I was still feeling good about the decision I had made to go back to the Cultural Center and stand up for myself when I arrived at school the next morning. Confronting Matt might not immediately solve all my problems with him, but it was a start.
I was mentally going over my math homework when someone shoved me into a locker.
“Hey!” I turned and stared into the angry faces of several of my teammates, led by Tanner. “Oh,” I said. Frankly, I knew they had every reason to be upset with me.
“Yeah. Oh.” Tanner crossed his arms over his chest, his biceps bulging. “Where the hell were you yesterday, McCaffrey?” he asked.
“I…uh…had a medical appointment,” I answered lamely.
“Right. Well, while you were off playing doctor the rest of us were working our asses off.” My teammates laughed, and I tried to join in and show I was a good sport. Tanner glared down at me. “Listen, McCaffrey, we don’t need you anymore. The team is doing just fine without you.”
“Lay off, Tanner,” Aiden called out, walking up beside me.
“Are you kidding me? You’re really going to stand up for this loser?”
Aiden nodded. “Yeah, I am. He’s still part of our team.”
“Oh yeah? Well, tell your girlfriend that he better start acting like it.” Tanner turned and stalked off down the hallway, closely followed by the other soccer players.
I turned to Aiden.
“Thanks,” I said, nodding at my friend.
“Don’t mention it,” Aiden replied. “Just…don’t make me do it again, John. Get back in the game.”
I nodded my thanks, but I wasn’t entirely sure if I could do that. I finally knew where my heart was leading me. And it wasn’t onto the soccer field. Or to Santee’s class.