~ Comings and Goings ~

Danny was all done with classes for the day and was headed back to his room when he heard someone calling out his name. He turned to see Chet, an older kid who was in one of his classes. He was jogging over to Danny, so Danny waited for him to catch him before walking on.

"Hey man, how are you?" Chet said, breathing slightly heavier, either from the cold or from running, but Danny didn't know which.

"Good. Tired. You?"

"Yeah, about the same. But I've got to finish this article before I can rest."

"Article?"

"Yeah, I'm the sports writer for the Dalton Daily."

Danny laughed a little before asking his question. "Why do they call it the Dalton Daily when it only comes out twice a week?"

"Iunno. It's always been called that..."

"Yeah, but it was once a week before it went bi-weekly."

"I guess they just liked the alliteration."

"Anyway, sorry. So, article?"

"You're friends with Zane Atkins, aren't you?"

"Um, yeah. Why?"

"Well, my article is about why he quit the football team."

Danny stopped walking. "Zane quit the team?"

"Yeah. That's...common knowledge, I thought..."

Danny just looked at him, so he continued. "Well, common enough, I guess. Anyway, I'm trying to figure out why."

"Why he quit the team?"

"Yeah. And I was kinda hoping that you'd have some insights into that, you know, being his friend and all."

"Chet, this is all news to me..."

"How long have you known him?"

Danny thought about it for a moment. "I guess I've known him pretty much my whole life..."

"And he didn't tell you he was quitting the team?"

"Let's just say up until recently, we haven't really gotten along very well."

"Really. Hmm. I never would have guessed that, with how you to act together..."

Danny gave him a confused look. "What do you mean?"

"I just mean I see you guys together all the time, I just assumed y'all were really close."

"Hmm..." Danny started walking again.

Chet followed and continued talking. "So you have no idea why he would quit the team. No inclinations at all on his reasons...?"

"Chet, what are you getting at?"

He thought for a minute before grabbing Danny by the elbow and dragged him into a space behind one of the buildings where they could have a little bit of privacy. Danny didn't really have time to react before Chet started whispering to him.

"Well, Zane does really well at the game he played. Pretty much won it for us. His star is on the rise, and then he quits? That doesn't make sense. It's the kind of chance guys like him dream of. So I start poking around, and all I get is vague answers and slammed doors. So, I think I've hit on a nerve. The only problem is I can't get anyone to talk. Not even him. All I know is that he seems to be a new force on the team, then he gets a black eye, and quits the team."

"So what are you thinking happened?"

"Ok, this is just between you and me. I don't want you running off and telling some other reporter and have them steal my story."

"I don't know any other reporters. And I would never do that to a friend..."

"Alright. What I think is that he was victim of hazing. Some sort of initiation gone wrong. And that some lines were crossed. And he got too hurt and quit the team. But I also think that he's being threatened, and that's why he's not talking."

Danny thought very hard before continuing. "Ok. This is what I know. I know that whatever reason Zane had for quitting is a very good one. And I don't think it's because he's being threatened. That's not his style. And really, it could be one of a thousand different reasons why he quit. College ball isn't like High School ball. Maybe the pressure of performing well and trying to keep up with his first year in college got to him. Maybe he just didn't want to play anymore. Maybe he got tired of being 4th string. And the black eye could be from something completely unrelated. The truth is, I really don't know why he quit."

Chet looked kind of disappointed, and they left their alley and continued walking the short distance to Danny's dorm.

As they entered, Danny started talking again. "Look man, I'm really sorry I couldn't be more help..."

Chet smiled at him. "Hey, it's ok. It's the life of a reporter. How are you doing in class?"

"Ok. Though, every time I think I've got it all down, everything changes..."

"Yeah, it's rough. But hey, if you ever need help, give me a call, and we'll meet up somewhere, ok?"

"Hey, sure! Thanks, man."

At this point, someone else called out Danny's name from somewhere in the lobby. Danny turned and saw Thi and Jennifer sitting at on a couch hunched over some book on the table in front of them. They were waving him over to them.

"Hey, I gotta..."

"Oh, yeah. Don't let me keep you. Oh, and Danny, if you hear anything, please let me know..."

