Bush League: New Adult Sports Romance

by Pfeiffer Jayst

  Leaving the dining room, my head was spinning. Not just from the new job that was thrust upon me but also because of the lack of food; I hadn’t eaten all day. Like a lost puppy, I followed Rorke into the kitchen in hopes he could show me where this free pizza was.

  Rorke was full on pouting by the time I arrived in the kitchen. He slammed the refrigerator door closed after taking a whole pizza box out, brushing past me like he didn’t even see me. When I opened the fridge, there wasn’t any more pizza to be found, just a ton of condiments and a few random vegetables. Carmine had made it clear that pizza was our only option and I was still unwilling to rock the boat.

  “Hey,” I called out after him, “think you can share some of that?”

  Rorke stopped, turned, opened the box and removed one small slice, thrusting it in my face.

  “Geez, thanks,” I said but he was already on his way out, who knows if he even heard me.

  I knew that one slice of pizza wasn’t enough to fill me up but at least it was something. I had finished eating it before I even left the main house and told myself that I would be fine, that it was enough. As I walked the sad walk to my new (temporary) home, the carriage house, I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed at how far I had fallen. The untrustworthy libido of my boyfriend and my best friend had landed me here, scrambling to put my life back together. To be honest, that felt like an impossible dream, like I would never be able to get things back together. Just a short period out of college and my life was already over.

  When I arrived back in the carriage house, Rorke had sat himself down and was enjoying the pizza he selfishly took all for himself. I sat myself down at his table, hoping to have some conversation that ended with me being able to sneak a little more pizza. “So…what are you gonna do?” I asked innocently, trying to figure out where his head was at. Rorke's frustration became clear as he stood up and carried the pizza box into his room, slamming the door behind him. All alone and hungry, I had nowhere else to go but into that cramped space I called my room, my first night in the house had been an absolute failure.

  I’ve always prided myself on being tough, able to endure and conquer any hardship presented to me. I've always maintained that I couldn't be knocked down and could handle just about anything thrown my way. Sadly though, I had never been tested this much. It was all so overwhelming and I couldn't think of just how I was going to be able to get my life back. I’m not proud to admit it but I had no control over the waterworks that started flowing out of my eyes. It was an ugly, somewhat loud cry that I couldn’t seem to get a handle on. It was then I learned just how thin the wall was that separated Rorke and me.

  “Jeez, calm down,” he said through the wall, “You can have more of this pizza. Jeez.”

  “It’s…not…the…pizza,” I tried to get out between heavy sobs, “it’s…everything. I’ve…lost…everything…and…am…stuck…here. I…don’t…want…to go…to…a…new…job…”

  I tried to control my sobbing so I could hear a response from my new stepbrother, something, anything to make me feel better.

  “Listen, Carmine’s just showing off. Acting tough for your mom. Go to the job and if it sucks, quit. They’re not gonna throw us out on the streets, I promise. His bark is worse than his bite,” Rorke declared through the wall. It was what I needed to hear, that I wasn’t going to be forced to work at some shitty job in order to prevent being homeless. Whether or not he was being truthful, I didn't know but it certainly helped in that moment.

  “You sure?” I asked him, sounding like a pathetic little kid.

  “Yeah, I’ve lived here forever and he says stuff like this all the time. I really wouldn’t worry about it.”

  I needed a friend and thought I had finally found one on the other side of that wall. Though I knew it would ruin it, I wanted desperately to run over to his room and hug him tightly, letting him hold me to make me feel safe. Since I knew he would react poorly to me doing such a thing, I did the next best I could think of. Pressing my body firmly against the cold wall, it was almost as if I was making contact with another human, his voice causing vibrations in the wall that slowly soothed my worried body.

  “You’re going to be ok. Just relax, ok?” he begged sweetly. I almost started to cry again, touched by his kindness. My body pressed harder against the wall, desperately wishing I could feel him holding me in my time of need.

