Meet The Coach

Lesson 4: Be You

Lesson 4: Be You

I reflected over the last week. I had been given three lessons, all of which I hadn't really gone through with. I had grown out of the bun I wore in my hair but I wasn’t wearing my hair down metaphorically, right? Like living for the moment, or just having fun and not fretting over anything and basically everything a teenager is meant to do, but it never seems to be the case because if a teenager was meant to do all of those things then we won't be pressured for the future. And smiling. There was a constant scowl that even my parents were curious about. And little Miss Nice Girl? Did I even have to go there? I had used up enough bitchy comments to last me a lifetime. Now Sandy has just told me to be myself. But who am I really? I knew what I wanted to do in life and I knew exactly how I could get there. I'm stubborn and very cynical. But aren't I much more than that? I thought I had gone through the self-discovery era of my life years ago but now I'm not too sure. Do I even want to fall in love? Be married? Have children? Or am I too young to be thinking of that?

I rubbed my temple, wondering how to put my act into gear and regrettably thinking of Carter. Now, I wasn't in love with him or infatuated in any way. Even if Sandy told me time and time again. Are we meant to be?

Okay, maybe underneath the cynicism I am a hopeless romantic of some sort but it didn't bother me. If I was to fall in love I would rather have it be done unconsciously than consciously. And if we're not meant to be and Sandy is wrong, who am I to associate myself with him in that matter?

Maybe I should just be friends with him and see if it escalates from there? Yes, I hated his rather presumptuous behaviour and attitude toward women, but I knew when you get to know a person when you befriend someone plus people do change and then you get to see what's really inside. I wasn't going to judge him, not yet anyway.

"Bree sweetie. You okay?" Mom asked me causing me to collapse back onto planet Earth abruptly.

"Uh yeah?" I responded, levelling out my voice and giving a smile.

"You seem awfully spacy dear. Anything you want to talk about?" She asked concerned.

"I just hate that part in the morning where I have to get out of bed and participate in life," I grumbled, that was more or less the reason for my train of thoughts.

Mom placed my pancakes onto the table in front of me and sat by my side. "Is everything alright at school? Making friends okay? How is that Sandy girl?"

"Oh. Everything is fine with school, Sandy is really nice and I've made some friends too. It's nothing. I think I'm just a little overwhelmed from the rush of the week," I explained. I stared at the pancakes, far too lazy to pick up the cutlery to start eating.

"Why are you awake this early on a Saturday?" Oh yeah. Why WAS I awake this early on a Saturday? Sandy. That's why.

"I have plans with Sandy and co," I told her honestly and scowled at the thought of it. The things I do for her.

"You don't look happy."

"It's a Saturday! Need I be awake at this time? I'm tired! It might end up being something stupid anyway!" I exclaimed. My mom nodded in understanding.

"Well you'll never know until you go, plus you did complain about not making friends. We haven't even been here a week and you already have plans. Good on you hon." I smiled and wondered why I didn't I inherit my mom's optimism rather than my Dad's pessimism.

"True… Thank you for the breakfast too I better hurry up, Sandy wants to treat me like a human size Barbie doll."

*

After I speedily got dressed and looked into the mirror to see if I had passed Sandy's expectations, Sandy had arrived with Carter - who looked like he'd had a miserable life as a whole. But I could empathize with him, why wake up early on a weekend?

I kissed my mom goodbye and waved at my Dad who was stumbling down the stairs half asleep. Outside Carter and Sandy were arguing about who was going to drive.

"And to think you know how to read! The maximum speed is 30mph, not 120! You just want to show off your 'skills'. Well, newsflash my dearest brother you are digging our graves!" Sandy yelled at him.

"Don't be jealous that I'm able to drive us somewhere in less than half the time it will take you. And I'm not showing off, there's nothing wrong with having confidence," Carter retorted.

"Confidence my bloody ass! You are the most narcissistic windbag that has ever been on the face of the earth! Don't you dare pull out the 'I'm confident' card! Everyone here knows that you've spent more time in the mirror today than someone would in an entire lifetime!" Then there was glaring competition and you can just tell at that moment how similar they really were. Carter already had the keys and Sandy tried to reach out and grab them. She failed.

It caused an idea to come to mind. Whilst Carter was occupied by Sandy trying to steal the keys I tiptoed behind him, Sandy luckily not catching on to my actions. Much to my surprise, Carter put his hand behind his back with the keys in it. Excellent!

I took out my house keys from my pocket and swiftly exchanged the two. Smirking, I approached Carter's car and sat in the driver's seat. I jammed the keys into the ignition and the car came alive. I watched the two fight over my house keys. I couldn't help but chuckle, how oblivious were they?

Sandy reached for the keys, finally succeeding this time and clapped, jumping up and down in triumph. She looked at the keys and it dawned upon her. She looked at me already nested in the car, Carter shortly did the same. She smiled, he scowled.

"Well, that took longer than I thought it would. Can we go now?" I said. Sandy chuckled and nodded; she made her way to sit shotgun.

"There is no way in hell you are driving my car," Carter stated possessively. Something told me I should be intimidated but I really wasn't.

"Well I'm already here in the driver's seat and the engine is on. I can easily leave you here," I replied smugly. His eyes turned into slits. My smirk broadened.

"Uh no. You're getting out right now," He proclaimed approaching the driver's seat. I rolled my eyes.

"Make me."

"I will." Carter reached for the door.

"I swear if you touch me I will make sure you fall next time you set foot on my balcony," I warned. He stared at me and I stared at him. Oh, what pretty eyes he has... He diverted his gaze, groaned and got into the back of the car.

