Meet The Coach

Lesson 9: Give Compliments

Lesson 9: Give Compliments

I had to wake up earlier than I usually did on a school day. Though I didn't mind too much because it was for the fundraiser and I was pretty excited. I quickly stretched, the sensation made me want to curl back into a ball and sleep. I got off my bed before that even happened. I did about my business before taking a quick shower and getting changed into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. The t-shirt was relatively simple apart from the palm tree picture on the front which somewhat portrayed Hawaii. Sandy was adamant that we all got the same top to resemble us being together in a group and our dedication towards Hawaii. To be fair, anyone can wear a t-shirt that has a palm tree on it.

I just didn't say that to Sandy or I was in for a lecture which would not be pretty.

I got downstairs. My mom clearly hadn't woken up the smell of the kitchen stated why. I quickly had breakfast appreciating that it was the most important meal of the day and I truly didn't know when I would next eat.

I left the house, making sure the lock the door behind me and I looked at my watch. I was earlier than I needed to be. I pondered for a moment and made the decision that I would just walk to the school. It was a five-minute drive. So it can be a 10-15 minute walk - I wasn't going to have traffic.

I reached the school promptly - it felt good to let my hair flow in the gentle, summer breeze. I surely missed long walks on sunny days.

Late last night I checked my phone and had received a text of Hailey in regards of our station. We needed a fairly big area due to the competition space - there would need to be tables, chairs and colouring utensils provided for it. The cake stall would take up to three tables. Extra cakes would be behind the stand and the Carter splat would be fairly on the side due to its mess. Nonetheless, there had been posters hanging to show the world the opportunity to throw a wet sponge at Carter Cohen. If the posters didn't work I'm pretty sure the news would spread as it would on a normal day of high school.

He surely didn't have any mercy on him.

I walked to the spot, Sandy and Jack were already there.

Sandy was setting up the tables for people to sit down whilst participating in the competition, Jack was talking to one of the teachers in charge. I approached Sandy, she was staring at the table which was identical to the other two completely lost in thought. "Hello Sandy," I greeted.

She disregarded me and started to chew onto her fingernails. "What's wrong?" I asked.

Again she didn't answer, I swiftly looked at the other two tables to see what could be the problem. "This table has 9 chairs whilst the others have 10. If that's what you are trying to figure out," I offered. Gratitude quickly flickered over Sandy's features.

"That's it!" She exclaimed. I gave her a smile and she quickly fetched a chair and placed it in its spot. "Okay, this area is done."

"Before you yank your hair out. Have you transported all of the cakes and stuff from yours?" I asked.

"Yeah, Carter, Jack and Hudson did. Hailey isn't here yet," Sandy answered absently.

I was just about to question Hudson's and Carter's absence but didn't want Sandy to think I was interested in Carter. "You and Carter did a really good job you know. All of it is amazing, it's going to sell like there is no tomorrow," she added.

I smiled again. "I hope so. We did work really hard. I'm surprised I woke up early this morning," I said.

"You two did bond really nicely yesterday. It was so cute! Did you two have a moment?" She inquired.

"If you mean did he wrap me in his arms in a lovers' embrace after sharing an oh so passionate kiss, then not even close," I said. I made a face at the thought of that. Yesterday, I just became his friend.

"But something did happen right?"

"Uh not really. Well if you include being that close to him"- I showed the distance with my hands -"and wiping icing off his face a moment. Then yes, something did happen."

"Aww, that's so cute! And it's a start! Oh, Bree, I'm so proud of you!" Sandy cheered awfully loudly which did attract the attention of the teacher and Jack.

"Say that a little louder the people in China can't hear you!" I scolded.

"Sorry," she apologized. "But still. I am a proud coach." Sandy thought for a moment, her eyes widened slightly at something from behind me. "Ooh! I just remembered! In the Carter splat, we're not using wet sponges. We're using icky, yucky paint sponges!"

A massive smile broke out onto my face at the thought of that. Oh, that would be priceless. People would pay a hell of a lot to throw icky, yucky paint sponges at Carter.

"That's awesome! Props to the one who suggested that. How did he respond to it?"

