Dead Girl Walking ― Aaron Minyard

36. we'll be fine

i wanna know what it's like
let's just erase all the downsides
if not forever then just for tonight
― luz

♦

MARA HAD BEEN WILLING TO SKIP MORNING PRACTICE for Aaron—something herself from a month ago would have balked at. But Wymack had pushed it back to ten rather than six, and Aaron didn't want Mara to skip just for him. Mara, on the other hand, didn't want to leave him alone for that long, but he'd convinced her with the fact that Katelyn's class ended at ten-thirty and she'd offered to swing by to give him the notes from their shared morning lecture—which he'd skipped—and keep him company.

Mara didn't like it, but she conceded and caught a ride to the stadium with the remaining monsters.

The Foxes met at the stadium, as Wymack had requested. Despite the extra rest, most of the Foxes looked bleary-eyed and tired where they sat around the locker room.

No one commented on Aaron's absence, and Wymack offered nothing, either.

"Let's talk about the season," he said, because it was his job to keep them moving no matter what tragedy tried to set them back. "I spent most of yesterday talking to the Class I coaches about our situation, starting with Coach Rhemann."

The Foxes perked up at the mention of the USC coach, most of all Kevin, who looked supremely interested to hear what came next.

"I've got a conference call with the ERC this afternoon to determine our status," Wymack said. "I don't know which way they're going to swing. Andrew's still enrolled as a student at Palmetto State. Easthaven and the registrar's office agreed this morning to let him finish the semester long-distance. That means he's still contracted with us, so we're within regs.

"This is a bit more drastic than having him benched with an injury, though. An injury is treatable and calculable. Andrew's current treatment isn't that black-and-white. But," Wymack continued, "Rhemann has taken our side. He offered to speak on our behalf if need be, and he's helped reach out to the others."

Mara wasn't surprised. James Rhemann was the head coach for the USC Trojans, one of the Big Three in NCAA Exy. USC didn't have Edgar Allan's flawless record, but the Trojans were known for their sportsmanship. They'd won the Day Spirit Award seven years straight and had yet to receive a single red-card: an impossible feat considering their long history and their ranking. It made sense Wymack would turn to them for help first.

"As of this morning, the vote across the Class I teams is almost unanimous," Wymack said. "They want us to finish the season."

"They—what?" Dan almost choked on it. "Why? They've never supported us before."

"Does it matter?" Matt asked. "If they'll fight the ERC for us, I'll take it."

"Maybe they're mocking us," Allison said. "We've knocked down too many teams in the southeast this year. They want us to play so we fail at last. They want to see us put back in our place. More fool them. We've still got Renee, and that's all we need."

"It's not a guarantee," Wymack said, holding up a hand to calm them. "The ERC has to listen, but they don't have to accept. I just wanted you to know there's still a chance for us. That means we have to bring it today like the news is already good, get me? So change out and get down to the court. I want one lap for every time you've ever said the NCAA's never had your back."

"Oh, Jesus," Nicky said. "We'll be running all day."

"Better get started, then," Wymack said. "Move out, maggots."

Despite that breezy command, Wymack stopped them after they'd run three miles' worth. They stretched out as a group, changed into their gear, and hit the court for drills. Wymack pushed hard until noon, then gave control to Dan and went to take the ERC's call. Knowing he was upstairs arguing for their right to finish the season was more than a little distracting, but Dan kept them moving so they couldn't dwell on it.