Episode Two: Crash Course in Polite Conversations
"1...2...3...Dante Turner has been pinned by Adam Hillsborough," The Announcer said. I lay on the ground stunned. "Tell me this can not be happening," I said as I headed to the locker room. I passed by Salomon as he headed to the mat for the final match. "Aw, watch a pro," He said as I passed by him. "You might learn something." I rolled my eyes and walked into the locker room. "Damn it," I said to myself. I can't believe I got pinned. And I was a wildcard. I was sure to get kicked off. "Dante?" Dean asked walking into the locker room. "I so can not believe this," I said to him. "I get pinned. The only one pinned." "Actually, not the only one," Carlos said walking into the locker room with the other guys. "Salomon got pinned." "He caught me off guard," Salomon said as he and Rusty walked in. "I'm sorry," Rusty mouthed to me. I smiled at him. "So...Salomon got pinned," Dean said as we began to dress out. "That's gotta make you feel better." "On some level it does, but then.... Actually, it does," I said with a smile. "On every level." *************************************************** Salomon sat in Mr. Michael's office. "Salomon, you're grades are kinda low," He said. "Especially in Algebra 2 and English 3." "Yeah, I will do better sooner or later," Salomon said not caring. "But I don't really need them classes." "You don't really need those classes," Mr. Michael's corrected. Actually, in order to be on the team you need to pass those two classes." "But I am passing PE and weight lifting," Salomon said. "I have an A in both classes." "All you have to do is Run and lift weights," Mr. Michael's said shaking his head. Salomon sighed. "Fine," Salomon said. "What exactly do I have to do?" "You have a test in English 3 and Algebra 2 coming up soon," Mr. Michael's said. "You need to find a tutor for these classes because if you don't, you will be kicked off the team without hesitation. Are we clear?" "Yeah," Salomon said with a sigh. I walked into the office as I stepped inside of the office. "I'm sorry. Am I interrupting?" I asked him. Mr. Michael's smiled. "Be with you in a sec, Dante," He said to me and I stepped into the hallway. "Get Him?" "Trust me, I wish I could," Salomon muttered. "What about him?" "Let me ask you, what class do you think you have a chance of passing?" Mr. Michael's asked him. Salomon shrugged. "English maybe," He said. Miacheals smiled a knowing smile. "Dante is a whiz when it comes to English," He said and Salomon stood up. "You really must be a little off if you think I am gonna ask Turner for help," He said walking out the office. Salomon stood to look at me as I sat on the bench. "Can I help you?" I asked him. "God, I hope not," He said walking off. I gave him a weird look as I walked into Miacheals office. "Thanks for coming to speak with me, Dante," He said to me. I smiled politely. "I wanted to speak with you about the match last night." "Look, I know...I know that I got pinned but...I can do better," I said to him. For some one who tried out to show people up, I sure wanted to stay on for some reason. He sighed. "Dante, maybe wrestling isn't where your skills lie," He said to me. "Perhaps, you'd be better suited finding where your talents lie." "Coach it was my first match," I said agape. "As a wildcard," He said. "Look, I like your spunk so I will do you a favor and I will be evaluating you on your next match. If you get pinned in the next match, I will have no choice but to cut you from the team." ************************************************ Jamie walked down the steps of his home. He decided to play hooky today and chill out around the house. ".... You are such a mean man," Carol Nickell said in a flirtatious tone. Jamie smiled. It was good that his mom was getting into the dating scene again. "Nice one, Mom," He said with a teasing glance at her. "I will meet you for Dinner at seven J.B.," She said and did a kiss into the phone. "Bye!" "J.B.?" Jamie asked her. "You two already have pet names?" "J.B. are his initials," She said to him as she threw a pillow at him. "James Buchannan." "Buchan...what?" Jamie asked at the bottom of the staircase. "Buchannan," She said busying herself with a crossword. "You know on second thought," Jamie said looking at the clock, which read 9:15, "I will go to school." ************************************************ Dean and I sat at our usual booth in Mcdonald's. "So he told you that if you lose the next match he'll cut you from the team?" He asked me as I sipped on a milkshake. I nodded. "God," I said aloud. "Why do I care so much if I get kicked off or not?" "Rusty," Dean said. I shrugged. "Maybe," I said. He shook his head. "No," He said pointing. "Rusty is coming inside with Amanda?" I turned to see him and Amanda walking hand in hand with each other. "That's my boyfriend," I said as I saw them take a seat with Carlos and Salomon. She saw me looking and waved. I waved back. "Why do you put up with him?" Dean asked me. "I don't know," I said resting my head on my hands. "I...I just want him so bad that I am willing to sell myself short to be with him." "That's not healthy," Dean said and I didn't care to comment.
