Chapter 3: Lies and Suspicions

Daniel’s POV

Morning eventually arrived over Holloway Community College. While some students carried the weight of guilt and hidden secrets, others simply waited for good news from the hospital.

“Hey there champ… How are you feeling?” Oscar asked, Oscar is one of the more humorous members of the Pinnacles starting 11.

“I feel like a Sun tan and a margarita” replied Daniel

Laughter, giggles, and tears filled the room as Daniel woke up surrounded by his college mates.

“It was bad, the car overturned, you were going 190, and hit a speed bump, you barely made it out alive. I also think you’re going to need a new car.” Oscar menacingly said

“I was awake last night you cunt” Daniel said as he responded “plus I remember what happened, talking about I will need a new car. Where are Rebecca and Jane?”

Jane slowly enters through the already open door of the patient room.

“I miss you” she said as her eyes filled with tears.

“Why are you staying so far away? Come here, I’m gonna be okay.”

“I know, I’m just-“she bursts into tears as she moved closer to him.

“Ouch! I forgot I can’t use my arms yet.” Daniel whimpered after attempting to raise himself up to hug Jane. “Taking me for a spin when I get out?” he asked as he smiled from the relief of his nostalgia

“The doctor said you’re not getting out for another two weeks.” Said Jane

“Yeah, because I’m too weak.”

“hahahaha!” The entire room burst into laughter.

“Hey, you guys! I can’t believe you left us both!” Said Jackson as he and Rebecca entered the room.

“Shut up! Water Boy..” said Jerome

Jessica punched him on the arm “Heyy! Be nice”

“What? He’s used to it” Jerome held his arm where he was punched and squirmed

“I don’t care…” Said Jessica while she gave him a friendly intimidating facial expression.

Jackson flinched as he walked past Jerome because Jerome faked at him, and the guys started laughing.

“You bunch of meanies.” Jessica comments

“Rebecca, where have you been all morning? We’d been trying to reach you.”

“I had to stay home and attend to my dad, he had a really bad fever and Mom had already gone out to work.” She answers with a mouth full of lies

“But didn’t we run into Mr. Wilson at the gas station earlier?” asked Jessica

“Yeah, and he didn’t even seem to have a fever,” said Jerome

“Yeahh, about that… He was feeling a little bit better and said that he was going out to the gym to burn some extra sweat.”

Jerome turned to Jessica and asked in a hushed tone… “Isn’t the gym in the opposite direction from where he drove off to?”

“Hey, you guys.. I’m still lying here with a busted pelvis..”

“Daniel oh my god! Are you okay? I told Jane to let us come to the match, and I know you would be okay if we had gone. How are you feeling?” Jessica desperately says as she rushed over to Daniel in despair

“I’m… feeling… great – actually. Are you okay? You seem a little bit off.”

“Don’t worry about it, it’s just my Dad has been having a bad morning, and he was a bit moody, I-it’s nothing.”

Rebecca was looking oddly suspicious, and Jane could not bear to see any more and turned her attention back to Daniel and said. “The doctor said that you might not play soccer the same way ever again”

“Yeah! What are we gonna do Dan? Asked Dane

Daniel’s sad reality came back to haunt him again from the previous night as they reminded him. He turned his head away from the group and for five seconds he went silent.

“Where’s Dad?” Asked Daniel

“He said he had some important errands to run and that we should take care of you.” Dane replied

“More important than me?” Dane asked as he began to feel vulnerable to the thoughts of being replaced.

“Well… you know coach Miles better than I do, and you know if he says it’s important, then it’s important. I think I heard him mention over the phone to someone about his your little brother having a nervous breakdown at the dentist the last time and that he had to be there with him this time. I had been guessing that was his reason for missing your morning visit.”

“Yeah, he did say that to Mrs. Hartwell in the hallway on Thursday too,” Jackson added

“Well, you’re always there when we need you, Jackson… I think we should let these three months pass by before we start listening to what the doctor says,” said Daniel

“No more monkeys jumping on the bed – this and that. One broken bone bout to stop Big Dan? Man! I know my boy is gonna pull through man. Right bro? You got this.” Said Jerome

“You guys, we shouldn’t put pressure on him,” said Rebecca

“No, they’re right. One broken bone ain’t about to stop me from shining.” Daniel replied, but the room only went silent…

At the same time, Coach Miles was dealing with another responsibility away from campus, his youngest son, and Daniel’s younger brother, Sebastian, had a long-awaited dentist appointment.

“Officer, I’m telling you, you don’t understand, it’s my son, he has a dentist appointment in 15 minutes, I have to get there on time.”

“Sir, I still have to give ya this ticket, ya still broke tha law, ya exceeded tha speed limit. Ya ain’t noo better than that good for nothing street racer son of yours.”

“Can’t you let me off the hook this one time? My wife is going to kill me if she hears I didn’t make it on time.”

“She won’t have to kill ya, if ya keep driving like ya on wings and not wheels. Here ya go, now take your time now, don’t let me have to come after ya. Haave a nice day Mr. Whitman!”

At the dentists’ office, it was Sebastian’s time to go into the dentist room, but coach Miles was nowhere in sight.

“Sebastian Whitman!” shouted the receptionist

“Yes ma’am?” he shouted back

“The dentist is ready to see you now!” she responded

Sebastian got up promptly and went over the receptionist’s desk “Can I let someone else go before me? I was waiting for my Dad, but he is not here yet.”

“Of course!” She responded with a smile and called out for the patient who was next in line immediately after Sabastian.

Sabastian then said “Thank you” then went back to his seat as the atmosphere inside of the waiting room began to fill with uncertainty, coach Miles had a long history of being extremely late for appointments, and even completely missing them on a few occasions.