33. Keyboards and quarterbacks

VIENNE'S POV

Go! Go! Go!” The basketball coach yelled at his players.

It wasn't harsh, it felt more like a thorough encouragement; right where I sat, I could feel my excitement almost getting off board. Watching a player almost make it to the net but get blocked or watching the ball fall out of the net was nibbling at my adrenaline as my feet were tapping the floor restlessly.

Here I was again. Waiting on Damon to get done with his practice before leaving for tutoring.

“Pass the ball, Aiden!!” The coach , Mr Scott or Scott as he would have them address him, called out in a booming voice again.

“Calloway! Calloway! There you go!” 

The practice went on for a while. And thirty minutes later, the practice was over and the man called them together.

“So far, I'm impressed.” The coach said, pride lacing his tone. “You all just need to work on your speed.”

What? Their speeds were insane and how they moved so fast with the ball was almost unnatural. So what's the coach saying? I frowned along with the players too who had their own subtle frowns on their face in displeasure.

Perhaps their coach wants them to go get some superpower. Tch.

I snorted instead, I wasn't in the place to voice out. Hence, I sat quietly where I had been sitting all along and listened to the words which could fall into my hearing.

“I don't care how you all are going to manage that. We would be having another interschool game and this is just for the basketball game. The soccer team had theirs a week ago with star’s academy. And we are also going to play with them.” His arms were locked behind him as he addressed them as though they were some army officers. He scrunched up his nose. “ Since the school soccer team lost to them, they are also challenging our basketball team to a game” he sneered.

I could also feel where his displeasure was coming from. If it weren't for whatever happened, would star's academy have it in them to look down on us?.

“Well, once bitten twice shy. Perhaps we might be the one biting them this time around.”

Yes!

“Yes Scott!.” The enthusiasm and energy lacing their response almost had me running over to star's academy to warn them to prepare harder. But I only smirked, looking forward to the day.

“I won't have you disgrace me, I won't have you let the school get ridiculed once more. So you gotta put more effort and let's even out the score!”

“Yes, Scott!!”

“That's by the way, the team is due for a quarterback this year. Hence, I've made my decision after thorough review. I'm presenting to you Damon Calloway as your newest quarterback. Ha! Ha!” His unnecessary laughter followed his announcement as he clapped, urging his team to do the same.

Oh wow! My hands met quietly in a tiny clap which was covered by the ones coming from the players. Some were pleased with the decision while some had a sour look on their faces even as they clapped. I can tell it came from a place of envy and pride. Well, you can't please everyone and they had clearly looked down on him

Screw that. They could go to hell.

Damon deserves that,for as far as I know. That loser plays like he was born in and for the court, or the court is his kingdom where he rules.

A few of them hollered excitedly, patting his shoulder and my small holler followed theirs embarrassingly. And I finally had their attention on me; Mr Scott's face twisted into a confused frown before looking away almost immediately.

“Well, we're done.” He dismissed, walking off.

Damon made his way over with his bagpack, as he dropped them by my feet.

I snorted at his face. “The least you could have done was fake a smile. How can you have a plain face like that of a wall in that kind of atmosphere?”

“And would that change anything? I'd do whatever the fuck I want.”

“Who do you think you're? Tsk. If it were up to me, you don't even deserve the post” I teased with a lie. But that earned me a scoff from him.

“Who deserved it then? You?” He teased back with a mocking smirk.

My lips twitched slightly at the subtle, playful jab though. God knows when last I touched a ball…

“Anyways, the janitor posted that he would be locking the school's entrance early today. So we can't wait for so long, we can have the session at the cafe a few meters from the school. Or would you rather we go to your place?” My voice raised in excitement at the last part.

“No.” He rushed out, dying the idea immediately. “Wait for me here. We'd head for the cafe.” 

Before I could say anything else, he already turned, jogging off to wherever the rest of the team went.

Five minutes passed before I felt a shadow fall on my frame. I frowned looking up from my phone and uneasiness settled upon me at the sight of Alex staring down at me.

“Vienne”

I sighed as I put my phone away, grabbed my bag and Damon's before getting on my feet to move away. “Hi” I greeted back anyways.

I paused when he stood in my path instead.

“What's wrong? Are you running away from me?”

Yes!

“No. I'm excusing you.”

“There's no need for that.” He looked around the court, while folding his arms. “You never liked basketball, you're not even a fan of sports. What are you doing here?”

“Well, preferences change. And what I'm doing here shouldn't be your business Alex.”

“I like it when you say my name; and that's even on a rare basis.” He said out of the blue, I only threw him a cautious glance, gripping the bags in my fist. He suddenly scowled. “Are you here because of that scholarship trash?”

“He's not trash. And I said my business here isn't yours” I snapped at him coldly this time around. But he just chuckled, taking a step towards me; I took two away from him.

“Why don't you come watch me play the violin instead? I also play the keyboard too now”

By this time, I have a grimace on my face. I was actually feeling bad for him.. Alex Monroe is sick in the head and God knows what's going on in it now. Guess he's not psychologically fine and no one is talking about it. Or no one's taken note. 

Come watch you play keyboard? Who does he think I am? Amelia?

That isn't my business, he should just stay away from me. I warily took another step from him. But he covered the distance with three long steps.

“Won't you come watch me?” his hand reached out to me. But some arm snaked my waist, pulling me away from Alex's reach.