Chapter Three: The Ever Elusive Question

Disclaimer: I do not own Eyeshield 21.

Summery: When looking at certain people certain questions come to mind that have two very different and possibly volatile answers: pregnant or big? Masculine woman or enffeminate man? Gay or European?

Characters Involved: Natsuhiko Taki, Anthony Reeves, Brian Adams, Jimmy Simard, Nathan Smith, Oscar Wilde

Other Comments: I found an Ouran amv with the song There! Right There! [aka Gay or Eurpoean?] from Legally Blonde The Musical. After watching/listening to it a million times I decided it was my new motivation to update this particular collection of stories. This one kind of ran away with me. Not sure how much sense it makes but I like it, in a wierd sort of way.

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It was easily the most exciting, wonderful, emotional roller coaster day in any of their lives. In celebration they had all decided to go out for the biggest self-congratulatory dinner any of them had ever had. Unfortunately most of them were fairly broke, some of them went home to spread the good news to their families, and then there were the ones who were simply anti-social. Fortunately there were several of them who were willing to splurge, were not married, and had no problems going out to eat with people they didn't know well at all.

Five of them actually: Brian Adams, Anthony Reeves, Jimmy Simard, Nathan Smith, and Oscar Wilde. Although Nathan had to leave by seven to pick up his girlfriend from work. There was also Brian who needed a ride and Anthony who only had five bucks and a Canadian nickel on him.

Thus they found themselves settling for a local dining favorite that was only a ten minute walk from the stadium. Twenty minutes later they found themselves all seated and scarfing down hot wings with soda, all they could really afford on a spur of the moment meal. Though Jimmy had been ecstatic enough to order several orders of onion rings and cheese sticks on him.

This was rewarded by Brian giving his new found friend, and ride, a friendly swat on the arm.

"YEOWCH!"

Unfortunately for poor Jimmy Simard it was his injured arm. Thus he was blindsided by an unbelievable amount of pain before it dulled into sharp stabbing burn until it settled into a throbbing ache. This, of course, caused the table to burst into uproar. It was a strange mix of laughter, concern, and attempting to convince Brian that he didn't break the one guy nice (and rich) enough to buy them all deep fried appetizers. Then they had to convince the flustered restaurant manager that nothing was wrong and that they were sorry they'd be quiet please don't us out. Fifteen minutes later it was all resolved, nothing left but some left over snickering and several wings.

"Hey, what'd you guys think of that guy?" Oscar decided to strike conversation first.

Brian looked confused. "What guy?"

"You know. That guy." Oscar could clearly see that they did not, in fact, know. He foundered for a few moments trying to explain before giving up on words. With a pained sigh he got up out of his chair. Stepping back so he had enough room, he kicked his fight leg as high up as he could get it before striking a pose that made him look like he was hold a non-existent jacket open.

Anthony thumped his fist into his other hand in sudden realization. "Oh you mean the gay guy!"

"Gay?" He got some weird looks from some of the other members at the table. Oscar in particular was staring at him like he had grown a second head and had been the one to verbally protest his theory as he settled back into his seat. "He wasn't gay."

Now it was Anthony's turn to look like his teammate had grown a second head. His eyes widened in complete disbelief before hardening into deep rooted suspicion. He fixed the other man with a pointed stare. "Were we looking at the same guy? Blond? Leather jacket? Seemed to twirl and sparkle a lot? 'Cause yeah. He was totally gay."

Oscar seemed personally insulted by this statement. "He was not!"

"Of come off it!" Anthony flung his hands into the air and narrowly avoided smacking Jimmy right in the face. "What rock have you been living under? Dude was totally batting for the other team!"

It was at this point that Brian decided to chime in. "Wouldn't it be the same team?"

Anthony almost gave himself whiplash turning to the new speaker in complete disbelief and astonishment. "What? No! The same team?"

Brian seemed very serious about this line of questioning. "Are we on this team?"

Anthony, on the other hand, looked like he wanted out of the conversation. Now. "Yes. No. I don't know! Probably."

Now he was just terribly confused, which he announced promptly with his facial features fixed in a semi-permanent state of bafflement.

Nathan threw in his two sense. Partly because he was feeling a little left out. Partly because he felt he had something to contribute to the current debate. But mostly he didn't want to get sucked into a conversation about whether the team was an other or the same. The whole thing was just ridiculous. "I personally though he was European, not gay."

"What?" This got Anthony to furrow his eyebrows.

Which just caused Nathan to shrug casually. "Seriously. He obviously wasn't from the states. He had that accent, he's all touchy feely, and I'm pretty sure his legs were shaved."

"And what of those things means he's not gay?" The expectant look on Anthony's face rankled Nathan. he wasn't sure what it was about that expression but he somehow felt he was being made to look like a fool. "'Cause I'm pretty sure you just defined the word gay."

"I got to side with Smith on this one." A clear defined voice interrupted his thought before he had a chance to make a witty comeback. Oscar jerked his thumb in said person's general direction. "They do stuff different over there. Just cause he's different and a little... quirky doesn't mean the guy likes other guys in that way."

Anthony slammed his drink onto the table. "Quirky? Quirky? The man's practically flaming and you go with quirky?"

"Guys?" Jimmy's voice didn't even register as a sound amidst their heated discussion.

Voice loud and sure in a way that only someone who believed what they were saying was 100% true, Nathan leaned across the table for a stare down. He knew what he was talking about it dammit! And Anthony was going to cave if it took all night to do so. "I'm telling you my sister married a European! He's chill and all but he definitely has a different way of doing things. For one their soccer shorts and swimwear is practically indecent. I swear I died a little inside the first time we went swimming together."

"Guys." Speaking up and waving his hand a little, Jimmy tried once again to gain their attention.

Only to fail miserably as proven by the fact that Anthony barreled right over what he was trying to say with a loud, "But did you see the way he moved? And his jacket! He kept opening up his jacket like he was trying to flash someone! There's no way in fucking hell he's anything but gay!"

"Guys!" Four sets of eyes immediately focused on Jimmy, who gave a considering shrug of his shoulders. "Can't he be both?"

The statement took a moment to sink in.

Anthony gave him this weird flabbergasted look and said, "Gay-"

"-And European?" Oscar finished dubiously.

They all seemed to ponder this for a moment before simultaneously taking a swing of their drinks and trying to flag down the waiter for the bill.

Nobody even wanted to attempt that line of conversation.