"Go over there," Rusty said to Salomon. Salomon shook his head. "I am not asking that faggot for help," He said defiantly. "Salomon," Amanda scolded. "Yeah, he can't help he is gay," Rusty said and Carlos flashed him a look of disbelief. "And others can't help that they are living a lie," He muttered but Rusty heard him. "What's that supposed to mean?" Rusty demanded. Carlos shrugged. "It was a comment," Carlos said. "Does is strike a cord with you or something?" "Shut the fuck up man," Rusty said fuming. Carlos smiled in spite of himself. "What's going on here?" Salomon asked looking from one to the other. Carlos shrugged. "I don't know," Carlos said. "Rusty just ganged up on me." "I said shut the fuck up," Rusty said and Dean and I looked up from our table. "Rusty, we need to convince your dumb friend here to do the right thing and ask for help when he needs it," She said with sigh. "Not cussing your friends out." "We aren't friends," Rusty and Carlos said at the same time. They knew they shared a bond that they wish they didn't. Both resented me for being gay. "Okay, while Oprah here tries to get you to work on your communication issues girls, I am gonna go talk to that faggot," Salomon said. "If you want his help, you might wanna refrain from Faggot," Carlos said. "My bad," Salomon said. "Possible Homosexual." They all laughed as he walked over to our table.
"What the hell do you want?" I asked Salomon who took a seat at our table. "I...Um...I..." "Do you have a stuttering problem?" I asked him. "I asked what the hell do you want?" "I need your help man," Salomon said after a moment. I glanced at Dean who had a confused look on his face and Salomon with a nervous look on his and busted out laughing. "Dante," Dean said to me but I shook my head. "I'm sorry," I said trying to control my laughter. "I just...I can't.... Oh shit, I'm gonna die from laughing so hard." "What the hell is so funny?" He asked me. "The fact that you off all people would ask me of all people for help," I said as my laughter died down. "I can't believe you don't find this funny, Dean?" Dean tried to hide the fact that wanted to laugh, which only pissed Salomon off even more. "Are you gonna help me or not?" He asked me. I shook my head. "I'd rather help the devil," I said with a condescending smile. "Now...excuse me, but we were having a nice conversation without you. Bye now!" "You're gonna regret this," Salomon said storming back to his table. "You really enjoyed that didn't you?" Dean asked me as I watched Rusty kiss Amanda on the lips. I shook my head. "More than you know," I said as Rusty got up and headed to the parking lot. "I'll be back," I said getting up to follow him. Salomon took this as an opportunity to ambush Dean into getting my help. "He won't listen to me," Dean said to Salomon before he could even get out what he wanted to say.
