Page 24 of Running With Lions

Cherry-red liquid dribbles down Emir’s chin as he guzzles. After a breath, he says, “Thanks.”

It’s a warm morning; wafts of breeze circle their awkwardly silent walk to camp. During their run, Emir looked almost ready to start a conversation, but they had only huffs and grunts with little eye contact.

The dirt road crunches under their sneakers. They sip their Gatorade as if it’s the most fascinating thing ever. Sebastian’s forfeited the idea of doing anything other than bicker until Emir asks, “Why soccer?”

“What?”

The skin around Emir’s eyes tightens. “Why soccer, mate?”

“Oh.” Sebastian pushes hair off his forehead. “It’s a good story.”

Emir raises his eyebrows.

“Because of Coach Patrick,” Sebastian says. “He’s a hard-ass, right? Real piece of work. But he made being on the team about finding yourself first. Winning and being the best guy on the pitch came second.” He grins crookedly at the sky, where puffy clouds drift by.

“Yeah?”

“You know Willie is gay, right?” Sebastian checks for a nod from Emir. “And Mason is—”

“A whore?” teases Emir.

“We like to use the term ‘experimenting,’ dude.”

Emir’s eyes roll dramatically.

“Anyway,” Sebastian continues with a chuckle hanging in his throat. “Coach doesn’t care about that stuff. A fourth of our team is gay or bi or curious, but we still get respect from the other guys. For once, sexual orientation in sports isn’t a negative.”

Emir scratches at his stubble. “Pretty cool.”

“Itis!”

Sebastian’s never had to put any of this into words but, now that they’re discussing it, he wants to grab a megaphone and shout to anyone he passes how epically awesome Coach Patrick is for giving him this gift.

Ahead, the road grows narrow, signaling their close proximity to camp. Shadows from thick canopies of emerald cool them. Sebastian’s mellow from the quiet buzz of bugs all around.

“And you are…?” Emir leaves space for Sebastian to fill in.

It’s heating up, and Sebastian uses that as a perfectly lame excuse to himself for his flushed skin. He says, “I’m bi. I’m into dudes and girls.”

“I know what bi means.”

Sebastian, flustered, quickly says, “Cool. Yep, I’m bi.” Emir’s unfazed nod relieves him. Despite the team’s rules, Sebastian isn’t rocking rainbow flags and announcing his sexuality at school. It’s always tricky coming out to a new guy. Emir’s no exception. “That okay?”

“Yeah,” Emir replies with sheepish eyes. “Gay. Me. That’s what… I’m gay.”

“Sweet.”

Nostalgia, along with Emir walking closer, is making Sebastian’s skin tingle. He takes a gamble. “So, why soccer, for you?”

“It’s not my thing, right?”

“No” rolls off Sebastian’s tongue, but his brain yellsYes.

“It just happened,” Emir says, his expression pained. “Kinda.” He rubs a hand over his face, and Sebastian is prepared for Emir to tell him he’s doing this for all the wrong reasons. “It’s my abbu.”

“Your dad, right?”

Emir says, exasperated, “Sorry. Never mind.”

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