Meet The Coach

Meet The Coach

Meet the Coach

I timidly clutched my books close to my chest, looking around making sure I drew no attention. I walked through the chaotic corridors of my new high school. Bree Opal the newbie. Well, I couldn't really be the newbie if I was born and bred here, even though no one knew me. I was 4 years old before moving away.

I dodged all the bodies that I deemed too close, luckily I could because of my small and short frame but not for long. I accidentally, or maybe he purposely, caused a collision of the two of us. It wasn't anything extravagant, my books fell onto the ground causing me to curse under my breath. I debated if I should just leave them there but decided against it. I kneeled down and picked up the books one by one before standing back up, glancing at the guy I bumped into.

I wish I didn't. The smirk he had plastered on his generous lips remarked nothing but trouble. So I didn't dare look at his other features. I mumbled an apology and skirted around him, or so I had planned.

I don't know if a mushy, teenage girl had decided to write the next part of my life because the smirking guy gripped my arm gently triggering thousands of sparks to penetrate through my skin, it caused me to freeze involuntarily. He pulled me back and placed me in front of him.

He was still smirking.

"So you're the new girl huh?" He chided. I wanted to reply with something sarcastic but then didn't. I don't need enemies on my first day.

"Yep," I replied quietly, yet audibly for his ears. Why am I so shy?

"What's your name?" What is it to you?

"Bree."

"I'm Carter, so tell me Bree why are you so shy? I don't bite." Did I even ask for your name? And why would you ask a shy person why they are shy? As if they would tell you... It's completely pointless.

I stared at him for a long minute before I shrugged. "I need to get to my lesson," I voiced unsurely.

He c****d his eyebrow like he was genuinely intrigued with something. Pfft, as if. "So you do utter more than a single syllable."

Well, no s**t Sherlock.

I continued to stare, this time I met his blue eyes. They were as blue as the ocean on a sunny day or maybe as blue as stolen sapphires, completely and utterly breathtaking.

I sighed softly, so much for having my dull, blue eyes. "Well, we wouldn't want to get you late. Let me know if you need anything. I'm sure I could be of assistance," he crooned, a wink followed. Is he trying to flirt? Because I have some good news for him if he wants to fail, he's definitely winning.

"Okay, bye," I muttered, tearing myself from his grip and walking down the nearly empty corridor. Fortunately, it didn't take me long to find the classroom however, I was slow enough for Carter to be sitting comfortably in his seat talking to fellow classmates.

I sat near the front on an unclaimed seat, I was next to a girl who looked like she had just walked out of a Vogue magazine shooting. She was, however, smiling happily as opposed to a duck-lipped pout.

The teacher came in and asked for the class' attention, the single call made the classroom into a deserted graveyard, the atmosphere became completely still with not even the slightest sound.

Mr Grove, (coincidence that it's close to grave? I think not) was one of those strict teachers. The one who never seemed to praise a student apart from an occasional 'good' or 'well done'. The type of teacher you hate at first sight.

He wasn't completely terrible, in my opinion anyways. But I was pretty certain that I had heard more than a few curses thrown his way.

After one long hour, World History had ended. I grabbed my belongings and walked out of the classroom hoping not to be stopped by anyone. And I was, but luckily not by Carter, just someone who looked relatively like him. Or maybe that was because they both looked like models.

"Hey! You're the new girl, right? It's Bree, I think? Anyways I'm Cassandra, but everyone calls me Sandy," she greeted. A massive smile was plastered on her lips as if I was the person responsible for world peace.

"Hi Sandy, and yes I'm Bree. The new girl," I mumbled. If I just walked off, would that be considered rude?

"Well since you're new and all then why don't you sit with me and my friends at lunch?" She suggested. I arched an eyebrow.

"What's the catch?" I tried to repress the suspicious tone, but I kind of failed. She laughed, not at all offended in any way.

"There's no catch Bree. The girls might come across as snotty and ill-mannered but they are lovely. They'll be nice. You wouldn't want to sit on your own would you?" She questioned.

