m a v e r i c k
━
"Alright boys! Take a break, get a drink!" Coach Anderson calls.
I stop, dropping my football and going to the cooler to get a cold bottle of water. Mayer watches as I walk by, rolling his eyes.
"You got a problem, bud?" I ask, setting down my bottle of water and looking him up and down.
"Nah, just don't like you." He says, glaring at me.
I huff and a teammate, Isaac, comes in. "Dude, just stop! He didn't do anything."
Mayer laughs, looking around the field.
"What's your problem, anyway?" I ask.
He laughs harshly. "You. You're my problem."
"I didn't do a thing, dude. Just leave me alone."
And then his fist collides with my shoulder.
I get up, turning around and bracing myself, punching him squarely in the jaw; I get punched in the eye. I try pushing him back when he shoves me on the ground, pinning me down. I try to kick him, but his fist collides with my eye again, sending searing pain throughout my entire face and I start to see spots.
"Hey!" Coach Anderson shouts.
The last thing I see before my vision goes completely black is someone pulling Mayer off of me.
━
I only blacked out for about five minutes, and it was only from pain. Still, I have to get checked out at the ER after we leave.
"A fight?! Maverick, what were you thinking!?" Dad says as we stand in the cafeteria, waiting to go into the principal's office. "We raised you better than this!"
My little sister, Savannah, is sitting on the bench outside the office; Savannah is sixteen, only two years younger than I am.
"I—" I start.
"I don't care what happened! You do not fight with someone on the football field at practice!" Dad says.
My eye is definitely black and swelling, my jaw bruised. As far as I know, Mayer only ended up with a black eye and a small bruise on his jaw.
Mayer and I have never gotten alone, but we've also never fought before. I don't even know why he hates me so much, but ever since seventh grade, he has hated me more than anyone else I can imagine.
"You may come in." Ms. Walker, the secretary, says.
"We'll be back, Savannah. You stay right there." Mom tells her.
When we walk into Principal Ellis's office, Mayer and his mom are already sitting there.
"In all of my years here, I have seen very few fights." Principal Ellis starts.
"I'm so sorry, Principal Ellis. I have no clue what got into our son. We taught him that fighting was never the option." Mom says, looking at me. I practically can feel her disappointment and Dad's anger on the back of my neck.
"Yes, I agree, sir." Mayer's mom chimes in. "I raised my son never to fight. Especially never to start a fight."
"You are both very bright boys, and I have no clue what's gotten into either of you. As punishment, you will be doing detention together for one week after school starting on Monday. That will be five detentions, since it will only be a school week. You will be doing tasks for teachers, helping Ms. Walker, and cleaning classrooms. You will start directly after school and will finish at 5:30. You both are suspended from playing in the next two football games. I'm letting you off easy since this is both our your first offenses." Principal Ellis says.
━
"I think he let you off easily." Dad says, glancing at me in the rear view mirror as we drive to the ER.
"You may keep your phone, only so that you have a way to contact us after school and because this was the first time. We will not tolerate fighting, and if there is a next time, the punishment will be more severe." Mom says firmly. "If we find out that you have skipped detention, you will lose all phone privileges for at least a month. Even if you did not start the fight, you fought back."
"I wasn't gonna just stand there!" I say.
"Watch your mouth, or we'll increase your punishment." Dad says in a firm tone that indicates the conversation's ending. Savannah looks from me to our parents, but says nothing, looking at her phone and scrolling.
The ER confirms that nothing is broken, just bruised and swollen. They advise ice and Advil for pain.
I can't believe I have to do a weeks worth of detention for two hours with the prick also known as Mayer.
I have no clue why he even started it, but I wasn't going to just stand there and take it.
Even though it's Friday, I don't talk through dinner and go to bed early.
My best friend, Sabrina, has blown my phone up with texts.
Sabrina
mav??
yo
I heard you got in a fight?
what even happened??
Maverick
yeah
I did
Not proud of it but I did
Sabrina
what's the damage??
with who??
wait you still have your phone??
punishment??
Maverick
[ sends picture of face ]
it was with Mayer on the football field
he hit first
I should've backed away, but I chose to fight back
yeah, I have to do detention with Mayer for a week everyday after school
my parents only let me keep my phone so I'd have a way to contact them, and I guess because it was my 'first offense'
Sabrina
geeeeez....
