I wrote this story as a tribute to Wazput's story about Matt, Kris, Corey, Colt and the Gang. The gang has been a part of my college life and all I could say is thank you for continuing it and making the story worthwhile.
This story is about an unseen character that maybe some of us can relate to. We all know someone has to play in the background. Someone has to be underneath everything and go unseen. Somehow, someone suffers from afar when we think everything is okay within eyes reach.
And we all know that there will always be a good story behind another good story.
Also thanks to Andy and Big D!!!
Watching from the Sidelines Summer Sidelines Chapter-2 "Spending Summer"
"Cordy? Your Grandmum's here!" Mom shouted through the door.
"Just five more minutes mom! Jeeesh Give me some rest!" I shot back.
"Okay but you better get down here or all the chocolates she has for you will go to Timmy's pockets!" Mom said which made me hurry up.
My grandma's from Sweden and she usually visits us every summer break ever since my grandfather died. It's been too hard for her because mom is her only child.Yes, I am half Swede and that's the reason I'm pale white. That's not all about my family. I'm also really ashamed of what my family has, although my best friend Timmy would certainly disagree.
My dad's pretty well-off. He's a retired senior executive vice president in a Government bank. He retired when he turned 52. He said that there's enough money for my college and for him and mom when they grow old. Of course his definition of enough for me is A-FUCKING-DAMN-LOT. Even now that he's retired, he still receives numerous messages from different banks asking if he wanted to work for them on a higher rate. Higher rate means him having a monthly salary that is higher than $125K. I didn't even want to think about it because it makes me sick. To add to this sickness, my mom's parents too are well off. They own a huge farmland in Sweden and have their own dairy and wine products which, according to Nana(my grandmom) is number 6 in Sweden's best products.
But still, I am very proud of my parents for keeping both their feet on the ground and keeping mine on it as well. I never wanted too much cash. What can feed me and buy me some things I like is enough, although that hasn't stopped my parents from giving me a filled bank account. Imagine your parents renting you an apartment and giving you your first personal account with an initial amount of $200K, and later did I know that Nana's bought me a car, yeah a car, Maserati GranCabrio 2009 and of course I accepted it. In college she keeps sending me $50K a month as monthly allowance. But even though I never wanted too much, I never stopped them. I just did my best in school and sports to make them proud. I was never the straight A student in high school. I was more of an A, A-, B+, A type of student.
I loved WWF when I was growing up. In high school I asked my dad if I could enroll in a wrestling class and he said he could show me a martial arts class that I might like more, and I did. I had Jiu Jitsu lessons and finished as a junior green belt. I also had a few private kick boxing lessons after my Jiu Jitsu. What interests me now is Capoeira. I don't know, but I guess if I put my mind into it, I could go back to fighting shape in no time.
And there was Timothy Rivers, my best friend and the only person whom I told that I'm gay. He was cool about it and did wish me well. He said that would give him one less competitor on girls. Timmy is like the brother I never had and he's been the best throughout all my years. We've been best friends since first grade and he knows everything about me. I know I am a very shy person and I don't open up to a lot but Timmy is the one person I whom I seem to trust so well. His girlfriend Tina is also nice to me. I just don't know why I don't feel comfortable when a lot of people are around me. I get the feeling that they always talk about me. Even though I know I'm overthinking it. I mean Toni is a really nice girl and did seem really friendly and sincere. Even though people could say I have everything in the world now. I still don't have the one thing in the world I wanted most. A lover, and I know just who would fit right in the lover spot, Matt.
"If only." I sighed after washing my face in the sink.
I fixed my bed and changed my clothes before I went down to the kitchen where I can hear Nana's boisterous laugh.
"God morgon Nana!" I shouted from the kitchen doorframe.
"Cordy! God morgon! Puss Nana, snälla!" Nana smiled as she pointed to her cheek. I gave her a hug and kissed gave her a kiss.
"How are you Nana? Are you tired?" I asked her
"Yaj elskling. So I will have to get some good rest and you enjoy the goodies I have for you."
"Thank you Nana."
"Anytime dear." She said as she left going to the guest room.
I turned to the counter and there was indeed a whole bunch of goodies. The two things thing I love about Sweden are cheese and chocolates.
I was nibbling on one chocolate bar when somebody shouted from behind me. I literally jumped out of my skin in horror. I turned to see Timmy laughing while using the counter as a support.
"You should've seen your reaction, it was so priceless" Timmy said while muffling his laughter.
"I'm going to kill you! Bitch!" I shouted as I ran after him. I chased him and got him in the living area where I pinned him down. "Submit punk!"
"Never! I'm the Alpha male here!" He tried to lift his hands up but I pinned him back again.
"Not in a million years Timmy." I smiled.
"The gay dude loves the feeling of my crotch rubbing his butt." Timmy teased back.