I paused, pursed my lips and shifted my weight onto one leg before replying. Even though we both knew she was right. "Okay."

"Yay! Anyways I have got to get to my next lesson before I'm late, what lesson do you have?"

"Math," I replied.

"Me too! C'mon we could go together," she cheered. I just stood and stared at her. Her smile faltered for a moment."I'm not an alien from a distant planet so don't look at me like that."

I smiled at her and nodded. She seemed safe territory. Sandy yapped on absentmindedly, I didn't ignore her and succumb to my own thoughts, I listened. She was being nice and friendly, and well just plain human.

The corridors of the school were winding, I tried to commit the most of it to memory. I didn't want to lose myself on the way to the exit later.

"So how come you're here? Okay, let me rephrase that. Why did you have to move?" She asked. There was a telltale sign that we had reached the Math block, we were close to the classroom.

"Erm, well I lived here before until I was like, 4 and then moved to live closer to my Grandma because my Grandpa had recently died. Last year she passed away so my Mom wanted to move and my Dad suggested here. So here I am," I recounted. Sandy's eyes widened, she looked like she wanted to slap herself for asking that question. I gave her a reassuring look.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. You are okay, right?"

"Yeah I am, don't worry about it."

Sandy beamed. We reached the classroom, the teacher hadn't arrived yet so everyone was talking mindlessly with one another. I expected Sandy to ditch me and talk to her own friends figuring that she didn't know me well but she didn't much to my surprise. She invited me to sit next to a friend of hers. The teacher entering the room as she did. I smiled timidly at the girl, exchanging pleasantries before the lesson started.

I looked forward and since I was near the doorway, I noticed a shadow. I tilted my head sideways to glimpse and wish I hadn't. Carter was giving - what I supposed - a 'goodbye' kiss, make out even, to some girl who had difficulties covering her cleavage. Disgusted, I looked way but wondered, hadn't anyone else noticed?

I sighed, deciding I didn't care. The lesson started, the Math was something I had already learnt so I settled with doodling in my notepad.

"Mr Cohen, why do you dare come to this lesson at this time?" Mr Bolton asked, his vivacious behaviour evaporating. The whole class turned their heads towards the door, I did too. My eyes caught Carter's, his lips curving in what I deemed his infamous smirk. I tore my eyes away and looked back at my notepad.

"I had something extremely important to attend to. You can ask the principal if you don't believe me," Carter lied easily. I nearly choked on the oxygen I was inhaling, automatically causing all attention to be drawn to me. What a way to go Bree!

"Miss Opal, are you okay?" Mr Bolton asked.

"Peachy, I just had something in my throat," I squeaked. I looked up, paying respect by meeting the teacher's gaze. Carter c****d an eyebrow curiously in my peripheral vision.

"Okay, Mr Cohen take your seat, I don't want you to come late again, understand?" Mr Bolton said. Instead of gulping and nodding sheepishly at his seriousness like I knew I would, Carter smiled his million-dollar smile; he nodded as if he owned our asses.

He sauntered over, walking past my desk, I assumed it was on purpose until he pulled out the chair from the desk behind me.

*

As soon as I got home I marched straight to my bedroom, I dropped my bag on the floor and jumped onto my four-poster bed ignoring the mess and scattered boxes.

My eyes drooped and I wanted to sleep. I didn't have a particularly bad day, I ate with Sandy at lunch and became friends with her friends, who didn't bite.

Maybe this phobia of being new was just stupid.

I rolled over onto my back, looking up at the plain ceiling, letting my eyes wander around the room. I had just noticed a pair of glass doors behind thin, lilac curtains, I got up, ran my dainty hand through my strawberry blonde hair, but kept it in its bun. I walked over to the glass doors, drawing away the curtains so I could turn the handle. It was a little stiff so with enough strength, it opened effortlessly. I squinted first at the light and then realised I had a little balcony which gave me a full view of the garden, I turned and saw that I was given the view of a boyish bedroom.

Which imbecile made these houses?

