"Morning champ!" Tony said. Paul's dad was in the kitchen making him the three eggs, bacon and toast he had every morning. "Have fun at the fair last night?"
"I did," Paul smiled as the plate was set down in front of him. "It was pretty cool."
"That's good. It's nice that you and Jeff get along so well. He seems like a nice guy."
"Just be a little quieter when you come home," his mom chimed in. "I'd just gotten to sleep and you two woke me up."
"Sorry," Paul apologized.
Tony leaned in, whispering, "Don't worry about it too much. It's no big deal." He then took a step back. "Hey. Have you been getting bigger on me?"
Paul tilted his head, then tried to pull himself in. "Uhh..? I don't know?"
"Sure as hell seems like it. Janet come look. You think he's grown another inch?" Tony reached up and pretended to measure his son with his hand. "I swear you get bigger every time I see you. Go on. Stand up, nice and tall sport." Paul did as he was told and stood up at his full height. His chest puffed out slightly. Tony again reached up trying to pat his son on the head. "Yeah! I'd say you're at least another inch taller! Look at that Janet! He's really going to make it in the big leagues just on size alone!"
"Uh-huh," Janet took a sip of her coffee then went back to looking at news articles on her phone.
"I'm sure you'll be able to take all the guys down at practice today. You go get 'em champ," Tony gave him an encouraging punch to the arm. "I've got to go to work. If you need anything just give me a call. Okay?"
"S-sure thing dad," Paul said. He felt a bit embarrassed with just how excited his dad could get about these kinds of things. The older man was just so below average in every kind of sport there was, yet he was so encouraging for Paul. It was such a weird dynamic to see him on the sidelines being his biggest fan while barely being able to see over the other fans.
"Good man," Tony pat his son on the shoulder and then gave his wife a kiss on the cheek. Then he was out the door and driving to work.
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Jeff hated boarding the bus. He was a senior so he should have been allowed to drive. But his tardiness and unexplained absences in the middle of the day, made the principal reject any application that might have given him the freedom to skip school even easier. Luckily he was still able to play sports. But those absences had to stop. He gave in.
But that didn't mean he'd enjoy it. Jeff would sit cross armed the entire time, staring out the window angrily. However, today was different. One of the other senior football players sat down next to him, Nate Silvers. The team was small enough so whoever tried out for sure made it, and Nate was definitely one of those players. He barely took any of the workouts seriously and lacked any real motivation to try harder. "Hey."
"Hey," Jeff chanted back. His eyes didn't move from the window.
"How was the fair last night?" Nate continued.
"Good?" Jeff looked over at the person sitting next to him. Nate had no reason to make small talk. "Why?"
"Just wondering," he shrugged trying to act like it wasn't a big deal. "You were with Paul right? Did you guys do anything after?"
"Just video games at his house," Jeff sneered. He was starting to get annoyed. His morning moody ritual was being interrupted and he didn't want to have to talk until he got to school.
"Anything else?"
"Else? Like what?" Jeff heard the implication in Nate's voice. "What the fuck else would we do?"
"Nothing. Nothing," Nate moved to the edge of his seat. "I was just wondering."
"What? So just cause I'm hanging out with my bro we're doing something else? Fuck you dude."
A giddy smile filled Nate's face. He leaned in close with a seductive whisper. "I could always fuck you."
A shiver rolled through Jeff's body. He instantly seized up and then pushed Nate off the bus seat. "The hell's wrong with you!?"
The whole bus seemed to stop to look. Nate stood up, patting the dust off his clothes. "Nothing. I just thought I'd offer. That's all."
"The fuck!?" Jeff stared even more confused. "I'm not gay. Neither's Paul. So fuck off."