The Fox’s Tale

“You guys are all sick fucks, I hope you know that.” The last day of closed practice was finishing up and despite not having seen her in three days I was feeling great.

Don’t get me wrong, I still thought about her constantly, but now it produced a happy sort of buzz instead of an obsessive ache. I looked at my teammates. “Seriously, seriously sick.”

“In all honesty, I thought you’d have tried to deck someone by now. Whatever she did Monday must have helped what’s been eating at you.” Matt waggled his eyebrows at me, anticipation written on his face.

“It did, thanks for asking.” I kept my facial expression calm in order to not give anything away. A few years ago I would have been bragging about what had happened between us, because hello? Best after practice experience ever!

But I didn’t want to make her the subject of more gossip or give the guys the wrong idea about her. She deserved to be respected.

“So, are you two an item now or what?” Matt wasn’t letting up on his grilling of me.

I shook my head and laughed. “Stop fishing for details, it ain’t happening.”

“Okay, but don’t screw it up for the rest of us. Ellery is special.”

“She is, isn’t she?” I couldn’t help grinning.

“I miss having her here.” Nick joined our conversation.

“At least you’ve got another year with her. Think about us poor seniors who will be entering into an Ellery-less existence in six months.” Scott shook his head and groaned. “It’s gonna suck so bad.”

He turned back to me. “I’m glad you got your shit together. I think Lee might have killed you if she couldn’t be at the game tomorrow.”

“Lee wouldn’t do that to Ellery,” Nick replied.

“Do that to her?” I asked, incredulous. “I’d be the one who’s dead.”

Nick looked at me in confusion. “Yeah, but….oh no. Really? You still don’t get it?”

Now I was confused, but before I could ask Nick what it was that I didn’t get Matt interrupted.

“The last time we played Central was at home two years ago. I wonder how bad it’s going to be?”

Matt’s concern surprised me “We never played them at Riverhill. What are you guys worried about?”

Matt, Scott and Nick glanced around before answering as one. “Coyotes.”

“There’s only one of them on the team right?”

“There are three, but it’s not the players, it’s the fans. They’re brutal.” Nick drank some water before continuing. “It’s the most hostile environment in the whole region.”

“Come on,” I scoffed, “it can’t be that bad.”

“Just wait, man. You’ll see.”

After that bit of ominous discussion Coach Hendrix called us in for one last pep talk and my mind drifted to thoughts of Ellery and how I’d get to see her again. I tried to nod my head at the appropriate times and give the reactions the coaches wanted, but inside it felt like every Yule Eve I’d ever had. I couldn’t wait to see her again.

A part of me wanted to stop by her house on the way home, but I had no way of knowing if she was actually there. I also didn’t like the idea of trying to explain what I was doing there to a parent or worse, a brother.

By the time I made it home I realized that the prickling sensation that had been plaguing me up until Monday was coming back. I remembered she had said I could call and brought up her contact to do just that when a text appeared.

(Drink the tea, Alexander)

I laughed and wrote back. <I was just about to call you about it.>

<What’s in it?>

(Do you trust me?)

I didn’t even need to think about my response. <I do.>

(Then drink your tea)

(It will make things better)

(I promise)

I laughed and then asked the question that had been nagging at me for days.

<Are we going to discuss what happened on Monday?> I cringed, waiting for her response.

(Is there something you wish to say?)

Whatever I had been expecting it wasn’t that. I typed in my answer as fast as I could.

<Most girls would want to know what it meant>

(I’m not most girls)

(I know what it meant, at least to me)

(Why are you upset?)

<Fuck, Ellery, IDK how to explain.>

<Normally…>

(You’d have bothered with other trappings of seduction?)

(Flowers, chocolates, promises you don’t intend to keep?)

I laughed at the movie reference before replying. I wasn’t really sure why it was bothering me. It’s not like I hadn’t engaged in other acts like that one with girls I wasn’t involved with in a relationship sense. Maybe it was because she was a virgin? That wasn’t it exactly, but that did bother me so I went with that.

<I’ve never been anyone’s first anything…>

(Oh, is that what’s worrying you?)

<Kind of>

<I don’t want you to think I’m the type of guy who>

<does that sort of thing>

<with no thought to his partner’s feelings>

(If memory serves I am the one who instigated physical contact)

This made me grin.

<You sure did.>

(and I know we both enjoyed it…unless?)

Oh god, how could she think that?

<best ever>

<would love to reciprocate>

(What’s stopping you?)

<a 30 minute drive and mountains of homework>

<school has been rough this past month>

<trouble focusing>

(I can help you with your focus, if you want)

(it starts with drinking your tea)

<what’s so special about it?>

(Alexander, please drink it)

(I need to sleep tonight)

<and my drinking this tea will help you sleep?>

(yes, Foxy.)

<IDK how you know but I like it when you call me that>

(I know you do)

<Ellery?>

(yes?)

<how do you know?>

(I will tell you another time)

<promise?>

(rest assured that I will)

(follow the directions for brewing or it won’t taste as good)

<thanks>

(you’re welcome)

<Ellery?>

(yes?)

My hand hovered over the phone and then I hit send.

<I miss you>

I held my breath until the phone chimed with a response. A voice message. I hit play and was rewarded with her saying “I miss you too, Alexander.” Her voice sent ripples of pleasure through me and I hit replay five times before heading upstairs to get work done.

I grabbed a shower, fixed the tea, and then sat down to try to do some homework. I finished in record time, before my mom had even finished fixing dinner.