The Janitor

[Ghostposter]

OOC: Tony Aiello. 24 years old. 6'2". 195. Black hair. Black eyes. Well built.


IC:



It wasn't exactly how I pictured my life turning out, but fate can throw you some weird curves.



Five years ago, I was on top of the world. I was an All-State quarterback in high school with a full ride to a major university. I thought I would hang out and party for two or three years then make a million bucks playing in the NFL.

I quickly came face to face with reality. At that level, EVERYONE was All-State somewhere. After my Freshman year the coach got fired, and I was never the apple of the new coach's eye. He sat me on the bench and never gave me a shot to play.

Still, I did get to party. I think. It's all kind of a blur to me now. I think I had fun, though. Unfortunately, my grades slipped to a level at would have gotten me tossed out of Delta House. It gave the coach a good excuse to revoke my scholarship.

So here I was, 24 years old and back in my old home town trying to sort things out. The worst part was that in this economy, the only job I was able to get was as janitor at my old high school. I think the principal felt sorry for me, or maybe he wanted to use me as an object lesson to the current class.

"See kids, this is what happens when you don't buckle down and study."


Two days on the job and I already wanted to kill myself. I was sitting in my 'office' -- a little closet in the basement -- contemplating the best method when I heard a voice.

"So. You're the new janitor...."

I looked up and saw a student standing in the doorway. She seemed vaguely familiar....

 

[pj38]

Carly

When I was eleven, I used to watch Tony out my bedroom window when he would play football with the neighborhood boys. It was my first crush, and I had never told anyone. When later he got to be a star quarterback, I kept it as my special secret. When I'd see him bring girls home in his car, I'd think, "I liked him before any of you did."

Now I'm Carly Simpson, senior, straight-A student. My body has filled out nicely, I think, but most boys don't want to be with me cause they think I'm too smart. I do get out sometimes, but I've only had one real boyfriend and he broke up with me during the summer. It hurts not to be popular, but I've always had my secret that no one could take away.

I heard about Tony coming back. People said a lot of bad things about him. And Principal Miller, how could he make Tony get up and say those things in front of the whole school? And after Tony had won all those trophies in the case by the gym! Tony was still my hero, and I didn't care what anyone said.

"Hi Tony, I'm Carly Simpson, remember, your neighbor? I heard you're the new janitor."

 

[Ghostposter]

Tony

Carly Simpson.

The lightbulb went off immediately when she said her name, but it was hard to reconcile my memories of the little braces-wearing tomboy who always seemed to be hanging around me with the pretty girl standing in the doorway. If not for the hornrimmed glasses she still wore I wouldn't have believed it.

"Hey, Carly," I said, "It's been a long time."

I glanced up at the clock on the wall. This late in the afternoon no one would bother to come down into the bowels of the building to come looking for me. My time was my own. I could start mopping the the second floor boys room, or I could spend some time with a very sexy girl.

Decisions, decisions, decisions....

"Why don't you come on in," I said....

 

[pj38]

Carly

I had been a little nervous approaching my hero to talk to him, so I was surprised that he was so nice to me. But now I couldn't think of a think to say. I blushed slightly.

"I was always a fan of yours when you played football. It's so exciting to have you back at the school. It's too bad about what happened at college."