The football player and his teacher

Chapter twenty four - Coming to an end

Avery's POV:

For the last month, I have been studying a lot. We had tests every week. The good thing is that I passed them all. Also, I had a game last week. Luckily, we won it. Let's say the other team hasn't got prepared to see us. I have done everything possible to score maximum points. I am not the only one who scores points. Honestly, I can do that, but I give a chance to my teammates. After all, I have all this success thanks to them. Without the boys, I wouldn't be where I am today. It will be hard when I leave the town. We can still see each other during the vacations. Well, as long as no one has plans. I have to thank Ashley as well. She was helping me with my studies again. Not that much, but it was enough. Whenever I needed help, I went to her. It's not a lie that she is the only one who can help me. There are probably other good students, but I got used to asking her. Also, she doesn't mind me. We still argue from time to time, but now it's not that often. I want to say things are getting better, but I don't think so. Maybe when we go to university, things will be different. That is the place where you grow up like an adult. Mostly it's the third and fourth years. Well, there is enough time until I go there. Now I have to think about the present. Soon is our prom. I still don't know if I want to go. Before, I was excited, but now, I don't care. The other thing is that I have to invite someone. I would love to go alone, but I don't want people to look at me. It's not like I care. Maybe it's better if I don't go. I will save some money and time. I know it's once in my life, but that is the last thing I want to do. I hope that I will decide before it gets too late.

After less than a month, I will officially graduate from high school. I don't have any plans for the vacation. It's not like I will have time for that. I have to go to my university sooner than planned. All I want is for my new team to like me. I am not going there to compete with anyone. I want to be on a winning team. Let's hope that no one will want to compete with me. Honestly, it doesn't matter which my team will be. It won't be like my current one. After all, these boys are my friends.

Currently, I am in school. After the tests passed, no one was paying attention. The only subject where I am active is PE. The coach doesn't make me do anything, but I find what to do. Otherwise, I will get bored. At least Ashley is with me. It's not like I care, but it's better than talking with no one. As usual, she was in the front row. This time, I decided to join her. I feel like when the year ends, teachers are good to us. Probably that is because we don't have to study anymore. Well, if someone wants to have better grades, the teachers always give this person a chance.

- What are your plans for New York? - Ashley asked

- I don't have ones. I probably have to play with my new team the whole summer.

- Ok, but you won't play all day. You can go around the town.

- I don't know. I haven't thought that far.

- Wait, who will go to New York? - miss Johnson asked

- Me.

- Honestly, I never expected you to go that far, especially since I know how you started the year.

- I had some things to figure out.

- Use your talent. I know you can make it big.

- Thanks. I will try my best.

- You can't be someone that you already are.

- Miss Johnson is right. Show these boys there that they shouldn't joke with you and have to take you seriously. - Ashley said

- It's easy for you. I don't have to compete with third and fourth graders at university.

- Maybe, but it can't be that hard.

- As long as they know what a teammate is, I am good.

- What will happen with this team? - miss Johnson asked

- Well, it has to fall apart. The school's team has to be formed by high school students. We can't continue playing here.

- One day, you might make your own team.

- I would love that, but I will need good players.

- I still think you have to talk with boys about that. All of you will make the perfect team.

- Ashley, I can't tell them what to do. They chose other careers. I don't want them to throw their effort away because of me.

- Then you say I am stubborn.

- You are, and it's a lot more than needed.

- I will agree with Avery. - the teacher said

- I am not that stubborn.

- If you say so. I wouldn't be so sure.

- Before I forget. Here is my paycheck. You owe me money.

- What? I don't owe you anything.

- I don't think so.

- You want thousand dollars. Are you crazy? I am so not paying for this.

- I didn't say that it has to be now. When you become rich and famous, you can pay me.

- I think you hit your head somewhere.

- No, I didn't. I lost three months with you.

- Let's say that I pay you. What will you do with so much money?

- That is my problem.

- If you two don't end up together, I don't know who else will. - miss Johnson said, chuckling

- What do you mean?

- I haven't seen people who argue so much. I feel like you two will be together. Maybe not soon, but one day, it will happen.

- There is no way I will go out with her. She is impossible.

- Me or you? At least I am not lazy.

- I am not lazy.

- Yes, you are. All you care about is football. You don't do anything else.

- Ok, enough arguing. I had a headache in the morning, and I wouldn't want it to come back. - miss Johnson said

Ashley and I decided to drop it. I can argue with her the whole day, but there is no point. The good news is that my next class is PE. Finally, I can do something productive. I got tired of sitting in a chair all the time. I wish we had PE every day. Only in my dreams. At least I can dream about it.

After this class, both with Ashley walked into the hall. She didn't even look at me. Don't tell me she got mad at me. I left my backpack in my locker and went to the field. Soon, the coach came. Let's say that I was the first one here. If the boys were here, we could've played a game. After all, we have one last game next week. Some training won't be that bad.

- Hey, boy. Why are you here so early?

- I had nothing else to do.

- Ok, but we have ten minutes until the beginning of the class.

- It's ok. I can wait.

Soon, Ashley came with all the boys. I don't know what she has done, but I won't like it. I feel like it's something about me. Well, it's time to find out. As I see the look on their faces, it won't be something good.

