Good Enough/Crossroads Chapter 7
#8 of Crossroads
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Good Enough--Crossroads--Chapter Seven--The Worst Monday
"You look like shit," Benny noted darkly as Chance approached his friends Monday morning. At once, Junior and Lexi took a good look at him, their expressions falling as they noticed his downtrodden expression.
"I'm fine," Chance lied quickly.
"Bad morning?" Lexi asked.
Chance shrugged. Yes, the morning had gone relatively badly. He had gotten very little sleep and breakfast--though a nice omelet with freshly-made lemonade--had been eerily quiet and uncomfortable. Michelle had done her best to put a good face on, but David's bad mood was infectious and palpable and Chance did not dare press his luck with any kind of conversation towards him. Even after being dropped off at school, David had been decidedly silent and Chance's hopes of any kind of reconciliation were almost gone completely.
"You could say that," Chance answered calmly. "Didn't sleep much."
"Did you at least have a good weekend?" Junior questioned and Chance could hear a hint of irritation on his face.
"It was okay," Chance said, "although it ended pretty badly."
"How come?" Lexi wondered.
"Probably because he went to see Zack Bailey," Junior scoffed in a harsh tone. "Right?"
"You went to see him? On purpose? For what?" Lexi asked.
"I asked him to train me," Chance explained. "For the fitness test. Coach Salt said I needed to improve or I'd fail."
"So you asked the biggest, baddest, toughest guy you could think of?" Benny surmised.
"Kind of, yeah, but he's not so bad," Chance explained. "He's actually a pretty nice guy."
Junior snorted indignantly. "Yeah, he may seem nice now, but once you get to know him, you'll learn he's nothing like that at all. He's just an asshole. I suggest you start avoiding him."
"You sound like my dad," Chance snarled. "Believe it or not, I liked hanging out with him Saturday. I was planning on going back this weekend. What's your problem with him? Why does everyone think he's such a bad guy?"
"He nearly killed you on your first day here!" Junior snapped.
"He was probably just having a bad morning!" Chance reasoned. "People are allowed to have a bad day here and there."
"Whatever," Junior said, rolling his eyes.
Benny pulled out a sucker from his pocket and stuck it in his mouth. "So, what's really bothering you today?" Benny asked, handing a second one to Chance before handing more to Junior and Lexi.
Chance took it, staring at the sucker grimly: grape-flavored. "Just some issues with my dad. He's got some problems with... some stuff I like."
"What kind of stuff?" Lexi asked; she shifted nervously as she looked between her brother and Chance. "Your art?"
"Yeah, among other stuff," Chance explained. "He's said before that he wants me to have a more practical career and last night he called it 'stupid art shit'." Chance sighed. "Beginning to think he hates me."
"He's your dad," Lexi said. "I'm sure if you two just sit down and talk, you'll reach some kind of compromise."
"Doubt it," Chance said grimly. He gave a defeated sigh. "I don't think he'll want to talk this time around."
"You gonna eat that?" Benny asked, pointing to the sucker.
"No, but thanks anyway," Chance answered, handing it back. "I don't really like grape flavored stuff."
"Well, who knows?" Junior said. A worried tone crept into his voice. "Maybe he'll apologize to you for making you feel bad."
"Hopefully," Chance sighed.
Junior put his paw on Chance's shoulder. "Well, even if he doesn't, if you need a shoulder to cry on..."
Chance gave a weak smile. "Thanks... I appreciate it."
"Anytime, buddy," Junior said. "You look like you really need some friends."
Chance approached the gym and gave Coach Salt a meek wave in response to his greeting. Coach Salt scowled, reaching forward to stop Chance from going any further.
"You feeling okay, Argent?" the coach asked.
"Yeah, fine," Chance answered. "Just a bit tired."
"You sure? You look sick, kid."
"I'm okay," Chance said hurriedly. He glanced up; Zack was walking by now, eyes narrowed as he paused just briefly to look at Chance.
