March 27, 2023

Rico

"Rico Semedo to Coach Latrell's office," a female voice announced on the intercom as I was leaving the bathroom in one of the student halls. "I repeat, Rico Semedo to Coach Latrell's office."

"Huh" I said aloud, wondering. I had left Coach a note stating that I quit due to not wanting to fall behind with grades. Perhaps this call was gonna be to ask me for any equipment that I still have.

"Hey Coach," I peaked my head into Mr Latrell's "lair" as he liked to call it. He looked up from the paper he had been reading, which I soon realized was the letter I wrote to him, just printed.

"Shut the door and grab a seat Rico" he requested.

I nodded, closed the door, and did what was asked. I took a deep breath and rested my palms on my knees as I waited for coach Latrell to say something.

"I'm no rocket scientist," he finally began, "but in my sixteen years of coaching this sport, I have never, ever, had a player quit just because."

I cocked an eyebrow, "I didn't quit just because" I answered, "I referred to my grades. You didn't see?" Latrell folded his arms, making it very obvious that he wasn't buying what I was selling.

"Rico, I looked at your grades this morning. You are a solid, straight A student" Latrell informed me. "I looked at your high school transcript as well, given that you played football all 4 years at Brookston high. You were a straight A student there too."

I didn't say anything. I couldn't think of an excuse beyond this point. After getting busted the first time, you can't really risk getting busted again. Your second lie has to be realistic as fuck. As I sat there thinking, Latrell picked up my letter off his desk and ripped it up-bringing me back to reality.

"So, you wanna tell me what's really going on?" he asked me, "or should I tell you what's going on?"

"W-what do you mean?"

"Due to the fact that it's a changing area, there aren't any cameras in the locker room" Latrell informed me, "but I've overheard some stuff, and have checked the cameras that are installed in the hall leading to the locker room. I've seen certain people consistently giving you a hard time."

"Oh" I said shaking my head, "it's cool, really, that's just how we play around."

"Playing around doesn't result in somebody quitting the team out of fear" Latrell replied. "Rico I was your age before. I was the victim, the bystander, and the bully before. I've been it all, and I know clear as day what each role looks like at this level."

Before either me or coach Latrell could make any further comment, his wrist watch began beeping.

"I don't have much time," coach continued as he looked down at his watch, "so I'll cut it short: either you rejoin the team, or I'll inform the principal of what's really going on here." I made a face.

"Won't that just hurt Nick and Jason?" I asked, and coach folded his arms, "not quite."

"Given all that's happened with Lewis, it'll make things look real bad on his part too. You're telling me that this kid managed to escape a rape charge, murder suspicions, and then his two best friends are caught bullying people?" Mr Latrell continued, "then Lewis must not be such the saint that he portrayed himself to be to the media after all. I mean, good doesn't surround itself with bad, right?"

"I'm not getting it," I sighed. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that if you push me into having to take matters into my own hands, it won't just hurt Jason and Nick. It'll hurt Lewis, and then it'll hurt you. Because they will undoubtedly come after you."

"Then I don't have a choice either way!" I exclaimed, "because if I join the team, I'm stuck with them."

"Did I tell you that they were on the team still?" Mr Latrell asked, "I'll be letting both boys know later today that they're cut. Lewis was already released a while back for the rape-gate." I groaned.

"Listen kid," Latrell said, fixing his posture, "I'm not putting a gun to your head, and I'm not trying to scare you. I'm telling you the options, and what comes with them. You can stay off the team if you'd like, but then you run the risk of a major, major beat down." If only coach Latrell knew about Aubrey and Nova's situation that I caused... then I bet he'd feel real bad about practically giving me an ultimatum.

"Okay fine," I gave in as I stood up. "I know you've got something to do or somewhere to be, so I'll dismiss myself. I'll rejoin the team, thanks coach."

Latrell smiled at me, "my pleasure."

May

I woke up to a blinding light, with Lewis' muscular structure silhouetting behind it. "Lewis?" I asked as I rubbed my eyes and tried to gather myself enough to get out of bed. "What the hell are you doing?" Lewis turned the flashlight off after I spoke.

"I think I've figured something out, but in order to get my answer, I'm gonna need your full cooperation."

I nodded slowly, "sure. What's up?"

"Do you know anything about Cassidy's death?" Lewis asked me, and I made a face.

"Why the hell would I know about her death Lewis?"

"I mean, your cousin's man is like a gang, or a mafia member or some shit, right?" Lewis asked, seeming to somehow connect the dots. Lewis and my cousin's boyfriend had gotten cordial at some point, and so he knew all that.

"And?" I asked.

