Date: Mon, 08 Apr 2002 15:59:20 -0400
From: Rory M <st_rory@hotmail.com>
Subject: Bailey chapter 11

Bailey
Chapter 11
By Rory M.


"Rummy really isn't my game, but thanks."

	Bailey walked across the lodge into his small dorm room and laid on the
bed. He had shut the door to a crack, for it was a rule no doors were shut
with you in them so the counselors knew there was no funny business. His
mind was racing and he found himself tired and homesick.  He had about an
hour to kill before the entire camp was supposed to convene around a bomb
fire, something that didn't attract him in the least.  Singing "God Gave me
Chocolate Cake," around a fire with a bunch of conservative born again brats
wasn't his scene in the least.  He was used to the romantic darkness of the
Catholic Church.  He didn't want to talk about his beliefs or have someone
question them, he took and gave what he chose and never questioned.

This Protestant vibe and peer mediation made him uneasy.  No one should be
so nice one minute and so vicious the next, which he had seen from a few
campers already, including his roommate. One minute he would seem coy and
nice to Bailey, and as soon as an adult or an admiring female walked away he
was ignored or belittled by a glare.  He already had made a wrong impression
with those who gave him a chance, he thought.  He choked under the questions
they asked about him and Caleb, the new kid, probably thought he was weird
for staring at him instead of talking.  Bailey felt like an idiot, and he
had only been there a few hours.

	His mind drifted to Caleb, who had since returned with Trina, though he was
unaware.  Apparently he was from Lawrence (a town right down the street from
him, he noted at dinner), and played the guitar.  What Bailey was certain of
was that he was gorgeous. His hair was cropped but longer on the top, going
in an unkempt disarray of light brown hair.  His cheeks her dimpled in an
almost permanent smile, and his eyes were an almost yellow shade, though he
would say later they were hazel.  He was maybe 5'10, and somewhat lanky, but
not skinny.  Bailey tried his hardest not to stare at him when he entered
the dining hall, but instead could barely keep from drooling.

	He snapped out of his revelry when Drew came into the room, looking for
something in his bag, followed by three of his cronies. "What the fuck are
you doing sitting in here? You weird or something?" the three others
snickered.

"No...I'm just tired," Bailey's face went crimson and looked down at the
floor beside the bed.

"God, I got stuck with a pussy for the summer.  Fucking figures, every
year."

"Hey, bitch.  You roomed with me last year," one of the three said while
punching Drew playfully in the arm.

"Yeah, exactly."

	He found whatever he was looking for and the group left, not without
mocking Bailey more on the way out.  Bailey continued his stare at the
floor; sitting on his made bed, his back against the wall.  A single tear
welled up in his left eye and then spilled over as he thought about living
with that for the next 8 weeks. He didn't notice Jerry silently push the
door open and peak her head in.

"Bailey, you know during free time you don't have to stay here, you can walk
around the camp and go to the canteen if you want to," she said softly,
acting as if she didn't catch him in the act of wiping the tears from his
cheeks.

"No, I'm fine here.  Thanks."

"You sure you don't want to explore the camp a little? I'll go with you if
you want.  Come on, you look like you could use the fresh air."

"I...." He was trapped and he knew it.  He had no excuse to stay here and to
not go.  He sighed out his surrender and got up to join her, "Alright."

	About a dozen campers littered the lounge playing cards or talking.  Bailey
noticed Jared, Amy, and Trina across the area, with Caleb sitting in-between
them all strumming a Dave Mathews tune on the guitar. At that point Bailey
wished to join them, but at the same time was scared.  Jerry didn't give him
the choice.

"Hey, I'm going to check out the camp with Bailey, anyone want to come?" she
knew what she was doing, and she was good.  Bail shot her a painful look,
but was now resigned to her whims; it was too late to run screaming back
into his room.

"Sure, we'll go," Trina said, volunteering the small group, who didn't
question her. With that they all left through the double screen door of the
lodge into the sun setting over the camp.  Trina and Liz broke off with
Jared, even though they were all walking together, and Amy asked countless
questions about camp and whatever else of Jerry, leaving Bailey to walk on
the outskirts of the group, with Caleb close behind.

