Page 121 of Steeling Her
Five passes down and another five to go. I’m not even throwing them properly. I just want to get some water and take a break, but coach is depriving us of it until we do what he says.
One more.
I launch it down the line to Ryan, who catches it with ease. I don’t even care anymore. I want to go back to the coach that knows me best; Bulldog. He knows my mind and plays like I know myself.
“Five minutes,” Coach orders and we both jog over to the sideline to get some water with the boys. I see Bulldog and stand next to him.
“Can’t you get him to lay off?” I ask him and he chuckles.
“You must have done something to tick him off, kid. I think he’s trying to make you and Averman talk to one another . . .” I already knew that. That’s why we’ve been isolated from the team.
“But that’s not helping either one of us. You know that, don’t you?” I spin around to face him, guzzling back the cold water to quench the thirst I have. “We haven’t even spoken a word to each other,” I continue, out of breath and still trying to quench my thirst.
“I know, your passes are sloppy, Jackson. I’m over here having a conniption watching you. Keep that head up, I see it dropping . . . But I do get why you’re doing it. There’s a difference between doing lots of drills with no added effect than a small amount of them and putting your all into the passes,” he tells me, and I couldn’t agree more. He hit the nail on the head with that one. My passes are only getting worse because I’m not bothered today. I just want it to be over with. I want to lie back in bed and fall asleep.
“Yo! Why is Coach riding on you and Averman so hard?” Reggie wonders, but I give him a straight face and watch it all link together on his face.
“Few too many hits to the head, Reg!” Bulldog pats his shoulder before walking back out to the field.
“Wait! Can’t you talk to him?” I yell at him, but he shakes his head and brings his two wrists together.
“My hands are tied, kid. Sorry.” He turns back around onto the field, walking back to where he and the rest of the team are. I feel like walking out right now, Coach is not giving me or Ryan a break.
“Averman! Jackson! Let’s go!” he hollers over to us, and we both roll our eyes and groan.
The rest of the team feel like they’re in high spirits. Getting a chance with the real coaching staff while we get the man who doesn’t have the slightest clue on how to coach us.
This is going to be a long practice.
***
“Alright, that’s enough for you both. You’re with me again same time tomorrow.” He points to himself as he walks down the tunnel.
“Well, I learned fuck all today,” I grumble to myself once he is out of hearing range.
“Yeah, you threw like my sister,” Ryan comments. I glare at him.
“You don’t even have a fucking sister, you idiot!” I retort back to him. “I didn’t want to pass to your sorry ass anyway,” I insult him back.
“Well, I caught them, didn’t I?” he snaps back and Bulldog comes between us in a heartbeat, along with some of the boys, to separate us.
“That’s enough, don’t let Coach see you fighting or you’ll both be benched for the next game. You know he will. Be careful. Both of you,” he warns us but neither one of us look away from the stare down. “Locker rooms, now! Let’s go!” He claps his hands together, signaling it’s time to freshen up from the sweat pumping out of us.
With that order, we all make headway towards the locker rooms for a cold shower because we’re all dripping with sweat. This is when guy talk commences about their latest conquests, but this time I zone out. I want to sleep, that’s all I want to do right now.
By the time I’m dressed and ready to go, TJ is waiting outside the room for me, and we walk back to the car. Reggie is meeting Cas, so it’s just us two.
“You wanna go to the girl’s dorm? You know, just to check on them? See if they’re all good . . .” He’s trying to think of the best excuse but I see right through him. We both know this, because we both want to see them. So, we’re both smiling like idiots at each other, both knowing what we’re thinking.
“Yeah . . . just to check on them,” I beam back knowingly.
With that, we buckle ourselves up and drive towards the three amigos’ dorm room. It didn’t take long for us to be parked facing the terracotta building, the sun shining on the windward side. A small number of leaves are gathered around the ground, nestling up in a whirl when the wind catches it.
TJ and I keep walking, through the lobby and up the elevator. It’s quiet; it’s never been like this when we’re both here other than at nighttime, but it’s daylight and it’s strange. Usually, there’re throngs of girls occupying the space and we have to maneuver our way through the sea.
Pressing the fourth floor, TJ rests his head against the steel wall. “I’m so beat,” he says in a lethargic tone. I sigh, silently agreeing with him. I’m exhausted. They worked us super hard today. I suppose it’s becoming a little more pressurizing this time of the season with the championship at stake. We’ve won it for the past five years, and I plan on keeping that streak going.
The bell above the door tells us we’ve reached the floor. “They better have some food!” I joke. TJ chuckles and checks his phone.