"If I can. I mean, what's to say I'm not in on the conspiracy?"

Chet gave him a genuine look of shock and sadness.

"I'm kidding. You're my first call..."

"Ok, see you later!" Chet waved as he headed out the opposite door, back out into the cold.

Danny walked over to Thi and Jenn.

"Hey guys, what's up?"

"We are trying to figure out all this crap from class today. But we cannot make sense of it. Can you help us?"

"Sure, I'll try."

Danny sat his bag down and sat on the couch next to them and listened to them and tried to explain things the best he could. At one point, Jenn needed to read something for herself, so he took the book and started reading. So Danny took the opportunity to talk with Thi.

"So Thi. Zane quit the football team?"

"Yeah, like Monday morning."

"Why?"

Thi just kind of gave him a look of 'um, duh'. "Why do you think?"

"I just... didn't know..."

"Yeah, it was really hush hush. Even the guys on the team weren't really talking about it. And they talk about everything. They're like little girls..."

Danny thought about this for a moment.

"I almost quit with him..."

"Really? Why?"

"Well, I didn't want to be on a team that did that to its players. Also, in support of him. But we had a long talk about it, and he says I have a real shot at going further with this, and he feels he really doesn't. And he doesn't want to be around those guys anymore. For good reason. It's really hard to not try and take them on myself, but that would just be suicide. It's weird at practice with him not there..."

"I bet."

"We see so little of each other now; we're just so busy."

Then Jenn joined the conversation again. "Ok, so Danny, what does it mean when..." And they were back in their studies.

A little while later, Zane came in the door from class and started walking towards his room, not seeing the three of them sitting there. Thi was the first to notice him and called him over. But before he could get to them, Danny hopped up and ran over to him, getting him off into a corner of the lobby to talk.

"Hey, I got stopped by a reporter today about you."

"Oh, yeah? What about?"

"About you quitting the football team."

"Oh."

"Yeah, kinda wish I'd known that beforehand..."


"Sorry... I meant to tell you, but..."

"Hey, it's ok, I understand... We've only been friends for what, 5 months now?"

Zane looked kind of hurt, but that really wasn't Danny's intention. "Aw, c'mon Danny..."

Danny smiled and tried to lighten the mood. "Hey, I was just messin' with you..."

Zane smiled again.

"So, tell me what's going on..."

"Um, well, I quit the team."

"Because of what happened?"

"Yeah... You didn't tell him about that, did you?!?"

"Woah there tiger... I was purposefully vague and gave him some misdirection."

Zane took a deep breath. "Ok, good. Sorry about freaking out on you."

"S'ok. So you really quit because of what they did? I mean... doesn't that seem like they won in all of this?"

Zane got a wicked smile and laughed quietly.

"What?"

"I wanted it to seem that way..."

"...But?"

"But they're now kinda screwed."

"How so?"

"Well, think of it. Who's gonna be the quarterback for them?"

"Um, one of the other three?"

Zane smiled and shook his head. "One is ineligible and the other two are pretty badly injured."

"Um, then I don't know."

"Exactly. They're going to have to get someone else from the team who hasn't really done it, at least since we've started."

"Do the coaches at least know what happened? Or do they think you're just quitting for no reason?"

"No, they know. And they're going through the proper channels to punish them. But they're really trying to keep it quiet to avoid a scandal. And really, that's fine with me. Plus, the coaches were very understanding about the whole thing. We had a very long talk about it all."

"Well, that's nice, I guess..."

"Plus, I've been thinking about quitting for a while now."

"Really?"

"Yeah... It's not the same anymore. It's not fun like it used to be... And this really just gave me the perfect excuse to do so."

Danny smiled at him.

"So what are you guys doing out here?"

"Oh, just studying. I'm trying to explain probably the most confusing professor in the world to them..."

"Ah."

"You're more than welcome to come hang out with us, though, I'm not sure how much fun it'll be..."

Zane's eyes lit up. "Ok. Just let me go drop off this stuff first..."

"Sure, we'll be here."

Zane took off towards his room, and Danny went back to the study session. Thi and Jenn both looked up at him.

"So, what's going on?"

"Nothing, but Zane'll probably be hanging out here after he drops off his stuff in his room."

