Just Platonic

02

The next two weeks had gone by in a blur of school, practice, and work. The first game of the season was tonight and neither Jackie or Collynn could let anything get them down. While it wasn't the biggest game of the season, it was still a special one- it was their last first game of high school, neither knowing if they were going to do their sport in college.

It was currently the start of seventh hour and Collynn had his stuff laid all over the desk. For the past two weeks he's had the whole table to himself and decided it was about time he started to organize himself. He had papers everywhere, later he was going to have to ask Jackie to help him to come up with a better system then having one binder with all his folders inside of it.

"Hey...." someone said standing in front of Collynns table. Collynn paid no attention to them, thinking they were talking to a friend.

"Ummmm...." they shifted their bag that was slung over their shoulder.

"Hey, Collynn!" Jackie called out as she entered the class.

As she strode towards him he looked up, noticing the person standing in front of his desk shifting from foot to foot, eyes darting everywhere but at Collynn.

"Hey," Collynn greeted her when she was a foot away.

Jackie's eyebrows scrunched up in confusion, "What are you doing?"

"Trying to be organized," Collynn mumbled glancing back at the mystery person.

Following Collynn's eyes Jackie notices the person standing there uncomfortably. Extending her hand she greets them with a huge smile on her face, "hi, I'm Jackie."

Tentatively they take her hand, mumbling out a "nice to meet you."

"This oaf," she jesters towards Collynn, "is Collynn. What's your name?"

"I, I um, I'm Morgan." They seemed as if they wanted to say more but decided against it.

Collynn's eyes widened at hearing Morgan's name. He quickly started to clean up his mess, making the binder more unorganized than it was originally.

"I'm sorry bro," Collynn apologized.

Morgan wanted to speak up. To tell Collynn that they didn't go by those pronouns, that they were non-binary. That as harmless as the term 'bro' is, it offended them. But their voice was stuck in their throat. All they could do is nod their head. Being the new kid wasn't an easy feat-especially when you were non-binary and black in a country like America-where being one or the other would get you killed on it's own, but being both would only heighten the cruelty you would face on a daily basis.

"It's fine," Morgan said as they took the seat next to Collynn.

Jackie smiled at them before she turned back to Collynn. "I'll help you with that later," she nodded towards the binder with papers sticking out everywhere. "Same place and time as before?"

Collynn nodded his head at her referring to their spot and tradition they developed before a game.

"Yeah, unless something comes up otherwise."

Jackie nodded in understanding, knowing that sometimes watching Haily was a priority he had to make because his mom didn't get home till late and Erik was out of town or busy.

"Just let me know," Jackie had turned around and started walking to her desk before whipping around to meet Morgan's and Collynn's eyes. "Are you going? Tonight?" She turned her gaze to Collynn who was momentarily confused by what she had meant.

Realization crossed his face when he realized she was talking about the party. "I might. I'll see how I feel after the game and if anything comes up."

Jackie nodded her head and turned towards Morgan. "Are you free tonight? It's okay if not or if you don't want to but there is a party after the game. We might go, so if you want to hang out you can come. We might not even go to the party, we might go get ice cream or just hang out."

Morgan was momentarily in shock that someone would want to hang out with him, that they were taking their time to invite him.

"I- can I think about it?"

"Of course. If you decide to come find me or Collynn and let us know. Or you can go to the game tonight-it's a home game. You won't be able to miss finding me or Collynn at the game."

Morgan nodded their head as the teacher entered the room and class began.

~*~

Collynn was at the park with Haily, waiting for Jackie to join them. While it wasn't the normal ritual of going to the beach and just sitting there, it was the second thing they would do before a game. Especially one where he would have to ask Jackie if Haily could sit with the cheerleaders as he played.

Jieun-Hayoon, Collynn's mother, had to work late tonight. She was busting her ass lately while Erik was always out of town. His mother hated to leave Haily with him, but she had no one else she could contact last minute. Apparently someone had messed up the dates, but Collynn just thought that was bullshit and someone just wasn't even doing their job. Thus his mother was working ten times harder than she should, especially on a Friday night when she should be with her children.

"Hey peanut!" Jackie called out to Haily as she jogged over to them. "Sorry I left you waiting."

"It's no problem," Collynn shifted in his seat. He hated to ask this of Jackie but she was his only hope. "I have a favor to ask you," he rubbed the back of his neck as he gathered up the courage to ask her.

"Yes Collynn, she can hang out with us tonight. All I ask is that you buy me ice cream afterwards." Jackie bumped shoulders with him and smiled.

"Thanks," Collynn sighed.

"Hey," Jackie stared into his chestnut brown eyes and put her hand on his cheek. "Lynn, it's really okay. I don't mind, really. Haily is a wonderful little girl. If I had a problem with it I would tell you, trust me. I am not going to lie to you. Now, how about you just sit back and relax, we can all go over to the swings for a little bit before we have to be at the game."

Collynn couldn't think straight. He felt as if he was putting too much on Jackie. That he was just using her for his own benefit. Once she took her hand off his cheek he pulled her into a hug before she could walk towards the swings. She hugged him back just as fierce and they both felt tiny arms and hands wrap around their legs.

They shared a smile at the little girl hugging them. Collynn smiled down at her and picked her up. As he was about to tell her that she would be hanging out with Jackie tonight at the game an old couple came up to them.

"I just wanted to say that your family is so adorable," the old woman gushed. "It's not often we see a love like yours anymore."

Jackie was about to protest but Collynn spoke up before she could.

"Thank you," he flashed them his smile. "I am never letting either of these girls go, they are my world." He gave Jackie a kiss on her cheek before flashing the old couple another smile.

The old lady smiled. "This gives me hope that love isn't lost in today's world. Seeing a true love like you guys has warmed my heart."

"Thank you," Jackie said.

"Come on honey," the old man said. "Let's leave them alone. I think Mark and Sarah are waiting for us at the coffee shop." He smiled down at her with adoration in his eyes, something Jackie wishes to have one day.