The football player and his teacher

Chapter six - Detention

Avery's POV:

I want to know who invented detention. This person is probably dead. For some reason, teachers hate me. Especially mister Fitz. I don't know what he wants from me. Giving me detentions every week won't change my behavior. I like the person I am, and no one can prove me wrong. I won't change even if someone throws me out of the team. That is the other problem. According to my teachers, I might not graduate. It's not something I want, but it won't make me start studying. All I want is to be on the team. I don't care about this school. I don't have many memories. Maybe that is better. I don't like people telling me what to do. Well, except my coach. He is the only person that I listen to when he talks. After all, he can help me get better. I don't know why everyone wants something from me. I do things. Maybe they aren't related to every subject, but it doesn't mean I sit on my bed all day. I need to stop explaining myself. No one understands, even my teammates. I don't know what to do to make everyone understand that I want to play football. I want to focus on the sport. That is important to me. Well, it looks like not everyone thinks the same. I wish that there was someone who could understand and not criticize me. I want to share what is going on with me, but I can't. My parents don't have time for this. My teammates only tell me that I have to study so I won't get kicked out of the team. The coach has other things to do. No one left me. Sometimes, having many friends doesn't make you happy. I had to realize this the hard way. It's not a bad thing, but it's lonely here. Maybe I deserve it. According to some people, I am the bad guy. No matter that I haven't done anything wrong. I hope that things will get better for me. I'm tired of everyone.

Another week, another detention. Yesterday I was supposed to have one, but the teacher was gone. The principal moved it to today. It's not like there is a difference. I will gladly skip it, but I already did that too many times. If I continue like that, I can say bye-bye to the football team. I don't understand why people want to take the only thing I like. Do they hate me that much? I can't be that bad. The good thing is that I don't care. People talk all the time. It's good that I don't listen to them.

Currently, I have a lunch break. The good news is that I don't have a class with mister Fitz today. He is the teacher I hate the most. This man doesn't know what he wants. He always asks me questions because he knows I can't answer. Instead, I answer the questions with questions. I bet that he doesn't know everything. That's why this class is always fun.

- Man, are you free this afternoon? - Jason asked

- I have detention.

- Wasn't it yesterday?

- No. There was no teacher, and the principal moved it to today.

- Why are you annoying the teachers? - Adam asked

- I don't annoy them. The teachers annoy me.

- That's why you have detention every week. Avery, you can't continue like that.

- I keep going to every practice. What else do you want from me? - I asked, annoyed

- We want to hang out with you. All you do is get on teachers' nerves and training. When did the fun and chill Avery go? - Ben asked

- I am still here.

- Are you sure? Look at Ashley. She is a pure loner.

- If someone else compares me with this loser, I will quit school.

- Relax. Why are you so mad? - Ron asked

- Because she is in every class that I have. Teachers always compare me with her. She doesn't even go out with friends. It's not like she has.

- Why are you so sure? Also, you train all the time. Both of you have the same lives. - Adam said

- Don't make me slap you.

- Chill, man.

- If you are not on my side, I don't need to be here.

- Hey, we care about you.

- I see. Everyone says the same. The thing is that no one understands.

- We do understand that football is important to you. That doesn't mean you have to stop studying and throw everything else away.

- That is what you don't understand. - I said and left

I like my friends, but they will never understand it. They will never know how much effort I am putting into this. I won't explain myself anymore. It's not worth it. I stayed in the hall until the end of the lunch break. Later, I walked for the rest of my classes. They are only two, but I will get bored again. I can plan more strategies. I showed the coach the ones which I made. He said we would try them, but first, we need to train the ones we already have. He is right about that. I hope that we'll have a good season.

After my classes, I went to the detention room. Usually, I never go on time. Well, I can be a good boy if I want to. The thing is that I don't care about this. No one will reward you for this or say thank you for following the rules. I have an understanding of what is going on around me. I walked into the room to see it empty. Am I the only one who will be here? I'm sure that someone else got detention too. It's time to find out.

- Hello, mister Anderson.

- Avery. You have never been on time.

- If I come earlier, I will go home earlier.

- Things don't work like that. You have to stay here for two hours.

- I know, but at least I tried.

- Sit down.

- Am I the only one here?

- No. Soon, everyone else will come.

He was right. After ten minutes, the room was full of people. Well, if you call a room full of only five people. Let's say that most of the students are good. Not like me. I'm not even that bad. Soon, a girl walked in. You have to be kidding me.

- Hey, mister Anderson.

- Ashley? The chess club is in the next room.

- I'm not here for that.

- The math club is on the second floor.

- Mister Anderson, I am here for a reason.

- What?

- That is my detention slip.

- You said what?

- He annoyed me, and it slipped out of my mouth. Miss Benson was around and gave me a detention.

- Ok, sit down. I hope that I won't see you again.

- It's not like I want to be here. Is there a place where I can sit, or it's my choice?

- It's your choice.

- Thank you.

Ashley had to sit right next to me. There is no way that I will spend two hours sitting next to her. It's enough that I see her every day. I don't want her to be here as well.

