The football player and his teacher

Chapter two - Football player

Avery's POV:

Hello, my name is Avery. I am a football player. According to my coach, I am the best, which is good. If I want to be a professional player, I have to be. All I want is to play for one of the best teams in the country. To do that, I have to train a lot. I have to say that when I am in a bad mood, I play a lot. Well, most of the time, by myself. The boys have other things to do. For now, football is my priority. I have other subjects as well, but I don't study. No one can make me open the books. There is no point in that. Nobody cares what I do. My parents care only about my grades and if I do well in school. They don't even know what I do every day or what I want. I have a goal, and I will complete it. Maybe not tomorrow, but one day I will do it. Something that everyone knows about me is that I like making jokes. Some people say they are offensive, but I don't care. That is my way of dealing with my problems. It's not like I have. My life is easy. Except for training every day, I don't do anything else. That's why sometimes I go out with the boys. These boys are my friends, no matter that we look only like teammates. Unlike football players in other schools, the boys are not mean. They might joke with me, but that is. I am the badass of them all. I won't lie that I like it. At least people won't mess with me. Well, they know what will happen if they do. I can change my mood in seconds. That girl, Ashley, knows it very well. I think that she is scared of me, but that's how I like it. She or whoever it is can't tell me what to do. I am the boss. I hope that I will graduate. I need good words from my coach.

I woke up and went to get ready. I'm not in the mood again. It means I can train a bit. The good news is that the school is open early. The coach has no problem with that. The boys have asked me why I do it, but I don't have an answer. All I want is to put my energy somewhere. What's better than football? That's how I became so good. Practice is all I need.

I got ready and went for food. My parents were at the table, but I ignored them. I grabbed an apple and walked out. After twenty minutes, I arrived at school. The hall was empty. Well, it's still early. There are forty minutes until the first class. I left my things and went to the field. First, I will run a couple of laps. Then I will start practicing. Usually, I lose track of time. When I walked to class, the teacher was already there.

- Hello, mister Robinson. You are late.

- Ok.

- Why don't you sit next to Ashley?

- Why don't you lick the toilet?

- Excuse me. The question didn't have an answer.

- Even if you pay me, I won't sit with her.

- This is an order.

- Well, I don't care. - I said and sat next to one boy at the back

- In that case, you know where the detention room is.

- Whatever.

Teachers are so annoying nowadays. They don't know anything about the students. Anyways, I won't waste my time with them. As long as I can play on the team, I am good. At the end of the class, I was about to go when the teacher stopped me. What does she want from me? Her lectures are enough.

- Avery, we need to talk. - she said

- I don't have time.

- Avery!

- What? What do you want from me?

- To study. Everyone wants this from you.

- So?

- If you don't get higher grades, you will be suspended from the team.

- You can't do that. I am a good player.

- You only have good grades in PE.

- So? I don't see anything wrong with that.

- Do you want to fail?

- No.

- Then do something. Why don't you ask someone for help? Many students do good in my subject. You can do the same with the others. All we want is to make you start studying. Is it that much?

- Yes, it is. Now, if you excuse me, I will go. - I said and left

I walked to my locker and looked up to see Ashley looking at me. This girl is so annoying. I don't know how her parents can stand her. At least I don't have to talk with her.

On the lunch break, I went to train again. I'm not in the mood for food. Lately, everyone has been on my nerves. I don't know what people want from me. It's not like I will listen to them. I will do whatever I want, and nobody can tell me anything. I ran a couple of laps and then started throwing the ball. I need to practice my throws. They are good, but not the best. It would be easier if I had another person to play with me. I was playing when I felt eyes on me. I looked up to see Ashley. What the heck is she doing here? I don't want to talk with her. Maybe I can annoy her a little. That way, she will go away.

- What's up, single lady?

- Nothing, angry boy.

- I'm not angry.

- Say this to your teachers.

- Thanks, but I don't need a lecture from you.

- I'm not here for that.

- Then why are you here?

- I wanted to find a quiet place to eat my lunch, but you had already taken it. I can't eat in the classroom, so I had to stay here.

- Ok, did you finish with your food?

- Yes, why?

- Because I want you to go away. That is my place.

- You don't own the field. It's for everyone.

- Go. Now!

- No! You can't throw me away.

- Fine. Then be quiet.

- What if I'm not?

- Can you catch a ball?

- I think so. Why?

- I need someone to catch the ball after I throw it.

- Don't you hate me?

- I do, but I don't have another option.

- Fine.

This girl is a disaster. She can't even catch one ball. There is no way that I will play with her. I grabbed my things and walked to my next class. I might have left her hanging, but I don't care. She deserves it. I walked in and saw papers in front of everyone. That must be our test result. The worst thing is that Ashley is in all my classes. Now teachers won't stop comparing me with her.

- I know Science is not for everyone. I have to say that some people did well on their tests. Others continue with the same results. Mister Robinson, if you don't study, I have to fail you on this subject.

