The Fire Went Wild (Home is a Fire Book 2) Page 6

  I stopped and picked up two coffees on the way to school, one for me and one for Bammy. She wasn’t in her office when I popped in, so I gave the extra to Miss Mabel. She didn’t even look up as I placed it on her desk. That woman saw what she wanted to and just ignored the rest. I was a bit jealous, if you want to know the truth. I spent most of my life worrying about things that held no consequence, and then tried to run away from the things that did matter. What’s that they say about being a work in progress?

  Luke had a PE class first period, so he was probably down at the gym already. I walked up the main corridor to my first period class, Speech and Communications. Most of my theatre kids were in that class, but there were also a few future lawyers and politicians. That’s how I described the students from a more privileged background who understood the power of words and how important it was to learn how to harness that power.

  I walked in and calmed the kids down and asked them to take their seats. We usually started Mondays with a little round table discussion of current events from the previous week, so I perched on the corner of my desk and asked “All right, who’s got something for us?”

  “I do,” said Jett Winthrop, hand raised. “It’s a ‘Blind Gossip’ item.”

  The other students giggled. Jett tended to stick to pop culture and sports figures in his news items, while the future lawyers always brought up political events and business news. The theatre kids hovered between the two, trying to appease both the high and lowbrow crowds.

  “All right,” I said. “Well, I’m not sure gossip is something we want to concentrate on in this class. Anyone have anything of more substance?”

  “Oh, I think you’ll like this one,” he smirked. He was staring me down, and I flinched. I could feel it. Shit. Why did I take this job? Oh, yes, it was either this or prison guard. But what’s the difference, actually?

  “What is it?” one of the girls asked. “More Tom Cruise stuff? Justin Bieber?”

  “No, this one’s local,” he said. He was enjoying this. Before I could think of what to do, he began reciting, as if he ran his own celebrity gossip blog. “These two confirmed bachelors were recently spotted eating out together on the town. By the looks they were shooting across the table, anyone could assume they’re shooting their love guns in the Greek style back at their shared abode, that is when they aren’t out sharing a love run by the lake. Guess who, don’t sue!”

  The class erupted. They started calling out names. Local politicians, celebrities, newscasters, the weatherman, sports figures. Everything except teachers. We were standing right in front of them, and right now I was so grateful that they didn’t even think we had private lives. I was just the warden for this particular hour, and then they forgot about me. But Jett didn’t forget anything. He saw me and Luke arriving together, he saw us running together, and now his mother saw us eating out at the Tater Tot, and she had obviously shared that with her son, or talked about it within earshot.

  The room fell into chaos with discussions over the subject of forced outings and whether it was the correct thing to do in a modern society or if we should just ignore the obvious. I had lost control. I heard nothing, and everything. I was too shocked to react as Jett just sat there, staring me down with a wicked grin, as I looked back at him, frozen.

  “Mr. Walter? Mr. Walter!” The voice came from the door. “Mr. Walter, is there a problem here? We’ve had some complaints about noise.”

  I turned. Snapped out of it. Bammy was standing at my door. The kids had quieted down, and Jett’s wicked grin had been replaced with the false face of an innocent angel.

  “No, Miss Talbot,” I said, quickly snapping back to the present. “No problems. Just a little moment of levity that got out of hand.” I stood from my desk and turned back to my students. “Let’s get back to work now, class. Please pull out your essays on the current state of US/Soviet relations. Jett? You’re up first. Let’s go.”

  When I got back to Luke’s that night, I found him already sitting on the couch with a beer in his hand, legs propped up on the coffee table. He had opened a bottle of red wine and placed a full glass out, waiting for me.

  “Hey, babe,” I said, as I threw myself down beside him. “Shit day?”

  “Two words,” he said. “Chip Carter.”

  “Jett Winthrop,” I countered. He clinked his beer bottle to my wine glass and we both took big sips. Then another.

  “You go first,” he said.

