coming up in conversation
or Derek being stupid enough
to share his weak game with the team
as if he believes that’s how he “got” me
but suddenly the gym is much smaller
than it was before
and the sweat stink
of all the players
becomes my own
coating the insides
of my nostrils
and all of my teeth
well we all
make mistakes sometimes,
don’t we I blurt out
louder than planned
the whole team freezes
turning toward the useless thing
they suddenly realize is still standing here listening
and wait for Elliot to respond with something clever
well we all know what it’s like
to slide through the campus ho
from time to time
don’t we Elliot replies locking eyes with me
in between handshakes