Troubled

SIXTY TWO

KYLE GARCIA

It's been ages since I saw my coach. If I say I wasn't nervous, I'd be lying. I am quite a bag of nerves. I even thought of taking a bath to ease the nerves. So yeah, don't judge, plenty of females attest to the fact that this works for them.

The laid in the tub with my eyes shut as I reminisced few hours ago. As soon as we got up we were on the road, I didn't understand the rush to be honest. All I was asked was,

"Kyle, is it okay you drive us all back home?"

Naturally, I agreed. Cora and I barely had time to speak two words to each other, it disappointed me greatly. Even more so when she rode at the back and Xander rode shotgun.

The car was mostly quiet except when Cory wanted to pee or something. He always had something to say anyway. When we stopped for breakfast I sneakily sat beside her. And she greeted me with,

"You are seeing your coach today right?"

"How much can I pay you to forget it?" I say while looking down at the milk tea I ordered.

"You will be seeing him today Kyle, you're too big to hide behind your cup. How will he know how sorry you are if you don't talk to him?"

I sigh. This was not how I wanted our talk to go, the girl was too unpredictable. We had less than fifteen minutes, if I wanted her to talk to me about other things, it would be in my best interest to agree.

"You're right, I will see him today."

"Good, now send him a text back. Tell him you'd see him today, he can set the time and place."

"What about the recital? What if he sets the time and it clashes with the recital?" My best argument with a girl with fire in her eyes is a friggin recital.

She rolled her eyes as if I didn't already know that I was an i***t.

"Then you skip the recital."

"Don't let Xander hear that." I whisper dramatically while looking everywhere for Xander. He was just walking out of the rest room with Cory.

"I will handle Xander, this? This is important, to you. To your coach. Lessen both of your guilts and stop trying to deflect it like a little kid."

Her eyes show me how serious she was in the moment. I had to exale hard through my nose to calm myself down.

I picked up my phone and sent the text back. My stomach did a couple of flips while I waited for a response.

"That wasn't so hard was it?"

Her father interrupted us as he came to tell us that our break was over now. And we were back on the road. I was grateful I only had a turkey sandwich and the milk tea, if I had more than that, my guts would be all over the car with the way my stomach churned.

When I got the text back we were in front of their house already. Everyone else had gone inside, just Cora and I.

"He says in thirty minutes, at a cafe we frequently visited before."

She must have seen my unease because she rubbed my arm up and down, in a bid to encourage me. And to be honest it did warm me up and reassure me.

"Go freshen up before you see him. I'm not sure he wants to see his dream catcher dirty."

"I doubt I'm that dirty."

She rolled her eyes, recognizing the fact that I was trying to stall. I failed miserably. I honestly don't know why I still tried.

"I didn't want to disappoint Xander."

"He didn't even talk to us, he is completely taken by Cory. He might not even notice your absence. But if he does notice, I'll say you were called in by your parents."

I nod at her gratefully.

"Okay football star. Go meet your coach." She pushed me towards my car but I made the work easier for her by going in.

When I drove away from her house I see her stand outside from the rear view mirror, until she was a little spec in the distance. I don't know she wanted to make sure I didn't stall or something else. But I was glad she did.

By the time I got out the bath I was wrinkly. Taking it as a good sign, I dress up quickly. I had just ten minutes to spare, luckily the cafe was close by.

"Kyle? Where have you been?" Grandma called out.

I missed her voice. I wished Cora had someone like her instead of her own vile grandmother.

"What do you mean? I have been here." I lie as I comb my hair. I wanted to look presentable, it would be a terrible idea for him to see me looking unkempt.

"You goddamn liar. You didn't sleep in this house yesterday night. Where did you sleep? Don't bother saying Ray or Dawson, they don't know where you slept either."

"You're old grandma, even if I said anything about where I was, would you know?"

She eyed me. The action caused me to chuckle. I missed reading her.

"I'm not old, you can tell me, and I'll know."

I contort my face into a grim line, she leaned in, expecting to hear something like a secret. I almost burst out in laughter.

"I am on a secret mission. I really can't tell anyone."

She leaned in even more.

"You can tell me son, it's okay."

I nearly quirk my eye brow at the sound of her calling me, son. But I refrain.

"I'm not supposed to say this to anyone." I say in a rushed whisper.

"But, I have to go, see you soon." I say as I dash out of the house.

I hear her cursing at me seriously. And I finally burst out laughing. She was such an easy tease target.

By the time I pull into the driveway, I see that I'm a minute late. And Mr. Holt was already sitting in our spot. By the look of his almost finished cup of coffee, he must have been here a while. Like he always did. Coming in three minutes before the time. And I came a minute or two after.

Just like old times, I'm about to go meet him. But this time it's different. This time.. I wasn't a confident jerk.