- Avery, where are you going?

- To sit somewhere else.

- You can't do that. Once the detention has started, you can't move.

- But I don't want to be next to her.

- I don't care. Sit down.

- Fine.

I sat down and found the table full of books. You have to be kidding me. I slightly pushed Ashley's books away. That is my part of the table, and I want it clean. That means no books or anything boring.

- Will you study for the whole two hours?

- I have nothing else to do. Unlike you, I don't want to waste my time.

- I don't waste my time.

- Yes, you do. All you do is train, nothing else.

- Because I like it.

- I like studying.

- I'm out of here. - I said and got up

- Avery, sit down. - mister Anderson said

- I'm going home.

- You can't do that.

- Yes, I can. - I said and left

I walked out of the room. Soon, someone called my name. Why does she always have to walk behind me? I don't like her, and she knows it. This girl is annoying.

- Avery, wait.

- No!

- Do you want to get suspended from the team?

- What?

- If you keep skipping detentions, you can get kicked out. Is this what you want?

- No.

- Then come back inside. Look, I know how important that is to you.

- You don't know anything.

- Yes, I do. We are not that different. I said all these things to mister Fitz because it was true. I study so much because I have a goal. You train because you have one too. Please, come back inside. You want to be a professional player, right? Then you have to fight for it, not give up. I don't mean only to train. The detention is part of your goal. All you have to do is to complete it.

- Fine.

- Can we go back now? I don't want to get another one.

- It's not like I have a choice.

Both of us walked back into the room. Mister Anderson didn't say anything. I have the feeling that something is going on here. I don't know what, but I don't care. I have more important things in my head.

- Hey, um, can we talk? - Ashley asked

- Won't you study?

- I will, but I want to ask you something.

- Go on.

- Can you help me?

- You know that I don't study.

- No, I don't mean my lessons. I want to offer you something. Both of us will get benefits.

- I'm listening.

- Everyone knows that I'm failing PE, and you, every subject.

- So?

- If you help me get better grades in PE, I will help you with the other subjects. What do you say?

- You are joking. Right?

- No, I'm not. You are the best player, and I thought you could help me.

- There is no way that I will help you.

- Why? Am I that bad?

- I don't like you.

- Don't you want to graduate?

- Honestly, all I care about is the football team.

- If you help me, I can guarantee that you will be on the team for the rest of the season. Do we have a deal?

- Um, no.

- Please, Avery. I don't know who to ask.

- Everyone else, but not me. I won't help you.

- Why? Because I am a girl.

- Because you are terrible.

- We can train together. I will participate in your football activities.

- It's called training.

- Yeah, same thing. Please. I want to have a perfect diploma.

- Why do you care so much about this? No one will thank or honor you. Also, no one will care.

- That's not true. My parents will.

- Lucky you.

- What do you mean?

- Nothing. I won't help you.

- I can make your D's turn into A's in no time.

- What? Really?

- It depends on you.

- I don't want to study.

- Why? Studying doesn't bite. - Ashley said, chuckling

- There is no point in it. No one will care.

- Your parents will.

- All they care about are my grades and nothing else. They don't care if I want to play football. For them, I waste my time.

- But you don't. I know what it feels like to chase something. I do it every day. That's why I study so much.

- What do you want?

- To go to New York. I don't care where I will study. All I want is to be there. If you have a dream, don't give up. Chase it. Forget about people's opinions. Focus on what is important to you. Sometimes, there are obstacles, but you have to go through them. In your case, this is studying. I know you don't like it. Don't let something so stupid stop you from chasing your dream. Fight for it.

- It's easier said than done, especially when no one is by your side.

- I am.

- You are what?

- By your side.

- Yeah, right. Don't be supportive. It won't work on me.

- I'm not. I know this feeling. That's why I don't judge you.

- So you want to help me?

- Yes, I do. Well, only if you help me. Thinking of something else is not something I want you to do.

- You know that I train a lot.

- I do, but I'm willing to try. I will do anything to get higher grades in PE.

- Ok, then. I will give you one week. If you quit, I quit too.

- To understand that you want to study.

- I can try it, but you need to have nerves. I will annoy you.

- It's ok. As long as you help me, I will deal with you. Somehow.

- Be ready. I will take all your energy.

- We'll see, shall we?

- I bet you'll give up on the first day.

- Don't be so sure. I might be terrible, but I won't give up.

- I would love to test you.

- Do it. I dare you.

- So we have a deal?

- Yes, we do.

- Good. When will we start?

- How about Monday?

- It sounds good to me.

- Great.

The rest of the detention the nerd spent studying. I won't lie that next week will be fun. I agreed to do it because I could annoy this girl as much as I wanted. Ashley can't say anything. If I quit on her, she won't find anyone else who can help her. Let's say that no one will agree to this. After all, she is terrible. It won't be easy for me. I don't think she is used to so much training. That is the fun part. One of us will give up. The question is who. I can study, but she can't run. Dear Ashley, watch out. I won't play it easy on you. It's time for you to start sweating. I hope that this will end well for both of us.