"Did you tell Carlos about us?" Rusty asked me. "No," I said to him. "And I see you are having a lot of fun over there kissing Amanda." "Dante, I told you why I needed Amanda," he said to me. "Why are we having this conversation again?" "Why are we having this conversation?" I echoed. "Because we are. That's why. How do you think I feel seeing you kiss her right in front of me and then expect me to do that and so much more later?" "I don't know," Rusty said throwing his hands in the air. "What makes you think that I care? Wait.... That came out wrong." "No, I think that it came out right," I said to him. I turned and headed back into Mcdonald's. Carlos smiled at me as I past the booth but I didn't return it. Dean looked up at me. "Let's go." "Are you okay?" He asked me as we headed to the car. "No," I said as Amanda walked out. I thought she was going to talk to Rusty but instead she came straight for me. "Dante," She said to me with a warm smile. "Yeah?" I asked her trying not to get annoyed. She sighed. "I just wanted to say hey," She said to me. "It looked like you needed someone to be nice to you." "Thanks," I said with a smile. "Well...I guess I will catch you later." I looked at Rusty who was staring nervously at the both of us. "Okay," She said with a smile and walked back to Rusty. "That was nice," Dean said as we climbed into my car. "That bitch," I said as I turned out the driveway. "What was that for?" Dean asked curiously. "She had to make it hard for me to hate her for dating my boyfriend," I said scowling. ***************************************************
Jamie sat down at the table across from Dean and me. "I thought you were not coming today," Dean said to him as he sipped on his milk. "I need to ask Justin something," Jamie said as Justin walked up towards the table. "Ask me what? Do I think that you and the sun should spend a little more time together? Hell yes because I think that you are in desperate need of a tan," He said sitting beside me. "What's your dad's name?" Jamie asked him. "Why?" Justin asked him. Jamie sighed. "Because I want to know," He said irritated. "James why?" Justin asked him again. Jamie put his face in his hand. "My mom is dating your dad," He said and dean and me shared a confused. "That's impossible," Justin said with a scoff. "My dad dates a woman named Carol Nick.... Oh my god!" "I know," Jamie said shaking his head. "Aw, you two might become step brothers or something," I said hi-fiiving Dean. "Shut up," They said in unison. I just laughed. "Oh my god," Dean said suddenly. "Who is THAT?" I looked to where he was looking. A pretty girl with wavy black hair stood at the lunch line waiting to pay for her food. "Oh, that's Megan Anderson," Jamie said looking at her. "She's hot. You like?" "I think I might love," Dean said staring at her. When Dane falls, he falls hard. "Go talk to her," Justin said and Dean looked at us. "You think I should?" He asked us. I nodded. "Yeah," I said sipping on my soda. "And you might wanna hurry because it looks like Carlos is interested in talking to her as well." "Shit," Dean said jumping up. "Fucking Immigrant." We all laughed. I turned to look at Jamie and Justin. "So step-brothers?" I asked them and they flicked me off.
"Hey," Carlos and Dean said coming to a stop in front of Megan as she walked out of the line. "Um...Hi," She said to them. They stood staring at them. "I'm Dean," He said introducing him self. Carlos sighed. "Tu eres pequeno Chico," He said and Megan laughed. "What did he say?" Dean asked her. She smiled. "He said you are a short boy," She said and Dean blushed. "I'm Carlos," He said introducing him self. "Y Tu tienes pequeno pene y chupas verga," Dean muttered. Carlos gasped. "I do not have a small dick," He said. "So you suck dick, then?" Dean asked and Carlos realized that he didn't respond back to the second statement. Megan laughed. "You two are funny," She said as she tried to control her laugh. "Come join me for lunch." "Okay," They said following her to a table. Dean sat on her right and Carlos on her left.
"Looks, like Dean wants to get a piece of the mean girl too," Salomon said glancing over at the three. Amanda scoffed. "Salomon, not everyone is obsessed with sex like you are," She said to him. "Right Rusty?" "Um...." He said blushing a bit. Amanda sighed. "Just like a guy," She said to him but Rusty's mind was elsewhere. "What are you thinking about?" "Nothing," He said but Amanda could tell he was lying about something. "So did you figure out how to get Dante's help?" Carlos asked him. Salomon nodded. "Yeah, I did," He said with an evil smile. "Trust me, Dante want even know what hit him and he will have no choice but to do as I want." Rusty didn't know whether or not to be worried. "Amanda, have you seen the new hot student?" Lisa venero asked him. "Carlos?" She asked her and Lisa nodded. "He is so hot?" "Is that Carlos better than this Carlos?" He asked her. "Hell Yes," Amanda and Lisa said in unison. "I would so have sex with him," Amanda said and Rusty raised an eyebrow. "If I already wasn't dating the hottest guy in school." "And who's obsessed with Sex?" Salomon asked Sarcastically. "Shut up," Amanda muttered.
