by: Tyler Peel
© 2007 by the author
The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent.
Chapter 4
Cheap Shots
beep beep beep beep
Smack
(10 minutes later)
beep beep beep beep
“zzzzzzzz…. Fuck! I’M UP DAMMIT!”
Smack
“Who’s stupid idea was it to build a bed so high that you have to get out it to turn off the fucking alarm? Okay, so it’s not a stupid idea.” Tyler mumbled aloud.
Tyler slurped a little cold coffee from yesterday morning. “UGH! Dear God, please have Derek bring a microwave too?”
Five minutes later he was headed out the back door to his Jeep. It was dark and cold and Tyler was groggy without any coffee. He let the Jeep warm up and had to think about where he was going again? ‘Yeah… the restaurant…” He smiled and drove off waving to the security guard at the gate. Shivering in front of the restaurant sipping one large coffee and holding the other one for Angelo he saw a black Suburban slow down in front of him. The engine shut off and Angelo emerged with several bags of groceries.
“Good Morning Tyler, I wasn’t sure you would make it two days in a row,” Angelo asked.
“I almost didn’t! I’m not used to leaving the house, or in my case, dorm room without already having several cups of java,” Tyler said and Angelo just laughed.
Tyler set down the coffees and took the bags so that Angelo could open the door. After entering and Angelo locking the door Tyler said sniffing the air and said, “Now coffee could be replaced by the smells in here! Any chance of me sleeping in the back somewhere?” Angelo laughed as he turned on the lights.
The next four hours passed quickly. They fired up the wood-burning oven, turned on the deep fryers, sipped coffee, made pasta, and made bread dough. Angelo was impressed with Tyler’s talent in the kitchen. Tyler spent a good bit of time doing monotonous food preparations like learning how to finely chop parsley. He also peeled and sliced eggplant, sorted mussels, deveined shrimp, and shredded all sorts of Italian cheeses. Tyler felt like he could remove the white stalks from Romaine lettuce in his sleep, which wasn’t far from the truth, considering how tired he was. Angelo was pleased that he only had to show Tyler how to do things once.
Around 9:30 a.m. Gina arrived with more food which Tyler went and carried in without being asked. Gina invited him to sit down at the bar with her while Angelo made a bite to eat for him and Tyler. Gina asked him all sorts of questions about his life, school, goals, and family. Three out of four he was happy to answer. Gina sensed his hesitation and avoidance about his family and said to Tyler in her heavy Italian accent.
“Tyler, Angelo is very happy with you today. I have a strong sense that you will work out very well. I sense your need to please, to gain acceptance. Is that the right word?” Gina seemed to ask of no one in particular.
Angelo joined them with two Caesar salads and sandwiches made of chicken breast, arugula, parmesan and asiago cheeses, pancetta (Italian Bacon), with a blue cheese garlic sauce on top of toasted, fresh baked focaccia bread.
“I don’t mean to pry but I have the feeling you are running away from something. If you are in trouble we need to know. We can help you!” She said placing one hand on his arm.
Tyler stopped eating and lowered his eyes. Gina looked over at Angelo as if to say ‘I told you so’ and then back to Tyler without saying anything.
“Mrs. Ciccone, if I tell you what has happened to my life in the last six weeks would you not ask me anymore questions about it? It’s nothing illegal and I’m not in trouble but I don’t want to discuss it and I don’t want anyone to judge me or treat me differently because of it.” Tyler asked and Gina simply nodded and Angelo stopped eating and set his sandwich down.
“Six weeks ago, in Toronto, my parents and brother died in a car accident and it was my fault!” Tyler said. Notably distressed at his public admission got up leaving his food and said. “I need to finish the Romaine.”
As he started to walk back to the kitchen Gina grabbed his arm and pulled him into her. She burst into tears and so did Tyler. Gina stroked the hair on his head. For the first time since he heard the news he truly broke down and cried from deep within. It felt good to cry. It felt good to be held but he remembered that he was at work and they were his bosses. He gently pushed her back and apologized, wiping away his tears and walked back into the kitchen saying he had to finish shredding the Romaine. He wouldn’t look out towards the bar but he could hear their conversation in Italian. This was one time in his life he was glad he only understood one language.
He knew they weren’t going to fire him but he didn’t want to be treated any differently than anyone else. Mostly he didn’t want to be loved because love only leads to heartbreak. Angelo came back into the kitchen and patted Tyler on the back without saying anything. That was Angelo’s way of saying how sorry he was and Tyler was glad that nothing more was mentioned. By 12:30 p.m. they had finished everything. Tyler was supposed to talk with Gina about his duties and fill in some forms but Gina knew she would just break down if she talked to him again today so she left quietly before they finished. Angelo sent Tyler home with a large slab of lasagne and more Caesar salad. Tyler thanked him and told him he would see him tomorrow morning but he had to be gone by noon as he had his first hockey practice at 2:30 p.m.
Tyler dropped by the Business Depot to pick up some corkboard to put up on the wall next to the bathroom door and headed home to take a nap. Tyler parked in front of the light pole that Gus had told him to. When he got out of his Jeep he saw two players from his hockey team standing near another dorm building and when they saw that Tyler noticed them they left. He was sure that one of them was Josh or Ryan but he couldn’t remember which was which.