"So you're from P-town?"

"Yeah, not that far from the Chapin school."

"Cool, that's about 3 miles away from me.  I know a girl who goes to
Princeton high, her names Andrea Blent, you know her?"

"No, I don't go to Princeton high.  I go to Notre Dame."

"I'm sorry, man.  You know Eric Strass? He's good people."

"Yeah, kind of.  He was in my physics class.  He was nice to me, don't know
him all that well, though."

"Well, he's not the smartest guy, so I don't see him talking that much in
that class," Bailey smiled, "SO, who are you rooming with?"

"Drew Smith."

"That bastard? That really sucks man, sorry."

"You're just bitter because he put you through a living hell last summer,
don't give Bailey any wrong impressions of the boy," Liz said sarcastically.

"He's.... a.... prick," Caleb said almost too loud.

"That's enough. I can't have you guys talking about other campers," Jerry
scolded, "at least while I'm around."

Bailey moved to change the subject. "Who are you stuck with?" he said, again
anything to make eye contact with Caleb.

"I...am the lucky one with the single.  After some stuff last year I pretty
much had it guaranteed to me."

"And he only had the shit kicked out of him to get it," Jared said, punching
him playfully in the shoulder.

"Yeah, well that's what I get for having a shitty body guard like you."

"In honor of out new campers, Amy and Bailey, I suggest we not scare them
the first day, thank you," Jerry's patients were waning.

	After some more idle discussion and walking around the camp Bailey began to
feel at ease with the group.  Even cracking a joke about his little brother
having to sleep in the disgusting junior cabins...when he thought it was
going to be plush.  When it got dark they made there way to greenly meadows,
where the bomb-fire would be.  There was a large pit surrounded by rows of
logs to sit on and then after that green was matted where people had
obviously sat.  The scene reminded Bailey of some Pagan alter.

	The group of six settled near the back, away from the fire and the
exuberance of the younger kids who sat nearest.  The group seemed to accept
him and Amy, and more importantly tried to coax him out of his shell, which
wasn't easy.  Bailey himself had questions he wanted to ask, especially of
Caleb and what they had said happened the summer before, but he didn't want
to be rude.  He sat Indian style with them in a semicircle, pondering
quietly to himself.

"How do you get your hair to do that?" all of a sudden there was a hand in
Bailey's hair and Liz was attacking his head.

"Huh? Do what?"

"Be curly like that.  I got it permed and it frizzed up like an afro," there
was snickering from the others, but Liz continued to run her hands through
Bailey's hair, making him feel slightly uncomfortable.

"I...use gel," he pulled his head away from her grip," eliciting another
snicker.

"Hey Liz, stop flirting with the poor guy, give him a few days at least to
get used to you," Trina poked.

"Yeah really, your as blunt as a French prostitute," Caleb's comment for
some reason made Bailey blush.

"Fuck you, Cal.  You're just bitter because you can't flirt."

"No...I think you're the one who's bitter because you can't flirt with me."

"oooohhh," Jared and Trina hissed playfully at Liz.  Bailey sat back, more
confused than ever. Caleb looked at him in thought, and then to Trina, whose
expression suddenly went serious when she caught his gaze.

"You better tell him before his roommate does," Caleb's expression went from
thoughtful to hateful in a split second.

"Tell me what?"

"Bailey, I made this known last summer because I was sick of taking shit
from people and having rumors spread. So, to lay my cards out on the table,
I'm gay.  If that bothers you, I'm sorry, man.  Have a nice summer," Bailey
stared blankly at him for a good 15 seconds.  Millions of thoughts came to
him at once.  Ones of lust, joy, jealousy of his honesty, questions he
wanted to ask, and fear of being found out even more.  He realized he had
zoned out and came back to the staring eyes of the group.