I just prayed that it wasn't some sort of paedophile or pervert. I turned away and examined the garden. The ground was mainly made out of concrete but pesky weeds managed to come through. Flowerbeds sat across the edges with stray bricks protecting them. It definitely needed some work and I knew as soon as Mom had done unpacking she'd get the garden looking as good as new.

"Well hello my lovely, it was... Bella wasn't it?"

"I'm not from twilight and it's Bree," I corrected and turned to see who it was. I slapped my hand on her forehead and slowly ran it down my face.

Seriously Carter? What is this? Some sick twist of fate?

I said nothing more, he was smirking and all I wanted to do is grab one of those bricks below and high five it off of his face.

I re-entered my room, sat on my bed and sulked.

Then my Mom called. "Bree honey? We have guests!"

"Coming Mom," I grumbled loud enough for her to hear. I trudged downstairs, plastering a huge fake smile on my face in the process. I entered the living - or what I assumed it was - and was attacked by a tall, black haired woman who unashamedly pinched my cheeks.

"Well aren't you the cutest little thing? I'm Kylee, but you can call me Ky or Lee. I live with my family, that's one daughter and son with a lovely husband just next door on your right. So if you ever need anything, just come around," she gushed before finally letting go of my cheeks. I was flustered, I mumbled a 'hi' before getting the look from my mother who sat by... Sandy?

Wait, wait, wait... doesn't Carter live on our right? They're siblings?

"Hi, ur um Lee and thanks, will do," I muttered, moving to sit next to a jubilant Sandy. She was tapping the couch like a maniac so I could accompany her.

"Bree darling, Sandy was just saying how you two met today. Why don't you take her to your room so you could chat?" My mom suggested. I nodded and got up motioning for Sandy to follow.

"Wow I like your house, I was wondering who was going to move in ever since they removed the 'for sale' sign. I'm glad it's you! And sorry about my Mom and the cheek pinching she still does it to me and Carter." She followed me up the stairs but if I knew any better it seemed like she knew the layout of the house better than I did.

"Carter?" I repeated, acting dumb.

"Yeah, you know the guy who has 98% of the girl population at school worshipping the ground he walks on."

"Oh yes him," I said, pathetically looking like I was recalling him. I opened my bedroom door, hoping Sandy wasn't disappointed with the mess. "Sorry about the mess."

"Oh it's okay, you've moved in really recently haven't you?"

"Yesterday to be precise."

"You must be feeling shattered, how come you went to school?"

"Parents." Sandy nodded understandingly, her eyes soon becoming fixated on the glass doors. She bit her lip and looked at me.

"Ooh! You have a balcony! Can I...?"

"Sure," I said and sat down on my bed comfortably, watching Sandy as she opened the door and peered around.

After about a minute she came in, her expression indicating she was lost in thought. She started jumping up and down eagerly and it scared me. She approached me and nearly squished me to death because of the hug. "You are perfect! You are perfect. You are so perfect!" She chanted and let go of me. I heaved.

"What did I do?" I asked as soon as I could breathe.

"Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for you?!"

"You're scaring me," I told her in all honesty.

Sandy laughed at my expense. Gee thanks.

"Sorry, I should explain myself, shouldn't I?"

"That would be helpful?"

"Well, I probably sound delusional when I say this, actually I know I'll sound crazy but you are the one that will change my brother's ways!" She started some sort of uncontrollable clapping before squeezing her hands together.

"Huh?" Was my genius response.

"You know those girls who are hard to get causing the player to fall for them? He'd be so in love with you!"

"What?"

"Oh c'mon, you know what I mean!"

"I know what you mean! But why? You barely know me!'

"I just know! Oh, this will be amazing!"

"No, just no."

"Yes, just yes! I know you are the one!"

"Even if I was, I don't want to be in love with him!" I protested. I gave her a firm look. I just met the girl and she is already planning my life, isn't that at least a little bit strange? "No, just no."

"You don't have to be. I just think it's about time he grows up and acts like a man."

I looked at Sandy in a sceptical way, not at all believing her words. "And even if I was and I'm not. How would I do that?!"

Sandy smiled knowingly, stretching out her palm for me to shake. "Meet the coach."