  I told him about Jett’s “Blind Gossip” item, and that he must have overheard something Amber said. It was obvious he was trying to shake me, and sadly, it worked.

  “Shit,” said Luke, and took another swig from his bottle. “Mine wasn’t much better. Chip is on my track team. We had a practice last period, and we always meet in the locker room after to confirm time results, hear pointers, talk strategies, you name it. Well, during my wrap up, Chip decided to strip down to his jock and stand there with one leg propped up on a bench, showing the world his prized package. When I asked him to cover up with a towel for modesty he said, ‘What’s the matter, Coach? We’re all men here. Unless someone here likes men.’ He stared straight at me. The team started snickering and I had to shut them up with threats of extra laps. Horseplay is fine when we’re not working, but this was a meeting and I told them I expected them to pay attention. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.”

  “We’re screwed, aren’t we?” I asked, feeling defeated.

  “No, Derek. We’re not,” he said, his anger growing. “They’ve got another thing coming if they think I’m going to back down this easily. Yeah, they surprised us with a one two punch. But now we know they’re coming for us. They’re amateurs, and I’m a professional. I’m getting another beer, and then we’re talking formations.”

  “Put me in, Coach. I’m ready to play.” And I topped off my glass.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” I asked, as we pulled into the high school parking lot. I had left Willie at Luke’s place, and we came to school together in his Jeep.

  “Does a bear like honey?” he answered.

  “Well, yeah, but what you’re planning isn’t going to get us any honey, babe,” I said. “Just expect an onslaught of bees. Or hornets. Wasps, even. Like, millions of wasps all up in our business, stinging the shit out of us when they don’t get their way.”

  “I can handle some insects, Derek. I’ve got big ‘ole hands to swat ’em away. Besides, you’re worth it. This is what I want. I promise.”

  Shit. Here goes. I opened the car door and stepped out. It was a warm early spring day, and the sun was shining in full force, with just a slight cool breeze. The parking lot was full of students gathering their things, catching up with friends and making their way slowly to the school doors.

  “We who are about to die, salute you,” I mumbled.

  “What’s that?”

  “Nothing.”

  We were standing at the front of the car, and he reached down and grasped my hand. Damn. The moment he did that, it just made all the crazy stuff in the world go away. I turned to look at his beautiful blue eyes, and I suddenly knew he was right. Here I was, trying to hold him back, when all he wanted was out. Had I forgotten how that felt? Had I forgotten that crazy euphoric rush of just being able to be who you really are, express how you feel, love someone without fear?

  I remembered the first time I went to a gay dance club in New York City. I had lied to my best friend, Reggie, and told him I was busy and had plans with work colleagues. I remember looking at the club from across the street, casing it, checking out the types of people who went in and out. I was petrified, and it must have taken me twenty-five minutes to get up the courage to cross that street. I remember thinking that the doorman would judge me. He would ‘know.’ Truthfully? All he wanted to do was check my ID and send me to the next line so they could take my money. When I crossed that threshold, I did not burst into flames, my world did not end, and my self-loathing began to subside, just a little. I
hid in the shadows and nursed a vodka and soda, but when an Erasure song came on, all bets were off. The lights bounced off the disco ball, I found my little corner of the dance floor, and a whole new world opened up. I never looked back.

  We walked from the parking lot towards the front entrance, holding hands. My heart was beating a mile a minute. I could only imagine that his was about to jump out of his chest. There were no screams from the students, no foul cries. It was as if they didn’t even notice, actually. We paused at the door, and he turned to me.

  “Have a great day, babe,” he said. “See you tonight.”

  And he kissed me. Not a rock star sending me off at the airport kind of kiss, but not a quiet, chaste peck on the cheek, either. It was a kiss. A real kiss. A lover’s kiss. A kiss that said I love this man. He’s mine. And I don’t give a shit who doesn’t like that.

  He released me, turned in the opposite direction and marched towards the gym, while I lingered there a moment too long. Weak in the knees, I composed myself and headed towards my first period class. As I did, I walked right past Jett and Chip, the best of friends. They witnessed the whole thing.

