I Woke Up 275 by M.P. Arsent
Copyright to this story remain strictly that of the author. No other publication or use of this story is allowed without the consent of the author. This story contains male on male sexual content both implied and explicit. If this offends you please do not continue. All characters and implied situations are strictly those of the author and are not based on any real life events or characters. If you are under 18 years of age please exit this story now. I welcome all responses to my stories. Please make sure that you list the name of the story in the email line. If your email is to alert me of misspelled words or improper punctuation or grammar save your time because it will be deleted. I hope you enjoy my vivid imagination. Please let me know what you think at mparsent@gmail.com and don't forget to donate to Nifty as they do an amazing job.
Dana looked around to all of us and then turned to coach.
"We're not going to counter Coach."
"That's what I thought. I'll tell the officials."
We were shortly called back to the hall for the announcements.
"May I have your attention please. There has been a protest lodged against State for interuption of game."
This met with a lot of booing from our contingent.
"Quiet please! After consideration, we have found this complaint to be without merit."
Which got a certain amount of booing from the Kilbride people.
"There has been no counter protest filed, though in our opinion there are considerable grounds for one. Therefore scoring stands as is and this meet is awarded to State."
The reaction, as one might expect, was mixed at best. Soon enough Karl and the guys were there.
"What the hell Den?"
"Not now. Get everybody together and pass the word to watch your backs on the way out to the buses and cars. I wouldn't put it past these morons to try something. Just get everybody out of here as quickly and quietly as possible."
I started getting everybody moving towards the locker room.
"Coach, just a feeling, but let's skip the showers and get everybody moving."
"You heard the man! Get changed and let's haul ass, but orderly."
It was already later in the day than would normally see the end of the meet. We all changed quickly and got back to our rooms and cleaned things out and were on our bus in record time. We didn't even stop to have a late lunch.
When we finally made it back to campus there were only Karl, Pete, Susan, Aiden, Gordon and Paul and Cam and a few others who had driven themselves were there to meet us. We had beaten the buses back.
I went to Karl as soon as I got off the bus.
"Damn lover you stink."
"Yeah, well what can I tell you . We didn't feel like sticking around there any longer than we had to."
"Neither did we once we saw some of the faces around there. We didn't even wait for the buses to load. We just got the hell out of Dodge. So what the hell happened?"
I proceeded to give them all of the details right from when we got there right on through to the warmups. The rest they had seen for themselves.
"So that's what he meant when he said you had grounds to."
"Yeah, but we just didn't see the point. Now I don't know about you guys, but I didn't get any lunch. Let's hit a drivethru and then get home so I can shower."
"No arguement from me."
I was a little concerned that we had beat the buses back to campus, but that could have been for any number of reasons, the most simple being that we usually had lunch before we departed a campus.
We hit one of the burger franchises and headed home. I went and grabbed a shower after devouring my burger.
The college had a radio station which I rarely listened to, but tonight I turned it on. The fact that we had beaten the buses back was still gnawing at me.
"Reports have reached us tonight of wide spread harrassment against out gymnastics team from those at Kilbride College. Further reports of student supporters of the team recieveing similar treatment have also surfaced this evening. Details are still being gathered and gymnastics team memebers are being contacted for comment."
At which point my phone rang, with Danas ringtone.
"I just heard Dana."
"The official line is no comment."
"Yeah I thought as much and it was going to be that from me anyways. Any idea what happened to the buses and was anybody seriously hurt?"
"I haven't gotten any details yet other than no serious injuries. The whole story propably won't be had until sometime tomorrow."
"Which means in the meantime rumors are going to run rampant. At some point some kind of statement is going to have to be made."
"No doubt and it will be up to coach to make it."
"Okay Dana, mums the word. Later."
"Later Den."
"I can gather what that was about Den. Think you'll have to face the local media in the morning?"
"I hope to hell not, but I'm sure you got the drift that the party line is 'no comment'."
"Yeah,let's hope everybody adheres to it."
My phone rang once again.
Mr Sawyer, this is George Reynolds from the college radio station. I'm sure you know why I'm calling."
"I do and it's no comment. I'm thinking anything on this situation will be coming from Coach Connors."
