anything I’ve ever heard. I make a beeline for my mom’s truck.

“I’m on my way. What happened?”