Date: Fri, 12 May 2000 19:08:05 -0500
From: Willy B <haztech@email.msn.com>
Subject: Mile High pt4

Mile High
Part 4

	Kelvin looked out the window of Chris's car (The Beast, he called
it) at the approaching school buildings as they pulled into the rapidly
filling parking lot. God, he wasn't ready for this, he thought; even the
station attendant had looked at him differently when they had stopped for
gas. He felt sick, his stomach felt like it was trying to somersault out of
his mouth. If he were up in the air he could be fearless, but here? He was
scared. This was going to be hard. He forced himself to look at the
building where he'd been in so much physical pain, thankful at least for
the teachers who'd pulled those guys off of him. Now that they knew about
him, would they be there again if he needed it? He doubted it. How was
everyone going to treat him? He knew he couldn't back down when cornered
and couldn't run with his injuries.
	He was alone even with Chris. Chris would have plenty of his own
problems if what they felt for each other became known. He really wished
that Chris hadn't insisted on driving them to school this morning. He
didn't want Chris to end up like he had; hell, Chris had enough problems
with his own dad. Chris told him they hadn't even spoken to each other
since `the fight' as he called it.
 	And on top of everything else, that damn flak vest the doctor had
insisted he wear to protect his ribs was uncomfortable as hell. He wanted
out of the thing, out of the whole situation. The hand that fell on his
shoulder caused him to jump!
	"Jeeze, don't do that! I almost pissed my pants!" Kel started.
	"Sorry! I didn't mean to." Chris stared back with a hurt look.
	"It's OK." Kel tried to soften his reaction. "I was just trying not
to think about what's going to happen today. I don't know if I'm ready for
this."
	"Do you want me to take you home?" said Chris as he pulled into a
space.
	"No. It'd still be there tomorrow too," Kel sighed. "If I don't
face it today, I'll just have to tomorrow."

	Kel walked quickly through the main hall with Chris beside him. It
hadn't gone too badly so far. Sure, the conversations had noticeably
quieted when the two had entered through the cafeteria and no one had
really talked to them, but at least he wasn't jumped again. He just wished
Chris would distance himself, but no, he was still there, walking with
him. He had to know what he was risking, didn't he? He was there after all.
	When he and Chris entered the gym he took a deep breath. "Coach
Martini?"
	The coach broke away from where he'd been with his
assistants. "Mr. Stuart! Glad to see you back!" he said. "We've missed your
help. And you are?" He reached his hand out toward Chris.
	"Uh, Chris, I mean, Christopher Bauchamp." He returned the
handshake.
	"Glad to meet you. So, Kelvin, how long are you going to be out of
action? You know I still want you running for me," Coach Martini continued.
	"Um, well, I just wanted to say thank you, you know, for the other
day." Kelvin looked down at the floor. Old `one track' was back. At least
that hadn't changed.
	"No problem, Kelvin. The staff has got to stick together. Besides,
like I said, I still want you on the track," Martini finished.
	"Well, I don't think the rest of the team would want me, especially
after what happened, but I'll think about it." Kel couldn't believe what he
just said! He'd always said 'no' before. Now he said he'd think about it?
He needed another target for the coach. It was a dirty thing to do, but,
"Anyway, I think you should talk to Chris about the track team."
	"Mr. Stuart, you let me worry about that! So, Chris? Are you a
track star or is basketball your game?" asked Coach Martini, smiling like a
wolf looking at a new lamb, as he looked up at him.
	"Uh," Chris was completely off guard, "Uh, track, sir. I can't hit
the broadside of a barn in basketball."
	"OK, I'll see you after classes today. We'll see what you can do,"
The coach ordered.
	"Uh, coach? I don't have my gear with me?" Chris was still trying
to figure out what had happened. He looked at Kel. Why did he have such a
wicked gleam in his eyes?
	"That's OK, I think we can get what you need. I'll see you this
afternoon," Coach Martini finished and looked at Kelvin. "And I haven't
forgotten about you, either. I expect you to keep me updated and when
you're ready, well, we'll see." The first bell rang!

