The Space Between Read online

  “Man,” Coach Hodges said. “I’d give anything for you to drop MMA. You should be wrestling for the school.”

  “Maybe next year,” Eric said.

  “I’ll take that. See you, boys.”

  They all said bye to the coach.

  “Eric,” a voice called.

  He turned. It was Michelle.

  “Hey, guys,” she said, smiling.

  “What’s up, Michelle?” Liam asked.

  “Yeah,” Lance said. “You going to screw our boy over again?”

  Lance put his hands on Eric’s shoulders. Like he was Lance’s property or something.

  “Whatever,” she said. She turned her attention to Eric. “Can I talk to you?” she asked. Her eyes were nice, like Danielle’s. They were similar girls. Well, not anymore.

  “Okay,” Eric said tersely. “Talk.”

  He didn’t want to be a jerk. At the same time, Michelle had hurt him. He couldn’t let his friends know that.

  “Catch you later, E-Dawg.” Lance gave Eric a high five.

  “Women!” Liam smiled as they walked away. “Beware.”

  Eric looked back at Michelle. She shook her head, irritated.

  “So, what’s up?” he asked. The guys were gone. But he still played it cool. He had to keep his man card.

  “Look,” she started, “I’m sorry. I totally blew it with you. That loser from Dekker—”

  “Okay,” he said, interrupting. He wasn’t going to make this easy for her. It would be sweet to get her back, though.

  “He was a total jerk,” she went on. “I guess … with you … I got scared.”

  “Why?” he asked.

  “I just …” She stared at him for a moment. Then she smiled. “I like you so much, Eric. I’ve never really felt that way about anyone.”

  He didn’t know what to say. Nobody had ever been this open with him before. Not even Danielle.

  “I know it’s crappy.” Michelle moved closer to him. She put her soft face against his. “Can I have another chance?” she whispered. She slid her arms around his waist.

  Whoa, did she smell good. Like cotton candy.

  As she waited for him to speak, he looked over at Laurie. She was still texting. The girl was perfect. Her body and Michelle’s were similar. Eric really liked Michelle. But if Laurie were hugging him right now, he’d like that too.

  Was that all that mattered? How people looked? It was shallow.

  Danielle popped into his head. He had really felt something for her. To him, she was perfect. Michelle was okay. But his bond with Danielle ran deep.

  “Maybe.” Eric finally answered her question. He didn’t want her to know he was distracted by his past.

  His friends would have been stoked for him. But he played it cool. He put his arm around Michelle’s shoulder. She held on to him as they walked to class.

  Right now Eric would play her game. He didn’t know how long he could keep it up.

  For the moment, he forgot about Danielle. Dan. Ugh. Whatever.

  CHAPTER 6

  Reunion

  Afew days later, Eric rounded the corner near his house. His home was the smallest on the block. The others were two stories.

  Some people were mowing their lawns. Others were pulling weeds. Eric and Maddie usually did chores on the weekends.

  Eric had been jogging. He didn’t go to the MMA center after school. Today he did interval training. He sprinted for two minutes, all out. Then he jogged. Repeat. Repeat. Sensei Chen said it was good to mix it up. It would help with endurance.

  As he got closer to home, he noticed someone. A guy. He had short black hair. The dude wore all black. Black denim jacket. Black jeans.

  Eric couldn’t see his face. Then he turned. The guy’s black T-shirt had a skull on it. When their eyes met, Eric knew who it was.

  Danielle. There was no mistaking her hazel eyes.

  It’s her, he thought. That skin and those eyes. God.

  For a nanosecond, Eric was transfixed. He was 14 all over again. Then he remembered this wasn’t Danielle. This was Dan.

  “What’s up?” Dan smiled.

  The smile was still the same too. His voice wasn’t deep. But it wasn’t girlie either. It was just different.

  He couldn’t believe it. This was someone he knew so well. Like he knew himself. But now he wondered if he ever really knew her.

  “Hey,” Eric said as he walked up to Dan.

  “How are you?” Dan grinned. “You look great.”

