Everybody wanted Ty back at school… well, everybody who cared, anyway. So that meant only Megan and Coach Long apparently. Ty tried not to think about the rest of his family's opinions—or lack thereof—on the matter. And he still had that damn homework assignment from Dr Goggins as well. What was that, anyway? Who heard of a physiotherapist giving you homework? Bloody thing was a demand more than a request, too. No matter how she tried to spin it.
He sighed. There didn't seem to be anything else for it. He had to go back to school.
Yet that brought up its own set of problems, mainly—how would he get there? Like usual, Coach Long was the answer. And that gave him a solution for his other problem which was basically the cousin of the first—how was he supposed to get to the library? He could try the school's one.
When Coach Long picked him up, Bella was there as well, waiting in the back seat. Coach Long got out to meet him in the yard, though started in surprise when he saw Ty without his crutches.
'Aren't you forgetting something, Tyrese?' he asked.
Ty shook his head. The walk to the car wasn't painful, just slow. It wasn't so much that he was limping, just moving at seventy percent capacity.
'Dr Goggins said it'd be fine if I went without my crutches. It's a test run.'
A lie, but one Ty could convince even himself it was the truth… in a way. She had said it was fine to walk around the home without his crutches. It's not like he'd be walking a lot at home, and it was just short trips to the fridge, bathroom, dining table, and back to his bedroom… but what was school if not sitting at your desk all day, followed by "short" walks to your next classroom, the bathroom, or the cafeteria?
'If it's a test run, shouldn't you bring them along just in case?'
Ty grit his teeth, but shook his head again. 'Trust me, Coach, my leg's feeling good. Even Dr Goggins would tell you how well my recovery's going.'
Coach Long sat with this thought for several seconds. 'Your last two sessions have been good,' he mumbled. He took a deep breath. 'Alright, Tyrese, but if you feel like you're not up for it, just go to the nurse's office and call for me. I'll bring you your crutches.'
Her father may have been convinced, but Bella still stared at Ty with concern as he settled into the back seat opposite her. He looked at her, and forced himself to smile in face of her worrying. She was another who cared about him at least. The short list grew… less short.
When they arrived at school, Bella walked with him through the halls, escorting him to his class. She was always there to offer a shoulder if he needed it, but he didn't, and carried himself to his first classroom on the power of his own two feet.
Thankfully, he got less looks than he expected. Leaving the crutches behind had worked then. Though he still had to ignore the looks he did get; the whispers were harder.
'Isn't that Tyrese?'
'The guy who broke his leg?'
'I thought it snapped off.'
'I thought he'd never walk again.'
'No, he's never going to play football again is what they said.'
He ground his teeth and sped up his gait slightly. Bella's scowl deepened, but sweeping it across the halls did nothing to stop those looks and whispers.
Once Ty finally reached his destination, there was discomfort in his leg, but no pain, YET. And there Bella had to part ways with him.
'As soon as my class is out I'll meet up with you and walk you to your next one,' she said as they stood at the door.
He smiled at her again, nodding his head. She'd probably catch him in the halls, but they didn't need to argue over whether he'd wait for her or not—he wouldn't. No way was he going to sit in this room any longer than necessary, and he definitely wasn't going to wait around for her to walk him through the halls like some puppy.
There were a few more whispers, and a lot more looks from his classmates as he took his seat, though he'd arrived just in time even with his slow pace. Zayden silently watched him shuffle to his seat.
Thankfully, once Ty sat down, all his problems faded, and once class began, everyone had to shift their focus to the teacher, even if some did so more slowly than others. Then his only problems were those he usually had during school, which was getting through all the boring lessons. Unfortunately, there was no practice to look forward to at the end of the day, so it was going to be a LONG day.
The first class eventually ended, and Ty pushed himself up off his desk. His leg had almost fallen asleep, but once he was moving again, the blood started flowing properly. He shuffled his way out, last of everyone, and started on his way to the next class. Though it wasn't long before he ran into his first real challenge—stairs.
His next class was a floor up, and while Dr Goggins had told him it was okay to do a few step ups here and there throughout the day, he hadn't really had the chance to try them at home; he was staring at two flights of them.
Ty steadied himself with a breath, and gripped the handrail. He pulled himself up as much as he did thrust up on his leg. The first step was conquered, and the second was easy with his good leg.
He made it to the first landing, halfway through his plight, and paused for breath. He could feel perspiration building on his skin, no visible drops, but he was definitely clammy and moist. The pain had come in, but he grit his teeth, and started up the second half; just another dozen steps and he'd be done.
He only got up a few more before he stumbled and thudded down. He landed on his right side, left arm still clinging to the rail, but the dull stabs of pain through his right hip, thigh, and ribs, was overshadowed by the pillar of fire exploding out from his left knee.
He bit back any grunts, groans, or shouts. The only noise escaping him was heavy panting through his nose and the chugging, chainsaw grinding of his teeth… even the other footsteps and chatter had stopped.
Everyone had stopped and were staring at him, there weren't even whispers anymore, which was somehow worse. No-one moved to help him.