  Given how thin the wall was, I soon heard a noise I didn’t immediately understand. It was a rhythmic sound, something going back and forth, steadily increasing speed. My ear pressed to the wall as I continued to ascertain just what was causing that sound. Back and forth, back and forth, I was still having a hard time trying to figure out what it was. It clearly wasn’t bothering Rorke, he wasn’t saying a thing, not bothered by the sound of that rhythmic whooshing, like fabric rubbing together.

  Then it hit me.

  “Oh my god, Rorke,” I practically screamed through wall, “are you…masturbating?” The last part, the “m” word, was spoken at a much lower volume, lest anybody hear.

  The next thing I heard was the sound of my stepbrother laughing followed by that rhythmic whooshing increasing. “Say my name again!” he yelled out, “Say my name!”

  He was so disgusting. No longer sad, instead I was just infuriated. Maybe that was his plan and I should’ve thanked him for that. I buried my face in my pillow and did my best to block out the sound but it was no use; I heard everything. Rorke let out an exasperated grunt before I heard that sound start to slow down. Trying really hard to block it all out, I couldn’t help hearing him softly repeat my name over and over. “Madelyn,” he said before making sharp inhales with his nose, purring “Madelyn…” These thin walls were going to be a major problem.

  When it seemed like the coast was clear, I finally pulled my head out of the pillow, hoping to be able to try and relax in the silence. I was soon about to learn that Rorke didn’t exactly exist quietly. Less than a few minutes after I heard him pleasuring himself, he started to make noise again. Though it wasn’t terribly loud, I heard the faint sound of him listening to some music. The distinct sound of a bass line and thumping beat came through the wall and I pressed my ear against it to hear the lyrics when they started.

  Back to the wall, one man shall stand. Rise above and conquer them all.

  Though it was annoying that he felt the need to lull me to sleep with music, it did help to quiet the negative thoughts swirling in my head. Rorke’s confrontational lullaby sang me off to sleep.

  *****

  ROUND SIX

  ****

  Rorke

  Hubert proudly led me to the center of the ring while calling for everyone to take a quick break; he had an announcement. I prepared myself for the likely ribbing, something to knock me down a few pegs. I had placed a pretty serious wager with him and prepared for him to announce it to the rest of the gym. All was fair, he wasn't going to get me to quit.

  "Gentlemen, gentlemen," he yelled loud enough to be heard in all four dirty corners, "Come on over, this will be quick." The broad smile on his face made me suspicious but I continued on with it, had to show him I was a good sport.

  "Gentlemen, let me ask you something," Hubert called out again to the crowd, "How many of you are here on a free scholarship?" A few chuckles came up from the crowd. "Anyone coming here without paying a penny?" This time more of the boxers quietly murmured a tense "no".

  "Well, my friend right here," the big, meaty paw of the gym owner landed on my shoulder and held on tight, "he's begged me to let him train here...for free. Well, son, you must be having some financial troubles, no?"

  The whole crowd knew that I was wealthy, or at least used to be. They weren't aware my father had cut me off from my only source of income and I was practically penniless. Angry mumblings started to grow and throb from the crowd as I got myself into a defensive stance.

  "How many of you go work at a job you hate, on top of going to school on top of helping out around the house? An
yone here got a maid?” The laughter coming up from the crowd took a sharp turn towards angry." Anyone here end up handing over every dime they’ve ever made to the family just to try to help out a little? You give every last penny just so the little ones can have some shoes and something to eat. You ever have to do that son?” Hubert asked me directly. I meekly replied "No’ and he continued with his spiel. “Well, surely you’ve been broke before, right? You’ve been so busted you’ve had to choose between taking the bus or saving up for one small meal each day, right?” He didn’t even wait for my response. “What about you guys?” A cheer erupted from the congregated fighters. Their sweaty, well-toned arms rose to the sky, out for blood. My pulse quickened as I watched them slowly getting closer and closer.

  "Now, that's a type of person I’d want to work something out with, someone who came to me in need. Many of you know that very well, I never turn away someone just because they’re having some financial difficulties. Little did I know that one day I would have a billionaire come asking me for that very favor. Imagine my shock!"

