Page 94 of Out of Bounds

And just like that, the moment was over. Back to regularly scheduled practice. Whatever moment they shared, whatever bonds were created here, would not be talked about. Because it was nobody’s damn business.

* * *

After practice,Cliff jogged up to Dell as he was leaving the arena with his bag hooked around his shoulder.

“Hey.”

“Hey,” Dell answered back, barely acknowledging him. He didn’t stop walking.

Cliff tried to find the words for what he wanted to say, but they were hiding.

“What are you up to?”

“Grabbing dinner.”

“Cool.”

A layer of ice coated Dell’s words. Cliff worried that he had pushed him away too hard and that he’d lost him forever. He had turned one of the friendliest, most jovial people he knew into stone.

Cliff walked fast to keep up with his pace. They entered the North Campus quad. The buildings had a dusting of snow on their roofs.

“Thanks for what you did back there with Altshuler.”

“So you’re talking to me now?”

Cliff stood there a moment, the feelings and apology clinging to his tongue. After a beat of nothing, Dell said see-ya and kept walking.

“I’m gay.” It felt weird every time he said it aloud. Would it ever be easier? Or would he get stronger?

Dell stopped and turned around. “Yeah, I kinda figured.”

“I know, and I got scared. You used they and them when asking about my crush. You found me out.”

Dell shrugged. “I guess I was paying attention.” He remained far away. “I was trying to let you know that you could tell me.”

“Oh.” Cliff didn’t deserve a teammate like Dell. He was loyal and kind, and it hit Cliff how much he missed hanging out with him.

After a moment of silence, Dell gave an awkward nod and turned around to go.

“Wait,” Cliff said. “Why did you do that back there, pretend that bottle was yours?”

Dell smiled and shook his head like there was a joke and Cliff didn’t have the punchline.

“What?”

“Because you’re my friend, Cliff.”

Friend. A real one. His first real friend. They shared a weighted look forged in fire. Brennan wasn’t the only one who had managed to scale his walls.

Cliff walked over to him. His heart filled with gratitude.

He held out his hand. It hung in the air for a tortuous moment until Dell slapped it. Their fingers slid away from each other. The snaps echoed across campus.

“Want to grab dinner?” Cliff could feel tectonic plates shift around inside him, a new Cliff coming into formation.

“You know it,” Dell said.

They entered the dining hall, following the trail of muddy, snowy footprints to the cafeteria.