	Chris turned to Kelvin as they left for their first class. "What
was all that about?"
	"What was all what?" Kel still had that look. "Oh, that. I think
you just joined the track team!"
	"I know that! But, When, how? Oh, fuck it!" Chris walked on with
his boyfriend. He was still trying to figure out how Kel did it. They were
away from the others. He thought they were safe and had stopped paying
attention and then POW! He thought back to the fun they'd had as kids. He
was always the instigator of the trouble they found themselves in, wasn't
he? Whatever, he thought, it might take a while until Kel was completely
healthy, but two could play at that game. Chris just grinned evilly at Kel
as they proceeded to class. Revenge would be fun; besides, it could also
make the showers much more interesting. Slowly he let the real world take
over as they entered their first class. "Whatever!" He doubted Kel knew he
just made himself late getting home. If he didn't take the `loser limo'
(school bus), he'd just have to wait.

	Kel walked quietly to the cafeteria when the lunch bell rang, aware
of everything going on around him. He was expecting people to avoid him,
but it still hurt when the people like Joel who had always been friends
before were avoiding him too. Even Julie and her bunch left him alone, that
much he was thankful for. He chalked it up to the fact that her current
boyfriend was suspended and facing felony charges. He was thankful that at
least he had gotten some things accomplished. He'd found his locker a mess
but complete. Someone had put everything back in it and locked it for
him. He made a special note to make sure he took his backpack home
today. His running clothes had taken on an unpleasant life of their own
since he'd been away. He knew he could never feel safe here again but the
teachers appeared to be more attentive. Like their nice quiet world had
been torn apart as well. As he looked around at everybody, he regretted how
everything seemed to have changed.
	Chris finished with his insulin, thankful he had told Kel this time
that he would be late to lunch. He too had felt the tension in the school
ever since they had arrived. Felt the eyes of the others burning into his
back since he'd volunteered information to the cops. Chris was angry. He
and Kel didn't deserve this. There was sure to be more trouble and he
didn't know how long he could stay on his guard. He'd been caught up in
situations too often already and couldn't let it happen again. 'Most of the
kids around him couldn't really care one way or the other about what Kel's
label was, could they?' he thought. He had to shake something loose here,
had to apply some pressure the other way.
	"Hey, Joel? How's it going?" Chris cornered Joel and his buddies in
the hall, thankful again for his size. "Why the change?"
	"What change?" one of the others said cautiously. They were all on
guard now.
	"I mean how you're treating Kelvin," Chris continued. "He hasn't
changed, you know. He's the same he's always been. It's y'all who've
changed. I noticed your hand up as well as mine, Joel. That he was your
friend as well as mine. He still is, you know. If you want him to be, that
is," Chris finished, remembered to breathe again and left them to think
about what he'd said. He didn't know if it did any good but he had to say
something.

