treacherous • alan bosley

battlefield

maisie thought that after yesterday's practice, boone would've finally given everyone a break. she thought he had figured out that everyone had been worked to the bone. but as the air horn continued to blow throughout the halls, she began to question his sanity entirely.

she sprung up, pushing her sleeping mask up her face. her feelings of tiredness were pushed aside to make way for the burning anger. she stomped over to the door and yanked it open, "why?!"

when she saw coach boone, she almost regretted yelling. she hadn't exactly been the most comfortable around him, and he didn't seem like the kind to tolerate it. however, it had already happened and she decided to see if he would scold her or not.

the coach turned to her, an evil smile plastered on his face. he was surprised at her reaction, but figured it was a given due to his rude entrance, "put some shoes on, sanning. we're going for a run."

maisie began to a dry sob, making the noises of a cry but with no actual tears. this was the worst news she had ever heard. normally, she wouldn't have been nearly as expressive to the coach who didn't really know her, but her brain only kicked in after eight in the morning.

"even me, coach?" she asked, her lip quivering due to her overt theatrics.

"even you." he replied, before turning around and blowing the air horn some more.

maisie began a silent scream, almost brechtian in nature. she had always had a flare for dramatics, finding it the one way she was able to actually express herself. she threw her arms and legs all around, trying to get out her tantrum-like nature before throwing on her shoes. she would never have complained to boone's face, so this was the only way she could let out her anger.

with the understanding that there was no time to change, maisie walked outside in her all-white ensemble. it was embarrassing to say the least. she was sure all the guys would be wearing normal clothes like a t-shirt or a tank top, but she was wearing chiffon and lace. she loved her pajamas, but that didn't mean she wanted anyone else to revel in them as well.

when she got outside, she was joined with about forty shivering boys. at about three in the morning august wind was unforgiving at best.

at first, nobody noticed her. everyone was wrapped up in themselves: how cold they were, how tired, and how angry. but it didn't last long as ray looked at whoever had just brushed his arm with theirs.

"maisie?!" he questioned, looking down at her with wide eyes, "what are you wearin'?"

the boys all turned to gawk at her, and she shot a glare at the boy who had revealed her. it wasn't that what she was wearing was entirely inappropriate, but it was the most any of the boys had seen from her thus far. and because she was the only girl within a twenty mile radius, the boys found it difficult to look away.

"oh, my god!" she exclaimed, hiding her face in her hands, "just- please, spare me the comments."

she figured they would have something mean to say or something equally negative. either way, she wasn't up for hearing it. if the coach had just given her a few more minutes, she could've put on something slightly more respectable. she almost resented him for it, before figuring it was pointless. after all, it wasn't like boone cared if she was angry with him, because he knew it was only passing.

"of course that's what you sleep in," alan shook his head, a small laugh coming from him, "you're ninety."

he actually thought the girl looked quite good. he had noticed all the guys staring, only because he had been one of them. there was something so natural about her that made it almost impossible for him to stop looking. he had never seen her like that before, and while petey thought she looked sick, alan thought she looked beautiful. however, he didn't want her to know that. he didn't want to risk the nice back and forth the two had established by making things awkward.