"Funny, cause I actually don't feel anything. I've been hoping to get a feel but nothing seems to be there." I shot back at him.
"You shit! Okay let me go."
"See, I always win." I said showing him my muscles.
"That's because I let you win." He chuckled.
"Whatever you say chief." I said. We went back to the kitchen and grabbed some breakfast cereals. "How long have you been here?"
"Last night I flew in from New York. But I would be leaving again next week. I need to check in on a lot of school stuff and prepare for a student meeting. It sucks." Timmy said.
"Don't tell me you joined the student council?" I asked in amazement. "Did you?"
"Hell yeah dude! I did! And it was awesome! I got the students' votes by a landslide! Isn't that cool or what?"
"Well that's typical. You can have everybody like you. The one thing I can't do." I said
"Here we go again. Didn't I tell you? It's all in here and in here." Timmy said while he pointed to his head then pointed to his heart. "If you want something, claim it..."
"And it shall be mine..." I sighed. "Yeah I know. But what if, for the sake of the argument that a certain someone has a partner, and he is so in love with his partner, but you fell hard for that certain someone. How would you be able to 'claim' him?"
Timmy put his spoon down and looked at me. "I know you've been dealing with who you are throughout high school. And I know people are
making it hard for you because you are Mr Richie Rich."
"But you stuck with me all the way..." I said but he cut me with one look.
"I know. My point is, they've been pretty hard on you. People in high school judged you because of what you have even though
you don't boast. You are a really good person Cord and you are my best friend. I think it's right for you to have someone who will love you back for the person you are, not for what you have. If this certain someone happens to fall off with his partner which I know you wouldn't wish on him, I know you will find all the courage to be there and catch him." Timmy said with a smile.
"Thank you so much Timmy. Now I know why I didn't need any more friends in high school. You are equal to a hundred friends." I smiled back at him and gave him a full hug. "I missed you Tim."
"I missed you too Cordy." Timothy said with cracking voice. I pulled back.
"Are you crying?"
"No! I'm not! I had a cereal in my mouth and I swallowed it." He said defensively.
"Of course you do." I said sarcastically.
"Come on Cord honest! I wasn't going to cry!"
"Oh, yeah I forgot. You are Mr Macho guy." I laughed while I got the bowls and went to the dirty kitchen where I placed it on the sink.
"I am." Timmy said while showing his biceps which are obviously nothing compared to mine.
I laughed and went with him to the entertainment room where we played our favorite wrestling game in my Xbox 360. After about 2 and a half hours we were called by the family's house-helper to have lunch. We ate a lot together with dad, mom and Nana. The five of us were really full with all of Nana's sweets. After eating grandma dropped the bomb and said there was a problem in the farm and dad and mom should go with her and help out with things. She did ask me if I wanted to come but understood pretty well why I didn't want to go. I said I needed to check on my apartment too because there would be renovations in the complex and a bunch of engineers will be checking things if they are still intact. I also needed to redecorate my apartment since it was too lame.
I found a nice design online and I really wanted to put that in my apartment. Also I wanted to turn the other empty room into either an entertainment room or a mini-gym. I'd still want to practice capoeira but the room's too small so maybe it'd be a mini-workout room. That afternoon, together with Timmy, we planned the new additions and designs for my apartment.
"Maybe we could do that before you went back to New York? Snälla?" I looked at Timmy with puppy dog eyes.
"I still don't know what that means you know? And it's unfair that Nana won't tell me. But of course, I will go with you. You didn't have to ask."
"Yay! I'll contact the furniture shop I saw online. See you tomorrow Timmy tell your mom I said hi!"
"Will do chief!"
The following Saturday morning, Timmy and I got prepared for the redecoration. He was following me in his truck and I have already given the instructions to the furniture delivery where the apartment is. We just needed to drop by some shops to buy paints and all sorts of materials needed for our apartment makeover. We loaded them in Tim's truck and continued to the complex. It was unusual to park in the lot because I've always parked in the campus. I laughed to myself, but as soon as I got out of my car my heart skipped a beat as I saw a very familiar SUV parked one building away from my complex. It was in one of the "new rise" complexes.
"Hey! Let's get moving! We haven't got all the time in the world." Tim shouted unloading the things from is truck.
"Alright let's go!" I glanced back at the SUV and turned to help Tim carry the stuff inside the house.
We cleaned everything first and covered every furniture with newspapers to start with. When everything was covered well. I gave Tim one photo of a wall that's what I wanted to happen on my wall. It was a mixture of thick green lines with thin grey highlights. It's a good thing I bought tapes so that the lines would be easier made. We coated the wall and started doing our thing. We fell asleep on the floor with our shirts gone after finishing the living room and the dining room.