	Kel and Chris sat quietly alone at a corner table in the back of
the cafeteria. Thankfully the table was open so they both sat with a wall
at their backs. Kel couldn't run anyway, so he figured it best to be able
to see everything that might come their way.
	"I wish you'd sit somewhere else," Kel whispered.
	"What?" Chris sat with a worried look. "Why?" Had something
happened during class to change how Kel felt about him?
	"I'm just worried," Kel softly continued. "Everybody's looking at
us, at you, I mean. I just think you may want to put some distance between
us before the others...you know...."
	Chris glanced around the room. "Kel, we've been friends for longer
than I'll ever know anybody here. Besides, I think it's a little late for
that, anyway. I'm pretty sure that everyone knows what side I'm on." Chris
looked back at Kel, a mischievous smirk spreading, "And here I was going to
invite you to the next school dance."
	"Oh, and what were your plans for after the riot?" said Kel, trying
to imagine what would happen if that circumstance ever occurred. "And who
would lead during the slow parts?"
	"I guess we'd just have to flip a coin; you know, heads I win,
tails you lose," Chris finished, enjoying his own joke.
	Kel looked up, distracted by the sight of Joel and Sharon walking
toward them. He sighed and looked back at Chris. Joel and Sharon had
obviously been outside `sucking face' like they did every day. Kel's
emotions battled with each other. Both Joel and Sharon were as plain as
could be. Neither was part of the `in crowd', but they had found each other
anyway and made it clear to their world they were taken. 'Why couldn't they
do that? What would be so wrong with them being able to be so open about
their feelings as well? Why did the others have to make him their business
at all', he thought, feeling the tight vest protecting his injuries. He and
Chris weren't a threat to anyone. Why did those guys go out of their way to
jump him like they did? And how would he feel if Chris got jumped too, if
Chris paid for what the others thought of him?
	"Well, if you don't kiss him, I will!" Sharon said as she stared
down at Kelvin sitting at the table where she had dragged Joel. "Can we sit
here?"
	Kel, blushing hard, motioned for the two to go ahead. He hadn't
meant to be that obvious. He quickly glanced back at a redfaced Chris and
then around the room. At least no one was staring! "Wha... What brings you
over here?"
	"I heard the guys talking about what, Chris, is it?, said and I
want you to know that I agreed with it," Sharon stated matter-of-
factly. "Besides, I told Joel..." and she looked at him, batting her
eyebrows, "... that he wouldn't be getting any more out of me if he didn't
stop acting like a jerk and make things right."
	"Uh, yeah, I just wanted to say..." Joel swallowed hard and looked
around, "...I am sorry about how I've been acting, about not visiting when
you were in the hospital. I still think you're OK."
	"Don't worry, Joel. It's nothing. I'm real glad you came over and
talked to me." Kel glanced from Joel to Chris and back. What had Chris
said?
	"So..." Joel continued, "...is what the paper said true? Are you
gay?" He winced from the elbow Sharon threw into him.
	"Yes, Joel, I am. I guess I always was. Sorry if that changes
everything." Kel looked to gauge Joel's reaction.
	"OK, I'm glad you told me. It'll take some getting used to but I
think I can be OK with it. That's all I can promise...." Joel continued,
looking at the table; "...and you, Chris, do...." "OOWW Sharon, stop it!"
	Chris opened his mouth to try to answer the question Joel hadn't
gotten out yet.
	"Chris is just a good friend!" Kel jumped in rapidly. "We've been
friends during the summers for years before he finally moved here, that's
all!"
	Chris looked at Kel, anger flashing through his features. His anger
was fleeting as he realized what Kel was doing. Who was protecting who now?
Chris settled for a half truth, "Yeah, we were best friends when I spent my
summers here."
	"Good, now that's settled..." Sharon looked at her watch, "...You
two should really take drama next semester with Joel and me. It'll make you
two better actors. We will see you two tomorrow." They didn't share any
other classes during the afternoon.
	Kel watched the two as they walked away for their next
class. Sharon had her hand in Joel's empty back pocket, obviously feeling
his ass as they walked. Kel just shook his head. If those two were seen by
the teachers doing that, they'd both be in the principal's office faster
than you could say it.
	 "So what did you say to Joel?" He turned his attention back to
Chris.