- You can't do that. My average score is D.

- Which is not enough.

- To fail someone means only F. I have more than that, so you can't do it.

- I am a teacher. If I want to, I can do it.

- That's not fair.

- Don't argue with me. Otherwise, I'll give you a detention.

- A*swhole.

- Excuse me.

- Nothing.

That is the worst teacher ever. He is the only one who treats me like that. It's not like I care. Well, if he fails me, I will talk with the principal. I might not study, but my grades aren't that low. After all, I know what I'm doing. Let's say that I have some luck with tests. I'm guessing most of the answers. That's why some of them are correct.

After my last class, I went to my practice. I must have detention now, but I don't care. These things are stupid. Also, I have to focus on my game. I am a good player, but if I want to be professional, I have to be better than now.

- Ok, boys. Run five laps around the field. Later, we'll play a game. It will be the usual. There are two teams with points.

- Yes, sir. - I said and started running

- Man, what is going on with you? - Jason asked

- Nothing. What do you mean?

- You can't let teachers fail you.

- They won't fail me. Everything will be fine.

- Watch out for mister Fitz. He wants every student to have at least a C on his science tests to let them pass.

- Relax. No one will fail me.

- I hope so. You know we need you.

- I know, and I'll be here.

- If you need help, you can always ask one of the good students.

- Dude, I'm fine!

- Ok, don't get mad.

- Then don't make me.

- By the way, I saw you with Ashley.

- When?

- On the lunch break.

- She came into my place.

- Avery, you don't own the field.

- When I am on the field, no one except the team should be there.

- That's not true.

- I tried to annoy her, but it didn't work out.

- I think she got tired of you. Same as everyone else.

- Good for her. Let's play now.

Sometimes I feel that I'm the only one who takes football seriously. The boys are great players, but they don't train that much. Well, unlike me, they spend some time studying. Something that I won't do. The practice was an hour. I wanted to play more, but the coach sent me home. I can sneak in and train more, but I might get thrown away. In that case, I can do something else. I went home to take a shower. I might hit on a girl, but I won't do it. The thing is that girls are the last thing in my head. I don't have time for that. I asked dad if he could turn the backyard into a small field, but he said no. I texted in the group chat, but none of the boys wanted to play. It means that I have nothing to do.

After an hour at home, I decided to go out. I went to a diner and ordered some food. Later, I will train in the backyard. The boys are on my side, but they don't play much. I looked up and saw Ashley with books. The nerd is in her habitat. It won't be me if I don't annoy her. At least she can occupy me for a while.

- Hey, single lady.

- I'm busy.

- But I'm not. You can occupy me for a while.

- Go away. I have to study.

- Will you at least look at me?

- No. Just leave me alone.

- What if I don't? - I asked and took her book

- Hey, give it back. I need this.

- No, you don't. You already know everything.

- Please, give it back.

- If you occupy me, I will give it back to you.

- What do you want?

- To annoy you.

- I don't have time for this. Please, give me my book.

- There are no tests.

- It doesn't matter.

- Why do you study so much? No one will say thank you for the effort.

- I don't do it because of that.

- Nerds will always be nerds.

- What do you mean?

- You are wasting your time. When you grow up, all you will do is work. Live a little.

- I'm sorry, but I have my goals. Unlike you, I want to achieve them. All you care about is football. As if that is the best thing in the world.

- It is for me.

- Good for you. I don't care about it. Now, I'll take that. - she said and grabbed her book from my hands

- You know that studying won't help you.

- It will.

- People go to places because they know someone. Even if you read every book, which exists, your chances won't get higher. You are wasting your time.

- No, you do it. If you don't study, you will fail. In your language, it means no more football.

- That won't happen.

- Mister Fitz will fail you.

- He is an old prick. His wife probably uses him for cash.

- Don't talk like that.

- Why?

- Because it might be wrong. You don't know what is going on with the teacher.

- I'm sorry, but I don't want to be a teacher's pet like you.

- I am not a teacher's pet.

- Yes, you are. All the time, teachers compare me with you.

- What do I have to do about that?

- If you stop studying, teachers will stop doing it.

- No way. You are the lazy one.

- I'm not lazy. Do you know how much I train?

- I don't care. Now leave me alone.

- Nerds will always be nerds.

- But at least I will have a future.

- What did you say?

- What you heard.

- You better watch out.

- What if I don't? You can't do anything.

- Now we are not in school.

- There are people around.

- Quiet places exist. - I said, and Ashley looked at me

- So?

- Have fun studying. - I said and left

I went home for dinner. My parents found the science test in my backpack. Let's say they weren't happy with my result. Honestly, that is the only thing they care about. My grades. They have never come to a single game of mine. It means a lot to me, but as I see it, they don't care. I won't start studying. All I want is to focus on my games. I want to be the best. Better than the player I am now. I can't do it without training. I wish that someone could understand. Well, this looks impossible. It's not like I care. I hope that all this training will pay off. I want to be the best.