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For the first time since I’ve known her, I witness her at a loss for words.
“I– Thank you. I won’t let you down.” She says to Faulkner, her hands clutched to her chest.
“I know you won’t.” She says, a real smile ghosting the corner of her lips before the stern expression is back in her brow. “I also know you two have been bickering. That stops now.”
“Fine by me.” I say, putting my palms up and grinning at Thayer.
“Coach–” She tries.
“No, it’s non-negotiable. We can’t have our captains at each other's throats.” She says in her strict American accent. “You don’t have to be best friends or braid each other’s hair, but you will at least keep up the appearance of civility in public.”
“Yes, Coach.” Thayer answers, nodding her acquiescence.
“Thayer, I chose you because you’re a born leader. You’ve already made an impact on the team in your short time here and the girls respect and trust you.”
“Thank you, Coach.” Thayer says, trying to remain stoic, but I can tell she’s beaming on the inside.
“You’re highly skilled but like every player, you’ve got room to grow, especially when it comes to adapting to this style of play and the stamina required. Rhys has been a leader on this team for a while now – you could stand to learn from him.”
“Yes, Coach.”
“Alright, you can go back to practice.”
“Congratulations again.” Matthews adds in closing, “Rhys, I’ll see you out there.”
???
7
Thayer
The boys decide to do a quick scrimmage after their practice ends which gives me a chance to watch them play.
To watch Rhys play.
Coach Faulkner’s words have been rattling in my brain all practice long. They were all I could think about as the girls congratulated me and as we started running drills.
You could stand to learn from Rhys.
Putting our personal whatever-you’d-call it aside, I can see her point. Especially as I watch him play again.
He moves with such speed and agility for someone his size that it catches his opponents by surprise, destabilizing them.
He’s able to zip past them, dribbling the ball impressively around various defenders. His football IQ is clearly off the charts; with every play, he’s able to anticipate people’s next moves before they happen, almost like he can predict them.
He’s the kind of player your eyes are drawn to as a viewer. My personal feelings on the matter aside…he could teach me.
Coach voiced every thought I’ve had about my areas of improvement since we lost, but she also voiced her confidence in me by still making me captain of the team.
For that, I want to make her proud.
I want to improve and perform and show her that she was right to believe in me.
If that means working with the wolf in sheep’s clothing I know Rhys to be, something apparently only I see, then I’ll do it.
As the scrimmage comes to an end, I slink off into the building and wait for Rhys outside of the locker room.
The team comes streaming in noisily in small groups, some of the guys giving me chin tips and flirty smiles as they walk past me.
