The Captain

Strikes, sours and sinking scholorships

Goodbye to my hopes and dreams

Start flipping for my enemies

Portugal. The man- Feel it still

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"Morata is shit." Paul dropped his burger back on the plate. "How could he have missed such a chance?" He grunted in frustration.

"Well I hope he doesn't log on to twitter today. The trolling issa whole mood dude." Aaron laughed joining them at their cafeteria table with his tray.

"He deserves it. I hope he's on the bench when we're playing with Barcelona." Paul said in frustration losing his appetite.

Kelvin broke into fits of laughter whiles he scrolled through his phone with a lettuce hanging from his mouth.

"And what's so funny?" Paul asked shifting his anger to him.

Kelvin laughed more before placing his phone down and speaking up. "The tweets about him are so hilarious. How can chelsea fans be so mean." He snickered. "Someone said Morata will be in a plane but still miss his flight."

Paul rolled his eyes obviously very pissed. He turned to Harris who hadn't said anything yet since lunch break.

Harris wasn't being himself. Paul noticed he had been quiet all day and barely spoke on the victory of the match. He heard Harris had gotten suspended which means there was a very high possibility the officials wouldn't allow him to play at states. It must really hurt very much since all the young men sitting around this cafeteria table had been dreaming about was to play at states. Paul only agreed to go to school after juvi because of football. Not the other way round.

If he was the one to be suspended he would have probably dropped out or change schools or something. He can't live without football. So he sort of knew what Harris was feeling and felt with him.

"Hey man." Paul called him out.

Harris was so deep into his thoughts to hear anything. He just sat there staring blankly at his untouched food with his forehead creased.

"Yo Harris.." He tried again. This time it was the others on the table whose attention he caught. Alvin glanced at Harris then turned to Paul to slowly shake his head in disapproval. Paul brushed him off.

"Harris." He tried again. Harris slowly lifted his head up from his plate to see all eyes on him.

"What?" He asked with a raised brow and a hint of irritability.

Paul looked at him analyzing his expression. He seemed distressed.

"What?!" Harris asked once again after no one replied him but instead they all just stared on.

Aaron cleared his throat lightly feeling uncomfortable. He was wondering the same thing in the shower this morning how he was going to address the issue with his captain. The atmosphere was tenser than he had presumed.

"We are just worried Harris." Rashford spoke up. "You switched of your phone yesterday after the game and haven't said anything to any off us this morning."

His teammates knew Lingard had mostly as a matter of fact caused their suspension. If Lingard hadn't provoked him in the first place, he wouldn't have thrown that punch. And they all hated Lingard for that.

Harris dropped his head onto the table to rest and escape the sympathy of his teammates, but the cheap smelly public school cafeteria table made him lift his head back up again.

What was he supposed to say anyway? That he was happy for them and wished them well at states? Because he wasn't, he felt really jealous of them right now. He hasn't even informed his dad yet about his suspension.

God he was screwed.

He threw his head back against the wall and took a deep breath. He barely caught enough sleep last night.

Lingard was going to be the death of him.

"I'm just disturbed by yesterday's events I guess." He sighed.

Harris wasn't just disturbed. It was really hurting. He was traumatized. It sucked. He couldn't think of anything but it. Is this what heartbreak feels like?

Mason who had also been quiet the whole day stared at his best friend from the edge of the table. They were supposed to be playing side by side in three months. Sub's from various colleges would be around to analyze their performance. They had dreamt of playing in the same college.

But now that couldn't happen.

Because of some self-centered asshole.

Mason probably hated Lingard more than Harris did now.

"Mr. Harris Cooper, kindly see principal Wheeler in his office now." The intercom announced making all heads in the cafeteria turn to him. People began whispering and stealing glances at their table.

"Just when I thought things couldn't get any better." He groaned sarcastically. He totally forgot about his punishment from the principal.

"I'll go with you." Mason said getting up and gathering his stuff.

"No hey I dont want you to be involved in this." Harris raised his hand to stop him. The captain in trouble was enough, he wasn't going to draw the co-captain into this.

Mason raised his eyebrow in question. "I need to be there and explain to the principal it wasn't your fault." He spoke as a matter of fact like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"No lemme go alone and listen to what he has to say. We both know wheeler." Harris protested standing up and not bothering to clear his tray.

"I'll see you guys in class."

And with that he took his leave with his friends staring worriedly behind him.

"You think he'll get his head around it?" Rashford asked no one in particular with a worried look on his face. They all knew how much Harris had dreamt for this so no one dared to answer.

Going to the principals office suddenly didn't seem frightening anymore. Not when what you're living for just flashed before your eyes and you feel so heavy you could literally sink the titanic.

Harris cared less of what music he was going to face. Nothing was worth it anymore.

He knocked thrice lightly on the principals door as the wrinkled and holed paper on the door instructed.

Why knock lightly three times when you can knock loudly once? He didn’t find the logic in it.

"Come on in." The all too familiar voice of principal Wheeler instructed. Here goes nothing.

A loud creak sparked as Harris opened the door making principal Wheeler raise his head from whatever papers he was reading. Seated opposite Wheeler were two other people. With their backs to him, Harris couldn't make them out.

"Take a seat Mr Cooper." Wheeler gestured him to sit with a light smile which disappeared as fast as it came.

Did Wheeler just smile at him? Harris had to double check his memory to make sure he was in the right room.

Walking to his seat he realized one of them was the coach of the Diamond hills football team. He had on the same straight face he did on the field the day before. The person next to him was also....

Wait a minute....

Wait a damn minute…

Lingard??

The dark-haired boy Harris had grown to hate overnight had on a bored expression with his never ending deep brown eyes staring at his lap.

All of a sudden rage Harris never knew he could feel for a single person erupted in full force.

What the f**k was he doing here?

"Mr Cooper please take your seat." Wheeler stated once again taking off his glasses.

Harris who was on the verge of exploding took a deep breath then slowly made his way to the chair beside the coach.

Breath Harris, breath.

"What ensued between you two yesterday was quiet unfortunate. Both schools have been allies for as long as I know so I shouldn't see why anything should change. I spoke to coach Wolfhard this morning and we both agreed on a better way to resolve this. I've spoken to coach Beck here and he agrees to it too. Let's not stretch the issue and blow it out of proportion." Wheeler explained looking at Harris.

"I spoke with the officials on phone last night and they agreed with me that the suspension was a harsh decision. So they gave an alternative. What seemed to be the problem between you two was communication and working with each other. So..." He sighed and interlocked his fingers.

"Both of you'll will have to be in the same school so your behaviors can be monitored. And if you stay on your best behavior well the officials will consider putting you both on the Wolfhard team."

Maybe.. but No... Harris thought. No.

"Since Lesley here began attending school at Diamond hills only about two weeks ago, it would only be easier if he transferred here to make paper work easier."

No.. Lingard was joining him here. f**k No

"But Mr Wheeler.." Harris quickly jumped in protest.

The older man raised his hand to shut him up.

"The decision has been made by the board and trust me Harris, its in your favor. Lesley is beginning school today and I hope as your incoming teammate you show him around. This is his schedule." Wheeler brought out a yellow piece of paper and stretched it towards Harris.

"You have few classes together so I'd advice you start getting along. You can take your leave now." Wheeler finished smiling courteously.

No.