“Hey Gus! Got a second?” Tyler asked.
“Anything for you Ty! What’s up?” Gus asked.
“You’ve still got that camera focus on my Jeep?”
“You betcha. Why? And don’t give me any crap this time!” Gus joked.
“When I parked just now I saw two guys from my team standing outside another dorm. When I got out of my Jeep, I stopped and stared at them for a moment and they left. Very quickly.” Tyler said.
“Ty, I think it’s time we had a talk with your Coach.” Gus suggested.
“NO Gus! Please. No one has done anything yet and I know if something happens to my vehicle and I told you that I had suspicions you would have been the first to say ‘why didn’t you tell us about it before?’ This is best the way to deal with this right now!” Tyler warned Gus.
“Okay Ty, as you wish, but if something happens,” he began to say but Tyler cut him off.
“If something happens Gus I will decide what we do, if anything, and I won’t do it without your knowledge and approval. If someone spray paints my Jeep and it is caught on video it might be best handled quietly otherwise it might escalate.” Tyler suggested.
“You’ve really thought this out haven’t you?” Gus asked as he sat up and leaned on his desk.
Tyler simply smiled. “One more question. Can you tell me who rooms in #556?”
“Now Tyler, I can’t give out that kind of information even though I know you wouldn’t use it in a bad way.”
“Of course not, Gus, but there might be a connection. I’m guessing that someone in that room is connected to the hockey team. Now maybe you can’t tell me, but you could look up who’s registered and see if there is anyone connected to the team, right?” Tyler asked with a grin forming on his face.
Gus just rolled his eyes and said, “Okay Sherlock, let me take a look but I’m not telling you anything unless it’s obvious, and if it is you didn’t get the info from me! Ya hear?”
Tyler walked out into the atrium so Gus could look it up in private. He didn’t really think there was any connection but he did want to know who was spying on him and Danny in the shower.
“HOLY SHIT!” Gus exclaimed.
Tyler ran back to the security desk and asked, “What? What is it? Who is it?”
“Does the name Cody Connors mean anything to you, Ty?” Gus said, winking.
“No! Why? Should it?” Tyler asked suspiciously.
“I’m not saying anymore, Sherlock!” Gus laughed. “I think you’ll figure it out before the day is done.”
Tyler grabbed his corkboard, lasagne, and Caesar salad and headed for the elevator. As the elevator door began to close Gus, heard Tyler yell, “OH SHIT!”
Gus chuckled and thought to himself ‘this is going to be an interesting semester if the Coach’s son is involved in something illegal!’
Tyler was taping up his stick and Danny was doing his stretching exercises when Dakota, followed by the posse entered the dressing room. Tyler wasn’t about to miss an opportunity to be nice to Dakota in front of everyone.
“Hey Dakota, Hi Guys!” Tyler said.
‘Mr. Tyler!’ was the only response he got back and that was from Dakota.
Things were very quiet in the dressing room and Tyler got the feeling he was getting the silent treatment from Dakota and the posse. He also noticed that everyone else seemed to be afraid to say anything. Tyler scanned the room trying to capture an image in his mind of everyone’s face. As this was a practice no one was wearing team jerseys but almost everyone had their name on the back on their practice jersey.
Ryan got into an argument with Josh about using his tape. It seemed Ryan was tired of sharing his tape since Josh never bought any himself. Tyler immediately jumped at the opportunity. “Hey Josh, here, use mine.” He said tossing the roll of tape to him. Josh smiled at Ryan but Dakota grabbed the tape from his hand and threw it back at Tyler saying “We don’t use Canadian tape around here!”
Too bad for Dakota that Coach Conners saw and heard him as he threw the roll back. “DAKOTA! Give me ten right now!” Coach Conners yelled and everyone snickered as Dakota dropped to the floor and did ten push ups.
“Okay Girls! Practice is divided into three parts. Warm up and exercise, skills building, and then a game. You will be divided into three lines. Lines 1 and 3 will play a 15-minute game followed by 1 and 2, then finally 2 and 3. Now Adam and Danny will rotate goalie duties during practice. I want Danny playing games 1 and 3 Adam but you will reverse next practice.” There will also be a team meeting immediately after your showers up in the observation room the Coach said and then told everyone to get out and skate.
The warm up drills included power skating, working with offensive and defensive assistant coaches, and skating through timed obstacle courses. In the skills building, Tyler was matched up with the other four members of his line. Dakota and the posse seemed somewhat pleased that Tyler was on line three. It was hard to identify anyone with their facemasks on but he did spot the name ‘BANKS’ on a player in line two.
They lined up to play the first game between lines one and three. Dakota was facing off against Tyler. Dakota gave his best threatening look and Tyler just smirked. As the puck was dropped, Dakota spit at Tyler right in the eye. Tyler dropped his stick and pulled his mask off and the play was whistled down.
“PEELER!” The Coach yelled, “What’s the problem?”
Dakota just stared at Tyler. He knew he was in big trouble if the Tyler told the Coach as he already had a run in with Coach Conners about the dinner and then the tape incident.
