Twice the Hands to Hold

Chapter 1: Wednesday-2

The first assembly of the year was always a to-do. New teachers were introduced, key dates announced, pomp and a lot of circumstance were brought forth by the faculty that hardly anyone paid attention to. The hall was filled with the excitable chatter of friends reconnecting, crushes reacquainting, and the air of new beginnings filling the stifling.

Matt stared at his senior year, as it was spread before him. How many years had he been part of the crowd in the back, watching enviously as smug seniors simply claimed the best seats in the auditorium? Getting to walk out before the rest of the school while the other years had to wait in agonizing patience while they filed out in their own time. Now it was his turn, and he smiled good-naturedly as his classmates harassed freshmen and sophomores on how far they still had to go to get where they were. It’s a small symbol to the seniors, pointless really, but there all the same.

He sat back in the chair as Principal Higgins called the hall to order. Not even the painful monotony of Higgins’ drone would be able to sap the excitement out of him as he listened to special announcements, upcoming student council elections, and the usual announcements that accompanied the first-of-year assemblies. He kept one ear on their principal, as he needed to stay in the loop to execute his duties as editor of the school’s newspaper.

The assembly seemed to have dragged on for far too long already and Matt was just about to try and stifle a second yawn, with little success, when someone caught his attention…for the second time that day.

Higgins was talking about a special transfer student they should all be very excited about and announced James Sterling, shaking his hand with hearty enthusiasm. Higgins continued on about James being some athletic prodigy from a neighboring private school, who had somehow escaped Matt’s radar at inter-school swim meets previously. The school had seemingly been after the guy for many years. He was on trail to the Olympics and would surely take their school to nationals, Higgins assured the school.

Matt was mildly surprised at the school swim team’s rise in estimation to be able to bag someone of this swimming God’s apparent caliber. Sure, they had been winning more trophies as of late, but that was mostly due to the new no-nonsense coach they’d recruited the year before. He hadn’t been aware their team had climbed the ranks enough to attract such serious talent.

Most of his attention, however, was focused on deciphering any possibility of gay vibes from his handsome fellow senior classman, but the stage was too far away to execute the subtleties of that science. What he could see, however, agreed with him. The expected swimmer body, made up of a defined chest, muscular arms and narrow waist, well hidden by expensive clothes—understated instead of accentuated. As Matt stared at the poor guy, with his bowed head on the stage, it was clear to him that the spotlight had to be the very last place that he wanted to be. It was also clear to him that he had to meet James Sterling, whatever it took.

The hall erupted into a throng of students jostling and making their way to homeroom before first period would really kick the new school year into gear.

This was going to be a year for the memory books, Matt was sure.

* * * *

Matt was seated behind his desk in the school’s newspaper office, overseeing the first staff meeting. His reign as editor-in-chief of the newspaper was a long time coming, but not a surprise to anyone. It was usually handed down to the assistant editor who was always a junior, in preparation for taking over the reins in their senior year. It may not be the same thing as his brother’s QB position, but it was an achievement nonetheless.

Instead of discussing the agenda he’d prepared, all the sophomores and freshmen were talking about was who would be crowned the new assistant editor. The rest of the crowd of pseudo-reporters under his direction, were discussing the inevitable big interview with James and fretting—rightfully—that Matt would use his executive powers to assign the interview to himself. He heard a collective groan from his team as he confirmed their suspicions.

After all, James was such a hot ticket that the interview would not only be sure to get full coverage in school, but may even make local coverage, too, because of the big buzz surrounding SMH’s newest student.

As much as he’d have liked to continue that train of thought about how the interview could lead to more time spent with the intriguing new swim star, there were other pressing issues that needed discussing.

“I’ve not been able to get all the info on the Student Union elections from Mr. Higgins, but we’ll need to leave space for the…Yes, Alistair?” Matt was almost sure he could anticipate what the tediously perky arts reporter was going to say.

“So I was just wondering why you get the Sterling interview when Mike is our sports reporter…” All eyes were pinned on him and he sighed at the challenge in authority. “Is it ‘cause you’re hot for him?”

“No, Maddie.” Yes. “Give me some credit.” He eyed the group and made an instant decision. “Look, I’m only going over this once. I have executive powers to assign stories to whomever I feel can and will pull it off the best. Assigning the Sterling interview to myself takes nothing away from Mike or his excellent journalistic skills. It’s done, and we’re moving on.”

He squashed the voice down inside him that reminded him of how much he’d just channeled their previous editor-in-chief, who had been merely tolerated by all, at best.

* * * *

Brian

Goddamn.

If there were one subject Brian couldn’t wait to get started on it was his biology class. So he could be a bit of a nerd, who the hell cares? It might be fascinating juxtaposition in many cases, but he can be an academic and a damn fine athlete, too.

Biology’s hefty course load already weighed on him as he collected his books, slamming his locker with his shoulder. His ego was about as heavy as his book load by this point, with all the pats on the shoulder and backslapping in congratulations on being named QB. It wasn’t official yet, but nobody had any doubt he would get the top position on the team, least of all him. He tried looking humble as he got his fair share of looks from some of the hottest girls of their year, but failed and gave up on it, reveling in the popularity that came so naturally.

His shoulder suddenly moved forward as someone slammed into him. Some quick maneuvering had him balancing his books without making a scene of spilling them all over the floor. He apologized for the collision out of habit, even though he’d been standing stationary and pretty out of the way, which meant the offending force had to have leaned in to intentionally touch him. Through it all he never lost his composure, no one even noticing the sting a whispered word delivered to his gut.

“Faggot,” Oliver, a new kid and team member, said loud enough only for him to hear before shaking his head in a show of disgust and breaking through the crowd.

Even though he didn’t seem fazed, through careful projection, Brian’s right big toe still burrowed into the sole of his shoe. It was the genuine vitriol of the word that landed the heavy blow. He concentrated on his breathing, preventing it from becoming heavier with the anger building inside. It had always been a way of coping for Brian. When he was faced with having to deal with something, or react to something and couldn’t allow anyone to see the reaction in him, he’d curl his big toe painfully. Even if he didn’t have any shoes on, chances are no one would ever notice him doing it. It was an emotional release as much as a physical one. That way he could keep every other part of his body lax, not giving anything away.

Brian forced his toe to relax and uncurl. His bisexuality was no secret, and no issue either. Everyone knew about it, just like they knew about his brother. The strange thing wasn’t that he was bi, or his brother gay, but that no one cared. He was a damn fine athlete, and a fair academic, and his brother was a brilliant academic and popular in his own right. It’s not like he came on to every girl in school, or every guy. It was the other way round, usually. Brian stared at the athletic back of the retreating moron and filed it away for future reference.