"He doesn't know..." Sandy trailed.

I bit my smile to stop the smile from widening any further. "So you're not going to tell him and he's just going to have a shock when the first sponge is thrown at him?" I guessed.

"Well we should tell him shouldn't we?"

"That would be the nice thing to do..." I replied. Sandy engaged in her thoughts again.

Carter walked past the tables. "Carter!" She yelled.

Carter turned instantly. He first looked at his twin then me. He walked towards us. "Yes?"

"We're being considerate when we tell you this but..." Sandy trailed so I could continue.

"In the Carter splat, we're using icky, yucky paint in the sponges."

"What!?" He exclaimed. His usually calm face distorted into an annoyed, worried and slightly scared one.

"You heard us. Icky, yucky paint," Sandy repeated.

"Okay, I'm putting my foot down. There's no way that I'm participating when there's paint," he said firmly.

"But Carter please..." Sandy urged. Sadly and I shared a look for a split second. We both had the same idea.

We both resulted in the puppy dog face. Mine usually had a 100% success rate with hormonal, teen males. At first, Carter's face remained unfazed. He ignored Sandy but then looked at me. Something flickered over his eyes - something that seemed familiar from last night - he just stared. He seemed to battle with himself about something unknown. He groaned, I internally smirked knowing that Sandy and I had indeed won.

"Fine," he mumbled.

"Yay!" Sandy and I cheered together. We high-fived, Carter looked like he suddenly regretted the decision.

"Thank you, Carter. And not to be mean or anything, but can go now. You have organized which cakes are going out first. I have to tell Bree something," Sandy said. Carter smirked and seemed to forget about the splat.

"I bet that's nothing that your beloved twin brother can't hear?"

Sandy paused, probably thinking of a way to tell him to go. In the meanwhile, Carter scanned my ensemble shamelessly. His eyes fixated on my legs for longer than necessary.

I rolled my eyes and said, "We're going to talk about tampons. I'm sure because of Clara you'll be able to say as much as we do combine. This morning I was wear -"

"Okay, I'm going. I'm going." Carter's face was full of disgust, also as if he wanted to gag. I chuckled.

"I thought you said what we had to discuss what for your ears also?"

Carter didn't say anything. His eyes narrowed and I smiled cheekily at him.

He turned around and walked away defeated. "You know I don't coach you to be gross him out."

"But you loved that. I know you do. Heck, you love every second I spent with him. Or even if he looks my way."

Sandy smiled. I was right. "Okay, Miss Smarty Pants! Maybe I did. But that's not what I wanted to talk to you about. Let's be serious now."

"Lesson time?"

"I'll come to that afterwards. Hudson and I were discussing the fundraiser and whatnot, yesterday. Hudson got a pretty decent idea. We talked to Jack and Hailey about it too and they liked it. So we've made a decision. Since you're fairly new to town and that you don't know a lot of people you're going to collect all of the application forms and give the participant a compliment."

"A compliment. You want me to give them a compliment?"

I repeated.

"Yes."

"Why?" I asked.

"Well, it's nice! What would you do if you were given a compliment? People love compliments."

"It depends on the compliment... but you really haven't answered why."

"I did. People love compliments and it's not a bad idea. You're not handing out knives Bree."

"Why me?" I questioned.

"As I said, you're new you don't know as many people like the rest of us do. It'll make the compliments less judgmental. In the sense that what you already know of them wouldn't affect the compliment."

I thought of another point to argue.

"But the might think I'm perving on them because I'm going to have to look at them."

"You'll be fine Bree. Plus they'll be a little banner or something like entering in your application and accept a compliment. They don't have to have one if they don't want," Sandy assured. I scowled but then realised that it wasn't a big deal. It was only giving compliments. “Besides you can be generic and say that you like their hair or the colour of their eyes.”

I considered it, what could possibly happen anyways? "Okay, that sounds alright."

"That's good! Which brings me to your lesson! Lesson 9: give compliments! And before you say anything yes Sherlock I do know that has nothing to do with Carter."

I smiled. "You read my mind."