  Eric didn’t know what to do. Did he tell Dan he looked great too? Should he give him a hug? He was frozen. “When did you get back?” he asked.

  “Today,” Dan said. “I helped my parents unpack a little. I wanted to see you. I can’t believe I’m here again.”

  “Yeah.”

  “This is the only place that’s ever felt like home,” Dan said. “We moved again after we left here.”

  “Oh,” Eric mumbled. He couldn’t think of anything to say. Dan looked like a boy now. But his body was petite.

  “Happy to have me back?” Dan pushed Eric’s shoulder in a playful way.

  Danielle always used to do stuff like that. Eric liked it then. Not so much now. Not at all, actually.

  “Sure,” Eric said. “Did you drive over?” What lame questions. But it was the only safe topic he could think of. A lot of his friends were driving.

  “Not yet,” Dan said. “I turn 16 in a couple months. I’m going to be all over that. You’re 16, right? Do you have your license?”

  “I have my permit. My MMA training is my first priority. I’ll get my license soon, I think.”

  “My mom told me you were still doing MMA,” Dan said. “I’m still into it too. I like boxing more, but MMA is dope.”

  “Still into MMA, huh?” Eric asked.

  Dan stared at him. Eric realized his reaction was off. He shouldn’t have seemed so surprised. Why would someone like Dan care? MMA was for men, right? People who were real men.

  Just then, Eric’s front door opened. Maddie stood there. “Eric,” she called. “Mom needs you to help her lift something.”

  “Okay,” he said. He quickly walked away. “Good seeing you, Daniel—Dan. We’ll talk.”

  “I hope so,” Dan called back.

  Eric walked toward his house. The conversation was over. What a relief. Maddie had saved the day.

  Eric didn’t really care what Dan wanted to do or be. He just didn’t want to have to explain it to his little sister. Did his parents tell her? He doubted it.

  CHAPTER 7

  Into Him

  Eric adjusted his body. He didn’t break his lip-lock on Michelle. There were five or six private places at school. Freshman year, Eric had seen a lot of kids making out there.

  Now, here he was with Michelle.

  Eric had his hands on the small of her back. She felt tiny in his arms. Delicate. They were pressed together. Everything felt so perfect and good.

  He wished the bell wasn’t going to ring soon. To stay like this all day would be sweet. How far would she let him go?

  Liam and Lance talked like their girlfriends did whatever they wanted. Eric wanted it to be that way with Michelle. But at the same time, he didn’t. He liked knowing there were limits. Boundaries. It made things fun. They could go right to the edge and stop.

  “You’re a good kisser,” Michelle said, grinning.

  “Thanks,” he said. “You are too.”

  Danielle had told him the same thing. “You’re a good kisser, Eric.” It was right after their first kiss. She’d seemed surprised. It was probably because they’d both been newbies.

  “Where are you taking me this weekend?” Michelle asked.

  “Where do you want to go?”

  “Anywhere,” she said softly. “Anywhere, Eric, as long as it’s with you.”

  CHAPTER 8

  Bummed

  It was a few days later. At lunchtime, Eric looked for Michelle.

  Students were eating, talking, an
d texting. Others were walking across campus. Some were sitting on the grass relaxing.

  “Eric!” He turned and looked. His jaw dropped.

  It was Dan.

  Eric hadn’t even realized he was going to Starling. He figured he would go to another school. Maybe even be homeschooled.

  There was nobody at school like Dan Bonum. At least he didn’t think so. He tried to stay calm.

  It was easier on a wrestling mat. Somebody would try to choke him out. It didn’t faze him at all. But this?

  “How’s it going?” Dan asked. “It’s cool to be in school together again.”

  “Yeah,” Eric said. “How do you like it?” This was a safe question.

  “It’s boring,” he said. “I’m stoked you’re here. At least I have one friend.”

  Eric stared at his old girlfriend. It was like looking at a boy and girl at the same time. He shivered. What if Dan wanted to be with him? Dan was physically still Danielle. He couldn’t wrap his head around it. And he didn’t want to. “Well,” he said. “I’m sure you know other people too. You lived here for a while.”

