At the end of the day, Eksteen corners Pi and me. Abs is lurking, but despite the dark circles under hiseyes, he’s in a considerably better mood than yesterday when we found out about the captaincy.
Pi and I share a glance like we’ve just been summoned to the head teacher’s office.
“Wasson?” I say, as I rub self-heating pain relief cream onto my shoulder. I try to keep my tone breezy, as though whatever my coach says to me now can’t tear my world apart, but I’ve been thinking since yesterday. A lot, actually.
Thinking about how much I want to be captain, and how much I especially want it to happen with Pi at my side.
“What’s the deal with you boys?” Eksteen says, and my stomach flips inside out.
“Uh . . .” I won’t look at Pi again, and he won’t look at me. Behind us, I feel Abs shift his full attention to Eksteen.
“What d’you mean?” Pi asks.
“Listen, lads, I don’t want you to take this the wrong way or anything, but this co-captaincy deal was all Chelford’s brain baby. He vouched for you both, said you two are very close outside of the Cents.”
Pi flinches, but remains quiet.
Eksteen continues. “He says you’re always requesting hotel rooms together, going out for dinner, sitting beside each other on the coach, hanging out around Bath—”
“Abs is usually there too,” Pi says, his tone clearly showing he feels attacked.
“I’m not reprimanding you guys, okay? I’m just curious. I told Chelford that I had my doubts. Don’t get me wrong, you’re both top tier players, but you’re chalk and cheese. You’re . . . peaches and gravy, you’re pie and eggs, you’re . . . just too different.” Eksteen puts his palm up, letting us know not to interrupt, though I was only about to ask which one of us was peaches and which was gravy. I’m definitely peaches. “I’m only worried you’ll not be able to settle those differences on the pitch.”
Neither of us says anything, but we both silently agree with him.
“So, here’s what’s going to happen.” Eksteen turns to Abs. “Ellis, you do not need to be in the room right now.” He makes a shooing gesture with his hand.
“Fine,” Abs says, collecting up his hoodie and bag. “They’re gonna tell me later anyways. You’re gonna tell me later, right, Pi?”
Pi’s shaking his head for Eksteen’s benefit, but I see the “absolutely” written all over his features.
“Okay, here’s the plan,” Eksteen says as soon as the slapping sound of Abs’s trainers on the tiled hallway disappears. “Prove to me and Chelford that you’re capable of working together as a single unit.”
“Or?” I say, because the “or” is just hanging right there between us.
“Or we’ll choose one of you to be captain by yourself.”
“So, it’s together or it’s a competition?” Pi asks. Whether he realises he’s doing it or not, he takes a step towards me. Our shoulders bump against each other.
“Precisely.” Eksteen doesn’t seem to notice Pi making his decision already. Whatever storm had started to rage against my heart calms a little at that thought. He wants to lead beside me. With me. “Like I said, it’s nothing against you as individual players. It’s merely a cohesion thing.”
“If only he knew how cohesive we can be,” I whisper to Pi as we leave the locker room. “Remember that time we busted at the exact same moment?”
Pi smirks. “Maybe we could figure out how to use that . . . cohesion to our advantage. Like if we f—”
Abs is in the car park, leaning against Pi’s Honda. He waves, cutting Pi off before he finishes his sentence. They often share lifts, especially if they have plans to hang out after training, so I’m not surprised to see him there.
“Alright, you chodes?” Abs yells as soon as we get within earshot. “Tell me everything.”
“Get in.” Pi unlocks the car with his fob.
“Bagsy the front,” I call out, running over.
Abs huffs and climbs into the back. “You’re coming too?” he asks once I’ve strapped myself into the passenger seat.
“Where we going?” I ask.
“We’ve got a table booked at Teach’s. Abs’s got something to tell me.” Pi glances in his mirror, checking his blind spot, but also possibly checking with his best friend that he’s alright to share his news with me.