"I thought of this last night. It's a way of showing Carter a sweeter and nicer part of you because let's be realistic you kind of failed lesson 3: play little miss nice girl."

"I'm not always mean to him. We got along yesterday," I pointed out.

"Still when someone falls in love with someone else they don't only fall for who they are with them but from a distance also."

"Alright." I knew there was no point arguing with Sandy about the plan to make him fall for me. He'd have to fall for me whether he likes it or not.

"Remember lesson 2: smile, it's free, whilst giving the compliments okay?"

"Okay, anything else?" I asked. Sandy thought for a moment.

"Yes! Lesson 5: spend time with the player. And I have a feeling that this won't be your only lesson for today... Oh and go help Carter set up!" I groaned. Oh, why did I have to ask?

"Really?" I questioned disbelieved.

"Yes. Now go before I drag you."

"I'd prefer it if you did. That way Carter knows that I didn't choose to spend time with him."

Sandy rolled her eyes and appreciated what I had said. She grabbed my arm and dragged me over to Carter. He was looking at the labelled cake boxes contemplating at what should go out first, with the coloured marker he had in his hand he wrote a number onto the box. "Carter! I got you company!" Sandy announced. Carter didn't look up straight away and when he did, he looked back down.

Still bummed about the tampons eh?

"I don't need help," he stated.

"Well that's mean," Sandy retaliated.

"Yeah you might hurt my feelings," I added. Carter looked back up at me.

"Plus the quicker you get that done the quicker you can mentally and physically prepare yourself for the splat," Sadly pointed out, she then nudged me in order of saying something appealing.

"I promise I won't talk about tampons," I spat out.

"Fine. Since you really want to." There was an emphasis on the word really.

Pfft, dude as if.

"That's good. I'm just going to help Hudson with the paint sponges," Sandy said. She waved goodbye and pranced - literally - away.

"I can't believe I agreed to your idea," Carter said sourly.

"Well, there's no going back now. If we manage to go to Hawaii, the credit is all yours. Anyways what am I doing to help you?"

"Well just grab a coloured pen. Not the ones on the left I've used those already. I've put every cake in order of what goes out when. From left to right. Number them but make sure you number the right cake with the right colour," Carter explained.

Okay, maybe he didn't need my help.

I grabbed a pen from the right and picked a line of cake boxes - all of them had macaroons written on them. I started to number them from 1 to 10 before I grabbed another pen before numbering another line this time it was gingerbread people.

Within no time everything was sorted and Carter instructed for every box to be set according to their number and type behind the stand. The first box of each was placed on the table to be unpacked 15 minutes before the fundraiser started.

Hailey then made her wave. She smiled at me and noticeably didn't look at Carter - not grudgingly though. In my peripheral vision, I saw that he wad gone though. She waved and stopped in front of me. "Hello, Bree! I've got you your compliment stuff - last minute shopping."

"Thank you, Hailey. What will you be doing today?"

"I'm selling cakes here with Sandy. She said you and Carter have smashed it."

"Not to blow our own trumpet but yes."

"Well, then I can't wait until I see them. Anyways I need to go back and help Sandy. Have fun with those compliments. I'll see you later Bree."

"You too Hailey. See you later." I looked into the bag and saw a couple of stacks of colourful post stick notes and some markers. I took one of each out and randomly outlined a compliment.

"So what will you be doing?" Carter asked out of the blue as he walked back from wherever he went.

"Giving compliments and accepting applications."

"Ah yes. Sandy said. Have fun and good luck."

"Thank you."

Carter studied me for a moment. "Care to give me a compliment?"

"Nope."

"Aw, why not?"

"You haven't given an application in."

"I'm going to have hundreds of paint filled sponges thrown at me today because of you. I at least deserve a compliment."

"Nope."

"Hey, Carter! Help Hudson with the buckets! The fundraiser will start soon!" Sandy yelled.

"Bye Carter," I said and waved.

Carter turned around to leave; I scanned his back profile. What a nice ass. Quickly I scribbled something down onto the first post stick, ripped it off and stuck it onto his shoulder.

Don't regret this Bree.

With try opposite hand Carter unstuck the post stick and read the two words.

