Oh la LA – Chapter 5 Ash

Tuesday morning LA – The freshman athlete’s dining hall.

“Hey, can I join you?” Ash asks the freshman swimmer who was sat apart from the others the day before.

“Sure, you’re Ash, right?” The swimmer asks.

“I am, sophomore and not chosen to be a mentor so warned off lunching with you guys, I figured breakfast was not lunch. What’s your name? Sorry I don’t remember you coming for an official visit.” Ash says.

“I came for my visit when I was a junior, so before you were here. I’m Eli.” Eli says.

“Oh, that makes sense. Are you in a suite with other swimmers?” Ash asks.

“No, I have two from the basketball team, two from football. They’re cool, I like them, they just don’t have as early a start.” Eli says.

“And the other swimmers are sharing?” Ash asks.

“Yeah, with a two golfers. They arranged it between the five of them. They know each other from JO squad and one of them was at fancy pants school with one of the golfers. They didn’t think to include me. And did that whole fake apology thing pretending they didn’t know I was starting here too.” Eli says.

“I hear you, last year I was the one ostracized by the others. I didn’t care too much, I wasn’t even in the athletes dorm. I was the first of my class to get a start, and that just made things worse.” Ash says.

“I bet. I plan to do the same. They look down on me because I’m from California, and say I’m just a quota recruit.” Eli grins.

“Any difference, I find it so weird, making themselves feel better through excluding one. That said, I’m friends with all my enemies now. Who is the ringleader bully?” Ash asks.

“Rich, he seems to be, rich and a dick. I’m not interested in being friends with him, I could just do without the catty remarks all the time.” Eli says.

“Totally understood. My friends are having a potluck and pool party at my brother’s place on Sunday, you should come. I was going to invite the others freshmen but I’ll hold back for now. I can get you a ride with the other sophomores.”  Ash says.

“That sounds great.” Eli says.

“Bring your roomies if you want to. Shall we get some coffee to go? How are you finding the food?” Ash asks.

“I like it, a lot. My mom always moaned about the grocery bill. I lived on vast amounts of rice and beans, had to soak the beans and boil them myself. So not having to do that is awesome.” Eli says.

“My twin brother is an amazing cook. Unfortunately he’ll be in Paris this semester so you’ll have to wait to try his food, but believe me it’s amazing.” Ash says missing Bastian, even though he hasn’t left for France yet.

“You have a twin? That’s cool. But if he’s in Paris, who has the pool for the party?” Eli asks.

“My older brother Nash, he’s in med school.” Ash says.

==

It’s another long day of stamina training. Ash enjoys it and feels glad to be back doing what he loves. At the end of the day he takes a long shower and when he comes out it’s just the freshmen left in the locker room.

“You stink quota boy. You might as well pack up and go home now.” Rich says.

Ash shakes his head and hangs back to listen, he can’t quite believe how lame the insults are.

“Oh Rich, you’re going to have to do better than that.” Eli replies and Ash smiles, happy Eli didn’t rise to the bait.

“You haven’t seen anything yet. You don’t belong here and you are just taking up resources from everyone who does deserve to be here. We are all national squad, you will never beat us.” Rich says.

“Ash wasn’t national squad and he was the first of his class to get a start and he scored a record time last season. I’ll take my chances.” Eli says.

“You’re pathetic.” Rich says stepping closer, Ash senses the further change in atmosphere and steps into the room.

“Rich take a step back, and calm the fuck down. This is not how a team acts. It’s been two days and we’ve not even had a friendly race yet. We work together, we build each other up. We win together and lose together. We do not start pissing matches in the locker room. Get dressed and get out.” Ash says feeling a little ridiculous lecturing them in his towel.

They file out, Eli hangs back, knowing Rich will start something else on the way back.

“You okay?” Ash asks as he gets dressed.

“It was nothing, he’s so dumb, thinks he some big deal.” Eli says.

“It was kind of hard not to laugh, I was proud of you, not giving him anything, and it was pretty cool to bring me up.” Ash grins.

“You have my back. I don’t really understand why Caleb is my mentor and not you.” Eli says.

“Maybe as he is from the same background as Rich, he can help you fit in with the rest of your class.” Ash says.

 “Please, that is the last thing I want to do.” Eli says.

“I hear you.” Ash says.

“You know the funny thing is, I was invited on to the national team, but my dad died and I couldn’t be away from home. My mom needed me, I needed her. Going away to training camps just wasn’t the right thing for us. And I kept up with training because I knew that getting a scholarship would be a weight off my mom. Me and my siblings have college funds but obviously with my dad gone, adding to them wasn’t going to happen. My mom works but he was the main earner. And he had life insurance but that was needed for the mortgage.” Eli says fighting back tears.

“I’m so sorry you went through all that. That must have been really rough.” Ash says.

“It was, and having gone through the worst, it makes standing up to snails like Rich easy. They really can’t hurt me. It’s just really irritating.” Eli says.

“Come on, let’s go and eat and then you can go to your room, call your mom and rest up for tomorrow.” Ash says.

“Can I try your dining hall?” Eli asks.