“No problem, Coach, my contact lense slipped up under my eyelid.” They lined up again at centre ice and Tyler just looked at Dakota, seriously but expressionlessly. He wasn’t going to give Dakota any edge.
As the puck dropped Dakota turned and jabbed Tyler with his stick. Tyler flinched and fell, but got back up and took off after Dakota. The Coach was about to whistle down what he saw but since Tyler got up he didn’t. Dakota took a shot off of Danny but he deflected it out into Tyler’s stick. Tyler out skated everyone and before anyone could catch him he had flipped the puck over Adam’s left shoulder and into the net.
Tyler was caught in corners and against the wall with Dakota several times and each time Dakota pulled as many low tricks as he could. He became increasingly frustrated by Tyler’s refusal to respond. Ryan wasn’t as lucky or smart as Dakota. When he got Tyler into the wall he tried hitting his shins with his stick so Tyler pushed him down on the ice and skated away with the puck, scoring his second goal. Ryan broke away from his position and immediately went after Tyler. Tyler saw him coming in the reflection of the glass and quickly jumped to his left causing Ryan to hit the boards hard and alone. After 12 minutes of play the Coach stopped the game. He sent Ryan to the dressing room and benched Dakota. He then asked Tyler and another player from his line to fill in for game two, phrasing it in such a way as to send Dakota over the edge.
“Tyler, we’re now two players short for the second game could you take Dakota’s place on line one?” Coach Conners asked while staring at Dakota.
“Sure, Coach.” Tyler said without looking at Dakota. Dakota pulled off his helmet and threw it behind the bench.
The Coach went over and whispered in Dakota’s ear. “I saw every dirty trick you pulled out there and you know we always record the practices during pre-season so we can analyse them later. Everything you did out there is on tape. I’ll see you in my office after the practice is over. Don’t go to the shower! Don’t go to the observation room! Go to my office!”
Tyler scored two more goals and Danny finished his first two practice games with shutouts! Tyler was just happy he didn’t have to play against Danny in goal.
Coach Connors was the first to return to the dressing room followed by all the players. He stopped just inside the door and told Ryan to grab his things and go wait outside his office. He then told one of his assistant coaches to wait with him and make sure he didn’t talk to Dakota. Ryan hung his head down low and grabbed his hockey bag and left the room.
“Now boys! I’m proud of the way everyone here in this room practiced today. Coach Conner’s emphasized. Get cleaned up and head up to the observation room.”
The Coach left the change room and things began to get loud. Everyone was congratulating Tyler and Danny. Tyler was humbled by it all and reminded them all that he couldn’t do it without all of their help. Some of the guys were talking about Tyler passing them the puck all the time. That rarely happened with Dakota. Josh remained quiet and listened intently.
Coach Conners stormed back to his office and waiting outside was Ryan. The coach thanked his assistant Bill for waiting and excused him to head up to the observation room. Ryan sat on a chair with his head bent over. “Ryan!” The coach began, “If you’re kicked off the team what happens to your scholarship?”
“It’s over… I’m kicked outta here,” he said in a muffled, low voice.
“Son… You have great potential but you keep listening to that Dakota. You follow him around like a puppy dog. I warned Dakota, you, and your little group of friends last season that if you didn’t straighten up you would all be gone from this team! Don’t forget I run this team, not the University and particularly not Dakota! I call the shots! They pay me big money to develop all of you into a winning team. Last year I felt like I should’ve refunded my salary. I was embarrassed and ashamed. You’ve had your assistant position removed. You were suspended last season. Frankly, Ryan, I’ve run out of patience with you. Is there any reason I shouldn’t send you packing right now?” There was no response from Ryan only soft crying.
“Ryan, you actually have the talent to have a shot at the NHL! It’s a bit of a long shot but it’s more than most of the players on this team have, but at least they still play with heart. THEY play to win. THEY play as a team. No one goes anywhere in hockey without his team’s help,” Coach Conners said in a deep voice. “Please tell me who you’re angry with?” No response from Ryan
“Well then I’ll tell you who you’re angry with! You’re angry with me, you’re angry with my assistants, and you’re angry with Tyler… who’s just arrived and has certainly done nothing to you! Please tell me whom you should be angry with?” Ryan broke out into sobs and placed his head down in his hands. Dakota turned around from his chair in the Coach Conner’s office when he heard the crying and saw the top of Ryan’s head through the Coach’s window.
“Tyler didn’t steal your position on the team away from you.” Coach Conners continued. “You had already lost it son! Now I want you to listen closely to what I have to say. Are you listening Ryan?” Ryan nodded his head back and forth.
“You’re going to be suspended for the first game of the season for what you tried to do today. Fuck up once more and I won’t even waste my breath on you. I swear on the Almighty God above that we will never have this conversation again. I’m going to give you some advice Ryan and you do what you want with it. I strongly suggest you apologize to Tyler. I won’t make you. I won’t even ask Tyler if you did apologize. Tyler is here to play hockey but he doesn’t care if he plays. He’s not on a scholarship. We had to beg him to come here. He’s not going out for the NHL he only wants an engineering degree. He can quit anytime he wants and not care in the slightest. Tyler is here to help the rest of you get noticed by the Scouts. Frankly, son, if you search your brain you might just realize that Tyler could be the best thing to ever come your way! If you ever wake up in the morning and think that you deserve anything more than you have right here and now, then I would suggest you pack your bags and get the hell out of here!” Coach Conners yelled and Ryan just nodded as he sniffed and wiped his eyes.
