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Standing upright, I stared at my reflection in the mirror after finishing getting dressed in my new uniform, I know, it wasn’t something to be that excited about cause it was just a training uniform, but to me, it meant everything, this captains uniform was my ticket to a lot of things.

Smiling, I pushed back pushed back the stray strands of hair into my neat ponytail before grabbing my gear and making my way to the stables were everyone ought to have been waiting for me to address them, I’d done it multiple times since I joined the polo team, but today was the first time I was going to do it as their captain, and I was going to make one hell of a first impression.

 “It’s your time now Sienna.” I said to myself before taking one last deep breath and walking out of the changing and walking to the small shed outside the stable where the coach and the other team members stood,

Perfect I was just on time, everyone was waiting on me just like I’d intended.

Shifting my expression from a smiley one to one that was serious, I walked up to them my mallet resting against my shoulder. When they noticed me, the chatter slowly died down and the coach gestured for me to stand next to him.

 “I’m sure you all heard what happened, so there had been a change of things.” Coach started. “One of them being that Ms. Leighton is now our new captain.”

No one said anything, they just stood quietly listening to what was being said. Exactly, there was nothing to say, and even if any of them had anything to say, they wouldn’t dare do that, not when they knew I was going to have a response.

 “Sienna,” He said and I nodded curtly at him.

 “Good afternoon everyone, I’m sure this isn’t how any of you expected things to go, but it is what it is.” I stated taking a few steps forward letting my gaze settle on each of my team mates. “Therefore, this team isn’t going to run the way it used to, there will be no shortcuts or excuses, everyone is going to practice and earn their place here, and most importantly, we are going to play clean.”

I continued speaking eyes sweeping through the crowd to make sure everyone was listening to me—and they were until a few moments later when in noticed some of the girls and boys eyes fixated on something behind me.

I was curious to see what they were looking at, but I hated looking back, turning my attention to someone or something just like everyone else. I was a Leighton and we never followed the crowd, I wasn’t going to start now. So instead of looking back, I kept my gaze fixed forward as my grip tightened around the mallet.

“Ah, Diego,” Coach’s voice reached my ears, he too had turned watching whoever or whatever was behind me like whatever I had been saying didn’t matter.

“Dalton,” A foreign yet velvety baritone voice spoke and I heard some of the girls squeal making me clench my jaw from annoyance.

Taking a deep breath and choosing to take control, I turned around squaring my shoulders, refusing to shrink back, this was my moment and I was going to own it whether come what may.

 “Something you need?” I asked my voice calm and controlled as I took in the person standing inches away from me like he belonged here.

At my words, a few heads snapped back towards me like they’d forgotten I was still here.

His gaze shifted to mine and his jade colored orbs stayed on me. Instead of responding to my question, he just stood there taking me in, scanning me like I was some product on a shelf.

 “Sienna, this is Diego, he’s a transfer student and a new member of the team.” Coach Dalton announced.

“The team is full, we’re no longer accepting members.” I stated clearly recalling the number of times he had rejected people from joining the team, even those from rich and powerful families.

“We made an exception.” He shrugged like it was no big deal.

But it was a big deal, Diego being accepted into the team despite the strict policy meant that he came from a very powerful family that was able to buy off someone as rigid as Dalton.

The entire time Diego just stood there staring at me, examining me like a hacker trying to crack a code, so to return the favor and show him that despite his commanding aura, I was still the captain of this ship, I did the same thing he was doing to me, I intently took in every detail about him into my head, from the dark slightly messy hair on his head to his broad shoulders that were in a relaxed posture and the fact that he was taller than most of the team.

From his head, my eyes drifted up to his face till they met his, he was already staring at me and we had what you could call an intense, yet not intense staring contest.

“Sienna,” Coach Dalton’s voice reached my ears but I didn’t move my gaze or respond, this man was challenging me and I wasn’t going to lose.

He called 4 more times before I finally shifted my gaze to him and he was looking at me like there was something wrong with me, but luckily he didn’t say anything.

“As I was saying before we were rudely interrupted, everything is going to be different from now on, if you don’t want to work hard and earn your place here, you might as well leave now.” I said looking at everyone who seemed to have their attention divided between me and Diego. It annoyed me, but I chose to brush it off, this was my first day and it was too early to start throwing a fit.

“Alright then, let’s start training.” I stated.

With that instruction, everyone headed into the stable to get their horses.

“Where do you think you’re going?” I asked Diego brows furrowing together.

“To get my horse.” His responded his back turned to me.

“No, you can’t do that, you first need to get acquainted with the ponies before starting actual training.” I stated.

“I know, that’s why I brought mine.” He stated walking away from me.

My blood boiled at his cocky attitude, god just when I thought that I’d finally gotten rid of one arrogant asshole, I got another.

“Coach,” I turned once he was out of sight and earshot.

“I know Leighton, I know.” He grumbled obviously knowing I was going to grill him for his decision.

“Do you?” I narrowed my eyes.

“It wasn’t up to me,” He shrugged. “Besides, you’re looking to make the team better, and he’s good.”

“I-”

“Winning was your goal when you reported Zade, was it not?” He quizzed cocking an eyebrow.

“Yes,” I mumbled.

“Then don’t make this an issue when it’s not, if anything be glad we have him on our team, we have an actual shot at getting what you want.” He stated. “Give him a chance, and be nice.”

Nodding, I walked off to get my horse so that I could meet the rest of the team on the polo ground.

Training went better than expected, Diego was a good sport, despite him making unwarranted suggestions here and there.

As I made my way out of the washroom now out of my training uniform and dressed in my normal uniform consisting of a pleated skirt, crisp white shirt and navy blazer, I bumped into the last person I thought I’d see today.

“Sienna,” Zade, the former captain greeted his voice chirpy like he wasn’t someone that had been expelled for a serious offense that even his politician parents couldn’t wipe off with their money.

“Zade.” I answered.

“How do you feel now that you finally took my spot, it must be nice, no?” He smirked, more like chuckled.

“I didn’t take anything from you, I earned it.” I retorted.

“Right, by snitching.” He volleyed.

“You were selling our games, the truth was going to come out one way or another.” I spat anger slowly coursing through my veins again at the thought of what he had been doing. “The team will do better without you.”

“Is that what you think?” He chuckled shaking his head before all the humor in his tone and expression disappeared and his became dangerously serious. “Oh, St. Sienna, you don’t know the amount of shit you’ve just gotten yourself in.”

“I don’t have the time for this,” I scowled opting to walk away but he grabbed me by the arm, dropping my bag in the process and pulled me closer to him, so close that his lips brushed the shell of my ear and his hot breath fanned my skin.

“You have no idea the people you’ve messed with little miss I’m better than everyone, I’m righteous.” He spat tightening his grip when I tried to pull away. “They may not come now, but they will be here to collect their debt, and I sure hope you’ll be ready to pay.”

“Unhand me.” I demanded refusing to get scared or show anything aside from strength.

“Zade,” I warned my voice sterner than ever before.

Clenching his jaw, he let go of me, but held my gaze.

“You’re fucked Leighton, and no one can save you.” He laughed humorlessly. “No one.”

Choosing not to say a word, I picked my bag and threw the strap over my shoulder as I walked off. He was crazy, it wasn’t my fault he got caught for fixing games, he was just damn enough to get caught, he could throw as many fits as he wanted, nothing was going to change, I was the head of the team, and he, he was out of my life forever.

Whether he liked it or not, I was going to make the polo team better, him and whatever people he was talking about could go to hell for all I cared. I Sienna Leighton was afraid of no one.