Nice ass.

He turned about and gave an amused look. He smiled, he didn't smirk and then he walked away. I walked towards my station and little, cheeky smile playing on my lips.

*

The fundraiser was due to start at ten but to be honest everything picked up at 12 where lots of families and high school students - not all of them where from school - came. Within the first two hours, there had been only 4 entries given in for the competition and Aunt Beatrice was nowhere in sight. It was at peak time when I could see Carter continuously be punished by the sponges, a fairly big crowd around the cake stall and applications been designed in by people of all ages. The area was clearly frenetic.

"There you go, sweetie." I gave a young girl a compliment - her mother permitted me to give her one. I gave the pink sticky note to the eager girl and placed the application form into the box. The girl smiled widely at the compliment, she thanked me and walked away with her mother yapping away mindlessly.

I smiled at the little girl. She was much too cute. Further along my station the 'collect your applications' sign had been recently put because Jack was on a break. Beside it was a description of the Author and a description of the book so people know what it'll be about. There was also an explanation of the prizes given to the winner, the prizes themselves were pretty awesome. As well as the opportunity to have your design as the front cover of the book and receiving your own three copy, Aunt Beatrice has given 2 tickets to a workshop she was hosting further along in summer.

"Two applications please," a rather scrawny 10-year-old boy asked, to his right was a similar looking girl but at least 5 inches shorter. I grabbed two application forms and smiled at the duo.

"That'd be $5 please," I said. The boy slipped his hand into his pocket and brought out a crumpled $5 bill. I accepted the money and gave him the forms, and quickly went over the details. "Remember to fill in your name, age, address and number, okay?"

"Okay Miss," the chirpy little girl piped up. I smiled at the girl, she and her brother walked away to the occupied tables and squeezed in.

"May I have a compliment please?" A feminine voice asked.

"Sure, can I just collect your application please?" I said and then turned to the lady who did look familiar. First I thought it was Lee but she was at least half a foot taller and had shoulder-length hair. But otherwise, she was deadly similar to Lee.

She gave me a smile - one which was scarily similar to Sandy's. I stared at her for a moment and then realised who she was. "You're Aunt Beatrice?" I asked. I phrased it as a question but it certainly came out as a statement.

"The one and only," she answered happily. "But you can call me Bea."

"Hello, Bea. I'm Bree. It's great to finally see you! Sandy did say that you were going to come at about this time," I greeted.

"Ah yes, Cassandra has told me an awful lot about you. But don't worry - it's all good. So how has the competition gone so far?"

"At the moment about 50 applications have been given in. So everything is looking up," I answered.

"That's good! I can't wait to see all of the entries! I could finally publish!" She gushed. I smiled and wondered, is enthusiasm a female trait in the Cohen family?

"Well, I have seen some really awesome ones. You might have trouble trying to decide which cover you want."

"I sure hope not. Well, anyways Bree I'm going to patrol around and see if I can find anything I like. See you later."

"Bye Bea." Bea walked towards the tables and silently assessed each design.

A group of people came over the next 10 minutes to sign up, and a few came to give in their applications, I tended to them and the one person who I didn't expect to see until next fall approached. Thin-lipped with her freshly manicured fingertips resting on her hips - she wasn't wearing anything more than a bikini - Clara stood. And if looks could kill, I was dead 3 times over.

Oh, what did I do now?

"Wh,o the hell do you think you are?" She spat out venomously.

"What's wrong Clara?" I asked, not really in the mood of arguing with her.

"You that's what's wrong. Why can't you go back to that sad, little town you came from? You're clearly not wanted here," she remarked. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at her.

"What did I do now?"

"As if you don't know."

"Enlighten me."

"Why the f**k are you doing the Carter splat? Do you not care about his feelings? Oh wait - you're a heartless b***h. But that doesn't give you the right to punish him like this!" She ranted. Her eyes turned into slits and her face was becoming red.

Is she seriously talking about the Carter splat? I sighed. Out of all the things she could pick an argument with, she picks the one thing that he agrees to.

"He agreed to do it," I stated calmly. "I didn't force him."