“Now you know, Ryan, that I always like to end bad conversations on an up note. Most of the time I have to confess that I am usually lying to the player when I say something nice. In your case I am not. You really have the potential, son, but you can’t win games alone. You need to be on your knees thanking God for the talent you have and every member of this team for all the help they give you every game. It’s your life Ryan, you’re only Dakota’s personal doormat if you allow it to happen, but that’s really up to you. Now go get showered and get up to the observation room,” Coach said as got up and walked into his office.
Tyler came out of the shower and sat beside Adam who was very quiet. “Hey Adam, you were great today! Don’t get down on yourself. I’ve watched videos of you from last year. You’re a top notch goalie, Adam, and I hope I don’t let you down this season,” Tyler told him.
Adam began to smile. He knew that Tyler was just being nice but that was more kind words than he had ever heard from Dakota who would simply blame any loss on him. Tyler moved back to his cubbyhole beside Danny and began dressing. It dawned on him that he still hadn’t figured out who Cody Conners was. He was careful not to look at anyone in the shower or when changing so he wouldn’t be pegged by anyone on the team. He began looking around the room at everyone figuring that Cody would likely be eyeing him up. There were two players that were quiet and both would look away when Tyler looked at them.
Suspect number one had natural blond hair with the eyebrows to match. Suspect number two had shaggy blond curly hair. Tyler thought he looked really hot when his hair was wet. Number one had a tight muscular body and number two was also muscular but not as defined. Team members were beginning to leave to head upstairs. He needed to do something quickly. If either of these guys were Cody Connors then there was only one quick way to find out without being obvious.
Tyler walked up to number one and introduced himself. “Hey, I’m Tyler, just thought I should introduce myself.” He said extending his right hand out.
“Hi, I’m Cody,” Number one said as he shook his hand.
Tyler didn’t want to be obvious that he was on the hunt so he introduced himself the guy sitting between them.
“Hi, nice to meet you, great games you played. I’m Jeremy.” Tyler now just wanted to get the last guy out of the way.
He was about to say ‘hello number two’ but straightened up in time to say, “Hi, I’m Tyler and you are?”
Number two extended his hand and said, “Hi Ty, I’m Cody,” with a big smile and water dripping all over Tyler’s hand. Tyler just stared with his mouth hung a little open. He looked over at Cody number one who was watching Tyler make his rounds and then looked back at Cody number two. “We have two Codys on one team?” he said aloud for everyone to hear.
Another player turned around as he was heading out the dressing room door and said, “Actually we have at least three if you’re counting?” Cody number three winked and smiled.
Tyler noticed the wink and became really confused. One of the assistant coaches popped his head in the door and said, “Peeler! Coach Conners wants to see you right now!” Those who were left in the room began teasing Tyler, thanks to Danny starting it.
Tyler put his shirt on, grabbed his hockey bag and said loud enough for everyone to hear, “Armitage, your goalie career is over with after the next practice game!” Danny laughed and everyone else in the room said “oooooooo!” and laughed. Tyler turned around laughing at all of them and said, “That’s it! It’s the beats for all of you after this meeting is over!”
Everyone in the room said, “oooooooooooo” and laughed. As Tyler left the dressing room he almost walked into Ryan. They both stared at each other for a split second and each turned their heads away from one another. Tyler could tell from seeing Ryan’s eyes that he had been crying but decided he better stay out of his way and continued on to the Coach’s office.
Coach Conners entered his office and slammed his playbook down on his desk and began yelling, “So you think you run things around here, Dakota? You think you call the shots? LOOK AT ME, SON, when I’m speaking to YOU!” Dakota raised his head up still slouching forward in his chair.
“I’ve seen some despicable things done to opposing team players. I’ve seen some despicable things done in hazing rituals but I’ve NEVER seen anyone do what you did to Tyler. Do you realize that you should be up on assault charges right now? Should I call the police? Dakota! Look at me when I’m talking to you! You think you can’t be broken? Let me tell you I don’t give a shit about breaking you when I can destroy you faster than you can destroy any member of this team,” Coach Connors screamed at Dakota.
“You are the Captain! You are the one who is supposed to protect your team! You’re supposed to be the one that the players look to for guidance and leadership. You’re nothing more than a King Rat! You’re a textbook case of how power corrupts. I’m so angry with you right now I don’t even want to talk with you anymore! Your Captaincy has been removed effective immediately. You are suspended for the first four games of the season. One more FUCK UP and I mean JUST ONE MORE and you’ll be history! I will make it my only goal for as long as I draw breath to make sure you never step on the ice again in a uniform!” Coach Conners ranted.
“Your mind games last year, pulling a temper tantrum at the welcoming dinner, and now your crap today. You disgust me! You will and I mean WILL apologize to Tyler and you WILL apologize to the team or you’re out of here! Do you understand?” Coach said with a reddened face.