I woke up at around 2PM with the sound of a truck parking in. I got up and saw the delivery truck for my furnitures and I put my shirt on with Tim waking up.
"Come on Timmy! The furniture truck is here!" I said excitedly. Timmy put his shirt on and followed me outside the door.
We helped the men carry the heavy things inside the apartment. While working, Timmy and I did what we usually do when we're together. I got my video camera out and placed it on a stand and I played my digital surround sound and played "Call me maybe". We both danced and lipsinc-ed like crazy in front of the camera. I was holding the paint roller and Tim was holding the vacum hose. We were having so much fun and Timmy even told me that what we did was so gay. Then we resumed back to our business. I strictly followed the design I saw in the internet and made sure the paints are dry before we placed the furnitures in their designated places. Timmy was also detailed in placing the vases properly and hanging the different paintings in the correct placement. I also bought a nice wooden artpiece that would go well on the fireplace. In the end the apartment looked very good Just the way I like it.
"Now this is what I call a high-end loft." Timmy nudged me on the side as we both admire our masterpiece. Everything was in place and I'm pretty sure it would stay like that for a long time.
"Here I got this for you." Timmy said as he reached something from his bag and handed it to me.
"What's this?" I asked as I opened the gift.
It's a photo frame with a picture of both of us when we were camping at age 8. I looked at the photo and saw the bruise I had on my knee. That was the time when one of my classmates pushed me and I fell and scraped my knee. Timmy was the one who helped me up and helped me tend to my wound. I stared at it for another moment and smiled to myself.
"It's perfect." I said as I moved to the antique organ I brought and placed it on top of it.
"It is. You know you may never have a real brother, or sister, but I'm always here for you pal. You hear me?" Timmy said as he put his arm around my shoulder.
"I know. You are my brother Timmy. You always will." I said with another smile in my face.
"Are you sure you are not going to stay for dinner?" I asked Timmy.
"I can't I'm leaving on Tuesday. I'm sorry bro."
"Well then take this quesadilla I made with you. Be careful okay? And thanks Timmy." I handed Timmy the packed food and gave him a one handed hug,
"Anytime Cordy. We'll keep in touch" Timmy said as he rode his car.
I waited till his car was out of sight before I headed back to my apartment. I would be staying the whole summer because mom and dad won't be at home because they went with Nana to Sweden to help her with 'problems' they refuse to tell me. Seriously, I wanted to go to Sweden. It's been 13 years since I've seen my cousin Fredrick. It was always Nana and my grandfather who visited us.
I sat in front of my organ and played my favorite piece in it "The river flows in you" by the Japanese composer Himura. It's the one piece I play at home everyday and my parents would ask me to play it over and over. While playing, thoughts of Matt rushed through my head. These past few weeks. All I kept thinking of is what Toni said that she would introduce me to the gang... And Matt. That is what's making me all giddy. Fuck everything else. Matt will finally get to meet his stalker. I just hope Toni would still remember me.
I after playing I stepped out to get some cool night breeze. I stretched out when a deep voice startled me.
"Hey!" The guy's deep voice gave me chills.
"Whoa Jesus Christ!" I said as I turned to see one of the uni's athlete with a friendly smile on his face.
"Oops, sorry dude. Didn't mean to startle you. were you the one playing the piano?" The guy asked.
"Uh.. Y-yeah.. It's an organ. I- I'm sorry if I was too loud." I apologized and lowered my head.
"Are you kidding me? That was awesome dude! Bravo! I was just waiting for my bud here and heard you playing. Isn't that the song from the movie Twilight?" He asked.
"No! It's an independent masterpiece written by Himura. It's not related to twilight." I said a bit ticked. Almost all people say that this is from Twilight. I hate that crappy film. "You know twilight?"
"Nope, just saw a youtube clip is all." He smiled again. "Not into some lame vampire lovebugs."
I just nodded my head as I cant think of anything to say. Here I go again, I get nervous when coversations start.
"By the way I'm Myles. You are?" he reached out his hand.
"I'm Cord."
"Nice to meet you. Are you a sophomore?"
"I'm an incomming Junior." I said.
"Really? Cool! Most of my good friends are turning juniors too." He said. Then we both turned to see who the person he was waiting for. It was no other than the school's star athlete, Ted Wilcox. He had a really strong aura that is very intimidating.
"Hey! What took you so long?" Myles said obviously pissed at Ted.
"Coach was discussing stuff with me." Ted said as he looked past Myles and straight to me. "Hey! What's up!"
"Hi!" I said timidly. Ted smiled.
"Hey Ted. My buddy here is an amazing pianist! You should've heard him play! It was like a recording." Myles comments made me blush.
"Really? That's cool bro! I'm Ted!" He said and reached for my hand.
"Uhm Cord."