  “Maybe,” Dan said. “Do you want to hang out?”

  “When?” Eric didn’t know what else to say. He didn’t know how he should talk to Dan.

  “After school? Or maybe this weekend. I did some MMA training in Philadelphia. That’s where my family ended up. Isn’t there a fight on Saturday? We could watch it.”

  This was moving too fast.

  Dan wanted Eric to hang out with him. It was like nothing was different. But everything was different. Besides, Eric had planned to be with Michelle. He felt weird telling Dan about her.

  “Maybe,” he said. “Hey, I’ve got to meet somebody in the library. It’s about chem. I’ll see you, Dan.” He quickly turned and walked away.

  Eric could feel Dan’s eyes burning into him. He knew what he was doing was wrong. At the very least, he could’ve been a better friend. But how should he act?

  When he was far enough away, he turned around. Dan was talking to some people. Eric didn’t know them. They were in drama. One of them wore a jacket. “Born This Way” was written on the back.

  Two other students walked behind Dan’s group. They pointed at Dan. Then they cracked up. Dan didn’t see it. Eric was glad.

  CHAPTER 9

  Teacher and Student

  Sensei Chen slammed Eric to the mat. The two of them were rolling. There were no other students at the center. It was closed. That was the only time Sensei would roll with a student. It had to do with respect.

  Sensei Chen was the leader of the MMA center. However, both would be using their best moves. They wouldn’t hold back.

  It wouldn’t be good for other students to see. They might start thinking differently about their teacher. Of course none of the students could beat Sensei.

  Eric quickly turned on the mat. Sensei went to grab his leg. That’s when Eric turned again. He quickly reached up from his ground position. Eric wrapped his arm around his teacher’s neck. This was called a rear naked choke.

  Sensei Chen was calm. It amazed Eric. Nothing about his body felt tense against him. Eric hoped his opponents thought he felt this calm.

  Sensei easily rolled out of the hold and smiled. He wasn’t being disrespectful. The teacher was proud of his student.

  The buzzer sounded. It meant they had rolled for two minutes.

  “Look, I don’t want to give you a big head,” Sensei said. The two stood on the mat. Eric and his teacher drank water. “But, Eric, you’re ready for the county tournament. And I mean against anybody at 135.”

  “Really?” Eric smiled. “Thank you, Sensei.”

  “You have very good concentration. Your focus is your strength. It allows you to know what your opponent will do. You’ll probably know it before they do.”

  “You taught us.” Eric took a sip of water. “Create the situation. And master it.”

  Sensei Chen smiled again.

  A chime sounded. The door to the MMA center opened.

  Dan walked in with his father.

  CHAPTER 10

  Bad to Worse

  Eric was startled. Everything Sensei had said disappeared from his brain. His focus was gone. Eric lost control of the situation. He was nervous about what his opponent would do. But he sensed what was next. Dan wanted to train at the center. He knew it before Dan’s father said it.

  “Eric,” Sensei said after the introductions. “Please show Dan around. Eric is one of my best students.”

  “Oh, we know him well,” Mr. Bonum said. “They’ve been friends for years.”

  “Oh, great!” Sensei smiled.

  The two men started to talk.

  Eric went from being uncomfortable to being mad. Really mad. He didn’t want anything to do with Dan. It was bad enough seeing him at school. Now he was joining the MMA center.

  No way. It was not happening.

  Danielle could become whomever she wanted. That didn’t mean he had to accept it.

  “This is where we roll,” he said half-heartedly. Eric pointed to one of the mats.

  “Cool,” Dan said.

  Then Eric pointed to the words on the wall. “Honesty. Integrity. Intensity. That’s the center’s creed.”

  “I like that,” Dan said. “Seems like a dope way to be.”

  Eric showed Dan some of the trophies. Next was the exercise equipment. He was very curt with his old friend. Why wouldn’t he leave? But Dan didn’t seem to get it.

  “I like this place,” Dan said, smiling.