I knew he didn't like you but yikes
that looks horrible
Maverick
yeah, it hurts like heck
now that I've had time to think about it and stuff, I feel so bad. you should've seen my parents faces.
Sab, they were so angry and disappointed
Sabrina
tbh, I kinda am too
i love you, but you're not the typa person to get in fights.
Maverick
I know. I feel so bad for his mom too
she was the only one who showed up for him.
his dad was never even mentioned.
Sabrina
yeah... I don't think I've EVER seen his dad.
WAIT do you like him??
Maverick
who?
Mayer?
lol no
Sabrina
idk if I believe that
i gotta go though
mom wants to do a "family movie night"
talk later :)
Maverick
talk later, sab
━
M O N D A Y , D E T E N T I O N # 1
On Monday morning, I get out of bed thoroughly dreading this day. The bruise on my jaw is starting to heal, but my eye is still as black and bruised as it was Friday night.
I sigh. I don't want to do this. It's going to be awkward, and we don't even like each other. I'll be lucky if he doesn't hit me again.
Monday after school, I go to the office because I'm not sure where I should go. Ms. Walker directs me to sit down and wait for Principal Ellis, telling the same to Mayer who walks in about a minute later.
His eye is still black, but the bruise on his face has almost faded away.
Principal Ellis comes out of his office. "Ah, hello boys." He says. "Today you're going to be in Mrs. Raynes's room. She has already gone, had a pregnancy appointment to get to, but she left papers and directions on what to do. You will also be cleaning up her classroom. She has ninth grade first thing in the morning."
Mayer and I walk quietly to Mrs. Raynes's room, turning on the light and closing the door behind us. Her room isn't too messy, but there's a stack of papers she wants us to pass out and put away.
Mrs. Raynes has a cubby for each grade that she puts her graded papers and worksheets in. I start working on sorting out the papers as Mayer works on sweeping the floor and wiping down the desks.
━
When we're finished for the day, Ms. Walker pops her head in the class room and tells us that we're free to go. Mayer and I walk away from each other in silence.
When I walk in the front door, Savannah looks up from her homework at the kitchen table, and Mom looks up from the stove.
"How was detention?" Mom asks.
"Quiet." I say. "Neither one of us said a thing. Mom, we're not going to be best friends just because we're being punished together."
Mom shrugs, looking up from what she's working on. "You never know, sweetie."
Sabrina
how was detention?
Maverick
quiet.
we didn't talk.
we worked in Mrs. Raynes's classroom today
also not sure if I'm allowed to say, but your little sister failed her English test.
Sabrina
go figure.
have you met Eliana? she's an idiot.
Maverick
she's not an idiot.
she's just slow sometimes.
Sabrina
i think she was dropped on her head when she came out of my mother's womb.
would explain TONS!!
Maverick
LOL SABRINA
be nice to your sister!!
Sabrina
i do love her
sometimes. i promise.
Maverick
lol okay
i'm going to bed, goodnight
Sabrina
goodnight mav
━
T U E S D A Y , D E T E N T I O N # 2
Tuesday afternoon, we're working in the office. Ms. Walker hands me the attendance sheets from all of the grades, teaching me how to put it into the system. For Mayer, she gives him the money for lunches this coming week and instructs him on how to make sure everyone gets lunch.
"I-I'm sorry." Mayer says after a bit of silence; it sounds painful for him to say.
I look up surprised.
"I was just really angry that day." He says. "Stuff at home. My dad left when I was nine, sends me a card for every holiday. But he just rolled up Thursday evening acting like everything was fine!" He pauses. "I'm sorry, you don't want to hear about my family drama."
"No, no, you're fine. I'm sorry too... I shouldn't've... I should've just left you alone." I say.
He shakes his head. "No, I shouldn't have enough started anything. It's not an excuse, but I am sorry."
And that's the end of the conversation for today's detention, but it's progress.
Sabrina
detention??
Maverick
we actually talked a bit
he apologized.
i did too.
Sabrina
well... that's progress, right?
Maverick
yeah, i mean we're not gonna be best friends or anything but it's progress
Sabrina
uh, you better not be best friends
that position is already filled.
Maverick
of course.
i would never allow anyone to take your place.
Sabrina
good.
that is my spot.
anyways, goodnight <3
i'll see you tomorrow
Maverick
goodnight :)
see you tomorrow
━
W E D N E S D A Y , D E T E N T I O N # 3
On Wednesday, we're working in the computer lap, cleaning off the screens, keyboards, mice, and desks. We're also making sure they're all turned off properly and ready for the next day's use.