"Hey. We're about to head out for dinner. Wanna join us?" Ted asked.
"Uhmmmm" I started.
"What's wrong dude? You should come with us. Are you waiting for your roomates?" Myles said.
"No I have no roomates."
"Are you telling me you have this apartment all by yourself?" Ted said.
I nodded my head and looked down to the ground.
"That's a little pricey don't you think?" Myles asked.
"Yeah... I-I... Uhmmm" I stuttered.
"Well are you going to have dinner with us?" Ted asked again.
"Actually, I've already prepared dinner inside, my friend was supposed to eat here but he already left so there's plenty for us if you'd want to," I said. again looking down to the ground.
"Awesome dude! That would save me some cash. Thanks." Myles said.
I let them in the apartment and it was a good thing I have already sprayed air disinfectant and air freshner after Tim left.
"Whoa! Dude you are rich!" Ted exclaimed. Myles had his mouth opened and didn't say a word. "You'd bash our apartment. This flat is so sweet!"
"Thanks, I had help." I said as I prepared the table. I put the roast pork and the salad on the table and called both of them to the table while I took the mashed potatoes from the microwave.
"Whoooaaa! Not only that he knows how to play the organ. He knows how to cook." Myles said as I blushed again.
"This is so delicious Cord. Thank you for inviting us. This is far better than eating outside." Ted said.
"Thanks guys. You know you are the first university students I had invited here." I said and was surprised with what I said.
"Really? Well you should invite us in more often." Ted said with a chuckle.
"If you'd want to that would be cool." I said with both of them saying yes. They helped me clean up and I showed them my mini-workout room. They both admired it and was really nice.
"You've got to play your piano for me." Ted said.
"It's and organ. but sure." I smiled at him.
I played again with Ted and Myles sitting back on the couch. I played for like thirty minutes and played all the different tunes I know. Yawning Ted got up and patted me on the shoulders. Myles was snoring lightly on the couch.
"We better get going Cord. I need to go back home early tomorrow. I just visited the school for a team meeting." Ted said. "Thank you very much! You were so nice."
Myles woke up and stretched.
"Wooaa. See Cord? You made me sleep. You were that good!" Myles said chuckling.
"Uhhmm thanks.." I said looking at the floor.
"He's a lot like Matt isn't he?" Ted nudged Myles as I ushered them out of the apartment.
"Yep. No doubt he is Matt. Although I never tasted any of Matt's recipies other than fried eggs." Myles said and laughed.
"Well. Thanks again Cord. We're sure to visit you soon. Goodnight!" Ted said. Myles also bid me goodbye and were gone.
I shut the door behind me and was lost in thought again. I just made two new friends that are also Matt's friends. I got more scared as I imagined how things would turn out when Matt and me finally met.
------ I opened my eyes and the sun was peekeing through the leaves of the tree where I lay under. It's a nice morning and a lot of children were playing kites and chasing some dogs and blowing bubbles in the green field in front of me. I marveled at how beautiful the scenery was. It was like how you would imagine a movie with musicals, colors and all. I looked beside me and saw a picnic basket and two plates of unfinished baked macaronies.
'I wonder whom these are.' I thought to myself. I continued and saw a little boy, about 5 years old aproached me with a baloon in his hand. I was stunned because he looks like a little version of Matt. I smiled as he came closer.
"Daddy! Look! Papa bought me baloon!" He said very excited as he jumped up and down.
"Me?" I asked the kid.
"I said Papa bought me this baloon.! He said a bit uneasy.
"Oh! That's good. Where's papa? I asked sounding a bit stupid.
"He's coming now. He bought Philip a baloon too. A blue one, I don't like the blue one, I like red!" He said as he sat down my lap, surprising me.
Later from afar I saw a little boy with a blue baloon with a guy that made my eyes buldge. They came towards us with the kid with the blue baloon, Philip ran to sit on my lap as well. It was funny because Philip looked like a smaller version of me. They were fighting for the spot on my lap and had to adjust to make room for both of them. The guy was looking at us smiling. I smiled back at him. He leaned over and gave me a kiss in the lips that was so warm and made me feel so right. Then he whispered. " I love you".
"I love you too." I whispered back.
And then I woke up in my bed. I sighed. It was just a dream. I went to sit on the bubble couch beside my bed. "I wish I never woke up."
I played my sound system and put it on random. I smiled as One Direction played. I looked at the black and white sillouhette face portrait of Matt I had an artist made. It was perfect because it looks like Matt, but if you look at it again, it looks like a random shadow painting. I asked the artist to make it like that when I showed him the picture on my iPhone.
I stayed in the apartment longer and it looked like I will be staying up here till school comes back because mom and dad are still with Nana in Europe. I never had a problem with it since that is how I like it. Me all by myself.
-The End of Chapter 2-
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