_______________________________________________________________________


	Chris was actually enjoying himself as he looked down the track for
the fifth, or was it seventh?, time that afternoon, doing some laps to cool
down. Somehow the coach had come through with what he needed. They had even
been able to scrounge up a pair of size fourteen shoes for him to wear. His
shoe size had actually broken the ice for him with some of the other
potential team members present. They had made lewd comments about what big
hands and feet meant, to which he'd replied good naturedly, "Yeah, big
gloves and shoes!" The coaches knew every- body else out there except for a
couple of freshman. So he wasn't really surprised that, while everybody
else seemed to get off with a pretty light workout, he was really being put
to the test. He was aware that for the most part the reactions of the
others was mixed. It was what he expected; most ignored him, some looked on
with a hostile interest, and some, he hoped, with admiration.
	He allowed himself a slight smile. He was definitely not a
sprinter. They had tried him at hurdles; he was OK, at least he didn't end
up eating the track like he used to. It was distance events where he
excelled, as he'd known all along and was evident in the coaches' smiles
when he finished them.
	"Mr. Bauchamp! One more, then see me!" Coach Martini called to
him. The coach looked on. Damn, he thought, we might be able to do
something this year in the events he knew they were weakest in. He pointed
his finger up at Kelvin sitting in the stands 'You're next!' he told
himself. That would be his dream team (he had once clocked Kelvin from his
car while the kid did his run to school), his chance to end his career on a
high note. He'd more and more come to the conclusion that this year would
be his last. He used to be able to teach respect for others, on and off the
field, to the kids who played for him. The evidence of his biggest failure
was up in the stands watching, but he'd never shied from a challenge. The
kids may not understand why he was leaving, but his wife and other coaches
would.
	"OK, Mr. Bauchamp, you're in. I'll need a doctor's release or
physical. Meet me tomorrow before class and we'll go over what I expect as
far as training and performance," said Coach Martini to the approaching
youth. "Also, I need to warn you that in the past there have been some
things that have occurred to the new members of the teams. It was all
good-natured but now I don't know. I should just bring a stop to the whole
thing but don't know if I'll be able to. We will be having a team meeting
soon, but Christopher, you are going to have to tell me if anything is
going on that might hurt you or the team!"
	"Yes sir, I've been through that type of thing before at my old
school," Chris replied. He knew what the coach wanted to do, but he found
he did want to fit in somehow. It would make his and Kel's time here
easier. He knew he would be in for some kind of initiation as the new kid;
it always happened and had always been harmless before. He found himself in
the middle again. On the one hand, if he were the reason the team's
tradition ended, he would be an outsider forever and he really wanted to
have some allies, but on the other he had seen Kel beaten badly and could
only hope that things didn't get ugly while he figured out what to do.
	The locker room was almost deserted when Chris entered. He stopped
briefly to help one of the freshmen, who'd been out with him, down from the
towel hook where he'd been hung in his dripping wet street clothes.
	"Well, I guess they found out you made the team!" he chuckled, as
the kid took off before his ride left. Making sure he was now alone, he
quickly finished showering and dressing. If that was the extent of their
imagination, he had it made, but he couldn't be sure.
	"Well? What did the coach say?" Kelvin asked as they walked to The
Beast. Chris was being strangely subdued.
	"Oh, I made the team," Chris replied nonchalantly, then grinned at
his friend. Chris left the coach's warning unsaid. That was his problem to
deal with, not Kel's.
	"Let's go celebrate! Where do you want to go?" Kel grabbed Chris's
hand and began to lead him faster across the deserted lot.
	"OK, OK, but can we go somewhere where we can be alone?" Chris said
smiling; "I can still smell the locker room from here."
	"You're driving!" Kel said, blushing (He sure seemed to be doing
that a lot these days) as he threw his backpack in the trunk of Chris's
car.
	Safely within the walls of his car, Chris put his arm around his
boyfriend and pulled him close, amazed at the feelings that simple touch
was giving him. 'Where to go? Where to go? Where else!' he thought as he
turned towards the airport.

	The two boys sat in the gathering dusk invisible to the world
around them. Chris looked out at the dwindling sunset he'd begun to cherish
and the many white and blue lights that dotted the field. They had sat in
the grass barely talking, just enjoying the company of the other.
	Kel stared at Chris as his features slowly disappeared into the
darkness, and reached out his shaking hand to Chris's.  This was so
different. He felt so nervous. Every other time he had been alone like this
with someone, he had been acting the part he was supposed to. Now, It was
just him, open and scared shitless. He smiled at himself, wasn't that last
part supposed to be `unafraid'? He took a deep breath. OK, he thought, here
goes nothing. He quickly leaned in to Chris, closing his eyes and felt his
chin hit bone. Startled, he looked to see Chris rubbing his collar
bone. 'God, I really screwed that up,' he thought. He felt like he wanted
to cry but the look on Chris's face, what he could see of it, made him
start to giggle. He just couldn't help it. "Er, sorry!"
	"Boy, I'm glad you're not in the Air Force!" Chris looked back,
still rubbing his collar for effect, "You'd probably bomb Dallas by
mistake, and miss it!"
	"Jeeze, I don't know how I missed a target that big!" Kel came
back, trying to stifle the outright laughter that replaced the tension he'd
felt draining away.
	"So I have a big mouth, do I?" Chris grinned as he rolled his upper
body across Kel, nonchalantly placing his elbow in a place Kel was fond of.
	"Ow, watch the nuts! Watch the nuts!" Kel just grabbed his chest,
however, when he gave in to the laughter, "I mean the ribs!"
	"Well, which one is it?" Chris was losing the battle with his own
laughter, "The ribs or the nuts?"
	"My nuts, my, my nuts!" Kel gasped in between breaths. "I, I can
live with broken ribs!"
	Chris carefully slid up till he was even with Kel's face. "Here,
let me show you how to kiss someone, you goofball. You've first got to stop
laughing."
	Kel tried to quiet down. "OK," he said as he wiped his eyes.
	"Now number two is the most important." Chris got very serious;
"Unless your partner likes the same flavor, spit out your chew of tobacco!"
and was satisfied to see Kel wracked by another fit of laughter.
	"God, Chris, you are such a redneck sometimes! Owww, oh, that
hurts! Stop making me laugh." Kel rolled on his side.
	Chris rolled off and lay beside Kel. He seriously doubted anyone
else would find what they said to each other that funny. But they'd always
been able to laugh at each other's quips, no matter how lame. They'd even
once driven Kel's brothers out of the house with a thirty minute span of
nonstop puns that were so bad only they found them funny. They were
breathing like they had finished a marathon, still smiling at each
other. Chris recovered and leaned forward, lightly placing a kiss on Kel's
cheek and then, draping an arm around Kel's back, brought their lips
together. Lightly at first, then with more force as Kel responded by
parting his lips and allowing their tongues to explore each other.
	Kel felt like he could stay that way forever. All his other kisses
were cold duty compared to this. He reached over and embraced Chris's back,
letting his hand feel the muscles under Chris's skin where his shirt had
ridden up during their last fit of laughter. They finally reluctantly
allowed their lips to part and then their embrace to ease. They parted to
the sound of Kel's stomach rumbling.
	"I guess I'd better get you home," Chris smiled wistfully as they
stood and took a moment to straighten their clothes and themselves, to give
them a little more room where they needed it. "Your parents will think we
ran off together."