"I figured as much, but I had to try."
"Have a good evening Mr Reynolds."
"And so it begins. This is going to follow the team all the way to the all state isn't it?"
"More than likely, but we can cope with it I'm sure. Afterall we aren't the bad guys here."
"Den, I know that, you know that, but do you think the Kilbride idiots won't be on the warpath? They'll try to paint this as all being our teams fault."
"I have no doubt, but I'm betting their own administration shuts them down PDQ, at least officially."
"Could their team be outright banned from competition?"
"If they carried it on for very long, always a possibility, but we shouldn't have to deal with them again this year. I doubt like hell they'll even make it to the allstate this year. They'd have to win their last two meets to even have a shot."
We crashed in front of the TV for a bit and then called it any early night seeing as I didn't get much sleep the night before.
Sunday morning as we were up and out and over to campus for our jogging. Naturally Bob Watson was waiting for me at Cochran hall.
"Bob I'll tell you the same thing I told the guy from the radio station. No comment and anything that will end up being said is likely to come from Coach Conners."
"About what I expected from you Dennis, but I had to try. Later."
Once Bob left the guys looked at me.
"Not even off the record guys. What you don't know you can't inadvertently spill. All I'll say is that if we pulled what was pulled on us, Coach Connors would pull us himself. Let's get this in gear, as I have stuff I have to do for classes tomorrow."
We got our run in and then Karl and I were back to the apartment. Showered and changed for the day, we hit the books.
Along about 5:30 I heard Paul and Cam pull in.
"Time to head downstairs light of my life."
"Yeah and another round of questions I'm sure."
"Hey Paul and Cam were there this morning, and I'm betting they are at this very moment giving the Castanza's the word."
"Yeah, we'll see."
We got ourselves downstairs and helped get the table set as usual.
"I know you can't talk about the circumstances Dennis, but otherwise, how was the meet?"
"We had it won hands down Mr Castanza. If they had put as much effort into the meet as they did the other stuff, they might have had a chance."
After that is was pretty much general conversation. We finished our meal and helped clean up and then Karl and I were back upstairs and just crashed in front of the TV until bedtime.
Monday we were up and headed out when the local media hit us in the driveway.
"Ok folks. It's no comment and anything that is forthcoming will either come from the administration or Coach Connors."
I eased on through those gathered at that point and made my way to campus. Laps were run and by the time we got back to the apartment the media had already left.
We got our act together and headed in for classes. There were all kinds of people about who looked like they wanted to ask me what the hell had happened, and I ignored them. I was sure before the day was over there were going to be any number of stories floating around from those who had attended the meet.
Investment vehicles was soon out of the way and it was on to the tax class. Mr McEmbers motioned me aside after the class.
"I've been hearing some stories I find hard to believe Dennis."
"Sorry, but the team has been told 'no comment' is all we're allowed to say. Unofficially, I wouldn't doubt just about anything you've heard. Personally I trying not to listen so I won't be tempted to set things straight."
"A wise choice if you've been told not to comment. I best get going to my next class."
At which point I headed over to the student union to grab my lunch. I was out on my bench when Pete and Susan showed up.
"You wouldn't believe some of the things I've heard today Den."
"Yeah I would Pete, but I don't want to hear them. What you heard when we got back is all I can attest to, and that is off the record to boot."
"Yeah we get it. We'll only talk about what we saw at the actual meet, what we saw with our own eyes. Later."
Eventually it was time to head over to Risk/Rewards. I got through that class and then just headed back to the apartment. I got something going for supper and did a quick review of my portfolio for the practicum tomorrow. Nothing needed changeing.
Karl was home soon after that and we had our supper after which we sat in front of the TV before crashing for the night.
Tuesday we were up and at it once again. By this time student accounts of what had happened after the meet had made it to the media and they were right there at Cochran hall waiting for me.
"I haven't been listening to any accounts of what happened after the meet, and seeing as I wasn't there to witness any of them I don't feel it appropriate to comment on them. Thank you."
We got our laps in after that and Karl and I were back to the apartment where I had to go through the routine once again.
We finally got inside and Karl got his shower and was soon off to classes. Once he was gone I got myself in gear.