Fvck The Haters

Johnnie laughed loudly. “Don’t ask me, you’re on the other side of the line.”

When the play began and Johnnie ran away I stared at Chris in horror, letting him throw the ball without moving.

“WHAT WAS THAT?!” Destery stopped running and screamed in the distance.

The coach blew his whistle and waved Destery over to us. “Why didn’t you tackle Chris?” He asked me suspiciously.

“Because he’s in love with Chris’ sister.” Another guy laughed.

“You.” The coach pointed at a guy. “Andy, laps.” He pointed to an open spot on the edge of the field.
I watched, intimidated.

“I asked you a question.” The coach said. “Why did you tackle Destery but not Chris?”

I didn’t know what to say. My mouth opened but I couldn’t force any words out.

“Maybe a few laps will help jog your memory.” The coach pointed to Ashley running laps on the track around the field. He pointed to Ashley’s helmet still abandoned on the field. “Tell him to take that horrible music out of his ears and put his helmet back on.” He waved me away.

“Coach.” Chris called out suddenly. I kept walking away, clutching Ashley’s helmet. “They were in a fight yesterday. I don’t think you should put them together.”

The coach blew his whistle and called everybody in, ordering us to take a knee as we crowded around him. “Ashley, Jeremy, Andy and Destery will be running laps together for the rest of this practice. You will stay within your track lanes and keep the same pace. If either of you steps outside his lane, runs ahead or lags behind all three of you will be put on an in school suspension and pardoned from the team.”

Destery glared at me. I bowed my head. “You’re on thin ice boys.” The coach waved us away and blew his whistle.

“Hope you can keep up this time.” Ashley spat angrily.

“Oh I can run.” Destery scoffed. “Faster than Jinxx can.” He sped up toward the starting point of the track on the outer edge of the field.

“I don’t really run.” I said quietly.

Ashley took his place at the starting point. “You might want to take that helmet off.” He smirked.

“You might want to put yours on.” I retorted.

Suddenly a whistle blew and I noticed Diego running Destery and Ashley’s helmets over to us from the corner of my eyes.

“Fxck you very much.” Destery said, taking his helmet from Diego.

“In your dreams.” Diego replied without breaking his grin.

“Do you all hate each other or something?” I wondered aloud.

Ashley began laughing quietly but soon his laughter erupted into a loud guffaw that Destery joined in on. He patted the space between my shoulder pads hard enough to jolt me forward. “Welcome to the team Jinxx.”

Notes