It was like Captain was happy to see me at odds with Ron, like he wanted to split the two of us apart in the boat and as friends.

In the time that followed while Ron and I were still roommates, we kept a distance. We didn't speak.

Some nights, Ron, didn't even come back to the room.

I had no idea where he stayed.

We gave each other the silent treatment and practice,

and if he came back to our dorm,

we retreated to our separate sides of the room.

All right, guys. I'll see you tomorrow morning. Good work out there.

Greg, can I have a word with you?

Grow up. He's not going to the principal's office. Once a shit-seatero-roar? Always a shit-seater. Isn't that right, Ron? I mean, Captain?

Nervous, Captain.

Whatever. He's irrelevant. Let's get some food. I'm starving.

Aye, I, Captain.

Aye, Captain.

Ron's changed.

No shit. He's walking around like he's Captain's doppelganger.

Relax. I'm not your enemy. Have you heard about the team parties?

Is that what you wanted to talk to me about? Miss me? It's not really my scene.

Can you cut the shit, Greg? You know Ron is out of his element. Remember the beer bong? These parties have a lot of drinking.

Ron's a grown boy. He can have adult beverages if he wants to.

Okay, maybe drinking is the wrong way to put it. The parties have been pretty intense lately.

A couple nights ago, Captain locked the novices in a room with two kegs and a trash can.

...