  It took about ten minutes, we estimated later, before the whole school knew.

  We had agreed, together, to only say one thing when confronted.

  “Yes, I’m in a relationship with Mr. Walter/Coach Walcott. However, our private lives are off limits. We are here to teach/coach. No more questions. Let’s get back to work.”

  “Derek, Luke, I guess you both know why I called you here today. Why didn’t you tell me you were going to pull this stunt beforehand?”

  It was the end of the day, and Luke and I had both received urgent messages to meet in Bammy’s office after school. It wasn’t a surprise, but still, it didn’t bode well for us.

  “Because we knew you’d try and stop us,” I offered, in way of an excuse. “I like your new office, by the way. Bigger than the last one. Are you keeping those curtains, though?”

  “Derek, stop it! I’m trying to be serious, here,” she said, arms crossed over her chest, covering the monogram on her sweater. “This is a serious discussion.” Her face conveyed that she was telling the truth. This whole conversation pained her.

  I composed myself and looked her squarely in the face. Luke was sitting next to me with his back so rigid you would think he was meeting the president. He just stared ahead with military precision, jaw tight, temples throbbing to the beat of his heart.

  “Now, all these kids have cell phones,” she started. “You know that. They spent most of the day texting each other everything they could piece together. Your fellow teachers aren’t pleased. The whole day was a wash. You two are the topic on everyone’s lips.”

  “It’s nice to be loved?” I said, but she was over my humor.

  “Derek, the parents have started calling.” Bammy looked unhappy. Her voice was rigid. Cold. She didn’t like one moment of this. I could see it in her eyes. She was trying hard to balance friendship and work, but the work was going to win. I could feel it. “They’ve called an emergency school board meeting tonight. Thankfully it’s a closed session, but it’s only a few weeks before we have another open session, and you can bet we’re expecting fireworks at that one.”

  She softened her tone. “You know I love you two. I do. But I have these responsibilities. Especially since Bellman has left me this job, temporarily. It’s not really mine until he’s elected mayor. And I know that’s going to happen, it’s just… Derek, I need this job. I love it. I can do good things here. I know I can. But y’all have to help me out a little. What were you thinking?!” She buried her face in her hands, exasperated.

  “It was me, Bammy.” Luke spoke up. I turned to look at him. “My sister, Lana, threatened to out us. She and Amber. It was her way of trying to shut me up. But I can’t do that. Not anymore. I was too quiet my whole life. I’m not trying to ‘corrupt the youth’ or cause any scandal, and I certainly don’t have any agenda to push. But I’m happy, Bammy. I’m in love. With this man, sitting here. Your friend. And if my colleagues can bring their spouses to work, and meet them out for drinks, and have dinner with them in public places, then I deserve those same rights. I’m just standing up, Bammy. That’s all. Just standing up.”

  It sounded so simple when he said it. Just standing up. Being counted. He mattered. We mattered. And he was tired of hiding, putting all of that energy into creative little white lies and stories. It was exhausting, and I knew it.

  “Y’all are gonna kill me,” she said, finally, giving up. “I love you both. I do. But this is gonna be the death of me. All right. Let’s put our brains together and figure out what to do. Drinks, tomorrow? I’ll fill you in on this school board meeting. But no more make out sessions in the halls. Just for now, okay? Until we have a plan. Please?”

  We stood up and gathered our jackets. I gave her a warm hug that we held for just a few seconds longer than necessary. We separated, but she continued to hold me by the shoulders and she looked up at me with a very serious face.

  “But, seriously. If I was gonna change these curtains, what would you suggest?”

