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TW at the start of the chapter: Panic attacks
THE TEAM sat in the locker room, tired, sweaty, exhausted.
"We're lookin good out there." Sean spoke to the quiet tired players. "We can be sure they're gonna make adjustments. So, we need to be ready!" Sean spoke harshly.
"I'm tired, Coach." Marcos spoke up.
"That's what happens when you put the work in. You're gonna get tired. Suck it up." Sean said harshly. Laurie frowned and it took almost everything in her not to speak up, not to argue.
"I'm exhausted too, Dad." Connor breathed.
"Why can't Nate and Jason get back on defense, Coach?" Dennis asked.
"Cause sometimes you need to sacrifice for the good of the team, Dennis." Sean spat.
"Yeah right." Connor mumbled.
"I'm sorry?" Sean asked, wondering if he heard his son correctly.
"You never sacrifice for anyone. You make everyone sacrifice for you." Connor spoke. He felt as though there was a lump of frustration stuck in his throat.
"Settle down there son." Sean said in a low soft voice. "Listen Brian, I want you to-" Sean began to speak again.
"You're here yelling at everybody, and you won't let anybody listen to Coach Troy, not to mention you give zero credits to Laurie's ideas and play them off as your own ideas!" Connor said, anger bubbling up in him as he stood up. "You haven't let Harlan play in weeks!" He said, his voice raising.
"I'm trying to win us a championship." Sean said, anger rising in his voice as well.
"Just so you don't look bad. Ever since you got embarrassed on ESPN you've been riding all of us. I thought this was supposed to be fun!" Connor argued.
"Really? Was it fun losing every week?" Sean shot back. "Was that fun?"
"It was more fun than this." Connor spat, hurt, upset, and anger lacing his voice.
"Hey if you're not having fun, you're welcome to ride the bench!" Sean shouted.
"So you're just gonna bench the whole team then? What is your problem!" Connor yelled back.
"I am here, trying to make this work!" Sean shouted. There was a thick harsh silence throughout the locker room. Connor took a deep breath, gulping down the anger before speaking coldly to his dad.
