I Woke Up 97 by M.P. Arsent
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This time I didn't even need directions and we found a place to park without too much of a problem. Once inside we found ourselves a table and almost immediately people started coming by to say hi and catch up a little. Those that I had meant since I woke up got recognized and the few who hadn't made themselves known either at Rolands party or the last time I was here got a polite acknowledgement. Oh I recognized them to be sure, but as I told Karl I wanted to see if any of them was going to try and con me or anything.
A few of the guys from my former gymnastics team came by and it seemed that my meet with Pemberton had even made the papers back here. Not something I would have expected but the recognition was nice.
There were also faces there that I recognized that weren't friendly and thankfully most of those tended to stay away. I did see one face in the crowd and I knew he was going to be trouble.
Scott Clay had been Larry Browns closest friend,and neighbor. He sure as the sun rises would have heard what Larrys father thought on the subject of his sons death.
"Karl, do you think Scott will make a scene? I know he and Larry were good friends."
"Shit if I know Den,but it does look like he's headed this way and under a full head of steam though."
"You've got balls to show your face around here Sawyer. You got my best friend killed and got away with it. Well not tonight."
"You've been listening to Larrys father apparently. Let me put you straight. Larry had me in his sights pure and simple. He got himself thrown off his squad at Anderson and he blamed me for it. I wasn't even participating in the meet. Larry did himself in the ref even said so. I suspect that all of the things Larry told his father I was doing to him is what he in reality had done to me. If you were his best friend I bet he tried to enlist you in a scheme against me, oh along about the middle of September I think it was. He kept up with his attacks right through until the night of his accident. He was trying to run me off the road and he lost control of his car. I can show you a copy of the police report at some point if you like."
"Yeah that's what I figured you say. I'm not buying it Sawyer."
"I really don't care what you think,but would you take someone elses word for it?"
"Whose this other poof?"
"Nope."
I saw Micah in the crowd and got his attention and he came over.
"Hey Dennis, how you doing?"
"Getting by Micah. Tell Scott what happened at Anderson this past fall please."
"You mean with Larry?"
"Yeah."
Micah went and chronicled all that he had been involved in with the whole Larry situation, from his getting kicked from the squad right up until the time the feds hauled him away.
"Still doesn't make you innocent Sawyer."
"I don't suppose anything I can say will convince you Scott, but my conscious is clear. I hate that Larry died, it wasn't something I wanted. I just wanted to be left alone to live my life as I see fit. That's all I still want."
"I'm betting that ain't gonna happen twerp."
At that point I saw another face in the crowd. It was Ace,the one guy from Dirks crew who hadn't seemed to get it.
"This guy giving you trouble Dennis?"
Yeah you could have knocked me over with a feather. Ace? Standing up for me?
"No Ace. He just wanted to state an opinion."
"Well if he has stated it then he can leave right?"
Scott looked at Ace but seemed to get the message to leave.
I looked at Karl and he just shrugged his shoulders at me.
"You guys mind if I sit for a few?"
"Suit yourself Ace, but what the hell?"
"It finally sunk in what you been saying Dennis. I wanted to apologize for being such a dick at the Dirks house that day."
Again you could have knocked me over with a feather.
"Well I'm glad you finally got there Ace. You apologized to Dirk yet?"
"Yeah just the other day. He told me about how you saved his ass from that bad deal too. He had several not so nice words with the lawyers after that. Not just the guys working his account, oh no. He went up to the partners and gave them a piece of his mind. There are a couple of guys looking for work now."
"I should hope so. If I spotted it his lawyers should damn happy well have seen it."
"Anyway, Dennis I just wanted to get that off my chest. You guys take it easy."
With that he got up and went back to the folks he was there with.
I looked at Karl and he stared back at me.
"Who would have thought it?"
"Not me that's for sure."
The night wore on until we figured we had hung out enough and we headed back to my house. Karl was headed for the back door, but I stopped him.
"Spend the night with me lover?"
"You know you only have to ask Den."
We moved into my bedroom and stripped and climbed into bed. There wasn't any sex, we simply held each other tight until we fell asleep.