“Yes sir,” Dakota said with a trembling voice.
“Now Tyler is outside and I am inviting him in here. You have about two minutes to think about what you are going to say and remember this school has a whole new set of problems if he decides to file charges against you!” Coach waved Tyler to come into the office and sit down in the chair beside Dakota.
“Tyler, I am truly sorry for what happened this afternoon and what happened at the welcoming dinner. On behalf of the school I apologize and I hope you will accept it?”
“Coach… Sir… there’s no need to apologize.” Tyler didn’t know exactly what he had walked into. Dakota just stared at the floor.
“Son, I want you to know that what happened on the ice tonight is not allowed, not acceptable, and will not be tolerated,” Coach Conners said with determination.
“Sir?” Tyler asked.
“Just a minute son, let me finish. Dakota doesn’t know or realize that you are not here on scholarship nor do you wish to play in the NHL. It’s not unusual for people to get jealous when there is someone new on the team who is a far superior player. Now Dakota has been punished for what happened tonight. He will no longer be team Captain here and he has been suspended for four games and Ryan has a one game suspension. I want to ask you to be our new team Captain. Will you accept?”
Dakota just stared at the floor. Tyler stared at the ceiling, not knowing what to make of it all.
“Sir, please, if you will allow me?” Tyler asked.
“Go ahead, Son,” Coach Conners, said dropping into his chair.
“Sir… Coach, I mean! No disrespect, Sir, but you created this situation!” Tyler began and Dakota’s head popped up and he turned and looked at Tyler in disbelief. Coach Conner’s eyes popped open as well.
“Let me explain Coach!” Tyler said holding his hand up to stop the coach from saying anything. “I told you I didn’t want to be an assistant. I just want to play, though at the moment I’m not that sure about that either… How do you expect Ryan to feel when I am given his position with no history on this team? I’m not 100% sure but I expect most of this wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t given me the assistant’s position. If Ryan doesn’t deserve then give it to someone else with a team history that does deserve it. Not that I have the right to suggest, but if I were choosing an assistant I would pick Adam. After all, as goalie, he is the head of the defense and if you remove Dakota as Captain then it will split the team in two and we will never become a team. More so, Coach, if you remove Dakota as team Captain then you have to deal with several players being angry about him being removed and other players angry that they weren’t chosen. I think a lot of this is your fault, Coach.” Tyler said bowing his head down slightly while keeping his eyes poised on Coach Conners. Dakota’s jaw was almost hitting the floor.
“Has Dakota got something on you, Tyler?” Coach asked in disbelief.
Tyler smiled and laughed, “No Sir, not that I know of? Coach, I don’t think we’re going to friends in the near future but we do have to play together for the sake of the team.” Tyler extended his hand to Dakota. “Want to try to start fresh?” Dakota just stared at his hand.
“Dakota! Do you know what a gift horse is?” Coach Conners asked.
“Sir, for the sake of the team, why not forget the suspensions, pick a new assistant for the team and start with a clean slate? Like Las Vegas, what happened here, stays here!” Tyler asked the Coach with his hand extended but still unshaken.
Tyler and Coach Conners both looked over at Dakota who still seemed in shock.
“Tyler, I want to apologize for the way I have behaved. I am ashamed. I have let down the team, my Coach, and the school. I hope you will forgive me even though I am not worthy of your forgiveness,” Dakota said as he shook Tyler’s hand.
“Dakota! Go get showered and join Tyler and the rest of the team in the observation room,” Coach Conners said smiling at the boys.
Tyler and Dakota got up and left together. As they walked side by side down the hall Tyler said, “So you think you want to work on becoming friends?”
“Not on your life you dumbfuck, and don’t think I’m finished with you yet!” he said turning into the dressing room. Dakota could hear that someone was in the shower but the rest of the dressing room was empty. He saw the number 12 on the hockey jacket and knew it was Ryan. Dakota got undressed and snuck into the shower wrapping his arms around him.
“WHAT THE FUCK? Oh, it’s you. Get away from me,” Ryan said shaking himself free of Dakota’s embrace.
“What the??? Okay, so that’s how it is! Fine. Fuck you, Ryan. I just saved your ass in there and that’s how you thank me?” Dakota yelled refusing to face Ryan.
“Save my ass? What have you been smoking? Coach just ran me into the boards and gave me a suspension. Yeah, thanks, Dakota, for saving my ass…” He snarled and turned back to his showerhead. Dakota turned on the showerhead next to Ryan and let the warm water wash the sweat away while sneaking a glance at that ass he loved so much.
After a minute of silence Dakota turned off his showerhead and headed out of the showers, turning to tell Ryan, “So that’s the thanks I get for getting your game suspension cancelled? Well, fuck you too, Ryan!” He wrapped the towel around himself and went to get dressed.
“What are you talking about?” Ryan said running out of the shower naked.
“I said ‘this is the thanks I get for saving your ass again?’ Don’t talk to me, Ryan. Don’t talk to me ever again!”
“Whoa. Hold on Dakota. Ummm. You got my game suspension cancelled?” Ryan asked.
“Have you got water in your ears? Didn’t I just tell you to never speak to me again?” Dakota yelled.