"If you're sure," Coach Salt murmured. "If you need to take it easy, just let me know."
Chance nodded and walked towards the locker room. He opened his locker quickly, but a black paw knocked on the locker beside him and he jumped, turning to see Zack standing behind him, his eyes narrowed and scowling.
"You okay, Charlie?" Zack asked in a calm voice. "You look kind of sick."
Chance sighed. "Yes," he said in an exasperated tone. He was starting to get annoyed with so many people having asked about it. He hurriedly pulled off his shirt, stuffing it into his locker. "I'm fine. Just having a bad morning."
"What happened?"
"I don't want to talk about it," Chance said as he pulled on his gym shirt. "Can you please let me get changed?"
"Okay..."
Zack looked away and returned to his own locker, getting changed himself. Chance had finished pulling on his gym shorts and started to walk out when Zack stepped in front of him, looking down at him with a worried look. Chance hesitated before he said anything.
"You sure you're okay?" Zack insisted.
"I'm... yeah, I'm okay," Chance murmured.
"If you say so."
When the coach called them all over, he took very quick look at everyone--marking down who was present and absent--before announcing the day's activity: relay racing. The class quickly divided up into rows at one end of the gym. It had taken Chance a moment to realize he had somehow ended up at the front of his line.
"Alright, little ones," Coach Salt said in his usual, cocky voice, "sprint from your line to the other end of the gym and back again. Tag the next racer and so on and so forth until everyone's done. Simple. Go on my whistle. On your marks!" Chance glanced over; some of the other students looked excited for the day and others had already stopped paying attention. "Get set!"
Chance looked forward and took a quick breath and, when he heard Coach Salt's whistle, he dashed forward. He reached the end of the gym and turned, surprised to find himself behind the others. He tried his hardest to speed up and--
"EVERYBODY STOP!" Coach Salt called as Chance picked himself up, his head throbbing from the force of his fall. Coach Salt was by his side in a moment, looking over him analytically. "You okay? Pretty nasty fall."
Chance rubbed his head. "Yeah, I'm--"
"I still think you should go see the nurse," Coach Salt said.
"I'll take him." Zack stepped forward, scowling.
Coach Salt hesitated, then said, "Fine."
Chance stood and Zack hurriedly led him out. Behind them, Coach Salt called the class's attention back and soon enough, they were walking down an empty hallway towards the nurse's office.
"Kind of a nasty fall," Zack said. "That hurt?"
"Just need an ice pack," Chance answered. "I'll be okay."
"So, you wanna tell me what's been bugging you?" Zack inquired.
Chance bit his lip. "Just some issues with my dad. He's told me not to hang around you anymore."
"What'd I do?" Zack questioned, stopping.
"It's just... He's got some problems with some stuff I like."
"What does that have to with me?"
"He just told me not to hang around you. He said he didn't want me to be around you anymore."
"Why?"
Chance shifted uncomfortably, rubbing his head once more. "Can we get the ice pack before you keep asking questions?"
"Will you answer me?"
"Yes, let's just--"
"Come on."
Chance followed Zack to the nurse's office. Nurse Miller hurriedly looked him over before giving him an ice pack. Chance sat down in a chair in her office, putting the ice pack to his head and letting out a sigh of relief as the pain in his head began to lessen.
"So?" Zack prompted.
"So what?" Chance asked innocently.
"What's your dad's issue with me?" Zack demanded impatiently.
Chance looked away. "It's complicated."
"Make it simple."
"... It's just... I mean... Well..." Chance chuckled nervously as he launched into a rapid explanation. "It's a pretty funny thing. He seems to think that you're gay and he doesn't want me to be gay anymore so he told me not to hang around you because he doesn't want me to be gay even though I am and--"
"So you're gay?" Zack surmised.
Chance's eyes went wide. He had been rambling quickly, but now he wished he had kept completely silent. Zack was watching him with his usual stoic demeanor, waiting a reply.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have--"
"And your dad has a problem with that?" Zack continued.