  Briefly, Eric saw her. Danielle. The girl he had made out with that summer. She had been everything to him. This enraged him. He looked away. Sensei Chen was across the room. Eric was glad. He didn’t want his teacher to see his anger.

  “This is the weird part,” Dan said. Eric looked at him, confused. “Now my dad is telling him about me. This used to bother me. Now I’m like, whatever. People are usually cool about it.”

  Eric shrugged. He looked away. No way would he make eye contact with Dan.

  “You don’t have to worry, Eric,” Dan finally said.

  This caught him off-guard. How should he act? What was the best way to control the situation? He looked Dan in the eye.

  “No surprise, Eric,” Dan said. “You’re not the first friend I’ve lost. You won’t be the last. Just stop acting weird at school, okay?”

  What just happened? Dan had called him out. He wasn’t going away. It was clear. Dan Bonum wasn’t going anywhere.

  “So what do you think, Dan?” Sensei Chen smiled. Dan’s dad smiled too. They walked over to the boys. “I’d be happy to have you train here.”

  Eric eyed Sensei Chen. He was surprised. Sensei was letting Dan train there? A girl who wanted to be a guy? Would he allow him to roll with other guys?

  “Thank you.” Dan glared at Eric. “I think it would be better if I train somewhere else.”

  Danielle had glared at Eric many times. They had fought when they were younger. It was nothing, though. Eric knew they would always make up. Not anymore.

  Dan stormed out of the center.

  “I’m sorry,” Mr. Bonum said to Sensei. “Thank you for the tour. I guess Dan is feeling picky.” He glanced at Eric. Then he walked out too.

  “Was everything okay?” Sensei asked. “His father really liked the center.”

  “I don’t know,” Eric said, shrugging.

  And he didn’t really know. Why did Dan think he could be in Eric’s life? As far as he was concerned, Dan should never have come back to Deermont.

  CHAPTER 11

  Another visit

  I invited the Bonums over this Saturday,” Eric’s mom said. Eric had been eating breakfast. The spoon he was holding wobbled.

  Eric’s dad was buttering toast. “What?” he barked. “Why?”

  Maddie continued to eat.

  “Because we haven’t had them over yet. They just moved back. It’s the right thing to do.” She put some orange juice on the table.
>
  “There’s a reason for that,” his dad said. “We don’t want them over. I don’t want him in my house.”

  Eric was glad to hear his dad talk this way. Somebody wasn’t just going along, finally. Eric thought Dan was weird. He didn’t want to be around him. Why did he have to be?

  “Who?” Maddie asked. She looked up from her cereal. “Who don’t you want in the house?”

  “Nobody,” his dad said. He took a bite of toast. “Tell them we’re busy. Say you forgot. I don’t care. Just don’t have them come here.”

  “What’s the big deal?” his mom said. “It’s only going to be for a few hours.”

  “A few hours? That will be a few hours too long.”

  “You used to love that family. We always did things together. How many baseball games did we see? I lost count. And they love Maddie.”

  “I want them to come over,” Maddie shrieked.

  Eric eyed his sister. She didn’t understand. Maddie couldn’t understand. To her, Dan would be just another person.

  But he wasn’t.

  The two fathers had been good friends too. Right before the family moved away, everyone went to a baseball game. Eric and Danielle went to buy hot dogs. They found a place where there weren’t many people. Then they made out for almost two innings.

  “I wish we didn’t have to get back,” Danielle had said.

  “Me too,” Eric had sighed. He’d stared into her eyes. Until then, he’d never needed another person.

  “I promise it will be a quick meal.” Eric’s mom’s voice cut into his thoughts.

  “Look—” His dad eyed Eric and his sister. “Don’t you two need to get ready for school?”

  “Yeah,” Eric said. He stood up.

  “I’m already ready,” Maddie whined.

  “Go with your brother.”

  The two kids walked out of the kitchen. Eric eavesdropped.

  “What’s the big deal?”

  “I don’t want him in my house,” his dad said.

  “Do you feel that way about your brother?” his mom asked.