Ty tried to pull himself up but his leg was still burning jelly and slipped out from under him, causing him to flop back down before he could even get his feet under him.
Everyone was still staring, and while pain continued to burn through his leg, an even hotter fire of shame poured into Ty like molten lava, and overpowered all else.
There was a sea of people surrounding him. How had so many people lagged so much between their classes? Distantly a bell tolled, though no-one reacted; no-one tore their eyes from him.
Amongst all those strangers—some sneering, some concerned, some annoyed, and some impassive—Ty saw shadowy visages of his teammates. None of these wore concern, just disgust, as if they couldn't believe they'd ever respected or glorified him. How could they have called such a pathetic worm "brother."
Finally, somebody moved, stepping forward to offer Ty a hand. Ty didn't see who the hand belonged to, but he slapped it away and forced his way back to his feet on his own. Then, instead of pushing up and rushing to his next class as quick as his broken body could manage, he turned away, and fled back down the stairs, hopping madly down them and through the halls, making for the exit.
No-one stopped him, and if they called out to him, he was deaf to their cries. He burst out into the sunlight, almost stumbling over again. He steadied himself, panting hard. The floodgates had broken, and sweat dripped down him freely. He was outside. Free… yet that freedom was an illusion. His injured leg was a shackle holding him in place.
Where could he go? He had no bike, even then he couldn't have ridden it, and he had no crutches—again, even if he had them he wouldn't have gotten far on them. He slumped down against the brick wall beside the doors, defeated. How could he have thought he was getting better?
'Gracias a Dios. He's out here.'
Ty looked up, and there JJ stood.
'Hey, Ty, you good?' JJ said, dropping into a crouch
Bella rushed out of the doors, and looked around wildly. When her eyes settled on him, she was so relieved you'd have thought he'd come back from the dead.
'Ty, you okay?' JJ repeated. 'Talk to me, hermano, I'm right here.'
Ty laughed. What else could he do? Once he'd settled down and caught his breath—and by the end of his fit his laughs had sounded more like sobs—he said: 'Look at me. How could I be okay?'
JJ sat beside him and draped an arm across Ty's shoulders. 'You're okay because I've seen how strong and resilient you are, Tyrese, and because you're a Don, and Dons always have each other's backs. Just because football's over doesn't mean we stopped being hermanos.'
'But you WON'T always be here.'
JJ frowned, but squeezed Ty further. Bella hovered over them, restless on her feet and chewing on her lip as the silence stretched around them.
'No. But Donte will, and so will Zayden, and Max, and the coaches, and Bella, and plenty of your other hermanos. And then there's gonna be plenty of new hemanitos as well. Even then, I, and all the other seniors will still be with you. Right here.' He tapped his fist against Ty's sternum.
'That's not the same,' Ty said.
'Why? Why isn't it the same?'
Because you're special, Ty thought. Even now JJ was trying to put all the broken pieces of Ty back together again, just like how he'd been repairing the Dons throughout the four years he spent with them. None of the others were like that, try as Donte might, he just wasn't the same. He wasn't special like JJ.
'Maybe you're gonna be the leader now instead of me,' JJ said, as if he could hear Ty's thoughts. 'But that isn't a change. You've been a big leader all last year, too. Maybe not so much with your words, but your actions, Ty. You're the one everyone was chasing. You were the reason we all got so strong. YOU were the one who brought us to the promised land. I couldn't do that. Three years I tried, Stephen, Deshaun, Chris, Jay, all these guys. Even on JV we didn't win a championship. But you come in, and we almost win NATIONALS.'
JJ was right. Of course he was. He stood again, offering Ty a hand. Ty took it. That act was an admission—he was all the Dons had. It was going to be all down to him, and if the Dons were going to not just get back to the National Championship but win it, he had to be stronger.
'Let's go get your crutches,' JJ said.
'I can call my dad,' Bella offered.
Ty shook his head. 'We can do it. Coach has done enough.' He had to be stronger.
Smiling, and listening to upbeat pop songs, JJ drove Ty back home to his empty house, and helped him inside. Ty almost didn't want to leave, but JJ was there, encouraging him, and waiting on him. Even without that, he couldn't let the Dons down like that, not again; not so soon. He had to be stronger.
But that strength didn't have to come solely from within. JJ's motivation was a good example, but even the looks from the other kids at school could be Ty's fuel. He shouldn't ignore them, but remember them; remember the pain and shame they brought. It could all be fuel for the fire to be born out of the ashes of the old.
Once the boys had made it back to class, the rest of the day passed without incident. Ty was warned for being late, though got off with the excuse of a "medical emergency" coupled with a vague gesture to his crutches. Immediately the teacher was uncomfortable enough to switch subjects.
The day was such a breeze after his heart-to-heart with JJ, Ty almost forgot about Dr Goggins's homework assignment.
When the final bell let out school, he got halfway to the exit before swerving through the halls, and rerouting towards the library.
It wasn't a place he'd ever had to visit before, and upon entering, he realised he hadn't been missing much.