"b***h please, I think we both know what you did to persuade him, you slut and a little liar as well. You seduce him to get your way, don't you?" She guessed.

Oh, she's so stupid.

"I have nothing to respond to your lies with, now can you please leave? If you haven't noticed, I'm busy." I bit my tongue to stop profanities from leaving my mouth. It was getting hard because you'd think the girl would understand plain English.

A family started to approach my station. With a little smirk on her overly glossy lips, she twirled. "Oh hello, you must want to participate in this competition. I'd hate to be the bearer of bad news but... she's a paedophile. I fear for your young ones. In fact, she's already been caught the other day - there just hasn't been enough evidence to convict her." My body temperature rose rapidly as Clara spoke in that sickly sweet voice of hers.

The family looked at Clara confused following that, the family looked at me with looks of pure disgust. The two children looked at Clara cluelessly.

I started to take deep breaths to calm myself down. I closed my eyes and tried to relax.

"EVERYONE! Did you hear that? BREE is a PAEDOPHILE!" Clara yelled out.

This caught the attention of everyone.

My eyes shot open and everything was red. My blood boiled, my body started to shake and I was more than ready to rip every strand of fake platinum blonde hair before strangling her and throwing her off Mount Everest.

I was sure my face was red and my palms were bleeding because of how tight my fist was. She turned towards me looking irritatingly smug. "Can I have a compliment? Or are they only for the children you've been perving on?" She taunted.

I was so close to punching her as she said this. My fist was shaking uncontrollably.

Bea rushed towards me.

She impassively looked at Clara and then spoke. "I'm sorry little Miss I don't know how to dress. But I'd advise you to leave right now before I get security and get them to escort you. How DARE you scream a false accusation like that?! Tell everyone you were lying. NOW."

I was surprised at what Bea had to say. She quickly looked at me and I got her message. I strode off, my movements incredibly tense.

I was pissed. I was tempted to kick over the nearest trash can but I had a better idea. I marched over to the Carter Splat, luckily there wasn't a line. Hudson looked at me confused and I threw him a $10 dollar bill from my pocket and I grabbed a bucket.

Oh, I was pissed.

I grabbed the first sponge and threw it with all my force at a very confused and scared looking Carter.

- Splat - It hit this face.

I did it again and again and again until all ten sponges were thrown. I kicked the bucket down, letting the icky yucky substance escape and then I walked away. I pushed myself through the thick crowds, for once not using my manners.

Who the f**k accuses someone of being a paedophile? What the f**k is wrong with her?

*

I calmed down after 15 minutes. I had missed calls from Sandy but I didn't bother calling her back. I'll talk to her later. I walked through the fundraiser event, it was very populated and there was a lot of events going on. There was a lot of competition too.

Clara was back to her Bikini Car wash area. Surprisingly it was busy, each cheerleader had at least three cars to wash each.

I hope it snows.

There was also a long line of cake sales going on, everyone seemed to have that idea. There were games like whack-a-mole, pin the tail on the donkey, ducks in a pond, archery etc. They were also very packed.

The highlight was the fresh smell of cotton candy in the air - I loved the atmosphere too. Unfortunately, I had used my money - stupidly, I only brought $10 - on that Carter Splat.

But it did feel good.

I pushed through the crowd to reach back to our area, I knew I had questions to answer but I was calm now. I just hope I never see that w***e again.

I walked past the Carter Splat, originally I planned on ignoring it but something caught my eye.

Lee was there, paint sponge in her hand, laughing as she threw it at her son. I paused and smiled. I wanted to join her but I knew not too.

Lee got him in the face. Carter groaned and looked around, he caught my gaze. Genuine concern painted his features and I averted my gaze away and stalked over to my station. Jack was there doing my job.

Out of the blue Bea approached me.

"Are you okay Bree? That girl truly was a menace. And her outfit! There's a bikini and then there's being a slut."

I smiled at Bea. She was awesome. "You do know that's your nephew's girlfriend, right? And don't worry, I'm alright now. Thank you for tending her, Bea. I totally agree with you."

"No problem. A friend of Sandy's is a friend of mine."