  If the crowd had pitchforks nearby, they'd be waving them around at that point. They wanted my head for what they believed I represented.

  "So imagine my shock...when I agreed to it!" Hubert stepped back in mock-amazement, hands up, a look of bewilderment on his face as if he was two different people struggling for control. This just amped the crowd up even more. It was hard not to be mesmerized by his crowd control, he missed his calling as a fight promoter or even as a preacher.

  "Settle down, settle down," Hubert got the control back and slightly simmered the collective anger. "My man Rorke here," his hand landed on me again, his huge hand firmly gripping my shoulder, "thinks he's gonna fight in the battle at the end of the month, the one some of you have been training for for over a year.” An angry rumble grew from the audience, he had riled them up again. Hubert motioned his hands for them to settle down again and they did. I think both the crowd and myself were just hanging on, waiting for him to give the command to ‘attack’. My arms remained ready to at least try and defend myself. His famous smile returned and his shoulders shrugged as Hubert announced, “I don’t know about you, but I kind of want to see what happens. See this rich kid get thrown to the lions!”

  The crowd went nuts; laughing, hooting and hollering in delight. Hubert had turned their opinion and now they also wanted to see me make an ass of myself. It was a damaging blow to my confidence to see just how sure everyone was that I wouldn’t do very well in the big fight, or any fight for that matter. This whole experiment I had stubbornly pursued continued to become more and more important. Even though I felt I was in way over my head, the grave had been dug and it was up to me to climb out of it.

  Once again Hubert masterfully quieted the crowd that he kept lifting up, and relayed more news. “So, y’all know me, you know I like to make deals.” Slight murmurs from the crowd indicated that they agreed with him. “So of course my young friend right here and I were able to come to terms on a rather particular agreement, a deal like I've never done before.” That giant hand landed on my shoulder yet again, taking control of my body and giving a playful, toying shake. “I can’t waste anybody’s time with someone who is just gonna quit on us, can I? What do I always tell you guys?”

  “Quitters go home!” the assembled boxers yelled in unison, making my knees a little weak with fear.

  “That’s right. Only, my friend here has quite a nice home to go home to, don’t you, son?”

  This wasn’t the place to try and explain that I didn’t, in fact, have a home for much longer. My head went down and I stared at my feet, not willing to give them the response that they craved. Hubert elaborated for me.

  “So, the deal that we both agreed to is that if my friend here quits before his big fight, he’s going to pay me double the purse money from the fight. Double! If he quits at any time, we all get double the purse!”

  The crowd let out a roar, they were excited. Hubert spoke over them. “But my friend is also quite...infamous. Him training here will attract some attention, good and bad. Who knows? It could land some sponsorships or maybe some money to fix the place up...This guy coming to me with hat in hand could actually be a little blessing in disguise.” The collected crowd took a moment to ponder what Hubert was telling them and apparently appeared to agree with the conclusion that there was also a benefit in having me stick around. The blood-thirsty assembly nodded their heads, approving of their trainer's brokered deal.

  "So you could kind of say," Rorke continued, "that it's very financially profitable for the gym to have this man quit. Meanwhile, it could also be very positive for the gym to have him train here until the fight.”

  The boxers outside of the ring had come in even closer, so close they were practically in the ring with Hubert and I. Hubert continued, “So, young men,” he addressed the crowd, “you need to make one of those two things happen, and I don't care which you choose."

  Sweat started full-on rolling down my body as I watched Hubert casually slip out of the ring and my fellow gym-mates slowly climb between the ropes. No matter which way I turned, there were fighters coming at me and soon I was surrounded. My head pivoted around just in time for me to see a worn, dark red glove coming right at my face.

  *****

  ROUND SEVEN

  *****

  Madelyn

  "Madelyn...Madelyn...Madelyn," Suzie, the pleasantly plump office manager repeated as she pecked away on her keyboard. "Hmmmm, I'm just not sure where to put you."