“Go ask the Coach, although I would probably lay low around him for a while. In spite of everything Tyler Peel had to say about you I defended you and got your suspension cancelled. Once again I saved your sorry ass, but it was obviously a waste of my time,” Dakota said pretending to be miffed and angry.
“Next time you’re begging to have your ass fucked why don’t you get Tyler to do it!” Dakota said, without looking at him.
“You really got my suspension cancelled? Do I still have to apologize to Tyler too?” Ryan asked.
“What do you think Ryan? Although I would kind of like to see you apologize to Tyler after all the things he said about you to the Coach.” Dakota said and then paused and look up into space and added. “So yeah, even though you don’t have to apologize you probably should, so me and the rest of the team can laugh our ass’s off at you. I saved your ass last year after what you did to the Coach’s son. I saved your ass tonight and this is the thanks I get for looking out for you. Don’t talk to me ever again, Ryan!” Dakota said snarling at him.
Ryan sat down naked on the bench next to Dakota. He had his face down in his hands crying his heart out. Dakota looked over him and laughed to himself.
“Oh God, Dakota. I’m so sorry. Please! Please! Forgive me! I am nothing without you. If you didn’t take care of me no one would!” Ryan just sobbed. It was so loud that Dakota figured someone might come in. As much as he was enjoying putting Ryan in his place, he figured he’d better end it.
“Look, Ryan, you really hurt me with what you said, but just leave me alone for a bit and maybe will talk about it another day,” Dakota said.
“You mean it?” Ryan asked, raising his tear filled eyes. “We can still be friends?”
“I said we’ll talk about it… maybe tomorrow… right now I’m really angry with you, Ryan!” Ryan sunk his head back down and Dakota, almost dressed bent over top of Ryan and kissed the top of his head saying, “Ryan, as angry as I am at you, I haven’t stopped being in love with you. If I had, it wouldn’t be real love in the first place. I don’t want you in my life if you don’t trust me to look out for what’s best for both of us. I’m not going to be your fuck buddy to use and then toss aside when things get tough!”
“Please! Please! Dakota! Please forgive me; I’ll do anything to prove it! Anything!” Ryan pleaded.
“Anything?” Dakota said to himself and smiled as he walked out of the dressing room leaving Ryan alone.
Dakota walked to the observation room thinking to himself ‘hmmmm, I’ll bet I can have Peel off the team by Christmas… maybe sooner, and I know just the guy to do it for me!”
Tyler began working Friday and Saturday night shifts at Ciccone’s Trattoria. He was building a clientele every week that would request to be seated in his section. At the end of his third weekend he had sold all of the bottles of Borolo and Chianti that he asked Angelo to bring in. Angelo and Gina knew that next best thing to the sale of alcohol was the profit in selling premium desserts. Tyler’s reputation for ‘personalize’ cannoelis was growing. Even other servers working during his shifts were asking him to create something special for patrons celebrating special events. Canneoli sales were now ten fold of what they use to be. Gina wanted to pay Tyler extra for making plates up in advance but he refused, rather he was happy to come in early and decorate plates that they could wrap up and refrigerate for use during the following week. Angelo was trying some of Tyler’s ideas for the appetizers, which in turn made it easier for all the servers to sell. They had sampler combinations like the escargot, garlic bread with cheese, and two cups of Italian wedding soup or the spicy garlic shrimp and four-cheese basil dip with deep-fried pita wedges. He also had Angelo and Gina install mouthwash dispensers in the washroom for the customers. Kids thought this was the coolest thing ever and it certainly didn’t hurt a young guy bringing in a first time date!
On one particular evening Tyler had to deal with a couple discussing their divorce-in-progress. They argued politely over everything they were going to order. They dragged Tyler into their divorce conversation by complaining to him about each other. “Of course, she wants the fettuccini because she knows the lasagne is for two and that’s what I want!” he said.
“Well, you suddenly don’t like Caesar salad for two because I want salad?” was her response to him!
She wanted escargot but he wouldn’t sit at a table with someone eating ‘snails’ as he put it! Tyler intervened and said, “How about you both let me play the judge and let me order everything for the two of you and then you can both enjoy the evening and if it turns out that you don’t like it, then you can blame me?” The couple looked up at Tyler and then back at each other. It was the only thing they could agree upon so far that night.
Tyler returned to their table with half orders of everything. When he served their entrée each had a plate came with half lasagne and half fettuccini. They both looked at their plates and then at Tyler.
“What?” he said to them with a grin.
“You both have to learn how to share, so you, Sir, can give her your half of the fettuccini and you, Ma’am, can give him your half of the lasagne.” They quickly transferred each other’s portions to the other. Then they looked at each other and started to laugh at how stupid they were both acting. Ten minutes later they had hardly eaten anything but were talking and laughing.
Gina asked Tyler if they didn’t like their food since they weren’t eating it? He told her for the first time ever ‘we should just be thankful that the conversation is better than the food’! Gina just shook her head, threw her hands up in the air and said, “Whatever! As you kids put it,” and walked away.
Tyler came back to their table and told them that his boss thinks they don’t like their food since their not eating and he would be in trouble if they didn’t eat! They laughed and promised they would finish everything. When Tyler took their plates away, they were clean and he asked, “So is everything all better? Or at least a little better?”