Sure, it didn't look like a terrible place to study. Maybe a little distracting with all the artwork—made by students, of course—and posters around, which were mostly supporting the various sports teams and clubs, though also advertising some school events Ty had never heard of before like the talent show and a spring prom.
There were rows of bookshelves, and some of computers and their monitors. There were study nooks as well as great round tables, and even just some areas to sit down and hang out with some beanbags and comfy chairs.
But most of it was empty. Some people were studying, but not many. Others were just sitting down and chatting, though Ty also saw a couple of people slumped over in the study nooks, and even a pair of seniors pass something between each other? He quickly moved on from that.
However, he was wandering aimlessly, and he must've looked extra clueless and helpless, because one of the… workers? approached him and asked: 'Do you need any help?'
She was a couple of inches taller than him, though that was only possible thanks to her bulky, platform boots, and while she looked youthful—maybe a college freshman? Could she be a senior as well? Would a senior even be allowed to work at the library?—she carried herself in such an easy, confident way. Her attire only added to her maturity.
Punk was the only word that came to mind. Long, messy hair with sharp green tips; as many piercings as Ty had ever seen on someone's face; clothes the colour of shadow and blood, with spikes of silver at her throat, wrists, and feet, and a heavy jacket with various pins. Some were very direct like "Fuck Nazis," while others were just a splash of colour. Ty had no idea what the watermelon meant, nor a flag of purple and orange gradients, but even he could recognise the Pride flag.
'If you're gonna stare at me like that, you may as well take a picture.'
Ty blinked, unaware how long he'd blanked out. 'Sorry, I was just…'
She grinned, revealing slightly jagged teeth, like a half-way mark between Ty and "normal." 'Don't worry about it. Happens all the time. 'Sides, I bet you get plenty of stares yourself.' She looked down at his crutches and lame leg.
His jaw tightened, but he nodded, and held himself with pride, letting her look at him while he was in this sorry state as much as she wanted. It was the last time he'd ever be so weak, so yeah, maybe someone should take a picture of it to keep the memory around.
'Hah, yeah, but you're a bit of a local hero around the school, ain't cha? You're the guy who punched that other dickhead in the face. At that fancy party thingy on New Year's. Oh! And you totally called out that corpo prick and his nepo-baby brat at some press thingy. Fuck me, that shit was hardcore. Did you end up beating that snotty nepo-baby and ruining his daddy's whole dumb tournament?'
Ty's expression soured. He glanced down at his crutches, then levelled his icy glare at the punk.
'Ahh, fuck. Dumb question, hey? My bad. Maybe next time you can fuck HIM up. He'll be the one on crutches after. Maybe his daddy's company'll go under after his nepo-baby bitch of a son gets punked out like that by somebody from this shitty school, eh?' She laughed, and Ty could see a fire blazing in her dazzling, pink eyes—it was the fire of a burning skyscraper.
'Fuck, but I'm rambling, aren't I? You came here for something, didn't cha? What was it?'
What did Ty come here for? He was so captivated by this strange woman he'd almost forgotten Dr Goggins's order again. But even then, he was unsure. He'd heard of Percy Jackson, Greek mythology had never really interested him that much… yet what else was there? Maybe the punk would have a suggestion, but wouldn't he look so fucking stupid coming into the library and wandering around like a jackass without even knowing what he wanted? He could think for himself he just needed to…
'…Do you know where I can find The Hobbit?' he asked. Yeah, that was a good one to come up with. One of those books everyone loved. And supposedly it wasn't that long. He could probably finish it within the week and tell Dr Goggins all about it, then she could see how stupid this whole thing was.
The punk smiled. 'Nice, nice. A classic. Right this way.' She happily led him along the rows of bookshelves, and trailed along the "T" section until she found Tolkien, and then The Hobbit.
Handing the thin-ish book to Ty, she asked: 'You got a library card?'
He groaned. A perfect plan, foiled at the last moment. 'No. I don't.'
'Hey, no stress. They're easy to set up, come on, I'll help.'
She took him round to the computer at the front desk and got behind it. All she needed was a little information, like his full name, address, and birthday, and even a phone number if he had one. All of which he was happy to give over. Then he had a card. It was a little plastic thing, with artwork of a diverse group of people sitting around a pile of books, reading together. On the other side was a barcode and his name.
She checked the book out for him, and handed it over with another reserved smile. 'Enjoy that.'
'I'll try.' Ty took it, returning the smile briefly. He didn't have his hopes up, however.
After his visit to the library, of course, Coach Long took him home. Jackson apologised for the delay, but after hearing his explanation, Coach Long was more than happy to make that sacrifice. Bella was also there, and though Coach Long had definitely noticed Ty had his crutches again, he made no mention of it, nor of Ty's fall earlier in the day, which no doubt had spread to his ears by then.
In a way, the drive back home was simple and quiet, and Ty was rather grateful the day was over. He was unsure what to make of it.
Then he was home, and after a quick thank you and goodbye, Coach Long was driving off again. Ty went inside. He had his book. He may as well get it out of the way, so he went to his room and settled down to read it, still not expecting much.
…By the day's end, he'd finished the whole thing.