	Chris pulled them into the dark driveway at Kel's house; "Well? how
did you like your lesson in kissing?" he asked nonchalantly, pulling the
trunk release.
	"My lesson in kiss...?" Kel replied defensively. "I know how to
kiss. I've been on dates before!"
	"OH? Who? Mrs. Palm and her five daughters?" Chris held his
smile. He would finally get the last word!
	"I'll show you who needs lessons in kissing!" Kel retorted with a
wicked gleam in his eyes that Chris didn't see. He pulled Chris across the
seat and began kissing and nibbling his ear, trailing down Chris's neck to
where it joined his shoulder. He stopped, then nibbled and sucked on the
hollow there.
	Chris couldn't believe what Kelvin was doing. He tried kissing him
back but Kel was out of reach. Damn, that felt good. Then he realized what
Kel was doing. "You sonofabitch!" was all he could say as he began laughing
again.
	Kel released him; "You wear my mark. You're mine now!" he said in
his best vampire voice as he backed out of Chris's car. "I'll pick you up
tomorrow. OK?"
	Chris shook his head. "OK. I'll be waiting!" Damn, the track team
would be bad enough. Now he'd have to make sure he had enough clean shirts
with collars he could button up to hide what Kel had done to get back at
him. He should have known better. He could never get in the last word when
they'd played around as kids.

_______________________________________________________________________

	Kelvin woke up and looked at his clock; another Friday. He would
get his stitches out this morning. The week hadn't gone that badly. He was
still on edge but a lot of the tension was slowly draining away. Except for
Chris, that is. Chris seemed to get more and more defensive. Yesterday he
was jumping at everything and seemed to have grown eyes in the back of his
head. Something had happened with Chris when they'd come to school
Wednesday and found some freshman chained to the flagpole with a bicycle
lock through his underwear. He'd tried to ask Chris where he knew the kid
from, what was wrong? Chris would just tell him 'nothing'. Well, he'd have
the whole weekend to try to get Chris to finally tell him what was going
on. They had never been able to hold out on each other forever.
	Chris pulled into the lot and looked at his watch; damn, he would
be late to the team meeting. Steve, one of the team captains, had called
for him last night to tell him about the meeting. This had to be a setup;
he'd have felt better if the coach himself had called, but he couldn't be
sure and didn't want to piss him off if it wasn't. Chris crossed the lot
quickly, surveying everything as he went. Nothing was out of place, yet he
could still run.
	Steve and a couple of others came trotting out of the locker room
dressed in their running gear.
	"Com'on, Chris! Get dressed, coach wants us out on the field!"
Steve yelled and waved for Chris to hurry up.
	Chris just sighed and trotted over to the door to the locker
room. He'd started to turn and run when the guys came out but they had seen
him. He was committed now. If it was a real meeting, they knew he was
there. He couldn't explain his absence away. If it was a setup? How did
they get the door open?
	Chris opened the door and cautiously peered inside. He really
didn't want to step through. "Shit!" he heard feet pounding up behind him
and slipped in the door, pulling it tight to keep the others out. He only
then became aware of the laughter in the room. Arms suddenly closed around
him, pinning his arms to his sides "FUCK!" he yelled as he was dragged away
from the door!