"Excellent. Now, anyone care to give directions?"

*

Due to my wonderful driving - not to blow my own trumpet - we got to the mall within no time. Sandy and I talked on the way about clothes she wanted to drag me into and Carter sulked behind us. I told him to smile and I promised I wouldn't total his car. For the rest of the journey, his face was impassive and/or deep in thought.

I parked smoothly, left the car and threw the keys to Carter - which he caught - he thanked me and I told him I expected a ride home. He rolled his eyes, a little smile curling up on his lips.

"So where is the meeting point?" I asked the two.

"The usual place," Sandy answered casually.

"Gee that so helps..." I replied sarcastically.

"Well, Bree the meeting point is actually at the cafe 'the usual place'. Original don't you think?"

"Very," Carter watched me curiously as we talked, suddenly my precious morning thoughts flooded my mind. I summed it up in a sentence: Be his friend, be nicer and accept what escalates. If I can be mean to him, I'm sure I can be nice to him. Well, maybe I should just be who I am than who I'm not.

Abruptly, Sandy pulled me to the side via my wrist and signalled for Carter to stay exactly where he was.

"Lesson four: be you." I blinked twice. I felt as if she had read my mind. I nodded. She smiled. We continued our walk and didn't bother explaining to Carter.

Within a number of minutes, we reached The Usual Place. Hudson, Jack and Hailey - one of Sandy's close friends - were chatting.

"The fun has arrived, let the party begin," Sandy greeted. She quickly embraced her two friends before surrendering herself to Hudson.

"Hey," I greeted. I smiled and gave a little wave feeling a little shy even though I knew almost all of them. Carter just nodded and popped himself onto a chair. Hailey jumped up and stood before me. She scanned my appearance giving the 'I am judging you' aura, I shifted awkwardly. I gave a weak smile as she met my eyes. She smiled widely in return and she attacked me into a hug with her arms.

"Good luck," she whispered into my ear. She let go of me and sat down still smiling. She knew. Well, she is one of Sandy's closest friends, of course, she knows. I sat down onto one of the seats and waited for the meeting to begin.

"Okay, we're all here. I told you guys on Thursday about the fundraiser and the prize. The whole school was informed yesterday. Now, here I have a list of rules and regulations regarding the event. I will pass it around before we discuss what events we want to do," Jack began.

Sandy and Hudson studied it first before swiftly passing it to Hailey. Clicking her tongue as she read it, she passed it onto Carter. Since he was sitting close to me I decided to kneel on the chair so I could read the content over his shoulder. I scanned the page taking in what we could and couldn't do.

The fundraiser will be open to the public... Any disputes, the team with be disqualified... Kissing booths aren't permitted... Only 8 or less to a team... Each team can have up to 3 stalls maximum...

"What are you doing?" Carter asked me unexpectedly. I continued to read the content, replying quietly.

"Reading," I leaned forward slightly because the writing at the bottom was smaller; Carter tensed. I leaned back after I was done, everyone - excluding Carter - gave me a look. I knew what they were thinking.

"So does anyone have anything ideas?" I questioned, breaking the ice.

"Well a cake sale is always successful," Hailey piped up.

"True, well unless you're Hudson when doing the baking," Jack teased.

"Hey! My baking isn't that bad," Hudson defended.

"Don't lie to yourself baby. We all know that it really is," Sandy told him. He pouted and we laughed.

"What can you bake Bree?" Hailey asked.

"Um... I can make cupcakes, doughnuts and... Macaroons," I said.

Everyone - again excluding Carter - cooed. I looked down feeling a little shy. I saw Carter looking at me through my peripheral vision. I'm being me and that's what counts.

"Well, macaroons are usually a killer to buy especially since they are so small. We can turn that around at the fundraiser. People love macaroons," Sandy said. Everyone agreed.

"So that's one down. Hey, Mr Grumpy do you have any ideas?" Jack asked. Everyone turned to him.

"Well Jack actually I do," he started. "Since there are going to be people from all age ranges around it makes sense to have a competition but it's going to have to have an awesome prize which would make people want to participate."

"So what are you thinking brother?" Sandy asked curiously.

"Well, you know how Aunt Beatrice wants a cover for her book? Even though she could get professionals at the publishing firm to do it, she did say she rather have it hand drawn. We can ask her if we can hold a competition for her cover art and say that the winner gets their drawing as the cover and possibly something else with it."

I was impressed. When I first thought about him having an idea I assumed it to be a bikini car wash but as he mentioned the competition I realised he is smarter than he looks.

"And that is why I am proud to call you my twin," Sandy concluded.

"That is a good idea Carter and I can see it working... You're going to have to call up that Aunt of your for permission," said Jack.

"I'm sure she'll be delighted," Sandy assured.

"Well then that's two ideas and it's only been 20 minutes. I think we have that Hawaii trip covered," Hudson commented. We all rolled our eyes.

There was silence, everyone thought of the last idea and I met Carter's gaze for a second. It hit me. "I have an idea, well two ideas."

"What are they?" Sandy questioned urgently.

"Well, they both include Carter going through misfortune."

"If that's the case then people would definitely pay for it," Jack assured. Carter threw him a dirty look.

"What are the ideas?" Carter asked curiously.

"Jail and bail and Carter splat," I told him. I got looks of confusion so I gave an explanation. "Well from the week I've been at school I've realised that girls love to hate or hate to love Carter. Jail and bail is when we lock him up and people have to pay for his bail and Carter splat would be people paying to throw a wet sponge at him."