"And you know he goes by CJ, right?" Lisa asked. Amanda nodded. "Isn't that CJ over there?" Salomon asked pointing over to where CJ sat at our table. "If so, it looks like the faggot got to him." Amanda and Lisa both looked over. "Oh god, Dante is going to turn him gay," Lisa said. Amanda sighed. "We don't know if he is gay or not for sure," She said and cast a glance at Rusty. "Just because someone spreads a rumor it doesn't make it true." "He is laughing at every joke CJ seems to be saying," Carlos saying and Rusty seemed to get red. Carlos could tell he was getting Jealous. "So tell us how you plan on getting that faggot to help you," Rusty said to him casting looks over to him. *************************************************** "So let me make sure I got everything," I said as I walked with CJ to American Lit. "You're name is Carlos but you go by CJ, you're from New York, you like French fries, and you love to fight. Dude, I like you already." "Hey, I like you too," He said with a smile. God, this guy is hot. I couldn't possibly be the only one who thought so. "Hey Sexy," a girl said to Carlos as we passed her. Carlos smiled at her. I guess not. "You know, I can't believe that I just came up and sat with you guys at lunch," He said to me. "I really don't like to introduce myself to people." "Well, I am glad that you did," I said to him. "I made a new friend today." "Me too," He said to me with a smile. God, he is so hot. Did I say that already? "Hey dudes," Jamie said to me. He sat with Dean at the desk. "Hey," I said with a smile. "Where is your step-brother?" "Damn you," Jamie said flicking me off. I laughed. "So look what do we have here?" Rusty asked as he was walking in with the gang. "A spick?" "Rusty," Amanda and I said at the same time. "Hey," Salomon said. "I am Mexican after all." "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" CJ asked him. "Just what I said," Rusty said smartly. I looked over at Carlos and he sent me what seemed like a telepathic message. Funny, we hadn't been close friends and we still had a connection. Rusty was Jealous. "Dude, what the fuck is your problem?" Carlos asked him. He threw his book bag off. "I hate spicks," Rusty said to him. "Dude," Salomon and Carlos said at the same time. "Sal, you're a cool Spick and Carlos you are Puerto Rican," Rusty said. "But..." He threw his bag off. "If you wanna go...Let's go." "Whoa, let's wait a second here," I said stepping in between the two. "How about Carlos you go sit over there at that empty desk by the window and Rusty you slither back to the trailer park where you belong." Rusty hit me across the face. "That was for the milk incident last week," He said looking at me. "Oh my god," Amanda said grabbing Rusty's arm. What shocked me was that he hit me. What shocked me even more was CJ punched him. "Oh no," Salomon said and he and Carlos grabbed him. "Wrestling dude." "I'm gonna fucking kill you," He said to CJ or me. Maybe CJ and me. Who knows? "Maybe we should skip," Justin said watching the whole thing from the doorway. *************************************************** "He hit me," I said as the five of us sat in Mcdonald's. "Well, you did pour milk on him after all," Dean said to me. I flashed him a dirty look. "You might not wanna defend the guy he calls boyfriend," Justin said to him. "Justin!" I said to him shocked. I just met CJ. I didn't wanna scare him away yet. "Boyfriend?" CJ asked me. "You're gay?" "Um..." I stammered. Justin sighed. "It's nothing to be ashamed of," Justin said. "And if you have a problem with it, you can get up and go." "Actually, he can't," Jamie said to him. "We drove in one car. And anyway.... Shut up." "Hey, if he has a problem with Dante being gay then he should walk for all I care," Justin said. "And you shut up." "Can we get back to the real topic at hand?" I asked. "Rusty HIT me." "Dante, he got Jealous of CJ for some reason and he was acting out of jealousy," Dean said. "God, why can't