"No...no man it's cool," the group seemed to smile a little and Caleb gave
Bailey a look that made him feel week.  He smiled and shook his head in what
was he guessed a thanks.  His dimples came out and his eyes beaming.  Bailey
caught himself staring again, and feared he was headed into something bad.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"11 o'clock is lights out.  I suggest if you want to take a shower do so
now, or set your alarm clock for the morning, but we have to be at the
dining hall at 7:30." Faces dipped back down from paying attention to the
counselor.

"That's not how you play, put that card back," Liz smacked at Jared's hand
as he dropped his card in the rummy pile.  Bailey laughed as he watched them
so blatantly flirting. He put down his hand of cards, which were crappy and
said his good night to the group, he was genuinely tired and his meds were
adding to his drowsiness.

"Night man."

"See you Bail."

"Have a great night sleeping with Drew," Caleb had a sincere look of pity on
his face. Bailey stuck his tongue out at him.

	Inside the small dorm room, Bailey turned on the overhead light and got
dressed for bed.  He was relieved that Drew was in the shower, so he doubted
he'd be back for at least 10 minutes.  That was partly the reason he left
the group, for as soon as he saw Drew duck into the showers he made his
break for privacy.

	Pajama pants and a t-shirt later, Bailey crawled into bed and pulled his
CD-player from a drawer, trying to drown out the sound of the slightly loud
teenagers on the other side of the door.  He turned to set his alarm clock
when Drew came into the room, toweling off his hair and carrying a bathroom
kit.  He only wore boxers and a t-shirt, showing off his thick muscled legs
as well as arms.  Bailey couldn't help but tense when looking at him.

"What are you staring at?"

"Nothing," Bailey said as emotionless as he could muster.

"Yeah, whatever.  You fag tagging around with Caleb isn't cool man.  I don't
know if you realize that, but you better get away from him before he corners
you in the showers.  Unless of course you like that stuff," Bailey blushed.

"Fuck you."

"So you do like getting butt fucked?"

"No, but he's a nice guy, unlike my prick of a room mate," Drew sprang at
Bailey and clenched the neck of Bailey's t-shirt, giving it a violent tug.

"Don't fuck with me little boy, or you'll fucking regret it.  You're punkass
can't walk in here and talked to me that way, you or your fag friends," he
released Bailey, who was visibly shaking. Drew turned away disgusted and hit
the light on the wall before crawling into bed.  Bailey curled up onto his
side and tried to calm himself.  He wouldn't sleep well that night.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"You look like hell, Bail," jared said around a mouth full of cornflakes and
banana.

"I didn't sleep well last night."

"That sucks, Drew snore? Does he call for his mommy in his sleep?" Trina
poked at her oatmeal. Bailey smirked.

"Why the fuck do we have baseball today, I fucking hate baseball."

"Well aren't you bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning, Cal.  Tell me,
how is sleeping in a single going for you?"

"Oh, how I love it," he took a swig of coffee and winced, "The food gets
worse every year."

"No it doesn't, the vats of it just get older," Jared paused in his gulping
down his orange juice, but then realized it was a joke and continued to chug
it.

"There's nothing wrong with baseball, you guys just suck at it, that's why
you hate it."

"Shut the hell up, Jared, and eat your coffee cake," the guy had two plates
of food and a bowl of cereal in front of him, and he finished it all before
any of them. Bailey felt ill just watching him eat.

"Bailey, you ready?" Mark, one of the counselors for the seniors group, came
up to retrieve him to get his meds.

"Yeah, I'm more than done."

"We'll see you on the diamond, Bailey," Jared said smiling, catching a glare
from Caleb.

	Mark and Bailey left the dining hall and walked up the side of greenly
meadow to the nurse's lodge.  Conversation was light, but pleasant enough.
Mark was a nice guy, even though he didn't try to get to know Bailey as much
as Jerry did. The nurse's station was a cabin with a glass door in front,
allowing anyone who walked by to look inside.  When you walked in there were
cabinets and a sink to your right and a desk where Nurse Jenkins sat to the
left. Behind the main office there was a room with 4 bunk beds and a small
black and white TV that was the camps idea of an infirmary.  It was sterile
and comfortable, but not private.

