The Coaches Daughter | E. Jaeger

03

"You're going to have the best day, I know it," your mom fixes a stray piece of hair and pinches your cheek. "I can't wait to hear all about it when you get home."

"I'm going to be late for the bus," you pull her hand from your face with a smile. "I'll talk to you when I get home."

"Yes go go," she waves you off. "Have fun, sweetie!"

You rush out the door and sling your back pack over your shoulder. As you get to the sidewalk you catch the end of the bus turning down the street.

"Shit," you hiss and look up at the sky with defeat. First day and you miss the bus. That's just your luck. You look back at your house and contemplate asking Heather for a ride, but she's probably already in the shower.

"Need a ride?"

Your eyes peer across the street and find Eren leaning against the back of his truck, wearing a plain black shirt and a pair of jeans. His hair is pulled back into a half bun and the rest of the pieces are flowing free. There's a convincing smile on his face and you don't really want to wait for Heather to take you, because by the time she gets out of the shower school will be over.

Your hand tightens around the straps of your back pack and you look down the street, trying to find a way to avoid taking Eren up on his offer. Not finding one, you agree to his proposal.

"Yeah," you let out a sigh and head towards him.

"You realize only losers take the bus, right?" He laughs and opens the passenger door for you.

"No. People without a way to get to school take the bus," you roll your eyes at him.

Eren shakes his head with a smile, then shuts the door and makes his way knee to the drivers side. He hops in and starts the car and backs out of the driveway.

Mixed with the smell of the black ice air freshener is a woodsy fragrance. Like cinnamon and pine. It must be something Eren put on or used, like shampoo or cologne.

"So on a scale of one to ten, how excited are you for the first day of school?" He switches on the AC and blasts it to cool each of you off which only makes the appealing scent stronger.

"Maybe a two," you hug your bag to your chest. "I'm not all that excited."

"What's not to love? You'll be the hot new girl, everyone's going to try and be your friend or get into your pants." He smirks, keeping his eyes on the road. "What's not to be excited about?"

You ignore his comment about you being hot, even though it did make you feel a little flutter in your stomach.

"Sorry if I'm not the girl that likes things like that. I'd be completely fine if no one even notices me," you pick at your nails, hoping this conversation will end and you can just finish the rest of the ride in silence.

"Unfortunately in a small town like this, you can't go unnoticed. Everyone knows everything about you and it's just the way it is," he sighs, a hint of disappointment in his voice.

You glance over at him, "Do you wish not everyone knew you?"

"In some ways," he shrugs. "But nothing beats everyone screaming my name on a Friday night."

"But what are you without football?"

"Woah you really don't hold back," he scratches his chin. "I um... I'm not just some dumb jock, you know. There's more to me than just being the full back of the Titans. I have interests and a personality too."

"And what are those interests?" You turn in your seat and face him. You're genuinely curious as to what else there is to this guy.

"I like to go to the lake with my friends," he mutters quietly. "And I go bowling a lot with them."