people even notice the obvious." "Are you gonna let me talk?" CJ asked him. "Oh," He said. "Well...go ahead." "I don't have a problem with it," He said. "It's just unexpected. You don't seem gay." I smiled at him and he smiled back. "See I never understood that," Dean said. "Why is it that society today feels that all gay guys are faggots." "Oh, hell, he bout to get deep with us," Jamie muttered. CJ snorted. "No, I am serious," Dean said. "I mean Dante isn't the macho guy but he isn't the feminine guy either. So why does Society classify him a faggot and not a gay male." "No offense Dante, but what is the difference?" Justin asked. "Aw, hell," Jamie said. Dean flashed Justin an analytical look. "There is a big difference," Jamie said. "In fact there are many classifications or sub-races of Homosexuality." "Now you're classifying being gay as a race?" I asked him. "Yeah," He said to me. "I mean you can't help you're gay and you also can't help you're black. What I am saying is that being gay am almost like you have your own specific race. There are different types of black people. African Americans, Nigerians, Kenyans and the list goes on." "So there are sub-races of being gay then?" Justin asked him. "Yeah," Dean said. "There are five types. The Faggot or The Fem. The Gay Male. The Bisexual Male. The Straight Gay male. The Closeted Gay male." "This is getting interesting," Jamie said. "Explain these five to us, please, teacher." "Shut up," Dean said. "I'll use examples. Rusty would be considered a Closeted Gay male. He has no attraction whatsoever to Amanda but he wants to hide his gayness so he hides behind being straight or appearing straight. Dante would be a gay male for the reasons I said earlier. The others should be pretty much self-explainable." "Damn," I said. "When did you get you're degree in Homosexualology?" "Shut up," He said to me with a smile. ************************************************** "So...Dean...He really likes to talk, huh?" CJ asked me as he walked me to the gym. "Yeah, and about topics he is a pro on, don't ever tell him he is wrong," I said to him. "I'll remember that," He said to me. I stopped at the entrance of the gym. "You didn't have to walk me to the gym," I said to him. "But...thanks." "Hey, it's okay," He said to me. "Um...Seeing how I'm new here, you think you could show me around?" "How about Friday?" I asked him. "We can go after my match." "Deal," He said with a smile. I grabbed his hand and wrote my number on his hand. "Call me whenever," I said to him. He smiled and grabbed my hand. He wrote his number on mine. "Y Tu tambien," He said walking off. I smiled and noticed Carlos pass by him. "All these girls are gonna be mad," He said to me. "Why?" I asked him. "Because they can't get me?" "Yeah right," He scoffed. "Because CJ is gay." "He is not," I said with a scoff. He shrugged.
"Trust me when you're ex-best friend tells you his gay you learn to read the signs," He said to me. "And I read the signs...He is gay." "OK Carlos," I said walking into the gym. *************************************************** Jamie walked into his house to a surprise. His mom was making out with whom he guessed and hoped was James Buchannan. "Hello," He said and the two jumped apart. "Hey sweetie," she said blushing. Jamie smiled at her. Not having that active of a sex life leaves you wanting to catch up. "How was school." "Fine," He said. "Um...I am gonna go do my homework."
"Wait a sec," James said getting up. "We haven't been introduced yet." "Oh," Jamie said not wanting to talk to the man. After all, the man who was Justin's dad had to be just as bad. "I'm James Buchannan but you can call me," He said shaking his hand. "I'm the guy who you caught kissing your mom." "We're gonna have to burn the couch," Jamie thought. "Jamie," Carol said breaking him from his thoughts. "I'm Jamie," He said dryly. "And you're also the father of the boy I can't stand." "Huh?" JB asked confused. Jamie sighed.