Next morning we were up in time to go jogging and meant up with Roland and Aaron. Down the road and around the track and then back to my house. A quick shower and we were over to Karls for breakfast with his family. Bobby got it into is head that he wanted to roughhouse with the both of us before we had to head out tomorrow to go back to campus. So outside we went and had a bit of a free for all about the whole thing.
Later in the afternoon we were out tossing a football around when a kid about Bobbys age came walking up the street. The kid looked kind of familiar. Then it dropped into place. It was Larrys little brother Joey.
Bobbie just kinda stood there and waited for Joey to get to us. He walked right past Bobbie and came to me and tried to slug me.
Larry may not have had much influence over Joey,but it was obvious that his father did. I protected myself, but otherwise let Joey beat on me until he ran down and just collapsed at my feet.
I knelt down and put an arm around his shoulders.
"Joey, I'm sorry. You may not believe that and I can't say I would blame you, but I never intended to hurt your brother."
"But he's dead and you're not!"
"I know....."
"Get your god damn faggot hands off of my boy!"
Shit just what I needed today.
Stan was outside by this point and stopped Mr Brown from getting any closer to me. I let Joey go right away.
Mr Brown made the mistake of taking a swing at Stan. I couldn't ever remember seeing Stan move as fast as he did when he put Larrys father on the ground.
"You leave my father alone!"
Joey launched himself at Stan and it was Bobbie who intercepted him.
"Break it up all of you! Hasn't there been enough grief already!?"
Gert had joined the battle,broom in hand.
"Dennis scat! Now! Stan let him up. Mr Brown you and your son will kindly leave my home. Now!"
I knew Gert meant business so I hightailed it back over to my house. Karl saw fit to stay at his place for the time being.
It was about a half hour later that Karl came through the back door.
"Can we go back tonight Love? I don't need this much drama."
"Who says there will be any less back on campus?"
"There's got to be less back there Den. I think Larrys father is going to be just as much truoble as Larry."
"Then we deal with it. Larry brought his fate upon himself. Eventually his father is going to have to accept that. All we can do is live our lives lover."
"Yeah I suppose so. Mom wanted me to make sure you were coming over for supper."
"If I'm welcome."
"You know damn happy well that you are Den."
We headed back over to Karls and we all just kind of hung around inside until supper was ready.
After supper Karl and I just went for a walk and ended up over at Aarons house of all places.
He showed us what he was currently working on for a computer game and I guess it was interesting enough.
Along about 10pm we headed for my house and for bed after letting Karls parents know we were in for the night.
Sunday morning we were up and out for our jogging with Roland and Aaron. We completed our laps and were back to the house for a quick shower before it was over to Karls for breakfast.
Karl and I loaded a few things we wanted to take back to campus with us and grabbed a quick lunch with his family. I made it a point to call Pete to tell him we would be on our way over to get him shortly and then it was hugs and handshakes all around.
Once we got over to Pete's we had to take the time to say hello to Millie before we hit the road for the 5 hour drive back to campus. With everybody converging on campus it took us more like 6,but the trip was thankfully uneventful.
We stopped at Karls dorm and offloaded his stuff before driviing around to our own dorm and unloading the car. Things were fairly busy with everybody coming back from the holiday and I didn't lay eyes on Gordon or Aiden when we finally got inside.
I was sitting out in the dayroom when I saw Aiden just kind of drag ihmself by. I went to see what the problem was.
"Aiden you alright?"
"Hmmm? Oh hi Den. yeah I'm fine. Sleeping on a fold out sofa just doesn't agree with me I guess. Mom's in a really small apartment right now, only the one bedroom. I'm thinking of giving up college and letting her have the money for a better place."
"I'm betting she doesn't think much of that idea."
"Not a bit, but when I checked on Friday, the lawyers told me the trust was set up so that it can't be spent on anything but college."
"Well at least she has a roof over her head. Be thankul for that. What about your stepdad?"
"I tried to see him,but he slammed the door in my face."
"Ouch"
"Hey our relationship was never great to begin with Den. I'm thinking I'm better off without him. You seen Gordon yet?"
"Nope but it's only 8. I think he'll be here soon enough."
"I hope so. It was only 5 days but I've missed the hell out of him."
Almost as if on cue the door burst open and Gordon went into Aidens arm, tears streaming down his face.