Naked Hero - The Journey Away

Scott as he watched Lewis move away. “And what’s with that trainer of yours? He’s whistling Dixie, I’m sure he is! Is that an example of what you Brits call - taking the piss?”
    Jim glared at the trainer and mentally cuffed his ears. “Yes on the last one. But don’t take offence – it’s me he’s taking the piss out of, not you. And as for Lewis, well, that’s my fault. We had a few words last night - nothing serious, he was just upset. What with one thing and another I never got the chance to speak to him about this. Don’t blame the boy.”
    Scott nodded, seemingly placated. “I’m sure he was upset. There are not many people who could have walked off the court yesterday and not be affected by what went on. And Lewis definitely isn’t one of them. Anyway, perhaps it’s for the best. I certainly got the chance to see what he can do. He’s quite something, Jim. Really in your face when he attacks. There weren’t many players I came across who could dominate the net the way he can – and he wasn’t showing me anywhere near his best. It’s no surprise that he won Wimbledon. Let’s go and see what needs to be ironed out so he can win here as well.”
    “Do you seriously think that he can?” asked Jim excitedly.
    “As I said – he didn’t show me his best. And because of that I’d say there’s three, rather than just the two people who could stop him winning the Open: Jackson, Gonzales... and himself. And it’s the last one that’s the biggest threat.”

Chapter 2 4
    Scott Taylor sat quietly as Jim took Lewis through his practise session – he’d played the lad enough, it was time now to observe. With his all court game and wealth of shots he possessed there was plenty for the American to consider, but Scott realised quickly that there was no need for any immediate input with regards to Lewis’s game. He had seen the Spaniard that he would face in the next round, and had no doubt that the young Scotsman would win comfortably as long as he remained focused. Having already met with Cliff Drysdale, Scott had done all he could to ensure that there would be no serious crowd trouble at the match - and Drysdale was now onside, fearing an outcry if such a debacle was repeated in front of a global television audience. He had also got hold of some footage of Lewis’s matches, and planned to study them to see what may have to be worked on for the following rounds. But that was for later - just now he was more interested in the man himself.
    ‘Man?’ thought Scott.
    Yes, he was a man alright – a modern day warrior in the peak of condition, brandishing a weapon with a tattooed arm like a gladiator in an arena. But it struck Scott that Lewis was more like a boy at times. He had certainly been childishly overawed when they first met, and again after their knockabout when Jim told him about the arrangement. Even now when he was playing like a man on court, he kept looking over for approval like a child.
    Scott wondered if that was the gay thing, but doubted it. There didn’t seem anything obviously gay about Lewis. He came across as no different to most other young guys, which was a heck of a relief to the American. There were no effeminate mannerisms or inflections of the voice that suggested Lewis was in any way different to the rest of the players on the tour. The only difference Lewis exhibited was in his approach to the game - something which had become manifest in the points they had played. He didn’t try to demonstrate his superiority, but played within himself. Winning wasn’t everything for Lewis Macleod - that’s where they were different. Scott would have allowed nothing to prevent him from winning and achieving his goals, from getting to the top. But Lewis would – he had already done so. He had announced to the world his sexuality, knowing that it would make life so much tougher for him on the tour. That was something that Gentleman Scott Taylor would never have done... even though he’d been tempted on several occasions!
    The events of yesterday had horrified him. It represented everything that Scott had feared and had studiously endeavoured to avoid. It was the main reason for his sacrifice, or so he had convinced himself. There were so many sacrifices he had needed to make in order to become the world’s number one tennis player - leaving unexplored the deviant side of his sexuality was just one more.
    Scott knew from an early age that he had an attraction towards