"Maeve," Lewis said in a stern tone, "do you think I'm fucking dumb?"

I could feel my face getting hot with intensity. "I-I didn't say that" I barely let out, running a hand through my hair as Lewis straightened up his posture and folded his arms.

"If I'm asking you about something, don't you think that I have some type of reason to be asking?" Lewis further pressed. I shrugged, trying to keep the muscles in my neck from twitching. Lewis was a lot smarter than I thought, I honestly never imagined that he would be able to piece this together.

"Why would I want Cassidy to die?" I asked, and Lewis looked at me as if I had just asked the dumbest question in the world.

"Why would you?" he asked, "this girl fucked your man, then accused him of rape."

I tried to help myself, but I couldn't. I could feel myself getting angry, quick. "And my man took it upon himself to engage in all that" I retorted. "So why in the world would I take it out on her?"

Lewis looked as if he was getting annoyed, "May, it's not a coincidence that Cassidy was killed at the time that she was. Tallahassee isn't a place of violence."

"What the hell do you want me to say Lewis?"

"I want you to fucking admit you had her killed!" Lewis damn near shouted at me. We were in one of Aubrey and Nova's guest rooms. Thank goodness it was sound proof.

"Fine!" I yelled back. "I did, to save your ass. You were on your way to jail, and I was trying to save you. Is that a crime? All I did was help you! And you won't be in trouble for it anyways, so I don't know why it matters!" Lewis stared at me, mouth agape.

"Babe, I know you meant well" he began, "but you having Cassidy killed may just fuck me over."

I raised an eyebrow, "how?" I asked.

Lewis sighed, "because she died just as this situation was getting coverage and all eyes were on me. That screams 'hitman' May."

I looked into the distance, as Lewis continued to stare at me. "Look" he said quietly, "I'm not gonna tell. I can't, because I don't want you going down, and if I tell, I'll either go down with you, or be killed by your cousin's boyfriend. Neither of which I want obviously." I nodded, and Lewis continued. "Just, whatever you do from here on out, don't answer any question regarding this. I don't care who asks you. This is something that has to be solely between you and I. No press, No Nova, Aubrey, or Hailey, no family, no nothing." I nodded, and I could feel my breathing getting heavier. Lewis held my hand.

"I'm sure your cousin's boyfriend knows what he's doing, so I'm sure the tracks are covered up. Don't worry about it. We leave this conversation right here, right now, and never mention it again." I nodded again, very slowly, and was now feeling a heap of nervousness that I didn't feel about this topic before. What did I just get Lewis and I into?

***

Nick

"We're off the team?" Jason asked, as I just looked on at my coach in utter shock. I considered the man a fucking uncle to me, that's how close we were and that's how much I trusted him.

"I don't condone bullying" Latrell said, shifting his gaze back and forth between Jason and I. "I don't know your whole story with Rico, and I in part, don't wanna know. But I know enough to know who the aggressors are, and it sure as hell ain't him."

"So we don't even get to explain ourselves?" Jason asked, "that's it? Just being informed that we're mandatorily parting ways with the team?"

Latrell nodded, "cameras don't lie."

"Plus" Latrell added, "with all that's gone on this year, and I think you know what I mean so I don't have to further explain, it's just easier to subtract you two than it is Rico. Not saying Rico even deserves to be punished in any way because I don't think he does, but if he was somehow at fault in this, I don't think it would be of any benefit to rid him."

"So it's of benefit to get rid of us though?" I asked, "that's so crazy coach."

Latrell sighed, "you two are phenomenal players" he insisted. "I was there for your high school championship game. I was there when you made that unforgettable catch Nick. The one in which everybody thought you were dead for a moment."

I shrugged, "cool."

"But this is college ball" Latrell continued. "This isn't Norwood high school. I've heard stories of what drama you two were apart of when you attended that school last year. It seems as though drama is kind of a reoccurring theme in your lives and I'm not saying you're at fault-"

"This is about Lewis" Jason interrupted, sternly.

"Not exactl-"

"It is."

"I mean, what other 'drama' has there been this year coach?" Jason asked. "And for the record, this is only 'drama' to you, because you're not the one living through it, we are. This is our gruesome reality. It's our lives. Not some childish, avoidable drama."

"So is pushing around and yelling at Rico 'your lives' as well?" Latrell shot back, "because if it is, you can take your livelihood elsewhere."

"Jason we're wasting our time" I said, standing up. "I promise you we are. Let's just get out of here." Jason nodded, sighed, and slowly got up as well.

"You have a week to return gear!" Latrell called out as we left, but I nor Jason said anything.