  Though I had assumed I was coming in for an interview, my new friend Suzie made it clear that she was ready to start me there right away.

  "To be honest, I'm not even sure that we really even have a need for somebody right now. Buuuuut,” she let the word linger as her head tilted to one side, “you do have some friends in high places. I've received orders to place you at once!" Suzie chuckled, trying her best to remain cheerful despite being so ill prepared for my arrival.

  "Looks like the sales department and, ooh, the data entry department each could use another set of hands..."

  As she continued to type away, I tried to telepathically push her in one direction.

  Sales. Sales department. Put me in sales.

  My nostrils flared and my eyes got big as I continued to try and mentally lead her towards where I wanted to go. "How does data entry sound?" Suzie asked while finally looking right at me. How does it sound? It sounds terrible Suzie! I couldn’t muster the courage to let her know how I really felt and instead kept a stoic face, trying to be the grateful hire who would do whatever was best for the company. I was the one coming here for a job and should be thankful to find work.

  Suzie brought me to my new cubical, smack dab in the middle of hundreds just like it. The room filled with the sounds of keyboard keys being struck rapidly and the buzzing of the fluorescent lights. This was already worse than I imagined.

  "Ok, why don't you get settled and when you're ready, there's a stack of files right next to the computer!"

  With that, Suzie was gone, likely in a rush to get out of this boring cube farm as fast as possible.

  After the computer started and I had looked at some of the spreadsheets, I couldn't believe it. All I had to do was enter the number from the different fields into a database and that was it. Sixteen years of schooling to do something I could've done in kindergarten. After a deep sigh, I did my best to consider myself grateful.

  After typing in what felt like a thousand entries, I snuck a glance at the time and my heart fell when I realized only twenty minutes had passed. The stack of files next to me was endless and I wanted to stand up and scream right there in my cube.

  "Hey..." a head suddenly popped up over my cubical wall, a cute, brown-haired boy looking right at me. "You new?"

  My heart fluttered at the prospect of having actual human interaction. With a genuine smile I stood and extended my hand to him. "Madelyn," I said and waited for his hand to meet mine.
<
br />   "Yeah, cool. Hey so look, it's Becky in accounting's birthday. We're asking everyone to pitch in for a cake..."

  There was a ten-dollar bill in my wallet, the only money I had on me. My plan was for this cash to get something to eat once I was mercifully awarded a break. Without it, I’d have nothing to eat. Though I heard and felt my tummy already rumbling, something told me things would be hard for me if I flubbed my first social opportunity in the workplace.

  "I only have a ten..." I said while fishing through my bag as though there might magically be more money in there. My new friend didn't waste any time once the bill appeared in my hand.

  "That'll do," he said happily while reaching for the only money I had, snatching it quickly from me. I wanted, no needed, something back as change but after a few moments, it was clear it wouldn’t be coming. Now I didn't even have lunch to look forward to but hey, cake. My new friend disappeared quickly without any indication of when or where I would get some of this super expensive cake. I returned to the mind-numbing typing, dreaming of the dessert that would hopefully arrive soon.

  My cellphone had been set to silent but it was the only thing that offered a break from the boredom. Checking it real quick allowed me a temporary escape from the endless stream of numbers. Who was I expecting to call or text? Absolutely no one but I still checked once every half hour. Imagine my surprise when I did notice a new text waiting for me. Imagine the chill that ran over my body when I saw who had sent it.

  “Hey” was all Derek’s message read. To the girl whose heart he ripped out and stomped on, Derek could only manage to type “Hey”. My hatred for the man burned with the fury of one thousand suns and grew stronger as I bore witness to his audacity. Did he expect me to come running to him, all is forgiven now that he had texted me one simple, neutral word? What bothered me the most was how he had now invaded my thoughts, barging in at an opportune time. The numbers bored me to tears so instead I pondered my ex-boyfriend though I tried not to. Conflicted, I threw my phone back in my bag and pledged not to check it for the rest of the day.