  They called themselves the CCCP. The “Committee of Concerned Caring Parents.” Though the school board session was closed, word spread fast. Southern ladies can organize a bake sale in a few hours on any given day, so amassing a troop to combat the spread of salacious homosexual liberal influence over their precious unsullied offspring was certainly not too difficult. It’s a bit like the old fire brigade systems in small towns. The leader gets the first call, he or she calls two more people, those caring citizens call two more each, and before you know it, you have the whole town informed. Mobs rule in the South, and this mob had plenty of moms. There’s a reason Tennessee is called the Volunteer State. Unfortunately for us, this particular group was spearheaded by two very strong women who knew Luke very well. Lana Walcott and Amber Winthrop were following through on their threats, big time.

  It’s no surprise that the CCCP was hastily formed to represent that comfortable old Southern notion of “family values,” and to protect the “traditional family role” and lament the “loss of morality” in our present day society. Franklin Graham would be so proud. The funny thing was, Lana was single with no children, and not only had Amber been divorced three times, but she had “dated” most of the eligible men in town, at least twice. The level of hypocrisy was enormous, but unspoken. All that mattered was surface appearance, and they had plenty of angry citizens ready to stand up for the “moral standards” which they preached, but obviously did not practice. My hands were sore from all the finger quotes.

  Luke and I knew we were courting trouble, but no amount of mental awareness can prepare you for the reality of a huge crowd shouting vile things at you as you step from your car at your place of work. The Parkville Police had been called in to make sure that the students and teachers could enter and exit the school safely, but they really weren’t prepared for what they encountered. The CCCP had really rallied the troops. They were the only ones there. There was no opposition, no counter message, no support for love or equality or basic civil rights. Just chaos and signs and yelling and reporters. Plenty of reporters. Did we underestimate the chaos we had brought?

  It was a struggle to make it to the door, cameras and microphones shoved in our faces the entire way. Luke had his arm around me the whole time, protecting me. Bammy was standing just inside the school, waiting for us.

  “Well. Good morning,” she said, tight lipped, arms crossed. “Are you boys happy?” I looked at her, shell shocked. No, Bammy. I’m not happy at all. In fact, I’m officially pissed off.

  7

  LOW TEA

  Bammy ushered us into her office, quickly, and for once, Miss Mabel actually looked up as we passed by, removing her reading glasses and letting them swing by the silver chain on her neck.

  “Listen,” I started, when she had closed the door behind us, “before you start yelling at us, may I remind you what year
this is?”

  “Derek, just stop,” said Bammy, sternly. “Let me speak before you tear into me, all right? I’m on your side. Just give me a break, okay? It was a pretty crappy night and my day isn’t looking any brighter.”

  Luke held my hand tighter and gave me a look that told me to calm down. Yelling at Bammy wasn’t going to help. I knew that. But my killer instincts were taking over, and I wasn’t interested in remaining silent. My man and I had been threatened, and I was ready for a fight.

  I grew up in this town. This was my home, my school. These are my friends. I’ve known these people for years. But suddenly I was the enemy? Suddenly Luke and I were the very thing that was going to bring down modern civilization, as we know it? It was absurd. After having spent so many years up North, I had truly forgotten the lengths at which people could express their ignorance and hatred. Well, this was certainly an unwelcome reminder.

  “I went to the school board meeting last night as acting principal of Parkville High,” she said, “but I want you to know that I was also there as your friend and your supporter. It’s a game, Derek. It’s politics. It sucks. I know it. But I had to put on one face and try to play the game in our favor, with my true face hidden and without giving too much away. It wasn’t easy. Some of those board members were out for blood. People who you and I know damn well are some of the biggest hypocrites in town. Liars, cheats, adulterers, you name it. Heck, I wouldn’t be surprised if one or two of them are secretly gay. But that’s the key word, guys. ‘Secretly.’ You broke that unwritten rule. You know you did. Now we need to figure our way out of this mess.”

  I was taken aback. I didn’t expect this outrage, that our one simple kiss could create such a storm. I don’t think that Luke did, either. He was stoic, but I could sense that he was shaken. He had been admired his whole life. Looked up to. Adored. He was the football hero of Parkville High. This was all new to him, but I also knew that there was no way he was stepping back. When he stepped up to a challenge, Luke was all in.