Oh la LA – Chapter 17 LA

Tuesday morning LA

Ash is going some yoga at the side of the pool, wanting to be sure his muscles are in tip top condition before he gets in the pool. Some other team members are stretching also and a few are doing some warmup laps.

Rich walks behind Ash and does a faggot sneeze, and tries to knock Ash off balance walking too close.
“Out.” Coach shouts, right in Rich’s face. Rich was so busy trying to be the big man that he didn’t notice coach was right behind him.
“You can’t, I am legally allowed to be here.” Rich says.

Everyone turns to watch, shocked at such disrespect.

“You know full well the conditions placed upon your return and what you needed to do to stay. Using a homophobic slur within thirty seconds of being back is well outside those conditions and you must now leave. This team does not tolerate homophobia or any form of bigotry. Get out, and wait for a call about how long your suspension will be.” Coach says.
“I’ll escort him out.” One of the assistant coaches says.
“You’ll hear from my father about this and my lawyer. This college needs wealthy donors and you won’t see his money.” Rich says.
“Well kid, Stark is my uncle, and he’s gay as fuck, and if I told him a homophobic squirt was bullying me on the swim team, well, no one needs to think about what the repercussions might be.” Ash says trying to suppress a giggle.

Caleb starts to giggle, Ash pulling rank on wealth is something he never thought he would see.

The rest of the team try and suppress their glee but can’t, soon they are all howling with laughter, even coach as Rich is dragged off to the locker room.

“Stark is your uncle?” John the senior asks.
“He was at the movie star dinner.” Simon says.
“Oh yes, there were so many stars there I forgot.” John says.
“He’s not strictly my uncle in the biological sense, but he would say he was if anyone asked. We’re chosen family.” Ash says.
“Man, your life is something else.” Eli says.
“If you’re lucky Scarlet will do another dinner for the team. It was awesome last season.” Ben says.
“Stop gossiping and get back to work. Scarlet won’t want to host a dinner for a bunch of losers. John, you lead practice with Coach Brian. I need to make some calls.” Coach says and disappears to his office.

==

Nash is having another quiet day, Q is at an audition with Lester, Tracey and Croyde are both in school all day. As are Hannah, Madison and Eric but he is meeting up with them later.

Nash decides he’s going to have a swim and then head to the market to get supplies and spend the day batch cooking. He’s helped his family do it before, and is pretty sure one of them will be able to take him through it if he gets stuck.

After a quick swim and shower he heads out, with several of Blue, Bastian and his dad’s recipes to hand. As he starts putting veggies in his cart he wishes he was at home with all of Andy’s veggies that would just appear. He really should get some more fruit trees, oranges and lemons and maybe they could grow peppers, onions and zucchini he muses to himself wondering what would grow well in the sunny yard.

Bastian had created a windowsill herb garden but it didn’t survived the summer, so once he finishes in the supermarket Nash drives off to get supplies to replenish that, knowing that it will please Tracey to have it back again.

And then sits in a coffee shop and browses for trees and plants, but so unsure of what to do in a state without proper seasons he messages Andy and Aaron for advice, hoping Andy will tell him what to do and Aaron will know a company that can do it.

Nash stands and stretches, he has not given himself time like this, not ever. He is always reading, researching, planning. But Evan was clear last night, take this week to clear your head, get relaxed, have a massage. It could be the last break he has in a while.

Back home he gets to work in the kitchen, enjoying himself. He’s normally a little self-conscious in the kitchen, with Bastian and Tracey being much better cooks that he is.

He makes several big trays of veggie lasagna and a huge batch of falafel, noting Blue’s guidance to freeze on a tray and then box up. He has several pots of soup bubbling on the stove while he puts together a tuna casserole and is about to start on some veggie burgers when he is interrupted by the phone.

“Nash, how did this happen?” Nick asks excitedly.

“How did what happen?” Nash asks confused.

“Are you busy, can we come over?” Ryan asks.

“Sure, I’m just cooking.” Nash says.

“We’re on our way.” Ryan says.

Nash shakes his head and is about to turn his head back to the burgers when another call comes through.

“Andy, thanks for calling. I’m cooking up a storm, ready for when I have no time and no chef brother to feed me.” Nash says.

“Show me everything then take me outside to the space.” Andy says.

“Your favorite, Blue’s lasagna. Falafel, tuna casserole it’s made with store bought noodles, I’m not about to start making pasta. All the time I was shopping I was wishing I had you to drop off veggies. And then I thought we have some fruit trees we should have more. I could totally grab a couple of oranges on my way out the door you know. And then I was thinking maybe we could do some veggies too. I know there are some Tracey would like, that are harder to get here. But it’s like always summer and so I have no idea when to plant.” Nash says.