"Yeah, I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry for something that's not your fault," Zack said. "You're gay. So what? No reason for him to be putting you down like this." Zack sat down in the chair beside Chance. "Look, I'm not going to pretend like I understand what you're going through, but I hope you can fix this with your dad. Just don't give into him. You're gay. So what? He ought to support you like a parent should instead of tearing you down."
Chance's jaw dropped in surprise. "Thanks, Zack. I appreciate it."
"No problem," Zack said.
"CHARLIE, WAIT!!"
Chance stopped before he stepped outside and turned; Zack was dashing towards him, moving through the crowd nonchalantly. The students looked rather keen to get out of Zack's way and seemed to be watching him as he approached the small wolf. He withdrew a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it over to Chance, who glanced over it carefully; it was a series of numbers...?
"Here's my phone number," Zack said. "Call me if you need anything." Zack swallowed nervously. "Or if you just want to talk."
Chance was grinning widely; how could it have been anything but that hunky jackal's phone number? "Thanks! I will!"
Zack smiled as he moved by Chance. "I guess I'll see you later then," he said as he walked off, waving.
"Yeah, later!"
Chance's giddiness began to fade as he got into his stepmother's car with a frown, amazed to see her instead of his father at the end of the school day.
"Good afternoon," she greeted calmly. "Nice day at school?"
"It was okay," Chance answered monotonously, looking out the window. "Where's Dad?"
"He's busy so he asked me to come get you," she said. "Do you have any homework?"
"Yes."
"What kind? Do you need some help?" she offered.
"No."
She took a deep breath and exhaled calmly. "Chance, do you hate me? I've done nothing but try to be nice to you. I know I'm not a replacement for your mother, but--"
"It's not you."
"Then what is it?" she demanded and there was a hint of desperation in her voice. Chance glanced over at her; she was focused on the road but she had tightened her grip on the steering wheel and was visibly agitated. "Is this about my being with your father?"
"It's not about you!"
"Then help me understand what your issue is," she insisted.
"It's just... my dad is just... I can't understand why he..." Chance fumbled with his words, unsure of how to phrase it. "Why did he get to keep me?" he finally asked.
"He_is_ your father."
"Why not Mom? Why'd she abandon me with him?"
Michelle hesitated before answering. "I don't know. I've never met your mother, I've only heard what's been said about her. Regardless of how you may think about it, she and your father agreed that it was better for you to stay with him. And he does love you so much." Chance snorted in indignation, returning his attention to the window. "He does. And I know you two are having a disagreement about your"--her tone changed suddenly with the next word, spoken with apprehension and discomfort--"sexuality."
"Yeah, so?" Chance challenged.
"You have to understand his point of view," she explained.
"I understand it fine; he's just being an ignorant asshole!"
"He thinks he's doing the right thing," Michelle insisted. "I bet once he realizes that he's hurting you he'll change his mind."
"Maybe. But I doubt it."
"So, was that the jackal your dad says you have a crush on?" she teased knowingly.
Chance paused before answering. Had she seen Zack giving him the phone number? "I wouldn't say it's a crush. He's just a friend from the art club who's training me for the fitness test."
"And who has you smiling like that?" she teased.
"Am I smiling?" Chance gasped in embarrassment. "I hadn't noticed."
"Listen, I know what it's like to be a teenager," she said, "and I also think it's a bit mean of your father to try to force you to see things his way. So, if you're still training with your friend this weekend and he won't take you, I'll drop you off there."
"Are you sure?" Chance asked in amazement. "Won't he get mad at you too?"
"Trust me, he'll forgive me," Michelle assured him. "I can do things for him that you can't."
"And ew, I didn't need to hear that," Chance said, cringing.
Michelle giggled. "Sorry. But I'm glad we got a chance to talk. Hopefully, we can start being friends."
"Yeah, maybe."