"Justin," He said. "I can't stand him." Carol Nickell and James Buchannan both stood opened mouth. "Well...I better get started on that homework." *************************************************** "Hey, gayologist, let me ask you a question," I said to Dean as we changed for wrestling. "Do I think Justin Timberlake is gay?" He asked me. "Hell yeah. Or maybe it's me wanting Cameron Diaz." "Do you think CJ is gay?" I asked him. "Gay? No," Dean said. "Bi and into you? Maybe." "I don't think so," I said to him. "I mean a gay guy usually knows when a guy is gay or straight." "You thought I was gay when you tried to French me at that party," He said to me. "I was drunk," I said to him. "And besides, I still have my suspicions." *************************************************** "I can't believe you would volunteer to help me," Salomon said to Rusty as we ran laps around the gym. "Let's just say this is a personal vendetta," Rusty said watching me as I ran with Dean. "Well, let's put the plan into motion," Salomon said and Rusty ran a little faster to catch up with Dean and me. "Is what you're gonna do gonna hurt Dante?" Carlos asked Salomon. He laughed. "If he cooperates then no one will get hurt," Salomon said and they watched as Rusty and then a few seconds later, I headed out to the door. Carlos caught up with Dean. "Shit, where is Dante going with Rusty?" Dean asked him. "If he gets caught, who knows what coach will say." "I don't know," Carlos said. "All I know is that, shit is about to go down." *************************************************** "What the hell is you're problem?" He asked me. "What do you mean what is my problem?" I asked him. "You asked me to come talk with you." "Why are you talking to that guy?" He asked me. "CJ?" I asked him. "Because he is cool. Why the hell did you punch me?" "I don't know," He said to me. "I'm sorry, baby." "I know," I said grabbing his hand. "But...I mean I am trying to understand the fact that you need Amanda and I guess...I guess I can deal with it. For now." "I'm glad," He said to me. "I know things are hard for us now. And I can promise that I will try and deal with you hanging out with CJ. Because I love you, Dante." He took a step to kiss me. "Rusty, we could get caught," I said holding him back. "Live on the wild side a little Dante," He said kissing me. I heard a click and I pushed him off to see Salomon standing there with a camera phone in his hand. "Wha...." I began but had no idea what to say. Rusty had forgotten that Salomon was coming in. He had meant what he said. "Looks like you are a fag, Dante," Salomon said showing me the picture. "And I got right here." Dean and Carlos rushed in. "No one is gonna believe that," I said folding my arms. "And besides, what about Rusty?" "What about him?" Salomon asked. "He's fucked enough girls for everyone to know he isn't a faggot. By the way, thanks Rusty." I glanced at Rusty who had an unreadable look on his face. "Say what you gotta say man so we don't get in trouble for skipping out on laps," Dean said to Salomon. "I want to speak to him alone," He said to me. I again glanced at Rusty who quickly walked out. "I'll be okay," I said to Dean and Carlos. They reluctantly left. "What is it?" "Dante, let's not make this any harder than we have to," He said to me. "I have proof enough here to make your life a living hell." He took a step closer to me. "So you want me to tutor you?" I asked him. He smiled an evil smile. "Who said this was just about tutoring?" He asked sending a chill up my spine. "But...we'll get to the 'other' stuff later. I have a feeling we are gonna become great friends...In more ways than one." *************************************************** "Jamie, what is wrong with you?" Carol asked walking into his room. "Mom, you had to fall for the guy whose son I hate with a passion," Jamie said. "Why?" "James is not that bad so you should give him a chance," She said to him. Jamie scoffed. "Okay, put it this way. If you wanna see daylight besides going to school, I suggest you give him a chance." "Mom..." Jamie said but she shook her head. "It's final," She said to him. "I invited James and Justin over for dinner. Saturday. That will give you time to maybe squash things with Justin before then." "I doubt that," Jamie said. "That guy is so cocky and arrogant." "Sounds like someone I know," She said kissing his forehead. "Sounds like you should stop dating the father of the devil then," Jamie countered. *************************************************** "Dante..." Rusty said as I stormed over to him. I punched him across the face. "Oh my god," Amanda said climbing out the car. "I'm sorry," He said but I begin to punch him again and again. "Somebody stop him," Amanda said as Dean and Carlos rushed to stop me but I held my hand up. "You might wanna get Amanda to suck your dick and fuck her for awhile," I said in his ear. "Because the candy shop is closed. Dean let's go." I glanced at Salomon as I walked past him. Apparently, he had a lot more in store than some simple tutoring and that kinda scared me. "What the hell happened back there?" Dean asked me. I shrugged. "Lover's quarrel," I said. "Don't people have them all the time?" "Not like that," Dean said as we climbed in the car. "Bobby and Whitney or Ike and Tina maybe." "I can't believe Rusty would trick me like that," I said to him. "Ugh...I wanna run him down with my car." "Maybe I should drive," Dean said as I passed by Rusty who was apparently arguing with Amanda. *************************************************** In Episode 3, Dante's make or break match is nearing but he begins to hang with CJ a little more and also manages to threaten his relationship with Rusty. Salomon is nervous about an upcoming exam. Justin and Jamie are forced to have dinner together. Megan begins to play Dean and Carlos like a game.