“Sure and I’ll just call my roomie see if he’s free.” Ash says.

“Good to meet you, I’m Malik, a nerd who plays no sports.” Malik grins giving Eli a fist bump.

“Eli, I’m on the swim team with Ash.” Eli says.

“Eli is this year’s me, his class are being asses and trying to bully him off the team. It’s just so embarrassing, we’re swimming not figure skating.” Ash says.

“Your drama, it is awful this is happening to you Eli, but man it keeps me entertained.” Malik grins.

“I honestly think I’m in a film sometimes. I never encountered such idiots before. And it’s not like they have better stats than me. I am a California state champ, that means a whole lot more than winning Rhode Island.” Eli says and Ash snorts.

“Oh man, if I were you I’d be throwing that in their faces daily.” Malik laughs.

“I’m rising above, and will beat them in the pool. Well I won’t because we won’t have been recruited for the same spots. I’m a backstroke specialist.” Eli says.

“Which the team really needs. Look in all seriousness if it carries on I’ll talk to coach. This sort of atmosphere is so destructive.” Ash says.

“Once classes start they’ll be too busy to be too much bother.” Malik says.

“I hope so. I really hope I don’t have any classes with them.” Eli says.

==

Wednesday training passes  without incident. Ash keeps his ears open and tries to make sure Eli isn’t left alone with Rich. Preston is waiting outside the gym to meet Ash when they finish.

“You okay to walk back?” Ash asks quietly.

“Yeah, I’m going to run.” Eli says and dashes off before the others come out.

“That your protégé?” Preston asks.

“He’s just my mini me. He’s going through the type of crap I did last year.” Ash says.

“They need to grow up. Or they’ll have you to answer to.” Preston says.

“Exactly. I’m sorry I don’t have much time. We have a team quiz later.” Ash says.

“But we have time for dinner. Shall we get take out and eat at mine?” Preston asks.

“Yes, a couple of hours off campus would be delightful. Is Felix out?” Ash asks.

“Yes he is, or he will be, he offered as soon as I said you’d be over.” Preston says.

“I missed you, but I was so tired I wouldn’t have been much company.” Ash says.

“I was pretty exhausted getting the house the way I wanted it. And airing out the smell of the summer guests.” Preston says.

“Surely they were not that bad.” Ash says.

“They were fine. And Felix got a cleaner in before I got back. I just need it to feel like it’s mine again. The outside is done, the pool restored, pool house is all set up, I am thinking it will be my study, so I can do homework, and study for my EMT stuff out there and then close it away.” Preston says.

“That sounds good. You bedroom will be our sanctuary.” Ash says.

“Exactly. Your dad, Blue and Nathalie taught me how to cook a few meals this summer. I’m excited to properly contribute to the potluck this weekend.” Preston says.

“I’ll be kind.” Ash grins.

“Nothing too fancy but I think my apple and blueberry muffins are pretty good.” Preston says.

“I will inhale them. I have some cookies and biscotti from Bastian, but I’m hoarding them. The biscotti will keep good for ages. And I’ll have one when I miss him most.” Ash says.

“He’s not even gone yet.” Preston says.

“I know, but it’s still tough. I mean I didn’t miss him when we were in Greece, but I had to change my plans and be with him the rest of the summer.” Ash says.

“You will manage. You can’t guarantee you’ll be living close to each other forever.” Preston says.

“I know. But I can try. You missing Luke?” Ash asks.

“Yeah I am. It’s nice to have made a friend who had no preconceptions about me, like you really.” Preston says.

“I’m trying not to bother Nash too much as he’s making new friends. He’s got gay couple friends he says he wants to go on double dates with B&C, but we’re totally going to get in there first.” Ash grins.

“Well they did leave you for Paris.” Preston says.

“Right, they can’t have everything.” Ash laughs.

==

Ash reluctantly leaves Preston and joins the team for the quiz night.

“I so don’t want to think yet, we have a few days before classes start.” Simon says.

“Right. My brain is still on vacation.” Ash says.

“I did summer school, my brain absolutely needs all the extra rest it can get.” Ben says.

“We need to win, so suck it up.” Caleb says.

“Oh, fuck you Rich, can you not be civil for a couple of hours?” Eli shouts jumping up from his table.

“What’s the issue?” John, one of the seniors asks.

“We don’t need the quota boy to win.” Rich says folding his arms smugly.

“We’ll take him.” Ash grins.

“I’m there.” Eli says getting up.

“That’s right, run to your faggot protector. Bum him some more.” Rich says and the whole room goes quiet.

“You are done. Get the fuck out of here.” John says.

“What? I’m only saying what others are thinking. Right?” Rich says looking over to Caleb.

“You’re looking at me to back up your bigotry? I’m just as much a faggot as Ash. You are not welcome here tonight. And if you don’t come up with a sincere apology and change of attitude you won’t be on the team for another day.” Caleb says.

“Because it will be you or all of us.” Ben says.

“Yeah, we won’t be on a team with you, share a pool or gym with you.” Simon says.

“None of us want to risk catching what you have.” Ash says.

Rich shrugs and swaggers out.