Nurse Jenkins smiled at Bailey and handed him his three pill bottles when he
walked in.  She was a nice woman; slightly graying with middle age, and
apparently had worked for the camp for 15 years.  How she could stand it
Bailey didn't understand, but he liked her. The office was air conditioned
and clean and Bailey almost wished he were the kitten that sat in the
corner.  But alas, Mark dragged him up past greenly over to where the soccer
fiend and baseball diamond were, for their early morning recreation.

"God I hate baseball."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Bailey, you're on the blue team," Jerry was a morning person...great.

"Great, we've got the pussy on our team. Look at those arms, I bet he can't
throw for shit."

"Drew, that's enough. Anymore and you'll sent to the director," he sucked
his teeth and went back to snickering with his friends.

"Alright guys, those are the teams.  The blue team is in the outfield, let's
go."

	The only people Bailey knew on his team were his roommate and Liz; the
others were fortunate enough to be together.  Bailey knew enough about
baseball to put on his ball and go sit in right field.  Liz joined him, as
well as another girl who wanted nothing to do with playing, and they waited
for the game to go by in the growing heat.

	Two innings went by with Bailey striking out once and never getting a ball
hit to him.  By the third inning though Drew and one of his jockie friends
were getting agitated that people weren't playing.  Someone finally hit a
ball in Bailey's direction but he half heartedly retrieved it and through it
to someone closer to the basemen, but it was too late and a run was scored.
While coming in from the field after the third strike, he would get a lesson
in moving faster.

"What the fuck was that, McCorristin.  When I tell you to get the ball, get
it," Drew was pissed off, and Bailey didn't get it.

"What does it matter, the game doesn't mean anything."

"Yeah, but bitches like you make it suck."

"Whatever, man," Bailey kept walking towards the sideline.

"Don't whatever me, fag!" Drew grabbed Bailey by the elbows and pushed him
with enough force to send him sprawling backwards through the dirt.  Bailey
didn't realize it happened until he was staring up into the sky and his
elbows hurt like hell.

"THAT'S ENOUGH!! DREW, COME WITH ME, NOW," Mark grabbed Drew on his massive
shoulder and started to march him in the direction of Fledge Lodge, where
the Director would deal with him. Jerry jogged over to where Bailey was
prone in the dirt between third and the pitchers mound, shaken and stunned,
but for the most part ok.  The shove wasn't that serious to Drew, but
considering he had a foot and at least 60 pounds on Bailey, he hit the
ground, hard.

"You alright, Bailey? Let me see you."

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little scraped up," his voice was shaky, and the
other campers were beginning to crowd around him and Jerry.

"Oohh, kiddo your elbows are banged up pretty bad, you need to head to the
nurses lodge, I'll send someone with you," Normally there would be a third
counselor, Scott, but he was across the camp sleeping off his night shift
until 11, when he had to join the group again. Bailey looked down at his
elbows, which were caked with dirt and starting to bleed.

"I'll take him," Trina piped in, who was pissed off at Drew and concerned
for Bailey.  Plus she wanted to get out of the sun.

"Is that alright, Bail?" Jerry looked back at him for his approval.

"Yeah, sure," he just wanted to get away from everyone staring at him.

	Bailey sprang up off the ground and attempted to brush the dirt off of
himself, which was difficult with the pain in his elbows. The two walked in
an awkward silence towards the Nurse's station, where Bailey had just come
from about an hour before.

"He's such an asshole, I hope they kick him out this time."

"This time?"

"Last summer he punched Caleb for the same reason: nothing.  He came back
with this lame excuse of sexual harassment, and they let him get away with
it.  I'm surprised Cal came back this year, but then again all of the pricks
who picked on him last year are gone except for Drew and his little lackeys.
But don't worry about him, he's the biggest asshole around here, they're
bound to throw him out this time.  Or if not at least tell them you don't
want to room with him anymore."

	He considered her last statement closely with fear and opportunity. Maybe
now he'd get his own room like Cal did. On the other hand he was afraid of
Drew.  The guy had already threatened him and attacked him within a day, and
he didn't even reveal to him that he was gay, also.  Not that he ever would.