Mayer opens the Clorox wipes, coughing.
"Geez, sometimes these scents are strong." He says.
"Exactly! And for what reason?!" I ask.
He laughs a little, and I smile, unsure exactly why.
"You know, we haven't ever talked much..." he says. "What do you like to do? In your free time?"
I pause, thinking as I turn a computer off, wiping off the keyboard after. "I like football. I like sleeping and eating... What about you?"
"Football... I love hanging out with my family and my nieces. They're eight months and two years old."
"What are their names?" I ask, unsure if I'm overstepping.
"Scarlett is eight months old, and Caroline is two."
He shows me a picture of them all, smiling brightly.
"Caroline looks a lot like you." I say softly, looking at the picture.
"Really? I've had a few people say that before. I don't really see it, though."
"It's in the smile, really. And you both have the same nose. And eyes."
He looks at me and we hold eye contact for at least thirty seconds.
We both look away quickly, and silence falls for the rest of the detention.
━
T H U R S D A Y , D E T E N T I O N # 4
On Thursday, we're sent to work in the library, re-shelving books. Mayer and I work out a tactic: he scans them back into the system and I put them back on the shelves.
I come back for my next batch of books after putting the other ones up already.
"I used to read these all time." He says, pointing to the book he just scanned. "The Magic Treehouse Books".
"Me too!!" I say. "I used to love them!"
He nods, smiling.
"You know, you're actually pretty cool," he says.
"Th-thank you?" I say, confused.
"We should hang out sometime? If you'd be down?"
I nod. "Yeah, totally!"
We don't talk much the rest of the detention, but the air between us feels lighter. Are we actually becoming friends?
━
F R I D A Y , D E T E N T I O N # 5 :
F I N A L D A Y
It's our last day of detention.
To be honest, I'm a little sad it's over.
Today, we're restocking teacher supplies. Each week, each teacher sends a list of supplies they need in their classroom for the next week and, usually, Ms. Walker drops them off.
There's a bucket for each teacher with their name on it that we put whatever it is they need in it, unless it's paper, then it goes under their bucket.
Mayer and I have everything we need, so we start off delivering things.
"Hey, promise you won't be a stranger after this?" Mayer says, turning to look at me.
I nod. "Yeah, for sure. I'll keep in touch."
After we've dropped everything off, we head back to the office where they let us go early.
Mayer and I walk out of the front doors together, the situation so much different from last Friday.
"Hey, you maybe wanna grab dinner? At the diner?" Mayer asks.
"Sure!" I say. "Do you need a ride?"
"No, actually, I need to run home first. If you want, I can pick you up? At, let's say, 6:15?"
I nod. "Sure."
"Mom, I'm going to dinner with a friend," I say when I get home, after dropping my stuff in my room and changing.
"Ooh, with who?" She asks, looking at me.
"Actually, Mayer," I say.
She smiles knowingly.
"Oh, he's here. I gotta run!"
At the diner, we both order a burger with fries.
Mayer looks at me, meeting my eyes.
He sighs. "I really am sorry, Maverick. I let my emotions get the best of me."
"It's okay, I get it. I did too. I think we're doing pretty good, now. I'd like to be friends."
"I don't want to be friends." He says. "Part of the reason I didn't like you, was because I did like you. I started liking you in seventh grade, and that point, I really didn't understand what was happening. You were just cute you literally made me angry. I didn't want you to find out, so... I made myself hate you."
He sighs, looking at me. "Look, I know it's a lot. It is, but I really don't want to start our friendship on false pretenses. But, do you wanna go out sometime?"
I pause, my face breaking out into a big smile. "I'd love that, Mayer." I tell him.
━
When we leave the diner, we go to an empty park, sitting in his car and just talking.
I look at him, leaning over and pressing a soft kiss against his lips. He puts a hand on the back of my head, pulling me in closer and deepening the kiss.
I make a noise that I really can't even describe, and I feel his lips smile against mine, kissing me a little bit harder.
When he pulls away, he looks at me, smile appearing on his face.
"I can't wait for that date," he says, biting his lip and laughing.
I laugh. "Me either."
2/14/21
uh happy Valentine's Day from me, single & Valentineless 🙃❤️