“We apologize for acting stupid. We were trying so hard to be civil that the anger has just been building up. Thank you for reminding us about compromising,” she said on their behalf with his nodded approval.
Tyler smiled and said, “It’s my job to make your meal as pleasant as possible and sharing food with others is a great reminder that even if we are all different we are also very much the same. We still have to share this world with others. How about some dessert?” Tyler asked as he removed their excess silverware.
They both said no and simply asked for the check.
Tyler then asked, “Did you want separate checks or do you think you can work this out together?” He winked at them leaving them both laughing.
Tyler returned to their table with one plate containing three cannoelis shaped into a heart and inside the heart written in chocolate it said ‘Love is about sharing and talking.’ He set it down between them and said, “This is on the house. I hope you both have a wonderful evening. Note that I only gave you one fork so you will have to share!” They looked at each other and then started laughing.
The man paid the bill and she left a thirty-dollar tip but they finished the cannoelis together! When they got up to leave he held her coat for her and then the door. Tyler rang in three cannoelis and threw the rest into his tip jar. Gina had watched what he did and came up behind him and kissed him on the cheek saying, “If I were only 40 years younger…”
Tyler had been there for three weeks before he attended his first monthly staff meeting. Most of the meeting was spent talking about Tyler’s suggestions and how everyone felt they were being implemented. Angelo publicly thanked Tyler in front of everyone and mentioned that if they had a ‘staff member of the month’ he would be it. Everyone laughed and Tyler said, “I think that’s a great idea… do they get a bonus?” More laughter.
Then Tyler asked about making one more suggestion for consideration. He told them how in restaurants in Toronto, good restaurants that is, the servers share their tips. A few frowns came over the servers and some smiles over the kitchen staff. “Now hang on, everyone!” Tyler said shushing them all. “This is normally something that I would say only to Angelo and Gina and let them bring it up, but let me explain how this would work. Servers normally give 10% of their tips to the bar host or hostess and 10% to the kitchen staff.”
Gina piped in right away that she would not accept any tips as she managed the bar!
Tyler said, “That’s fine, but let me explain. Firstly, to all the servers, you want the kitchen preparing the best food all the time. If the food isn’t good then neither are your tips or the number of customers you will have. Since they are a part of the overall customers’ experience they have a right to share in the tips. Knowing that they are getting a share of the profits means that they will work harder to make each and every meal perfect! This results in more customers, more tips, and more money for everyone. Everyone tells me how business has picked up in the last month so I think it’s only fair. No one has to participate in this, but from now on I will be giving 10% of my tips to the kitchen staff. Gina, if you aren’t accepting bar hostess compensation then I think I have another idea that will greatly increase business.
Angelo’s ears perked up as well as Gina’s. I think we should fund some sort of charity. Servers give 10%, kitchen staff gives 10% of the tips they receive, and Angelo and Gina, will match the amount of our contributions. We can decide later on what charity to give to, but what works to our benefit is the free advertising we would get for doing this! This is leading edge thinking here. We can shame other restaurants for not doing this. We can challenge other restaurants to take up the same idea. Most importantly of all is that we are giving back to our community! Customers will want to give more in their tips knowing they are also helping out a charity. Maybe we could have something added to the menu telling our customers that a part of the tip they give will be helping someone less fortunate out. Trust me, word will spread!” Tyler said as he tried to gage a reaction from the entire staff.
After Tyler finished speaking, there were mumbled whispers amongst the staff. Angelo broke the silence by starting a slow and deliberate clapping. Everyone stopped talking. Gina then joined in, followed by the kitchen staff and servers. Tyler turned beet red and sat down.
Angelo stood to speak. “Okay, everyone, that is it for this month’s meeting. Thanks in part to Tyler’s joining us we’ve had one of our best months… with many more to come I believe. Everyone has worked hard to make Tyler feel welcome and Gina and I thank you. I think everyone, especially our servers, need to consider Tyler’s idea. In order for this work I want complete and total agreement from all servers! It sounds like this could make all of us more money. Tyler, Gina and I will be more than happy to match all contributions given towards a charity. You all have lots to think about for next month’s staff meeting. It is late and time to go home. Thank you all for your hard work.” With that said, everyone got up to leave and many patted Tyler’s back and thanked him for what he had done and said. Angelo told Tyler in private that Gina wanted to find out if they could adopt him. They both laughed over that one. Tyler was never allowed to leave the restaurant without lots of food and hugs with kisses from Gina.
Tyler arrived at the dorm later than normal because of the staff meeting and realized he would be too late to give Gus some food, but he forgot that it was Saturday night and Gus didn’t work weekends. He asked Jack, the overnight security man if he would like some shrimp fettuccini but he politely declined though he happily accepted Tyler’s two cannoelis and Tyler politely reminded him to keep an eye on the Jeep. Jack told Tyler that Gus had already threatened him about keeping an eye on it.
Tyler dropped by Danny’s room to see if he wanted some food. When he got to the door he could hear noises. It sounded like two kids playing before bedtime. Tyler knocked on the door and all became very quiet. Danny came to the door and answered it holding a towel wrapped around his naked body.