"Ooo! I need to get something out of there! Be right back."

Thi jumped up and ran towards his room. Jenn looked at Danny and gave him a knowing smile.

"What?"

"So Danny. What's going on with you and Zane?"

"What do you mean?"

"Danny, I'm a girl. I know that look."

"What look? There was no look..."

"Oh, there was a look."

"What is it with girls and looks?"

"Danny, it's the same look you used to give me when you thought I wasn't paying attention. I know the look."

"...oh."

"Yeah, see."

"Except that I wasn't giving that look to Zane..."

"Yeah, ok, sure you weren't..."

"You really noticed me?"

"It's smeared across your face, Danny."

"No, not now. In high school..."

"Oh. Well, someone had to point it out to me, but yeah, I noticed."

"Huh. That's news to me. I thought I was pretty invisible."

"No, not invisible. Just..."

"A social casualty?"

"Yeah... Sorry... As much as I hate to admit it, that's what it was..."

"Meh. I'm kind of used to it now."

"Well, except that you've changed. You're not nearly as awkward as you used to be."

"Really? I feel the same..."

"I don't know... maybe we've both changed..."

"C..can I ask you a personal question?"

"Sure."

"What happened between you and Zane? I mean, we all thought you were going to hook up..."

"Yeah, so did I. But something happened over the summer."

"Yeah, that's what he said."

"We ended up having a really long talk, though, so that's good. No loose ends or anything."

"What did y'all talk about?"

"Why he couldn't date me."

"It was his choice?"

"Sure was."

"Hmm... What was his reason?"

"That's not my place to say... You'll have to ask him."


"I did, but he changed the subject."

"Then I really can't tell you."


Danny's face fell.

"Trust me. He'll tell you in his own time."


About that time, the boys came back, laughing about something, each carrying two drinks. Thi handed one of his to Jenn and Zane handed one to Danny. Danny looked up from his chair and saw down the strong arm to the warmest smile he'd seen in a long time. Danny smiled back and took the drink. Zane then looked at Jenn, who smiled then shot a knowing look at Danny, who blushed and opened his drink.


Jenn, Thi, and Danny continued studying, and Zane was initially interested, but quickly got lost and subsequently lost interest. About the time that he was getting really bored, Blaine walked through the front door, carrying a plastic bag of something. He saw the four of them and walked over.

"Hey guys."


"Hey Blaine, what's in the bag?"

"New game. Suppose to be amazing. Wanna go play?"


"Can't now... We're trying to figure out all this junk. Maybe later, though."

"Zane, you studying too? You wanna play?"


"Oh, I would love to!"

"Sweet!"


So Zane and Blaine left the others to their studies.


An hour or so later, Danny felt something hit him. So he looked up and saw Chris standing there, looking impatient.


"Do you just not answer your phone anymore, or is that reserved just for me?"


"Huh? Oh, it died, so it's charging in my room. I haven't had it with me all day."


"So I noticed. Anyway, pack it up, we're going to dinner. Blaine and Zane are on their way down and they're bringing you a jacket."


"Hey, you guys have fun..." Thi said, almost sounding sad.


"You guys can come too; we're not limiting this..." Chris said.


Thi turned to Jenn and they discussed for a moment.


"Well, ok, if you're sure..."


"Please! I need someone to save me from all the boy-talk!"


"Well, let me grab my jacket and her a sweatshirt..."


"Hey, Thi, can I leave my bag in your room so I don't have to haul it all around?" Danny asked, putting his stuff away.


"Yeah, sure! C'mon."


They walked down to Thi's room, walked in, and Danny set his bag down on the floor by the door. Thi went and grabbed a jacket and a sweatshirt. He put the jacket on and grabbed his keys and they left the room. When they got back to the lobby, Blaine and Zane were already there. Thi handed Jenn the sweatshirt and Zane walked over and handed Danny a blue sweatshirt with the Atari logo on it.


"You used to make fun of me so hard for wearing this in high school, yet out of all the things, you choose this one?"


"Yeah, I was really secretly jealous that I couldn't pull it off like you did... But I really do like it."


Danny pulled on the sweatshirt and all of them walked out the door.