	They reached the small cabin within about 5 minutes, and Trina held the
door open for him, because just to bend his arms was getting more and more
painful.  There was blood dripping down both his arms. Not that much, but
the elbows were dirty and the scrapes weren't clear, so the extent of the
damage could only be seen as gruesome.

"What happened?" nurse Jenkins calmly asked as she pointed him in the
direction of the large sink.  Trina explained what had transpired on the
baseball field moments before as the nurse delicately washed out each elbow.
  He winced and bit down on his lower lip as hard as he could when she
started to dab them with disinfectant.

	The right elbow must have been what he landed on, because the skin was
practically gone, and would completely scab over, where as the left only had
jagged scrapes.  The nurse let him lie down on his stomach and prop his arms
up on the pillow by his head while she let the ointment air on his arms.
Trina sat on the bed next to him, trying to make light of the situation.

"Lucky bastard, you get out of everything for a week."

"Yeah, that's cool...except for the fact that I can't bend my arms!!"

"Drama doesn't become you, Bailey," he laughed at her, he had to. Just then
two people came into the front of the building and said their hellos to the
nurse.  Trina recognized them immediately as Jerry and Cal...must have
stopped by for a visit.  Sure enough Caleb popped his head in the back door
way to see bailey with his arms stretched out above his head and two bloody
elbows exposed.

"How yah doin', man?" he asked sincerely, looking away from Bailey's arms to
his face.  Bailey was embarrassed. This was like someone walking in on you
in the bathroom.  You're caught in an awkward position and you can't run to
save face.  You have to sit there, exposed, and hope they don't say anything
about it ever again.

"I've been better, but I'll live.  Bring on more camp life, this is fun,"
his voice was bitter.

"Bailey, I'm sorry that had to happen.  If you want we can get you a new if
you don't feel safe," Jerry said, she looked guilt ridden.

"What do you mean? He's not getting thrown out?" Trina was pissed.

"No, he's on kitchen duty for a week and suspended from leaving the lodge
during free times, but no, he's not being made to leave."

"That's bullshit!!" Caleb had now joined in on Trina's anger parade.

"I don't care. I just don't want to be in the same room with him anymore."

"That's more than understandable kiddo. In fact the director was planning on
it anyway.  The only problem is," she turned to Caleb with an uncomfortable
look, "He's going to take the single."

"Wait a minute.  So he flat out assaults another person and gets rewarded
with a single?"

"Caleb, it's not a reward.  They don't think he should get to room with one
of his friends, so rooming alone is a form of punishment, plus it protects
Bailey, and you."

"That's bullshit if I ever heard it."

"Trina, the language.  Caleb, I know it sucks but nothing can be done. It's
not a punishment for you," Bailey felt like shit.  He couldn't look Cal in
the eye because it was basically his fault that he was losing his single.
Now Bail feared he would hate him for it.

"I'm sorry, Caleb, I didn't think they would do that to you."

"No man, it's cool.  I wouldn't wish living with that beast on anyone," he
was flustered, but not with Bailey.  He actually was kind of looking forward
to it.

"Alright, that settled I think we should leave Bail alone to rest his arms,
he'll be joining up with us after lunch.  Right now I want you," she pointed
at Trina, "To go join the group at the lake.  And Cal, you can skip swimming
lessons today to pack up your stuff to move down a few doors, ok?"

	Caleb perked at the idea of missing swimming, so his bitterness over losing
his coveted room was forgotten.  Trina leaned in and gave Bailey a kiss on
the cheek goodbye before leaving the cabin, making Bailey blush deep
crimson.  Cal on the other hand just gave him a pat on the shoulder and
split from the lodge as well (although a second kiss from him wouldn't have
been so bad in his mind). Jerry followed suit, promising to come back after
lunch to get him, not that he wanted to go back.

	He lay in the air-conditioned infirmary and stared off into space for a
moment...suddenly realizing that tonight he'd be sleeping across from Cal,
which brightened his mood...substantially.