“Oh, hey, Ty! How are you?”
“Ummm fine… I just got in from work and thought you might like something eat, but it seems like you are busy. Here, take it an enjoy.” Tyler said looking a little sad as he handed it to Danny and turned around and walked back down the hall.
Danny didn’t know what to say so he didn’t say anything. He knew that Tyler figured out that he wasn’t alone. He knew he had hurt Tyler’s feelings. Danny closed the door quietly and leaned against door closing his eyes. “Shit!”
Tyler returned to his room, stripped down to his boxers and turned his computer on. He set his MSN to appear as offline and then he blocked Danny. He then locked the door, turned off the overhead light and slid the curtain across between the two beds so that no light would be visible to someone outside the door trying to look in the peephole.
Tyler decided that he probably should go shower so he set his MSN on to read ‘away’.
“Finally!” exclaimed Derek. “Does this guy ever come online?” Derek clicked open the instant message and clicked on the webcam icon. The webcam was positioned to look at Tyler from his right and any viewer could also see his open walk-in closet. If Tyler stood up then you could see down to his waist but if he walked away from the camera you could see more.
“God! What a hunk!” Derek said to himself as he slid his hand into his cargo shorts. Tyler stood up revealing blue and grey-stripped Joe boxers. The signature black band pulled in around his slim waist revealing the curve of his hips. He walked part way into the closet and pulled down his boxers revealing his left cheek and thigh.
“Please, please turn around to the left!” Derek pleaded.
Tyler wrapped a towel around his waist, turned to the left and bent down to pick up his shaving kit and walked out of camera view.
“Shit! Shit! Shit! Why didn’t I ask for him to turn around naked?” Derek said to himself.
“Dammit!” he said aloud.
“DEREK! Watch your mouth!” his mother yelled from behind his closed door.
Derek slumped down on his desk with his head supported in fists so that he squished and distorted his face.
Tyler opened his door slowly and closed it quietly. As he passed room 556 he could see there was no light was on in the room. He continued quietly to the shower area. Turning on the light he knew that he was alone. Tyler walked up and turned on the first shower on the left.
Danny walked quietly up to Tyler’s room wearing his bathrobe. He couldn’t see any light on through the peephole. He knocked on his door three different times to no answer and gave up and headed back to his room.
Tyler lathered up his hair. He realized that he actually had enough hair that it needed to be combed. Time to get it cut he thought. He grabbed his toothpaste and toothbrush and did his teeth under the shower. As he turned to wash the soap off his back he heard the shower room door shut. He thought about running out there but he would be naked. Tyler decided to leave the shower running and get out. Maybe if the person outside thought he hadn’t noticed noise and continued with his shower then he would open the door again. He wrapped his towel around him and walked to door hiding behind it. He stood there for about 5 minutes but no one opened the door so he turned the water off. He grabbed his shower kit quickly opened the door. No one was there. No one was in the hall. He ran his hand down the doorframe and there was nothing there either. As he passed room #556 he could see a light was inside. When he got back to his room, he unlocked the door and pushed it open and allowed it to close on it’s own. Still standing in the hallway he watched down the hall but no door opened. Tyler went inside and locked his door.
Tyler turned his MSN back to Online and took the block off Danny. Danny appeared online.
Hey, where were you? I knocked and there was no answer.
I was in the shower. Don’t I always take a shower after work?
Oh yeah, right, sorry. Can I come over and see you?
Not tonight Danny, we had a staff meeting after work and I’m tired
With that said, Tyler blocked Danny not wanting to talk about earlier in the evening. Derek could see Tyler was talking to someone by the way he was typing and shaking his head. Derek noticed that he looked really sad and thought maybe he could cheer him up.
Hey Tyler, it’s your ROOOMIEEEE. You around?
Hi Derek, yup, I’m here.
You sound sort of down or are you just busy?
I’m just tired. I just got off work
You work? You have a job?
Yeah, I work in an Italian restaurant. I’m a server
Cool… I guess? That sucks to have to work though.
If I want to live I have to work. My scholarship only covers tuition and some of my books. Do you or did you have a summer job?
Sort of Ty… I had to clean out the garage… baby-sit my brothers sometimes.
Life sounds tuff Derek ;-)
I know… life isn’t really bad, but my Dad and I don’t get along. I can’t wait to get out of here… away from my brothers as well.
I won’t lecture you, but remember that the day may come when you don’t have any of them. Enjoy the good times while you can.
Damn, Ty, you sound like my mother! Ugh!
Sorry Derek, but seriously, once you’ve been here you will miss home. N E waz… I can’t stay awake, so I’m off to bed. Have a great night Derek. Nice to hear from you and can’t wait to meet you… this Friday?
Yeah, we’re doing some shopping I’m told and should be there around Noon or a little later. Night Ty :-)
Tyler set his MSN as away and crawled into bed. All he could think of was the look on Danny’s face when he opened the door. Tyler knew it was his own fault. He told Danny not to fall in love with him, too bad he forgot to tell himself not to fall for Danny. He already made enemies on the hockey team and didn’t know why? Any future with Danny was over with. He felt as lonely as the day he arrived.
To be continued...