- Hey, why are you here?

- You want us to form a team! - Jason said, surprised

- What? No, I don't. Who told you that?

- Ashley.

- I will kill you.

- You can do it later. Now focus.

- So it's not true. - Ben said

- No, it's not.

- You have to be kidding me. All of you play perfectly together. Why don't you get to the next level? You can be the best team in the country. - Ashley said

- Ashley, we appreciate it, but things are not that simple. - Adam said

- I didn't say they are. If you are together, everything will be fine. The coach will help you.

- Please, stop messing in my life. - I said

- I don't.

- Yes, you do it all the time. Why, for once, don't you leave me alone? I don't need your help with that.

- All I want is to help you.

- Leave me alone!

- Fine. When things go in the wrong direction, I won't help you even if you beg me. - Ashley said and left

- Aren't you too hard on her? She only wants to help us.

- I never asked her for that.

- How one day both of you can have good relations, and on the next one hate each other? - Rayan asked

- This girl is playing on my nerves daily.

- She or you?

- Where is the difference?

- Don't forget that both with Ashley will be in the same town.

- Please, don't remind me.

- Boys, what are you doing here? - the coach asked

- We came to talk. Don't worry. We are leaving. - Jason said

- You can stay. I would love that.

- Thanks, but we have classes.

- Ok, then. I will see you at practice. I want you to finish the season with a win. Can you do this for me?

- We'll give our best, sir. - Adam said

- That's what I want to hear.

Soon the boys left, and we started the class. No one was doing anything. Ashley was reading another book. Maybe I have to apologize to her. I know why she did all this, but I don't want her help. I want to do this by myself. I walked up to her, but she didn't look at me. It seems like she got mad at me.

- Ashley.

- Leave me alone. I'm busy.

- I'm sorry.

- No, you don't.

- Why do you think like that?

- Because if you were, you weren't going to do it. - she said without looking at me

- What can I do to prove to you that I'm sorry?

- Nothing. Please leave me alone.

- Please, Ashley. I didn't mean to upset you.

- Leave!

- Ok, I won't bother you. - I said and left

The whole class, I was playing with a ball. I can accidentally hit Ashley, but she will get mad at me again. It's not like she has stopped. I don't know what to do with her. Things seem too complicated. Sometimes I wonder why I still even try. I will never be able to understand her.

Until the end of the school day, Ashley didn't want to talk to me. I will leave her alone. Let's hope tomorrow she will forget about this. Now I have to focus on my game. I walked to the field and saw all the boys there. Am I late? I checked my phone and saw that we had ten minutes until the practice started. That means we can play longer. Well, if the boys want that. I can play the whole day.

- Am I late?

- No, we decided to come early. I think we can start with a game. That way, we'll use all of our strategies. - Jason said

- Ok, sure. Let's play.

We divided into two teams as usual and started playing. Honestly, I will miss this. Maybe Ashley is right. I would love to make one team with the boys. The thing is that they don't want the same. I can't tell them what to do. After half an hour, we finished our first game. That was good.

- Oh, hey, coach. - I said

- Good game.

- Since when are you here? - Adam asked

- I came ten minutes ago. I had to talk with the principal. Boys, if you play two more games, you are ready for the last one.

- Are you sure that is enough? - I asked

- Avery, I know you like to train a lot, but let the boys breathe. - the coach said, chuckling

- No, I don't mean that. I don't want to lose the game.

- You won't lose it. Look around. You have boys who are ready to do everything for the team. Be proud of them.

- I am.

- Ok, let's play.

The boys and I played for an hour. Our coach said we could play more. The thing is that he has work to do. I will gladly stay, but I can't play alone.

- Man, are you ok? - Jason asked

- Yes, I'm fine.

- Are you still mad at Ashley?

- I don't know.

- What was that about the team?

- On spring vacation, she told me I could form a team with you guys. I would love to do it, but I know not all of you will want it.

- Honestly, it's a great idea, but how will we do it?

- I have no idea.

- I think all of us should go to university. When we are not busy, we can think about that.

- Maybe we can work things out.

- We will.

- I want to be with you, boys.

- We know, but sometimes things don't go how we want. That's why we have FaceTime. Don't worry. We'll call to check on you. After all, I want to know how the new team is. - Jason said, chuckling

- Nothing compared to this one.

- But you haven't seen it yet.

- I don't need to. No one is better than this team.

- I'm glad that you think this way. Do you want us to play another game?

- I would love it.

- The boys might not admit it, but they love playing with you. The thing is that we don't have much time.

- I know. It's not only you.

The boys and I played for another hour. Later all of us walked home. We decided to go out tonight. Honestly, I don't care where we'll be. I'm happy that we'll be together. Not much time left us. I don't want to say it this way, but it's true. Maybe we can form a team. I haven't thought far away. If there is a chance, we have to use it. That will be the best team in the country. I won't give up that easily. The problem is that we don't have a coach. We can ask ours, but I don't think he will quit his job for us. After all, he has a family. I can't guarantee that we'll have success. When the time comes, I will think about this. I hope that we can do it. I would love to play with my friends every day.