“I’ll come tomorrow. With Spence, and we’ll bring reinforcements. There are a few kids that work for me who are movie obsessed and have always wanted to visit California, Scarlet is going to arrange some things and we’ll do you a veggie patch and get some trees sorted too. We’ll link up with the LA branch of the charity and have a whole team. Blue loves the idea and so costs are covered.” Andy says.

“Are you kidding. That’s amazing. I really wasn’t hinting at that. I thought you would know what I need and Aaron would know who could do it. And I think Croyde and Preston will enjoy working on it with me or even for me when I’m too busy. Q too though he would never admit it.” Nash says.

“I’ll call Preston later, and we’ll see if we can do something for him too and get something ready at Bastian’s place. We’ll get someone from the LA charity to do a regular visit to keep it all in shape. Look I have to dash, lots to organize. See you tomorrow. Spence and I will stay with Luis.” Andy says.

“Perfect. Give dad a big hug from me before you leave and I’d ask you to ask Blue for cookies but you’d eat them.” Nash says laughing.

“I would. I  hope you are making some. Make yourself lots of muffins too. Blue’s banana  and nut will work for any meal replacement.” Andy  says.

“I was planning on it when Croyde got back, he’s a bread guy but I plan to make him  an all-round baker.” Nash grins.

“Perfect plan. You know me, make friends who can cook.” Andy laughs.

Nash grins to himself and almost forgets he has friends on their way over. Then he smiles to himself again looks in the mirror.

“I have friends coming over. Friends I made myself without my brothers intervention.” Nash says out loud.

Nash is prouder of himself for making friends than he is for skipping a year in med school.

“Come on in. What’s all the excitement about?” Nash asks.

“Oh wow, you really were cooking.” Ryan says.

“You go all out in everything.” Nick says looking at the masses of food.

“I like to be prepared. This might not last all that long, Croyde can really eat, especially when he’s been surfing and Ash needs so many calories, he’ll always be after an extra meal.” Nash says.

“You keep going, it’s a really good idea and I’m going to do the same tomorrow.” Nick says.

“We wanted to thank you. Thank you so, so much.” Ryan says.

“And we really were not hinting when we were upset about not winning the Stark scholarships.” Nick says.

“You are really going to have to explain what’s going on.” Nash says.

“We got Blue Lake foundation scholarships come through this morning. We hadn’t applied and thought maybe it was a scam.” Ryan says.

“And we looked it up and saw your  dad is on the board.” Nick says.

“So we really wanted to thank you. This means the world to us.” Ryan says.

“It is even covering last year’s tuition. Honestly, we were managing with the aid we have but things will be so much easier now.” Nick says.

“I didn’t do anything. I really didn’t. I expect Evan asked.  And now I feel bad that I didn’t. Although, I think I was so excited to have friends I didn’t want to do  something that would have me questioning if you were only  friends with me because.”  Nash says embarrassed.

“Oh Nash, we adore you. We are jealous as hell of your house and  your frankly terrifying brain. But we really, really want to be friends. We were so excited to have made a straight guy friend, one who didn’t ask us the awkward questions and didn’t act like we must have a  crush on them.” Ryan says.

“Yeah, we really like you for you. That you’ve also helped us, directly or not, to pay for school, that’s just a bonus.” Nick says.

“I’ve had the toughest time making friends in college. Last year I met Axel through work and he became a friend, and of course I found Tracey but I kind of felt like all my friends were my brother’s friends.  And when I was in college back east it was so difficult with the age gap. So meeting Hannah was amazing. And then you guys and Madison and Eric, it’s been such a blessing for me.” Nash says.

“I find it so weird you didn’t make friends in undergrad, even with the age gap. You’re a fun guy to hang with. And so interesting.” Ryan says.

“Well you do accidentally make people feel inferior, I mean you’re not like Eric who has a serious personality flaw but we already know you well enough that you’re  just enthusiastic and ridiculously well educated. We’re used to being the smartest in the room and it’s humbling to hear you speak about anything.” Nick says.

“Well I am dumb as fuck when it comes to pop culture and reality TV. I know nothing of fashion but I have been trying to fake it til I make it in that regard, and winning given Madison is now my friend. But other areas of culture, history, science, I love to learn and when I’m hooked in to something, I need to know everything. Luckily Tracey is pretty similar, she’s super smart and we can talk for hours on so many things. And the best thing is when we don’t know we can recommend reading to each other and we both love that and don’t feel offended.” Nash says.

“I love how much you love her.” Ryan says looking at Nick with all his love.

“I feel so lucky. Everything is working out for me. Two years ago I thought I would be stuck as an East coast academic forever. I thought I would be alone with my books. And deciding that my brother’s new life in the sunshine sounded fun, I did the most un-Nash thing possible and ran away. And here I am, in love, in med school, I have friends and a beautiful home and life feels so good.”  Nash  grins.